Why do I even bother?!?! First I have to wake up to drive my wife to her job in Brooklyn, then I have to drive back to Staten Island, through the pounding blizzard to get to my job, drive back to Brooklyn just to pick her up in white out conditions , listening to WFAN throughout the day !! First off I listen to Mets fans that are crankier than ( and more irrational than I am) I hear Craig Carton pontificating on Ken Rosenthal’s article saying that the Mets are broke ( I believe he took the article out of context) which put me in a bad mood. Then I heard that Chin Ming Wang is on the verge of signing with the Washington Nationals ( they might just be a sleeper team this season) Then I hear that Todd Wellmeyer signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants – not that I truly wanted him but I find it funny that the Mets had “interest” in many players but not enough “interest” to enter negotiations with them . Damn I am a glutton for punishment because here I am writing my column and Mike “The Stomach” Francesa is about to once again rip the Mets a new orifice. Yes I forgot to bring my Pink Floyd disc with me and I think I was a bit to mellow to listen to my Carnivore CD ! But what is a disillusioned Mets fan to do? please somebody talk me off the ledge here !! What can I take into this season to be positive about ? HELP !! I AM TRAPPED UNDER A AVALANCHE OF APATHY HERE !!!!
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                                                                            ” Should the Mets fans feel snakebit?”
And on that note – HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to original Mets pitcher Sherman Jones (1935) .
One of the most popular Mets that ever lived – Lenny Dykstra is 47 (1963) . It pains me to see Lenny going through his financial meltdown. I hope he bounces back.
Reserve catcher from the mid ’90′s, Alberto Castillo is 40 today (1970) .
Happy 40th Birthday Bobby Jones (1970) !! You are definitely one of the most overlooked pitchers that the Mets ever had. Who could forget the one hit shutout he pitched against the St Louis Cardinals during the 2000 NLCS .
New York Mets purchased pitcher Ron Taylor from the Houston Astros on February 10, 1967. After he retired from baseball, he went back to medical school and became a doctor for the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
New York Mets traded catcher Alex Treviño, and pitchers Greg Harris and Jim Kern to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder George Foster on February 10, 1982.I remember the hype that surrounded this trade. The Mets thought they were importing a bonafide power hitting outfielder, who at one time carried the Reds on his back. Unfortunately the George Foster that we got in return was a shell of his former self, generally aloof, mostly bitter , while showing little of the power that made him one of the best hitters of the ’70′s.
New York Mets re-signed free agent Howard Johnson on February 10, 1997. This was HoJo’s second go round with the Mets. Unfortunately his skills were so eroded that he retired at the end of that spring training.
Arizona Diamondbacks signed reliever Felix Heredia of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 10, 2006.
And while you try to dig yourself out of all this snow, just remember- there are just 54 days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
26 comments
Mr North Jersey
2/10/2010-5:19pm at 5:19 pm (UTC -4)
LoL if you have YES you just got to love the pic of Francessa that is being used. He looks like Cheshire Cat.
Unless I am mistaken Francessa just said the Mets will not get 140 rbi’s from their 1st baseman, 2nd baseman and catcher.
Mets: 221/rbi’s last season 84/C, 91/1B and 46/2B
Phillies: 289/rbi’s last season 57/C 137/1B 95/2B
+68 Differential
It’s obvious we don’t match up with them at 1st and 2nd especially. The Phillies are not good but Great lineup but if the Mets are to win it won’t be because the Mets outplay them at 1st, 2nd and C it will be because of their pitching. The Mets must have productive years from their Pitching Staff. Which is why I was so disappointed that he who shall not be named was not signed.
rustyjr
2/10/2010-5:37pm at 5:37 pm (UTC -4)
yeah mikey looks like a fatter george hamilton with a lobotomy
but i asked for a reason why i shouldnt be apathetic lol
GravediggerHebner
2/10/2010-5:44pm at 5:44 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty run out and put a CD in your car right now so you don’t forget it tomorrow!
Wellemeyer sucks, some of the other free agent pitchers passed on may or may not have been an improvement on our current staff, he would certainly not have been.
On a more depressing note, I think Alberto Castillo and Alex Trevino right now would be on par with our current catchers so thanks for bringing them up and making me think of that.
But to finish on a “get you in off the ledge” note, hey at least the Mets didn’t move to LA or SF this winter!
stickguy
2/10/2010-6:38pm at 6:38 pm (UTC -4)
Well Rusty, how about last year was such a perfect storm of suckitude, that they can’t possibly (and I did knock wood) be worse. So pencil in the mets as the best bet team to win more games next year!
Or go back a week or so and revisit the minicamp, and how good santana said he felt, and ollie looked. I think we are going to see a huge year from johan.
Or how about how the Mets managed to develop some interesting prospects up at the AA and AAA level, and didn’t trade off any of them?
and at least the future (beyond 2010) looks to be OK. So hopefully 2010 is the inverse of 2009, and it gets better from there.
saltygary
2/10/2010-7:42pm at 7:42 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty you gots to stop listening to that guy, it’s not good for your health. It’s nothing but angst and hate against anyone calling in or any team not names the Yankees. Get some Sirius or listen to NPR man. I’ll tell ya, Mad Dog is doing good with his national show on Sirius. He had a slow start but he’s figured it out.
njstuckintx
2/10/2010-7:47pm at 7:47 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. Stop listening to the Naysayers. This is the home stretch until pitchers and catchers. You’ll catch your 2nd wind and hit the finish line of opening day, no worries. Keep the faith and a pox on the rest of the league!
Kingman 26
2/10/2010-8:09pm at 8:09 pm (UTC -4)
Salty and NJStuck step right up and claim your rightful places in Stick and King’s Parade of Partial Positiviality!
Big Pelf will be Grand Marshal and will lead the chorus of menacing laughter towards anyone who questions our starting rotation!!
stickguy
2/10/2010-8:13pm at 8:13 pm (UTC -4)
gonna need a bigger boat again.
njstuckintx
2/10/2010-8:21pm at 8:21 pm (UTC -4)
Have Paddle, will travel!
Yeah, I still wish for this or that… Another SP… Proven catcher. But regardless, these are the bullets we’ve been given. Let us hope they come out Josie Wales style.
Kingman 26
2/10/2010-9:49pm at 9:49 pm (UTC -4)
Man, I LOVE that movie, and that line in particular.
The hour of that movie when Scheider, Dreyfus, and Shaw are on the boat just the three of them is one of the great hours in movie history.
GravediggerHebner
2/10/2010-9:59pm at 9:59 pm (UTC -4)
“Here lies the body of Mary Lee; died at the age of a hundred and three. For fifteen years she kept her virginity; not a bad record for this vicinity.”
Kingman 26
2/10/2010-10:06pm at 10:06 pm (UTC -4)
“Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark’s in the water. Our shark. Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we’ve received orders for to sail back to Boston. And so nevermore shall we see you again.”
stickguy
2/10/2010-8:33pm at 8:33 pm (UTC -4)
Of course the FO could have (and still might) added a few more pieces. But, overall, I like the team. I think it has possibilities.
A couple of good breaks (health obviously, and maybe a guy taking “the leap”), and they can win plenty of games, certainly enough to be a WC contender.
I am really tired of haggling over FO moves, PR stuff, the media hacks, etc.
I can’t wait to see the team on the field, how they gel, who is back in form after their injuries, etc. Pretty much like every year!
trs86
2/10/2010-9:50pm at 9:50 pm (UTC -4)
AGREEEEED.
GravediggerHebner
2/10/2010-8:48pm at 8:48 pm (UTC -4)
Well Rusty, if you’re looking for a cure for apathy, I’ve found another reason to hate Philadelphia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWUqJEDQQnM
CaseStreet
2/10/2010-10:02pm at 10:02 pm (UTC -4)
oh, MC is funny. He’s Christopher Columbus (discovering the discovered and then ruining it)
Kingman 26
2/10/2010-10:07pm at 10:07 pm (UTC -4)
And misspelling it.
GravediggerHebner
2/10/2010-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
That may be one of the best analogies ever! Well played sir, well played.
And just in case for some reason it’s not clear, I’m being 100% serious.
I’m going to have to think very hard before I ever use an analogy again after reading that one. Wow. I’m floored by the appropriateness, clarity and succinctness (the latter thing something I don’t have but only appreciate from afar). A tear literally wells in my eye as I type this, I swear on whatever you wish me to swear on. Well done. Bravo.
stickguy
2/10/2010-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
I may steal that for my own (not here of course, or anyplace that Case is likely to stumble upon it).
GravediggerHebner
2/10/2010-10:42pm at 10:42 pm (UTC -4)
Isn’t that goddamned brilliant? I am crushed by the magnificence of it.
I am just self-aware enough to know how over the top it seems like I’m being right now but I was trying to explain to Case a little while back about how offended and upset I was by this guy and his actions and when I read this simple Christopher Columbus analogy a few minutes ago it was like a flood gate opened within me and all my frustration and angst over the whole ridiculous thing just washed away (sorry, I guess I’m back to analogies already).
If you’re familiar with the concept of the Joycean Epiphany, I just had one thanks to Case.
I put on “Miracles” by Jefferson Starship and I’m listening to it over and over again now because it was the most appropriately wondrous thing I could think of to accompany this moment, and soon I have to go to bed because I’m a new person now and I feel like I have to learn how to walk and talk all over again but I must rest first.
I apologize and I hope this makes anyone reading it laugh more than it makes them creepily uncomfortable but holy crap that was genius and I’m reeling.
stickguy
2/10/2010-10:48pm at 10:48 pm (UTC -4)
I will ruminate on the significance of it all as I go out to shovel the driveway 1 more time.
njstuckintx
2/10/2010-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
It is usually the “so simple yet…” comments that do that to you, aren’t they.
CaseStreet
2/11/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
thanks Grave, though the Columbus idea came from MC himself, though as usual, he doesn’t get what Columbus actually represents
CaseStreet
2/10/2010-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
jacobs contract looks pretty serious w/ the incentives. murph better watch out.
it is the best i think, if davis is the future and keith doesnt seem to think murph will be very good at 1b defensively. might as well start training him to be derosa lite
this closes the door on delgado?
stickguy
2/10/2010-10:31pm at 10:31 pm (UTC -4)
I have to imagine that the Delgado door has been slammed shut. But, stranger things have happened (and this is the Mets we are talking about).
ALso saw a note (I think at ESPN) that the Braves made Damon a 1 year contract offer. Interesting.
Oh, as to 1B. Don’t forget that they do have an open (at least for competition) spot on the team as a LH hitting bat off the bench that needs to be able to play in the OF at minimum, and some other spots to fill in.
Well, if someone else comes in to play 1B, Murphy could fill that role. He could also be sent to AAA to join that logjam. So, while he is the starter at the moment, he certainly doesn’t have the spot locked down like SS or 3B or LF is.
stickguy
2/11/2010-12:26am at 12:26 am (UTC -4)
Saw this line over on MLBTR. Just had to post it. For some reason, I found it tremendously amusing.
12:37pm: Heyman now tweets that the Dodgers have “pulled out of the Wang derby.”