MFS62

I know it probably won't happen. But I can dream. I have to. I'm a Mets fan. Later

Edgy DC wrote: This also seems to be pattern with Omar Minaya, with his 1-for-2 deals: get a major leaguer you're going to punch in right away for better or for worse and get a prospect who has trended in the wrong direction, has fallen out of his team's favor, and can take his time in Norfolk (New Orleans) and benefit from a new organization with new coaches and turn himself around. Perez and Maine are our third and fourth starters right now, but both were the second guys in the deal when we got them. Minaya seems to know how to divide his eggs in multiple baskets. Good points. Some thoughts: Didn't Omar shake up the scouting staff since he's been the GM? It seems they are now looking at possible acquisitions from the standpoints of can his problem be fixed? and can we be the ones to fix it? All it took for Mota to be effective again was moving him to the other side of the rubber. Perez was helped by telling him to go back to his old style of throwing (use the fastball more). And the fact that Omar is asking for those types of players (with future up sides) in deals shows me that the Mets are no longer the kind of team that always has to throw lots of prospects into deals just to obtain a quick fix kind of player and nothing else. Omar has been doing his homework. (Yes, they gave up prospects for Delgado , but I don't regard him as a "quick fix"/ one year rental.) Yes, Perez and Maine are our fourth starters now. And next year they may be joined in the rotation by Humber and/or Pelfrey and/or Bannister. That brings to mind the O's "Baby Bird" rotations of the 60's, the Mets rotations of the 80's and the Tigers' rotation this year. Each staff had an experienced lefty (Cuellar, Ojeda, Rogers). And Glavine can fill that role in 2007 for the Mets. This could be the start of something good. Later

Edgy DC wrote: I think you're in trouble whenever you pitch to your defenses strengths and weaknesses. Let's not be silly, a fly to right is better than a liner to left no matter who is out there. Agreed. Later

Edgy DC wrote: Get the fly ball the other way. Out to where several fly balls have been an adventure this series? Oh well, the fans deserve yet another thrill. But maybe a fastball low and outside could enduce a grounder to second. I agree on your pitch location, though. He's been getting around on the inside pitch. Later

I still liked Krusty. Later

The year before the Mets got him, John Maine was the sixth best prospect in the Orioles' organization. They brought him up that year and he faltered. As a result, he slipped down several spots on their prospect list. If he was their sixth best, I'd sure like to know the names of the players who were ranked higher. I should know them, because they must be household names by now. Later

Reyes 2 LoDuca 1.5 Green 1 Maine 2 .5 Bradford 1 Heilman 1 Mota 1 Later

="cooby"]Hopefully, it won't occur to LaRussa to start Taguchi Against a lefty starter, he probably will. rats! Later

So Taguchi is a pain in the rosy red rectum. Is there some way the Mets can get his Green Card pulled before tonight's game? He may get the start in left against the lefty starter. I hope the Mets have an 11 run lead each time he comes to bat. Later

Speaking of vacations: Wouldn't it be nice to hear John Maine say, "I'm going to Disneyland" in a few weeks? Later

The update guy on ESPN radio this morning pointed out that the Mets were wearing their "old" unis last night. Later

Chavez seems to make the third out of the inning a lot. That hurt the Mets in game 2, because Willie couldn't pull the pitcher because it would have burned three players - the guy coming in, the pinch hitter for the pitcher leading off the next inning, and the new pitcher for the next inning. Later

The Tim McCarver Drinking Game. ]Baseball humorist Bill Chuck (a.k.a. Billy-Ball) has had about enough of FOX Sports� Tim McCarver, in fact it is so bad that he is being driven to drink. Believe me, I don't espouse reckless drinking. Then again Anheuser-Busch is not one of my sponsors. Somehow I suspect that in the back of their minds, the marketing geniuses have been waiting for some fool (read: Billy-Ball) to suggest that after select clich�s by Tim McCarver that fans hoist another Bud Select. What really pushed me over the edge was a moment in the 1st inning of last night's 4-2 Cardinals victory. Shortstop (spark plug?) David Eckstein had just made two diving stops on grounders and the trainer was out on the field examining his left shoulder. Examining it, rubbing it, and clearly asking Eckstein to exhibit range of motion. McCarver announces that he thinks Eckstein may have hurt his left shoulder. I start screaming at the television, "Well, yeah Tim! We can see the trainer and Fox is showing every replay imaginable of Eckstein landing on his shoulder including their camera from the surface of the moon." Mrs. Ball seeing me on the verge of apoplexy says, "I thought you liked Tim McCarver?" Foaming at the mouth, I sputter, "I used to, I don't know what happened to him." Then I saw it. Like a vision it appeared to me. Time slowed down so that the A-B subliminal advertising technique became liminal. Every time McCarver commented redundantly, every time Fox replayed and replayed Eckstein diving from another angle, we would see the logo for Budweiser Select. These people are driving us to drink! So, as we prepare for Game 6 tonight at Shea, I am here to codify the "McCarver Drinking Game. Here are some McCarverisms that when heard should result in drinking Bud Select. Please send me additional ones (Bill@Billy-Ball.com) if we are lucky enough for a Game 7. "Last night, the Mets watched the Cardinals enjoyed 'Leave it to Weaver' (B-B: this is in reference to the great pitching performance of Jeff Weaver) tonight we'll see if the Cardinals sing 'If I Were a Carpenter'." (B-B: the Cards' start their ace Chris Carpenter tonight in Game 6). "If the Mets win tonight they will be playing for all the marbles tomorrow night in Game 7 and I'm sure that Willie will be losing his marbles if the Mets don't make it that far." "Joe, you saw that Carlos Beltran caught that ball with his back against the wall and that's exactly the position the Mets are in tonight, hoping for a win. Their backs are against the wall." "Last night, Albert Pujols homered and that's where he left the Mets, deep in a Pujols." "The Mets are back home tonight at Shea and they are hoping that they won't have to 'Shea goodbye' to their fans." "Rookie John Maine, who has allowed five runs (four earned) in 8 1/3 innings postseason, gets the call tonight. The Mets are looking for a memorable pitching performance from this youngster so that they can 'Remember the Maine.'" "The Cardinals got a timely hit last night from Ronnie Belliard. The Mets are hoping that tonight the Belliard doesn't toll for thee." "After last night's loss, Mets' third baseman David Wright said. 'We're backed into a corner. We're going to go out there and play relaxed, play loose tomorrow. Try to come out swinging and break their hearts.' We're going to see tonight if they play the Wright way or the wrong way." "Cardinals rookie closer Adam Wainwright struck out Jose Reyes last night to end the game for his second save of the postseason. The Mets need Jose to get on base tonight and make things happen if they are to have Reyes of hope for winning this series." "Last night's tying run was scored by St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen. The Cards are hoping that they will keep Rolen right into the Series." "The last three times St. Louis has led a postseason series three games to two, they have let that lead slip away. They are hoping that this time the Cards are in their favor." "Cards manager Tony La Russa is confident the reigning NL Cy Young Award pitcher, Chris Carpenter will be effective tonight, while Mets manager Willie Randolph hopes Carpenter won't be 'reigning' on their parade." "If the Mets don't win tonight, you can be sure that tomorrow that will be suffering from the avian flu, because the Cardinals will have made them sick." Well, there you have it - a (Dusty) Baker's Dozen of drinking phrases we can expect from Tim McCarver tonight. Enjoy the game and make sure you have a designated driver. Y'know, I used to like Tim. But not recently. I'm glad he didn't join the SNY team. Later

Gwreck wrote: Somebody needs to pound a fastball into Albert's backside. AMEN! Later

="Edgy DC"]Yeah, but this is the parallels thread, ye buzzkill. For those of you following this thread: Buzzkill, a sudden undesired event that causes one's "high" or "buzz" to become of a lesser experience or depleted. Resume Later

Hillbilly wrote: But it�s the state motto, Dirigo, that tells us that John will lead us to victory! What does it mean? Throw strikes? EDIT: ah, yes, it means "I lead". Later

That makes this thread worthy of archive, JD. Later

That's why they need the rally caps. Later

Edgy, since you brought up the use of this graphic, I have a question. I was at last Friday night's game. I sat at field level, so I could tell which pitches were high or low. (and the ump called some VERY low strikes against the Mets.) But I couldn't judge inside or outside pitches. By how much was Maine missing the plate? Was he getting squeezed by the ump or were his pitches far off the plate? Later

Wouldn't it be great if the Mets scored the winning run in Game 6 on an error by Pujols? Get the rally caps warmed up. Later

John, Generations from now, we hope all Mets fans, and baseball fans everywhere, will still remember the Maine - with positive memories. Go get 'em, kid. Later

ScarletKnight41 wrote: As well you should - that was nasty and uncalled for! I know, I know. That's why I apologized. We're all a little uneasy these days. Check your PMs. Later

A few years ago, Green hurt his throwing shoulder. So he played a few years at first base until it healed. Then he was moved back to the outfield. I can't imagine why. He plays fly balls like they'll explode on contact. He must be a goshawful first baseman. Later

BTW, Scarlet. Because of your explanation, I take back calling you a Yankee fan. Later

Gotcha'. Its like I feel about Its a Small World. I have felt your pain. Later