MFS62

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Until this thread I had never heard of Melissa and Doug. Are they relatively new? Maybe they came along after my kids were too old for their toys? (My youngest is 14.) Maybe they changed their names after their operations. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Atlanta iirc, has a gigantic soda bottle advertising their association with Coke. I think the Giants have something like that too. I will be shocked if this deal they announce tomorrow is something just as garish if not more. You figure if you're a gigantic brand like Coke you have to or risk looking weaker than Pepsi with a whole section of the stadium named for it and the giant ad, and all those years when you could get in free with a bottle on Wednesdays, etc. And isn't there a huge Coke bottle behind the left field wall at Fenway Park, or did they take it down? Later

Edgy MD wrote: It happens regularly enough. You have a good catcher who can hit, you try and get him some turns in another position so he can play once or twice more a month. It works even better if you have a backup you like. Carter did it. Stearns did it (although his career-ending injury spiral began when he hurt his elbow playing third). Even Grote did it. Why not d'Arnaud? Craig Biggio certainly did it. And Joe Torre (proving you don't have to be smart to play first base) And Rico Carty. Later

Mike Pelfrey inks 2 year deal with Detroit. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-source-tigers-agree-2-16m-deal-pelfrey-011744350--spt.html Later

Frayed Knot wrote: The COKE CONCOURSE Or, if we run into a stretch where our power hitters disappear, the COKE ZERO CONCOURSE In keeping with Fred naming a part of the stadium after a former New York athlete (the Jackie Robinson Rotunda), they could name it the Lawrence Taylor Coke Corner. Later

Our old pal Ollie Perez to the Nats. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Concerned not only for SA obviously but that the Mets haven't bothered yet to specify who's in charge in the meantime. That's a typical Met thing. “In the meantime, Sandy’s team and I will be coordinating closely with him and keeping him up to date on all baseball matters.” That's Jeff speaking. Jeff! I'd prefer someone with a measurable I.Q run the ship until Sandy returns. Later

Stay strong and get better soon, Sandy. That's an order, Marine! Later

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Marc Carig of Newsday wrote: While their pursuit of Ben Zobrist has escalated, the Mets still have an eye on adding an outfielder capable playing centerfield and a veteran reliever to round out the bullpen. The Mets view free agents Denard Span and Gerardo Parra as potential fits, according to a source. While Dexter Fowler has also been linked to the Mets earlier in the offseason, the club�s interest has cooled. Meanwhile, a source said the Mets will cast a wide net when it comes to seeking relief help. Recent non-tender Steve Cishek, a one-time closer for the Marlins, is among those who will be considered. Well, the Nats just signed Ollie Perez as a free agent. When I first saw it,I thought it said "Mets sign Ollie". The EMTs were able to revive me, and I feel ok now. Later

Just one more reason to dislike that team. (As though we needed any more) Bonds going back to an area that has had a reputation for illegal drug use* is like an alien going back to the mother ship. Later * = if not, then why Miami Vice?

The latest James Bond film. There are the obligatory women, chases, winter scene and explosions. But this is a darker Bond, and the cinematography reflects it. At first glance, the story might seem to be there only to hold those things together. But long time Bond fans finally learn something about how James Bond became .007 and his longtime relationship with one of his arch enemies. That revelation may not be enough to make this one of the best Bond films ever, but it adds something unexpected to this formula-based series. Later

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Players are tested during the season for PEDs, right? Would that test detect recreational drugs as well? Yes. Later

An authorized voter who doesn't submit a ballot for two consecutive year should lose his vote. Edgy, I believe the percentage is based on ballots cast. Don't remember ever hearing anything mentioned about ballots distributed. Later

Ceetar wrote: one of my coworkers has a second-hand story about Jeter running around a hotel snorting coke with a bunch of [crossout]women[/crossout] boy scouts. Fixed that for you. Later

Edgy MD wrote: MFS62 wrote: Hmmm, lefty in Fenway Park. I wonder what his career numbers have been when he pitched there. And even if they have been respectable... 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA, holding opponents (the Red Sox) to a .550 OPS. That's respectable. Thanks, Later

Hmmm, lefty in Fenway Park. I wonder what his career numbers have been when he pitched there. And even if they have been respectable, how will those numbers look toward the end of that contract when he loses a few MPH off his heater? Time will tell. Later

I'd rather this be about Harvey dancing to Blurred Lines at a club. Later

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I read today that Mejia is not eligible to receive any share at all. That's also part of the suspension rule. So I'm guessing that the .05 share went to Akeel Morris. Later

It seems like only yesterday that Jeff Manto was going to have the record: http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=manto-001jef But I'm not sure if he ever held it for even a brief period of time. Later

HOO-rah! Later

My adoptee, Juan Centeno, signed a minor league deal with the Twins. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ceetar/ Those FanGraphs guys are just making this stuff up. /Ceetar Srsly, I like Dan, although secrets don't tend to last long in baseball as Keith likes to remind us. Roger Craig kept the secret of the splitter to himself until after he left the Mets. He never taught it to any of the other pitchers on the 1962 Mets. Dan Warthan's slider has broken more hearts than Bette Davis' eyes. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Mr. Bad Shortstop Option has served nearly 2000 career innings there-- averaging 30-plus games a year from 2008-2014-- for the defensively-minded Fighting Maddons. He's also played a more-than-credible corner OF, faked 200 innings of CENTER, and inspired the Fielding Bible's creation of a multi-position player award with his all-around defensive solidity. Speaking of more than credible, when he was playing for the MFYs we heard that Cletis Boyer was the top defensive third baseman in baseball, even better than (gasp!) Brooks Robinson. I recently looked it up. Brooks' was better (.971) Clete's career fielding pct was .965. I know there are now better ways to measure defense, but that was all we had. So that number has stuck in my head as the number against which all others third basemen were measured. Last time I looked, Ben Zobrist's is .966! IMO if either have to play outfield it would not be a good situation. I still prefer re-signing Murphy if the money is comparable, because of his age. But I would be ok if they signed Ben, too. Later

Deja vu, all over again. Later

Mike Hessman calls it a career. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/mike-hessman--the-minor-leagues-all-time-home-run-leader--retires-222337630.html And a record setting career it was. Later