G-Fafif

In Will & Grace, “The Wedding,” Season 9, Episode 10, January 18, 2018, on NBC, Vince (Bobby Cannavale) appears with "one of my famous homemade soaps. Look, made from real shea butter. I call it Shea Stadium. It smells Amazin’. You know, ’cause the Mets?" Then, to quizzical looks, he realizes, “Wrong crowd.”

The Indians, perhaps to make up for the loss of Jay Bruce, invite someone who presumably met him in New York, Adam Wilk, to Spring Training. To pitch, if that's not clear.

Moose Stubing, a curious figure in the recent CPF comprehensive survey of living former MLB managers, is no longer in that category, having died at 79. Moose got the most attention in his career as a scapegoat while coaching third base for the Angels in the 1986 ALCS.

He was Black Bear that weekend players wore nicknames on their dopey fake Little League jerseys. Wasn't terrible for a 2017 Mets middle reliever. I was surprised they DFA'd him, not shocked he got picked up.

Ken Rosenthal on the Athletic reports Mets refused to include Nimmo, who Buccos wanted for McCutchen.

Yadier Molina, NOT retiring in 2017/18, but says 2020 will be his last year. Boo him while you can.

Reynolds is Baseball America's No. 5 SFG prospect.

G-Fafif wrote: Bob Nightengale reports pitcher Kyle Crick "and one other mid-range prospect" are going to Pittsburgh. Outfielder Bryan Reynolds is the other player the Giants are sending the Bucs.

Bob Nightengale reports pitcher Kyle Crick "and one other mid-range prospect" are going to Pittsburgh.

2006 AL MVP Justin Morneau going out with a press conference at Target Field, en route to joining Michael Cuddyer and LaTroy Hawkins as a Twins special assistant.

And Tyler Pill? He's signed with the Diamondbacks.

Cutch about to be a Giant, per multiple reports.

Curtis Granderson flies north of the border and signs with the Blue Jays.

An early contender for next year's tabloid voting, "oh yeah, I forgot about this" division. [fimg=400:3psja86w]http://i65.tinypic.com/2cd8r60.jpg[/fimg:3psja86w]

Amazin' Avenue ranks Dunn the No. 8 prospect in the system, though the writeup isn't particularly enthusiastic.

Louis Armstrong records his 4:40 update for Sports Phone, happy to report Mets are leading Cubs at Wrigley, 7-3 in the sixth, Milner and Unser each having gone deep.

Bob Bailey, who I remember mostly as the third baseman on the early Expos clubs, has passed away at 75. You may remember him as a Pirate, Dodger, Red and/or Red Sock, as well. His final AB was a PH SO in the Bucky Bleeping Dent game, but let's not hold that against him.

Td0RW0HTVmk Netflix series Big Mouth knows what it's talking about.

The 2017 wrapup (with a taste of 2018) is here.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: On a more personal level, I maintain a different order of preference: 1999 and 1985 at the very top, with 1986, 1997, 1980, 1975 and 1970 filling the next tier of full-season experience, and special places reserved for the stretch drives and postseasons of 1969 and 1973. A lot of honorable mentions as well. I thought this piece was the most enjoyable one of the year, and that's saying a lot. I would have liked to read your "personal level" list. The way I figure it, it's your subjective list, so tell us how you really feel. Why paint yourself into a corner by imposing self-constraints with rules about these kind of seasons having to be ranked over those kinds of seasons which in turn need be ranked higher than the ones over here? Anything unexpected or counter-intuitive would make for an interesting read and you, of all people, have the expertise and credibility to pull off any "crazy" take on the rankings. Much, much appreciated. "Top" vs. favorite has always been an intriguing delineation for me, dating to the Top 79 Songs of 1972 referenced in the article. This time top (constraints, rules and all), next time, perhaps, the fave raves from going on 57 years of swingin' Met hits.

This user/reader continues to find both UMDB and MBTN top-notch resources and ongoing inspirations. May they endure as the standards of online Metsian excellence they've always been.

Zvon wrote: Thats hilarious (cept I dont get Brogna's). E'ing that to my brothers. In the video, Rico mimics the sign-giving of a third base coach. It's actually quite impressive.

Don't know if the Mets will be better in 2018, but here were ten top reasons they were going to be in 1996. Q0CGyPl0Sc4 Top Ten Reasons The Mets Will Do Better In 1996 - January 22, 1996 10. This year, the league is going to let us hit the ball off a tee —Second baseman Jeff Kent 9. We're eliminating that pre-game Happy Hour —Shortstop Jose Vizcaino 8. No more leaving during the eighth inning to beat traffic —Left fielder Ryan Thompson 7. 96 is a leap year, so we'll have an extra day to practice —Pitcher Jason Isringhausen 6. We're finally going to get around to finding out what this sign means —1st Baseman Rico Brogna 5. We're going to give 110 percent, at least 51 percent of the time —Right fielder Carl Everett 4. It's a huge weight off our shoulders knowing Letterman won't be hosting this year's Academy Awards —Catcher Todd Hundley 3. No more Cartoon Channel in the dugout —Pitcher Bill Pulsipher 2. We just signed a chimp with a 200-mph fastball —Pitcher Bobby Jones 1. Two words: lucky cups —Pitchers John Franco and Dave Mlicki

BTW, Braves have announced Tim Hudson and announcer Joe Simpson will be inducted into their HOF this season.

A nice story about this Neil Leifer photograph from Sports Illustrated here: two Mets fans, their friendship and, of course, the ever camera-ready Casey Stengel.