TransMonk

Holy show, what a thick dope I am! I think "cheesed/hacked/pissed off" is closer to what I meant.

Speaking of schedules...I just printed out the 2012 Mets schedule for my office. I'm still pretty chuffed about the Mets having only 5 games with the Brewers this season. FIVE?!? Meanwhile they play 7 against Colorado, San Diego, Arizona, LA, Pittburgh and St. Louis. They play 8 against the Giants and, amazingly, 8 against Cincy...in 3 serparate series (2-game, 3-game, 3-game)! Will Houston moving over solve any of these problems?

I'm jonesin'....

metirish wrote: I understand what Alderson is doing but it's a stretch at best. Quickly becoming Sandy's MO, IMO.

I read Wilpon's Folly, Megdal's mini-book last night in about 80 minutes. It's actually an easy to understand account of what happened, what is happening and what could happen. Obviously, it was tough to keep the smoke from coming out of my ears during some portions. Megdal makes a pretty decent case that ownership should have at least seen some red flags in their dealings with Madoff by providing specifics and he even delves into the Einhorn situation and how that all fell apart...mostly due to Wilpon's hubris. Essentially, the book explains that Wilpon and Katz have so many loans out on their assets (which are all intertwined and dependent on each other) that even if they sold the team NOW, they would not have enough funds to cover the balances on those loans that come due over the next 3 years. The Wilpons would be ruined and the Madoff victims would get nothing. Also, there is no way that Wilpon does not realize this and that he feels that maybe he can catch lightening in a bottle with a low budget team overachieving that will allow him to stave off bankruptcy for another year. In Fred's mind, a low percentage shot is better than no shot at all. Medgal offers that the best solution would be for the Wilpon's to give the Mets over to the trustees. This would allow the trustees to run the Mets and pay off the debts owed by the team with Sandy Alderson promoted to team president. The trustees would infuse the team with money to put forth a competitive team, ticket revenue would go up and Picard would be able to recover some funds for the Madoff victims after the team's debts were paid. Eventually, the trustees could sell the team in 5-10 years for a profit, as MLB teams are always rising in value. Medgal opines that the Mets might even sell more tickets as soon as 2012 due to the fact that the Wilpons are out and that the trustees could spin that fans buying tickets would directly help the victims of the Madoff scam...kind of like charity. The Wilpons could retain ownership of SNY (the only part of the works that still makes a profit and a part that they could never sell off anyway due to Comcast's first right of refusal to buy the network) in order to try and stave off bankruptcy. Medgal feels this would be the best case scenario for all involved. Either way, after reading this, it is even more obvious that until the Wilpons admit defeat, nothing is going to get better in Flushing.

I'm half expecting Jeffy to tell him to cut-it-the-fuck-out pretty soon. They are hilarious, though.

Josh Lewin and wife Dana on the left. And the rest of the fam...Coby and Kelsey.

1 year between $8M and $12M according to Heyman.

I'd be happy if they both just stayed healthy.

PlayerOld TeamNew TeamPrince FielderMILDETAlbert PujolsSTLLAAJose ReyesNYMFLAYu DarvishNoneTEXJimmy RollinsPHIPHIC.J. WilsonTEXLAAAramis RamirezCHCMILCarlos BeltranSFGSTLEdwin JacksonSTLWASMark BuehrleCWSFLARyan MadsonPHICINJonathan PapelbonBOSPHIDavid OrtizBOSBOSKelly JohnsonTORTORRoy OswaltPHIHeath BellSDPFLAFrancisco RodriguezMILMILJosh WillinghamOAKMINMichael CuddyerMINCOLJavier VazquezFLA attgig 6 Edgy DC 4 metirish 4 Gwreck 3 JC Lunchbucket 3 LWFS 3 smg58 3 Ashie62 2 Ceetar 2 metsmarathon 2 TransMonk 2 Jackson guarantees that attgig will at least tie for first place in this contest. Only waiting on Oswalt and Vasquez now.

But the real question is: Will the MLB Network televise Daniel Herrea getting his hair cut off?

I miss Jose less and less each day.

Quite possibly my new favorite Met. I'm rooting for him. Nice pic as well.

I'd be excited for it as the Mets have never hosted an ASG during my lifetime. Even though I know it probably be one of the biggest disappointments of my life, the wife and I have discussed taking a trip to see the event at Citi. Yeah, I hate the Wilpons...but I still love the Mets.

I can't blame Alderson for Reyes. Sandy may not have always been telling the truth regarding the team's reasoning for waiting or not signing Jose, but I think the proper financial tools to negotiate with Reyes were never granted to Alderson.

Looks to be the type of loss that rips your heart out and leaves you bleeding to death: Loss of Jose Reyes There may be plenty of blame to go around the organization for not being able to retain Reyes, but I don't assign any of it to Alderson.

Good work. I agree with most everything listed here.

Or what is said about Johan every year.

seawolf17 wrote: Damon's an interesting fit if he's willing to take a lesser/mentoring role. Born to mentor.

I'm guessing Franco. I agree with Ceetar that 2013 will be the Year of Piazza.

PlayerOld TeamNew TeamPrince FielderMILDETAlbert PujolsSTLLAAJose ReyesNYMFLAYu DarvishNoneTEXJimmy RollinsPHIPHIC.J. WilsonTEXLAAAramis RamirezCHCMILCarlos BeltranSFGSTLEdwin JacksonSTLMark BuehrleCWSFLARyan MadsonPHICINJonathan PapelbonBOSPHIDavid OrtizBOSBOSKelly JohnsonTORTORRoy OswaltPHIHeath BellSDPFLAFrancisco RodriguezMILMILJosh WillinghamOAKMINMichael CuddyerMINCOLJavier VazquezFLA attgig 5 Edgy DC 4 metirish 4 Gwreck 3 JC Lunchbucket 3 LWFS 3 smg58 3 Ashie62 2 Ceetar 2 metsmarathon 2 TransMonk 2

Nymr83 wrote: This contract is perhaps the most insane i've ever seen... does anyone think Fielder has a chance at lasting that long with his body? Nope. His first lower body injury will be his last. You want to make a 9-year-bet, Ceets?

The problem is that Muffy is cheap right now, and while that may be part of his appeal for possible trading partners, the Mets can't really raise salary all that much. Bud Norris from the Astros?

Are we selling him as a 3B? I think his limited defensive ability may be a red flag for other teams.

I think I will always remember his defensive plays opposing the Mets than anything specific he did for the Mets.