G-Fafif

I like the Shea seats in "Sandy's office". I wonder if those were Omar's.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Can you bring Anna Benson as your date? Mrs. Fafif might object.

bmfc1 wrote: Boy did I misread the thread title. I thought that it was referring to benchers, which is a small Hebrew prayer book: http://www.anybencher.com/benchers.asp?subcat=Hebrew This is about bench players! Now I get it! I certainly hope Ike Davis is a starter.

The Mets could offer up an opportunity to talk to Sandy Alderson and one could decline it citing the need to maintain a level of purity and distance -- but then you'd be missing a chance to talk to the individual who, arguably, has the most influence on the direct of the thing you're most interested in in this world. Or one could prove he's not in the tank by declaring Alderson's answers abysmal and manner manipulative whether one thought they were or not -- just so one's independence is clear...but then you'd be dishonest with anybody reads what you write. Yes, of course we're being used. Same as the papers have always been used. It's more novel for us at the moment that we're part of the process. After a while, the novelty will wear off, and Alderson will be judged on more than a bit of access and his not being Omar (the latter is more why he's enjoying an extended honeymoon period, I believe...that and the Mets' record is 0-0 since he was named GM). And if the Mets decide they don't want this or that blog on the next call -- and by this or that I mean Faith and Fear -- fine. We had a blog before we were reached out to and, as far as I'm concerned, we'll have one regardless. But as a Mets fan who writes about a) the Mets and being a Mets fan, I can't envision not wanting to sample every aspect of Metsdom and tell about it. Every December I've read about the team holiday party. This year I was extended an invitation to attend it (it's tomorrow). I take it as an opportunity to write about what this annual ritual is like when you're actually there. I realize it's something most fans don't get to participate in, and I appreciate the chance to say, "You know what happens? This is what happens..." If I don't get that opportunity a year from now, so be it. I will have gotten to write about it once. Not that the whole thing's not a little weird to me. Addressed it as part of a larger "year in Mets" type post pre-Alderson call on FAFIF here: Mets Reach Out to Bloggers Admittedly this is a boutique concern within the greater universe of Mets priorities, and certainly something of more specific interest to the likes of yours truly than to all Mets-lovers, but I wouldn�t undersell its significance. What are we Mets bloggers except fans who channel their passion with constancy, intensity and an audience? Very few of us make any kind of living from wielding this particular megaphone. We express ourselves about the Mets because we care too much not to. You read us and interact accordingly for the same basic reason. Those who write these blogs and those who read them form a critical mass of what in marketing are called heavy users. The loosely knit blogging community � which very much encompasses the reader population (you there on the other side of this screen included) � are the Mets fans who are going to watch the most Mets games, who are going to attend the most Mets games, who are likely to invest in the most Mets stuff and are most readily going to offer their opinions, their applause and their criticism of everything about the Mets. Somewhere in the past year, the Mets picked up on what had become a thriving segment of the media that covers their product. We started our blog in 2005. It wasn�t until 2008 that we learned anybody associated with the Mets knew (or acknowledged) we existed. It wasn�t until 2010 that anybody tapped us on the shoulder in an official capacity. By traditional media standards, it wasn�t much: press releases e-mailed to us; limited credentials issued to cover batting practice a couple of times; and the assurance that if we had a question, somebody somewhere would try to answer it. This would be no big deal to the guy at the Times or the News or ESPN New York. It was a huge deal to us, because we are not traditional media. We�re fans. None of us, I suspect, started our blogs as an entr�e to working for the Times or the News or ESPN. We do it because we�re into the Mets in ways that transcend professional niceties like a paycheck. We�re into the Mets in ways that beat reporters probably couldn�t fathom while trying to meet their deadlines. The relationship between our community and the Mets organization is a work-in-progress on both ends. I�d like to think because there is a relationship that I�m learning a few things that will inform what I write and that you�re a little better served as a result. But that�s the detached media analyst in me speaking. The fan in me thinks it�s cool I got to go on the field a couple of times, got to interview a couple of players, got to write about the experience because it was something different. But the thing is I�m still a fan. I don�t really want to have �sources� and cultivate �access�. I like that the Mets reached out to me and about a dozen of my blolleagues � talk to us, you�re talking to every Mets fan who reads our work. I suppose the same equation goes for talking to beat reporters, but with us, the proverbial middleman is eliminated. We process what we see, hear and learn as fans. Otherwise, because it�s not our job, we wouldn�t be doing it. It couldn�t hurt, I�m almost certain.

Great card, subject notwithstanding. Goddamn, I was excited when we signed him.

Met-Loving Big Shot 1983...or all-time, in terms of stature. From Bill Gallo's News column regarding what would have been the 95th birthday of the Chairman of the Board on Sunday: The man did know his fights. I found that out when I interviewed him at the Meadowlands' Brendan Byrne Arena in 1983. He came out of his dressing room wearing a Met jacket and we sat down to talk fights for more than an hour. It was a pleasure because Sinatra made it seem as if he wasn't a celebrity. It was just two guys engrossed in fight talk. What two fighters did he put on the top of his list? Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson.

I think we may have to refer to "our own Pedro Beato" based on his excitement over being with his new/destined team. From Adam Rubin: On the day the Mets last completed a World Series title, Pedro Beato was born in the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo. Now, he is a member of the organization -- at least entering spring training. Beato was selected by the Mets in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings Thursday, along with second baseman Brad Emaus. Those players will officially become Mets property if they spend the entire 2011 season on the Mets' major league roster. Otherwise, they must be placed on waivers and then offered back to their former clubs. �It�s a happy moment," said Beato, a product of Xaverian High School in Brooklyn. "The first team that picked me out of high school, it�s the Mets. The year I was born, the day I was born, is the same day they won the World Series. I�ve heard people say it�s probably meant to be." Alas, he grew up admiring players, not rooting for his new favorite team: Beato didn�t root for the Yankees or Mets, and didn�t have a favorite team. He just followed some players and tried to pattern himself after them, Hall of Famers that is. �Pedro Martinez. Roger Clemens. Andy Pettitte -- I liked his work ethic," Beato said. "Roger Clemens, he�s an animal. He�s worked for what he�s got. He worked to make himself the best that he could be.� He's right about Clemens being an animal. Animals can't differentiate between broken bats and foul balls either.

Harvey Araton with an outstanding appreciation of two NY sportswriting legends who passed in 2010, here.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: soupcan wrote: I just think it's super cool that Greg writes for the New York Times. Nice job Greg, I read it this morning with my coffee. And the only better thing than starting the crossword, is finishing it! Appreciate it, Soup. And amen sister!

It's refreshing, not sweet... (We never did finish the jingle.)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Greg's article is doing amazing things for Jeff Innis' UMDB hit count! Then it hasn't been for naught.

Thanks all. Two more writeups since last night worth checking out: � NY Baseball Digest � Always Amazin' � Mets Today.

Mets PR hooked up approximately 15 bloggers on a conference call with Sandy Alderson Friday night. Lots of good coverage, including painstaking transcription by several participants. They're all linked with the Faith and Fear story (a rare Greg & Jason collaboration), here. Alderson's an impressive dude. Perhaps you'd come to that conclusion independently. If anybody can transcend Wilponism, I came away believing he could. And if he can't...hoo boy.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: One of the more unlikely all-time Mets, I'd say. Pitchers who lead the league in appearances for 3 straight seasons scare me. If this was 10 years ago, and Felicino was leaving some other team, Steve Phillips would give him a 3-year contract. You know it. In elementary school, we read a book about a kid who was kind of an outcast due to his demeanor (and then exotic ethnicity). He just kept his head down and kept working, kept coming to school every damn day...with a rice ball for lunch, no less. First five years were a thankless schlep through all kinds of rain, literal and metaphorical. But in sixth grade a teacher recognized he was special, et al, and not only did others recognize it, too, but he won an award for perfect attendance. And that, except for a great teacher looking out for him and maybe his not making with the rice ball, is Pedro Feliciano. Alderson on not pursuing Feliciano (during the first ever blogger-GM conference call in Mets history): "Considering what he's going to make, it was a relatively easy decision."

If Miss Subways and Miss Rheingold had a fight, who would win?

A Boy Named Seo wrote: That bro's name is 'Cork'. I wonder if he floats.

Ain't that somethin'?!

Iconic in the thread title here, but not in the article, you'll note. Appeared in more games than he didn't for three years running. I won't forget that.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: is there a reason I should pick some up? I'll bet drunkenness is in the running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfc4InJ7shk Now THAT'S a parade!

My latest NY Times Bats piece, on our departing lefty specialist, here.

My beer is Rheingold the dry beer Think of Rheingold whenever you buy beer... (Jump in, somebody)

Outstanding visualization!

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Outside of height, weight, birthday, and stats, I can't find one fact about Bradley Emaus. He definitely doesn't live up to his nickname, Bradley "Famous" Emaus. Wikipedia reports Pedro "Neato" Beato enters to "Mr. Roboto" by Styx. Thinking Beato rhymes with Roboto more than Neato.

I can't believe I slept through the Rule 9 draft at 5 AM.