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DFA Show. Make Pedro2 a LOOGY only.

Send down Joe Smith, use Brian Stokes in that roster role.

Callup the best of Niese/Parnell. Insert them into the rotation.

Put John Maine in the closers role. When the loudmouth closer returns, keep Maine in the 8th inning.

Use Kunz/Muniz more. They can't be worse than the Heilman, who since he wants to start can be the new long man.

It can only get better with these moves.

 

Paul Lo Duca has no hard feeling when it comes to Met fans. As for the team itself, that's a different story.

"I want them to lose every game," the Nationals catcher told The AP Sunday.

Lo Duca spent two years in Queens before signing with Washington in the offseason. He was available, he says, because Omar Minaya never attempted to re-sign him. He gets his first chance to beat his former team tomorrow night at Shea.

"I'm a brutally honest person, and I tell it like it is. You don't like it, so be it," he said. "And they didn't like it."

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2008/04/13/2008-04-13_paul_lo_duca_boo_mets.html

Anyone want to have a fantasy baseball league this year? Last year we had one but it was really hastily put together, I'd like to avoid the confusion and get it done early this season. Please let me know ASAP, along with what ever categories/formats people might be interested in. Thanks.

Lets Go Mets!

For those of us watching getting warmed up for the big show. 10-7 Indy at the half. Interesting game. Gerry Austin just robbed the Chargers IMO. Go Giants. Go Giants. Beat the Cowgirls.  Go Giants. Beat the Cowgirls. Go Giants. Beat the Cowgirls. Go Giants. Beat the Cowgirls. Go Giants. Beat the Cowgirls.  

With the 12th pick in June 2003 draft, Jim Duquette in the possibly only useful thing he did as General Manager of the Mets, selected Lastings Milledge. Milledge was touted as the best high school hitter in the draft.

Poll

Omar Minaya

28%

Firmly in control of the Mets

11 votes

71%

Blows the direction of the media wind

28 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

From Roto

Mets acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Brewers for RHP Guillermo Mota.

Happy Dance! Drinks on me. We acquire a serviceable catcher, who granted never walks(296 OBP, 78 OPS+), but neither did our former catcher and we get rid of Mota.  Sweet, Omar turned a turd into a blossom. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Poll

Are You Sad to See Mota Go

37%

Yes

6 votes

62%

Yes

10 votes

16 votes | Poll has closed

(moved from diaries. --eric)

The Mets' negotiations with Yorvit Torrealba collapsed on Saturday and the free-agent catcher will not be headed to Shea for next season after all.

The two sides already had agreed on a three-year contract worth $14.4-million and it appeared that the only remaining holdup to an official announcement was a physical. But a person familiar with the situation said Saturday that the Torrealba deal was dead and the team confirmed it.

"The Mets did not reach an agreement with Yorvit Torrealba," Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said, "and there are no current negotiations.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spmets1117aa,0,6599370.story

WTF? What do we do now?

UPDATE [6:53pm by Eric]: My off-the-cuff and totally unconfirmed theory is that the Mets made it clear to Torrealba fairly late in the game that he wouldn't strictly be the starting catcher and that he would be expected to split time with Ramon Castro. Despite the Mets offering more money and years than anyone else, Torrealba got cold feat at the last minute, preferring to be the de facto starting catcher elsewhere for less guaranteed money or years.

Eric hasn't given us one today, so use this for discussing the game. Pedro vs. Oswalt. So happy to have this guy back in the fold. Magic number is 16 and dropping. To hell with football today. Lets Go Mets.

J Reyes SS
L Castillo 2B
C Beltran
M Alou LF
S Green 1B
P Lo Duca C
R Gotay 3B
E Chavez RF
P Martinez P

UPDATE [2:43pm by Eric]: I totally put up a game chatter but neglected to make it visible. Another awesome job by me, I know. In other news, woot Petey!

While appearing in his weekly radio interview with WFAN, Willie Randolph said he intends to give Lastings Milledge the `bulk of the playing time' in right-field over Shawn Green, `who's having a down year.'

    According to Randolph, he likes Milledge, likes his `fire,' he likes that he is a bit `brash,' and he especially likes the level of energy that the young outfielder brings to his team, adding, `he could be an important player for us in September.

http://www.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/2007/8/15/3161328.html

Poll

Does it take a Milledge for the Mets

100%

Yes, what took so long.

24 votes

0%

No, Green should be starter.

0 votes

24 votes | Poll has closed

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Editor's Note: Thanks to DoctorK16 for jumping on this story. Use this as a thread to discuss the scandal. I, for one, think this isn't going to end up being as bad as it seems. Then again, I always think that way.

This has the potential to destroy the league and professional sports.

The FBI is investigating allegations that veteran NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on basketball games over the past two seasons, including ones in which he officiated.

Defense attorney John Lauro confirmed Donaghy is under investigation but refused to comment on the allegations or the case.

According to a law enforcement official, authorities are examining whether the referee made calls to affect the point spread in games on which he or associates had wagered.

The law enforcement official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on the condition of anonymity, said the referee was aware of the investigation and had made arrangements to surrender as early as next week to face charges.

The law enforcement official said the bets involved thousands of dollars and were made on games during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Donaghy officiated 68 games in the 2005-06 season and 63 games in 2006-07. He also worked 20 playoff games, including five last season.

In a statement issued late Friday afternoon, commissioner David Stern said the league will help the government in any way it can.

"We would like to assure our fans that no amount of effort, time or personnel is being spared to assist in this investigation, to bring to justice an individual who has betrayed the most sacred trust in professional sports, and to take the necessary steps to protect against this ever happening again," Stern said. "We will have more to say at a press conference that will be scheduled for next week."

The FBI probe, which began recently, also involves allegations that the referee had connections to organized crime associates. Other arrests are expected, the official said.

The referee had a gambling problem, according to the official, and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance.

(moved from diaries. --eric)

By now we all have heard about Lastings Milledge's foray into rap. If you haven't here are the details.

This article was run in yesterday's front news section on page 5, not in the sports section. They even went out and found a City Councilman to be outraged.

"He's lost his mind," said City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-Queens), who sponsored the Council's resolution that condemned use of the N word. "I don't understand how he could, in the spirit of Jackie Robinson, put out music that's so vile, using . . . some of the worst words in music."

I won't defend Lastings lyrics or rap in general, except to point out that songs that regularly play over Shea Stadium loud speakers makes this look like Spongebob Square pants stuff. It also turns out that the song was made 18 months ago and was never intended for general release.

But according to Manny D's manager, David Rodriguez, that song was made in jest by the duo a year and a half ago and is not scheduled to be a part of his client's yet-to-be-released album.

Source

Milledge of course got a stern talking to from Omar, got sent to bed with out cookies and milk and apologized through the same manager. End of story. Or not. It's not enough to just pull some 1 1/2 year stupid song made by a 22 year old Mets prospect hanging out with his buddy in the winter and make it into front page news. We need to editorialize about it too. Enter Jay Greenburg who dropped this gem in the Post today, who writes that Milledge is a bad seed and should be traded ASAP.

Note that the title of the article is "Last Straw" of all things. Not like the Mets ever had a star RF that may or not have managed to get himself in some trouble from time to time that had shared a last name with a small fleshy red fruit or anything, and happens to be the same ethnicity as Milledge. How special. In the right column a picture of Milledge and his girlfriend appear, with Lastings wearing a 5 finger ring that spells out Gangsta, which of course means he must be one. They couldn't be at a costume party of some sort. Follow on to the text of the article where Greenberg drops this gem.

Kobe Bryant beat a rape rap. Fans only know the players on the field.

I mean Lastings and Kobe Bryant share ethnic background, and Kobe Bryant was accused of rape and the charges were dropped, so Lastings is bad. Airtight logic.

So where does this all lead? The media would have you believe to Milledge being traded. I am beginning to hope that Lastings is traded and becomes a huge star somewhere else. As it is becoming clear to me that the combination of the narrow minded, bigoted media members, who still think they report to Archie Bunker and lemming fans who should demand better of their news outlets, will never report on him without their biases. The media is clearly trying to push him out the door, what do you think?

Poll

Lastings Milledge is

16%

A thug that will beat old women in the street should be traded for a bag of balls

7 votes

11%

a hard core gangsta that should be kept as he can help the team but should be locked in Rikers at night.

5 votes

72%

a talented young man trying to find his way as ballplayer and person, who can help the Mets.

31 votes

43 votes | Poll has closed

NEW YORK -- Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez was scratched from Monday night's start against Florida and placed on the disabled list with bursitis in his right shoulder.

Hernandez was replaced by Chan Ho Park, who was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.

El Duque, 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA in five starts, told the Mets on Sunday in Washington that he felt pain in the shoulder and was sent to New York to see a doctor.

Park was 3-1 with a 7.29 ERA in four starts with the Zephyrs, allowing 26 hits in 21 innings -- including six homers. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2854120

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(moved from diaries. --eric)

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/04/30/2007-04-30_duque__valentin_share_same_hos pital.html

Valentin flew to New York for an MRI after leaving Saturday's game with a "loose" feeling in the ACL area on the outside of his right knee. Valentin was told he may need another surgery but plans to rehab for now and come back within a month. Valentin admitted one motivation for postponing surgery is his $4.3 million contract for next year, which is guaranteed only if he reaches 400 plate appearances.

This is pretty bad news. Hopefully the rehab works and he doesn't need any surgery. Damion Easley and to a lesser extent David Newhan, all eyes on you. I suspect Gotay will get the call over A Hern as who ever comes won't play much and Gotay lefty stick with pop is something the Mets can use on their bench anyway.

Update [2007-4-30 18:38:56 by DocMets16]: It's a partially torn ACL. This is really bad.

Valentin, batting .279 this season, injured his right knee during Saturday's game at Washington and had hoped the injury wasn't significant. Tests revealed the partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2854120