Gwreck

Nymr83 wrote: the insurance wouldnt kick in if he played elsewhere and the other team would only have to pay him the minimum while the astros pay the rest i believe so at that price the astros may as well keep him. Right, that's exactly what I had posted. The big problem is whether he's actually unable to play, which determines where the majority of Bagwell's money comes from -- insurance or the Astros. Bagwell gets his money no matter what. Regarding Frayed Knot's comment -- The part about Bagwell being on the roster at the end of the year is a good pont. I think it's pretty clear though that Bagwell was on that roster -- all the way to a start in game 1 of the World Series -- as a courtesy/reward for loyalty. He wasn't necessarily the best option for them. Bagwell's frustration is certainly valid, but I'd be surprised if he really is able to help the Astros much, if at all, this year. If the Astros had a better solution -- ie. offering him a consultant position, keeping him with the major league team in some fashion, making it clear that the money saved would be used to keep the Astros in contention (such as paying a certain SOB come May, etc.) -- I think the solution would've been a lot less problematic.

Nymr83 wrote: There is no way Bagwell should walk away from any money he is due. He doesn't need to walk away from any money. The options are: He reports/is declared fit to play, and gets his money from the Astrons, according to the contract He is "unable" to play, insurance pays off, and he gets the same amount of money. He gets released from the contract and plays for another team. He gets his money from a combination of the Astros and the new team.

Whole thing is on Mets.com, http://tinyurl.com/7c2dp , but here are the highlights: shlomer: When you were growing up, which team did you root for? Cliff Floyd: The Chicago White Sox, so I was happy that they won last year! 31yonkers5: What does it feel like to see a fan in the stands wearing your jersey? Floyd: It feels awesome, it feels great! You should head out to the store and buy one, too! 31yonkers5: If you and the Mets were to pull off a world championship this October, would you consider retirement or would you continue to play in 2007? Floyd: I would play in 2007 and beyond. johnnyphat: I know you and David Wright are pretty close. Now that he'll be in his second season, have you got any new nicknames for him besides rook? Floyd: "Big baller." metsandsox: How could the voters snub you out of the Gold Glove last year? I've never seen a left fielder play like that! Floyd: How could they? I asked myself that, too. cubbiesfan4ever: Why are you so good, Cliff? Floyd: I just got it. no1metsfan88: What was your most memorable home run? Floyd: Last year against the Angels, 3-2, bottom of the ninth. Can't beat it! 31yonkers5: How much can you bench press? Floyd: 450 pounds. slicktroy: Who has been your funniest teammate? Floyd: Ramon Castro. He's just one of those guys that keeps the clubhouse loose. no1metsfan88: How did the picking on David Wright begin? Floyd: All rookies have to earn their rights and he earned his by carrying my bags. slicktroy: What will you do after baseball? Floyd: Real estate and I hope to own my own bowling alley. I bowled a 290 this year. jerryk55: Have you kept in touch with Mike Cameron since his trade? How often do you expect you'll speak with him during the season? Floyd: Yes, we have spoken. We will keep in touch and will speak often. Rich_Haan: Who would win in a home run derby -- you or David Wright? Floyd: Definitely me! yanksboy15: Who is the biggest trash-talker in the league? Floyd: David Wright. Anthony_Cocuzza: Cliff, what kind of car do you drive? Floyd: I have an S500, a Flying Spur Bentley, SL500, Range Rover, Dodge Magnum, Cadillac EXT and Phantom Rolls Royce. And that's why I work so hard on the hitting. fdnyl2: Do you ever use Carlos Beltran's colored tennis ball machine? Does it help? Floyd: Yes, I use it. It helps focus your eyes.

Check out the mets.com site too for the winter caravan photo gallery (#4). Kerri Heilman, Nicole Bell, Erin Woodward are all there. Also Gretchen Randolph (does she count?) Ericka Padilla is also in gallery #8. I'm not technologically advanced enough to figure out how grab the pictures, it's a Flash slideshow.

If you have to argue a case for someone, they're not a hall of famer. Seriously now... Sutter, Gossage, Dawson, Rice, Byleven, etc. - NO. Ripken? Gywnn? McGwire? Those are hall-of-famers, because there's no argument.* *Asterisk re: McGwire, but that argument isn't that his stats aren't hall-worthy.

Looking over the list, how is it possible that Sanchez is not the McGraw memorial goofy reliever?

ESPN reporting that Woodward signed a 1 year $825,000 contract. No remaining players for arbitration.

="metirish"]who's that with Strawberry? LoDuca, I think.

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I count 14 quality starts for Zambrano in 2005. Thanks. That's just over half (14/27) for a #5 starter. I could live with that.

I predict that we see Victor Zambrano back in the starting rotation. I can't find a handy website that lists "quality starts" but unless my memory is decieving me, Victor did string together a number of reasonable outings. I think the Mets might be better served by taking their chances with him as #5 starter (Pedro-Glavine-Benson-Trachsel) rather than having him in the bullpen (long man?). I think we see Seo traded and Heilman still in the bullpen. I don't see Heilman getting to start unless Benson is traded, and I don't think that'll happen.

I like this deal. Either Baez would take over Heilman's bullpen role, or both Baez and Heilman setting up Wagner appeals to me. Salary is a wash, and while I'd like Seo over Zambrano starting, we're dealing from a strength, upgrading the bullpen, and still have the option of putting Heilman in the rotation (and Victor in the pen) if we want.

First half of that Renteria deal is complete, with Renteria to Atlanta for Andy Marte. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2252297

Call me crazy, but the Astros not offering arbitration to Clemens doesn't necessarily mean that he won't pitch for them, does it? If we believe that Clemens only wants to pitch for Houston, wouldn't it be possible for him to simply spend the spring and April getting in shape/building up his health so that he could sign with them May 1 and then be a more effective pitcher for them in the summer/potential playoffs? If they're willing to give him roadtrips off, why not give him the first month off? Edit: No plagarism intended but I now see that that Frayed Knot actually made this point on the Piazza/arbitration thread about an hour before I did here.

Edgy DC wrote: Thanks for doing some checking of your own, Gwreck. I'm not sure I'd call it "checking" per se -- it's as much based on hearsay as the report that Greg posted. I'll admit to rather believing the version that portrays Olerud in the best possible light.

G-Fafif wrote: Olerud has indicated that if he were shown a little love ($$$) after 1999 that perhaps Seattle wouldn't have felt so much like home. Granted, this makes him a human being, not the saint I prefer to think him, but I could've handled that. Page 3 of the Rico Brogna thread (the story about Olerud's daughter) seems to contradict this.

A little more poking around the Ferrum site reveals this: The photos (whole page here: http://www.ferrum.edu/news/2004fall/halloffame04.htm ) don't have captions but this should be what everybody was looking for...

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Anyone, nobody exercises that option, because it's potentially too costly. I'm not sure what it will cost him, but didn't Javy Vazquez just recently excercise his "demand a trade" right?

Back-to-back walk off hits against the Tigers in June '04. Homer to win the first game of the series (the night Piazza was honored for breaking the catcher HR record). RBI single to win the next night. More than that though, he always played hard and was a good guy. Moved to right for Beltran; didn't complain/make a scene with those trade rumors this past summer, etc.

Glavine 6Reyes 1.5Matsui .5Floyd .5Wright .5

Do I really have to award points? Ugh.Castro 5Beltran 2.5Floyd 2.5

Mike Cameron introduced bringing out the lineup card, got a standing O and waved to the crowd twice.Steve Trachsel playing catch with Victor Diaz between innings.New montage/graphics played frequently (at the beginning of the game, between innings) on the diamondvision. Things like "Take Control" [fade out, next title fades in] "...Now." One that says "Team" and then a montage of highlights, like David Wright pumping his fist on the Piazza walk-off walk, or Jae Seo striking a batter out. One that says "Support" and cut to a picture of Cameron's jersey hanging in the dugout, etc. Nicely done, a little over-the-top, but I can't blame them for doing it. Meaningful games in September and all that.One of the better Shea crowds I've seen in a while. Lots of noise, lots of chants, no waves (despite another "Do the Wave" sign on the Diamondvision!) Of course, seemed like everybody went silent when the ball went off Castro's bat until it landed.What could well be a season-changing home run?

Castro 5Beltran 2Heilman 1.2Padilla ..8Looper ..8Diaz .2Plus an honorary POTG point to the "Jae Seo Supporters," out en masse at Shea again tonight.

Thanks for the quiz...was fun. Off to the game...Let's Go Mets!

1. Most: Wright; Least: Cairo2. Most: Wright: Least: Matsui3. Most: Wright, Least: Castro4. Most: Floyd ; Least: Anderson5. High: Wright, Low: Anderson6. High: Floyd: Low: MatsuiTiebreaker: 3900

I think Piazzafan maybe was wondering why he wasn't listed with the injured players (??)...don't worry, we still have him.