Edgy MD

If that's truly Schilling's position, that's terribly sad.

The only way you can bring it from lower than Bradford did would be to bounce the ball.

That's why I'm generally not supportive of the one-and-done rule, nor of cutting ballot eligibility from 15 to 10 years. The Ryans Howard look a lot more attractive on bigger ballots.

It's hard to imagine a year later, but had Curt Schilling just been gracious last year, let a publicist write his response for him, and enjoyed the last-year-on-the-ballot-bump, there's a real good chance that he'd've been up all last night celebrating and he'd be fielding congratulatory calls from all over over the country. Instead, by spitting in the direction of even the writers who supported him, he made himself toxic. The only guy crashing harder than him was Omar Vizquel, who is being investigated for sexually harassing a child. Also worth looking at who is trending forward — Scott Rolen, Billy Wagner, Andruw Jones, Todd Helton. Keeping it classy has its benefits. A lot of their votes probably came from the same voters who dropped Vizquel and Schilling. Check out Prince Fielder and Justin Morneau. One year and onto the heap. [th]Player[/th][th]2021 Votes[/th][th]2021 Pct.[/th][th]2022 Votes[/th][th]2022 Pct.[/th][th]Vote Dif.[/th][th]Pct. Dif.[/th]INDavid Ortiz30777.9%NOT INBarry Bonds24861.8%26066.0%+12+4.2%Roger Clemens (final year on ballot)24761.6%25765.2%+10+3.6%Scott Rolen21252.9%24963.2%+37+10.3%Curt Schilling (final year on ballot)28571.1%23158.6%=#BF0000]-54=#BF0000]-12.5%Todd Helton18044.9%20552.0%+25+7.1%Billy Wagner18646.4%20151.0%+15+4.6%Andruw Jones13633.9%16341.1%+27+7.2%Gary Sheffield16340.6%16040.6%=#BF0000]-30.0%Alex Rodriguez13534.3%Jeff Kent13032.4%12932.7%=#BF0000]-1+0.3%Manny Ramirez11328.2%11428.9%+1+0.7%Omar Vizquel19749.1%9423.9%=#BF0000]-103=#BF0000]-25.2%Sammy Sosa (final year on ballot)6817.0%7318.5%+5+1.5%Andy Pettitte5513.7%4210.7%=#BF0000]-13=#BF0000]-3.0%Jimmy Rollins379.4%Bobby Abreu358.7%348.6%=#BF0000]-1=#BF0000]-0.1%Mark Buehrle4411.0%235.8%=#BF0000]-21=#BF0000]-5.2%Torii Hunter389.5%215.3%=#BF0000]-17=#BF0000]-4.2%<5%, FALLING OFF BALLOTJoe Nathan174.3%Tim Hudson215.2%123.0%=#BF0000]-9=#BF0000]-2.2%Tim Lincecum92.3%Ryan Howard82.0%Mark Teixeira61.5%Jonathan Papelbon51.3%Justin Morneau51.3%A.J. Pierzynski20.5%Prince Fielder20.5%Carl Crawford00.0%Jake Peavy00.0% Voters really seem to hate the Phils, huh?

Izzy II was a sidewinder. Cone, like Andy Hassler, was a sometimes sidearmer. Also worth distinguishing the guys bringing it from 3:00 or 9:00 from the real knuckle draggers.

Lefty Specialist wrote: I'm not a gambler, but I'm really uncomfortable with how all the leagues have done a 180 and endorse and encourage gambling on the outcome of their games. There will be a betting and game-fixing scandal one day and I'm wondering how they're going to handle it. It would certainly not be shocking to find out it's already underway. How many guys are grinding it out in AAA on the verge of their final release? It only takes one. And if the league is already habituated to revenues from the gaming industry, it's going to be really hard to police when the gambling money is paying the police.

Lefty Specialist wrote: Papi should go into the HOF based on that shirt alone. It's too bad the rest of the A-Team couldn't be there to celebrate with him.

I remember some spring training account from years back where a teammate asked him, "I-Man, how much tenure have you accrued?" and he answered "Three seasons." The retort was, "You're the only guy I know who could accumulate three seasons from September callups." His motion sure brought out the best in the uniform's side-piping. [FIMG=450]https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*CBIyHax58MaL_brGdlgWRA.jpeg[/FIMG] [FIMG=450]https://en-academic.com/pictures/enwiki/74/Jeff_Innis.jpg[/FIMG]

Two A-level guys who were getting a little old, cast off at the end of summer to make room for the up-and-comers. Transactions, 8/31/2021 [td90]Direction[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]Transaction[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/668805/t506/180x270/668805.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/nightengale-drake-2020.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Matt Cleveland [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Drake Nightengale [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]3/18/98[/td90][td90]5/8/96[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]High Level[/td90][td90]A (2021)[/td90][td90]A (2021)[/td90] Transactions, 9/5/2021 [td90]Direction[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]Transaction[/td90][td90]Signed Away by CWS[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/nightengale-drake-2020.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Drake Nightengale [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]5/8/96[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]High Level[/td90][td90]A (2021)[/td90] Cleveland was doomed, having missed time with injuries and Covid, and that was time he just didn't have. He ended up throwing only 9 2/3 innings, and dealt out an unthinkable amount of free passes in that short span of time. Even when it seemed like he was going to hit the strike zone, he hit bats instead. The walks were a constant though. Nightengale has also been a walk-intensive pitcher. Not so much that Chicago didn't take a look at him though. The White Sox must've been scouting the Mets at the moment, because Nightie got release on the same day as teammate Conner O'Neil, and they both got signed by the Sox five days later.

I still think we've hit peak NFL. The New York football fans I came of age with knew every starter on the Jets and Giants, most of the reserves, and most of the starters in both teams' divisions, too. And yeah, of course, they knew every starting QB in the NFL. I think when people are watching on autopilot, still tuning in out of habit but not really engaging, there is a meaningful loss. Each of those persons is a schedule change away from just not watching any longer, or not passing devotion on to the next generation. I sure hope so, certainly. I think the most entertaining thing about football is the coaches. Actually, I think the most entertaining thing about football is the pants on the coaches.

Curt Schilling: "I'm requesting to be removed from the ballot." BBWAA Voters: "Happy to oblige."

I wonder who was the last Hall of Famer to survive a shooting.

Welcome to the Hall of Fame, David Ortíz, and only David Ortíz. A worthy companion for Gil Hodges.

Rob Parker went for Bonds, Clemens, Sheffield, and Sosa, but felt too sketchy about Ortíz? All expectations seem to be for one or zero candidates to cross the line.

Six o'clock this evening, just as you should be in the middle of a dream.

Brace for impact.

That's terrible. Innis is one of a kind.

Yeah, Coachmas is coming a little late, but while we wait for rosters to solidify, let's take a look at our staff side-by side. YOUR 2022 Mets Coaching Staff [th][ptext=8]Position Group[/ptext][/th][th][PTEXT=8] Manager[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Bench Coach[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Pitching Coach[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Hitting Coach[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Third Base Coach[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]First Base Coach[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Bullpen Coach[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Ass't. Batting Coach[/PTEXT][/th][td60][/td60][td60][fimg=60]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/showalter-buck-2022.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/sherlock-glenn-2022.png[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Hefner-Jeremy-2-2019.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/chavez-eric-2022.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/cora-joey-2022.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/kirby-wayne-2022.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/bjornson-craig-2022.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/barnes-jeremy-2022.png[/fIMG][/td60][td60][ptext=8]Name[/ptext][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Buck Showalter [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Glenn Sherlock [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Jeremy Hefner [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Eric Chávez [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Joey Cora [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Puerto_Rico.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Wayne Kirby [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Craig Bjornson [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Jeremy Barnes [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][ptext=8]DoB[/ptext][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]5/23/56[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]circa 1973[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]3/11/86[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]12/7/77[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]5/14/65[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]1/22/64[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]2/14/69[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]4/13/87[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][ptext=8]Originally Acquired[/ptext][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired as manager, 12/18/2021[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired away from PIT and announced as Mets bench 1/29/22.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired away from MIN as MLB pitching coach, 12/8/2019.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired away from NYY as Batting Coach, 1/6/2022.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired away from PIT as third base coach, circa 1/5/2022.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired away from SDP circa, 1/6/2022.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired away from BOS as bullpen coach, circa 1/21/2022.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired away from HOU as director of player development initiatives, circa 1/25/2021.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][ptext=8]Status Notes[/ptext][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Also serving as catching intstructor.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Also serving as infield instructor.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Also serving as outfield instructor and baserunning coordinator.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][ptext=8]Year in Org.[/ptext][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]1[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]1[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]3[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]1[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]1[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]1[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]1[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]2[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][ptext=8]Position Group[/ptext][/td60][th][PTEXT=8]Head Trainer[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Assistant Trainer[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Str. & Cond. Coach[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Physical Therapist[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Equipment Manager[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Bullpen Catcher[/PTEXT][/th][th][PTEXT=8]Bullpen Catcher[/PTEXT][/th][td60][/td60][td60][fimg=60]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Chicklo-Brian-2019.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Golia-Joseph-2019.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Clarke-Dustin-2019.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sean-bardenett.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/kierst-kevin-2019-1.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Langill-Eric-2019.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][fimg=60]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Racianello-Dave-2019.jpg[/fIMG][/td60][td60][ptext=8]Name[/ptext][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Brian Chicklo [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Joseph Golia [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Dustin Clarke [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Sean Bardanett [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Kevin Kierst [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Eric Langill [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/canada-flag.jpg[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Dave Racaniello [fimg=30]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/PTEXT][/td60][td60][ptext=8]DoB[/ptext][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]7/17/72[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]Circa 1978[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]circa 1987[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]6/23/88[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]7/9/64[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]4/9/79[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=8]6/3/78[/PTEXT][/td60][td90][ptext=8]Originally Acquired[/ptext][/td90][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired as SS A+ trainer, 1998.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired as SS A+ trainer, 2005.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired, 2010.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired, 2019.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired away from Cincinnati as Norfolk equipment manager, 1989.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired as MLB bullpen catcher, 6/2011.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]Hired as MLB bullpen catcher, spring, 2001.[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][ptext=8]Status Notes[/ptext][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6] [/PTEXT][/td60][td90][ptext=8]Year in Org.[/ptext][/td90][td60][PTEXT=6]25[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]18[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]13[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]4[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]33[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]12[/PTEXT][/td60][td60][PTEXT=6]22[/PTEXT][/td60] I like the dialing back of assistants. If they serve a purpose, great, but just because you have a role on a staff one year, doesn't necessarily mean it should become institutionalized. What is interesting is that the position of "assistant batting coach" seemed to lag behind the escalation of pitching personnel, but now that the Mets have dialed down from two assistant pitching coaches to zero, they still retain an assistant batting coach, or assistant hitting instructor, or whatever. I'm going to ascribe this to assistant batting coaches generally having a concrete in-game assignment, to supervise hitters sneaking back to the cages to take extra BP during the game. The tasks for assistant pitching coaches seemed more ambiguous, especially during the game. Also, the bullpen coach, historically, has usually been something of an assistant pitching coach. I'm glad to see the bench coach experienced as a catching instructor. That role too often has been one the Mets have been indifferent to assigning. It is kind of comical and sad how seemingly often the one African-American on a big league staff is (a) the first base coach, ( the outfield instructor, © the baserunning instructor, and (d) the last guy appointed. The Mets have sadly reverted to form by that measure.

Well, that's our new highest achievement.

because the media blasts baseball for the same shit that football and the other 'major' sports skate on, and it drives the more casual fans to think that there's something wrong with baseball, and they turn it away or turn it off. and the die hard fans get all pissy and bitchy and turn it off too. I don't know. I get that "the media blasts baseball for the same shit that football and the other 'major' sports skate on" (which is another way of saying that it's held to a higher standard), but I don't go from there to this hurting baseball's appeal. As for football, I think we hit peak NFL ten years ago. I think it's taking plenty of scratches. I remember a reporter going to a tailgate before a Jets season opener and nobody there could name any players on the team. I don't really think of baseball and football as competitors. I think MLB's real competition today should be whatever MLB was yesterday. Carve your own path.

Banjo-plucking Brooklyn troubadour gets a regular crowd at his gig with a gimmick — a backstory that he's really a visitor from another planet that had come to Earth to destroy the population, in preparation for colonization by his race, but ultimately spared us after falling in love with the beauty of music. It's a fun and goofy fantasy to join in as you enjoy a few songs over beers on date night, but what if it's all true? [fimg=500]https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzA3MDI3MzAxMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDY2Mjc0OQ@@._V1_.jpg[/fimg]

=metsmarathon post_id=85050 time=1643120174 user_id=83]it's crazy, right, because people lap up any and all gambling & fantasy football talk, but once it comes to baseball, people get all antsy. baseball gets constantly held to a higher standard of what we'll allow as fans, and it suffers for it.

In my lower back, man. That squirrelposture doesn't affect anybody else?

Yeah, agreed with most of the above. The problem is less legalized betting than it is the organizations being in bed with the gambling industry. Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle got blacklisted for gladhanding at casinos. It was a disgracefully wrong move, but for the right reason — keeping a firewall between the integrity of the game and those who can make a windfall on a single outcome. Forty years later and baseball seems to be lighting the gaming industry's cigarettes.

Meeting the media. Talking plans. [media=youtube]yDg2cfynfMM[/media] Lots of coachy information. Epps already checking his watch before the first question is asked. Early on, Buck reveals that he reactivated Sherlock for one game in 1989 after he the latter had retired and become a coach.