stevejrogers

metirish wrote: OMFG, the way Buck and McCarver are fellating Wacha you'd be forgiven if you thought he was Christy Mathewson. Still nothing compared to Howard Cosell though. The way he talked up Scott McGregor in 1979, you'd think the O's not only had the next Jim Palmer, but a combo of him, Seaver and Carlton in one pitcher!

Frayed Knot wrote: BoSox look to be on their way to their 9th consecutive WS game win following their sweeps in 2004 & 2007. And with the exception of a three-inning span in game 2 of 2007 when they were briefly behind the Rockies 1-0 (a Todd Helton ground-out knocked in Matt Holliday in the 1st inning) you have to go back to a certain HR by Ray Knight to find the last time they even trailed a WS game. Unreal. Speaking of quirkiness, Game 5 of that aforementioned series was the last postseason game the franchise won until Pedro Martinez won Game 1 of the 1998 ALDS 11-3 against Cleveland, their only win of that series (though they'd defeat Cleveland in 5 the next year), a streak of 13 postseason games (last two of the '86 series, ALCSs against the A's in 1988 and 1990, and the 1995 ALDS against Cleveland.

Edgy MD wrote: Well, it'd take a helluva column to get me to watch the Super Bowl these days. Gyah! I imagine they ain't missing my money. True, but you do get a deluge of social media users proudly proclaiming that they won't be watching, or just for commercials/movie trailers.

Man Arrested For Tweeting Threats Toward Mets | Mets Merized Online Wonder what his First Amendment bending excuse will be... One positive thing, at least it isn't an employee of the team, that happened to a Philadelphia Phillies employee several years ago when he made scathing and threatening emails in the Phillies' organization email system! The truly sad thing about that incident though (and why it comes to mind), is that outside the area media outlets (i.e. New York City radio) saw the term "phanatic" used and presumed that the employee in hot water was the guy who portrays the Phillie Phanatic and sad sap wannabe libertarian "hate the owners/corporation" hosts, without knowing the actual story, went on this "oh come on, he shouldn't lose his job because of some emails" mini-rant about it. Same rant even applies when people complain that actions are taken too far against faxes/calls/emails/tweets/messages/whatever against commentators on radio/TV/print/whatever that they strongly dislike, without realizing that lines are probably crossed and there is probably more to the story than an "evil media outlet/company" "silencing critics."

vtmet wrote: Are we doing one of these for each position? 2nd base and 1st base have a few interesting options, with several having success in limited timeframes... The thread is a rib on the Grote one, considering the SI cover proclaiming the 1999 infield as the best ever, but if you want to throw up threads for other positions, have at it.

Frayed Knot wrote: What's Hannity got to do with anything? Making Bucket's work day tolerable. But then again, just saw the show he referenced is a night time shift, so never mind...I guess?

Source: http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1453700#bmb=1

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'll be honest I never even heard of John & Ken until an hour ago. They certainly seem like douchebags, though. I don't think I've even listened to that station for 30+ years. Just checked though, and it comes to my cubie OK so I'm good to goof off with yous on those long Thursday afternoons. Don't be so sure. I think I saw somewhere that Sean Hannity is heading to WOR locally.

I guess Tammy Tampax isn't devastated that he didn't get picked to be in the parade...

Edgy MD wrote: HOLY SHIT! Ken Singleton! There's the guy right there that, while he certainly doesn't disprove Reggie's contention, throws a big bucket o' cold water on it. Wifey Watch Machine, do your thing. Not so fast! Met her as an Oriole. http://www.thebeaconnewspaper.com/select-stories/features/she-shares-inspiration-online

Seems like this keeps getting recycled... https://www.google.com/url?q=http://archives.cranepoolforum.net/800/f1_t864.shtml&sa=U&ei=QPRSUt_4NKvY7AaJqIGIDg&ved=0CA0QFjAC&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHuOuYM_JdD3I3_SXj2AHInsSb_gw Dude won five World Series in seven years and wonders wistfully what would have happened if he got a better break and became a Met? Buyers remorse about getting in bed with the nutjobs in the Bronx?

94-68, second in the NL Central, finishing 3 games behind the Cardinals, and finishing 7 games in front of the Cincinnati Reds, whom they ultimately defeated in the Wild Card Game. Not only did the Pirates snap the 20 year drought of sub .500 seasons and lack of postseason appearances, but finished in the top 3 in the division for the first time since finishing 3rd in 1999, they also had a 2nd place finish in 1997. Starters 1B 66 L/R Justin Morneau Brought in on an 8/31 deadline deal from the Twins, the 4 time All-Star and former MVP batted .260 for the Pirates, drove in 17 runs, and still is looking for his first Pirate homerun. 2B 18 B/R Neil Walker Batted .251, with 16 homers and 53 RBI 3B 24 L/R Pedro Alvarez One of the Pirate All-Stars on the year, and led the team in both homers, 36 and RBI, 100 SS 12 R/R Clint Barmes Was with the Rockies during their postseason runs in the last decade, but was injured for most of the Rockies NL Championship season of 2007. LF 6 R/R Starling Marte In his rookie season, Marte swiped 41 bases, and hit .280. CF 22 R/R Andrew McCutchen An MVP candidate and easily the face of the franchise these days, McCutchen was the team leader in Batting Average, .317, Slugging, .404, and On Base Percentage, .911 as well was hitting 21 homers and driving in 84 runs. Also made his third straight All-Star Game, though obviously this time with couple more of his teammates beyond a token pitcher. RF 2 R/R Marlon Byrd One of only two ex-Mets on the roster, Byrd hit .318 in his 30 games as a Bucco in 2013. C 55 R/R Russell Martin An ex-MFY and ex-Dodger, Martin hit .226 with 15 homers and 55 RBI. Bench INF 5 R/R Josh Harrison INF 46 L/L Garrett Jones INF 10 R/R Jordy Mercer INF 17 R/R Gaby Sanchez OF 31 R/R Jose Tabata C 14 R/R John Buck, the other ex-Met on the Pirates' NLDS squad Starters SP 34 R/R A.J. Burnett While not quite Oliver Perez levels, despite how he became an ex-MFY, Burnett certainty has his share of shaky performances in both big spots, and the run of the mill games. But he was a big part of the Pirate rotation all year, with a 10-11 record and a 3.30 ERA, and led the Pirates with 209 strikeouts. SP 45 R/R Gerrit Cole With 10-7 on the year with a 3.52 ERA. SP 47 L/L Francisco Liriano The Wild Card Game starter, and the anchor of the rotation, Liriano led the team with 16 wins against 8 loses, his .667 win percentage also tops for Bucco starters, and also led Pirate starters with a 3.02 ERA. SP 50 R/R Charlie Morton Went 7-4 on the year with a 3.26 ERA. Bullpen Closer 39 R/R Jason Grilli Was named to the All-Star Game and finished the year with 33 saves, and a 2.70 ERA. P 30 R/R Jeanmar Gomez P 32 R/R Vin Mazzaro P 35 R/R Mark Melancon Was named to the All-Star Game P 29 L/R Bryan Morris P 44 L/L Tony Watson P 37 L/L Justin Wilson Former Met Clint Hurdle has ex-Mets Jay Bell, Hitting, and Ray Searage, Pitching, on his coaching staff. This year the Pirates had a 10-9 edge over the Cardinals, punctuated by winning 4 out of 5 in late July to put the Pirates in the lead of the NL Central, and a 2 out of 3 series in late August that enabled the two teams to be tied on September 1st. A three game sweep by the Cardinals a week later though, all but made sure the Pirates would be the second place team in the division.

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Mets � Willets Point wrote: Anyone know where to find actual postseason rosters? I can only find 40-man rosters and "projections." Its on the teams' respective "Active Roster" pages. Seriously, there was only a 40-man roster on the Red Sox page when I posted this, but it's 25-man now. I hear ya, usually it doesn't get updated until they play their first game.

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Anyone know where to find actual postseason rosters? I can only find 40-man rosters and "projections." Its on the teams' respective "Active Roster" pages.

Edgy MD wrote: I guess we have a different idea of fun. You do realize I'm AGREEING WITH YOU with your points?

Frayed Knot wrote: I'm dealing with a troll on a general baseball forum that feels the line of demarcation of when Wilpon starts his power play starts in October of 1986, with the Mitchell trade and not offering Knight a contract for 1987. Should I even ask how he knows those moves were entirely on Wilpon while being completely free of Doubleday fingerprints (not to mention where Frank Cashen was in all this)? Never mind, I don't want to know. My point being that stuff like that are clearly after-the-fact rationalizations that have no basis in actual public knowledge; they're being said solely so as to fit the pre-determined conclusions of the speaker. Always fun to connect the dots (Wilpon starts to take more control in the winter of 1986...) in hindsight when you have a favorite target.

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, those are always fun. It's always about Kevin Mitchell. Knight and Mitchell are the Yin and Yang of goofy racial fantasies, and the root of all retro-Pon-hating. Mitchell doesn't do the Pons any favor by pointing out how he was traded due to his influence on Doc and Darryl, and yet it was only after Mitchell's leaving that Doc and Darryl's problems became public. Neither does the idea that McReynolds was such a "milquetoast" kind of guy that couldn't wait to go hunting during the offseason, which of course fails to mention that he was still just one guy amongst plenty of extroverted Mets still on the roster. Here is a better question as well, if they kept Juan Samuel at his natural position, does the Dykstra/McDowell trade still go down as "one of the worse in team history" as that trade, despite about 3 years later, gets lumped in with Knight/Mitchell as part of the "Wilpon got rid of the guys who were winners" narrative.

I need to hit up Foley's in NYC for some Iron City Beer (they have some ties down there, and are a big Penquin/Steeler bar during the winter)...

Frayed Knot wrote: Centerfield wrote: I've been meaning to bring up Doubleday. Piazza specifically mentioned him during his Mets HOF induction speech. I know it was rumor at one point, but is it generally accepted now (perhaps even validated by Piazza) that Nelson was the driving force in obtaining him? The story as I recall it of course began when Piazza was dealt to the Marlins which, as everyone knew, was no more than a stopping point on Mike's journey to somewhere, somewhere that is that wasn't the greater Miami area. Naturally NY media types (most loudly Mike + Mad Dog) raised the idea of the Mets getting him. But GM Steve Phillips' initial reply was that they already had a catcher (the then-injured Todd Hundley) and so they'd prefer to spend their financial and/or monetary resources elsewhere. It was at this point where rumor has it that the drumbeats got into Doubleday's head causing him to poke his head into Phillips's office suggesting that it might be a good idea to "look into" this Piazza situation. As time went on, M&MD, who initially denied their voices steered the Mets hand in any way, also started accepting more and more of the accolades over the years. On Piazza's first post-trade appearance with M&MD, Piazza "thanked" M&MD for their "role" in getting him to New York, so the legend had a ton of legs early on. Now one would need to know that specific office's politics to say whether a "suggestion" like that from a boss is actually just a suggestion or is more like an order. I don't believe Phillips made personnel decision based on the whims of ownership but I suppose we'll never know. In any case I don't believe anyone ever claimed it was more than just a nudge from Doubleday but those who tended to see things in a binary way with Fred as the devil and Nelson as the true genius who had his team swiped away from him surely latched on to that story as proof of Doubleday's baseball savvy. I'm dealing with a troll on a general baseball forum that feels the line of demarcation of when Wilpon starts his power play starts in October of 1986, with the Mitchell trade and not offering Knight a contract for 1987.

Armando Reynoso?

metirish wrote: bmfc1 wrote: Russo also said that the Mets were being cheap for only paying Collins $1 million a year. He said something like "he's the manager of a New York team, pay him like a New York manager." isn't that such a Russo thing to say?, based on nothing more than location, never mind the team is crap. It is something very common though among NYC based hosts, thinking that the biggest media markets demand the best. Among the arguments include comparing a dinner theater in Kansas City to being on Broadway, the idea that Alex Rodriguez in Texas was akin to buying the Mona Lisa and keeping it in your garage, etc.

soupcan wrote: That your New York Mets will be a force to be reckoned with next year, the year after at the latest. RUSSO WAS THE FANTERN? Sorry, couldn't resist an inside joke on another Met forum where a member declared that the Mets would win the 2007 division that final Friday of the regular season, and Saturday by the latest.

Kong76 wrote: I have to renege on my assignment. I have an unexpected appointment this afternoon and will not get to it. I'll take up Reds/Pirates then.

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Mets - Willets Point: Red Sox Kong76: Pirates Frayed Knot: TBD metirish: TBD Anyone else? I'll take someone

I tried that in 2006, after posting the MFY one that took me into the wee hours of the morning I got a few...lets say cease and desist responses for my project.