MFS62

About Soler- I used Google and Yahoo search, and got lots of hits, but no specific contract terms. I think I had read that when he defected his initial deal with his old agent called for him to sign a major league contract. Since that time, he has been on the restricted list, which I think is a major league only vehicle for players already under contract. The new "official" contract he just signed is estimated at 3 years, $2.0+ million. None of the articles I found specify whether this one was a major or minor league contract. But at those bucks, his age, and the similarity with featured Cuban exile players, I would think its a major league deal. We'll know when the rosters have to be finalized prior to the Rule V Draft. Later

Elster88 wrote: Should Benson get the Ron Darling memorial skinny, pretty boy starter who gets it on with hot women? Does he wear his hat on his off-days? That migh tbe a tad too long for Edgy to fit under the player picture. Care to shorten it? LAter

what's the 24/7 conspiracytheory? I don't remember that term in reference to A-Rod. Did you mean the 24-1 theory , that meant he wasn't part of the 25 man team? Later

Was he ever quoted as saying that Pete Rose was his boyhood idol? Later

According to ESPN Radio this morning, The NY Daily News has learned that A-Rod has been cautioned by MLB not to frequent "illegal after hours poker clubs". The report went on to say that the Yankees have not discussed the matter with him yet. Thoughts? Later

From another board. I asked the poster for the link, he hasn't responded yet. I'll postthe link if he does. But it confirms what Edgy and others have been saying about Lambin. But I'm adopting him now. ]Prospect #22. "Chase Lambin: Lambin had a career year in 2005, hitting a combined .309 with 33 doubles and 24 home runs in two stops between AA-Binghamton and AAA-Norfolk. He had always projected as more of a utility player because of his lack of offensive production, but his breakout year this past season could have the Mets revisiting that thought. Able to play a multitude of positions well defensively, Lambin projects to be a Joe McEwing-type, with better offensive potential, at worst. His attitude and hustle will be welcomed additions to the Mets, possibly as early as next season." Later

Chalk up another addition to the 40 man roster. (Its been so long he's the forgotten man.) http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051031&content_id=32358&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp Later

metirish wrote: Jesus Lord no way to Frank Thomas,he's a DH and I'm sure he thinks the same thing. Actually, according to my friend Shoeless Don the White Sox fan, The Hurt thinks just the opposite. The big galoot is very sensitive (no, really) and he didn't like the "he's only a DH" stuff. So, a few years ago, he really worked on his defense. My pal says that he's improved all the way up to the level of "average major league first baseman" since then. And part of his problems with management a few years ago was that they didn't let him play the field enough to show that improvement. But I'm not sure if his recent round of injuries has started a decline in those defensive skills. Later

What does everyone think Frank Thomas will get on the free agent market? If the dollars are "right" (say, under $3 million plus incentives for two years) do you think the Mets should make a play for him? Later

Plagirism is the sincerest form of flattery. (And I don't remember to whom that is attributed.) Later

Thanks, Edgy. I miss the "good old days" of the AFL, where there were prospects of two (maybe three) MLB teams on each roster. If there are many more MLB teams (such as five) represented on each roster, it could lead to some interesting decisions on the part of the managers. The fewer teams, the more clout each MLB team would have in directing playing time/ position for each of its prospects. I didn't know the affiliations of those other two who have been playing right field. Later

You may be right. But the article asid he has ben playing "some" left. I was just wondering why, if he's going to play "some" other outfield position, why it isn't right. Later

]During a showcase event in high school, his throws from the outfield were clocked at 96 miles an hour. ] Then why are they playing him in left field? You'd think if they don't see him as a centerfielder because Beltran's there, they would be playing him in right with an arm like that. Later Rotblatt Oct 31 2005 01:56 PM I was thinking the same thing, MF. Even if they viewed Diaz as a future regular, wouldn't he be the more logical choice for LF? And it's not like we have any other OF prospects tearing it up in the minors . . . Frayed Knot Oct 31 2005 02:00 PM ]There is a lot of time to smooth the rough edges before he plays his first major league game, which he hopes will be in Shea Stadium. "All the stuff that I've been through - that's why I think I can handle playing in New York," Milledge said. "That's why I feel I He's gotta learn to finish his sentences too. P.S. About leftfield; remember that in the AFL you're "sharing" the team with several other orgs. It's possible that some other - maybe more experienced - players have dibs on RF and/or CF. It's been mentioned in the past that he has the arm to handle RF if necc. Edgy DC Oct 31 2005 02:20 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 31 2005 02:56 PM ]Then why are they playing him in left field? Who? Generally, he's been in center everywhere he's been. He expressed an understanding that there were multiple centerfielders on the Rafters and he wouldn't always play there, but I think he's played there more than anyone else. MFS62 Oct 31 2005 02:23 PM You may be right. But the article asid he has ben playing "some" left. I was just wondering why, if he's going to play "some" other outfield position, why it isn't right. Later Edgy DC Oct 31 2005 02:55 PM Because the manager has obligations to the interests of prospects of five different teams. The chart below includes today's already posted linuep. Also please consider that Milledge missed a handful of games with a minor heel injury. Grand CanyonPlayer Appearances by PositionLF: Span 8 Ambercrombie 5 Mahar 5 Milledge 5CF: Milledge 10 Span 8 Ambercrombie 5 Mahar 2RF: Sardinha 18 Ambercrombie 5DH: Moses 5 Lambin 3 Mahar 3 Meyer 3 Ambercrombie 2 Span 2 Jones 1 Milledge 1 Nikeas 1 Parrish 1 Sardinha 1 Edgy DC Oct 31 2005 03:10 PM We should have a contest to see who can find athe first feature article about Milledge which doesn't mention his amazing record of being the first high school jock ever to get past first base with a girl. Here's some material I can use: ]His father, a former minor leaguer, spent more than 25 years as a Florida highway patrolman and expected excellence from his youngest son. "Lastings knows I don't put up with no jive, I don't put up with no short cuts; that's not who I am," Tony Milledge said in a telephone interview. "There have been a few little scrapes, but he's never really tested me." Look, dig this Papa didn`t cuss He didn`t raise a whole lotta fuss But when we did wrong Papa beat the hell out of us MFS62 Oct 31 2005 03:13 PM Thanks, Edgy. I miss the "good old days" of the AFL, where there were prospects of two (maybe three) MLB teams on each roster. If there are many more MLB teams (such as five) represented on each roster, it could lead to some interesting decisions on the part of the managers. The fewer teams, the more clout each MLB team would have in directing playing time/ position for each of its prospects. I didn't know the affiliations of those other two who have been playing right field. Later Edgy DC Oct 31 2005 03:22 PM Sardinha is a Yankee prospect. Ambercrombie toils in the Marlin system. Today's game is already begun. Milledge, batting second, was hit by a pitch from the arm of Matt Peterson and then scored on a triple by Eric Duncan. Yanks and Mets working together. heep Oct 31 2005 03:23 PM I hope they do not trade Milledge. Definitely a plus to see his father and mother are involved. His father is a cop and keeping a watchful eye - thats a positive thing - especially since he is geared for the prime time at such a young age. They should start him in AAA this year. As a side note, if Beane is entertaining offers for Zito this winter, the Mets should make a competitive offer. Yancy Street Gang Oct 31 2005 03:27 PM This talk about how involved his parents are remind me of Dan and Ella Gooden. We heard a lot about how they wouldn't let any kid of theirs get into any trouble. And we know how that turned out. Edgy DC Oct 31 2005 03:35 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 02 2005 01:37 PM A subtle difference is that, subsequently, we found out that Dwight was in a lot of trouble in high school that the media didn't bother reporting. So, as tedious of this over-reporting is of whatever Milledge's sexual transgression was, it beats the alternative of a whitewash. I think Dwight's parents were older and it was easy for him to hoodwink them. For what it's worth --- and taking race somewhat out of the equation --- we also received a lot of publicity about what fine peeps the Wrights were/are. Outranking a highway patrolman, Rhon Wright is the captain of vice narcotics in Norfolk, VA.. It would be almost impressive if David hoodwinked him. Edgy DC Oct 31 2005 05:27 PM The Rafters hold on to win 6-3. Lastings Milledge getting plunked and scoring the initial run is the lone contribution of Met prospects in the game. He went on to fan twice and ground into a double play. I'm giving Duncan --- 2-4 with that RBI triple and two runs scored --- the player of the game. Edgy DC Nov 02 2005 01:46 PM November 1: Wrap / Box In an All Souls Day war of attrition, the Grand Canyon Rafters battled the Mesa Solar Sox to a 1-1 tie after eleven innings. The lone Rafter run was driven in by Lastings Milledge on a sacrifice fly. There should be no ties in baseball. We should weep as a nation when one is declared. Player of the Game: Twins prospect Travis Bowyer, who pitched the last two innings, striking out three, and giving up just one hit. Mets Player of the Game: Evan McLane, who had perhaps the best outing of a sorry fall for Mets pitchers, starting and going five innings, scattering eight hits but yielding only one run. Henry Owens, who hung up a 3.15 ERA in 54.1 innings at St. Lucie this season, also threw two scoreless innings. Edgy DC Nov 03 2005 01:52 PM November 2: Wrap / Box The Rafters keep future Mets out of the lineup and pay the price with an 8-4 loss to the Mesa Solar Sox. PotG: Marlins prospect Josh Wilson --- who you may remember as one of the under-ripe infielders who batted behind Dontrelle Willis against the Mets --- hit a two-run homer from the ninth batting slot. Also notable was Yankee farmhand Bronson Sardinha (2-5, with a triple) and Matt Smith, another gestating Yankee, who threw two scoreless. Mets PotG: Any Wilson was the only future Met on the field. He went 1-4, caught, and gave up two steals. Edgy DC Nov 06 2005 01:06 PM Lastings is excited to chill with Davey Johnson some more. Milledge adjusting well Lastings Milledge says that he's seeing the ball better than before.Hi everyone. The Arizona Fall League season is winding down, and even though the Grand Canyon Rafters are out of it, it's not real hard to motivate myself every day. You win and you lose, but the biggest thing is that you produce. Every day, you should be motivating yourself to do well for yourself. I've had some multi-hit games; I think I'm seeing the ball a bit better. I think what I've really learned from the AFL is how to play day games. I kind of struggled with that during the season. Now I'm learning how to adjust to getting up earlier and playing earlier. http://minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2005/09/30/aHCounQF.jpgIt means a lot to me to represent the United States in the upcoming Olympic qualifier in Phoenix. I'm real excited to play. Having played for Team USA four times, I feel more comfortable. I think I sort of know what it's going to be like to play and how I have to produce. It's still baseball. The only thing different is the guys have another name on their shirt and are representing their country. It's different than wearing a Mets jersey. There I have to represent an organization. But here I'll represent a country. It's a little bit bigger. Every game's important. We have to come out with a no-lose attitude and that we're going to beat everybody. Lastings' Mailbag / Send Lastings an e-mail > What are your thoughts on fellow NY'er Eric Duncan? -- Ice Berg, N.Y. He's a good player. I played with him in the All-American High School Game in 2003, so we've known each other for a while. He's always been a good left-handed hitting third baseman. He'll continue to be good some day in the bigs. Can you please give some ideas or drills into improving my first step or like a weight training program to help improve my speed. I know you run fast and that is the reason why I would like you to help me out. -- Landy It's all about the strength shoes, Landy. That's what I did. And then they have the workouts that come with them -- agility drills. That's pretty much how I got my speed. My son had a troublesome heel issue, and I would like to know what kind of rehab you have done to overcome it and what sort of exercise as a preventive measure to keep it from coming back. -- Max Sorry, Max, but it's just a thing you have to let heal. There's not anything you can really do to rehab. You just have to take time off and let it heal. What are your plans for the winter? Do you cool down with hardball ... or is it more training/workouts? Finally, do you follow other sports? -- Sam I'll be catching up on football, I like the Dallas Cowboys. I'm also moving into a new home in Tampa. Then I'll just be doing regular stuff like workouts. It's been a lot of baseball this year, but I'll take some time for other things.

Isn't Mike playing in the AFL? I looked at the league stats in Baseball America, but couldn't find his name. Which team is he on? Later

TheOldMole wrote: Los Angeles Dodger (the words still stick in my craw) Mole, that's why since those teams were stolen from us, I just refer to those teams by their city names. The Nicknames forever will belong East of the Hudson River. And, speaking of that thievery, about DePodesta, He didn't do nearly enough to destroy that franchise to suit me. Maybe if he could've planted C-4 in a primary fault line and started The Big One.... But who's bitter? Later

KC, I'm not sure if yours is really a rmpl-esque situation. You were going to post whatever you did. It was a question of which thread you were going to post it in. Your ass is still intact (unbitten) this time. However there will be a team from CSI arriving shortly to take dental impressions of the marks on Mex's tush. He started this thread. Later

already in the Rico Brogna thread. Later

Other: Gary Sheffield (for Mike Cameron). Sheffield is an MAJOR offensive upgrade for us and playes the position (right field) we would need to replace Cameron, and Cameron provides the centerfielder the Yanks need. Sheffield earns about $4 million more, so money is still available to be spent elsewhere. Both contracts have one more year to run, so if Milledge is ready for the majors we say bye bye to Gary. If he isn't, we re-up Gary or look elsewhere. Later

Welcome, Jason.Now that you are an official member, you must pay your rookie dues:Up ya' go on that table in the middle of the room and sing your school fight song.And we mean LOUD, for all to hear, y'hear?Later

Sherman isn't creating a new life form here. Many papers picked up the wire story that Wagner would test the free agent waters. And it seems logical that the Mets might be interested in acquiring a closer. Sherman just put two and two together. Of course, Sherman also likes to make up weird trades in his Sunday NY Post column (one column containing a multi-team "beauty" was posted here a week or two ago), so don't get too anticipatory about anything he says. Later

Opinion: Westrum needed more than a sign to hit. His career average was .217. Fact: Hobie Landrith was the firsr player taken by the Mets in their initial expansion draft. Later

Bush will nominate Bill(y) Graham to the Supreme Court because he wants to nominate someone who shares his views. Gimmie a Met who sang in the chorus of Fiddler on the Roof. Later

Opinion: It took the Mets that long to pay Houston back for John Paciorek. His entire major league career was one game in 1963 against the Mets. But look what he did: http://www.baseballreference.com/p/paciojo01.shtml Fact: During 1962, the Mets used seven catchers. LAter

They probably thought that by putting Pujols on the ballot as a first baseman, it would make the selection of Clemente easier. But the devil in me wanted to see who would win in a face-to-face contest between Steroid Raffy and convicted druggie Cepeda for first base honors. Oh well. And, has anyone else here heard Clemente's son doing his sportstalk hosting on WFAN? (Or is it ESPN?) The show is called "Latin Beat" and the times I've heard it, he was pretty good. Later

12:08 AM EDT... News: Piazza Officially a Free Agent Associated Press. Mike Piazza officially filed for free agency. Also of note, the Mets declined the $5 million option for Danny Graves, electing, instead, to pay the $500,000 buyout making him a free agent� Marlon Anderson also filed for free agency� Also eligible to become free agents are Braden Looper, Steve Trachsel, Miguel Cairo, Roberto Hernandez, Felix Heredia, Doug Mientkiewicz, Jose Offerman and Gerald Williams� Looper, Trachsel, Mientkiewicz and Heredia all have 2006 options, which can be exercised by the team� �it is widely believed the team will pass on all options except Trachsel�s, which is for &7 million� ******************************************************************************* Looks like Woodward is not eligible for free agency; he must have signed a more-than-one-year contract last year. Later