I don’t know what is more of a mess the Skill Sets finances, the shity weather or my garage but I know one thing I’m sick of all three.

Last night on the Baseball Bloggers Alliance Baseball Talk, Ed (Rustyjr) Marcus of the Real Dirty Mets joined me for the half hour podcast, where we discussed the Skill Sets and Sandy Alderson’s stewardship it is well worth a listen.

Tomorrow at 11:05AM ET I will be a guest on Gotham Baseball LIVE with Mark Healy and Joe McDonald.

So it seems Sandy Alderson shopped Carlos Beltran and David Wright this off season and to that I say good for him. Nothing against Beltran or Wright but this is what a GM does. Instead of Mets fans getting all up in arms about these trade innuendoes, you should be happy that there is someone in charge of the organization that is not personally attached to the players. No matter how good or bad Beltran performs this season this is his last go round as a Met. As for Wright, I’d love to see David play his whole career in Flushing but if there is a deal out there that brings back talent that could fill one or two positions of need (starting pitcher and second base) you’d be foolish to go against it.

Mike Piazza was at the Thurman Munson Dinner last night and of course the subject of the Skill Sets finances came up. Piazza made it known he won’t be making a bid but it sure seems he feels the organization needs new leadership:

I’m being very optimistic about it,” Piazza said. “I think sometimes there’s a silver lining to these situations. Maybe whoever gets involved with the team will want to go in the direction they need to go.

“Again, you do as an ex-player, now as a fan, you hate to see turmoil in the organization. But, on the same note, maybe there will be a positive that comes out of this and they’ll take on someone who truly loves the organization and wants it to get back to the top because, lord knows, they have some work to do.”

With all the Skill Sets stories out it took none other than Jonah Keri to put it in the right perspective, looking at the whole body of the Skill Sets work they’ve done a bad job of running this organization.

Too bad Jeff Pearlman wasn’t around 100 years ago

Attention Mets Fans: Today is Primary Day for Howard Megdal’ run for General Manager of the NY Mets. This is an unprecedented run for office but then again no one of with the impeccable credentials of Howard Megdal has ever thrown his blue Mets cap into the ring.

Think of the some of the former GM’s of the Mets, George Weiss and Johnny “Grandma” Murphy have the taint of Highlander blood, Joe McDonald who lacked the guts to stand up to the Plantation owner M. Donald (HOCKKKKKK-TOOOOO) Grant when Tom Seaver was run out of town, Bing Devine who could have made us a contender but ran back to St. Louis like a homesick summer camper, the late Bob Sheffing, who was dead even when he was alive, Frank Cashen who couldn’t handle the Wild Mets of the 80’s as he got all bent out of shape when a little bit of champagne was spilled on a airplane ride back from winning the NL Pennant in Houston, Joe McIlvaine who was and still is a terrific scout but was never around when Freddy Skill Sets whistled (that may be a badge of honor instead of scorn) Al Harazin who I think sold aluminum siding for Bill-Ray before he was given the keys to the Mets castle, Hound Dog Steve Phillips who taste in trollops was as bad as his eye for ballplayers, Jim Duquette who didn’t fight hard enough to sign Vladimr Guerrero when the ex-Expo was laying out on a silver platter for him, and then of course we have the incumbent Omar Minaya who at the end of day, you know what I mean, has been pushed to photo copying and fax duty in the Mets front office as Jeffey Skill Sets and John Ricco run the baseball ops.

None of those men have put in the time, effort and passion into the New York Mets like Howard Megdal has. He has sat through the rain delays at Shea Stadium when it was just us, a few hundred fans (maybe a few homeless folks too) and the soothing sound of Jane Jarvis playing Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head. He has eaten, Schickhaus, Kahn’s, Ball Park and Nathan’s Hot Dogs at Shea and Citi Field. He’s wash those dogs down with an RC Cola and Coke and now that swill that call Pepsi. His parents banked at Manufactures-Hanover and sat around deciding which Plymouth dealer to visit NY, NJ or Fairfield County? Howard wore a Lindsay Nelson style jacket for his Bar-Mitzvah. He went to Banner Day, Old Timers Day, and all the Sunday doubleheaders. He’s vacationed in the Catskills with Mr. Met, Lady Met and Baby Met.

The fact that a man like Howard Megdal has put aside his writing and broadcasting career to run for GM of the Mets to restore what is missing from this organization, which has lost it way. Do not let this recent run of prosperity sway your thinking. Howard will restore everything that has been missing for years in the Met front office, LOGIC, TRANSPARENCY, PASSION.

So vote today in the first primary which will be held at Amazin’ Avenue and NY Baseball Digest. Voting starts today and runs through this Friday.

Join Steve Keane and Joe McDonald tonight at 9PM ET for another edition of PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL. We will dissect the latest snubs by Bengi Molina and Joel Pineiro of the Mets and we will discuss which way the Mets will turn to solidify their starting pitching and a front line catcher. We will look at which Mets prospects could rise from a spring training to make the final 25 man roster and a host of other Mets and baseball news,

You can join in as well with comments and question by calling in at (646) 595-4462.

If you can’t join us live you can download the podcast at The Eddie Kranepool Society, BlogTalkRadio or at our PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL site.

Sorry for the lateness of this post but I’m still trying to get over the shock of last nights Pro Baseball Central and Joe McDonald making his case for the Mets to win at least 90 games next year and at the least make the post season the NL Wild Card team. Yes I think we will start having a Breathalyzer on hand for the next show. Check out the podcast as it was quite entertaining if I say so myself.

John Sickles has published his top 20 Mets prospect list and his #1 is Jennry Mejia. No matter what stories you read about Mejia, they all confirm that Mejia could be a special pitcher and they all worry about the Mets rushing him. Hopefully the new brain trust in the organization can stop the practice of rush prospects through the system and just allow them to work their way up the organizational ladder.

So D-Wright will sit down with the Radio Bloviator next Wednesday. Instead of the Mets holding a Fan Fest so Mets fans can mingle with there team, we get a ride in the WFAN  Hot Air Balloon.    

On February 6^th, the NYC Chapter (known as the Casey Stengel Chapter) of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) will hold their annual meeting at the New York Public Library at 455 5 AVE at W 40 St 6^th floor. The event starts at 10AM and goes to 4PM all for a registration fee of $15. Check out the NYC SABR site and download the press release for more details and for a list of featured speakers and presenters.

Tonight, tonight, tonight it’s PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL, our first show for the new year. Joe myself and Joe McDonald tonight at 9pmET on Blog Talk Radio as we discuss the Jason Bay signing, the Hall of Fame voting and what will be the next move made by the Mets front office. Our call in line will be open for business so call in and join in the conversation at (646) 595-4462. If you can’t join us live, you can listen to the podcast right  here at Kranepool Society, at our Pro Baseball Central site or at Blog talk Radio   

Join Joe McDonald and Steve Keane  tonight at 9PM ET on Blog Talk Radio for another edition of PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL as we look at what has transpired at the MLB Winter Meetings in Indianapolis.

To join in the conversation you can reach us at (646) 595-4462.

If you can’t join us live, you can listen to the podcast at our PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL site or right here at Kranepool Society or on iTunes.

Now that the site is up and running again and that fact that I’m jonesing for a  posting, lets call this a late night lighting round:

Once upon a time, Marco Scutaro was Mets bloggers favorite player, mostly due to his success in Triple A. I wish I had the posts I wrote from back then as I was calling for Scutaro to be brought up from Norfolk to play 2B for the Mets and when was called up, I thought I had some juice. It was my Big Balls moment.

But Scutaro played sparingly for two not very good Mets teams and it was about that time we were fed up with Robbie Alomar and felt Scutaro had the tools to takeover at 2B. But the Mets but him on waivers after the 2003 season and Billy Beane claimed him for the A’s and it set off a bit of a bloggers firestorm around these parts. Ahhhhhhhh good times!

Now Scutaro has signed with the Red Sox, a move made by” cut from the same Billy Beane cloth”, Theo Epstein  to play shortstop for the Old Town Team.  It’s good to see both me and Scutaro are still kicking around.

In another move to kick Omar Minaya in the nuts, the Mets have signed former Reds GM Wayne Kivsky to be an Asst’ GM. If you listened to our PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL show last week, Joe McDonald said he had info that the Mets have a plan in place if (when?) the Mets get off to a bad start, to ax Omar and J-Man and put a new GM and Mgr. in there place. Looks like the GM part of Plan B is in place.

First, Placido Polanco goes back to the Phuck-Phaces and now Chone Figgins signs with the Mariners. And Rogers Castillo sighs in relief.

The news I’ve been waiting to hear, the KC Royals are looking to move RHP Gil Meche and LF David DeJesus and both would look great on the Mets. Then I’d go trade for Aaron Harang and sign either Joel Pinerio or Jason Marquis to give myself a fighting chance to be a contender in 2010.

That’ it for now but I will leave you with something I posted on Facebook:

“Why do I have a feeling that the NY Mets will start the 2010 season like the NJ Nets? If there was a stock called “The Mets will suck in 2010″ I’d empty my bank account to buy it”

 The Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox hooked up last night in a game that if it were a post season game would be an instant classic. King Felix Hernandez and Mark Buehrle worked fast, threw strikes and neither one gave an inch. King Felix was helped out by great defensive plays by Adrian Beltre and Ichiro and Buehrle had impeccable command, The game went 14 innings until Junior Griffey drove in the game winner with a single to right to give the M’s a 1-0 win.

 

So Carlos Delgado has pulled an oblique muscle as he tries to come back from hip surgery. Only the NY Mets could get a guy hurt rehabbing from an injury. Nah, nothing wrong with the team training staff <eyes pointed up to the sky>

 

I watched part of Petey’s return and it gave me a big YAWN!!!! I watched the Philly telecast and Tom McCarthy nearly pissed his pants going wild over Petey hitting 91 on the gun. He looked hittable and I’d bet by his third start he’ll get his tits lit.

 

By the way Mike Silva has video of the Shane Victordouchebag getting a beer bath from some fat slob in the Wrigley bleachers. Phillies fans are outraged by the Cub fans gross behavior. That’s like Hugh Hefner calling Dennis Hoff a pimp.

 

The Mets have decided to wear throwback uni’s this weekend but they will not not be “Mets Throwbacks” but more like the uniform worn by the 1905 World Champion New York Giants. The difference though will be a Mr. Met patch on the sleeve and the sleeve cuffs will be blue and orange. Next season the Skill Sets have planned to rename the team the Bridegrooms.

 

Check out Pro Baseball Central tonight at 9PM EDST as Joe McDonald and I talk about the mess that is the NY Mets and what the future of the franchise looks like you can join the conversation as well at (646) 595-4462. If you can’t join us live you can listen on the podcast right here at TEKS or on our Pro Baseball Central site.  

 

More than Beltran, or Delgado or anyone of the dozen players on the DL The player who is missed the most is Jose Reyes, not just for his bat and glove but for his energy. Love him or hate him you can not deney this lifeless bunch of Mets could use a does of Jose-Jose-Jose.

 

As we approach the 24^th hour since the M. Donald Minaya disgraceful presser the debate still rages on about the direction this team is going.  I’m not sure Minaya was working alone in his attack on Adam Rubin since Rubin stated he had spoke to Jeffey Skill Sets about getting into baseball and not Omar, it just smells of a set up to me.

 

In one way Omar was slick in calling out Rubin during the press conference as it took away the fact that Tony Bernazard would still have a job today if not for the daily stories on Bernazard’ behavior that were painting him as one nasty bastard and made the organization look bad.

 

What I don’t get is why the hell do the Mets ever let Minaya speak at these things? Listening to him stumble and stammer makes me so uncomfortable listening to him. If Minaya survives this off season and his contract extension kicks in, the Skill Sets should send Omar for some public speaking courses or bring in someone to work with him to help him speak in front of the cameras. The New York Mets for all their faults and ineptsness is still a billion dollar corporation and should not have as it’s spokesman a guy who has a problem putting a sentence together.

 

By the way the Mets won a game in big time fashion with Fernando Tatis hitting a grand slam on a 0-2 pitch that any other day would be the big story but as usual front office stupidity reigns again.

 

I’m going to the game tonight (as bad as the team is I love spending my birthday watching baseball) and I think I may go real early and call out Jeffey Skill Sets kind of like Steven Segal in Out For Justice as Det. Gino Felino went looking for Richie Madano in this scene. So if your at $ti Field tonight and you hear someone yelling “Yo Jeffey, Com’on out Jeffey” come by and say hi.

If you saw the back page of the Daily News this morning you’d think “oh shit” but then when you read the story you say “what’s the big deal”?:

 

And asked if he could be certain that he’ll return to the Mets at some point during the 2009 season, Delgado said: “I can’t guarantee that. But it looks that that’s going to be the case. The most important thing is to get better, get healthy, that you can perform effectively, and that’s our goal.

 

“I think that’s going to happen sometime this year, but I can’t guarantee nothing.”

 

 

So he feels he can get back this year but who knows what set backs he could endure during his rehab. Makes sense no?

 

Joe Janish hits a home run in his post at Mets Today on Fernando Martinez and the lazy ass culture of the Mets. I went over this last night with Joe McDonald on PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL. Larry Brooks in a story in yesterday Post said the same thing that the Mets are known for non-hustle and I agree. Delgado has been a culprit as has Beltran at times, Reyes has not hustled on numerous occasions and the fan fav Mike Piazza dogged it regularly (Yeah Joe Mac Piazza dogged it!!) Now most of this non ass busting is not to maligners but down right laziness. The more I think of young Martinez not busting it the other day the more pissed off I am at him and at J-Man for not taking him off the field. As I said last night, I’m trying not to rush to judgment on F-Mart as it’s just two games but do far I don’t see what the big fuss is about this kid and maybe it would have been more beneficial to him to leave him in Buffalo for the whole season.

 

Mets Grrl in her continuing endeavor to make $iti Field a better place for Mets fans and to help straighten out this clueless ownership has a third installment of her letter writing campaign this time to have the Skill Sets acknowledge the history of the NY Mets in $iti Field. This prove how pathetic the Skill Sets are when it comes to knowing it’s fan base that you actually have to pressure them to celebrate the franchise history.

 

You may have read the Tyler Kepner piece in the Times the other day where he reports on Nolan Ryan and Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux are going back to old school tactics with the Rangers pitchers throughout the organization to go deeper into games and not be a slave to pitch counts. All I can say is HALLE-FUCKING-LUJAH!!!!!! I would hope the Mets would get in on this retro trend as well. It has to start in the low minors as it’s time pitchers learned how to pitch and how to pitch out of trouble. Too many guys stand on that mound when they are in a jam ready to shit themselves while looking toward the bullpen for help. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about the minor league teams records and winning the fucking Sally League Championship, how about teaching not only pitchers but all players in the organization the proper way to play baseball. You can shove the NY-PENN League Championship Banners up Jeffey’s ass.

 

For a much calmer look at pitch counts check out Mike Silva’s NYBD and his thoughts on this.