Frayed Knot

Jan 1 is the official launch date. The sneak previews could be hit and miss until then. Lots of WBC in Feb-Mar is the first major thing on the slate.

I think I'm most concerned about LF. Despite all the good feelings Murphy cooked up in a relatively short time, the question as to whether he has enough bat to carry him in a corner position is very much up in the air. And that the alternative is Tatis doesn't smooth it over. 1B - Carlos II has been here for 3 years and good, or at least good enough, for about 2-1/2 of them. We'll survive there even if we don't thrive. 2B - He can't be worse (can he?) and, if his normal healthy self, he's at least useful. Overpaid and over-stayed, but useful. RF - Maybe we don't get his April again, but his season couldn't have gone worse after that. Even 400 healthy ABs can't help but be an improvement. C - Even Schneider's below-averageness is kinda close to average considering his position. There's better out there, just not a lot of it.

MLB gave a partial ownership stake in the channel to several of the major carriers so, unlike the exclusively deal that the NFL network struck, this one should be available to most w/o having to go to a pay tier.

The Hawaii Winter League will fold after 3 years of operation, probably to be reconstituted into a junior version of the Arizona League. IOW, it'll be replaced by a Phoenix-based league that's still tailored to younger, lower-level players than the current AFL uses just back on mainland soil where more people have a chance to see it. Baseball America article[/url:2rjnjj2z] Baseball Prospectus[/url:2rjnjj2z]

This surprises me not.

="HahnSolo":1ohewife]I too wonder why they haven't even begun to dismantle the old stadium yet.[/quote:1ohewife] They haven't finished milking it yet. Last I heard it's likely to remain standing throughout next season. metirish Dec 17 2008 09:24 AM They just had the last official tour recently. Valadius Dec 17 2008 09:50 AM Again, the new MFYS looks like the Sarlacc pit monster. Farmer Ted Dec 17 2008 12:23 PM Where's George gonna get his calzones now? soupcan Feb 13 2009 12:36 PM Yankee Summer Home... Yankees Building New Vacation Stadium In The Hamptons TheOldMole Feb 14 2009 12:37 PM That is great. metirish Feb 14 2009 08:02 PM Can't stop laughing..... metirish Mar 25 2009 07:43 AM Hard Rock Cafe vendors behind the bleachers A view of the great hall in the new Yankee Stadium. Jeter's locker metsguyinmichigan Mar 25 2009 07:54 AM Could that place be any more tacky? Typical Yankees. Everything in your face. soupcan Mar 25 2009 08:35 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":3f8733ov]Could that place be any more tacky? Typical Yankees. Everything in your face.[/quote:3f8733ov] Now, now... It's a nice-looking place. A bit more grandiose than our little ballpark but still very nice. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 25 2009 08:46 AM I'm trying not to be biased but I would suspect when all is said and done that MFYs will realize a ton of cash for this whole new stadium thing but will have sacrificed an advantage over the competition that they will never get back. Yes, they surrendered much in the 1970s too but they could at least pretend the bones were authentic. But from now on, there's no pretending there's any real history in their building -- which was an enormous tenet of the Yankee Brand (TM) message -- and also, no assurances they'll have even the best park in their city which is a claim they could have made forever and might now might never be able say again. metsguyinmichigan Mar 25 2009 09:28 AM I bet they don't even have a Wiffle Ball field! Plus, at Citi I can get a new (at least to me) muffler or tire rims across the street while watching the game. SteveJRogers Mar 25 2009 09:50 AM ="metirish"]A view of the great hall in the new Yankee Stadium. I think I'll take this Great Hall Benjamin Grimm Mar 25 2009 09:54 AM Or this one: Edgy DC Mar 25 2009 09:56 AM Which brings to mind the Yankees original domed design. They even had a cap redesign to go with it. If I joined the Legion of Doom, I'd always end up sitting between the mantis and the gorilla at the board meetings. metsguyinmichigan Mar 25 2009 10:51 AM Sweet SuperFriends references. And, not the hijack the thread, but what the hell was the deal with the Wonder Twins? I get Wendy and Marvin and WonderDog. The were to provide comic relief. But the whole, "Wonder Twins powers activate! Shape of a tree! Form of a Pinto with a leaky gas tank!" stuff, I never got into that. Edgy DC Mar 25 2009 11:04 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 02 2009 09:22 AM Well, I don't think there was anything to get. She could become any animal, and he could become any form of water. Placing teen characters into adult adventures has always been important, allowing the junior viewer an oppotunity to project themselves into the story. But, the strangely parentless (and deluded) Wendy, Marvin, and Wonderdog served that purpose, yet they got fired for teens with real superpowers. I honestly think that the Superfriends producers had data showing that their target audience were big Donnie and Marie fans. Zan and Jana seem highly modeled on them, in look and personality. Here's my issue. In the secondary stories, they worked in peripheral heroes --- some already established in the DC universe, some not --- to get some needed diversity into the Justice League. But (1) why couldn't they work them into the major storylines? and (2) why did they have to underscore their ethnicity so damn much? Couldn't they have a guy who shoots streams of acid who just happens to be Thai, without calling him Bangkok BadAss or some shit? I always wanted to hear an exchange like: "Black Vulcan, do you copy?" "Yes, White Batman, I hear you." Oh and um, Yankees. Boo. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 25 2009 11:07 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":3mhc4q58]I bet they don't even have a Wiffle Ball field! Plus, at Citi I can get a new (at least to me) muffler or tire rims across the street while watching the game.[/quote:3mhc4q58] Or, you know, you can buy your old ones back. (Never have I rooted for "eminent domain" to prevail... before last year. The one advantage the MFYs do have over us-- and the New Yorker article pointed this out sharply-- is location... if nothing else, they're where a ballpark should be, smack in the middle of a city.) Benjamin Grimm Apr 02 2009 05:55 AM Get a load of the view from these seats in the new Yankee Stadium: The seats, according to the New York Times, only cost five bucks, but geez, you're unable to see about a third of the field. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/sports/baseball/01seats.html?_r=1&ref=baseball metirish Apr 02 2009 07:01 AM I'm not an architect , hell I'm not even a doctor but I don't know why these new stadiums have any such seating like above. Edgy DC Apr 02 2009 07:20 AM Quirky has a price. G-Fafif Apr 02 2009 09:14 AM ="Benjamin Grimm":1rdpk7hv][/quote:1rdpk7hv] The less one has to see of the MFYs, the better. Benjamin Grimm Apr 02 2009 09:19 AM I guess some Yankee fans may prefer those seats because they won't be able to see Alex Rodriguez when he's playing third base. metsguyinmichigan Apr 02 2009 09:26 AM Yup. It's a "True Yankee Filter." You pay more for that. seawolf17 Apr 02 2009 12:08 PM ="metirish":uoy3pvzx]I'm not an architect , hell I'm not even a doctor but I don't know why these new stadiums have any such seating like above.[/quote:uoy3pvzx] I have to say I agree. They made a big fucking deal about having less seats, and angling them toward home plate, and so on... and you have this obstructed-view bullshit? Eff that. seawolf17 Apr 02 2009 08:02 PM A 76.3% increase?!?! Eff you, Yankees. You too, Johnny Damon. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4036916 metirish Apr 02 2009 08:08 PM Wankers - $41.40 to $72.97 - suckers Rockin' Doc Apr 02 2009 08:08 PM Damon should stick to doing Gieco commercials. seawolf17 Apr 02 2009 08:48 PM ="Rockin' Doc":lhs13t5x]Damon should stick to doing Gieco commercials.[/quote:lhs13t5x] Seriously. That pissed me off. "I mean, really, fuck the little guy. I make $13 million a year, guaranteed. So I don't care if they can't afford tickets; I wipe my ass with $1,000 bills." Rockin' Doc Apr 03 2009 04:52 AM A 76.3% increase in the cost of the average ticket for a seat at Yankee Stadium is once again, proof positive that it sucks to be a Yankees fan. Johnny Damon, it seems safe to conclude, is not exactly a thinking man. His comments are insensitive and out of touch with the day to day struggles of the common working man or woman. Benjamin Grimm Apr 03 2009 05:51 AM ="Johnny Damon":1g3apd5t]"It's tough. New York can withstand it," he said. "Coming to this plush building, I think it's definitely something that people want to see. I mean, those are great seats. It's going to be tough for a family to afford but, you know, but we'll let the people upstairs worry about that."[/quote:1g3apd5t] Clearly, the people upstairs don't give a damn either. Nymr83 Apr 03 2009 06:18 AM In the post this morning Sherman says bad things about the New Yankee stadium while Kevin Kernan has some faint praise for Citi Field (though more dumping on Shea) soupcan Apr 03 2009 07:00 AM Times has its architectural reviews of both stadia today... ] April 3, 2009 Architecture Review Two New Baseball Palaces, One Stoic, One Scrappy By NICOLAI OUROUSSOFF American stadium design has been stuck in a nostalgic funk, with sports franchises recycling the same old images year after year. Still, if you have to go with a retro look, New York City could have done worse than the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. Both were designed by Populous (formerly known as HOK Sport Venue Event) and are major upgrades over the stadiums they replaced, which had been looking more and more dilapidated over the years. Both should be fine places to spend a few hours watching a game. What�s more, each stadium subtly reflects the character of the franchises that built them. Yankee Stadium is the kind of stoic, self-conscious monument to history that befits the most successful franchise in American sports. The new home of the Mets, meanwhile, is scrappier and more lighthearted. It plays with history fast and loose, as if it were just another form of entertainment. Yankee management started talking about replacing the old stadium more than a decade ago, and this seemed to be the tougher challenge: the stadium sparkled with the memories of 26 World Series championships. Architecturally, however, the stadium was charmless. Renovation in the 1970s may have made it more comfortable (fans loathed the painful wooden seats of the original version), but it also destroyed many architectural features. The original copper frieze that lined the stadium�s upper deck was ripped out. (A partial concrete replica was added later.) The monuments that had once stood in the deepest recesses of center field were moved to an insipid space behind the left-center field fence and named Monument Park. The little personality the stadium had came from its site: a tight urban lot framed by elevated subway tracks on one side and a city park on the other. The new stadium, which stands across the street from the old one, spruces up that image while reviving some of the lost history. The towering arched windows that dominated the original exterior, an echo of the Roman Colosseum, have been recast in a mix of limestone, granite and cast stone, and they are as imposing as ever. A small urban plaza, raised just above the level of the sidewalk, faces the bars and souvenir shops along River Avenue and the entry to the elevated train, strengthening the structure�s relationship to its urban setting. The city has also promised to build a park and several ball fields just to the south of the stadium in an effort to put a more community-friendly face on the project. A broad pedestrian walkway will eventually link the stadium to the fields and a Metro-North station farther to the south. The biggest improvements, however, are the interiors, which have been organized with an eye to the fans. The concourses are broad open spaces, with concession stands set along the perimeter so that they don�t obstruct views down to the field. More seats are concentrated below the mezzanine level, closer to the action. Even the luxury suites, which suddenly look like a holdover from the era of corporate excess, are discreetly set back so that they don�t detract from the shared intimacy of watching the game. There�s history here, too, or at least a facsimile of it. The Yankees have brought back the old manually operated scoreboards in left and right field, a feature that was last used in the 1960s. A replica of the old frieze sits along the top of the upper deck. Best of all, the slot that separated the scoreboard from the right-field stands in the old stadium has been recreated, so you can still catch glimpses of the subway rumbling by � a reminder that the stadium has been carved out of the heart of a living, thriving city. All in all, the new Yankee Stadium may be an austere, even intimidating place, but there�s nothing tacky about it. It�s straightforward, paint-by-numbers architecture. Getting to Citi Field is a more drawn-out aesthetic experience. Descending from the elevated 7 train in Queens, you have to cross a wide landscaped plaza before arriving at the main entry gate. A sea of parking stretches out in both directions. A pile of rubble (once the old Shea Stadium) currently lies just beyond the parking to the left. The building fits comfortably in this setting. Yankee Stadium�s facade is dominated by vertical lines, which emphasize its monumentality. Citi Field�s facade, which is loosely modeled on Ebbets Field, the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is more low-key. Its brick cladding gives it a warmth that Yankee Stadium doesn�t have. A pre-cast concrete band cuts across the arched exterior, breaking down the structure�s scale and emphasizing its horizontality. History also feels less heavy here. Like the Yankees, the Mets built broad concourses that open up to the field so that you feel close to the game even while you�re standing in line for a beer. But the design is far more eclectic. A porch that cantilevers out over right field is modeled on the old Tiger Stadium. Big steel trusses conjure the structure that supports the nearby elevated train. A soot-colored pedestrian bridge that spans the bullpen behind center field is a miniature version of the Hell Gate Bridge. Even the color of the seats � dark green � was copied from somewhere else: the Polo Grounds, where the New York Giants baseball team played and the Mets played their first two seasons. The casual mood is reinforced by a number of spaces that have little to do with watching a baseball game: an auditorium, a Wiffle ball field � even an event room for weddings or parties. What saves the design from becoming completely hokey, however, is its openness to the real world outside. Most of Queens, from the faded remnants of the 1964 World�s Fair to the Whitestone Expressway and the muddy waters of Flushing Bay, is visible from the main concourse level. Farther up, you can see the Manhattan skyline several miles away. The visitors� bullpen has a view of dilapidated garages and auto body shops across 126th Street to the northeast. The reality of this working-class landscape tempers the artificiality of the interior. Even so, most serious architects today strive to create buildings that reflect the values of their own era, not a nostalgic vision of the past, no matter how open they may be toward their surroundings. And in that regard both stadiums will be a disappointment to students of architecture. For us, the buildings are just another reminder of the enormous gap that remains between high design and popular taste. dinosaur jesus Apr 03 2009 07:12 AM ]Even so, most serious architects today strive to create buildings that reflect the values of their own era, not a nostalgic vision of the past, no matter how open they may be toward their surroundings. The whole game of baseball is a nostalgic vision of the past. What values of our own era do we really want to bring to it? Frayed Knot Apr 03 2009 07:20 AM 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. Benjamin Grimm Apr 03 2009 07:20 AM ="dinosaur jesus"]]Even so, most serious architects today strive to create buildings that reflect the values of their own era, not a nostalgic vision of the past, no matter how open they may be toward their surroundings. The whole game of baseball is a nostalgic vision of the past. What values of our own era do we really want to bring to it? I don't know enough about architecture to explain why I agree with that statement, but I do. I would rather the Mets had built a stadium the reflects early 21st Century architecture, whatever it is. Citi Field looks like a nice place to watch a game, and it's visually appealing, but it also has a Disney feel to it, like you're in "Baseball Land." soupcan Apr 03 2009 07:35 AM These two come to mind when I think about new stadiums with a modern bent. Target Field, which is the new stadium now being built for the twins in Minnesota. Nationals - Edgy DC Apr 03 2009 08:00 AM Glass façades and baseball go together like bleach and baby baths. Even if there's no real threat of the two actually coming together --- and even if the vulnerable element is reinforced against the dangerous element --- it creates an atmophere of anxiety. Benjamin Grimm Apr 03 2009 08:19 AM I kinda like the Minnesota park. The Nationals less so, but it's not bad either. soupcan Apr 03 2009 08:19 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 03 2009 08:21 AM ="Edgy DC":292rjkrd]Glass fa�ades and baseball go together like bleach and baby baths. Even if there's no real threat of the two actually coming together --- and even if the vulnerable element is reinforced against the dangerous element --- it creates an atmophere of anxiety.[/quote:292rjkrd] That's an interesting point, but perhaps the juxtaposition of those types of elements is what appeals to an architect trying to make a statement? I'm certain Art Van DeLay would find a way to make it work, soupcan Apr 03 2009 08:20 AM ="Benjamin Grimm":3rv0nqrw]I kinda like the Minnesota park. The Nationals less so, but it's not bad either.[/quote:3rv0nqrw] Yeah - the Minnesota park has a sort of retro Jetsons feel to it. Edgy DC Apr 03 2009 08:29 AM The Nats park has like five different tiers, each one more heavily raked than the one below it. Sometimes the price of everybody being closer to the field horizontally is that you get some crazy options vertically. I'm sure you'll hear Keith complain this season about the vertigo-inducing situation of their press box. That is, if Mr. Fancy Pants makes a road trip to Washington. HahnSolo Apr 03 2009 01:35 PM Hmm. I guess my perception of Nationals Park was different. I took the Metro to the game and walked in through the CF promenade. And we sat field level, so I didn't notice the slopes in the upper reaches. I never saw the glass encasings in the photo above, and liked the interior of the ballpark. metirish Apr 03 2009 06:33 PM ="Nymr83"]In the post this morning Sherman says bad things about the New Yankee stadium while Kevin Kernan has some faint praise for Citi Field (though more dumping on Shea) Sherman just about takes a dump on the doorstep of the new MYF stadium I'm biased of course but I have tuned into YES a few times and if I didn't know better I would think they were playing the the MFYII.... IN TOUGH TIMES, A MONUMENT TO GREED ] IT IS beautiful, of course. But in the way that a woman who went to the world's best plastic surgeon might be beautiful. It is supposed to remind you of the previous incarnation, and ends up feeling artificial and overdone. The new Yankee Stadium has just about everything you would want in a modern sports facility, except charm and a sense of proportion. If you can afford the prices, you should have a good time there. The sightlines are wonderful. The large screen in center field is so clear you really do feel as if you could reach out and touch the people on it. The concourses are wide, and the food choices abundant. Yet the place brought nausea, not nostalgia. It just feels like the wrong time in the history of this country and this city to be opening up the George Mahal. When the project was initiated 2 � years ago, the Yankees could not have known what the state of the economy was going to be now. But this is about more than wrong place, wrong time. The Yankees' sense of entitlement and unrestrained excess is timeless. They will tell you they built this stadium for the everyman, stressing what they consider still affordable pricing and amenities. But this stadium, in actuality, was built for a moneyed class that in many respects does not even exist in this city any longer. Those $2,625-per-game Legends tickets behind home plate are selling slowly, and that certainly is because there is a whole class of banking/Wall Street/real estate mogul who would have scooped them up but has gone the way of flannel uniforms. But also because those seats not long ago would have screamed status, and now speak only to greed. The working world will not look onto those sitting there with envy. They will wish that those seats came with a dunk tank, not waiter service. The Yanks also want to make you believe that the history and romance could be easily shipped from the old place to the new one simply by recreating dimensions, reconstructing the facade or replanting Monument Park. However, the new Stadium didn't make me think of the place just across the street. It made me think about Vegas or Disney World, since it made me think of a fake place designed to manipulate my emotions and get into my wallet. "We don't see it as ostentatious or flashy," Hal Steinbrenner said. "We see it as classy." For me, class is out. In truth, sadly, the Yanks have conjured up a building that defines them: cold, corporate, over-privileged. At a financially distressed time in which Bud Selig has appealed to teams and players to be more fan friendly than ever, the Yanks have constructed even more of a moat between their players and those paying for all the goodies. For example, Yankee executives see it as a positive that the players now have underground parking rather than in the old place, where they had to walk 50 feet outdoors from the parking lot to the Stadium. In those 50 feet, fans held back by barricades could scream to their favorite players and -- if one of those players indulged -- get an autograph or two. Now the interaction between fans and players, and media and players, will be less than ever. I know no one sheds a tear for the media, but I think the new clubhouse, overstocked with off-limits areas and clandestine exits, only leads to a group that will feel less accountability. And an over-privileged nature and lack of accountability have hurt recent editions of the Yankees. "We are not a regular team," Brian Bruney said. "We are the New York Yankees, and it has to be nicer." Nice is in the eye of the beholder, and if you work for one of those few places left where the corporate card is still set on unlimited, then the new Yankee Stadium is for you. For many others, this place will have all the charm of Bernie Madoff. seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 06:44 PM And Brian Bruney, you're an overpaid tub of goo who can't find the strike zone with a guide dog who's lucky the Yankees wouldn't know pitching talent if it punched them in the neck, or you'd find yourself pitching for the Sioux City Sand Gnats. So shut the hell up and join Caveman on the Ass Line. Edgy DC Apr 03 2009 08:16 PM Wolfie, save something for the regular season. MFS62 Apr 03 2009 08:56 PM I just went on mlb.com to check the box scores. I noticed that the Mets' game tonight was played at "CitiField". The Yankees' game tonight was played at "New Yankee Stadium". Is that going to be the official name of that place? Later seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 08:57 PM Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too? themetfairy Apr 03 2009 08:58 PM ="seawolf17":3ge41hzz]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:3ge41hzz] Yes - that's what it was called when I visited the park in 1991. seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 09:08 PM ="Edgy DC"]Wolfie, save something for the regular season. I know, but again, this stuff pisses me off. Who the hell is Brian Bruney? Good thing crappy middle relievers don't bat in the American League, or if I'm Lou Piniella tomorrow, I buzz an exhibition fastball right past his manboobs. You are "a regular team," Bruney. You're one of 30 teams that all need each other, or professional baseball doesn't exist. MFS62 Apr 04 2009 06:27 AM ="seawolf17":11yncmqm]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:11yncmqm] Who is they? The White Sox? White Sox fans? The fans in Chicago? The papers in Chicago? But this is the official website of major league baseball itself. And that's why I asked if anyone knew if this is the official name of that place. Not just what some may call it. Later Frayed Knot Apr 04 2009 06:44 AM 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. SteveJRogers Apr 04 2009 06:45 AM ="MFS62":2qks5l00]="seawolf17":2qks5l00]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:2qks5l00] Who is they? The White Sox? White Sox fans? The fans in Chicago? The papers in Chicago? But this is the official website of major league baseball itself. And that's why I asked if anyone knew if this is the official name of that place. Not just what some may call it. Later[/quote:2qks5l00] Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. Reinsdorf didn't sell the naming rights until 2003. So it was Comiskey II from 1991 through 2003. G-Fafif Apr 04 2009 06:55 AM I believe that someday Seawolf will punch that arrogant Brian Brueny at New Yankee Stadium on his fat nose. MFS62 Apr 09 2009 06:56 PM Here's one you might not have heard about. (Thank you, Onion) http://www.theonion.com/content/video/yankees_buil ding_new_vacation Later Kong76 Apr 09 2009 08:39 PM Dude, your link actually pointed to this: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/study_children_exposed_to Figure out how to work stuff, child porn humor ain't for here. Later metsguyinmichigan Apr 09 2009 10:01 PM I clicked the link and thought, "Damn, the bleeping Yankees really ARE trying to appeal to everyone. Now I know why they have that massive video board in center." MFS62 Apr 10 2009 07:36 AM Let's try that again. And let the ad finish. http://www.theonion.com/content/video/yankees_building_new_vacation EDIT: I tried it after I re-posted and it worked. Later

btw, Furball to Atlanta is NOT a done deal yet and apparently the Trolley Dodgers are back in the picture.

="Edgy DC":3sf5r60t]The park will be called Coca-Cola Field ...[/quote:3sf5r60t] NIckname = 'The Coke Den' seawolf17 Dec 17 2008 08:02 AM ="Frayed Knot":379v5mwy]="Edgy DC":379v5mwy]The park will be called Coca-Cola Field ...[/quote:379v5mwy] NIckname = 'The Coke Den'[/quote:379v5mwy] I'm trying to make a joke about them hiring Doc as a pitching coach, but it's not there. Farmer Ted Dec 17 2008 02:32 PM They broke out the new logo and I'd be a bit peeved if I was from Buffalo to see the NYC skyline. http://buffalo.bisons.milb.com/images/2008/12/16/ZMxGVjXR.jpg I still have a problem with the S on Bisons.

I thought of that but didn't know they were willing to move him again. He originally came up as a SS prospect (so does half the world) they then moved him to the OF before shifting him to 2B. The downside to that is an offense that shines at 2B may only be mediocre (or worse) for LF. See also Murphy, Daniel

I don't know that it was bad terms, more like 'we don't want to pay you' terms. So they then go out and actually get a decent replacement for him and NOW they are willing to pay him? Seems kind of odd timing to me. And now, either Escobar and/or Kelly Johnson would need to go. Meanwhile their OF is a bit of a mess.

Mostly by coincidence, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and independent prospect guru John Sickels are all expected to do their NYM prospect reviews in the next week or so. BP kicks it off (and their list goes to eleven): http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=8376 Four-Star Prospects 1. Fernando Martinez, CF 2. Wilmer Flores, SS 3. Jefry Marte, 3B Three-Star Prospects 4. Brad Holt, RHP 5. Jon Niese, LHP 6. Reese Havens, SS 7. Jenrry Mejia, RHP Two-Star Prospects 8. Ike Davis, 1B 9. Bobby Parnell, RHP 10. Eddie Kunz, RHP 11. Scott Moviel, RHP Just Missed: Dillon Gee, RHP; Francisco Pena, C; Cesar Puello, OF Ranking Challenges: The question of whether Martinez or Flores should be number one haunted me for a while, but in the end I saw Flores as what Martinez was a few years ago, except that Martinez has since accomplished something at the upper levels. From there it's a mix that is difficult to sort between players nearly ready and players just drafted, and there are realistically eight to ten solid candidates for the bottom three slots. Not quite sure how to define what they mean by 5-Star, 4-Star, etc, other than the obvious fact that more is better. They (specifically Kevin Goldstein) seems to be pretty generous and I wouldn't take a high rating as any kind of guarantee for future success. There are more in-depth breakdowns of each guy for anyone who has a subscription.

Phils re-up 95 y/o Jamie Moyer for 2 years. OK, he's really only 46.

The Pettitte camp (acc to WFAN) says it has a 3-year/$36mil offer from ... well, they're not saying, but I don't think it's the Yanx who are supposedly sticking w/1 year. I hope it's not us either.

Maybe this means that they won't be able to finish games next season unless they apply for 'TARP' money. ba-dum-ching

="Rockin' Doc":2m19qgyh]"If all games had ended after six innings this season, the Mets would have finished the year 11 games ahead of the Phillies (aka, the team that won the World Series). If all games had ended after seven innings, the Mets would have finished six games ahead of the Phillies. And if all games had even been just eight innings long instead of nine, the Mets would have finished five games ahead of the Phillies."[/quote:2m19qgyh] The pen was obviously the biggest culprit in those above scenarios although the offense's habit of scoring more early than late contributed as well. The net effect was to make the pen look even worse than it really was by removing any margin of error and turning every run given up into a disaster. metirish Dec 14 2008 02:51 PM Yet Miniya thinks the offense was fine last season From the Hot Stove December 11th ] Minaya on getting more offense. Quote: "Before I start moving my dollars to offense, I have to move my dollars to pitching," the GM said."Last year was very simple guys. We had 20 blown saves. We scored the runs." Edgy DC Dec 14 2008 05:13 PM In general, it was fine. It was just disproportionately better in the front end of games, contributing to some of those numbers. Ashie62 Dec 14 2008 06:27 PM I remeber several years ago the Mets were dumoing on the Rockies Mike DeJean and McCarver said "well this inning is in De Jean" TransMonk Dec 18 2008 12:40 PM I have to say, the more I hear from J.J., the more I like him. And, I was pretty impressed to begin with. Frayed Knot Dec 19 2008 12:16 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 19 2008 12:30 PM How do you solve a problem like Putz? John Branch (never heard of him) at the NYTimes looks into the origin, Hungarian; proper pronunciation, 'Puts'; and the potential pitfalls for headline writers concerning the new set-up man. The Mets solved the problem of his introduction by boldly printing on the scoreboard: 'Mets Welcome J.J.' metirish Dec 19 2008 12:24 PM Putz said yesterday that he might ask Hojo for #20. metirish Dec 19 2008 12:59 PM ="Frayed Knot"]How do you solve a problem like Putz? John Branch (never heard of him) at the NYTimes looks into the origin, Hungarian; proper pronunciation, 'Puts'; and the potential pitfalls for headline writers concerning the new set-up man. The Mets solved the problem of his introduction by boldly printing on the scoreboard: 'Mets Welcome J.J.' Interesting that Bill Sweeney the headline writer over at the Snooze is not looking at Putz as a headline opportunity. metsguyinmichigan Dec 19 2008 01:17 PM They're probably not going to sell too many t-shirts with "Putz" on the back. And I don't like the wide soul patch. But I have to tell you, dude is saying all the right things. This might up being Omar's best move of the off-season. John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 19 2008 01:31 PM What's encouraging is to hear some good things about Sean Green who came along with Putzy in the deal. Putz in the Snooze today called Green "a machine" and sincerely sounded like a strong endorsement, and Keith Law of ESPN called him the 4th most important acquisition of the winter in all of bb (behind CC, K-Rod and JJ, saying he'd be to the Mets as valuable as Bradford in 06. Benjamin Grimm Dec 19 2008 02:06 PM That would be good if Sean Green ends up being a solid bullpenner. I am glad the Mets got Putz, but I do regret losing Joe Smith for one year of Putz. So I do hope Green can contribute in 2010 and beyond. A Boy Named Seo Dec 19 2008 02:38 PM That 70/30 talk seemed kind of unecessary. Like a bone that didn't need to be thrown Putz's way. But now it's out there and expectations are kind of attached to it. Hope it doesn't bite Jerry's arse down the road. smg58 Dec 19 2008 03:02 PM If the Mets get 100 save opportunities, a 70/30 split will work out to everybody's satisfaction. Green was terrific for the first four months last year, but 58 innings in four months was more than he could handle and he imploded in August and September. If his arm has recovered and they pace him for 65 or so innings, he could have a really good year. A Boy Named Seo Dec 19 2008 03:33 PM If we get 100 save opps, we're winning like 115 games anyway, so none of this will matter.

Just happened to see a 'this date in baseball history' note on this recently discussed topic: 1911 - Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss proposes that each team in the World Series be required to turn over one-fourth of its share of the gate to the league, to be divided among the other teams. Until now, ten percent of the gross went to the National Commission, 60 percent to the players, and the rest to the two pennant-winning clubs. The National League will pass the resolution and send it to the American League. It marks the beginning of changes that ultimately give players of the first four clubs a percentage of the World Series money.

So the Yanx had themselves a 1/4 Billion dollar week. Or, as they say in the Bronx, a good starting point.

Really just your average big-league reliever. I have no idea if this replacement guy is going to be any better or not. Probably not. The problem with Schoweneweis, in addition to trying to spell his name and the truly rotten first 1/2 year he had, were as much the club's as his: 1 - being signed to a 3-year deal. Never understood the thinking that led to that after they seemingly moved away from the trend by letting Bradford go. 2 - thinking he would be effective against both RHBs & LHBs when there was little track record to suggest that was likely to happen

="MFS62":awnr4y7m]I remember when he was drafted, reports said he was "closest (as in getting there quickest) to the Majors" and "a sure fire #2 or #3 major league starter".[/quote:awnr4y7m] As a college senior in the midst of juniors, Jucos, and prep kids, calling him closer to making it was a logical guess. As is projecting a mid-1st rounder as a #2 or #3 so long one doesn't take phrases like "sure-fire" too seriously (assuming that phrase was even used). Some revisionist history tried to turn Heilman's pick into a "reach" but that was a load of crap. Drafted 3 times: as a HSer by the Yanx (later round), then 31st overall by the Twins as a college Jr, then 18th overall when he passed up the Twins offer and went undefeated as a Notre Dame Sr. But fans tend to think they're guaranteed perennial All-Stars w/mid-1st round picks, but I once went back and looked at all 18th overall picks and to find a better one than Heilman one had to go back to Willie Wilson back in the closing days of the Nixon administration. His fall-off this year was stunning but what's amazing is those now acting as if this was the real Aaron all along. Edgy DC Dec 12 2008 10:54 AM Real conversation mid-summer last year with a real person. "Do you know what his record was last year?" "Um, no." "Some Mets fan. Seven and seven. So don't tell me that he was good because, even at his best, he was a .500 pitcher on a winning team." "He, um..." "He sucks. He's a fuck and he sucks."I think the Mets should charge more at the gate if you look unreasonably angry. Edgy DC Dec 12 2008 11:22 AM Aaron, who gives me what will be my sig line for a day or two, goes down in history as the last inhabitant of Tom Seaver's locker. metirish Dec 13 2008 05:53 AM Heilman getting lustily booed by Mets fans on the road was the worst , it was one of those cities where you get lots of Mets fans , Colorado I think it was.

It was actually Evan Roberts serving up the poison question, not Baddabingo. But this is a non-story in search of a controversy anyway; The Mets? Yeah, they were chokers over the last two years when they lost but not in the before that when they won, and I'll let you know about the future as soon as I see the results Wow, thems fightin' words.. (Merged from Antics, Part II, 12/23/2008)

Putz apparently a reality -- Omar to talk to media "in about an hour" (sez S. Somers on WFAN). The devil (or not) is in the to-be-released details.

We left ourselves plenty of roster room. On the other hand the eligibility rules are tighter than they used to be so there's not likely to be a lot of obvious talent.

Joseph Jason Putz 32 y/o in February. 6'5" 250 - from Trenton, Michigan and U Michigan. signed for 09 @ $5mil + option for '10 at a whopping $8.6/$1mil buyout. That's a lot of cash for a set-up man/emergency closer - although if things work out maybe they buy him out and try to work out a longer deal for less per year (but we're getting ahead of ourselves here). Great '06 & '07 as mentioned above. Barely pitched this year in April, June & July - not sure if that was one lingering injury or several smaller problems. Had a good Aug & Sept. Walks spiked this year. I think those 5 or 6 names being mentioned are among those who might be involved, not that they would all go for one guy.

Dan Graziano (NJ) - and also Fox's Ken Rosenthal - are reporting that the Mets are in negotiations with Seattle concerning a deal for reliever JJ Putz. Names mentioned going the other way include Heilman and minor league Mike Carp. Some versions also mention Cleveland as a 3rd team involved. Putz slumped this year due to an injury but finished stronger and had some awesome years in 06 & 07