seawolf17

Could they? Sure. In fact, they should call up Robinson Cancel and carry four catchers for a while, just for shits and giggles.

OlerudOwned wrote: Beautiful play by Castillo. I can't believe it's the 7th inning already. Funny I was just thinking the same thing. It's really flying by.

What does it say on Ramon's collar, before his uni #?

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":22bx65ep]="seawolf17":22bx65ep]="John Cougar Lunchbucket":22bx65ep]Elster, Seawolf and Steve J. Rogers just getting back from the Stadium now, probably. Perhaps they will join us here for the Mets game.[/quote:22bx65ep] Huh?[/quote:22bx65ep] Just busting yer Yankee-Lovin chops. Say hi to Hank for me.[/quote:22bx65ep] Double huh? duan Jun 08 2009 06:27 AM ="Willets Point":14bhkrrc]With all the homeruns flying out of the new ballpark, I suggest that we start calling in Yankee Stadium 3-D![/quote:14bhkrrc] has this calmed down at all? Frayed Knot Jun 08 2009 06:38 AM Slightly. 100 HRs in 28 games: 53 by Yanx, 47 by opponents. That's still a ton but, at 3.57/game, the pace is down from when it was closer to 4/per. And that's just lower enough to where they're no longer on pace to break the Coors Field 1999 mark. Frayed Knot Jun 08 2009 07:59 PM 5 more HRs tonight 105 in 29 games 3.62/game = 293 for the season Record is 303 in Coors Field 1999 Also, Teixeira, Cano, Damon & Cabrera are on pace for their best HR seasons of their career (by 8, 7, 10 & 9) Jeter & Swisher are on a pace to about equal their bests Leaving the only regulars who aren't on a personal record pace as the 35 y/o Matsui, plus ARod & Posada who both missed about half the season so far. soupcan Jun 09 2009 08:23 AM Makes me curious as to what our homer-weary boys will do this weekend at the band-box in the Bronx. HahnSolo Jun 09 2009 09:10 AM The Damon HR was comical last night. When he hit the ball, he put his head down in disgust that he had popped the ball up. It landed three rows over the wall. Didn't stop Sterling from calling it a "Johnny Rocket" I bet. soupcan Jun 09 2009 09:13 AM IT IS HIGH...up! IT IS...not so...FAR! However, IT....IS....GONE! LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 09 2009 09:33 AM ="HahnSolo":1nvohjim]The Damon HR was comical last night. When he hit the ball, he put his head down in disgust that he had popped the ball up. It landed three rows over the wall. Didn't stop Sterling from calling it a "Johnny Rocket" I bet.[/quote:1nvohjim] Was there last night. The Damon one was indeed ridiculous... but the Jeter one (just making the seats) and even the Swisher one (a well-struck but lazy fly that ended up carrying a shit-ton and landing past the first seating area in right-center) weren't far behind. By the third, the fans were standing up for any flyball into the gap. I'm thinking Churchy and Muffy-- hell, Cora, even-- should start aiming at the Subway sign during Phils BP... this weekend could make for some nice number inflation. Frayed Knot Jun 10 2009 06:27 AM Newsday: Fences are shorter http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spstad0611,0,3247160.story excerpts: The barrage of home runs at new Yankee Stadium is being caused by shorter dimensions, not weather, according to AccuWeather.com. The meteorology company said Tuesday that 20 of the 105 home runs hit at the $1.5 billion ballpark would not have gone out of the old Yankee Stadium. "For someone attending a game at the new Yankee Stadium or watching on TV, the size of the playing field appears to be the same," AccuWeather meteorologist Tim Buckley said in a statement Tuesday. {I guess he's got a reason to believe} "The dimensions at select corners of the field are identical -- and the posted numbers on the walls reflect that. However, detailed schematics of the park reveal some nuances that have significant implications." AccuWeather agreed with the conclusions of Greg Rybarczyk of hittrackeronline.com, who said in April that right field in the new ballpark was shorter. The Yankee insist that the dimensions are exactly the same. "The wall structure is slightly different than the old park," AccuWeather said. "The main difference involves curvature. The gentle curve from right field to center field seen in original Yankee Stadium has largely been eliminated at the new stadium ... due in large part to the presence of a manual scoreboard embedded within the wall. Losing this curvature has resulted in a right field that is shorter by four-to-five feet on average, but up to nine feet in spots. "Not only is the famed short porch even shorter in the new stadium, but the walls themselves are not as tall. In the old ballpark, the walls in right field stood at a height of approximately 10 feet. At this height, it was difficult for outfielders to scale the wall and attempt to rob a home run over the fence. Fast forward to 2009, and the outfielders have been scaling the wall without any trouble. The result? The new outfield fences only rise to a height of eight feet, adding to the ease hitting a home run to right." The new Yankee Stadium is on pace for 293 homers, 10 shy of the major league record hit at Denver's Coors Field in 1999 and an 83 percent increase from the 160 hit at original Yankee Stadium, last year. Frayed Knot Jun 18 2009 08:15 PM Today's (night's) 3-0 MFY loss to the Nats was, I believe, the first no-homer game in YSIII this season. seawolf17 Jun 18 2009 08:37 PM The MFYs had a little case of Metsflu tonight, getting shut out by a kid fresh off a high school ballfield somewhere. (A guy against whom, of course, the Mets bucked convention and beat recently.)

Gary said it looked like the umpire was signaling home run, when he was just emphatically signaling fair. ... HE DIDN'T RUN! Oh, Fartinez!

No offense, Elster. I seem to remember us having a row over something or other some time ago.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2b607477]Elster, Seawolf and Steve J. Rogers just getting back from the Stadium now, probably. Perhaps they will join us here for the Mets game.[/quote:2b607477] Huh? John Cougar Lunchbucket May 27 2009 07:39 PM ="seawolf17":1hdt22ta]="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1hdt22ta]Elster, Seawolf and Steve J. Rogers just getting back from the Stadium now, probably. Perhaps they will join us here for the Mets game.[/quote:1hdt22ta] Huh?[/quote:1hdt22ta] Just busting yer Yankee-Lovin chops. Say hi to Hank for me. seawolf17 May 27 2009 07:44 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":22bx65ep]="seawolf17":22bx65ep]="John Cougar Lunchbucket":22bx65ep]Elster, Seawolf and Steve J. Rogers just getting back from the Stadium now, probably. Perhaps they will join us here for the Mets game.[/quote:22bx65ep] Huh?[/quote:22bx65ep] Just busting yer Yankee-Lovin chops. Say hi to Hank for me.[/quote:22bx65ep] Double huh? duan Jun 08 2009 06:27 AM ="Willets Point":14bhkrrc]With all the homeruns flying out of the new ballpark, I suggest that we start calling in Yankee Stadium 3-D![/quote:14bhkrrc] has this calmed down at all? Frayed Knot Jun 08 2009 06:38 AM Slightly. 100 HRs in 28 games: 53 by Yanx, 47 by opponents. That's still a ton but, at 3.57/game, the pace is down from when it was closer to 4/per. And that's just lower enough to where they're no longer on pace to break the Coors Field 1999 mark. Frayed Knot Jun 08 2009 07:59 PM 5 more HRs tonight 105 in 29 games 3.62/game = 293 for the season Record is 303 in Coors Field 1999 Also, Teixeira, Cano, Damon & Cabrera are on pace for their best HR seasons of their career (by 8, 7, 10 & 9) Jeter & Swisher are on a pace to about equal their bests Leaving the only regulars who aren't on a personal record pace as the 35 y/o Matsui, plus ARod & Posada who both missed about half the season so far. soupcan Jun 09 2009 08:23 AM Makes me curious as to what our homer-weary boys will do this weekend at the band-box in the Bronx. HahnSolo Jun 09 2009 09:10 AM The Damon HR was comical last night. When he hit the ball, he put his head down in disgust that he had popped the ball up. It landed three rows over the wall. Didn't stop Sterling from calling it a "Johnny Rocket" I bet. soupcan Jun 09 2009 09:13 AM IT IS HIGH...up! IT IS...not so...FAR! However, IT....IS....GONE! LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 09 2009 09:33 AM ="HahnSolo":1nvohjim]The Damon HR was comical last night. When he hit the ball, he put his head down in disgust that he had popped the ball up. It landed three rows over the wall. Didn't stop Sterling from calling it a "Johnny Rocket" I bet.[/quote:1nvohjim] Was there last night. The Damon one was indeed ridiculous... but the Jeter one (just making the seats) and even the Swisher one (a well-struck but lazy fly that ended up carrying a shit-ton and landing past the first seating area in right-center) weren't far behind. By the third, the fans were standing up for any flyball into the gap. I'm thinking Churchy and Muffy-- hell, Cora, even-- should start aiming at the Subway sign during Phils BP... this weekend could make for some nice number inflation. Frayed Knot Jun 10 2009 06:27 AM Newsday: Fences are shorter http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spstad0611,0,3247160.story excerpts: The barrage of home runs at new Yankee Stadium is being caused by shorter dimensions, not weather, according to AccuWeather.com. The meteorology company said Tuesday that 20 of the 105 home runs hit at the $1.5 billion ballpark would not have gone out of the old Yankee Stadium. "For someone attending a game at the new Yankee Stadium or watching on TV, the size of the playing field appears to be the same," AccuWeather meteorologist Tim Buckley said in a statement Tuesday. {I guess he's got a reason to believe} "The dimensions at select corners of the field are identical -- and the posted numbers on the walls reflect that. However, detailed schematics of the park reveal some nuances that have significant implications." AccuWeather agreed with the conclusions of Greg Rybarczyk of hittrackeronline.com, who said in April that right field in the new ballpark was shorter. The Yankee insist that the dimensions are exactly the same. "The wall structure is slightly different than the old park," AccuWeather said. "The main difference involves curvature. The gentle curve from right field to center field seen in original Yankee Stadium has largely been eliminated at the new stadium ... due in large part to the presence of a manual scoreboard embedded within the wall. Losing this curvature has resulted in a right field that is shorter by four-to-five feet on average, but up to nine feet in spots. "Not only is the famed short porch even shorter in the new stadium, but the walls themselves are not as tall. In the old ballpark, the walls in right field stood at a height of approximately 10 feet. At this height, it was difficult for outfielders to scale the wall and attempt to rob a home run over the fence. Fast forward to 2009, and the outfielders have been scaling the wall without any trouble. The result? The new outfield fences only rise to a height of eight feet, adding to the ease hitting a home run to right." The new Yankee Stadium is on pace for 293 homers, 10 shy of the major league record hit at Denver's Coors Field in 1999 and an 83 percent increase from the 160 hit at original Yankee Stadium, last year. Frayed Knot Jun 18 2009 08:15 PM Today's (night's) 3-0 MFY loss to the Nats was, I believe, the first no-homer game in YSIII this season. seawolf17 Jun 18 2009 08:37 PM The MFYs had a little case of Metsflu tonight, getting shut out by a kid fresh off a high school ballfield somewhere. (A guy against whom, of course, the Mets bucked convention and beat recently.)

="G-Fafif":1wiz6ldx]blown-up Topps cards, one Met per year[/quote:1wiz6ldx] Seriously? I need photographs, people. Photographs! Inspiration for the baseball card room! G-Fafif May 26 2009 02:08 PM ="seawolf17":6z98j76k]="G-Fafif":6z98j76k]blown-up Topps cards, one Met per year[/quote:6z98j76k] Seriously? I need photographs, people. Photographs! Inspiration for the baseball card room![/quote:6z98j76k] Suite me and I'll photograph my and Lenny Dykstra's head off.

Randy Johnson.

="Met Hunter":a66p6a2f]Honorable mention goes to Tom Seaver 198 wins. Finished one win shy of Club 99.[/quote:a66p6a2f] They should bring him back and give him two September starts once they've clinched the division. That'd be fucking sweet. Frayed Knot May 26 2009 12:43 PM Yeah, except that he's a good pitcher so they'd never score for him and he'd lose the games no matter how he pitched. Of they'd score lots for him, I forget how it works. G-Fafif May 26 2009 12:46 PM El Sid denied entrance with 98 wins. Delgado hopefully gets that hundredth double by October 4.

Can we cut it out with the creepy babies and Teletubbies? This is a fricking IGT. Why doesn't someone just post some Billy Joel lyrics so the Nationals can score eight runs this inning?

="Elster88":252dn6qk]WTF? How many people want the Phillies to do well this series? I may have missed something but we're chasing them in the standings. I hope you guys are kidding around. After the Phillies sweep and the Mets lose the division by 1 game again it's going to be rough reading this thread. Too much Yankee-penis envy going on![/quote:252dn6qk] I hate it when I agree with Elster, but seriously. Who cares what the Yankees do? All that matters is the Mets winning. And the Phillies losing makes that easier, so hells yeah I'm rooting for the MFYs this weekend. John Cougar Lunchbucket May 22 2009 08:10 PM ="Elster88":2clux1lz]WTF? How many people want the Phillies to do well this series? I may have missed something but we're chasing them in the standings. I hope you guys are kidding around. After the Phillies sweep and the Mets lose the division by 1 game again it's going to be rough reading this thread. Too much Yankee-penis envy going on![/quote:2clux1lz] Don't be such a pussy. It's that kinda sacklessness that will prevent the Mets from ever catching up. We didn't lose any ground and the MFYs remained in 3rd. That's OK by me. Rockin' Doc May 22 2009 08:10 PM The Yankees are dicks, but I certainly don't envy them. metsguyinmichigan May 22 2009 08:18 PM I guess I want the Yankees to win, but only in in games where the Phillies batters rough up their staff the point that they are demoralized and the Phillies are worn out from scoring so much, only to lose in the end, sending them into a spiral of depression. And if the Phillies wanted to send a statement by sending Jeter on his butt with each and every pitch, I'm OK with that. Kong76 May 22 2009 08:21 PM E88: WTF? How many people want the Phillies to do well this series? <<< I think I was pretty clear, but the Mets need to win. So far, so good. metirish May 22 2009 08:22 PM It's too early for this shit....OK I'm going to post this for no good reason other than it's funny..... Fman99 May 22 2009 08:26 PM How polarizing! I continue to root for the comet. metsguyinmichigan May 22 2009 08:33 PM I know the first pig is supposed to be Waldman. But what's with the pig in the Yankee uniform? They even have him wearing a little cap. That's funny. G-Fafif May 22 2009 09:10 PM Someday the Phillies will go back to sucking and what they do on a given evening will be of little interest. The MFYs are the MFYs. It's always a good night when the MFYs lose. And the Mets win. Ashie62 May 23 2009 03:22 PM YS3 now on pace for 332 HR's...or the wiffle ball count in the backyard over any given weekend. The Met fan Yankee hate should have no bearing on where you live. At least not in Morris Couny Bumfuck NJ Rockin' Doc May 23 2009 05:12 PM I'd like the Yanks and Phils to split the next two games. I hope each game goes at least 15 innings so that each team completely decimates their bullpens before the weekend concludes. I further hope that during the two extra inning affairs there are so many home runs hit that MLB is concerned that they will run out of baseballs. TheOldMole May 23 2009 11:51 PM OK, I've finally figured out how I feel about this series. I'm glad that one team is losing, and I try not to think about any other part of the equation. batmagadanleadoff May 24 2009 08:40 AM If the season ended yesterday, the Mets would be on the outside looking in, playoff-wise, by one half game --- an outcome that could have been altered to the Mets benefit had the Yankees beaten the Phillies on Friday. Would an extra Yankees loss be much consolation? And we do lose ground even though we match the Phillies, whether by winning or losing; the season is one day closer to the end and the Phillies magic number goes down by one even if they don't increase their games ahead lead over the Mets. They're running out the clock. Does anyone here think that Jerry Manuel is rooting for the Phillies this weekend? I don't. Jeez, maybe we should also be rooting for the Bosox this weekend --- them being the Yankees archrivals! metirish May 24 2009 09:01 AM If , if , if....if the Queen had balls she'd be King. John Cougar Lunchbucket May 24 2009 09:15 AM ="batmagadanleadoff":3thkwklz]If the season ended yesterday, the Mets would be on the outside looking in, playoff-wise, by one half game --- an outcome that could have been altered to the Mets benefit had the Yankees beaten the Phillies on Friday. Would an extra Yankees loss be much consolation? And we do lose ground even though we match the Phillies, whether by winning or losing; the season is one day closer to the end and the Phillies magic number goes down by one even if they don't increase their games ahead lead over the Mets. They're running out the clock. Does anyone here think that Jerry Manuel is rooting for the Phillies this weekend? I don't. Jeez, maybe we should also be rooting for the Bosox this weekend --- them being the Yankees archrivals![/quote:3thkwklz] Geez. More members of the Sons of John Sterling. Be sure to wear your Jeter footy pajamas to the next meeting. Kong76 May 24 2009 09:23 AM I guess Yankee hate affects us all differently. The back page of The Snooze refers to Alex's homer as, "after A-Rod's blast ties it" --- that's part of the headline! It wasn't a fucking blast, it was barely a loud FART. It just drives me freakin' nuts on so many levels. Son's of John Sterling - lol batmagadanleadoff May 24 2009 09:45 AM So who would you root for if today was the last day of the season? Signed The Sons of Sterling (Equities) Kong76 May 24 2009 09:51 AM We'd root for the Phils to lose ya big duh. Boy you really painted us into a corner on that one. Nice job. Yay, batmags! Wooo Hooo! We were schooled. batmagadanleadoff May 24 2009 09:52 AM Did I do something bad? Ashie62 May 24 2009 10:01 AM No...and you have magadanbattingleadoff and playing first base. You are a lucky charm Kong76 May 24 2009 10:07 AM POOR DAVEY, NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HIM Kong76 May 24 2009 11:21 AM ^^ There, that's better ^^ G-Fafif May 24 2009 01:29 PM I was in a bar/restaurant as the MFY game wound down yesterday. Several TVs had it on, several didn't. It didn't seem to be obsessing the room. I wasn't watching it with intense interest either, just keeping an eye on it as the missus and I were capping off a moderate to grand day out, reflexively rooting against the home team, sorry the visitors were losing even as we normally despised the visitors. The ninth inning happens and there's much applause and hooting and "YAY YANKEES!" and the fact that the Mets had picked up an entire half-game on the Phillies -- in May, even if they all count equally -- was of zero consolation to me. These MFYLDB were full of themselves and it was disgusting. I booed, though not loudly enough to draw attention to myself. Many hours later, it wasn't so bad that events had conspired to allow us to pick up a game on the Phils in the course of Saturday. But to live the first half of it among those with their own agenda...yeech. John Cougar Lunchbucket May 24 2009 01:57 PM How about when BatMags and Rogers danced on the dugout to Cotton Eye Joe? That was something to see. Swan Swan H May 24 2009 02:07 PM Phils up 3-2 going to the bottom of the ninth. Lidge ambling in from the bullpen to see if he can get through one inning without hocking up a hairball at the very sight of the Yankees. Swan Swan H May 24 2009 02:15 PM Tied up, runner on first, none out. Lidge blows. It again. Swan Swan H May 24 2009 02:22 PM Extra innings in the Bronx, which always offers the opportunity for someone to overextend themselves and prematurely end their season. batmagadanleadoff May 24 2009 02:48 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]How about when BatMags and Rogers danced on the dugout to Cotton Eye Joe? That was something to see. Who made me a Yankee fan? Swan Swan H May 24 2009 03:04 PM Rooting for them this weekend. It's all or nothing - once you taste the blood your soul turns to dust. batmagadanleadoff May 24 2009 03:13 PM ="Swan Swan H":22do12er]Rooting for them this weekend. It's all or nothing - once you taste the blood your soul turns to dust.[/quote:22do12er] Damned if you do, Damn Yankees. It's those devilish paradoxes that define your worth as a fan. I am a Met fan because I can stomach rooting for the Yankees whenever it is in my rooting interest to do so. Benjamin Grimm May 24 2009 03:16 PM Gotta root against the Phillies. It's more important for the Mets to make the playoffs than it is for the Yankees to miss them. Zvon May 24 2009 03:38 PM I'm sure heads will explode by my saying this, but the Mets will never be able to even out the subway series if both teams do not appear in the World Series together again. Not saying I root for the Yankees in any way shape or form (unless they are playing teams that effect the Mets standings). Someday, though, I'd like to see that rematch. Benjamin Grimm May 24 2009 04:04 PM I'd rather see the Mets get their 27th World Championship before the Yankees win another. Since I'm 45 years old already, it would take quite a remarkable run for it to happen in my lifetime. Fman99 May 24 2009 08:43 PM The comet never hit so I lost. Elster88 May 27 2009 05:50 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":26v8p757]="Elster88":26v8p757]WTF? How many people want the Phillies to do well this series? I may have missed something but we're chasing them in the standings. I hope you guys are kidding around. After the Phillies sweep and the Mets lose the division by 1 game again it's going to be rough reading this thread. Too much Yankee-penis envy going on![/quote:26v8p757] Don't be such a pussy....[/quote:26v8p757] ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":26v8p757]I am hoping for 6-4, expecting 0-10 or worse.[/quote:26v8p757] Right. I'm the pussy. Elster88 May 27 2009 05:53 PM ="seawolf17":pmrjyr5e]="Elster88":pmrjyr5e]WTF? How many people want the Phillies to do well this series? I may have missed something but we're chasing them in the standings. I hope you guys are kidding around. After the Phillies sweep and the Mets lose the division by 1 game again it's going to be rough reading this thread. Too much Yankee-penis envy going on![/quote:pmrjyr5e] I hate it when I agree with Elster, but seriously.[/quote:pmrjyr5e] Where'd that come from? Not sure what we disagreed on recently. Or ever. Elster88 May 27 2009 06:04 PM ="Swan Swan H":3eiyck00]Rooting for them this weekend. It's all or nothing - once you taste the blood your soul turns to dust.[/quote:3eiyck00] I wasn't rooting for them. I was rooting against the Phillies. It's these subtle differences that keep the devil from stealing your soul. Swan Swan H May 27 2009 06:11 PM Two teams in every game. We looked at the same big picture, you preferred that the Yankees would win, and I didn't. Elster88 May 27 2009 06:13 PM Who are these Yankees you speak of? All I know is the Phillies were playing and I wanted them to lose so my team could take first place. seawolf17 May 27 2009 07:00 PM No offense, Elster. I seem to remember us having a row over something or other some time ago. Elster88 May 27 2009 07:03 PM None taken. It's entirely possible I just don't remember it.

Parnell was just blowing them away there. Nice.

="G-Fafif":38uy88za]Saw much of "The Zen of Bobby V" on MSG recently and thought Marines fans put us to shame. I think even more so now. Marines is life, indeed. Great link, Irish.[/quote:38uy88za] DVRed that show a few weeks ago, but never got around to watching it until this morning. Only got about a half-hour into it, but it was really fascinating. I miss Bobby V. Kong76 May 20 2009 06:16 PM Cool find, irish. I wonder if Bobby ever pops in, we sponsor his baseball-reference page. Since the Facebook Page is getting pictures, does anyone have any pictures of the forum meet-up at the restaurant? metirish Jun 15 2009 02:37 PM Japanese fans sign petition in support of Bobby Valentine ] THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 9:35 AM EDT, June 15, 2009 TOKYO - Fans supporting Bobby Valentine submitted a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to the head office of the Chiba Lotte Marines on Monday in a bid to keep the American on as manager beyond the 2009 Japanese baseball season. Valentine, in his seventh season as manager of the Pacific League team, has been told his contract will not be renewed at the end of the season. "It's an honor to have people care about me," Valentine said Monday. "The fans in Chiba are passionately committed and the best you will find." Asked if he thinks the signature drive will have any affect on changing the minds of the Lotte head office, Valentine said: "I don't know if it will help because I don't make the decisions. But there is only one place I'd like to be if I came back, and that's Chiba." The signatures were gathered outside Lotte's home stadium in Chiba where Marines fans have been holding demonstrations in support of the popular former New York Mets manager. Team president Ryuzo Setoyama announced in the offseason that the team couldn't afford Valentine after this season. The 59-year-old led the team to the Japan Series championship in 2005 and has been a fan favorite ever since. Vic Sage Jun 16 2009 07:54 AM ="Nymr83":u6wyb99l]Can we bring Bobby back if we promise to greet him at the airport too? i'd skip work.[/quote:u6wyb99l] I'd pick him up at the airport myself. Hell, I'd even let Namor go with me! Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 05:41 PM Heyman suggested a few days back that Bobby could be holding down the Nats job now that Acta is out. I just don't see that one. Frayed Knot Jul 15 2009 06:24 PM [Random columnist] suggests that Bobby V could be tapped to fill [random team]'s job now that they're [rumored to be] looking for a manager. Get used to hearing/reading some version of that from now right through the winter. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 15 2009 07:06 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 15 2009 07:10 PM ="Farmer Ted"]Heyman suggested a few days back that Bobby could be holding down the Nats job now that Acta is out. I just don't see that one. The Nats seem like a particularly bad fit. In the wake of the Bowden firings/scouting scandal, they're rejiggering the organization from top to bottom, and a strong personality in the dugout seems like it would make establishing clear, orderly chains of command real difficult. Valentine's more for most-of-the-pieces-in-place, need-help-getting-over-the-hump situations. Detroit-- if Leyland walks or gets walked-- or Cleveland could be interesting. (Crossing fingers.) Fman99 Jul 15 2009 07:07 PM ="Centerfield":398mkj62]Seriously. All we did was slam him on talk radio. Marines Fans > Mets Fans[/quote:398mkj62] Yeah but can they fight ham like the Nippon Ham Fighters? I'm a Jew and I can't resist ham. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:27 PM Valentine is not going to the Nats..not enough spotlight. He may use them to negotiate. Fred and Jeff..Fire the Fuckstick we have as a manager and offer Bobby V a quadrillion dollars! now! Edgy DC Jul 15 2009 10:51 PM He's still got a job, hasn't he? Triple Dee Jul 15 2009 11:05 PM ="Ashie62":6zlpizip]Valentine is not going to the Nats..not enough spotlight. He may use them to negotiate. Fred and Jeff..Fire the Fuckstick we have as a manager and offer Bobby V a quadrillion dollars! now![/quote:6zlpizip] How about no? Mex17 Jul 16 2009 03:53 AM ="Triple Dee":9a3ipcdv]="Ashie62":9a3ipcdv]Valentine is not going to the Nats..not enough spotlight. He may use them to negotiate. Fred and Jeff..Fire the Fuckstick we have as a manager and offer Bobby V a quadrillion dollars! now![/quote:9a3ipcdv] How about no?[/quote:9a3ipcdv] How about yes? (Not the quadrillion dollars part. . .more like what he is making in Japan.) Edgy DC Jul 16 2009 05:36 AM Still got a job, hasn't he? I think the Marines have a worse record than the Mets. Managers aren't alchemists.

Block of cheese? Is that a Ramon Castro joke? edit: No, wait. A block of cheese would spend less time on the DL.

And if any of you are on Twitter, @astro_mike is too.

Figgy was on the roster?

="soupcan":agtyj77b]The whole Yankee broadcast team - Sterling, Waldman, Kay, O'Neill, etc. are just one of the many reasons I'm glad I'm not a Yankee fan.[/quote:agtyj77b] The problem is, MFY fans must eat this crap up, or it wouldn't sell. I don't know what I'd do if Gary Cohen was that unlistenable. Would I even notice? I don't know. Benjamin Grimm May 18 2009 11:59 AM The Mets had their worst broadcast team in 1982. Lorn Brown seemed to suck the life out of Ralph Kiner, and the booth was dreary. The approach I took was like I take now when I'm watching the opposing team's broadcast, or a network announcing team; I focus less on the words and just pay attention to the images. I suppose I'd do the same if the Mets had mindless shills in their booth. I thikn, though, that we (or at least, I) set a lower bar for our own guys. There are times when I'm listening to Gary, Keith, and/or Ron and I think, if I wasn't a Mets fan watching right now, I'd be groaning and calling them a group of clowns. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 18 2009 12:01 PM ="seawolf17":adu2uds9]="soupcan":adu2uds9]The whole Yankee broadcast team - Sterling, Waldman, Kay, O'Neill, etc. are just one of the many reasons I'm glad I'm not a Yankee fan.[/quote:adu2uds9] The problem is, MFY fans must eat this crap up, or it wouldn't sell. I don't know what I'd do if Gary Cohen was that unlistenable. Would I even notice? I don't know.[/quote:adu2uds9] Four words: Mike Piazza. "Strong hands." (12 years.) John Cougar Lunchbucket May 18 2009 12:06 PM As I've said before, Sterling is awful but I like his rythym and voice and the fact that he's goofy and tries too hard. But in explaining this recently to a Yankee fan it dawned on me that one of the reasons I like him so much is because he's such an idiot and representing the MFYs at the same time. He's the announcer they deserve. Edgy DC May 18 2009 12:10 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 18 2009 12:11 PM Yeah, come on, it's not like our Met glasses obscured our distinctions among good and bad announcing throughout the Healy era. The funny thing is that the Mets ended up with him by historical accident. He got a job with the Yankees PIX team through the their old boy network. The brand new Sportschannel hired him with the rest of the broadcast team, but as the fourth banana on the Yankee broadcasting team, I guess they couldn't find enough work for him, and they assigned him to do the Mets games as well. They were seemingly just trying to get some work for the contract. How that accident perpetuated itself for decades has to be one of the great incidences of corporate intertia in sports. Gwreck May 18 2009 12:10 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":12rdthb9]There are times when I'm listening to Gary, Keith, and/or Ron and I think, if I wasn't a Mets fan watching right now, I'd be groaning and calling them a group of clowns.[/quote:12rdthb9] I can see that. My general impression is: Gary + Ron = always very intelligent Gary + Keith + Ron = mostly good, although too much joking can distract from focus of game Gary + Keith = problematic, as Gary can get dragged down by Keith's irreverence/goofiness/etc. The problem generally is Keith. A little more focus and a little less buffoonery would do him well. Benjamin Grimm May 18 2009 12:10 PM Confession: I don't think I've watched a Yankee telecast since I was a kid, and the games were done by Bill White and Phil Rizzuto. So I'm just taking everyone's word that the current team is a bunch of idiots. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 18 2009 12:13 PM ="Gwreck":3icqqf62] The problem generally is Keith. A little more focus and a little less buffoonery would do him well.[/quote:3icqqf62] Agreed. My favorite Met ever, but he's a bit like the team's Kramer, but with a higher sperm count. Gwreck May 18 2009 12:15 PM Of course, the big difference is that we're talking about Sterling (radio) as opposed to our TV guys. In the end, as long as Bill Webb is doing a good job, he can cover for whatever Keith is prattling on about at any given moment. Sterling has a much bigger responsibility given that he's on the radio. If we compared him to Howie or Wayne, well...that's just not going to look very good for Sterling. metirish May 18 2009 12:22 PM ="Gwreck":1cm2wclz]="Benjamin Grimm":1cm2wclz]There are times when I'm listening to Gary, Keith, and/or Ron and I think, if I wasn't a Mets fan watching right now, I'd be groaning and calling them a group of clowns.[/quote:1cm2wclz] I can see that. My general impression is: Gary + Ron = always very intelligent Gary + Keith + Ron = mostly good, although too much joking can distract from focus of game Gary + Keith = problematic, as Gary can get dragged down by Keith's irreverence/goofiness/etc. The problem generally is Keith. A little more focus and a little less buffoonery would do him well.[/quote:1cm2wclz] I agree with this . I would add that Ron defers to Keith too much when all three are in the booth......."isn't that right Keith" can be heard a lot during a game. I remember when Ron came over from DC former poster ABG said he was terrible and I think Ron would agree as I have heard him say he's worked a lot on it. Edgy DC May 18 2009 12:31 PM I didn't like him at all in DC. Ashie62 May 18 2009 02:33 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":3ko9nf0g]Confession: I don't think I've watched a Yankee telecast since I was a kid, and the games were done by Bill White and Phil Rizzuto. So I'm just taking everyone's word that the current team is a bunch of idiots.[/quote:3ko9nf0g] and Frank Messer Fman99 May 20 2009 06:57 AM ="Gwreck":2zbz3uwt]="Benjamin Grimm":2zbz3uwt]There are times when I'm listening to Gary, Keith, and/or Ron and I think, if I wasn't a Mets fan watching right now, I'd be groaning and calling them a group of clowns.[/quote:2zbz3uwt] I can see that. My general impression is: Gary + Ron = always very intelligent Gary + Keith + Ron = mostly good, although too much joking can distract from focus of game Gary + Keith = problematic, as Gary can get dragged down by Keith's irreverence/goofiness/etc. The problem generally is Keith. A little more focus and a little less buffoonery would do him well.[/quote:2zbz3uwt] I disagree. I love all three of them. The best combo is all three but any of the above choices are great. I like Keith's non-chalance and I think both Darling and Mex bring some intelligent analysis mixed with humor as well. The only guy doing Mets games these days that I still do not like is Wayne Hagin on the radio. He's a hack. Maybe it's because he used to work for another MLB team and doesn't have the former Met/long-time Met fan weight that Howie Rose, Cohen, Mex and Darling all carry. Plus national broadcasts of Mets games starring the boobs of ESPN and Fox (Morgan, Phillips, Buck, McCarver, etc.) are, of course, all just terrible. They should throw themselves collectively down a well and survive on eating each other's small and unimaginiative brains, entrails and anuses. Gwreck May 20 2009 07:44 AM ="Fman99":2zwys8h1]The only guy doing Mets games these days that I still do not like is Wayne Hagin on the radio. He's a hack. Maybe it's because he used to work for another MLB team and doesn't have the former Met/long-time Met fan weight that Howie Rose, Cohen, Mex and Darling all carry.[/quote:2zwys8h1] Realizing that we're really at split territory in this thread... Wayne's hardly a hack. It took me a while to acclimate to him but he's brought good perspective to the team and I appreciate his honesty (he doesn't hold back when criticism is warranted). The two things I don't like about him are that his otherwise laid-back style is in sharp contrast to his home run calls, and that on hits with men on base, he's slow to tell the listener about the advancement of the runners around the bases. Seems like he focuses on the ball first and the runners' movement gets passed on after the play ends. Frayed Knot May 20 2009 07:58 AM My only reservations about Keith concern what he'd be like with a bad team in front of him. I'm afraid he'd get bored rather easily and would slip into full Phil Rizzutto mode except that his occasional bouts of 'I'd rather be in Sag Harbor' disinterest wouldn't be as cute. Other than that for the high-school jock sandwiched between two Ivy Leaguers he plays the role well enough without overdoing the stereotype. John Cougar Lunchbucket May 20 2009 07:59 AM I still haven't warmed much to Hagin either. I like him only sometimes. It's not just that he doesn't call plays fast enough for me; he often gets caught up in the middle of anything he's saying and forces out some crap just to complete the sentence. It's as if he catches himself making a cliche and decides mid-stream not to go through with it. It's not good rythym. Plus he's got that creepy Midwestern/other team perspective that clashes with Howie's hopeless New Yorkishness. Howie wants to talk about Rusty Staub and Grover Powell; and Hagin wants to talk about Mark Clear and Gene Tanace. Howie wants to talk about My Mother the Car and Hagin wants to talk about Bonanza. It's a little off. SteveJRogers May 20 2009 09:56 AM ="seawolf17":1lpp27t8]="soupcan":1lpp27t8]The whole Yankee broadcast team - Sterling, Waldman, Kay, O'Neill, etc. are just one of the many reasons I'm glad I'm not a Yankee fan.[/quote:1lpp27t8] The problem is, MFY fans must eat this crap up, or it wouldn't sell. I don't know what I'd do if Gary Cohen was that unlistenable. Would I even notice? I don't know.[/quote:1lpp27t8] Actually two popular threads on NYYFans.com are "Petiton To Remove Michael Kay From YES" and "Petition To Remove John Sterling From CBS Radio" so I'd gather it is mixed in terms of Yankee fandom with their annoucing teams. John Cougar Lunchbucket May 20 2009 09:58 AM Nice of Rogers to take some time off that place to visit his enemies here. SteveJRogers May 20 2009 10:12 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 20 2009 10:34 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1gwq7fqn]Nice of Rogers to take some time off that place to visit his enemies here.[/quote:1gwq7fqn] Could be worse, over at PhilaPhans.com they've been bashing Tom McCarthy for drawing Mike Piazza references to Ryan Howard tape measure blasts. Over at Dodger BlueBalls they actually consider Vin Scully a bit overatted because he is such a sacred cow out there. soupcan May 20 2009 10:19 AM ="SteveJRogers"]Over at Dodger BlueBalls they actually consider Vin Scully a bit overatted because he is such a scared cow out there. Hmmm, that doesn't look like Vin. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 20 2009 10:48 AM ="soupcan"]="SteveJRogers"]Over at Dodger BlueBalls they actually consider Vin Scully a bit overatted because he is such a scared cow out there. Hmmm, that doesn't look like Vin. It's play by play-- I think he meant that Vin sounded like a scared cow. And speaking of scary... http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090518&content_id=4799820&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb A Boy Named Seo May 20 2009 10:59 AM ="Frayed Knot"]My only reservations about Keith concern what he'd be like with a bad team in front of him. I'm afraid he'd get bored rather easily and would slip into full Phil Rizzutto mode except that his occasional bouts of 'I'd rather be in Sag Harbor' disinterest wouldn't be as cute. Other than that for the high-school jock sandwiched between two Ivy Leaguers he plays the role well enough without overdoing the stereotype. Keith gets bored now with a pretty good team. His bafoonery is what makes him my favorite, though. I think Gary is a supremely knowledgeable Met guy, clearly a fan but not annoyingly so. Ron is very knowledgable, but (sometimes) a bland cliche-machine. Keith brings life to the booth, though because he's so not polished and he doesn't pander to the Mets or the network. He knows the game, has fun most of the time, but will tell you when he'd rather be at home watching Cavuto or whatever. Sometimes we'd all rather be somewhere else. I can't argue it's not unprofessional, but it's refreshing to me anyway and I think he's damn funny. G-Fafif May 20 2009 01:04 PM Keith Olbermann story about Vin Scully that makes even Michael Kay seem likable. Gary referenced it one of the last two nights. ]The advent of the Mets' annual visit to Dodger Stadium always reminds me of one of the greatest baseball stories nobody tells. Let's correct that. A decade ago, when I was still working full-time in sports and in Los Angeles, it was the Yankees coming to town for an exhibition game, and, with them, my friend Michael Kay, at that time still a member of their radio team. Michael is usually pretty direct, but on the field before the game, he was hemming and hawing something awful until I finally blurted "out with it!" He explained he was just too nervous to introduce himself to the legendary Vin Scully, even though both were not only major league broadcasters, but also alums of Fordham University in New York. Mike was still repeating his apology when I explained I knew exactly how he felt. When I had first worked in Los Angeles as a local sportscaster in the '80s, it had taken me two years to screw up the courage to introduce myself to this nonpareil of my business. As I reassured Michael, Vin was easily the nicest famous person in the sport, maybe in the country. And he always had a story that in some way related to you. Little did I know. As Michael began to hyperventilate, I made the introductions. Vin asked about Fordham, about Mike's youth, about his newspaper career, about the Yankees. And then came the story: "Michael, did you know; Keith, I don't even think I told you this -- I nearly became the Voice of the Yankees?" Absolute silence for two or three beats, and then, from Kay and Olbermann, a joint "whaaaat?" "When the Yankees let Mel Allen go in 1964, I got a phone call from the man who they had brought in to run their broadcasting operation, Craig Smith," Vin began. "He had been in charge of the World Series broadcasts forever, so I'd known him about ten years by then. And he asked me if I'd like to come home to New York and become the lead announcer. He offered a very handsome salary, and a long contract. "Well, I was amazed, as you can imagine. I'd found a wonderful home here in Los Angeles, but remember, this was only seven years after the Dodgers left Brooklyn. I was still a New Yorker through and through. Plus, here was a chance to work again with Red Barber. And recall, too, that this was just before the Yankee dynasty collapsed. As much as Mr. O'Malley had done here and in Brooklyn, the Yankees were still the marquee name in sports. If it had been 1958 or 1959, when I still missed New York so, I would've said yes before he hung up the phone." "So, I thought long and hard about that one. But I had a young family, and I think we had all just truly adjusted to living here - takes just about seven years, I think - and in the end I turned it down." Michael and I each sputtered various observations about how changed the baseball world might have been. Vin Scully doing the Yankee games? Would the franchise still have ebbed with such a benign but effective salesman at the microphone? Would the Dodgers' roots, still growing in 1964-1965, have gone in as deeply as they did? Would CBS's failed experiment in corporate ownership have succeeded, and George Steinbrenner never have bought the Yankees? What would have happened to the man to whom the Yankees gave the job Scully turned down? Would Joe Garagiola have ever wound up on The Game Of The Week, or The Today Show? Vin laughed. "Oh, to tell the truth, I don't think it'd made that much difference. It's not very important." He excused himself to go back to preparing for his broadcast, and, as usual, made it seem like I had done him a great favor by introducing Michael to him. After Vin had left, Michael and I sat there on the Dodger bench for a few moments in silence. Then he said "If he had been the Yankee announcer when I was growing up, I never would have dreamed of applying for a job as his gopher, let alone as his partner." I told him that once again I knew how he felt - it was very tough knowing that my sportscasts often preceded Vin's play-by-play on cable. It seemed somehow a sacrilege to pretend to deserve to be on the same channel. Still, think of it: 45 years of "Hi again everybody, it's time for Yankee Baseball!" Or maybe Steinbrenner would've quarreled with Vin and eased him out. Or, likeliest of all the alternate-galaxy theories: working in New York, where in the '60s all the network and advertising executives were still located, Vin Scully would've gone on to the Game Of The Week, or something even higher up on the tv food chain, a lot earlier than he actually did. Who knows - maybe he'd still be doing it - and doing it on NBC. Frayed Knot May 20 2009 01:41 PM ]Keith brings life to the booth, ... Yeah, I'm just afraid he wouldn't if stuck with a team going nowhere. There's a difference to going off the tracks every once in a while during a dull game or long pitching-change filled innings, it's another if it's all game every game. But that's just my speculation and am getting ahead of myself here. Hope we don't find out anytime soon. G-Fafif May 20 2009 04:01 PM State of the booths as heard from here: Keith Hernandez is a wild card/loose cannon. Some nights a gem, some nights a goof. Not the baseball genius I thought he'd be. An original, to be sure. I'd miss him if he left. Ron is a real jock, which is not a bad thing. He really likes being part of a team in there. Sounds happy when he doesn't have to be "Ron Darling, Yalie" and can be Ronnie, one of the guys. A good fit with each of his partners. More comfortable in contemporary climes than Keith. Someday Wayne Hagin will be doing the Royals or the Twins or the Astros and bring up the way David Wright charges a ball and his listeners will scratch their heads at why he's always referring to some random New York Met. Conversely, those among us who aren't obsessed with such matters will say, in five years, "oh yeah, Wayne Hagin, I forgot about him." He's an insightful observer of baseball matters, a pretty good announcer of baseball games. I don't know that he'll ever be a Mets broadcaster except in name. It's not that we have high standards; we have specific standards. I like him a good deal, but I can't quite get used to him. Howie Rose is a conversationalist, which is a lost craft in broadcasting today. He came into the business when civility and boundaries were implicit and sports was something people loved, not an all-pervasive industry. He's a bit of an anachronism in that sense, and a welcome one, even as curmudgeonliness slips into his delivery more and more. I don't think of him as a great play-by-play guy probably because I think of him as a great talk show host. He's wonderful between the pitches, sounds like he's putting on when he becomes an announcer (though not as badly as Michael Kay does). He and Hagin will never, ever mesh. That's neither's fault. Howie should keep his seat as long as he wants. Mets fans deserve a Mets voice on the radio. Gary Cohen is a conductor. He is a maestro. He grows as a broadcaster every year. He was the best thing since Vin Scully on radio and he's lifted his game to a high level on TV. He conducts. He moves the game along. He moves Keith and Ron along without stopping traffic. He still calls the action brilliantly. He questions what needs to be questioned, he emphasizes what needs to be emphasized and he sees what's coming. I'm in awe that he's the Mets' voice of record (and am ever thankful that SNY's original offer to Dave O'Brien to serve in that role was rejected). Whereas Howie seems like a Mets fan who grew up to broadcast Mets games, Gary seems like a broadcaster who was a Mets fan when he was a kid. Gary Cohen and Bob Murphy were a great team. Gary Cohen and Howie Rose were a great team. Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are a great team. I don't think the common denominator is a coincidence. bmfc1 May 22 2009 06:37 AM G-Fafif said what I would have said, so I will just recommend your watching this video (NSFW!!!):

="Rockin' Doc"]Who would have imagined that Sheffield would be getting more regular playing time than either Church or Murphy? "Heh... me."

Ashie62 wrote: Jason Jennings threw a shutout for the first place Rangers...First good outing by him in a couple of years His last one, of course, the game when he shut out the Mets on a one-hitter, hitting three home runs in the process. (Actually, I might have exaggerated that over time. But I'll always recall that specific game as the beginning of this weird stretch the last eight or so years where the Mets light up the Randy Johnsons of the pitching world, but can't beat a guy just called up from AA.)

For both the non-Mets and the not-yet-Mets, I made custom cards, some with the Shea logo, some -- for those future Mets who will have no Shea connection -- without. I'll scan some tonight if I remember.

Reached 300 autographed Mets cards with today's mail (Sam Perlozzo and Joe Vitko, who had the honor of being #300). Some stats, from Agee to Zachry: 1962 Mets: 12 (Anderson, Cisco, Craig, Herrscher, Hickman, Hook, Hunter, Jackson, Kranepool, MacKenzie, Pignatano, Thomas) 1969 Mets: 18 (Agee, Boswell, Charles, Garrett, Gaspar, Grote, Harrelson, Jackson, Jones, Kranepool, Martin, McGraw, Ryan, Seaver, Shamsky, Swoboda, Taylor, Weis) 1986 Mets: 36 (Anderson, Backman, Berenyi, Carter, Cashen, Darling, Dykstra, Elster, Fernandez, Foster, Gibbons, Gooden, Harrelson, Hearn, Heep, Hernandez, Horwitz, Davey Johnson, HoJo, Kiner, Knight, Leach, Lyons, Magadan, Mazzilli, McDowell, Mitchell, Niemann, Orosco, Pavlick, Bill Robinson, Santana, Stottlemyre, Straw, Teufel, Mookie) Non-Met Mets: 9 (Matthew Broderick, the late Brian Cole, Ralph Kiner, Gary Cohen, minor leaguers Yusmeiro Petit & Curtis Pride, WFAN's Steve Somers and Ed Coleman, Gov. David Paterson) Not Yet Mets: 10 (Tim Redding, Fartinez, Ike Davis, Scott Moviel, Cory Sullivan, Shawn Bowman, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Dillon Gee, Josh Thole, Nick Abel) Non-players: 10 (Davey, Oberkfell, Robinson, Stottlemyre, Frazier, Herzog, Howard, Manuel, Cashen, Perlozzo) Incoming: 8 (Acevedo, Ambres, Blocker, Duncan, Dyer, Kroll, Marrero, Schaffer) Gone: 7 (Agee, Cole, McGraw, Milner, Bill Robinson, Dock Ellis, Sturdivant) Longest Alphabetical Run: 5 (Franco-Franco-Franco-Frazier-Fregosi) Largest Alphabetical Gap: 16 (Melvin Mora to Xavier Nady) Alomars: 0/3 Castillos: 1/4 (Luis) Ernandezes: 3/9 (Keith H, Sid F, Anderson H) Francos: 3/3 (John, Matt, Julio) Johnsons: 2/7 (Davey, HoJo) Joneses: 4/8 (Bobby, Chris, Cleon, Randy) Millers: 2/5 (Dyar, Keith) Smiths: 2/5 (Joe, Dick) Living CPF Top 100 Mets I'm missing: 38 Ojeda, 52 Gentry, 57 McAndrew, 64 Hunt, 65 Fisher, 68 Myers, 69 Lynch, 73 Aguilera, 81 Viola, 85 Murray, 86 Falcone, 87 Sisk, 92 Flynn, 94 Lance Johnson, 98 Zeile

Sometimes I think he's a time bomb who's gonna push the envelope once too often with a manager, teammates, and the fans.

I honestly came into the season worried about JJ. Never mind the closing/not-closing thing, it was that everything fell off last year for him, and Seattle was so quick to get rid of him. I agree with a lot of your sentiment, though.

That's no way to go through life, son.