Frayed Knot

Sheff's a Met (acc to WFAN) Can't remember the last time I [u:25ntqmw0]Pre[/u:25ntqmw0]-disliked a Met player.

Now that we've got the Post, the D-News, Newsday, ESPN radio, and WFAN all reporting it's near a done deal, I guess it's near a done deal. Either that there's one full-o-shit source out there and the others are all copying each other while pretending they dug up the info on their own.

1962 = Ashburn

I like the part where Hankenbrenner (or was it Hal-enbrenner?) says; 'yeah, we overpriced some of the seats and as a result they're not selling as well as we hoped ... but we didn't misread the market!' Umm, yeah ya did. In fact, that's kind of the definition of misreading the market.

Looks like the Padres early on (might as well do the Aug Pods series also) plus the @MFYs (June 12-14) are still open. If so I'll grab those - and maybe more later if some series go begging.

="duan"] Tigers released OF/DH Gary Sheffield. The club will eat all of the $14 million they owe him for 2009. Sheffield, 40, hit .225 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI in 114 games last season. He missed time with a shoulder and oblique issue, but was thought to be fully healthy this spring. Sheff is just one homer shy of 500." The problem with Sheff here is that the OF part of that OF/DH designation pretty much left the station about two years ago. Well that plus the fact that he's an asshole. Ranks behind maybe only Clemens in my list of MLB players I really dislike. And how stoopid were the Tigers giving him that deal in the first place? I mean they traded live human beings to the Yanx just to get his 38 year-old self and then tacked on a larger deal then the one he already was under even though there was no No-trade clause incentive to make them do it. I called this one as stupid at the time. Now you can tack this on to the Dontrelle deal (they gave him a contract boost after that trade too) and they're looking at eating a ton of money this year and have a reamed farm system to boot.

But Tom Boswell tells the Nationals (owners of next June's #1 pick): Be afraid. Be very afraid[/url:2cmzvydt]

The Astros won a game yesterday (Cincy I think) for what I think I heard was their 2nd win this Spring -- and their first since sometime in February!!I generally ignore Ws and Ls this time of year - but that's really ominous.

The 'Can he/Can't He' handle NYC topic has been thorn in my paw for a long time. First of all because it winds up being a self-fulfilling prophecy more often than not. Had John Olerud, for example, failed here (as his Toronto mgr predicted he would) there would have been no shortage of those who "knew it all along" and would have blasted Met mgmt for being so short-sighted as to not see it coming. But, of course, he didn't and so the topic of the quiet man thriving in the city that never sleeps was never brought up meaning that no one was wrong even though they would have been right had he not. Aaron Heilman was handling NYC just fine -- right up until the moment he wasn't. And, yes, it absolutely is used as a superiority hammer by some natives who like to claim that those who fail here must have done so because they were here. It's an ego thing for many, a way for the natives to not only make themselves seem tougher but also claim that their standards are that much higher that we cause others who don't measure up to fall by the wayside. Adrian Beltre tanking in Seattle, on the other hand, draws no such cause/effect conclusions because it's not part of the pre-written story. Or maybe just because saying he couldn't handle a town with an abundance of sushi, rain, and coffee houses doesn't make for as interesting a story.

Good lord, that wasn't an article, it was pornography!

Dogged by persistent discomfort in his pitching elbow, Cole Hamels will fly to Philadelphia for an examination on Tuesday, the team announced. Why did they wait until there was PERSISTENT pain? MALPRACTICE!! The left-hander will be looked at by team physician Michael Ciccotti. What, too cheap to go to an outside guy? The Phillies at this point have described the pain as soreness or tightness, and nothing more. So amputation is still possible then? "We do not think it is serious, at least at this time," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said, according to MLB.com. "We thought it was important for Dr. Ciccotti to check him out and see if there is anything more serious than what we think it is." You mean they don't know? According to Amaro, Hamels does not feel pain when he throws. Rather, the elbow tightens up on him between innings. So don't let him stop then. Hamels pitched four innings in a minor league intrasquad game on Sunday. "He threw the ball very well," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "It's kind of what we expected." Oh, so they let him throw AFTER he was already feeling it?!? "We won't know anything until the doctor sees him," Amaro said, according to MLB.com. "Right now he's still on course to do that. We'll see if there are any further issues. ... We don't feel that it's serious, but again, I don't have a crystal ball. I can't look inside his elbow." Typical incompetence!! You're right Steve, this is fun!

Sutcliffe (as usual) went overboard with the Lindstrom purpose pitch. Amazing how it is he knows what everyone on the field is thinking. - I didn't think the dude posed too long at the plate in the first place. And does anyone at ESPN realize how stupid it is to show the replay so you can see how long he stayed there and then show it in slo-mo. Duh! - And Sutcliffe's "report" on what Wright was saying as he jumped out of his seat was more of his speculation passed off as fact act. Oh, what's the use.

And Team USA knew months ago where he Davey would be on this date so his absence was neither a surprise nor a recent decision, something Heyman's piece doesn't exactly make clear. I also somehow doubt his uninterrupted presence would have woke up the bats or kept Peavy from sucking. After all, even Jeter's presence couldn't.

that would be the text crawl at the bottom of the screen on MLBN Anywoo, said crawl has us picking up RHP Fernando Nieve off the Astros waiver wire. Came up in 2006, injured all of 2007, pitched briefly in 2008. Further crawlies claim that the Mets are one of four teams interested in FA Pedro Martinez. Others include Pittsburgh, Cleveland & Dodgers. Source = Jon Heyman Same source, however, says that we are NOT one of four clubs sniffing around one Ivan Rodriguez Nor does it connect us with LH-reliever Joe Beimel

6-2 FINAL Two hits + 1 SB each for Kielty (+ 1 BB) & Reed

vs Washington 4 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 R followed up by 2 IP of hitless, 2 BB, shutout ball from Livan followed up by one perfect inning each from Muniz & Robertson and finally capped off Brandon Knight's inning where he coughed up 6 runs (all earned) on 7 hits. Reyes back in the lineup (leadoff) going 0-3 Castillo hits second (1-2 + BB) Tatis played 1B and got 3 hits Mets trail 6-2 batting in bottom 9

O'Day, can you see[/url:3320jbqr]

I think I read where Wise retired.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1fzhr4jb]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here? That's not a good article and it appears that he's missing a good deal of the bigger picture but I'm certain Gordon Edes isn't out to attract attention to himself by hating the Mets for no reason.[/quote:1fzhr4jb] I've long yapped about the idea that Met fans have a tendency to see bias far too easily. Edes is, I believe, Boston based, and should have no particular reason for Met-hating or Jeter-kissing (even beyond just journalistic ethics) and I don't think that piece shows much of either. I just think he was going for the angle that if Frankie is going to blow-off the media every time he's pissed off about something that it's not an act that will play well in the city where he's going to be cashing his paychecks for the next few years (and you know it won't). He probably should have stayed away from the Putz/putz line even if it was (maybe especially because it was) seemingly set up on a tee for him. Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2009 11:44 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2o3vtj44]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here?[/quote:2o3vtj44] I agree. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 11:46 AM I just dislike journalists who take cheap and easy snarks. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 12:42 PM Agreed about the hypersensitivity to bias-- likely a function of "kid brother" status in the eyes of most local media/observers from out-of-town (see also: Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Not Los Angeles, New Jersey Nets/Devils, Los Angeles Clippers). Also, I'm not a professional Met fan. Being held to higher standards comes with the paycheck (and/or journo degree). metsguyinmichigan Mar 13 2009 01:03 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3vxc1rj7]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here? That's not a good article and it appears that he's missing a good deal of the bigger picture but I'm certain Gordon Edes isn't out to attract attention to himself by hating the Mets for no reason. I'm also at least open to the possibility that Rodriguez really is a dick.[/quote:3vxc1rj7] Guilty. Maybe it's a professional thing. Bad writing and reporting jumps out at me. And we on the news side are often peeved at what we see coming out of the sports side, which often doesn't have the same standards. If I referred to a school board memebr as a putz, there would be hell to pay. I'd also never get away with all the unnamed sources. We see a lot of these guys sitting back and pontificating, or grumbling about stuff readers don't care about. As a reader, do I really give a rat's butt that he had to with 90 minutes for Rodriguez to answer questions? That said, once you're concious of it, there are a lot of cheap shots at the Mets' expense, and the Yankees do get a lot of passes. But I'll try to tone it down. Apologies. Nymr83 Mar 13 2009 04:27 PM ="metirish"]"Wagner has re-dedicated himself this season to the task at hand"... he should have dedicated himself fully the moment he signed a multi-million dollar contract to do a job. themetfairy Mar 13 2009 04:33 PM Wagner may not have been a favorite of mine, but I've never doubted his work ethic. G-Fafif Mar 13 2009 04:50 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3ia9onl8]Very haterly of me, but I never warmed to Wagner even a little. He can go screw an alpaca for all I care.[/quote:3ia9onl8] I'm also at least open to the possibility that Wagner is a decent guy who is working really hard for money he could easily sit back and collect. I'm also at least open to the possibility that Wagner might enjoy that thing with the alpaca. Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2009 05:12 PM Well, don't forget that Wagner is going to be a free agent again after the 2009 season. He'll get more money if he gets a chance to demonstrate his health in September than he would otherwise. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 05:18 PM ="Nymr83"]="metirish"]"Wagner has re-dedicated himself this season to the task at hand"... he should have dedicated himself fully the moment he signed a multi-million dollar contract to do a job. Don't you think that it's a large stretch to draw the inference from the quote that the writer is arguing that there's any indication that Wagner was ever under-dedicated? G-Fafif Mar 13 2009 05:48 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":20chkz02]Well, don't forget that Wagner is going to be a free agent again after the 2009 season. He'll get more money if he gets a chance to demonstrate his health in September than he would otherwise.[/quote:20chkz02] True enough, though with what Billy pulled in (and that thriving alpaca business), theoretically he could let it heal slowly and move on. But I've yet to see a pitcher do that. Without knowing their individual finances, Billy, Pedro and Glavine could all do that, but they're competitors by nature (though one could cite one particular Sunday where I might not have included one of them as possessing loads of fire in the belly). There's a fun chapter in Tim Kurkjian's book about how ballplayers, especially the great ones, compete at every stupid, little game in the clubhouse and absolutely have to win. Cal Ripken had to defeat his wife when it came to trampoline-jumping. John Smoltz must prevail at H-O-R-S-E. So maybe there's no way a Wagner would sit back and collect on his contract. But he might screw that alpaca. It's just something I heard somewhere. metsguyinmichigan Mar 13 2009 05:59 PM ="G-Fafif" But he might screw that alpaca. It's just something I heard somewhere. As long as there is dinner and a movie included, I guess that's OK. It's gotta be a chick flick, though. You can't take an aplaca to Saw 4 or something then hit a Taco Bell drive-thru and expect that kind of treatment. Nothing is more pathetic than seeing a guy standing alone at a stable yelling "But baby, I bought you a gordita!" to a closed door. MFS62 Mar 13 2009 06:39 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 14 2009 06:03 AM If you go on alpaca.com, it has a link for "alpacas for hire" (not joking) Maybe you CAN hire one for a night of fun. (sluts) EDIT: Insert your own non regional-specific comment about where they fuck wooly animals here. Later Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 07:20 PM Oh, right, that anti-Southern bigotry just keeps giving. Fman99 Mar 13 2009 07:44 PM Wags was one of the 10-12 best goatfuckers ever to come out of that bullpen. Gwreck Mar 13 2009 08:35 PM Let me just say that Billy Wagner as our 7th inning guy (or lefty specialist, if you want) would be a thing of beauty. He can take all the time he needs, so long as he's ready for September 15th when the Mets have a 15 game lead and he can start tuning up for the playoffs. MFS62 Mar 13 2009 09:10 PM ="Edgy DC":36pyynka]Oh, right, that anti-Southern bigotry just keeps giving.[/quote:36pyynka] So does defending alpaca fuckers. Later Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 09:21 PM What does that mean? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 11:54 PM ="Gwreck"]Let me just say that Billy Wagner as our 7th inning guy (or lefty specialist, if you want) would be a thing of beauty. He can take all the time he needs, so long as he's ready for September 15th when the Mets have a 15 game lead and he can start tuning up for the playoffs. Dude... if we have a fifteen-game lead in September, I'm campaigning for Wags-as-beanball-specialist for those last two weeks. Bruised asses heal a lot of psychic scars. MFS62 Mar 14 2009 06:01 AM ="Edgy DC":3qmphvjc]What does that mean?[/quote:3qmphvjc] It was meant to be funny, just like all the other posts in this thread referring to alpaca fucking. Its ok, I understand. I'll go back and edit my original post. Later LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 16 2009 09:16 PM Yanqui go home: Sojo just plugged in K-Rod in the 8th inning for the second game in a row. Edgy DC Mar 16 2009 09:50 PM Twenty pitches. No big whoop. Feliciano threw for the losers also. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 16 2009 10:34 PM 4 outings, 70-plus pitches in 6 days, for a max-effort thrower? I'm mildly annoyed.

="seawolf17":12qcz28l]Can we stop calling him K-Rod? Ugh. There has to be a better nickname out there.[/quote:12qcz28l] Well I think the clear intent of the article that started this thread was to dub him BB-Rod John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 13 2009 08:38 AM Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here? That's not a good article and it appears that he's missing a good deal of the bigger picture but I'm certain Gordon Edes isn't out to attract attention to himself by hating the Mets for no reason. I'm also at least open to the possibility that Rodriguez really is a dick. soupcan Mar 13 2009 08:43 AM 'Dick-Rod' Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 08:48 AM I'm more than open to that possiblity. But the bait and switch on the lede is jarring. And it's certainly possible that Edes is bringing it, not because Mets are always a good target (though they are), but because: 1) Latinos are always a good target 2) Relievers are always a good target 3) Guys who won't talk to the press are always a good target But he's standing on the battle line of a three way PR war centered in a country where the media is far from free and he's missing the story completely, because "asshole athlete's got no time for me therefore he holds you the fan in contempt and that is not going to fly in New York, foreign guy" is a story that there is always a market for. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 09:55 AM ="soupcan":1yx70c9l]'Dick-Rod'[/quote:1yx70c9l] Wouldn't it just be "Rod"? seawolf17 Mar 13 2009 10:13 AM Let's call him Nightcrawler. soupcan Mar 13 2009 10:27 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1ycvojue]="soupcan":1ycvojue]'Dick-Rod'[/quote:1ycvojue] Wouldn't it just be "Rod"?[/quote:1ycvojue] How about 'Rod-Dick'? Oh, nope - that's already taken. metirish Mar 13 2009 10:30 AM ="seawolf17"]Let's call him Nightcrawler. Good times , speaking of Nightcrawler , from the Snooze ] PORT ST. LUCIE - Billy Wagner, who has been throwing in his native Virginia, has been shut down by the Mets. But there's no bad news. Mets officials are concerned an enthusiastic Wagner is trying to rehab from Sept. 10 Tommy John surgery too quickly and requested a throwing moratorium to avoid the risk of re-injury. Wagner is not expected to visit camp, but Mets rehab specialists Chris Correnti and Guy Conti are expected to visit the southpaw at his home when the Mets break camp in three weeks. Wagner expects to be with the Mets for the season's final month, if not earlier, a source close to the former closer said. I guess that is where Conti landed with the org. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 10:39 AM Go, Guy! soupcan Mar 13 2009 10:55 AM ] PORT ST. LUCIE - Billy Wagner, who has been throwing in his native Virginia, has been shut down by the Mets. But there's no bad news. Mets officials are concerned an enthusiastic Wagner is trying to rehab from Sept. 10 Tommy John surgery too quickly and requested a throwing moratorium to avoid the risk of re-injury. Wagner is not expected to visit camp, but Mets rehab specialists Chris Correnti and Guy Conti are expected to visit the southpaw at his home when the Mets break camp in three weeks. Wagner expects to be with the Mets for the season's final month, if not earlier, a source close to the former closer said. Why on earth do they care? Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 10:57 AM Because he could be back pitching for the Mets late this season. soupcan Mar 13 2009 11:00 AM Now we all know that's not gonna happen. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 13 2009 11:04 AM Very haterly of me, but I never warmed to Wagner even a little. He can go screw an alpaca for all I care. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 11:06 AM ="soupcan":i7excr8s]Now we all know that's not gonna happen.[/quote:i7excr8s] Hey, you so certain, take it to Paddy Power. TransMonk Mar 13 2009 11:08 AM I give him a little cred for rehabbing so hard. If I were 38, due to make (a lot of) guaranteed money this year and my team had replaced me with 2 capable players, I would probably move to Mexico and sip Margarita's all day. I do admire his drive and competitiveness...even if he is mostly a dick. metirish Mar 13 2009 11:14 AM "Wagner has re-dedicated himself this season to the task at hand"... LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 11:20 AM ="TransMonk":3jzzxrpz]I give him a little cred for rehabbing so hard. If I were 38, due to make (a lot of) guaranteed money this year and my team had replaced me with 2 capable players, I would probably move to Mexico and sip Margarita's all day. I do admire his drive and competitiveness...even if he is mostly a dick.[/quote:3jzzxrpz] Also, he's so wittle! (You can put 'im in your pock't!) Frayed Knot Mar 13 2009 11:39 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1fzhr4jb]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here? That's not a good article and it appears that he's missing a good deal of the bigger picture but I'm certain Gordon Edes isn't out to attract attention to himself by hating the Mets for no reason.[/quote:1fzhr4jb] I've long yapped about the idea that Met fans have a tendency to see bias far too easily. Edes is, I believe, Boston based, and should have no particular reason for Met-hating or Jeter-kissing (even beyond just journalistic ethics) and I don't think that piece shows much of either. I just think he was going for the angle that if Frankie is going to blow-off the media every time he's pissed off about something that it's not an act that will play well in the city where he's going to be cashing his paychecks for the next few years (and you know it won't). He probably should have stayed away from the Putz/putz line even if it was (maybe especially because it was) seemingly set up on a tee for him. Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2009 11:44 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2o3vtj44]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here?[/quote:2o3vtj44] I agree. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 11:46 AM I just dislike journalists who take cheap and easy snarks. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 12:42 PM Agreed about the hypersensitivity to bias-- likely a function of "kid brother" status in the eyes of most local media/observers from out-of-town (see also: Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Not Los Angeles, New Jersey Nets/Devils, Los Angeles Clippers). Also, I'm not a professional Met fan. Being held to higher standards comes with the paycheck (and/or journo degree). metsguyinmichigan Mar 13 2009 01:03 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3vxc1rj7]Can I make a general comment about there being a certain level of paramoia and hypersensitivity to bias in the media here? That's not a good article and it appears that he's missing a good deal of the bigger picture but I'm certain Gordon Edes isn't out to attract attention to himself by hating the Mets for no reason. I'm also at least open to the possibility that Rodriguez really is a dick.[/quote:3vxc1rj7] Guilty. Maybe it's a professional thing. Bad writing and reporting jumps out at me. And we on the news side are often peeved at what we see coming out of the sports side, which often doesn't have the same standards. If I referred to a school board memebr as a putz, there would be hell to pay. I'd also never get away with all the unnamed sources. We see a lot of these guys sitting back and pontificating, or grumbling about stuff readers don't care about. As a reader, do I really give a rat's butt that he had to with 90 minutes for Rodriguez to answer questions? That said, once you're concious of it, there are a lot of cheap shots at the Mets' expense, and the Yankees do get a lot of passes. But I'll try to tone it down. Apologies. Nymr83 Mar 13 2009 04:27 PM ="metirish"]"Wagner has re-dedicated himself this season to the task at hand"... he should have dedicated himself fully the moment he signed a multi-million dollar contract to do a job. themetfairy Mar 13 2009 04:33 PM Wagner may not have been a favorite of mine, but I've never doubted his work ethic. G-Fafif Mar 13 2009 04:50 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3ia9onl8]Very haterly of me, but I never warmed to Wagner even a little. He can go screw an alpaca for all I care.[/quote:3ia9onl8] I'm also at least open to the possibility that Wagner is a decent guy who is working really hard for money he could easily sit back and collect. I'm also at least open to the possibility that Wagner might enjoy that thing with the alpaca. Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2009 05:12 PM Well, don't forget that Wagner is going to be a free agent again after the 2009 season. He'll get more money if he gets a chance to demonstrate his health in September than he would otherwise. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 05:18 PM ="Nymr83"]="metirish"]"Wagner has re-dedicated himself this season to the task at hand"... he should have dedicated himself fully the moment he signed a multi-million dollar contract to do a job. Don't you think that it's a large stretch to draw the inference from the quote that the writer is arguing that there's any indication that Wagner was ever under-dedicated? G-Fafif Mar 13 2009 05:48 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":20chkz02]Well, don't forget that Wagner is going to be a free agent again after the 2009 season. He'll get more money if he gets a chance to demonstrate his health in September than he would otherwise.[/quote:20chkz02] True enough, though with what Billy pulled in (and that thriving alpaca business), theoretically he could let it heal slowly and move on. But I've yet to see a pitcher do that. Without knowing their individual finances, Billy, Pedro and Glavine could all do that, but they're competitors by nature (though one could cite one particular Sunday where I might not have included one of them as possessing loads of fire in the belly). There's a fun chapter in Tim Kurkjian's book about how ballplayers, especially the great ones, compete at every stupid, little game in the clubhouse and absolutely have to win. Cal Ripken had to defeat his wife when it came to trampoline-jumping. John Smoltz must prevail at H-O-R-S-E. So maybe there's no way a Wagner would sit back and collect on his contract. But he might screw that alpaca. It's just something I heard somewhere. metsguyinmichigan Mar 13 2009 05:59 PM ="G-Fafif" But he might screw that alpaca. It's just something I heard somewhere. As long as there is dinner and a movie included, I guess that's OK. It's gotta be a chick flick, though. You can't take an aplaca to Saw 4 or something then hit a Taco Bell drive-thru and expect that kind of treatment. Nothing is more pathetic than seeing a guy standing alone at a stable yelling "But baby, I bought you a gordita!" to a closed door. MFS62 Mar 13 2009 06:39 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 14 2009 06:03 AM If you go on alpaca.com, it has a link for "alpacas for hire" (not joking) Maybe you CAN hire one for a night of fun. (sluts) EDIT: Insert your own non regional-specific comment about where they fuck wooly animals here. Later Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 07:20 PM Oh, right, that anti-Southern bigotry just keeps giving. Fman99 Mar 13 2009 07:44 PM Wags was one of the 10-12 best goatfuckers ever to come out of that bullpen. Gwreck Mar 13 2009 08:35 PM Let me just say that Billy Wagner as our 7th inning guy (or lefty specialist, if you want) would be a thing of beauty. He can take all the time he needs, so long as he's ready for September 15th when the Mets have a 15 game lead and he can start tuning up for the playoffs. MFS62 Mar 13 2009 09:10 PM ="Edgy DC":36pyynka]Oh, right, that anti-Southern bigotry just keeps giving.[/quote:36pyynka] So does defending alpaca fuckers. Later Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 09:21 PM What does that mean? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 13 2009 11:54 PM ="Gwreck"]Let me just say that Billy Wagner as our 7th inning guy (or lefty specialist, if you want) would be a thing of beauty. He can take all the time he needs, so long as he's ready for September 15th when the Mets have a 15 game lead and he can start tuning up for the playoffs. Dude... if we have a fifteen-game lead in September, I'm campaigning for Wags-as-beanball-specialist for those last two weeks. Bruised asses heal a lot of psychic scars. MFS62 Mar 14 2009 06:01 AM ="Edgy DC":3qmphvjc]What does that mean?[/quote:3qmphvjc] It was meant to be funny, just like all the other posts in this thread referring to alpaca fucking. Its ok, I understand. I'll go back and edit my original post. Later LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 16 2009 09:16 PM Yanqui go home: Sojo just plugged in K-Rod in the 8th inning for the second game in a row. Edgy DC Mar 16 2009 09:50 PM Twenty pitches. No big whoop. Feliciano threw for the losers also. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 16 2009 10:34 PM 4 outings, 70-plus pitches in 6 days, for a max-effort thrower? I'm mildly annoyed.

Round 2 - Saturday's games (in Miami): Netherlands vs Venezuela - 1PM EDT USA vs Puerto Rico - 8PM EDT Sunday (in San Diego) Some combo of Japan, Korea, Cuba & Mexico exact matchups to be determined after tonight's Cuba/Mexico game - loser faces Korea, winner vs Japan

A lot of the Venezuelan players were upset (and some threatening not to play) going back six months or more because they believe the 'Ministry of Sport' (or whatever the gov't agency is called) is skimming money off the top that's intended for the players. At least the Cuban players KNOW their gov't is taking all the loot and will dole it out if and when they feel like it. That's assuming, of course, that the players are even aware that there's money involved in the first place.

Biggest difference in the far east and here is that in Japan they have Lotte Marines and in Korea Lotte Giants. Over here we just have giant lattes.

He walks more than you'd like to see from a closer (or anyone for that matter) about 1/2 man per inning) He partly makes up for that with ridiculously low hits/IP ratio (well under 1/inning for years now), high K-rates, and reasonable HR rates. Still, the high-BB rates make his WHiP numbers only middling (1.25-ish) so anyone who thinks they're getting a guy who's never going to dance on the edge now & then hasn't been paying attention.

How the hell do you people find this stuff? Reminds me a bit of the time we were concocting self-evaluations in response to the thumb-nail bios you get of amateur players on draft day. The Sickels link was interesting too and, except for being a bit optimistic on the defensive skills, nailed young David pretty good. True he was already in the upper minors which takes a lot of the projection out of it but there are still enough misses in those to not make this one a no-brainer.