Rob Parker Strikes Again!

A few months back, I wrote a little piece on the bias of a certain ESPN writer on the way Jose Reyes finished his 2011 season. Today, I’ve come across another one of Rob Parker’s gems, this time suggesting that Mets fans should blame Mets ownership and the front office for the departure of Jose Reyes and his signing with the Miami Marlins. You did get one thing right, though, Rob. I don’t blame Jose Reyes. But I don’t blame Mets ownership and the front office, either. Instead, I blame the Players Union, Owners (collectively), and Bud Selig. Why? Simple. Have you seen the absurd contracts players are signing in this ‘so-called’ recession? $106 Million for 6 years? Who deserves that? Did he find a cure for cancer or something? Did he stop a world war? Did he invent something revolutionary? So no, I don’t blame Mets ownership and the front office for Reyes signing a contract he would have never received from the Mets. I blame the union, owners, and Selig for letting contracts get so incredibly out of hand, that the Mets ‘forcibly’ had no chance at re-signing Jose Reyes.

But I digress… I’m going to enjoy disecting this one! Shall we?

“No matter what the final numbers are, the bottom line remains that the Mets were kidding themselves when they failed to deal Reyes before the trading deadline to get some quality players in return”

And your entire write-up lost all credibility right there. Kaput. Gone with the wind. Would you have taken a chance on Reyes as a GM when he was just coming off of an injury… twice? There’s so much risk associated with Reyes that it didn’t seem worth it for owners to want to make a move for him. Try again.

“Coming into the season, if the Mets weren’t sure what to do with Reyes — trade him or try to re-sign him — it should have been crystal clear after Reyes wasn’t interested in the Mets’ money. Hence, the Mets should have traded Reyes for the best package available. It only made sense.”

See previous response. Best package available? You’re joking, right? He just comes off of an injury, and you think teams are going to give the Mets a great offer? Better yet, you think the Mets should’ve just traded him for anything? This isn’t MLB2KWhatever, Rob. You can’t turn your ‘trade settings’ off.

“The Mets have made many mistakes since 1986, their last championship season. One of the biggest is not dealing players when their stock is sky high. Too often, they wait until it’s too late and don’t get full value. This time, the Mets simply blew it. This one will hurt.”

Care to enlighten me on this theory of not dealing ‘high stock’ players before it’s too late? And this will hurt? On the contrary. This one will counter the $70 million the team lost this past year, and make player-based decisions a little easier on the financial front. If you think this Mets fan is ‘hurt’ by Reyes signing with the “I love buying championships and disbanding” Marlins, then you’re severely out-of-touch with the fanbase you grew up so close to.

Once again, you’ve proven to know nothing about the fanbase. None of your Mets-related writeups make any sense, have any solid points, and read as if the point is to mindlessly bash the Mets. Bravo, Rob.

Stay Classy.

You Stay Classy, Rob Parker!

Today was supposed to be a day where Mets history was made. Today was the day Jose Reyes would win the batting title, becoming the first Met in the team’s history to win a batting title. Today was a day for celebration after a season of uncertainty, roster overhaul, and personnel changes.

Well, Rob Parker of ESPN had another idea of what today might have actually meant. Parker, who writes more Yankees-based articles than anything, decided to lay a dead horse called “Reyes is no Jeter” and beat it with a blunt object, repeatedly. Basically, Rob believes that by leaving the game after getting a hit in his first at-bat of today’s game, cushioning his lead in the batting race, Reyes cheated Mets fans. Rob, I’ll tell you this… I, a lifelong Mets fan, don’t feel cheated in any way. But lets focus on the real isue at hand, your hypocrisy. Lets go over a few key points in your mash-up of scrabble words:

– “For sure, it was a selfish move. Forget about helping the Mets win a game — it was about Reyes trying to win a batting crown. Fair or not, it was a move his crosstown rival, Derek Jeter, never would have pulled. ”

Really? I seem to remember Jeter pulling out of this season’s All-Star Game (an event that fans vote on) because he was making sure he was good to go after the All-Star Game to… wait for it… make history? Want more fun facts on your ‘boy’, Derek? Deadspin’s got you covered.

– “Instead of competing all the way through, Reyes took the safe, selfish way out. It’s hard to root for guys who do that — even Reyes, who has had a tremendous bounce-back season.”

I guess its safe to say you never been a fan of players like Bernie Williams, who pulled the same “shenanigans” in his pursuit of the 1998 AL batting title (/fabricated, like your past work, Rob). How about Wade Boggs? Remember him? How about Willie Wilson?

– “Instead, at the finish line, Reyes turned on his teammates, and the paying customers. Worse, he turned himself into a chicken.”

You’re joking, right? (see above). First off, the Mets had nothing to player for, unless you consider locking up 4th place in the division something to play for. Second, the Mets had never had a batting champion before Reyes. Now that he’s got a batting title, the chances of him returning to Flushing are slim-to-none. I can only wish that he takes a ‘hometown discount’ and returns, but if the price is too steep, I’m perfectly fine with him taking his talents (and injuries) elsewhere.

I know you’ve been pushing for a Reyes trade all season, and now that he’s a free agent, you must be going through pairs of pants like an Ex-Lax addict. Reyes has nothing to do with Jeter, and Jeter has nothing to do with Reyes. All your ‘headline’ says to me is “My team is better than yours!”. No… really!? I get it. Your ‘team’ wins. Mine doesn’t. Why is that important? Why is that always part of the equation? Different leagues, different ownerships, different systems, different everything. Do us all a favor and stick to basketball, the Yankees, and keep your biased opinions on Reyes out of your articles (if I can even call them articles). Considering you’re a Queens native who grew up super close to the orange and blue, I’m a little curious to know where this “blah blah blah Mets blah blah blah” tone came from…

Oh yeah… and Stay Classy!

You Stay Classy, Brian Sabean!

In case you missed it, SF Giants catcher Buster Posey had his season ended via leg injury after taking a hard collision at the plate from Scott Cousins of the Florida Marlins. If you can find a replay of the collision, it looks like a run-of-the-mill home plate collision; something that is a legal move in Major League Baseball. Unfortunately for Buster, he ended up injured and out for the rest of the season. One would think, “Hey, its part of the game, and it happens.” But I know one man who thinks otherwise. Since the injury, Cousins has contacted Posey, to no avail, but has apologized both publicly and to the Posey family. So this should be behind us, right? Wrong.

Giants GM Brian Sabean had some choice words for Scott Cousins on the radio in San Francisco, calling the collision “malicious” and adding “If I never hear from Cousins again or he never plays another game in the big leagues, I think we’ll all be happy.” Add that onto the fact that Cousins has been receiving death threats for his “malicious” play at the plate, and we’ve got a world-class instigator in Mr. Sabean.

Hey… Brian… I may not have a lick of major league experience… But last I checked, you don’t have a lick of experience either. Do you know what its like to be in that situation? Do you know what goes on in the heads of both the runner and catcher? You sure talk like you do. Can you look directly into the lens of a camera, instead of hiding behind the microphone, and tell us all that Scott Cousins had it set in his mind to injure Buster Posey? Injuries happen. The right thing to do would have been to tend to your own player, and let the two of them “man up”, like Cousins has been trying to do. Instead, you look like the same irresponsible buffoon who, according to that controversial investigation, knew he had a ‘user’ on his team and kept his mouth shut so he could keep the cash flow running thanks to Señor Shrinky Balls.

The most recent ‘official statement’ reads: “Brian has been in contact with Larry Beinfest… to assure him that there is no ill will toward the player.”

lolwut!? Did you not hear what you said on the radio as you said it? The guy is receiving death threats, and what you said shows no ‘ill will’? How in the world did you become a major league GM with that kind of etiquette? Either way, you’ve got a lot of apologizing to do, and you need to start with Cousins. Sorry, Giants fans, he’s all yours. Minaya might have been a mental case when it came to controlling in-house antics, but he was very careful with his GM-to-player public statements.

Terry Got Trolled

What’s that, Terry?… Angry? Upset? Confused? You shouldn’t be. Nobody around the organization should be. Why? Because your team is… (pause for a quick informational break)

The Mets are clearly okay with being super awful during or after the 7th inning, and last night’s loss to the Pirates made that perfectly clear. Although, a certain Mr. Terry Collins doesn’t seem to be on board with the whole “Hey guys! Let’s just play Single-A ball now. I gotta get home in time for storytime” thing. As a matter of fact, he shouldn’t be on board with that, and I’m glad he isn’t. But last night’s ‘rant’ to reporters after the game struck an odd chord. It was a lot of the same story, and I’d like to break down some of the “Oh No You Di’int!” points:

– “I’m running out of ideas here”

Oh boy… um… Terry… Don’t ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever say that. /nails the coffin shut

– “I’m ringing the rag dry, coming in here, having to look at you guys looking at me like I’m a stinking fool”

Ammunition for the trolls… I mean… Awesome Sports Writers of New York City!

– “We just can’t continue to make foolish mistakes. They’re big-league players. They should be able to do it.

I don’t know, Terry… I see a lot of Bison on that field… /grabs a fork and knife

These are just some of the “things you probably shouldn’t tell a reporter” things, but I happen to agree with a lot of what Terry says in his post-game rant. Baseball is a team game, and if the team can’t play together, you don’t win. If you’re given the chance to play at the major league level, then you’d better play like you belong. I get it. I agree with it. What I don’t agree with, however, is his sudden notion to not to not point fingers at certain players at all. When Daniel Murphy makes a few fundamentally awkward plays that end up costing the team a few runs, you point that out. When your outfielders misjudge a fairly simple fly ball to have it bounce off of their glove, you point that out. But why keep that ‘in the clubhouse”? Why is it such a bad thing to say exactly what it is that fans think about those players? Why the coddling? These guys make far too much money to have to worry about getting their feelings hurt. They’re paid to play a game and be successful at it, not throw a tantrum over how they had their feelings hurt. By all means, call them out. Don’t let their mistakes go.

(end of informational break)

…. in transition and not currently built to win! /pulls up in a Wahmbulance

New York Metropolitan Misunderstanding

Game 2 of the doubleheader in Atlanta is almost done, the Mets are losing again, and my Facebook/Twitter feeds are about to implode from the apparent panic that fans seem to be experiencing.

Seriously? Are you all really that distressed or upset? Did you honestly believe the current roster has a legitimate chance to compete? Did you honestly believe that making the switch to Sandy/Terry would bring immediate results? Stop for a moment, take a breath, and realize that these Mets are probably not going to head into a Playoff Chase, come away with a Pennant or a Championship. Celebrate the positives, and take the negatives for what they are. Besides , we should all be glad that we’re not in the position Terry will be in once the game ends, when he has to release some of that frustration he’s walking around with. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near that locker room… Yikes!

FYI: Pedro Beato was pretty awesome tonight. That’s right… positives, people!

Here’s an interesting mantra that might help cut down a little bit of your stress:

“The 2011 New York Mets were not built to win, and they’re playing appropriately. The 2011 Boston Red Sox were built to win, and Beantown has already pressed the big red button”.

Chew on that, or chew on this:

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSTGOyDFPrU%5D

Major League Greedball: Werth Every Penny

The Mets have already started their final game in their series against the Nationals today, and I couldn’t help but notice the frustration on Jayson Werth’s face as he tossed aside some of his equipment aside after popping up against Chris Young. You see, Moneybags Werth is cashing in on a 7 year (that’s not a typo), $126 million contract (that’s not a typo either).

Before I go any further, let me just add that this kind of money-tossing is something that pushes me further and further away from enjoying the game, when there are public servants and educators out there who bring in just a hundredth of what some athletes make.

You see, with a high amount of greed comes a high amount of expectation. Not only has Werth cashed in on the best contract he’ll ever obtain (mark my words), he has also taken on an incredible amount of pressure. I have no idea how that pressure feels, but it can’t be healthy. Werth hasn’t had the best start to the season, and certainly not the start that a 7-year, $126 million player would have. Here’s the 8-game line on Werth:

Jayson Werth (37 PA): .226 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4 R, 6 BB, 7 K

The Mets fan in me can’t stop celebrating Werth’s awful start, being that he plays well against the Mets, especially when he was in Philadelphia. The ‘disgusted by the greed’ fan in me can’t stop celebrating Werth’s awful start. We won’t really know how much pressure Werth is feeling until midway through the season, or perhaps until the season is over. But for the time being, he’s just another overpaid athlete who’ll rake in the big bucks even if he stinks it up. Congratulations, Jayson. You win in life, apparently.

Update: It looks Werth’s slow start isn’t going unnoticed, as Kevin Callahan of the Courier Post asks the important question: “Will the Nats soon see Werth at his best?“. It’s your move, Jayson. Enjoy the multi-million dollar pressure!

Major League Greedball: Manny being… you know…

Thank you, Manny Ramirez, for taking some attention off of the Mets (even if it’s just for today) after they lost to the Nationals today. Dickey looked a little lost on the hill while Zimmermann pulled a ‘Josh Johnson’, the bullpen was equally as spotty, and while sports writers are eating it all up… you decided to call it quits. Thank you, Manny Ramirez. Thank you.

If I really cared about Manny, I’d probably ask a few simple questions like:

Why, Manny Ramirez, would you call it quits so abruptly? You couldn’t help yourself? You stayed with the ‘program’ and were so close to really starting fresh again. So instead of growing a pair (which I’m sure is hard, being that they’re probably the size of raisins by now), you decide to walk away and call it quits like a coward? That’s quite the example you’ve just set. For all of the charities you’ve ever been involved in… For all of the community events you’ve been a part of with the teams you’ve played for… For all of the children and those who dream of walking in the footsteps of some of the greats… You really set quite an example with your cowardly decision.

But I don’t care about Manny. He was caught a second time and instead of being open and honest, another one bites the dust. He’s just another athlete who thought he could cheat the system, and when the system came knocking, he opted into the witness protection program. Typical, cowardly, and forgettable.

Did I mention the Mets looked silly against the Nationals today as they walked 9 batters and… I mean… Steroids McNeedle retired today! Thanks, Manny!

You Stay Classy, Gonzo!

Update: I was informed that Gonzo would offer this post to his mother as a birthday gift. Isn’t that swell? What a guy, that Gonzo! Send my regards! =D

—————–

Another game of the 2011 MLB season goes by, and another Mets rant goes live. If I may, assuming you’ve just read the linked article, I would like to sum up the first 5 games of this young season for the Mets.

Game 1 – Josh Johnson showed up, Pelfrey was erratic
Game 2 – Wright puts it away, Frankie goes wild
Game 3 – Dickey was ridiculous
Game 4 – Young impresses, Hamels struggles vs Mets again
Game 5 – Mets come back from 7-0 to tie, Bullpen can’t hold it

Looking back at the first 5 games of the season, there are a ton of positives. Wright is hitting, Dickey continues his dominance from last season, Young is lights out in his debut, The 7-run comeback, and they’re getting contributions from everyone on the roster. If you could write anything negative about the first 5 games, it would be that Pelfrey has been off of his game (if he ever appears to have one), and K-Rod well had an awful appearance. That’s it. Five games, tons of positives.

“But Josh, why would anyone write such a ‘bashing’ article if the Mets are playing better than anyone really expected, and aren’t 0-5 to start the year like the guys up in Boston?”

Well, unidentifiable question asker, it’s really quite simple. There’s nothing ‘substantial’ to knock the Mets about. They’re not 0-5, they’re playing hard, they’re playing as a team and they look like they’re having fun! Despite what writers want you to believe, there actually is no “National Punchline” involving the Mets. So Chris Rock, a Mets Fan, makes a few cracks. He’s a comedian. He gets paid to make people laugh. Of course its funny. I laughed when I heard that joke! So Seth McFarlane decides to throw the Mets under the bus with a crack before the season even starts. Again, he gets PAID to create a show that will make people laugh. Otherwise, Family Guy would’ve been off the air a long time ago. John Stewart? The Mets fan? I don’t think I need to show you where this is going… If you can’t laugh at yourself, or the things you love, then… nevermind, I’m not being paid to be your therapist.

The bottom line is this… As long as the Mets continue to play hard, and put up a fight on the field, the only thing we’ll continue to see from ‘expert bloggers’ and writers looking for a quick burst of hits to their articles in order to reach their quota for their newspaper is an overdose of “BAHAHAHA METS (insert claim of actual rivalry) BAHAHAHA METS (insert random madoff joke) BAHAHAHA METS (insert random charlie sheen quote about winning)”

In short, what you’ve just read over at the Philly.com website is the result of what happens when a sports writer strokes his e-peen for just a second too long. It feels good on the way out, but its just not worth the mess. But don’t blame me for the impressive mess Gonzo leaves for you to clean up. Go on and tell him to clean it up himself.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110407_Gonzo___Mets_are_a_national_punch_line.html#ixzz1Iq7gpBva%20Watch%20sports%20videos%20you%20won%27t%20find%20anywhere%20else

Sandy Promised Me a Pony!

First off, before I begin this little baseball rant, I have to congratulate the San Francisco Giants on achieving the ultimate goal and bringing the city of San Francisco its first World Series Championship. However, I have to say I’m not thrilled about the post-win reaction by the hometown fans. Tsk… Tsk…

Anyway, this isn’t a Giants Blog, its more of a Mets blog, so here goes the rant. It’s been a rough 4 years. Now, I’m not saying Mets fans have it as bad as some other fans across the league. We really don’t… (I’m looking at you, Cubs fans). But the last 4 years, again, have been some seriously rough years. The Wilpons have had an awful image, along with their parade of shmucks that ran rampant within the organization. Luckily, Jeff took the binky out of his mouth and uttered the words a lot of fans wanted to hear for a while… “It’s time for a change”. With that, Omar and crew were no more, and a new era has apparently started in Flushing. What era, do you ask? Well, its none other than the Sandy Alderson era.

Who is Sandy Alderson? I don’t know, and I don’t care to know. See, I’m a ‘results over words’ kind of guy. While local and national sports media and blogs have been salivating over this guy, I could care less about his past or his credentials. As I told a good friend, “the Mets could hire any shmuck they want as long as he/she gets the job done”.

I Can Haz GM Job!?

Shortly after he was hired, Mr. Alderson decided it would be a good idea to answer some fan tweets via video response on the Mets website. I didn’t get a chance to watch it (nor do I really want to) but judging from the general blog and sports media response of “Sandy Promised Me a Winner!”, I can’t help but be reminded of the long-time World of Warcraft slogan, “Ghostcrawler Promised Me a Pony!”. I hear you, Sandy, but I’m not listening just yet. Stop answering tweets, stop sending out “Manager Search Update” emails, and get going. You’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do. Oh yeah, and while we’re on the subject, tear down Citifield and rebuild Shea Stadium. Kthxbye!

Amazin’

Friday, June 12th, 2009: The Mets and Yankees play a hard fought ballgame in the Bronx.

With 2 on and 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, Mets Closer Francisco Rodriguez throws to Yankees 3rd Baseman Alx Rodriguez, who promptly pops the ball towards Mets 2nd Baseman Luis Castillo.

Chaos ensues in Mets country:

Thanks to Ray Dice Chan over in the Global New York Mets Fan Group over on Facebook for the intense drawing.