Edgy MD

Three cheers to Ben Grimm for taking on hosting duties, making the Crane Pool part of the beloved infrastructure of the Ultimate Mets Database domain. I thought it would be more of a challenge getting the Stockholm staff up to speed with their new corporate partners (in Dakar? Montevideo? Who knows!), but so far it's all gone rather smoothly. Three cheers.

Thanks. I'll check.

Flipping through the 2021 media guide and am amazed to see Ozzie Virgil, Sr., still listed as a senior advisor and (in case that comes across as purely ceremonial) "overseeing catching instruction" at the Mets Dominican Academy. He turns 89, God willing, in 21 days, now as always the first Dominican-born Major League player. This is his 68th year in professional baseball. No word on how his sister is doing. [fimg=500]https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/ozzie.jpg?quality=80&strip=all[/fimg]

What's with the Red Sox? They were last in the AL East last year, and while I know a 60-game season isn't particularly representative, they actually looked like a last-place team when the Mets played 'em? So now they're back on top. Are they the same team? Is Alex Cora just that good a skipper? Educate me!

=Ceetar post_id=62138 time=1619451180 user_id=102] it's almost impossible given how many division games there are usually. (I don't typically count the Marlins though) Braves got 1 hit across 14 innings. ONE.

Transactions, 4/24/2021 [td90]Direction[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]Transaction[/td90][td90]Transferred from 10-Day IL to 60-Day IL[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF4A00]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90][fIMG=90]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Betances-Dellin-2019-1.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Dellin Betances [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]3/23/88[/td90] [td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]High Level[/td90][td90]=#005EFF]MLB (2021)[/td90] While he has yet to show much effectiveness at all as a Met, I'd be slow to think we've seen the last of Dellin just yet. The Mets are paying him for the year, and a healthier version of him would be someone they'd be trying to deal for at the deadline anyhow. So they may well try to see if they can find that guy. Transactions, 4/25/2021 [td90]Direction[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]Transaction[/td90][td90]Activated from IL and Optioned to Alternate Training Site, Projected to Open in Binghamton[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF4A00]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90][fIMG=90]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Smith-Drew-2019.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Drew Smith [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]9/24/93[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]High Level[/td90][td90]=#005EFF]MLB (2020)[/td90] Mets Roster Central senses a lot more imminent doom for Dru Smith. There's no room for the 2018 and 2020 Met in the majors and there's no room in Syracuse either. His best hope was somebody getting hurt in camp, and unfortunately, that someone was him. That DL assignment has slowed his fate so far, as you can't release injured players, and right now his salvation is the lack of a season. If and when he gets on a mound in a game, he better come out roaring. If he shows he's healthy enough to pitch, there's a good chance they let him go before finding out if he's healthy enough to pitch effectively.

In Ben-Hur, the title character, during his Roman galley slave days, is known not by his name, but by the number 41. Most Mets references are echoes of the past, some (like Gilligan's Island, above) cast an eye at a fictional parallel present, but a small mysterious minority are the product of prescient foreshadowing, as this clearly was.

Yeah, I couldn't get the Mtz on Sirius this weekend either. Boo.

Mets win with Smitty being sitty.

Yeah, but his defense is mostly getting it done. That hasn't been true around the diamond. At least, not until today.

Sliding practice, guys. Just go back to basics.

Lifetime Home Runs as a New York Met 5. Dave Kingman: 154 6. Carlos Beltran: 149 Michael Conforto projected to end of season: 127.53 8. Todd Hundley: 124 9. Kevin McReynolds: 122 10. Edgardo Alfonso: 120 11. Michael Conforto: 119 =#FF5910]Michael Conforto at start of season: =#FF5910]118 12. Ed Kranepool: 118 Pete Alonso projected to end of season: 116.65 13. José Reyes: 108 … 25. Yoenis Céspedes: 76 26. Rusty Staub: 75 27. Pete Alonso: 74 =#FF5910]Pete Alonso at start of season: =#FF5910]69 28. Ron Swoboda: 69 29. Ike Davis: 68

Somehow looking for more from Walker.

Edgy MD wrote: Are the Mets ... sharp on defense ... today? YES! Albert Almora, Jr., abides!

Oh, Lindy ...

Keith would call that too close to take. I'm not sure I'd agree. I do think, in a world of robo-umps, Brandon would reach at about a .600 rate.

Are the Mets ... sharp on defense ... today?

KA-BOOM! https://i.pinimg.com/originals/69/8d/1b/698d1b8d952ef0f939e8cfce85a3b545.gif>

Well, that was a laborious first inning.

What a great time to be the Dodgers.

Edgy MD wrote: I hate to see anybody hitting like a sucker, but Smitty kind of breaks my heart. He hit a HR in the opening series off a pitch near his face and hasn't stopped swinging at those pitches since. Yeah, that kind of was the way I've been seeing it.

I hate to see anybody hitting like a sucker, but Smitty kind of breaks my heart.

Well, a hardy welcome to 2021 for Michael Conforto's bat, anyhow.

I hate paying good money just to be dorked. I usually expect to be paid for that.

I'm pretty sure Lindor didn't see a strike there.