duan

ny time. 2pm local

because they were scared that if they waited any longer the team would do enough (hell it nearly had, winning 3/4) to make firing Willie much harder (especially if they can take 3/4 from the yankees) but that the malaise that they feel currently ills doesn't lift and the team muddles through to an 81-81 season. The have to fire him then anyway. This team has a 19.11176 % chance of reaching the post-season according to baseballprospectus' odds report, 28% if you buy into the Pecota adjusted version. They're thinking those odds are going to be improved without willie/ were being harmed with him.

bleh, Holliday hits A-Rod and then gives up back to back singles to Matsui and Giambi - 2 - 1 yankees.

first inning was funny, lets just hope they can't score damon from a lead off triple to cement futility.

TheOldMole wrote: I don't particularly agree with cutting Delgado either, but are we so absolutely convinced that nowhere in baseball is there an available first baseman who can hit over .220? there possibly is, but there's also no reason to pay what would clearly be a ferocious LH bench threat to hit for someone else. EVEN if all he's good for is a long ball in 20abs. By all means platoon him, by all means make him a sunday starter, but eating the money would be stupid. We're not so drastically short of roster space that acquiring one is worth $12 million. Lets not forget, we're currently carrying THREE catchers, an IF/OF from AA who's gone O for 10 after getting his 3 doubles aswell as rotating various under performing (hey that's you Matt Wise, Jorge Sosa and Carlos Muniz) rarely utilised relievers through the 12 pitcher slot.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Isn't it disgusting? The marlin pen pitched 10 innings in a DH Sunday, they traavel to NYC on Monday and the Mets let them get away with 8-pitch innings. I've felt this for the last few seasons; but maybe it's like that thing about "my team gets shut out by rookies way more then anyone else" that you only notice cause you watch it. I still hope that they can have a 22-7 kinda month in them, and that they have it soon.

"Cut Delgado and his contract;" is pretty dumb. Why? because we're on the hook for $12 million this year (or is it $14) and 4 in the form of a buyout for next year. We're paying that if we cut him, no matter what. Right now he's hitting a homer every 20abs, that's worth something, and he'd be a genuine lefty power threat. Don't get me wrong, if we're 15 games back in July, i'd offer to pay for most of his salary to get someone to take him and the buyout off our hands. Someone who needs a lefty 1b DH, but till then, there's no point in paying him to go away. We're MUCH better off hoping he can get it together to continue the relative improvement he showed in may over april.

ok first off, I'm not totally freaked yet. The team has had some bad luck with injuries and has thrown away some games that it should have won. However, if I'm the manager, I'm telling the players that from FIRST PITCH tonight I want to see thoughtful, purposeful at bats, I want to see plate discipline and if we get a starter out early, I want the bullpen worn to bits too. I don't want any playing for one run, unless it's past the 7th inning and I don't want any sacrifices. I also want Castillo out of the 2 hole while he's hitting into double plays at a fantastic rate (9 so far this season - go Luis!) If Carlos Delgado isn't hitting, bench him, no point in DFA'ing him. his long ball capacity makes him a (crazily expensive) bench threat.

i think i read on will carroll's that it was MRSA.

well it stands to reason, people's concentration'll get screwed as they get tired which is reasonable to do after 6 hours of baseball.

AG/DC wrote: We were supposed to have a great lineup in 2002. Proof in pudding. I know Robbie Alomar's collapse was a surprise but how anyone thought an outfield comprising 3 from Roger Cedeno, Timo Perez, Jeromy Burnitz and Jay Satan could lead to a "great lineup" is beyond me. We also had Rey Ordonez at short NOT Alex Rodriguez.

by all accounts, he gets to declare himself a free agent if he wants to.

Ok, less of the Stokes bashing please. We're a proud bunch.

i think there's probably nobody in the world who comes across as LESS likeable then Jose Canseco.

it's a great story. without blowing our own trumpet we've had a fair bit to do with Glen & The Frames over the years and someone sent us a very, very, cool letter explaining how we (and he) were centrally involved in them (glen & marketa) meeting. When it's been in the magazine for a few days I'll post it on the non bb forum, cause it's a really nice letter.

gotta go with Stokes for the opening day. Seriously, he's even called Stokesy by people, just like me on the football pitch, (although at the moment there's 3 Stokesy's playing so that's not happening so much!). Stokes 43 Stokes 43 Stokes 43 Stokes 43 Stokes 43 Stokes 43 you know it makes sense Omar.

slightly off topic but Alan Hansen, the great Liverpool Centre-Half and current Match Of The Day pundit, said of Man Utd on the opening day of the 1995-1996 season "you'll win nothing with kids" when the red devils lost 3-1 to Aston Villa. Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt were all 22 or under at the start of the season and all played a part in 30 or so league games. Utd were champions at the end of the season and Ferguson's second great United team was born and Hansen has forever had to eat humble pie. In other words, if the kids are good enough you can win plenty with 'em. I'd suspect, it's similar with the 'aul fellas!

one thing though, you may need to change all your minor league ball links from web.minorleag... to www.minorle

metirish wrote: Yeah but we will have the better defensive player in Church. I really think that Lasting's defensive misadventures were being slightly overplayed, he's only learning out there (in left/right) and has the 'tools' to adjust.

If by virtue of Kirk Radomski and a small other number of incidents they're able to name 50 or so recent/current major leaguers than I think its safe to say that over an extended period baseball was riddled with Steroids or other Performance Enhancing Drugs. The Players Union and the officialdom of MLB have huge responsibility in this, for CLEARLY ignoring widespread evidence of the potential usage until the last possible credible moment.

Prediction for the archives: Lastings Milledge has great VORP numbers over the next 6 years then all of Carlos Gomez/Fernando Martinez/Ryan Church Lastings Milledge has great VORP numbers over the next 3 years then Ryan Church.

i think we should stop talking to you and kick you out of the pool. And you won't get any of the cranepool's image rights divvy out.

well i hope he makes the major league roster so I can get a mets jersey with my name on it. I'd like a cool number too. 17/27/75 (wedding anniversary/birthday/yearofbirth)

who doesn't get Tim Raines in the Hall needs their head examined. It's not his fault that Rickey Henderson happened at the same time.

I don't think i'd part with Milledge & Maine. Right now our rotation is Martinez, Hernandez, Maine & Perez plus AN OTHER Right now our outfield is Alou, Beltran, Milledge & Chavez If you take out two of Maine & Milledge you need to sign two free agents to make up. Right now the cost of a 'low end John Maine' looks to be about 5 years and 60 million. Replacing Milledge probably costs less in terms of money & years but more in terms of lost upside. This mets team is nicely set up to contend for another 3/4 years due to a core of Wright, Reyes & Beltran. However replacing from within is proving to be far more efficient then Free Agency at the moment (due to the hugely escalating salaries) therefore the premium on younger talent has actually got higher. There's no doubt in my mind that Maine & Milledge can be key components in a championship winning team, I can't say the same about Pelfrey, Humber & Gomez. If the twins came and said to us, Millege, Maine & AN Other for Santana would I do it? I'd think about it, think very hard and try and come up with an answer but right now, I'm not able to do it. The point smg makes about Oliver Perez is noted, though there is a "stay contending at a lower cost and get future upside aswell" combo in the twins acquiring (say) Oliver Perez, Gomez and Gotay.