metirish

Smoking...

Japan can't catch the ball right now....WOW

Both teams can play , great to watch.

yeah right now he is probably being ' re-educated' on all things Fidel...

5 to 1 now for Japan, looks like curtains for Cuba.

That works too Elster, what amazes me is that he had a 20 minute talk with Robinson before the game and still refused, I mean dude get out and play...

Poor guy will probably not be in the next shot form Havana.

Cuba with a bomb of a homer....smoking

Yeah and you know Bobby loves this, wasn''t he laughed at in some queaters when he said that the standard of ball played in Japan was very high and that he felt they would hold there own in a 7 games series against a MLB team after his team won the Japan title? why don't I have a Rick Aguilera pic?, I had Ron Hunt.

A quick hook for the Cuban starter......

]Michigan wins the WBC with a 3-pointer! Nice

Game freaking over..Michigan wins.....now lets go ESPN to the WBC....this is a load of bollox.

Thanks Willets, in the NIT ND is down 1 point with 14+ seconds left....

It wouldn't surprise me Rotblatt, even if the US was in the fianl for ESPN to stay with the basketball, they are probably obligated too.

No you are not,hopefully next time around a major network will show the WBC, this is horseshit, I turned to ESPN at 9 just in time to see ND tie that game, I was pissed.

I do seem to remember some chatter about trading Al at that time, perhaps if Omar was the GM he would have, maybe the Wilpons didn't want to trade him, who knows Bret.

Un-fucking-real..... ] Alfonso Soriano Refuses to Play Outfield By TIM WALTERS For The Associated Press March 20, 2006, 7:59 PM EST VIERA, Fla. -- Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition will go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week. "The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said. Soriano, an All-Star second baseman, was listed as batting leadoff and playing left field on a lineup sheet posted in the Nationals' clubhouse before Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But when the Nationals took the field in the top of the first, Soriano wasn't there. Brandon Watson replaced him in the lineup, playing center field, and Ryan Church shifted from center to left. The Nationals already have an All-Star second baseman in Jose Vidro, so they told Soriano they want him to move to the outfield, and he indicated he doesn't want to do that. But Monday provided his most concrete -- and visible -- objection. When Soriano first reported to camp last month, the question of whether he would accept the switch was left open until his return from the World Baseball Classic. Soriano played for the Dominican Republic, which was eliminated in the tournament semifinals Saturday. He joined the Nationals on Monday and worked out with teammates in the afternoon, but he wouldn't speak to reporters. The Nationals acquired Soriano, a four-time All-Star at second base, from Texas in a December trade that sent outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge and pitcher Armando Galarraga to the Rangers. After the deal, Washington made it clear that Vidro would keep his spot at second; Soriano made it clear that he wasn't happy. Soriano lost his arbitration case this winter and is due to be paid $10 million this season, still a record for the highest salary awarded in arbitration. The Nationals are off Tuesday, then travel to play the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter on Wednesday. If Soriano refuses to play in that game and again at home against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, the Nationals will take action. "We told him if we get to Thursday, and he refuses to play left field, we told him at that point we will request that the commissioner's office place him on the disqualified list, at that time -- no pay, no service time," Bowden said. "If he refuses to play and goes home, and the commissioner's office accepts our request to place him on the disqualified list, then at that point, if he were to sit out this year, he would not be a free agent, he would stay our property because his service time would stay the same." Nationals manager Frank Robinson sat down privately with Soriano for 20 minutes before the game Monday to explain the team's position. "If he's going to play here, he's going to have to be out in left field," Robinson said. "He said he's ready to play, he needs to play, he's ready for the season, and I penciled him in the lineup in left field." Robinson said the meeting with Soriano was civil, but the player's position was clear. "He's very sensitive, and he has a mind-set," Robinson said. "He lets you know how he feels." Trading Soriano, already a possibility, becomes more likely now -- with less than two weeks remaining before opening day. "He's going to play left field. He needs to be out there now the next couple of weeks to play, and if he's not going to play for us, we need to know so we can go forward," Bowden said. "We obviously will field offers, but we're not going to give the player away. If we can make a deal that makes sense, we will."

Did anyone really think that the Mets were going to the series in 04?....I didn't and that's not bullshit.

Young Jim hit against Pedro yesterday and was thrilled about it.....says he will never forget the experience...Pedro had no comment.

Any news on this yet?

Wily Mo could turn into a monster at Fenway, with Big Papi as his mentor this should be fun to watch, Bronson must be pissed.

Willie has a few interesting quotes in this....]Bannister looks like fifth-starter material By JOHN DELCOSTHE JOURNAL NEWSPORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. � It is the time in spring training to read between the lines to find significance in seemingly harmless items.For example, when Tom Glavine threw a simulated game yesterday before today's off day, it was more than to keep the veteran left-hander on track to be the Mets' Opening Day starter.It allowed manager Willie Randolph to take another lengthy look at Brian Bannister against major-league hitters, this time against the Marlins. Randolph is giving Bannister consideration as the fifth starter.And it's not cursory consideration, either. The former USC walk-on closer has given up two runs in 14 innings this spring, and the probability appears strong that his performance will send Aaron Heilman to the bullpen, which is where he was slated to be prior to the Kris Benson trade in January."I was nervous," Bannister said before giving up two runs (one unearned) in five innings in the 5-0 loss to Florida. "I know what's at stake."Still, Bannister openly roots for his competition, saying the only rivalry between him and Heilman is "USC against Notre Dame, and that will be going on long beyond us.""Eventually, I hope they find a spot for both of us," Bannister said.That could be the case because the Mets' new and improved bullpen has been a little slow on the "improved" part.Randolph said the determining factor between Bannister and Heilman for the fifth spot � Victor Zambrano will be the fourth starter � will transcend numbers."It will be the makeup of how the staff looks together, starters and relievers," said Randolph, who listed Billy Wagner, Duaner Sanchez and Jorge Julio as the only givens out of the 'pen, although his endorsement of Julio was lukewarm at best.Julio's career was on a three-year slide when the Mets traded for him from Baltimore. Pitching coach Rick Peterson has worked with him on his delivery, and both coach and player insist Julio's participation in the World Baseball Classic hasn't been a setback in his preparation.Even so, Julio gave up a two-run homer yesterday to former Met Mike Jacobs. And despite saying he wasn't smooth with his delivery, he emphasized that he got enough work at the WBC.Outside of the closer, Wagner, no left-hander has surfaced out of the 'pen, driving speculation that Heilman will return to the role where he was so successful last season, when his 0.68 ERA was the lowest among relievers posting over 30 innings after the All-Star break."If you're asking me, certainly I'd like to start," said Heilman, who has been outstanding this spring with a 1.00 ERA over nine innings in three starts. "They haven't said anything to me yet, one way or another."Heilman is versatile enough to get out one hitter or pitch multiple innings, which affords Randolph the opportunity to rest Sanchez.Meanwhile, at the front end of the rotation, both Glavine (five innings) and Pedro Martinez (three) pitched simulated games.Glavine concentrated on his control in throwing 80 pitches. "I felt I threw the ball where I wanted," he said.Martinez threw 50 and claimed he is hopeful of pitching one or two innings in an exhibition game this week. If Martinez had to pitch in a regular-season game today, he anticipated not going more than five innings. It has long been speculated he would not be the Opening Day starter April 3 against Washington."It is not an issue," Martinez said. "We have a lot of pitchers, so why rush it?"

I would consider my position as a Mets fan if Clemens joined the team, still if it was a one time deal and he helped win a WS I could live with that....."thanks Rajah, now fuck off you prick"

Gine Gershon is hot(here with Drea de Matteo from the Sopranos) Mets to win the WS over the MFY's.....

]What is the point of calling him "Tomato"? Are you out to coin new nicknames, too? I assume because Franco used to have a tomato patch in the bullpen.