I am sorry to announce the passing of a member of the Mets family. Jane Jarvis , the long time Shea Stadium organist has died at the age of 94. Jane was a fixture at Shea Stadium from 1964 to 1979, Her repertoire included music that that mixed jazz staples like Charlie Parker’s “Scrapple From the Apple†with more more traditional fare such as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame†and “Meet the Mets.†My earliest memory of hearing Jane was in ’76. I believe it was was a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, andI just remember this beautiful music – I was too young to know who the piece by or who performed it , but I remember dancing to it like a little loon. Although Jane hadn’t worked for the Mets in about thirty years, there are many fans that begged, pleaded and hoped that the Mets would bring back organ music – instead of the loud disjointed fan participation crap that they do now. But I noticed ( maybe it was to throw us fans a bone) That about an hour and a half before game time there is canned organ music played. Jane Jarvis you will be missed ! Thanks goes out to Shannon Shark of Mets Police for the tip.
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                                                          ” Shea”ing goodbye to a longtime friend to the Mets Family”
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And now .. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!! Â
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Happy Birthday wishes go out to an original Met – the late Charley Neal ( 1931).Â
Possibly the best manager the Mets ever had – Davey Johnson is 67 (1943) .
 Happy Birthday wishes go out to the unfortunate ” odd man outfielder” Nick Evans (1986) . Hopefully Nick can playhimself onto the roster this off season.
New York Mets signed free agent catcher , Joe Ginsberg on January 30, 1962.
This is a day that always makes our beloved Kingman26 cry .New York Mets released outfielder/ Mets legend , Dave “Sky King” Kingman on January 30, 1984. Dave went on to play 5 more seasons before calling it a career.
New York Mets signed free agent utility infielder John Valentin on January 30, 2002.
The Toronto Blue Jays  signed starting pitcher, Victor Zambrano of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 30, 2007. Toronto I guess also thought they could also ” fix him in 15″ minutes like then pitching coach Rick Petersen allegedly boasted. Obviously they were also wrong !
New York Metssigned free agent catcher Robinson ” The Human Speed Bump” Cancel on January 30, 2007.
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I made an error yesterday – on February second will mark the two year anniversary of the completion of the Johan Santana deal. – SO SHOOT ME !! I’M NOT PERFECT !!!
And don’t forget while you are poring over Josh Fogg’s WAR stats – There are only 65 days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
47 comments
khmustache
1/30/2010-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
wow… sad day in mets land… and to think, mets doctors said she’d only be out for a week…
njstuckintx
1/30/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
i hate to admit it. i chuckled.
GravediggerHebner
1/30/2010-1:16pm at 1:16 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been reading some tweets from earlier this morning and apparently Jon Heyman made a similar joke. Not saying you ripped him off, and I also laughed when I read your comment, just noting the continued mockery of the Mets by the press and blog communities, even in death.
Kingman 26
1/30/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
Ah, a sad day indeed, but the birthday of Davey definitely brings a smile to compensate for the sad news about Mr. Kingman and Jane Jarvis.
Jane Jarvis actually made a couple of CDs, and the cover of one is funny–she is dressed like a total hippie, compltely different than the look above! I sure listened to her at Met games for many, many hours back in the day. And GREAT call on mentioning the Charlie Parker tune she would play–the CDs of hers we were sent from somehwere were jazz.
Nice work as usual my friend!
Kingman 26
1/30/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
As for Fogg—everyone go to baseball reference and check out his splits last year—he had VERY good numbers in 100 PA VS RH batters.
If he can repeat this for a couple of RH batters here and there in the 6th and 7th, this could be a fantastic sleeper move.
trs86
1/30/2010-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Yup and was not terrible vs. LHP. Every number for him last year was better than Stokes.
Kingman 26
1/30/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Correctamundo, and he could even be an emergency starter. Fine signing, and you are almost certainly correct that he erases any concern about the loss of Stokes.
OK, the Matthews trade looks better now, I can admit it.
fongy2
1/30/2010-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
AN dyour Mariners continue to improve…
Signing Byrnes for nothing.
Jeez, how’d we miss out on Zduriencik????
trs86
1/30/2010-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Lets let him hit .225 before saying they improved.
fongy2
1/30/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
He’s better than Gary Matthews Juicer….
That’s for sure!
AND less of an obligation!
trs86
1/30/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Statistically how can we say he is better than GMJR?
fongy2
1/30/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
He’s been a much better baseball player throughout
his career
my friend!
trs86
1/30/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
Career doesn’t count for much when he has not played a full season the last 2 years combined.
Also, not sure you can say he has had that much better numbers over his career either. Of course you will say that is because of the juice, which very well may be but that is not what you said. You said he had been better over the course of his career.
Byrnes: .260 .321 .442 .763
GMJR: .258 .333 .408 .740
Not much difference at all.
Mr North Jersey
1/30/2010-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
TRS you are so being baited. Fongy stop doing that to TRS you know he can’t resist.
trs86
1/30/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I know but at least this one I enjoy arguing because it’s easy.
Mr North Jersey
1/30/2010-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
Fongy doesn’t even need to use bait you basically jumping on the hook. Ok then….
trs86
1/30/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Yup, I showed restraint on the one below. That one is hard to prove. However, it is not hard to prove that GMJR and Byrnes suck equally.
fongy2
1/30/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry!
However, by you’re standard,Any
SPer in the game is better than
Ben Sheets since he was injured and
didn’t Pitch
last season.
Using YOU’RE
standard,I’m
even more happy with Omar’s Josh Fogg signing.
Whew! He certainly was
better than Ben Sheets.
And…Juicing
“May have helped” GMjr?
“May have”???
Take another look at his career,sans his 2 yrs in
Texas,when we
KNOW he was
juicin’….
for the express purpose of A)
trying to even stay in the majors &
B)Gettin’ a
nice,big,fat
contract out
of it!
C’mon……
Byrnes V.GMjr?
Are you kidding????
Mr North Jersey
1/30/2010-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)
lol
trs86
1/30/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
Fongy stats just don’t go well on you. Byrnes himself only has 2 seasons of an OPS above .800 himself. .814, .813. Also he used one good season to get a 3/30 contract that he also was released from. They are both bad. Only difference is that GMJR was actually playing last season.
trs86
1/30/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
I mean, come on Fongy. The last 2 years Byrnes OBP has been .271.
Mr North Jersey
1/30/2010-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
I will say that knowing nothing about Fogg with no memories of watching his past performances. If you look solely at his numbers they seem to suggest he was a guy that for years tried to be a starter but for whatever reason just never excelled and after being shutdown and placed on a 60 day dl for a groin injury late in 2008. Signed in 2009 with Colorado and seemed to have pitched ok coming out of the pen for most of 2009.
Having pitched in Colorado I’m sure if he makes the team he will look forward to pitching in Citi Fields.
It says that out of the pen in 09 his numbers are.
2.74/ERA 42.2/IP 28/H 16/BB 24/SO 13/ER 4/HR 1.031/WHIP
One hopes his bullpen numbers in 2009 carry over in 2010.
GravediggerHebner
1/30/2010-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
I like your thought process here and will add for devil’s advocacy purposes that people who don’t like his signing point to some alleged promise made to Fogg that he will be given an opportunity to win the 5th starter’s job.
I am in the camp that either hopes that’s not true, or that if he is given the opportunity, he fails to win it. I like the idea of Fogg as the long man out of the pen, to occasionally make a spot start due to minor injury or scheduling quirk, and to occasionally pitch in the 7th or 8th due to recent heavy workload of the guys we prefer to be pitching there.
Mr North Jersey
1/30/2010-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
I have to agree with you Grave also on that one. The idea of Fogg winning a 5th spot is not something I look forward to. Just like I don’t look forward to seeing a platoon at 1st base with Murphy and Tatis or like I don’t look forward to seeing GMJ getting significant playing time in CF.
GravediggerHebner
1/30/2010-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
We agree on all those points.
Fogg as the 6th or 7th of 7 bullpen guys, fine with me. Fogg starting every 5 days, not so much.
Tatis as a back up/pinch-hitter who gives guys at various positions an occasional rest, fine with me. Tatis starting at 1B against every LH pitcher, not so much.
GMJ being the 4th OF while Beltran is out, giving all 3 starters a rest if needed, and either waived/traded or the 5th OF when Beltran comes back, fine with me. GMJ starting while Beltran is out, and 4th OF when he comes back, not so much.
So Happy Together!
fongy2
1/30/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
Very sad indeed!….R.I.P. Jane, you have already been long missed!…I really was a much more beautiful and innocent
time and setting to attend a ball game 20,30 years ago.
On every level now from the Majors through the Minors, one
is overwhelmed with sight and sound and additional distraction
because the powers that be are convinced this, the greatest of
all games is too slow in its pace and not flashy enough.
While still somewhat similar….What a change in atmosphere it
has become attending almost any ballpark from the days
of Ms. Jarvis.
Kingman 26
1/30/2010-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Wow, well said buddy!
Have a great day!
fongy2
1/30/2010-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
You too my friend!
Let’s go Mets!!!!!
fongy2
1/30/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Sign Frank Catalanotto!!!!!!!!!
trs86
1/30/2010-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
I am good with the LH version of Tatis coming in to compete with Carter for the spot.
fongy2
1/30/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
C’mon Omar!!!…Give us NY Italians something
to cheer for on what appears to be a .500, 4th
place team you’ve put together here!
trs86
1/30/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
fongy=baiting
fongy2
1/30/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
TRS= One smart fish
GravediggerHebner
1/30/2010-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
Very sad indeed to here about Jane Jarvis. She’s what I think is appropriately called a “staple” of 20th century baseball. Too bad the 21st century is so unaccepting of so much that the 20th century has to offer, in baseball and in general. If enjoying the sound of an organ playing at a ballpark, or enjoying the warm sound of a diamond needle pressed onto a spinning vinyl record makes me a dinosaur then clear space at the Museum of Natural History for me.
GravediggerHebner
1/30/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
It very selfishly pleases me to no end to see that even some of the heavily sabermetric leaning folks at Amazin’ Avenue are a little tired of the sabermetric communities’ “Contest” of Omar bashing.
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/1/30/1284195/dont-criticize-omar-for-the-sake
trs86
1/30/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
Here is one interesting thing that did come out of Byrnes going to the M’s. They released Tommy Everidge: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=everid001tho
GravediggerHebner
1/30/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
I had also noticed that. I can’t say exactly where/how he fits in the collection of 1B options the team already has on hand, but I feel very sure that there is someone currently occupying space on the 40 man roster that could be removed for the purpose of getting a closer look at this guy.
No, I’m not referring to any one particular person “occupying space” on the roster. I do think there are a few relievers that are on there to be at best 3rd or 4th emergency options though.
Mr North Jersey
1/30/2010-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
Push the Button!!!
Vote IKE!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjFFLHky3ds
trs86
1/30/2010-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
Uh, ok.
Mr North Jersey
1/30/2010-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjFFLHky3ds
IKE FOR 1ST BASE ( based on the Ike for President commercial)
Ike for 1st base, Ike for 1st base, Ike for 1st base, Ike for 1st base,
You like Ike, I like Ike, everybody likes Ike (for 1st base)
Hang out the banner, beat the drum, we’ll take Ike to Queens New York.
We don’t want Murphy or Tatis or Carter
lets do the big job right
Let’s get in step with a guy thats hip
Get in step with Ike.
You like Ike, I like Ike, everybody likes Ike (for 1st base)
Hang out the banner, beat the drum, we’ll take Ike to Queens New York.
We got together, we are going, travel day and night (Ike for 1st base)
Let Tatis go the other way, we all go with Ike ( for 1st base)
You like Ike, I like Ike, everybody likes Ike (for 1st base)
Hang out the banner, beat the drum, we’ll take Ike to Queens New York.
We’ll take Ike to Queens New Yorrrrk!
Now is the time for all good Mets fans
to come to the aid of their team.
Minaya push that button. :-p
trs86
1/30/2010-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, obviously you are starting your campaign a year ahead of time.
GravediggerHebner
1/30/2010-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
That Ike was a very nuanced individual. A war general who as president seemed to very much want to avoid war. I really enjoyed the book “Mayday” about the Gary Powers U2 incident and Ike’s role in that program.
trs86
1/30/2010-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, there are also guys with options too that were just put on to protect from the draft like Bowman.
From reading he was at one time anointed the starter in Oakland and things didn’t work out. He is RH and would instantly jump ahead of Evans just based on stats. The guy can hit in the minors for sure and would make AAA a better team. Something they have wanted to do.
stickguy
1/30/2010-2:09pm at 2:09 pm (UTC -4)
exactly the kind of moves the mets should be pushing for. Or that Cuban guy noted below. Even if they have to use some of the saved money to slightly ovberpay, they got it to use.
Nothing worng with getting as many people in for jobs that aren’t obviously filled (and certainly 1B and a bench spot aren’t) and letting them fight it out in ST, especially when some of the overflow can be sent down.
THis everidge guy seems like he can hit (no idea about the glove),, and picking up this type of guy is a chaep way to replace lost draft picks.
Frankly, most sandwich picks aren’t going to amount to more than this guy is right now, and you have to pay them a signing bonus!
trs86
1/30/2010-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
Another guy we should look at:
# ESPN’s Jorge Arangure tweets that Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz is now free to sign after being “unblocked” by the Office of Foreign Asset Control. In a second tweet, Arangure says that Ruiz is expected to command a multi-million dollar contract, and a few months ago we heard that the Red Sox and Tigers had some interest.
metsfan4decades
1/30/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
Ahhhh….I have some fine memories of listening to Ms. Jarvis back in the days…
May she rest in peace.
Mr North Jersey
1/30/2010-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
Here is a link to Jarvis playing Meet the Mets on the organ that SNY posted.
http://youngmanhattanite.com/music/MeetTheMets_Organ.mp3