Edgy MD

Well, really, then, why should you care? Either they punt and not tell you or they punt and do. Same team either way. We're adults. It's not like I know of any team in history that has announced before November 1st that they don't intend to compete the next season.

Ortiz was certainly among their best, eventually, but I was thinking which was the biggest on the day it went down, and that went under the radar. Unlike the Tom Hausman deal, which launched a press conference featuring the Rockettes, traffic stopping in Times Square, parades, and joyful incredulity throughout Metdom.

Well, that's a shame. Guys competing for the earliest quit ever. Paint's not even dry on the shiny new walls.

Yeah, well, I'm not punting.

Mets meet with Reyes reps. Dampen hopes decidedly. Mets meet with Jose Reyes reps By Adam Rubin ESPNNewYork.com NEW YORK -- New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has met with the representatives for shortstop Jose Reyes. However, Alderson added, he does not expect a quick resolution to the All-Star shortstop's free agency. Open bidding on free agents begins Thursday. "Things are going to go slowly, which I think is typical of most if not all free agents," Alderson said. "Very few sign during the exclusive period." "Take it out of the Jose Reyes context into just the general free agent context," Alderson continued. "There are some situations where a player might indicate what it would take for him to forgo the free agent market. There are some situations where a club might try to make a preemptive offer to preclude that [open bidding]. "I don't think either one of those things is going to happen in this case. I don't think Jose is going to give us a number for which he would forgo free agency. I don't think we're in a position to make him what I would characterize as a preemptive offer." Regardless, Alderson maintained, the Mets would not go into rebuilding mode if Reyes departs. "We're not going to punt 2012 if Jose doesn't re-sign," Alderson said. That means, in all likelihood, no trading of third baseman David Wright this offseason for prospects. Asked about his level of confidence that Wright remains a Met, Alderson replied: "I couldn't say that with any degree of certainty about any player that we have. Do I think that he'll be a Met next year? Yes." Alderson confirmed that the payroll will be in the $100 million to $110 million range in 2012, a slashing of as much as $40 million off the payroll this past season. The GM added that he likely would not spend all of that money up front to allow for midseason maneuvers and bonuses in contracts. That means the Mets' payroll actually may be less than $100 million on Opening Day. Still, Alderson insisted, waiting on Reyes into December or January will not hamstring other pursuits. He suggested that the amount of money devoted to other free agents is not overly contingent upon Reyes remaining or leaving. "It's not like we have an unlimited amount of money to spend," Alderson said. "But, at the same time, I don't think there are a lot of 'either-ors' that we have to face. ... In other words, we have an independent sense of what a closer would be worth to us based on what's out there. So if we have Jose, would we opt for somebody lower in that range rather than higher in that range? It's possible, but I don't think they're that dependent." Alderson agreed that projecting the contract Reyes ultimately will receive is difficult, since the position players who generally command the most in free agency are sluggers. It also is unclear how teams will price Reyes' history of hamstring injuries into their bids. Still, speaking generally, Alderson does not believe the days of seven-year contracts are over across baseball. "The way I look at it is you've got 30 different teams, and they all lie somewhere on a continuum," Alderson said. "At the one end of the continuum is the desire to win and be as competitive as possible. At the other end of the spectrum is the desire to make money or break even or what have you. "There are clubs on both ends of the spectrum, and a lot in the middle. And every year they change. So do I expect there to be at least one seven-year contract this year? Yeah." Alderson said the Mets already have formulated the level at which they are willing to bid on Reyes. "I think it's fair to say we've thought about this," Alderson said. "We have a sense of where we would be comfortable, or slightly less comfortable -- [and] totally uncomfortable." Adam Rubin covers the Mets for ESPNNewYork.com. Follow Adam Rubin on Twitter: @AdamRubinESPN

Leftfield seats: Won't that fence extension interfere with attempted Endys?

The new Mo Zone. It's now the Shmoe Zone, apparently. Only white people allowed.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Albert Belle -- Orioles. How 'bout Reggie/MFY's? Yeah, I'm going with Reggie over Winnie. I was kind of loathe to include Albert Belle a second time. The Orioles dropped a ton of money for him, but there was something sloppy seconds about the whole affair.

Yeah, you're right.

We still get a stripe down the line in left. They ought to bring it in another 30 inches just cuz.

Former first-round pick Eddie Kunz debuted with the Mets in 2008, throwing 2.2 hapless innings. This was followed by two and a half seasons of downward mobility, finishing 2010 in Binghamton alternating between staring and the bullpen, along with his usual bloated ERA and an even higher than usual walk rate, of 5.5 At 24, that usually means the post-career life starts, but Kunz still had that first-round label attached to him, which means teams are still willing to kick the tires. The team was the Padres, who traded fellow first-round washout Allan Dykstra for him, assigned him to the AA San Antonio Missions, and returned him to the bullpen. There he pitched in 52 games, put up a 4.30 ERA, and (this is new) struck out only 3.3 batters per nine innings. Sounds like Mission pitching coach Jimmy Jones is getting him to work the sinker. Anyhow, the Missions had a great season and swept the championship series, three games to none, with Kunz capturing the game-two victory in a staggering 20-inning post-season game. Here he is joined by his pal Joey. Adam Seuss, what ever became of you?

House-cleaning Sawx decline options on Dan Wheeler and Scott Atchison. You figure they could've at least gotten Adam Seuss for him.

Torre could get re-hired by opening day. Maybe he gets the Cardinals job. Maybe the Red Sox!

A beneficiary of a little-known scholarship fund for Latino players.

Mets director of international operations joins MLB, pretty much to take over Sandy Alderson's work. Here's Perez at the mic in the golf shirt.

How about Larry Hisle? He signed with them after leading the league in RBI.

I'd apologize if I stumped Kitty Carlisle.

Holliday certainly qualifies. Pirates: Burnitz?

Padres: Oscar Gamble?

I hear he's dating Kim Kardashian.

Dwight Gooden tweeting, ladies and gentlemen If CC goes else where which he's not... look for the angels to be players not the philliis Thanks, Uncle Dwight!

Giants: Barry Bonds. Duh! I've got the Pirates on the list four times as donors, but none as recipients.

Baltimore Orioles: Boston Red Sox: Manny Ramirez (Daisuke Matsuzaka) New York Yankees: Dave Winfield (or Reggie Jackson or Everybody else) Tampa Bay Rays: Toronto Blue Jays: Roger Clemens? Chicago White Sox: Albert Belle Cleveland Indians: Detroit Tigers: Juan Gonzalez Kansas City Royals: David Cone (Mark Davis) Minnesota Twins: Los Angeles (Anaheim) Angels Mo Vaughn (Rod Carew) Oakland A's: Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki (John Olerud) Texas Rangers: Alex Rodriguez Atlanta Braves: Greg Maddux Miami (and Florida) Marlins: Carlos Delgado Philadelphia Phillies: Cliff Lee (Jim Thome, Lance Parrish) New York Mets: Carlos Beltr�n (Pedro Martinez, Bobby Bonilla, Andy Hassler) Washington Nationals (and Montreal Expos): Jayson Werth Cincinnati Reds: Dave Parker Chicago Cubs: Alfonso Soriano? Houston Astros: Nolan Ryan Milwaukee Brewers: Pittsburgh Pirates: St. Louis Cardinals: Arizona Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson Colorado Rockies: Mike Hampton Los Angeles Dodgers: Darryl Strawberry (Kevin Brown) San Diego Padres: Steve Garvey San Francisco Giants: Barry Bonds (Barry Zito)

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Was Vice Coleman the biggest name out there when we signed him? (Talk about ones you wish you could take back...) Well, no, Darryl Strawberry was, and he was some sloppy-assed seconds. But even arguing that he was the best player out there after Strawberry that season, he was no Beltran. Manny --- of course.

If the defense is there, I imagine he'll be on Sandy's watch list.