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.