MFS62

="Centerfield":3epdtaj1] I can't believe he called K-Rod a putz just on that. . [/quote:3epdtaj1] Shows you what that reporter knows. Those are two different guys. Later Edgy DC Mar 12 2009 07:16 PM If you read it, that's how he prefaced it. RealityChuck Mar 13 2009 07:54 AM I thought it was A-Rod taking shots, not K-Rod. seawolf17 Mar 13 2009 08:17 AM Can we stop calling him K-Rod? Ugh. There has to be a better nickname out there. Someone get Valadius on line one. metirish Mar 13 2009 08:21 AM Yeah I thought we had this discussion when he was signed , I know I resolved not to call him that. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 08:21 AM He's a practitioner of Santeria, and I was thinking of going with "Voodoo Chile," but I'm afraid it will come out derogatory. (You think?) More seriously, I think releivers are like dogs. Give them a week or two and they'll name themselves with their behavior. Frayed Knot Mar 13 2009 08:31 AM ="seawolf17":12qcz28l]Can we stop calling him K-Rod? Ugh. There has to be a better nickname out there.[/quote:12qcz28l] Well I think the clear intent of the article that started this thread was to dub him BB-Rod John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 13 2009 08:38 AM Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here? That's not a good article and it appears that he's missing a good deal of the bigger picture but I'm certain Gordon Edes isn't out to attract attention to himself by hating the Mets for no reason. I'm also at least open to the possibility that Rodriguez really is a dick. soupcan Mar 13 2009 08:43 AM 'Dick-Rod' Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 08:48 AM I'm more than open to that possiblity. But the bait and switch on the lede is jarring. And it's certainly possible that Edes is bringing it, not because Mets are always a good target (though they are), but because: 1) Latinos are always a good target 2) Relievers are always a good target 3) Guys who won't talk to the press are always a good target But he's standing on the battle line of a three way PR war centered in a country where the media is far from free and he's missing the story completely, because "asshole athlete's got no time for me therefore he holds you the fan in contempt and that is not going to fly in New York, foreign guy" is a story that there is always a market for. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 09:55 AM ="soupcan":1yx70c9l]'Dick-Rod'[/quote:1yx70c9l] Wouldn't it just be "Rod"? seawolf17 Mar 13 2009 10:13 AM Let's call him Nightcrawler. soupcan Mar 13 2009 10:27 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1ycvojue]="soupcan":1ycvojue]'Dick-Rod'[/quote:1ycvojue] Wouldn't it just be "Rod"?[/quote:1ycvojue] How about 'Rod-Dick'? Oh, nope - that's already taken. metirish Mar 13 2009 10:30 AM ="seawolf17"]Let's call him Nightcrawler. Good times , speaking of Nightcrawler , from the Snooze ] PORT ST. LUCIE - Billy Wagner, who has been throwing in his native Virginia, has been shut down by the Mets. But there's no bad news. Mets officials are concerned an enthusiastic Wagner is trying to rehab from Sept. 10 Tommy John surgery too quickly and requested a throwing moratorium to avoid the risk of re-injury. Wagner is not expected to visit camp, but Mets rehab specialists Chris Correnti and Guy Conti are expected to visit the southpaw at his home when the Mets break camp in three weeks. Wagner expects to be with the Mets for the season's final month, if not earlier, a source close to the former closer said. I guess that is where Conti landed with the org. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 10:39 AM Go, Guy! soupcan Mar 13 2009 10:55 AM ] PORT ST. LUCIE - Billy Wagner, who has been throwing in his native Virginia, has been shut down by the Mets. But there's no bad news. Mets officials are concerned an enthusiastic Wagner is trying to rehab from Sept. 10 Tommy John surgery too quickly and requested a throwing moratorium to avoid the risk of re-injury. Wagner is not expected to visit camp, but Mets rehab specialists Chris Correnti and Guy Conti are expected to visit the southpaw at his home when the Mets break camp in three weeks. Wagner expects to be with the Mets for the season's final month, if not earlier, a source close to the former closer said. Why on earth do they care? Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 10:57 AM Because he could be back pitching for the Mets late this season. soupcan Mar 13 2009 11:00 AM Now we all know that's not gonna happen. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 13 2009 11:04 AM Very haterly of me, but I never warmed to Wagner even a little. He can go screw an alpaca for all I care. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 11:06 AM ="soupcan":i7excr8s]Now we all know that's not gonna happen.[/quote:i7excr8s] Hey, you so certain, take it to Paddy Power. TransMonk Mar 13 2009 11:08 AM I give him a little cred for rehabbing so hard. If I were 38, due to make (a lot of) guaranteed money this year and my team had replaced me with 2 capable players, I would probably move to Mexico and sip Margarita's all day. I do admire his drive and competitiveness...even if he is mostly a dick. metirish Mar 13 2009 11:14 AM "Wagner has re-dedicated himself this season to the task at hand"... LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 11:20 AM ="TransMonk":3jzzxrpz]I give him a little cred for rehabbing so hard. If I were 38, due to make (a lot of) guaranteed money this year and my team had replaced me with 2 capable players, I would probably move to Mexico and sip Margarita's all day. I do admire his drive and competitiveness...even if he is mostly a dick.[/quote:3jzzxrpz] Also, he's so wittle! (You can put 'im in your pock't!) Frayed Knot Mar 13 2009 11:39 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1fzhr4jb]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here? That's not a good article and it appears that he's missing a good deal of the bigger picture but I'm certain Gordon Edes isn't out to attract attention to himself by hating the Mets for no reason.[/quote:1fzhr4jb] I've long yapped about the idea that Met fans have a tendency to see bias far too easily. Edes is, I believe, Boston based, and should have no particular reason for Met-hating or Jeter-kissing (even beyond just journalistic ethics) and I don't think that piece shows much of either. I just think he was going for the angle that if Frankie is going to blow-off the media every time he's pissed off about something that it's not an act that will play well in the city where he's going to be cashing his paychecks for the next few years (and you know it won't). He probably should have stayed away from the Putz/putz line even if it was (maybe especially because it was) seemingly set up on a tee for him. Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2009 11:44 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2o3vtj44]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here?[/quote:2o3vtj44] I agree. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 11:46 AM I just dislike journalists who take cheap and easy snarks. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 12:42 PM Agreed about the hypersensitivity to bias-- likely a function of "kid brother" status in the eyes of most local media/observers from out-of-town (see also: Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Not Los Angeles, New Jersey Nets/Devils, Los Angeles Clippers). Also, I'm not a professional Met fan. Being held to higher standards comes with the paycheck (and/or journo degree). metsguyinmichigan Mar 13 2009 01:03 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3vxc1rj7]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here? That's not a good article and it appears that he's missing a good deal of the bigger picture but I'm certain Gordon Edes isn't out to attract attention to himself by hating the Mets for no reason. I'm also at least open to the possibility that Rodriguez really is a dick.[/quote:3vxc1rj7] Guilty. Maybe it's a professional thing. Bad writing and reporting jumps out at me. And we on the news side are often peeved at what we see coming out of the sports side, which often doesn't have the same standards. If I referred to a school board memebr as a putz, there would be hell to pay. I'd also never get away with all the unnamed sources. We see a lot of these guys sitting back and pontificating, or grumbling about stuff readers don't care about. As a reader, do I really give a rat's butt that he had to with 90 minutes for Rodriguez to answer questions? That said, once you're concious of it, there are a lot of cheap shots at the Mets' expense, and the Yankees do get a lot of passes. But I'll try to tone it down. Apologies. Nymr83 Mar 13 2009 04:27 PM ="metirish"]"Wagner has re-dedicated himself this season to the task at hand"... he should have dedicated himself fully the moment he signed a multi-million dollar contract to do a job. themetfairy Mar 13 2009 04:33 PM Wagner may not have been a favorite of mine, but I've never doubted his work ethic. G-Fafif Mar 13 2009 04:50 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3ia9onl8]Very haterly of me, but I never warmed to Wagner even a little. He can go screw an alpaca for all I care.[/quote:3ia9onl8] I'm also at least open to the possibility that Wagner is a decent guy who is working really hard for money he could easily sit back and collect. I'm also at least open to the possibility that Wagner might enjoy that thing with the alpaca. Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2009 05:12 PM Well, don't forget that Wagner is going to be a free agent again after the 2009 season. He'll get more money if he gets a chance to demonstrate his health in September than he would otherwise. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 05:18 PM ="Nymr83"]="metirish"]"Wagner has re-dedicated himself this season to the task at hand"... he should have dedicated himself fully the moment he signed a multi-million dollar contract to do a job. Don't you think that it's a large stretch to draw the inference from the quote that the writer is arguing that there's any indication that Wagner was ever under-dedicated? G-Fafif Mar 13 2009 05:48 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":20chkz02]Well, don't forget that Wagner is going to be a free agent again after the 2009 season. He'll get more money if he gets a chance to demonstrate his health in September than he would otherwise.[/quote:20chkz02] True enough, though with what Billy pulled in (and that thriving alpaca business), theoretically he could let it heal slowly and move on. But I've yet to see a pitcher do that. Without knowing their individual finances, Billy, Pedro and Glavine could all do that, but they're competitors by nature (though one could cite one particular Sunday where I might not have included one of them as possessing loads of fire in the belly). There's a fun chapter in Tim Kurkjian's book about how ballplayers, especially the great ones, compete at every stupid, little game in the clubhouse and absolutely have to win. Cal Ripken had to defeat his wife when it came to trampoline-jumping. John Smoltz must prevail at H-O-R-S-E. So maybe there's no way a Wagner would sit back and collect on his contract. But he might screw that alpaca. It's just something I heard somewhere. metsguyinmichigan Mar 13 2009 05:59 PM ="G-Fafif" But he might screw that alpaca. It's just something I heard somewhere. As long as there is dinner and a movie included, I guess that's OK. It's gotta be a chick flick, though. You can't take an aplaca to Saw 4 or something then hit a Taco Bell drive-thru and expect that kind of treatment. Nothing is more pathetic than seeing a guy standing alone at a stable yelling "But baby, I bought you a gordita!" to a closed door. MFS62 Mar 13 2009 06:39 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 14 2009 06:03 AM If you go on alpaca.com, it has a link for "alpacas for hire" (not joking) Maybe you CAN hire one for a night of fun. (sluts) EDIT: Insert your own non regional-specific comment about where they fuck wooly animals here. Later Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 07:20 PM Oh, right, that anti-Southern bigotry just keeps giving. Fman99 Mar 13 2009 07:44 PM Wags was one of the 10-12 best goatfuckers ever to come out of that bullpen. Gwreck Mar 13 2009 08:35 PM Let me just say that Billy Wagner as our 7th inning guy (or lefty specialist, if you want) would be a thing of beauty. He can take all the time he needs, so long as he's ready for September 15th when the Mets have a 15 game lead and he can start tuning up for the playoffs. MFS62 Mar 13 2009 09:10 PM ="Edgy DC":36pyynka]Oh, right, that anti-Southern bigotry just keeps giving.[/quote:36pyynka] So does defending alpaca fuckers. Later Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 09:21 PM What does that mean? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 11:54 PM ="Gwreck"]Let me just say that Billy Wagner as our 7th inning guy (or lefty specialist, if you want) would be a thing of beauty. He can take all the time he needs, so long as he's ready for September 15th when the Mets have a 15 game lead and he can start tuning up for the playoffs. Dude... if we have a fifteen-game lead in September, I'm campaigning for Wags-as-beanball-specialist for those last two weeks. Bruised asses heal a lot of psychic scars. MFS62 Mar 14 2009 06:01 AM ="Edgy DC":3qmphvjc]What does that mean?[/quote:3qmphvjc] It was meant to be funny, just like all the other posts in this thread referring to alpaca fucking. Its ok, I understand. I'll go back and edit my original post. Later LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 16 2009 09:16 PM Yanqui go home: Sojo just plugged in K-Rod in the 8th inning for the second game in a row. Edgy DC Mar 16 2009 09:50 PM Twenty pitches. No big whoop. Feliciano threw for the losers also. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 16 2009 10:34 PM 4 outings, 70-plus pitches in 6 days, for a max-effort thrower? I'm mildly annoyed.

As most of the others slowly (and in some cases rapidly) eliminate themselves, Figueroa is starting to make his move toward the final turn. I'm still not convinced yet, but this one won't be settled until the home stretch. You can't count the homey out just yet. Later

Aren't they still paying Bobby Bonilla $1 million per year? And, I didn't add up your numbers about the current salary level. But I thought I read a while ago (couldn't find a link) that club contributions to health insurance, etc. are added to a team's salary for porposes of calculating whether or not they pay the tax. Later

I think fman99 nailed it. I think Omar has always liked Sanchez. And although he still had time to make the financial decision, Omar wanted to give him time to catch on with another team before the other teams had finalized their rosters. Or, as Michael Corleone might have said, "This was personal, Sonny. Not business". Later

Many years ago, I spoke with Yank utility player Gil McDougald who played in the majors for several years. http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcdougi01.shtml I asked him about the difference in playing the three positions and about the preparation for playing each. He mentioned the things you folks said above. Then he added that it only took him a few throws during pre-game at the position he was going to play that day to get his arm ready. That surprised me. I guess that's why he was so valuable to the Yanks of that era. Later

They showed that yesterday, too. Maybe its an exercise to strengthen the hamstrings. The announcers noted it yesterday, but none of them could come up with a reason. Later

And my kid, Wilmer Flores went 1-4 with an RBI double. He's supposed to get another start today. Later

He went 1-4 with an RBI double in his first ST action with the "big club" weakened by the absence of WBC players. He's supposed to get another start today. Welcome, kid. Later

Gwreck wrote: Thought I heard the Canadians serenading Jones with a "Larrrrrrry" chant too. I did see some Mets shirts in the stands. Could've been them. Later

Ya' gottta' love the Canadians for jeering Jeter. Later

Edgy DC wrote: Game-winning hit courtesy of Marlon Anderson, pinch hitting. From the box, looks like he went 2 for 2. The RBI may have come when he was acting as the "D"-word. * http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=AqTLO3ap9ASIrQhn1lEbEJERvLYF?gid=290306124 Later * = that AL rule. (shudder)

Edgy DC wrote: The KindaMets lead 4-3 as Adam "The Stapler" Bostick comes on. Now THERE'S a candidate for the Bermanisms thread. Later

Irish.Your kid was away so long.And I bet he didn't call, he didn't write.Later

There was a small blurb in the early edition of the Snooze that quoted Omar as saying that it "would be fun to see a 17 year old" (Wilmer Flores) hitting against major league pitchers. I hope he gets some playing time. Later

Edgy, I just had to send some kudos your way for the title of this thread. Later

If true, the Yanks will need a third baseman. How much time do you think it will be until Michael Kay suggests a trade of Robinson Cano for David Wright? Later

Who threw out the first pitch at Shea? If that person is still alive, it would make for a nice touch. (and, if they're still alive, it would also probably make for a lousy throw). Later

="86-Dreamer":2c4tjkyk]Johan had a strong bullpen today and now says he is still shooting for Opening Day: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=3950758[/quote:2c4tjkyk] I don't like it when my emotions are toyed with. Later Frayed Knot Mar 10 2009 06:43 AM Well they're about to be toyed with again because Johan says he's feeling good and aiming for Opening Day (a phrase that should always be capitalized, btw). He used all his pitches in yesterday's throwing session and is scheduled for a Thursday start. So the thousands of trees and E-trees that were killed in order to make room for the multitude of columns and blogs detailing the dire consequences and medical malpractice in connection with Santana's left wing turned out to have given their lives in vain all over a soreness which required that miracle of modern medicine ... a 3-day break. themetfairy Mar 10 2009 06:45 AM Either that, or that liniment really works! metirish Mar 17 2009 12:18 PM Great news. ] Mets' Santana throws four innings without incident BY DAVID LENNON | david.lennon@newsday.com 1:41 PM EDT, March 17, 2009 PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - More than any one pitch, the best indication of Johan Santana's mindset as he prepares for Opening Day came during the second inning of Tuesday's minor-league game on Field 7. Santana was so sure he had Scott Grimes struck out on a changeup in the dirt that he stormed off the back of the mound to argue with the umpire behind him. That's right. Scott Grimes, who was playing for the Worcester Tornadoes last season. Santana buried a changeup, and Grimes -- not used to that kind of pitch in the Can-Am League -- clearly did not check his swing. Which is why Santana was annoyed. "Oh yeah, this is a game," Santana said. "You have to do whatever it takes to even win that game and get ready. Because that's the thing, when Opening Day comes, there's not going to be any practice. You've got to be ready. "So that's what we're trying to do now, focus on throwing all of the pitches, on controlling the strike zone and throwing changeups and sliders. I think we're pretty good. We're on the right track." The irritated Santana finished off Grimes with a fastball that he missed for strike three -- no discussion there -- and completed his four-inning stint without incident. Overall, Santana allowed six hits and two earned runs, with five strikeouts and no walks. He threw 56 pitches, 40 for strikes, and his fastball stayed in the 87-89 mph range. With three more starts to go, Santana figures to build up more arm strength and the velocity should increase as well over the next three weeks. "We're still working," Santana said. "I don't work by percentages or anything, but I think we still have some room to improve and to get better and that's what we're focused on right now."

All good, or creative, guesses. None correct. All will be revealed shortly. I don't want to use up allthe remaining posts until 11,000 in this thread. Thank you for playing along. Later

I guess that one benefit of the WBC will be that the Mets will be able to see all those guys in camp in real games while many of the regulars are representing their respective countries in the tourney. Later

Dreamer - you connected the dots pretty well. Unfortunately, not well enough. I'm surprised nobody else has selected Gil as their post- 11,000 avatar. But I have selected someone else. Thank you. Later

They should pay the fans $20. Later

Wow! I'm old and brittle. If I stretched that far I'd break. My kudos for getting creatively analytical. Later

="TransMonk":2c4rd0i6]Stretching for JC Martin?[/quote:2c4rd0i6] Nope. Not him. I don't get how professor would be a clue to JC Martin. Even as a stretch. Later TransMonk Mar 02 2009 03:30 PM Hugh Martin co-wrote Buckle Down, Winsocki. Learn Your Lessons Well is a song from from Godspell, which is about JC. Like I said...a stretch. MFS62 Mar 02 2009 04:41 PM Wow! I'm old and brittle. If I stretched that far I'd break. My kudos for getting creatively analytical. Later 86-Dreamer Mar 03 2009 03:41 PM Gil Hodges? can't quite connect all the clues, but here are some of the things that make me think of Gil mets fans always look to the future with hope = wait 'til next year at least one CPF'er has spoken with him - Gil was a very accesible person in his Brooklyn nabe, so can imagine several of the older members might have met him - he lived around the corner from where I grew up Winsocki - can't figure that one out, other than that it was a fictional military academy and Gil was a military man. there is probably some connection to fight songs but i cant figger it out Learn your lesson well - Gil taught Cleon a lesson. MFS62 Mar 03 2009 04:02 PM Dreamer - you connected the dots pretty well. Unfortunately, not well enough. I'm surprised nobody else has selected Gil as their post- 11,000 avatar. But I have selected someone else. Thank you. Later 86-Dreamer Mar 03 2009 04:21 PM Mets fans always look to the future with hope = Lets Go Mets? could it be Jane Jarvis? Edgy DC Mar 03 2009 07:30 PM I'm gonna bet 1,000 cranebucks that it's not Jane Jarvis. metirish Mar 03 2009 07:30 PM Need some resolution here on this.....please... soupcan Mar 03 2009 07:36 PM ="metirish":8eyqqbmn]Need some resolution here on this.....please...[/quote:8eyqqbmn] Do we? Really? cooby Mar 03 2009 07:40 PM ="MFS62"] Learn your lesson well. Ricky Nelson? Real guess: Bill Shea? DocTee Mar 03 2009 07:40 PM Davey Johnson. MFS62 Mar 04 2009 06:25 AM All good, or creative, guesses. None correct. All will be revealed shortly. I don't want to use up allthe remaining posts until 11,000 in this thread. Thank you for playing along. Later MFS62 Mar 31 2009 07:13 AM I�m announcing the identity of my chosen permanent avatar today because it is the anniversary of his death. I have chosen Brian Cole. He was a rising star in the Mets minor league system, an outfielder with speed and emerging power. Brian had been named Mets minor leaguer of the year 1999 by Baseball America Almanac. Spring training had ended. He was driving home from spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to Meridian, Miss., to drop off his truck. He was to fly Saturday to Binghamton, N.Y., to join the Mets' Double-A team. There was a companion in his truck. Cole's truck was hit by another vehicle near the Florida-Alabama border. His vehicle rolled over and Brian was thrown out. It was later found that he had not been wearing his seat belt. He was killed almost instantly. His companion, who had been wearing a seat belt, survived. The Mets have named a rookie award after him. I want to honor his memory this way. Later Edgy DC Mar 31 2009 07:20 AM soupcan Mar 31 2009 07:26 AM Thank goodness. Now I can sleep tonight. metirish Mar 31 2009 07:27 AM It was worth the wait , what a nice tribute to Cole. Fman99 Mar 31 2009 07:30 AM ="MFS62"]I�m announcing the identity of my chosen permanent avatar today because it is the anniversary of his death. I have chosen Brian Cole. He was a rising star in the Mets minor league system, an outfielder with speed and emerging power. Brian had been named Mets minor leaguer of the year 1999 by Baseball America Almanac. Spring training had ended. He was driving home from spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to Meridian, Miss., to drop off his truck. He was to fly Saturday to Binghamton, N.Y., to join the Mets' Double-A team. There was a companion in his truck. Cole's truck was hit by another vehicle near the Florida-Alabama border. His vehicle rolled over and Brian was thrown out. It was later found that he had not been wearing his seat belt. He was killed almost instantly. His companion, who had been wearing a seat belt, survived. The Mets have named a rookie award after him. I want to honor his memory this way. Later That's a good choice, I like it. seawolf17 Mar 31 2009 07:32 AM Interesting choice; I like it. Benjamin Grimm Mar 31 2009 07:33 AM So I wasn't TOO far off when I guessed Bob Hope. metirish Mar 31 2009 07:40 AM A New York Times report from April 2nd 2001 BASEBALL; Subdued Mets Share in Loss Of Player With Major Future By TYLER KEPNER Published: Monday, April 2, 2001 ] The televisions were on in the Mets' clubhouse this morning, but nobody paid attention. Most players sat alone or spoke softly to teammates. There was a game to play, the Mets' last exhibition before opening day, but nobody seemed to care. The night before, at a team dinner, the players had learned that Brian Cole, a 22-year-old outfielder who had been with them for much of spring training, had been killed in a car accident. ''There's no doubt that baseball is definitely secondary today,'' the veteran outfielder Darryl Hamilton said. ''It's going to be like that for a little while for us. You can't just let it go.'' Cole was driving from spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to Meridian, Miss., with his 17-year-old cousin, Ryan Cole, on Saturday afternoon. According to the Florida Highway Patrol in Panama City, Fla., Brian Cole's 2001 Ford Explorer, which was exceeding the 70-mile-an-hour speed limit, drifted onto the grass median from the inside westbound lane of State Route 8. The car then re-entered the westbound lane, slid sideways and rolled almost two times. Brian Cole, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car. He and his cousin were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Marianna, Fla., almost 20 miles east of the accident site. Brian Cole was pronounced dead there, and Ryan Cole, who was wearing a seat belt, was treated and released. The police said neither alcohol nor drugs were involved in the accident. The Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates observed a moment of silence for Cole before today's game at PNC Park, and the Mets are preparing to honor him in another way. A prayer service for Cole was held for the Mets' minor leaguers in Port St. Lucie, where workouts were canceled. Dr. Allan Lans, the director of the Mets' employee assistance program, will meet with the Class AA Binghamton Mets, the team Cole would have played for, to counsel them. ''That we were all together when we heard it, I think, is something that will make us a little stronger, that we shared our grief together,'' Mets Manager Bobby Valentine said. ''Guys know there was real emotion there, and a lot of people to share it with.'' Jason Phillips, a Mets catcher who played with Cole last season, said a driver had backed into Cole's Explorer a week ago. Cole planned to fly to Binghamton after driving hi car home so that his father and brother could take it in for repairs. ''That's the only reason he was going home,'' Phillips said. Phillips and others remembered Cole's quiet confidence and his ability to match his expectations. In an interview last month, Cole said his goals for last year had been 60 stolen bases, 18 home runs, a .300 average and 75 runs batted in. He exceeded every figure. Cole was in major league training camp for the first time this spring, and he impressed Mookie Wilson, the Mets' outfield coach, with his willingness to learn. All their conversations, Wilson said, were about how Cole could get better. Cole would sit in a corner of the locker room taking everything in, and he became friends with the veteran infielder Desi Relaford. The two played video games together, and Cole spent time at Relaford's home in Jacksonville, Fla. ''It's hard to comprehend the fact it's a life that's over,'' Relaford said. Mets General Manager Steve Phillips said Cole was projected to be an impact player in the majors, and that his talents suggested he could be an updated version of the classic leadoff hitter -- Cole could steal bases, but he also had pop in his bat. Phillips saw Cole play for the Class A St. Lucie Mets last year, and Cole put on a show -- infield hits, stolen bases, home runs. The Mets even considered promoting him last September. ''We had some of our longest discussions about him during spring,'' Valentine said. ''Most of it was about whether he was going to hit 20 or 35 homers in the big leagues.'' Cole was named the organization's player of the year last season, and he was considered the team's third best prospect behind outfielder Alex Escobar and pitcher Pat Strange. Pitcher Jerrod Riggan, a former teammate, struggled to fight back tears this morning. ''He knew he was going to make it,'' Riggan said. ''He knew he was going to be a big leaguer.'' Riggan was not the only Met hit hard by the news. Cole was a teammate for a few weeks, the veteran John Franco said, but he was part of the Mets' family. ''We all have some types of tears in our eyes,'' Franco said. ''The kid had a great future ahead of him, and it was stopped so short with a tragedy like that. It makes you realize how precious life is and appreciate everything you have. You want to go home and give your kids a big hug.'' Photo: Brian Cole (Gary I. Rothstein) MFS62 Mar 31 2009 07:46 AM Thanks, Irish. And thank all of you. Later 86-Dreamer Mar 31 2009 08:52 AM It is a nice tribute to a life cut short. But, how does it relate to the clues you gave? metsguyinmichigan Mar 31 2009 10:31 AM Tip of the cap. A fine choice. MFS62 Mar 31 2009 11:06 AM ="86-Dreamer":18grwt9a]It is a nice tribute to a life cut short. But, how does it relate to the clues you gave?[/quote:18grwt9a] Thanks, The key ones: Promise followed by sadness. I think our metfairy mentioned that she had spoken to him/ written about him. The lesson to be learned is to buckle up. (I took license with "Buckle Down, Winsocki") Later