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Can it possibly get more embarrassing for the Mets? Just when you thought the answer would be no, the futile franchise manages to out-do its very own pathetic history. Coming from the franchise that flies a manager cross country only to fire him, comes the latest gem; the Tony Bernazard firing. For those not familiar with Tony Bernazard, he's the VP of player development that dim-wittedly ripped his shirt off, while challenging a young minor leaguer to a fight, in the midst of vulgar name calling. The Mets earlier today announced his firing, but not before raping the franchise of more dignity, with a totally mismanaged 3 ring circus, disguised as press conference. Take a look at the video & how Omar Minaya tries to bury the writer (Adam Rubin) who broke the story. Instead of making the firing the story, Omar made an embarrassing situation into an uncomfortably embarrassing one.
Sadly, Adam had to hold his own presser addressing the misguided accusations. Rubin admitted how devastated he was & didn't know how he could cover the team going forward, calling Minaya's actions reprehensible. Rubin also addressed the situation in this interview.
Adam, consider yourself lucky if you are reassigned by the Daily News to cover an actual baseball franchise. Personally I recommend the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League. I'm sure their management figures will be able to guide you in how attain a player personnel position without trying to derail your current career as a writer.
Seriously, the Mets have become the Oakland Raiders of baseball. More known for their sheer absurdity, than the on field success normal franchises strive for. The Mets needs more than an enema. The organization needs to fade into bolivian (ala Mike Tyson) & be replaced with an organization that can function without constant chaos around it. The next press conference the Mets should hold, is the dismissal of Omar Minaya. This latest act by the Ringmaster of The Big Apple Circus is too much for anyone to handle. My sources tell me the press conference will be sponsored by Ringling Brothers as the Mets will undoutedly name Rebo the Clown as Minaya's replacement.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Fresh As A Rose
It comes up every year at this time. No matter the season, the Pete Rose debate continues. Every year when the Hall of Fame gathers in Cooperstown, NY for the latest inductees, the back room debate centers around a man who was banned from the game 20 years ago. Rose agreed to be place on the permanent ineligible baseball list as part of a settlement to stop the investigation that he gambled on baseball games. He effectively agreed to be banned for life by then commissioner Bart Giamatti. With the current climate of baseball & the steroids controversy, many fans say it's finally time to lift the ban. I take exception.
You have to remember, gambling damages the very fabric & legitimacy of the game. Before you say, "well steroids does the same thing," let me give you a scenerio. While manager of the Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose was in a position of power. He also gambled on those games (52 of them in 1987 alone). So it's not far fetched to think he might have lost some games purposely in order to win the wager. To me, that sort of behavior is irreperable. Games could have been influenced or pre determined & as much as an affect as steroids has had on the game, it doesn't pre determine the outcome. A manager can literraly fix a game however he likes. Rose even bet as a player, so who is to say he didn't purposely throw an opportune error or worse. Now Rose says he never bet against the Reds, but are you going to believe a man who lied for nearly 15 years?
Even with the ban lifted, it won't get him placed on the ballot thanks to a 1991 voting by the Hall of Fame Committee recommending a change in the admission rules, to exclude any person banned from baseball. So even if Selig lifts the permanent ban, many members of the HOF committee who are against Rose being allowed in the HOF, would have to vote him in (which is historically a harder vote to get then the Baseball Writers 75%). While Rose's career stats are Hall of Fame quality, his decision to gamble put into question the reputation & credibility of the game itself, as well as his own.
While I am not condoning the use of steroids, there has only been 1 rule that gets you a lifetime ban in baseball & it's been that way since 1920. It's in every locker room & clubhouse wall for all to read. Rule 21 states that, "Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible." It's as basic as "3 strikes your out." For 15 years Rose denied ever gambling on games before finally coming clean & saying "everything the Dowd Report contained was the complete, unadulterated truth." Case closed ladies & gentlemen, he broke Rule 21, game over, permanently ineligible.
You have to remember, gambling damages the very fabric & legitimacy of the game. Before you say, "well steroids does the same thing," let me give you a scenerio. While manager of the Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose was in a position of power. He also gambled on those games (52 of them in 1987 alone). So it's not far fetched to think he might have lost some games purposely in order to win the wager. To me, that sort of behavior is irreperable. Games could have been influenced or pre determined & as much as an affect as steroids has had on the game, it doesn't pre determine the outcome. A manager can literraly fix a game however he likes. Rose even bet as a player, so who is to say he didn't purposely throw an opportune error or worse. Now Rose says he never bet against the Reds, but are you going to believe a man who lied for nearly 15 years?
Even with the ban lifted, it won't get him placed on the ballot thanks to a 1991 voting by the Hall of Fame Committee recommending a change in the admission rules, to exclude any person banned from baseball. So even if Selig lifts the permanent ban, many members of the HOF committee who are against Rose being allowed in the HOF, would have to vote him in (which is historically a harder vote to get then the Baseball Writers 75%). While Rose's career stats are Hall of Fame quality, his decision to gamble put into question the reputation & credibility of the game itself, as well as his own.
While I am not condoning the use of steroids, there has only been 1 rule that gets you a lifetime ban in baseball & it's been that way since 1920. It's in every locker room & clubhouse wall for all to read. Rule 21 states that, "Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible." It's as basic as "3 strikes your out." For 15 years Rose denied ever gambling on games before finally coming clean & saying "everything the Dowd Report contained was the complete, unadulterated truth." Case closed ladies & gentlemen, he broke Rule 21, game over, permanently ineligible.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
MLB All Star Event Exposes More Flaws
This weeks "Mid Summer Classic" revealed many of the flaws the game has today. Not only is fan favoritism putting the validity of a game "that counts" in question, but MLB itself it stays living 50 years ago. Promoting its past instead of living in the current or promoting its future.
For baseball purists this might be a great event. But to me, it was a bore. Here I am at home enjoying a rerun episode of the Family Guy when it dawns on me..."Oh shit the All Star Game is on." At this point it is 8:40 pm & I think, "Damn, I missed the first inning." Oh how wrong I was my friends. In fact, I tuned in on time to watch Stan Musial being driven in a Golf like cart, to hand the game ball over to President Obama. I just could not believe that it was 40+ minutes of pomp & circumstances. Of course this should be no surprise, baseball does this every year, so shame on me. 10 minutes later Tim Lincecum was actually on the mound & threw his first pitch, at approximately 8:50 pm. 50 full minutes after the advertised start. Since I cursed already I'll do it again, WHAT THE FUCK FOX & MLB? A 50 minute dog & pony show? That's the plan to keep viewers interested?
This all goes back to the central issue with MLB. Forget steroids, team salary disparity, & competitive balance. The prevelant issue is still promoting the past legends, while failing to promote the current & future stars of the game (as I so elequently covered here). Time for baseball to wake up. Stop trying to sell the game to an audience (baseball purists), that you already OWN. Start promoting the young talented players you have in the game today & the ones you will have in the future. Case in point, the All Star Futures game was held on a Sunday (July 12) at 2 PM. It was running against many Sunday afternoon Major League games, giving it ZERO visibility. How many of you even knew it was on? Instead of making it a notable part of the All Star festivities, MLB puts it on witness protection. Don't hide it in the midst of 4 Sunday afternoon baseball games, play the All Star Futures game on Tuesday night, have the MLB All Star Game on Wednesday night, that way the Futures game can have the spotlight to itself.
In order to attract fans, you can't bore them by talking about how great a player was 50-60 years ago. Try giving fans a look into who will be in the All Star game in the future. I am fully aware of Stan "the man" Musial & what he meant to the St Louis Cardinals & I appreciate his mark on the game. But the only ones who care, are baseball purists & YOU ALREADY HAVE THEM. Baseball spends so much time promoting its past, that I'm willing to wager more people are familiar with the name Roger Maris, then someone like say Hanley Ramirez. See for yourself, take a survey & I'm willing to bet at least 50% of random people think Maris is in the Hall of Fame, when he actually isn't. I'm not saying don't have a ceremony at all. Just have it from 7 pm to 8 pm & start the game before darkness hits the majority of the nation. Don't tell me 8 pm & start at 9 pm. These 9 o'clock starts is another thing absolutely killing MLB, in the younger demographic.
Now on to fan voting. This is supposed to be an event where the best of the best showcase themselves. Instead, it's where any Tom, Dick, & Harry can start in an All Star game. Case in point, Dustin Pedroia. 2 days before online voting closed Ian Kinsler had about a 7,000 vote lead. When voting finally did close, the reigning AL MVP won by about 73,000 voted. That's 80,000 votes for a second basemen who at the time was batting .289, had a slugging percentage of .382 & 2 HR. Here is a direct quote from a Red Sox fan (who will remain nameless) as to why Dustin was sooooooo worthy of starting second base for the AL. "Started out hot took a month off and got red hot and stayed that way." So there you have it. Apparently that's all you need in Beantown to become an "All Star." Laughable right? The truth is Pedroia's batting average (.303) wouldn't be where it is if not for a 15-29 streak he went on recently. There are at least 3 second basemen that I can make a case for, more worthy than Pedroia, as the starter for the AL. So it is undeniable that this was ballot stuffing at it's finest by the habitants of the Red Sox Nation. I'd prefer to hear, "he's a Red Sox, so I voted for him" instead of this jibberish. Thankfully, Karma made it right & Pedroia had to miss the All Star Game for personal reasons. I don't know about you, but when I hear All Star Starter, I think of the most talented player in that position or National Star Power. Not a guy that starts off hot & then takes a month off.
Lets not forget that some players have bonuses tied to All Star game appearances. I don't think players like Pablo Sandoval (who has a higher batting average than Albert Pujols) should be denied those all star appearances by the fans idiotic voting. It speaks volume of how irrelevant the term "All Star" has become. Instead of a gala of talent, its becoming nothing more than a puppet show for fans wanting the title All Star attached to a player of mediocre talent.
For baseball purists this might be a great event. But to me, it was a bore. Here I am at home enjoying a rerun episode of the Family Guy when it dawns on me..."Oh shit the All Star Game is on." At this point it is 8:40 pm & I think, "Damn, I missed the first inning." Oh how wrong I was my friends. In fact, I tuned in on time to watch Stan Musial being driven in a Golf like cart, to hand the game ball over to President Obama. I just could not believe that it was 40+ minutes of pomp & circumstances. Of course this should be no surprise, baseball does this every year, so shame on me. 10 minutes later Tim Lincecum was actually on the mound & threw his first pitch, at approximately 8:50 pm. 50 full minutes after the advertised start. Since I cursed already I'll do it again, WHAT THE FUCK FOX & MLB? A 50 minute dog & pony show? That's the plan to keep viewers interested?
This all goes back to the central issue with MLB. Forget steroids, team salary disparity, & competitive balance. The prevelant issue is still promoting the past legends, while failing to promote the current & future stars of the game (as I so elequently covered here). Time for baseball to wake up. Stop trying to sell the game to an audience (baseball purists), that you already OWN. Start promoting the young talented players you have in the game today & the ones you will have in the future. Case in point, the All Star Futures game was held on a Sunday (July 12) at 2 PM. It was running against many Sunday afternoon Major League games, giving it ZERO visibility. How many of you even knew it was on? Instead of making it a notable part of the All Star festivities, MLB puts it on witness protection. Don't hide it in the midst of 4 Sunday afternoon baseball games, play the All Star Futures game on Tuesday night, have the MLB All Star Game on Wednesday night, that way the Futures game can have the spotlight to itself.
In order to attract fans, you can't bore them by talking about how great a player was 50-60 years ago. Try giving fans a look into who will be in the All Star game in the future. I am fully aware of Stan "the man" Musial & what he meant to the St Louis Cardinals & I appreciate his mark on the game. But the only ones who care, are baseball purists & YOU ALREADY HAVE THEM. Baseball spends so much time promoting its past, that I'm willing to wager more people are familiar with the name Roger Maris, then someone like say Hanley Ramirez. See for yourself, take a survey & I'm willing to bet at least 50% of random people think Maris is in the Hall of Fame, when he actually isn't. I'm not saying don't have a ceremony at all. Just have it from 7 pm to 8 pm & start the game before darkness hits the majority of the nation. Don't tell me 8 pm & start at 9 pm. These 9 o'clock starts is another thing absolutely killing MLB, in the younger demographic.
Now on to fan voting. This is supposed to be an event where the best of the best showcase themselves. Instead, it's where any Tom, Dick, & Harry can start in an All Star game. Case in point, Dustin Pedroia. 2 days before online voting closed Ian Kinsler had about a 7,000 vote lead. When voting finally did close, the reigning AL MVP won by about 73,000 voted. That's 80,000 votes for a second basemen who at the time was batting .289, had a slugging percentage of .382 & 2 HR. Here is a direct quote from a Red Sox fan (who will remain nameless) as to why Dustin was sooooooo worthy of starting second base for the AL. "Started out hot took a month off and got red hot and stayed that way." So there you have it. Apparently that's all you need in Beantown to become an "All Star." Laughable right? The truth is Pedroia's batting average (.303) wouldn't be where it is if not for a 15-29 streak he went on recently. There are at least 3 second basemen that I can make a case for, more worthy than Pedroia, as the starter for the AL. So it is undeniable that this was ballot stuffing at it's finest by the habitants of the Red Sox Nation. I'd prefer to hear, "he's a Red Sox, so I voted for him" instead of this jibberish. Thankfully, Karma made it right & Pedroia had to miss the All Star Game for personal reasons. I don't know about you, but when I hear All Star Starter, I think of the most talented player in that position or National Star Power. Not a guy that starts off hot & then takes a month off.
Lets not forget that some players have bonuses tied to All Star game appearances. I don't think players like Pablo Sandoval (who has a higher batting average than Albert Pujols) should be denied those all star appearances by the fans idiotic voting. It speaks volume of how irrelevant the term "All Star" has become. Instead of a gala of talent, its becoming nothing more than a puppet show for fans wanting the title All Star attached to a player of mediocre talent.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Mets Should Stand For Mets Explore Trading Shortstop
With Roy Halladay reportedly available, the Mets should finally explore trading Jose Reyes. Yes I know...considered blasphamy by the Dominicans in apartment 1C, but lets actually look at this sensibly without a bias shall we?
During the next few weeks you'll hear experts from the World Wide Leader tell you the Mets don't have the talent to get someone like Halladay because of a weak farm system. Well no one will disputing that. What they do have is a multi tooled 26 year old SS under a favorable contract until 2011 & at least 2 hyped prospects that has drawn interest. Regardless if the Mets are in it this year or out of it isn't relevant. Halladay is a dominant pitcher that can give the Metropolitans the best 1-2 punch in recent history. If you look at a playoff series, opponents are looking at Santana, Halladay 3 times in a 5 game series, 4 times in a 7 game series. That's as unbeatable as it gets. Sure the offense will not have the "Dynamic" Reyes at the lead off spot. But I am personally sick of Reyes' selfish play. He cares more about his handshakes than actually maturing as a baseball player. So many times he steals, he does so for him & not the team.
If you listen to the show, Joe, Adam, & I talked about this a month ago on a special off air segment where we discussed Reyes, Martinez, & Parnell in a package for Halladay. I'd fly all 3 to Canada in a Gulf Stream today. The Mets have a need for a pitcher of Halladay's ilk, especially with a barren farm system. & I understand Reyes is injured, but the Jays are waving the white flag anyway (apparently so since they are listening to offers for Halladay), so they really don't need Reyes in 2009 anyway. Reyes injuries are far from career threatening & JP Ricciardi can certainly do worse than a package surrounding a mid 20 year old superstar SS.
During the next few weeks you'll hear experts from the World Wide Leader tell you the Mets don't have the talent to get someone like Halladay because of a weak farm system. Well no one will disputing that. What they do have is a multi tooled 26 year old SS under a favorable contract until 2011 & at least 2 hyped prospects that has drawn interest. Regardless if the Mets are in it this year or out of it isn't relevant. Halladay is a dominant pitcher that can give the Metropolitans the best 1-2 punch in recent history. If you look at a playoff series, opponents are looking at Santana, Halladay 3 times in a 5 game series, 4 times in a 7 game series. That's as unbeatable as it gets. Sure the offense will not have the "Dynamic" Reyes at the lead off spot. But I am personally sick of Reyes' selfish play. He cares more about his handshakes than actually maturing as a baseball player. So many times he steals, he does so for him & not the team.
If you listen to the show, Joe, Adam, & I talked about this a month ago on a special off air segment where we discussed Reyes, Martinez, & Parnell in a package for Halladay. I'd fly all 3 to Canada in a Gulf Stream today. The Mets have a need for a pitcher of Halladay's ilk, especially with a barren farm system. & I understand Reyes is injured, but the Jays are waving the white flag anyway (apparently so since they are listening to offers for Halladay), so they really don't need Reyes in 2009 anyway. Reyes injuries are far from career threatening & JP Ricciardi can certainly do worse than a package surrounding a mid 20 year old superstar SS.
Nomar Returns to Fenway
The last time Nomar Garciaparra was in Fenway he played against the hated rival New York Yankees. 5 years later, he was greeted as if he never left. Since then, this is Garciaparra's 3rd different team & he has never come close to recapturing the magic he enjoyed as a Red Sox.
In 2004, GM Theo Epstein shocked the baseball world & Sox fans, by trading the popular SS. Back then, Garciaparra was arguably the best SS in baseball. We all had the discussion, "who would you take at SS? Nomar, Jeter, or Alex." Even Alex was quoted as saying, "Jeter is the richest, I am the youngest, Nomar is the best." & armed with a Rookie of the Year in 1997 along with a Silver Slugger Award that year, 2 batting titles, & 5 all star appearances all before 2004, he had the credentials & was recognized as one of the best SS to ever play in the history of the game. Likely the worst fielder of the 3, it was Nomar's ability to come through in Late Inning Pressure Situations (check out the numbers yourself by clicking on the hyperlinks provided) that set him apart from Rodriguez & was even better than Jeter "in the clutch." The last 5 years however, weren't as kind to him, & I can point to 1 game, the turning point of when & where it was over for Nomar in Boston.
The Sox front office & Nomar couldn't agree on a contract in 04 & you know what happened next. The Sox follow the standard operating procedure, leak to the media Nomar turned down a 4 year $60M offer, Nomar denies it, relationship turns sour, later on is traded, some of the fans of course turned on him, while others were heartbroken. But more than that, it was Garciaparra's body language that year that led to his subsequent trade. He looked like he was finally fed up of the fans, the team, & the whole RSN environment filled with angst (& who wouldn't be). This was noticeable & on display on the July 1, 2004 game at Yankee stadium.
Most of you might remember that game for the Derek Jeter dive into the stands going for a pop up. I remember that game, as the day I finally answered Jeter to the "what SS I would take" discussion (since Alex was at 3B). Not because of the play, but because in a huge series, the at the time leader of the Red Sox, was pouting in the dugout because he was benched that game. While Ortiz, Ramirez, Nixon, & Varitek, & Pokey Reese were all at the top of the dugout steps watching each play anxiously...Nomar just sat, practically abandoning the team.
Sometimes when it's time to go, it truly is time to go. But his return last night was a touching moment, from a fan base that usually chews up players & spits them out. Nomar will never be a Hall of Fame player he was once thought of. Hell he might not even get his number retired. But very few former Red Sox players will be greeted like he was last night. It was a historic moment that might never happen again.
In 2004, GM Theo Epstein shocked the baseball world & Sox fans, by trading the popular SS. Back then, Garciaparra was arguably the best SS in baseball. We all had the discussion, "who would you take at SS? Nomar, Jeter, or Alex." Even Alex was quoted as saying, "Jeter is the richest, I am the youngest, Nomar is the best." & armed with a Rookie of the Year in 1997 along with a Silver Slugger Award that year, 2 batting titles, & 5 all star appearances all before 2004, he had the credentials & was recognized as one of the best SS to ever play in the history of the game. Likely the worst fielder of the 3, it was Nomar's ability to come through in Late Inning Pressure Situations (check out the numbers yourself by clicking on the hyperlinks provided) that set him apart from Rodriguez & was even better than Jeter "in the clutch." The last 5 years however, weren't as kind to him, & I can point to 1 game, the turning point of when & where it was over for Nomar in Boston.
The Sox front office & Nomar couldn't agree on a contract in 04 & you know what happened next. The Sox follow the standard operating procedure, leak to the media Nomar turned down a 4 year $60M offer, Nomar denies it, relationship turns sour, later on is traded, some of the fans of course turned on him, while others were heartbroken. But more than that, it was Garciaparra's body language that year that led to his subsequent trade. He looked like he was finally fed up of the fans, the team, & the whole RSN environment filled with angst (& who wouldn't be). This was noticeable & on display on the July 1, 2004 game at Yankee stadium.
Most of you might remember that game for the Derek Jeter dive into the stands going for a pop up. I remember that game, as the day I finally answered Jeter to the "what SS I would take" discussion (since Alex was at 3B). Not because of the play, but because in a huge series, the at the time leader of the Red Sox, was pouting in the dugout because he was benched that game. While Ortiz, Ramirez, Nixon, & Varitek, & Pokey Reese were all at the top of the dugout steps watching each play anxiously...Nomar just sat, practically abandoning the team.
Sometimes when it's time to go, it truly is time to go. But his return last night was a touching moment, from a fan base that usually chews up players & spits them out. Nomar will never be a Hall of Fame player he was once thought of. Hell he might not even get his number retired. But very few former Red Sox players will be greeted like he was last night. It was a historic moment that might never happen again.
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