Frayed Knot

I guess then he deserves nomination for the squeaky-voiced athletic hall of fame (outlined in another thread). Charter members include Jack Nicklaus, Mike Tyson, Tony Gwynn & Willie Mays

]Then we shouldn't comment on how certain things are counter to the Yankees carefully crafted "image" of being the classiest organization in the game or whatever the fuck they are hyping themselves as. No, we can comment on it all we want. The mistake, from the Yanqui viewpoint, would be for them to change how they do things solely based on our reaction. For the same reason, the Mets should decide what to do with Bernazard based on his performance and conduct rather than out of some silly notion that it's going to make MFY fans stop saying 'bad things 'bout the Mets'. And those Met fans who want to make Bernazard the fall-guy whether he deserves it or not are simply playing into the trap of doing things for pr reasons rather than solving the problem itself.

Fman99 wrote: ="Nymr83"]Keith Hernandez gave us a nice little tidbit about our favorite douchebag, Roger "Roid Rocket" Clemens, who apparently went to the clubhouse to shave after he finished pitching in Game 6 so as to look good for the celebration, Keith said it got the Mets fired up. Personally I buy that players could NEED "firing up" to win a World Series game, but Clemens is still a douchebag. He did the same thing when he won game #300 -- pitched with stubble and then came back out at the conclusion clean shaven. Between his 'gotta look tough' stubble and stupid spiky haircut, Roger remained the classic immature and dense-headed HS jock stereotype throughout his entire career.

Hasn't thrown in five days, etc.

][Fair enough, but then again perhaps you don't deal with constant barrages of "What a fucking disgrace of an organization you root for" type of comments by either MFY fan or non baseball fan co-workers. It wouldn't matter because I don't wrap my self-esteem up in the current status of a baseball team to the point where I react to taunting from those who do by demanding that some assistant be fired even though he may or may not be part of the problem. Besides, it wasn't a Yanqui fan that brought up the "disgrace" line it was y ... oh wait, nevermind. [walked into that one]

Of course if we're going to wait for Sheffield to be happy about something we better bring a book and a couple of sandwiches because we're going to be on that line for a while.

Friday, July 25 - Shea Stadium: Mets 4 - Reds 3 -- Jim Maloney v Jerry Koosman - Shamsky�s Sac Fly gets the Mets the lead in the 4th - Rose singles in a tying run in the 6th - Koosman then gets touched for 2 in the 7th on a HR (Perez) BB & 2B - Cincy�s Maloney (a great pitcher for a while but a bit wild both on and off the mound) holds the Mets to 1 run on 5 hits over 7 but the Mets jump on reliever Clay Carroll for 3 in the 8th: Jones HBP; Shamsky 2B; Garrett RBI-GO; Kranepool GO; then a 2R-HR by JC Martin gives the Mets the lead - Ron Taylor - who had pitched a 1-2-3 8th - gives up a leadoff 2B in the 9th but shuts the door after that for his 5th win of the season Game Time 2:06 54 -40; 2nd place; 5.0 Games out of 1st

Adam Rubin: Jeff Francoeur said he felt like a �pansy� not bowling over Pudge Rodriguez on an aggressive (ill-advised?) send by third base coach Razor Shines in the seventh with the Mets trailing by a run. Francoeur, a former Clemson football recruit, said Rodriguez veered on him and he missed lining him up. At least he had the intention of bowling over Rodriguez. �I started going to the outside and he went back on the inside for the tag,� Francoeur said.

I remember his foray into the boxing business. There were a whole bunch of Goossens (him, his brothers, plus maybe some cousins or nephews) who ran the 'Eight Goose Fight Club' (or something like that) and every once in while I'd see a TV fight with all these blocky, blond guys with 'Eight Goose' logos on their shirts working the corners - although was never sure which one (if any) was Greg.

Nothing wrong with looking towards currently successful organizations for future talent - whether on field or front office - so if you've know something about either of these guys then please share. But if all we're doing is picking names off a media guide and deciding that their place in it solves our current problems then this is not only grass-is-greener hoping but also a waste of time.

Yeah, I particularly like the time Cherinigton did .... ummm, and I've liked Hoyer ever since he was responsible for ... er, something or other.

="SteveJRogers"]="Frayed Knot"]Met fans suddenly care a whole fuckin lot about the off-field actions of asst GMs. When it becomes public record, yeah, you'd bet they care a whole fuckin' lot about it. And yes, I do believe the reaction would be the same if the Mets were playing like the 1986 team, or even the 2006 team, FWIW Its causing the organization some embarrassment, right now it is just another reason for non Met fans to pile on about the disgrace that this organization has become. And when did this organization become "a disgrace"? --- Oh about the time they stopped winning games I'm gonna guess. Don t kid yourself that this has nothing to do with the W/L record. It shirley would be a story in any case, but it turns into an 8-page thread with demands for his immediate firing (if not deportation and/or execution) when it comes during a time when fans are looking for scapegoats to blame and otherwise anonymous asst GMs (like un-named doctors) make convenient targets. That Bernazard made himself an easy mark from the "street Spanish" days (and I don't think the fact that he's Spanish is a non-factor either) and seems to, at best, have an abrasive rep via the press contributes. But we're already in to a guilty before the facts mode where we know he's guilty of saying what he said to the players ... and even if he didn't what's he doing there anyway since he has nothing to do with player development? ... and even if he does the player development sucks ... and even where it doesn't suck he had nothing to do with the ones who did make it and everything to do with the ones who didn't. Winning teams have stories like players drinking in the clubhouse and making plane reservations out of town while a playoff game is going on turn into cute stories if they win. Had that team NOT won those stories take on a whole different shading.

Didn't even make it interesting.

(prior to tonight): .194/.280/.224 w/2 RBIs That's a .030 IsoP for those scoring at home. 11 singles & 2 2Bs I know he's naked out there most nights but Jeez!

Mutha-Fucka!!!!!

This season is just a fucking nightmare. The one time we actually do score a couple runs for Santana is one of the few he gives up a bunch. Meanwhile we've got, what now, like 13 hits plus 4 or 5 walks and an HBP and 4 runs to show for ti?

Sac bunts, at this point, are merely GiDP avoidance maneuvers.

Hawkins was always good at sucking as a Yanqui at least.

Met fans suddenly care a whole fuckin lot about the off-field actions of asst GMs.

Hey I got a good idea; let's boot another ball so as to set the stage for another couple of runs after 2-out and none-on.

3 hits plus an HBP in one inning = zero runs

I've been down around Houston Texas where the sun shines most of the time ... Friday: 8:00 Santana vs Hampton Saturday: 7:00 Niese vs Ortiz (3 - 4; 4.33) Sunday: 2:00 Hernandez vs Brian Moehler (7 - 5; 4.92) This team's been off my radar screen for a long time now that it's surprising to look up and seeing them do reasonably well. Coming off a 3-game spanking of the Cardinals C - mostly Pudge Rod. Still a bit of pop, still walks about twice a month 1B - not Lance Berkman at the moment as he probably OD'd on jelly doughnuts (not exactly Joe fitness). Backup catchers playing there tonight. 2B - Kaz Matsui - humming along at levels approaching mediocrity SS - Miguel Tejada - having a nice season for a guy who was almost deported. He's another non-walker but he doesn't K either 3B - Geoff Blum - a switch-hitting bowl of averageness LF - Carlos Lee - nice player though not worth $100mil CF - Michael Bourn - Lg leader in steals has apparently learned how to get on base. OBA-ing at 70 points higher than last year RF - Hunter Pence - Spy-novel name w/a decent bat who still runs and plays RF like an un-tamed colt. Not exactly in charge of bringing the potato salad to the next MENSA meeting if you catch my drift. Pitching: We miss their best in both Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez Pen consists of Jose Valverde, LaTroy Hawkins and 5 guys named Joe who look like they're collectively doing OK Houston injuries: Aaron Boone Doug Brocail Chris Sampson Lance Berkman

Or maybe the lefty who ate Bob Horner. A quick peak at a Cardinal board showed an overall (though not universal) negative reaction - more based on thinking they gave up too much for a 2-month rental whose XBHs have trended from 84, 92, 65, 60 (proj) over the last 4 years than it was in thinking that either of the top 2 prospects were sure-fire studs. This Shane Peterson who went in the deal was their 2nd round pick from '08, the one right after they selected Wallace. There's also a story (Heyman) that LaRussa pushed for this in part because he didn't like and wasn't consulted on the Chris Duncan/Julio Lugo swap (and I don't guess his pitching coach was too high on it either). And, of course, the deal is made just in time so the Yanx don't have to see Holliday as Oakland is in NYC starting tonight.

]what team in the league is getting NO contributions from recent (2004-06) draftees? Pelfrey = 2005

="Nymr83"]The Athletics and Cardinals have completed a trade that sends outfielder Matt Holliday to St. Louis in exchange for third baseman Brett Wallace, outfielder Shane Peterson and right-handed pitcher Clayton Mortensen, sources confirmed to ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. Wallace is the interesting name here. Considered to be among the best college bats to come along in many years, he was passed over by a number of teams (StL got him with the #13 pick) out of concern for where he'd play. In short, he's HUGE!, and huge as in wide not as in tall (BB-Ref lists him at 6' 1" - 245). In 'Moneyball' terms (since he's headed to Oakland) "he wears a big pair of underwear". The thought is that he'll be a DH sooner rather than later which isn't a great thing to be saying about a guy not yet 23 y/o. For now, they say his hands are at least decent and he's not as immobile as he looks. But, above all, he can rake. Already at AAA barely a year after signing, he blew through three different levels in between and will probably be in Oakland before the year is out. But, man, Oakland sounds like they're putting together slow-pitch softball teams again. Between Giambi, Jack Cust, Daric Barton (also snagged in a trade w/StL - for Mulder) and now Wallace they've got at least 4 'stocky' (I'm being nice here) 1B/DH types not seen since the days when the brothers Giambi were teamed with Matt Stairs & John Jaha.