Except for the fact that all position players were mandated to arrive to Tradition Field, yesterday was a rather slow day in Mets camp . But there was a slight piece of Metscentric news yesterday regarding a Mets player from yesteryear. You see Mike “ The Fat Man” Francesa had on James S. Hirsch, who was with him via phone to discuss his new book called Willie Mays – The Life, The Legend. And of course Mike being a man of ulterior motives – read Mickey Mantle acolyte first , New York Yankee fan second went on to make the bulk of the interview about the Mantle – Mays ” rivalry“. It seemed every sentence that came out of Francesa’s egocentric brain was meant to malign Mays’ achievements since he is regarded as the ” best ever player to play the game” and Mike made his obvious disagreement a front and center issue. The thing that truly amazed me was when Mike ( being the authority that he is) said that he had ” heard stories that Mays was not a nice guys at autograph signings and he didn’t make himself accessible to the press” , which you can tell rankled Mr. Hirsch who nicely retorted ( when you could tell he wanted to rip Mike a new asshole) that the man is in his late ’70′s, this is a job and that it is hard for him to make small talk, he bends over backwards for children and he doesn’t trust the media .
It is funny , I always thought that when Mike had guests to interview ( except for Mets brass or players) he usually conducts first rate interviews. Yesterday his obvious bias made him look like a petty child who was trying hard to debate the merits of a great baseball player ( Mantle) while trying to malign another ( Mays) , It’s like trying to argue who was the better god Zeus or Jupiter – both were the top gods for two cultures, and both have meaning to their respective worshipers. I felt that this was a genuine ” The Emperor Has No Clothes moment for Mr. Francesa, because he could have done a straightforward interview, keeping his opinions at a minimum but he just had to get his digs in – especially when Willie was a Met and on the down side of his illustrious career. I just wish Chris Russo was there to give a the Giants fan perspective of Mays – but unfortunately he is long gone and the Mikes ego escaped it’s cage ! I found myself yelling at my car radio saying - WHAT THE HELL DOES MANTLE HAVE TO DO WITH THIS BOOK !!! But alas Mike is the host of his top rated talk show and like the out of touch celebrity that he is , his word means more than facts.
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                                                            ” Hey Mike ! – It’s not always about your opinion !!”
And on that note - HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to one of the most underrated pitchers in Mets history, Ed Lynch (1956) . “Lynchie” was one of the versatile pitchers the Mets ever had. He had success as both a starter,long man and in middle relief. In ’85 he actually started out going 10-0 before getting his first loss.
New York Mets purchased third baseman, Luis Alvarado from the Detroit Tigers on February 25, 1977.He would only play in one game for the Mets in ’77 before fading into obscurity.
And before you psyche yourself up for tonites hot-stove report on SNY , just remember that there are only
39 days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
18 comments
mrose
2/25/2010-6:39am at 6:39 am (UTC -4)
uhg i tuned in at like 4pm and he still had people calling in about it. What I love was how he doesn’t let someone who has a good point say it..
ceetar
2/25/2010-7:41am at 7:41 am (UTC -4)
same at 5:15, and I didn’t even know what they were talking about except some vague ‘book was written’.
Greg over at Faith and Fear in Flushing has a nice write up on this.
DNDJohan aka kistics
2/25/2010-7:12am at 7:12 am (UTC -4)
He likes inge a lot…
metsfan4decades
2/25/2010-8:47am at 8:47 am (UTC -4)
hahaha – I laugh right out loud every time I read this comment from you.
I listened in all afternoon and MF was at times, out of control on this subject, IMO.
Enough already. We get you liked Mantle better. He took it one step further though. He barely even acknowledge what Rusty was pointing out. They were both great ball players in their time. It’s like he’s got some personal grudge against Mays.
trs86
2/25/2010-7:47am at 7:47 am (UTC -4)
Well at least we know whose spot Barajas took. Arturo Lopez, we hardly knew you. Really, who were you?
stickguy
2/25/2010-8:14am at 8:14 am (UTC -4)
I thought the same thing. We had this guy on the roster?
I think you probably have to get down to about 35, maybe lower, before the choices become too painful. They still have Pridie, Everts, (sure I spelled those both wrong), right? And of course, the ever popular Figgy.
The MiL invite guys (like Jacobs) don’t have to go on yet, do they? Only if they make the team?
trs86
2/25/2010-8:15am at 8:15 am (UTC -4)
Right. I would not want to lose Pridie or Everts though. I think both of those will play for us a some point this year. From looking at stats and reports Everts might be as good as Parnell.
trs86
2/25/2010-8:17am at 8:17 am (UTC -4)
25 years old and averages more K’s than innings. Just needs to learn a little more control.
GravediggerHebner
2/25/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Rusty in addition to the other valid points you make here about Mike Francesa I wonder if perhaps there is a subtle racism in play. With Francesa, Mantle and Mays, one of these things is not like the other.
Kingman 26
2/25/2010-6:28pm at 6:28 pm (UTC -4)
LOL! Man, how can you listen to that idiot!
Mickey Mantle was a horrible alcoholic, a horrible father, and a guy who played hungover constantly; he was routinely rude and obnoxious to fans and everyone else for years; he was finished as a superstar at age 32 and his career ended abruptly and early due to his pathetic alcoholism.
Whatever Mays is or is not, he was not the rancid human being Mantle was.
Mr North Jersey
2/25/2010-6:48pm at 6:48 pm (UTC -4)
With all due respect how bout some respect for the dead.
Kingman 26
2/25/2010-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
I agree 99.9% of the time.
I hope he rests in peace and repents in peace, but everything I have heard about Mickey Mantle–including interviews with him after he sobered up–was that he was a terrible, terrible guy.
He said it himself.
He was given incredible God-given talent, and squandered it and sh*t on everyone who was ever close to him.
Mr North Jersey
2/25/2010-7:04pm at 7:04 pm (UTC -4)
All that may be true but the man was loved by many even with all his faults. I don’t know why I am even commenting I don’t know Mantle from a hole in the wall except that he was a Hall Of Fame Yankee but never have gotten the chance to know him words like rancid seem disrespectful.
Kingman 26
2/25/2010-7:08pm at 7:08 pm (UTC -4)
You are right. That was over the top and I apologize.
I was defending Mays and I did not listen to the interview, but I would hope Francesa would acknowledge Mantle’s alcoholism.
HBO did a great documentary 4 or 5 years back with Mantle and it was sad. In his later sober days he was almost in tears talking about his sons and also about how terribly rude he was to fans who told him how much they loved him.
Mantle is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved American athletes. But if you look up his stats, his stardom ends at age 32 and it all ends at age 36.
Sorry, I was disrespectful. But Willie Mays surely does not compare unfavorably as a person to Mickey Mantle. That was all I was trying to say, and all I should have said.
Once again, I thank you for bringing some sense to me!
Mr North Jersey
2/25/2010-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
It’s all good.
Kingman 26
2/25/2010-7:12pm at 7:12 pm (UTC -4)
It really generally does wind up that way in debates with you, and always has dating back to Metsblog days.
You are a cool dude.
Kingman 26
2/25/2010-7:00pm at 7:00 pm (UTC -4)
And your story about you and your uncle was wonderful.
I hate racism more than I can even express.
And I loved Felix Millan as a kid.
Mr North Jersey
2/25/2010-7:04pm at 7:04 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the compliment.