batmagadanleadoff

Zvon wrote: Zvon wrote: I was saying what should be banned is bowling over the catcher.... But a catcher in possesion of the ball is allowed to block the plate. In that instance, a runner should be allowed to bowl over the catcher. If I was a catcher, and I had possession of the ball and there was enough time --- wanna know what I'd do? I'd sit on the plate and cover it with my ass. And then I'd put my throwing hand inside my mitt, to hold the ball firmly in place. Is that against the rules?

Zvon wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: No sideways cards. They mess up my visual stream. Sorry they were so big. Would that "fimg=" command up there re-size the image? Yeah. That's what I did with your Charlie Smith.

][fimg=252]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c5934ep47mo/UmNqv-R-5bI/AAAAAAAAG5o/74qewaW9xVs/s670/65tCHARLIESMITH.jpg[/fimg]] 6 5 4 3 2 1

][fimg=252]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c5934ep47mo/UmNqv-R-5bI/AAAAAAAAG5o/74qewaW9xVs/s670/65tCHARLIESMITH.jpg[/fimg] 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

][fimg=252]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c5934ep47mo/UmNqv-R-5bI/AAAAAAAAG5o/74qewaW9xVs/s670/65tCHARLIESMITH.jpg[/fimg] 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

themetfairy wrote: Ron Hunt? Ron Hunt hit exactly 20 HR's as a Met in 1963. And in 1964. And in 1965. And in 1966. Combined.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ][fimg=252]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c5934ep47mo/UmNqv-R-5bI/AAAAAAAAG5o/74qewaW9xVs/s670/65tCHARLIESMITH.jpg[/fimg] 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

themetfairy wrote: Jaime Cerda too - You should post a photo gallery here called Growin' Up With the Mets, with the kid next to a Met, but a little older in each succeeding shot.

themetfairy wrote: Frank Howard Not with the Mets, not even one, unless his fungoes count.

themetfairy wrote: Cleon Jones? No Cleon Jones. Or Chris Jones. Or Randy Jones. Or Bobby Jones. Or Bobby Jones.

Zvon wrote: No sideways cards. They mess up my visual stream.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ][fimg=252]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c5934ep47mo/UmNqv-R-5bI/AAAAAAAAG5o/74qewaW9xVs/s670/65tCHARLIESMITH.jpg[/fimg] 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

][fimg=252]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c5934ep47mo/UmNqv-R-5bI/AAAAAAAAG5o/74qewaW9xVs/s670/65tCHARLIESMITH.jpg[/fimg] 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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Lucas Duda is the 35th Met to hit at least 20 HR's in one season. Name the other 34. One player per post. 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

I could relate to this thread, because I'm drawing big blanks on fringe Mets of recent vintage, especially relievers. Must be another sign of aging. Catalanotto (1B), I know, though. A local guy (LI) who played for the Mets for the first few weeks of 2010 ... arrived at the Mets at the end of an undistinguished career ... very memorable (at least to me, anyway) only because in his lone Mets start, bad Jerry slotted the fading scrub in the cleanup spot for no other reason (at least to me, anyway) than that the regular first baseman of the season to that point (Mike Jacobs) usually batted cleanup. Toppless as a Met. Has his own website. http://www.frankcatalanotto.com/index.php

One of the more common complaints from back in the days when the Mets DID consistently have one of the higher payrolls in MLB was: 'well sure they spend, but they don't spend it in the right places or for the right players'. And with Tulowitzki hitting many of the topics--turning 30, oft-injured, Coors-inflated, lengthy contract, paying for his twenties but getting his thirties, will require money AND players to obtain--which can and will be cited, if and when he fails to live up to expectations, as proof that even a retarded gorilla coulda/shoulda have known he was the wrong guy at the wrong time, both trading for or NOT trading for this guy lays the groundwork for complaints no matter what happens. The only question remains whether those complaints will read: 'They're too Cheap' or, 'They're so Stupid". In short, I really don't care what they do and I don't believe Tulo is going to be dealt this week anyway (he may very well be on the winter-time block). Of course obtaining him will strengthen the club as SS but it's virtually by definition going to weaken them elsewhere, how much depends on who and how many get sent the other way. As far as the money, I don't pretend to know what the team's finances look like now or in the future or what the constraints are. I've never cared much how much these players make except to the degree that if affects what other moves can be made and, make no mistake, any time ANY team imports a $125 million commitment it is going to affect other moves. I agree with your whole post. I wasn't advocating for a TT acquisition. I think it's pointless anyway because my gut sez the Mets can't afford him, whether I'd want him or not. So if it's pointless, what's the point? Not that I'm hot for TT, but I think he's not in their price range. Granted, I don't know what the Mets finances are. I simply read the Times and the tabloids and Megdal and figure that Saul Katz probably really did say that he wants out .. and whatever Fred and Jeff say about their money, I assume that the opposite is true ... I mix it all together and look at the last coupl'a years of Mets payroll and figure that it's bleak and it's gonna be bleak for a few more years. But what do I know? Broke for the Mets isn't like broke for me and you. I'm just saying that the Mets payroll level is a disgrace. And if people think the Mets can't win a discussion whenever a top tier (i.e. expensive) player is mentioned as a potential Mets target, well that's the way it should be .. the Mets shouldn't come out looking good in those discussions. They shouldn't win. Because their payroll is a disgrace. And if their finances really are as bad as I think, really as bad as the sources I read claim it is, then they shouldn't bring up these stories about how they asked the Rockies to keep them in mind as far as TT goes. Because if they're that broke, then they can't afford TT, and the idea that they asked to be kept in the TT pipeline was probably just another PR ruse to make everybody think they're flush again.

I'm not so sold on TT either. He's gonna hit 30. Shortstops tend to fade earlier (but they can be shifted easier). I see a Coors effect here (not that TT's a bad shortstop -- but I'm not convinced he's as great as they say he is). Still, TT would be a monumental upgrade over the Mets current SS, a position that might be the team's biggest hole. And any doubt or disagreement as to what the Mets biggest hole is is further proof of how flawed the present Mets are. As usual with the Mets in the present, it comes down to money more than it should. I find it difficult to discuss the probability of the Mets acquiring TT without this post turning into another rant on the Mets finances. It can't be ignored, even though I get the sense that many here are sick and tired of the topic. But whaddyagonnado? Pretend that if only TT weren't a Yankee fan, he'd be a Met tomorrow? I've got no problem with the Mets, for once, getting bang for their buck ... maximizing output with minimal payroll levels. That's fine if they can pull it off. But I don't think they should have to take that approach. Mainly because it's harder to win with smaller payrolls. And also, because they're the NY franchise. Some posters here say we shouldn't count the Mets pocketbook. I say: Why not? They're counting our pocketbooks. Their ticket prices are among baseball's highest, as are their food, concession and parking fees. That alone probably obligates them, at least ethically, to maintain a high payroll commensurate with the geographic region they play in. If they can't, they shouldn't be allowed to own the team. There's plenty other Masters of the Universe interested in owning the Mets. What's in it for me if the Mets can succeed with one of baseball's lower payrolls? They're not gonna mail me a dividend. They're not gonna lower their prices either. It ain't my money they're hoarding to pay the electricity. So spend or get the hell out, I say.

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: What is that? Looks like a bunless hot dog in saran wrap. Bacon on a stick. Delicious bacon on a stick. EoYjjgWTth4

Ceetar wrote: What is that? Looks like a bunless hot dog in saran wrap.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Jon Heyman wrote: Ultimately, the Mets don't see themselves as likely to land Tulowitzki -- "he wants to be a Yankee" one Mets person said.... Funny how this didn't thwart the Mets successful pursuit of Carlos Beltran. It's MetSpeak for "we're broke and can't afford Tulo, right?

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/28/sports/baseball-mets-present-is-no-match-for-pirate-future.html BASEBALL; Mets' Present Is No Match For Pirate Future By JASON DIAMOS Published: July 28, 1999 The promotion was billed as Turn Ahead the Clock Night. But it was the kind of future the Mets could live without. If last night was any indication for the Pittsburgh Pirates, however, the coming years will belong to their 24-year-old rookie right-hander, Kris Benson, who pitched the first complete game of his major league career. Benson, the No. 1 pick over all in the 1996 draft out of Clemson University, throttled the Mets throughout a 5-1 victory. He received a little help from two home runs from Al Martin and a moon shot from Brant Brown that bounced off the scoreboard in right field. Benson (8-8) allowed one run (a homer by Robin Ventura leading off the seventh inning) and six hits to halt the Mets' winning streak at six games. ''He had command of all three of his pitches,'' said Orel Hershiser, who was outpitched by Benson. ''If you command one, you can pitch here. If you command two, you can be tough. And if you command three, you can be dominant.'' With a fastball in the 94- to 95-mile-an-hour range and a hard-breaking curveball, Benson was indeed dominant. The six-game winning streak had tied the longest this season by the Mets, who are still 33-14 since June 6. But last night's loss, coupled with the Braves' 10-2 victory over Milwaukee, dropped the Mets (60-42) a game and a half behind the first-place Braves in the National League East. As for the promotion, which envisioned uniforms as they might be in 2021, it might have been a success from a box-office standpoint: the crowd of 36,337 was outstanding for a Tuesday night. But it's likely the Mets will not want to wear the uniforms again. The black and silver threads looked like a cross between softball uniforms and something a 1980's band would wear on stage. The Pirates' red and yellow jerseys weren't much better, leading one to hope to get more out of the fashion world in the next 22 years. Hershiser kept the Mets in the game -- he allowed seven hits and four runs in six and a third innings -- but these promotions have not been kind to him at all. Hershiser lost on Turn Back the Clock Day in Tampa, Fla., on July 17. As he said earlier this week, ''How come both times we wear the odd uniforms, I get to pitch?'' Rickey Henderson, who like Hershiser is 40, did not mind the uniforms -- he sported his without sleeves -- as much as the picture of him on the scoreboard for each of his at-bats. Mets Manager Bobby Valentine had called the promotions department creative. But that was not the word Henderson would have chosen. When he came to bat in the first inning, the home-plate umpire, Angel Hernandez, pointed out the futuristic scoreboard shot to Henderson: it featured him with a third eye in the middle of his forehead, huge ears and a bald conical head. Henderson could not believe it. ''Funny?'' he said. ''Mine was funny enough. I don't know where they came up with my picture. I know my ears ain't that big. Before the game started, the umpires were laughing at me. And then when I lined out to short'' -- Abraham Nunez had to leap for the ball -- ''they were saying I hit the guy in his third eye.'' Hernandez was laughing so hard behind the plate, he had to close his eyes. Said the third-base umpire, Joe West, ''I told Rickey that was the best he's ever looked.'' With the Mets trailing, 1-0, in the third inning, Piazza came to the plate during the Mets' best threat of the night, the bases loaded with two outs. But Benson surprised Piazza with a sinker down and in, and Piazza grounded to third for a fielder's choice. Benson basically cruised from there. ''It was a bad swing,'' Piazza said. ''I wish I could have it back.'' It is doubtful the Mets feel the same about Turn Ahead the Clock Night. ''We should have had a big top,'' Hershiser said. ''If we can't sell the product the way it is, maybe we should give it a rest.'' INSIDE PITCH Pittsburgh's AL MARTIN produced the fourth multihomer game of his career and third this season. His first? At Shea Stadium on April 5, 1996. . . . JIM DUQUETTE, the Mets' assistant general manager in charge of player personnel, said yesterday that the Mets had set Aug. 12 as the return date for the oft-injured outfielder JAY PAYTON, who has been sidelined with a strained oblique muscle in his abdomen. ''He's progressing slowly,'' Duquette said of Payton, who was hitting .388 with Class AAA Norfolk. Photos: Rickey Henderson, above, received an extra eye to keep on the ball on Turn Ahead the Clock Night. Orel Hershiser, left, simply picked up a loss. (Photographs by G. Paul Burnett/The New York Times)(pg. D1); Mike Piazza went 0 for 4 and struck out last night as the Mets couldn't solve the Pirates' Kris Benson. (G. Paul Burnett/The New York Times)(pg. D4)

[fimg=444]http://scratchbomb.com/images/MercuryHowie.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=333]https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS3iYov35IpFgRUq61NjAHgQo-3VcBAxDRXAo6VNpTAsmVUDn-3[/fimg]

Nate Silver at 538 approximates WAR for GM's. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/billion-dollar-billy-beane/#fn-4 excerpt: Beane�s 12 wins per season above what we would expect of an average general manager is slightly more wins than Barry Bonds earned when he hit 73 home runs in 2001 (11.9 WAR). The most WAR earned by any batter over his entire career was 163 by Babe Ruth.12 In fact, if you assemble the top 15 position player seasons of all time, they still trail Beane�s 15 seasons as GM, with 180.1 WAR combined versus Beane�s 180.2 wins above expectation. No one can get that lucky. If you�re expected to win 1,116 out of 2,364 games, winning 1,296 games instead may not look impossible, but that�s because our intuitions about these things are terrible. Excel�s binomial distribution function makes calculating such odds pretty easy: In this case they�re somewhere around one in 13 trillion � effectively zero. If anyone doubts the positive correlation between winning percentage and payroll, look here: [fimg=533]http://espnfivethirtyeight.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/morris-feature-beane-1.png?w=863&h=690[/fimg] Teams above and to the left of the line (A's) win more with less. Teams below and to the right of the line (Mets) spend more than most but win less than most. [fimg=533]http://espnfivethirtyeight.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/morris-feature-beane-41.png?w=863&h=680[/fimg] How little bang do the Mets get for their buck? [fimg=533]http://espnfivethirtyeight.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/morris-feature-beane-51.png?w=863&h=1119[/fimg] [fimg=533]http://espnfivethirtyeight.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/morris-feature-beane-31.png?w=863&h=1193[/fimg] http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/billion-dollar-billy-beane/#fn-4