Meet Me by the Flagpole After School

I got some mail from a Yankee fan after yesterday's post. It was quite interesting.

LOL – Your analysis of the Subway Series is one only a delusional Mets’ fan could have. That same delusion leads you to believe that you are better off with Jose Reyes than Alfonso Soriano or that Vladdy’s back problems made him only worth a $30 mil. bid. Mediocrity never looked so good. The Mets are a .500 team on their best days and that's in a division where your record puts you 2.5 games out.

PS I love how you rate Kaz over Jete. LMFAO And Cammy wouldn't even make the Yankees' roster let alone start in front of Williams and/or Lofton.

I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule of watching the Yankees win championships in an attempt to make our meager Met fan lives a little brighter. Too bad what you said is nonsense.

Problem #1: That same delusion leads you to believe that you are better off with Jose Reyes than Alfonso Soriano :
This again? I feel like I'm beating a dead horse, but if I must, I must. Soriano is hitting .288 and is on pace for 21 homeruns and 17 stolen bases. On top of that he is due to make close to 8 or 9 million in arbitration this year and is 28 years old. Also, away from the friendly confines of his home park, he is batting .243 with a pedestrian four homeruns. Shea would not be kind to the much over-rated Soriano. Keep him out of Queens.

Jose Reyes is a full seven plus years younger. He just turned 21 recently and costs the league minimum. Only a fool (cough, Steven Phillips, cough) trades a player of Reyes' talent and age for a guy who is over-rated, more expensive, and way older. The argument could be made that Reyes has to stay healthy to prove his worth, but he as to be given a chance to prove that. In addition, Reyes is far superior with the glove. Only a person who has not watched Reyes play would make this type of comment. This one is no-brainer.

Problem #2: Vladdy’s back problems made him only worth a $30 mil:

Did I ever say this? Nope. Look, I wanted Vlad to be Met as much as the next guy, but I also would not mind dating Cameron Diaz. Problem is both are/were not going to happen. The Mets may have missed the boat, but to them, it was clear he did not want to be in Baltimore so they thought they could swoop in and surprise everyone. It did not work out. Vlad's proposal brought him up to 15 or 16 million a year if he managed to get 400 at-bats a year, which is easily done even if you spend some time on the DL. He would have gotten paid. The Mets made their offer, and if Vlad was interested, he could have negotiated. In case you are not familiar with that term, I'll help you out.

negotiate
Pronunciation: ni-'gO-shE-"At, ÷-sE-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -at•ed; -at•ing
Etymology: Latin negotiatus, past participle of negotiari to carry on business, from negotium business, from neg- not + otium leisure -- more at NEGATE
intransitive senses : to confer with another so as to arrive at the settlement of some matter
transitive senses
1 MANAGE : to arrange for or bring about through conference, discussion, and compromise

There was no conference or discussion. The Mets would have most likely upped their offer if it was made clear he wanted the privilege for playing for the blue and orange.

Problem #3: I love how you rate Kaz over Jete:
I'm guessing that was sarcasm. Your wit is astounding. For starters, I did not rate Kaz over Jeter, they were EVEN. But really, Yankee fans need to let go of this idea that Jeter is Superman. He is completely average this year and not even the best shortstop in his division. He is behind A-Rod, Tejada, Garciaparra, and soon to be behind BJ Upton. On top of it, he gets paid $18,000,000 to do it. Talk about getting your money's worth.

Problem #4: Cammy wouldn't even make the Yankees' roster let alone start in front of Williams and/or Lofton:
Now this is just the silliest thing you wrote. Cameron would not start in front of Lofton? I fell of my chair when I read that. Also, Bernie has not done anything since 2002 and getting $12,000,000 to do it. Steinbrenner would LOVE to dump Bernie’s bloated salary and would take Cammy (as you affectionately refer to him) in center any day over those two who really make playing center and adventure every time the ball is hit to them.

Problem #5: Excessive use of LMFAO and LOL:
Once is too many for either. I'm sure you would have also loved to use OMG, UR, WTF, and IMO if you could have. Would it have really have killed you to type the entire thing out? I mean you took the time to send me the email, just go the extra mile.

Now to last night’s game. First four guys up to face Jae Seo, three hits and one walk. Luckily Hidalgo's arm prevented the Mets from being three runs down in the first by gunning Jiminez getting too greedy. Nowadays the Mets feel like they need to spot the other team runs to give them a chance. While I like the sporting attitude, I think they better re-think their strategy. Seo definitely did not bring his A game, or any game for that matter. He was lucky to make it though five innings only giving up four runs. The Mets were able to make up the runs but could not come away with it in the end. The game should have been tied up fifth. Matsui singled, Reyes walked, and Piazza , who is just absolutely locked right now and punishing the ball, doubled off the wall in center. However, the runners held to see if it would have gotten caught. When it hit the wall, Matsui took off and Matt "The Human Windmill" Galante waved him in only to get nailed at the plate. Now, in the Galante’s defense, Griffey made a perfect play off the wall, a great throw, and the relay throw was great. On top of that, Matsui should have been able to make it home from second anyway. With Floyd coming up next, it may have been prudent to hold him at third if he was not in a position to make it home without incident. I agree with Howe on this one, he should have been halfway. That is just basics. The Mets did eventually tie it up in the 8th only to lose it in the 12th inning on Casey's two run shot of Franco. Casey just destroyed the Mets last night. This is a tough one to lose especially since the Mets had a man on third with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Masui struck out on would be ball four in the dirt and Reyes grounded weakly to the pitcher. Hopefully they can get this afternoon's game so they can stay above .500.

Is it just me or does Matsui have the most mechanically unsound swing you have ever seen? Everything I was told not to do as a kid, he does. When he swings and misses the ball, the guy spins around in a circle. I'd love to see film of him in Japan to see how his swing looked there. I would venture to guess it looks more sound than it does here.

Orber and Strickland got tagged for a total of five runs in two combined innings of work. Regardless, it is good to see them pitching.

Lastings Milledge went 2 for 5 with a double yesterday in Capital City's victory. He is now batting .325. It is becoming apparent that he can hit, it is also coming apparent he does not like to walk. He has four walks to thirty K's in 30 games. But you know what? I don't care, this kid can play and he's still young.

The Beltran to Houston rumors that involves the A's as a third team is heating up in California and in Houston. Also ESPN insider has a list of 10 teams that may be interested in Beltran's services. They list out the Astros, Yankees, Red Sox, A's, Padres, Mets, Dodgers, Cubs, Marlins, and the Angels.

In a piece of bad news for the Mets, Kenny Williams responded to the notion that contract talks between Magglio and the White Sox were dead. Williams said "the door is not closed. It's not closed on our part, it's not closed on his part. Print it."

Tim Hudson is perfect example why the DH sucks. Not only does the DH take some managerial skill out the game, but it keeps talented people from using all of their abilities. In 1997, Tim Hudson's last year at Auburn University, he hit for a .396 AVG, 1.110 OPS, 21 doubles, 18 homeruns, and 95 RBIs. Now I don't know much, but I do know those numbers are better than most positional prospects that come out of school every year. Also, anyone that watches him in inter-league match-ups knows he does not look like a pitcher when he swings that bat.

It should also be noted that in 1997 he went 15 - 2 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.161 WHIP, and had a 12.9 K/9. All that and he was still drafted in the 6th round and 185th overall. What does a brother have to do get in the first round?