Gary Carter Backpedals (Too Late)

Gary said, “I’m not campaigning for anything. I was simply asked a question. The media creates this. It came out on ESPN that Willie’s (Randolph) job was in jeopardy and that there were names mentioned and the names were Jerry Manuel, who is presently the bench coach, and Jim Fregosi’s name.

WHAT??? Not a single hunan being on Planet Earth mentioned Jim Fregosi.

“I didn’t say,’Oh, gosh, yeah I’m campaigning, and I want that job!’ Knowing the way that the Mets are anyway and the regime that is in place with Omar Minaya, I don’t even think there is going to be a chance if anything happens with Willie. I think the next guy in line is Jerry Manuel.”

About that he’s right. And we shall boo. And this officially makes him an Expo not a Met. Can we retro-actively remove the co-captain nonsense?

The New York Mets: Greatest Games of Shea Stadium DVD Set


Got my hands on this one. Very very cool, buy it.

So great to own that Game 4 of 1969 World Series that SNY shows. Seaver is young and thin and I defy anyone to tell me that the uniform he is wearing does not look a million times better than the black.

A nice bonus feature is the 9th inning of the September 17, 1986 clincher. A young Dwight Gooden is on the mound with that killer curve ball and on his way to way to what surely will be a Hall of Fame career.

>What Is a "Real Met" or "True Yankee"

>(Sorry if I’m off topic today – this was written Sunday to keep the blog alove while I travel today and Cyclones Fan minds the store).

The phrase “true Yankee” came up over the weekend and it got me thinking about what that means – or what a “real met” is.

Keith Hernandez is a real Met. Paul O’Neill became a true Yankee. Both had success and a World Series ring with other teams.

I don’t think Pedro could ever be a real Met. I don’t think A-Rod could ever be a “true Yankee” and he’s going to be around 10 more years.

I think it comes down to how you carry yourself.

Keith talked on SNY the other night about how he absolutely didn’t want to be a Met. Then he found his head, and anyone who watched those teams know he was a leader, and deserved to be captain. Similarly in the Bronx, O’Neill was fiery, always solid, and it always helps to bank a few rings.

A-Rod wanted to be a Met, a Ranger, a Yankee, a free agent, before deciding he wanted to be a Yankee. No matter how well he plays he will always be in Jeter’s shadow.

Boston fans waited three generations to win, and the second they did the face of the franchise bolted for dollars in Queens. That’s a carpetbagger not a Met.

Right now, for me, the “real Mets” are Wright, OverReyes and John Maine. There are carpetbaggers at first and second, and a bunch of other guys who haven’t been here long enough to evaluate. As I’ve said before, what this franchise needs is a franchise player – I hope someone stays 15 years.

>Hall of Fame Cap Debates

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I’m away today, so while Cyclones Fan minds the store, I leave you with this generic post I saw on Friday. Now as I write this Friday night this might be the stupidest post ever while you Tuesday people debate Willie or the new manager or the Mets 4 game win streak or the 8 game losing streak or whatever is happening this morning. If they name Lee Mazzilli manager and I’m away from a computer all day – well that would be ironic. Anyway, I’m not around today.

This post debates whether or not Piazza should be a HOFer as a Met or Dodger. What about Pedro, Maddux and Griffey? Read it here, and I’ll see you tomorrow:

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spbarker0523,0,6610002.column

and here’s another good one about the Piazza trade from the Los Angeles view:

News Corp. miscalculated Piazza’s popularity and importance to the ballclub on and off the field. Piazza miscalculated that traditional baseball negotiating tactics would reap traditional results with a neophyte ownership familiar with Hollywood but not with baseball.

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com LOS ANGELES — It’s impossible to think about the impact Mike Piazza had on the Dodgers without considering the impact Mike

What Is a "Real Met" or "True Yankee"

(Sorry if I’m off topic today – this was written Sunday to keep the blog alove while I travel today and Cyclones Fan minds the store).

The phrase “true Yankee” came up over the weekend and it got me thinking about what that means – or what a “real met” is.

Keith Hernandez is a real Met. Paul O’Neill became a true Yankee. Both had success and a World Series ring with other teams.

I don’t think Pedro could ever be a real Met. I don’t think A-Rod could ever be a “true Yankee” and he’s going to be around 10 more years.

I think it comes down to how you carry yourself.

Keith talked on SNY the other night about how he absolutely didn’t want to be a Met. Then he found his head, and anyone who watched those teams know he was a leader, and deserved to be captain. Similarly in the Bronx, O’Neill was fiery, always solid, and it always helps to bank a few rings.

A-Rod wanted to be a Met, a Ranger, a Yankee, a free agent, before deciding he wanted to be a Yankee. No matter how well he plays he will always be in Jeter’s shadow.

Boston fans waited three generations to win, and the second they did the face of the franchise bolted for dollars in Queens. That’s a carpetbagger not a Met.

Right now, for me, the “real Mets” are Wright, OverReyes and John Maine. There are carpetbaggers at first and second, and a bunch of other guys who haven’t been here long enough to evaluate. As I’ve said before, what this franchise needs is a franchise player – I hope someone stays 15 years.