Jun 03
Transcript of the Q n A with Matt Cerrone
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MLBTradeRumors
- Quick Hits: Angels, Montero, Gomes, Dodgers
- Rosenthal On Rizzo, Altuve, Mattingly
- AL Notes: Brantley, Indians, Hendrickson, Angels
- Alfonso Soriano More Open To Approving Trade
- Yankees Claim David Huff, Designate Rondon
- Mets Notes: Wheeler, Wright, Duda, Davis
- Camden Riversharks Sign Wilson Valdez
- White Sox Outright Angel Sanchez
- Rangers Claim Joe Benson
- Red Sox Notes: Lackey, Henry, Draft
232 comments
rustyjr
6/3/2009-9:04pm at 9:04 pm (UTC -4)
Like I said I think matt was being as candid as he could but he struck be as being a mixture of misguided and confectnding at the same time. IMO if I owned metsblog and it turned into this sensation that wasn’t part of my original vision I would embrace it because I created something that is bringing likeminded and not so likeminded people together in a healthy forum
rustyjr
6/3/2009-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
* condecending – sorry my iPhone gets fuzzy and misspellings occur -sorry
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:27pm at 9:27 pm (UTC -4)
I like confectnding, it’s how it would’ve been spelled over there.
dirtysanchez
6/3/2009-9:07pm at 9:07 pm (UTC -4)
guys feel free to post your thoughts..just no cursing please
trs86
6/3/2009-9:09pm at 9:09 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, Dirty. You want to moderate my post?
rustyjr
6/3/2009-9:12pm at 9:12 pm (UTC -4)
Lmfao – oops I said f LOL
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:12pm at 9:12 pm (UTC -4)
too much glad handing w/mc.
trs86
6/3/2009-9:23pm at 9:23 pm (UTC -4)
I knew you would say that fong. You know what I told you.
trs86
6/3/2009-9:10pm at 9:10 pm (UTC -4)
Sammy Sosa set to announce retirement. Step one to him becoming a Met.
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:11pm at 9:11 pm (UTC -4)
Hes still playing?
rustyjr
6/3/2009-9:17pm at 9:17 pm (UTC -4)
Omar must be licking his chops LOL
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:18pm at 9:18 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty, what do you think of this McLouth deal?
rustyjr
6/3/2009-9:21pm at 9:21 pm (UTC -4)
Not happy but it’s not like we would obtain him anyway
saltygary
6/3/2009-9:15pm at 9:15 pm (UTC -4)
Eff Em, time to move on…
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:16pm at 9:16 pm (UTC -4)
Cerrone or Sosa?
OR BOTH?
’cause I choose BOTH.
rustyjr
6/3/2009-9:17pm at 9:17 pm (UTC -4)
Agree 100% fongy
saltygary
6/3/2009-9:18pm at 9:18 pm (UTC -4)
LOL both but it was focused on the Topic. I still get shakey when posting off topic material.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:22pm at 9:22 pm (UTC -4)
“I stopped reading the comment section months ago, much like most of the site’s overall readership, because it was clear you guys wanted to have your own discussion. I didn’t feel welcome, and it’s my blog.”
Me! Me! Me!
trs86
6/3/2009-9:24pm at 9:24 pm (UTC -4)
LOL
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:25pm at 9:25 pm (UTC -4)
That is the key point on which I disagree with him. I believe we would’ve welcomed him into the conversation, but he chose not to join in it in part IMO because it wasn’t always what he wanted to talk about. It’s his blog, he can talk about whatever he wants. Bottom line I’m still kind of a cross between stunned and impressed that he even did the chat with us. He could’ve just ignored us and based on all the stats and surveys he always sites, it wouldn’t have made a difference.
trs86
6/3/2009-9:57pm at 9:57 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. He does not handle criticism well. I remember when I said that one of his comments was dumb and he got all offended and said I called him dumb.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:59pm at 9:59 pm (UTC -4)
I recall that. I think you followed up explaining the difference between calling someone dumb and calling someone’s comment dumb.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:38pm at 10:38 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, sad you have to explain that. We ALL make dumb comments.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:26pm at 9:26 pm (UTC -4)
And fyi, our “own discussion” was always in reference to the subject at hand. Sorry for not talking about how such a great job you did on the post, Matt. I guess we should’ve praised Cerrone on every post he made, guys.
Also, if a comment ever went off course with the topic, people would generally inform everyone and write “Off topic”.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:29pm at 9:29 pm (UTC -4)
And the way it is currently set up, with comments awaiting moderation, it may be a week before your comment shows up. So I guess the comments are to be looked back on in a year or 20 years, because no one is seeing them when they’re made. Why make them?
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:37pm at 9:37 pm (UTC -4)
Seriously, Im still stuck on the whole “I didnt feel welcome” quote. I mean, you write a post, say about Jerry’s decision in a key situation, and… we talked about it! WTF.. And for anyone (All of us) who had no access in Mattsblog to create a post, sometimes we would talk about something else if anything new popped up. What. Were we supposed to wait until your writers decided to create a post to finally talk about it? The hell, man.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:40pm at 9:40 pm (UTC -4)
“Psssst. Guys. Braves acquired an OF, but I can’t talk about it yet. See you in the next post.”
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:38pm at 9:38 pm (UTC -4)
I disagree!
I think we’re
gonna regret this Dykstra&
McDowell for
Samuel deal.
Oh,wait!!Sorry
fellas,I have
2 windows open
and am on both
blogs at the same time.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:41pm at 9:41 pm (UTC -4)
That really made me LOL! Most of the time when I type LOL I really just laughed inside. Not this time. Nice one Fongy.
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:43pm at 9:43 pm (UTC -4)
I’m here all week.
Make sure to try the veal parm special on thursday night.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:46pm at 9:46 pm (UTC -4)
haha.. That one was inside. Cerrone’s face makes me laugh on the outside.
trs86
6/3/2009-9:58pm at 9:58 pm (UTC -4)
Hey but not once you are in his fav50.
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:26pm at 9:26 pm (UTC -4)
Cerrone said all you need to know about him when he stated his blog
was about the writers & readers
responding to the articles.
Well that would be fine if they(the writers)were as well informed and as
knowledgable as some of us readers
AND if the articles were well written
and not full of mistakes and (again)
opinion based on little experience
and limited knowledge. THAT was the
reason many of US over the last yr or two began to post more and more to
each other. Simply, he is a lucky man
who nevertheless is lost.
metfreak
6/3/2009-9:32pm at 9:32 pm (UTC -4)
In other words we should be seen but not heard
trs86
6/3/2009-10:04pm at 10:04 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed in some ways Fong. That is why I put your comment through.
saltygary
6/3/2009-9:30pm at 9:30 pm (UTC -4)
The one thing that stood how is how he kept stating that he doesn’t trust anyone else to work on the blog directly. This makes perfect sense with how smug he comes off. That attitude will only last so long.
gland
6/3/2009-9:43pm at 9:43 pm (UTC -4)
Totally. He doesn’t seem to realize that every online newspaper has a blog now, and a lot of those guys are so much better than he is.
Here’s the thing, for me, about Metsblog:
- For the most part he doesn’t break any news. I can get the latest news from RotoWorld.
- He doesn’t have real access. Reading Adam Rubin’s blog provides much more info.
- His analysis is either non existent or awful.
So why did I go there? Mainly to read what other fans were saying. And now we’re not allowed to talk without permission.
So that site has kind of become irrelevant.
Phew, felt good saying that!
trs86
6/3/2009-10:06pm at 10:06 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. With our Sportsypder and twitter feeds we get the info as quick as he does.
gland
6/3/2009-9:31pm at 9:31 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t understand the “off topic” stuff Cerrone was complaining about. Comments always started off on topic. The only time they would go off topic (for the most part) was when he’d go hours/days without a new post. Then people would start chatting about other things between posts.
And I agree 100% that he would have been welcomed into any conversation that he chose to join. I never saw him participate. The only time he would comment would be to get defensive and rude about someone who called attention to one of his errors.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:06pm at 10:06 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed!!
Mr North Jersey
6/3/2009-9:31pm at 9:31 pm (UTC -4)
Ok I need to vent I just read through the chat log transcript of the Q&A with Matt C. and once I read Matt’s reply when Dirty asked him to expand on why you guys having interesting conversation being a problem I knew nothing forthright was going to come from his mouth.
1. When he said “The comment section had become a closed discussion among 15 to 20 people, most of whom now comment here, on this blog, while creating an environment that suggested only that 15 to 20 people were allowed to take part.â€â€¦.
How was it suggested only 15 to 20 could post an opinion I never got that impression did you? Ok so 15 to 20 people are responsible for most of the 522,000 comments in his site’s database and then now telling people the ability to post is based on passing a probationary period is showing that they can now take part? I mean in one instance he basically said you guys didn’t discuss anything pertaining to the post.
2. His reply to Rustyjr comments about banning without reasons where he said “The banning of IP addresses, e-mails, user names, etc., was the result of my SPAM filter gone bananasâ€.
He told me my being banned 5 minutes after I called him sarcastic was a coincidence and after an email he said it was this new system he implemented to give him a day or two then after waiting 2 days I sent 4 emails over the next 7 days where I never got a reply after my initial email. It was then becoming clear to me that what he called a coincidence was just B.S. Whenever he wants to copout on something he goes to old reliable “I wasn’t really sure what I was doingâ€. I guess it’s better you just believe he is incompetent. How is he going to find time to read through 1,400 comments when he has trouble replying to emails? Maybe he doesn’t intend to read them to begin with.
In the end my opinion of him is all about someone with the need to be totally in control of his blog and eventually the idea that many people didn’t like the way he was handling the comments section pissed him off and to remind everyone that it is his blog and he is in control he took away the comments and then used his old reliable “I wasn’t really sure what I was doingâ€. Followed by “Earlier this week, I was forced to temporarily shut down the comment section on MetsBlog.com “.
Thanks for allowing me to vent.
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:35pm at 9:35 pm (UTC -4)
Amen to that Mr.North Jersey!
saltygary
6/3/2009-9:38pm at 9:38 pm (UTC -4)
Hit the nail on the head sir.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:40pm at 9:40 pm (UTC -4)
Hit the nail on the head.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:41pm at 9:41 pm (UTC -4)
Damn. My bad, Salty. Kinda look like a stalker over here.
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:44pm at 9:44 pm (UTC -4)
Or “Jimmy Two Times”.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:47pm at 9:47 pm (UTC -4)
Imma get the papers, get the papers. (Massages tie)
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:47pm at 9:47 pm (UTC -4)
Get the papers, the papers.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:48pm at 9:48 pm (UTC -4)
Ahhhhhh! lmao..
saltygary
6/3/2009-9:47pm at 9:47 pm (UTC -4)
Its good to know we are all on the same page.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:08pm at 10:08 pm (UTC -4)
Completely agree.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:33pm at 9:33 pm (UTC -4)
For me the bottom line is it’s his blog and he can do with it what he wants. I do actually appreciate his explaining fairly clearly (at last) what it is he wants from it. It allows me to feel completely free, as opposed to just mostly free, to never view it again.
I cannot comprehend the concept of a blog where the rules are “look but don’t touch.” I simply don’t get it, at all. Maybe I’m lost, but I’m happy where I am. He’s happy where he is. Win-win.
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:40pm at 9:40 pm (UTC -4)
To clarify Heb,if Nady is
a 4th OFer-What does that
make Church exactly?
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:42pm at 9:42 pm (UTC -4)
I answered you in the last post.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:46pm at 9:46 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry, I mean in the previous thread. I’m still learning all the blogger lingo. 8)
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:49pm at 9:49 pm (UTC -4)
No worries!
I’m worse than that!
For about a year I was looking for the other internet
after hearing
Pres.Bush say time and
again “The Internets”.
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:46pm at 9:46 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry! reading,
posting,eating
and watching
Sox-Tigers at
the same time.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:47pm at 9:47 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, you’re a good multi-tasker. I was late to the Q & A because I didn’t want to get chili in my keyboard.
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:51pm at 9:51 pm (UTC -4)
Ha,ha!
Funny,
I actually spilled Chili and onions all over my laptop today eating lunch. I’m not gonna get banned for being “off-topic” am I?
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:52pm at 9:52 pm (UTC -4)
Nope. You’re home now.
Sorry if that came out a little creepy.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:53pm at 9:53 pm (UTC -4)
“Chili Convo” will be the next post, sir.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:10pm at 10:10 pm (UTC -4)
Agree completely Grave. He wants a post hub not a blog. Maybe he can get a newspaper to host him to present his news stories and commentaries. Every blog I know encourages comments.
metfreak
6/3/2009-9:47pm at 9:47 pm (UTC -4)
Next Matt is going to have a word count on your post so no one is allowed to go over 5 words per post
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:56pm at 9:56 pm (UTC -4)
ha!
saltygary
6/3/2009-9:48pm at 9:48 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s hoping this is the last thread on the Real Dirty about this guy.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:50pm at 9:50 pm (UTC -4)
I’ll drink to that.
(crickets chirping)
So what are we gonna talk about?
fongy2
6/3/2009-9:52pm at 9:52 pm (UTC -4)
Doughnuts!
dirtysanchez
6/3/2009-9:53pm at 9:53 pm (UTC -4)
loll…im sure you can think of something ;p
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:57pm at 9:57 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know man. Now that the oldest living Australian WWI soldier has died, I think I might be out of material.
dirtysanchez
6/3/2009-9:58pm at 9:58 pm (UTC -4)
lmaoooo
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-10:03pm at 10:03 pm (UTC -4)
hahahaha.. Theres always the oldest living Canadian WWI soldier to talk about. Canada sent over 600,000 soldiers in WWI. I bet you didnt know that!!!
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:12pm at 10:12 pm (UTC -4)
I didn’t, that’s over 180,000 more than Australia.
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-10:17pm at 10:17 pm (UTC -4)
hmmmm…
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:55pm at 9:55 pm (UTC -4)
1969 Shelby Mustang. : )
trs86
6/3/2009-10:12pm at 10:12 pm (UTC -4)
Thread for sure.
baseballmercenaries
6/3/2009-9:49pm at 9:49 pm (UTC -4)
well screw that blog….look at what we the fans have achieved..freedom of speech
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-9:51pm at 9:51 pm (UTC -4)
That amendment doesnt exist on Mattsblog. You’ll be banished into the Land of Waiting Moderation.
baseballmercenaries
6/3/2009-9:53pm at 9:53 pm (UTC -4)
on his blog he’s god..i bannish thee to moderation..sad
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-9:55pm at 9:55 pm (UTC -4)
OK feel free to throw spoiled fruit at me, but 2 things:
The day this site signed up it’s most members by far was the day MC wrote about us and linked to us; and
The post on this site that holds the record for most “unique views” by a wide margin is the post by Rusty this morning that MC linked to.
He has a huge impact on this blog.
dirtysanchez
6/3/2009-10:00pm at 10:00 pm (UTC -4)
well…he is the go to place for mets info…so he will get hits. Thats his business. Obviously the comment section is not that important…thats what we are here for as it is a better environment to spk your mind.
mrose
6/3/2009-10:02pm at 10:02 pm (UTC -4)
wow, i had no idea that he even linked to us….
we only gained one registered user today too
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:08pm at 10:08 pm (UTC -4)
They mentioned Rusty’s post today, and it has almost 3 times as many hits as our next highest.
mrose
6/3/2009-10:05pm at 10:05 pm (UTC -4)
also keep in mind that today I used twitter on the beltran post and was continuously updating our twitter..that can help too…
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:11pm at 10:11 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I’m not suggesting that we are toast or anything. I think we have a nice thing going and apart from one “spike” day it’s growing nicely, like any good community should IMO.
You are doing a fantastic job IMO of upkeep and word spreading.
mrose
6/3/2009-10:12pm at 10:12 pm (UTC -4)
once i redesign the homepage, i’m hoping to get it even better.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:13pm at 10:13 pm (UTC -4)
I will forward you an email Grave. As long as we have “worthy” content he will link to us like he does everyone else.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:17pm at 10:17 pm (UTC -4)
OK. Are Australian WWI soldiers worthy? 8)
rustyjr
6/4/2009-6:49am at 6:49 am (UTC -4)
how do i acess “unique views?
oleosmirf
6/3/2009-9:59pm at 9:59 pm (UTC -4)
what i don’t understand is why Matt thinks we are bullys and dont allow other people to comment. I can understand Matt not wanting someone like Rusty’s off topic points and comments but I dont get the whole being inclusive thing. Which one of us only wanted the comment section to be for just us?
dirtysanchez
6/3/2009-10:02pm at 10:02 pm (UTC -4)
i thought the same thing…
he admits he never looked at the comment section..then says he was intimidated to post. I guess he just preferred the fans that were ready to jump off a bridge
trs86
6/3/2009-10:15pm at 10:15 pm (UTC -4)
Actually based on his post he wanted them to jump off the bridge one day fly around the next and be right back on the ledge the next.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:14pm at 10:14 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, maybe he means the fact that we tried to run the trolls off?
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:20pm at 10:20 pm (UTC -4)
That’s what I was thinking.
Sing along with me:
Trolls are people too, wackadoo wackadoo wackadoo
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:26pm at 10:26 pm (UTC -4)
You guys were
always too nice
about that!
I always say,
give’em the Billy Batts treatment!
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:41pm at 10:41 pm (UTC -4)
Go home and get your f*^&#% shinebox!
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:21pm at 10:21 pm (UTC -4)
I think everything he said was clearly calculated and pretty meaningless.
Metsblog is in the rearview mirror for me, fading fast, and heading over the horizon.
Chatting with all of you was the reason I went there.
And Grave and TRS, among others, create better posts–in terms of ideas, writing, content, and, most glaringly, graphics–than just about anything on Metsblog.
I guess it was like a breakup with a woman you knew you wouldn’t miss the second you meet someone new.
I am so glad to be away from the errors and trolls and nonsense.
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:25pm at 10:25 pm (UTC -4)
As an old experienced
man Brock, your next to
last paragraph couldn’t
be more simple or more
right on. Hello b/t/w!
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:27pm at 10:27 pm (UTC -4)
LOL!
Hey Fong!
You are definitely among the first ranks of the people whose communications make being here great!
trs86
6/3/2009-10:41pm at 10:41 pm (UTC -4)
Agree completely, the place was not right without the Fong.
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:44pm at 10:44 pm (UTC -4)
Fong and Oleo occupy a truly needed and rare place—folks who can be pessimistic, but who actually are thoughtful and intelligent and can make good arguments.
Now, I will admit though, that Fong and I are guilty of tangential discussions, but we did try to keep those to less crowded threads when Metsblog was not too full of commenters…and I think Rusty and I have been trying to stay focused on the Mets here and keep the Blues Bros and music to a minimum!
And TRS—I honor you by not having mentioned a certain basketball team even one time!
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:47pm at 10:47 pm (UTC -4)
Thank
you and
thank you.
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:01pm at 10:01 pm (UTC -4)
Hey I did want to mention that theres
a very-good chance that i’ll have either 2 or 3 extra tix for Sunday
night Sept.13 the make up gm from
May 3rd.In Philly,section 124 behind
the plate. I don’t know how many of you fellas are anywhere close to there
or are interested.Its a long way away
yet but hopefully the gms will be very meaningful.In early August I’ll
have a better idea how many tix I’ll
have available.So just keep that in
mind and maybe we can set something
up.
mrose
6/3/2009-10:03pm at 10:03 pm (UTC -4)
i may be willing to make a road trip from queens down there…. keep us updated
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:09pm at 10:09 pm (UTC -4)
Will do.That would be
the Sunday night game
4th of that weekend.
My Bro-in-law and
Nephew were to go with
me (as usual) but b/c
of the rainout and reschedule as a night
gm it threw a monkey
wrench into our annual
trip to Phillie land.
Not sure about my homeboy from NYC yet
The Sunday night thing
is a prob for alot of
people ’cause of the
travel involved and work the next day.
mrose
6/3/2009-10:13pm at 10:13 pm (UTC -4)
hopefully its a game worth traveling for!
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:16pm at 10:16 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed!
I’m in PA and still takes me
2.5hrs
to get
there.
We’ll see.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:05pm at 10:05 pm (UTC -4)
Good info. You might consider making a post about that at the NLEastChatter forum ticket exchange:
http://www.nleastchatter.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=10
mrose
6/3/2009-10:06pm at 10:06 pm (UTC -4)
haha look at that promotion!
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:15pm at 10:15 pm (UTC -4)
I’m trying. I tell every Met fan I know. Unfortunately that’s not a lot of people. Everybody loves those damn Yankees. I do know 1 Braves fan in GA so I’ve let him know about our sister Braves site.
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:13pm at 10:13 pm (UTC -4)
Got it.Thanks.One of
my Phillie visits last
yr,I got stuck with
two tix’cause I refused
tosell them to any phil
fans.My girl is the only one of those I
wanna sit next to.
I’ll keep you fellas
informed down the road.
stickguy
6/3/2009-10:30pm at 10:30 pm (UTC -4)
If I’m enough of a fella, I would be interested. Plus, I live about 20 minutes from the stadium. I’ll even keep the pool open so you can stop for a swim first!
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:44pm at 10:44 pm (UTC -4)
Sounds good.
prismo
6/3/2009-10:16pm at 10:16 pm (UTC -4)
Couple points here…the first you’ll want to hear, the second you won’t.
1. Matt’s naive if he thinks Metsblog readers only went to the website for his blog posts. Many, many people went there to discuss the Mets with *each other*. He took that away from us, so we came here. Matt doesn’t seem to have a good handle on running his blog… For one, I’m a bit perplexed as to why the other writers accept not getting paid, while Matt’s making a living off the website. I know that Tim over at Mlb Trade Rumors pays his staff. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but Matt turned Metsblog into a business why SNY and Verizon (formerly Geico) sponsored the website..and yet he drums up business with unpaid writers. It’s almost unfathomable, and is in my opinion the most flagrant mishandling of Metsblog. Of course, Matt also has ignored many of the readers for months, with regards to comments. We all know that he changed the formatting over and over again, with so many errors I wouldn’t even be able to think of half of them. Instead of fixing the problems, he procrastinated and ignored them for so long.
2. Point 1 is all true, but to me…it’s in the past. I don’t think Matt’s a bad guy, I just think he’s in over his head. I met him once, and he was a really nice, down to earth person…and I wish him all the best, even if I disagree with some of his handling of his business/website. However, I think the numerous questions (read: interrogation) to start off tonight’s chat was a bit petty. All in all, we’re talking about a sports blog on the internet – hardly the pinnacle of anyone’s life. People seemed incredibly up-in-arms over the affair, and directed pointfed questions at Matt for nearly an hour. I’m not just sure it’s worth it. He was generous enough to do the chat in the first place – something he doesn’t even do on his own blog. But as soon as it starts, he’s bombarded with questions about the Metsblog comments system for nearly an hour. I apologize if any of my fellow authors are offended by this – just voicing my opinion!
Anyway, I hope we can put this behind us. I, for one, make a vow to never again mention Metsblog on this website (unless I’m giving it props for a breaking headline).
trs86
6/3/2009-10:19pm at 10:19 pm (UTC -4)
Appreciate the feedback Prismo. To fill you in that was what the original Q and A was supposed to be about. Matt wanted to clear the air with any of our current readers. It took so long because Matt would take a long time to post for some reason.
prismo
6/3/2009-10:21pm at 10:21 pm (UTC -4)
Ah okay, I just misunderstood the purpose then. I thought it was just a general Q&A. Though if he knew he was stepping into a proverbial trap, I give him even more credit for doing the chat with us.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:22pm at 10:22 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, he knew. I even ask him privately if he wanted to answer anymore questions on the subject.
mrose
6/3/2009-10:20pm at 10:20 pm (UTC -4)
Prismo, I see what you are saying, and for hte record, we started terribly late, so I know it couldn’t be near an hour… probably closer to a half hour. Second, I figured to get it out of the way early so that we could move on and finish the chat on a “good term” so that was my call to do that. It also didn’t look good that we only had a few questions and user comments for him and it took him like 5 minutes to respond to each.
I see what you are saying, but it looked worse than it was.
I do 100% agree with the 1st point though
prismo
6/3/2009-10:23pm at 10:23 pm (UTC -4)
Well it felt like an hour! :p
mrose
6/3/2009-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
lol yea yea yea it felt longer to me…i just wanted it to go smoother than it did…next live chat w/ whoever will be better
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
I didn’t time it, but it was pretty damn close to an hour. And I need no apology from you. I actually closed my browser twice during it and never actually signed in until the end because as it was unfolding I was pretty uncomfortable.
I understand and accept that I am one voice among many authors, and a second tier voice at that, but I did suggest that we open with fluff questions to get off to an easy start and while I didn’t necessarily expect that I was nonetheless taken aback when it began with the “hardcore stuff.”
Ultimately I agree with the decision to handle it the way it went down because as TRS said it was what Matt wanted to accomplish (the air clearing). It got cleared right quick.
prismo
6/3/2009-10:36pm at 10:36 pm (UTC -4)
I had to close my browser for a bit too..I also felt uncomfortable. I submitted a fluff question and closed the chat for awhile.
Maybe I’m just too non-confrontational though.
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:38pm at 10:38 pm (UTC -4)
LOL….I avoided it because I can be TOO confrontational and in no way wanted to detract from what the proprietors here wanted to do!!
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:42pm at 10:42 pm (UTC -4)
Oh man, you would’ve torn him a new one!
“Next question from Kingman26: STFU you small minded beady eyed little malcontent before I crawl through this computer and punch you in the pie hole!”
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:45pm at 10:45 pm (UTC -4)
Holy crap, am I THAT bad?!?!
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:50pm at 10:50 pm (UTC -4)
Nope. Just a little hyperbole on my part.
The best way I can put it is to say you probably would react like that to some stupid button pushing troll who didn’t deserve any respect, but to MC in this situation I believe you would’ve chosen a respectful and measured way to express your displeasure.
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
I was just kidding Grave, and I definitely laughed out loud at your very funny comment….you know me pretty well just from our discourse on here!
And yes, had I been here I definitely would have treated Matt with respect. After all, I did visit that site daily for years, and I do respect what he has achieved.
But I like it here better.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:43pm at 10:43 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, you were conspicuously absent.
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:47pm at 10:47 pm (UTC -4)
Well, my brother’s band was part of this huge concert with a high school band that his bassist leads, and I had to go…otherwise I am sure I would not have been able to stay away….but I probably would have doused my keyboard with a jug of water or something to prevent myself from letting Matt know how I felt and ruining things!
baseballmercenaries
6/3/2009-10:19pm at 10:19 pm (UTC -4)
is there a way to send a member an email i been tryin just been goin around in circles
trs86
6/3/2009-10:21pm at 10:21 pm (UTC -4)
authors yes. Members don’t know.. I guess you could let us know and we can send them you email.
mrose
6/3/2009-10:22pm at 10:22 pm (UTC -4)
baseballmercenaries , you should see a link on the upper left corner if you are logged in with “private messages” and you can then find any member and send a message
mrose
6/3/2009-10:23pm at 10:23 pm (UTC -4)
i apologize, go to “User control panel” then you should see a private messages link
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
A member here? Try at the top of the page, just below the banner, click on “Contact.”
mrose
6/3/2009-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
that’d be for author… if he means a random member…
baseballmercenaries
6/3/2009-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
i never saw the contact tab at the top i always was looking at the side..thanks guys
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
Yet another example of why you are my answer man.
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
I know you guys mostly can’t stand
Steve Phillips BUT just listening
to him on baseball tonight-I feel
even worse for us about this McLouth
deal then I did a couple hrs ago.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:45pm at 10:45 pm (UTC -4)
I always feel worse after listening to Phillips just take a dump and some Imodium and you should be fine.
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
will do! Thanks Doc!
charlies
6/3/2009-10:31pm at 10:31 pm (UTC -4)
I just want to know how many people 7% represents exactly…
trs86
6/3/2009-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
Us evidently.
charlies
6/3/2009-10:47pm at 10:47 pm (UTC -4)
If you think about it, 7% of a big number is still a big number…
fongy2
6/3/2009-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
McLouth,lead NL in Doubles last yr,
Won a Gold Glove,Lefty Power Hitter
w/speed(highest SB pct in majors since
2005),27 years old,under contract for
this and two more years and a gamer.
For 3 suspects. Not good!
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:35pm at 10:35 pm (UTC -4)
It could be ugly but he has to prove that he’s more than a 1 year wonder. I think he will, I “discovered” him last spring and made him the last pick in my fantasy draft only to be richly rewarded, but I steered clear this year because most of his numbers last year came early and there’s not enough of a track record there yet. Doubles are WAY off pace this year. Still lots of potential though.
dirtysanchez
6/3/2009-10:40pm at 10:40 pm (UTC -4)
so with mclouth it gives them what 3 ledgit hitters
mccan
chip
mclouth
everyone else is a black hole
im not worried yet. Yes it is an improvement but not enough to make a case imo
gland
6/3/2009-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
Totally agree. He’s an upgrade over what they had, but to me that’s it.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:58pm at 10:58 pm (UTC -4)
It’s not going to help them win or not win against us. We beat ourselves when we play them.
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:41pm at 10:41 pm (UTC -4)
I was out, and checked my phone to see what was up with the Mets and when I saw this trade I almost puked.
Absolutely crazy. I mean, McLouth is not Pujols, but he is a damn good young player.
I really hope we were at least in there trying to offer a package for him. I like Shef and I like FMart, but we have no idea if one of Shef’s legs is going to fall off tomorrow, or if FMart is really ready….this trade really, really sux.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:47pm at 10:47 pm (UTC -4)
What would that trade have amounted to for us? Fmart and who?
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:49pm at 10:49 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I have no idea about how good the Braves’ prospects are to be honest…but I do like McLouth as a player.
And yes, we surely have more pressing needs….
trs86
6/3/2009-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
Gorkys is their Fmart. 21 years old .293 .350 .400 .750 career minor league numbers. Not much power yet but tons of steals. Maybe he is more like C Gomez but for sure it would have cost us Fmart.
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-11:00pm at 11:00 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks; I really had no idea about those guys.
And I would NOT have included FMart in a trade for McLouth.
To me FMart only goes for someone like Halladay or Roy Harvey Oswalt.
gland
6/3/2009-10:53pm at 10:53 pm (UTC -4)
I doubt they were trying. It seems like the the Braves targeted him and decided to move fast. He’s a good player, I will them that. But he’s not a great player. He’s an upgrade though for them.
Deep breaths my friend!
QnsNative718
6/3/2009-10:59pm at 10:59 pm (UTC -4)
Brock, agreed about Shef. The guy has been a major contributor, but will he last another 4 months? I think we know the answer to that?
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
Hey Qns—Yeah, I have seriously been blown away by Shef, but the way he was running the other night, yikes! If he was a racehorse, they would have shot him after the game.
baseballmercenaries
6/3/2009-10:42pm at 10:42 pm (UTC -4)
mrose check ur mail
charlies
6/3/2009-10:46pm at 10:46 pm (UTC -4)
Hey TRDMB guys: thanks for running the chat with MC. I was glad to finally get to ask him some questions. Unfortunately, his responses were, well, less than meaningful. But, at least he responded (…this time).
trs86
6/3/2009-10:48pm at 10:48 pm (UTC -4)
Best comment of the night award.
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:49pm at 10:49 pm (UTC -4)
LOL!
trs86
6/3/2009-10:50pm at 10:50 pm (UTC -4)
According to Newsday the Mets will stay on rotation even with the day off. Now why in the hell would they do that? Do they just want to see Redding pitch again that soon?
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:53pm at 10:53 pm (UTC -4)
No, because now Johan will open the Phillies series and close the Yankees series. Previously he would have had missed the Phils and had one of the 1st 2 Yankees games.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
Ok, nevermind. Nice planning there. My conspiracy theory sticks then. The Mets made it rain.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:58pm at 10:58 pm (UTC -4)
And they insisted on no doubleheader. Which helps right now and next week, but might not help when sometime in the summer they have to go to Pittsburgh on a mutual off day and therefore wind up playing 37 consecutive games w/o a day off.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:59pm at 10:59 pm (UTC -4)
In between the Phillies and Brewers series in July I think is what was posted?
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:03pm at 11:03 pm (UTC -4)
I hadn’t seen that. That’s good news because it’s prior to the All-Star break. Very good news. I was expecting late August which would’ve sucked.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:12pm at 11:12 pm (UTC -4)
Nope. They don’t have any mutual off days in July. Only mutual off day the rest of the season is 6/15 unless I’m overlooking something.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:13pm at 11:13 pm (UTC -4)
whoops I read it somewhere and did not pay attention where. I know it was in between Brewers and Phillies.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
Make up is on July 2nd between a series with the phools and the Brew Crew.
According to a fan.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
No. I’m a dope. The reason they don’t have any “mutual off days” is because the make up game is already on the schedule. 7/2. Sorry.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
Comeon Grave. Making me do extra work.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:22pm at 11:22 pm (UTC -4)
My bad. I’ll get back to concentrating on deceased WWI soldiers.
charlies
6/3/2009-10:51pm at 10:51 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, and I’m not sure if you all caught it, but today MC had to make a post to essentially ask people to continue to post their comments as they “audition” to be allowed in. It would seem he’s lost a large enough amount of commenting traffic to cause him to make that post. Making it harder for people to participate on your website is NOT a smart thing. But, from his comments in the chat you could take away that he’s not really interested in that traffic. But, of course, he has to be or else he would not have made the post.
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-10:51pm at 10:51 pm (UTC -4)
In all seriousness, Matt’s appearance on here is perhaps the single loudest statement of how incredible this site has become in a ridiculously short time.
Seriously—-he came on and exposed himself to the folks who were so teed off at him that they started their own blog—and he knows damn well how good it already is.
His appearance here is truly the Good Blogkeeping seal of approval for this outstanding and very youthful site.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
He will be our “biggest celebrity get” until Ron Swoboda blows him out of the water.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, hey I am working on Brad Holt. Seriously. If I can figure out how to work facebook. LOL
mrose
6/4/2009-7:27am at 7:27 am (UTC -4)
were also following Carlos Delgado on twitter
rustyjr
6/4/2009-6:47am at 6:47 am (UTC -4)
no promises yet man lol
charlies
6/3/2009-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
Well, think about it. You guys can have 7% of Metsblog readers essentially OVERNIGHT! Like I said above, 7% of a big number is still a bit number!
I love it here! Thank you guys!
trs86
6/3/2009-10:57pm at 10:57 pm (UTC -4)
60 MEMBERS so far.
trs86
6/3/2009-10:57pm at 10:57 pm (UTC -4)
Considering that only 15 percent log in and comment then we have a lot of readers LOL
charlies
6/3/2009-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
that could have been a hilarious name for the site (or maybe it can be the name of the segment where you talk about the fans perspective or something??):
7percent.com
7percenters.com
Brings back an old Jane’s Addiction song…
trs86
6/3/2009-11:02pm at 11:02 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, nice.
charlies
6/3/2009-11:04pm at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
I will say this in all seriousness:
Matt has completely lost credibility when it comes to standing in front of an SNY camera and giving the viewers the Met fans’ perspective.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:07pm at 11:07 pm (UTC -4)
Kind of hard to do that when you have to approve each message.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
I know. I saw him on Weds saying “well the fans say” and I was like “how the hell would you know?”
charlies
6/3/2009-11:12pm at 11:12 pm (UTC -4)
i saw that same segment and was just disgusted.
Mr North Jersey
6/3/2009-11:00pm at 11:00 pm (UTC -4)
Off topic what does the the 4736 in the W3C mean? Please don’t close the comments section.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
Unique visitors I think.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:03pm at 11:03 pm (UTC -4)
Guys I would really like to thank all of you. We have over 8000 post and the filter has only caught about 5 of them.
charlies
6/3/2009-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
you’re welcome! we’re not the bullies someone thinks we are, huh?
Mr North Jersey
6/3/2009-11:06pm at 11:06 pm (UTC -4)
The Power of 15/20 truly is amazing.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
I know, someone is making a lot of post because I know I have not posted more than 5,000 of them LOL
charlies
6/3/2009-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
hey, did you guys catch post #25 above?
trs86
6/3/2009-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, he still claims it’s such an insignificant part of the blog. Only 15 percent and we have already been replaced by hundreds more.
charlies
6/3/2009-11:11pm at 11:11 pm (UTC -4)
let him claim all he wants, whatever he wants. i’ll break it down in the morning. i’m tired and need some sleep.
you guys did great today. thank you!
Kingman 26
6/3/2009-11:11pm at 11:11 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, and your points are outstanding.
I co-own a web-based business, and this sentence could not be more gospel truth:
“Making it harder for people to participate on your website is NOT a smart thing.”
trs86
6/3/2009-11:12pm at 11:12 pm (UTC -4)
Well damn Kingman you should be giving us more pointers.
charlies
6/3/2009-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
well, he said it over and over again: damn it, man, i’m a writer not a (fill in the blank with businessman, web developer, etc.).
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:18pm at 11:18 pm (UTC -4)
That also cracked me up. If he’s a writer, I’m a (insert word that means really really good writer here).
charlies
6/3/2009-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
alright folks…i’m hitting the sack.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:16pm at 11:16 pm (UTC -4)
Later Charlies.
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry fellas had to step out and
polish off some leftover teriaki
chicken.Just wanted to belabor my
McLouth thoughts/points.
Gorky Hernandez is not FMart in terms
of being a prospect.He is and has been
a notch below for 2/3 yrs now.
The 2 Pitchers the Braves gave up
are a fringe prospect in his mid 20s
who showed very little at the MLB
level in half a season in ’08.
The other is a touch and feel type
Pitcher who has been listed as a top
ten Braves prospect but was bad last
season in A-ball and has been worse
this season at the same level.
This again,ain’t exactly a heavyweight
package of top-tier prospects for a
young,under contract control,two-way,
5 tool AllStar.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:23pm at 11:23 pm (UTC -4)
You are right about Gorky being a step below but what does that mean to us? We don’t have a step below we have a cliff below. You have to think it would have taken Fmart and Niese.
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:27pm at 11:27 pm (UTC -4)
MAybe if they’d actually have shopped
the guy and took some
bids instead of just
handing him to the braves.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:30pm at 11:30 pm (UTC -4)
How do we know they did not?
trs86
6/3/2009-11:30pm at 11:30 pm (UTC -4)
Still point is who do we have that would have been comparable to Gorky?
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:40pm at 11:40 pm (UTC -4)
NO,I’m not sayin’ we could have got
him.Just that the Braves didn’t give up much. Also,I read the Pittsburgh papers just about everyday
and i’m pretty sure the
14 diehard
Buc fans
were blindsided by this.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:18pm at 11:18 pm (UTC -4)
Wilson Betemit was DFAd today.. I smell an Omar signing.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:20pm at 11:20 pm (UTC -4)
On the topic of Omar signings. Who is Matt Wilson?
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:25pm at 11:25 pm (UTC -4)
Matt Watson.
Has ties to Omar from
Expo days.
As Gomer Pyle would say:Surprise,surprise,
surprise!
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:27pm at 11:27 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, at Mack’s Mets the headline says Matt Wilson, then the article says Matt Watson. Also mentions a Luis Rivera.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:29pm at 11:29 pm (UTC -4)
Have to be careful with Mack’s Mets. He has spent a month doing articles on our nonexistent 1st round pick.
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:30pm at 11:30 pm (UTC -4)
I keep thinking
hes the
same Luis Rivera who was
a backup
infielder in the
80s/90s
and who wore glasses.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:31pm at 11:31 pm (UTC -4)
That’s who I thought of. He played with Boston when I lived up there.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:28pm at 11:28 pm (UTC -4)
Fong when was Omar with them? It has Watson listed as Montreal 1999-2001 then with the Mets from 2002-2003, Oakland 2003-2006
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:30pm at 11:30 pm (UTC -4)
I have Omar’s 1st transaction with the Expos occurring on 3/12/02.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:33pm at 11:33 pm (UTC -4)
Well it’s possible. He played the first game of the year for the AA expos team that year and was sent to the Mets some how.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:37pm at 11:37 pm (UTC -4)
I found it. On 4/5/02 Omar and Steve Phillips exchanged Scott Stickland, Phil Seibel and Matt Watson for Bruce Chen, Dicky Gonzalez, Luis Figueroa and a PTBNL who turned out to be Saul Rivera.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:38pm at 11:38 pm (UTC -4)
Great work so very early in Omar’s existence. Hardly Expos connections for Omar considering one of the first things he did was trade him.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:40pm at 11:40 pm (UTC -4)
I have the “Omar Minaya spreadsheet” that MLBTR does periodically. This one must be a year old because the last transaction on it is the signing of Trot Nixon.
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:31pm at 11:31 pm (UTC -4)
I could be wrong but thought
Omar was the one who traded him from the
expos to
us.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:34pm at 11:34 pm (UTC -4)
That it would have been. Maybe his first transaction.
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:35pm at 11:35 pm (UTC -4)
He was traded to us 7/14/02
in the Scott Strickland deal.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:37pm at 11:37 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm, wonder why he did not have any minor league ab’s that year up until then? Only played 1 game with the xpos.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:25pm at 11:25 pm (UTC -4)
I posted it way back in an update on the What Mets Fans are Talking About.
Career journeyman OF who was in the Met system way back in 2003 then has since even bounced to Japan. He was signed a little while back and placed in single A and through very limited AB’s was doing well. Took Emil’s spot on the Buffalo Roster.
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:28pm at 11:28 pm (UTC -4)
I got all caught up in the other things that Met fans are talking about.
trs86
6/3/2009-11:29pm at 11:29 pm (UTC -4)
LOL
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:21pm at 11:21 pm (UTC -4)
Why not? It would great to
hear John Miller next time
we’re on Sunday night baseball
Say “Bel-Tron” And “Better-meat”!
GravediggerHebner
6/3/2009-11:23pm at 11:23 pm (UTC -4)
Ugh!
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:25pm at 11:25 pm (UTC -4)
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:43pm at 11:43 pm (UTC -4)
I was only being sarcastic re the
Omar/expo connection.
fongy2
6/3/2009-11:49pm at 11:49 pm (UTC -4)
Tomorrows another day.
Good night gentlemen.
Lets Go Mets!