If there is one word to describe the Miami Marlins off season, quiet would not be it. Just look at the list of all the high profile players that the Marlins obtained either trade or free agency this off season. There is closer ( and former Met) Heath Bell, front line starters Mark Buehrle and Carlos Zambrano, and of course the Mets former shortstop/catalyst, Jose Reyes. On paper the Marlins have assembled an impressive collection of talent to compete for the World Series trophy this coming season, but just remember 20 years ago when there was a team from New York that used the same strategy, which ended up blowing up in their faces. Yes I am talking about the ’92 Mets which were nicknamed ” The Worst Team That Money Could Buy”.
Am I saying that the Marlins will be doomed to follow in the ’92 Mets footsteps ? No but we can already see that there is some underlying tension amongst players on their current roster. Whether it is stud outfielder, Logan Morrison’s youthfully, brutally honest candor, Hanley Ramirez’s apparent unwillingness to move to third base in order to make room for his best friend Reyes and manager Ozzie Guillen’s reputation as being a hothead. Also lets throw in newly acquired Victor Zambrano’s reputation as being a malcontent with a violent temper and the immaturity of Jose Reyes, and I can see this Marlins team imploding by mid season.
Remember back in ’92 when the Mets imported talent such as Bobby Bonilla, Eddie Murray, Brett Saberhagen, Vince Coleman and” Mr Vanilla” himself Jeff Torborg ? Well I know I had the Mets pegged for post season contention. Instead the team lost over 90 games and became the bane of us Mets fans existence for the next 20 years. Bonilla was supposed to be the home run hitting catalyst that would make us forget about Darryl Strawberry – He didn’t. Eddie Murray showed that he could still hit, even though he was in the twilight of his career, but he was still considered a clubhouse malcontent. Vince Colman – well all you have to do is mention that fateful day in Los Angeles which firecrackers and a young child mixed. Saberhagen was erratic at best and Jeff Torborg could not control the Flushing version of the Bronx Zoo.
Does this mean that the Marlins are doomed to the same fate as the ’92 Mets ? Maybe yes or maybe no, but if there is one thing that you can say about this upcoming season for the Marlins, whether they win the World Series or if they end up combusting like a Ford Pinto - it will be must see T.V. !!!!!
And with that said….. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Reserve outfielder from the ’90 and ’91 seasons, Kelvin Torve is 52 (1960) .
Reserve outfielder from the ’94 season, Jim Lindeman is 50 (1962) .
Reserve infielder fron the ’90 season, Mario Diaz is 50 (1962).
Mets reserve third baseman from ’90-’93, Kevin Baez is 45 (1967). He is currently employed as a coach with the Long Island Ducks.
The New York Mets signed free agent back up catcher, Mike Bishop on January 10, 1983.
The Houston Astros signed reserve infielder, Bill Spiers of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 10, 1996. Spiers batted .264 with 1 RBI’s in his lone season with the Mets.
The Colorado Rockies signed middle reliever, Rick White of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 10, 2002.
The New York Mets signed free agent utility-man, Miguel Cairo of the New York Yankees on January 10, 2005. Cairo played in 100 games for the Mets that season, hitting .251 with 2 homers and 19 RBI’s.
Mo Vaughn can’t believe that it’s not butter !
64 comments
darknova306
1/10/2012-6:47am at 6:47 am (UTC -4)
“front line starters Mark Buehrle and Victor Zambrano”
Victor Zambrano is back in baseball? And he has talent this time? Man, that move must’ve been way under the radar, cause I missed it entirely.
rustyjr
1/10/2012-7:34am at 7:34 am (UTC -4)
Fixed
NJstuckinTX
1/10/2012-7:24am at 7:24 am (UTC -4)
They certainly put themselves in a position to be better. Certainly some ifs involved, but I’d rather have the Marlin’s ifs than the Mets ifs. A Marlins implosion would be enjoyable to watch I will admit.
Paul
1/10/2012-7:39am at 7:39 am (UTC -4)
I would certainly love to watch the 2012 Marlins turn into the 1992 Mets
MetsFan4Decades
1/10/2012-8:17am at 8:17 am (UTC -4)
Will the Marlins implode ala the ’92 Mets? No way to really know yet. I could see it with these cast of characters Loria has assembled. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a wealth of talent there. As we all know though, sometimes talent is just not enough. There’s a lot of big egos on that team. Remains to be seen if they all come together and click as a team. I know I’ve got my doubts….
The media has already dubbed them ‘The Miama Zoo’.
I’ve been referring to them as Loria’s circus.
I get the impression Loria just went all in this year – and it’s all about the money. IMO, he’s looking to max out profits with his new stadium, his new colorful manager, the FAs he’s bought. Sort of like playing the stock market…..buy low, sell high. He’s not worrying about some of those high priced back loaded contracts b/c I don’t think he plans on owning the team when some of them are in decline. This is the same owner who had his hand slapped a few years ago b/c he wasn’t investing any profits in the team and had to be goaded into spending – so he extended JJ. This might have been his plan all along. Spend as little as possible until his new stadium opened, then push all the money to the middle hoping he’s got the high hand.
This might fall apart faster than the entertainment factor of watching those flying marlins with the flashing lights for every hometown HR.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
Comparison holds no water b/c of Ozzie Guillen.
Also, Reyes, Bell, Buerhle and Zambrano added to an existing group of young stars in Johnson,Ramirez,Stanton,Morrison etc.
The ’92 Mets didn’t have a group of young stars and budding stars
like this Marlin team.
Again though, this is how sad the state of our team and it’s immediate future is….We spend more time trying to pick apart the potential of our Division rivals than talk about our teams chances.
Sad state….Really.
rustyjr
1/10/2012-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
Hey it was just specilation
MetsFan4Decades
1/10/2012-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
Yeah….it might be our only entertainment factor for 2012.
Besides, if we were a top notch contending team, we’d still be talking about the Marlins trying to dissect if their additions caused us a threat to the division title.
TRS86
1/10/2012-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
What’s the point of talking about our team’s chances? Besides in a normal off-season you are going to talk about your rivals and their additions and subtractions. This year with the Marlins just throwing money up in the air and seeing what random guy catches it, we have more to talk about with them.
I keep saying, broke or not broke this is similar to the path I would have taken this off-season. They need to see what they have with some players and make a plan that can get them back to competitive. Even if they added 30M to the budget this year I still don’t see them as being a favorite.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
First off, they signed a (when healthy) very productive leadoff hitter who is ultra fast and is an excellent shortstop (and NO I would not have given Jose that deal). They signed a top closer. They signed a workhorse innings eater starter, and they acquired a veteran starter with some certain upside potential. And they got a successful manager who seems to be a great choice to motivate their youngsters.
They most definitely did nothing remotely close to “just throwing money up in the air and seeing what random guy catches it.” They filled in their obvious holes; moving Hanley to 3B just strengthens the team more.
And of course the Mets are broke.
Layoffs, more loans, and payroll below what even the hardened pessimists thought it would be?
And signing mediocre guys like Francisco, Rauch, and Cedeno is what you would have done?
Well TRS, this is a very interesting viewpoint you have developed here to help avoid facing the truly abominable state of this team.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
Better said than I.
Thank you Sir.
b/t/w whats with these teams fighting over Jeff Fisher like
he’s been Parcells?
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
I would LOVE it for the Dolphins to get Fisher.
I guess I would answer by saying that even though it seemed as though his Titans teams never really had overwhelming talent, they were consistently good to very good.
I wish we could get Cowher, but I would be very happy with Fisher.
6-3 after the 0-7 start, 4 of the last 5 losses by a TOTAL of 10 points, and almost every loss all year to playoff/good teams.
The Fish–with a very good coach–are finally poised to be back next year. Especially as the Bills and Jets are on the way down. Well, the Bills are staying there.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, no I gotcha and he is a very good Coach BUT teams fighting over him?…I guess lack of candidates.
Cowher doesn’t want to coach anymore.
I hope you guys get Fisher, better than one of these college guys like Saban or Pettrino who get to the NFL and find out they aren’t the kings of the campus.
And I agree about the jets…..Jeez, Rex, stop talking already.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
The only prob w/the finish was pushing down your team in the draft. You guys need a franchise QB.
Then again about half the teams in the league do.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Very true. Moore was better than Henne, but for years we have had guys which start well, then evolve into mediocrities.
Still, the defense is good, the o-line improved, and Bush and Marshall are very good. Need more offense and a QB.
TRS86
1/10/2012-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
“I keep saying, broke or not broke this is similar to the path I would have taken this off-season. They need to see what they have with some players and make a plan that can get them back to competitive. Even if they added 30M to the budget this year I still don’t see them as being a favorite.”
What part of this is not facing how bad the Mets are? All I am saying is that this is a similar path for this off-season that I would have chosen as well. Am I wrong that 30M would have not made us the favorites? Honestly, the Marlins spent much more than that and are they now the favorites? I don’t think so. Competitive? Yeah but they were also farther along with their own young players than the Mets currently are.
Also, I still think the money the Marlins spent could have been wiser spent. I think signing Reyes when you have Hanley who is already malcontent and then not even knowing if he will accept or be able to play 3rd is risky. I think that courting Pujols when you have Gaby Sanchez is also showing you care more about putting butts in the seats than your actual play. I like the Bell signing as that was a necessity. Buherle? I am not so sure about. He could be another great example of Derek Lowe.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Good points, but I think this Marlins team could be like 1997—spending a ton, but wisely.
I think it is 100% clear than the Mets are making every move with the dollar in mind. They had to improve the pen, and that’s all they have done.
Thole and Nickeas as the catching tandem? Nickeas? He’s not good in AAA.
The rotation? We are hoping for a return from Johan, and better than the utter mediocrity which defines the careers of Pelf, Niese, and Gee. If Dickey doesn’t continue to be very good, the rotation could be horrible.
Murph and Tejada as the middle infield combo? Not too scary.
Torres as CF and batting leadoff? The guy’s nothing. He’s our leadoff hitter?
And if Ike and Duda do not have near-all star years, this team could seriously lose 95+.
It’s not any sort of blueprint for rebuilding or evaluating; not when your acquisitions are Francisco as closer, Rauch, Cedeno, Torres…that’s holding on and trading water. It is waving the white flag for 2012, while the Wilpons try hard to hold on.
SaltyGary
1/10/2012-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
If there were no financial issues, I would of pulled the trigger on Fielder. He is exactly the kind of guy to build around and help turn the course against attendance. Also try to work out some deal to get another pitcher in the rotation like a Garza. Then you let the youngsters play and slowly build up to 2015. By then we will know where we stand with the next big 3 and can work to fill out the rest of the wholes along the way.
Unfortunately if the Wilpon’s hold on (I’m thinking 50-50) and they can get the payroll down to 80 next year, they will go for it. They are not going to build up the payroll unless attendance shoots back.
SaltyGary
1/10/2012-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Crap, no more edit button.
TRS86
1/10/2012-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
OK so let me ask you this, Mets trade many of their top prospects for Garza and sign Fielder for 20-25 for 8 years. Are they now a favorite in the division?
SaltyGary
1/10/2012-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
No, not even close and that is not the goal is. They’re too many pieces away from contention but if they had flexibility they could turn it around in 3 years easily. The goal is two fold. First to get some excitement back to the team. Fielder mashing HR’s would take a lot of depression out of the air (prob wouldn’t be so much if their wasn’t salary restrictions). Fielder would also help Wright since he is a table setter and can return back to his proper role. Then you build up the rest of the team of the next few years. Fielder is young enough that he can hang out for a while and a guy like that doesn’t come around often.
Also I would not trade Harvey and Wheeler for Garza.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Irrelevant question.
You have two serious pieces for the future with them. Your cleanup bat for years, and a good starter.
Every piece picked up this year has been mediocre to garbage, and with zero chance to be a serious piece for the future.
SaltyGary
1/10/2012-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
Exactly Kong. I am not against what Sandy did with the pen based on the constraints but all the moves are designed so there are are no long term pieces and little lasting payroll impact. The only payroll commitments in 2014 are Bay and Santana’s options which would probably be bought out.
What reality is, is hoping for the best with the farm ( and I am optimistic) and when the time comes the up-trend will take longer for the team to establish because they won’t be able to add supporting cast until after they come up and prove them selves.
TRS86
1/10/2012-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
Sure it’s relevant and it would be relevant in the FA’s minds as well. Does coming to the Mets at the beginning of this process make sense for a big name FA?
TRS86
1/10/2012-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
So basically we are back to the eye wash comment.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
If the Mets had offered 70–80% of the insane and ridiculous contract that Bora$ the Snake wants for Fielder? He would have signed long ago.
TRS86
1/10/2012-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
Would that make it a good idea?
TRS86
1/10/2012-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Also you are faced with the same issue as the Marlins then. With all the holes the Mets have, would spending at 1B considering it has someone capable of being a very good player already playing there be the best way to spend the money even if they had it?
SaltyGary
1/10/2012-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
TRS, Normally I am on the same page with the “We already have a guy shouldn’t we spend the money another place”, but Fielder is a special player and has power that this franchise has been lacking for years. If he was offered the money I think he would definitely come to NY, but I wish to stop dreaming now.
TRS86
1/10/2012-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
Yet while I know he will not be Fielder, Davis also showed potential to be a very good power hitter. I just think the pitching market is where they needed to invest and honestly there were no big names there even worth the contracts commanded.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
I was answering this question:
“Does coming to the Mets at the beginning of this process make sense for a big name FA?”
But as Gary said, he’s a special player—his combo of power, OBP, and youth make him something special.
But I agree that he is too fat and has a terrible agent.
Plus, who cares? We are going to get to see him 18 times a year in a Nats uni anyway!
SaltyGary
1/10/2012-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
The rotation is and should be the number one priority, but since the farm is loaded with arms and nothing else, that’s why I am looking at immediate offense and allowing for the home grown to rise up to the rotation. Also to your point, there is crap on the FA market for pitchers. So if you can’t improve there, use what is available in other areas. Now could Ike be moved for pitching, to RF or even to 3rd and the Mets move Wright? Lots of things can be done when there is a chance to sign someone great. Just ask Hundley after the team signed Piazza. When he got hurt the fans were clamoring for him to return since they were on the verge of competing again and he and his 41 HR’s were our only hope. The Mets signed Piazza and Hundley became chopped liver.
As for Fielder being fat, it hasn’t stopped him yet. He has been able to consistently stay on the field.
TRS86
1/10/2012-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
Look I love Fielder, I just don’t see it as a fit even if they had money. To me there are more holes and if you are not going to be competitive even with him, wait until you would and then assess what you need.
SaltyGary
1/10/2012-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
Again just to make sure people don’t read into this the wrong way, we all agree this is a daydream and are just talking hypothetically.
If the Mets were to get a guy like Fielder (or anyone of that magnitude I don’t need to focus on him), it demonstrates the willingness to complete to players and fans. Just like when the team grabbed Beltran. They didn’t pay all that money for the five tools it was also done to re-boot the franchise.
I will be the first to yell and scream that the team has spent far too much money and has gotten a lousy return, but under normal circumstances it shouldn’t effect the teams willingness to still attempt to compete. Bringing someone like Fielder would make other players (especially in 2013-2014) say hey something is going on over there and I want to be a part if it. Yes we still have a glaring OF need and rotation, but doesn’t mean that it has to be hit first it can be pieced together over time.
And again because of the reality of the situation this opportunity is going to be lost. And I don’t mean Fielder, I mean just having real pieces ready when these pitchers come up. We should want H/W/F to be the tip of the spear, not the entire spear.
This is the big picture that fans should be frustrated about, not conspiracies about “Saber-Sandy” and his quest to destroy the team. It’s all about the Wilpon’s poor decision making and now the team is locked into the void of suckatude.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
Irrelevant….b/c we were never gonna add 30mil….Or any mil
to the budget. Plus, ownership and FO was should already have a pretty good idea what we have in our young guys.
No superstars in that bunch, although I reserve judgement on
the likes of Harvey and Wheeler.
Also, the waiving of Herrera over Carrasco isn’t complicated…..
It’s all about the money baby!
Lastly, no need to name names b/c there are waaay too many BUT there are tens of great fellow Met fanatics who hammered me for 3or4 yrs over my statements about FMart.
Having seen plenty of him at Binghamton, he was never a 5 tool player, was never the most talented (in any way) player on the field and never did anything at any level to give any impression that he’d be anything more than , as I said 20 times “a poor mans David DeJesus”. Guess I was wrong about that.
NJstuckinTX
1/10/2012-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
I never wanted to believe you, as it’s been a while since a decent OF prospect has come through they system. Plus, I wanted to see if he could actually walk on water like Omar and company made him out to be.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
C’mon Man!!!!…..Didn’t we just learn Sunday……………
Only Tebow can do that
kingman 26
1/10/2012-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
If he tried to walk on water, he’d slip and somehow break an elbow.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
NJstuckinTX
1/10/2012-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
I’d have gone with frostbite prior to even slipping on the ice, but that works too!
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
“They need to see what they have with some players and make a plan that can get them back to competitive.”
We said this last year.
We know what we have in Murphy, Thole, Turner, Tejada, Niese, Gee, Parnell, and others.
Yes, we need to see if Ike can at least be a consistently good, productive player and if Duda can as well, but what else do we need to see?
The Mets are building a team with precisely one factor in mind, and one only—low cost as the Wilpons try to survive.
TRS86
1/10/2012-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
You are right we did say that last year and one year does not a player make. What do you have in those guys? Are you ready to throw Thole away? Are you ready to say Murphy has to be traded because he has no spot? Are you ready to say that Niese and Gee are #5′s and they should upgrade the position? Are we ready to say that Duda is the future RF?
So lets say they had 30M, aside from your feelings on Reyes which I obviously disagree with… who would you have replaced or kicked to the curb for an ill-fated attempt at being competitive?
fongulalou
1/10/2012-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Again, pointless b/c there was no 30mil or any mil.
I like all these young guys BUT none are allstar,build a team around type. And yes, Murphy has no position b/c he can’t field. Yes Gee is a #5 And Niese a 4 although it
seems all winter mgmt does even think that.
Lastly, No Duda is not an everyday RFer.
TRS86
1/10/2012-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
Again, you are confident in this assumptions but I am not sure the Mets are at that point yet.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
Or……….They are merely bullshittin’ their fans (again)
trying to buy time, hoping to con’t to do whatever is needed hold onto this team while having most fans con’t to support The Mets in one form or another.
Really, what well informed fan can’t see that the names mentioned, Thole, Ike , Murph, Duda, Niese,
Parnell look like MLB players NOT young stars to build around? As for some of the vets brought in to sprinkle around the youth…..Well, just not much there.
This equals a 90-95 loss team (at least) in a good Division. Then, after wasting ANOTHER year learning
these kids are much more Wiggington than Wright……
What’s next???
kingman 26
1/10/2012-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
First off, I do agree that I would not have given Jose that deal.
I honestly would have kicked the tires on KRod for a return if he would have been affordable.
I would have gone for Paul Maholm or Matt Capps. I would have considered Aaron Harang and Darren Oliver.
As much as he does suck, Shoppach maybe? Our catching will be a disaster.
I think Milledge is probably better than Torres and would have been cheaper.
It’s a hard question, and I know I am not suggesting Pujols or CJ here, but I just think that we needed a closer big time, catching help, and another starting pitcher.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Amen!
TRS86
1/10/2012-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
I think honestly that going for 2 decent bullpen guys for 9M total was better than going for one guy at 9M. That’s how bad the BP was. Also Krod was not going to get what he got by accepting arbitration nor do I think the Wilpons right or wrong wanted to take a another chance on Krod.
I like Maholm, but lets think this through. Who are you casting off? Are you releasing Pelfrey (at the time you needed to) at the hopes you could sign Maholm?
As for Capps, honestly is he any better than what they signed? I really don’t think so. Harrang seemed to have a demand in mind but again is he a more certainty than any of the guys in our rotation? Oliver? At this point in his career I don’t see him coming to a rebuilding Mets team, obviously I wish they had kept him to start with.
I liked the thought of Shoppach but what would convince him to come to the Mets to back up Thole? Even though most fans have all but given up on Thole, I don’t think the Mets are ready to do that yet.
As for Milledge being better than Torres? Come on, Lastings could not even net a MLB gig. Also we all remember how bad he is in CF. I still expect the Mets to have a new CF by July anyway. For now, see if Torres can return to his 2010 numbers while playing good defense.
I am not saying there were no other moves to be made. What I am saying that all these things were trivial at best and would have produced a similar result to where they are right now.
gategem
1/10/2012-6:19pm at 6:19 pm (UTC -4)
Of course his plan may simply be to try and draw interest from a disinterested fan base. Florida is football country with most of the interest in baseball coming from transplanted baseball fans. A quick look at the Rays shows that even with a winning team the fans couldn’t care less. So create a media circus that is constantly on the back pages, try and interest the large Hispanic population and give the fans a winning team and maybe they create a large fan base. Of course it could all go to hell in a hand-basket.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
Gotta go with Fong here–Reyes and Bell are in their prime, and those Mets had no one like Johnson or Ramirez. Those Mets were OLD and mostly mediocre.
And Guillen versus Torborg?
Wish it were the case, but I seriously think the Marlins are going to win 90+ games.
As for Hanley, every quote I have seen has had him saying that he wants to win and will gladly play 3rd.
With apologies to the media lovers/defenders, a recent Rosenthal drivel piece was classic—he quoted Hanley as saying he would gladly play 3rd, would do anything to win, etc., but the title and theme of the article was about “MLB sources” saying Hanley did not want to move.
Yet another story probably somewhere close to 100% fabricated to gather attention for leeches like Rosenthal.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
Friggin’ Rosenthal…………………Dude, lose the bow-tie.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
The below was a response to you of course….
boldib
1/10/2012-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
Bulls eye, Kong. The ever-present anonymous source used either to fabricate or spin a story. It’s bad enough when it involves major news outlets reporting on major issues – now the sports pages are riddled with this cheap device. Not much left of journalistic integrity, is there?
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
Thank you and no, there is zero journalistic integrity left with major corporate news–on either side of the political aisle.
It is all about attention/ratings/hits—Rosenthal is so brazen that he writes a story in which the person who is the main focus has stated repeatedly the OPPOSITE of the story’s theme!
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
HAHAHA! I SO agree.
I think wearing a bow-tie is some sort of signal to others that one is an ass and wants to be sure everyone knows it.
Sure was rooting for your Steelers Fong. Cannot believe they lost. Despite all of the asinine hoopla over Tebow, Denver is actually a pretty good team.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
You better than anyone here Brock, Vegas Bookmakers know what they’re talkin’ about. Steelers -9, as crazy as that high a road fav seemed, sounded about right. Steelers 17-6, 20-10, looked for all the world liked the outcome there with our aging, injured D too discplined, smart and experienced to allow Tebow to do anything,
while our banged up O would do enough to get and maintain a lead
only to late in the game break down their D with a late score or two.
Looked good after the 1st quarter…….Anyway better than getting crushed by Belicheck and Brady Saturday, as Tebow and The Broncos will.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
Agreed all around my friend!
And I am SO glad I did not get the chance to bet on that game!
I do like the Giants this week though…
fongulalou
1/10/2012-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
Boy….Spot on!…..The pass rush and (despite all the abuse he takes) Coughlin’s old school understanding that with a GB or NO offense, the only way to slow them down is to keep them off the field. I believe he’s way too sharp to try and shoot it out.
Mes think Bradshaw and Jacobs are getting healthy, first time all season and if they can just run a little Eli/Cruz/Hicks will make a play or three or four downfield.
fongulalou
1/10/2012-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Good to be with you guys……Gotta go to work.
Have a good all!
Oh, alright……Let’s go Mets!
Paul Festa
1/10/2012-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
This team has all the makings of another ’92 Mets. If things go poorly early, watch the egos unravel.
kingman 26
1/10/2012-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Terrible comparison.
Look at the ages of the 1992 Mets’ everyday players. Look at the manager.
That team had nothing like a young core of Hanley/Reyes/Johnson/Bell, and a manager who could not be more different than Ozzie.
Nor were there many good young players as the Marlins have.
Mr North Jersey
1/10/2012-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
I can see why you would see a comparison Rusty. Of course there is not a direct comparison to the 92 Mets but you have some similarities in 2 former White Sox managers who both won manager of the year while with the Sox you had players moving from positions in this case HoJo to CF, Magaden to 3rd to put Eddie Murray at 1st and you have the speculation that the Marlin clubhouse could have situations that rival what the 92 clubhouse had with emphasis on speculation.
Still right now it still is a bit of a stretch to compare the 2 teams.
Ceetar
1/10/2012-3:43pm at 3:43 pm (UTC -4)
well, expecting the Marlins to compete for a playoff spot is probably over-estimating, but I doubt they lose 90+ games either.
A lot will depend on if they were serious about becoming a professional baseball team, or are just getting flashy to sell season tickets. Was Reyes signed because he’s part of a long term solution of competitiveness, or because he’s an exciting player to watch that will sell tickets to a certain Miami demographic?
I could see the Marlins having a decade like the Mets in the early-mid nineties, but I don’t see them spending like them.
Stick
1/10/2012-6:01pm at 6:01 pm (UTC -4)
Too much angst this off season. I stopped caring. Just get the season started already!