stevejrogers

="MFS62"]He became his generation's Dick Littlefield - the standard by which players who were traded to many teams* used to be compared. *= the most famous trade in which he was involved was for Jackie Robinson. You mean the trade that never happened December 13, 1956: Traded by the New York Giants with $30000 cash to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson refused to report to his new team. Trade was voided and players returned on December 13, 1956. IIR what I read in Jackie's autobiography, Jackie had already made up his mind as was going to retire, it was to be announced in a magazine piece that winter. He expressed what he planned to do to the Dodgers, and I guess the Dodgers wanted to pull a fast one on the Giants by pushing the trade before the article came out. In the passing years many a media scribe or TV/radio guy made it out that Jackie retired AFTER the trade went down, trying to make Jackie into an old school "not a mercenary guy, he'd play for one organization, and would never play with the hated enemy" When in actuality it was more that Jackie was done, and if he had more in the tank, he would have suited up with the New York Giants in 1957.

="Edgy DC"]1996 -- Eric Milton, P Top post-Jeter Yankee No. 1 is 5-4 this season for the Reds and 84-76 in his eight-year career. Seemed on the cusp of stardom when he went 15-7 with 4.32 ERA with the Twins in 2001. Hey its a member of the Benson Bunch! Wasn't Benson himself in the same draft or later?

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I'm not too worried about losing David to free agency. I fully expect a deal to get done, unless some bonehead causes a rift between David and either the city or the front office. Fortunately, Dick Young is dead at the present time, so at least, he won't screw this up for us. On an unrelated note, further proof that David Wright is all that and a bag of chips: he's zooming up the charts in UMDB popularity. He's now all the way in 26th place, having passed a ton of Mets who had up to a five-year head start on him. He's bound to crack the top twenty before the end of the calendar year, if not before the end of the season. Yeah, just make sure Reyes doesn't get traded to, I don't know, Anaheim, and Mrs. Wright or Ms. Seeing David Wright doesn't get all jealous of Reyes' main squeeze's living the high life. SC=1977

Tom Seaver as well. Hubie Brooks had a decent return year IIRC.

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Unfortunately, Dave is one of those misguided Yankee fans. He grew up in Indiana; most transplants seem to latch on to the Yankees. They don't know any better. No proof, but since his NBC prime years were during the good years for the Mets, I bet you he was considering himself a Met fan then and Mets would get frequent mentions on the show.

AL RF Ichiro Suzuki Mariners =black]SS Derek Jeter Yankees =darkred]1B David Ortiz Red Sox =black]3B Alex Rodriguez Yankees =red]LF Vladimir Guerrero Angels =orange]C Ivan Rodriguez Tigers =darkblue]CF Vernon Wells Blue Jays =darkred]2B Mark Loretta Red Sox =orange]P Kenny Rogers Tigers NL =red]LF Alfonso Soriano Nationals =orange]CF Carlos Beltran Mets =red]1B Albert Pujols Cardinals =yellow]RF Jason Bay Pirates =red]SS Edgar Renteria Braves =orange]3B David Wright Mets =darkred]2B Chase Utley Phillies =red]C Paul Lo Duca Mets =blue]P Brad Penny Dodgers

Edgy DC wrote: Some good pitching performances anyhow --- Gooden, Matlack, and Bobby Jones spring to mind. Jesse Orosco came on with runners on second and third in 1983 and struck out Gentle Ben Oglivie, preserving the National League's, um, 11-3 defecit. Matlack shared the 1975 MVP with Bill Madlock, only Met to do so.

FYI The following is the ASG Players Vote selection for 2006: AL INF 1B P Jim Thome White Sox INF 2B P Robinson Cano Yankees INF 3B P Troy Glaus Blue Jays INF SS P Michael Young Rangers OF P Jermaine Dye White Sox OF P Alexis Rios Blue Jays OF P Vernon Wells Blue Jays C P Joe Mauer Twins SP P Jose Contreras White Sox SP P Roy Halladay Blue Jays SP P Scott Kazmir Devil Rays SP P Kenny Rogers Tigers SP P Johan Santana Twins RP P Jonathan Papelbon Red Sox RP P BJ Ryan Orioles RP P Mariano Rivera Yankees NL (All position players are runners up, the only AL I know was 3B, because ARod failed to finish 2nd behind Glaus and Chavez) INF 1B P Ryan Howard Phillies INF 2B P Dan Uggla Marlins INF 3B P Miguel Cabrera Marlins INF SS P Edgar Renteria Braves OF P Andruw Jones Braves OF P Matt Holliday Rockies OF P Carlos Lee Brewers C P Brian McCann Braves SP P Bronson Arroyo Reds SP P Chris Carpenter Cardinals SP P Tom Glavine Mets SP P Pedro Martinez Mets SP P Brandon Webb Diamondbacks RP P Trevor Hoffman Padres RP P Tom Gordon Phillies RP P Derrick Turnbow Brewers As you can see, the Players, like the fans generally go with whom they think are the best that given year with no regard for "everyone needs a rep" though the Rockies and Brewers may be questionable

Willets Point wrote: Not surprising to me since the Mets have had few big RBI guys of all-star caliber (or at least voted into the game) and pitchers are more likely to represent the team in all-star games historically. Gotta agree, most of our AS have been pitchers. Also our bigger offensive All Stars (Strawberry, Piazza, Carter) have gone to the game in eras where the AL has been super dominant Mike Piazza does have an ASG MVP, in the last game the NL won, but didn't do squat as a Met All Star

I think that might be part of my problem here. I take something heard on the radio or mentioned on TV and I might agree with the point, or I think its a good debatable point that I post the stupid idea online here or somewhere Then I get taken to task for it when I say something completely different, or if the original thought is based soley on something spouted by a soundbite talking head. Something that clearly wouldn't make any sense printed, in other words something that sure the hell can't have an entire argument built upon. One day in 2003 I heard a radio host flat out suggest that there should be NO WAY Mike Piazza should start ahead of Vance Wilson/Jason Phillips when he returned from the DL based on Piazza's early season struggles and the host's unfounded belief that Wilson/Phillips combo was doing better than Piazza could have at that present time, I thought "Hey thats a good topic for discussion" and I posted it to a Met Listserv. I was lambasted and called a Piazza Hater. Well now that I think of it, I can safely say that the host in question, Don LaGreca 1050 ESPN Radio was (and still is) a devout Piazza basher (and a Met organization basher despite being a fan) and instead I should have dug deeper into the situation and said "Ya know what, no, Piazza should not be stuck on the bench behind two career AAAA players, no matter what it would mean to team morale" Basically, I stink, I can not come up with an opinion worth a damn on my own, it always seems to be parroting things I pick up here and there. And this is the profession I wanted to make a living in?

http://jabberfest.blogspot.com Some blogger thinks the division is over, but is worried about how long we'll be in the postseason ]NL East: This is the Mets division. Phillies and Braves have all but quit on the year, the Nationals are a mess and the Marlins are too young at this point to be considered a challenger come September. Mets need a lot though if they want to make any kind of impact come October. A frontline starting pitching would be nice. Its been a while since I’ve seen a starting staff make the postseason in this bad of shape, but look for Omar Minaya to make some deals. Not to mention this creep probably threw the post together so quickly he decided to call all of the divisions and wild card races, save for the Easts and NL Central, as Too Close To Call. Way to go out on a limb! Next time take your time, this isn't a "Just do something that sounds good on a sound bite on TV/Radio" forum of opinion output! =

MFS62 wrote: ="Elster88"]6 White Sox made the AL team. I would guess the fact that the ChiSox manager named the subs might have had something to do with it. The Mets didn't have that advantage. Good for them. I remember many years ago when one NL All Star team had seven Reds as starters. They were nice enough to name Stan Musial as the other starter. After that, they changed it so the players and managers voted. Then, in the spirit of fan friendliness they changed it back to fans voting. Just in time for computerized voting. SC= 77 Later All but Dye and Contreras were Manager picks. Surprisingly only two Astros were selected, Berkman as a Garner pick, and Oswalt replaces Pedro

Elster88 wrote: You're not helping. Fans vote for the starters Then the players vote including 5 starting pitchers and 3 relievers. If its a tie with the fan vote the player's runner up gets the nod (thats how the entire player chosen NL squad got picked this year actually) The rest are chosen by the manager's discretion with input from officials (other managers, the commissioner office, ect) including whom to replace injured selections Then the fans vote for that 32nd "Final Man" on the roster

Elster88 wrote: ]Glavine, voted onto the staff by players, was replaced because his Sunday start rendered him unavailable for the Tuesday night game. (Martinez, also chosen by players, recently went on the disabled list with a sore hip.) Just saw this snippet in an article. Are players voting for reserves now, and not just the All-Star team manager? I can't remember. Yup. If its the same as the fans it goes to the second guy

="Elster88"]="SteveJRogers"] LF Vladimir Guerrero Angels Still waiting for that back to go out. LOL me too. Tough call for me between this non-move and the Kazmir move for which one I hate more. BJ Ryan could be up there in a few years as well

metirish wrote: Howard looks hot early...as Lance Berkman noted if he gets his swing out of whack and can't make the adjusment after the All-Star game then he shouldn't be an All- Star, so no I don't care what happened to Abreu. Then it is a crazy assed theory by people who don't know any better about Philly sports and the fact that Bobby Abreu really is a no heart, Mr. Softee

Anyone worried about the Abreu factor? Was that ever proven? Here on the radio seems like everyone thought Abreu's lousy second half was due to his 41 HR performance during last years derby

Nymr83 wrote: good job. ]C Ivan Rodriguez Tigers Hey the power numbers all but shut down. Hmmmm� This guy seems to skate by all the finger pointing, probably because he�s still producing in other ways, unlike Sam-ME and Ratty who fell apart quickly as well as Bonds and the Yankee Balco Twins who have the Balco stench attached to them. he also has the "catchers always lose their power etc etc" excuse. Not this badly they don't

Hey an Ex-Met is your AL Starting pitcher Kenny Rogers to start for the AL

Cubbies and Sharpie are next

This is the fifth ASG to be held in Pittsburgh: 7/11/1944The NL won 7-1 in Forbes Field Not the most Star Studded year as it was during the War. Stan Musial did play, went 1-4, scored a run and drove in a run. 7/7/1959The NL won a 5-4 squeaker again at Forbes in the first game of two All Star Games played. This was done from 1959-1962. How�s this for a hell of a line, Willie Mays drove Hank Aaron in for the winning run. 7/23/1974 The first All Star Game at Three Rivers Stadium was a 7-2 laugher for the NL. Yogi Berra of the Mets skippered the team to the win. Known as the Steve Garvey game, written in as the starting 1B, Garvey went 2 for 4, scored and drove in a run. 7/12/1994 The last for Three Rivers Stadium, in a year many would love to forget, the All Star Game saw the NL break the AL�s 6 game winning streak with a 9-7 10 inning victory. Fred McGriff picked up the MVP for his 2 run game tying homerun. Met Bobby "Fresno" Jones picked up the win. Time to know the AL All Stars RF Ichiro Suzuki Mariners 3 for 12 in ASG play. Having another good season. SS Derek Jeter Yankees Captain Intangibles is having another stellar season, don�t be surprised if he finds himself in the MVP discussion later this year. This represents his second ever All Star Game start. 1B David Ortiz Red Sox Arguably the �clutchest� guy in the game today. 31 HR and 87 RBI leads the majors 3B Alex Rodriguez Yankees Unclutchness aside, Alex Rodriguez is having another good year. Fun fact, 1999 is the only time he was not voted starter on the AL squad as the home town Red Sox fans sent Nomar Garciaparra to the team. LF Vladimir Guerrero Angels Having a stellar season. One that got away? Still waiting for that back to go out. Though that Beltran guy seems to have worked out. C Ivan Rodriguez Tigers Hey the power numbers all but shut down. Hmmmm� This guy seems to skate by all the finger pointing, probably because he�s still producing in other ways, unlike Sam-ME and Ratty who fell apart quickly as well as Bonds and the Yankee Balco Twins who have the Balco stench attached to them. CF Vernon Wells Blue Jays Starting in place of Manny Ramirez. Having a stellar season as the Jays try to stay on the fringe of the AL East race 2B Mark Loretta Red Sox Your Red Sox Nation �Gotta get someone to beat whomever the Yankees have� member of the team. I mean how do you think ex-Sox Shea Hillenbrand once beat out former Met Robin Ventura in 2002 P Kenny Rogers Tigers Named to a second straight All Star Game, first start. On the Bench INF 1B Jim Thome White Sox Having a great year back in the AL INF 1B Paul Konerko White Sox Was a manager pick as Guillen loaded up on guys who helped win him the World Series a year ago INF 2B Jose Lopez Mariners Replaced an injured Robinson Cano. Having a good year and was considered one of the biggest All Star Snubs if not for it! INF 3B Troy Glaus Blue Jays Having a decent year power wise. Believe it or not he and Eric Chavez got voted AHEAD of Alex Rodriguez in the Players Vote! INF SS Michael Young Rangers Having a good year, as part of a terrific young Ranger infield. INF SS Miguel Tejada Orioles Your lone Oriole Rep. Having a pretty darn good year, but got on solely due to the O�s needing a Rep OF Jermaine Dye White Sox Having a stellar year, your defending WS MVP OF Grady Sizemore Indians Lone Indian on the squad. Hard to believe he made it over Travis Hafner. OF Gary Matthews Jr. Rangers Having a pretty darn good year, got selected to replace injured Blue Jay Alexis Rios on the roster. OF Magglio Ordonez Tigers Replaces Manny Ramirez on the roster. Surprising considering how Guillen blasted him out the door following the 2004 season. C Joe Mauer Twins Strangely both squads feature only one backup backstop. Anyway, Mauer is having a stellar year, putting up numbers that make you think that he is the next in line when Pudge Rodriguez finally retires in the AL. C A.J. Pierzynski White Sox Easily the most hated non-superstar in the game. The White Sox have won the last two �Final Man Vote� for the AL Pitchers: SP Mark Buehrle White Sox Picked by Guillen in yet another �I�m taking my guys� pick Much better year last year when he started the All Star Game SP Roy Halladay Blue Jays Doc is in midst of another stellar year. One of the best pitchers in the game today. SP Scott Kazmir Devil Rays The name sounds familiar� Third ever Devil Ray to be picked by a vote. Jose Canseco was voted by the fans for the 1999 AL DH and Carl Crawford in 2004 was a Player Selection SP Mark Redman Royals Your 2006 �Lance Carter: Most anonymous member of the All Star Squad selected by the Manager due to the Every Team Needs A Rep� Roster slot SP Johan Santana Twins Another outstanding year from the Twins ace. SP Barry Zito Athletics The lone A�s rep. Could he be elsewhere by this time next month? A�s are tied for first, but why not get someone if you don�t plan to sign him. SP Francisco Liriano Twins Early candidate for Rookie of The Year. Forming great One-Two punch with Santana. Replaces Contreras, who started that marathon played on Sunday. RP Jonathan Papelbon Red Sox That 0.59 ERA is looking quite nifty. RP BJ Ryan Orioles Not to shabby, 0.89 ERA. Easily the closer version of Alex Rodriguez in terms of Free Agents and the Mets. RP Mariano Rivera Yankees His 8th All Star selection, the most ever by a reliever. RP Bobby Jenks White Sox Picked by Guillen in yet another �I�m taking my guys� pick. Having a good year though. Man, this years AL Squad looks stacked. That bullpen looks pretty tough to go through, the AL dominance could continue as they haven�t lost since 1996.

I'm considering doing it, we still do have three guys playing and two others that will line up on the foul line Tuesday so I might just throw one up tonight.

]My questions: Do you have examples of the media blowing up when a player starts Sunday and can't pitch in the ASG? Right now no ]Do you have a mediot saying the ASG game is fixed b/c a player starts Sunday and can't pitch in the ASG? Huh? All of a sudden the ASG is pro wrestling? ]Do you have an example of the media making a mountain because a player starts Sunday and can't pitch in the ASG? No ]Or is it time to admit that you shouldn't blame the media for what you said, and move on? Fine!

Elster88 wrote: ="SteveJRogers"]clearly I was talking off the top of my head. Clearly you were making an assertion that was entirely untrue. I did hear ESPN radio hosts Sunday afternoon wonder why Glavine decided not to pitch on Tuesday for no apparant reason

I'm sure I could find actual examples, knowing the media it is something that would be made into a sports radio "Get me through this 3 hour show" topic, clearly I was talking off the top of my head.