Edgy MD

Neil Ramirez spent 2017 with two teams and a third organization (Washington) that didn't bother deploying him at big league level. He moves on now to the Indians, hopefully signing to replace one of the pitchers Mickey Jannis plans to poach from Cleveland's roster.

If I select 1890-1961 from the SEASONS menu, I totally get 404'd. And then I feel sad.

Daily News reporting that Howell Donaldson, recently arrested and charged with four murders in Tampa, worked for the Mets for a time as a "guest experience host," alternately described as a "ticket scanner and elevator operator," operating out of the St. Lucie complex. His employment is reported to have been seasonal, but I'm not sure if that means merely spring training, or included the FSL and GCL seasons. He also was a walk-on with the SJU basketball team and apparently earned a degree. [fimg=400]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3664809.1511960667!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/article-tampa-1129-2.jpg[/fimg] The team's other reported recent brush with infamy was more removed but no less chilling, as accused Orlando Pulse mass murderer Omar Mateen was a security guard at a St. Lucie housing complex where several of the Mets stayed in spring training. [fimg=400]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3665695.1511985451!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_1200/orlando-shooting.jpg[/fimg] I'm guessing the NYPD isn't particularly happy to see him in their colors. I occasionally read St. Lucie's Treasure Coast Palm for spring training and FSL coverage and man, there's some crazy stuff down there, even when the Mets aren't in town.

ceetar looks to have had the clearest crystal ball on Edgin. Enjoy Norfolk, Joshie.

Clears the decks for this offseason's big, controversial Yasiel Puig acquisition.

His removal from the roster despite his decent-ish stat line — in a year where bullpenners were in short supply and effective lefties not named "Blevins" were in shorter supply — suggested he had somehow made an enemy or two. Maybe FaFiF is right, and it was his TV show. His 1-2-3 in Washington seemed like the sort of moment that leaves the kind of impression that would buy you some juice with a team, but apparently not enough to save his rind. Alas, no.

Almost December and the Yankees still don't have a manager. What's up with that? One thing I would conclude is that they weren't expecting to fire Girardi at all, and letting him go was likely as much about salary demands as lack of satisfaction with his performance.

metsmarathon wrote: so, why bring him in if we've already got him! The problem is that Adam 1.0 didn't have his first full, productive season until 25, after a few partial or unproductive seasons. And then his productivity disappeared again until he was 29. That suggests a lot of waitin' on Smitty, who most projections are targeting for a 2018 of mid .700s OPS-ing. That may be taken as a necessary part of his growth, but it's not particularly gonna get you where you wanna go. So another mature option may be a good way to hedge against that.

Looking again, the Met playing bodyguard seems to have a catcher's mitt. Add that to the sideburns and a deployment by the bullpen, and Hodges looks likely. Hodges may have been an ornery cuss, but a rookie going to the mat for a 21-year vet counts for something.

Giving him a purple nurple, from the looks of it.

Now I'm thinking the blocking back isn't McGraw at all. In 1973, he would have been heading to the dugout. Hodges?

Tug McGraw is all, "I'm happy, too, Kid. Now how about you and your buddy get your fucking hands off of Willie Mays."

It's more of a kimono than a sari, but I couldn't resist. I wonder if Eno Sarris hangs with Voros McCracken.

I voted for Mussina. His legacy is weird. He spent 10 years with Baltimore and eight with the Yanks, and neither fanbase really rushes to claim him as their own. He seemed to be suffering from the Don Sutton/Bert Blyleven lack-of-20-win-seasons tag, when at 39, seemingly in decline, he suddenly went 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA. Crediting pitchers with wins being the misleading practice that it is, this was actually perhaps his eighth-best season, but it seemed to have cemented his legacy, and he was all fuck it, I'm outa here, perhaps hoping to leave the voters with the best possible memory of him. But it ain't working yet.

Don't just buy any sari. Buy Eno saris!

East Coast elites think recycled Metallica > AC/DC.

Well, that gets Vladdy down to 73.9% and out of the money!

Using Chipper's vote total (21) as our denominator, we're looking at a two-man year, with Chipper (100%) and Vladdy (81%) crossing the magic threshhold. It seems like cooby is not a Chipper supporter, though, so using a denominator of 22, we get Chipper (95%) and Vladdy (77%) still squeaking in. Third place and out of the money is Barry Bonds with either 71% or 68% of the Crane vote. Voters get accused of setting sweeping policies for or against apparent steroid-era malefactors, but I think as things develop, it's more true to say they (and we) are making nuanced moral distinctions among Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire, and Giambi and such, and I think that's good.

And that's why I tempered my remarks with "If the terms are good."

Ceetar wrote: I'd rather see the Mets work out Plawecki and d'Arnaud there occasionally, and do the C-1B thing. Unless and until they take a step forward offensively (and both hit encouragingly well down the stretch), I think the Mets have other options for righthanded firstbasemen, but sure. Versatility is beautiful.

He's down to 117%. Come on, folks, if you've voted, click the I VOTED box on the ballot!

Really? We're talking about stolen bases?

He's been darn good three of the last four years. If the terms are good, then he's got the potential to be an upgrade or an effective reserve. Comparable to Duda as a starter or the lefty off the bench they haven't really had.

Did Serby beat up a cab driver?

Oh, I think reality is wide open for Giancarlo. The Marlins have traded a lot of big shmoes in their time. I don't see why Stanton wouldn't be one also, and I don't see why the Mets wouldn't be a candidate.