UPDATED: One of our authors GravediggerHebner that has always had a great perspective when it comes to all things Mets made a great point when he said “this doesn’t take into account that whenever the Mets DO sign or trade for a player, the reaction is “Why did they get that guy? That guy is no good now/never was good/is injured/is old.†So in the interest of fair play here is a card for all those that feel no player is the right player when it comes to the Mets.
I see that it is becoming trendy whenever a player signs with a team someone somewhere says jokingly “there goes another player the Mets failed to sign”.
The latest is on WFAN when today’s host joking at the Mets expense said the above phrase in reference to Mevin Mora signing with another team. It is becoming a knee-jerk reaction for some that you find yourself waiting for it after every signing. It reminds me of another famous saying from “It’s a wonderful life” when the final line Jimmy Stewart’s daughter says “Look daddy, mommy says every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings” or something close to that.
So to spare all those keystrokes I have designed a “Official TRDMB Another player that got away card”. Just link or download this card and print it every time you get the urge to poke fun at the Mets with this Lemming line. So at least our site will be promoted with this dumb phrase.
65 comments
GravediggerHebner
1/31/2010-4:46pm at 4:46 pm (UTC -4)
Except this doesn’t take into account that whenever the Mets DO sign or trade for a player, the reaction is “Why did they get that guy? That guy is no good now/never was good/is injured/is old.”
So I think you need to make a two-sided card for the critics talking out of both sides of their mouths. Thankfully these cards are virtual so we don’t have to worry about trying to find room to keep them with the champagne that gets sweeter the later you drink it which is taking up most or our storage space right now.
Mr North Jersey
1/31/2010-5:45pm at 5:45 pm (UTC -4)
LoL great point Grave I am on it.
GravediggerHebner
1/31/2010-6:22pm at 6:22 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the update.
While you’re on a roll, can you get Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth back together?
Mr North Jersey
1/31/2010-6:31pm at 6:31 pm (UTC -4)
lol the best I can do is kick it old skool with the good life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PsWpm536V0
Mr North Jersey
1/31/2010-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
just clap your hands to what he’s doing.
CaseStreet
1/31/2010-5:43pm at 5:43 pm (UTC -4)
just read some silliness on the web:
“…one thing i believe has really been missing from the Mets lineup since the Mike Piazza days is a feared bat; a guy an opposing manager fears two innings before he comes up…”
Wright 33 HR 08
Beltran 41 HR 06
Delgado 38 HR 06, 08
I guess these guys don’t count.
prismo
1/31/2010-6:05pm at 6:05 pm (UTC -4)
Hey look at that, he added Piazza. Originally the post just said “one thing I believe has always been missing from the Mets lineup” as if the Mets have never had any great hitters.
stickguy
1/31/2010-7:58pm at 7:58 pm (UTC -4)
If I could pick 1 year in the next 10 (and only 1) for the Mets to win a world series, 100% it would be this year, just to shut up the nabobs.
Of course, if the Mets do pull another ’06 season out of their collective Keisters, the fatsescas of the world will be bandwagon hopping big time. And likely forgetting about all the crap they spewed all off season!
Kingman 26
1/31/2010-8:07pm at 8:07 pm (UTC -4)
1st paragraph: + infinity
2nd paragraph: I promise the world will be reminded of what the Francesspools and Klapishes and their ilk have been saying!
gategem
2/1/2010-1:03am at 1:03 am (UTC -4)
It would seem to me that “It’s a Wonderful Life? Mets Fan Edition†would end with the Jimmy Stewart character saying to the angel “Bleep you†and jumping off the bridge. LOL
The whining, weeping (like a bathtub overflowing) and wailing of the Nattering Nabobs of Negativity or of the Purveyors of Pointless Positivity have little impact on me. I really don’t care what they say or write. If you don’t take it personally it can be quite amusing. However, the media’s negativity can influence free agents and scare them away from signing with the Mets so I think a conscience effort by the Mets to overcome this is necessary. It’s interesting that the Wilpons are extremely image conscious yet they have become the media’s schlimazel.
stickguy
2/1/2010-7:54am at 7:54 am (UTC -4)
I have a feeling that for most FAs, they care a lot less about what fatsesca and his ilk think, and much more about when their agent tells them that Omar added that extra year or $2mill to the deal.
that, and most likely whatever non-$ factors players consider are either static (weather, part of the country, preference to be 5 minutes from where they filmed deliverance, or fear of a big city) so the Mets can’t take it “personally”, or they get inside dope from players they know on the team.
Agreed though that while it gets annoying as a fan, the “media” stuff is really just background noise and of no importance.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
Gate, as I have said, your perspective and seniority in terms of baseball knowledge are most sincerely respected and appreciated.
However, while of course I am generally clearly on the side of the Positivos, the “whining weeping and wailing” is on the other side. The Positivos generally point out facts, such as the team (regardless of horrifying finishes) WAS in first place or darn close almost every day from April 2006 until July 2009. We also point out that the recent Mets have been among the highest spending teams in the game. We also point out that Pelf, Maine, and Ollie are still young and HAVE had good success at the MLB level and might very well again. We also point out that Marquis and Pineiro have had VERY mediocre careers.
The Negativos generally say things like “The Coupons act small-market.” “Omar is an idiot.” “We only sign broken down Latinos.” “I hate Slappy and Ollie.” And the like.
In addition, which is a more positive force in life and society in general, looking at the bright side while bolstered by facts, or complaining and whining and always seeing the negative, while often supported by hyperbole or outright falsity?
In addition, as you brought it up, which players are examples of guys not wanting to come here due to media Met-bashing?
stickguy
2/1/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Is it OK to be a positivo, but still hate slappy? I hope those positions aren’t mutually exclusive.
And hyperbole or outright falsity seems to be the cornerstone of much of modern media (particularly electronic).
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
Stick, as a co-proprietor of the Parade of Positiviality, you sir, may of course hate Slappy.
I personally hate Jerry, perhaps more than anyone who has worn a Met uniform in many, many years.
I have laid off of him as we clearly are going to see his idiotic giggling face a lot again soon, but the first time he bunts in the first inning with a fast man on second, you might hear me screaming, wherever you live.
And may I say that this sentence “And hyperbole or outright falsity seems to be the cornerstone of much of modern media (particularly electronic)” is yet another of the many brilliant points which you have graciously graced our fine site with recently. Could not agree more, and could not have said it better my damn self.
trs86
2/1/2010-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know if this is what you mean but it bothers me even more when a fast runner is on 1B. I don’t get that one at all. At least with a runner on 2nd and bunted to 3rd there is a chance it sets up a score. Don’t like it but bunting Reyes to 2nd base has to be the dumbest move ever.
prismo
2/1/2010-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
Pretty sure you and Kingman are agreeing.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
Oh, I agree!
I was thinking of a game in Sept, against the Nats, utterly meaningless, Pagan led off with a double and he had Slappy bunt. Insanity, as Pagan scores on 9+ sinlges out of 10 from 2nd.
But I agree with you 100%, and as I and others have pointed out, studies in MLB, college baseball and Japan have shown that you have a slightly GREATER chance of scoring with a man on 1st and no outs, than with a man on 2nd and one out…when that man is Reyes, of course the odds grow even more.
I hate sacrifice bunting and I hate Jerry.
prismo
2/1/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
To generalize, I think it’s okay to bunt with a pitcher in most situations with a runner on first. It’s also okay if you need only ONE run. But if you want more than one run, by giving the other team an automatic out, you’re significantly decreasing your odds at a multiple-run scoring inning. It’s a complete rally-killer.
trs86
2/1/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
But the Mets will bunt with a pitcher and a SB guy on 1B.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
I agree about bunting with pitchers who cannot hit…but Johan showed last year, when he apparently ignored the bunt sign and lined an RBI hit, that sometimes it is better to let an athletic pitcher swing away.
Generally I really hate giving up outs; and again, stats show that bunting often just does not increase the chances of scoring.
If Jerry is going to bunt incessantly, maybe he should have the pitchers work on bunting every day in Florida….
stickguy
2/1/2010-8:01am at 8:01 am (UTC -4)
latest silliness from XM this morning (although with Dibble on the show, what can you expect?
1st was a poll they are running (on facebook?): which team that was under .500 the last 2 years has the best shot at finishing .500 this year? Candidates were Mets, Nats, Pads, Reds, Orioles, Royals (and maybe 1-2 more craptastic teams). If the Mets don’t win that in a landslide, then the average XM listener is dumber than I thought.
And yes, I know the Mets were under .500 only last year. 1st time Stern described the poll, it was unclear, but I figured they meant either year. But the 2nd time, he specifically said both years. But, I guess if you want hits, can’t have a “bad team” poll without including the Metsies.
Then Dibble was blabbering on about how wonderful the Nats organization was, and managed to work in that a big reason they were still rebuilding the organization was having been gutted by MLB when they were a ward of the state (valid, I would assume), but then he had to add the inflamatory “because of OMar Minaya’s awful trades”. Of course, he mentioned the imfamous colon for sizemore, et. al, (without any context), but then tried to pin letting Vlad leave as a FA on Omar being incompetant. What a maroon.
prismo
2/1/2010-8:08am at 8:08 am (UTC -4)
Dibble is a homer of the worst variety. I’m fine with broadcasters rooting for the team they work for, but only as long as it doesn’t affect their bias. Dibble thinks every call should go the Nationals way and seems personally offended when one doesn’t. He also trash talks every other team in order to make the Nationals seems like pitiful, but it only looks like desperation. Comes off completely classless. And it’s not even valid trash talk half the time – he warps reality to his fitting. It’s pitiful.
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
I genuinely feel badly for Nats fans (and fans of other teams living in the Nats broadcast area) that Rob Dibble is basically the successor of Ron Darling as their color analyst. Talk about a giant leap backward.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
“What a maroon.”
HAHA! Damn, that brings back funny memories.
And yes, while I think XM is amazing for music, the average listener to talk there is indeed most likely a small level above plant life when it comes to average intelligence.
Let the Parade of Partial Positiviality march on unabated!
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
Morning everyone, did anyone see the article over at 1010wins?
http://www.1010wins.com/pages/6220627.php?contentType=4&contentId=5477885
I think the judge could of been more creative with his punishment.
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
This was in my “In Other News” post on the 27th. I guess more supporting evidence that I can cancel that since no one reads it.
mrose
2/1/2010-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
why is MC’s latest article named “Q&A: with John Maine about Foul Balls & Bullpen” when it doesn’t talk about Foul Balls?????? I was actually interested in what he’d say about that
trs86
2/1/2010-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
Maybe Cerrone is the Foul Ball?
Perhaps he is still looking for the Mets feared hitters 2006-2009?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
lol because with M.C. he (insert joke here).
I did like this question.
Matthew Cerrone: Do you think you could pitch in the bullpen? Would you want to?
John Maine: I have always started… I have always been able to pitch every fifth day and never been hurt. That’s something I pride myself on: being able to go every fifth day. I don’t know anything about the bullpen. I like starting just because I like having the first six or seven innings of the game. That’s what I like doing.
Never been hurt? which of course has no follow up question.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
OMG that is TOO much!!
What a curious and on-the-ball reporter he is!!
Oh man, that’s classic!
trs86
2/1/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Obviously he means until this last issue that but yeah.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
Maine blocked out 2009. You have to wonder though if Maine goes to the pen how he will handle it if on top of that he struggles plus has to contend with Manuel’s mix and match approach in trying to define his role.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
You get the sense based on Maine’s remarks about LoDuca that he would of really like Molina.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
anyone read Sherman’s article today?
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/general_mistake_HRYovMbdpxAkGaFhUrDNHM
Nice to see ownership getting some blame for the status of the Mets.
Also, in MC’s John Maine interview, Maine makes a good point that the team was still in first for the first few months despite some injuries. It was only after there were too many injuries that the team took a nose dive. The Beltran injury was the killer.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Interesting…thanks for posting this. One thing about the Mariners is that they just do not stand pat. Their ownership reacts and makes moves without waiting.
If the Mets don’t make the WS this year, I sure would love to see the M’s finally do it and the perfect scenario would be to take out Boston and the Yanks in the playoffs first. Of course, the Yanks not making the postseason would be even better.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
I have to admit when you said Maine said the Mets were “still in first for the first few months despite some injuries”. That just didn’t sound right so I went to baseball reference to see if that was accurate and it turns out that the Mets were only in 1st place 13 times and the lengest we held it was a 10 game stretch from May 9th to May 18th. The last day they were in 1st was May 29th. So Maine must really be blocking out 2009 cause clearly what he is saying is just not true.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
here is the link just in case.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2009-schedule-scores.shtml
mrose
2/1/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
I think “few” is one of those words that is different to each person. To him, maybe “few” months is April and May, and to be honest, they didn’t begin to fall out of it until July. In late June, they were only 3 games out of first, so his point makes a lot of sense. The first place thing can be his interpretation, but they stayed in contention until around July when it all fell apart
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
Yea but it’s a stretch to say we were in 1st place for the 1st few months when in fact we had one 10 game stretch and that’s all. Anyone that didn’t follow baseball would read that statement and think the Mets held the 1st place spot for most of the time during April and May.
It is misleading the more accurate statement is the Mets either held or contended for the div. lead for The 1st few months of the season.
mrose
2/1/2010-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
of course, but Maine isn’t exactly a politician or a great public speaker with a script in front of him… plus, look who was across from him doing the interviewing…
I’ll give him a pass on this one…he makes a good point even if he said it somewhat wrong.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
Yes by no way am I condemning Maine for his remarks. Like you said “Maine isn’t exactly a politician or a great public speaker with a script in front of him”.
It just was so weird to see how he described the early part of 2009 when the reality was so different.
mrose
2/1/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
see… but i think we are seeing this totally wrong… he may have been better served saying “we either held or contended for the div. lead for The 1st few months of the season.” and “in 1st the first few months” when they weren’t farther than 3 games at most times..isn’t a stretch… now.. to say they were in contention in September… that would be laughable
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
Agreed if he said they were in contention in September I’d find it laughable also.
The 1st few months is truthful depending on your view of “few” is. To me it is April and May.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
in Maine’s defense, the story is MC’s interpretation of their conversation. Who knows what Maine really said or if MC actually recorded the conversation or even took notes.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Slow day today I see. No stories no posts no much whatsoever.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Also, not to be a conspiracy theorist but, check out this page on the Mets website and see if something strikes you as odd.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/fan_forum/wallpaper.jsp
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
Mr Met is where Beltran should be….wow, that definitely speaks VERY loudly….
prismo
2/1/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
I’m confused. You guys memorized the wallpaper placement on the Mets website and then it changed? Why would you remember something like that?
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
No need to memorize It’s simply only 1 member of the core is missing.
Beltran.
Wright, Reyes, Santana, KRod, Bay, are there but no Beltran?
Oh and no Murphy? What’s up with that?
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
This just up on MC’s blog:
News: Putz never had Physical before Trade to Mets
Very nice – sigh……
prismo
2/1/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Yeah I was going to make a post about it (saw the link elsewhere), but not worth it now.
http://www.csnchicago.com/01/22/10/Sox-Drawer-The-Truth-About-JJ-Putz/landing.html?blockID=167614&feedID=665
Unbelievable. Sounds pretty damning – it’s straight from the horses mouth. Also doesn’t sound like Putz is trying to bash the Mets; he’s just being honest.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Wow is right.
If this is true….wow.
Maybe those of us among the Positivos who were whining about the medical/training staff and their judgment were not wrong after all.
If true, this is simply astonishing.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
If it is true, it’s a no wonder Beltran took matters into his own hands this winter and had that surgery.
I’ll never forget Omar in the SNY booth during one game being interviewed, trying to do some damage control. He actually made things worse by saying, ‘we believe in our doctors (etc.) but we have to weigh the medical advice against having one of our core players on the DL for an extended period of time’.
Putz must be telling the truth b/c I heard the same mindset straight from the horse’s mouth last summer.
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
Agreed! And as stated, why would he make this up???
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
Kingman, IIRC, there were reports that the Mets knew about Putz’s shoulder but I assumed they had it checked out and it cleared.
Knowing Putz’ previous injury issues, how do they not have him checed out?
Looks like they didn’t care whether he was injured or not, as long as they appeased the fans on the bagel line asking Omar to “address the bullpen”.
Kingman 26
2/1/2010-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
Could not agree more….JJ’s not being himself was for me without a doubt the biggest disappointment of the first half of 2009.
This story really makes me ill.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-11:02am at 11:02 am (UTC -4)
just read that, too.
“When the trade went down last year, I never really had a physical with the Mets,†said Putz. “I had the bone spur (in the right elbow). It was discovered the previous year in Seattle, and it never got checked out by any other doctors until I got to spring training, and the spring training physical is kind of a formality. It was bugging me all through April, and in May I got an injection. It just got to the point where I couldn’t pitch. I couldn’t throw strikes, my velocity was way down.â€
All I have to say right now, is holy cow. Prismo, I do think this deserves a new post.
Mr North Jersey
2/1/2010-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
Why would Putz pitch knowing he had bone chips and had discomfort?
Is it a gotta help the team thing? Is it about the money he was getting?
If true the fact that he says he was told not to bring up his condition and was asked to pitch through can’t be good for an organization that is trying to get past this image of a team that doesn’t deal with player injuries well.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
I think it’s a case by case basis. Some guys try to pitch through it until it becomes too painful.
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
i would say unbelievable but really its not.
so, let me get this straight, the lone time Omar thinks out
of the box…OR the first time he doesn’t have to overpay for
OR have a FA/Trade fall in his lap AND actually makes an interesting old fashion baseball deal, he gives up six players
in order to bring in one of the best closers in baseball….
To SET-UP KRod, giving us the best one-two punch in the back of the Pen since Rivera-Wetteland, HE DOESN’T HAVE THE GUY TAKE A
PHYSICAL?????…Despite the fact that the Pitcher was on the DL
TWICE in 2008,missing about a third of the season, posting an ERA
two and a half runs higher than the season before.
In what biz in this day and age DON’T YOU have to take a physical
,let alone professional sports???
WHAT IS OMAR’S/The FO’s EXCUSE/STORY FOR THIS ONE?????
NO!…Nevermind!…It must just be me being too hard on Omar.
Right????……How exactly does this guy still have his job????
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
it’s not even incompetence. it’s Willful negligence, cruelty, disinterest, narcissism…
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Like I said Case, how can this be excused?
Look, my Omar bashing has gotten tiring TO ME,
BUT….C’mon here!…No one would run a company
this way…No one.
fongy2
2/1/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
And I know it drives you crazy BUT on top
of knowing this, Putz first goes and
Pitches in the WBC???
Holy Crap is this an inept group running
this team!
steveo
2/1/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
Score one for negativite nabobs
mrose
2/1/2010-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
heres some good news
“Jose Reyes worked out on Long Island today and, according to SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt, he did five sprints, 90 feet each, and looked ‘great.’
From what I can gather, Reyes ran at full speed without a limp.
“That’s how I do it,†Reyes
said, upon finishing his sprints. “I’m ready to play baseball.—