Edgy MD

The Crane Pool Hellenic Society has indeed long expressed concern at the lack of Greco-American Mets since the heyday of George Theodore. I'm getting with the notion of not getting caught up in getting a name-brand cleanup hitter, but rather simply getting better. A right-handed guy to hit between Duda and Granderson. On the other hand, Steamer (what a stinky name) predicts a fallback for Duda. (Though I imagine few of the prediction models account for the Mets' moving wall.)

Neither Eveland nor Carlyle were claimed, after their solid seasons. I assume they've been around long enough that they don't go through waivers, but instead qualify for free agency, or can opt for it. Borderliners not removed: Walters, Tovar, Puello. Gonna be a lot of movement this offseason. Assuming for the sake of discussion that no free agents are signed before the Rule V Draft, which six guys get added?

Not as afraid that this one is gonna is gonna bite as the Brownie one is, but a left-handed-batting catcher is always a useful thing thing to have around. In theory, anyhow. Would have been nice to put off the the waiver for a few weeks and try and package them. Perhaps for some mysterious figure named Sergio deCarlos or something. But I guess part of the strategy is to flood the waiver wire after the World Series and try to get your guys to be less appealing in the crowd.

Ink is barely dry on the notice that he was removed from the 40, when I come here to see that he's been claimed. Gave good beard. Only got 18 (unsuccessful) plate appearances against lefties this season, but I stayed faithful to the thought that he would have outplayed Campbell (and certainly Satin) if given a chance as our right-handed alternative at first. First game up when the Mets gave up on Colin Cowgill.

Ambler unfriended me on Facebook this week.

The Cubs have had five fifth-place finishes in a row, no pennants since 1945, and no championships since 1908, so I certainly don't envy them anything. Theo Epstein may have a lot to offer, but so far, he's run the team for three years; finished fifth of six, fifth of five, and fifth of five; and hired three managers. Whatever Wilpon's legacy, I fully understand not hitting the reset button because a shiny new prize of unknown real-world value has appeared on the marketplace.

Tony P�rez made it on the really general ballot, voted in by the BBWAA.

Fielding Bible Awards published. Multi-Position � Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals First Base � Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers Second Base � Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox Third Base � Josh Donaldson, Oakland Athletics Shortstop � Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves Left Field � Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals Center Field � Juan Lagares[/bigpurple], New York Mets Right Field � Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves Catcher � Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher � Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

Frayed Knot wrote: If the most you can possibly ask out of a pitcher in a World Series is 27 shoutout innings --- three shutout starts --- then 21 innings and one run from MBG is about as far along that spectrum as anybody's ever gotten, right? Tops Pete Alexander from 1926. Tops Orel Hershiser from 1988. Tops Randy Johnson from 2001. I have no idea what this part of your post means. Really? Again with the "no idea"? How hard can it be? If the most you can possibly ask out of a pitcher in a World Series is 27 shoutout innings... That isn't literally the most you can ask, but I'm preceding my question by asking for the understanding we accept for the sake of argument that it's the most you can reasonably ask of a pitcher. --- three shutout starts --- This is where I get the 27 innings and no runs from. then 21 innings and one run from MBG MBG is a shortened version of Madison Bumgarner. It's perhaps an elusive code I've used, but he is the subject of much of the thread. is about as far along that spectrum as anybody's ever gotten, right? I'm asking here if he's come as close to that ideal as any pitcher ever. Tops Pete Alexander from 1926. Tops Orel Hershiser from 1988. Tops Randy Johnson from 2001. These are three superlative World Series pitching performances that come to mind, each of which had a bottom line inferior to Bumgarner's, with regard to innings and runs allowed. For shorthand, I did not use subjects in these sentences. If I had, the subjects would have each been "It," or "Bumgarner's performance."

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I got a little money that's saying Bumgarner is an MVP. MVP no question. But this deal with the official scorer deciding that Bumgarner gets the win for tonight's game (even though Affeldt was the pitcher when SF took the lead) has the whiff of being contrived. Baseball-Reference has this going down as a save. Was this really the ruling or are you pulling my gam? If the most you can possibly ask out of a pitcher in a World Series is 27 shoutout innings --- three shutout starts --- then 21 innings and one run from MBG is about as far along that spectrum as anybody's ever gotten, right? Tops Pete Alexander from 1926. Tops Orel Hershiser from 1988. Tops Randy Johnson from 2001.

I got kicked off of that page. Guy that runs it (Ron?) is all heart but emotionally mercurial. Fantastically so. Then he begged me come back, re-adding me a couple of times without my consent.

Sure, but...

Luis Tiant, Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, Gil Hodges, Bob Howsam, Jim Kaat, Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva, Billy Pierce, and Maury Wills. Voting in the past hasn't supported me (if I recall correctly, Kaat has gotten a lot of support), but I think Allen, Hodges, and Oliva stand above the field. Allen's tops there with regard to productivity. He's been hurt in the past by the widespread belief that he was a lousy teammate, but I think that's abated.

As Van is 28 and still without a full season under his belt, I'd give up one of those two guys, but probably not two. I can't speak to his running and fielding, but that seems unusual, considering his dad was really solid at both.

I'd rather work within facts. It's much healthier that way.

Well, it's one in 12ish under Wilpon.

Well, hopefully you convince them you're giving more than you're giving by taking on their salary and freeing them to spend it on the market. I dunno.

Adds a lot of age, too. Bautista is a relative bargain, with two years left on that contract, and sometimes the idea is to move the bargains and the white elephants at the same time. Toronto sheds a lot o' salary in general --- mostly Reyes --- but the only real assets they get are Niese and the minor league pitcher (and I push them toward Montero there). Murphy and Colon are on one year deals and pretty much getting paid at market or above for what they can be expected to give. But I probably make that deal in a second from the Mets' point of view. It would mostly close the book on the offseason except for the infill signings. Then you go to camp praying that Reyes and Bautista don't get old suddenly. A man ages quickly carrying around ears the size of Bautista's.

Bill Price wrote: It's news that is sure to send the north side of Chicago into celebration mode... What world is this he lives in?

Jim Oddo: Staten Island borough president and nemesis of Vic Black.

I don't think Matz is considered a redundancy in the way some of those others might be. As a left-hander that has come back strong after his arm problems, I think the team considers him a pretty unique and precious asset. Certainly not untouchable, but not a bauble that I think they'll be dangling around. Surprised you considered Dilson a tradable commodity, since you already have in your opening day lineup. Not sure about the pile o' cash. It'd be nice to read that they broke even this season.

I imagine Yost personally endorsed his decision and lifted that burden from his wee shoulders. Video review all seems to support his choice. Cool to see the World Series still can't go off without an appearance by Lonnie Smith, if only in spirit.

159 days away.

Hall of Fame time for Bochy. Giants are officially a dynasty. See you next year.

COME ON, PEREZZY!!