Gwreck

Fman99 wrote: Hairston:2011 Mets::Cattalanatto:2010 Mets I made this exact observation at the game tonight as well. --- Not intentionally walking Tulowitzki in that spot (when first base was OPEN) was idiotic. Glad to see some extra base hits falling but we looked terrible in the 8th and 9th against Lindstrom and Street.

I have no doubt there are pain killers that Hamilton probably should stay away from. But pain killers neither cure nor heal Hamilton's injury. It's broken bone, not a sore leg. It's not the dumbest thing ever said by a Sunday Night Baseball personality but it wasn't exactly genius either.

I recall that it was a warmer round of applause than I had expected. But certainly no hero's welcome or anything like that.

Yes.

I'm not sure what drugs exist that would a. Help heal a fractured humerus; and b. Would somehow be off-limits to Hamilton due to his addictions.

Adam Rubin, before yesterdays game predicted that not only will he be in the Mets rotation at the start of 2012, but will also represent the Mets in the 2013 ASG. The first question asked what the likelihood of the 2012 rotation being Santana/Dickey/Niese/Meija/Harvey was. Rubin's answer: "There seems to be legs on this Pelfrey getting traded thing, so you may have hit the rotation." Jon in NYC then asked "What's the early buzz on Matt Harvey? Future no. 1? ETA?" Rubin's answer was: "2012 rotation very doable." Rubin DID NOT predict that he would represent the Mets in the 2013 All-Star game. There was a question about "When can we look forward to some excitement with the Mets?" and Rubin answered "The 2013 All-Star game?" He then noted, "If there's any consolation, it will force the Mets to go young, so you'll see players such as Matt Harvey within a year. They just have to do a better job developing players." Ceetar wrote: Calm is not a word I'd ever use to describe Rubin. Tough to determine this based on a text-only internet chat.

Rainout + broken 7 train = not good times.

Ceetar wrote: Hmm, but I thought everything handled through the website is handled by MLB? Isn't that why the Mets require the season tickets holders that get fees waived and 10% discounts and all that to actually call the ticket office versus processing it online? Nope. While MLB Advanced Media runs every team's website generally, they don't control the ticketing except for the 13 clubs that sell through the Tickets.com platform. --- The Mets' waiving of fees for single-game purchaes by season ticket holders is at their discretion, and they can do it because they're the ones charging the fee. The reason you have to call to get that benefit as a season-ticket holder is that the Mets and Paciolan can't or haven't been able to implement a way for that to be done online. The ticket rep on the phone can override the charges when you call, the same way that they can pick and choose specific seats for you, rather that just taking the "best available" option at the online purchase point.

A lot of this is MLB-issue, and it's why they can get away with not charging you those fees at the box office because there are different rules. Not really. Advance single-game baseball ticket sales are handled by one of three different ways: 1. Team has a contract with Ticketmaster, Inc. for internet/phone sales. Ticketmaster gets the exclusive right to sell tickets at their stadium in exchange for a big bag of cash. Ticketmaster then gets to keep all of the surcharge and order fee revenue. Ticketmaster profits by collecting more in fees than they pay for the contract to the team. There are fifteen major league teams that use Ticketmaster. 2. Team sells their internet/phone tickets through Tickets.com. There is similar exclusivity (Tickets.com is the only internet/phone seller) but Tickets.com is owned by MLB Advanced Media, who collects the ticket fees and then distributes them to the selling club. There are twelve teams that have this method; it is speculated that once the Ticketmaster teams' contracts are up, they will move to this method. 3. Team sells their internet/phone tickets in-house, using a ticket system developed by the Paciolan Company. The three MLB teams that use this method are the Padres, Phillies and the Mets. The team purchases (or licenses) the ticket-selling software made by Paciolan and then uses it to sell the tickets directly. There are startup/license costs but the team can set their service-charge prices and then keep all of the money for themselves. The team can make out like a bandit in this case, as things are kept in-house. This isn't a secret; Paciolan advertises this specifically, noting that "Paciolan�s solutions will benefit you by empowering you to significantly increase ticket and transactional fee revenue." --- The takeaway, of course, is that when the ticket fees and surcharges on Mets tickets are raised, it's not because an evil corporation like Ticketmaster or MLB is doing it, it's because they themselves are trying to put more $$ in their pockets in a backdoor method (rather that simply raising the face-value of the tickets).

Ceetar wrote: 3/2/10 I paid a per ticket fee, an a $5 order fee. no delivery fee. Thanks for the clarification. My recollection (perhaps faulty) is that the order fee at that time varied based on the delivery method (it was different for print-at-home, vs. ballpark pickup vs. mail), as opposed to being the fixed $5/order that is is now, with the additional charge for mail, print-at-home, or UPS, etc. --- My takeaway of the added ticket charges, later ballpark opening times (and also later parking lot opening times) is an attempt to lower costs and raise revenues due to the financial problems the team is having.

Ceetar wrote: the order fee was always there. The delivery charge is new though. I believe you have it backwards.

Nothing major but the kind of things that make you shake your head in frustration. 1. Ticket service charges. The Mets very quietly added ANOTHER service charge if you buy tickets on the internet or over the phone. Let's say one wants to buy two Promenade Reserved Tickets (the cheapest ones in the park) for Tuesday, May 3rd against the Giants. Breaking it down: 2 tickets at $12/each = $24 Per-ticket fee: $3/each = $6 "Order fee": $5/order = $5 "Delivery fee: $4 for mail = $4 Total charge for your two $12 tickets is $39. That's right, buy 2 tickets for the price of 3. The new (and particularly offensive) charge, in case you missed it, is the "Order Fee." That's right, you now have to pay the Mets an additional $5 for the privilege of buying tickets from them. The per-ticket "service fee" and the "delivery charge" aren't enough -- you now also have to hand over $5 just for the hell of it. 2. Gate Opening Times and Batting Practice The Mets used to have one of the most fan-friendly policies in the league in this regard, opening the Rotunda gate -- and Gate C at Shea -- two and one-half hours prior to first pitch. At Shea, if you wanted to show up at 4:40 PM for that evening's game, you could watch the Mets starters take batting practice from the field level. When we moved to Citi Field, the gate opening time remained, but you were no longer allowed on the field level (except in the LF and RF corners) to watch batting practice. Now, for 2011? Gate opening times have changed, and gates only open two hours prior to first pitch. The practical effect is that fans can no longer see the Mets starters take BP -- only the Mets subs and opposing team will be hitting by the time fans are allowed in.

Reyes SS Murphy 2B Wright 3B Beltran RF Davis 1B Pagan CF Harris LF Thole C Niese P

Wright 2 Reyes 1.5 Harris 1.5 Murphy 1 Beato 1 Isringhausen 1 Davis .5 Murphy .25

Parnell - you get Buffalo. Pronto. You've got options. Until you can throw your slider for strikes, we've got little use for you. Byrdak - you're on notice, mostly because we still have no other left-handed pitchers. Igarashi - you get Xanax. Calm down. Pelfrey - you get a swift kick in the ass. Man up already. I am convinced your problems are in your head and not due a lack of talent. Gonzalez and Tulowitzki - you get my grudging respect, particularly for your great arms. LWFS and Lunchbucket - you get my thanks for the good company tonight.

If I recall correctly, Dish Network is still in a dispute with MLB regarding the "Extra Innings" package as well. I'm sure there's no one guilty party here and everybody just wants to make as much money as possible but I can't see how this helps Dish Network. If I was a subscriber and they stopped showing the games, I'd drop them faster than third period French.

The key to the question is the 20 year difference in the Mets debuts. Isringhausen last pitched for the Mets in 1999, so if you had a player who made his first appearance for the Mets in the late 80s and a player who made his first appearance for the Mets in the late 2000s, there's your crossover. Of course, I have no idea what the team is. Names that came to mind as having long careers in the majors and also pitched for the Mets: Kevin Tapani; Mike Stanton; Darren Oliver, etc.

They moved this series to Sunday nights now that the season has started. I see they have Pedro and a basketball star named Aaron Boone commenting. Nice job G-Fafif with the remainder of the series. I predict they'll be ranked as follows: 5. 1986 NLCS Game 6 4. 1992 NLCS Game 7 3. 1975 WS Game 6 2. 1986 WS Game 6 1. 1991 WS Game 7

Young 4 Reyes 1.5 Davis 1 Buchholz .25 Byrdak .25 Rodriguez .25

2011 Rockies The Rockies have started the year hot at 6-2, including taking 3 of 4 in Pittsburgh this past weekend. The only game they lost was a 14-inning affair on Friday night. First place in the NL West. Last Year Rockies were 83-79 last year. They started September with a 69-62 record and went on a 13-4 stretch, followed by a 1-13 stretch to end the year. Rockies-Mets history The Mets are an impressive 26-7 at home against the Rockies in the past 10 years and haven't lost a home series to Colorado since 2002. The Mets won 2 of three last August in New York; the Rockies won 2 of 3 last April in Denver. Pitching matchups: The Rockies aren't throwing anyone impressive out there. Ubaldo Jimenez, who the Mets did beat last year in a 1-0 game -- one of the better second-half games for the Mets -- is on the DL with a thumb problem. Monday: Jason Hammel ® v. Mike Pelfrey Hammel made 30 starts for the Rockies last year, going 10-9 with a 4.81 ERA in 177 innings. Aside from giving up a few more homers at Coors, his home/road splits were pretty similar and he even had a higher road ERA. Hammel faced the Mets last August, giving up 8 hits and 4 runs in 7 innings, taking the loss as Johan pitched a shutout. Beltran and Reyes each had 2 hits against him. Tuesday: Esmil Rogers ® v. Jon Niese Rogers was a long reliever/swingman for the Rockies last year, pitching in 28 games (8 starts). 11.8 H/9 innings isn't very good but he did keep the ball in the park most of the time (only 5 HR). Lefties feast on Rogers (.919 OPS against last year) so this might be a good game to give Murphy a start. Rogers had an excellent start against the Pirates on Thursday, striking out 7 and allowing only 1 ER, 4 hits and 1 walk in 7 and 1/3 innings. Wednesday: Jorge De La Rosa (L) v. R.A. Dickey De La Rosa had ok numbers (8-7, 4.22) in 20 starts last year. He threw 121 innings with 113 Ks, 105 hits and 55 walks. He was limited to five innings in his start on Friday due to trouble with a blister on his left middle finger. De La Rosa faced the Mets last April (in Colorado) and gave up 8 hits and 4 ER in 6 innings. He gave up 5 walks, 3 of which were to David Wright. Dickey has never pitched against the Rockies. Thursday: Greg Reynolds ® v. Chris Capuano Reynolds was a star at Stanford and the Rockies took him as the second overall pick in the 2006 draft (ahead of NL-West aces like Tim Lincecum and Clayton Kershaw, as well as Evan Longoria). He's failed to do much of anything in his professional career: 13 starts in the majors in 2008 went pretty poorly (2-8, 8.13 ERA); last year he split time between A and AA without a ton of success. He was recalled for a spot start on Saturday and pitched 6 solid innings against the Pirates, earning him this second start. Lineup: C - Chris Iannetta ® has show some power in the past but didn't hit last year (.197 AVG; .701 OPS) and even spent 17 games at AAA. He has some power but is not much of a threat otherwise. 1B - Todd Helton (L) is clearly on the downside of his career, hitting .256-8-37 last year in 118 games (.729 OPS and 0.4 WAR). Helton originally signed a 9 year contract running through this season, but worked out an extension with the Rockies a couple of years ago that extended the contract through 2013 but deferred a lot of the money he was still owed under the original deal. This is Helton's fifteenth season with the Rockies, the longest active consecutive tenure with one team in the NL (Wakefield's been with the Red Sox since 1995). 2B/3B - Jose Lopez ® did hit 25 homers 2 years ago in Seattle had a modest .609 OPS last year. Solid defensive player. 3B - Ian Stewart (L) put up a .781 OPS last year, with 18 homers. He strikes out a lot (110 Ks in 386 ABs last year) and struggles with lefties. He is 0-11 for the season and missed the Pirates series with the flu. When he is out of the lineup, Lopez plays third and at second is 2B - Jonathan Herrera (S), 4-9 to start the year. Had a .284 AVG last year in 222 ABs but no power (only 8 XBHs). SS - Troy Tulowitzki ® is probably the best player in the National League not named Pujols. Despite missing some time with a broken wrist last year, he still put up 27 homers, 95 RBIs, a .949 OPS and 5.6 WAR. LF - Carlos Gonzalez (L) had a breakout year in his first full season: 197 hits (led NL); 34 doubles, 34 homers, 26 steals and .974 OPS. There was a pronounced home/road split however: 26 of the 34 homers were at Coors; road OPS was .775 and home OPS was 1.161. CF - Dexter Fowler (S) is the leadoff hitter and had a .347 OBP last year, with 40 extra base hits (led NL with 13 triples) and was 13-for-21 in steal attempts. Struck out 104 times in 439 ABs. RF - Seth Smith (L) was the fourth outfielder for the Rockies last year but now has the starting job as Brad Hawpe went to the Padres. .783 OPS in 358 ABs last year, including 17 homers (12 at home). Bench: Ty Wigginton ® signed a two-year deal with the Rockies in the offseason and his filling in at at first, third and even got a start in left field on Sunday. Rockies are his fifth team since he gave way to David Wright and last year he hit 22 homers and drive in 76 while playing full-time for Baltimore. Jason Giambi (L), signed a minor league deal in the offseason to return to the Rockies and made the club out of spring training. Mostly just a pinch hitter at this point, although he got a couple of starts with Helton out of the lineup this weekend. Ryan Spilborghs ®, extra outfielder who had a reasonably productive year in 2010 (.797 OPS in 388 PAs). Jose Morales (S), backup catcher who hit .305 (with no power) over the last four years at AAA in the Twins system, blocked by Joe Mauer. Bullpen: Some good arms here. Huston Street ® is the closer. 47 IP last year (missed some time with injury) and 20 saves. 3.61 eRA with 39 H, 45K and 11 BB. Matt Lindstrom ® closed for Houston last year. Throws hard but without a lot of control. 53 IP last year, with 68H, 20 B, 43 Ks and a 4.39 ERA, getting 23 saves in 29 tries. Matt Belisle ® threw 92 innings in relief last year (76 appearances). 2.93 ERA and only 84 H and 16 BB with 91 Ks. Rafael Betancourt ®, 62 IP in 72 games with a 3.61 ERA. Only 52H and 8 walks with 89 Ks (that's 12.9K per 9 innings). Did give up 9 homers. Franklin Morales (L), only southpaw in the pen. Not that effective last year: 28 IP in 25 appearances, gave up 28 hits (5 homers) and walked 24 while striking out 27. Rocky Injuries: SP Ubaldo Jimenez was on the DL with a right thumb injury. He comes off the DL next weekend but misses us. Shucks. SP Aaron Cook has a broken finger due to slamming his hand in a door in spring training and is out a few more weeks. Carlos Gonzalez was scratched from the lineup on Sunday with the flu that was going around the team. Helton and De La Rosa have had minor injury problems, as noted above. Ex-Mets: Ty Wigginton Matt Lindstrom Ex-Rockies: Taylor Buchholz

Sure, but Igarashi has a hefty contract that nobody else wants.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Would be a bit funny if the only tangible thing the Twins got from the Johan trade was a solid, cheap starter on the White Sox. Delois Guerrera is still in AA for them...and I think they have a couple of marginal prospects after trading JJ Hardy who they traded Gomez for. But that's it.

Beltran 3.25 Davis 1.75 Reyes 1.75 Rodriguez 1.25 Buchholz 1 Murphy 1

I dislike when the media tells me who to like. I didn't like Cora, I didn't like Francoeur, I didn't like Glavine. I'm sure they were great people for the media to deal with but let's cut that out already.

I believe Rodriguez remains eligible for a save as he came in when it was still a save situation.