Frayed Knot

Edgy DC wrote: Is there a page running in and out of the negotiating room fetching water and canapes and giving the pressmen updates? There used to be, but Congress just cut the funding for all pages.

We should have more than 4 runs here. I hope this doesn't come back to haunt us.

What's that now, three knocked-out players in three games for the Mets? (Nady, Marquis, and now Harang) Thole, btw, just missed getting the rare 1-4-6 single (and settled for a 1-4 single instead).

Edgy DC wrote: I'm waiting on Thole 600. Bring a couple of sandwiches.

Yes, the grades were the pre-season mark. JS's quickie primer for his grading system: Grade A prospects are the elite. They have a good chance of becoming stars or superstars. Almost all Grade A prospects develop into major league regulars, if injuries or other problems don't intervene. Note that is a major "if" in some cases. Grade B prospects have a good chance to enjoy successful careers. Some will develop into stars, some will not. Most end up spending several years in the majors, at the very least in a marginal role. Grade C prospects are the most common type. These are guys who have something positive going for them, but who may have a question mark or three, or who are just too far away from the majors to get an accurate feel for. A few Grade C guys, especially at the lower levels, do develop into stars. Many end up as role players or bench guys. Some don't make it at all. A major point to remember is that grades for pitchers do NOT correspond directly to grades for hitters. Many Grade A pitching prospects fail to develop, often due to injuries. Some Grade C pitching prospects turn out much better than expected. Also note that there is diversity within each category. I'm a tough grader; Grade C+ is actually good praise coming from me, and some C+ prospects turn out very well indeed. Finally, keep in mind that all grades are shorthand. You have to read the full comment for my full opinion about a player, the letter grade only tells you so much. A Grade C prospect in rookie ball could end up being very impressive, while a Grade C prospect in Triple-A is likely just a future role player.

It's the one beer to have if you're having more than one RBI

A 10:35 update from MLB.com: There's just over an hour to go and there's still no official movement at the top of the Draft board. All eight of the top 10 picks remain unsigned as do all 23 of the first-rounders (out of 33 total) who began the day on the board. Some deals might be done but not announced yet, while some teams are starting to negotiate in earnest now. It's going to be an extremely chaotic final hour, going right up to 12:01 a.m. ET for sure. The good thing about the late game tonight is that we might get an update from Gary & Ron. It's also possible that some of these last minute deals will officially get in before the midnight deadline but not get announced for several hours later.

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: R.A. Houdini? unrelatedly, can one of you make my stupid scanner stay connected to the stupid FIOS network so that I can scan the stupid citi field postcard? I'd call Verizon and bitch at them, but I'd probably get a janitor that was forced to answer phones due to the zany restructuring during the strike thing. He'd probably just suggest I pour some bleach in the paper slot. Verizon took out at least one full-page newspaper ad today blaming the union for clinging to rules that require strict division of tasks which in turn (they claim) is responsible for the multiple transfers each time you try to get an answer from them.

600 is still impressive. Also in that game - before it actually - the Twins dealt former overall #1 pick Delmon Young to Detroit, a deal that was unlikely not just because it was between division opponents but also because the Twins were in Detroit tonight to start a series. Young just needed to walk over to the other clubhouse.

John Sickels chimes in with his view of the NYM system. [u:3tssh41u]This is not a new list[/u:3tssh41u] but rather a second look at the list and grades he did prior to the season with stats & comments added for the progress (or lack of) this season. 1) Wilmer Flores, SS, Grade B+: Hitting .275/.314/.392 with nine homers, 23 walks, 58 strikeouts in 451 at-bats for High-A St. Lucie. He just turned 20 this month. I'm still not sure what the Mets have here but given his age I don't want to downgrade him too aggressively. 2) Jenrry Mejia, RHP, Grade B: Tommy John surgery. 3) Matt Harvey, RHP, Grade B: 2.37 ERA with 92/24 K/BB in 76 innings for St. Lucie, then 4.99 ERA with 48/11 K/BB in 40 innings for Double-A Binghamton, 44 hits, 1.62 GO/AO. The ERA in Double-A is misleading and overall he's having a very strong debut. 4) Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B, Grade B-: Hitting .219/.270/.355 with 13 homers, 29 walks, 96 strikeouts in 439 at-bats for Low-A Savannah, 39 errors at third base. Very raw on both sides of the ball, still just 19. 5) Fernando Martinez, OF, Grade B-: .260/.329/.417 with 18 walks, 60 strikeouts in 223 at-bats for Triple-A Buffalo, .227/.261/.455 in 22 at-bats for the Mets. Still just 22, but has made little progress and at this point I think a change of scenery would be beneficial. 6) Cory Vaughn, OF, Grade B-: .286/.405/.408 with 36 walks, 64 strikeouts in 245 at-bats for Savannah, then .239/.345/.387 with 19 walks and 36 strikeouts in 142 at-bats for St. Lucie. Power somewhat disappointing this year, drawing some walks, tools are still here. 7) Juan Urbina, LHP, Grade B-: 6.69 ERA with 36/16 K/BB in 40 innings, 53 hits for Kingsport in the Appalachian League. I felt he was capable of better but he is only 18 and still has time. 8) Reese Havens, 2B, Grade C+: Hitting .294/.377/.431 with 20 walks, 43 strikeouts in 153 at-bats for Binghamton. One again, it is all a matter of health for Havens. 9) Lucas Duda, OF-1B, Grade C+: .302/.414/.597 in 129 at-bats for Buffalo, .276/.347/.448 with 18 walks, 309 strikeouts in 174 at-bats for the Mets. I think his major league performance is a genuine expression of his talent level. 10) Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, Grade C+: .298/.403/.505 with 32 walks, 59 strikeouts in 188 at-bats for Buffalo before injuring his left shoulder. 11) Zach Lutz, 3B, Grade C+: .304/.389/.500 with 19 walks, 47 strikeouts in 158 at-bats for Buffalo, missing time with a hamstring injury, finger injury, and concussion. 12) Cesar Puello, OF, Grade C+: I got a lot of flak for rating him this low. Hitting .250/.306/.389 with 17 walks, 98 strikeouts in 404 at-bats for St. Lucie, 15 steals. On-base skills inadequate for a leadoff man. 13) Jeurys Familia, RHP, Grade C+: 1.49 ERA with 36/8 K/BB in 36 innings for St. Lucie, 21 hits. 3.78 ERA with 77/27 K/BB in 67 innings for Binghamton, 65 hits. I'm impressed with the improvement in his command, and he's always had the stuff. Stock up. 14) Armando Rodriguez, RHP, Grade C+: 3.75 ERA with 66/24 K/BB in 60 innings for St. Lucie, 46 hits. Few complaints here, Double-A will show us if his stuff is good enough. 15) Sean Ratliff, OF, Grade C+: Hit in the face with a foul ball in spring training. 16) Albert Cordero, C, Grade C+: Hitting .286/.318/.402 with 11 walks, 54 strikeouts in 311 at-bats for Savannah. Has caught 42% of runners, but very high passed ball and error rates. 17) Matt Den Dekker, OF, Grade C+: .296/.362/.494 with 24 walks, 65 strikeouts in 267 at-bats for St. Lucie, .234/.318/.422 with 20 walks, 65 strikeouts in 192 at-bats for Binghamton. 21 steals overall. Strikeout rate is much too high right now. 18) Darrell Ceciliani, OF, Grade C+: I also got crap for rating this guy fairly low. Hitting .249/.334/.343 with 38 walks, 81 strikeouts in 350 at-bats for Savannah. 17 steals. 19) Jefry Marte, 3B, Grade C+ Hitting .249/.316/.349 with 37 walks, 76 strikeouts in 421 at-bats for St. Lucie. 12 steals. Gradually improving defense and still just 20. 20) Mark Cohoon, LHP, Grade C+: 3.81 ERA with 44/17 K/BB in 52 innings for Binghamton, 6.49 ERA with 40/24 K/BB and 87 hits in 68 innings for Buffalo. Finesse game not working against Triple-A hitters. 21) Dillon Gee, RHP, Grade C: 4.07 ERA for the Mets with a 77/47 K/BB in 117 innings, 97 hits. Eating innings effectively at the major league level. General comments -- Flores remains an enigma and there are some unfortunate injuries, but if I were a Mets fan, I would be very pleased with the development of Harvey and Familia in particular. Duda and Gee have contributed well to the major league club, and a healthy Nieuwenhuis and Havens could do the same next year

Two HRs tonight to become just the eighth player to reach that mark. I'm sure the TV specials, break-into-programming cut-ins, front-page headlines, and general baseball worshipping is just around the corner for him like #3,000 was for Jeter even though that club has four times the membership.

Mike Puma sez: The Mets are confident their No. 1 pick, Brandon Nimmo, will be locked up by tonight's midnight deadline for signing draft choices, but the 18-year-old outfielder's father isn't so sure. Ron Nimmo told The Post yesterday that significant progress in contract talks still has to be made between the Mets and his son. He called the $2.5 million figure that has been floated "a good number for discussion purposes," but indicated the asking price is a different figure. If the Mets and Nimmo don't strike a deal, the player will enroll in classes at Arkansas next Monday, according to the elder Nimmo. "[The Mets] have some work to do," Ron Nimmo said. "There's some disparity. "It's not all about the money. You get one shot at this deal and you're going to have to live off this for six years." I'd be extremely surprised if he doesn't sign. As of this morning 23 of the 33 first-round picks are still negotiating as are 11 of 27 supplemental first-rounders and nearly one third (98 of 331) of those selected in the first 10 rounds. Of course many of these guys have actually agreed to terms but are keeping mum under orders from MLB until those deals will be announced at some point today. The consensus is that all but maybe two of the first-rounders will sign before the midnight deadline.

Hey I know, let's take a close game and give up all kinds of base-runners without ever making them earn a thing!!

Edgy DC wrote: Kinda surprised to see Sean Burroughs hanging about. I thought he went the way of Lance Niekro, among guys oversold because of a big-time name, then over-dumped because of the same reason. I talked about Burroughs in an addendum to the KTE. Clubs didn't merely give up on him, he sat out for more than three full years before deciding to try a comeback just this year. Also, unlike young Niekro, this guy was at or near the top of just about everyone's prospect list a decade ago. Some did question at the time how much power he'd eventually show but they were all sold on him otherwise.

My CAHNfidence level is very low right now. I have dread whenever an opposing runner gets on and have no expectations that any of our guys or going to come around even if they do get on.

Well, at least Cappy got Upton out in the right AB today; 2B & HR with bases-empty but a K with 2-on/2-out

I know the meaning and pronunciation are different, but that still doesn't make the ads for 'Lone Butte' casino on the DBacks' dugout rails any less silly sounding.

G-Fafif wrote: I'm pretty certain Sammy Serval paid off a few city commissioners to get it to face downtown Flushing. Sammy pooled his money with the cash his friend Russ had made from his togs shop.

Marquis & Thole engage in some synchronized writhing there.

Gwreck wrote: Check out the 3rd one and how the seats filled. They sold out the Upper Reserved but nobody wanted to pay to sit in the upper boxes. Well, yeah, those seats were like an extra dollar or two!

By the time we get out of Phoenix, we'll be ailin'

If you think Pelfrey was mad a minute ago he's even more so now.

Well, it had been a couple days since anyone went down with an injury so I suppose we were due.

themetfairy wrote: metsmarathon wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Or both are flawed? quick, name a stat that isn't flawed. Inherited Runners Stranded. EXTREMELY Flawed

I'm not sure too many nightmares contain the phrase; "You mean we gotta face Harris, Duda, Baxter AND Tejada?!? .... Oh dear!" But, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.