Frayed Knot

Jumping ahead a few years due to the relative stability at the top of the list; Koosman passes Cleon to claim the #2 spot that he'd hold for another 18 years. Matlack & Rusty have replaced Swoboda and Gentry in the top 10. This top 7 would remain unchanged until 1987. 19761stTom Seaver2ndJerry Koosman3rdCleon Jones4thTug McGraw5thEd Kranepool6thJerry Grote7thJon Matlack8thBud Harrelson9thTommie Agee10thRusty Staub The list is now 236 names long. Rusty gets dealt away and as a result is dropped from his brief perch in the top 10 by Milner - only to rejoin the team in '81 and gain enough points to jump back in and drop the hammer on Hammer. Kranepool's longevity pays off as he outlasts Tug to take over spot #4. 19801stTom Seaver2ndJerry Koosman3rdCleon Jones4thEd Kranepool5thTug McGraw6thJerry Grote7thJon Matlack8thBud Harrelson9thTommie Agee10thJon Milner The list goes past 300 names for the first time.. Hernandez breaks into the top 10 in 1986, Straw in '87, while Gooden & Mookie jump in with '88's list, dumping Agee, Matlack, Rusty and Harrelson. Orosco peaked at #11 ('86 list). 19881stTom Seaver2ndJerry Koosman3rdCleon Jones4thDarryl Strawberry5thEd Kranepool6thKeith Hernandez7thMookie Wilson8thDwight Gooden9thTug McGraw10thJerry Grote In his last full season w/the Mets Gooden leaps past Straw & Koos and cements the top 4 into its present state. Longevity and steady progress get Sid & HoJo into the ring of honor at the expense of Tug & Grote 19931stTom Seaver2ndDwight Gooden3rdJerry Koosman4thDarryl Strawberry5thCleon Jones6thSid Fernandez7thHoward Johnson8thEd Kranepool9thKeith Hernandez10thMookie Wilson Franco jumps in after the '99 season dropping Mookie. Fonzie reaches in '02 at Keith's expense. And the final top 10 change was when Piazza got there in 2004 kicking Kranepool out. 20051stTom Seaver2ndDwight Gooden3rdJerry Koosman4thDarryl Strawberry5thMike Piazza6thJohn Franco7thEdgardo Alfonzo8thCleon Jones9thSid Fernandez10thHoward Johnson Next players with the best shot to crack the elite range are obviously Wright and/or Reyes, either one of which who could reach the top-10 with three more good years or possibly with two great ones.

Continuing merrily along ... The championship year pushes its heroes to the top and starts to shove the early guys permanently out of the top 10 1969 1stCleon Jones2ndRon Swoboda3rdTom Seaver4thEd Kranepool5thJerry Grote6thJerry Koosman7thRon Hunt8thJack Fisher9thJim Hickman10thAl Jackson In case you were wondering (and I know you were) how quickly Seaver took over the lead, now you know. He grabbed it after his 4th season, still has it 37 years later, and is almost certain to hold it for at least another 6 seasons and quite possibly on beyond that. 19701stTom Seaver2ndCleon Jones3rdRon Swoboda4thJerry Koosman5thEd Kranepool6thJerry Grote7thTommie Agee8thBud Harrelson9thTug McGraw10thRon Hunt Gary Gentry joins the party meaning that the entire top 10 save Swoboda (dealt prior to the season) are all active Mets 19711stTom Seaver2ndCleon Jones3rdJerry Koosman4thEd Kranepool5thRon Swoboda6thTommie Agee7thJerry Grote8thTug McGraw9thBud Harrelson10thGary Gentry The realization that this project is about to become really boring (assuming it wasn't already) has just hit. The rapid changes from the early years are no more as most of 1972's top-10 will remain there in some order or another for the next 15 years. 19721stTom Seaver2ndCleon Jones3rdTug McGraw4thJerry Koosman5thTommie Agee6thEd Kranepool7thRon Swoboda8thJerry Grote9thBud Harrelson10thGary Gentry

QE = 2 (or, maybe, II) Walter Cronkite?

Yes, we actually have enough healthy bodies for two games. Home vs Florida, and a road trip to Ft Laud vs the O's On the St Lucie side: - Pelfrey had his first tough outing of the Spring. Broke his scoreless streak, broke his walk-less streak, and gave up a coupla hard-hit 2Bs to Jorge Cantu (Cantu can do) and a Brent Carrol HR. Didn't even finish his allotted 4 IPs. - On the positive side; Easley's back, Schneider's back, Church is back and Endy may make an appearence - We currently have 3 Reyes's in the lineup.

AG/DC wrote: Now I'm remembering. You gave me shit when I did this. ???

Offensive Categories Diamondbacks - Stolen Bases -- Tony Womack Cubs - RBI -- Sammy Sosa White Sox - Runs -- Eddie Collins Indians - Home Runs -- Rocky Colavito Tigers - Games -- Charlie Gehringer Marlins - Hits -- Miguel Cabrera Angels - Home Runs -- Don Baylor Dodgers - Hits -- Duke Snider Twins - Home Runs -- Harmon Killegrew Yankees - Hits -- Joe DiMaggio Athletics - Hits -- Chuck Klein Giants - RBI -- Willie Mays Devil Rays - Home Runs -- Fred McGriff Rangers - Hits -- Ivan Rodriguez Blue Jays - Hits -- Devon White Pitching Categories Braves - Strikeouts -- Warren Spahn Orioles - Saves -- Greg Olsen Red Sox - Losses -- Cy Young Reds - Games -- John Franco Rockies - Wins -- Mike Hampton Astros - Wins -- Larry Dierker Royals - Strikeouts -- Mark Gubiza Brewers - Strikeouts -- Pete Vukovich Mets - Losses -- Tom Seaver Phillies - Saves -- Steve Bedrosian Pirates - Innings Pitched -- Vern Law Padres - Wins -- Randy Jones Mariners - Innings Pitched -- Randy Johnson Cardinals - Saves -- Todd Worrell Nationals - Games -- Steve (not J.) Rogers

With only 75 total names after 4 seasons it's much easier for new names to move up the list 1965 1stJim Hickman2ndAl Jackson3rdRon Hunt4thJoe Christopher5thEd Kranepool6thCharley Smith7thRoger Craig8thFrank Thomas9thGalen Cisco10thTracy Stallard 19661stRon Hunt 2ndJim Hickman3rdEd Kranepool4thAl Jackson5thJack Fisher6thJoe Christopher7thRon Swoboda8thCharley Smith9thRoger Craig10thFrank Thomas The post-1967 list creeps up over 100 names (111) for the first time. Some guy named Seaver debuts at #16 1967 1stEd Kranepool2ndRon Hunt3rdJack Fisher4thJim Hickman]5thRon Swoboda6thAl Jackson7thCleon Jones8thJoe Christopher9thCharley Smith10thRoger Craig Our namesake completes a 2-year stint on top. Koosman debuts in 16th place. 1968 1stEd Kranepool2ndRon Swoboda3rdRon Hunt4thCleon Jones5thJack Fisher6thJim Hickman7thAl Jackson8thTom Seaver9thJerry Grote10thJoe Christopher

GARRETT and ABBOTT both have one too many T's for their own good.

CARTER FISHER HOOK HUNTER MARTIN HICKS MARSHALL SHORT SHERRY BELL CONE RING BROOKS FOSTER LYNCH VIOLA PARKER LOOPER MASON WALKER WHITE GAFF FOY HALL MINOR ABBOTT HARE BROWN Actually, the more I learn about legit Scrabble words the more I think that ALL 800+ names would be allowed.

I was fiddling around with the spreadsheet that houses all our Ranking info and started wondering who were the top players at various points in NYM history. Since we didn't start this project until 2002 there was no real list prior to that, but just based on our backward-looking rankings of early years there is at least a theoretical one for any point in time. The list at the end of 1962 would have simply mirrored the results from that one year. So the top 10 would have been comprised of these guys: 19621stFrank Thomas2ndRichie Ashburn3rdAl Jackson4thRoger Craig5thCharlie Neal6thFelix Mantilla7thJay Hook8thJim Hickman9thElio Chacon10thCraig Anderson Of those guys, only Hickman (70) and Al Jackson (77) remain in the top 100 of the up-to-date list. By the end of 1963 it becomes the cumulative sum of those two years meaning that your reward for 10,000 posts would have been attainment of the exhalted Roger Craig level: 19631stRoger Craig2ndAl Jackson3rdFrank Thomas4thJim Hickman5thRon Hunt6thCharlie Neal7thCarl Willey8thRichie Ashburn9thDuke Snider10thLarry Bearnarth And after 1964 a few new faces start to crack the top 10 - including our namesake: 19641stJim Hickman2ndAl Jackson3rdRon Hunt4thRoger Craig5thFrank Thomas6thJoe Christopher7thTracy Stallard8thEd Kranepool9thGalen Cisco10thCharlie Neal

OK, I know I'm like the stoopidest person on the planet, but I have no idea what a Met "extension" is and when I click on where it says get the extension HERE nothing happens.

McCarver wasn't still around as late as '97 was he?

AG/DC wrote: Fernando Martinez went 0-5, but he pegged a guy at the plate. He took an oh-fer yesterday too but hit a bunch of bullets. Don't know about today. Not worried about him too much at this point anyway. I'd consider it a BAD sign (ie. injuries) to see him prior to September and, even then, nothing more than just a courtesy call-up. 2010 for a starting job is still the most realistic timeline IMO.

2 more hits for Pagan today. He's been a hot bat so far.

metirish wrote: Andrew Strong had an amazing voice ... And was only 16/17 y/o when making that movie. I loved that flick.

Castro actually looks like he's dropped a few pounds. Not that that makes him slim or fast or anything, but hopefully it'll help him stay on the field. And speaking of slow, Michel Abreu's dash from 1st to the plate on the game-winning hit could have been timed with a sundial. Only a double-clutch relay and a bad tag (and possibly an ump with early dinner reservations) made him safe.

The deal is that a pitcher has to face at least one batter OR get an out.

I mentioned in one of the Delgado discussions that I figure the pen to be the most likely spot that any potential deal would come from so it's not surprising that one or both of these guys are/could be on the trading block. Neither Schoeneweis or Sosa is a guy can't live without. The only problem with Sosa is that we're already short on backup starters. Assuming Duque + Pelfrey are #s 5 & 6 who becomes 7, 8 & 9? (you'll need 'em at some point). I assume what Omar is likely fishing for is the elusive RH-hitting OF/1B backup/platoon. P.S. Thx for saving a perfectly worthy topic from the depths of the dreaded 'All shit that happens in Feb-Mar' thread

3 scoreless (2 Hits) for Pelfrey. Oh, and Ramon Castro has a triple.

Hey it could be worse. We could still have Kaz Matsui on the team who missed today's game with .... hemoroids! Bet ya never thought you'd hear the words Kaz and 'roids together in a headline did you? ]It has a name you know. Enrique. Sorry, we've never been formally introduced.

I hadn't thought of Millar until Gammons mentioned earlier that he could be had "for a song". Yeah he turns 37 late in the season and is a butcher of a fielder, but hits RH and has played corner OF positions on occasion. It's worth finding out what song it would take. P.S. I still like the idea of Justin Huber if available (mentioned in the parellel 1B thread). He doesn't carry the "veteren tested" label but fits all the other traits plus would act as the elusive "emergency" 3rd catcher which frees up Castro for PH duty a bit more often.

Yeah, so far he doesn't sound like he's Mr. Excitement -- but it's also ST and there's not too much to get excited about. In all, I'd rather hear a straight-forward announcer as opposed to one who tries to manufacture drama where there is none and/or attempt to make himself the center of attention.

To be fair, Huber's ML stats (and that .245 SLG) consist of less than 100 ABs, most of them coming in 2005. He has hit at every level in the minors and his SLG at AAA is over .500 in 400+ ABs. Huber had occured to me also as maybe a cheaper alternative to Nady. He hit RH, is out of options and has played both 1B and both corner OF spots. I don't know why the Royals would be anxious to let him go - but many people don't understand why a team with nothing to lose has been so reluctant to give him time over the last few years.

]Beltran -- what's bothering him now? Hammies? Knees actually. Had both his patella tendons done over the winter, supposedly to help things in the long run. I think the mole's still around though.

Rockin' Doc wrote: 62 - "PS- Wolf, I read a few years ago that while Florida had many retirees and therefore the need for Doctors, many of the ones who practice in that State aren't highly regarded." I feel quite confident that there are numerous highly respected and competent orthopedics surgeons, rheumatologists, and sports medicine specialists available in the state of Florida. Especially for hip injuries; y'know, breaks from falls, titanium replacements.