batmagadanleadoff

Disgruntled Met fans channel their inner wordplay ... conceive and pay for this brilliant billboard: ___________________________ Mets fan pays for anti-ownership billboard, with two more on the way near Citi Field BY Amara Grautski NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Published: Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 5:54 PM Updated: Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 11:17 PM When one Mets fan reached his breaking point with the team�s ownership group this offseason, he drew inspiration from an unlikely source: Jets fans. Gary Palumbo, 39, followed the success of the �Fire John Idzik� billboards � funded by Gang Green supporters trying to put the team�s GM out of a job � and decided to erect some of his own, aimed at Mets owner Fred Wilpon, president Saul Katz and COO Jeff Wilpon. On Wednesday, along Interstate 95 and about eight miles north of the Mets� spring training home in Port St. Lucie, Fla., a billboard went up with the message �Fred, Jeff & Saul, Ya Gotta Leave.� On April 6, along opposite sides of Roosevelt Ave. in Queens, two more will go up near Citi Field: one with the same message, another with �Fred, Jeff & Saul, Sell the Team.� �You have all these exciting young players coming up,� Palumbo said of the Mets� offseason, �but in my viewpoint, they didn�t do enough to support them.� That was that. Palumbo decided that the Wilpons were �clearly unable� to operate the team properly � a team that hasn�t made the playoffs since 2006. The Connecticut native, who has cheered for the Mets since he was 10 years old, created a Kickstarter campaign with the goal of raising $5,000 to pay for the installation and printing of two anti-ownership billboards near the Queens ballpark. Turns out, there are more than a few fired-up Mets fans: He ended up with $6,700. This billboard is one of two set to go up near Citi Field on April 6. Courtesy of Gary Palumbo This billboard is one of two set to go up near Citi Field on April 6. The additional funds, he said, went toward adding the new signage in Florida. All three billboards will remain up for four weeks. Although the strategy worked for the anti-Idzik segment of Jets fans � he was fired in December � Palumbo realizes that he most likely can�t force out the Wilpons. �You can�t take down a billionaire with a billboard, and if you could, you�d have thousands of them across the U.S.,� he said. He is, however, looking to apply some pressure. �If you have the media here saying one thing, and then a segment of the http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-fan-pays-anti-ownership-billboard-article-1.2137736

Zvon wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: "The Man From Topps had to dig deep into his archives for the earliest pictures shot at Shea to uncover this one of me. So which one-time Met am I"? [fimg=355]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8666/16691227225_15c711c936_o.jpg[/fimg] Ken Henderson. Scoreboard trumps batting cage.

cooby wrote: ... from a Christian standpoint I can understand exactly what Murphy is saying but I think that truly he has no ill will toward gays. What a shame that this is gonna get twisted, if it does. Yeah, I don't think Murph's comment necessarily makes him a bad guy, either. Just a little bit clueless. Lefty Specialist wrote: Wish this would all go away. I bet it does. Looks like the Mets finally did something smart, PR-wise, by shutting Murph down. Or up.

sharpie wrote: I would respectfully disagree on all your points. But i think we're steering afar from the point of the thread. Partly my fault. Apologies. And I would respectfully agree that we have veered far off of the point of the thread. Apology accepted and echoed. We didn't stray nuthin'. You can't discuss this story meaningfully without hitting these other topics that we supposedly "strayed" into. Now if youse wanna say that this ain't the proper place for a meaningful discussion of this piece, well that's somethin' else. Even though Murf the Met started it. I say Murphy's fucking clueless, and I say that believing that Murph's 's probably a nice guy, that he's not some mean-spirited thug who might beat a gay person to within an inch of his life just on account of his gayness, and that he's even open-minded enough to come around on his view. But he still doesn't get no free pass just because of the church he belongs to, just the same as the guy who lynches an African-American doesn't get a free pass just because he sympathizes with the Klan or just because for the last 100 years, nobody in his family's ever left the State of Mississippi. Cuddyer says he has never had a gay teammate that he has known of. Daniel Murphy says he has not either. I thought this was the funniest part of the piece, even with the qualification. Boy are these jocks clueless. Together, the two of 'em probably already had dozens of gay baseball teammates, going back to their little league days. Jeez, I could easily and effortlessly name you a dozen gay Mets in as long as it takes me to say their names, no doubt about it, bet my life, I don't care what you say to the contrary if you don't believe me. They're gay. (Nttawwt).

G-Fafif wrote: Shinjo?

Buddy at The Butter, including a rare shot of Harrelson and Ol' Case in the same frame. Harrelson never did get to play for Stengel, and never wore #8 in the majors. [fimg=544:2rzp9v43]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8563/16524546978_945d4b2cbc_o.jpg[/fimg:2rzp9v43][fimg=844:2rzp9v43]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8657/16524546888_f274e3a1f8_o.jpg[/fimg:2rzp9v43][fimg=555:2rzp9v43]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8627/16524546838_69f67fa728_o.jpg[/fimg:2rzp9v43]

Lunchbucket should know this cold, I would expect. He probably logged off to go and put on his pants with the security tag.

Edgy MD wrote: Mark Johnson. There's one five between Mark n Dave. Still, that's impressive ... remembering Johnson as #5. What was he a Met for, like 15 minutes? Okay, I exaggerate., but MJ's stint couldn't have been more than a few months.

No peeking. Who was the last Met to wear #5 before Wright?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: SteveJRogers wrote: ... the fact is, unless the former wearer was a no doubt future HOFer, the Mets have historically never really gave a flying fuck about numerical legacies. You nailed that one. Although, I see that 17 hasn't been issued since mid-2010, five years ago. That can't be a random coincidence, I'd suppose.

SteveJRogers wrote: ... the fact is, unless the former wearer was a no doubt future HOFer, the Mets have historically never really gave a flying fuck about numerical legacies. You nailed that one.

G-Fafif wrote: Revisiting JCL's groundbreaking work on the McKnight of Many Numbers, it is amazing how cavalier Charlie Samuels was in passing along 17 and 18 in particular so soon after their best days. 5, too, I suppose, though I guess Davey Johnson was deemed persona not grata ASAP. Whatever one's feelings on digit-retirement, how does the guy from Tidewater keep rating prime numbers? Charlie probably [rolls eyes in disbelief and mock sarcasm] forgot that those numbers belonged to Keith and Straw. [/rolls eyes in disbelief and mock sarcasm] [fimg=433]http://mbtn.net/images/torve-second.jpg[/fimg]

I have a Jeff McKnight batting practice jersey in uni number 17, which Jeff hadda give up to Saberhagen.

He will be the leader of the Mets 14th bullpen spot.

Leathersich can earn a spot because there is no glaring leader for the seventh spot in the bullpen. Boy has baseball changed over the years. Who will be the Mets leader of the 7th bullpen spot this year?

I'd read that the Leather Rocket is a Sid Fernandez kind of lefty strikeout pitcher. His fastball rarely breaks 89 MPH, but his delivery makes it difficult for the batters to pick up the ball easily. The only thing holding him back will be his control. But, as MF said, once he does get called up, he will be impressive, with a very good K/IP ratio. Terry will probably use him as a LOOGY, but I think his delivery will make him effective against righty batters, too. Later You're on the right track, even if you short changed Leather by a few MPH's His fastball sits in the low 90's, but his delivery is so deceptive that it gives hitters the impression his fastball looks to come in somewhere in the high 90's. Here's the whole piece: With 1 Mets prospect, they have a Sid Fernandez-like option for bullpen By Mike Vorkunov | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on March 02, 2015 at 9:40 AM, updated March 02, 2015 at 9:58 AM PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — In Jack Leathersich, the Mets have an intriguing option for their last bullpen opening. In many ways, he is an ideal fit. Leathersich is left-handed, filling a seeming requisite. He strikes out batters at a ridiculously high rate — at 15.4 strikeouts per nine innings, he led all minor league pitchers across every single level last season. And at 24, he is young enough to become a long-term fixture. "If it all clicks" Frank Viola, the Mets' Triple-A pitching coach, says, "There's that lefty the Mets have been looking for in the big leagues and he's going to be there for a long time." Viola harkens back to the Mets' 1986 team to find a comparison: "I compare him to a lesser man's Sid Fernandez." It is no slight. Fernandez pitched for 15 years in the majors, managed a career 3.36 ERA and made two All-Star teams. But as Viola notes, there is an if with Leathersich. While a prodigious strikeout pitcher, he has been wild at times. Last season, he walked 4.6 batters per nine innings. It is his biggest impediment to a place in the majors. "We'll give him a chance to see if he can get some left-handed hitters out in spring training," manager Terry Collins said. "You look at his numbers, he strikes people out. You look at his minor league career, he strikes guys out. This isn't the minor leagues. I can clear that up real fast. This is a little different game. They're not going to swing at some of that stuff up here until you show me you can get them out in certain places, then they'll start to chase. But they're going to make you throw the ball over first. So we'll give him the opportunities." Yet, Leathersich, a fifth round pick in the 2011 draft, can be that guy if he makes the changes he and the club hope he can. Leathersich can earn a spot because there is no glaring leader for the seventh spot in the bullpen. While the Mets would prefer a second lefthander to join Josh Edgin, it is not a necessity. Dario Alvarez, Sean Gilmartin, and Buddy Carlyle are among some of the pitchers vying for that job. Leathersich has made it a stated goal this spring to lower his walk rate, more focused on throwing strikes than striking out batters. His troubles come from his own doing, Viola says. Leathersich has a tendency to speed up his delivery, leaving him to keep his hips and arms open. The result is too many balls high and out of the strike zone. "He's got the makings of a very, very good reliever," Viola said. "But if he doesn't slow the game down, if it gets too fast for him then he won't have a chance. So there's a fine line there." Leathersich's effectiveness comes despite unassuming tangibles. He is just 5-foot-11 and not overpowering. His fastball sits in the low 90's, but his delivery is so deceptive that it gives hitters the impression his fastball looks to come in somewhere in the high 90's. But he must also add a changeup and tweak his delivery for his curveball, Viola said. And, of course, there is his command. If Leathersich can improve that, before all else, his path to the major leagues will become clearer. "I believe I can get anybody out," he said. "I just need to get ahead of more guys. The strikeouts are obviously cool and whatever but the walks are what are keeping me in Triple-A. Everybody knows that and I know that. That's the goal this year." http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2015/03/mets_have_a_sid_fernandez-like_option_for_bullpen.html

Do youse buy cards with the intent to sell them down the line for a profit? 'Cause if youse don't, and youse just wanna have the cards youse wanna have just so youse could have 'em, youse all must hate this name missing error thing parallel crap that drives the price of some cards to orders of magnitude higher than the price of a common.

I agree that triple digit #s are an inevitability -- it has to be, logically. Still, I'd bet anything that none of us will ever see triple digit numbers issued in MLB in our lifetimes, at least not out of necessity.

Initially, I didn't wanna start a new thread for this post. But I couldn't figure out where else to logically put it. Yankees Running Out of Jerseys So Quickly They May Be Forced to Play Shirts vs. Skins By Jaime Fuller By the end of the summer, the New York Yankees will have retired 21 jersey numbers since 1939. Once Derek Jeter retires, they'll lose another. The fact that a zero has never been worn by a member of the team makes the list of unattainable numbers even longer. A backup shortstop told the New York Times, �They�re going to have to go to triple digits pretty soon. I don�t think they want to have to go to negative numbers.� According to the equipment manager's color-coded list, the only available numbers are 38, 50, 57, and 69. No other baseball franchise comes close; the St. Louis Cardinals have second place in this weird contest, with 13 decommissioned numbers. Given current conditions � and controlling for factors like the number of times a pun about the Yankees appears in the New York Post, the decibel level of insults hurled by the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on a random evening in September, and the average number of Yankee jerseys being worn at Times Square at 3:21 p.m. � it appears that the Yankees will be able to celebrate its bicentennial by retiring the numbers 1776, -42, and 58008. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/03/yankees-may-resort-to-negative-number-jerseys.html?mid=google&google_editors_picks=true\ ____________ At first, I couldn't figure out what the writer meant by the Yanks running of #'s and that only 38, 50, 57, and 69 are available. I suppose that the Yanks don't have #'s higher than 69 --- otherwise, this piece doesn't make much sense to me.

I've never seen this movie start to finish in one sitting either, though I've seen enough bits and pieces to fool myself into believing that I actually did. I'm glad to see older movies discussed on this forum. I don't go to the movies more than a coupl'a times a year these days, and some years, not even that.

Grantland's "30" -- a weekly column ranking MLB's teams makes its 2015 debut. You can practically smell the soft breeze drifting off of Crescent Lake and onto the mound at Butterball Field. The defending AL champion Royals are ranked 23rd, Yankees 20th, and your Mets are one notch better than their hometown rivals, entering the poll at 19. Since the calendar has turned to 2015, we�re starting off fresh. Last year�s results don�t matter � sorry, Giants fans � and all teams are ranked based on how they look coming into the spring.... 20. New York Yankees Right now, the Yanks look like the worst team in the AL East. Every starting position player not named Didi Gregorius sits on the wrong side of 30, and many of them just aren�t very good. The rotation will lean heavily on three pitchers coming off injury-marred seasons � CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, and Michael Pineda � and the 34-year-old Sabathia might be cooked even if he does return to full health. As evidenced by the more than 1,000 comments on this River Avenue Blues post about 19-year-old Cuban sensation Yoan Moncada�s decision to sign with the Boston Red Sox instead of New York, the Yankees fan base is not in a good place right now. 19. New York Mets Meanwhile, in Flushing, Mets fans are still pining for that shortstop of their dreams. Let�s hope light-hitting incumbent Wilmer Flores took up macram� or scrapbooking over the offseason � anything to avoid the barrage of criticism foisted upon him and GM Sandy Alderson. As wonderful as a magically healthy Tulowitzki in exchange for two C-minus prospects might sound, there�s real cause for Tulo-less optimism here. As a healthy Matt Harvey leads a deep rotation that can�t find room for dynamic prospects Noah Syndergaard (who�s ready for the majors) and Steven Matz (who�s getting close), the Mets seriously might have too much pitching. With all of those arms, catcher Travis d�Arnaud�s enticing combination of power and defense, and the prospect of fattening up on 37 games against the potentially terrible Phillies and Braves, the Mets could be stealth wild-card contenders this year.

"The Man From Topps had to dig deep into his archives for the earliest pictures shot at Shea to uncover this one of me. So which one-time Met am I"? [fimg=555]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8666/16691227225_15c711c936_o.jpg[/fimg]

The Yankees posed their pitchers on the Butterball mound throwing in every direction but towards home plate. [fimg=444]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16690101912_b4ed7554e7_o.jpg[/fimg][fimg=444]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8572/16690102012_cfb26449a2_o.jpg[/fimg]

G-Fafif wrote: That would be excellent information to have. More than a good catch -- one a roomful of people paid to read things closely missed. Looks like you cleared up that snafu. http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2015/03/01/meet-the-mets-authors/

I agree that Lagares is a great fielder. I wasn't disputing that. I'm just saying that I don't know how much his defense compensates for his so-so hitting. Going by BbRef WAR, Lagares was one of the top 10 players in the NL. Was he? I'm not saying he wasn't. I'm simply saying that I don't know, that I wouldn't, in a million years, ever discern that simply from what I can see with my eyes on the field. For me to be convinced that Lagares is one of baseball's elite and most valuable players, I'd have to take a leap of faith and rely on statistics that aren't transparent, and beyond the abilities of just about everybody to calculate from scratch.