soupcan

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Where's Doug Flynn? Wasn't he your favorite? You couldn't have thought that Flynn was gonna be the next Joe Morgan because then the Reds would've kept him. And Ryne Sandberg was still a teenager. Correct! However as wide-eyed and Ceetar-ish as I was, I knew Flynn would never be much of a hitter. Loved him for that sweet, sweet golden glove and I would never have considered trading him. The one solace I took from those lean years was that the Mets would either lead the league or be near the top in DPs turned. It was the ONE thing they did well and how could that continue without Flynn?! Of course leading the league in DPs also meant that your team had to allow quite a lot of runners to reach base, which was...um, not really a good stat.

Well then look on the bright side. Josh Thole could develop into the next Johnny Bench; Miguel Tejada -- the next Ernie Banks. The Giants might give us Tim Lincecum for Jose Reyes. If Dillon Gee learns to pitch like Greg Maddux and Johan Santana has another Cy Young caliber season, the Mets should be competitive. Uncanny. My mindset from 8th - 10th grade: John Stearns could develop into the next Johnny Bench; Frank Taveras -- the next Ernie Banks. The Dodgers might give us Fernando Valenzuela for Hubie Brooks. If Tim Leary learns to pitch like Tom Seaver and Randy Jones/Mickey Lolich has another Cy Young caliber season, the Mets should be competitive.

I don't know how many of you have read the S.I. article yet, but it sez that all the money coming off the books will not be going back into salary. It is to be reinvested in the club. I took that to mean 'paying off debts'.

batmagadanleadoff wrote:

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Warning: Reading the full article requires wading through much commentary on Derek Jeter: half of the piece is about Jeter, essentially a Beltran-Jeter comparison. Fuck that, I ain't reading it.

I'm awesome! Thanks Ceetar. OE:...and Edgy!

I remember a story that I read years and years ago from the late '50s early '60s where the Cincinnati Reds organized a movement among their fans to stuff ballots for the All-Star game. The result was that the 8 starters chosen (not the pitcher) were Reds. The Commissioner, not being pleased with this outcome, then hand-picked 2 players from other teams (one being Willie Mays) to start alongside the 6 other Reds. Now I'm sure I remember reading this somewhere but thinking rationally about it now I doubt it happened. Primarily because I don't think fans voted back then and I'm not even certain that fans voted at any point during Mays' career. Anybody know if there is any shred of reality to my story or was it possibly a dream I had as a child?

Centerfield wrote: I just finished the SI article. There is no doubt in my mind that this asshole has no intention of re-signing Reyes. I'm embarrassed to be a fan of this organization. I have never before endorsed a sale of this team, but I will be actively rooting for that from now on. I'm now a fan of Picard. Let's start a Picard suit thread. Pinstripes? Greys? I hear a lot of people aren't fans of the black suits. I've been rooting for Picard from the beginning. Welcome to the Dark Side Luke.

My random Met/Cub knowledge: They fucked up Tim Leary. Played their fierst night game at Wrigley against the Mets. Black cat at Shea against them effectively gave the Mets the pennant in '69. Mets clinched the division in '86 against them. Shawon Dunston chosen ahead of Dwight Gooden (1 & 5 if I'm not mistaken) Randy beget Todd. What else you got...?

Ashie62 wrote: Mets fans would agree with Wilpon that Jose Reyes is not worth �Carl Crawford money;� that David Wright is �a really good kid,� but �not a superstar;� and that Carlos Beltran is �65 to 70 percent of what he was.� Bullshit.. Jose isn't worth that kind of deal. Not saying he won't get it, but he isn't worth $20 million per for 7 years. Wright isn't a superstar. He isn't. Sorry, it's true. Fred's dead right on that one. David's a really good player and I like him and want to keep him but not a superstar. Not yet anyway. The Carlos thing I'd mildly disagree with but I understand why he said it and why he feels it.

Ahhh, poor Fred. I don't have a problem with his comments - Jose may in fact get Crawford money, but he won't deserve it and the team that gives it to him will most likely regret it. I'd be happy if the Mets negotiated in good faith with Jose, even if he ends up leaving. My problem is that I'm under the impression that they won't. David Wright was becoming a superstar but so far it hasn't happened. I feel for Fred. The general consensus is that he's a good guy to do business with and a good guy in general but I'm still rooting for Picard. New ownership is the only thing I can see that will turn the Mets around. It's a given that Jose is gone -yes Ceetar, sorry to tell you that he did not sign a secret extension - and the spending, no matter what they say about all those contracts coming off the books - will not increase. The only hope in my mind is a new regime that realizes that a winner in this town may cost you money but will certainly make you money. Something the team in the Bronx fiigured out a while ago. Jeff Wilpon is a joke with a bad haircut and Long-guy-land accent so thick it sounds like he should be making me a sandwich instead of playing with his jet plane models. Can't believe that he is the guy calling the shots. Saul Katz will be played by Wallace Shawn in the movie.

Hate to say it, but I agree with Klap.

.500 and 17-9 since the 5-13 start.

Great KTE. I laughed, I cried. I give you an 'A'. You just missed out on your 'A+' because of this: metsguyinmichigan wrote: The vile MFYs are like a wounded and very ugly animal, staggering into Citi Field for a three-game series against the gallant Mets. For this series the MFYs will be staggering back to the boogie-down.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Jason Bay with 3 hits: next rarest thing to a no-hitter Oooh, Bay's got a ways to go to earn back Lunchy's respect.

Never in doubt.

Well Howie just sorta mentioned it, invoking that there was something possibly brewing that hadn't yet happened in 7,849 games...

Lefty Specialist wrote: My god, Slaten looks just like John Maine. Eerie. Right? I thought the same thing....in fact I thought it was John Maine until someone pointed out that Maine isn't a lefty. Two goofy looking MoFos...

Gotta give him that.

Ceetar wrote: even if the two teams could be playing for first that weekend. BWAAAAAA-HAAAAAAAA-HAAAAAAAA-HAAAAAAA!!!!! Ahhhhhh......you're funny Ceetar.

really? Twitter? Okay...thanks.

So they called yesterday's game with a press release at approx. 5:39 pm. I'm inclined to think they won't do the same tonight unless it's just raining cats & dogs starting like...now, with no window in sight. Where's the best place to get that news first? Any idea? Mets.com? I've got tix for tonight and my ride home is coming in from CT and meeting me at the game. They'll turn around and head home if it's called on their way in. I have to 7 train it out to Citi. If it's called, I've got to go all the way back to GCT for my Metronorth ride home.

Frayed Knot wrote: Little Leagues have to pay for use of those Major League names so I'm always surprised when they do that. I didn't realize that. Knowing it now, I'm thinking that the fact that a big sponsor of youth baseball in my town is MLB.com and the CEO of same was also a coach every year. Whether that had something to do with it or not I don't know but I would guess he probably took care of that end.

Fman99 wrote: Fboy has once again been sentenced to being a Yankee. Poor kid. Fortunately that's one thing soupy, jr. never had to deal with. Lemme see if I can remember his teams... Rock Cats Aztecs Pacers Reds Pirates Mariners That may or may not be all of his LL teams. I hated when he was younger and the stupid minor-league and even team names from other sports were de rigueur. Just stoopid.

From the 'You Can't Make This Stuff Up Department': I just got this email from soupy, jrs' All-Star coach: 'I'm running the Babe Ruth summer travel team this July. I was wondering if Junior was going to be around. Although I am having a tryout, I would really encourage him to play for me if he's going to be around. I love his attitude. I told him from day one that I didn't know how much playing time I could get him for this team and he flat out told me he didn't care as long as he got on the team. I can't say enough about a kid with that attitude, which is why I've given him so much more playing time recently. He always hustles and follows my rules without question. I can never have enough of that type of kid. My attitude is not to win or lose so much (although I personally want to crush every team we play...) as preparing my kids for freshman ball next year. I've gone through this with my nephew and with a lot of hard work he made the freshman team. I would use Junior as a pitcher/infield/right fielder in July if he wants to play with us.' Well, that's very nice and all and maybe I was wrong about the guy but if he thinks that Junior's had 'more playing time recently' then he either doesn't know which kid is mine or he's coaching a different game than the ones I've been watching. Also - 'I would use him as a pitcher/infield/right fielder'. Leftfield not so much? Why specify the field? Weird, but whatever. Hey at least the guy seems to like him and this should make Junior feel good and get him excited for the summer....I guess. I'm very confused now.