Mr. Met Is My Brother

I Miss Baseball

2009-11-15T13:41:00.003-05:00

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.

2009-11-15T11:54:00.002-05:00

"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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-14T11:14:00.002-05:00

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

Josh Thole Before Homework

2009-11-12T19:41:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-11T10:34:00.003-05:00

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!!!!!

2009-11-10T23:54:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-08T20:31:00.004-05:00

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

2009-11-06T19:15:00.005-05:00

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

Let's Go Mets!

My Ultimate Team

2009-11-03T13:08:00.003-05:00

I'm bored so I decided I would come up with a 25-man roster of all my favorite players. The only requirement is that they have to have had a Major League appearance. That means no Mike Nickeas.

P-Mike Pelfrey
P-Joe Smith
P-Bobby Parnell
P-Mark Buehrle
P-Johan Santana
P-Justin Verlander
P-Scott Baker
P-Jonathan Papelbon
P-Justin Masterson
P-Adam Wainwright
P-Jake Peavy
P-Barry Zito

C-Josh Thole
C-Joe Mauer

1B-Daniel Murphy
2B-Ian Kinsler
3B-David Wright
SS-Troy Tulowitzki

LF-Jacoby Ellsbury
CF-Grady Sizemore
RF-Xavier Nady

INF-Michael Cuddyer
INF-Mike Jacobs
OF-Seth Smith
OF-Jeff Francoeur

Random Defense Rant

2009-11-03T11:45:00.002-05:00

This is going to sound really random, but I'm bored and this caused me to think of it.

Any player can lose the ball in the lights, right? And when they do, they tend to cover their heads and wait for the ball to land. Every fan is going to laugh at that, including me. But if we were in that situation we would do the same thing. If there was a baseball falling out of the sky and we had no idea where it was going to land, we would also cover our head and wait for it to land. There's nothing wrong with that and we would defend ourselves if we were the ones to look like that.

Now, tripping over your own 2 feet and missing a fly ball is another story. I have no problem laughing at that.

Let's Go Mets!

I'll Be Thinking Of Him

2009-11-01T21:12:00.002-05:00

As I day dream in math I might actually be thinking about Jeff Francoeur.

He is scheduled to have surgery on his left thumb tomorrow morning. If he has the surgery during math I'll know. I will all of a sudden start thinking about him and not the cube-root of 365. He was good even after the injury. He hurt his thumb on August 23 making a diving catch and actually didn't go on the disabled list (I think). When he came over to the Mets he hit over .300 and learned how to take a few walks. Having him healthy will be fun because he was hitting the stuffing out of the ball with the torn thumb ligament.

Semi-Random Side Note: This morning I was looking at my Mets calender and noticed Ryan Church is the player for December. I honestly didn't remember Churchie isn't on the Mets anymore. Oops.

Let's Go Mets!

Thanks to Adam Rubin at the Daily News for the heads up on the surgery.

"Boyfriend" Update

2009-11-01T09:30:00.003-05:00

If you scroll down on the sidebar you will find a new picture of who I call my baseball "boyfriend". It's a picture of Josh Thole.

Now for an update of how he is doing for Venezuela in Winter Leagues. As of Friday he is batting .389 with a .404 on base percentage in 54 at bats. Wow.
UPDATE: He went 2 for 3 yesterday and is now batting .400

A lot of people have said Josh Thole should start the season at AAA next year. My head agrees with that logic but my heart says the Mets should give him a chance to start the year in the Majors. If he impresses in Spring Training and is hitting off Major League pitchers then they really should give him a chance to start the season in New York. I understand he needs to work on his defense as a catcher. Trust me, I know how important defense is as a catcher, at any level of the game. But Winter Leagues and Spring Training are a lot of time to work on defense. Also, if the Mets don't have a primary catching instructor in AAA then they really should have Josh with them and with a strong catching instructor. I'm not sure of the instructor situation in the Mets organization and there very well might be one in AAA, but wherever there is one, he needs to work with Josh.

I think there is a lot fear within the fan base that Josh is just another over-hyped semi-prospect and people want to keep him in the minors for as long as possible. But I say, give him a chance. If he really is as good as advertised he'll become a solid Major Leaguer.

Let's Go Josh!

David Wright Deprived No More!

2009-11-01T07:43:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm still a little deprived. But thanks to my boredom and Getty Images I found 10 new pictures of David Allen Wright. Okay, they aren't all new, some are from the People Magazine shoot in 2006, but they're new to me. The others are from about a week ago. And I found these just as I was feeling really empty without and David for almost a month. I'm so glad he's letting his hair grow again. I was so sick of the buzz cut!

Some of them have the watermark covering his face but that's only fair. I can't do anything about. I just love my David!

Let's Go Mets!

OH NO! This Birthday Post Is Late and I'm Sorry!!!!!

2009-11-01T07:23:00.002-05:00

On Friday, October 30, Michael James Jacobs turned 29 years old!
HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY MIKE!!!!!

BOO! I Scared You!

2009-10-30T19:32:00.002-04:00

Well, probably not. And it's not even Halloween yet. But the seniors dressed up at school today. It was a really disappointing dress-up group after last year's, which was pretty cool. The best costumes were the group of people who dressed as tetris pieces. At lunch they took off the costumes and stacked the pieces on a table. Other than that, there were a few hot dogs and I saw a ninja turtle. I'm planning on dressing as the what my sister calls the 80's. I'm wearing purple leggings, yellow high socks, a bright teal sweatshirt, and bright green shirt. I'm thinking of wearing it all day. Maybe I can convince my friends to go trick-or-treating.

As for baseball, I really don't know who I'm rooting for. I don't really want to live with either team winning but if the Yankees win I'll have to live with everybody at school and both my siblings at home. But the Phillies winning will give them another year of making fun of the Mets. I'M SO CONFUSED!

Let's Go Mets!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-10-28T15:34:00.006-04:00

Today, Joshua Michael Thole turns 23 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Pictures!

2009-10-19T12:17:00.003-04:00

There are finally pictures of David Wright's Vegas Night foundation event. There are 2 galleries and in the first one there is a picture of my 2 favorite Davids and in the second the 8th picture is David with 2 of his brothers.

Have fun looking at those pictures. I did!

I also found the video of Josh Thole on Mets Weekly. Enjoy!

Let's Go Mets!

There's Always Bad News

2009-10-17T21:51:00.002-04:00

I gave you the good news yesterday and today I have bad news.

First:
Sam Bradford is out again. For the most part I despise college football but he makes it watchable. Too bad the Jets got rid of their injured quarterbacks. Even though there really was no reason to get rid of Chad Pennington. Now I'm just hoping somebody gives Sam a chance in the NFL.

Second:
Brian McCann had more eye surgery so he won't have to wear glasses/goggles next season. I consider this bad news because I was looking forward to being a glasses-wearing-catcher with him next season. Now I have no glasses-wearing-catcher to look up to.

I realize none of this has anything to do with the Mets but there really is nothing going on with the Mets. So, I'll try to be interesting while the Mets are not but that means I have to go with some really random posts.

Let's Go Mets!

Good News When You Don't Think There Is Any

2009-10-16T17:05:00.002-04:00

Sorry about the lack of posts. School is really annoying.

On Wednesday the Indians took both Joe Smith and Grady Sizemore off the disabled list.

YAY!!!!!

Just thought I'd leave you with that. I have a busy weekend and actually don't know how much baseball I'll be able to watch.

Let's Go Indians!
and Mets!

"Always Love. Hate Will Get You Every Time"

2009-10-12T13:36:00.003-04:00

It's only been a week since the Mets and Indians and 20 other teams had their seasons end (with 3 more that ended recently) but I am already completely bored. And I miss seeing David, and Mikey, and Josh, and Bobby. And reading about when Joe and Grady would possibly come back and if they were traveling with the Indians at all. I NEED BASEBALL! So, I thought I would share some videos I made. Some of them I made over a year ago and a few are more recent. Enjoy!

And this one worked out so well:

Let's Go Mets!

A Reason To Vent

2009-10-10T09:25:00.002-04:00

I have kept my mouth shut since the Mets season ended because there hasn't been much to say. But now I have to turn my attention to what happened across the city last night.

Joe Mauer led off the top of the 11th inning with a double down the left field line. But wait! It wasn't a double. The umpire screwed up and called it a single when the ball clearly bounced over the wall and should have been a ground-rule double. The Twins got 2 more hits that inning and ultimately stranded the bases loaded without scoring a run. If Mauer had been on 2nd base to begin with at least one of the hits would have scored him. And then Teixeira's homer in the bottom of the inning would only tie the game.

That leads to the fact that the umpiring has been horrendous this season. Even with the extra umpires in the outfield last night the clearly correct call could not be made. And the night before there were 2 calls made at first base that were completely wrong. All season we have seen the umpires in bad positions to see the plays unfold, and therefore making the wrong calls on close plays (and some not so close plays). On WFAN this morning somebody suggested having an umpire in the booth upstairs during the playoffs to make sure the right calls were made. This doesn't mean reviewing every play but the close ones and the ones that were clearly wrong. I don't want replay on every call but something has to be done. Maybe it has to be a complete umpire overhaul and get new guys in there, or maybe there has to be more at stake for the umpires. If the LF umpire doesn't get fined for the call last night I will be disappointed. He would be getting away with taking the game and potentially the playoffs from the Twins. That can really take all the air out of a team.

I had one other thing to say but I didn't realize I would write so much about my first point so I'll save my other one for later.

Let's Go Mets!

HEADDESK

2009-10-05T18:11:00.002-04:00

Currently Jeff Wilpon, Omar Minaya, and Dave Howard are on WFAN with Mike Francessa. O.M.G. this is a disaster. Don't bother putting on YES Network, or WFAN because it will drive you crazy. I'll try to have quotes up later.

ummm ... Let's Go Mets!

It's Over

2009-10-04T16:07:00.003-04:00

I don't have much to say. My post from earlier basically summed up my feelings. But now the season really is over. And I hate this feeling. There isn't another Mets game this week. Or this year. I feel so empty. The Mets didn't have a decent season by any stretch of the imagination. But it really weeded out who was a real fan and who was just along for the ride. If you can make it through this season, as a fan or a player, you can make it through anything.

Josh Thole ended his first stint in the Major Leagues with a 3-for-4 game. He also caught the Mets only 2 shutouts of the season. Most people are saying he will be at AAA for the beginning of next season. I think Spring Training and what the Mets do about catchers in the offseason will work into his beginning of the season fate. I really want to see him in the big leagues for the majority of the season.

But today goes to Nelson Figueroa. He pitched his first career complete game and it was a shutout and absolutely dominating. At the beginning of the season he was DFA'd and didn't want to come back to the Mets. But he has proven he can pitch and should get a chance in Spring Training. The offseason will say a lot about what his possible role could be going forward.

Angel Pagan was a home run short of the cycle and David had another RBI. The Mets won their last game 4-0 and swept the series from the Astros.

Let's Go Mets!

p.s.
I added a countdown to opening day to the bottom of the page. Only 183 days.

Thank Goodness For Winter Leagues

2009-10-04T13:07:00.003-04:00

In a few hours the Mets season will be over. If the Mets lose there will be no more, "they'll get 'em tomorrow" and if they win, that will be all they have to go into the long offseason. It's not going to be fun but it had to come. The fall and winter spent without baseball is never fun. I can't get interested in the other sports. I understand football and hockey and like a few players, but it isn't the same. Baseball has by far the most games during a season and that makes it easier to get attached.

There will be no 7 pm games. Now reason to think of finishing my homework early. No game saving diving stops from David Wright. And no strikeouts with the bases loaded to kill rallies. The gut-wrenching, heart attack-inducing 9th inning leads will have to wait. Keith Hernandez will have to save his disbelief for 2010. There isn't any team to look to when I want to forget the Mets. And then I remember I don't want to forget the Mets because I never want the season to end.

In April there is the whole world ahead of you. It feels like an eternity until October and the offseason. And then it's June and you realize interleague play has already started and you have used up all your votes for the All-Star Game. It's July and your watching the All-Star Game, wondering if your team really deserves anybody to be there. And all of sudden the season is more than half way over. August means one month to decide whether your team is for real. And if they are for real, September is fun. The last month already. It feels like it was just April. Before you know it, October has started and you have nothing to root for. Your team missed the playoffs again and it hurts to watch other teams celebrate. And you can't wait for it to be April again.

The Mets have a long offseason ahead of them and it starts today.

Let's Go Mets!

Random Thoughts For A Rainy Afternoon

2009-10-03T15:56:00.006-04:00

The Mets are in a rain delay and I'm really bored. So, during the Mets game there was a shot of the dugout and I noted (of course) how cute Josh Thole is. My sister didn't know which one Josh Thole was and said something about somebody looking like Jacoby Ellsbury. I figured out she meant Josh Thole looked like Jacoby Ellsbury so I thought I would ask my readers.

Do you think they look alike?
(I don't see it, personally)

Let's Go Mets!