SB Nation User Blog: LOUtheMETSfan

This is what goes on in the off-season?

LOUtheMETSfan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:52:35 -0000

Ah yes. It's a dreary, rainy, cold morning here in the nation's capital. I'm up after a mediocre night's sleep. I thought I would sleep better after watching the first installment of Ken Burn's "Baseball". Don't worry, his documentary is not what effected my sleep. As a matter of fact, his documentary was some of the better television I've seen in a long, long time. In fact, did you know that "purists" of the game derided the curve ball when it was first introduced? Ha!

So, after a scrumptious plate of scrambled eggs w/cheese, bacon and a glass of orange juice (New Year's resolution be damned) I opened up the Washington Post while XM's; The First Team on Fox w/Steve Czeban sarinaded me in the background. Ah! What's this? News on the Nationals, Manny Acta specifically...

COLUMN: Contract Status Not An Issue For Acta

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/06/AR2009010603369.html

If this is how the Nationals run the team then: "Lucy! We got a problem!" The article mentions Acta (whom I like because of his attitude and demeanor) taking the family to London. He mentions that he mostly read some history and traveled. Nothing wrong w/that right? He calls it: "Just getting smarter." Hmmm, I wonder.

The article mostly covers the fact that the Nationals haven't offered him a contract extension for 2010. Manny, he's o.k. w/that and gives respectable reasons for being so. ...HOWEVA! I was pretty amazed to find out that while Manny was in London his:

* Phone didn't work there. Uh, pardon me? In this day and age of interconnectedness, he didn't contact his wireless carrier prior to the vacation to determine whether or not he could get service there? He didn't bother to ask how to change the settings in his phone to work in Europe as opposed to the states? C'mon Manny, you can admit it. You just forgot to take the European adapter you purchased at the local Radio Shack to charge your phone in London. Right? Weren't you expecting any calls from the front office on possible acquisitions? Or doesn't the player personnel manager confer w/the team manager?

* Wife didn't allow him to pack his computer. Uh, I'm sorry. Since when did wives dictate what the hell a man can pack in his bag? Sure, I can understand that part of the reason for the vacation is to get away from it all, but c'mon. That computer sure would have helped since his cell phone didn't work. Come to think of it, did his wife's cell phone not work either? Maybe she didn't pack hers. ...LOL! NOT BLOODY LIKELY!

* Had to rely on British newspapers for baseball news: "I couldn't believe how far removed it is from baseball there." Manny, after watching the first installment of Ken Burns's Baseball last night I can tell you that Rounders, a precursor to baseball, and the game of cricket are more highly respected than baseball. As a matter of fact, one Mr. Albert Spalding (yes, that Spalding) went on a worldwide crusade in 1874 to try to sell the game of baseball to the masses. Do you know who didn't bite? The Brits. They looked down upon baseball because they felt it was a ripoff of, you got it, Rounders and Cricket. So I don't find it too hard to believe that they're not going to be a "promoter" of the game in their local daily.

Sorry gang. You may find my bewilderment and sarcasm against Manny and Co. unfounded, but I believe that if you're the team manager, you take the extra effort to stay connected to what's going on and whom may be playing for you. ESPECIALLY on a team that had the worst record in baseball last year and whom will be in its second year in its new stadium.

Well, off to the gym. (Damned New Year's resolution).

Manny a Yankee. Imagine...

LOUtheMETSfan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:56:21 -0000

Good evening Yankee fans and happy new year! Though I am loathe to promote anything positive or in favor of your team (and your way of life), I would like to take a moment to speak hypothetically about...The possibilities.

I just finished reading an article by the notorious Steven A. Smith. Most would say the guy is off his rocker, however, you can't deny that the guy definitely brings some "flava" to what sometimes is staid and bland sports reporting. The man knows most of what he's talking about even if some declare him a radical gas bag. In this article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove08/columns/story?columnist=smith_stephen&id=3789788

S.A.S. lobbies for the Yanks to go after Manny. Personally, as a Mets fan, I don't have a horse in that race but as a general baseball fan I would absolutely love to see it for a few select reasons:

1. The sheer drama that would play out in New York. 2. Because I want to see Manny stick it to Boston. (As much as the Mets hate the Yankees and vice versa, I hate Boston and Philadelphia much, much more). 3. It would be the most explosive offensive lineup in quite some time. I'm assuming it would look like this?

1. D. Jeter
2. R. Cano
3. M. Teixeira
4. M. Ramirez (DH)
5. A. Rodriguez
6. J. Damon
7. X. Nady
8. J. Posada
9. B. Gardner

Remember the calm before the "Teixeira signing" storm? I don't remember a peep from the Yanks discussing that marvelous coup prior to it happening. Is the same storm brewing for Manny? Are Cashman and his vultures surveying the landscape below to see how other teams are trying to get "a deal"?

Discuss...

Andruw Jones to Mets? Don't worry, just talk...right now.

LOUtheMETSfan — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:01:26 -0000

As I was driving into work today I listened to Rob Dibble and his sidekick "Stern on XM's The Show (Ch. 175) @ 5:32pm EST, jabbering on about baseball and economics. (It actually was a dang good discussion). As they were going to a break, Stern (perhaps) a Mets fan had just received a report from Buster Olney (ESPN) that the Mets were talking w/the Dodgers about a possible trade for Andruw Jones. Luckily for me, my swerving didn't kill anyone in the immediate vicinity or damage my hoopty!

After they came back from the break (I can just picture you guys frantically reading this) Stern reported that the Mets are 'apparently' looking to move Castillo for Jones. The reasoning? 1st, That the Mets would rather eat up the Jones contract for one year than eat the Castillo contract over a period of three. 2nd, this would free up the 2nd base position for Murphy and / or O. Hudson (if he were to be acquired).

Dibble and Stern stated that this is basically trading garbage for garbage. Well, my question is (and what the report asks), why would the Dodgers want Castillo? They're going to have to pay him lots of money "not to play" because they have DeWitt (purportedly mad upside) able to play that position. Do the Dodgers want to get rid of Jones that bad that they're willing to pay for someone (over three years) not to play? Anyone want to take this on? Story linked below:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3798671

Is this the standard in recruiting?

LOUtheMETSfan — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:18:57 -0000

Hello Longhorns,

I've decided to write in the "Burnt Orange Nation" forum because I've written here before, I've made numerous visits to Austin, Tx and everytime that I've been there, I've been treated with courtesy, kindness and respect. It truly is one remarkable place.

Forgive my ignorance when it comes to the world of big time recruiting, especially in the world of college football. After reading today's article in the New York Times about potential Defensive Tackle recruit, Jamarkus McFarland...I'm speechless. I wonder, when these facts come out about how each school (Texas, Oklahoma, L.S.U., USC) handled this recruit and what he experienced as part of the recruiting "process" will anything come of it?

I no longer wonder why today's professional athletes behave the way they do. If it's true that McFarland's mother said that she was told that if he attended LSU, a maid would clean her son's room...Well, that's just "F'n" ridiculous!

After reading this article, the whole aspect of recruiting seems absolutely disgusting. It appears to be one of the lowest forms of professions available. (If you want to even call it a profession). I guess that since I've never paid attention to this part of the prospective college athlete my comments sound pretty naïve. Be that as it may, I just think that the behavior by the schools, coaches, boosters et. al, are completely despicable.

Regardless of his choice, this guys seems to have his head screwed on tight and screwed on right. Thank God for his mom as well. Maybe his maturity and her upbringing will prevent him from doing something stupid while in school and when / if he makes it to the NFL. See link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/sports/ncaafootball/26recruit.html?_r=1

Since when did the Mets become such a despised baseball team?

LOUtheMETSfan — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:51:51 -0000

Today, ESPN's Bob Klapisch writes on why everyone else in the league will dislike the New York Mets even more so due to the addition of super celebratory reliever, Francisco Rodriguez. See link:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove08/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=3778394

To be quite honest, I always thought that the New York Yankees were the most hated team in baseball due to their free wheeling ways when it came to spending their money. Buying up some of the most talented names in baseball and as a result, winning a number of championships and at a minimum, being a contender for the playoffs I always assumed that the Mets were second fiddle in New York and if there was any team to be hated, it was those "Damn Yankees".

I do understand that there is a current and passionate dislike between the "Phitin' Fudgesicles" and the Mets. And back in the 90's there was a real animosity between us and the Braves. But since when did we become such a despised baseball team around the league? I've watched a number of Mets games live and on t.v. since 1997 and I don't remember a lot of arrogant behavior. Sure, we had a little episode with a fella by the name of Lastings, but come on.

In closing, I've had it up to here with this notion that; 'Celebrating on the field in baseball is poor manners.' Pardon me? In what sport do players NOT celebrate? Klapisch says that Jose Reyes high fives teammates outside the dugout. So what! Derek Jeter is always manning his post at the top of the dugout every time someone jacks a home run. I don't see the big deal.

The Phillies Still Won't Shut Up

LOUtheMETSfan — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:27:18 -0000

Far be it for me to disparage someone's right to speak, opine and in the case of Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hammels, blabber on. But the constant badgering of the METS team as choke artists generally and showboatsmen specifically by Phillies players just continues to show their own lack of class and in this case a bit of hypocrisy.

In this article Cole Hamels discusses how he and his teammates gave Shane Victorino a bit of a ribbing by comparing him to Jose Reyes. Apparently our beloved Jose likes to "point his finger up as if he won the game" after hitting a homerun. Seems as if Victorino did the same thing early in game 2 of the NLDS after hitting a grand slam off of C.C. Sabathia. "Even though you hit the big home run, you don't need to pimp it."Cole Hamels also states: "For the past two years they (METS) have been choke artists."

So let me get this straight, in the pantheon that is sports today, you're gonna give grief to a METS ballplayer, knowing that he plays for your most heated rival for showboating AND calling the METS "choke artist" TWO MONTHS after winning the World Series? You couldn't be smart and take the high road, you just had to TRY and be cute about the METS. Well you know what? I hope you get "pimped" right in the neck by a Pelfrey 'heater' when we lock horns in '09.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081211&content_id=3714026&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

New Look for the Nationals

LOUtheMETSfan — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:51:24 -0000

Recently, the Washington Nationals revealed a new look to their uniforms. Right off of the bat, my favorite is the dark blue jersey with the D.C. logo with the stars and stripes. The organization did a good job putting that one together.

As for the away (grey) jersey, I like the cursive writing of Washington and the angle at which it sits on the jersey, however, it doesn't go very well with the block style numbering. Take a look and see for yourself.

Have a great National's day!

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=was

Something just as tasty to chew on...

LOUtheMETSfan — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:36:31 -0000

I do sincerely apologize for my absence over the past few weeks. (Aviation Law and Microeconomics were butt kickers). I don't have anything to say about Phil Fulmer and I thought perhaps, some of the loyal denizens of UT football-dom would per chance like to debate a slightly different, however, equally angering topic...The College Playoff system I think the majority of us want. See below.

In light of recent comments about the BCS format by Pete Carroll and Joe "Pa" Paterno, I'd like to go ahead and begin the discussion about the BCS versus a playoff system. (Perhaps it's been done here before?) I'm quite sure there are as many ideas for a playoff system as there are conspiracy theories about the JFK assassination. Well, here's another idea. Heck! It's probably been thought of already. If so, I haven't heard of it. Here goes.

At the end of the regular college football season (to include the completion of conference championship games), take the top eight ranked teams and put them in a playoff system. (Surely, the six current BCS teams who would win their conference outright would be in the top eight). "WAIT A MINUTE" YOU MAY BE SAYING! Just because a team won their division doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be in the top eight. True. If they aren't, then something definitely must have been wrong with that team and/or the conference they were in for that particular year. (Lousy teams, poor strength of schedule or ridiculous parody in that particular conference are a few examples).

The BCS people (whomever that mysterious lot is) can still call it the BCS because the four major bowl games are what initially determines who will continue on to a National Title game. The playoff system would run like this:

Use each of the four major bowl games; Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange as the start off point for the playoffs. New Years day could host the Rose and Fiesta bowls and Jan 2nd could host the Sugar and Orange bowls. If Jan 1st and 2nd don't fall on a Friday and Saturday, then ensure that the games are held on the 1st Friday and Saturday of the month. Can you imagine all the hype that using bowl games as the "jump off" point for a college football playoff would create? Whoa man! It would be glorious!

The following Saturday would host the two semi-final games on two neutral sites and the Saturday after that would host the championship game at a neutral site as well. If this format were used for Jan. 2009, the last game would be on Jan 17. Can you imagine a college football playoff coinciding with the NFL playoffs? Hallelujah! Holy &%*#! Where's the tylenol? :-)

For those that feel that the regular season would lose its luster, (hello John Saunders) that's just completely silly. Every week still counts just as much, but now, even more so! Everyone vying for a shot at eight elite spots? How on earth does that diminish the excitement of the regular season?

Any argument for the bowl games losing their luster is silly as well. Your bowl game has just been given added value! And as for the four major bowl cities; Los Angeles, Tempe, New Orleans & Miami, you could still host the final championship game just as you do now with the BCS. Every year, one of the four major cities would take turns hosting. The college football season would only be extended by two weeks. Surely the coaches and players can live with that. Below is a purely hypothetical scenario using current rankings and the dates of January, 2009 as an example:

Final Rankings:

SEC (Alabama)
Big 12 (Texas Tech)
Big 10 (Penn State)
Pac 10 (USC)
Big East (West Virginia) - Good example of a team that probably wouldn't be ranked in the top eight. If not, so be it. Whatever team is ranked 5th (in this scenario) would be the fortunate team. It may even be a team that already has a representative from their respective conference. A division title doesn't automatically give you the right to be in the elite eight. (Texas) would be next in line based on current BCS standings.
ACC (Georgia Tech) - Another example of a divsion winner not in the elite eight. (Florida) would be next in line based on current BCS standings.
At large (Oklahoma)
At large (Utah)

*** Yes, I know. In this scenario it would be possible that the Big 12 would have three teams in the playoffs. It's not their fault that they're good. ***

# 1 Alabama vs. #8 Utah (Sugar Bowl) Friday, Jan 2nd

# 2 Texas Tech vs. # 7 Oklahoma (Fiesta Bowl) Saturday, Jan 3rd - REMATCH!!!

# 3 Penn State vs. # 6 Georgia Tech or Florida (Orange Bowl) Friday, Jan 2nd - ugh! not very neutral.

# 4 USC vs. # 5 West Virginia or Texas (Rose Bowl) Saturday, Jan 3rd

Following Saturday, Jan 10th (Again, hypothetical scenario / results)

#1 Alabama vs. #4 USC - Neutral site

# 2 Texas Tech vs. #3 Penn State - Neutral Site

Following Saturday, Jan 17th (Again, hypothetical scenario / results)

#1 Alabama vs. #2 Texas Tech - Los Angeles, Tempe, New Orleans, or Miami in succession.

*** Result? Fans get their playoff championship and the BCS gets their money...And then some! *** Any takers?

It doesn't have to be Sunday to talk about the sham that is the BCS!

LOUtheMETSfan — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:48:19 -0000

In light of recent comments about the BCS format by Pete Carroll and Joe "Pa" Paterno, I'd like to go ahead and begin the discussion about the BCS versus a playoff system. I'm quite sure there are as many ideas for a playoff system as there are conspiracy theories about the JFK assassination. Well, here's another idea. Heck! It's probably been thought of already. If so, I haven't heard of it. Here goes.

At the end of the regular college football season (to include the completion of conference championship games), take the top eight ranked teams and put them in a playoff system. (Surely, the six current BCS teams who won their conference outright would be in the top eight). "WAIT A MINUTE" YOU MAY BE SAYING! Just because a team won their division doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be in the top eight. True. If they aren't, then something definitely must have been wrong with that team and/or the conference they were in for that particular year. (Lousy teams, poor strength of schedule or ridiculous parody in that particular conference are a few examples).

The BCS people (whoever that mysterious lot is) can still call it the BCS because the four major bowl games are what initially determines who will continue on to a National Title game. The playoff system would run like this:

Final Rankings:

SEC (Alabama)
Big 12 (Texas Tech)
Big 10 (Penn State)
Pac 10 (USC)
Big East (West Virginia) - Good example of a team that probably wouldn't be ranked in the top eight. If not, so be it. Whatever team is ranked 5th (in this scenario) would be the fortunate team. It may even be a team that already has a representative from their respective conference. A division title doesn't automatically give you the right to be in the elite eight. (Texas) would be next in line based on current BCS standings.
ACC (Georgia Tech) - Another example of a divsion winner not in the elite eight. (Florida) would be next in line based on current BCS standings.
At large (Oklahoma)
At large (Utah)

*** Yes, I know. In this scenario it would be possible that the Big 12 would have three teams in the playoffs. It's not their fault that they're good. ***

# 1 Alabama vs. #8 Utah (Sugar Bowl) Friday, Jan 2nd

# 2 Texas Tech vs. # 7 Oklahoma (Fiesta Bowl) Saturday, Jan 3rd - REMATCH!!!

# 3 Penn State vs. # 6 Georgia Tech or Florida (Orange Bowl) Friday, Jan 2nd - ugh! not very neutral.

# 4 USC vs. # 5 West Virginia or Texas (Rose Bowl) Saturday, Jan 3rd

Following Saturday, Jan 10th (Again, hypothetical scenario / results)

#1 Alabama vs. #4 USC - Neutral site

# 2 Texas Tech vs. #3 Penn State - Neutral Site

Following Saturday, Jan 17th (Again, hypothetical scenario / results)

#1 Alabama vs. #2 Texas Tech - Los Angeles, Tempe, New Orleans, or Miami in succession.

*** Result? Fans get their playoff championship and the BCS gets their money...And then some! *** Any takers?

What the hell Peavy?

LOUtheMETSfan — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:43:22 -0000

ESPN states that San Diego Padres starting pitcher Jake Peavy would be interested in pitching for the following teams: Braves, Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals or Astros.

The New York Times reports he would also be interested in pitching for the New York Yankees because he grew up wanting to play in pin stripes. He goes on to state that he would prefer to stay in the NL where he knows the hitters better than he does in the AL.

WELL MR. PEAVY, DID YOU KNOW NEW YORK HAS A "NATIONAL LEAGUE" TEAM? THEY'RE CALLED THE METS!!!

Oh...I guess the contract he'd be asking for would be impossible for the METS.

STILL!!! How about at least mentioning the METS? What are we? Chopped liver?