MFS62

The Nassau Colliseum got a 100% OK rate - not one violation. This will be the most difficult to appreciate because there are no fans there to eat the food. Later

For whatever this is worth.(probably nothing) Found it on a KC website: http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=281&f=2054&t=6153508 Later

No, age should not be a factor. The Mets employed Al Jackson as a minor league pitching instructor well into his 60s. A hitting coach should be like a business consultant. The job is to: Identify the problem determine the root cause of the problem identify a few possible solutions to the problem select the one most proper for the situation (it may be something minor) communicate it clearly work with the client to implement it. Hitting coaches aren't always teachers of a particular approach (although Charlie Lau had some success doing this). Hitting coaches aren't always the best hitters. If someone asked Ted Williams how to become a better hitter, I'd bet he would have said "read my fucking book". But I doubt he would have had the patience to work with anyone beyond that. Now we get to Howard Johnson. The players say he is "working hard". I've heard he spends a lot of time viewing films, going over them to determine the problems, and identifying what might be wrong in a hitter's swing. So the question comes down to is he identifying the correct solution and is he communicating it properly. Finally, are the hitters listening, or are they comfortable with what he is suggesting? My vote is for the communicator who can make the hitters comfortable. And age should not be a factor. Later

Slap! Slap! Give Up? You can't give up! Did we give up when the Germans attacked Pearl Harbor? These are the New York Mets. The Mets of You Gotta' Believe. OK, so right now they couldn't score with a passed out hooker. But they are professional baseball players. Its a slump. All teams have them. Now they're coming home. Welcome them. Love them. Root for them. After all, they are our New York Mets. And don't you ever forget it. Later

Frayed Knot wrote: MFS62 wrote: Meche strugled early this year, but seems to have found "it" and has pitched pretty well lately. When's "lately"? He hasn't pitched since May Oops, don't follow the AL too much. I confused Meche with Greinke. Brain fart. Never mind. Later

I would do it. Meche strugled early this year, but seems to have found "it" and has pitched pretty well lately. Farnsworth throws harder than any Mets current reliever except for Parnell. And the trade of Castillo paves the way for the development of Tejada. It seems so one-sided in favor of the Mets that I think KC saw "NY" on the uniforms and had a flashback to the days (50s - 60s) when they were called a Yankee farm team. (I know, before expansion, they were.) Later

Vic Sage wrote: can Jerry's temperature be checked rectally? with a cactus? If the Mets lose a few more games in a row, I think the only way they'll be checking Jerry's temperature will be with a thermometer in his liver. Later

Congrats for the plug. As for Whitey, he was one of the best fielding centerfielders I ever saw (back in his KC days). I saw him go behind the CF monuments in YSI to take a triple (or inside the park homer) away from Mantle. LAter

Does Bill Madden got inducted with a Yankee cap? http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/baseball/99083104_It_s_a_Mad__Mad__Mad__Mad_world.html Later

Just got home, didn't listen to or watch the game. No hits for the last zillion-or-so innings again. Why is Howard Johnson still employed? Later

Centerfield wrote: Nephew: That's ok. If we're Mets fans, we have to do it. If you just root for teams that win, you're just a winners fan. CF, your nephew shows wisdom far beyond his years. Later

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Add Clint Hartung, 87, to the list of recent baseball passings. He was, as you probably know, the runner on third base when Bobby Thomson hit his pennant-winning homer. IIRC, Hartung was nicknamed "The Hondo Hurricaine". When he first came up, they didn't know if he was going to be the best pitcher ever or the best hitter ever. Both projections turned out to be highly optimistic. RIP, Clint. LAter

I opened up the "Three Catchers" thread before this one. Then I remembered that 1961 team that Houk managed. He had three catchers on that team, too. They all hit 20+ homers that year. George, Bob and now Ralph. At least Berra is safe for a while. RIP Ralph. LAter

C'mon, Ceetar. Its only a dollar a day to support a kid. Haven't you been watching all those Sally Struthers commercials? Later

Thanks. Later

He sat out all of last year. Injury? surgery? If TJ surgery, maybe he can rebound. He led the NL in saves a few years ago. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I flashed on Luis Ayala. But I wouldn't mind seeing another Juan Padilla for one year. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: MFS62 wrote: Locker Room Presence He capitalized that? I thought things like that only had to be capitalized when writing about Derek Jeter. Later I believe Martino was going for irony there. I was going for invective. Later

metirish wrote: Toyota is coming back and Green apparently is pitching great where he is, should be a blast come September. I hope you don't mean for the hitters. Later

themetfairy wrote: themetfairy wrote: I wrote this back in 2003. Maybe it'll help.... I'm submitting your article to DSM-IV. LOL CF, and while you're asking him if he's a masochist, you might as well ask him if he's ever been in a Turkish prison. Later

Locker Room Presence He capitalized that? I thought things like that only had to be capitalized when writing about Derek Jeter. Later

Todd Hundley, C and LF? Later

So, uh, can you tell us how you really feel? Don't hold back. LOL! Later