nymr83

AG/DC wrote: What disqualifies Reynolds? Do you have to do it twice to be proven? proven, like all the other criteria on this list, is a sliding scale. A 110 OPS+ in 366 ABs from a corner infielder is nice, but its hardly "ok, we're safe with this guy." I'd say he's less proven than Church, probably about as talented, obviously younger. he'd be a bit higher up than Gotay. I'm not saying Reynolds is a bad player, but my goal here wasn't to list every guy who constitutes a net positive for the organization but to identify the organzation's core of good players going forward.

Atlanta's core looks like crap (compared to ours) from where i'm sitting. Chuck James and Rafael Soriano are the only pitchers i'd list as a 'core' guys and they are a #3/4 and a reliever. McCann is nice and fits the bill. Teixiera is not under control after this year. Francoeur is above average. IF they keep Texeira around they're ok, but they are relying on old or unproven guys even more than the Mets will be the next few years.

I don't think Reynolds or Upton qualify at all, and Jackson barely. if theyare to be included you have to throw in Church and F. Martinez on the Mets side and probably Gotay too

Spinning off something that was brought up in another thread about a week ago, I think the Mets have one of the best cores in baseball, even if the pieces around it are suspect. I would define the 'core' as players who are Young, Talented, Proven, and Under the control of the team for more than this year and next. Not all of these four elements are necessary for each player who is a member of the core, but the less you have of one the more you better make up for it elsewhere. A second way I'd be willing to define it is "this guy will be here and will still be producing 3 or 4 years from now" Here is the Mets 'core' in my mind: David Wright, 3B, 25 years old. he's got all 4 of the characteristics i pointed out and theres no question as to any of them. Jose Reyes, SS, 24. same as above Carlos Beltran, CF, 30. he's at about the upper end of the age spectrum for me but he's still young enough and he's plenty good Johan Santana, SP, 28. maybe the best pitcher in baseball and in his prime John Maine, SP, 26. entering his prime Oliver Perez, SP, 25. fail on being under the mets control, but is extremely talented and let$ not pretend the Met$ can't have him back if thats what they want. Heilman, 28, RP. anyone think more than a couple of teams are better? remember that the best of these guys are also the youngest. i'd put Philly up there (Howard, Utley, Rollins, Myers, Hamels) who else?

Gwreck wrote: Guesses or not, you still did get 4 right. Even though Quilvio Veras wasn't a pitcher. Did you maybe mean Dan Quisenberry? no, i meant Dave Veres, who is also likely the wrong answer.

Be warned, these are guesses. [u:e68f337433]Offensive Categories[/u:e68f337433] Diamondbacks - Luis Gonzalez Cubs - Ernie Banks White Sox - Frank Thomas Indians - Jim Thome Tigers - Alan Trammell Marlins - Jeff Conine Angels - Garrett Anderson Dodgers - Duke Snider Twins - Kirby Puckett Yankees - Joe Dimaggio Athletics - Rickey Henderson Giants - Willie Mays Devil Rays - Aubrey Huff Rangers - No Idea Blue Jays - Dave Winfield [u:e68f337433]Pitching Categories[/u:e68f337433] Braves - John Smoltz Orioles - Armando Benitez Red Sox - Oil Can Boyd Reds - David Weathers Rockies - Jeff Francis Astros - Nolan Ryan Royals - No Idea Brewers - Ben Sheets Mets - Steve Traschel Phillies - Jeff Reardon Pirates - No Idea Padres - Jake Peavy Mariners - Randy Johnson Cardinals - Quilvio Veras Nationals - Robb Nenn

welcome aboard cockfighters!

while we're on the topic of smoking in your seats, i have never seen anyone smoking tobacco cigarettes in their seats, but i've sure picked up a familiar odor that i don't miss from college...

any designated smoking area needs to be not only away from other fans but away from employees. i think that was the problem with the ramps, they were right on top of food stands and stuff.

KC wrote: I'll be surprised if Delgado or Alou were much of positive factor on the 2008 Mets anyways. I expect Alou to be positive when he plays, he always has been. The question with Alou is how many games will you get out of him. I'd rather have a guy like Alou put up his kind of numbers in 100 games than have a guy like the 2007 version of Shawn Green put up his numbers over 150. As long as you keep your games played expectations reasonable with Alou you shouldn't be disappointed.

If anyone is interested I and some friends are starting a new auction league. the auction will be held live at my house on Staten Island, Sunday March 23rd. minimal ($20) entry fee since this is our first year with several players who are new to the game entirely. private message me or post for details, though we are still in the planning stages. anyone interested can have some input in how we do things but a few things aren't negotiable: 1. we're doing an auction not a draft, 2. it will be live on staten island on march 23rd, 3. it will not be a keeper league this year though we may want to do that in the future and 4. the fee i $20, several people are unwilling to go any higher.

Castro had a triple AND an infield hit today. He may go all season without getting either one again.

do you guys want me to check and see if the draft can be made a few hours later? this wasn't an option when i signed up but "better" draft timeshave opened up in past years after initial registration. bring it up in the fantasy baseball forum if this is a concern, i dont want to hijack this thread.

Vic Sage wrote: if by "core" you mean Wright, Reyes and Maine, then you're correct. However, I don't think that's a big enough group to consider a "core". Perez is a FA to be, and everybody else is around 30 or more (give or take a decade or so). so what they've got now is not so much a "core" but moreo of a "co__" Wright and Reyes, the two best hitters on the Mets, are young. Santana and Beltran (the other two members of the Mets' 4 best players) are neither young nor old (in baseball terms.) Maine is young, Perez is young (and if the Mets want him back they'll get him back unless there are concerns of which we are unaware besides money.) The Mets are old, on the other hand, at 1B, 2B, and LF, as well as 2 members of the rotation. The rightfielder is young enough. i don't think the Mets are too old, especially when you consider that their best players are their youngest. They have a better "young core" than all but 2 or 3 teams in the game, or so I'm willing to argue if someone wants to start a "who has the best core" thread. The biggest (age related) knock that I feel can legitimately be made against the Mets is that they are insufficiently redundant at the positions where age should be their biggest concern (1B, the rotation, LF.)

]And if bringing in Scotty forces the other manager to PH for a potent LH bat, then we go to Sanchez, Heilman, Sosa, Smith, etc., and its still a good matchup for us. a pitcher who enters the game must face one batter (there might be an "or record an out" in there too for a situation where you enter the game and pick off a runner, i'm not sure) you can't bring S in to face a lefty and then yank him when the lefty gets pinch-hit for.

metirish wrote: Isn't every Spring Training like this? yes. just as every season has a long losing streak during which you think they'll never win again.

thats right brother! (i didnt remember how silly he sounded until he started hosting American Gladiators) Lisa Simpson is number "8"-- the same age that she will be forever. The Pope?

2. the numbers of deaths he is away from the british throne. Hulk Hogan?

Is Durazo still injured? I know he missed a large chunk of last season but he had been a pretty good hitter up until last year.

Is there a new management group? wasn't aware of that, it looks alot like the last one.

ah, you don't like my answer so you get to skip it as well as the name i put forth. fuck off. Howard Stern.

Would the Pirates bereluctant to deal him back to the Mets, obviously for far less than what they got him for, and thus admit the trade to acquire him was a bad one for them?

He was 69 when inaugurated, the oldest ever, but we used it already and its no fun to just stick a sex joke on everyone and assign them 69, so lets go with 38 for outspoken Republican pitcher Curt Schilling. Howard Stern?

as if i'd buy a game with a Philly on the cover.

666 Bill Clinton? (remember 69 is taken)