Frayed Knot

Weren't there like several 'Fletch' movies, as well as a few dozen 'Vacation' ones? I never warmed to Chevy Chase - not when he was on SNL and not afterward - and so I never saw any of them.

The Met fans I've heard in the last two days are convinced the team is handing over anyone from Mel Mora to Ryne Sandberg

The problem with Gotay is that his skills are nothing special and, on this team, mostly redundant. A slashing singles & doubles hitter from the left side* (sounds like Endy) who plays a position (and not that well) where we've already got Castillo, Easley & Anderson. I have at least as much Cahn-findence in the corner backup bats of Easley or Pagan, and Tatis at least provides the threat of power. * Yeah, I know he's a switchy but pretty poor swinging RH

metsmarathon wrote: if he somehow manages to stay a met, i'd really like to see gotay given either a third baseman's glove or a first baseman's glove, and see if we can't build ourselves some internal depth and/or an insurance policy of some measure. I highly doubt he'll ever have the bat to play a corner spot. If he survives waivers then fine, but I'm not going to lose sleep over this one.

MFS62 wrote: Didn't he originally catch for a few years in the minors? Yeah, but he wasn't any good at it - which is what dropped him from a better-than-average prospect back in the day to a slow-ish RH bat w/o a real position now. Still, he's put up some good minor league hitting stats over the last 4 years (.275/.370/.520), is still only 25, and I was half-hoping he'd wind up here as a 1B/corner OF guy off the bench who could also be the emergency catcher that you never need but would allow them to PH Castro more often.

]I wonder if there will be any fallout regarding the claim that Canseco and or people close to him tries to extort money from Maglio Ordonez to keep his name out of "Vindicated". Like what, that people might think poorly of him? Not surprisingly he's been trying to get publicity interviews for the book all over the place. Nothing unusual about that of course, except that Dan LeBatard of the Miami Herald claimed that Canseco agreed to an interview with them - and then backed out after they wouldn't cough up $1,000 bucks for one. Meanwhile, over at WFAN, M&MD won't put him on but there's supposedly been an in-house fight about which other show does get to host him, a battle that was settled by FAN mgmt in favor of the Boomer & Carton morning show (and at the expense of Benigno & Roberts in mid-day). Benigno and his former (sleaze-ball) partner Sid Rosenberg were the ones who had Jose's ex-wife on for an *Hour-Long/In-House* spot when 'Juicy' was published.

Reportedly they're insisting that they'll go with 5 starters from the very beginning even though they could get away with a round or two without one. Yes, there is a specific roster submission date -- I suspect it's either Sunday night or early on Monday.

Valadius wrote: That is indeed Mario Cuomo. I met him once at my synagogue when he came to speak. That's funny, he doesn't look ...

Supposedly the brain-trust will confab tonight to hammer out some of the final roster questions. In addition to the 5th starter question already being discussed elsewhere, several questions remain: - Back of the pen: Steven has all but been Un-Register-ed by being put on waivers, and Duaner has neither enough IPs this Spring nor the back-to-back appearances that they want and will probably start in the minors/DL. So, in addition to those with jobs locked up: Wagner, Heilman, Feliciano, Schoeneweis, and Wise; there are two spots remaining. Sounds like maybe Joe Smith is back in the picture along with a long-man of either Sosa or Figueroa? - Bench: the 2nd catcher*, Marlon Anderson, and Easley seem to be locks - most likely leaving two spots to fill. Rumor has it that Gotay has also been put on waivers (although no one seems anxious to confirm that) but maybe his poor defense, bad ankle, and lack of righty hitting have caught up to him. Is Endy a lock with Alou out or did Pagan's spring (and switchy bat) make him redundant and expendable? And the name of Fernando Tatis is being mentioned more often lately to maybe provide the RH power and 1B backup off the bench. He had a short Spring but should be all set from playing winter ball and had some decent AAA numbers for the org last year. - Backup catcher*: Doesn't sound like Castro will be ready to answer the bell. Whoever replaces him probably won't be around for too long, but either Raul (Newhouse) Casanova or Gustavo (no relation to) Molina will probably be on the opening day roster.

Like Santana yesterday, Pedro pitched in a fake game this morning. Nothing like hiding those top pitchers from an opponent you'll face for realsies next week.

[mockheadline]YANKS SURGE INTO 1st PLACE TIE[/headline]

="metsguyinmichigan"]Speaking of ARod, Canseco's book claims Alex ... was "A known supplier of steroids Actually, what he is supposedly set to claim is that he introduced ARod to a known supplier. And while we're on that subject, it's time the media stops treating Canseco as if he's the lone "honest" voice in the wind on this issue -- acting as if some kiss-and-tell comments from his first book (some of which he exaggerated for effect) make him the voice of authority on steroids because *Some* of the names he named also showed up on the Mitchell report. Good thing we had him there or else we would have never come up with names like McGwire and Giambi, huh?. And has it occured to any of these guys lauding his "accuracy" why he knew of this ARod connection but somehow opted to omit the biggest name in the game from Book #1?

Santa Ana pitched this morning 'gainst some minor leaguers. His last tune-up no doubt.

]Does Boras get his cut of the deal or not? Yes he does -- (although no way is it 15%, most sports agents are working for like 3-5%). Even though the ARod and Steinbrenner camps went out of their way to trumpet how Boras was shut out of the room during negotiations, Boras is still the agent of record and was in on approving the final deal even if he wasn't (directly or otherwise) part of hammering it out. It's just that, since then, ARod has managed to mention (in about 30 or 40 places) that he's no longer speaking to Boras over all of this, but personally I think that's all a pr ploy designed to build up ARod image and ain't buying it.

I love this notion - also not questioned by Harper - about how he took a discount to remain a Yanqui; that there were $400mil offers just sitting out there waiting to be scooped up but passed over by the newly moralistic ARod. And who here (besides me that is) thinks all this 'I'm not even talking to Scott anymore on account of this opt-out business' is all a big PR ploy? Alex gets the contract he wants and Boras agrees to wear the black hat for the whole "misunderstanding" and timing of the opt-out drama -- but none of it matters since ARod's never going to need to negotiate another contract ever again. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if Alex and Scotty are having slumber parties during the Yanx first west coast trip ... they're just going to have to keep it quiet.

Manny's 2RBI 2B plates two for the Sox in the 10th. Now Oakland has one back in the bottom half (but only one thanks to some horrid baserunning) on a BB and 3 consecutive hits ... and now a GO leaves the tying & winning runs on and the Sawx win. That Papelbon always makes me nervous.

]Delgado? I make no promises there, although I'm more concerned about the lack of depth at the position than I am about Delgado specifically. Which is why I think that, if they're looking, they'd prefer an OFer who can also play some 1st base. Inge would fit that part of the equation, but they supposedly have no interest in the recently released (from Toronto) Reed Johnson. It's also why I'm holding out for a much cheaper (possibly even free!) Justin Huber type. Until then, we'll have to make do with Easley & Marlon Anderson (or ml-er Michel Abreu) as Delgado's backup. Hardly ideal solutions, but whatyagonnado?

The problem with guys like Inge is that he's a full time player now, so that just because we want them for part-time/platoon work doesn't mean their current team will require only a part-timer back. IOW, is the upgrade from Pagan to Inge (or Nady, or Thames, or Juan Rivera, etc.) worth creating a hole elsewhere or burning off the last of the remaining prospects? If we could get one of them for a spare reliever or so that'd be great but I don't think that's gonna happen.

"You are doing what you are accusing me of doing" Of course I am. Attempting to prove a point by individual anecdote (as you did) is a lousy make the original argument just as it is to contradict it. "taking one out of a few big spots that Benitez actually came back after a bad performance" You mean one of those that you claim didn't exist? "to try and defend your position that Benitez is a big game pitcher." Who said that was my position?

Ya wanna submit an entry submit an entry, I'll tack you on.

"Benitez does not have that "get back on the horse" mentality " So on the day following the JT Snow HR game when Armando tossed 2 shutout innings (the 10th & 11th) on 1 hit and 1 walk (IW) including K-ing the side in order in the 11th doesn't count as bouncing back and succeeding because ... because it doesn't fit the predetermined mold I'm guessing.

I'll keep track of this thread and attempt to update the ongoing progress at various points during the season. Every team got picked at least once (at least threee times actually) so the entire league will have a say in the outcome.

This one was specifically centered in Dorchester.

Various Afflecks combine to create a well-acted (Casey) and well-directed (Ben) drama involving abducted kids, low-rent relatives, sleazy criminals, and crooked cops. Also with Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris, it's from the same author who was the source of 'Mystic River' and involves similar seedy South Boston neighborhoods and characters while managing to not once mention the Red Sox.

Schneider is back playing and claims that he's 100% to start on opening day, which is good seeing as how one of the potential backups, Robinson Cancel, has had his season Cancel-ed for the near future due to a tear in his knee. He will undergo surgery sometime this week. Castro is a bit more iffy than Schneider so one of the other seemingly interchangable backups may see some roster time in early April.