Farmer Ted

Wheeler Goes Zambrano on Sampson... HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston reliever Dan Wheeler blew a save, then shoved starter Chris Sampson in the dugout on Wednesday night, an ugly twist to the Astros' frustrating season. Wheeler left after giving up three runs in the eighth inning Wednesday night, and the Oakland Athletics got a rare home run from Jason Kendall in the sixth and rallied for a 7-3 victory. Sampson, who pitched seven strong innings, tried to console Wheeler when he came back to the dugout. Wheeler turned and shoved Sampson with both hands, then yelled at Sampson to go to the other end of the dugout. The shoving was reminiscent of the scuffle between the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett two weeks ago, though this one was over in an instant. Wheeler (0-4) was contrite after the game and told Sampson he wanted to talk to him after the media finished asking Sampson questions. "There's nothing going on," Wheeler said. "I love Chris. It was just frustration on my part. I'm a professional, I should be better than that. I take full responsibility."

I would choose #1 (shag flies with Beltran) because it sounds the least dangerous. Delgado might cause me to get carpel tunnel; I might get my teeth knocked out in a golf cart accident with Glavine; I could bruise my tongue trying to speak Spanish with Jose; I could tear my labrum chucking fastballs with Scotty; Wagner would probably get us in a playground fight; and I could put on some made skills for Wright and put him into a fielding funk, like he got into a hitting funk after the all-star game. Plus, I could get an up-close look at that blueberry on the side of Beltran's head.

Hilary and her Swankness. http://www.nypost.com/gossip/celebp/06132007/photo06.jpg

This guy? http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/hilaryswank2-0407-460x360.jpg

I was still in Little League. A bunch of my friends liked the Phillies and I all I could think of is "now who do the Mets have to go against Carlton?" The Flynn combo with Taveras set league-highs for double plays which was exciting until my brother pointed out that they led the league because the pitching sucked and kept letting batters get on base.

Apparently George Mitchell is using the Barry Bonds rookie card as evidence/proof that Barry did, in fact, use steroids. http://www.funny.com/_fc/0/2/fn.5120.jpg

We should trade for him. Our 2B slot is a bit shaky.

I'm surprised Sabean hasn't taken a poll with the fans and decided to trade Correia, too.

at the end of my message I even said "go Fox"... I signed my fax to the Red Sox tix office a few years ago, GO SOX, since my return address was NYC and they may have thought I was part of the Mets contingent storming Fenway.

more... PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- Pedro Martinez threw off a mound Tuesday for the first time since rotator cuff surgery last fall, one of the major steps toward his goal of rejoining the New York Mets' starting rotation by August. The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw 31 pitches after warming up with seven throws. Before that, he threw on flat ground from 120 feet at the Mets' spring training complex. "I was very pleased with the way that it went," Martinez said. Mets rehabilitation pitching coordinator Randy Niemann gave Martinez a pat on the back. "For this stage, he looks very good," Niemann said. "I think he felt good, and that's what we all wanted to see out of him at this point." Martinez usually makes his long tosses from 230 feet, a sign that this is part of his recovery. He threw only fastballs to catcher Danny Cummins, a Brooklyn Cyclones player a year ago. "I wasn't really thinking about it," Martinez said. "More than anything, it's making sure that nothing happens." Martinez plans to throw again Friday. "We'll take every step as it goes," Niemann said. Niemann stopped Martinez after the 31 pitches. "He told me, You're done,"' Martinez said. "I was like, 'Wow, am I?' I was shocked." The 35-year-old righty was 9-8 with a 4.48 ERA last year as the Mets won the NL East for the first time since 1988. He missed the postseason but is heartened by the team's fast start this year. "I think the team's success makes me take it easier," Martinez said. "It helps me take my time to heal. I'm sure those guys are waiting for me to come back, but they want me to come back healthy."

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Sidelined Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez threw off a pitching mound Tuesday for the first time since he underwent rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder, Newsday reported. The newspaper reported Martinez threw 38 pitches off a mound in 90-degree heat at the Mets' training camp facility, in a session that lasted a total of 12 minutes. "He went into it with an understanding that he wasn't going to push it," Mets rehab pitching coach Randy Niemann told Newsday. "He wanted to be free and easy." Niemann told the newspaper that as long as Martinez feels good, his next bullpen session could be Friday. Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, went 9-8 with a 4.48 ERA last season in 23 starts before being sidelined with a calf injury. He underwent surgery Oct. 5 to repair a torn rotator cuff. He has a career 206-92 record with a 2.81 ERA and 2,998 strikeouts.

The tossing of the bat after every friggin home run. LoDuca should have clocked him.

Here's a hidden ball trick for the ages. A young Farmer Ted was at this game. http://www.baseballreliquary.org/Bresnahan.htm

As Clemens is concerned, I'd guess it's not so much a tired groin as it is vaginitis.

That's either Gabrielle from Xena: Warrior Princess or Kevin Sorbo with a blonde wig. I'm going with Sorbo.

This guy is a quote machine. Yesterday he takes on the steroid stigma just as Mota gets off in-school suspension and Bonds comes strolling into town. "He (Mota) served his penalty, paid his price," Wagner said. "He doesn't have to come to me and apologize. He had his reasons for doing it. I don't know why and I don't care. The problem is the people that aren't getting caught."

You're only as good as the company you keep and Becca's wedding party is good quality.

Did Oakland drop Jeremy (Moneyball) Brown from its 40, too?

Hmm, no Derek Bell on that list. He and Sheff were on the same Little League team, Doc a couple years ahead.

Mrs. Ted, when she heard this said, "why don't they dump that kind of money into Harlem to find their next big time ballpayers?" She's so astute at this shit. Which is another argument all together and one that was touched upon during the Jackie Robinson celebration ballyhoo recently. Why go to a Carribean Island? Well, laws that don't require formal education (although the academies will teach you English), year-round baseball devoid of Little League rules, etc. Yeah, there's some exploitation there dontcha think?

The teams with the "nicest" facilities in the DR have an advantage to recruit players at a young age and sign them when they're 16. Gary said ALL players should be subject to a draft and teams with money to develop this talent are avoiding a system which would give all teams the right to draft the best players.

Listening to Gary Cohen last night during the game, he was very critical of MLB and the lack of a draft for international players. This came as he announced the Mets new $8 million facility in the Dominican to develop young players. Gary certainly wasn't playing comapny man on this one as he called out Mets and MLB brass for turning a blind eye to this practice.

Rat farts.

Robert Smigel, standing behind Matthew Broderick. Smigel of SNL's TV Funhouse fame as well as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Fame http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/i/partypictures/05_14_07/autism/autism16.jpg

It looks like he's auditioning for the Boyz II Men reunion tour.