Benjamin Grimm

If I had a ballot, I don't imaging that I would ever ever vote for ten people. I think the Hall of Fame should be very exclusive, and there are probably quite a few that I would remove if I had the chance. (Don Sutton is one who comes to mind.)

Ken Rosenthal reporting that the Mets may trade AJ Ramos for a second baseman and then sign one of the remaining "high-end" relievers. http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2017/12/mlb_trade_rumors_mets_swapping_aj_ramos_for_second.html

So I've heard!

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: No clue as to the remarks above about his looks. Geez. I don't necessarily recognize "handsome" when I see it, but I do know what "ugly" looks like, and I don't think this qualifies.

I don't think it would take a miracle for Conforto to be playing on Opening Day, but I expect his return is more likely for late April.

Buster Olney wrote: You can assume the Mets are among teams kicking around idea of pursuing long-time All-Star Adrian Gonzalez. They're looking for a short-term add-on at the position; when healthy, he's a good hitter/defender; was just cut by ATL, and costs nothing more than minimum salary in '18.

I think we all agree that you can win with a lower payroll, if you happen to be fortunate enough to have a lot of young talent, but to be forced to try to win with a lower payroll imposes a constraint that makes it harder to do so. And that, apparently, is where the Mets are.

I definitely understand the frustration. I feel it too. It appears, for now at least, that the Mets are more or less standing pat after a 70-win season. And sure, if everything goes right, that could lead to a championship season. (That, I think, is the gamble.) But the Mets absolutely should be planning on doing what it takes to make it less of a gamble. On Mets Hot Stove last night, they were saying that the Phillies have plenty of money to spend. I couldn't help but think, "Oh, great! Good for them! Too bad I'm rooting for a middle-market team that somehow plays its home games in New York City."

The word "gamble" or "gambling" appears four times in the article, once in the headline, and once in the photo caption. I think she's making it clear that the Mets are gambling that they can win on the cheap.

And six years later, that sentiment is as valid as ever.

I don't really pay any attention to them. Have they never made a shirt that's at all snarky or sarcastic about the Mets? I'm guessing they haven't.

I'm not so sure about #2. Marc Carig frequently appears on SNY, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if John Harper of the News criticized the Mets for their cheapness. I'm pretty sure he's done so in the past.

Centerfield wrote: Marc Carig. American Hero. https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-jeff-wilpon-1.15485312 That column is pretty much the one you've been waiting for, isn't it? Hopefully others, many others, will take up this narrative.

I voted for FULL SPEED AHEAD because it has a better layout. We get a good look at Jacob, instead of having him buried behind the headline. And deGEM is more cluttered than the typical Newsday cover.

I'm sure that Fred and Jeff wouldn't like the possibility of paying David $20 million to be a reserve player who hits .180. And that could very well happen. The safer bet for them, financially, is to have them keep collecting that insurance money.

They very well might be.

David Wright's availability and his capability are both enormous wild cards for the 2018 season. I have NO idea what to expect, but a season total of zero games would be disappointing, but not particularly surprising.

At the time of his death, Frank Strong Lary (what a great name, his first and middle name are adjectives that can describe character traits, and his last name sounds like a first name) was the sixth oldest living Met. His death allows Ed Bauta (January 6, 1935) to move into the Top Twenty. PlayerBirth DateAgeHillman, Darius Dutton (Dave)September 14, 192790 years, 91 daysThomas, Frank Joseph (Frank)June 11, 192988 years, 186 daysPignatano, Joseph Benjamin (Joe)August 4, 192988 years, 132 daysCraig, Roger Lee (Roger)February 17, 193087 years, 300 daysLandrith, Hobart Neal (Hobie)March 16, 193087 years, 273 daysLary, Frank Strong (Frank)April 10, 193087 years, 248 daysFriend, Robert Bartmess (Bob)November 24, 193087 years, 20 daysMays, WillieMay 6, 193186 years, 222 daysMarshall, Rufus James (Jim)May 25, 193186 years, 203 daysSherry, Norman Burt (Norm)July 16, 193186 years, 151 daysBressoud, Edward Francis (Ed)May 2, 193285 years, 226 daysTaylor, Samuel Douglas (Sammy)February 27, 193384 years, 290 daysAltman, George Lee (George)March 20, 193384 years, 269 daysHicks, William Joseph (Joe)April 7, 193384 years, 251 daysCharles, Edwin Douglas (Ed)April 29, 193384 years, 229 daysGreen, Elijah Jerry (Pumpsie)October 27, 193384 years, 48 daysHunter, Willard Mitchell (Willard)March 8, 193483 years, 281 daysMacKenzie, Kenneth Purvis (Ken)March 10, 193483 years, 279 daysDaviault, Raymond Joseph Robert (Ray)May 27, 193483 years, 201 daysMantilla, Felix Lamela (Felix)July 29, 193483 years, 138 days

Winner of Round 1.0.3 FULL SPEED AHEAD Newsday, March 15, 2017. In spring training, Jacob deGrom appears to be recovered from his season-ending 2016 injury. Winner of Round 1.0.13 deGEM! Newsday, June 25, 2017. DeGrom gives up one run over eight innings in a win in San Francisco.

The three polls from last week have now closed. In Wednesday's poll, between two Daily News covers, TRESPEDES defeated TAB CALLOWAY. On Thursday, Newsday's HARVEY WALLBANGERS beat HERE WE YO! of the Daily News. And on Friday, THANK YOU, CARDS, again from Newsday, eliminated the New York Post's GLORY JAYS. When this week's polls close next Friday, we'll have our eight third-round entries. The Tabloid Cover Derby is, after today's poll between two Jacob deGrom covers from Newsday, taking a break for the Christmas holidays and we'll resume our voting on January 2.

Joe Giglio (NJ.com) is suggesting Steven Matz for Cesar Hernandez: Steven Matz for Cesar Hernandez? Why a Mets-Phillies trade should happen

So the Mets drafted Burch and sold him to the Royals? Couldn't the Royals have just selected him themselves?

Yes, the Mets could end up having a pretty good season. I would just like to see them make some moves that will increase the odds of that happening. It's early in the offseason, so they may yet do so. But there's also the chance that whatever they do from this point forward will be inadequate. We'll have to wait and see.

Burch Smith

I went with GOD OF BLUNDER too. Mainly because I prefer the Mets uniform to the cowboy hat. Neither one of these covers has much of a chance of winning the competition, but if they advance far enough they might win some Rice-A-Roni.