Bob Alpacadaca

So far we are doing all we can to defeat ourselves.

Frayed Knot wrote: =Centerfield post_id=152613 time=1713557751 user_id=65] No one objects to the term “pimping” a home run. Maybe the word has evolved from its original meaning to now being a synonym for flamboyant. It totally has. And does anyone really think that using the word 'Pimp' means you're in favor or even indifferent to abuse of women? That's overthinking things by a lot IMO.

I like these. I think the bridge on the cap is a nice touch and better than what the Giants tried to do. I'm ok with the NYC and the gray. Would have loved the Unisphere, but these exceeded expectations.

Martino is right. Pimps are bad people who abuse women. They are not something we should be glorifying. We wouldn't celebrate a Rally Drug Dealer. He can wear whatever he wants, like any other fan. But we should not celebrate this.

The Babe.

Winning streak!

Howie went on at length about his dislike for Skyline Chili. I've had it. It's like Cincy's version of White Castle. You know it probably a mistake, but it's what you do when you have time for one more bad decision before calling it a night.

Keeps him away from the Yankees.

Scott Boras says he has a Plan B - or two.

I'm a little surprised he was sent down, but I suspect he'll be one of the first in line to come up. If even half these guys bounce back, our pen might be pretty strong!

Trade for Dylan Cease?

https://nypost.com/2024/02/01/sports/todd-frazier-confronted-snys-gary-cohen-over-mets-coverage/https://nypost.com/2024/02/01/sports/todd-frazier-confronted-snys-gary-cohen-over-mets-coverage/ Todd apparently forgot that we have be best booth in the business. Wanted more cheerleading, less truth.

Angelos has a mixed legacy to be sure. But I always appreciated that he refused to go along with the plan to field replacement players had the strike extended into 1995. Whether he was doing that to make sure Ripken's streak wasn't snapped, or he was just recognized the general disaster that would be, he is often credited with pushing the strike toward a settlement.

SNY saying Mets and Adam Ottavino have signed a deal for about $4.5 million -- about $2 million less than the option he turned down. https://sny.tv/articles/adam-ottavino-returning-mets-one-year-dealhttps://sny.tv/articles/adam-ottavino-returning-mets-one-year-deal Hopefully he is spending the winter working on a pickoff move.

=smg58 post_id=144613 time=1704805150 user_id=62] I kind of like the sausage races.

Chad ochoseis wrote: Bader's main value is as a fill in when you need a Yankee and Cardinal for Immaculate Grid and you've already used Carlos Beltran. This was funny! Nice.

I just wonder if they would have been a 75-win team had they not sold at the deadline and punted August and September. Clearly the higher-ups didn't think they had a shot or they wouldn't have traded everyone.

=Centerfield post_id=143491 time=1703269698 user_id=65] Agreed. Two 84 win teams made the playoffs last year. One of them got hot at the right time and went to the World Series. For better or worse, this is what baseball is now. The Mets should never be out of the race. The Mets aren't a playoff team as built, but with a few tweaks they can put themselves into the mix. It's probably not realistic to think another 84 win team will make the playoffs again, but high 80s or 90 wins should do it. It's a testament to the ineptitude of prior management that they currently project to have the highest payroll in baseball but aren't a realistic contender with a 12 team playoff.

As possibly the only guy to not vote for beltre, his argument against him is, “meh”. Like, no further explanation. What. The. Actual. Fuck. He's all mister small-hall. Sure. Then don't vote for Ortiz. And don't bitch that PEDs are keeping out the best of the sawx players either. Ugh. Beltre is a much better player than Ortiz, manny, Jeter. More complete. More counting. 6th best 3b ever vs 14th, using bWAR's jaws. Jetes needs a hell of an aura and mystique boost to climb over that, but Beltre isn't worthy? Please. Comparing manny to Beltre would be equally unfair. Unless all you look at is home runs. Ugh. The least you could do is explain yourself! Bad Ballot? Dan Gelston, a Philly sportswriter for AP, says "Hold my cheesesteak." Beltre Jimmy Rollins Chase Utley And that's it. Somebody remind him that Wagner pitched for the Phillies.

Lefty Specialist wrote: Well, forget about getting rid of the anthem- it'll never happen. It's too ingrained. I just think it should be played by the organist (or tape of the organist) and let the fans sing if they want to. You don't need a different minor celebrity/amateur opera singer/local barbershop quartet to sing it every game, which is where the bloopers come in. Not sure I understand this one. You don't need to have people singing it, but I think it brings a nice element to the experience. I'd rather have the Hawthorn Elementary kids choir out there having a glorious moment on the field performing at a Major League Baseball game than some recording. That whole experience is something the kids will always remember. Will some live performer flub the lyrics once in a while? Sure. Is that a big deal? Nope. I like things that engage the community and build fandom. Baseball celebrates tradition. We like it when players where stirrup socks even though they stopped having problems with sock dyes causing blood poisoning about a century ago. But it's part of what we think a baseball uniform should look like, at least old-timers like me. We don't need a lot of things at a baseball game. I don't need to buy a program and keep score. But I do, every time. Like the anthem, it is part of the overall experience of going to a game. I realize your mileage will vary and I respect the opinions. I just like it.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Especially the way Ray Charles sang it. Stirring. [media=youtube]TRUjr8EVgBg?feature=shared[/media]

I like the anthem. I go to a lot of games at the Major League and Minor League levels and it's always nice to see who is singing and how they are singing it. Occasionally someone flubs it. That's OK. I also don't get offended if someone wants to sit and listen. That's their call. And, yes, "America, the Beautiful" is a better song, at least the first verse.

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, I'm guessing that a steady drumbeat is exactly Carlos' problem. Boom. Good call.

I think this weekend is when one of the veterans committees votes, with Davey Johnson on the ballot.

It's interesting to compare Wright to Scott Rolen, elected last year, and with Chase Utley, who some people are touting as being worthy -- though not in this forum. Pretty similar.