Centerfield

We gave up a prospect to get Font.

So basically we sold our prospects.

That was crazy. He didn't throw one good slider that whole inning. Pretty obvious that this was a guy who had a live, moving fastball and a wipeout slider, and now he's just left with his fastball.

Yeah, he's only 41 in that picture. But looks to be in his fifties. Really challenges the idea that "Black don't Crack". Meanwhile, here's 41 year old Rickey Henderson, looking to be in his early 30's. https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/ap_braves_mets_993461.jpg?w=1000&h=764https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/ap_braves_mets_993461.jpg?w=1000&h=764>

2.62 ERA, 1.10 WHIP. That's pretty good. I feel like Hansel really needed to get comfortable with his off-speed stuff. He looked great that one extra inning game where he had to go 3-4 innings. Mixing in his slider and keeping them off balance. I thought that might be the tipping point for him, but it never stuck. Maybe he's throwing that slider now. What a weird world this is where Robles is better than Noah and Jake.

Old man scratches head versus young man wins 20.

I don't know how others feel about 80's era sneakers, but for me, they were such a big part of growing up. I'll never forget coming to school one day and being told that my sneakers weren't the "cool" kind. Until that point in my life (I'm guessing 5th or 6th grade? Can't remember) sneakers were just sneakers. And as I tore through sneakers like they were made of papers, my mom started just getting me throw away pairs from the local department store. I remember having "Pro-Sprints" or "Pro Wings" and other brands that kinda looked like Nikes. My only nice shoes were baseball cleats (Nikes) and basketball shoes (Converse) but those could only be worn when playing in the games. My first "cool" sneakers were these Reeboks. They weren't great shoes, and I thought they were ugly, but when you're in 7th grade, the last thing you can do is think for yourself. https://assets.reebok.com/images/w_600,h_600,f_auto,q_auto:sensitive,fl_lossy/b17722a1edf44a3488a0a81000026ec0_9366/Freestyle_Hi_Grade_School_Black_50142_01_standard.jpg> I wore them because I knew that the cool kids had stamped these as acceptable. Still kinda hate myself for doing it. God, middle school is such a shit time in a person's life. By the time I entered high school, the 80's ended, people cared less about what you wore, and eventually I figured out what I liked. Started working, made a little money and suddenly I was free to buy any sneaker except the super expensive ones like Air Jordans. I loved the Nike Air Huaraches. I went through a few pairs of those. But my favorite shoes were Adidas blue high tops. Something kinda like these: http://www.ericjamessmith.com/images/large/blue%20adidas%20high%20tops-925dep.jpg > I bought my first pair of Jordans for my 40th birthday. I had always wanted a pair, and it was kinda fun to finally buy a pair without feeling super guilty about how much money I was spending. I even played in them a few times. At the time I was playing a weekly pickup game with other guys all over 40. Two and a half decades after the commercial, I was able to confirm to Spike Lee that it most definitely was not the shoes.

I think I had a blue/gray version of these. https://tellmehowilooknow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/roos.jpg?w=584>

The top half of that bracket is my four favorite Mets covers of all time. So cool to see them all here in one place.

Great report. "Disputatious" is a great word. I've spent 44 years trying to catch a foul ball and haven't gotten particularly close. Two rows in front was the closest to me. My son has never gotten a foul ball, but he got two during batting practice, and had one tossed to him by Cliff Lee as he jogged off the field. He also had one land in his chair that he had left vacated to buy ice cream. His buddy John, who was with us for the game, snatched it up.

Ryu started? I wonder if this was a big deal in South Korea. I'm such a bad Korean.

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Actually SSs hit better than CFs, on average, and Rosario, right this second, is an average NL CF hitter: 246/312/404/715 (he's 260/299/414/713) On top of that he's 23 and in his second season and it's easy to imagine he'll improve, maybe a lotif he gets being a shitty SS off his plate. The comparison to Lagares isn';t valid beyond both guys not walking enough. Larages is 30, and in decline offensively and defensively, and is a whole level worse than an ascendent Rosario now That's crazy. I would never have guessed that. Thanks for sharing.

In order: 1. Manfred and his fucking ball. As much as I get on the owners, I think nothing has hurt the Mets as much as this crazy, slider-killing ball. deGrom took a step back and has had to adjust by throwing more changeups. It's ruined Noah, Familia and Diaz. Wheeler has taken a hit. Gsellman's sinker has no bite. If those guys were right, we would be around .500 and within striking distance. It's all so stupid. He bitched all winter about speeding up the game, and then introduced this stupid ball that turned baseball into 4 hour slogs. 2. It wasn't Sandy. I don't think any of us bought it when Wilpon blamed the low payroll on Sandy. But now with Brodie in place and payroll having gone down, I think we can put that flimsy excuse to bed. Many of use hoped that with a new regime, the Wilpons would open things up and stop meddling. We hoped that they would stop being an embarrassment, stop the double talk, stop the incompetence, stop taking half measures and actually go for it. Instead, it's only gotten worse. This year I feel more hopeless than I ever have as a fan of any team. 3. Pete and McNeil. They are awesome. Smith has been great too. Conforto is having a solid season. So much to love about this team. It's shameful that they can't build a winner around this core.

Why would we convert Rosario to CF? His bat barely plays at SS. He'd be Lagares in the OF. Without the defense.

All of this is great, but Wilpon and Brodie are still in charge and they shouldn't be trusted to trade dick.

What could be the basis for Brodie's tantrum? Going to the closer in a tie game at home is absolutely the right move.

=Ceetar post_id=14997 time=1562182699 user_id=102] =Centerfield post_id=14993 time=1562178628 user_id=65] There is a huge difference between booing a starting pitcher, who is trying his hardest to play a difficult game at the highest level, and expressing your discontent at a snake oil salesman who lies through his teeth and provides cover for crooked ownership.

There is a huge difference between booing a starting pitcher, who is trying his hardest to play a difficult game at the highest level, and expressing your discontent at a snake oil salesman who lies through his teeth and provides cover for crooked ownership.

And I've met people I don't care for in person many times. I don't curse them out, or even say anything. In those situations, a disapproving look is enough to send the message. I know who you are. I'm not saying anything. By my expression, I am voicing my displeasure.

No one is saying you have to curse the man out. But to parade him down the Canyon of Heros is a little much.

And am absolutely positive I never will. What a joke. There was no anger. No vitriol. None of the animosity seen on social media. Brodie Van Wagenen sat with Mets fans for the first half of Tuesday's 4-2 Subway Series victory over the Yankees, and was treated like a conquering hero.... At one point, Mets fans chanted “Brodie, Brodie, Brodie.” One told him he should run for mayor. Another said: “He's the MVP.” https://nypost.com/2019/07/02/mets-fans-brodie-van-wagenen-had-balls-to-come-out-here/https://nypost.com/2019/07/02/mets-fans-brodie-van-wagenen-had-balls-to-come-out-here/ MVP? Not sure what planet these guys live on.

Terrific work. It really is stunning.

Move over. Can you get the bartender's attention?

It'll be run kinda like the IGT. If the team wins you get to keep managing. What a hoot it will be! At least until JT out manages Mickey and it becomes obvious how bad he was.

I mean, everything else aside, the sudden downfalls of Familia and Diaz are just stunning.