Frayed Knot

I remember back in '99 when Rob Neyer (citing some fielding stats) pronounced Roger Cedeno to be a "dominant defensive right-fielder" ... and therefore the Hampton swap to be a bad deal. Anyone watching Cedeno that year certainly knew differently and, yeah, Neyer took a bunch of e-mails on that one -- including one from me IIRC.

]Aug. 14 Fully Clothed Gents - Barenaked Ladies cover band I hate it when fully clothed gents cover bare naked ladies. I mean, what's the point?

In fairness to kloser Kevin he got a bit of a bad beat in that inning. - soft single - seeing eye single - fly to CF (best contact of the inning) that moved runner to 3rd - IW (Tejada) to load the bases w/1 out - broken-bat seeing eye single (Keppinger fell down hitting it) for the winner KC, on the other hand, has a 2-run lead in the 8th and available is: - Juan Cruz (who they just gave up draft picks for) - LHP Ron Mahay (a trade from Atlanta) - closer Jochim Soria and the answer is ... Kyle Farnsworth! -- who starts the inning: bunt single - out - regular single - out So it's 1st & 3rd, 2 outs, and Jim Thome coming up -- - time for the lefty Mahay? - expensive set-up man Cruz? - Soria for the 4-out save? Nope! Mgr Hillman leaves in Farnsworth who promptly Fanrsworths all over the situation: ie. 3R-HR to dead central But at least Soria's well-rested for today.

They don't have today's games/pitchers shown on the front page like they used to -- but they also haven't changed last year's season-ending standings in favor of this year's so maybe they're just a bit behind at the moment.

="Gwreck":iw6823nj]My first thought was that it wasn't as if Duaner exactly distinguished himself last year, either.[/quote:iw6823nj] Yeah think about that; - Sanchez has 1/2 of 1 good year as a Met. He then gets injured in a late-night taxi accident (just had to get Dominican food at that hour, huh?) and spends the remainder of 2+ seasons either injured, out of shape, ineffective, or some combination of the above. - Heilman, on the other hand, turns in 3 seasons of 3.00-3.50 ERAs and sub-1.20 WHiPs before having a lousy season and HE's the one with cooties?!? I know Green is reacting more the the fans' reaction to Heilman/Sanchez but it kind of shows how the thinking is messed up all around. Fman99 Apr 07 2009 11:11 AM ="Frayed Knot":1dj3ixm0]="Gwreck":1dj3ixm0]My first thought was that it wasn't as if Duaner exactly distinguished himself last year, either.[/quote:1dj3ixm0] Yeah think about that; - Sanchez has 1/2 of 1 good year as a Met. He then gets injured in a late-night taxi accident (just had to get Dominican food at that hour, huh?) and spends the remainder of 2+ seasons either injured, out of shape, ineffective, or some combination of the above. - Heilman, on the other hand, turns in 3 seasons of 3.00-3.50 ERAs and sub-1.20 WHiPs before having a lousy season and HE's the one with cooties?!? I know Green is reacting more the the fans' reaction to Heilman/Sanchez but it kind of shows how the thinking is messed up all around.[/quote:1dj3ixm0] The SNY booth actually broached the subject when Green came in. The reasoning they gave was that Green had always worn a number "in the 50s" before and wanted to switch back into that range. They made no mention of Heilman or Fortyeightgate as I will now call it.

Gwreck wrote: That was a really tough error to give to Beltran. His throw to third was aimed perfectly to the bag -- it just happened to hit the runner as he was sliding in. Throw was backed up and there was no additional advance by the lead runner. I guess the error is for allowing the runner from first to go to second, but that could also be attributed to advancing on the throw. That's always a tough error on the OFer but once you decide to give one for advancing to 2nd it's gotta go to someone. ]Razor Shines made a stupid call at third when waving Wright in. The ball wasn't hit that deep into right field and as David approached third it seemed obvious to me that he would be held. I agree it seemed as if David slowed a little coming in to third but that was because going home was the wrong idea. He was out by a mile. There were several problems there. First was that Wright held for a moment to make sure the liner got through so he didn't have a good jump. Then he slowed up because he was being held (or thought he was) until Bruce briefly bobbled the ball at which point he had to re-start his motor. Sometimes coaches just look at where the runner and OFer are without taking the runner's momentum (or lack thereof) into consideration. ]The "gap" between home and third is stupid. And is supposedly the reason behind the "jet stream" air current that carries so many HRs out towards RF and gives the place such a long-ball rep. ]Seems like a very solid baseball town. It was always considered to be one until it had much of that rep beaten out of them during the Schott years.

It is. Thou shalt not walk 5 whilst K-ing none lest your ERA start to resemble thy zip code.

Santana - 3.4 Murphy - 3.0 Green - 1.0 Putz - 0.8 Rodriguez - 0.9 Church - 0.4 Castillo - 0.3 Delgado - 0.2

Fman99 wrote: Texas pounding the defending AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, up 7-0. FWIW, Lee had a pretty brutal Spring too.

That was a combined hitless pen, no?

Wright - on base twice, taken off base twice. That and the lack of H w/RiSP is what's keeping this from being a semi-blowout. Gotta figure Reed for Murphy for bottom 9

37 degrees currently - heading for a high of 39 (around 2PM) 13 mph wind out of the northwest

And there was much rejoicing -- yay!

Howard Ks looking - lefty Mike Gonzalez hurling). Up to new acquisition (and reported object of NYM lust) Raul Ibanez ... and he Ks swinging and the Braves take over sole command of 1st place!!

Coupla hits and a walk and the Braves have turned a 4-0 lead into 4-1 and the tying run is at bat in the rather large form of Ryan Howard ... 1 out.

Bobby was on a different kind of juice.

The Sunday night debut exists to feed ESPN's Sunday night package - although the Cincy 1st game tradition died years earlier than that. The first game has been on Sunday night for many years now while the trend of having the defending champ host the game is slightly newer than that.

Opening day Monday on Chicago's south side already called off.

Adam Rubin (NYDN) lists those assigned to AA Binghamton PITCHERS: 2008 CLUB(S) G W-L ERA SV Abel, Nick - R/R; 6-4, 205; 2/18/83; Wantagh, N.Y. Binghamton (AA) 5 0-0 18.00 0 St. Lucie (High-A) 14 1-2 6.75 0 Savannah (Low-A) 14 3-1 1.16 5 Alfonzo, Edgar - L/L; 5-10, 179; 12/14/84; Estado Miranda, VZ Binghamton (AA) 28 2-2 4.26 0 St. Lucie (High-A) 19 0-0 3.93 1 Antonini, Mike - R/L; 6-0, 190; 8/6/85; Aston, Pa. Savannah (Low-A) 13 4-4 2.71 0 St. Lucie (High-A) 7 4-0 1.84 0 Binghamton (AA) 8 1-3 3.74 0 Bostick, Adam - L/L; 6-1, 233; 3/17/83; Greensburg, Pa. New Orleans (AAA) 11 2-2 6.04 0 Brown, Eric - R/R; 6-4, 228; 2/23/84; Hamlet, N.C. Binghamton (AA) 30 6-9 5.05 0 Coultas, Ryan - R/R; 6-4, 188; 4/24/82; Ventura, Calif. St. Lucie (High-A) 47 1-5 4.17 4 De La Cruz, Julio - R/R; 6-1, 170; 10/7/80; Cotui, D.R. NW Arkansas (AA) 14 0-1 4.23 0 AZL Royals (Rookie) 5 0-0 2.08 0 Madden, John - R/R; 6-4, 225; 12/2/82; Harmony, Fla. Lake Elsinore (High-A) 52 2-3 3.88 1 Portland (AAA) 2 0-0 3.38 0 McNab, Tim - R/R; 6-1,186; 6/4/80; Plantation, Fla. New Orleans (AAA) 50 3-3 5.55 0 Merritt, Roydrick - L/L; 6-0, 170; 9/22/85; Houston, Tx St. Lucie (High-A) 6 0-0 5.87 0 Brooklyn (SS-A) 25 3-0 1.49 4 Nieve, Fernando - R/R; 6-0, 195; 7/15/82; San Felipe, Yaracuy, VZ Round Rock (AAA) 36 2-5 5.72 6 Houston (NL) 11 0-1 8.44 0 Owen, Dylan - R/R; 5-11, 203; 7/12/86; Cheraw, S.C. St. Lucie (High-A) 24 12-6 3.43 0 Binghamton (AA) 3 1-1 5.51 0 CATCHERS 2008 CLUB(S) G AVG HR RBI SB Paniagua, Salvador - R/R; 6-1, 240; 5/21/83; San Juan, D.R. Binghamton (AA) 45 .248 7 19 1 St. Lucie (High-A) 17 .231 3 8 0 Nickeas, Mike - R/R; 6-0, 210; 2/13/83; Westlake Village, Calif. New Orleans (AAA) 54 .215 2 17 0 Binghamton (AA) 17 .196 1 4 0 Thole, Josh - L/R; 6-2, 206; 10/28/86; Breese, Ill. St. Lucie (High-A) 111 .300 5 56 2 INFIELDERS 2008 CLUB(S) G AVG HR RBI SB Bowman, Shawn - R/R; 6-4, 228; 12/9/84; Coquitlam, B.C. St. Lucie (High-A) 26 .340 2 11 0 Binghamton (AA) 29 .248 2 10 3 Duda, Lucas - L/R; 6-4, 225; 2/3/86; Riverside, Calif. St. Lucie (High-A) 133 .263 11 66 2 Garcia, Emmanuel - L/R; 6-2,180; 3/4/86; Montreal Binghamton (AA) 104 .243 4 40 17 Kiger, Mark - R/R; 5-11, 180; 5/30/80; San Diego, Ca West Tenn (AA) 109 .223 3 40 3 Petersen, Josh - R/R; 6-4, 226; 4/15/83; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Binghamton (AA) 72 .288 3 27 3 St. Lucie (High-A) 14 .220 0 4 0 New Orleans (AAA) 9 .200 0 3 0 Tejada, Ruben - R/R; 6-0, 160; 10/27/89; Veraguas, Panama St. Lucie (High-A) 131 .229 2 37 8 OUTFIELDERS 2008 CLUB(S) G AVG HR RBI SB Diaz, Frank - R/R; 6-2, 180; 10/6/83; Valencia, Carabobo, VZ Potomac (High-A) 43 .256 2 18 5 Columbus (AAA) 38 .291 0 11 4 Loadenthal, Carl - L/L; 5-11,180; 12/27/81; Southampton, Pa. Mississippi (AA) 26 .227 1 2 4 Richmond (AAA) 68 .278 0 13 19 Stewart, Caleb - R/R; 6-2, 238; 6/11/82; Rush, Ky. New Orleans (AAA) 20 .221 1 9 1 Binghamton (AA) 112 .279 13 57 7 Wabick, D.J. - L/R; 6-4, 196; 5/30/84; Palos Park, Ill. St. Lucie (High-A) 125 .289 7 59 3

In today's column, Wally alternately calls the Met clubhouse "vanilla" and, a few paragraphs later, "none too stable".

="Number 6":87brct17]The Yanks tried the first baseman's mitt on Sheffield in 2006. If I remember correctly, the results weren't pretty.[/quote:87brct17] Right. It was right after both he and Matsui got back from lengthy stays on the DL towards the very end of the season and they wound up sticking Sheff at 1st in an attempt to shoe-horn them both back into the lineup for the (brief as it turned out) playoffs. In fairness to Sheff, the experiment was rushed and I don't think he was really healthy in the first place. I suspect he could play there in a pinch even though I believe that wound up being one of his perceived slights as he accused the Yanx of putting him there in order to make him look bad, yadda, yadda. Rockin' Doc Apr 04 2009 07:43 AM It's Sheffield's surly attitude that concerns me. I'm afraid it is only a matter of time before he starts bitching and moaning about his utilization and lack of playing time. metsmarathon Apr 04 2009 09:09 AM i'm just gonna call him sheffoid for a while, until i start feeling better about this whole thing. and i'll start feeling better about this whole thing if i see ryan church and danny murphy in my starting corner outfielders. i'll even accept a fernando tatis. but so help me god, if sheffoid is our starting right (or left) fielder on opening day, my feeeeeelings are gonna be hurt. Zvon Apr 04 2009 01:16 PM From what I read all indications are that he will be our right fielder. I had hoped to see a breakout year from Church. I'm a bit shocked and awed at this turn of events. Not in totally bad way. I've always been in awe of Sheffs hitting. That is a nice right handed power bat, if he can still swing it. I was shocked he was released, and more shocked the Mets picked him up and will brush Church aside. I'd be much more comfortable at this point if Sheff was used off the bench. But this is Gary Sheffield. I guess right field will be his to have and try to hold. If he is pumped (not steriliodilly ) and has a big comeback year to show he still belongs in the majors, then this whole deal is fantastic. But right now I feel wtf? and feel for Church, who I really wanted to see excel. I wanted him to be given that chance. batmagadanleadoff Apr 04 2009 04:34 PM Sheff arrives By BRIAN COSTELLO Gary Sheffield made it to Citi Field today during the Mets New York Mets -Red Sox exhibition game. The 40-year-old slugger said he picked the Mets over the Reds and Phillies because he believes this team can win a championship. "It's been a lifetime thing for me," Sheffield. "My uncle (Doc Gooden) was here with the Mets. It's been a dream of mine for a long time. I never thought it would happen. When it became reality that I had a chance to come here I said now I'll fulfill my dream." He also said a text message from David Wright helped recruit him to New York and the urging of Gooden to sign with his former team. Sheffield believes he can play right field regularly but said he's fine with coming off the bench if that is the best thing for the team. "I realize I'm at a point in my career I'm not the marquee guy to come in here and demand anything and demand a position or anything," he said. "My goal is now I'm so much at peace with where I'm at I want to win a championship. If it takes me coming off the bench to do that I'm willing to do that." Jerry Manuel said Sheffield will not play the field at all in Cincinnati as the team works with him before games on fielding to gauge where he is. He can be used as a pinch hitter against the Reds, but probably won't make his debut in the field until next weekend in Florida. http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/mets/archives/2009/04/sheff_arrives.html metsmarathon Apr 04 2009 04:46 PM well, lets hope that sheffoid's newfound attitude continues throughout the season Nymr83 Apr 04 2009 05:16 PM ="metsmarathon":39bowth7]well, lets hope that sheffoid's newfound attitude continues throughout the season[/quote:39bowth7] history says it wont last, but i sure hope it does, he can be a useful part of this team id he shuts his mouth and just plays baseball

No, I don't believe 'New' is part of the official name. 'Fucking Gargantuan Edifice to Conspicuous Consumption' may be, although I'd have to check on that to be sure.

="Kong76":daiwlvuq]Yeah, but two completely different types of dislike.[/quote:daiwlvuq] Egg-Zactly! Actually, I never really disliked Glavine anyway but even so, there's 'pre-dislike' simply because a guy's an accomplished opponent and there's dislike because he comes across as a fuckin' asshole. Chipper, for instance, would be type A and I'd have no problem rooting for him in orange & blue. With Sheff on the other hand - while I'm not going to root for him to fail (an increasingly popular activity for some Met fans it seems) - it's going to be tough to get the warm and fuzzies going.

He still could be enough of a RH threat w/good OBP to put a scare into opposing pitchers & managers - which is kind of what we need in a way. The problems are: - questionable (at best) defensive skills to the point where he may be marginally useable anywhere but in the batter's box -- something that's particularly true in an OF he's never seen with what looks like might be a tricky wall in spots - he reportedly only wanted to sign with a team that was going to give him significant ABs. Did they promise him that? -- If so that's something that can only come at the expense of either Murphy or Church - he's not only an ass, but he's one who will trash mgmt, teammates, the press, MLB as a whole, and probably Barack Obama if he's not getting what he wants -- and he often finds something to get pissed at (see points 1 & 2). Hopefully he got read the riot act before a deal was signed. Not that they couldn't drop him anyway but at least this way he knows that going in.

Sortable stats, club sub-totals and averages, hi-lighted leader stats, ... what's not to like!