I know this is not baseball related but I wanted to take a moment to pay respects to the great actor/comedian Leslie Nielsen who passed away today at a hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. at the age of 84. – Link
His list of movie credits are too vast to list here but the 1st time I recall watching him in a film was as Commander J.J. Adams in the sci fi movie Forbidden Planet but what I will remember him most from are his Airplane and Naked Gun movies.
Our condolences go out to his family & friends. Here is a clip from the movie “Naked Gun” where Nielsen predicted way before anyone else just how much the MLB Umpires would want to be a part of the limelight. Enjoy.
(Hat Tip to MMO’s Bayonne Mets Fan for link.)
54 comments
metsfan4decades
11/29/2010-12:30am at 12:30 am (UTC -4)
Thanks for the clip – and the memories.
R.I.P. Mr Nielsen
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-7:19am at 7:19 am (UTC -4)
RIP indeed. You’ll be missed.
Swimming in raw sewage. I love it.
kingman 26
11/29/2010-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
LOL!
Seriously, how many lines like that did he leave behind?
Nordberg: “Heroin, Frank.”
Drebin: “Uh… that’s a pretty tall order, Nordberg. You’ll have to give me a couple of days on that…”
And the fact the the entire comedy career with him was a second acting career.
A truly unique figure.
Dirtysanchez
11/29/2010-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
LOVED naked gun…grew up on those movies…RIP mr nielsen
kingman 26
11/29/2010-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
Wow, did not hear this….sad, sad news indeed.
Grew up (or rather never grew up) on Airplane and Naked Gun.
One of the most unique and hilarious actors in the history of movie comedy.
Still remember seeing the first Airplane in the theater and how that movie changed movie comedy, largely due to Nielsen.
RIP to a truly beloved and hilarious guy.
I will now stop calling him Shirley.
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
Saw this article. Interesting stuff.
http://metsfever.blogspot.com/2010/11/beltran-contract-might-not-be-that-hard.html
TRS86
11/29/2010-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
Saw that. Still not sure if Beltran at 8M per year does enough to get us anything of value in return. I am still in the mode of lost cost and trade him for Dice K.
oleosmirf
11/29/2010-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
If there is a demand for Beltran in July and we are out of the playoffs you have to trade him even if it means taking on most of the contract
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
agreed.
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
I think any little bit helps. I also wonder if deferring some cash on him, regardless, would allow for some more flexibility in any acquisitions, not that I think they will…
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Surprisingly few rumors concerning the Mets right now. The only ones we do see are more related to subtractions than additions.
i know a whole new regime is in place — and recently at that — but they must be talking to agents for someone. There’s no one in the bullpen or in 2/5 of the rotation.
There are lots of relievers available and the Mets need not worry about Type A status. Kevin Gregg is a type B anyway. Jason Frasor is another decent name.
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Is Uehara still available? That Guerrier guy interests me as well.
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
i like Koji too, though he’s no spring chicken.
Guerrier is an interesting guy. Not the type of guy you’d expect Alderson and crew to like — low K rate. He’s also somewhat of a right handed Pedro Feliciano in that he’s regularly among the league leaders in appearances. He’s been unbelievable the last two seasons at limiting hits and walks. But if you look at his 2008 numbers, you see what happens to him when the hits fall in — hits + no k = disaster for a late inning reliever.
I’d probably have to pass on him, expecting the bottom to drop out the same way as we do with Pedro Feliciano.
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
You’re prob. right. Looking at Whip, guys that had horrible ones (including our Mr. Feliciano) people have been clamoring for. A little confusing, in my mind, anyway.
And even though Koji isn’t a spring chicken, I still like his stuff. I’d take Saito as well. As long as it’s a 1-2 year deal make, the age doesn’t worry me all that much. And it worries me a great deal less knowing that Jerry isn’t around to manage a bullpen by banishing some, while blowing out the arms of others.
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
agreed. Uehara should still have two years left based on his recent performance. And he doesn’t walk anyone — almost no one at all. That would be a welcome addition to a bullpen with guys like Parnell and K-rod who like to issue free rides.
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
grant balfour and jesse crain are two others who could be of interest.
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Brandon McCarthy is an interesting guy among the reclamation projects. Strikeout pitcher, has shown glimpses, still young but always hurt.
TRS86
11/29/2010-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
I like McCarthy.
Speaking of young guys that are reclamtion projects. I have been touting Kyle Davies from the Royals for a rotation spot for a while. Good stuff, just can’t see to put it together in AL.
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
Davies does have stuff. And I’m surprised he;s never put together at least a decent run. But he’s always been done in by walks and homers. Perhaps the latter would be alleviated somewhat by Citi’s dimensions. I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to do is to replace and./or complement Ollie at the bottom of our rotation with another guy who walks 4 plus per nine.
oleosmirf
11/29/2010-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
i would hope you mean on a minor league deal to compete with Gee and others for the 5th spot
TRS86
11/29/2010-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, but I can see giving him an MLB deal if he is non tendered or trading an Evans type if he is not.
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
His cost shouldn’t prohibit giving him a major league deal and then being cut or moved to the DL if need be. And he may work out as a solid middle reliever if he doesn’t make the rotation.
Prismo
11/29/2010-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
The Astros dropped Tim Byrdak. Lefties has an OPS of .644 against him last season.
The Astros did NOT use him as a LOOGY, but his stats say he’s be an elite one. He’s 37 years old – could probably sign him to a 1-year deal to replace Pedro.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
!!!RDM ALERT!!!RDM ALERT!!!RDM ALERT!!!RDM ALERT!!!
It has now been 9 days since we had our last GraveDiggerHebner sighting. His last tweet came on Nov 20 he said,
#Knicks win, assist goes to Wilson Chandler’s tooth which kept David Lee on the bench.
http://twitter.com/#!/GDHebner/status/5862251726643200
His last comment came on the same day at 12:09am he said,
GravediggerHebner
Posted November 20, 2010 at 12:09 AM
Ed Ryan of Mets Fever compiled the list of eligible players. You can decide who you would have protected.
http://metsfever.blogspot.com/2010/11/roster-mgt-and-players-who-need.html
http://realdirtymets.com/2010/11/19/mets-add-to-the-40-man/comment-page-1/#comment-108883
Any whereabouts regarding GraveDiggerHebner aka Grave are to be posted here.
I am enclosing an image of him in hopes that it may help.
TRS86
11/29/2010-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
I hope that it’s because he has found employment.
Prismo
11/29/2010-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
Might just have left town/internet access for Thanksgiving
TRS86
11/29/2010-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
Most likely taking a deserved break, you are right.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
I was thinking more like maybe Grave is really “Tan, Tan, Tan…. Terry Collins.” in disguise.
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
I was hoping you weren’t making the Heb could equal Mr. Nielsen possibility.
Hopefully he’s just gone undercover in an attempt to wiretap Sandy’s phone so we, as Met Fans, might actually get some whisper that they are actually looking at FAs and trade prospects, not just determining what type of distressed leather they want for their office chairs.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
No not at all there Tx. Sorry if anyone actually thought that was my intent.
I just posted it here since this happens to be the most recent post and we usually go off topic on most posts using the most recent one for the most part.
God forbid anything is seriously wrong with Heb.
I am sure he is fine and just enjoying the holiday break. My mentioning this was for pure fun. Hence why I added the Simpson avatar as a description of him.
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, I know. Was my first impression for a second and I was like “wait a minute…”. Then I thought it though and came to my senses.
I do still wish he was working on that wiretap thing, though.
kingman 26
11/29/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
I have a personal email address for him…will email tonight and have a full report.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Come to think of it has anyone ever seen Grave and Collins in the same room at the same time?
Hmm, maybe there is Collins/Hebner connection. Where in the world is Carmen San Diego when you need her?
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-1:17pm at 1:17 pm (UTC -4)
I figured Heb was taller than Collins, but maybe that’s just the font he uses.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
I posted a link the other day
Yahoo Sports Free Agent Relief Pitching Statistics
Here is another one based on Adam Rubin’s list of available free agent starters he posted a few days ago. The names not listed are Cliff Lee for obvious reasons. Garland and Vasquez who already signed and Erik Bedard and Brandon Webb who didn’t pitch at all in 2010 so I was unable to add them to list.
Yahoo Sports Free Agent Starting Pitching Statistics
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for this.
I’d love Scott Downs, who has proven he’s better than an OOGY. His Type A status should be of no concern to the Mets but his price tag very well might be. Ricciardi should be a fan. And he should also be a fan of Jason Frasor.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
No prob I am just sorry I unable to embed the table within the page.
Ceetar
11/29/2010-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Did WFAN figure out Howie’s cohost yet? rehiring Hagin? someone else?
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
Howie and Kevin Burkhardt would be a nice combo i’d like 2 see if only for 1 game.
kistics
11/29/2010-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
I want to see Craig Carton as his cohost. The ratings would go thru the roof.
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
This off-season is just silly. Uribe got 3 years, 21 mil from the dodgers. what the hell?
Prismo
11/29/2010-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
Yep, ridiculous. A good year for the Mets to not spend money.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
Truth is that MLB has a ridiculous signing every year.
kistics
11/29/2010-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
There seems to be a lot more this off season.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
Really? I thought there were but just a few free agent signings so far? Also the Garland signing seemed reasonable to me.
Prismo
11/29/2010-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
Garland was reasonable.
However, Uribe (3yr/21), Benoir (3yr/16.5 + incentives), and Vasquez (1yr/7 + no trade + no arb) are all way overpaid, in my opinion.
And the offseason has just begun!
Prismo
11/29/2010-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
Benoit* sorry
Prismo
11/29/2010-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
Also, this is very useful.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/freeagents
kingman 26
11/29/2010-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
I agree with you Prismo—those signings were all questionable, but the Vasquez one was especially excessive.
Mr North Jersey
11/29/2010-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Understood. I was reacting to the “a lot more” since it seems there has only been a total of 11 free agent signings thus far this off season based on the link you provided.
kistics
11/29/2010-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
it’s monday after the holidays… my brain is not functioning at all.
kistics
11/29/2010-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Pris. I was looking up the same stuff, but MLBTR seems to have little bit of script problem.
I also think John Buck signing was overpaid.
wannybackstra
11/29/2010-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
After the Dodgers punted this season by essentially doing nothing to get better they’ve been pretty active in the offseason. The Garland and Kuroda one year deals were solid moves.
But I wouldn’t want Tubby Uribe for 3 years.
njstuckintx
11/29/2010-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
agreed, their pitching upgrades are snazzy.