Frayed Knot

Damn, Yanx give up an early lead again! Looks like they're going back to NYC up 2-0.

Almost certainly. The only real out is if the option goes away then he'll be easier to trade over the winter. But I can't see any way that the contract will simply be terminated prior to next season.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The Rangers downfall was George Bush holding up that sign declaring victory in the 7th inning. "Submission Accomplished?" Now THAT'S a photo-shop waiting to happen. Meanwhile, it's time for Game 2. Yanx swapped around Pettitte & Phil Hughes so that Hughes is going in Game 2 (they like Pettitte at home better). Hughes pitched just one inning of scoreless relief vs Rangers this season. He'll face 31 y/o Colby Lewis: 12-13; 3.72 ERA, 1.19 WHiP Did not face the Yanx this year.

KRod's 2012 option of $17.5mil becomes guaranteed with: 55 games finished in 2011, AND 100 games finished in 2010-11 AND doctors declare him healthy after 2011 He receives $3.5M termination buyout if 2012 option does not become guaranteed Rodriguez finished 46 games in 2010 so, if things stand where they are now, he still needs the same 55 games finished next year in order to get the 2012 option to kick in. Those 55 plus the 46 from this past season satisfies the 100+ games finished clause for the two seasons combined, which all means that the missed time at the end of 2010 changes nothing as far as those clauses are concerned. The "doctors declare him healthy" clause is interesting. Try negating the option on those grounds without lawsuits and grievances flying every which way. The other way to futz with the option is to simply not let him finish games. See above under, Grievance, subheading: Flying

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Do you think this means KRod will be gone, or do you think this means they have a deal on how much he gets paid for last season? I think it's all about 2010's pay. I'd be shocked if they get out of the future years of the deal.

Amazing how often Yanqui starters can't pitch shitty enough to lose.

Now let's see if this pinhead (Moreland) can manage NOT to get picked-off.

btw, Girardi showing how to use your pen when you're down early in the game: Bring in your bottom half relievers first, then if they hold the other team to where they were you hope your offense comes back and if those chumps let up tack-on runs then you weren't going to win the game anyway. But if they do hold them and your team comes back you still have your top guys to shut down the end of the game. Sadly, Jerry never learned this tactic. oe: of course it helps when the other team makes multiple outs on the basepaths.

btw, a bit of a quick hook on Wilson after giving up nothing more than a soft grounder (Gardner) and a harder grounder (Jeter)?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Moseley's looked quite good. Perhaps they can give HIM the Game 4 start. See, and here I am thinking that I've seen this movie before, y'know the one where the other team fails to tack on runs against the soft underbelly of the Yanx bullpen and winds up regretting it later on.

Willets Point wrote: Willets Point wrote: The one guy just called that other guy Rick Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe sounds a little like McCarver in his cadence if not in his voice. You're on radio then. Sutcliffe's not one of my favorites. Weird. I'm streaming ESPN America and there are definitely visuals. ESPN has the radio rights so I guess the streaming video is matching that audio with the shots from TBS's cameras

Willets Point wrote: The one guy just called that other guy Rick Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe sounds a little like McCarver in his cadence if not in his voice. You're on radio then. Sutcliffe's not one of my favorites.

Willets Point wrote: Who is calling this game? Darling & Smoltz are the color men. I forget who's doing p-b-p, they're mostly interchangeable to me anyway.

Willets Point wrote: A close call at the plate goes in the Yankees favor. Imagine that! At least it was the correct call. The folks who would be storming the gates if the blue had blown that one would have been looking at my ass as they went because I would have been ahead of all of y'all. Thing is, once that bounce came right back to him, even two slugs as slow as Posada & Sabathia were able to pull that one off. Damn, Granderson's single ruins my dream of a perfect game.

The ALCS kicks off tonight with CC Sabathia and CJ Wilson in the ... wait for it ... initial matchup. Hopefully the Rangers KO CC ASAP which puts the Yanx in a hole and force them to rely on AJ or become DOA

Jeff: "We have heard from many of you over recent weeks offering suggestions and ideas on how to assemble a winning team. Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Your interest and support of the Mets is greatly appreciated." Translation: STOP SENDING US YOUR "SUGGESTIONS"!!! Particularly those of you who are writing them on bricks and throwing them through our windows.

Ken Davidoff via Twitter: Heard that Alderson's interview with the #Mets yesterday went very well. He remains the favorite to become their next GM. If Alderson becomes the #Mets' GM, I don't see how Wally Backman would be a serious candidate to manage. Perhaps a spot on coaching staff.

This week's entry into the "Rico" news actually involves Rico DBacks: ... former interim GM Jerry DiPoto is now in charge of both scouting and player development. DiPoto, the club's senior vice president for scouting and player development, told Baseball America this week that he was seeking a replacement for amateur scouting director Tom Allison, who has been offered a new position in the organization but had yet to accept. Friday, the D-backs announced Rico Brogna, who managed the organization's Double-A Mobile affiliate this year, will become the farm director

Vic Sage wrote: isn't Darryl an alcoholic? what's he doing owning a bar? I know i shouldn't invest in a donut shop. Darryl is a graduate of the Sam Malone School of Business.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Watched Dial M For Murder for the first time yesterday. Very enjoyable. I've probably seen that one more times than any other Hitchcock movie just because it seems to come around more often. Always loved the plot that tennis dude springs on his unsuspecting ex-classmate that sets the whole thing up. It's just so positively evil.

One thing that throws a wrench into the works of timing is that the 'grace period' where potential FAs can talk only to their own team has been reduced from 15 days after the end of the WS down to just 5 so the FA season starts up much quicker this year. Of course Ricco is acting GM and can certainly handle whatever questions come up between now and whenever but you would like to see the permanent guy in place before all the big fur starts to fly.

Yeah, remember that Washington was essentially on double-secret probation when the season started based on his admission of off-season cocaine use. Between that and the ownership change no steps have been taken up to this point to sign him beyond this season. Now the fact that they've both reached and actually advanced in the playoffs makes his status suddenly look a lot more secure but maybe the new regime has other ideas. oe: As listed in another thread, here's the current status of MLB managers TEAMMgr - Sept �10STATUS / UpdatedMgr (NEW) 2011A�sB. GerenOption Picked up for 2011B. GerenANGELSM. ScosciaUnder Contract thru 2018M. ScosciaASTROSB. MillsUnder Contract thru 2012B. MillsBLUE JAYSC. GastonRetired---BRAVESB. CoxRetiredF. GonzalezBREWERSK. MachaFired--- CARDINALST. LaRussaUnsigned---CUBSM. QuadeInterim---D�BACKSK. GibsonInterim - Signed 2/yr deal on 10/4K. Gibson DODGERSJ. TorreRetiredD. MattinglyGIANTSB. BochyUnder Contract thru 2011B. BochyINDIANSM. ActaUnder Contract thru 2012M. ActaMARINERSD. BrownInterim---MARLINSE. RodriguezInterim---METSJ. ManuelFired--- NATIONALSJ. RigglemanRenewed w/contract thru 2011J. RigglemanORIOLESB. ShowalterUnder contract thru 2013B. ShowalterPADRESB. BlackUnder Contract thru 2013B. BlackPHILLIESC. ManuelUnder Contract thru 2011C. ManuelPIRATESJ. RussellFired---RANGERSR. WashingtonUnsigned---RAYSJ. MaddonUnder Contract thru 2012J. MaddonRED SOXT. FranconaUnder Contract thru 2011T. FranconaREDSD. BakerSigned 2/yr extension on 10/4D. BakerROCKIESJ. TracyUnder Contract thru 2012J. TracyROYALSN YostUnder Contract thru 2012N. YostTIGERSJ. LeylandUnder Contract thru 2011J. LeylandTWINSR. GardenhireUnder Contract thru 2011R. GardenhireWHITE SOXO. GuillenUnder Contract thru 2011O. Guillen YANKEESJ. GirardiUnsigned---

The weird part about this is that my confidence in picking the Mets next manager might be lower than anywhere else.

TEAMMgr - Sept �10STATUS / UpdatedMgr (NEW) 2011A�sB. GerenOption Picked up for 2011B. GerenANGELSM. ScosciaUnder Contract thru 2018M. ScosciaASTROSB. MillsUnder Contract thru 2012B. MillsBLUE JAYSC. GastonRetired---BRAVESB. CoxRetiredF. GonzalezBREWERSK. MachaFired--- CARDINALST. LaRussaUnsigned---CUBSM. QuadeInterim---D�BACKSK. GibsonInterim - Signed 2/yr deal on 10/4K. Gibson DODGERSJ. TorreRetiredD. MattinglyGIANTSB. BochyUnder Contract thru 2011B. BochyINDIANSM. ActaUnder Contract thru 2012M. ActaMARINERSD. BrownInterim---MARLINSE. RodriguezInterim---METSJ. ManuelFired--- NATIONALSJ. RigglemanRenewed w/contract thru 2011J. RigglemanORIOLESB. ShowalterUnder contract thru 2013B. ShowalterPADRESB. BlackUnder Contract thru 2013B. BlackPHILLIESC. ManuelUnder Contract thru 2011C. ManuelPIRATESJ. RussellFired---RANGERSR. WashingtonUnsigned---RAYSJ. MaddonUnder Contract thru 2012J. MaddonRED SOXT. FranconaUnder Contract thru 2011T. FranconaREDSD. BakerSigned 2/yr extension on 10/4D. BakerROCKIESJ. TracyUnder Contract thru 2012J. TracyROYALSN YostUnder Contract thru 2012N. YostTIGERSJ. LeylandUnder Contract thru 2011J. LeylandTWINSR. GardenhireUnder Contract thru 2011R. GardenhireWHITE SOXO. GuillenUnder Contract thru 2011O. Guillen YANKEESJ. GirardiUnsigned---

"Jeff Wilpon told reporters tonight on a conference call that he, John Ricco and team executives will meet tomorrow with Sandy Alderson." -- Certainly a good sign. "He said the team is looking to hire a GM, and no candidate � from this group � is being considered for another role." -- I guess that knocks aside those scouting roles that have been rumored for some of the names. "So far, he says, �We are extremely happy with what we�ve seen.� " -- Would hardly expect him to say anything else. 'Man that last guy was really a dimwit!' ... Now THAT would be a newsmaker! "Wilpon also said many names have been mentioned by the GM candidates about potential managers, some of whom he had not been considering." -- Very good to hear in that I think one of the weaknesses of Wilpon^2 was their reluctance to go out of their comfort zone for these important hires. "Ricco said the three candidates so far have all said Ownership�s level of involvement with the Mets is similar to what occurs with other teams around the league." -- Probably at least partially a pr statement, but I also suspect that this issue has never been as black & white as it's been portrayed in some quarters. An owner who doesn't maintain some sort of interest in what's going on is probably a bad owner. That's not to say there haven't been mistakes made along those lines (the comfort cocoon mentioned above, the unwillingness to take the training wheels off Duquette's GM car, etc.) but I think part of these complaints are along the lines of 'why does our closer always make us nervous?' ... because he's the one we pay attention to ya dummy!! "Wilpon acknowledged � without naming names � that there had been interesting candidates, who are under contract with other teams, who the Mets are no longer considering for their vacant GM position." -- The Florida guys for whom they supposedly couldn't get permission to talk to? ... Other asst GMs?