Frayed Knot

]I think Glavine's option vests earlier than 200 IP this year, because it also vests if he pitches a certain number of innings over the three years, and he's a lot closer than that. I think it's somewhere around 165 IP that locks the option this year.Except that everything I read says 'X' innings over the 3 year period AND 200 this year, not either/or ... which certainly implies that the 165 this year only satisfies half the equation.What's frustrating is that with all the info floating around these days I've yet to hear anyone definitively state the correct answer to this one.

"but this is twice in two days you've referred to something happening around here on a regular basis which, in reality, hasn't happpened around these parts in years. In this example, for these phrases to have been posted, the Mets would have had to be playing out-of-their-heads crazy-lucky nothing-up-their-sleeves fantastic ball, a phenomenon about as common lately as a Mo Vaughan RBI"a) haven't the slightest idea what you're talking aboutb) not sure I care to find out

The other "FIRE IMMEDIATELY" fodder was not walking Guillen to get to Baerga following Vidro's 2B. Guillen went on to single in Vidro w/the 3rd run.Over-reactions aside, he probably should have walked him.

I wish someone with actual info would spell out the story with Glavine's option.The way I read it, it kicks in wtih 'X' numbers of innings pitched over the 2003-2005 seasons AND 200 IPs in '05. In other words, if he doesn't reach that 200 plateau this year (and he's slightly off it) then next year becomes a mutual option (w/a buyout if not picked up) not a guarantee. If it's 'X' innings OR 200 this season then that's a different story.If the 200 IPs is reached, then the contract kicks in a various pricelevels depending on the total 2003-2005 IPs. 560 total + 200 this year = $6.5mil, 580 + 200 = somewhere in the $8.5 - 9.0 range 600 + 200 = $10.5mil (the max amount).Whether that option is definite, only somewhat likely, or not probable could make a big difference as to how easy he'd be to deal.

Mets shortstop Anderson Hernandez has been one of the hottest hitters in the International League since being called up to Triple-A Norfolk in late June. The 22-year-old middle infielder came over to New York from the Tigers for Vance Wilson in January and has 17 hits in his first 45 at-bats for the Tides. Hernandez batted .326-7-24 in 273 at-bats at Double-A Binghamton this year before being promoted.

Wright's DP and Reyes's pop-out with 2-on/no-outs = total buzz kills.Even a regular grounder there from Jose likely puts you at 1st & 3rd/1 out at worst. Instead, it led to woody's K which brought up Pedro.Jose upper-cuts too much from the left side.

]I may have PHed for Woody sooner... in the 7th was it? ... when a HR was what he needed.Funny, one post-game call I heard last night wanted Willie immediately fired with no parole because he DID pinch-hit Daubach for Woody.And espn made a big deal about the fact that Woody is hitting .310 (or whatever) against RHPs and Daubach only .056 ... although they never managed to mention sample sizes (18 ABs) or Daubach's pre-call up stats.I was surprised Woody played in the first place because he was in the hospital getting he knee checked out only hours earlier.

Don't you think you'd be finding a way to explain the record by "guts" or "brains" or "backbone" or "managerial genius" or "desire" or "will-to-win" or "intangibles" or "savvy" or "chemistry' or "cahnfidence" or some other bullshitSure, because those phrases are passed off as analysis so often 'round these parts.

Loaiza was dealing tonight. Virtually everything he threw either hit a corner or missed in a spot where it wasn't dangerous. It was shades of his big season 2 years ago - although I'm not sure where that stuff went on vacation last year when he basically sucked for two different teams.Those tack-on runs (2 2-out RBI singles) were the killers. Suxx when you get 2 in the 9th off a closer that's been lights-out most of the year and still fall short.

]"B" prospect for me: a Shoppach or HuberYeah, that sounds about right -- but you have to realize that guys like that are only somewhat likely to of ever become full-time ML starters. There's no way I'd deal an established (and currently good) starting pitcher who's reasonably young & priced, quite possibly improving, and under team control for the next 2+ seasons for guys that iffy.Refer back to the 'Top Prospects of 2002' thread and check out the success rate of that crew and realize that guys like these aren't considered anywhere near at that level.

What is your definition of a "B prospect" and why is dealing Zambrano for one a good move?June-July: 40.2 IPs, 23 H, 2.65 ERA, 1.18 WHiP

]Well, is there no such thing as an error of omission?And you last saw that called when exactly ...? Plus, if they're gonna flag Wilkerson for that one (and it was as much the middle infielders' fault) we'd have to flag Guillen for his loafing on Anderson's single-into-double too.And, while we're on the subject, why do I suspect that if those things were committed by the other side that we would have recieved an ear-full of; "well Frank Robinson would never put up with that?" ?]Will Ishii being good enough to keep Heilman in the pen be considered a negative positive in Radioland?I haven't really been listening but ... these are Met fans we're talking about -- WINNING in general is considered a negative to many of them! Then, when you throw in a win which it occurs due to the efforts of one of the designated demons, well ...

The speculation about Cone to the NYM booth made the rounds in many outlets last week when he was dropping into several booths to stump for a charity cause.At least one of the papers further opined that it's unlikely that Seaver will be back as he's looking to dive more full-time into his wine business. And then there's always the speculation that Fran has long been a favorite of the Dolans at Cablevision and not necc the Wilpons so it's not a certainty that he'll be a part of the MESS network either.Kiner's only working a couple of game per month now anyway. It's not like him "packing it in" is going to change anything.

]... was Cameron getting second on that hit up the middle. Official scorer called it a double. What was that about.Really couldn't call it an error, he simply caught not only the CFer but both middle IFers unawares and legged it out. Even a better throw there doesn't get him.Not sure how much more of Cameron's hitting/running/fielding/hustle/good will these Met fans can take. Better get him out of town quickly before we find out.

Ah yes, "The Face of Baseball" could be missing from the game.STFU!

It's just that when they have something like 64 guys on the two rosters I'm not going to cry too loudly and say we've got to take the fans' vote away because they only get 59 or 60 of them correct.

For all the bitching about the fans' votes, I thought they got it just about right on the AL side. The NL vote was messed up in a couple places but y'know what ... big fuckin deal.Yeah, you could replace Beltran, Rolen & Piazza with Ensberg, Guillen/Floyd and ... I dunno even know who really deserves the catching spot - but it's not like this is life-and-death stuff here. The only thing sillier than making the home-field dependant on the outcome of this game is worrying about the whole thing to begin with. Since this system has been in place, the WS has been won both times by ... the road team. Home field simply doesn't mean that much in baseball and tying that "edge" to the result of the AS game is just a silly way of artificially injecting "suspense" into a mid-season exhibition game which isn't as popular as it once was. I've said before that the problem stems from the fact that they start the voting so early in the season that fans can't help but vote for players based on rep alone.It all makes for some barroom/talk radio discussion but frankly I got bigger things to worry about. I hope Cliff enjoys his 3 days off w/his kids.

SSDD (same shit different day)Marlins continue to score w/o ever hitting a ball hard. 3 (at least) infield singles plus a dinky bloop off the chalk about 30 ft behind 1st and that was about it. Only a long FO by Cabrera early and a late 2B by Lowell were even semi-smacked.The problem, of course, was that the Mets didn't even hit that well - 3 hits total, only 1 after the 1st - plus they even managed to lose a scoring opportunity when Encarnacion mis-judged a fly to RF.Other stuff:- Cairo doesn't have much range- I can't remember the last time I saw Wright really pull a pitch, he seems to be "settling" for shots to the opposite field- Piazza actually threw a perfect strike to nail Castillo stealing ... and Reyes managed to make the tag this time- We finally got Encarnacion out ... he was 10/10 at getting on at one point- Nats won again, this time in 12 innings even after they blew a lead in the 9th and then allowing a go-ahead in the 11th. We need to put a whupping on those guys.

Runner on 1st/1 out ... Carlos hits a little cheesy bloop with almost no hangtime near 1st base and just hangs his head at the lameness of it all ... but Delgado is alert to the fact that he's just standing there and purposely allows the bloop to fall at his feet ... where he picks it up and tosses to 2nd for the force and onto 1st for the DP -- end of inning.Not really the biggest moment of the day, but def the most embarrassing.

Lotsa less than good plays today, not just from Offerman.- First of all that wasn't a very good throw from Marlon who had more time than he seemed to realize. Yeah, the error probably belonged to Offerman - the ball hit just at that point between being a short hop and not bouncing at all - but Anderson was equally at fault, He has a weird throwing motion; he seems OK whipping the ball sidearm but comes over the top kinda strange and with no oomph.- Piazza actually made 2 good throws on steal attempts (out of about 5 or 6) but Reyes inexplicably decided to glove one of them behind the bag where if he catches it 18 inches sooner the runner would have tagged himself out w/the slide.- For a guy who can run down fly balls with anyone, Cameron seems to make most of his errors by mis-charging balls on the ground. Very strange.- Alex Gonzalez - who scored during that ugly inning - should have been out twice on the bases. One was the Reyes tag (see above) but right before that he was picked off cleanly (tag right on his fuckin knee) and we didn't get the call.- And yeah, there was the Beltran play. Not that it was excusable but brain locks like that happen due to frustration as a result of such a shitty AB. If I believe he was prone to stuff like that I'd be concerned ... I'm not.It's not often that 7-3 games can be said to have "gone either way" but this one kinda fits that category. The game essentially came down to a story of DPs made and those not made. iow - a handful of ABs decided the outcome.

Frustrating fargin' game.We didn't exactly play well enough to win - but of Florida's (11 ?) hits they hit about 2 of them hard. At this point I've had quite enough of their stick-the-bat-out/swing-with-the-butt-out/bloopers over the IFers head pieces of shit. They had a couple of those in Friday's game as well.I know it's a stupid thing to bitch about when we got all of 3 runs and played like garbage in the field but I'm gonna do it anyway.

Not surprising. Victor wasn't getting enough ABs - plus wasn't hitting when he did - and now that both Cameron and Beltran are (supposedly) back to non-hobbling status there are going to be even fewer.

Glavine - 1Cameron - 2.5Woodward - 2Anderson - 1Heilman - 1.25Hernandez - .75Looper .75Floyd - .75

That's the probelm with the espn crew* - they frequently act like they're talking to neophyte baseball fans who'll eat up any info that even smacks of "inside stuff" whether it enlightens the subject or not.* at least as far as the non-writer part of the crew goes: ie Morgan, Reynolds, Kruk, Phillips, etc. They, like Fran over our own airwaves, use their insider status to tell you ... well, nothing much interesting or unique at all.The prof-writer content - Gammons, Neyer, Olney, etc - is much more likely to be insightful even as they make more and more of it inaccessible by moving as much as possible to their "espn insider" pay tier.

The Fish vs Braves game (in Miami) didn't end til well after midnight last night due to a nearly 3 hour delay in first pitch due to rain.Fish won behind a just-off-the-DL Josh Beckett who actually had a no-no going thru 4 although wound up only going around 6 IP so they needed some pen work as well because they didn't really open the game up until the 8th.And remember the Pratt/umpire feud from yesterday? Well 'Lanta catcher Johnny Estrada had almost the exact same deal w/his ump (except this was much nastier) early in the game. Of course Cox was quickly run too - so at least some guys had a short night.