Edgy MD

Had his best season ever WAR-wise last year, but that's largely because both BB-r and Fangraphs show his defense spiking remarkably. That could be an illusion or an unsustainable reality, but at least they agree.

Buzz in Cyberland that the Mets are negotiating with Ronny Cede�o to see if he'd like to come over their house to play. Career sub-.300 OBP and pretty consistent about it, too. Modest extra-base power fell off last year too. Mets and Pirates seem to be shopping at each other's yard sales these days. Me, I was more jazzed by Quintanilla.

Mets tweet an acknowledgement of hiring CRG, along with a denial that it's to guide them through bankruptcy.

I'd be curious to see it, seeing as how the Yankees pay out crazy money in revenue sharing.

Frayed Knot wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: When exactly did this team start "hemorrhaging money" as I believe Fred once put it? According to this hotshot, the pendulum swing in 2010. So, assuming that we're to take those figures as accurate, we need to simply accept that, with virtually no change in expenses, revenues for the club suddenly fell by over 100 million dollars (or close to 25%) in the span of one year (and then further after that) as this club flipped from being in a positive-$50mil situation to a negative-$50mil in the blink of an eye. Attendance fell approx 20% between 2009 & 2010 which, when combined with lower prices, could put a dent in finances. But the paid gate is only a portion of income (it certainly is a much smaller portion than in previous eras) and if the set-up of this team is such where anything short of 3+mil asses-in-seats each year (essentially its capacity*) leaves the club swimming in red ink then we're back to my earlier question about how the team stayed afloat this long or could reasonably expect to in the future. * 42K x 81 games = 3.4 million Assuming those figures are correct, I'd guess that (1) that 20% reduction in attendance came at the high end --- private suite-buying, private club-carousing, greasy-steak eating yucks. Those 1%-ers got a reality check with the crash and their discretionary values did not include a disappointing team playing in a homer-depressing stadium whose novelty value wore off fast. Good. Screw them and their scads of free-agent-supporting money. Long live the coupon clippers who help pay for the Mike Hessmans of this world. (2) Madoff got busted in December 2008. Some of those Madoff accounts were team-owned accounts, and those bogus revenues would have counted in prior years but didn't then. Would that show on the balance sheet? I don't know. And if so, why not until 2010? Mongo, again, merely pawn.

Nymr83 wrote: Fuck PETA, who are they to say that hitting a ball off a tee with a bat isn't this elephant's dream come true? Ouch. Harsh negotiator.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I think it's possible in this case. For one they had a guaranteed $-maker in Madoff, which was so effective it basically became their only financial strategy (according to the trustee complaint, anyway). Take that away and they were subject to the risks of a shitty stock market like the rest of us schnooks. Second, I suspect they must have badly overestimated the revenues the new stadium would deliver. I am certain they drew up their gameplans with the assumption they'd sell close to every seat in the new joint at the prices they initially set, not to mention the possibility they'd rake in the $$ with postseason games, etc. That they failed to reach any of these goals is partly a result of bad timing with the economy, exacerbated by terrible job of marketing and bad decisions on the baseball front. They failed in almost every way. Add to that perfect star, crippling injuries to virtually every player signed to long-term, high-value contracts. Those not typically injured helped matters by under-performing shockingly (Bay, Perez) or punching family members in the face at the stadium (Rodriguez). It's like the fates aligned against the at the one time they dropped their pants enough to expose themselves to the fates. It's almost beautiful.

Frayed Knot wrote: When exactly did this team start "hemorrhaging money" as I believe Fred once put it? According to this hotshot, the pendulum swing in 2010.

Film reviews by Fonzie would be a big internet hit.

The thing he has going for him is "Most Wins in the 80s" on his calling card. It plays into the hands of those who value wins by pitchers as a trump card over general effectiveness by pitchers, and fall into the very human tendency of viewing history in 10-year blocks. I'm sure Kevin Brown's case would be much stronger if somebody ranked the top winners from 1992-2001, or Ron Guidry's if you framed it 1977-1986. But that's just as artificial a construct.

As one of those creditors is MLB, I imagine Selig will have a lot of say. I get the idea that the big stadium payments that hit them every year are offset in part by the big payments they receive from CitiCorps (or whatever they're called now) sort of being earmarked. In general, I think the stadium debt is largely offset by the stadium asset. But even that is slipping away. They lost $70 million. They've cut costs and I guess could survive another year in the red, but not that deep in the red. Like anybody, the key is the performance of the business.

The Rangers' recovery seems like a pretty ideal model. Certainly the Dodgers are spending money in bankruptcy, but these don't seem like typical situations. The Dodgers, of course, always have this wonderful asset in the stadium and the land it sits on, but the Wips only have paid off on a fraction of the stadium and perhaps half of the TV station. (Or so I understand. Mongo only pawn in game of life.)

PETA must hate this team.

This is where my lack of studies in these matters come through. How does another debt coming due accelerate the process by which the corporation will transfer through bankruptcy? I would figure that would only bog matters down further.

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: Mets � Willets Point wrote: Either way, hopefully it's a sign of better fortunes for the team. seems hard for it to be worse right? either they'll help turn things around or help them sell if they can't afford the team. Either way should lead to a team that's able to spend. Wouldn't have picked you for a grass-is-greener guy. sorry, there's always the crab grass of the ultimate buyer being a stingy, horrible owner. I hear bad things about Dolan for instance. No need to apologize. I'm not afraid of a stingy horrible owner so much as a (1) a prolonged bankruptcy period where assets have to be liquidated to cover debts, (2) a detached corporation who needs to see black ink above all else every year. Beyond that, stingy isn't a threat so much as conservative might be. Stupid as it was for the Wilpons to count on those fake profits, they sunk that money into the operations rather than paying off their principle. In this economy, I'm not sure folks will have the guts to keep reinvesting as the investments aren't paying off like the Pons did. But it's New York, and there'll likely be enough folks out there who want the vanity of pimping out the Mets in their name. Those folks will be bidding against the corporations, so we'll see. But again, the (1) and (2) above are what I fear might lies beyond the 'Pons. Fman99 wrote: Fucking Wilpons. Just sell already. I know, but they look like they're playing to stay and the game is on.

Ceetar wrote: Mets � Willets Point wrote: Either way, hopefully it's a sign of better fortunes for the team. seems hard for it to be worse right? either they'll help turn things around or help them sell if they can't afford the team. Either way should lead to a team that's able to spend. Wouldn't have picked you for a grass-is-greener guy.

Hopefully, certainly.

Ooooh, here's some action.

Yeah, Sandy's made clear he's not getting anybody unless he comes cheap. Hairston had a relative lack of at-battage, and any disappointment in his backup productivity can at least summat be taken in the context of sample size. Hit a bunch of shots down the line early in the year that hooked just shy of the foul pole. One or two of those stay fair, and his percentages spike a little. If we didn't get Hairdo, it'd be a variation on him. Needed a righthanded outfielder who could play a little center. And I speak as one who advocated giving his pinch-hit appearances to Evans in the second half.

Gotta get Valadius/Seawolf off the ground.

You know, seeing Jack Morris at 63%, I challenge the voters who like his win-loss record (because the statistical argument for him begins and ends there) to ask themselves if maybe he didn't win so many games largely because he was backed through so much of his career by such a wonderful offense/defense combo a second and short, and maybe those guys are the ones you should really be looking at.

Tracky says a reunion with Willie Harris is unlikely.

Ended last season early with a pulled oblique. So I guess the physical is necessary.

Mount Kilimanjaro Very often I dream Africa, Where I belonged to the land in my previous births. Once I talked friendly with mount Kilimanjaro. 'I want to draw you on a canvas for an Exhibition.' 'First you have to climb, my dear painter.' But I missed several occasions and never tried again. Now when I see her in my dreams as a sculptor She acts like a stranger And never talk about our bygone incidents. I feel like a dwarf beneath the mountain. --- Nimal Dumhinga

Sandy has also said Santana will be ready for spring training and he's met with Chris Young and is considering bringing him back "under the right circumstances." Re-SignedRemoved From Projected RosterOutfielders =#0000FF]12 Scott Hairston DoB: 5/25/1980 =#FF8000]11 Kirk Nieuwenhuis DoB:8/7/1987 Your Projected 2012 Mets (Orange Indicates Players Have Options) Starting Pitchers =#0000FF]43 R.A. Dickey DoB: 10/29/1974 =#FF8000]35 Dillon Gee DoB: 4/28/1986 =#0000FF]49 Jonathon Niese DoB: 10/27/1986 =#0000FF]34 Mike Pelfrey DoB: 1/14/1984 =#0000FF]57 Johan Santana DoB: 3/13/1979Relief Pitchers =#0000FF]46 Manny Acosta DoB: 5/1/1981 =#0000FF]40 Tim Byrdak DoB: 10/31/1973 =#FF8000]50 =#0000FF]Frank Francisco DoB:9/11/1979 =#0000FF]19 Danny Herrera DoB: 10/21/1984 =#0000FF]39 Bobby Parnell DoB: 9/8/1984Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders =#FF8000]52 =#0000FF]Ram�n Ram�rez DoB:8/31/1981 =#FF8000]60 =#0000FF]John Rauch DoB:9/27/1978 =#FF8000]13 Mike Nickeas DoB: 2/13/1983 =#0000FF]30 Josh Thole DoB: 4/28/1986 =#FF8000]29 Ike Davis DoB: 3/22/1987 Infielders =#0000FF]28 Daniel Murphy DoB: 4/1/1985 =#0000FF]11 Ruben Tejada DoB: 10/27/1989 =#0000FF]2 Justin Turner DoB: 11/23/1984 =#FF8000]62 Jordany Valdespin DoB: 12/23/1984 =#0000FF]5 David Wright DoB: 12/20/1982 Outfielders =#0000FF]44 Jason Bay DoB: 9/20/1978 =#FF8000]21 Lucas Duda DoB: 2/3/1986 =#0000FF]12 Scott Hairston DoB: 5/25/1980 =#FF8000]26 Fernando Martinez DoB: 10/10/1988 =#FF8000]56 =#0000FF]Andr�s Torres DoB:1/26/1978 Also on 40-Man Roster Starting Pitchers =#FF8000]50 =#0000FF]Robert Carson DoB:1/23/1989 =#FF8000]46 =#0000FF]Jeurys Familia DoB:10/10/1989 =#FF8000]47 =#0000FF]Jeremy Hefner DoB:3/11/1981 =#FF8000]32 Jennry Mejia DoB: 10/11/1989 =#FF8000]66 Armando Rodriguez DoB: 1/28/1988Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers Infielders =#FF8000]63 Chris Schwinden DoB: 9/22/1986 =#FF8000]27 Pedro Beato DoB: 10/27/1986 =#0000FF]77 D.J. Carrasco DoB: 4/12/1977 =#FF8000]64 Josh Stinson DoB: 3/14/1988 =#FF8000]1 =#0000FF]Wilmer Flores DoB:8/6/1991InfieldersOutfielders =#FF8000]12 =#0000FF]Reese Havens DoB:10/20/1986 =#FF8000]65 Zach Lutz DoB: 6/3/1986 =#FF8000]3 Josh Satin DoB: 12/23/1984 =#FF8000]13 =#0000FF]Juan Lagares DoB:3/17/1989 =#FF8000]11 Kirk Nieuwenhuis DoB:8/7/1987Outfielders =#FF8000]22 =#0000FF]Cesar Puello DoB:4/1/1991 Also in Camp Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers Catchers =#FF8000]36 =#0000FF]Garrett Olson DoB: 10/18/1983 =#FF8000]44 =#0000FF]Chuck James DoB: 11/9/1981 =#FF8000]74 =#0000FF]Jeff Stevens DoB: 9/5/1983 =#0000FF]33 =#0000FF]Rob Johnson DoB: 7/22/1982 =#0000FF]22 =#0000FF]Lucas May DoB: 10/24/1984InfieldersOutfielders =#0000FF]15 Val Pascucci DoB: 11/17/1978 =#FF8000]6 =#0000FF]Omar Quintanilla DoB: 10/24/1981 =#FF8000]77 Corey Wimberly DoB: 10/26/1983 =#FF8000]23 Mike Baxter DoB: 12/7/1984 =#FF8000]39 =#0000FF]Adam Loewen DoB: 4/9/1984Outfielders =#FF8000]44 =#0000FF]Vinny Rottino DoB: 4/7/1980 Free Agents Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers Catchers Outfielders =#0000FF]47 Miguel Batista DoB: 2/19/1971 =#0000FF]55 Chris Young DoB: 5/25/1979 =#0000FF]45 Jason Isringhausen DoB: 9/7/1972 =#0000FF]9 Ronny Paulino DoB: 4/21/1988 =#0000FF]22 Willie Harris DoB: 6/22/1978