In an article written by Mike Puma of the New York Post he quotes Mike Pelfrey to say,
“I understand that people look at the rotation and they have question marks. There should be,†Pelfrey said.
“Guys got hurt. I had a bad year, but guys are healthy now and I’m going to bounce back and have a good year. It’s amazing to me how big of a question there is about the rotation [by fans]. I hear about it and I just laugh.â€
“I am glad to see that Pelfrey is confident I expect no less from him. I don’t know if I find the fans concerns regarding the rotation funny but I like the confidence he shows I expect all the Met players to have the same attitude. “
136 comments
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
“Guys got hurt. I had a bad year, but guys are healthy now and I’m going to bounce back and have a good year. It’s amazing to me how big of a question there is about the rotation [by fans]. I hear about it and I just laugh.â€
I have always liked Big Pelf, from the first game he threw for the Mets in 2006, and now he is without a doubt my favorite Met. What a great quote.
I love it.
I have long thought that the fans whining for Pineiro and Wolf and Marquis and Garland over giving our YOUNG and previously successful guys another shot should be questioned and holy crap, I love Mike Pelfrey.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
I like it also maybe this will be the end of the yips he sounds very determined.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
He sure does Mr North, and may I sincerely thank you for posting this!
I am crazy busy today and stopped by and this made me smile.
This is precisely the attitude we want!
Damn, I am more eager for the spring games than before.
Thanks for bringing me this fantastic quote!!
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
Your welcome.
CaseStreet
2/9/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
Thank you for donating king, it really means a lot.
I like pelf, but el hombre Santana is my fav met.
I don’t see how bringing in one of the guys you mention would result in not giving our young guys a shot since we still have 1 spot open. The only thing that comes close to what you are saying would be those that wouldve sent Maine to the pen or in a trade.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
You are most welcome Case, and thank you for making it so easy to do something so very worthwhile.
I do agree that if Nieve or Niese do not step up, the 5th spot might again be a black hole.
I just firmly believe that other than Lackey, none of those guys were really worth having.
I may indeed be very wrong though.
Nieve to me looks like he might be a good MLB pitcher; maybe very good for a 5th spot.
trs86
2/9/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
I honestly think that we have quite a few guys who can produce #5 like numbers, especially for short periods. Even the great Figgy and Misch produced #5 like numbers for their short spans. I am much more concerned about 1-4 than I am #5. For the most part in baseball they are garbage anyway. Think Phillie is confident about their #5?
stickguy
2/9/2010-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Jamie Moyer? Not thinking so!
my worry about the #5 has more to do with what happens if one of the top 4 goes down, and he starts bumping up the ladder.
Just thought the Mets had a decent opportunity to add another 3/4 type, and have a rotation without a #5 (keeping their 5s in the minors or the pen where they belong).
Even though most teams dont have talent there is no reason for the Mets not to be better.
prismo
2/9/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
Big Pelf’s the man.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
I too admire the confidence, dare I say bravado, of his statement. I like that it was self-assured but not cocky and didn’t involve or invoke any other teams (no “we’re the team to beat” crap).
I am left to hope that this confidence translates to the mound, a place where too often in the recent past he seems to have lacked it. He’s still young, there’s time, I’m not writing him off with that point, simply noting that a quote in the 2nd week of February is rather removed from a major league mound in the 6th inning with a runner on base.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/9/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
I agree with you. I want to see cockiness on the mound where Pelf stares down at the hitters. “I laugh at you!”
njstuckintx
2/9/2010-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
Every time I read his quote, I kept hearing the French guys from “Quest for the Holy Grail”. “I fart in your general direction!”. “Your Mother was a hampster and your father smelled of elderberries!”.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
Is it me or is there a new trend of copying and pasting other blogs post titles?
SportsSpyder has an entry by AmazinAvenue titled “Mike Pelfrey Is In The Best Shape Of His Life”.
It then is followed by an entry by circlingthebases titled “Mike Pelfrey Is In The Best Shape Of His Life”.
Here is the kicker both posts link to Mike Puma’s article at the NY Post but none give him credit.
Is linking the new form of giving credit?
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
Perhaps it is, I don’t know the rules.
Personally I like what you did, taking a part of an article and quoting it while crediting and linking to the original author so that interested parties can click through to read the full original and give the author the webhits they earned through their work.
You did it exactly the right way as far as how I look at it. But as I said above, I don’t know the rules.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
I agree Grave, call me old school but If I wrote a fine article I’d like to be given written credit.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
Kneel before me, subject. Bow your head. With this sword placed on your shoulders, I dub thee: Old School. You may kiss the ring.
trs86
2/9/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
I indeed think that linking to another story is giving that guy credit by directing them to his site.
trs86
2/9/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
As long as you put the sites name in there of course. Not just the link itself.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Well they didn’t put the sites name.
trs86
2/9/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Then that’s just wrong. LOL>
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Boy and you think were doom and gloom around here at times read the comments section over at Mike Puma’s article. Rough crowd indeed.
trs86
2/9/2010-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
Comments on those sites seem to always reflect the mood of the authors right?
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Is Puma mostly a negative guy? At least in this article I didn’t sense him trying to be negative but rather just quoting Pelfrey.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
On the site where the Pelf article appeared, the comments reflect the very low average IQ of the readers, and the even lower level of reason they have.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
That is why I get annoyed at people who bring that stuff here.
Usually that stuff stays at places like the NY Post, which is populated by ignorant children.
To me, it is disappointing to see it here.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Oh man you should check out the mlb.com comments, you’ll either kill yourself (in which case, don’t check them out) or you’ll feel good about your grasp of reality and sense of priorities.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Ha!
Yeah, I do periodically read comments there, at the Star Ledger, and at Mets.com, and any site which gets a huge readership like those is of course filled with really, really silly folk.
stickguy
2/9/2010-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
OK, I got at least one passanger on my “the rotation is better than given credit for and can actually be a strength this year” bandwagon. Big Pelf is riding shotgun!
Still plenty of room in the back though….
my disjointed random thoughts (how’s that for a recurring post title?)
- If anything, they are less question marks this year than last (with the same 4 guys).
1) Ollie coming out of boot camp looking all buffed up (and with a nice fresh knee job) is better than playing “which ollie are we getting” roulette.
2) Johan had his elbow freshened up (didn’t he go into the spring with known issues to try and pitch through?) and sounded totally pumped, and better able to make pitches.
3) Maine was coming off his shoulder surgery last spring, always a big ?. after his extra rest/rehab, and a pain free stint in Sept (and another off season to shape up), he is less of a worry this year.
4) Pelf fought through a bad stretch, and sounds like he learned from it (always something you wonder about with young players, how they react to adversity), plus he has more experience to lean on.
And yes, I realize that just about everyone is worried that they will all hold up and have good years. Certainly valid, but my point is that if anything, there is less to worry about this year (which seems to be exactly what the Big Man was saying).
Now, I do strongly feel they should have brought in 1 more experienced guy of some level to beef up the 5 hole and add some depth, but who knows if that is happening (although there is still time for a trade, or a Livan-esque ST pickup).
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, you need glasses buddy—I have been up front with you on that, and I am not too small….
stickguy
2/9/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
sorry. I lost my focus there for a second. Won’t happen again.
To some extent, I think 2009 is distorting an objective look at the team (as it stands now). Either from realistically accounting for injuries (and recovery from same), or just pure emotion/angst.
Any rotation that has a perenial Cy Young candidate who is what, 30?, and in a great mood after having his chips removed, followed by 3 guys in that sweet spot of age/experience (mid-upper 20s), 2 of whom at least qualify as strike out pitchers, and all of whom have shown extended periods of good to very good pitching, just can’t IMO be dismissed out of hand as garbage.
Man, how was that for a run on sentence?
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
That was an excellent run-on sentence, made that much more spectacular by having a question mark in it.
The solid play for a half-decade of a team with, as Case regularly reminds us, now 6 all-star caliber guys, all young and/or in their primes, is being completely overlooked in favor of the second half of 2009.
It just ain’t right.
stickguy
2/9/2010-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
don’t forget my 6 commas. They mean a lot to TRS.
Sports certainly is a “what have you done for me lately” business.
So like I said, play the nobody believes in us and it’s us against the world cards, and get on the field and play the damned games already.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
Frankly, if you had just added a few unnecessary apostrophes, I would have printed it out and framed it.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
It was pretty run onny as far as run onniness goes I have to say using my opinion and expressing it in writing in this box below yours where it theoretically belongs.
But seriously, I agree it can’t be dismissed out of hand as garbage. But when I compare it to other rotations that have a legit Cy Young candidate in them, many of them have what I would call a more consistent (note I did not say “better”) 2nd act. The Mets rotation issue IMO is the same one I had with it 3 months ago. It’s heavy on potential and light on actual.
But yes I agree one can’t just dismiss it as garbage without willfully disregarding the potential.
stickguy
2/9/2010-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
It is better than the old days of the Mets (and current days for many other teams) where not only don’t they have actual, they don’t even have anything passing for potential.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Stick all he said is he has confidence in his team. He better say that or NY will kill him. I think it was just refreshing to see how confident he is by publicly saying that he laughs when he hears how bad some (fans) feel the rotation can be.
Rather bold to say that publicly in my opinion but as long as he can back it up more power to him.
stickguy
2/9/2010-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
fans always clamor for them to say stuff. here ya go!
I also always kind of figured a lot of players read this stuff just to get a laugh out of it.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
Can’t wait to see who’s next then.
stickguy
2/9/2010-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
maybe we should just look at the Mets rotation this way.
For everyone that wanted risk/reward guys, you got them!
I prefer to think of it as having “upside potential”
Maybe we should just call them all Lola?
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
I”m afraid to ask but why Lola?
stickguy
2/9/2010-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
Unless I botched the reference, isn’t Lola the character that was “when good, very very good but when bad, very very bad”?
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not sure what you’re referring to. When I googled the phrase “Lola very good” I got this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn4xgCMMVo0
stickguy
2/9/2010-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
oh, cut me some slack. I am just making this stuff up as I go along.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
That makes at least two of us.
I was actually trying to figure out what you were using “Lola”
as an acronym for, but having tremendous trouble so I’m just glad to find out that’s not what you were doing.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
LOL!
Seriously, that is what I have been trying to say!
Who wants Marquis and Pineiro and perenially injured guys, when we already have Pelf, Maine, and Ollie, all younger, and who have much larger upsides, and all who HAVE had significant success already?
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, now if that is not a fan perspective I don’t know what is.
When you put it like that how can one argue.
Positivity +10 WTG.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you sir!
And I have to say, remember, I did write pieces during the season last year slamming Jerry, slamming the team’s sloppy on-field play, and even slamming Golden Boy Heartless UnClutch DRod for that play late in the year, when he was not hustling, and Razor’s head was, as usual, firmly lodged inside his anus, and Wright did not run hard and did not score when he should have.
So, I am indeed capable of serious negativity.
Just not in February when Reyes is breaking land speed records, FMart is winning meaningless awards, Ollie is looking like an adult, and Pelf is laughing at us—how can we be anything other than catatonically positive right now??
trs86
2/9/2010-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
LOL. I never thought of it that way. Why bring in risk reward guys when we have our own?
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-12:35pm at 12:35 pm (UTC -4)
Oh Stick if only you’d phrased it that way months ago you could’ve saved us all a lot of angst (and you could’ve saved my carpal tunnel).
trs86
2/9/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting post by Sherman today:
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/omar_can_salvage_offseason_with_6sC40uuofiYle2KYxiDuSP
So his idea is that Omar can save the Mets and have a good off-season by signing a bunch of left over scrubs, with the exception of Lopez (No idea why he is NOT signed by someone anyway) and Calero.
His thoughts
Sign Barajas, Lopez, Washburn, Branyan and Calero for 12M all on 1 year contracts.
Uh ok
So breaking it down he has this to say about Barajas: “He does not walk, but he will hit .240 with 15 homers and play good defense. You could do a lot worse, and Omir Santos is worse.†Nice qualifier there Sherman. Santos is worse because uh… he can’t hit .240 with 15 HR or he can’t play good defense? Which one is it?
Branyan: “But the Mets were willing to do a low-base, big-incentive deal with Carlos Delgado; shouldn’t they be thinking the same for Branyan?” We don’t know what the Mets plans were for Delgado but we do know the media was ripping them for being interested in a bad defensive 1B with injury risks. Oh wait a minute who are we talking about here? Don’t you think that the same thing would have been said if they signed Branyan?
Calero: Maybe they will. I would still guess that this guy gets a lot of interest from multiple teams.
Lopez: “is a better utilityman than Alex Cora or Anderson Hernandez, and — let’s be frank — he would be starting over Castillo by May 1.” That’s most likely why they wont get him.
Washburn: This one is the best “who shone for the Mariners last year before getting traded to Detroit, where he struggled and got hurt, is the kind of innings eater the Mets felt they needed with so much volatility in their rotation.” REALLY? So the guy that said if the M’s or Twins don’t offer him a contract he may retire. The guy that has not pitched 200 innings since 2003 and was injured last year is now an innings eater? I would not mind if they brought in Washburn as a 5th starter candidate but he does little to add stability to the rotation.
If you signed every single one of these guys it would still not make a difference if the Mets current players are unhealthy or don’t produce. If they do produce we will be just fine.
Still seems amazing that if Omar had signed Bay and a bunch of scrubs no one would be talking about their bad off-season. Note to Omar, sign a bunch of scrubs and everyone will be happy and you get to keep your job. Of course then they would jump on him for signing scrubs.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
Since it seems to kind of fit here, this is what I responded last night over at MMO to the post “If You Were The Mets GM…” and by the way how come none of you guys ever asked me what I would do if I were the Mets GM?
GravediggerHebner says:
February 8, 2010 at 10:02 pm
First I want to make one thing clear. If I’m the Mets GM I just took over today. I’m not responsible for anything that is the way it is right now, just for fixing it.
What I would do right now is see if I could sign Felipe Lopez. I’m not sure he wants to come given that at least technically there are people in front of him at his main spots, but I’d just point him to Luis Castillo’s “highlight†reel and his defensive stats and say “don’t worry, if you have your head on straight it won’t take you but a couple of spring games to pass this guy on the depth chart.†I think I could get him with a fair market offer and the enticement of a starting job. I might even give him 2 years if I have to but it would be front loaded because I’ll want to be able to trade/waive him next year if one of my kids suddenly proves they’re ready. I could just keep Castillo in that scenario but I’m throwing my fans a bone.
Then I would call any free agent catchers whose numbers are in the office rolodex and tell them no thank you. I’ve got a full quota of crappy catchers I don’t need any more. If Thole can demonstrate anything along the lines of what we might call “defensive competence†he comes north out of spring training and Blanco tutors him while being Santana’s personal catcher. If not, I’d keep Santos up and Coste down because I want Thole learning at AAA from Coste, not Santos.
Then I’d sign Kiko Calero. After Santana, this starting rotation just isn’t very good but I can’t do much about that right now. I need as many viable arms in the bullpen as possible because they’re likely to get a lot of work. If Escobar or Igarashi flop, Calero can set up. If they don’t, Calero still gets lots of work anyway. If my offense is any good at all, whoever pitches the 6th inning is going to vulture a lot of wins.
I also sign whichever lefty of Ohman, Beimel or Mahay blinks first. Feliciano needs a lefty buddy out there or his arm might fall off. I like Calero and any one of those 3 lefties better than Green/Parnell and Misch/Marshall so my bullpen depth is better with these new guys.
Then I roll with this team. None of the available FA starting pitchers are worth the trouble. I make sure everybody knows I’m the new boss and I ain’t the same as the old boss. I tell them this is their year to impress me and wish them good luck. Except Castillo, he doesn’t get that chance, Lopez has already replaced him and I spend the next month figuring out the best way to get rid of him while absorbing the least possible amount of his salary by the end of spring training.
While closely monitoring the team through the first 3 months of the season I make friends with every GM in baseball and build bridges for possible deadline trades that would be additions if this roster shows signs of life and subtractions if it doesn’t. I can’t realistically trade away anybody “big†so this wouldn’t involve anything that could be called a blockbuster, but my fringe for your fringe ala Church/Francoeur is about all I can do. I’m not sure next year’s free agent market is going to help a lot either because I don’t have a lot of money coming off the books so I’m going to have to be creative whatever I do. This first year on the job will give me some time to figure out how to execute that.
njstuckintx
2/9/2010-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
You got my vote.
stickguy
2/9/2010-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
saw this piece (at least a post about it).
In general, I like the concept (and have posted the same here), but certainly can quibble about the players.
I have though been harping on trying to get Lopez. Especially before they re-upped COra, but he would stil lbe useful now, and give them a “real” 2B to supplant Castillo.
Calero I am not familiar with, but I do agree with getting another good late inning arm. I don’t care so much about the 2nd LOOGY, they can always scrape one up in ST on the cheap. Invest in the set up man.
Absolutely NO to branyan.
and pass on washburn.
C? I still waffle, but wouldn’t complain if they got barajas on the cheap. But no biggee.
trs86
2/9/2010-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
I just can’t see how these moves will SAVE the Mets or their off-season.
stickguy
2/9/2010-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t care about saving the off season. Only regular season wins count!
And the mets themselves don’t need saving.
What I think/hope these moves will do is increase the talent on the team, ideally leading to more runs scored and fewer allowed, thereby, paragarithmically speaking, more wins.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
Good thing Sherman doesn’t speak for the fans.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
Not sure if you’re being sarcastic or not. Either way I’d say he speaks for what I’d refer to as a “vocal minority.” I don’t necessarily mean the people whose opinions he reflects in his articles are a true minority, they may in fact be a vast majority, I simply mean that for every person that actually speaks there are many, many who do not.
Corporations try to figure out this ratio and it’s relevance all the time, sometimes with better results than others. I find the best corporations are the ones that do what they truly believe rather than what they believe a “vocal minority” want them to do, and I believe that polling is a scourge on society. But that’s just me.
All my adult life I’ve been quite fond of the moment in “Private Parts” when the big wigs are discussing who is listening to Howard Stern and why, and they find that more people who dislike and disagree with him are listening than those who like and agree, but both groups are listening because “they can’t wait to hear what he’s going to say next.” Not quite relevant, just wanted to throw that in.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
No I was reacting to TRS response of the article and the suggestion that if the Mets only did as what Sherman is suggesting which is what TRS says some fans were suggesting that just sign scrubs and Minaya will save his job.
I think TRS was being sarcastic but at the same time not entirely. To which of course the idea of just sign scrubs and you will save your job is a slight to fans that felt that the Mets should of signed a Barajas for example.
Which led me to say that because if Sherman was speaking for fans I fear what TRS would say about the fans then.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Aha! Thank you for working with me and bringing me up to speed on the context, I appreciate it.
CaseStreet
2/9/2010-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
Surprisingly, I’m in agreement with Sherman the Wormin. Mostly, with this:
“The Mets would tell you there is no use spending just for spending’s sake. I agree. But the Mets still lack depth, and lack of depth — more than lack of character — has been their biggest nemesis the past few years.”
As you guys and gals know, I’m all about depth. Not because these guys are saviors, but look at how lack of depth has hurt us the past few years.
Mark my words, lack of depth at SP, will hurt us this year. I don’t think 1-4 will all have injuries, but maybe two. That means Nieve and Niese will be our 3 or 4 pitcher for some time. Hopefully, it won’t come to that or if it does, the callups can step up.
Hey at least my man Figgy can get a chance at 20 wins. lol.
wannybackstra
2/9/2010-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
I agree 100% re: pitching depth which is why I was in favor of signing guys like Pineiro or Garland, guys I can’t stand.
But Washburn is neither an innings eater nor a guy with a whole lot of potential either. And he’s a mid 30s guy with a knee injury.
wannybackstra
2/9/2010-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
Where does Sherman suggest all of these players will fit on the roster?
Whether we like it or not, we have Cora and Tatis and that means there’s no place to put Lopez.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
He could have sat on Gritty McHudson’s lap on the banch–imagine the cheering section they would have made for Slappy!
AND for Ronnie Belliard when we play the Dodgers!
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Banch? Sorry, after the Domino and scar things I couldn’t just walk on by.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! Hey, maybe I dish it out, but I definitely can take it, and frankly even enjoy it coming from you in this context!
Below, I just of course was running to poor li’l Pelf’s defense…I mean, I guess if you are going to mock Pelf, at least get your spelling/capitalization/punctuation right!
ceetar
2/9/2010-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
on Sherman:
the part where he implies that the random subset of Mets fans that emailed him is a better indication than the ACTUAL SALES FIGURES available to the Mets.
Mets fans that decide to buy or renew season plans are not looking to email Sherman to tell him about it. And his persistant negativity towards the Mets encourages people that decided to not renew to email him.
Not to say figures aren’t hurting (but everything is in this ecnomy as well.) The 6-packs suggest that. But that doesn’t mean the best way to procede is to listen to Sherman’s personnel suggestions..who does he think he is, Adam Rubin?
trs86
2/9/2010-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
While I am at it, what the hell is MC trying to say here:
“…i like the idea of having a talent like Bryce Harper in the Mets system, but, and this is the wrong way to look at things, i am so leery because of all the hype surrounding him… regardless, i still think it’s smart to always draft pitching with top picks…”
Damn. I know grammar is not that important and to an extent sometimes I agree but that is just terrible.
trs86
2/9/2010-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
What is he even trying to say.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
He seems to be saying that, while it is good to draft talented young players, we should be leery of drafting talented young players, as these types of players might have a lot of hype attached to them.
His usual, sit-on-the-fence, try to cover all sides way of thinking, which, of course, says very little.
Other than that HE IS NOT WORTH READING approximately most of the time.
stickguy
2/9/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
He is a top talent, so in the 24/7 media driven age, he gets a ton of attention. therefore, stay away, since Hype is what you do to lousy guys to build up trade value.
Instead, get a Pitcher, no matter what position players are sitting there available, but only if the pitcher has no Hype attached.
See? Glad I could clear that up.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
You have just shined a bright light on the phenomenon known as “Degenerative Hype Disorder.”
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
Forget the grammar, the idea he is expressing is MORONIC!
So, we should have lingering doubts about having talented players because they are hyped?
You really DO need help avoiding that place!
trs86
2/9/2010-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
,But,… then what would we, laugh,, about….?
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Good point.
That’s why you are in charge!
wannybackstra
2/9/2010-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
It’s a good thing we didn’t have the chance to select hyped draft prospects like Justin Upton or Matt Weiters.
Let’s see if Washington winds up regretting Strasburg.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
The Mets are picking 7th, how realistic is it that Harper will still be there?
http://www.mymlbdraft.com/MLB-Mock-Draft-2010 is a fun resource for past draft info and they also do mock drafts. They have the Mets picking Karsten Whitson.
Here are the past 10 guys picked at # 7
09-ATL Mike Minor
08-CIN Yonder Alonso
07-MIL Matt LaPorta
06-LAD Clayton Kershaw
05-COL Troy Tulowitzki
04-CIN David (Homer?) Bailey
03-BAL Nick Markakis
02-MIL Prince Fielder
01-BAL Chris Smith
00-COL Matt Harrington
I’m not familiar with Smith or Harrington but the rest of the guys give me hope the Mets CAN do something good with the 7 pick. Will they, that’s another story.
trs86
2/9/2010-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
There is a chance now because it seems as though he will be very expensive. Seems to have already turned the Pirates off if you believe their story they don’t even have him in the top 10.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
Too bad for the Pirates they’re picking 2nd.
Outside of Harper I’ve never heard of any of these guys so I can’t comment intelligently on one compared to the other.
All I know is all the hype surrounds Harper and if he falls to 7th the Mets would get more killed by the fan who like me knows little to nothing about any of these guys for passing on him than they would for picking him regardless of what he actually becomes.
wannybackstra
2/9/2010-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
Harrington got a lot of bad advice and never signed a MLB contract. He was drafted at least three times. But his performance slipped after each draft and his offers got lower and lower. Stubbornly, he never agreed to a deal and he’s now pitching independent ball and living a regular life like the rest of us schmoes.
wannybackstra
2/9/2010-4:39pm at 4:39 pm (UTC -4)
I think he eventually sued his agent, who no longer is in the baseball business.
saltygary
2/9/2010-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
I see Pelf fall on the mound and I just laugh.
On a positive note, no dominoes patch’s on the uniform this year.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
No Domino’s patches either.
saltygary
2/9/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Whats the site that hosts our avatars?
I know want to change my avatar from french ducking scarred from a ball to Pelf falling on his ass.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-1:16pm at 1:16 pm (UTC -4)
http://en.gravatar.com/
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
He was scarred? Where was the scar?
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone listening to Francessa?
saltygary
2/9/2010-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
Nope Howard Stern replay. What kind of hate is he spouting today?
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
Nothing that has not been said b4 by me or many others but I don;t know if this is the tip of the iceberg or if there is more to come.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
He is giving making the argument on why Mets Fans should be concerned and disappointed.
If you only want to hear rah rah positive talk don’t listen to him today.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
And also if you only want to hear someone speak without mispronouncing names and saying lots and lots of silly stuff, maybe avoid him too.
wannybackstra
2/9/2010-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
You should try listening to Lolita Lopez report the hockey scores (when she even attempts to do such a thing) on WPIX news.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
Gotta admit that I stop after baseball, football, and basketball…when I was younger and had more time I followed hockey some.
So damn, am I missing something particularly silly? If so, I might have to tune in a time or two.
wannybackstra
2/9/2010-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
She makes Fatcessa sound like a linguist when it comes to pronouncing hockey players’ names — and I’m not even referring specifically to the foreign names. It’s just her obvious lack of familiarity that comes through.
It reminds me of when Steve Somers had the overnight show on WFAN. Somers knows as little about professional sports in North America as a Siberian bear. People used to screw with him without him realizing. My favorite example is a guy calling to ask about Rangers prospects including Gary Dell’abate (one of Howard Stern’s sidekicks) and several other fictitious players.
Somers, unwilling to admit he has no idea who the players are, responds with some sort of generalized answer that the Rangers really like him.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
Baba Booey!
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
Ha! I remember once when I lived in Seattle and I think it was SI’s football writer Peter King was trying to talk about the NBA on KJR, the Seattle WFAN (this was during the height of the Sonics’ great Payton/Kemp teams) and he was obviously reading something on the air and even more obviously did NOT cross over into basketball knowledge, and when it came time for him to read Vlade Divac’s name, it literally came out as “Vuh-lade Divuck.”
Hilarious.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
Or Gary Miller’s “soccer breakdown.”
http://justinsponderings.blogspot.com/2009/10/soccer-breakdown.html
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone read Ted Quarters article?
http://www.tedquarters.net/2010/02/09/the-contingency-plan/
He makes valid points but overall he is looking for the silver lining in the cloud.
The silver lining being the Mets didn’t trade away prospects. The cloud being the Mets failures this off season.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
Francessa is bringing his A game today lol.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
Dissecting Murphy’s flaws big time.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
Francessa said something I agree with and that is the Mets are hoping Ike Davis can take over the position at 1st with Murphy being a good Utility guy. Murphy has to show or rather step his game up and turn some heads.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Well I see according to the sportspyder that Keith will be talking about Murphy this afternoon on SNY. I am much more interested in Keith’s dissection of Murphy (if he’s willing to provide it) than I am in Fatty Arbuckle’s. One of these things is not like the other as the saying goes, and Fatty is the one who’s never played ML 1B.
I wonder if Fatty’s A game today is the same one that picked the Colts in the Super Bowl.
CaseStreet
2/9/2010-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
okay peeps, what if Omar brings in Pedro or Wang to fill in a deal similar to The Chief last year and brings back Livan to replace Livan and Redding?
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
For very little money down and all incentives?
Pedro yes, but I highly doubt Wang can get anyone out.
But for no dough up front, sure!
CaseStreet
2/9/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Come on, Pedro won a few playoff games last year.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/9/2010-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know man… he went to the dark side last season…
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
I actually was very serious on Pedro—I did not want him for 5 mil last year, but I would very gladly take him for 1 mil or less to compete for 5th starter.
I very strongly suspect that he is doing a Clemens 2.0, and will sit under the mango tree until July and wait for the highest bidding team in playoff contention to come calling.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/9/2010-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
sounds confusing….
trs86
2/9/2010-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
I guess, as a guy that could pitch down the road if needed a guy like Pedro or Wang would be fine. However, from the gate I would just as soon see what Nieve and Niese can do than to give it to either.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve got no problem with either of the 1st 2 guys for the right money, but Wang doesn’t help for months and Petey shouldn’t if he’s going to truly help. I think the last few years are good supporting evidence for Petey to take the Clemens-esque half season approach.
Maybe I’m blindly and ignorantly overstating it but I have no interest in revisiting Livan in the Livan role. Are they any other candidates?
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
what? We already have Tatis and Cora why not Livan he can both start and pitch out of the pen and give us innings at the back of the rotation.
How’s that for sarcastic? Did I do good?
trs86
2/9/2010-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, there is one thing to the notion that Livan can pitch the hell out of the first 2 months. It’s those next 4 that are a problem.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
You did good kid. Here have a cracker.
Sorry I’m listening to Nina Simone sing Wild Is The Wind and it’s blowing my mind, I’m not fully here.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
Nice Grave but my all time fav will always be Sinnerman.
I said rock! whats da matter with you rock?
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t you see I need you rock?
Great stuff. I’m just embarrassed because until about 10 minutes ago I thought Wild Is The Wind was just a David Bowie song. I’m glad I happened to catch this, my quality of life just improved.
CaseStreet
2/9/2010-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
By George, I think I got it!
Since livan is good till the ASB and Pedro is good after the ASB, why not bring both on, let livan start while Pedro hangs out in PSL and right around the time livan is about to hit his incentives drop his ass and call up pedro.
That way niese and nieve can lead the
bisons to a championship.
Someone find me omar’s bagel stand quick.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
I sort of thought your comment earlier implied such an arrangement, I’m just personally soured enough on Livan that I was hoping to avoid him even in that temporary position. I guess $130 million beggars can’t be choosers. Livan it is!
By the way, Niese at # 48 here:
http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/02/06/top-50-prospect-list
CaseStreet
2/9/2010-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
nice.
Mr. Martinez is in pretty good company himself.
Interesting that both are listed as MLB.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Francessa just got a 50 year old plus Mets fan saying he is lookin at the Cubs as a possible replacement to the Mets due to how sour he is on Minaya and that Pinhead (Jeff Wilpon I guess).
You think these callers are paid to say these things?
ceetar
2/9/2010-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe not paid, but if you spout enough drivel, only those that agree with you will still listen. (There are political guys like this tooo, but I won’t go therE)
February and March are where you can really tell Francesa is tired of doing his job. He’s going to completely kill Murphy and the rotation at least until June, and even then he’ll knock them with the “Do it in September/October” argument even if they’re hitting .350 or pitching to a 3.5 ERA.
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
You’re second paragraph is spot on. I’m convinced that even if they somehow won the WS he’d be picking at them the day of the parade.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
He did a good job on ripping the Jets AFC Championship loss.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
Hell no!
If it wasn’t for silly fools like that guy, his listenership would be dramatically lower.
A guy like that is precisely Francesspool’s target audience.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry for the double post…I misspelled a word the first time, and those who live in very optimistic glass houses….
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
Kong, immediately to the right of the time in your comments do you have an (Edit) button? Does it work? Mine does. Saves me from lots of typos.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
Grave, I have never wanted to bother anyone, but that button only shows up for me sometimes…and it seems as though it does not follow a pattern, as I use Firefox at work during the day and Explorer at home at night and on weekends, and sometimes the button appears and sometimes it does not.
I surely would have edited if the edit button was appearing today!
trs86
2/9/2010-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
I am moderating your edit button from behind the curtain.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
Well Wizard, please reach behind the curtain and remove my first post above where I misspelled a word!
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-3:32pm at 3:32 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you. I know that for the longest time I just never noticed it, then one day I clicked on it and immediately my use of the language “improved.”
CaseStreet
2/9/2010-4:38pm at 4:38 pm (UTC -4)
hmm, I only get an edit button when I post an article. How much to get my own?
stickguy
2/9/2010-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
That has to be a shill bidder. No one could be that delusional.
I really don’t understand why people get so wrapped up with Omar adn Jeffy and the FO. I only root for the team (and care about the product on the field). I sure won’t be changing alleigences because of a dumb GM.
FO hacks and players come and go. THe name on the front of the Jersey stays the same.
And no matter where you fall on the negativitation positiviality spectrum, I think we can all agree that we really, really need games to start to get the focus off of the off season and FO.
And for the sake of the blogshpere and the many (seemingly) unstable fans, I hope they have a decent and healthy start to the season. Something like the Tiger’s big year would do (what was that, 35-5 or so?)
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
I was speaking with my brother (and fellow Met fan) earlier and he said that he’s boycotted all sports media, both mainstream and new, for a while because he’s tired of the over-the-top completely unrealistic negativity (which does exist and is separate from the reasonable realistic negativity which both he & I tolerate). Perhaps I should patch him through to you and Kong?
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! Before I even got to the last sentence I was already thinking, wow, the Gravedigger brothers must have some seriously fantastic and magnificent parents to create such wise sons!!
trs86
2/9/2010-3:26pm at 3:26 pm (UTC -4)
Man, your own brother doesn’t even read our site.
Kingman 26
2/9/2010-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
In Grave’s defense, neither does mine….but he is still a great guy and a loyal Met fan.
But he is not very optimistic on Ollie….
GravediggerHebner
2/9/2010-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
It’s true, he doesn’t. Or if he does he never speaks of it. After “the beginning” last spring when I proudly spoke of and emailed the url to anyone and everyone I know even if they’re not Met fans, then never heard any of them bring it up ever again, I realized it was much much more important to me than it was to any of them.
My mom was quite proud to hear that MB touted the ‘star trade’ thing though, I couldn’t resist letting her know. “You mean that guy with the shirt that’s on the pre-game show sometimes?” “Yes, mother.” Of course she was disappointed that my real name was nowhere to be found. But she’s happy I’m not trolling hookers or shooting meth so it’s got it’s merits.
Mr North Jersey
2/9/2010-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
The WheelHouse has a lot of Mets talk today.