soupcan

Or not.

Pepitone's dead?

So the outside is an homage to Ebbets. The green seats are supposedly a nod to the Polo Grounds. Where's Shea? Oh there it is, on the floor of the locker room. Is that the ugliest damn rug you've ever seen or what?

I can't not like him but it seems like every other Met fan out there had anointed him Mookie status. If the Mets had won it all in '06 perhaps I could have been persuaded to think of him in that way but as it is I never did. Good player, filled in adequately when needed, great catch. Good luck in Seattle

I always liked him, always tried to be positive when he came in a game thinking that this was the one where he would turn it around. -The 1-hitter against the Cubs in Chicago with his coach from Notre Dame in attendance. -I remember Rick Peterson on WFAN with Russo and Francesa discussing Aaron's difficulties this past year saying that he 'had more moving parts' than your average pitcher, suggesting that when everything was in alignment he was great, but if one thing was out of whack - than it was very difficult for Aaron. Peterson said that he used to spend quite a bit of time with Aaron constantly reminding him and pointing this out. I always wanted him to get his starting shot. Yesterday though Peterson was on the FAN and said that Aaron has had 25 big league starts and in those starts he is 5-15 with an era over 5. He suggested that while Aaron could very well become an average ML starter he felt that his best chance for success was in the 'pen. To be fair though - average starters seem to make about 3 times what average to good middle inning bullpen guys do. No wonder why Aaron wants to start.

Joel Sherman says it is so... ] CC SABATHIA PICKS YANKEES By JOEL SHERMAN December 10, 2008 -- LAS VEGAS � CC Sabathia is not going to play on the West Coast. He is not going to play in the National League. CC Sabathia is going to be a Yankee, The Post has learned exclusively. After three straight days of face-to-face meetings between GM Brian Cashman and Sabathia, the big lefty decided he wants to spend the next six years of his career as a Yankee. The decision came late last night after Cashman flew to see Sabathia at his home in San Francisco. By the time the meeting was concluded, Sabathia had informed the Yankees that he had made his decision to call New York his baseball home, the Post has learned. There are still minor hurdles to finalize, notably that Sabathia must pass a physical. But after so much belief that Sabathia was stalling because he wanted to avoid New York, he agreed to the largest pitching contract in major league history, at least $140 million. It means that the Yankees have lassoed the player they were building their offseason around: An ace in his prime. Sabathia is just 28, and last year between the Indians and Brewers he went 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA. The previous season he won the AL Cy Young. Now he is the first major new piece to be put into the new Yankee Stadium. Cashman had met with Sabathia on both Sunday and Monday in Vegas. He then slipped out of the Winter Meetings yesterday to fly to San Francisco to meet again with Sabathia and also this time Sabathia's wife, Amber. It was in this meeting that Sabathia fully expressed that he wanted to come East and play in the AL, that he wanted the responsibility that comes with being the big man for the biggest team. The Yankees had extended a six-year, $140 million bid to Sabathia nearly a month ago. As the weeks passed and Sabathia did not accept the deal, a feeling began to pervade that he was trying hard to avoid the Bronx. Instead, this might simply have been a patient game of poker, Sabathia simply taking his time to make sure no desirable West Coast team with significant money would emerge. That never happened. So now Sabathia will front a rotation that also will include Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain. But Cashman does not want to stop there. The Yankee priority this winter has been pitching, pitching and pitching. And they are going for more. Cashman had met Monday night with A.J. Burnett's agent Darek Braunacker and expressed a willingness to exceed the four-year, $60 million bid by the Braves and that they would seriously consider going to a fifth year. "We never doubted their sincere efforts," Braunacker said. "I have maintained that if A.J. wants five years he will get five years." Cashman also met with Scott Boras and the Yanks appeared willing to go to the four-year, $60 million plus range for Derek Lowe. In addition, the Yanks have talked with agents for several other starters, including Andy Pettitte, Randy Wolf, Oliver Perez and Ben Sheets. The Yankees received medical records on the oft-injured Sheets and were studying them. One person in the loop described Cashman as really pushing in a much more forceful way to begin closing deals, with or without Sabathia. The Yanks knew the worse scenario would be to be completely shut out on the top-tier pitching buffet. That would be humiliating. That would be the entire sport essentially saying the Yankees have the money, but no one wants to take it as a first option any longer. However, Sabathia showed that the lure of the Yankees and their money is still powerful. Barring the unforeseen, Sabathia is going to be a Yankee. The Yanks scored the big prize for which they were hunting. (Merged from Sabathia (Split from AP Hot Stove), 12/10/2008)

Did the Yankees sign C.C. or is Craig Carton being a douchebag again? (Merged from Sabathia (Split from AP Hot Stove), 12/10/2008)

I think if you are a Mets fan and not concerned with your closer then you haven't been paying attention.

Upper deck wrecking ball. BAM!

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3p03uil1]I'll bet my underoos Pudge Rodriuguez is our C next year.[/quote:3p03uil1] Don't make bets that you're not prepared to pay out on. Benjamin Grimm Dec 09 2008 07:52 AM The Mets could end up leading the city in Rodriguezes. Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 07:53 AM Catchers on the market: Brad Ausmus 1 year/$2M (2008) Paul Bako 1 year/$0.75M (2008) Josh Bard c 1 year/$2.2375M (2008) Michael Barrett 1 year/$3.5M (2008) Gary Bennett 1 year/$0.875M (2008) Henry Blanco 2 years/$5.25M (2007-08) Johnny Estrada c 1 year/$1.25M (2008) Sal Fasano Last year's salary unkonwn. Toby Hall 2 years/$3.65M (2007-08) Paul Lo Duca 1 year/$5M (2008) Adam Melhuse 1 year/$0.75M (2008) Doug Mirabelli 1 year/$0.55M (2008) Chad Moeller 1 year (2008) Guillermo Rodriguez (2008 salary unknown) Ivan Rodriguez 4 years/$40M (2004-07) Javier Valentin 2 years/$2.675M (2007-08) Jason Varitek 4 years/$40M (2005-08) Vance Wilson 2 years/$1.9M (2007-08) Gregg Zaun 2 years/$7.25M (2007-08)All palyers from the Mets era named "Valentin" or "Valentine" have eventually worn the Mets uniform, with the exception of Javier Valentin and Fred Lee "Squeaky" Valentine (1959-1968). I expect Javy will play for the Mets before he retires and Squeaks will coach. metirish Dec 09 2008 08:18 AM What positives would Rodriguez bring to the Mets , if we are going to trade Schneider I would ideally like to see a younger catcher behind the dish. Still looking at that list there does not seem to be much out there. John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 09 2008 08:22 AM Double figures in HRs for 15 straight years. Definitely more pOp than Schneid, although I agree, he'd probably be a strong bench-type were he willing. I don't believe our system has any real catchers, at least, none ready yet. metirish Dec 09 2008 08:24 AM Should I not judge Rodriguez on his time with the MFY's? If we get him can we not call him I-Rod? sharpie Dec 09 2008 08:25 AM Apparently the Tiggers pitching staff hated throwing to him and he's not the awesome runner-thrower-outer he once was. He also can't take a walk. He can, however, hit better than Schneider and can definitely run faster. Benjamin Grimm Dec 09 2008 08:36 AM ="metirish":aa4djcti]Should I not judge Rodriguez on his time with the MFY's? If we get him can we not call him I-Rod?[/quote:aa4djcti] I think "Pudge" has eclipsed "I-Rod." Obviously, Pudge wouldn't be a long-term solution, but he could at least hold down the position for a year and give the Mets time to plan for their 2010 catcher. I think Ivan Rodriguez, along with a backup from among Castro, Casanova, Cancel, and Molina, would be adequate for this year. And hopefully Schneider would bring back someone decent, although not necessarily a catcher. Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:18 AM The Mets system does have catchers, though none ready to step in as a number one at all. You've got your your Sal Manriquez, who could get a taste this season; your Josh Thole, on-base machine at St. Lucie and in the AFL; your high-average/low power/old school-named Dock Doyle, bouncing around the lower levels; your Canadian mountie Jean Luc Blaquiere your wallabee Patrick Maat, only now just starting to get US at-bats after sticking with Australian ball (but under a Mets contract) for a few years; your Jason Jacobs, who struggled this season after knocking the cover off the ball in Brooklyn in 2007; your Francisco Pe�a, only 19, who may or may not have turned a corner in his second SALlie league season in 2008.A rich crop from which somebody is bound to spring, but I thought it was up to Castro and the Schneid to hold the spot down until then. The model seems to be high obp guys, so that's cool. OlerudOwned Dec 09 2008 09:33 AM I think Fasano was paid with a case of Keystone last year. metsguyinmichigan Dec 09 2008 09:38 AM Pudge Rodriguez is done like dinner and there's no way I'd want him starting in the Mets next season. He can't buy a walk. He didn't get along with the pitchers. The bat just wasn't what it was. When he was traded last year there was some sentimental sadness, but from a performance perspective, it wasn't a loss. Fman99 Dec 09 2008 09:38 AM Bleh. DON'T DO IT OMAR. Varitek hit .220 last year. Pudge hit .219 in New York. They are both 36 and many years past their all-star primes. Just put down the checkbook and walk away. Take a gander on someone younger, please please please. Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:39 AM While a lot of those free agent names seem to come (I can't recall) from the fringes of the Mitchell List, Fasano topps the Pearlman List. smg58 Dec 09 2008 09:43 AM I wonder if Manny Delcarmen could be had for Schneider. I'd be curious to know which of the Indians' catchers they'd be willing to deal, and for what. I'm not sure there's a good match there, but the Indians have wealth at that position and there's no harm in asking. Centerfield Dec 09 2008 09:52 AM I agree with Fman. There are like five good catchers in all of baseball. Everyone else sucks. Since we won't be able to get one of the five, Omar should be looking to go cheap and utilize the money where it can be more productive. Should we dump Schneider's contract, I'd have no problem with going into 2009 with a Castro/Cancel duo. Maybe Ramon will be motivated to get his ass into shape. metirish Dec 09 2008 09:56 AM ="Edgy DC":1tw0exzx]While a lot of those free agent names seem to come (I can't recall) from the fringes of the Mitchell List, Fasano topps the Pearlman List.[/quote:1tw0exzx] Pearlman writes for Reader's Digest ? , nothing wrong with that of course just I have not read that in years. Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 09:56 AM With catchers, what you're often paying for is not someone who can put up better averages than other, but someone who has shown that they can do it while starting four games in five. So teams look for Schneiders and LoDucas even when the numbers say to dig deeper and spend cheaper. Valadius Dec 09 2008 10:23 AM Didn't Brad Ausmus retire? Edgy DC Dec 09 2008 10:26 AM I think so, unofficially, at least. He's even given Mike Hampton permission to wear his number. But that's just an obstacle. Centerfield Dec 09 2008 02:44 PM What's Todd Pratt up to? Frayed Knot Dec 09 2008 02:45 PM ="Centerfield":m7ensgxg]What's Todd Pratt up to?[/quote:m7ensgxg] My guess? About 275 John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 09 2008 06:58 PM Reds trade Ryan Freel and a coupla prospects to the O's for Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez' career needs new life, and the Reds needed a real ctacher. I'm thinking now we get Snyder and have a Snyder-Schneider platoon. How cool would that be? Edgy DC Dec 19 2008 09:57 AM Matt Treanor signs with Detroit, taking away one chance to continue getting our catching from Florida.

I agree with the whole Craig Carton thing - woke up hearing that it was 'a done deal'. Thought about waking up soupy, jr. because he's been excited about getting Rodriguez. By the time I was done in the bathroom I figured out that, once again, Craig Carton was blowing smoke up my ass. I've said it before I'll say it again - Craig Carton is a crude, self-promoting moron and its just a matter of time before he gets himself fired. He'll bring Boomer Esiason down with him (Boomer, by the way, shows himself to be more and more of an egotistical idiot with every additional minute of airtime he gets).

Right - but that podium or hole or whatever is outside, so I'm thinking that's where the old one will go. Or a statue..?

You saying all-nu inside or all-nu outside?

Old Apple goes here?

="Willets Point"]="Farmer Ted"]Con: Born in San Dimas. Likely a Bill and Ted co-conspirator with George Carlin in re-shaping the world as we know it. How did the World Series of 80's movies miss Bill & Ted's Excellent Journey? Excellent Adventure Bogus Journey

I was under the impression that ARod was Cuban. Not the case?

I remember that - all the hype about the vault. Then, the vault is opened and Geraldo's looking inside and...... There's nothing there! Too funny.

'What you talkin' 'bout, Vlad?'

Who Vlad? Nah - he's as fair and balanced as they come.

A lot of nice hi-res shots like this at metsblog.com on the front page. This the first pic I've seen of the nice w - i - d - e concourses.

Cool little video tour of Citi[/url:3bdfxevb]

Yeah that's weird isn't it? You'd think they'd go top to bottom rather than the other way around. I'd like to think that they are professional demolishers and know what they are doing rather than they might just be stupid.

bb-f again ="Edgy DC"]I want it noted, suckers, that one of the primary indictments of Shea --- that the outfield field-level seats largely face directly toward the outfield, rather than the infield where most of the action occurs, does not appear to be improved upon at all at Citi. Not so! Angled seats...

All from baseball-fever

If the ruling is that a player must have a part of his body in fair territory when the catch is made and this guy's entire body is over the 'plane' of the outfield fence, then HOMERUN I say. If the ruling is that a player is considered to be in fair territory until and unless he touches the ground outside of fair territory than OUT is my call. If an infielder can throw his whole body into the stands to make a catch that is then recorded as an out I would say that an outfielder can jump over a wall to catch a flyball. OUT!