Centerfield

First time we've seen the full A lineup in a while.

Zvon wrote: Braves broadcasters say Bob Murphy was deaf by the time he retired due to the noise the jets make flying over Shea. CF says Braves broadcasters are Certified Idiots due to their brains shriveling up from lack of oxygen and falling out their ears.

I think Pedro's ERA can be attributed, at least partly, to Bradford's propensity to strand the runners Pedro leaves on base.

Just a bruise. Listed as day-to-day. http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060902&content_id=1642536&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

BELTRAN X-RAYS NEGATIVE Doctors: Mets Centerfielder is "just a wuss" By Marty Ignoble - CPF Sports HOUSTON -- The Mets received word late Saturday that X-rays on Carlos Beltran were negative, hours after their center fielder had injured his left knee crashing into a chain-link fence in left-center field at Minute Maid Park Beltran was removed from the game after making a magnificent, leaping game-saving catch, taking a score-tying hit away from his former teammate, Lance Berkman. Before leaving for the hospital, he limped conspicuously as he left the clubhouse after saying he couldn't bear weight on his left leg. Beltran, the team's primary candidate for the Most Valuable Player award, was taken to a local hospital for additional examination, and he was diagnosed with a bruised left knee after X-Rays came back negative. The centerfielder is listed as day-to-day. Local doctors stated that no structural damage was found and that Beltran is "just a wuss". Prior to leaving for the hospital Beltran was examined by Dr. Warren Kadrmas (CQ), who had worked with the team in Spring Training. Dr. Kadrmas seemed unconcerned when speaking with reporters. "I worked closely with Carlos during March", said the doctor, "and he was a sissy then too." Beltran is expected to sit out the series finale on Sunday.

Mets increase their lead over the Tigers as they fall today to the MFY's 6-4. In other news, how would you like to be the Marlins, go 9-1 and not game a single game in the division standings. I realize they're not looking towards the division anyway, but that's gotta be just a little frustrating.

Isn't soupcan our captain? I think he should have to wear that hat.

Johnny Dickshot wrote: Once the Mets whacked McEwing, Bogar became the oldest "source" of current Met trade acquirees. With the injuries to Zambrano & Fortunato, and the DFAing of Diaz, this was in danger. McEwing traced his roots to Ed Hearn right?

It is also important that the former-Met to be acquired have some trade value because keeping alive the thread is the most important thing.

That database would require constant updating as "True Yankee" status can be fleeting. For instance, when Giambi hit that grand slam in the 13th inning his first year with the Yanks, it was the moment he became a True Yankee. But he lost TY status when he lost 200 lbs and hit .150. But now that he has 36 HR's, he is a TY again. Shit like this can be hard to keep track of. No wonder the MFY fanbase is so sophisticated.

Frayed Knot wrote: Tell the Philly announcers that we'll promise to stop running just as soon as Ryan Howard promises to stop hitting grand slams. As if on cue.

Can I be the shady record company exec that steals the group's money?

We're official.

Hard to vote against the guy who hit the walk-off 2-run HR, but gotta give it to the other Carlos.

Steve Lyons is like the annoying guy at work who knows nothing about baseball but always wants to talk about it anyway somehow finding himself a way to get on TV.

I would guess "Taking Care of Business" became the song of choice after they built their big lead.

...touching hands, reaching out...

What baseball should really do is give him one of those honorary lifetime achievement awards.

I brought this up in the Film Review Forum. There is a scene in Beautiful Girls, released in 1996, where the crew sings along to Sweet Caroline when Timothy Hutton's character plays it on the piano. The movie is set in rural Massachusetts and everyone there is a Boston fan. I wondered if the tradition had its roots in that scene.

We have this discussion every year, but a performance like Hafner's should be proof positive that a team's won-loss record has very little to do with the accomplishments of an individual player. So awarding Jeter because his team finishes first, while discounting Hafner is as arbitrary factoring in uniform color to the discussion. The MVP should go to the best player in each league. Regardless of salary, expectations, team record, uniform color etc. Unless, of course, a player is Jewish. Then he should win hands down.

On Baseball Tonight, they will be counting down the best Web Gems in Mets history. Guesses as to what will be on the list? Obviously Swoboda, and Tommie Agee's 2 catches. ReyO has to be on that list, though no one play stands out. I'm also guessing Mex shows up fielding a bunt and throwing a laser to third.

It's a tough situation. It's very common to hear minority groups express satisfaction at seeing the advancement of someone in their community. "It's good to see a black manager." "I like him because he's a good Jewish ballplayer." But if a white, protestant fan ever said "I like Joe Ballplayer because he's white", he'd be roundly criticized. Even in a situation like the NBA where white players are a minority. I don't know the right answer. I find nothing wrong with Scarlet taking extra pride that Green is a Jewish ballplayer, nor do I think it's wrong that I hope someday the Mets have a Korean American star. At the same time, I certainly have no problem with lubitul's colorblind approach. And I appreciate that he has it. Hell, if everyone thought like lubitul, it would make this whole debate unnecessary. But therein, I guess, lies the problem. Until everyone has a colorblind approach, minorities will be rooting for role models to shoot down negative stereotypes. To make that Jewish Superstar book a little thicker.

Iubitul wrote: I'm still waiting for the first Italian-English-German/American, who was born in a town along the CT coast to a firefighter father so I can have someone to identify with... Of course, there are very few negative stereotypes about Italian-English-German/Americans, who were born in a town along the CT coast to a firefighter father (none that I am aware of). And therefore, it is very rare for an ignorant person to tell an Italian-English-German/American kid, who was born in a town along the CT coast to a firefighter father, that they cannot play ball. Thereby eliminating any need for said kid to cite a successful Italian-English-German/American ballplayer, who was born in a town along the CT coast to a firefighter father, in order to refute the ignorant claims.

Of course that is silly. But I don't think anyone here is guilty of that. I think they see that Green is a good, useful player who also happens to be Jewish. And they see the last part as an added bonus, not the impetus for trading for him. And KC, we know you're not an ass. Avatar notwithstanding.

="KC"]I still say hoping a team gets a player, or being happy because the player is here based on race, religion, and/or ethnicity is nonsense. Play ball. Viewpoints like this are easy when players of your particular race, religion or ethnicity are a dime a dozen. There will always be a white protestant player on the Mets. There always has been. For minorities, having someone represent your race/religion/ethnicity on your baseball team is significant. He can be a positive image to contrast some of the more negative stereotypes floating around about a particular group. He can also be a tremendous role model to young kids. A young Jewish kid can look at Shawn Green and dream of making the major leagues. Now, you might ask, why couldn't that kid look at Carlos Beltran, or David Wright? Sure he could. And he does, but there are tons of ignorant folks out there that tell him he won't make it because he's Jewish. And Jews are supposed to be lawyers, not ballplayers. These are the same folks that still think blacks aren't smart enough to play quarterback, or that Asians don't play sports. (One of my brother's coaches once confessed to me that he never thought he'd see the day his number 3 hitter was a chinese [sic] kid.) And that's why you root for Shawn Green, or Donovan McNabb, or Ichiro Suzuki. And if one of these guys ends up on your team, it makes it just a bit more special. Of course, as a fan, I always want the player that will help my team the most...whatever color he may be. But I also hope some Korean American kid comes up and hits 40 dingers for the Mets someday. Then maybe my son won't have to hear some of the things I did.