I’d love to kill the Mets for not having the balls to ship OP’s sorry ass out to Buffalo but their hands are tied with OP having to give his ok for the demotion and it looked like he was ready to do so but Scott Bora$ got in his ear and OP revered course. Too bad.

 

OP can’t work on his problems out of the pen. J-Man won’t use him in a big spot so his days will be sitting idle in the pen eating licorice and sunflower seeds. At least in Buffalo he stays in the rotation and works with pitching coach Rickey Bones to get his mechanics straighten out.  Again, what will it take for OP to do the right thing, blowing a relief assignment and getting humiliated by the $iti Field crowd? It shouldn’t come to that.

 

 

I was thrilled to come home yesterday and see that my copy of Greg Prince’ book “Faith And Fear In Flushing” had arrived. As soon as I saw the front cover I knew that this is THE book for Mets fans to add to their library as nothing sums up Mets fandom like the picture of Gary Carter and Ray Knight hugging after Game 6 of the 1986 World Series and the bottom picture of Yadier Molina watching Aaron Heilman’ pitch in the 9^th inning of <reaches for a Kleenex> Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS go out of Shea Stadium. Best of times, worst of times indeed and isn’t that what being a Mets fan is all about?

This book is more about what it’s like to be a Mets fan and how it is that we became a fan of this team. In fact Greg, shows we are more than fans, this team in imbedded in our DNA we are so hooked we couldn’t leave if we wanted to.

My family and friends know how I live and die with the Mets and they get their jollies by asking me “What team would you root for if the Mets cease to exist”?  I usually turn red and start cursing as that is akin to asking which of my two children I love the most.  As there are no other kids I could ever love like mine and I could never live and die with another team like I do with the Mets.

As far as I’m concerned this book is a must read for all the younger Mets fans. You guys need to know the history of this organization. You need to see your roots. As much as we all love David Wright and Jose Reyes you need to know about Roy Staiger and Teddy Martinez. As much as you all wear your 31 PIAZZA and 17 HERNANDEZ you have to learn about 31 PARKER (Harry) and MILLAN (Felix) and by reading Faith And Fear In Flushing you will be a better educated Mets fan.

This book is for the REAL Mets fan. The fan who couldn’t wait to attain drinking age to have a cold Rheingold  or  open a bank account at Manufacturers Hanover or pick out a car at your NY, NJ Fairfield County Plymouth dealer. The fan who feels that the 7 train is the ultimate stretch limo. The fan who sits in the Upper Deck of Shea and brings his sandwich and can of soda (placed in the freezer the night before and wrapped in tin foil for the ride to Shea) The fan who no matter how bad things are going in there life can smile at the sight of Mr. Met and feel secure that Gary Cohen and Howie Rose are on the job brings us the sights and sounds of Mets baseball. The fan who could sit and listen to Jane Jarvis play the Thomas Organ and for all of us who look to the late great Tug McGraw when things look hopeless and say YA GOTTA BELIEVE!    

 

To Endy Chavez, thank you for The Catch and for your outstanding defense please take this section of the Shea Stadium Left Field fence as a token of our appreciation

 

To Joe Smith, I am very sorry to see you go and I’m sure you’re not to thrilled either but your young and maybe some day we will be reunited. Keep those sinkers low in the strike zone. Sorry but I have to go I have Tobi Stoner on the phone. “Tobi good news Smith is gone looks good for you to make the big club”

 

To Jason Vargas, I had high hopes for you young man after seeing your rebound performance in the AFL in fact it touted you as my dark horse candidate to step up and thrive in the new revamped bullpen and my prediction may come true except it will happen in the annomitity of Safeco Field.

 

To Mike Carp, all the best as a fringe ML’er

 

To Ezequiel Carrera and Maikel Cleto, Hasta la vista los muchachos.

 

 

Welcome J J Putz you of the blazing fastball and outstanding K/BB ratio you have the potential to be part of the best 1-2 bullpen punch in baseball. Not only that at 6’ 5’’ 250 you’re one big Putz; a Shvantz (I’ll stop with the putz jokes) so if all those teams in the division want to “Bring the Hate” well bring it on as we have no fear because we have a big Putz (really I’ll stop with the jokes) and fear no one, oh and thank your parents for naming you Jason Joseph Putz and not Shilmazel (seriously I’m done with the jokes)

 

Sean Green looks like Bison material and Jeremy Reed is at best a 5^th outfielder who is better hitter than Chavez and very good defender as well. How could you not like this deal for the Mets and Omar is not done yet as it looks like he really wants to bring Ollie Perez back in the fold as long as Agent Boras and OP don’t get stupid with contract demands. If the Mets offer 3yr/$36-38 mil with 4^th year option and Team OP turn that don’t he’s an asshole. The guy resurrected his sorry career in NY and now with a fortified pen plus the fact if he turns down this deal,  Randy Wolf will grab it so it’s in Ollie’s best interest to sign on for another hitch in Flushing.

 

Any word from the greatest hitter to wear dreadlocks? Cover those cards Omar. 

 

If you didn’t get to listen to our Pro Baseball Central show last night click on the link on the top right hand side or click here to listen to the podcast as we went over K-Rod CC and other options that the Mets are looking at.

 

Last but certainly not least, I was a bit embarrassed this morning as I was riding the Staten Island Ferry to work. Now normally when I sit down to peruse the newspaper the first thing I do is go to the back page and look for Mets news. But this morning the front page of the NY Post headline and picture had me in a state of drool. A picture of a naked Jennifer Aniston with the words “JENNIFER ANISTON’S SEXY NUDE PHOTO SHOOT” PICS AND STORY ON PAGE 3. I torn that newspaper open to page 3 and there was the lovely Jennifer in all her bare ass splendor. For the next 20 minutes of the ride I was fixated on that photo. I was oblivious to anyone around me. What wonderful visions I had in my head of Jen and I on the beach in St. Croix and her whispering in my ear “baby let’s go back to the room, the Mets are on and Johan’s pitching” but then this nasty voice woke me from my dream state to say “WHITEHALL TERMINAL ALL A SHORE” Damn it, no no I can’t leave now me and Jen are going to watch the Mets game in our room NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Now that’s not the embarrassing part. As I tried to get my bearings a woman about my age or little younger just gave me a look like I was some dirty old man as I guess having my eyes riveted to a beautiful woman is a crime. I was ready to tell her she was a jealous old jelly ass but she looked like she could beat the shit out me so I kept quiet.

 

I don’t know if I’ll post anymore today I have to finish reading the Post. “Coming Jennnnnnnnnn”.   

 

Other deal that may come down will be Aaron Heilman to the Rockies for Huston Street as word there is Heilman is coveted by Colorado to go right into their rotation and the Mets want Street to fit the 8^th inning bridge to K-Rod.

 

If both these deals come off if I’m the Mets GM I still keep an eye on Brain Fuentes as he could fall into there lap where the Mets could sign him for the 8^th inning and let Street pitched the 7^th or use both as a lefty/righty punch in the late innings. If all the rhetoric we have heard out of Mets camp is that the bullpen is a priority and we all know that two NL East pennants went down the drain mostly due to the inept bullpen now you have a chance by spend some money and trading a guy you have no use for to bolster three spots in your pen you have to do it

 

    

 

Also last night Joe and I debated the role of Aaron Heilman and I professed my man crush on Jerry Koosman. Check out last nights show by clicking here or here.

Not much time to comment on the rumors such as Brian Fuentes asking for a 3yr/$30 mil deal which would be double the money per year he made last year. What did you expect as Fuentes and his agent know the Mets must sign a closer so why not shoot for the moon. Now it’s Fransisco Rodriguez turn to bid and it looks like who ever signs for less will be the Mets closer (I think Kerry Woods is the dark horse candidate here)

Interesting that the Mets supposedly turned down the Rockies bid of Houston Street for Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano. Why would Omar turn this deal down if he didn’t have plans to use Heilman as a fall back pick in the rotation or if he has a bigger deal in the works? I can’t imagine that putting Felicano in the trade was a deal breaker, not when you still have Scott Schoenwies as the house LOOGY still on payroll and an other LOOGY Brian Shouse is on the free agent market to more than make up for a Feliciano departure.

Got to run as I have to travel a whole 6 blocks to my in laws for the day, got to beat that traffic.

Posting will be a bit spotty the next two or three days as my family talked me into a weekend trip to the Catskills but the laptop will be in tow so again enjoy your Thanksgiving and the weekend go get those sales!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Think of how many rag armed pitchers have stepped on the Shea mound over Heilman and none of them with anything close to the talent of Heilman and I’m surprised he kept quiet this long.

As Megdal points out the free agent market for starting pitching will be insane especially if CC Sabathia stays true to his word and plays on the West Coast, the Highlanders and Red Sox will throw money around like they were hedge fund managers. I’m sure Sabathia will be getting phone or text messages from Derek Lowe, AJ Burnett and Ollie Perez to please take that Angels offer so they can’t become filthy rich.

So what would be so bad with keeping Heilman and Niese in the 4-5 spots and taking a flyer on Freddie Garcia or signing Jon Garland and spending that money saved on a payout or sweetener in trading Gimp Castillo and signing Orlando Hudson?

 

Gimp Castillo, Aaron Heilman, Brian Schneider a prospect and money (half of Castillo’s ill gotten gains) to the San Fransisco Giants for Bengi Molina and Randy Winn. The Giants get a second baseman for half price, plus a back end of rotation pitcher in Heilman and choice of a B level prospect (from a list the Mets provide) and they get relived of close to $15 mil in salary relief.  The Mets get a big upgrade at catcher plus a switch hitting bat for RF which in turn makes Ryan Church a bargaining chip for pitching.

 

Go ahead and flame away!

 

Saw these pics on Dom’ D’s Mets info laden site of Bailout Park. There is one shot of the bullpen that I hope is still under construction because I don’t see the Kevlar roof that will be needed to protect the relievers from the angry mob of Mets fans.

 

Mike Silva has a great post on his site on the 2^nd base black hole and the lack of leadership that is needed on the Mets. When we think of leaders we always go with fiery types like guys Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter but sometimes leaders are guys like Eli Manning who is far from being a spitfire in the personality department but he has stepped up and become the leader of the New York Football Giants by stepping up his game and remaining clam when tough and tense times occur. It also helped him immensely that two of his biggest critics and the biggest wash women on the team Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey were gone from the team and in turn Manning flourished. That’s why I would have loved to see Omar deal off Carlos Delgado to get not only max return off his stellar half season but them maybe David Wright would feel more comfortable to exert his leadership to the team. There is a part of that feels a team with mostly younger players would be more beneficial to the Mets winning than having older players. Maybe it’s still the hangover from the Famous Rays season but I like watching young guys bust their ass day after day than old ones drag their saggy butts around all season.

 

The Angels look like they are gearing up to offer C C Sabathia a Johan Santana like contract. I really don’t care where Sabathia goes but as long as he doesn’t end up in the Bronx just watching Mike Francesa look like more of a horse’s ass than usual will be a great holiday gift.

 

How come no one talks about Nick Evans? Talk about a forgotten man. Another reason why I’d move Delgado as a platoon of Dan Murphy and Evans at first would be more than adequate and then if the Mets made my Giants deal you could keep Church and Winn together with Endy Chavez and Fernando Tatis leading a strong bench (Omar go get Willie Bloomquist please)

 

Check out Toby Hyde’s Mets Minor League Blog as he has a post on Tigers catcher James Skelton who could be available as a Rule 5 draftee. Skelton is very slight in built especially for a catcher (5’11” 165lbs) but he has a good batting eye and could be converted to a 2^nd baseman a la Craig Biggio. It never ceases to amaze me how progressive thinking the Mets bloggers are compared to the organization which sometimes is stuck in the old time baseball mentality.

 

Do you think the message has sunk in to the Mets brain trust’ heads that there is no way on earth Mets fans want to see Gimp Castillo at 2^nd base on opening day 2009?

  

 

 

 

The site We Should All Be GM’s has a very good Q & A with one time Met Eric Valent. Valent is now a minor league coach for the Phillies but rates his hitting for the cycle as a Met in 2004 as his big league highlight.

 

There will be a long dragged out debate about Mike Mussina and whether he is Cooperstown worthy. If he wasn’t a Highlander then guys like Mike Francesa would just hand wave it off as ridiculous his chances but as we all know every player who has worn the Highlander pinstripes is Hall of Fame worthy. It’s a shock to me the Joe Verbanic doesn’t have a plaque upstate.

 

If Mussina was to be granted a spot in Cooperstown I wouldn’t argue it as he hasn’t been dominant but he has been one of the best pitchers of his time and he was very good for 18 years, but is very good enough to make it to the hallowed halls of the HOF? Well that’s up for debate. I will leave this out there, who would you pick if you were in a must win situation, Mike Mussina or Jerry Koosman?

 

I’m not ready to panic after last nights Ranger ass kicking at the hands of the Canucks and although Tom (speaks in tongues) Renny claims he gave King Hank the high sign to flee the crease to the comfort of a corner spot on the bench, Hank was well within his rights to abdicate his spot as the Rangers left him in a gun fight with a pea shooter last night.

 

Daniel Murphy is back in NYC and after stopping off at the Mets offices at $iti Field to pick up the ten bucks for the co-pay, he will have an MRI on his ailing knee.