Ceetar

Frayed Knot wrote: I'm not even talking about the politicians so much as about the political reporters. White House press conferences often become a one-upsmanship contest among the correspondents. blurring the line between reporter and analyst?

I think a lot of these people, particularly some of the ones mentioned, think it's their show. The 'guest' is just a teaser to get you to watch/listen to them. Francesa wants you to hear what he has to say, a guest is just a useful topic. Politicians, especially when using planted/prepared questions, really just want to talk at you.

bmfc1 wrote: Sunday's game is on ESPN (this is the game that necessitated the move of Banner Day) so Gary, Keith, Ron and Guys! get two days off. and off today. Wonder if they should just have scrubs do tomorrow and take the 4 days off.

duan wrote: Baseball Prospectus (early in the season) had half a podcast devoted to Ike Davis and saying how he basically didn't seem to get that there was an issue with his overall approach. His response to his troubles was (and this was a direct quote) "they'll (pitchers) start making some mistakes and I'll start hitting some homers" and that he just didn't seem to even notice how he was flailing so badly. is that what happened? I'm not sure I'm convinced that his overall approach isn't just a symptom and not a cause. Presumably he's taking different approaches in desperation too. I wonder if he's tried just standing up there a whole game and refusing to swing and see if he can steal some walks.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Granted. But... 19 years. Children conceived at victory parties for that championship can now smoke, vote, and serve in the military. as can children conceived during the last Islanders playoff series win..in 93.

Vic Sage wrote: Why do these articles keep saying "the Mets have no one to replace him"? Do we have a top 1B prospect ready? No, but Brown and Lutz are on the 40-man, and Campbell and Satin are at AAA, too, and they're all hitting well this year. You can throw Dykstra at AA in there for good measure. These aren't young kids and they've proven to be hitters at the top minor league levels. I'd say any of them could hit better than .150 while Davis takes the time to work on his swing in Vegas. Because these articles have written off 2013 (which might be with good cause at this point) and are focused on the future. None of these guys are considered long-term answers or big prospects, so the idea is that Ike Davis is probably the "most talented" of the bunch and if he doesn't right himself in a convincing way you'd go elsewhere anyway. I tend to agree with you though. Lutz is my choice due to 40 man simplicity if they choose to replace Ike. Duda's 26th in the NL in wOBA. that's certainly good.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Because he's not good enough. but he is..so.. Anyway, Duda at first unless you're committed to that plan forever probably means Cowgill in left? The reason you don't move Duda is because there seem to be more 'hitter' types that you can play at first right now.

Why is Lucas Duda no longer the answer?

Edgy MD wrote: A quick check puts Pittsburgh in dead last in MLB at the All-Star break in 2006. and they still charged $50 to park at the close lots.

Probably won't win one either. Fireworks Friday though.

Edgy MD wrote: I'd prefer his fate be sealed not by his inability to play impeccable defense, but by his failure to provide a meaningful degree of offense to obviate the need for such. indeed. I'm okay with our first basemen, even in perpetuity, not being up to Keith's standards. I'm also okay with winning not quite 1 billion dollars, in case you were curious.

That seems an extremely well thought out response in my eyes..

I get wanting to wish him out of town. I'd still play him but I'd be willing to give those other guys (not Valdespin, Turner) chances too. I'd go with whatever the best chance to win is, as always. But the real important question is why. Even if you don't have a fix, why clears up so much. You'd at least be able to guess if you can fix it or not, if he'll bounce back or not. It allows you to plan. But I'd be as little surprised if he goes 0 for the next 30 as if he goes 15 for the next 30 with 6HR. It's one thing to wish him away to 'work on his swing' but you actually need to know what to work on. (i.e. try to make moves that inflect positive change more than eliminating negative. Release a guy to give someone else a chance. Platoon a guy to try out his partner, not to cut AB for one guy) Does anyone remember something specific that happened last year? Was there any real point we can say "oh, that's what worked?" report of a swing change, energy level, new girlfriend? If I recall he got very feast or famine for a while in June where he was productive but striking out a bazillion times, and then he cut down the strikeouts as well and kept getting on base and mashing.

Vic Sage wrote: while i happen to share his disinterest in soccer, he is the one with a sports talk show, and excluding discussion of a major sport just cuz he's not interested in (ie, he knows nothing about) it is the equivalent of malpractice. I don't know if we can count soccer as 'major' although mentioning the stadium in passing is at least worth noting. Even if its' in a "does anyone care about soccer and will they go?" way. on the other hand, I'd put it about golf, tennis and horse racing and he talks plenty about those. more hockey though.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I think Ike's struggles have become the ultimate elephant in the room. Almost nobody is performing the way they can. Wright, Murphy. Duda probably. That'd almost be okay if everyone else was merely mediocre. But Tejada and Davis are abysmal, and Buck and Byrd are mostly bad with good days.

Zvon wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Niese has done a fine job righting himself, but I'm not too sure I let him hit there. I'm certain I don't let him go up there first-pitch swinging. Oh yea, there's a game on. I'm amazed that Niese has lasted this long. I wrote him off in the 1st. some nice Ks at least. that was troubling early in the season. Still struggled with his command some but hopefully he's righting himself overall.

Frayed Knot wrote: Ceetar wrote: [i don't know enough about Choo to guess for sure, but I don't think he's a plus CFer. Beltran isn't any kind of CFer these days and certainly won't be in coming days. Choo is looking to be decent in CF during this short span with Cincy. Ideally he's a corner OF and absolutely has a plus-arm for RF yeah, I just meant Choo's numbers seem better suited to a centerfielder, not quite the masher you expect from a corner guy. I'd be more willing to sign a guy like Choo for CF. Maybe Lagares or Nieuwenhuis will show us something to be in the running for that job between Beltran and Duda.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: MFYs will employ Beltran to be one of their dozen DHs next year, just watch. So's Carlos can go into Cooperstown with a Yankee cap on his plaque. Natch. It's certainly worked for them, but as a Yankees fan I'd be annoyed at all these guys coming here to pad their stats in a tiny stadium for polishing their career numbers. Beltran has 344 home runs right now. Maybe he finishes at 360. a 2-3 year deal in that place could push him to 450 which would really solidify his case.

Robin Ventura

Edgy MD wrote: Maybe, but does evidence really suggest that Beltran will be better than Choo over the next couple of years, Hall of Fame or no? I think it's more likely. Is it closer to 50% more likely than 100? probably, but you gotta play the percentages. I don't know enough about Choo to guess for sure, but I don't think he's a plus CFer. OBP is one of those things that doesn't fade as fast, so that's nice, but I'm just not sure he's got enough going for him to seek him out. I'd rather make the big commitment to a younger/better player or make the minimal commitment to a guy we know is real good.

themetfairy wrote: Ceetar - I have a Citi Visa card. How do I get this free beer? There's a tent in the center field area, right by the ASG sign. show them the card and your license, get a $10 gift card which is acceptable everywhere except I think Pat LaFriedas? (maybe not the Shake Shack stuff? maybe it's only the 'main' aramark/mets stuff.)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: In 2014, Beltran will be 37 in April and Choo will be 32 in July. If you're looking for an outfielder who could hold the position for a year or two, then sure, it would be great to see Beltran come back. But if they want somebody who can be in their outfield for four or five years, then Choo makes more sense. I think you sign a two-year guy when you're a bit closer to contention than the Mets currently appear to be. But maybe things will look different this winter, pending other deals and potential on-field improvement from some of the current players. It's hard to understate how much just one more real hitter means to the Mets..and when that players is a likely Hall of Famer? I'm reluctant to commit long term money to outfielders on the wrong side of 30. Despite their recent struggles (and perhaps that's because Beltran expired and they traded Pagan and got burned on Bay/concussion/etc) finding outfielders is one of the easier pieces to find. And I'd rather fill the biggest hole with the biggest plug, rather than just patching it with something that'll work. The Mets can do better than Choo in the next couple of years.

themetfairy wrote: I'll be at the game. It seems like I'm at all of Niese's games.... Seems like I go to all Citi Tuesday games (hey, free $10 for having a Citi credit card pays for a beer!) but I'm so worn out I barely have the energy to get home after work tonight. Enjoy, it's gonna be a win. Duda will double, twice.

I presume there's going to be a lot of talk about the Mets and (fill in outfielder who's not dead) over the next couple of months. Hell, I bet there's a column for every free agent outfielder as they play the Mets. I vote Beltran.

and welcome back, Bobby's save situation.