Frayed Knot

I'm not trying to make the point that we can't be critical of Willie - I'm kinda mixed on him myself so far. But this all reminds me a bit of the Cardinal fan who invaded the old forum during the 2000 season. He was your typical obnoxious fan whose idea of intelligent conversation was to show up following a StL win and say 'nyah nyah nah nyah nayh' (I later found out this teenage-sounding dope was around 50 y/o). Anyway, he moved in near the end of the season and, needless to say, wound up taking a pasting during the NLCS which he would deflect in each case by simply blaming everything on LaRussa. They clearly had the better team ... only LaRussa screwed it up. That 4-1 series would have been the other way around ... if only they had a "real" manager, etc. The problem is that that kind of thinking becomes a crutch after a while and diverts attention from the real, or at least [u:d3373471f7]other[/u:d3373471f7], problems. In this case, using KazMat's sudden hot streak to imply that the dope at the helm was the only reason we haven't been getting this kind of production out of 2nd base all season certainly ignores a lot of inconvinient facts. So does blaming all the personnel decisions - usually the GM's realm - on him. So critisize away. It's just that if we use a losing streak as an excuse to call him a "moron" every time things don't go our way it not only loses it's effectiveness if/when he really deserves such a label, but also by that point no one's going to be listening anymore.

The brief bit I picked up off an Astro board about Self was that not only did he not hit in the bigs the way he did in the minors but that he didn't look like the same hitter again in the minors following his ML stint. Not really sure what role he fills here but maybe they're hoping to catch some lightning and have one more 1st base candidate to throw into the mix for next year. * Not only 23 new Mets but as many as 16 or 17 of them have played enough to likely make our top-30 cut-off. Not sure what our record is on that front either - obviously all 30 guys in '62 were "new".

Andruw Jones became the youngest player to reach 300 homers yesterday. Jimmie Foxx ended the 1935 season with 302 HRs, then turned 28 several weeks later. Andruw hit #300 last night but turned 28 in April. At this point I suspect neither will reach 756. I thought Bonds would until he missed most of this year, although I'd still consider him more likely to reach it than Andruw. Too many things can go wrong between #300 & even #500/600 (see Griffey, Ken Jr.) not to mnetion 756. I also think Andruw might not be the type to "age well" although I've been wrong on that several times already with him.

Elsewhere: Andruw hit his 50th but the Braves are getting smushed by the Phils AJ Burnett adds to his rep as an enigma by walking in 2 runs - including one of those bags-loaded walk to Clemens. Clemens is pitching despite the death of his mother today. Astros lead 3-1 in the 7th. Boston wins on - stop me if you've heard this - a late-inning David Ortiz 2R-HR Cleveland threatens to sweep by taking a 6-3 lead in the 7th Seattle did sweep Anaheim, winning this one in the 9th Yanks lead Tampa 6-5 after 7. Yanx have taken the lead 3 times but Tampa keeps fighting back.

It's just starting to sound like cranky kids crying Wolf around here. I was as loud as anyone against those fans and media who seemed to act as if there were piles of evidence that Cairo was the superior player. Between Cairo's 'Yanquiness' plus the dislike of Matsui coming in to the year I thought that many were vastly over-rating Cairo's potential impact. BUT, having said all that ... Matsui had the job most of the time in the beginning and didn't play well enough either offensively or defensively to hold it. He then got hurt and was out nearly 2 months during which Cairo played well in spots. So It wasn't exactly surprising when Kaz wasn't simply handed a full-time spot immediately upon returning and this notion that a moronic Willie was consistantly playing Cairo over a healthy and hot Matsui is mostly fiction. Look, I don't want to upset Bret and sound like I'm trying to tell people how to post here because I'm certainly not ... but even though I realize that it's fashionable to call WWSB a moron at every possible opportunity these days it really does sound like so many kids crying 'Wolf'. When every little decision we disagree with is cited as some sort of sign of diminished mental capacity the whole concept starts to lose it's effectiveness, and it becomes even worse if we're going to start making up examples just to pile on. [/end rant]

Except that most of the time Cairo was getting trotted out there every day Matsui was either: a) hitting even less than Cairo or out injured

Guillen decides it's a fine time to conduct a yard sale.

BA has often been accused by stats guys of being overly "tools oriented" and so their naming of Baldelli wasn't too surprising. He also went on to justify their faith by having a good rookie campaign before missing this year with injuries.Most of BA's Minor Leaguer of the Year picks have gone on to have decent to good careers, or at least a good start towards one in the more recent cases:1981 - Mike Marshall, 1b, Albuquerque (Dodgers) 1982 - Ron Kittle, OF, Edmonton (White Sox) 1983 - Dwight Gooden, rhp, Lynchburg (Mets) 1984 - Mike Bielecki, rhp, Hawaii (Pirates) 1985 - Jose Canseco, of, Huntsville/Tacoma (Athletics) 1986 - Gregg Jefferies, ss, Columbia/Lynchburg/Jackson (Mets) 1987 - Gregg Jefferies, ss, Jackson/Tidewater (Mets) 1988 - Tom Gordon, rhp, Appleton/Memphis/Omaha (Royals) 1989 - Sandy Alomar, c, Las Vegas (Padres) 1990 - Frank Thomas, 1b, Birmingham (White Sox) 1991 - Derek Bell, of, Syracuse (Blue Jays) 1992 - Tim Salmon, of, Edmonton (Angels) 1993 - Manny Ramirez, of, Canton/Charlotte (Indians) 1994 - Derek Jeter, ss, Tampa/Albany/Columbus (Yankees) 1995 - Andruw Jones , OF, Macon (Braves) 1996 - Andruw Jones , OF, Durham/Greenville/Richmond (Braves) 1997 - Paul Konerko, 1b, Albuquerque (Dodgers) 1998 - Eric Chavez, 3b, Huntsville/Edmonton (Athletics) 1999 - Rick Ankiel, LHP, Arkansas/Memphis (Cardinals) 2000 - Jon Rauch, RHP, Winston-Salem/Birmingham (White Sox) 2001 - Josh Beckett, RHP, Brevard County/Portland (Marlins) 2002 - Rocco Baldelli, of, Bakersfield/Orlando/Durham (Devil Rays) 2003 - Joe Mauer, c, Fort Myers/New Britain (Twins) 2004 - Jeff Francis, lhp, Tulsa/Colorado Springs (Rockies)

"Jacobs was also the 2003 winner and, while he deserves much congratulations, perhaps should have had his qualities looked at in the light of him repeating the same level he dominated two seasons earlier."Keep in mind that this award is more akin to a kind of 'Employee of the Month' recognition-type commendation than it is a prediction of who has the best future. BA, on the other hand, def takes the prospect part of things into consideration; Young didn't necc have the best stats but was playing in AA & AAA as a 19 y/o.

Not sure if Anderson Hernandez [u:c602a13b14]needs to be[/u:c602a13b14] protected on the 40-man this winter or not. If no, then putting him on just to bring him up and get some PR/PH/late inning appearences probably isn't worth it. You're not going to learn a ton about him at this point that they don't already know and it could make for one fewer guy who can be protected at Rule 5 time. In other words, whether you can find room for him now might not be the only consideration. Supposedly the brain-trust was going to pow-wow over this and presumably other questions.

Not to mention the updated version of that list which would include Matsui (grr) and Cairo (double grrr). "Right-ee-oh"

It's understandable, just a bit annoying when it goes overboard. A sizable percentage of Met fans have become so starved for young, good, homegrown talent that "Play the Kids" has become their virtual mantra with little discrimination as to which one(s). It's come to the point where I hear these calls to talk radio saying; 'the Mets gotta bring up this young stud infielder they got down there ... ahhh whatsiname' ... and it's obvious they know nothing about him, only that they heard he's good (likely from an another equally uninformed caller) and so they then assume that means he's a star. If/when said prospect turns out to fall short of their imaginations the fan quickly - as Edgy implies above - blames the team for "overhyping him".As I mentioned in the "Sid" thread on the NBF I heard Jody Mac - for the first time in months - on ESPN radio the other day when a caller started clamoring for A. Hernandez saying that "he may become the next Wright" - as if all prospects are created equally and one stands as good a chance at stardom as another. Jody - one of the few who knows a bit about minor leaguers - was smart enough to set him straight. I started thinking about how that call would go over w/the FAN crew: - Sid/Joe would have flat-out agreed with the caller that the Mets were somehow holding back greatness- M&MD would go the opposite and claim that any prospect who was worthwhile must suck or he'd already be here.- Steve Somers would have mis-heard the caller ... and then made a lame joke which wouldn't come close to answering the question.

I've yet to read an objective, informed opinion on Anderson Hernandez - at least not one with his progress this season included. Prior to the season he didn't even make the top-10 list (acc to BA) in a weak Detroit system, and while he's certainly made some strides since then it is only one year. As usual, I suspect conventional wisdom will put him somewhere between the long-shot good-glove/no-bat deal that he was and the super-stud that some NYM fans are rushing to treat him as now.

I remember doing a similar (if somewhat less far-fetched) "we're not dead yet" thread explaining why post-season was still doable with 3 games to go in 1999. Hey, it worked then.

Do you [MFS] really think that we're a .500-ish team (about where most thought they'd be btw) due to a lack of effort or committment ("heart and guts)"? I'd argue against the brains part too; every team makes dumb plays now & then and I don't necc believe we're making more than our share of them.

Better NYM starters than Steve Trachsel: Seaver Gooden Koosman Fernandez Leiter Darling Matlack Cone Bobby Jones Rick Reed Ojeda Swan Gentry Who else you want? Jim McAndrew ... Ray Sadecki ... Bret Saberhagen ... Jack Fisher ... Ed Lynch?

Billy "The Savior" Wagner serves up a 2-out/9th inn/3R-HR to Craig Biggio to botch his 2nd straight save. Astros lead by 2 trying to close out the bottom of the inning.

Yanx win on an 8th inning 2R-HR by Giambi Sox win Cleveland wins Phils tie up Houston in the 8th Marlins romping over Nats

This has not been a good year for Looper.

Nice job by Berto. I'd be sooooo tempted to stick w/him for the 9th except that his turn of bat will come up here. Braves bench is loaded w/leftys which scares me vis-a-vis Looper.

Heh-heh-heh, Yanx load the bases in the 7th down just 4-3 and Jeter GiDPs to end the threat and the inning. Boston up 6-3 in the 8th seriously, I just used a racist word when I really meant "Guardians" win and could be the WC leader before the night is over Marlins rolling 8-1 in the 6th Astros 5 - Phils 3 (phils haven't beat Houston in a couple of years now)

"... but I'd still like a complete game (loss) from Hud for fantasy league purposes." DIE!!! (or not, whatever)

Catcher - Brook Fordyce? OFer - Terrance Long? Bones - the 1st baseman was Cliffy!!!

NL: Fish lead Nationals 3-0 Dontrelle goes for win #20. Patterson for Washington left the game in the 1st. Philly 3 - Houston 2 in the 4th Backe & Padilla pitching. Ryan Howard w/a 3R HR for the Phils

]did Willie really say this about Castro to the media? Why dont managers consider talking directly to a player anymore and keep stuff like that private and in the clubhouse? Not really a big deal as far as I'm concerned. It's a minor tweak and he said he's talked to Castro about it in the past (as I mentioned in an earlier post this is not the first time I've heard it). Sometimes younger, less-established players are reluctant to act as if giving orders to older more-established types, even when it's called for. ]Did he literally use the word 'claim' in re: to Matsui? I'm paraphrasing. Willie didn't give any hint that he didn't believe Kazuo.