Good Morning to all my fellow apathetic Mets brethren out there. First off let me say yesterdays game would of been a soul crushing experience if this team was still a viable contender for the pennant, First off Ollie ” The Grim Reaper ” Perez pitched fugly (he made Pete Falcone look like a ace!) And to end the game on a triple play in the middle of a rally is straight out of the ’62 teams playbook. This paired with the Fred Wilpons obstinate decree of “Omar isn’t going anywhere!” will spell certain doom for this franchise for the near future ( don’t mean to be bleak).
Anyway it is time for the early Monday installment of “This Day In Mets Infamy With Rusty”,
Happy birthday to the Mets third string catcher for the late ’70′s – early ’80′s campaign – that’s right folks it’s the little heard of Butch ” Barbi” Benton (1957)
Up next is the lesser known cog of the Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano deal . That’s right Happy Birthday Bartolome Fortunato (1974)
On this day in 2006 New York Mets resigned veteran free agent catcher Kelly Stinnett .
P.S lets hope Bobby Parnell can show us something against Cliff Lee and the Philths today
12 comments
darknova306
8/24/2009-6:19am at 6:19 am (UTC -4)
Aw Rusty, you don’t have faith in the great Omar? But our only problem is injuries, youknowwhatimsayin? *sarcasm*
I hear you man, can’t wait for Omar’s successor to get here and start building a real team. Pelfrey increased his innings load in 08 to 48 more than 07… and people actually expected him to be a solid #2 after that. LOL And Ollie… I’m actually at the point of refusing to watch any game he ever pitches in for us. Ever. I hate him more than most things, and I hate Omar for bringing him back.
metsfan4decades
8/24/2009-8:15am at 8:15 am (UTC -4)
Problem is, if you take the Wilpon’s latest comments concerning Omar at face value, we’re going to have a very long wait for Omar’s successor….
stickguy
8/24/2009-8:43am at 8:43 am (UTC -4)
4D, that proclimation was pretty much not worth the paper it was printed on! And like some people speculate, he waid he will be “here”, not that he will be making the decisions and doing the deals to fix the mess. At least, I hope that isn’t just wishful thinking.
And look at the bright side. In only 2 years, the contracts to Ollie and Castillo will run out. Not that I expect either one to actually be playing for the team by then, but at least the Mets won’t be paying them anymore.
I am more concerned about the reprots that Wagner will sabatoge the deal to the Red Sox. At a time when he would finally give the Mets soemthing for all the money they paid him, the combo of wagner and Omar will probably screw it up.
I would like to see an expert weigh in (and also, can someone explain how the heck Wagner got a no trade?). Anyway, does that apply when a guy is claimed on waivers? Or can the Mets just ship him off anyway?
If he can, and does, squash the deal, then the Met sshould jst keep him and offer him arb (or pick up the salary). And behind the scenes, make sure he knows it. So his choice is the Sox and probably the payoffs this year, or stay on the Mets. And have the same contract risks at the end of the year, just with a different team.
prismo
8/24/2009-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
It wouldn’t be terrible if they just let Boston have him for the rest of his ’09 salary…if Fred agrees to add the $4mil to his previously projected 2010 budget. An extra $4mil could go a long way in the off season. Of course, that would never happen.
trs86
8/24/2009-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
I still disagree because to me he has value but we have went over this.
trs86
8/24/2009-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
But here is proof to what 4D and I were saying. Wagner does NOT care about the money.
According to Rosenthal, if Wagner is going to waive his no-trade clause, the Sox must guarantee him they will not pick up the $8 million option on his current contract for next season – allowing him to sign as a closer with a new team, as opposed to remaining in Boston as a set-up man.
Either get a good prospect back for the guy or offer him arbitration because he will decline it.
stickguy
8/24/2009-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
I agree that they should keep him and offer arbitration if Boston wont fork over a good prospect. Even though Fred might like to poket the savings more!
What happens to the 4mill is actually a big question. If they do look at it as found money, and add it to the 2010 budget, that could be the difference between a guy like Wolf for #5SP vs. Neive.
ANd since draft picks are such a crap shoot, a good quality prospect from Boston (hey, they got plenty to spare!) is more of a “sure thing”, and worth more for that reason.
And, just one more reason taht I don’t want Omar and his bunch any where near making these decisions!
metsfan4decades
8/24/2009-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. If you look at that, his main concern is getting a closer job next year to have a chance at those 15 saves for 400. As I understand it, he needs 40 to surpass the all time lead for a LF closer on the list as well.
I don’t think his desires on this are all that unreasonable. As I said yesterday, I don’t think at 37-38, he went through TJ surgery and a year long rehab just for the money….
trs86
8/24/2009-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
They are not, however, he is should not be in the driver’s seat either. He needs to know that if he turns down the Red Sox offer we will offer arbitration. So it’s either play for a contender now and deal with the contract later or play for us and be offered arbitration.
whataputz
8/24/2009-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
if Wagner says he’s not going to accept arbitration shouldn’t that motivate us to not trade him! Granted two draft picks for the Mets are probably meaningless, but if we have new people in charge, then maybe we can draft right and make those picks useful.
udontmesswthejohan
8/24/2009-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
Conversation from yesterday whilst driving in the car:
Howie Rose: Schneider is 8 for his last 60.
Girlfriend: That’s not good is it?
Me: No, not it’s not.
prismo
8/24/2009-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
Watch the Mets not trade Billy and then he gets injured before the season ends…