MFS62

cooby wrote: [ Who was on second, Yogi? No. Who's on second. Later

]Press Release Date: Aug 15, 2006 USA Baseball has announced that Binghamton Mets righthanded pitcher Henry Owens is one of the 24 players selected to compete for Team USA in the COPABE Olympic Qualifying Tournament August 25th-September 5th in Havana, Cuba. One of the Eastern League’s top closers, the 27-year-old Owens is tied for third in the league with 19 saves, going 2-2 with a 1.70 ERA in 34 appearances. The Miami, FL native, who successfully converted his first 18 save chances, allowed just 19 hits and 10 walks in 37 innings, striking out 70. He also got into three games with the New York Mets in July. Owens is in his first season with Binghamton and second with the NY Mets since being selected from Pittsburgh in the Rule 5 Draft. The US roster for the COPABE (a Spanish acronym for the Pan-American Baseball Federation) tournament was filled with minor league players, including four other Eastern League performers (Michael Bourn and Zach Segovia, Reading; J. Brent Cox, Trenton; Kyle Slowey, New Britain) and Mike Kinkade, a Florida farmhand who played for Binghamton in 2000. The tournament field is made up of teams from 12 nations in North and South America, with the top two finishers qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. The third- and fourth-place finishers will get a chance to compete for an Olympic spot in another qualifying tournament that will be played at a later date. The tournament ends the day before the EL Playoffs are scheduled to start. The B-Mets are currently tied with Portland for the North Division’s final playoff spot. Later

IIRC Wilson has always hit well at Shea, and the Mets could use an experienced righty hitting outfielder. I don't know how he'd feel coming here now that Mookie isn't in the organization any more. But he's certainly worth a shot. Later

seawolf17 wrote: You know, it's just Omar pandering to the ethnic base in New York City again. First the Latinos, now the Jewish population. SC=100 Holy Art Shamsky, Batman! Later

Not exactly all time Met rankings, but rankings mentioning Mets nevertheless. From Baseball America. ]National League Best Hitter Best Pickoff Move 1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals 1. Chris Capuano, Brewers 2. Nomar Garicaparra, Dodgers 2. Andy Pettitte, Astros 3. David Wright, Mets 3. Noah Lowry, Giants Best Power Best Reliever 1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals 1. Trevor Hoffman, Padres 2. Adam Dunn, Reds 2. Tom Gordon, Phillies 3. Ryan Howard, Phillies 3. Jason Isringhausen, Cardinals Best Bunter Best Defensive Catcher 1. Juan Pierre, Cubs 1. Yadier Molina, Cardinals 2. Jose Reyes, Mets 2. Mike Matheny, Giants 3. David Eckstein, Cardinals 3. Brad Ausmus, Astros Best Strike-Zone Judgement Best Defensive First Baseman 1. Bobby Abreu, Phillies 1. Derrek Lee, Cubs 2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals 2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals 3. Barry Bonds, Giants 3. Todd Helton, Rockies Best Hit-And-Run Artist Best Defensive Second Baseman 1. David Eckstein, Cardinals 1. Orlando Hudson, Diamondbacks 2. Edgar Renteria, Braves 2. Jose Castillo, Pirates 3. Omar Vizquel, Giants 3. Dan Uggla, Marlins Best Baserunner Best Defensive Third Baseman 1. Jose Reyes, Mets 1. Scott Rolen, Cardinals 2. Juan Pierre, Cubs 2. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals 3. Bobby Abreu, Phillies 3. David Wright, Mets Fastest Baserunner Best Defensive Shortstop 1. Jose Reyes, Mets 1. Omar Vizquel, Giants 2. Juan Pierre, Cubs 2. Jose Reyes, Mets 3. Willy Taveras, Astros 3. Adam Everett, Astros Best Pitcher Best Infield Arm 1. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals 1. Jose Reyes, Mets 2. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks 2. Rafael Furcal, Dodgers 3. Jason Schmidt, Giants 3. Scott Rolen, Cardinals Best Fastball Best Defensive Outfielder 1. Billy Wagner, Mets 1. Andruw Jones, Braves 2. Derrick Turnbow, Brewers 2. Jim Edmonds, Cardinals 3. Brad Penny, Dodgers 3. Carlos Beltran, Mets Best Curveball Best Outfield Arm 1. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals 1. Jeff Francoeur, Braves 2. Tom Gordon, Philliles 2. Carlos Beltran, Mets 3. Roy Oswalt, Astros 3. Andruw Jones, Braves Best Slider Most Exciting Player 1. John Smoltz, Braves 1. Jose Reyes, Mets 2. Brad Lidge, Astros 2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals 3. Pedro Martinez, Mets 3. Carlos Beltran, Mets Best Changeup Best Manager 1. Trevor Hoffman, Padres 1. Bobby Cox, Braves 2. Pedro Martinez, Mets 2. Tony La Russa, Cardinals 3. Chris Capuano, Brewers 3. Bruce Bochy, Padres Best Control 1. Greg Maddux, Dodgers 2. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks 3. Pedro Martinez, Mets Later

The guy in the fireman's helmet is pictured as throwing righty. Tug was a lefty. Are we sure its supposed to be Tug? Later

The best train ride I ever had was when I was in the Army. I was returning to DC from NY and if you wore your uniform, you got a special rate. It left NY at (IIRC) 6 or 7 PM. I asked the conductor where the dining car was, and was told it was "seven cars back". As I entered the first car, there were a lot of people wearing red, cheering and drinking. I asked what was going on and was told there were six cars of Redskins fans on the train, returning from Yankke Staduim, where the 'Skins had beaten the Jints for the first time in seven years there. The guy then added "Come on, GI, have a drink with us to help us celebrate". I never made it out of that first car. How I eventually made it to the bus station in DC, then back to base, is still a mystery to me. Later

Traschel 3 Tucker 2 Wright 1 Bradford 1 Oliver 1 Wagner 1 Valentin 1 Later

Glavine 3 Loduca 1 Reyes 1 Later

It reminds me of a few years ago when each night on the shows like "Entertainment Tonight" there was a seemingly obligatory Julia Roberts reference- whether she was in a current movie or not. Public relations machinery at its finest. Another example I found curious was for many years seeing Marlo Thomas on the cover of magazines that catered to "homemakers". It was strange because she was neither married nor a mother. Some names boost circulation as well as viewership. Later

Pronk??? EDIT: I know its Hafner, but why is that his nickname? Isn't it a candy bar sold in Cleveland? Or did they name it after his nickname? Later

Well, he put that Mays comment out there, then sprta' took it away.http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/shea_hey_kid_mets_kevin_kernan.htmBut Kernan (quoting folks) had a lot of nice things to say.Later

The supposedly have a lot of prospects ready for the majors, and may be wishing to open up a spot for one of them. Green isn't exactly burnin' it up. And the fact that thyy're still in the race makes me think they wouldn't want prospects back - maybe an experienced starter like Traschell? Later

I'm concerned that would make the team too lefty-heavy going forward. Its an ok move for this year, since we have no idea how much Cliff will be able to contribute. But Green's game has declined recently, and I would prefer getting a righty hitter for next year. Later

My boy is on the minor league DL with a forearm strain (I think - they used a medical term). I wonder if its because of a tired arm or if someone has tried to change his mechanics. Later

The guy had a losing record in college, with not a great ERA either. It will be interesting to see what the Mets saw in him and if he can develop as rapidly as they think. Later

A Reyes article that also includes an Ed Kranepool sighting.Later]Mets smart to keep excitement Mark Hermann, Newsday August 11, 2006 In the old days, there was a saying that went, "Home run hitters drive Cadillacs." The current addendum to that goes something like this: Triples hitters buy big houses. Jose Reyes, master of the triple and sparkplug of the Mets, is planning to buy two of them now that he has a four-year $23.25-million contract extension. He wants to buy one in the Dominican Republic for his mom and wants to buy one for himself in New York. Just don't ask him what school district he prefers or whether he wants a yard big enough to hit a triple in. "I don't want to get too many things in my head," he said, smiling. That's another corollary to that old bromide: Triples hitters smile a lot. At least they do if they're Reyes, who has a lot going for him. Pedro Martinez has said that if he could start all over again, he would be Reyes. David Wright, who got an even bigger contract than Reyes did last week, calls himself Reyes' biggest fan. Mike Cameron of the Padres, who rested during his club's 7-3 loss to the Mets at Shea Stadium yesterday, said this of his former teammate: "He's kind of like Rickey Henderson now. He can do it all." What Reyes did most of all was remind us why the Mets were wise to be in such a rush to keep him. He showed that these Mets are not just good, they are exciting. There is nothing quite like seeing a guy smack the ball to the gap and keep sprinting until he reaches third. Another old baseball chestnut says that the triple is the most thrilling play in the game. Reyes brings that to life better than anyone. The triple he hit in the second inning yesterday, which drove home two runs and put him in position to score a third, was his major league-leading 14th of the season. Manager Willie Randolph is one who still likes the triple above just about any other play. "Especially when you've got a guy like Reyes who's really, really fast," Randolph said. "You can hear the crowd, you can see the momentum building as he's running the bases. "To me, the biggest part of that is very simple. It's running out of the box. You don't see too many triples now in baseball because too many players watch the ball. Jose hits the ball and he's running hard. That's where triples are made." Cameron, who is among the National League leaders with six triples, listed these four qualities that make Reyes so good at it: "Speed, he hits from the left side, speed. And speed." Reyes' real strength, though, is in always seeming like he has just hit a triple. The guy is kinetic and upbeat. He didn't gripe when the Mets had him horribly out of position at second base to accommodate Kaz Matsui. He kept rehabbing when he felt like crying because his legs gave out on him. He didn't go crazy when people were getting on him last season because he never took any walks. So he is not a quintessential leadoff batter - a slap hitter who gets on base any way he can. He is better than that. And he is perfect at what a leadoff man is really supposed to do: get his team revved up and keep it that way. "He changes the momentum of the game," Wright said, "and he can do it in so many different aspects: Defense, offense, the way he runs, the way he smiles and the energy he plays with. That's infectious." For goodness sake, Reyes spent a week in spring training working with Wright on handshakes. "He's excitement. He's the wave of the future," said Ed Kranepool, who stopped on his way to a function to get Reyes' autographs on some baseballs. "He knows who I am. He said, 'You wore No.7, too.' I said, 'I had 18 years here with that number.'" The Mets were smart to make sure to secure Reyes as No.7 on the scorecard and No.1 in the lineup for four more years. He learned a lot about plate discipline and base-stealing this spring from Henderson, who, sad to say, didn't confer his own peculiar gift of gab to Reyes. No problem. It's OK for now that the 23-year-old is boring only when he speaks. "He's one of those players who can change a game in so many ways," Cameron said. "They've got a lot of players like that over there." But someone like Reyes doesn't come in triplicate.

Elster88 wrote: So what the hell is the deal that a player like Valentin or Chavez is seeing such success this year? How on earth is Tucker slapping RBI doubles and throwing bbs to nail guys at second? The magic is back. Later

I don't believe I could beat Diana Taurasi one-on-one.The others look pretty reasonable, though.LOL!Thanks,Later

Yes, Omar has known his family for many years. He started scouting him when Martinez was 15. Carlos' AB/K ratio of about 5:1 is very good for someone so young in an advanced league. That's a positive sign at this stage of his career, considering he is seeing some pretty good breaking pitches at the AA level. Apparently, he's seeing them from a very close distance, since he has been HBP 18 times in fewer than 100 games. EDIT: One writer in Philly thinks Martinez is the next LeBron James: http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/baseball/15239362.htm?source=rss&channel=philly_baseball Later

SteveJRogers wrote: Heh! I wouldn't be surprised to see the Denver Bears trot out there. Anyone remember the original AFL Denver Broncos' unis? The stockings had vertical stripes. Later

The announcers last night (?) said that it looks like Aaron has gone back to his fastball, rather then relying on his change for his out pitch. Those of you who can actually see the game, does it look like that is true today? Later

And J Franco, batting for ElDuque, GIDP to end the inning. Just goes to show you what happens when you let a 47 yearold hit for a 60 year old. Later

Sacks juiced. Have they just set up the opportunity for another grand salami for Valentin? EDIT: Two run bingle for Jose. 6-3 Mets Later

I sense a Piazza-Wagner matchup coming. Later