Centerfield

Ceetar wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: NYM-deGrom (4-1, 1.57) ATL-Soroka (1-1, 3.68) ...maybe some early runs would go a long way towards chasing him and winning this game.. LOLOLOLOL

Ceetar wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Maybe they did, but didn't offer any compensation up to the Mesoraco level. Or maybe they did offer talent that was just as good or better, but the Mets were hesitant, thinking that if Harvey found his way back to his north star, they didn't want him doing it cross-town. I'm sure they'd've overpaid for top shelf Matt Harvey. Anyhow, the Mets needed a catcher and got one. well sure, but this is the Yankees thread and I wanted to throw out a little ribbing. It'd be really fun to see them go on a 20-40 slide where they lose a bunch of games 9-6. In other words, you'd like to see them play at a slightly better pace than the Mets have been over their last 53 games?

Thanks Admin!

This is making its way around social media. High School pitcher strikes out his childhood friend to advance in state championships, but then foregoes celebrating to give his buddy a hug. http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/ty-koehn-jack-kocon-minnesota-high-school-baseball-video/hkpbioyitqif1gkaggnqwy38a Any admin feel free to post the video. Not sure how to do it. Admin: sure! [tweet] [/tweet]

Nymr83 wrote: I agree with CF, but for a very narrow reason: Every owner should have a public duty to fans to try and win because they have been granted an antitrust exemption and exclusive territory. If Wilpon doesn't have to try and win then the A's should be allowed to move to Brooklyn and compete wiyh him for fans. I think this is a very good reason.

I guess that's true! "He went splint there? No way, I would have definitely gone ace bandage."

I don't think anyone realistically believed that Ray Ramirez actually caused injuries, but one of the big complaints was how they were handled once injured. Playing hurt, coming back too early, or, conversely, taking forever to get back on the field. We have no way of knowing if Ray Ramirez was a contributing factor, but we also don't know that he wasn't. The Mets are perfectly within their rights to go a different direction. But yes, your point is dead on. If you have an issue with the philosophy, it doesn't make sense to promote his first in command. Or maybe they did just scapegoat him. Who knows.

I'll be honest. I find your arguments hard to follow. Like, I think we use the same logic, but the more exchanges we have I find I'm not following anything you're saying. And I'm not saying we deserve more as Mets fans. But I do believe that every team owner has a responsibility to put winning first. There are plenty of businesses where you can maximize profits and no one will say a word. The team has a huge advantage from day 1 with the NY revenues. The fact that a great portion of that is going to satisfy the Wilpons' personal debt is a travesty.

If Ohtani had gone to the Mets, he wouldn't have needed something as mundane Tommy John. He would have contracted Valley Fever, or Thoracic Outlet, or Spinal Stenosis, or some other injury that nobody has ever heard of that leaves you a shell of your former self.

Ceetar wrote: So you hold the Mets to higher standards than other teams, because you perceive some sort of obvious advantage that may not be there, despite them arguably being the most successful expansion team. So it's okay to give too many PA to a bad player because they've over paid for other bad players or what? Shouldn't this make it worse? They've spent so much more and STILL are playing bad players at 2B? Their rotation might be in shambles. The Yankees also have no pitching depth. This is such a terrible set of arguments it's hard to know where to start. I can't believe someone can offer this in good faith. It read like it's meant to infuriate the other side. First off, why the arbitrary category of expansion team? Being the best expansion team is something nobody cares about. Secondly, it's not a perceived advantage. It is a documented, irrefutable advantage. The Mets play in NY. The largest market in the US. Before a single move is made, they start off with a tremendous head start over the majority of their competitors. It's clear as day that there is a difference between signing an aging veteran to be insurance for a loaded team, and signing an aging veteran to be a main cog. If you're going to have a discussion, you have to exert a minimum level of effort or else it's pointless for the other side. The Yankees, with their lack of pitching depth, are 7th in team ERA. While playing in the AL. The Mets are 16th.

My 2 cents. I think what Edgy meant by "thread hijacking" was turning this into another Wilpon bashing session. Now, I hate the Wilpons as much as anyone, but this was meant to be a fun little thread about old guys playing for the Mets. I think one can turn basically every thread into a "Wilpon Sucks" thread, but I agree that we should be able to talk about other, fun lighthearted things as well. Also, for what it's worth, though not the intended topic, not every veteran signing is equal. All teams sign old players for various purposes. I see nothing wrong with signing a veteran player when you are rebuilding. They can be a mentor to younger kids. I also think a veteran signing can be great insurance for a loaded team (like Utley has been for the Dodgers). If the Mets had gone out and gotten JD Martinez or Giancarlo Stanton, a move like Gonzalez is a good one. Veteran insurance for a rookie that might not yet be ready. But when a team signs an old guy and counts on that player to be a productive, middle of the order threat, then we run into trouble. Signing an aging veteran to be a still dangerous bat off the bench is a good move. Signing an aging veteran to be your cleanup hitter during your "go for it" period is ridiculous. The best example of this is Michael Cuddyer, except that Cuddyer's prime wasn't even good enough to qualify for this thread. And that's why the Dodger comparison is silly. There is a huge difference between the Dodgers, who really know how to "go for it" and see five straight division titles, and the Mets, who's version of "go for it" means middle market players and guys past their prime.

Vic Sage wrote: This sucks. He was doing something historic, and now people who said he couldn't be both a hitter AND a pitcher will say "told you so." Which also sucks. Well the logic is undeniable. 100% of two-way players in MLB required Tommy John surgery this year. Clearly it's playing 2 ways that messes you up. If you just concentrate on pitching you're totally fine.

Mo Vaughn had an .805 OPS and hit 26 HR's in his first year. We'd be doing backflips if we added 2002 Mo to the 2018 Mets.

Cone is disqualified having spent a portion of his prime with the Mets. That disqualifies 1987 Seaver as well. Just looked up Sheffield and he had an .823 OPS though I think he was injured for part of the season. I'd be inclined to put Sheffield and Alou on the "I thought they were washed up but had a little something left" team.

Sheffield was very good as a Met. 800+ OPS from what I remember.

With a career OPS of .843 and a WAR of 42.2, I think Adrian Gonzalez sits comfortably as the starter at 1B on the "Washed Up Superstars that Played for the Mets" team. Andres Galarraga had an OPS of .846 but his WAR was 31.7. Advantage Gonzalez. Plus Adrian actually played for the Mets while Galarraga only made it to spring training. I was going to name Willie Mays the captain of this team, but it looks like he had decent numbers in 1972. .848 OPS. So I think he's disqualified. Around the horn give me your starters. Criteria: Great players for their career who were old and stunk by the time they got to the Mets.

I'm glad they made this move (obviously). I have no idea if Dom Smith is the answer. But I know for sure Gonzalez was not. And if Dom crashes and burns, then we get to see what Alonso's all about. I'm guessing there is a corresponding promotion of Alonso to AAA.

Omg. A win!!!

Walk. But it’s ok. If he gets into trouble we have Vargas.

That’s 1!

Don’t agree with that call. Anyway. Let’s go Swarzak.

Let Gsellman finish this.

I heard Piazza threw out the first pitch? That’s awful. Mike deserves better. Until they make an effort to win I’d decline any public appearances.

I watch fewer and fewer games. And this is saying something. I am the easiest fan for the Mets to have. A lifer. A baseball junkie who hates the crosstown team. All I ask for is effort. And the Wilpons don’t give that. So why the fuck should I?

Anything. You can’t let things go on like this. Really. This team makes me hate baseball. And I love baseball.