Shannon – Page 76 – The Mets Police

May 20, 2008

>Willie Watch: Willie's Comments On The Comments

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I must be in a good mood. I kinda want to let this drop and get back to wins and losses (and heading for two losses as I write, always a long week when Maine loses) – but I don’t know why this was brought up at all. The fans just want to win, that’s it. I don’t think this is going to go away, and will be the beginning of the end. With no heir apparent, ownership may turn to a fan favorite to shut us all up – and I may just get my Lee Mazzilli wish.

Here’s Willie in his own words from today:

“I wasn’t trying to bring race into it.” “Obviously, I should have thought more about what I was trying to say.”

“This really boils back down to wins and losses, it really does. When you’re in an environment like this, where expectations are high, and we don’t play up to our capabilities, there’s going to be a lot of talk.

“It does seem like it’s piling on after a bit. But, I understand it. I think I mentioned feeling `almost racial.’ That was a tongue-in-cheek kind of reaction to what I’ve been feeling. Not that this is racial. The Wilpons hired me not because I am black, but because they feel I can do a good job for them. They trusted me and hired me because I can do a job and not the color of my skin.”

“Maybe I didn’t say it right, the way I was feeling. But I didn’t call anyone a racist.”

May 20, 2008

>A Good Thought For George

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With a tornado delay in Atlanta, I switched over to YES. 10-0 Orioles. This follows a sweep by the Mets, and losing three of four to Tampa, hometown of The Boss.

I know Hank is in charge now, but the silence from George is deafening.

George, I hope you’re OK out there and as Andy Sipowicz used to say, “I’ll keep a good thought.”

May 20, 2008

>So Long Mikey

>Mike Piazza announced his retirement from baseball this afternoon.

Now let the debate begin – was Mike a Dodger or a Met and what cap should he wear when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Piazza came up through the Dodger system and established himself as the best offensive catcher in the game while in Los Angeles. However, he played more games and accumulated more numbers in his years with the Mets.

In his statement, Piazza was clear as to how he thinks of himself:

â€œLast but certainly not least, I canâ€™t say goodbye without thanking the fans,â€ Piazza said. â€œI canâ€™t recall a time in my career where I didnâ€™t feel embraced by all of you. Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland and Miamiâ€”whether it was at home or on the road, you were all so supportive over the years.

â€œBut I have to say that my time with the Mets wouldnâ€™t have been the same without the greatest fans in the world. One of the hardest moments of my career, was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye. My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career and for that, I will always be grateful.â€

Yes Gary Carter felt the same way – and still identifies himslef more with the Mets than with the Expos, but Carter only played a few years with New York while Piazza played the bulk of his career here. Personally, he is a Met and should go into the HOF wearing a Mets cap.

May 20, 2008

>Life Without Pedro

> Sorry to hear Pedro’s father is ill. Taht’s a terrible situation for anyone to deal with.

As he told the Daily news: “It’s taking a toll on me and my family, my dad’s situation,” Martinez told the Daily News. “I haven’t been there for them. I just realized that between last year and this year I haven’t been there for my family, my parents.

“That’ll probably drag me away from the game a little sooner than people expect.

“After this season, I’m going to go back home and think about it and I’m going to decide.”

From a baseball standpoint – well there’s that pace of 3.5 wins per year (since June 2006) that we’ll miss.

May 20, 2008

>Trade Post-Mortem: Examining Trades of the Past (2nd in a Series)

>On July 30, 2004 the Mets made two trades that would greatly impact the team both in the short and potentially long-term. Both trades involved young pitchers – one left the Mets and one came to the Mets. The one that left is Scott Kazmir – and I think we all know the details of that trade. The other pitcher, the one that came to the Mets, was Kris Benson.

Benson was acquired along with Jeff Keppinger from the Pirates for Ty Wigginton, Jose Bautista, and Matt Peterson. Benson never really blossomed into anything with the Mets, going 14-12 over a year and a half that was plagued by injury and controversy (who can forget Anna in the Christmas outfit). Keppinger never really found his place with the Mets, only appearing in 33 games for them in 2004 before being traded to Kansas City.

The players the Mets gave up didn’t really amount to much either. Wigginton is on his 3rd team and has become a serviceable utility player. Bautista is still in Pittsburgh, which in itself says a lot. Peterson has never moved past AA.

So it seems that this trade was a lot of nothing – and just looking at it by itself I would agree. However if you look at the “trade tree” – the deals that were made with these players down the line – the impact is a lot greater.

After Benson failed with the Mets, he was subsequently traded to Baltimore for a promising young fireballer Jorge Julio. To complete the deal the Orioles also threw in a young minor leaguer named John Maine. Julio was traded just a few months later for El Duque.

So on the day the Mets traded away Scott Kazmir, they also began the process where they would eventually acquire one of the current cornerstones of their staff.