Edgy MD

He's just what this world needs. [youtube:2m59b006]XjnNERIy0HI[/youtube:2m59b006]

Oh, I think there's no end to the number of people --- black and white --- who would testify that Allen was a terrible teammate. Bill James puts him only in the company of Rogers Hornsby as the most controversial teammates of all time. That's a pretty strong statement that I have to take issue with. I mean, Carl Everett? John Rocker? Reggie Jackson? Hal Chase was the Devil wearing a first baseman's mitt. But when Bill James nails that one up on the wall, I have to take notice. It's not the last word on him, but if there's serious testimony that he hurt his teams --- and there is --- that has to be considered when weighing the evidence.

Not saying that doesn't sound like a character with as much value as a Dillon Gee, but it seems questionable whether he's ahead of Reynolds at this point. He certainly doesn't seem like he's ready to push aside Tejada and Flores and establish himself as the go-to option in 2015.

Abstaining, I guess, would help in theory. But if a supporter of Tim Raines thinks not casting his vote for Tim Raines or anybody is the best way to push his numbers up, he or she is wrong.

Check out Gil Jr. looking exactly like you'd think the 60-something man his father never got to be would've looked like.

I have no problem with players be looked at again and again. The frequency is going to change, as more worthy veterans will appear and more will be uncovered. But it's the nature of history that we return to subjects periodically and review and perhaps revise the record.

The abstaining writers is a meaningful issue, but probably better in the other, main-ballot thread.

What is the proper response to trolls who see discussion of good players on the Mets and butt in with "Enjoy while you can because he's haha going to be a yankee lol "? What an awful way to root for a team. It's like the rich kid in an eighties film getting pulled over with a car full of coke and bragging that haha his dad will have him out in an hour and probably have the cop's badge too lol.

Mets were the first out of the gate with the Cuddyer signing, after outlet after outlet explicitly reported that it wasn't going to happen because the Rockies gave him a qualifying offer. Bartolo Colon was signed a year ago at the meetings, not long after Alderson told the press the team was probably done with major acquisitions. His lieutenants were apparently putting finishing touches on the offer to Colon while he was out there doing his misdirect. Surprises happen, and it's certainly likely a starting pitcher will be dealt sooner or later.

Worth noting is that the "on-base tool" is based on reports and numbers in the lower minors. It didn't show up this year, though, with an .021 OBP-BA difference in 81 games at AA and AAA, and an .042 differential in 40 MLB games. Plenty of room for growth, but it's a leap of faith.

Luis Sardinas, #7 prospect for the Texas Rangers. Some reports say the Rangers might be interested in one of the Mets' excess pitchers. [fimg=450:1m1lwkb7]http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/files/2013/11/C25I5690_30259028.jpg[/fimg:1m1lwkb7] He hasn't lit it up in the minors (or 43 games in the majors this year), but he's clearly been pushed ahead of his level. (He's two years younger than Matt Reynolds.) Was the BBA #84 prospect before the 2013 season. Was the MLB.com #9 shortstop prospect before the 2014. A speedy switch-hitter with an on-base tool.

Ceetar wrote: Rockin' Doc wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Surprise us Sandy, we aren't expecting much. We aren't expecting much....we're Mets fans. I'm expecting much over here. I'm so pregnant with expectation, I'm putting in for maternity leave.

The magic of Once seemed to largely come out of the virtue-by-necessity reality of big-shot stars pulling out of the movie, and the budget-tapped producers casting non-star musicians instead of forcing the big shots to fake it. So the film-maker gets another shot, with more juice to get (and keep) big shot movie stars attached, and the magic wasn't there for me. Ruffalo gets points for being one of those handful of actors who you get the idea you can smell through the screen --- call them the sons of Nick Nolte. It's not the greatest of virtues, but ... . That's not the only grace, but generally, the thing felt forced and formulaic. Like Disney saw the receipts on Once, and said"Let's knock that off, except with Disney values and a Disney budget." Keira Knightly wasn't a disaster, but by not having the Once-like courage of actually finding a young singer-and/or-songwriter you believe in, and instead cast this big shot with an established Q-rating, it kind of betrays it's own spirit and message, because that's exactly part of what the movie indicts the music industry for. Some good-but-not-great music, and a sorta ham-handed critique of the music business where it is now.

Man, Shin Soo Choo. That's looking like a bullet dodged. Making Curtis Granderson look like a bargain so far.

If finishing over .500 is the measure of a not-lousy job being done, acquiring an all-star shortstop --- or any winter acquisition --- certainly won't prove anything.

I am certain Alderson doesn't lack for ingenuity. I am almost equally certain that the team will experience some meaningful cradle-robbing during the Rule V draft --- possibly both in the major league and minor league portions. But they must be planning to reel in somebody because they're facing the draft with a spot open on their roster.

Sheesh. These comments are wacky.

I think you may be confusing AARP with Social Security there. Anyone over 50 is eligible for AARP.

Scoscia: 11/17/1999.

I'll take the NL East, of whom Gonazalez is the dean, by about five weeks. TEAMMANAGERSIGNED THRUSTATUSHiredMETSTerry Collins2015 + option for '1611/23/2010BRAVESFredi Gonzalez201510/13/2010PHILLIESRyne Sandberg2016 + option for '178/16/2013NATIONALSMatt Williams2015 + options for �16 + �1710/13/2013MARLINSMike Redmond2015Extended through 201711/1/2012CARDINALSMike Matheny2017PIRATESClint Hurdle2017 + option for �18CUBS[crossout]Rick Renteria[/crossout]Fired Oct 31Hired Joe Maddon for 2015 - 2019REDSBryan Price2016BREWERSRon Roenicke2015 + option for �16DODGERSDon Mattingly2016GIANTSBruce Bochy2016PADRESBud Black2015DBACKS[crossout]Kirk Gibson[/crossout]2014 -- Fired, Sept 2014Chip Hale hired for 2015-16ROCKIESWalt Weiss2016RED SOXJohn Farrell2016YANKEESJoe Girardi2017ORIOLESBuck Showalter2018BLUE JAYSJohn Gibbons2015 + option for �16RAYS[crossout]Joe Maddon[/crossout]Mgr Opted out of contract's final yearDec 2014 - Hired Kevin CashTIGERSBrad Ausmus2016 + option for �17INDIANSTerry Francona2016Extended thru 2018 w/options for '19 + '20ROYALSNed Yost2015TWINS[crossout]Ron Gardenhire[/crossout]Fired - Sept '14Hired Paul Molitor - 2015-2017WHITE SOXRobin Ventura2014ANGELSMike Scioscia2018RANGERS[crossout]Ron Washington[/crossout]Resigned Sept 2014Hired Jeff Banister - 2015-17 + '18 optionMARINERSLloyd McClendon201?ASTROS[crossout]Bo Porter[/crossout]Fired Sept 2014AJ Hinch - Hired Sept 2014ATHLETICSBob Melvin2016

Two things: Ned Yost... how does he not get an extension? Fredi Gonzalez... how up against the wall is that guy?

The interesting part of it to me is that Mr. Check-Out-My-Man-of-Substance-Beard-Don't-I-Look-Like-I-Chop-Wood-Like-My-Grandfather is tooling around in a Porsche.

Test 1 (by d'Kong76)

Valdespin was more like Alfonso Soriano, I think. Some guys you try to arrest their fall down the defensive spectrum. Some guys, you try to force their ascension up it.

I'm just trying to figure who the other players in this "abundance" of decent hitters forced into tougher positions are? Flores is sure on that track. Thole? Duda was, I guess, up until this season.