Centerfield

="Frayed Knot":1w77txb8]="metirish":1w77txb8]Bill Madden in the Snooze today says the MFY's need to 'Cut him loose - no matter the cost" , they would be "applauded for it"....hey it's only $270 million....[/quote:1w77txb8] That's so absurdly over the top that it's barely worth discussing.[/quote:1w77txb8] It's like Klapisch and Madden are trying to have a dumb-off. Someone might want to point out to Madden that the "Yankee Brand" not only doesn't cut steroid users, they re-sign them (Pettite). MFS62 Feb 09 2009 04:02 PM Or forgive them (Giambi) Later bmfc1 Feb 09 2009 04:18 PM Real classy Alex: he accuses Selena Roberts of breaking into his house, scaring his kids, and only doing this because she has a book deal. bmfc1 Feb 09 2009 04:21 PM Alex: "God is doing this for a reason." Yeah, to expose you as a fraud, you self-righteous jackass. Frayed Knot Feb 09 2009 05:13 PM ="bmfc1":2fg4x9go]Real classy Alex: he accuses Selena Roberts of breaking into his house, scaring his kids, and only doing this because she has a book deal.[/quote:2fg4x9go] That was the most interesting thing I took out of his chat w/Gammons (didn't hear/see all of it). And that's not going to gain him any brownie points with the scribes. Not a whole lot gets the collective media more in line as when one of their own is attacked for his/her motives. MFS62 Feb 09 2009 05:21 PM Motives? If this (the break in) is true, what about methods? Later MFS62 Feb 09 2009 06:35 PM Did he or didn't he is just copious quantities of ca ca. This is the real issue: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne...o&type=lgns Whoever leaked the list could look at doing some real hard time. Later Rockin' Doc Feb 09 2009 07:45 PM Lunchbucket - "I thought of all Madden's cockamamie points, the fact that this event tarnishes the MFY Brand that they've worked so hard to feed us was actually a good one. I mean, were it up to the Yankee Brand people exclusively, they'd probably have Rodriguez killed." They could just have Rivera invite A-Rod to a pool party. MFS62 Feb 09 2009 07:48 PM That's cold. Funny. But cold. Literally LOL! Later metsguyinmichigan Feb 09 2009 08:16 PM ="Rockin' Doc":2q348b13]Lunchbucket - "I thought of all Madden's cockamamie points, the fact that this event tarnishes the MFY Brand that they've worked so hard to feed us was actually a good one. I mean, were it up to the Yankee Brand people exclusively, they'd probably have Rodriguez killed." They could just have Rivera invite A-Rod to a pool party.[/quote:2q348b13] Badass bullet of cool! metirish Feb 10 2009 06:35 AM I watched the interview last night , thought Gammons was disgraceful , not surprised by that though. Frayed Knot Feb 10 2009 07:00 AM ="MFS62":2tuoh1qv]Motives? If this (the break in) is true, what about methods?[/quote:2tuoh1qv] I'm operating under the assumption that the stories* of Roberts breaking into his house and "stalking" him are, at best, over-the-top exaggerations and that what Alex considers to be criminal harassment will be seen by other reporters as 'doing her job'. So, yeah, I expect the media as a whole to close ranks around her rather than him. * Apparently there was "an incident" with reporter Roberts and a guard at the gate outside of Rodriguez's community. Not sure if that's what he's blown up into 'trying to break in' or if he's talking about something else. Vince Coleman Firecracker Feb 10 2009 07:52 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]The Andy Pettitte defense. I didn;t. Oh, you got me? OK I did Actually, the Pettitte defense is more like: I didn't. Oh, you got me? Well, I only did it that time. Ok, I did it a little more than you caught me for, but never again or before. This defense allows you to seem like you're telling the truth, since you admit to just a smidge more than you got busted for, while at the same time limiting damage to your reputation, since there was only a small time span (always significantly in the past) in which you were cheating. This defense works well because people want to give these athletes the benefit of the doubt. I assume that these tests only snag the very tips of the icebergs in terms of how many are cheating and how often they are. I think A-Rod, Pettitte and countless others (including many Mets I loved and still love following) have used PEDs since high school and continue to cheat to the present day. Edgy DC Feb 10 2009 08:00 AM ="Vince Coleman Firecracker":3cjpun8v]This defense works well because people want to give these athletes the benefit of the doubt.[/quote:3cjpun8v] Unless, of course the athlete is A-Rod. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2009 08:19 AM Not to stoke this more but Jeter fed his fanclub in the 4th estate an interesting line yesterday. Filip Bondy who may as well titled his piece in the snooze today GOD I LOVE THE TASTE OF DEREK'S BALLSACK practically apologizes for even asking whether Jeter did it and finds the answer: "Why would my name be on that list?" as an acceptable response. Note how Jeets dares his cheering section to accuse him of something, so he can act wronged from the start. metirish Feb 10 2009 09:12 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"] Filip Bondy who may as well titled his piece in the snooze today GOD I LOVE THE TASTE OF DEREK'S BALLSACK practically apologizes for even asking whether Jeter did it and finds the answer: "Why would my name be on that list?" as an acceptable response. . Bondy definitely finds that answer acceptable... ] That was the answer we wanted to hear. Jeter is the guy who stays out of trouble, doesn't go trawling for it. He remains single, so his romantic dalliances amuse instead of disgust us. He keeps quiet about the contract that expires in 2010, about his place in the lineup, about the pitchers and teammates and coaches who have failed him in recent seasons what would these guys do if their beloved Jeter was dirty...Snooze has 15 pages on Rodriguez. metsguyinmichigan Feb 10 2009 09:43 AM Jeter's proof is in his middling stats. If he put those numbers up in Kansas City, he'd be just another decent player. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2009 09:47 AM No no no no no no. My point is if he played in this era he's a suspect whose denial is as sincere as anyone else's. Everyone is a suspect, and the papers still don't get it. And players from Termel Sledge to Manny Aybar should have proven by now that numbers have little to do with it. metirish Feb 10 2009 09:56 AM Yeah numbers mean nothing really , as we know a lot of players took them to help recover from injury or just to recover from games, unlike Rodriguez who was just young and stoopid. metsguyinmichigan Feb 10 2009 09:57 AM Letterman on ARod Top Ten Messages Left on Alex Rodriguez's Answering Machine 10 "Hey, it's Mark McGwire, want to get together this weekend and not talk about the past?" 9 "Joe Torre here, thanks for helping book sales." 8 "Could you find a steroid that keeps you from choking in the playoffs?" 7 "Are you worried this will taint all the championships you didn't win?" 6 "Hi, it's Bernie Madoff. Nice try, but I'm still the most hated man in NYC." 5 "Michael Phelps here, got any snacks?" 4 "Hi, this is Sammy Sosa, just pretend you don't speak English." 3 "Michael Phelps again, did I call you or did you call me?" 2 "Hi this is Rod Blagojevich, I'll say you're innocent if you say I am." and the Number One Message Left on Alex Rodriguez's Answering Machine: 1 "It's Madonna. You got a phone number for Jeter?" soupcan Feb 10 2009 10:09 AM Fucking funny! metirish Feb 10 2009 11:43 AM Hilarious from Letterman.... Representative Elijah Cummings apparently wants to bring Rodriguez before Congress. ] "I think we're going to have to see what Rodriguez will tell us," Cummings said in a phone interview. "He is in a confessing mode, so maybe he needs to put his apology into some meaningful action by cooperating with the committee so we can see if there are things we need to reopen to make sure baseball is doing all that it can to rid itself of this kind of practice." Edgy DC Feb 10 2009 11:47 AM Me as A-Rod: "I'll testify under oath if everybody else does. Don't have time for that? OK, then just Derek." metirish Feb 10 2009 11:48 AM Let's just play ball. MFS62 Feb 10 2009 11:51 AM Under HIPAA regulations (in force since 1996) divulging the results of a medical test without the express consent of the patient is a violation of Federal Law. The penalties are here: http://aspe.hhs.gov/admnsimp/pl104191.htm#1176 From information published about the A-Rod case, the tests were conducted by a licensed medical testing organization. To me, that makes them covered by that law. Those 2003 tests were conducted under the terms of anonymity. In that case, I can't believe any of the players testd signed a release/ waiver of those terms. Therefore, IMO anyone divulging those results has committed a crime and should be punished. Can any Medical folks here confirm my opinion? Later metirish Feb 10 2009 12:04 PM Our David has spoken ] Mets' David Wright praises A-Rod for coming clean BY DAVID LENNON | david.lennon@newsday.com 1:57 PM EST, February 10, 2009 David Wright praised Alex Rodriguez for coming clean on his PED use during Monday's interview with ESPN, but also took a hard-line against cheaters. "I hope that anybody who cheats get caught," Wright said. "Maybe its me being na�ve, but I think baseball is clean. You would have to be either very desperate or flat-out stupid to try and beat the system now." That said, Wright still believes that A-Rod is "a tremendous player" and laughed when someone asked about comparing himself to the Yankees' third baseman in the wake of these revelations. "He's better than me," a smiling Wright said Frayed Knot Feb 10 2009 12:18 PM ]Under HIPAA regulations (in force since 1996) divulging the results of a medical test without the express consent of the patient is a violation of Federal Law. Fine. Now all you have to do is convince the government that they need to prosecute themselves over the fact that they're the ones who first confiscated, then leaked, the records. metirish Feb 10 2009 01:15 PM Congress thankfully win not haul Rodriguez in for a grilling. ] The statement from Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY) today reads: "The news that another one of baseball's premier players -- in addition to another 103 unnamed players -- used performance enhancing drugs is disturbing and sends yet another horrible message to our young people. "With unemployment in this country approaching double digits and our constituents' very livelihoods being threatened by the nation's economic woes, I intend to focus on passing President Obama's Economic Recovery legislation to get Americans back to work to fix our sinking economy. The American people need leaders who will focus on stemming job losses and getting credit to flow in the marketplace before hearing from yet another person who cheated both himself and the game of baseball. The Committee began this investigation in the face of a weak and ineffective drug testing policy that compromised the integrity of Major League Baseball. Now that baseball is implementing one of the most comprehensive drug testing policies in major league sports, I look forward to monitoring how well the policy is working to ensure the credibility of our national pastime. themetfairy Feb 10 2009 01:36 PM ="metirish"]Our David has spoken ] Mets' David Wright praises A-Rod for coming clean Wright said. "Maybe its me being na�ve, but I think baseball is clean. You would have to be either very desperate or flat-out stupid to try and beat the system now." Someone give that boy a hug. Or a puppy dog. themetfairy Feb 10 2009 01:42 PM Caple Blames Madonna For A-Rod's Steroid Use[/url:1axxb394]. G-Fafif Feb 10 2009 04:44 PM Just you wait -- some version of this[/url:1e05cmtc] will be written by at least one of the columnists cited. metirish Feb 10 2009 04:53 PM OMG , brilliant.... Edgy DC Feb 12 2009 08:13 AM Zev goes the whole nine yards, and the only moral failure he indicts the Rod for is giving up the juice and therefore ripping the Yankees off. Opinion A-Rod, get back on the 'roids You've got nothing to apologize about; drugs have been part of professional baseball for a long time. By Zev Chafets February 12, 2009 If it is true that Alex Rodriguez stopped using steroids in 2003, before he came to New York, the Yankees have been swindled. A-Rod hasn't been trying his hardest to win and help his team. In A-Rod's defense, it could be argued that there is no empirical proof that taking anabolic steroids improves baseball performance. But baseball players think they do. A-Rod himself admits he took steroids to make himself one of the greatest players of all time. Even if steroids are potentially dangerous (and despite suspicions, there is no proof that they cause permanent harm when properly administered to adult males), what of it? For many people, danger is the price of doing business. Construction workers, firefighters, cops and combat soldiers all take their lives in their hands to earn a living. According to Sports Illustrated, 104 major leaguers tested positive for steroids in 2003. That's about 10% of the players in the majors. Back in 2003, A-Rod didn't necessarily know who the other 103 users were. But he did know that they were out there someplace. They might have been pitchers he was facing, or fielders who caught up with his batted balls. He probably guessed that some of the juicers were the great hitters he was competing against for primacy and the money that goes with it. Can anybody blame A-Rod for leveling the playing field? What was he supposed to say: My rivals may be chemically enhancing their performances, but that's just a disadvantage I must live with? Baseball players have been doing drugs since Hall of Fame pitcher Pud Galvin shot up with monkey testosterone in 1889. And it's not just steroids, Since the '60s, major leaguers also have used amphetamines and downers. Players take them for professional purposes, not for fun. As every Little Leaguer has been taught, you sacrifice what you must for the good of the team. You play hurt if necessary, and you take your advantages where you find them. Gaylord Perry threw spitballs, more or less publicly, for 20 years, and he got into Cooperstown. As a player, John McGraw tripped so many base runners that baseball was forced to introduce an infield umpire -- and McGraw is in the Hall of Fame too. Even Babe Ruth was caught corking his bat. These and a hundred other incidents of sign stealing, bat tippling, ball scuffing and bat doctoring are staples of baseball lore, lovingly recounted by after-dinner speakers and broadcasters across American generations. Cheating is as much a part of Major League Baseball as alcoholism, ethnic bench jockeying and the ground-rule double. Besides, let's be honest. Americans love chemicals that provide an edge. Students use them to cram for finals. Pilots and surgeons take Provigil to keep sharp. Trial lawyers and Broadway actors pop beta blockers to ward off stage fright. Bob Dole pitched Viagra on television. I've even heard rumors about sportswriters who smoothed out their workdays with Prozac. Science marches on, no matter how much we long for the pristine days before medication. Ballplayers will always look for an edge, and chemists will always come up with one, and a way to evade testing too. "Everybody does it" is not a moral defense, but honestly, is this really a moral issue? Baseball hasn't treated it that way. Forty years after Jim Bouton revealed the widespread use of "greenies," no players have been seriously punished for using chemicals. Even now, the only real threat is getting banned from the Hall of Fame, and we'll see how long that lasts in the age of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens and A-Rod. The baseball establishment still hasn't made a real effort to stop players from using steroids, because it is believed that steroids enhance performance and help win games -- and that is what professional baseball is all about. Except, it turns out, to A-Rod. For the last four seasons, he has let his teammates and his fans down by doing less than his best. Unless, of course, he is lying about having quit in 2003, and he's been enhancing right along. Say that it's so, A-Rod. Say that it's so. Zev Chafets' book on the Baseball Hall of Fame, "Cooperstown Confidential," will be published in May. Rockin' Doc Feb 12 2009 11:09 AM My dear Mr. Chafets, You sir, are an idiot. Sincerely, --Rockin' Doc metirish Feb 12 2009 11:36 AM ] As a player, John McGraw tripped so many base runners that baseball was forced to introduce an infield umpire -- and McGraw is in the Hall of Fame too. For fucks sake man get a grip . Ashie62 Feb 12 2009 05:04 PM ="metirish":1ih6vdd4]Let's just play ball.[/quote:1ih6vdd4] Yup...This whole steroid drama is wearing thin..Since no Ballplayers are beyond question as to taking performance enhancers why don't we do this to wrap up the issue for good. 1. On opening day for all teams at their own parks have every player in uniform do 200 Military squats as punishment and penance. Fans can use the time to boo or heckle to vent, or step out to get some delicious Wise snacks. 2. Have Selig sac up and designate 1996-2003 the "live ball era" or whatever you would like to call it. 3. Current Drug Testing Policies are in place to move forward. Lastly, I'm not going to hammer Arod or any other abuser as I won't should any of our boys get outed...I can't imagine David Wright ever being involved in this mess but as I said..no one is beyond question. Now play ball!!! soupcan Feb 13 2009 11:21 AM If anyone's interested - Pete Rose is going to be on WFAN with Francesa in a couple of minutes. I'm sure he'll be talking about Alex. seawolf17 Feb 17 2009 12:05 PM This press conference is insipid. PatchyFogg Feb 17 2009 12:09 PM ="soupcan":ko45fwv9]If anyone's interested - Pete Rose is going to be on WFAN with Francesa in a couple of minutes. I'm sure he'll be talking about Alex.[/quote:ko45fwv9] And, we're having Kirk Radomski live at 9:15PM tonight on LI's 90.3FM in case anyone is in the listening area. I'll put it up at http://hosted.filefront.com/patchyfogg after the show. In the meantime (at the same website), you can check out the 2 commercial-free hour Mets Preview that we did with Adam Rubin right before he left for Port St. Lucie. Nymr83 Feb 17 2009 12:12 PM ="seawolf17":3rs9xhqj]This press conference is insipid.[/quote:3rs9xhqj] What more did you want him to say? I relize the media needs to keep beating it to death because they have columns to fill, but I've heard all I need to hear already. metirish Feb 17 2009 12:52 PM It's ended.... Rodriguez ended by saying he wants "to make the world a better place" , words that would inspire Bernie Taupin. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 17 2009 12:57 PM John Harper in the meantime is suckered into taking Texiera's word he's never used, why he's "cleaner than Derek Jeter if that's even possible" (yes, he actually wrote that today). themetfairy Feb 17 2009 02:01 PM ="metirish":2kjyziqi]It's ended.... Rodriguez ended by saying he wants "to make the world a better place" , words that would inspire Bernie Taupin.[/quote:2kjyziqi] How does he feel about World Peace? holychicken Feb 17 2009 03:03 PM ="Ashie62":2gt1v9x0]2. Have Selig sac up and designate 1996-2003 the "live ball era" or whatever you would like to call it.[/quote:2gt1v9x0] The "small balls era" makes more sense. metirish Feb 17 2009 08:14 PM Johnny Damon - "using steroids is wrong but he didn't commit a crime or like go out their and kill someone"..... Edgy DC Feb 17 2009 08:20 PM Is that something he wrote or said? metirish Feb 17 2009 08:29 PM I was watching the news and he said it, not the exact quote from me but close . MFS62 Feb 17 2009 09:17 PM ="themetfairy":67aky83c]="metirish":67aky83c]It's ended.... Rodriguez ended by saying he wants "to make the world a better place" , words that would inspire Bernie Taupin.[/quote:67aky83c] How does he feel about World Peace?[/quote:67aky83c] It doesn't matter. He's not competing for Miss America. Later LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 17 2009 09:57 PM ="metirish":cg5944xb]Johnny Damon - "using steroids is wrong but he didn't commit a crime or like go out their and kill someone".....[/quote:cg5944xb] You know, like Leyritz. /Why, yes, my tongue works fine-- why do you ask? Nymr83 Feb 18 2009 02:26 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":2ac33j35]="metirish":2ac33j35]Johnny Damon - "using steroids is wrong but he didn't commit a crime or like go out their and kill someone".....[/quote:2ac33j35] You know, like Leyritz. /Why, yes, my tongue works fine-- why do you ask?[/quote:2ac33j35] Sorry Johnny, whatever he took was probably illegal in the U.S. Edgy DC Feb 18 2009 05:59 AM I actually tihnk a human being must be sacrificed every time Madonna copulates. metirish Feb 18 2009 07:06 AM More from Johnny....to the print media he had this to say..... ] "It's unfortunate he made some stupid mistakes. He's a guy who definitely did not need it, and I definitely do not condone it....But there could be a lot worse things he could've been doing out there, (like) murdering someone"It's unfortunate he made some stupid mistakes. He's a guy who definitely did not need it, and I definitely do not condone it....But there could be a lot worse things he could've been doing out there, (like) murdering someone "We can go out there and support him," Damon added, "because we know we can't go out there and win a World Series without him." Rodriguez's amatuer hour defense defies logic , I didn't expect anything else from him but it couldn't have been more staged if he were on Broadway. Frayed Knot Feb 18 2009 07:06 AM ="Edgy DC":1kos7lsf]I actually tihnk a human being must be sacrificed every time Madonna copulates.[/quote:1kos7lsf] That would explain all the death and destruction in the world. Re: Damon -- His name came up in a round-table type sports discussion I was listening to and the panel was deftly using euphemisms like "an uncomplicated man" when describing him in order to keep from flat-out saying that he's basically box-of-rocks stupid. Edgy DC Feb 18 2009 07:19 AM Yes, Johnny, murder, manslaughter --- these things are worse than cheating at baseball. Thank you for your incisive analysis. For a counterpoint, here's Ambiorix Burgos.

Fantastic.

I harbor resentment from when you made me take down my ice rink. I was just trying to be a good dad is all.

Um. You're smarter than soupcan. Maybe.

26 World Championships. 27 has been elusive.

Did you get the 27 joke yet?

="Ashie62":k5uv0414]Sheets out 4-6 months for partially torn flexor tendon That answers that[/quote:k5uv0414] That makes no sense. If that was the prognosis, why not have the surgery back in October? John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 06 2009 08:28 AM ="Centerfield":125azak8]="Ashie62":125azak8]Sheets out 4-6 months for partially torn flexor tendon That answers that[/quote:125azak8] That makes no sense. If that was the prognosis, why not have the surgery back in October?[/quote:125azak8] Apparently the injury was revealed as part of a physical examination the Rangers required as a condition of a 2-year contract offer, now revoked. There is a question as to whether the Brewers will pay the doctor bills, paper sez. Nymr83 Feb 06 2009 08:38 AM thats going to be a question for the collective bargaining agreement, his last contract, and/or worker's comp laws. this is probably a good opportunity for the brewers to sign him for 2 years backloaded for cheap, maybe with a semi-expensive option for 2011 that kicks in with 200 innings in 2010. they'll probably be paying for his rehab anyway so they might as well be able to direct it and benefit from it

KC's banging Shamsky. You heard it here first.

I don't know how to play the actual game of dominos. But if he's talking about stacking them so they can fall in a line, I can see how that would drive someone to that sort of reaction. I mean, you spend all afternoon trying to get things just right, making sure to put plenty on the curves, splitting them into parallel tracks, then some doofus comes and knocks everything down while you're still working...few things in life are that maddening. I remember when I was ten my friend Mike did that to me like twice in one day. Had I been packing heat at the time, who knows what would have gone down.

Especially when they were out of the race. The only thing dumber would have been to trade your best pitching prospect for a mediocre starter to try to get back into it.

I started with that premise in my first post. This was assuming the Red Sox had interest in Schneider, as was rumored earlier. Said rumors being somewhat substantiated by the fact they brought back Varitek (who was worse and is older) for more money.

2002 is a funny year. Mo Vaughn gets a lot of that blame but he was ok that year. Fonzie and Piazza were good too. Burnitz, Alomar and Cedeno were probably the worst offenders. It was also a year where there were no players that exceeded expectations.

I would take whatever I could get from Castro, run Cancel or whoever else we have out there when he's not available, then take that $5 million and use it where it would be more productive. Getting rid of Schneider puts us about halfway to Dunn or Abreu.

For some reason, Derek Jeter seems to be having trouble coming up with number 27.

The Post says the Mets might be looking to trade Castro. I disagree. Give the starting job to Castro and ship out Schneider and his $5 million salary. I don't know if the Red Sox really wanted him earlier (it seems they might have, considering they gave more to Varitek, who is worse), but if that is true, then Omar truly is an idiot.

And when he couldn't give us anything, the insurance company gave us plenty. Appier and Cedeno were far worse moves.

You'll get nothing and like it. Says Omar at today's press conference, according to Metsblog. Or something like that. Omar says no more major moves this offseason.

="Edgy DC":1p7alcyl]Can we glean anything from the fact that the Red Sox --- the rich, smart, informed team we hope ours will one day be, employing Bill James and all and defending a championship --- traded Ramirez in the heat of a race? That shouldn't kill the notion, but shouldn't it humble folks a bit in their demands that this is a no-brainer?[/quote:1p7alcyl] I think the LCS demonstrated how much they missed Manny's bat. Especially if you turned the channel and watched what he was doing wearing blue. Also throw in the two World Series titles they won with him anchoring the lineup. Edgy DC Feb 03 2009 08:30 AM I'm aware of that and if louts were being loutish in killing the idea I'd feel similarly. It's a delicate choice, and no no-brainer by any stretch. Wasn't it your wife who said that we'd get David Ortiz when his weight hit 300 and his knees were shot? Edgy DC Feb 06 2009 08:28 AM ="Newsday"]Million Manny March only brings 10-15 Mets fans BY KATIE STRANG | caitlin.strang@newsday.com February 6, 2009 Compared to last week, the smattering of Mets fans willing to brave the cold outside SNY studios in Manhattan for the second "Million Manny March" accurately reflected the team's likelihood of landing Manny Ramirez - rapidly dwindling. About 50 fans gathered to chant and implore Mets management to sign the free-agent slugger last week, but only 10 to 15 people appeared for the second rally. "I wanted to promote the cause and get Manny over here, plain and simple," said Gustavo Medina, 20, of Ridgewood, Queens. "If we have a power bat like Manny, and you plug him between Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, you're gonna have a respected lineup and an outstanding New York Mets club in 2009." Even though general manager Omar Minaya has been emphatic in dismissing fans' hopes of signing Ramirez, Medina thinks it remains a possibility. "Omar Minaya has coveted that man since high school," Medina said. Holding up the other end of Medina's sign was Cliff Korn, 38, of Manhattan, who said the acquisition still could happen even though Minaya has ruled it out. "Minaya likes to make the big splash," Korn said, citing previous players who ended up in Flushing when it initially looked unlikely. "I think it's possible." Medina said they won't be deterred until adding Manny no longer is possible. When will they stop congregating? "When he signs somewhere else," Medina said. Added Korn, "And then we'll start rallying for Matt Holliday." John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 06 2009 08:31 AM Katie Strang, bringin it strong. Edgy DC Feb 06 2009 08:35 AM Great cub reporter assignment. Hey, Katie, go out in the cold and talk to some quixotic mooks. seawolf17 Feb 06 2009 09:13 AM For a quick second, I read that as Gustavo Molina. Frayed Knot Feb 06 2009 10:34 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1v6ar1zc]Katie Strang, bringin it strong.[/quote:1v6ar1zc] Considering that the only other time I've seen her name in Newsday sports is when she's covering human cockfighti ... I mean the "Mixed Martial Arts" scene, I suppose that talking to idiot Met fans in sub-freezing weather isn't so bad. Or maybe she's an MMA groupie and enjoys that stuff, who knows.

I think we may have set some sort of record for assumptions in a single thread. ="SteveJRogers":a9e7kszf]Not only that, how about when all the things that caused him to be persona non grata in Boston rear it's ugly head. You can only take "Manny being Manny" so much.[/quote:a9e7kszf] Manny reared his ugly head in Boston to the tune of a .927 OPS, which would have led all Mets. In July, he quit on the Red Sox by bumping that to 1.060. Afterwards, he got hot. ="SteveJRogers":a9e7kszf]Well there is truth to [Francesa and Russo being responsible for delivering Piazza].[/quote:a9e7kszf] No. There may be truth. It is all based upon speculation created by callers of the show who wanted to pat themselves on the back. ="Edgy DC":a9e7kszf]I'm all for advocating, it's true. But there's got to be some real responsiblity.[/quote:a9e7kszf] There is nothing here indicating that any of the street rallyers lack responsibility. They might all have legitimate plans. ="Edgy DC":a9e7kszf]I'm against the jungle advocacy or street rallies around such slogans as "Do It, Omar!" and calling hang-up radio shows. [/quote:a9e7kszf] This is not an assumption, but I'm just wondering why you would prefer one form of advocacy over another. ="Edgy DC":a9e7kszf]I'm also against the sort of two-faced advocacy that allows you to demand the same sort of moves that the advocate is ripping them for making in the past. (See: Waaaa!) [/quote:a9e7kszf] Nothing here suggests any of the rallyers are that type of fan. ="Edgy DC":a9e7kszf]Just as my frustration with rallyers who push for an aggressive spending-spree pursuit of veterans portrayed as prima donnas tend also to have pushed for that in the past, only to rip the Mets when those moves haven't worked out, and go on to portray those failed veteran imports as prima donnas that the Mets should have been smart enough to avoid.[/quote:a9e7kszf] Again, it is faulty to undermine the rallyers' credibility by unfairly associating with hypocritical thinking. There is nothing to suggest these rallyers think in that manner. ="RealityChuck":a9e7kszf]Are the people rallying for Manny also rallying for keeping the Citi Field naming rights (and payments)? Because if they're not, they're being delusional.[/quote:a9e7kszf] Are you aware of any out clause in the contract? Because my understanding of contracts is that if Citifield tries to back out, they are subject to damages. Centerfield Feb 03 2009 08:09 AM ="Edgy DC":1p7alcyl]Can we glean anything from the fact that the Red Sox --- the rich, smart, informed team we hope ours will one day be, employing Bill James and all and defending a championship --- traded Ramirez in the heat of a race? That shouldn't kill the notion, but shouldn't it humble folks a bit in their demands that this is a no-brainer?[/quote:1p7alcyl] I think the LCS demonstrated how much they missed Manny's bat. Especially if you turned the channel and watched what he was doing wearing blue. Also throw in the two World Series titles they won with him anchoring the lineup. Edgy DC Feb 03 2009 08:30 AM I'm aware of that and if louts were being loutish in killing the idea I'd feel similarly. It's a delicate choice, and no no-brainer by any stretch. Wasn't it your wife who said that we'd get David Ortiz when his weight hit 300 and his knees were shot? Edgy DC Feb 06 2009 08:28 AM ="Newsday"]Million Manny March only brings 10-15 Mets fans BY KATIE STRANG | caitlin.strang@newsday.com February 6, 2009 Compared to last week, the smattering of Mets fans willing to brave the cold outside SNY studios in Manhattan for the second "Million Manny March" accurately reflected the team's likelihood of landing Manny Ramirez - rapidly dwindling. About 50 fans gathered to chant and implore Mets management to sign the free-agent slugger last week, but only 10 to 15 people appeared for the second rally. "I wanted to promote the cause and get Manny over here, plain and simple," said Gustavo Medina, 20, of Ridgewood, Queens. "If we have a power bat like Manny, and you plug him between Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, you're gonna have a respected lineup and an outstanding New York Mets club in 2009." Even though general manager Omar Minaya has been emphatic in dismissing fans' hopes of signing Ramirez, Medina thinks it remains a possibility. "Omar Minaya has coveted that man since high school," Medina said. Holding up the other end of Medina's sign was Cliff Korn, 38, of Manhattan, who said the acquisition still could happen even though Minaya has ruled it out. "Minaya likes to make the big splash," Korn said, citing previous players who ended up in Flushing when it initially looked unlikely. "I think it's possible." Medina said they won't be deterred until adding Manny no longer is possible. When will they stop congregating? "When he signs somewhere else," Medina said. Added Korn, "And then we'll start rallying for Matt Holliday." John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 06 2009 08:31 AM Katie Strang, bringin it strong. Edgy DC Feb 06 2009 08:35 AM Great cub reporter assignment. Hey, Katie, go out in the cold and talk to some quixotic mooks. seawolf17 Feb 06 2009 09:13 AM For a quick second, I read that as Gustavo Molina. Frayed Knot Feb 06 2009 10:34 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1v6ar1zc]Katie Strang, bringin it strong.[/quote:1v6ar1zc] Considering that the only other time I've seen her name in Newsday sports is when she's covering human cockfighti ... I mean the "Mixed Martial Arts" scene, I suppose that talking to idiot Met fans in sub-freezing weather isn't so bad. Or maybe she's an MMA groupie and enjoys that stuff, who knows.

Considering they have a signed contract, I don't see why the Mets would let Citi out of the deal until they had a more lucrative (or equally lucrative) deal in place.

I wouldn't put it past them to be done...but as a fan, I'm having a hard time getting pumped up for a team that has the same lineup and the same rotation as last year's team. I realize the bullpen may be better, but we had Wagner until the last two months.

14) My favorite band is Hootie.

The Piazza rumor is what I was alluding to. I didn't think anyone really believed that rumor except the die-hard listeners of that show, but you learn something new every day.

You know, if we really wanted Manny, we'd ask Mike Francesa to make it happen.