I don't hold against Billy Wagner his sudden rediscovery of his inner Brave any more than I'd fume at Brian Schneider at this point for remembering what a Phillies fan he'd always been. This is what ballplayers who aren't Chris Coste do when they go to a new ballclub. They find a reason to have always wanted to be where they suddenly are. I'm sure Billy comes closer than most to meaning it when he says stuff like, "I remember Bob Horner hitting four home runs in a game." ... Billy wasn't quite
As the Mets go about their alphabetical roster restocking — Alex Cora ... Chris Coste ... Chuck Cottier? — they'll have to do it without five of their longtime ticketholders. A Mets fan and FAFIF reader sent us the note below the other day explaining why he and his friends will not be renewing their seats ... I don't know whether this group, whose letter was signed "Amazings NY," has reconsidered its decision based on the subsequent securing of clubhouse wise man Cora or eternal Phillie
The Mets were meandering through their most arid major award season since 1993 — the last time no Met scored a single vote for MVP, Cy Young, Manager of the Year or Rookie of the Year nor nabbed a Silver Slugger or Gold Glove — when it appeared we'd have nothing more to sate our perilously low self-esteem than Luis Castillo's fantastic seventh-place finish in voting for mlb.com's National League Comeback Player of the Year balloting (six points behind the decreasingly heartwarming return of
If I've learned anything from the returning Keith Hernandez these past few years that he has analyzed Mets games. it's that ballplayers like to come up with new names for old things, particularly if they save the players some syllables. Thus, it was no surprise to me when I started hearing Keith make occasional reference to "fundies" ... as in fundamentals ... Fundamentals: four syllables. Fundies: two syllables. Look how much effort a ballplayer saves in the shortening ... Keith gives me the
The Mets used to regularly play Memorial Day doubleheaders, Independence Day doubleheaders and Labor Day doubleheaders, yet the holiday that launched them into the public consciousness was the one we celebrate tomorrow ... That's right: the Mets are as much a part of Thanksgiving as stuffing, pumpkin pie and forced conversation you could do without ... Two months before they started limbering up in St. Petersburg and nearly four months before they began losing in earnest, the New York Mets made
The Mets will have a different look next season -- both in the dugout and on the field. Dave Jauss is the team's new bench coach and Chip Hale will take over as third base coach on manager Jerry Manuel's staff. Razor Shines, who coached third base this year, shifts over to first. New York retained hitting coach Howard Johnson, pitching coach Dan Warthen and bullpen coach Randy Niemann after ...
Update: It's official. I don't believe the Mets that the natural color is from 1962 ... It's an open secret that next year the Mets will have a cream-colored version of the pinstripes uniform, though reports are all over the map about whether the white pinstripes will still exist and whether the annoying black drop shadow will remain in either or both ... Like a lot of things the Mets have done in the last year or so, most significantly the big new mostly but not completely great stadium they
Earlier this week, esteemed FAFIF commenter Kevin from Flushing sent me a link to a video report out of Minnesota regarding the new Twins ballpark with the following warning: ... "kick in the balls 23 seconds in" ... I didn't necessarily want a kick there or anywhere, but with a come-on like that, how could I not click? I did and, as promised, at 0:23, Jana Shortal of KARE-TV wound up and delivered. As the camera lingered over a wall devoted to an immense image of Kirby Puckett, she let loose
Just recently I found that Phil Rodgers of the Chicago Tribune had delivered his list of predicting where the upper crust of Free Agents will sign.(From the look of some of his guesses there are certain cacti growing in Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood) Well ... it is time for mine as well ... Matt Holliday- Mets ... Not a player I am 100% enthralled with, but certainly the premier talent in the 2010 FA Pool. I think the Mets actually do break down and go out and get Mr. Holliday, who signs for a
The Mets did the right thing in bringing Wally Backman back to the organization after all these years. And Jerry Manuel will have much more to worry about when he goes into the 2010 season on a short leash ...