Hey guys ! I know I am alittle late in writing this but I saw that ’71 Mets Yearbook on SNY, and all I could say was WOW!! I do have foggy memories of seeing this film during rain delays back in the good old day when the Mets were broad casted on WWOR T.V on channel 9, but seeing this as an adult made me kind of reminiscent of that time. I was born in 1972 but as folklore has it , my first game was during the ’73 World Series ( don’t ask – I don’t remember!) . The thing that struck me as odd was although I did know that Ken Singleton and Tim Foli played for the Mets, I didn’t know they were primarily used as everyday players. And I knew Tim “CRAZY HORSE” Foli as a shortstop in his second go round with the Mets. It warmed my heart seeing Banner Day as well as Family Day, and the possibly forever banished Old Timers Game. I remember being at the old timers day game in ’78 & 79 when the Mets old timers played the cast of Happy Days and if memory serves me right Happy Days won . In short I hope the Mets Front Office and the Wilpons will look at this industrial film and say ” We owe it to our fans to make this organization truly fan friendly again and make the fans feel like they are part of our family” -But I wont hold my breath!
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                                                                                 Banner Day 1984
Anyway – ON WITH THE INFAMY !!!!
Happy Birthday to the Met that could have been voted most likely to end up in a mental institution – Jimmy” Fear Strikes Out ” Piersall (1929) . Piersall was not the most mentally sound person , and he suffered frequent panic attacks. But his stamp on the Mets will always be when he hit his 100th home run and ran the bases backwards. This infuriated manager Casey Stengel and he was released the next day.
Pitcher for the ’66 & ’67 teams – Darrell Sutherland is 68(1941) .
Reliever from the “05 team – Tim Hamulack is 33 (1976).
Once and possibly future Met outfielder – Xavier “X-MAN “Nady IS 31 (1978) .
Sadly on this date in 2004 Mets catcher from the ’63 season -Jesse Gonder passed away.
Sadly on this date in ’89 , Our New York Mets released catcher Gary Carter .As bittersweet as it was , it was the right move to make since Carter hitting and fielding abilities had eroded to the point where he was not useful as an everyday player. He played a few more seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before calling it a career.
Atlanta Braves signed utility infielder – Jorge Velandia of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 14, 2003.
And remember – there are only 142 more excruciatingly more painful days until the Mets open the 2010 season against Florida at Citi Field!
29 comments
Kingman 26
11/14/2009-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the memories Rusty! And I remember everything you mention up above….the good part of rain delays when we were kids was seeing those great films of Met history! And I used to LOVE Banner and Old Timers Days.
And I am pretty sure that the day after Piersall’s 100th HR, MLB wrote a rule which stated that one must run the bases running forward, not backward.
metsfan4decades
11/14/2009-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
No wonder you grew up a Met fan, Rusty. They started you off early as a baby during the ’73 WS. It’s in the blood….
Being a bit older than you (and you know I’m not admitting to how much older….) I remember those WOR Channel 9 Met games as well. I remember Tim Foli as a solid player – nothing spectacular but solid. I remember we thought Ken Singleton was going to be something special. Didn’t pan out that way but he had a very good career. Mets never gave him much of a chance though. Think he only played about 2 seasons in NY.
When Daryl Strawberry was coming up, I remember reading all the hype about how good he was and thinking to myself ‘this was the same type stuff we were all told about Kenny Singleton – fast, power, good instincts, star in the making. Hope it isn’t all just smoke’. Well, we all know how that turned out….
Kingman 26
11/14/2009-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
I was 7 during the 73 postseason, and watching the playoffs with the Harrelson-Rose fight, and the intense WS loss to the A’s cemented my Met allegiance.
I will admit to being 43! But I am a youthful 43…as I think Phillie broadcaster Larry Anderson who once said, you are only young once, but you can be immature forever.
metsfan4decades
11/14/2009-1:28pm at 1:28 pm (UTC -4)
Dang, both you guys are younger than me – LOL.
Buddy Harrelson was my favorite player on that ’69 team. Yes, the extremely light hitting SS. I was just a kid, but there was something about his attitude and defense I always loved.
Case in point that Harrelson-Rose bench clearing brawl. I think Buddy probably weighed 150lbs soaking wet, but that didn’t stop him. That’s why he wore that Superman tee shirt under his uniform!
Kingman 26
11/14/2009-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
Age is just a state of mind, dammit!
Yeah, I loved Harrelson as a kid….and I think he might have to have been holding a bowling ball or two to weigh 150 when he was playing!
prismo
11/14/2009-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone else see Lennon’s latest report, where he says the Mets could sign Figgins to play LF? What an idiotic idea! Why would you take a great defensive 3rd baseman and pay him to play in the outfield, where he’s a slightly below average defender? I really hope they don’t do that.
metsfan4decades
11/14/2009-3:57pm at 3:57 pm (UTC -4)
I saw that. And I think the idea is contingent on maybe getting Delgado on a one year deal.
I think it’s a terrible idea. If his defense will be questionable in LF, then what? We’ll have to do the late inning defensive replacement thing? Then we lose the bat in the lineup? I hate that…
Plus, Figgens wouldn’t be for just a year, like Delgado would be.
Can we please just get a REAL LF for crying out loud…
On a good note, Lennon does say Mets plan on being serious bidders for Lackey.
Kingman 26
11/14/2009-4:35pm at 4:35 pm (UTC -4)
MIKE CAMERON!
Should be out LF for 1–2 years….Lackey and Cameron give you enough dough left over to add to the pen and sign a catcher, and will let us upgrade LF in 1–2 years when there are better/younger options.
8/160+ for Holliday is laughable, unless the Mets are going to play their home games at Coors Field. And let’s not give a guy like Figgins 4/40-50 or something insane like that.
1. Lackey
2. Cameron
3. The Rest
stickguy
11/14/2009-6:41pm at 6:41 pm (UTC -4)
this figgins idea needs to pass. Maybe the ANgels will do us a favor, and sign him before FA starts?
What happened to the idea of using this window to get yonger and/or more athletic? LT deals for guys already up into their 20s (position players) has proven to not be the way to go.
That, and figgins really doesn’t give the team enough of what they need. And part of that is trying to get better D in the OF and IF.
I honestly think the same pitching staff will be significnatly better next year if all they do is get a SS (jose, obsiously) LF and 2B that can field and have good range. That alone should shave a full run off of Pelfs ERA!
I am actually warming to the idea of Cameron for 1-2 years if the money is modest, and they invest in upgrades elsewhere.
Delgado? I waffle here. I tentatively say yes if he proves healthy and agile enough in winter ball to play 1B (and of course, he still has power), and if it is 1 year. Problem is, if he can play, and is cheap like that, some AL teams will go after him too.
just pass on figgins. Lets at least get guys that are qualified to paly their positions.
Of the various permutations mentioned recently, I could actually live with Delgado for 1, Cameron for 2 (1+1 might be too much to hope for!), and the Reds trade of Arroyo + philips, then sign Sheets to the 1+1 incentive deal everyone else will offer him. And sign Barajas
Affordable, and minimal prospect cost (the Reds trade) and no type As (I dont think Cameron is one?)
reyes
philips
wright
beltran
Cameron
Delgado
Frenchy
barajas
Murphy, pagan, carter?, santos, Cora type on the bench. Or sign a RH poser bat 1B/3B BU (tatis?)
rotation: Johan/sheets/arroyo/pelf/ollie with Maine in the pen, waiting for sheets to break down of ollie to blow up.
Seems to work for me.
TRS could of course figure out the $$ cost.
GravediggerHebner
11/14/2009-7:24pm at 7:24 pm (UTC -4)
Two “widdle quibbles” with this:
1 – I’m not sure what you mean by “guys already up into their 20s” but if I am correct in interpreting that as referring to players whose age falls in their late 20s, you pretty much eliminate everyone when you factor in 6 years of major league service time before free agency.
As an example, Carlos Beltran played most of his first Met season at age 28.
2 – If anyone is taking votes, I’d vote for Harang over Arroyo.
As far as what you say about Pelfrey’s ERA you’re pretty much dead on. Fangraphs compiles a stat called “FIP” or Fielding Independent Pitching Based on ERA and Pelfrey’s FIP for 2009 was 4.39 compared to his ERA of 5.22.
njstuckintx
11/14/2009-8:12pm at 8:12 pm (UTC -4)
I absolutely love the idea of Harang/Arroyo and Phillips coming to the Mets. Cameron I could do without, but wouldn’t complain if we went that way. I would prefer that they actually snagged Lackey, just say no to Delgado, avoid Figgins completely, pick up/trade for and get one of the decent C options to put Thole in AAA for at least a while. I personally would like Doumit, as he has and can play 1B as well.
(stickguy, I stole your format.
)
Reyes
Wright
Philips
Beltran
Doumit
LF option (Ankeil, Granderson, someone of similar ilk?)
Frenchy
Murphy
Santos, Pagan, Carter, infield option.
rotation:
Johan
Lackey
Arroyo
Pelf
Ollie
Pen:
Maine
Feliciano
Green
K-Rod
Stokes
Parnell
Neive/Neise
A new Lefty Option
While I would prefer a better HR option off the bench, I don’t see where that would really be a possibilty.
That should leave the $$ just a tad over what the Mets are “allowed” to spend, if calculations work out.
stickguy
11/14/2009-10:18pm at 10:18 pm (UTC -4)
well, remember, my typing is lousy, and I rarely bother to proofread (that should be obvious!)
I meant into their 302, not 20s.
I was going with Harang too, since he has more “stuff” (if he is OK),but wnet with Arroyo fur durability. Sheets was the riskier guy in my plan.
GravediggerHebner
11/14/2009-11:23pm at 11:23 pm (UTC -4)
OK, gotcha on the ages now, thank you for the clarification.
On the Arroyo/Harang durability thing, I can’t speak about Harang prior to 2008 at all, but in 2008 Dusty Baker had him throw 63 pitches in relief on 2 days rest after a start with over 100 pitches, and in 2009 he had an emergency appendectomy. So durability questions are certainly valid, but I don’t consider him a “baseball injury risk” so much.
Weird thing about that FIP stat. Arroyo’s FIP was almost a run HIGHER than his ERA. So while using that stat (if I’m using it correctly) demonstrates that Pelfrey pitched BETTER than his final numbers suggest, it also demonstrates that Arroyo pitched WORSE than his final numbers suggest. His ERA was 3.84, his FIP was 4.78!
stickguy
11/15/2009-12:27am at 12:27 am (UTC -4)
Interesting points as always. Too many smart people on here to keep up with!
just not sure with harang, but if he wasn’t out at year end with a baseball injury, worth a shot. Might have more “stuff” upside, and since he is more expensive and riskier, might require less in return.
Kingman 26
11/14/2009-10:33pm at 10:33 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, love having you on the pro-Cameron bandwagon…he seems like an ideal, affordable, multi-tool guy to complement the core, in lieu of dramatically overpaying Holliday, Bay, or Figgins.
stickguy
11/14/2009-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
I try to be open minded to new plans.
Too bad I don’t think Omar will be willing to take a chance on something that isn’t considered “safe”, but maybe he will surprise me.
gipperpdx
11/14/2009-6:48pm at 6:48 pm (UTC -4)
Yes to Banner Day and Old Timers Day (of course, you have to tell Fred that means old Mets, not ancient Brooklyn Dodgers).
No to the Figgins in LF idea.
gategem
11/14/2009-7:04pm at 7:04 pm (UTC -4)
By DOM AMORE
Hartford Courant
“Duke Snider, also a Met by then, hit his 400th homer and, Piersall noted sardonically, got “only a little box in the New York papers.” Piersall, who had 99 homers, told Snider he would get considerably more ink for hitting his 100th.
On June 23, Piersall, who hadn’t homered in two years, hit a pop fly over the 258-foot right field fence at the Polo Grounds. As both Stengel and Phillies pitcher Dallas Green watched in disgust, Piersall ran the bases backward. And, yes, photos of Piersall made the front pages of several New York papers.
Two days later, Stengel released him, but Piersall’s place in pop culture was complete. He made a guest appearance on “The Lucy Show” later that year, and became a regular on talk shows. He finished his playing career as a spare outfielder and pinch hitter with the Angels.
“Going nuts was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Piersall said, a statement he has often repeated through the years. “Nobody would have remembered me.”“
CaseStreet
11/14/2009-8:50pm at 8:50 pm (UTC -4)
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
Re: Banner Day
I’d be up for starting a Banner Day Campaign. Maybe some letter writing, petitions, getting some of the radio heads to cosign the idea, etc. Banner Day every Thursday in front of SNY studios.
I’m curious, what are/were the reasons for doing away with it?
Kingman 26
11/14/2009-9:36pm at 9:36 pm (UTC -4)
Hey Case–
Hope you are having a fine weekend too.
As I remember from the 70s, Banner Day used to be scheduled between games of a doubleheader, and when baseball owners’ greed did away with doubleheaders, that may have been strike one for Banner Day.
Also, in today’s world, I would guess that they would be afraid of people having banners saying things like “Coupons Sell the Team!” hidden in their clothes to unveil when they got on the field.
And I really am not advocating Cameron solely because he has that most special characteristic of being an ex-Mariner AND an ex-Met. But it doesn’t hurt.
johan4cy
11/14/2009-9:43pm at 9:43 pm (UTC -4)
whats the significance of being an ex-Mariner?
Kingman 26
11/14/2009-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! Nothing really….I lived in Seattle in the 90s, and the Mariners became my second favorite team then, and Case often calls me out for my allegiance to ex-Mariners.
CaseStreet
11/14/2009-10:44pm at 10:44 pm (UTC -4)
ha, i could see that happening
that alone should be reason enough to sign Cameron on a 1+1, but I also like his defense if he’s willing to play LF. Speaking of defense, my guy Polanco just won a gold glove. Omar has to get rid of Castillo to improve the defense, and if he can bring back Overbay, even better.
Lackey $16M
Cameron $8M
Polanco (Same or less than Castillo)
Overbay $7M (Or you go w/ Murphy and spend that on a SP or a C and BP)
BTW, I was wearing my Mets cap today, and it felt good. There’s something about this off-season that gives me hope.
GravediggerHebner
11/14/2009-11:29pm at 11:29 pm (UTC -4)
I join you guys on the Cameron bandwagon, I think of the available OF he is the best fit for the Mets, but…
The big problem is he has stated his preference to play CF, so the only way I see him coming to the Mets to play LF is if no one offers him a CF job, and I fear someone (the Yanks?) will do that.
I also wonder if he is really interested in running around in the OF next to Beltran, last time he did that he broke his face.
CaseStreet
11/14/2009-11:51pm at 11:51 pm (UTC -4)
I’m kind of hoping the Yanks/Granderson rumors come true.
What a coup it would be for the Yankees to sign Holliday and trade for Granderson.
stickguy
11/15/2009-12:21am at 12:21 am (UTC -4)
Hnmn, just read the post on Mets fever (finally decided to actually pay attention to the sports spyder feeds!) about Mets being interested in Granderson.
Not sure if it was just worded poorley (or maybe the bottle and a half of wine tonight (split at least) is doing it!) but it seemed to say they started with F Mart, and expanded the offer to include Tejada and holt.
Maybe it was an OR situation, but that package for a partial salary dump with drastic L/R splits, better bring back something more.
also wonder if they do get granderson (at least that fits my wish for getting younger, better D, and more athletic) if Beltran should be the one to move to LF, given he is older, and coming off a leg injury?
Isn’t granderson a real hot shot CF, or am I getting him confused with someone else?
I guess his cntract isnt too bad? 3/26 minimum guaranteed, 4/37 possible if they exercise a club option. so +/- 9 million. Not cheap, but 1/2 the price of holliday. And he brings a glove.
as long as 2009 was a fluke with the bat (almost looks like he sold out his BA and OBP for more HRs?), and he gets back to 2007/2008, certainly a nice bat to add.
Granderson, frenchy and beltran would not be a shabby OF at all. Just sandwich Curtis between 2 RH batters!
stickguy
11/15/2009-12:25am at 12:25 am (UTC -4)
Oh, forgot my other point. Maybe Cameron would be a better option for 1 year/less money (and of course, no prospects?)
Mike actually had a slightly better year at bat (almost a wash really), but the last 2 years before that were no where near as good. Plus he is 8 years older.
But, as always, gotta factor in the chips it takes to get a guy, and whether you want a 3-4 year commitment.
stickguy
11/15/2009-12:40am at 12:40 am (UTC -4)
last post before bed.
These speculated deals (the reds, the tigers) are good examples of what I was preaching for Omar to do. Don’t get sucked into overpaying for the “best available” even if it wasn’t worth it, and don’t blow all your wad on 1 huge star (like Halladay) while leaving multiple holes unfilled, and killing the farm.
Now, i don’t know what return this will take (obviously!), but if Omar could pull off these moves, it really reloads the team, 2010 and beyond.
- get granderson + a dump contract from the tigers (if needed, but can’t be too horrible). That pen guy (I get confused with the tiger pitchers). Bonderman?
- get harang and philips from the Reds
- unload castillo for anything vaguely useful.
- sign Barajas on the cheap
- get sheets if the $$ can still fit, else try one of the poo poo platter (marquis, garland) for some stability in the rotation.
I assume this blows the available budget, but it also pretty much fills out the team, and not just for 2010. Might also be worthy of stretching payroll a tad, sinc ethey are getting good players in their prime, and the bad contracts are 1 year deals.
you get your #2 if sheets and/or harang do what they have before (yes, a risk, but life ain’t cheap). No huge HR thumper, but overall power is way, way up.
johan/harang/sheets/pelfrey/maine/ollie/neise – gotta get a pretty good rotation out of that, and lots of depth.
reyes
philips
wright
beltran
granderson
francouer/murphy/barajas
every guy in there can pop one, and a ton of speed 1-5
And yes, that was just a quick draft line up, no idea how I would actually set it up.
and best of all, the pitchers will love all the outs the D saves.
and finally, only barajas (a 1 year guy anyway) and beltran are even going to be 30 in 2011, so the team has legs.
Now if only the deals could be done without giving up davis or mejia, I could be convinced to part with damn near anyone else.
stickguy
11/15/2009-12:41am at 12:41 am (UTC -4)
I lied. 1 more.
granderson also effectively replaces F mart (meaning probably the best we can hope for him to be, without the wait) and replaces Beltran in CF for 2012, if not before.