Edgy MD

The coup de grace is the IDEAL logo. Gotta say, that 32" waist limit is a kick in the nuts. [YOUTUBE]5AV1OsBJmss[/YOUTUBE]

Dear Typewriter, With Noah Syndergaard farting his way down the stretch and across the finish line, it's easy to forget how impressively dominant he was when he was at his best. Do you have a card commemorating the stunning May 2 home game in which he pitched a 1-0 shutout and provided the lone run with a solo homer? Also, if you were a Batman producer, which actor would be your first call when trying to cast Two-Face? Peace and good things, Oswalt Pounders

The Wilson Award is the defensive version of The Cy Young Award or The Hank Aaron Award. It's for the most valuable defensive player. There are also lesser Wilson Awards for each position. While they endeavor to honor the same thing the Rawlings Gold Gloves are trying to honor, they are different in that they are decided by sabermetric formulae, whilst the GGs are voted on by players. Its pretty weird to see two rival glove companies each get sponsor a league-recognized award that is meant to honor the same thing. They originally selected one guy per league as defensive player of the year, but then they shrunk it to one guy, which is unusual, in that awards typically proliferate, rather than anti-liferate, going from one overall winner to one in each league. Winners 2012 (AL): =#0000FF]Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), OF 2012 (NL): =#0000FF]Michael Bourn (Atlanta Braves), OF 2013 (AL): =#0000FF]Dustin Pedroia (Boston Red Sox), 2B 2013 (NL): =#0000FF]Gerardo Parra (Arizona Diamondbacks), OF 2014: =#0000FF]Jason Heyward (Atlanta Braves), RF 2015: =#0000FF]Andrelton Simmons (Atlanta Braves), SS 2016: =#0000FF]Mookie Betts (Boston Red Sox), RF 2017:=#0000FF] Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins), CF 2018: =#0000FF]Matt Chapman (Oakland Athletics), 3B Braves and Sawx clearly are the standout teams so far. Interesting that a catcher has never won it.

Farmer Ted wrote: Screw all those has-beens and going-nowheres. We need some new blood and I'm all in on Richard "Stubby" Clapp, currently first base coach for the Cards. 2017 Minor League Manager of the Year with Memphis. If we're going to drain St. Louis of talent, my heart is set on José Oquendo.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: There can't be a better name than Stubby Clapp, can there? The short Mets tenure of Razor Shines taught me that delightful names do not always equal high quality and endless happiness. Shocking, I know.

The upside: Buck did a guest-spot on Seinfeld, just like Keith Hernandez. The downside: Buck did a guest-spot on Seinfeld, just like Rudolph Giuliani.

I will not write hopeful things if the Mets hire Roger Clemens. Or Ambiorix Burgos for that matter. I'm just putting that right out there.

Before we get a look at this year's free agents, let's see who, among all the guyz the Mets have released since the end of 2018 (apart from those already noted in the 2019 thread), have found new life in a new organization. Firstly, no word came from most of the hangover Mets free agents who seemingly wound down their careers at the close of 2018. A.J. Ramos, José Reyes, and Austin Jackson all had quiet summers, with no professional baseball action to speak of, and a quickly increasing likelihood that they've played their last games. [fimg=120]https://securea.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/608061.jpg[/fimg] T.J. Rivera, though, who seemed like as good a bet as any to win an Atlantic League batting title, did indeed catch on with the Ducks of Long Island, but has thus far filed a more-or-less-pedestrian .270 / .316 / .427 // .743 for Wally Backman. (Alejandro de Aza hit .346 placing him a distant second in the batting title race behind Dante Bichette, Jr.). But, with the new rule against waiver trades, big-league teams have to find a source if they need players after August 1. Unperturbed by reports of T.J.'s pedestrian-ness, the Washington Nationals jumped in, signing him on August 4, and assigning him to their AAA affiliate in Harrisburg, where he hit .237 / .293 / .316 // .608 over 38 games in the waning weeks of the International League circuit before finishing the season on the Injured list. [fimg=120]https://securea.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/571473.jpg[/fimg] Met of 2018 Buddy Baumann played for multiple organizations back in the day. These days he was lastly seen in the Atlantic League where he secured a spot with The Lancaster Barnstomers. They gave him a chance to start, and he did pretty well, putting up a 3.48 ERA over 101 innings. [fimg=120]https://securea.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/491708.jpg[/fimg] Arquimedes Caminero, a minor league free agent who made it to camp with the Mets in 2019, only got 17 innings worth of action with Syracuse, and finished the season in the Mexican League with Los Diablos Rojos de México. (Motto: “Don't fuck with the Red Devils.”). He put up a 1.33 ERA in a league that's officially classified as AAA-level but really probably comes in at somewhere between high-A and AA. Still, he must've had a moment watching the Mets bullpen burn to the ground, thinking, “And they thought I was going to somehow make things worse?” [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/488787/generic/180x270/488787.jpg[/fimg] Third-generation big-leaguer Casey Coleman hasn't thrown an MLB pitch since 2014 but he followed El Caminero de Caminero, starting the 2019 season with Syracuse, earning his release following a 1-7, 5.85 start, and then heading down to The Mexican League where he switched from starter to reliever, putting up a 2.03 ERA in 13.1 innings for Los Toros de Tijuana. Fun Fact! The Mets purged Syracuse of all their Colemen at once, releasing Casey the same day they released fellow-former-big-league-pitcher Louis[/i] Coleman. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/545357/generic/180x270/545357.jpg[/fimg] Matt Purke, the most hipster player the Mets have ever employed, eventually found work in 2019 with The Sugarland Skeeters, but his ERA north of five may suggest a career on life support. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/595285/t505/180x270/595285.jpg[/fimg] Ricky Knapp pitched like crapp in 2018, but in 2019, joined The Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association. His 5.80 ERA in 18 starts suggested this might have been Knapp's last tape. [fimg=120]https://securea.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/622506.jpg[/fimg] Marcos Molina. There's a guy who had a benevolent bounce in his career. After a disastrous 2018 in which he went 1-9 / 6.66 (spooky) for the Rumble Ponies plus 0-1 / 9.35 for Las Vegas (a combined 1-10 / 6.94), he was released by the Mets with extreme prejudice. But he was a confident handsome guy in sort of a Last Dragon sort of way. He went down to the Dominican Winter League and played for Cibao, and while he only pitched six innings, it was enough to get scouted and signed back into affiliated ball by a Major League team. Yeah it was the Orioles, but still. Marcos, who had been bouncing around the Mets system since 2012 was sent back to the Eastern League, going 4-6 / 4.36 with Bowie in 86 1/3 innings. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/596026/t505/180x270/596026.jpg[/fimg] Johnny Magliozzi didn't play this year and looks done, but he did appear in https://theathletic.com/1175889/2019/09/05/the-goofy-kid-who-diesels-baseball-stories-of-how-pete-alonso-became-pete-alonso/this Athletic profile of Pete Alonso. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/670946/generic/180x270/670946.jpg[/fimg] Matt Pobereyko, who, try as he might, will never be as hipster as Matt Purke was signed out of the independent Frontier League by the Mets, and ended up back in indy ball this summer, compiling a 3.18 ERA over 51 innings for Sioux City in The American Association. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/657568/t505/180x270/657568.jpg[/fimg] Joining him with Sioux Falls was his 2018 Binghamton teammate, shortstop Andrew Ely. AE went a respectable .279 / .357 / .421 // .777 for the Canaries. Ely, who will say out loud what most ballplayers will say only in private, that minor leaguers come to the park for 10 house a day but only get paid for three hours a day, is best remembered as the Mets minor leaguer who was asked to play through pain and delay the necessary surgery for his torn labrum until the off-season, only to be released the day after the season ended. Not the Mets' finest hour. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/623188/generic/180x270/623188.jpg[/fimg] Corner outfielder Dario Piazzano, mentioned in the Dark Horse thread, joined the Mets family this offseason after six or seven years before the mast in the Mariner system. The new gig was to be short-lived however, when he was released on June 7 with a an uninspiring .226 / .331 / .322 // .653. Things turned even more troublesome for him as he put up a .200 / .275 / .289 // .563 with Somerset in the Atlantic League. He says he struggled with a sports hernia all season and he's now had surgery and intends to keep at the baseball thing. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/607741/t505/180x270/607741.jpg[/fimg] Having more indy success in 2019 was infielder-outfielder Kevin Taylor, who was released after three years in the Mets system, but caught on with (once again) The Sioux Falls Canaries of The American Association. Kev went .305 / .379 / .416 // .794 in 95 games as an outfielder. Fun Fact: He had a teammate named “Burt Reynolds.” Yeah, you betcha. I guess he was The Iceman. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/664720/t453/180x270/664720.jpg[/fimg] Joining The Southern Illinois Miners of The Frontier League was former Brooklyn Cyclone and St. John's Red Storm ... er Ryan McAuliff. Tired of being a weather system, he decided to join the Miners in the minors, where he started 13 games, going 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 73 1/3 innings. 120http://www.milb.com/images/641404/t507/180x270/641404.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/641404/t507/180x270/641404.jpg> Heading up to The Can-Am League was catcher Brandon Brosher, and — despite getting two tours of duty, with both Les Capitales de Quebec and Les Trois-Rivieres Aigles — showed nothing with the stick, going .179 / .242 / .268 // .510 in 64 plate appearances. Bless you for trying, Brandon. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/676708/generic/180x270/676708.jpg[/fimg] Former St. Lucie outfielder Raphael Gladu, released by the Mets after a nauseating 1-for-26 start (I like to think .038 / .107 / .038 // .146 is a line I could put up), also joined Trois-Rivieres and amazingly ... found his stroke. His .302 / .368 / .508 // .876 line in 69 games made him a real star for the team, and his 64 RBI placed fifth in the circuit, maybe rescuing his career from life support. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/572958/generic/180x270/572958.jpg[/fimg] Zack Jones found himself released from Binghamton in June, and then signed by Los Pericos de Puebla in July. The good news is that The Mexican League was a sweet balm to him, and playing south of the border, he was able to cut his ERA almost in half. The problem is that, when cutting your ERA in half means chopping it from 14.40 to 7.71, you're still not getting it done. Zack had only 13 innings between the two teams all summer, so I'm going to guess a future on the baseball diamond is't looking like a likely outcome for the guy. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/595389/t505/180x270/595389.jpg[/fimg] Showing a better pulse is the career of David RoseBOOM! He got sent backing by Binghamton also, but found a new life playing for New Britain in the Atlantic League. Starting or the first time as a pro, he went 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA, striking out 68 batters in 67 innings. I like to think every time he comes to stop, before he pitches, he takes a breath and says to himself, “Make the Mets pay.” [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/665127/t453/180x270/665127.jpg[/fimg] Back in 2008, Dylan Tice was having a darn good year with The Kansas City T-Bones of The American Association, hitting .333 when The Mets decided to sign him and give him another shot at affiliated ball. Unfortunately, he only got int 14 games with Brooklyn before being let go again. And so he returned to The T-Bones where he picked up pretty much where he left off, going .316 / .389 / .405 // .794 in 87 games, also getting some big post-season hits as well. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/673963/generic/90x135/673963.jpg[/fimg] Outfielder Zack Rheams, whose porn name is ”Zack Rheams,” found himself released only seven days into his season with Brooklyn. The good news is that left him plenty of time to catch on with somebody. The bad news is that somebody he caught on with was The Windy City ThunderBolts of The Frontier League, where he hit .139 / .262 / .208 // .470. Looks like this move of yours was a winner, Mets. [fimg=120]http://www.milb.com/images/672546/t621/180x270/672546.jpg[/fimg] While a release while you're still in the DSL usually spells curtains for your baseball career, outfielder Juan de la Rosa found that the Orioles wanted to give him that one more chance the Mets would not. Returning him to the Dominican for another go-around at 20-21-years-old, they were rewarded with a rock-solid .284 / .383 / .426 // .810 season. It's like I always tell the agents when they pitch some shlemiel to me, “If your client can walk, then we should talk.” While those ex-Mets are still grinding it out, the following guys, listed along with the top level they reached in 2018, remain unemployed following their Mets release, and any farewells you have to offer them will probably be final: MLB: Carlos Gomez, cf; and Matt Kemp, rf [*]AAA: P.J. Conlon, lh sp; Josh Prevost, rh sp; Vance Worley, rh sp; Logan Taylor, rh sp; Sean Burnett, lh rp =#FF8000](officially retired); and Jeff Glenn, c. [*]AA: José Garcia, c; Oliver Pascual, if; Gene Cone, of; Alfredo Escalera, of; Ian Strom, of; and Champ Stuart, cf. [*]A+: Gary Cornish, rh sp; Nicolas Debora, rh sp; Chase Ingram, rh sp; Gabriel Llanes, rh sp; Taylor Henry, rh rp; Anthony Dimino, c/1b =#FF8000](officially retired); and Wuilmer Becerra, rf. [*]A: Joshua Payne, rh rp; Ronald Sanchez, rh rp; Chris Viall, rh rp; Jay Jabs, of/3b; and Dionis Paulino, of/1b. [*]SS A+: Trent Johnson, rh rp; Ryan Selmer, rh rp; Kevin Hall, c/1b; Carl Stajduhar, 3b; and Dylan Snypes, ss. [*]SS A: Ivan Jean, lh rp/sp; Marbin Montijo, rh rp; Andrew Ryan, rh rp/sp; Robby Kidwell, c; Kenny Hernandez, if; and Domingo Martinez, 1b/3b/c. [*]Rookie: Miguel Ramirez, rh rp/sp; Julian Sierra, lh rp; Luis Lebron, c; and Nelson Mompierre, c =#FF8000](officially retired). [*]DSL: Jorge Céspedes, rh sp/rp; Nelmerson Angela, lh rp; Darling Baez, rh rp; Daniel Guzman, lh rp; Victor Isturiz, rh rp; Juan Martinez, rh rp; Miguel Mata, rh rp; Haniel Ogando, rh rp; Jaison Paniagua, rh rp; Boris Sanchez, lh rp; Felix Sosa, rh rp; Ragui Rodriguez, lh rp; David Lozano, if (interesting fact: David is the second "David Lozano" to play in the Mets' system — the original one having been drafted in 1973 and only recently been inducted into the Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame); Alexis Marquéz, 1b/c; Jorge Martinez, 1b/c; Alejandro Medina, dh/3b/1b; Ruben Monegro, ss/3b; Wilmy Valdez, 1b; Ezequiel Peña, of; Julio René, of; Jeison Rodriguez, of; Eulises Sanchez, of; and Edinson Valdez, rf,

Espada, like Beltran, is from Puerto Rico, and despite being relatively young (44) has been coaching since 2006.

I think Joe Espada is on the Cubs' list also.

OK, I just went nuts and voted for all of September. It felt great and at the same time, I feel guilty for all the times I didn't vote. Please note that on 9/25 I voted twice, like MILLIONS of Democrats did in 2016, only mine was a mistake. Only my second vote, under the name "Edgy MD2," should count.

That would be fun. Mattingly doesn't get to participate in the Musical Chairs game, but no matter for him, because he got a contract extension. Pretty funny to think of Harper taking the whole offseason (and then some) to land with a team and then ending up with his old manager.

Saw that coming. Phillies phans grew very phrustrated with him this year. He was sort of seen in a way similar to Mickey, in that he had a reputation for smarts that he made the mistake of buying into, leaving him looking half-smart at too many junctures. Also prone, like Callaway, to justify his decisions in depth as if nobody could see all the facets he could see, before changing his mind a short time later.

=nymr83 post_id=23866 time=1570369614 user_id=54] In guessing McEwing, because he will be the cheapest.

Yeah, but a little shadow over the eyes in that shot hides much of the story. Here he is in all his glory: [fimg=350]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/01/80/f80180bd301bf82a8badfd13e04107ff.jpg[/fimg]

Hariest forearms in baseball. And though it's not quite obvious in that card above, he had eyebrows that would make Josh Satin jealous. Etchebarren, Hendricks, and Dempsey in my memory were three not-quite-star catchers who were nonetheless highly valued anchors of celebrated Orioles teams. But looking back now, I see there was a break in the continuity the mid-seventies (Johnny Oates, Earl Williams) that also marked an ebbing in the long run of success of the Weaver-era Orioles.

Well, what perhaps makes sense to you and/or me may not make sense to Van Wangenen and or John Stearns or whoever is managing the Mets next year. I try to lay it out where it stands, rather than how I might prefer. And as it stands, I'm thinking the guy who had more value than all the other Mets relievers put together isn't leaving the pen without an announcement preceding it.

So basically, you hates the quarterbackz?

Somebody announced an intention to start Loogie?

My dark horse pick: Bret Boone.

If the robot can't get that call scientifically correct instead of making it subjectively, I can't see what the point of the robot takeover would be. Maybe we can get some Mexican League umps: [YOUTUBE]SXdTvWWgwSM[/YOUTUBE]

Somebody's got to be there to tell everybody what the compooter said. I'm more concerned with the vagueries, of what to call when the ball crosses the strike zone in part. Some umps believe the whole ball should be in the zone, others want to see the meridian of the ball pass through the zone, and still others will give you a strike if a single stitch passes over the black. As far as I understand the rule book, that third guy is most correct, but he's probably not representative of the mainstream.

“If someone asks you for an interview with the Yankees or Mets, it is simple, you say, ‘yes.'” — David Cone, https://nypost.com/2019/10/03/david-cone-interested-if-mets-call-about-manager-job/throwing his hat in the ring

That's the idea, anyhow. Mark the ball's location as it crosses the imaginary plane extending upward from the front of the plate.

Damn, I had J.D. but I had to go and get cute and pick a dude that hadn't been taken yet. A doomed dude. I think Melvin's Dark Horse award was won in the 1999 post-season. His equine eligibility was burned after that.