batmagadanleadoff

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I agree. I appreciate what Gary Carter contributed to the Mets, but if I was in charge, I'd issue number 8 to a backup catcher or fifth outfielder. It really ought to be put back in circulation. Bob Alpacadaca wrote: Backup catchers and fifth outfielders? Yeah. Backup catchers and fifth outfielders. What Grimm is saying is that Gary Carter's uniform number deserves no more special treatment than Donn Clendenon's old number, or Wally Backman's, or Bret Saberhagen's or Jack Leathersich's.

=bmfc1 post_id=123524 time=1682473466 user_id=73] Three losses in a row. Steve can spend all the money he has and they still started three minor leaguers in a row.

Edgy MD wrote: But yeah, it's a different story to give a guy a contract that's for two or three years if he's good, six or seven if he isn't. I'm not sure I would call it “giving” a guy a contract versus negotiating one. I say good for the player for utilizing his leverage and negotiating for that flexibility. That a player has the leverage to negotiate an opt-out doesn't necessarily make it fair or a good thing for baseball. And I'm like the last guy to likely side with the owners over the players. I'd explore banning them in the next CBA. Wilpon negotiated that one because he knew he wouldnt be here in 2023 and couldnt give a flying fuck about the future state of the Mets. That's why he signed Cano, dealt Kelenic for Diaz and didnt delay Alonso's debut for the requisite couple of weeks so as to push back his walk year by a whole calendar year, selfish scumbag that he is. If the Mets were operating under normal conditions and not in a state of financial crisis, none of those things would've happened.

he can essentially break his contract and demand a huge raise. It's all reward and no risk. That's not “essentially break[ing] his contract.” That IS the contract. The one that both sides negotiated and agreed to. Yeah, I know. It's just a way of phrasing things. But the contract essentially allows deGrom to break it. Essentially. In effect. More or less. Virtually. Would it've made you happier if I wrote "get out of" instead of "break"? It doesn't change the real point or essence.

Edgy MD wrote: After studying the Mets' boxscore in the late seventies, I'd move on to the Reds' box (to see if Seaver pitched, and if so, how well), then to the Twins' box (to look for Koosman), and finally to the Rangers' box (to check on Matlack). But I don't know if it's more that deGrom wasn't traded, but signed elsewhere, or that I'm not 11, but I don't feel and emotional stake in his success. At least not theseadays. I'm with Lunchie and "fuck him". But I'm still interested. Because I've never seen anyone pitch as dominating as the healthy deGrom of the last two seasons. I don't think anyone else has either -- including dead fans. What I've come to despise are these ever proliferating player opt-out clauses. What utter bullshit. So if deGrom's arm fell off and his career was ruined, he'd still be in line to collect $35M a year for several more years. But if the market goes up -- and it goes up every year -- ha can essentially break his contract and demand a huge raise. It's all reward and no risk.

Where deGrom ranks right now among AL pitchers (2023 season stats): WHIP - 0.788 (3rd) H/9 IP - 6.075 (7th) BB/9 IP - 1.013 (2nd) K/9 IP - 14.513 (1st) K's - 43 - (1st) K/BB's - 14.333 (1st) FIP 1.41 (1st) ... and trending upwards with a bullet.

=Gwreck post_id=123424 time=1682434263 user_id=56] =bmfc1 post_id=123403 time=1682427544 user_id=73] We know that Dom will get a tribute video. Will Trevor Williams?

It's a neat way to eliminate your enemies and rivals, if it works. Just tell somebody an awful, reprehensible but obvious lie and when they call you on the lie, swear on your enemies' lives that you were telling the truth.

=MFS62 post_id=123349 time=1682356601 user_id=60] The Psychologist told him that is one of the text book things liars say. I'm not sure how credible this was, but interesting.

6 IP, 11 K's, 1 ER allowed and the pitching win for Jake deGrom and the first place, that's right, first place Rangers, who have a 2.5 game lead on the second place team in their division, the biggest first-place lead in all of baseball other than that of the practically unbeatable Rays.

=kcmets post_id=123204 time=1682197013 user_id=53] =batmagadanleadoff post_id=123176 time=1682185763 user_id=68]Of course they don't matter. The idea that fans matter to the owners is a naive and childlike notion.

Peterson was probably instructed to intentionally allow six runs in less than two innings. Because, wasn't the Mets goal to take two of three from the Giants? Case closed. Mission accomplished. Not to worry.

=DocTee post_id=123156 time=1682166109 user_id=85]But when the Giants moved to that gorgeous stadium in the city while the A's rotted in the Coliseum there was a real awakening among the fanbase that they just didn't matter to ownership, or the city, or MLB.

What's the difference even if there is outrage? What can outraged Oakland fans do? Boycott the remaining A's games? Threaten to burn down the city? Vote out some pols? That's never worked before. (I mean the last suggestion.)

Catching up with Dom Smith. (The skinny: he's playing every day and struggling big time). .226/.324/.226 0 HR's 58 OPS+ Struggling Smith still searching for hitting stroke Excerpt: It hasn't happened so far for Smith, who in 15 games has yet to produce an extra-base hit. He's batting .233 (14-for-60) with four RBIs. But most troubling is the fact his slugging percentage is identical to his batting average, the ultimate confirmation of a lack of power. [***] Smith appreciates the show of confidence from his manager, especially when the results haven't necessarily warranted that kind of support. “He knows I can do damage up there,” Smith said. “I know I can do damage up there. I've just got to keep grinding, keep working, to get us some good at-bats. It's a long year. We've got to keep grinding, and we'll get it turned around.” https://www.masnsports.com/blog/struggling-smith-still-searching-for-hitting-strokehttps://www.masnsports.com/blog/struggling-smith-still-searching-for-hitting-stroke

Mets Projected 2023 Opening Day Pitching Rotation: Verlander (IL) Scherzer (Suspended) Senga Quintana (IL) Carrasco (IL) Present Rotation (Not good enough to compete with Braves): Senga Peterson Megill Butto? ???????

Here's a new detail from yesterday's Scherzer incident: Scherzer went into the tunnel to wash off the "stickiness" with alcohol after instructed to do so by the umpire. He then reapplied new rosin and went out to the mound. But the only MLB approved rosin that pitcher's may use is from the rosin bag on the mound, which is inspected for quality control before the game. Any other rosin is considered a foreign and prohibited substance.

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure what makes a lot of foul territory disastrous.... Me neither. In fact, I think it's a great and unique feature, by now, closely associated with the franchise's identity. It adds variety to the game. I especially dont understand why the foul territory or the grandstands would be reason to relocate. Wouldn't it be a lot easier to simply add field level seats if the foul territory was so problematic? Talk about burning down a house to kill one mosquito. Sheesh.

=Centerfield post_id=122980 time=1682012601 user_id=65] I don't think I really have a firm handle on these rules. I saw a play at second base where the fielder kneeled in front of the bag, making it impossible for the runner (sliding headfirst) to reach the bag. The runner was out. If you're not allowed to obstruct a baserunner, it's kinda counterintuitive that you should be allowed to do it when you get really close to the base.

Jacob deGrom exits no-hitter with injury, Mets fans say ‘told you so' Excerpt: Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom was throwing a no-hitter when he had to exit with wrist soreness. Mets fans are just glad it's not their problem anymore. Whether the Mets let Jacob deGrom walk in free agency or handed him a giant bag of cash to stay in New York, it was always going to be a risk. Balancing a generational talent with a bad injury habit isn't easy. They let him walk. Was it the right choice? Right about now, Mets fans have to feel fairly vindicated because the Rangers are going through the purest version of “The Jacob deGrom” experience. https://fansided.com/2023/04/17/jacob-degrom-exits-no-hitter-injury/https://fansided.com/2023/04/17/jacob-degrom-exits-no-hitter-injury/ So is that what happened? That the Mets let deGrom walk? That the Mets had a chance to match or top the Rangers offer after it was made, but chose not to? Was that established? Because I don't remember reading that and am still curious about that. As every other Mets fan should be.

Bob Alpacadaca wrote: [Gary Carter's] induction into the Mets Hall of Fame is well-deserved. My instinct is not to challenge this idea because I think that most would find it absurd. But what the hell? So why is Gary Carter in the Mets Hall of Fame? I don't think it's well deserved. In fact, I don't even think it's deserved at all Why isn't John Olerud a Mets Hall of Famer? Or R.A. Dickey? I'd vote for them over Carter every single day of the week. What about Donn Clendenon -- a real last piece to the puzzle, pretending that that's even a thing. And if you wanna talk about Mets World Series rings, Clendenon was the MVP of the '69 Series. I just don't get this Carter love. To me, it's delusional. I realize there's more to this than simply ranking every Met by WAR and then inducting the top Mets WAR accumulators, but c'mon - two very good seasons and three crappy seasons including one vomit inducing puke in your own mouth turd of a season?

Jimmy Yacobonis is the llast piece to the puzzle.

Bob Alpacadaca wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Both I guess. It's become a damned-if-you-do/damned-if-you-don't PR predicament for the Mets, and the typical corporate way teams handle that is to stick with the status quo. But that's wimpy. The bold organization knows there's always a third way. I've never understood the animus toward Carter. Hall of Fame career. Treated people well. Understood the importance of being a role model. His induction into the Mets Hall of Fame is well-deserved. I'd be fine of the Mets wanted to retire his number. Backup catchers and fifth outfielders? What edgy said. Plus, you could just the same, be describing Edgardo Alfonzo, Rusty Staub, Mookie Wilson or Bud Harrelson. To a tee. And they all had, without a doubt, way way way better Mets careers than Carter. Yet nobody's clamoring to retire any of their numbers. There's a good reason for that.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Look who just tied Dave Kingman on the Mets' all-time home run list: 1. Darryl Strawberry 252 2. David Wright 242 3. Mike Piazza 220 4. Howard Johnson 192 5. Dave Kingman, Pete Alonso 154 7. Carlos Beltran 149 8. Michael Conforto 132 9. Lucas Duda 125 10. Todd Hundley 124 If the Mets extend him, he'll have a shot at setting a new record in 2025. Strawberry became the Mets all-time HR leader almost 35 years ago to the day, on April 20, 1988, when he hit his 155th Met HR off of the Phillies' Shane Rawley, passing then all-time HR leader, Dave Kingman.

And then, last but most importantly, most important, one singular jigsaw puzzle piece. I say last because that's the last piece of the puzzle "symbolizing" the Mets human last piece to the puzzle, Gary Carter , who singlehandedly won a World Series for the Mets before he ever put on his Mets uniform. Or eight jigsaw puzzle pieces symbolizing Carter's Met uniform number, which hasn't been issued in about 20 years, the most puzzling thing in Mets franchise history. That gave me my first out-loud laugh of the day. Your sarcasm rifle was well aimed. Jeez, he had two damn good seasons for the Mets. What the hell else does a guy have to do to for his uniform number to be retired and to get a statue of himself erected in his honor?