Benjamin Grimm

How is this a "cheap shot"? Andy Martino's last paragraph wrote: The gulf is wide between those two teams, but something very subtle has shifted toward the Mets since the regular season ended. The Phils are hoping to extend a sublime era, while the Mets are working to build one. In a cyclical game, those underlying changes might not surface in the standings for years - but they will eventually surface.

I voted Giants, only because I like San Francisco a lot more than Dallas/Fort Worth, which I don't like at all. I'm as ambivalent about the outcome as I can possibly be; I have no feelings at all, positive or negative, for either team.

The Mets face a deadline with Hisanori Takahashi D.J. Short Oct 24, 2010, 11:15 AM EDT Interesting situation between the Mets and Hisanori Takahashi. According to David Waldstein of the New York Times, the Mets have until October 31 (next Sunday) to sign Takahashi to a new contract or else they are prohibited from signing the left-hander until May 15, 2011. Why? Well, it�s little complicated. When the Mets signed Takahashi to a minor league contract in February, there was a clause inserted in his contract which stated that he must be released by October 31 in order to become a free agent. According to MLB rules, any player who is released after midnight August 31 and before Opening Day of the next season cannot sign a major league deal with the same team until May 15. So, basically, if the Mets don�t re-sign him by next Sunday, he�ll end up elsewhere. Only adding to the uncertainty is that the Mets haven�t decided on a general manager. Acting GM John Ricco has been handling the negotiations with Takahashi�s agent Peter Greenberg. It�s hard to know if Sandy Alderson or Josh Byrnes would agree with handing Takahashi a multi-year contract, for example, but the left-hander looks like he would be an asset to any pitching staff. Takahashi, who turns 36 next April, went 10-6 with a 3.61 ERA in 12 starts and 41 relief appearances with the Mets this season. After Francisco Rodriguez went down with a season-ending thumb injury, he went a perfect 8-for-8 in save opportunities.

I wonder if Bush and Nancy Pelosi will have one of those friendly wagers on the outcome? Yeah, probably not.

I have to say, the LCS series both went very well! Now, we have sort of a Subway Series between a New York football team and a New York hockey team:

And maybe some players, too!

And if you miss it, I'll feel sorry, sorry for yooooou.

Daniels is busy and unavailable, and the Mets need a GM. Unless he's clearly a much better candidate (and I don't see how he is) then I wouldn't wait on him.

Byrnes is the only one of the six who doesn't currently have a baseball job, correct? Baird is with Boston, Hahn with Chicago, Brown with Toronto, and White with Los Angeles. Maybe the reason Byrnes made the cut is because they're considering him for another front office position, working under Alderson.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: My guess for the Round Two callbacks: Alderson, Hahn, and White. Not such a good guess, huh? The only one I got right was Alderson, which was a gimme.

Wow! Looks like it's either Byrnes or Alderson: Jeff Wilpon wrote: Dear Mets Fans: We are bringing back Josh Byrnes and Sandy Alderson for a second round of interviews with Fred, Saul and me. Josh is scheduled for Monday and Sandy for Tuesday as we continue our search for the next General Manager of the Mets. John Ricco and I spoke personally with Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Logan White and Dana Brown earlier today to thank them for their interest and taking the time to interview with us. We will be back to you with more information regarding our new GM soon.

Well, Cora was performing poorly enough that releasing him wouldn't alter the elevation of anyone's eyebrows. But let's say David Wright had a clause in his contract that he gets a $2 million bonus for 500 plate appearances. He's having a solid year, hitting .300 with about 25 homers, and then suddenly he's getting a lot of "rest". I think these performance clauses are given with the understanding that the team will act in good faith; that they'll play a guy who's producing and not alter his playing time solely due to the contract clauses.

I'd also hate to think that the new GM would be intimidated by a strong manager. If he's that insecure then he's not the guy that I want GMing the Mets.

My guess for the Round Two callbacks: Alderson, Hahn, and White.

Dana Brown is African-American.

Jeff Wilpon wrote: Dear Mets Fans: As you may know, earlier today we completed the initial round of interviews with six talented candidates to become the new General Manager of the New York Mets. Each was extremely impressive - Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Sandy Alderson, Logan White, and Dana Brown. All reiterated their desire and interest in pursuing this opportunity. We will be in direct communication with each as we narrow the candidate pool by early next week. We subsequently will invite the leading candidates back to meet with Fred, Saul, and me. We have an outstanding group from which to select our new General Manager. We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.

I think you should give him his urine back.

If I was a Giants fan, I'd be giddy with anticipation. If I was a Phillies fan, I'd be filled with nervous apprehension. (I'd also be an ill-tempered thug, but that's another story.)

I've been very dismissive of the idea that Bobby might return in 2011, but lately I'm not so sure. I find myself becoming just a bit optimistic.

To elaborate on my point (such as it was), if the Mets are doing well and Rodriguez is pitching well, pulling him from the closer role will raise all kinds of red flags, I'd think. But if the team isn't contending, they can legitimately decide to try to groom Parnell, or Mejia, or whoever to be Frankie's successor. And I don't think the union would really be able to gripe about that.

Edgy DC wrote: We've got to get away from even the notion that contention is linked to Francisco Rodriguez getting save opportunities. Oh, I'm with you on that. I'm just not expecting that Mets management will be.

I agree. But you have to be very careful to do it in a way that won't raise the hackles of the Players Association. I think I'd do it by giving the closer's job to somebody else as soon as it's feasible. Especially if 2011 turns out, as seems pretty likely, to be a non-contending season.

Star Wars never did anything for me. Don't know why.

metsmarathon wrote: ian o'connor is delicious this morning. TMI

While it's nice that they're saving 2010 money, it would have been even better if they could have saved 2012 money, but that was probably too much to hope for.