stevejrogers

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Just to clarify that despite his presence in this thread, Vida Blue is still among the living, correct? I had the same reaction looking at the first post on this page. Yeah, someone split this...faster than Vida's fastball!

RA Dickey helps fight the human sex-trafficking trade in India. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8896558/ra-dickey-toronto-blue-jays-india-help-fight-vs-sex-trafficking

Mets � Willets Point wrote: The perception that Valentine was responsible for a "disaster in Boston" will probably make it unlikely he'll get another managerial job, but I think he was a scapegoat for a bigger institutional crisis with the Red Sox and a convenient target for the ignorant, entitled, reactionary whiners who make up the greater part of the so-called Fenway 'Faithful.' Fair enough, but don't discount reasons why he never had a MLB in-uniform job in between the Mets and Red Sox, as well as Rangers and Mets.

Mets � Willets Point wrote: I wish he were going to the Mets dugout. Really? After the Boston disaster? I'd be shocked if he gets another MLB managing job again.

A lot better than 'rasslers wearing gear as they throw out ceremonial first pitches, here a WWE wrestler has some designs from The7Line in his wrestling gear: http://the7line.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CurtHawkins_The7Line.jpg

Edgy MD wrote: Players from the steroid era will certainly make (and indeed, have made) it into the Hall of Fame via the writers' ballot. I agree, just trying to get into heads of the morons who leave Piazza and Bagwell off due to meer suspicions.

Ceetar wrote: two ways it goes I guess, he apologizes for his fellow teammates "everyone was doing it" but declares he wasn't which I don't think would go over well, or he notes it was all over, declares it evil, and lauds baseball for fixing it, which paints him as the hero in the writers eyes and they elect him next year. curious though, if he'll throw anyone under the bus. FWIW, I think Lance Armstrong pretty much did in ANYONE from the Steroid Era getting in on the Writers Ballot now. Because, even if they continue the Piazza approach, they'll still say "look at that creep Armstrong. All those passed tests, all those lawsuits, etc." Even though Piazza's laid back approach is probably preferable, as opposed to what certain media types say that they'd do the obnoxious things that Armstrong and Clemens have done, its the fact that they feel so strongly about being lied to that I don't think anyone is getting in, not for a long while. Oh FUCK! Does this mean that MFY Andy Pettitte will be the only one from this "era" making the Hall because he was forced to come clean in a Court of Law? Christ, guy wasn't even THE GUY on those Yankee postseason teams. The guy is a glorified Ron Darling or Jerry Koosman (though I have heard someone make a HOF case for Kooz based on his career stats, besides win total, being comparable to The Manchurian Brave).

Edgy MD wrote: It's odd. You think "Who was the greatest manager of my lifetime?" and many of the names that come up --- Weaver, Whitey Herzog, Davey Johnson, Bobby Cox --- were guys that won one and only one championship. Do you want to give Earl an "honorary" title for 1983?

DocTee wrote: Tony LaRussa begs to differ... Bobby Valentine would beg to differ as well! Not to mention legions of MFY fans, depending on era they grew up in, clamoring for either Saint Joe or Battlin' Billy.

Hall of Famer, The Earl of Baltimore, Earl Weaver

Brief overview of Mets books that have come out in the past couple of years, and upcoming releases.

Ceetar wrote: The integrity clause is being used as an excuse for voters to play favorites and support their own personal biases. Just thought of something, there is more hard evidence that Mariano Rivera is guilty of negligent homicide/manslaughter than there is for Piazza as a PED user. Love to see if anyone uses THAT against Saint Mo when he comes up. There is precedence, people didn't vote for Alomar based on the spiting incident, I'm sure the Roseboro incident is why Juan Marichal isn't a first ballot HOFer and drug related issues apparently kept Fergie Jenkins and Orlando Cepeda on the ballot longer than they probably should have.

Ashie62 wrote: Could be the year for Gil Hodges then.. VC class already announced. Not sure when the next Post War ballot will be, possibly next year.

Nymr83 wrote: I really wouldn't mind being up there next summer for Piazza/Maddux. Fuck the writers. Will cooperstown be a ghosttown that weekend now? Does the veterans comittee add anyone? Will there be any kind of ceremony? The Vets added three guys from their "Pre-Intergration Era" vote, Deacon White a catcher in the 1880s, Hank O'Day an umpire from the early 1900s and Jacob Rupert, the Yankee owner during the Roaring 20s. All dead at the present time. So is Tom Cheek, the Frick Award winning longtime voice of the Blue Jays. Only the Sphinx award winner, Paul Hagen of MLB.com is living. Unless they pick a Buck O'Neil Award (for meritorious service to the game, started in 2008 and first posthumously given to O'Neil, Roland Hemond was the second recipient this past year) winner this year.

Valadius wrote: Thanks to these morons, next year's ballot gets even more ridiculous. The following players, to me, should be sure-fire, first-ballot Hall of Famers: Tom Glavine Jeff Kent Greg Maddux Frank Thomas Mike Mussina isn't a first-ballot guy to me but I would still vote for him, if I had room on my ballot. 20th in WAR for pitchers all-time, above the likes of Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins, and Nolan Ryan. A veritable bumper crop of Mets that become eligible next year: Moises Alou Armando Benitez Damion Easley Paul Lo Duca Trot Nixon Hideo Nomo Jay Payton Kenny Rogers Steve Trachsel Kind of a weird mish-mash of the 98-01 and 05-08 eras. The complete list of next year's potential first timers: Moises Alou, Armando Benitez, Sean Casey, Jose Cruz Jr., Ray Durham, Damion Easley, Keith Foulke, Eric Gagne, Tom Glavine, Luis Gonzalez, Scott Hatteberg, Jacque Jones, Todd Jones, Jeff Kent, Jon Lieber, Esteban Loaiza, Paul Lo Duca, Greg Maddux, Matt Morris, Mike Mussina, Trot Nixon, Hideo Nomo, Jay Payton, Kenny Rogers, Richie Sexson, J.T. Snow, Shannon Stewart, Frank Thomas, Mike Timlin, Steve Trachsel, Jose Vidro How about The Manchurian Brave going in with Piazza next year!

It will never happen, but how about the Mets flipping the writers the bird and induct Piazza into their Hall and retire #31 this summer. Hell, do it on the weekend of July 19th, against the Phillies. First home series after the ASG and a week before The Hall's induction weekend (Mets in Washington that weekend).

Latest exit poll projection Well, on the bright side I can make my cousin's wedding without annoying him all weekend that I'd (and he as well since he is a big Met/Piazza fan), rather be in Cooperstown that weekend. Also it will be less annoying asking either of my bosses at the sites in my signature if I can get press credentials for all HOF weekend events after a year and change under my belt at those sites! =

Edgy MD wrote: I think the conversation for greatest catcher of all time begins "What do yo think of Bench?" If there's another name in the conversation, it's surely Josh Gibson. Fair enough.

All things being equal, Piazza, and Pudge, are in the conversation for greatest catchers of All-Time. The Kid, Hall of Famer of course, falls just short of said conversation. Though I'll give you that he was overshadowed by Bench and the two AL East catchers for much of his prime years.

2pm on the MLB Network.

Yeah, so this is coming soon... The official "Interview Cap" to be worn in pre/postgame stuff and charity events. What. The. Fuck? To both the idea of such a garb (yeah I know the reason) and the design itself.

Clem Labine, first Met issued #41. Matt Watson.

Frayed Knot wrote: Mostly I remember Mike & Mad Dog (Chris particularly) as being vehemently anti-Biggio for the HoF - which is as good a reason as any for a 'Yea' vote IMO. I heard Colin Cowherd of ESPN Radio fame declare that Biggio doesn't belong anywhere near a Hall of Fame, while he'd put Canseco in. Reasoning, because of the FAME part! Canseco is much more FAMOUS than Biggio will ever be!

Edgy MD wrote: Would re-signing Rauch count? Because part of me thinks extending Wright was sort of a coup in the same sense that signing a free agent was, and while the 2013 Mets technically remain free agent virgins, let's not over-equate that with success. To be fair, that sounds like the same logic that considers players coming off the DL to be "transactions" to make up for not making a trade at the deadline to improve the team.

Edgy MD wrote: Also projecting an empty class. Valadius' nightmare is coming to pass. Even more of a nightmare, all three Veterans Committee members, and the Frick Award winner (Toronto's Tom Cheek) are dead at the present time with only Spinx Award winner Paul Hagen (unless there is a Buck O'Neil Award awarded this year) as the only living person to give his own speech! I'm guessing it has been quite a long time, if ever, that none of the normal Hall nominees were alive to accept enshrinement.