Happy New Year!

I'm going out for the last time this year in about 20 minutes and just wanted to thank all my readers. It's been a good year for the blog even though the Mets didn't have a good year. I'd like to think I was always interesting but sometimes baseball was slow and therefore writing was slow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Hopefully next year will bring better luck to the Mets. It can't be summer soon enough.

Let's Go Mets!

"I'll NEVER FIND CARD 54!"

Spongebob quote of the day provided to you by Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.

It's almost the end of 2009 so that means The 'Ropolitans is having Met of the Year voting. The first voting match-ups are David Wright against Jeremy Reed and Bobby Parnell faces off with Jeff Francoeur.

The first match-up is easy for me, David Wright gets my vote all the way. The second match-up is a tough one. Bobby Parnell was on the Mets first and he has a nickname, B-Parnz. Jeff Francoeur was only a Met for about half a season and he doesn't have a nickname. But he was somebody I secretly liked for a while during his Braves career. I guess you'll just never know who I vote for.

Mike Pelfrey is in a match-up later.
Ted Berg over at his blog TedQuarters explains one reason why Mike Pelfrey might not have had as bad a 2009 season as some people are saying. He explains why his walk rate really didn't get worse in 2009 even though a quick glance at the numbers would lead a person to believe that.

For obvious reasons I don't want to think Mike Pelfrey got worse in 2009. He certainly wasn't as good as he was in 2008 but he was better than 2007. Almost every player on the Mets had a bad 2009 compared to the rest of their career. I don't think the entire Mets team just got bad, but they really shouldn't have their careers judged by a one fluky year. That goes for Mike Pelfrey and others, including David Wright.

There's a lot to look forward to in 2010, and hopefully proving 2009 was fluke is something that comes from it.

Let's Go Mets!

How To Spot A Tourist

I apologize if this offends anybody, and I say "you're welcome" to anybody who laughs.

Yesterday I went into New York City for my family's annual day of being a tourist and seeing all the holiday stuff set up in the windows and all that stuff. My sister and I got bored so we decided to come up the surefire ways to spot a tourist:

• They say they need to go back to the hotel, or find the hotel, or anything pertaining to a hotel.
• They are carrying luggage.
• Somebody is instructed to look at the tall buildings.
• A foreign language is being spoken.
• They are carry shopping bags from the Nintendo Store, Disney Store, any other themed store, or a GIANT Sephora bag.
• They take pictures of store windows.
• They take pictures in front of store windows.
• They are looking up in the main concourse of Grand Central.
• They wait on the 20+ person line at Starbucks.
• They have a backpack.
• That backpack can be worn on the front of their body, as seen yesterday.
• They exclaim, "Whoa, that's a big tree!"
• You are asked to take a picture of them.

If I missed anything I am sure my sister will let me know.

Let's Go Mets!

P.S.
We also saw a guy in Saks without shoes. Only socks.

The Mets Make A Move

According to the afternoon entertainment (who will remain nameless) on WFAN, the Mets have come to a contract agreement with Jason Bay and the signing should be official next week, after he takes a physical.

It's good to know the Mets can sign players that have no interest in playing here but can't bother to make an offer to the guy who desperately wanted play here.

Ah well.
Let's Go Mets!

More Laughing

The last post was a bit intense. So, I decided to be kind and I'll lead you to something funny. Click here.

That, my friends, is the Garfoose. If you clicked the link you won't be confused by that statement. If you clicked the link you would also know why Dirk Hayhurst is the coolest person ever and why I have to go to a Yankees game against the Blue Jays this year.

That is all.

Let's Go Garfoose!

The Real Case for Joe Smith

Nobody is screaming for the Mets to get another relief pitcher this offseason because last season was what that was for. But the back-end of the Mets bullpen didn't live up to the hype. JJ Putz was injured and has left to the White Sox, K-Rod fell apart after the Luis Castillo FAIL, and the Mets didn't have a primary set-up option.

2010 looks like it will feature Ryota Igarashi who was strong in Japan but hasn't played in the MLB. Kelvim Escobar will look to come back from 2 years of injury and possibly fit in the bullpen. Otherwise, the 2010 bullpen will look pretty much like 2009.

Joe Smith could be a nice addition to the 2010 bullpen. He is the same type of pitcher as Sean Green but at multiple points of the season we were all calling for Green's disappearance. I don't have the numbers but could Sean Green really be making too much money to release him? Really? It would be nice for the Mets to have a consistent sidearm pitcher.

But what about Pedro Feliciano? Pedro is a lefty sidearm pitcher. Joe is a righty sidearm pitcher. Pedro has proven he can get both righty and lefty hitters out, while Joe has not. He would still stay as the primary lefty specialist because I don't know of another lefty reliever on the market, but Joe would move into the righty specialist role, lifting some of the work from the righties Feliciano would face.

The Mets still need a set-up man in the bullpen. That's what Bobby Parnell would work as. The Mets tried putting him in as a starter and he showed flashes of greatness but it was mostly a failure. B-Parnz showed much more as a reliever and could be a really good set-up guy. Yeah, yeah, you're all going to say he's too young. So, use Brian Stokes as the set-up guy going into the season and Bobby Parnell once the season gets going and he has become comfortable pitching in the bullpen. AND MAKE SURE B-PARNZ KNOWS HE'S GOING TO STAY IN THE BULLPEN!!! I don't want anymore of the back-and-forth between the rotation and bullpen.

Joe was consistent in 2009. He was injured but it was mostly bad luck. He had a freak setback in Spring Training when he got the viral infection and another freak injury ended his season when he tripped down the stairs and needed knee surgery. He did suffer a shoulder injury but came back from that well until the knee injury. Joe had an ERA under 2.80 in June, July, and August. Can K-Rod say that??

I really don't think the Indians have any special attachment to Joe Smith, so it really shouldn't take a lot to get him back. But if they were attached to him, I'd be flattered. The Indians have Justin Masterson anyway, and he is basically the same as Joe. They even have the same birthday.

Oh yeah, Joe was really good friends with Pelf and Mainer and could possibly lead to their success.

So, that's my bullpen layout for 2010. Hopefully it could realistically include Joe Smith.

Let's Go Mets!

The Case To Bring Back Joe Smith

In the first video you only need to watch the first five seconds, the entire second video is necessary for viewing.





Let's Go Mets!

More B-Parnz Cuteness

Along with the holiday message, MLB.com did an interview with Bobby Parnell about how he spends the holidays. He mentions he has a girlfriend in the interview, but I guess I'm okay with that. I have Joe Smith.

Let's Go Mets!

Step 1: Watch video. Step 2: Laugh.

Speechless.

A New Year, A New "Boyfriend"

Wow. That sounds terrible. But I'm allowed because this is only my baseball "boyfriend".

If you look at the sidebar, you will see I changed a couple things to indicate Joe Smith is my baseball "boyfriend" again. The lack of Josh Thole is for reasons I'll post later. For now I just want to keep you all up-to-date.

Let's Go Mets!

You Need Love

Apparently the Mets want to make learning to catch the hardest task Josh Thole has ever had to accomplish.

According to the AP the Mets are close to a deal with RHP R.A. Dickey. I'm sorry. But it is so easy to make fun of that name. What makes this so challenging to figure out is the fact that Dickey throws a knuckle ball. From now on I will refer to him as R.A. A lot less distracting.

Who's going to catch a knuckle ball?

Let's Go Mets!

B-Parnz Wishes You A Happy Holiday

If you click here you will be able to watch a really cute video of Bobby Parnell and his holiday greetings from the Mets.

At least he's someone to look forward to next spring.

Let's Go Mets!

And while you're at it, you can watch the hysterical season ticket promotions here, here, and here.

Someday We'll Figure All This Out

Maybe. Possibly. Actually, with the Mets, I'm not so sure.

Yesterday Jason Marquis signed with the Nationals. Jason Marquis wanted to play for the Mets but he wasn't even offered a contract from them. Yup. That's right. The front office was too busy sitting on their hands, waiting to hear from Jason Bay and Bengie Molina that they couldn't reach out to the one player that actually wants to wear the orange and blue. Jason Marquis was a middle of the rotation, innings eater the Mets desperately needed. Apparently Omar Minaya was unaware he's allowed to make offers to starting pitchers.

Maybe the Mets will realize the offseason isn't about waiting for one player to sign. Other moves have to be made with or without Jason Bay and Bengie Molina. They offered the contracts almost 2 weeks ago and the players haven't even responded to the offers. It's time for the Mets to figure out what they are going to do without Bay and Molina.

There should be a backup plan. I mean, the Mets are a major league organization. Of course they have a backup plan.

Or am I overestimating their abilities?

Oy vey.
Let's Go Mets!

Hey Look! Over There!

Haha. I wonder how many people actually looked.

This is an update on my favorite minor league catcher and yours, MIKE NICKEAS!

Mack's Mets has a post about the Mets farm system and their catchers, and they have a little blurb on Mike Nickeas. At least there is one other person on the face of the earth who follows his baseball career.

Mike Nickeas – Nickeas ended the 2009 season on the DL. At best, he will back up either Thole or Pena. Strictly an AAAA player.

That's pretty much it.

Let's Go Mets!

We're All Part Of The Same Sick Little Games

I have decided to use songs as my inspiration for post titles until I get witty enough to think of my own.

This is really just a quick post to show you the adorable picture of Joe Smith I found this morning.

Oh yeah, and Jason Marquis is gone to the Nationals. Good job, Omar.

Let's Go Mets!

Halfway Gone

I'd like to believe that is where the Mets are with Jason Bay. They offered him a contract 10 days ago and nothing has come of it. As much as I want Jason Bay to sign with the Mets, I don't think he's worth waiting around much longer. The Mets need to be able to move on with the offseason and make other moves. They can't be holding money back from other free agents because Bay won't decide if he wants to sign.

I say, give Jason a deadline. Make it Christmas or New Years or sometime in between. But the Mets have to show they are serious about making moves and improving this team. Letting Bay take his sweet time deciding where to sign shows the player has more power than the front office. The Mets need more than 1 player this offseason and I believe they could move on from Jason Bay and still be successful.

The Mets front office has to show they are in control of the situation and of the future of the team. If Jason Bay can't make up his mind about the Mets by December 28, I say forget it. Go get a starting pitcher and watch the teams Jason Bay can go to dwindle.

Let's Go Mets!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!!! (3/3)

Today David Allen Wright turns 27 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!!! (2/3)

Today David Roland Cook turns 27 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!!! (1/3)

Today, David Christopher DeJesus turns 30 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!

Jacoby Ellsbury

Warning: This post has nothing to do with Jacoby Ellsbury. He is just currently at bat in the Mets Classic on SNY.

Today, the Mets had their annual kids Holiday Party. Jeff Francoeur was Santa and Bobby Parnell was an elf, along with Angel Pagan and some other players I don't feel like thinking of right now. The Mets decided to post a video recapping the day's events on Mets.com.

I couldn't stop cracking up.

Let's Go Mets!

Jacoby is wreaking havoc on the Mets right now. And it's while Mike Pelfrey is pitching. I'm glad this game already happened.

Quick Link

I have a ton of homework to do so I wanted to leave you with a David Wright link. It's about his path to the Major Leagues.

Thank you, Mike Hampton.

Let's Go Mets!

My New Video

This morning I said I wanted to make a new video so that is what I did. It features David Wright, Josh Thole, and Joe Smith. Enjoy and Let's Go Mets!


It's also on YouTube here.

Click Here To Find Out How I'm Going To Survive The Weekend

Too. Much. Homework.

Anyway, the Mets have decided to sign every aging backup catcher you could dream of. Chris Coste doesn't even want to be on the team and Henry Blanco is OLD. He is also kinda scary looking so I will refrain from posting any pictures of him. For a little while I was okay with having Josh Thole start the year in Buffalo but then I was looking at pictures of him and realized how much I'd miss him. I need some way to see him and it just wouldn't work if Josh was playing for the Bisons.

BTW, Josh is supposed to come home on Tuesday. Not that I would be seeing him. But he'll be back from winter ball.

Most of what I have to say today is about catchers. Apparently Jerry Manuel and Dan Warthen want to blame the catchers for the lack of good pitching. They really shouldn't be blaming the catchers. Omir Santos was made the starter as a rookie. His rookie status was kind of 'under the radar' and I didn't know he was a rookie for a while. Not many people knew he was only a rookie and judged him as if he had been around and calling games with more experience. Brian Schneider was injured and didn't hit but I don't think he called a bad game. And of course there was Ramon Castro at the beginning of the year. You have be a really terrible game caller to catch a perfect game. There were way too many walks and way too much inconsistent pitching but it's not fair to put all the blame on the catchers.

Let's Go Mets!

P.S.
I think I'm going to make another baseball-player video today because there's a song I really want to use. So be on the lookout.

P.P.S
The picture of David is just because he is really cute. I don't think another reason is needed.

I Would Be Okay With Half Of This

The prospect of the Mets trading somebody to the Red Sox for Jacoby Ellsbury first came up last Spring when somebody thought the Mets could base a trade around Jose Reyes for Jacoby and Jed Lowrie. Now there is somebody saying the Mets should trade Carlos Beltran for Ellsbury and prospects and then turn around and trade Ellsbury and prospects for Carl Crawford. If the initial trade were to ever happen I would stop there. Jacoby has great defense and can hit at either the top or bottom of the lineup and steal as many bases as could possibly be imagined. In Citi Field the Mets aren't going to have a power hitting lineup no matter who they trade for or sign. I would have a lot of fun watching Jacoby play center field for the Mets.

This is just a suggestion by another blogger. It isn't even a rumor. Simply something I found interesting and wanted to share.

Let's Go Mets!

Josh Thole Update

I finally figured out how to get the box scores from the various Caribbean Winter Leagues. Josh Thole is leading the Venezuelan league in batting average and Lance Broadway is leading in ERA. Lance Broadway didn't play yesterday but Josh Thole did. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI and is batting .403. He also caught 2 runners trying to steal 2nd base.

During his time in Venezuela he has 3 home runs and 24 RBIs. Not bad for kid people say has no power. I find it funny calling him a kid when every professional athlete is older than I am.

Josh is scheduled to return home a week from Tuesday. Hopefully he'll still be leading the league in hitting when he comes home.

Let's Go Mets!

Because I've Been Listening to Backstreet Boys and I Can't Think Straight

First I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving! I know Thanksgiving is tomorrow but I don't think I'll be able to post.

Now, about the Mets "new" uniforms. I liked the throwbacks the Mets had for the 1969 celebration but if they really wanted to honor their history they should have just used those for their uniforms next year. I know they would have to get then as Cool-Base jerseys but that shouldn't be too hard. There is no need for the black shadowing on a throwback uniform if that isn't how the uniform actually was. Get it right, or forget it. That's my motto on throwbacks.

And about the title of the post. I got the new BSB CD yesterday (This is Us). It's really good. And totally distracting when you're trying to think enough to write a post.

Let's Go Mets!

Some Links and Really Good Music

First link is a rumor about Xavier Nady possibly talking to the Mets. If he signed with the Mets or Indians (or Red Sox) I would smile for days.

The second is an interesting feud going on between the baseball collectors of the world and some random blogger who called them out. I'm on team ballhawk.

And last, I have some really good music. All of it is by All Time Low and some of the lyrics are really amusing.











Let's Go Mets!

Josh Thole Update

I wanted to post. But then I got distracted and couldn't figure out what to post. Then I realized I got distracted because of a Josh Thole picture. And that's how I decided to get to this post.

Despite the worries about Josh's situation in Venezuela he is still there and is still dominating the league. Now he is hitting .407 and this week he went 6-for-17 with 5 walks and 3 strikeouts.

Wow. Josh is really amazing. I don't actually have anything else to say.

Let's Go Mets!

I'm Not Completely Sure Of What This Is...

...but it had predictions for Mike Nickeas.

I'm not an expert on any of the prediction stuff and don't really know which ones to trust. But I do know David Wright is going to hit about .300 so this is at least wrong about his predicted batting average.

Half the guys here aren't anywhere near being on a Mets roster and Mike Nickeas is one of them, but it's been floating around the Mets web.

Let's Go Mets!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

I'm bored without baseball, as you could probably tell from my last post. If you didn't figure that out from my last post you deserve to be slapped upside right. And I don't even know what that means.

So, anyways, I decided to give you a bunch of links to my favorite songs by the Backstreet Boys. Only because I totally watch their music videos on Youtube when I'm bored.

Bigger (my favorite part is Brian starting at 1:52)
Straight Through My Heart
Shape of My Heart
As Long As You Love Me
The One
The Answer To Our Life
I Still...

Let's Go Mets!
...or BSB! Or whatever...

I Miss Baseball

The regular baseball season has been over for barely over a month and the postseason ended a couple weeks ago. Why does it feel like it's been an eternity? I miss baseball. If teams aren't going to make trades or sign players then they should just start the season now. I want to know who is going to be on the Mets roster and whether or not I should have any hope at all going into the new season. Right now, the roster is almost exactly the same. A few players are free agents but the roster is big enough to field a team. A mediocre team, but it's something. Barely anything has started and I'm already sick of the rumors. I want something real to happen. The proposed trades to come true, the rumored contracts to be signed and the preseason predictions to take shape. I want the excitement of seeing new players in Mets uniforms and watching how old players are in other uniforms. It seems small, but just knowing what number the new players are going to be wearing is somewhat exciting. Replace the everyday rumors with the everyday games and constant trade analysis with constant performance analysis. No more questioning what the lineup is going to be, just put one out there to play.

It's only November and I can't take it anymore!
141 days until Opening Day.

Let's Go Mets!

Best. Tweet. Ever.

"According to a source, multiple MLB GMs are looking at David Wright this offseason, but only because he's so easy on the eye."

For once, I agree with MLB GMs.

Let's Go Mets!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY XAVIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today Xavier Clifford Nady turns 31 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY XAVIER!!!!!

Josh Thole Before Homework

With the recent kidnapping (and luckily, safe return) of Victor Zambrano's mother and basic unstableness of Venezuela, the Mets are looking into the safety of Josh Thole. They are considering asking him to return home from winter ball early. He is scheduled to return around December 8.

I don't have much to say about this. Obviously I want Josh to be as safe as possible and if he has to miss the last month of winter ball, so be it. I miss him and just want him to be safe. Whatever has to be done to assure him of his safety is okay in my book. I don't want anything happening to him in the last month. And he probably needs the rest anyway. Catching is not easy.

Let's Go Mets!

And please don't put the title in the form of a 'to-do' list. My dirty mind just caught up with me.

What I Want The Mets To Do and What I Think They Should Do

My regular Twitter is back, so just keep the other one in case Twitter hates me again.

Now, about the Mets. What I want them to do and what I think would be best for them this offseason are very different.

My plan:
The Mets say they need a catcher but they have Josh Thole. Let me enjoy some part of the season and let him play.

They need a left fielder who can hit and Xavier Nady is a free agent. Bring back some 2006 magic and sign him.

Jon Garland and Jarrod Washburn are both free agents. Sign them so Mike Pelfrey can be the only pitcher in the starting rotation with a name starting with the letter J. (Johan Santana, Jarrod Washburn, Jon Garland, John Maine)

Trade Luis Castillo and Carlos Beltran to the Indians for Joe Smith, Justin Masterson, and Grady Sizemore. Further increasing the percentage of Mets with names starting with the letter J.

Hmm... I guess this means they need a second baseman.

Throw Asdrubal Cabrera in the deal with the Indians and move him to 2nd base.

The more realistic plan:
I don't know specifics because I'm not a general manager and don't pretend to play one on TV.

The Mets need somebody to catch for a year before Josh Thole will really be ready to take over. Yorvit Torrealba is a free agent but I don't see anything working out between him and the Mets after what happened a few years ago. Ramon Hernandez is an intriguing name. The Mets have previously had interest in him and he could be a mentor to Thole later in the season.

My left field suggestion is probably the most reasonable of them all. Xavier Nady is a Scott Boras client but spent the season injured and will be coming off a 2nd Tommy John surgery. He would be much cheaper than Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, leaving the Mets with money to spend elsewhere.

The starting rotation is trickier. The pitchers on the market are expensive because they either have Scott Boras as their agent (Jarrod Washburn) or are a free agent that would require a compensatory draft pick (Randy Wolf). Jon Garland would require a draft pick but not to the same level as Randy Wolf. I have wanted the Mets to sign or trade for Garland in the past and nothing has happened. Despite his success he has never been very expensive for anybody to sign. And I don't necessarily want the Mets trading the farm for Roy Halladay.

I don't want the Mets trading Luis Castillo unless they know they will definitely sign Orlando Hudson. Castillo did everything possible NOT to be traded during the 2009 season. He wasn't on the disabled list despite the fact that it feels like he is always on the DL. Trading Luis Castillo while his value his high would be a good idea but that means being 100% positive there is somebody to play second base.

That's all I have to say for now. Everybody is saying the offseason has to be productive for the Mets. But isn't every offseason supposed to be productive? There is so much room for improvement that a worse year in 2010 would be a failure of all failures.

Let's Go Mets!

New Twitter Account!!!!!

Apparently Twitter decided to be stupid and thought I was hacking into my own account when I changed my password. So, if you have a twitter and were previously following @NYMetsGrrl94, please follow @MetsGrrl1994.

Let's Go Mets!

My Case For Xavier Nady

I came across Nick Cafardo's column for Boston.com. I read it because I saw the name Xavier Nady.

Of course I want Xavier Nady on the Mets next year but I honestly think he could be helpful. Even as a fourth outfielder he is well liked in the clubhouse and is a fan-favorite. Xavier has everything to prove next year, especially if he is only signed on a 1 year deal. And why not give him an incentive-laden 1 year deal? He has proved he can play in New York and he enjoyed playing here. With short term contract he would be playing for his next deal and to prove he isn't as injury prone as he seems. Xavier is a good player and can play any outfield position as well as 1st base and he has previously played 3rd base. He is coming off a 2nd Tommy John surgery and I know injuries are the last thing the Mets want to deal with, but really. There is nothing to lose in signing him.

Let's Go Mets!

...and speaking of Xavier Nady, I think I might react a little differently if I found him on my couch

Picture Post

It's been a long week and I need some cheering up.

Let's Go Mets!