duan

so 'tipping his pitches' was the problem eh and not that he couldn't get the brand of juice?

from Baseball Prospectus' 1996 Annual player comments: Tom Glavine: "One of the most cerebral players in the game. He lacks a single dominant pitch, doesn't have great control, gives up a hit an inning, doesn't hold runners on particularly well, and has always had trouble getting out left-handed hitters, a very unusual trait for a southpaw. With all that, he's been one of baseball's best starters throughout the decade. Glavine's the kind of player who could pitch into his 40's relying on nothing more than savvy and guile. Some might argue he already is."

well, because most of the "top amateur talent" would rather play in the majors then faff about at the columbus clippers; you could legitmately argue that someone may be able to get 26/27 man roster through constructive dl'ing, but baseball has a fairly aggressive set of roster rules to stop the hoarding of talent. but go back to my central premise; who deserves to make money out of their talent; the players or the owners?

Iubitul wrote: The way things are set up regarding international players, the rich only get richer. 1. International players should have to apply for the draft - this system would be the most equitable way to insure that the best players don't continually go to the wealthiest teams. Posting to try to sign a Japanese league semi-free agent will stop with this agreement. I stopped trusting this closed bid process since the Ichiro signing. 2. Each draft position should have a salary/bonus slot to be set by the previous years signings, and should go up at an agreed rate each year. Ok, posting is nothing to do with Major League Baseball, but to do with how the Japanese system works. They're basically offering a tender to buy out the rights that the japanese club has to the player for the next X years. How can you decide that this isn't fair, but that forcing them to accept below market value for their services is. At what point do people not get, that this is a system [the mlb system] set up for the benefit of 30 people or oganisations, who are in effect an cartel based oligarchy designed to make money for themselves.

"Does anyone really think it's fair that only about 5 teams have a shot at signing that Japanese pitcher who's a hot item? Edgy, I'm looking at you." Maybe the Japanese pitcher does. Seriously I can't understand how people can be in favour of things like salary caps et al that only serve to increase the profit margin for the members of a non-meritocratic** bunch of people called baseball owners. The reality is, people who play major league baseball are EXTREMELY talented being in the very top echelon of their profession they should be able to extract market rates for their talent. There's a LONG standing argument that 'the clubs develop players etc ...' but that's covered by the 6 years of NON MARKET value service that they give to the club. I'd argue that THAT in itself is way too much, but that's me. In football, players sign contracts, if they're over 23 and the contract's over, it's over and they're free to do whatever they like. If they're 23 or under they can move to whomever they like but the club whom they are with will get a level of compensation (based on development time at club and market value), but only if that club has offered them another contract at the same or greater salary. Similarly clubs have no right to 'trade' a player. Player's can be transferred but only with their agreement. Now, players generally feel that if a club doesn't want you, you're better to move on, but if you want to stay and fight for your place that's up to you. I'm not saying it's perfect, indeed the problems that agents The reality is, players are people earning a living, sure they're highly paid, but they're just like you and me in lots of ways. ** My point here is this, owners are given a guaranteed revenue stream from MLB just for being owners. As has been shown by (in it's most extreme case) Florida this year, the Pirates and most d is possible to invest very little money in the 'on-field product', receive that money and have no 'penalty for it'. In other words there's no punishment for your team performing badly and you can simply continue to cash the cheques. This is the BIG problem with the absence of promotion/relegation.

i'm feeling it today. Thankfully i didn't stay up for any of Saturday's fiasco.

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I could use an early bedtime tonight. On the other hand, I do want Glavine to pitch (and win) tonight so he has four days rest before Saturday. YOU COULD USE AN EARLY NIGHT???? Ok, so I haven't seen one to conclusion yet, but last night I got till the 6th inning and they start at 1.15 AM for me. Seriously, give me a gay dame sometime.

i for one am hoping for gay dame, which will mean i can watch it. Herself is running a show this week & weekend which means I cannae be staying up till 3/4am watching the mets as she needs her undisturbed sleep!!

it doesn't matter now but how gyped was floyd by the home plate umpire in the bottom of the 7th with the bases juiced.

metirish wrote: Duan,do you have NASN,north american sports network?,they have the game live,9PM your time,I know SKY carries it because I watched a Jets game while at home last christmas. http://www.nasn.com/content/nasn/portal.nsf?open&region=ie I do have NASN, but unfortunately i'm not living at home at the moment (extensive renovations being nearly finished!) but i've an mlb.com subscription so that'll do me.

as the fourth I think he's gonna rise to the occasion. I'm also hoping that by the time i get home from training tonight (5.20 pm your time) we're still in the game. Sod it, these are breaks, everyone of our pitchers have had some decent games in their arms, we just need a few of them to happen together. Sorta like Ireland in the world cup.

he's a hall of famer even if he retired today. Jay Satan's on with a bloop.

the metrodome went SOOOO quiet.

Carlos Beltran is the mets MVP, no two ways about it in my book.

well both are entirely plausible situations, indeed, one could face LA and THEN the marlins if one were lucky enough to progress. Isn't it fun to be able to debate post-season rosters in SEPTEMBER without worrying that we're going to jinx the whole fucking thing!!!

sure; I'm not saying perez' is the solution but does last night rule Williams out?

so does WIlliams' implosion last night mean its now Tracschel vs Perez/Maine

y'know what, I'm going with my gut here and saying that I think he's a bad playoff bet and that I'd rather take my chances with someone like John Maine, David Williams or Oliver Perez as my fourth starter in the playoffs if we need one. I also don't see the point in bringing him back next year unless it's very cheap. I know there's a value in innings munching but it ain't that high.

question; when are the mets most likely to be playing in New York assuming (as looks pretty damn likely) that they have the best record in the league?

the fact that Darren Oliver can really hit, helps his post-season roster cause immeasurably. I mean, he's not far off being as dangerous as chris woodward. And he certainly out hits Mike Defelice.

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I think this was their last game of the season against a team that currently has a winning record. this season that means that this is their last game of the season against the mets and not much else!

hah! Angel Hernandez does something good for the mets! David Wright gets an RBI

for the record I REALLY don't want the Phillies to win the wild card at all. I don't like their ability to put together nasty innings against us. Don't like it at ALL.

you have to give Beltran a huge lift because he plays (extremely well) an up the middle defensive position and he's a fantastic base runner. if the season ended today he'd be my MVP, but there's still another bunch of baseball to play. If Howard keeps hammering the ball and the phillies get into the playoffs then I think he'll win on the "once they got rid of Bobby Abreu" bandwagon.

committed Atheist, I'd heartily recommend to all that we DON'T GET INTO THIS HERE. Seriously folks. we'll have a row.