Centerfield

Ceetar wrote: I dunno, seems clearly over the fence to me. I don't know how you can call that interference. And I see it as clearly in the field of play. The guy in white is the biggest giveaway. His left hand is on the wall, his body is outstretched over it, and his right hand extends even beyond that.

Zvon wrote: I think he would have caught it if the asshole didn't force his glove closed. YER OUT! Agreed. And in a way, this is a just result since it was an Astros HR that was negated by an Astro fan interfering at the Astros home park. What happens if the same thing happened but they were Boston? Altuve hits a HR ball, Betts goes back, has a beat on it, but then a Red Sox fan at Fenway clobbers his glove, and now it's an out. Is this what happens?

He seems...uninspiring. Don’t know anything about him. (And judging from his wiki, neither does anyone else). Maybe he’s secretly an analytical genius.

I think the MFYs will sign two starting pitchers. And I think Corbin will be one of them. Had a great year last year. Have no idea what the analytics people think.

Counsell is a bit too cute with his moves for me. Hope LA puts this away.

Frayed Knot wrote: Sure. But when you do it in the midst of a tight playoff game, on a grounder where you clearly could have been safe but just as clearly never bothered to try, during a time when you're supposedly on a contract push, and then basically just admit that it's not in you to do so even at the age of 26 and as compared to the rest of MLB ... that's a really bad sign. Yeah, more than a bad sign, I think he's outright saying he's not going to hustle, and all future employers should go in expecting that. I'm just saying that maybe there's more to an inability to hustle than just the ballplayer not caring, or a character flaw. Bryce Harper is also puzzling. He clearly does care. The not running thing. You wonder if that's also a defense mechanism of some sort.

I mean, this is basically what LWFS and I both look like with our shirts off so yeah, either of us are on board.

이야기하자 Hyun-Jin Ryu How did you do that? Nicely done!

Yeah, if I had to guess motivation I'd say Manny grounded out, was pissed about it, saw Aguilar taking up more than half the bag, and then either intentionally clipped him, or made no effort to avoid him, basically to send the message "Get off the bag." In other words, didn't intend to hurt the guy, but definitely intended to be a bit of a dick. One note on the hustle thing, I don't know what the case is with Machado, but oftentimes it's not nearly as clear cut as one might think. Run out every ball. Sure, it sounds simple, but the fact that so many players don't do it should tell you there's more to it. Put it this way, I would guess that less than 10% of major leaguers hustle on every play. Do you know why we love Nimmo's hustle? Because it's unusual. If everyone did it, we wouldn't even notice it. But even if it's as high as 50%, that means half of the big league ballplayers cannot, or at least do not, run out every ball. On the other hand, 100% of fans and media believe they would hustle all the time. So, I guess it's possible that every year, we find the 400 players on earth who do not feel this way. Or more likely, most of the fans, if put in that situation, would do exactly what the current players do. Hustle sometimes, not others, in varying degrees. Sports psychology is complicated. Playing baseball, at any level, is anxiety inducing. Hitting a baseball especially, and hitting a baseball at the Major League level during the post-season...I would guess it's something few of us can really imagine. One of the ways to combat anxiety is to make an effort to relax. Ball players go through all sorts of efforts to relax themselves at the plate. Minimize the consequences, slow things down. Hustle, is the exact opposite. Go full blast, all or nothing. So imagine a ball player that, though gifted physically, is prone to anxiety. Put him in the most anxiety-inducing situation imaginable in sports, then tell him he has to relax in order to succeed. The ballplayer spends an at-bat trying to relax, sees that he's hit a ground ball right at the shortstop, has to process his failure, which is deeply disappointing, then tell his body to stop relaxing, and run full-tilt. I mean, yes, a ballplayer should be able to do this. But if some guys have trouble, you know, I get it.

I watched the replay. Certainly looks like Machado kicks him. If I had to guess why I'd say maybe Aguilar was taking up more of the plate with his foot (rather than toeing it and stretching) than most 1B.

I mean, if he opts out, we could pursue Clayton Fucking Kershaw. He's two years older than Eovaldi, a year older than Keuchel and Corbin. He's battled injuries the past few years, and may well be on the decline. This year his WHIP ballooned to 1.04, and his ERA was an unsightly 2.73. His highest since 2009.

I'm totally down for All Aces. But I also question whether Eovaldi fits that category. Keuchel seems to be declining already, and Corbin might be a one year wonder. I say we go back in time and get Greg Fucking Maddux.

I liked that they burned Hader and still lost. If they do the "no pitching 3 consecutive days" thing, then he's not available tonight. You think Counsell still feels good about pitching him for 2 outs with a 4-0 lead?

Marlins Park is my least favorite of all the stadiums I've been to, and I wasn't a fan of the statue. Still, I get that the locals liked it because it was "very Miami". Then I read this: The Marlins plan to promptly dismantle “Homer” and replace it with a new multi-level spectator area with no seats but room for about 400 people willing to buy cheap tickets and stand during the game. The Marlins see it as a way to target a younger demographic more interested in mingling and exploring the stadium than sitting down to watch an entire game. This. This is very Miami.

Ceetar wrote: There was nothing 'non-hustle' about Carlos Beltran. .265 BABIP in 2017, and he still was above average and a contributor. I'm not particularly worried. His Hard Hit % in 2017 was top 2% in the league. Top 5% this year. He smashes the ball. HARD. Maybe it's more doubles and less home runs in a bigger park, but he hits the damn ball hard, and he doesn't strike out a ton. He had the 15th farthest HR in 2017 and the 65th this year and 2016. 444,470,453 in distance. He can get it out. Oh, and he's 26. He could get an 8 year deal and still basically be in his prime at the end of it. I hate that he's this type of player (there are other issues) saw this elsewhere: He also punched Yordano Ventura in the face piece, took out Dustin Pedroia (that slide was clean, IMO), hit Derek Norris with his backswings, cried when Josh Donaldson “swiped” at him with a tag...and probably more that I’ve forgotten. He strikes me as a AJ Pierzynski type, that guy who you like to play with but hate to play against, because he’s a butthole. The Mets need him. he's a great fit. It'd be a bad blow if he went to Philly or Atlanta. Wait, don't get me wrong. I would still support the move. And ultimately the Mets need someone like him (if not specifically him). In fact, they might need a couple of hims. But I'm just saying be wary of signing him and then penciling him down for top 5 in MVP voting. He, like any other player, comes with his downsides, warts, or whatever you might want to call it. I agree that there was nothing non-hustle about Carlos Beltran. But that didn't stop an idiot contingent of Mets fans from thinking that was the case. He ran hard so gracefully some critics didn't realize he was hustling. And they mistook his lack of fist-pumping as lack of desire. You can fist pump all you want. Give me the guy that plays with the broken face. That's fucking heart. I've long said that Beltran's biggest talent and biggest curse was how stupidly easy he made things look. Norichika Aoki can get on all the highlight reels by turning the wrong way, stumbling around, then ultimately laying out to catch a fly ball, whereas Beltran just goes there and puts it in his pocket. The best example is the Torii Hunter bullpen cop play. Often cited as the type of player Torii Hunter was. Hunter ran back on an Ortiz HR, toppled over into the bullpen, but ultimately didn't make the catch. Still gets tons of credit for hustling even to this day. Beltran tracked an Ortiz HR, ran back, robbed him, bounced off the wall, then threw back in to hold the other runners. Forgotten by the next inning.

I was giving this some thought. Is it telling that they are looking at candidates from smaller market teams? Melvin is from the Brewers, Bloom is from Tampa. Gary LaRoque is from the Cardinals, and they are at least top ten. But the Mets are not entertaining candidates from any of the big hitters. Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs. Now, there could be a million different reasons for this. But I wonder if the Wilpons aren't already telegraphing their unwillingness to spend going forward.

Yeah, lots of red flags when looking at Machado for next year. The hustle thing definitely. Also the way he talks to the press. Some might find it refreshing that he's honest but that's a tough line to toe. You can definitely step into "abrasive" and then it's a nightmare with the media. But more substantively, you always have to wonder about a hitter that comes from a bandbox and what it might do to his numbers. He seems to have adjusted to LA ok and hit just fine there. But over his career he has some pretty drastic home-away splits. Plus he great in 2018 and 2016, but had a down year overall in 2017. Can you imagine if he signs a big money deal, has a sub .800 OPS, and doesn't hustle? He'd get destroyed by the fans and media. All the anti-[crossout]vaxxers[/crossout] payrollers would scream "See? Money doesn't equal winning!" It would set us back 20 years. Plus, he definitely has that aloof manner of playing that can get fans to turn on you even when you're producing. I've only seen him for a little bit, but he makes Cespedes and Beltran look like Shane Victorino.

I'll say it for the millionth time, this is a great article and Sherman is a triple threat: He's a good reporter, an insightful columnist and a good writer. This column in particular relays facts and raises questions based on them, that's what a good reporter/columnist ought to do. The most important questions the Mets should be asking in their interview process for a new general manager are to themselves. Are they sure they know what they are offering? Are they sure they know what they want? This is exactly what the debate to this point has been. The Mets are nearing conclusion of a first wave of interviews to find a successor to Sandy Alderson and are expected to pare to three-ish candidates for a second round. Facts. While not commenting publicly, what the Mets want circulated is that they are unified in this process and that the person who emerges will have autonomy. Now to Ceetar this sounds as though the writer made this up but I can guarantee you the descriptor what the Mets want circulated is off-the-record/background from someone in the org who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Were someone on the record what do you suppose they would say? "We are united on this and our new kleader will have autonomy." There is nothing at all outrageous on this. But saying this does not make it true. Many qualified candidates refused interviews because they do not believe it is true. Facts. Mets ownership has promised autonomy before, but no one has ever left a Mets front-office job saying the head of baseball operations actually has unfettered power. True. Instead, they describe a situation in which, at best, the recommendations of the baseball head are followed but not until — regardless of the size of the issue — both owners are consulted (usually separately). True. As one former employee said, “Those are not two- or five-minute phone calls.” Are you doubting this? Translation: Those in charge get worn down and use a lot of the workday clock with this setup. A reasonable conclusion based on the presented facts. And this job search is not going to convince the industry that a new hire will have autonomy. A reasonable speculation based on facts Remember what Jeff Wilpon said on the final day of the regular season, that it would be his advice to retain manager Mickey Callaway and the acting GM triumvirate of Omar Minaya, J.P. Ricciardi and John Ricco, but that the ultimate decision would rest with the new GM? You could look it up. It's hyperlinked for christ's sake. Really? What candidate is going to make his first significant act dismissing people whom the owner already has said he wants back? Is this not a reasonable question? And Ricciardi and especially Minaya have been feeding candidates for this process. Fact. Would they really be proposing those who would dismiss them? Reasonable speculation based on above fact. Plus, Ricco has joined Jeff Wilpon to do the initial interviews. Fact. Ricco has stood out over the years for putting the Mets first. Fact. Still, is he going to recommend the hiring of someone who wants to fire him? So what kind of person would accept this job? Again, reasonable speculation based on the facts. What is wrong with this? In the first round, the Mets have gone pupu platter — not sure, for example, you get much different than Brewers 66-year-old senior adviser Doug Melvin and Rays 35-year-old senior VP of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Facts. Conversely, upon dismissing GM Bobby Evans, Giants president Larry Baer said the team would pursue an analytically strong “Next Gen” GM. It has focused their search in a familiar way; they were run old-school under Evans and Brian Sabean and will go 180 degrees now. ' Facts. But what is 180 degrees for the Mets? Reasonable speculation based on facts. Fred Wilpon feels they got too analytical under Alderson — a sentiment not shared in the industry. Fact. But how does being too analytical jibe with what Jeff said in that end-of-year media briefing, that Alderson recommended not enlarging one of the smallest analytic departments in the majors? How can you be too analytical and yet have a tiny analytics department? Reasonable followup questions based on facts. And, by the way, don’t you think some good candidates noticed that Jeff put this on Alderson’s plate and also said his regime did not want to spend heavily on free agents? Speculation based on fact. Lack of appreciation/accountability from ownership also is not going to draw the best and brightest. Opinion but a reasonable one. Alderson brought stability and a strong public face at the worst of times for these owners (think Madoff), steered the Mets to an NL title, did not leave the cupboards bare of talent and — for goodness’ sake — is battling cancer. Do you think this ingratitude is not a talking point within the game? One needs to be willfully ignorant not to reach the same conclusion. So is the disconnect of what the Mets want and how they seem to be getting there, with Minaya and Terry Collins offering the old-school whispers Fred longs to hear while Ricco and Jeff canvass a wider field during interviews. What will emerge? It could be this is a rigged event and that Fred decided months ago Cardinals director of player development Gary LaRocque is getting the job. Speculation He checks all of Fred’s boxes for comfort: Worked for the Dodgers, has a relationship with Sandy Koufax, worked for the Mets, speaks the language of old-timey player development. Facts. You know what he has never done? I asked four prominent agents, and all said Larocque was not part of the Cardinals unit that negotiated contracts. I asked a half-dozen baseball ops folks who have done trades with the Cardinals, and none said LaRocque was ever part of that process. Bloom and Melvin, for example — despite their disparity in age and background — both have been instrumental in signings and trades. Reporting. I guess this is where — if the Mets go with LaRocque — they could sell Minaya, Ricciardi and Ricco, since each has served as a GM or interim GM. The Mets love to win the press conference, and I could see them trying to sell a Dream Team of Larocque on development, Minaya on international, Ricciardi on scouting, Ricco on administrative and some yet-to-be-named young analytic whiz kid. Of course, at the end of the year, Jeff Wilpon mentioned, while wanting to keep the three-headed GMs for support, that the trio were key advisers for the team’s return to awfulness. This makes complete sense given what we know about the search and the recent and distant histories of Fred and Jeff. Also, it is worth remembering that strawberries, pickles and whiskey all are delicious, but that doesn’t mean they go well together. Perhaps a gifted chef could effectively blend them. Does anyone sense the Mets have such gifted chefs leading this search? Do you really not understand the central theme of this piece? You're the idiot if so. Nicely done. And it makes you want to tear your hair out when you go to the trouble of doing this and your counterpart says he doesn’t have time to go through the whole thing. Infuriating. For what it’s worth Kristie Ackert had an article in the News that said basically the same thing. And the DN has a partnership with SNY and tend to go easy on the Wilpons. I get the unnamed source criticism and I get that for some reason ceetar hates Sherman, but when everyone is basically saying the same thing.... And don’t think people haven’t noticed that these “bad journalism” complaints come out only when the article opposes the critic’s point of view.

And I keep thinking Bartolo is the Red Sox bullpen coach.

Yup. And because he’s one of their’s those minor transgressions are hardly enough to turn on him as long as he keeps shutting the other team down. Just like Republicans don’t necessarily condone sexual assault. But it seems silly to let something trivial like that keep you from promoting a member of your team.

Don’t have a strong rooting interest in this one. I like the Sox but I wouldn’t mind if Houston won anyway. Either way I think Houston has a better chance to beat Milwaukee. And then they pan to the crowd and I see those old ‘86 jerseys and it makes me twitch and hate them.

Sometimes I just can't even believe the arguments he proposes.

Great article. Cebulski said Marvel must wait for the "right time" to see an Asian Superhero lead in a Marvel film. Yup.

It struck me last night as I was watching Josh Hader blow away the Dodgers in the 8th. He's going to be the World Series MVP. The Brewers are going to win the whole thing and that dickhead is going to end up the MVP. You'll hear things like "redemption" and "maturity" and "the person he is now", but have no doubt about it the guy with the racist, homophobic tweets will win the MVP. And the crowd that gave him the standing ovation will be celebrating in the streets. Then Mark Attanasio will invite Bud Selig to join the celebration and we'll honor his lifetime of achievements. The fraudster who had to pay $280 million in damages for collusion, and made a career out of self-dealing, will end up sipping champagne. This will come a few weeks after the judge accused of sexual assault is confirmed to the Supreme Court, having been appointed by the President, also accused of sexual assault and, like Selig, found liable for fraud. 2018 ladies and gentlemen.

You're the second poster in this thread to bring up bad journalism. Un-named sources, writer speculation, stuff like that. Certainly it's terrible not to source your information. One writer hears something from an un-named source, another writer speculates, and then next thing you know it's been "widely reported". But on things like this, a GM search, what is a writer to do? What qualifies as good journalism? And do you have any examples? I'm not in the industry. I have no idea what the standards are. The Mets are not going to make any public statements, certainly the candidates are not going to talk on the record, and no one in the organization will give their name for fear of losing their job. If good journalism requires someone to speak on the record, would we get any information at all? And this isn't just the GM search. It's basically the entire hot stove season. Free agent signings, trade talks, anything concerned with the budget. How can one report on things like this? I'm from upstate New York, and in that area Syracuse basketball is huge. The local writers there are terrific and really know the team inside out. But their style of reporting is to write about things after the fact. They will never speculate on a recruit until he has signed. They won't report progress on an injury until the team issues a statement. They report what has happened, officially. No progress reports, no speculation, nothing is known until the event is done. I would guess that's the other side of spectrum. Would be interested to hear from the journalists.