Edgy MD

That's the challenge baseball has in marketing around the players. Unlike baseball and football, where the best players are given a disproportionate amount of opportunities to excel, the best baseball players in the lineup aren't typically going to get more than one plate appearance beyond the worst. If you went and saw Michael Jordan at the height of his powers, you'd still likely see him give you 35 points, six rebounds, six assists and maybe a block or two. That's an average night. Guaranteed highlights. Even if he was totally off his game, shooting 35%, there was a good chance he'd score at least 20, with one or two of his baskets being jaw-dropping. Because the team would keep giving him the ball. Barry Bonds, at the height of his remarkable and enhanced powers, on a typical night, would give you 1-for-3 with a walk. Maybe a stolen base if it was before 1999. There was every chance you'd see a terrific game from him, but there was every chance you'd see nothing of the kind. Because baseball is democratic, and everybody gets a turn, at least on offense. And if Barry pops out, he doesn't get the ball back. In fact, he won't be batting again for a couple of innings. So you have to market the game, and the team. Them's the only things that's somewhat guaranteed to be out there every night. The actors are the same, but the script is totally unwritten, and we don't even know who the hero is. Personally, I think it's best when different teams have a different character. The stealing team, the power team, the crafty-old-pitcher team. The team that grows their grass high because their infielders are all old. The team where all the players are hair-trigger tempered and wear mullets. The team that doesn't let their players grow long hair or wear facial hair. The team that slides dirty. Only one team should have a character race. Only one team should play "Sweet Caroline." Only one team should play "Rock and Roll (Part 2)." (Actually, zero teams should play that.) The increasing and ongoing incorporation makes the league better at marketing, but watered down and redundant and less marketable.

Zanghi is having a heckuva zeazon, dgw. Get us some scuttlebuttery.

Tebow singled and scored the eventual game-winning run yesterday, but ended up leaving the game later with a wrist issue. Stay tuned!!

The DSL Mets 2 may have had as good a winning percentage as anybody in affiliated ball last year (I'm guessing, I haven't checked), but it hasn't been so easy this season. They're in every game, but like the big club, the offense just hasn't been showing up with nearly enough consistency. (They even got no hit earlier in the week, albeit in a seven-inning game.) This has left them dropping below .500 in the last week, but hey, their games are faster. None of this should obscure the fact that some in this bunch can play. Emerging at the top of the rotation is 18-year-old second-year pitcher Christofer Dominguez. Chris has already started 8 games, winning 4, losing 1, while laying down a deGromesque 1.67 ERA. Opposing hitters are batting .197 against him, which is a figure you'd usually associate with a short reliever. He capped his awesome first half by throwing 2/3 perfect innings in the DSL All-Star Game. Chris hails from Montecristi, Dominican Republic, and there's a reason he has OFER in his name. Working like a horse out of the pen is Christito's teammate, Antonio Villaba. Tony the Horse, they call him. Or they will, once they learn English. TV is totally the second coming of Doug Sisk. Good Doug Sisk, not bad Doug Sisk. He pitches all the time (13 games) for multiple-inning stints (24 2/3 IP so far), walks people like it's no big thing (15 walks so far against 19 strikeouts), but keeps the ball down and his outfielders bored out of their MINDS (14 hits, only 4 for extra bases), holding them to slugging average of .229. FOOLS! The offense, as tough a time as they've been having, are taking another hit with the recent promotion of catcher Wilfred Astudillo (which literally means, "Little Smart Guy," and there's nothing wrong with that) to the Gulf Coast League. The smarty-pants from Barcelona (Venezuela, not Spain), was hitting .256 when he packed his bags, but with a .371 on-base percentage, and that will play! He's also caught 6 of a 16 would-be basestealers (37.5%) and drastically improved the passed ball problem he was having as a pro rookie in 2017. He's also playing a lot of first base. Bored with baseball? Bored with life? Put aside your ennui and get a load of Yucary De La Cruz' faceless-but-not-graceless 2018 DSL METS 2!! Transactions, 6/18 DirectionGOINGGOINGGOINGGOINGGOINGTransactionPromoted To GCLPromoted To GCLPromoted To GCLPromoted To GCLPromoted To GCLPosition GroupStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting Pitcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameJorge CéspedesRamón GuzmanJurgen JimenezHector RodriguezOscar RojasDoB6/26/9610/16/961/14/9612/27/975/5/99B/TR/RR/RR/RR/RR/RDirectionGOINGGOINGGOINGTransactionPromoted To GCLPromoted To GCLPromoted To GCLPosition Group=#8000FF] Infielder=#0000FF] Outfielder=#0000FF] Outfielder[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameChristopher PujolsStanly ConsuegraJhoander SaezDoB8/19/979/24/003/24/98B/TR/RR/RS/R Transactions, 6/19 Direction=#00BF40]COMINGTransactionDemoted From DSL1Position Group=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameDaniel GuzmanDoB2/16/98B/TL/L Transactions, 6/22 DirectionGOINGTransactionSuspended For PEDsPosition Group=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameJaison PaniaguaDoB2/25/98B/TR/R Transactions, 7/11 Direction=#00BF40]COMING=#00BF40]COMINGTransactionActivated & Assigned To DSL 2Activated & Assigned To DSL 2Position GroupStarting Pitcher=#008000] Catcher[fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/joander-suarez.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameJoander SuárezEndy RodriguezDoB2/27/005/26/00B/TR/RS/R Transactions, 7/13 DirectionGOINGTransactionPromoted To DSL 1Position Group=#008000] Catcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameAlexis MarquézDoB6/1/99B/TR/R Transactions, 7/17 DirectionGOINGTransactionPromoted To GCLPosition Group=#008000] Catcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameWilfred AstudilloDoB3/14/00B/TR/R Transactions, 7/18 Direction=#00BF40]COMINGTransactionActivated & Assigned To DSL 2Position GroupStarting Pitcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameEdinson DiazDoB12/25/99B/TR/R YOUR DSL Mets 2 Coaching Staff Position Group=#BF0000] Manager=#BF0000]Pitching Coach=#BF0000]Hitting Coach[fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/yucary-de-la-cruz.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameYucary De La CruzRafael RoqueGilbert GomezDoB10/23/901/1/724/30/90B/TR/RL/LR/RPosition Group=#BF0000]Infield/Bench Coach=#BF0000] Coach=#BF0000] Coach[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameLilian CastroSamuel TaverasPedro ReyesDoB11/16/654/14/899/8/68B/TR/RR/RR/R YOUR 2017 DSL Mets 2 Position GroupStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting Pitcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameRobert ColinaEdinson DiazChristofer DominguezAndres GermanBrailin GonzalezDoB4/4/0112/25/991/3/005/16/979/23/99B/TR/RR/RL/LR/RL/LPrimary PositionStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting PitcherStarting PitcherOther PositionsrprprprprpStatus NotesInternational Free AgentPosition GroupStarting Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/eiker-huizi-2018.jpg?w=90&zoom=2[/fimg]NameDaniel GuzmanEnmannuel AlmonteJohan AmadoJefferson EscorchaEiker HuiziDoB2/16/9811/9/975/4/0110/4/999/24/00B/TL/LR/RL/LL/LR/RPrimary PositionStarting Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief PitcherOther PositionsrpspStatus NotesPosition Group=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/joander-suarez.jpg[/fimg]NameChristopher MaderaDavid MarcanoJuan MartinezMiguel MataJoander SuárezDoB10/1/968/28/012/14/965/5/972/27/00B/TR/RL/LR/RR/RR/RPrimary Position=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief PitcherOther PositionsspspspspStatus NotesPosition Group=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#008000] Catcher=#008000] Catcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameJosé ValerioRolfy VargasAntonio VillalbaJorge MartinezEndy RodriguezDoB8/17/008/25/007/19/997/23/965/26/00B/TR/RR/RR/RR/RS/RPrimary Position=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#008000]CatcherOther Positionssp1bStatus NotesPosition Group=#008000] Catcher=#8000FF] Infielder=#8000FF] Infielder=#8000FF] Infielder=#8000FF] Infielder[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameKevin TorresEliam AriasRuben MonegroFederico PolancoFelix ValerioDoB5/4/993/6/0112/2/973/20/0112/26/00B/TR/RR/RR/RL/RR/RPrimary Position=#008000]Catcher=#8000FF]Third Base=#8000FF]Third Base=#8000FF]Shortstop=#8000FF]Second BaseOther Positions2b, ssssssStatus NotesPosition Group=#0000FF] Outfielder=#0000FF] Outfielder=#0000FF] Outfielder=#0000FF] Outfielder[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameJan CabreraEzequiel PeñaJeison RodriguezEulises SanchezDoB9/11/005/25/991/27/983/7/97B/TR/RR/RR/RR/RPrimary Position=#0000FF]Right Field=#0000FF]Left Field=#0000FF]Right Field=#0000FF]Left FieldOther Positionscfrf, cflf, cfcf, rfStatus NotesPosition Group=#0000FF] Outfielder[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameJean Carlos SotoDoB4/3/00B/TR/RPrimary Position=#0000FF]Left FieldOther PositionsStatus Notes Position Group=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#8000FF] Infielder=#0000FF] Outfielder[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]NameJaison PaniaguaLuis VasquezRafael ValdezTulio GarciaDoB2/25/987/19/994/19/977/3/98B/TR/RR/RR/RL/RPrimary Position=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#8000FF]Secoond Base=#0000FF]Left FieldOther Positions3b, 1b, lf, rp, c, rfrf, 1bStatus NotesUnder SuspensionOn 60-Day DLNot Yet ActivatedNot Yet Activated

It might have provided a little more drama if I phrased it as "Who is going to lead the SHaMs in saves?"

"Well, I think he's just terrific. And baseball is lucky to have him. And nobody's luckier than the fans of the California Angels of Whatever. And that's why we have this game, so the whole nation — baseball fans and non-baseball fans — can enjoy and get to know these guys, these great athletes and great personalities, the most outstanding players of the greatest game in the world." "And just for the record, Lebron's terrific too, and any time he wants to come on down to a big league ballpark and take a few cuts against Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer, well, we'd love to make that happen." — Commissioner Wiseman.

Tim Time. Peterson's is the only mugshot with an away jersey. He stands out.

All that money invested in special effects, but the best part was Michael Peña's $40 wig.

Say Jeurys Familia gets dealt. Hey, it's 95% likelihood, right? No big-league relievers come back in the deal or any other July tradeoffs. You got what you got. You're the Mets, and you ain't gonna see Ramos or Mejia until next year (Montero, too!), but you're going to need somebody to anchor the bullpen, or at least try to. Who you gonna call? [fimg=213]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/fimg]

Medina was a one-man wrecking crew last night. Also started the action in the first with a single and a stolen base, coming around to score the first of three Brooklyn runs in the opening inning. He's having a strong season, but he's repeating Brooklyn. He spent some time at Columbia and (briefly) St. Lucie also last year.

The tebloids are all excited with news of Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (I'm not sure how many people that is) forming a connection with famed Mets minor leaguer Tim Tebow. [fimg=600]https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/180718-tim-tebow-demi-peters-feature.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1236&h=820&crop=1[/fimg] Demi-Leigh, a native of South Africa, has reportedly joined the Mets family after splitting with her boyfriend Geo Botha, a Mr. South Africa contestant. I would think that walking around with the name "Botha" in South Africa would be something of an anathema.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the notion he's espousing, it's just real dicky to be calling him out publicly. He's the best player in the world. You're a lawyer in an unimaginative gray suit with a shiny forehead.

Sort of like a director questioning an actress' commitment to her art and career because she doesn't want to go there. Not really, but still.

I won't move Wheeler for anything less than Carlos Beltran.

I would guess the latter. It would be fun if (a) Kemp got traded too and they never became teammates, and ( Kemp is actually part of the package going to Baltimore.

Centerfield wrote: Stupid Bryce Harper last night got me all excited about the ace-heavy rotation, so I allowed myself to dream on the return of a healthy Cespedes, a continuation of Rosario's improvement, and the astonishing return on Captain America, and rationalized it by telling myself they at one time were capable of playing .900 ball. All the way, SHaMs! SHaMVP: David Wright ShaM Young: Zack "18" Wheeler This is my dilemma in all of these prediction polls. Half of them I vote with my heart and end up voting for options like this. You think I was using my head when I predicted Smith would be MVP?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Stupid Bryce Harper last night got me all excited about the ace-heavy rotation, so I allowed myself to dream on the return of a healthy Cespedes, a continuation of Rosario's improvement, and the astonishing return on Captain America, and rationalized it by telling myself they at one time were capable of playing .900 ball. All the way, SHaMs! SHaMVP: David Wright ShaM Young: Zack "18" Wheeler That's a good nickname. Now I'm depressed that Wheeler didn't choose that as his number.

SHaMVP: Dom Smith SHaM Young: Seth Lugo

geez someone discovered a lot of really inappropriate, and really old, remarks on Haders twitter, evidently during the game! Two steps to take after becoming famous: Step One: Erase everything you've ever said or done on social media Step Two: See 'Step One' Alternatively, Step One: Don't be a racist, homophobic misogynistic dickhead Step Two: If you are one, don't post it on social media This will probably end up with him getting sensitivity training or something like that. Probably voluntarily. I can't imagine they can suspend him for something he did before he was in MLB. The guy said what he said, and posted it to the world. So he should get all the consequences that follow. That being said, it looks like he is sincerely apologetic, and has taken responsibility for what he said. His teammates seem to think this doesn't reflect who he is now. So there is that. Anytime something like this comes up, I thank god that there was no internet, camera phones, or any social media when I was in HS/college. Deadspin had almost the exact same hot take as Centerfield, including virtually the same two enumerated takeaways. ="Chris Thompson at Deadspin"]Hader would’ve been 17 years old when he saw fit to fart most of these vile thoughts out into the world—old enough to know better, of course, but young enough to still be a punk teenager, and a punk teenager who was tweeting at a time when Twitter was not remotely what it is now. He will have to eat shit for all this, one way or another, and he’ll deserve every bite of it. But there’s a teachable moment here all the same. Lesson one is don’t be an outrageous bigot. Lesson two, as always, is never tweet.

Ouch. [tweet:k9hufqxp] [/tweet:k9hufqxp]

[tweet:3ad6axiv] [/tweet:3ad6axiv]

The GCL Mets snapped an eight game winning streak by The GCL Astros today, winning 6-3, as David Lozano and Jhoander Saez reached base in the fifth and were brought around on a three-run homer by their newest player, playing only second game as a G-Mets, firstbaseman Yoenis Céspedes. What an exciting way for young Yoenis to launch his Gulf Coast League career. Let's keep an eye on him and hope we see big things from him in a few years.

metirish wrote: So, can MLB punish him for this ? will they? I hope not. It'd be a weird precedent. I imagine the marketplace will punish him though. There goes your Puma endorsement.

Well, it doesn't get me anywhere, but I'll repeat my assertion that the market is loaded with artificial restrictions that continues to erode baseball's middle class.

A lot of them ended up on rosters, but what they got was, relatively, bupkis.