Wotta bunch of revoltin' developments

It's clobbering time?!?

I may be the ever-lovin' blue-eyed IMFM, ready to clobber something, but there really isn't much going on for the Mets. The ideas, such as they are, floating around the Mets Blargosphere seem to follow this formula: report some batshit rumor with a blog headline every 15 minutes, and vehemently disagree or agree depending on which way the cold wind is blowing.Well there is the typical embarrassments that find the Mets no matter what they do ("Tax Payer Field"), we could talk about that some more. At the risk of being accused of negativism, for (what's left of) my money, the big "developments" seem to be:

1) Derek Lowe (abetted by Bora$) is out of his flippin' mind (see below).
2) Any K-Rod signing will eventually be a big mistake.
3) Ibanez is a possibility for Omar and that is, in the words of Stevie Ray Vaughn, a cold shot baby (Go here, do, for a video interpretation of what the Mets would get if they signed Ibenhad for the outfield--hint: it can do the splits). Omar's disturbing words about what a great person Raul is:

"Last year we did talk to them during the trading deadline about him," Minaya said. "Unfortunately, we were not able to get a trade done. We've heard very good reports about him, not only as a player, but as a person. I understand the Phillies, they're one of the teams that's considering him. We are also keeping an eye on that situation, even though we're focusing right now on pitching primarily. But he is a good player."

4) Are the Mets toying with the idea of Heilman as a starter? Unbelievable but possible. (Ok really more of a question than a development.)
5) Metsies don't have the chips to make more sensible trades for bullpen help
6) Is Adam Dunn such a bad idea?
7) The idea that either one of Hellman or Pedreadful could be on this team next season makes me sick.
8) Tatis and Figgy...almost there!!


YES!!


DOUBLE YES!!

How Omar's lack of action thus far strikes you depends on your point of view, and perhaps your prescripton drugs. Either Omar is following a Deng Xiaoping-like* Tao Guang Yang Hui (韬光养晦) strategy, a perhaps sinister bidding of time until he strikes, or we clearly headed for Metastrophe IV. Guess which position I take?

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Wacky World of Wilpons


What the hell is going on in Metsland?

Speaking of positions, New York’s City Councilmen and Staten Island Republicans Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo's posturing over the naming rights of Citifield has gotten a lot of press. They propose renaming the park "Taxpayer Field." Why us? the Wilpies must be thinking, we're no greedier than many other clubs (ahem-PRICE HIKE BULLSHIT-cough). The Mets seem never to be able to make a not-ultimately-embarrassing decision (Willie Randolph, Tom Gl*vine, etc etc etc etc.).

I have to admit, I share the curmudgeonly reporter outrage, though mine is a bit more muted (in-rage?), at the symbolic bending the public over and getting away with it. George Vecsey, who really really likes not-ex Met Jackie Robinson, is right to bust a nut over this, quoting Oddo who may be a Republican but gets points for cheekyness:

“A cheeky way to make a point,” said Oddo, who noted that his colleague, Ignizio, had the idea first. “These are complex issues,” Oddo added. “They go over my head, but this was a way to vent my frustration.”

Oddo was referring to the worldwide economic crisis brought about, in large part, by American buccaneer capitalists we seem to admire so much, unregulated by government. In terms of lives being affected, it’s hardly funny, except for the antic chutzpah of a failing corporation putting its name up in lights, with somebody else’s money — yours and mine.

“This is more of a case of using the office as a bully pulpit,” said Oddo, who does not claim the City Council has any legal power to take down the annoying name. The response on the Internet has made Oddo appreciate “the beauty of a snarky comment.” Previously known for his campaign to ban metal bats, claiming they are dangerous to young players, Oddo does not apologize for his varied interests.

“I can fill a pothole at the same time I spark a debate,” he said.

The Wilpon's couldn't say no to the cash, and now they got what's coming to them for not being more classy. Since it apparently already resembles Citizen's Bank park, why not name it Citizen's Tax Field at Flushing (Money) Park? They could do worse. One wonders if the Wilpons will run the promotion, seen in other venues, of having free tax preparation consultations one weekend game in April.

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After a tour of Citifield, Matt Cerrone let this interesting tidbit out the other day:

The short porch in right field is intriguing. I do not envy the right fielder – Ryan Church, good luck with that. The view from these seats are pretty cool, actually, so much so that Jeff Wilpon told reporters he purchased season tickets for this section. I don’t blame him. I guarantee it will be a fun time up there.

Jeff Wilpon likes the outfield seats at the new park so much he purchased some? Making them even scarcer for fans? Fuck you very much, Jeff.

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Lowe has some big balls.

Sometimes a statistical perspective is really really needed. The KRod hunt is one of those times. To drive the point home, a read-worthy column in today's NY Times deploys Win Probability Added (WPA) to remind me of why KRod scares the living bejesus out of me. In terms of his ability to affect his team’s chances of winning a game, KRod was only the 4th best reliever in the AL last year. But the real terror is his declining velocity at age 26. Remember when Billy Goat started throwing slider after slider and then started tinkering with his arsenal a few months into his stay in Flushing? Here we go again.

















He's baaaack!!

Now Lowe is a different story. $18 million a season???? Competition with big market clubs like the Sawx and Spankers?? Oh this has not gone well. I think the Mets could get Rob Lowe at a more reasonable price. All I can say is that I hope Derek is filming this, cause once the bidding war is over, it will assuredly be all down hill. Get it? Because the baseball Lowe is trying to do for pitcher salaries what the actor Lowe did for sextape industry!


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Time to hang up the Thing suit, but with the winter meetings just around the corner, I'm sure to have more blunders to cry about soon!


*from his famous 24-Characters: keep cool-headed to observe, be composed to make reactions, stand firmly, hide our capabilities and bide our time, never try to take the lead, and be able to accomplish something. As worded, can either reassure, or scare the shit out of US strategic planners.