Edgy MD

MLB may be freezing transactions during their lockout, but that hasn't stopped KBO's Kiwoom Heroes from signing themselves a little Yasiel Puig. Rich Puig could not be reached for comment.

Well, Gil didn't pass within the fold, like he did with the Mets, and as Junior did with the Dodgers. But yeah, if there is such a rule, Gilliam was certainly an exception.

I don't know how you let this happen.

I think "I Me Mine" is pretty great. Really short (short enough that it could have been on Beatles for Sale), but searing and dramatic, complete and cathartic. I like how it's in 3/4, perfectly containing the three-syllable title, and then when they switch to the 4/4 blues progression for the refrain, the title line expands to four syllables.

I went for 00 DAYS WITHOUT TEAM FIASCO, but as conceptually inspired as it is, its got it's problems. 1) There's something unsettling about staring at the back of Mr. Met's head. 2) Even if there wasn't, that's a lot of wasted real estate. You could have blown that shot up further and cut him off five or six inches above the shoulder and had a better version of the same effect. 3) You couldn't find an inset photo of Zack Scott's face without a mask? 4) TEAM FIASCO is an awkward substitute for AN ACCIDENT. 5) The great tradition of putting the funny take in the headline and the actual lede in the subhead can be really be joneshwyed up if you are forced to lay it out so the subhead becomes a superhead. That's one more reason to trim off Mr. Met's head. It would create room for the subhead at the bottom. Subtle things on plus side: 1) The ZVON-level goofiness of Scott's head bursting out of the inset frame. 2) The orange line on the Mets outfield wall pulling extra duty, acting like a border separating the top logo from the story. I think this is what tempted the layout artist to use so much Mr. Met head.

Transactions, 12/8/2021 [td90]Direction[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]=#008410]COMING[/td90][td90]Transaction[/td90][td90]Drafted Away by SEA in Rule V Draft[/td90][td90]Drafted Away by ATL in Rule V Draft[/td90][td90]Drafted Away from TBR in Rule V Draft, Projected for Brooklyn[/td90][td90]Drafted Away from CHC in Rule V Draft[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF8004]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/681935/generic/180x270/681935.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/642216/t506/180x270/642216.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/valverde-alex-2022.png[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/ocampo-carlos-2022.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Tommy Wilson [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Alllan Winans [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Alex Valverde [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]Carlos Ocampo [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/flag-of-colombia.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]5/26/96[/td90][td90]8/10/95[/td90][td90]9/26/96[/td90][td90]9/3/98[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]High Level[/td90][td90]AA (2021)[/td90][td90]AA (2021)[/td90][td90]AA (2021)[/td90][td90]A (2021)[/td90] Well, the Mets never told Tommy Wilson to make like a tree and get out of here, but that's what he and Allan Winans are doing following their selection by enemy organizations in the Rule V. draft. These losses amount to a real stinker — not necessarily because they were big-time prospectos, but because it cuts into the upper-level depth that was so lacking in system in 2021. Both of the Big Ws were slated to open in the Syracuse bullpen this season, and that also meant a damn good chance that they might see an MLB debut. Perhaps as importantly, the Mets lose out on having the funniest father-of-a-player in the team's history. That's not cool. Of those coming in, Alex Valverde is more likely to plug one of those holes. We're listing him as a starter, but he's been transitioning to relief in recent years. He has a really impressive hard slider with a vertical dart, and seemingly a softer one with more curve-like vertical movement, but the strikeout rate only reached beyond nine this past season in AA. The secondary stuff isn't as impressive, and the control could improve some, adding to my suspicion that the Mets intend to bullpen him, and he can pare down his arsenal. Ocampo has never pitched above Low A, where he put up a 5.85 ERA in 2021, so we probably won't be hearing much from him for a while. Anywutz, so long, Griff Tannen, you big asshole.

I imagine Buck turns in about 8:30.

The Dodgers appear to have a policy of not retiring the number of non-Hall of Famers. As such, Hodges' 14 has been in circulation all of these years, and if it finally gets mothballed, I imagine it will be in his honor, but not Scoscia's. It's kind of silly, I think, to farm out how you intend to honor your team's legacies to the Hall of Fame decision makers, but when it comes to retired numbers, there are as many opinions as there are people.

Those are not two guys you want to lose!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm looking forward (well, only sort of) to the day when we break the three-digit barrier in uniform numbers. NPB already has triple-digit numbers, because each player in the system gets an individual number. Usually the three-digit numbers only go to "developmental players," low down in the system, and they shed them as soon as they can. Bill Lee was turned down in his request to wear #337 with the Expos, but he was able to suit up in it for the Alaska Goldpanners. http://www.panneralumni.com/wp-content/uploads/1999/02/2019_alumni-featured_wfl.jpg>

And it's really jammed up Cleveland's equipment managers to keep 455 out of circulation.

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I gotta say, Newsday has the best fastball on the staff. It may need work on its secondary pitches, like exploiting scandals, cashing in on LOLMets moments, and making use of Mr Met with a variety of facial expressions and such. What do you consider to be Newsday's heater?

Well, I sort of read that as a backhanded laud. Perhaps more of a dual.

More of yesterday's news TODAY!! Transactions, 8/31/2021 [td90]Direction[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]Transaction[/td90][td90]Released[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF8002]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/670304/t453/180x270/670304.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Conner O'Neil [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]9/25/94[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]High Level[/td90][td90]A+ (2021)[/td90] Transactions, 9/5/2021 [td90]Direction[/td90][td90]GOING[/td90][td90]Transaction[/td90][td90]Signed Away by CHW[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF8002]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/670304/t453/180x270/670304.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Conner O'Neil [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]9/25/94[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]High Level[/td90][td90]A+ (2021)[/td90] Conner O'Neil was a seventh-rounder out of Cal State-Northridge in 2017. He had a terrific 2018 with Columbia (6-0, with 56 strikeouts in 44 innings), but Columbia was Columbia, and that success was never replicated. His awful 2021 (7.71 ERA in 25 2/3 innings in Brooklyn) led to an injured list assignment that was really more of a "We can't in good conscience keep sending him out there" assignment. Ultimately, he got his release, was signed by Chicago a week later, and sent all the way down to rookie ball to start over at 26. He had been quoted in an ESPN article a month earlier, saying that he was vaccinated but did not think his Brooklyn teammates should be mandated.

It pretty much brings everything full circle when Mackie Shilstone counts Fred Flintstone among his client list.

I'm guessing that Max Scherzer has never actually been "in the Mets locker room."

I don't know if growing up in a Newsday house makes me think of it as more of a home paper than a commuter paper, or if that partially feeds into my partiality. I also think Newsday's wider aspect ratio (4.00:3.43 vs 4.00:3.00 for the News) makes it feel less ... portrait-y.

And too many words, at home, can often lead to a white-on-white conflict for the layout artist. CRUSHING had the good sense to go with an alternate-color headline, the narrative taste to select a photo with the hat in mid-air but in focus, and the finishing kick to layer the headline behind the subject.

I've only read part of it. Salute to McKenna who always provides SABR with deeply researched stories.

Hopefully, this also leads the Dodgers to finally retire 14.

Beisból America is reporting that the MLB portio of the Rule V Draft will be postponed indefinitely pending the outcome of the lockout.

I prefer the borders that the other two tabloids use around the photos and fonts. Editorially, I have no particular Newsday antipathy, and would probably rank them highest among the three (low standard, but ... ). Less sensationalist all around. That's good, but it doesn't always help you construct back covers.

Transactions, 12/1/2021 [td90]Direction[/td90][td90]COMING[/td90][td90]COMING[/td90][td90]Transaction[/td90][td90]Signed Away from MIA to Minor League Contract, Projected for Syracuse[/td90][td90]Signed Away from KCR to Minor League Contract, Projected for Syracuse[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#00BF00] Catcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/zastryzny-rob-2022.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90][fimg=90]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/dini-nick-2022.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Rob Zastryzny [fimg=50]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/canada-flag.jpg[/fimg][/td90][td90]Nick Dini [fimg=50]http://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]3/26/92[/td90][td90]7/27/93[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/L[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]High Level[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]MLB (2018)[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]MLB (2019)[/td90] While we (again) can find no word about these two contracts coming with camp invites, we should expect that they will indeed be dressing with the big-leaguers when camp opens. Zastryzny already looks to be about ninth on the bullpen depth chart, and tops among lefthanded relievers. He's also the top Canadian reliever in the organization, which must matter somehow. Dini is a local yokel, by way of Monroe, NJ, and four years of starting at Staten Island's Wagner College. He's got a pretty strong minor league batting record and that should be enough to displace Hayden Senger and currently slot him in at fourth on the organizational receiver depth chart. He's got a strong speed profile for a catcher and has additionally played a lot of second base and dabbled at the other infield positions. Tough break for all fans dreaming of Chance Sisco return, but a good pounce otherwise. Both have big league experience.

An all-Newsday matchup forces me to THINK before making a selection. While I mostly dislike both, the first has a stronger (if cliched) shot. The second has a stronger headline. I'm going with the top one based on (slightly) stronger overall composition.