We're coming to you live from Sports Guy Mans-, I mean, the El Guapodome for a Spring Training lowdown showdown between the Mets and the Baltimore Orioles.
I mean, despite my acknowledgment of the inherent Bill Simmons ripoff, I don't think he's got the running diary format patented. Anyway, here we go, it's the first meaningless baseball running diary of the spring. As Hawk Harrelson would say, "Strap it down!"
Promotional consideration has been provided tonight by Lagunitas IPA.
7:00 - Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. I've caught a couple of these games so far and still no obligatory shot of the alligator who lives somewhere out beyond the practice fields. They always show that alligator. I say it finally happens tonight, somewhere during the 5th inning. Hold me to it.
El Duque is pitching tonight. intriguing due to the whole neck injury thing. Pelfrey will follow. He had a nice outing first time around.
7:02 - Kevin Burkhardt talks to Chan Ho Park. Is that a scar on Park's face? What's up with that?
7:04 - It's all over for the caveman Geico commercials. The first two, maybe three, were funny. Their moment has passed. Of course, I read some rumor that there'll be a caveman TV series. We can only hope that's a hoax. Speaking of commercials, I don't know how to explain this, but I swear you can actually hear how fat John Goodman is on those Dunkin' Donuts ads.
7:10 - Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez bring you tonight's action. Props to Mets2Moon for a great post on Mets announcers past and present. I enjoyed that.
Actually it's this afternoon's action. I should mention that I'm watching the evening rebroadcast, but I didn't see a score or anything, so it'll all be new to me.
7:11 - The O's brought their D-Team with them. Your leadoff hitter: Ruddy Yan! Why the hell am I blogging a spring training game?
The regular Mets team is in the field, with Milledge in right, which will be fun. One more exception: Julio Franco at first for Delgado, who's out with a stiff neck.
7:13 - Apparently Ruddy is pronounce "Rudy."
7:15 - I loved watching Hernnandez pitch so much last season; I really did. He's already thrown one quasi-eephus slow curve, to start the game of actually. Now he strikes out Chris Gomez on a fastball. Keith calls him "crafty," which is how he'll be described about 1,245,984 times this season. Nick Markarkis taps a check-swing bloop to Wright for the third out. Great start for the crafty Cuban.
7:19 - Here's a reason to watch: Daniel Cabrera is pitching for the O's. 6'7", 267 lbs. Straight over the top delivery. Nasty stuff. He blows through the first inning 1-2-3.
7:23 - Keith Hernandez is repping Baseball Prospectus pretty hard, which he tells us his wife bought for him. He also voluntarily describes himself as "mentally challenged."
7:26 - Hey, it's Jay Payton! He rips a one-out single to right, looking good. Any 2000 Met is okay in my book, except for maybe Mike Hampton.
7:29 - El Duque covers first on a double-play try but misses the bag. Hey, it's Spring Training for the players too.
7:32 - Ooh! A grounder right off El Duque's shoe! He's okay but a brief second of panic for yours truly. Payton scores from third on the play.
7:33 - Someone named Adam Donachie knocks a three-run homer to deep left and it's 4-0 Orioles. That pitch stayed way up in the zone. You could hear it off the bat that it was a homer. Now the next batter singles and the wheels have come off the wagon for El Duque, and missing the bag on that DP try has officially come back to bite him in his crafty Cuban ass.
7:37 - Did you know that Nick Markakis pitched for the 2004 Greek Olympic team and threw 94 MPH? Thanks to Gary Cohen's press guide, now you do! Yes, this inning is still going on. It's 5-0 Orioles and Orlando hasn't gotten an out since the hit off his foot. And now Markarkis singles. Duque, ya gotta get out of this so I can go rescue my frozen lasagna from the oven...
7:43 - Burkhardt interviews 20-year-old first baseman Mike Carp. Folks, remember Mike Carp, because... you know what, don't bother remembering Mike Carp. What ever happened to Chris Cotter doing the sideline stuff? No offense to Burkhardt.
7:46 - I still think Green's problem is that his swing is just too long. He's talked all this stuff about finding a "hitch" and whatever, but I just think he's past it. That swing worked when you he was younger and his hands were faster, but no more. I hate to say it because I always liked Shawn Green, but I just think his moment as a power-hitting outfielder is over. If he proves me wrong, trust me, I'll be thrilled. He strikes out to end the inning (he's DH-ing today). Cabrera is rolling.
7:51 - Pelfrey has come out firing sharp-looking sinkers and sliders. Two quick outs and an infield hit up the middle, then a weakly hit grounder for the third out. I'm a fan.
7:57 - Cabrera is throwing strikes. He makes Valentin look silly waving at strike three. Too bad the Orioles will finish in fourth place this year.
It's my boy Lastings! Aaaannd he strikes out to end the third...
8:02 - Keith and Gary (I never realized how much that sounds like the Ambigously Gay Announcing Duo before) are discussing Pelfrey's chances to make the team, and Keith thinks he's definitely starting the year in AAA. I hope not. I don't see the point, if he's healthy. Who else? Chan Ho? But I think Keith might be right, not in terms of what should happen but what will happen, which I think is a shame.
8:04 - Mike Pelfrey is a groundball machine!
8:07 - Reyes rips a liner down the first-base line and beats Payton's throw to make it a double. Bartender, make Jose's a double! Keith has a fantastic moment that I can't quite do justice to: "Reyes hits it right on the bunny ... money." Right on the bunny? Is that even a Freudian slip, or what? Very strange. All I know is I'll be saying "[Insert player] hits it right on the bunny!" after every single Met line drive this year, and I'm glad you were here for the genesis of that.
8:12 - Reyes steals third, after falling and recovering. How is that even possible? Oh, because the catcher threw to second instead of third for some reason. Wright strikes out with two runners on to end the threat.
8:17 - Pelfrey gives up two quick singles to start the fifth. Still no sight of the alligator. Does he have a name? Keith complains that he's only now getting his coffee, which he asked for three innings ago. I could make fun of him, but I sympathize. Without coffee I'm useless. However, I think Keith is really just trying to slyly give himself an excuse for the whole "bunny" thing.
8:20 - Payton doubles. 7-0 Orioles. Milledge almost nails Jay at second but a bad hop eats up Reyes receiving it. Keith astutely points out that Alou should have come in to back up the play. I guess his coffee kicked in.
8:22 - Mets get out of it. They gave Milledge an error on that play.
8:24 - Now they've switched it and given the error to Reyes, which makes more sense. Shawn Green strikes out.
8:28 - Keith: "You should always never take anything for granted." Well, maybe they gave him decaf. I don't know. Franco slaps his second opposite-field single of the afternoon. You could start spring training in December and Franco would be there ready to hit.
8:30 - Second and third, one out for Milledge. A chance to show us something. Oof, and he's buzzed along the shirtsleeve for an HBP. Bases loaded for Reyes. The O's Jon Leicester has hit two batters today. LoDuca was the first, his last time up.
8:31 - Leicester walks Reyes on four pitches to bring in Franco. Meanwhile, Burkhardt interviews David Wright in the dugout:
Burkhardt: "How'd it go at the club last night, David?"
Wright: "Yo, Kev, I hit it right on the bunny, son."
8:35 - Beautiful up the middle line drive from Beltran, 7-3 Mets. Pitch was high in the zone and a little bit away, a fastball. Pitching change for the O's.
8:37 - A Nirvana song is featured in the ad for Major League Basball 2K7, and presumably they use it in the game itself. An improvement from the usual video game music, to be sure, but I wonder if it's wrong somehow to use Nirvana in a video game. Will Nirvana fans (and I can't say I was one) object? M2M, what do you think?
8:38 - The O's get out of it with their new pitcher on one pitch, whose name I missed pondering the whole Nirvana thing. Whatever.
8:41 - Sixth inning, time for the wholesale lineup changes! Should I bore you? Eh, forget it. Anderson Hernandez is in at short. Jason Vargas is pitching, and a couple more switches happened too. How's that?
8:43 - Vargas looks great so far this spring. Strikes out his first batter here. Could be a good swingman or fifth starter. I think the Marlins really set him back by bringing him up too early, but easily salvageable.
Yan can hit! One-out single up the middle.
Yan can't steal bases. He's picked off. Really nice tag by A-Hern at second, for the record.
8:48 - Heard the new Arcade Fire yet? I went in with no expectations one way or the other, and so far I'm really liking it.
8:51 - Shawn Green has his first hit of the spring! He's off the schneid (sp?). Wright, who walked to lead off the inning, advances to third, and we've got a genuine rally going with no outs. I'm not going to bother naming the pitchers anymore unless I've heard of them; deal?
8:54 - Ooof! And the Orioles catcher gets hit in the nuts by a Valentin foul ball. You hate to see that. The camera catches him rubbing his, um, cup as he crouches over in pain. Keith asks for a new camera angle.
8:56 - Valentin strikes out as Green improbably steals second. Okay, the O's pitcher is named Berkins, and he's a tough looking lefty. I'll mention him because he's pitching well.
8:59 - Milledge walks, and it's Endy Chavez with the bases loaded! Big cheers for him every time he comes up this spring. But he grounds it weakly to third for the third out.
Oh, the O's catcher who got the ol' cup check is Adam Donachie, the guy who hit the home run in the second. So, there's some justice.
9:02 - Bulls-Magic on TNT. I'm thinking of simulcasting over on Fortuitous Bounce. Okay, maybe not. It's 37-23 Chicago.
9:04 - I'm back in time to witness the O's 37th hit of the day. What the hell inning is it by now anyway?
9:05 - Endy Chavez, in at center, throws out a runner at the plate on the O's 38th hit of the day. Don't fuck with Endy, man. Keith points out that it's Endy's approach to the ball, his momentum, plus the fact that he doesn't waste any motion coming up with the ball that lets him make the play. See, we're not kidding, Keith really does have something to say from time to time.
9:08 - Ugly play as Mike "The Future" Carp tosses offline to Vargas covering first, causing Vargas to drop the ball and almost getting him bowled over by the runner. Thanks, Mike. Run scores, 8-3 O's.
9:10 - Vargas recovers to get a strikeout to end the inning. I'm telling you: Jason Vargas. You heard it here first.
9:13 - Oh my god, it's only the 7th inning.
47-24 Bulls.
9:18 - Is that a moonshine still on Iron Chef America? Nice.
9:21 - I cut back to the game in time to see them showing some tape of a boat, but playing in reverse for some reason. Keith: "Don't try that at home!" Gary: "We must be well into Margaritaville by now." Indeed. The guys in the truck have gotten into that Iron Chef moonshine.
9:23 - Are they not doing the trivia question in Spring Training? I don't remember seeing one so far in these games. They better bring it back for the regular season. I never get it right, but I always enjoy them.
Scott Schoeneweis gets through the top of the 8th 1-2-3.
9:28 - The Iron Chef special ingredient tonight: mango. They haven't shown that big copper still again, so no confirmation that it's really moonshine. What else can you make in a still? Anyone know?
Yankees over Braves 5-3 in the 10th over on the YES rebroadcast game. Al Leiter is the color guy. Al! Come to SNY! Or better yet, have Tim McCarver killled and take his job. Please.
9:33 - We learn that Mike Carp, now up to bat, was the Mets minor league player of the year last year. I don't know why I've singled Carp out to pick on. Seems like a nice kid. He draws a walk to make it two on, one out for Milledge (0-1 with a walk and an HBP today).
Milledge singles! And it's an eight to four ballgame! (That's for all you Simmons fans, but Cohen really did say, "And it's an eight to four ballgame!" just like that.)
9:37 - 8-5 now on an RBI groundout by Chavez scoring Carp. Milledge to second. Get those rally caps on.
9:38 - "And it's outta here!" Ben Johnson goes yard to deep left, making it 8-7.
A-Hern flies out to right to end the 8th.
9:42 - Joe Smith on for the 9th. Oh my goodness, it's Roger Cedeno at bat for the O's. He hits a slicing ball to left that Ben Johnson reaches out and grabs on the run. Nice catch.
9:44 - Smith K's a C/1B named House. "You're risking a patient's...!" Okay, the shameless Simmons ripoffs end here.... But his name really was House.
9:47 - Smith works around a two-out double to set the Mets up for last licks.
9:49 - Mango, for Mario Batali, "brings back one giant, beautiful memory of Vietnam." Okay then.
9:50 - David Newhan leads off. He's from the Bronx? All right, Newhan. But he strikes out.
9:52 - Now it's Damion Easley's turn, Shawn Green on deck. Easley strikes out, and it's all up to Green.
9:54 - Grounder to second, and that's your ballgame. 8-7 is the final. 3 errors, 3 unearned runs given up by the Mets, but a nice day for Mike Pelfrey and a couple of highlights for Ben Johnson, so you take your silver linings where you find them.
It's been real, folks. We'll do this again when the real baseball starts.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
And he's not even getting a Divorce!
In April, 2001, El Guapo and I were taking in a Mets game on a lazy weekend afternoon, when the following exchange took place between Gary Thorne and Tom Seaver.
Thorne: Lemme tell you about Pittsburgh...
(Pause)
(Pause)
(Pause)
(Long Pause)
Seaver: Go ahead.
Truly a watershed moment in Mets History.
It really makes you think about what the qualifications must be to announce a Baseball game. And through the years we have followed the Mets, we've heard some of the best and quite a bit of the worst you can get out of an announcing team. Let's take a look at some of the men who we listen to as we watch, or listen, as some of us prefer, to our team.
Gary Cohen, SNY TV
Now, Cohen sounds just like what a good announcer should sound like. Crisp, clean and to the point. I really feel comfortable listening to him announce games. His calls are never over the top (well, unless Benny Agbayani was involved), and he does an excellent job playing the straight man in the booth to the clown that is Keith Hernandez (Or Ron Darling, depending on the day). For years, he was the radio voice, and as a radio listener, I can certainly say that the Mets Radio broadcast suffers without him.
Howie Rose, WFAN Radio
Let's face it, Rose is and will always be remembered for a certain Hockey call made on May 27, 1994.
Rose is where we start to get into some trouble. Rose is now the #1 man on the Radio. He was, for many years, the host of Mets Extra, the Radio version of the Pre/Post game show, and was fired in 1992 or 93 for being overly critical of the team. He then spent many years on TV, jockeying for time during the Dark Ages of Mets Broadcasting, when the TV team consisted of Rose, Tim McCarver, Fran Healy and Rusty Staub. Now you know why I always listened to the radio.
But Rose seems to be much more at home on the Radio. He doesn't have to fill in with idiotic banter, and as far as being too opinionated, well, some men you just can't reach. But he peaked in 2004/05 when he was teamed with Cohen in the Radio booth. Thoroughly enjoyable listening. He's still decent, but I much prefer him over Tom McCarthy.
But you will never, ever get another moment out of him like "MATTEAU! MATTEAU! MATTEAU!"
Keith Hernandez, SNY TV
I think Keith Hernandez just lives his life in complete "I'm Keith Hernandez" mode. He truly plays the role of the clown on the air, and much of his charm comes from his love of mindless banter and idle chit-chat. Nobody knows more about the game of Baseball, and what a specific player could be thinking about at a specific game moment like Keith Hernandez. As a player, he had the reputation as a thinking man's player, and it came across in his performance. Now, with nothing more to prove, he can just kick back and say whatever he feels.
Well, until he offends somebody...
Ron Darling, SNY TV
Darling's purpose in the booth is mainly to counter Hernandez and provide an ex-Pitcher's perspective to the game, which he does quite well. He and Keith were, of course, ex-teammates, forever bonded by a 1986 World Championship, and they're both lionized by Mets fans because of it. In fact, few remember that Darling was the starting pitcher in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series, and by his own admission, he pitched rather poorly in that game. We hadn't heard much from Darling since his retirement in 1995 until he resurfaced as an announcer for the Washington Nationals, and then was hired by SNY for the '06 season.
Darling and Hernandez in particular seem to have a good rapport in the booth, and as El Guapo noted, they often joke around about their playing days together. It's fun during Spring Training. It can get a little annoying when they start talking about Mentos during a blowout.
Tom McCarthy, WFAN Radio
Because there is usually one announcer who is universally disliked by Mets fans, and the other four are generally liked, it's McCarthy who is the fall guy. His calls aren't necessarily bad, and he seems to get along well with Rose on the radio, but I swear to God when I listen to him announcing, it's almost as if Gilbert Gottfried stepped into the booth. And he came to the Mets after several years of working for the Phillies. That right there should give you bad vibes.
Ralph Kiner, SNY TV (occasionally)
The absolute King of Unintentional Comedy. Kiner has been butchering the English Language for as long as the Mets have been in existence. His quips are legendary. Kiner's Korner is ingrained in all of our minds. His comments page on the UMDB alone tell you how loved and revered Kiner is among Mets fans. Yes, his ability to call a game has been compromised by Bell's Palsy, and his appearances in the booth are always few and far between, but always enjoyed. The Mets are holding a night for him on July 14th this season. Nobody deserves it more.
And those who are gone, but surely not forgotten...
Fran Healy
OK, we all wish we could forget Fran. It's hilarious now, when you turn on FSNY, and there's Fran, randomly interviewing some Lacrosse player on the "Regional Sports Re-Port!" or talking to a retired basketball player on "Halls of Fame."
Every Mets fan has that moment when Fran simply threw them over the edge. For me, it was in July, 2000. The Mets were playing a game in Toronto, and Mike Piazza hit a Grand Slam over an advertisement in the outfield that read "PIZZA PIZZA." And no less than 20 times over the course of the rest of the game, Fran kept repeating, "And Mike Piazza...Hit a Ga-Rand Sa-Lam! And he hit it OVER THE PIZZA SIGN!" And who can forget that "THE NEW YORK METS 22 YEAR OLD SHORTSTOP IS CREATING ALL KINDS OF EXCITEMENT!!!" Fran would never hesitate to beat a fact into your head repeatedly.
Bob Murphy, Emeritus
I was at Murph's last game in 2003, and I admit that I cried. And I cried again when he passed away the following summer. I know I'm going to sound a little cheesy when I say this, but Murphy was the voice of my childhood, and the first voice I remember associating with the Mets. Murphy was the perfect announcer because he always remained positive about the team without being a homer (hear that, Sterling?). You knew he rooted for the Mets, but it was always something gentle, like the Happy Recap. Of course, like Kiner, Murphy had his moments with the English Language, and as a comment on the UMDB said, "If there was ever a man on this earth who looked like Porky Pig it's Bob Murphy," but all of those things just added to his charm. Sultry Summer nights are not the same without him.
I'll close with another anecdote. Again, it's April of 2001. El Guapo and I are watching a Mets game, I believe they were playing Montreal. Fran was announcing, and Keith was in the booth, filling in (so they were in "MUHN-tree-al"). Keith had been talking about the times he had hit 2 Home Runs in a game. He had mentioned that one of the times was the day his divorce was finalized. Almost as if on cue, Lee Stevens of the Expos cranked a HR, his second of the day (most likely off Trachsel). This, of course, prompted Fran to yell with glee, "HIS SECOND HOMER OF THE DAY! AND HE'S NOT EVEN GETTING A DIVORCE!"
Thorne: Lemme tell you about Pittsburgh...
(Pause)
(Pause)
(Pause)
(Long Pause)
Seaver: Go ahead.
Truly a watershed moment in Mets History.
It really makes you think about what the qualifications must be to announce a Baseball game. And through the years we have followed the Mets, we've heard some of the best and quite a bit of the worst you can get out of an announcing team. Let's take a look at some of the men who we listen to as we watch, or listen, as some of us prefer, to our team.
Gary Cohen, SNY TV
Now, Cohen sounds just like what a good announcer should sound like. Crisp, clean and to the point. I really feel comfortable listening to him announce games. His calls are never over the top (well, unless Benny Agbayani was involved), and he does an excellent job playing the straight man in the booth to the clown that is Keith Hernandez (Or Ron Darling, depending on the day). For years, he was the radio voice, and as a radio listener, I can certainly say that the Mets Radio broadcast suffers without him.
Howie Rose, WFAN Radio
Let's face it, Rose is and will always be remembered for a certain Hockey call made on May 27, 1994.
Rose is where we start to get into some trouble. Rose is now the #1 man on the Radio. He was, for many years, the host of Mets Extra, the Radio version of the Pre/Post game show, and was fired in 1992 or 93 for being overly critical of the team. He then spent many years on TV, jockeying for time during the Dark Ages of Mets Broadcasting, when the TV team consisted of Rose, Tim McCarver, Fran Healy and Rusty Staub. Now you know why I always listened to the radio.
But Rose seems to be much more at home on the Radio. He doesn't have to fill in with idiotic banter, and as far as being too opinionated, well, some men you just can't reach. But he peaked in 2004/05 when he was teamed with Cohen in the Radio booth. Thoroughly enjoyable listening. He's still decent, but I much prefer him over Tom McCarthy.
But you will never, ever get another moment out of him like "MATTEAU! MATTEAU! MATTEAU!"
Keith Hernandez, SNY TV
I think Keith Hernandez just lives his life in complete "I'm Keith Hernandez" mode. He truly plays the role of the clown on the air, and much of his charm comes from his love of mindless banter and idle chit-chat. Nobody knows more about the game of Baseball, and what a specific player could be thinking about at a specific game moment like Keith Hernandez. As a player, he had the reputation as a thinking man's player, and it came across in his performance. Now, with nothing more to prove, he can just kick back and say whatever he feels.
Well, until he offends somebody...
Ron Darling, SNY TV
Darling's purpose in the booth is mainly to counter Hernandez and provide an ex-Pitcher's perspective to the game, which he does quite well. He and Keith were, of course, ex-teammates, forever bonded by a 1986 World Championship, and they're both lionized by Mets fans because of it. In fact, few remember that Darling was the starting pitcher in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series, and by his own admission, he pitched rather poorly in that game. We hadn't heard much from Darling since his retirement in 1995 until he resurfaced as an announcer for the Washington Nationals, and then was hired by SNY for the '06 season.
Darling and Hernandez in particular seem to have a good rapport in the booth, and as El Guapo noted, they often joke around about their playing days together. It's fun during Spring Training. It can get a little annoying when they start talking about Mentos during a blowout.
Tom McCarthy, WFAN Radio
Because there is usually one announcer who is universally disliked by Mets fans, and the other four are generally liked, it's McCarthy who is the fall guy. His calls aren't necessarily bad, and he seems to get along well with Rose on the radio, but I swear to God when I listen to him announcing, it's almost as if Gilbert Gottfried stepped into the booth. And he came to the Mets after several years of working for the Phillies. That right there should give you bad vibes.
Ralph Kiner, SNY TV (occasionally)
The absolute King of Unintentional Comedy. Kiner has been butchering the English Language for as long as the Mets have been in existence. His quips are legendary. Kiner's Korner is ingrained in all of our minds. His comments page on the UMDB alone tell you how loved and revered Kiner is among Mets fans. Yes, his ability to call a game has been compromised by Bell's Palsy, and his appearances in the booth are always few and far between, but always enjoyed. The Mets are holding a night for him on July 14th this season. Nobody deserves it more.
And those who are gone, but surely not forgotten...
Fran Healy
OK, we all wish we could forget Fran. It's hilarious now, when you turn on FSNY, and there's Fran, randomly interviewing some Lacrosse player on the "Regional Sports Re-Port!" or talking to a retired basketball player on "Halls of Fame."
Every Mets fan has that moment when Fran simply threw them over the edge. For me, it was in July, 2000. The Mets were playing a game in Toronto, and Mike Piazza hit a Grand Slam over an advertisement in the outfield that read "PIZZA PIZZA." And no less than 20 times over the course of the rest of the game, Fran kept repeating, "And Mike Piazza...Hit a Ga-Rand Sa-Lam! And he hit it OVER THE PIZZA SIGN!" And who can forget that "THE NEW YORK METS 22 YEAR OLD SHORTSTOP IS CREATING ALL KINDS OF EXCITEMENT!!!" Fran would never hesitate to beat a fact into your head repeatedly.
Bob Murphy, Emeritus
I was at Murph's last game in 2003, and I admit that I cried. And I cried again when he passed away the following summer. I know I'm going to sound a little cheesy when I say this, but Murphy was the voice of my childhood, and the first voice I remember associating with the Mets. Murphy was the perfect announcer because he always remained positive about the team without being a homer (hear that, Sterling?). You knew he rooted for the Mets, but it was always something gentle, like the Happy Recap. Of course, like Kiner, Murphy had his moments with the English Language, and as a comment on the UMDB said, "If there was ever a man on this earth who looked like Porky Pig it's Bob Murphy," but all of those things just added to his charm. Sultry Summer nights are not the same without him.
I'll close with another anecdote. Again, it's April of 2001. El Guapo and I are watching a Mets game, I believe they were playing Montreal. Fran was announcing, and Keith was in the booth, filling in (so they were in "MUHN-tree-al"). Keith had been talking about the times he had hit 2 Home Runs in a game. He had mentioned that one of the times was the day his divorce was finalized. Almost as if on cue, Lee Stevens of the Expos cranked a HR, his second of the day (most likely off Trachsel). This, of course, prompted Fran to yell with glee, "HIS SECOND HOMER OF THE DAY! AND HE'S NOT EVEN GETTING A DIVORCE!"
Monday, March 5, 2007
Pen-ciling Them In...
This is #4 of 5 Key Mets for 2007.
Last season, the Mets finished the season with a bullpen that logged the 3rd most innings out of any bullpen in the Major leagues. The Bullpen carried the team over most of the season, and was expected to do the same in the playoffs. Many of them succeeded. Some of them failed, in a most disturbing fashion. In 2007, many of the members of the Bullpen will return, but some of the names have changed. What has not changed is the role that the Bullpen is expected to have. With a starting staff loaded with names over 35 or under 25 years old, it will be the Bullpen that is expected to carry a huge load over the course of the season, and will likely make or break the team. Let's examine the turnover and the players:
Billy Wagner, the closer, remains the same, and since his role, for better or worse is secure, he does not bear mentioning in this column.
Starting from the top:
1) Aaron Heilman
Replacing: Aaron Heilman
There is still a contingent that seems to believe that Heilman is better suited to be in the Starting Rotation. And it's a valid point--Heilman is a starter by trade and we all know that is where he wants to be. A bit of noise was made, mostly by Heilman himself, about being in the starting rotation, and perhaps his poor performance over the middle of the season was indicative of his pouting a bit.
Doesn't matter. Heilman's role is in the pen for now, where he is most valuable to the team.
Yes, it was Heilman who gave up that Home Run to Molina last year in Game 7. But one pitch does not a season make, and Heilman's efforts over the season went a long way towards getting the Mets to that point. Following his Midseason slump, and following the injury to Duaner Sanchez, Heilman was stellar out of the pen working as the primary setup man for Wagner. Having had success retooling and redeveloping his delivery (working from a sidearm motion as opposed to a 3/4 or over the top motion), Heilman was able to spot his fastball better, mixing it with a changeup and slider that proved tough to pick up from his delivery.
It remains to be seen whether or not he'll have the same bad reaction to being in the pen again. I'd feel inclined to believe not, since it's not up for any degree of debate. Heilman will be in the bullpen, working as the key setup man for Wagner. He hasn't shouldered the blame for the Home Run, and he didn't deserve to. We expect, and will hopefully receive, another fine season from Heilman.
2) Duaner Sanchez
Replacing: Duaner Sanchez/Roberto Hernandez
Hold that thought...Sanchez is still recovering from the separated shoulder he suffered in his ill-fated late night search for Caribbean food in Miami last July. He has yet to throw off a mound and now I'm not so sure if he'll be ready for opening day. But we know he will be back this season, at some point.
It's a shame, especially when you consider how good Sanchez was, especially early in the season. He worked as the Anti-Heilman, throwing hard and fast, making a name for himself getting out of jams, and not giving up an earned run until early May.
You have to wonder if the Mets fortunes in the postseason would have been different if Sanchez were available to them.
Can't look back now. You can only look forward. And hope that Sanchez is healed and ready to answer the bell come April 1st. And ready to pick up where he left off, serving as a complement to Heilman, the two top right handed arms out of the bullpen.
3) Pedro Feliciano
Replacing: Royce Ring/Pedro Feliciano
It's easy to overlook someone like Feliciano. Used mostly as a lefty specialist, Feliciano would often come in to pitch to a batter or two, and then was out of the game. Still, he was huge for the Mets, especially late in the season and in the postseason. Usually it was Feliciano coming into the game with a man on, one out and a tough lefty coming up, and usually Feliciano responded by getting the batter to strike out or hit into a double play.
Yes, I lumped Feliciano in with the even more indistiguishable Royce Ring, mainly because the two of them more or less split time in the Majors last season (with Feliciano getting the lion's share of time with the club--not surprising considering Ring's slop-throwing tendencies) as the lefty specialist, but also because, coming into last season, neither of them was thought to amount to much. Ring didn't, and now he's gone. Feliciano did. Now he's got to keep it up.
4) Scott Schoeneweis
Replacing: Darren Oliver
In 2006, the Mets brought in Darren Oliver to be a sort of swing man, maybe making a start, usually coming in as a long reliever, mopping up when a starter (usually Jose Lima or Steve Trachsel) were pasted. And Oliver was dominant in that role all season. In fact, he never made a start (although his name was bandied about to start Game 7 of the NLCS). And his stellar season was rewarded by a large contract from the Anaheim Angels.
Considering that pitchers of that ilk tend not to have great seasons like that for 2 years in a row, you can forgive letting Oliver go.
Now, we have Scott Schoeneweis, signed away from Cincinnati, stepping in to fill the long reliever role from the left handed side.
I'll be honest, I don't know much about Schoeneweis, other than he's bounced around most of his career, and when he was on the Angels, I used to confuse him with Jarrod Washburn. And he's Jewish.
As recently as 2004, Washburn was a starter. He started 19 games for the White Sox that year. He's worked primarily out of the bullpen since then, and his numbers were pretty good with the Reds last year, and absolutely awful with the Blue Jays. He got a pretty sizable contract, especially for a middle reliever, but given the asinine contracts being thrown around this offseason, maybe it wasn't so surprising. But we'll see if it was worth it. I'm skeptical...
5) Ambiorix Burgos
Replacing: Chad Bradford
Burgos is the wildest of all the wildcards. Literally. Here is a 22 year old righty, who throws pure, unadulterated gas. He steps out of the Armando Benitez mold as far as pure heat. And, like most young flamethrowers, he is wild and erratic. He closed games last season for the miserable Royals and created as many fires as he put out. He struck out nearly a batter an inning, and also blew 12 saves in 30 opportunities. He won't be counted on to close games for the Mets, which is a relief. Perhaps spotting him in low-pressure situations will help him find his niche.
But consider that he is stepping into a role vacated by Chad Bradford, and that doesn't settle any Met fan's nerves. The Knuckle-scraping Bradford was rock solid for the Mets all season last year, getting as many key outs as Feliciano, especially in the playoffs, mixing in a middling fastball with a bewildering 63 MPH curveball.
Ambiorix Burgos, you're no Chad Bradford.
In fact, who can even pronounce his name?
The mere comparison to Benitez is enough to scare the bejeesus out of me.
6) Guillermo Mota
Replacing: Jorge Julio/Guillermo Mota
Now, we won't know what we have until June, because Mota is under suspension for steroid use. Most Mets fans wish this suspension went into effect during the 6th inning of Game 2 of the NLCS. Mota came over to the Mets from Cleveland in August, where he had been having a miserable season, and was great for the Mets. But in the playoffs, he seemed to be somewhat misused or overused. However you want to look at it, Mota turned into a 2-batter pitcher. He would get 2 quick outs and look unhittable, and then start walking batters, and nibbling, and getting into trouble he couldn't get out of. He figured heavily in 2 blown leads in the playoffs, one in Game 1 of the NLDS, which the Mets rebounded to win, and in Game 2 of the NLCS, which the Mets went on to lose. And then he got suspended for juicing, all the while being a Free Agent. The Mets resigned him, knowing they wouldn't have him until June at least. Given the upside he has displayed over the years, it seemed like a worthwhile gamble. But he could also come back and simply be the 2-batter pitcher he was in the postseason, and that doesn't make him worth much at all, especially if he's going to be another key righty in the Sanchez/Heilman mold. A recycled comment: I'm skeptical...
7) Dave Williams
Replacing: Dave Williams
Dave Williams had a few successful outings for the Mets, working mostly as a starter. But he only pitched in 6 games for them. Doesn't it seem like he pitched a lot more for them? Still, given the look over his career and he amounts to little more than another slop throwing lefty who can spot start from time to time, and not kill you, except that he might kill you. He could be a long reliever in the Oliver mold but I don't think he's good enough to fill that role either. I'm not even sure he has a spot on the Major League roster. We shall see...
I was told after the fact that Williams had surgery on a herniated disk in his neck and is likely out for the season. So I guess you can take that previous paragraph and either toss it out the window, or sit on it until 2008. Your choice.
8) Juan Padilla
Replacing: Heath Bell
Everyone forgot about Padilla. That's what happens when you lose an entire season to Tommy John surgery. In case you forgot about him completely, he's #28 in that photo. Padilla pitched in 24 games for the Mets in 2005 and was nothing short of brilliant. He wore those silly yellow goggles like Sanchez, and came out of nowhere to post several solid outings. He is someone who, unlike others in this group, seems to really have a good head for pitching. And if he hadn't gotten hurt last season, he likely would have been a key member of the pen last year. I expect Padilla to once again come out of nowhere and surprise a few people, and he should be a much welcome and much needed addition to this year's bullpen.
And considering he is being counted on to fill the role of Heath Bell, there's not a huge amount of pressure on him to succeed.
Others worth mentioning:
Alay Soler: Soler is in camp looking like a shell of his former self. Seriously, he's much thinner and determined to do well. Another one who can easily be overlooked but could surprise.
Jason Vargas: Another who could surprise, and seems much more suited for the swing man role from long relief to spot starter. The Mets think highly of him but I don't know much about him.
Jon Adkins: Looks like he needs a visit to Dr. Atkins. Heath Bell Part 2? No Thank You.
Jorge Sosa: A likely candidate...FOR ME TO POOP ON!
I remember in 2005 when the Mets broke camp with a Bullpen that boasted names like Felix Heredia, Mike Matthews and Manny Aybar. I knew that spelled instant disaster, and I was right, for the most part. None of those 3 lasted until the All-Star Break. Fortunately, more emphasis has been placed on developing a Bullpen. Because, as we have all found out over time, the Bullpen is far too important to be overlooked. Especially on this team.
Last season, the Mets finished the season with a bullpen that logged the 3rd most innings out of any bullpen in the Major leagues. The Bullpen carried the team over most of the season, and was expected to do the same in the playoffs. Many of them succeeded. Some of them failed, in a most disturbing fashion. In 2007, many of the members of the Bullpen will return, but some of the names have changed. What has not changed is the role that the Bullpen is expected to have. With a starting staff loaded with names over 35 or under 25 years old, it will be the Bullpen that is expected to carry a huge load over the course of the season, and will likely make or break the team. Let's examine the turnover and the players:
Billy Wagner, the closer, remains the same, and since his role, for better or worse is secure, he does not bear mentioning in this column.
Starting from the top:
1) Aaron Heilman
Replacing: Aaron Heilman
There is still a contingent that seems to believe that Heilman is better suited to be in the Starting Rotation. And it's a valid point--Heilman is a starter by trade and we all know that is where he wants to be. A bit of noise was made, mostly by Heilman himself, about being in the starting rotation, and perhaps his poor performance over the middle of the season was indicative of his pouting a bit.
Doesn't matter. Heilman's role is in the pen for now, where he is most valuable to the team.
Yes, it was Heilman who gave up that Home Run to Molina last year in Game 7. But one pitch does not a season make, and Heilman's efforts over the season went a long way towards getting the Mets to that point. Following his Midseason slump, and following the injury to Duaner Sanchez, Heilman was stellar out of the pen working as the primary setup man for Wagner. Having had success retooling and redeveloping his delivery (working from a sidearm motion as opposed to a 3/4 or over the top motion), Heilman was able to spot his fastball better, mixing it with a changeup and slider that proved tough to pick up from his delivery.
It remains to be seen whether or not he'll have the same bad reaction to being in the pen again. I'd feel inclined to believe not, since it's not up for any degree of debate. Heilman will be in the bullpen, working as the key setup man for Wagner. He hasn't shouldered the blame for the Home Run, and he didn't deserve to. We expect, and will hopefully receive, another fine season from Heilman.
2) Duaner Sanchez
Replacing: Duaner Sanchez/Roberto Hernandez
Hold that thought...Sanchez is still recovering from the separated shoulder he suffered in his ill-fated late night search for Caribbean food in Miami last July. He has yet to throw off a mound and now I'm not so sure if he'll be ready for opening day. But we know he will be back this season, at some point.
It's a shame, especially when you consider how good Sanchez was, especially early in the season. He worked as the Anti-Heilman, throwing hard and fast, making a name for himself getting out of jams, and not giving up an earned run until early May.
You have to wonder if the Mets fortunes in the postseason would have been different if Sanchez were available to them.
Can't look back now. You can only look forward. And hope that Sanchez is healed and ready to answer the bell come April 1st. And ready to pick up where he left off, serving as a complement to Heilman, the two top right handed arms out of the bullpen.
3) Pedro Feliciano
Replacing: Royce Ring/Pedro Feliciano
It's easy to overlook someone like Feliciano. Used mostly as a lefty specialist, Feliciano would often come in to pitch to a batter or two, and then was out of the game. Still, he was huge for the Mets, especially late in the season and in the postseason. Usually it was Feliciano coming into the game with a man on, one out and a tough lefty coming up, and usually Feliciano responded by getting the batter to strike out or hit into a double play.
Yes, I lumped Feliciano in with the even more indistiguishable Royce Ring, mainly because the two of them more or less split time in the Majors last season (with Feliciano getting the lion's share of time with the club--not surprising considering Ring's slop-throwing tendencies) as the lefty specialist, but also because, coming into last season, neither of them was thought to amount to much. Ring didn't, and now he's gone. Feliciano did. Now he's got to keep it up.
4) Scott Schoeneweis
Replacing: Darren Oliver
In 2006, the Mets brought in Darren Oliver to be a sort of swing man, maybe making a start, usually coming in as a long reliever, mopping up when a starter (usually Jose Lima or Steve Trachsel) were pasted. And Oliver was dominant in that role all season. In fact, he never made a start (although his name was bandied about to start Game 7 of the NLCS). And his stellar season was rewarded by a large contract from the Anaheim Angels.
Considering that pitchers of that ilk tend not to have great seasons like that for 2 years in a row, you can forgive letting Oliver go.
Now, we have Scott Schoeneweis, signed away from Cincinnati, stepping in to fill the long reliever role from the left handed side.
I'll be honest, I don't know much about Schoeneweis, other than he's bounced around most of his career, and when he was on the Angels, I used to confuse him with Jarrod Washburn. And he's Jewish.
As recently as 2004, Washburn was a starter. He started 19 games for the White Sox that year. He's worked primarily out of the bullpen since then, and his numbers were pretty good with the Reds last year, and absolutely awful with the Blue Jays. He got a pretty sizable contract, especially for a middle reliever, but given the asinine contracts being thrown around this offseason, maybe it wasn't so surprising. But we'll see if it was worth it. I'm skeptical...
5) Ambiorix Burgos
Replacing: Chad Bradford
Burgos is the wildest of all the wildcards. Literally. Here is a 22 year old righty, who throws pure, unadulterated gas. He steps out of the Armando Benitez mold as far as pure heat. And, like most young flamethrowers, he is wild and erratic. He closed games last season for the miserable Royals and created as many fires as he put out. He struck out nearly a batter an inning, and also blew 12 saves in 30 opportunities. He won't be counted on to close games for the Mets, which is a relief. Perhaps spotting him in low-pressure situations will help him find his niche.
But consider that he is stepping into a role vacated by Chad Bradford, and that doesn't settle any Met fan's nerves. The Knuckle-scraping Bradford was rock solid for the Mets all season last year, getting as many key outs as Feliciano, especially in the playoffs, mixing in a middling fastball with a bewildering 63 MPH curveball.
Ambiorix Burgos, you're no Chad Bradford.
In fact, who can even pronounce his name?
The mere comparison to Benitez is enough to scare the bejeesus out of me.
6) Guillermo Mota
Replacing: Jorge Julio/Guillermo Mota
Now, we won't know what we have until June, because Mota is under suspension for steroid use. Most Mets fans wish this suspension went into effect during the 6th inning of Game 2 of the NLCS. Mota came over to the Mets from Cleveland in August, where he had been having a miserable season, and was great for the Mets. But in the playoffs, he seemed to be somewhat misused or overused. However you want to look at it, Mota turned into a 2-batter pitcher. He would get 2 quick outs and look unhittable, and then start walking batters, and nibbling, and getting into trouble he couldn't get out of. He figured heavily in 2 blown leads in the playoffs, one in Game 1 of the NLDS, which the Mets rebounded to win, and in Game 2 of the NLCS, which the Mets went on to lose. And then he got suspended for juicing, all the while being a Free Agent. The Mets resigned him, knowing they wouldn't have him until June at least. Given the upside he has displayed over the years, it seemed like a worthwhile gamble. But he could also come back and simply be the 2-batter pitcher he was in the postseason, and that doesn't make him worth much at all, especially if he's going to be another key righty in the Sanchez/Heilman mold. A recycled comment: I'm skeptical...7) Dave Williams
Replacing: Dave Williams
Dave Williams had a few successful outings for the Mets, working mostly as a starter. But he only pitched in 6 games for them. Doesn't it seem like he pitched a lot more for them? Still, given the look over his career and he amounts to little more than another slop throwing lefty who can spot start from time to time, and not kill you, except that he might kill you. He could be a long reliever in the Oliver mold but I don't think he's good enough to fill that role either. I'm not even sure he has a spot on the Major League roster. We shall see...
I was told after the fact that Williams had surgery on a herniated disk in his neck and is likely out for the season. So I guess you can take that previous paragraph and either toss it out the window, or sit on it until 2008. Your choice.
8) Juan Padilla
Replacing: Heath Bell
Everyone forgot about Padilla. That's what happens when you lose an entire season to Tommy John surgery. In case you forgot about him completely, he's #28 in that photo. Padilla pitched in 24 games for the Mets in 2005 and was nothing short of brilliant. He wore those silly yellow goggles like Sanchez, and came out of nowhere to post several solid outings. He is someone who, unlike others in this group, seems to really have a good head for pitching. And if he hadn't gotten hurt last season, he likely would have been a key member of the pen last year. I expect Padilla to once again come out of nowhere and surprise a few people, and he should be a much welcome and much needed addition to this year's bullpen.And considering he is being counted on to fill the role of Heath Bell, there's not a huge amount of pressure on him to succeed.
Others worth mentioning:
Alay Soler: Soler is in camp looking like a shell of his former self. Seriously, he's much thinner and determined to do well. Another one who can easily be overlooked but could surprise.
Jason Vargas: Another who could surprise, and seems much more suited for the swing man role from long relief to spot starter. The Mets think highly of him but I don't know much about him.
Jon Adkins: Looks like he needs a visit to Dr. Atkins. Heath Bell Part 2? No Thank You.
Jorge Sosa: A likely candidate...FOR ME TO POOP ON!
I remember in 2005 when the Mets broke camp with a Bullpen that boasted names like Felix Heredia, Mike Matthews and Manny Aybar. I knew that spelled instant disaster, and I was right, for the most part. None of those 3 lasted until the All-Star Break. Fortunately, more emphasis has been placed on developing a Bullpen. Because, as we have all found out over time, the Bullpen is far too important to be overlooked. Especially on this team.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Jeter is a Republican
I've been slacking this week, and I felt obliged to respond to El Guapo's post in regards to collecting Baseball Cards, but I haven't gotten around to it until this evening.
I feel I must make a confession to you all.
My name is Mets2Moon, and I am a Baseball Card Collector.
There. I said it, and I admit it. I'm probably one of about 100-200 left.
In my youth, it just started innocently enough, going to the candy store after lunch while I was at Saturday Sports club (anyone who grew up in New York City in the 1980s knows what I'm talking about). Pretty soon, it escalated into me spending my entire allowance on Baseball cards. Sure, the Mets were my favorite. But I didn't discriminate. I bought entire sets, and kept the most expensive cards tucked away in hard plastic cases (collecting dust, and devaluing over time, such as my Ken Griffey Jr. and Mark McGwire rookie cards)
I feel I must make a confession to you all.
My name is Mets2Moon, and I am a Baseball Card Collector.
There. I said it, and I admit it. I'm probably one of about 100-200 left.
In my youth, it just started innocently enough, going to the candy store after lunch while I was at Saturday Sports club (anyone who grew up in New York City in the 1980s knows what I'm talking about). Pretty soon, it escalated into me spending my entire allowance on Baseball cards. Sure, the Mets were my favorite. But I didn't discriminate. I bought entire sets, and kept the most expensive cards tucked away in hard plastic cases (collecting dust, and devaluing over time, such as my Ken Griffey Jr. and Mark McGwire rookie cards)
I guess when most kids went away to college, their mothers chucked most of their baseball cards. Not mine. Most of mine continued to collect dust, until, a few years ago, I asked myself what, exactly, I was doing?
What was I doing? I had a huge collection of random baseball cards. There needed to be order and focus. I stopped buying baseball cards randomly, and the advent of E-Bay made it much easier to focus on getting specific cards, and not just buying pack after pack. I kept most of my complete sets, but instead of buying everything, I focused on simply collecting the cards of my favorite team, the New York Mets.
Currently, my tidy collection features mostly complete Topps Mets Team Sets going back to 1962 (missing only a few odd cards here and there, mainly rookie cards of Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan, too rich for my blood at this point), plus several large boxes of Mets cards assembled over the past 20 years. Didn't matter if it were Tsuyoshi Shinjo or Jose Reyes. If it was a Met, it had a place in my collection.
But, as a collector, it was always the oddity card that would stick out. Last year, the furor over a wrongfully-released card featuring Royals prospect Alex Gordon piqued my interest. I knew I would probably never possess this card (and I don't at this time), but the phenomenon kept me paying a bit of attention. Especially when copies of the card shot to well over $3000, thanks mainly to the frenetic bidding war created by Ex-SportsCenter anchor and current MSNBC newsman Keith Olbermann. $3000 is an awful lot for a card. Especially one featuring a guy who has yet to play a Major League game yet. Talk about creating unnecessary pressure for the kid.
But then again, if he flops, maybe I can buy one of the cards from Olbermann for a few bucks and finally complete my set...
The error cards stuck out too. As a kid, the infamous 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken "Fuck Face" card was legendary. Still is, really. I don't have that one either. And that one could have been had for $50 when it came out. Or it can now be had for $5 on E-Bay.
So, seeing this year's Jeter card with Mantle and Dubya shamelessly photoshopped into the card is most disturbing, because it's an inorganic error card. The Ripken card happened because someone screwed around with his bat and nobody picked it up. Copy on cards can be misspelled, stats can be mixed up, and cards can be wrongly released. Screwups happen. But in my over 20 years of collecting, I've never seen something quite like the Jeter card. And, because the baseball card market is so screwy, even the Jeter card was selling in the rarified territory of $50-$100 before calming down to a much logical price of $3-$5...Hey, it's still Derek Jeter...but it's enough to make me wonder about the sort of ilk I am associated with when I admit to being a baseball card collector.
The bottom line is that it's pretty sad that this happened, although if Topps was trying to create some sort of buzz for their 2007 offering, they succeeded, but you would think that cramming packs with randomly assorted inserts like autographs and cut-up jersey pieces would be enough to sell the product, and associating the Great Jeter with the President wouldn't be necessary. Then again, I'm not working for Topps, and perhaps I also feel that the Yankees and Dubya have some odd similarities. I'm just saying, that's all...
What was I doing? I had a huge collection of random baseball cards. There needed to be order and focus. I stopped buying baseball cards randomly, and the advent of E-Bay made it much easier to focus on getting specific cards, and not just buying pack after pack. I kept most of my complete sets, but instead of buying everything, I focused on simply collecting the cards of my favorite team, the New York Mets.
Currently, my tidy collection features mostly complete Topps Mets Team Sets going back to 1962 (missing only a few odd cards here and there, mainly rookie cards of Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan, too rich for my blood at this point), plus several large boxes of Mets cards assembled over the past 20 years. Didn't matter if it were Tsuyoshi Shinjo or Jose Reyes. If it was a Met, it had a place in my collection.
But, as a collector, it was always the oddity card that would stick out. Last year, the furor over a wrongfully-released card featuring Royals prospect Alex Gordon piqued my interest. I knew I would probably never possess this card (and I don't at this time), but the phenomenon kept me paying a bit of attention. Especially when copies of the card shot to well over $3000, thanks mainly to the frenetic bidding war created by Ex-SportsCenter anchor and current MSNBC newsman Keith Olbermann. $3000 is an awful lot for a card. Especially one featuring a guy who has yet to play a Major League game yet. Talk about creating unnecessary pressure for the kid.But then again, if he flops, maybe I can buy one of the cards from Olbermann for a few bucks and finally complete my set...
The error cards stuck out too. As a kid, the infamous 1989 Fleer Bill Ripken "Fuck Face" card was legendary. Still is, really. I don't have that one either. And that one could have been had for $50 when it came out. Or it can now be had for $5 on E-Bay.So, seeing this year's Jeter card with Mantle and Dubya shamelessly photoshopped into the card is most disturbing, because it's an inorganic error card. The Ripken card happened because someone screwed around with his bat and nobody picked it up. Copy on cards can be misspelled, stats can be mixed up, and cards can be wrongly released. Screwups happen. But in my over 20 years of collecting, I've never seen something quite like the Jeter card. And, because the baseball card market is so screwy, even the Jeter card was selling in the rarified territory of $50-$100 before calming down to a much logical price of $3-$5...Hey, it's still Derek Jeter...but it's enough to make me wonder about the sort of ilk I am associated with when I admit to being a baseball card collector.
The bottom line is that it's pretty sad that this happened, although if Topps was trying to create some sort of buzz for their 2007 offering, they succeeded, but you would think that cramming packs with randomly assorted inserts like autographs and cut-up jersey pieces would be enough to sell the product, and associating the Great Jeter with the President wouldn't be necessary. Then again, I'm not working for Topps, and perhaps I also feel that the Yankees and Dubya have some odd similarities. I'm just saying, that's all...
Thursday, March 1, 2007
The All-Mediocre Team
Page 2's David Schoenfield has a really entertaining piece today about the well-documented spending spree this offseason. Tens of millions of dollars have been lavished upon the Jeff Suppans of the league, and Alfonso Soriano's pitiful on-base ability has been ignored in favor of those shiny, shiny RBI and home run totals. What Shoenfield did was put together a lineup of the highest paid mediocrities of the offseason and played out several seasons' worth of video game simulations to see how they did as a unit. Highly scientific stuff. Here's his lineup:
C: Begie Molina, Giants
1B: Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers
2B: Mark DeRosa, Cubs
3B: Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
SS: Julio Lugo, Red Sox
LF: Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
OF: Juan Pierre, Dodgers
OF: J.D. Drew, Red Sox
DH: Carlos Lee, Astros
Ace: Barry Zito, Giants
The results are about what you'd expect: mediocre! In an offseason where the Mets held back from giving Zito seven or eight years and otherwise kept it sane (you can argue that they were too cautious; we'll see what happens), it's nice to sit back and mock other teams' desperation (until a month into the season when I start complaining to anyone who will listen that we should've bid $55 million on Dice-K).
The most mediocre team money can buy [ESPN.com]
C: Begie Molina, Giants
1B: Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers
2B: Mark DeRosa, Cubs
3B: Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
SS: Julio Lugo, Red Sox
LF: Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
OF: Juan Pierre, Dodgers
OF: J.D. Drew, Red Sox
DH: Carlos Lee, Astros
Ace: Barry Zito, Giants
The results are about what you'd expect: mediocre! In an offseason where the Mets held back from giving Zito seven or eight years and otherwise kept it sane (you can argue that they were too cautious; we'll see what happens), it's nice to sit back and mock other teams' desperation (until a month into the season when I start complaining to anyone who will listen that we should've bid $55 million on Dice-K).
The most mediocre team money can buy [ESPN.com]
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