I didn’t want the Mets walking wounded to feel lonely, so this past Monday, I apparently broke a bone in the little toe of my left foot (confirmed by x-ray Thursday). So, powered by Advil, ice packs and one of my favorite all-time cartoons, here’s the news:
- Those sneaky Yankees muck up the BoSox plans:
When the New York Mets and Red Sox worked out a trade for left-handed reliever Billy Wagner earlier this week, Chris Carter, an outfielder-first baseman currently playing for Triple-A Pawtucket, became part of the deal as a player to be named headed to Boston, sources said. In preparation for the deal, the Red Sox placed Carter on waivers, with the intention of moving him on to the Mets.
But the Yankees, sources said, placed a claim on Carter — perhaps to create some 40-man roster discomfort for the Red Sox. In order to complete the Wagner trade, the Red Sox are now pulling Carter back from waivers, and for the rest of the year they must carry him on their 40-man roster.
- Yankees in(terested) for a Penny, in for a pound(ing)?:
The Yankees have an interest in veteran right-hander Brad Penny, who was released by the Red Sox late Wednesday night.
According to a person with knowledge of the Yankees’ plans, the club doesn’t know of an agreement between Penny and the Red Sox that he wouldn’t sign with an AL team if they released him.
Penny, who is expected to clear waivers Monday because he has about $1.5 million left in salary and attainable bonuses, might be considered an upgrade over Sergio Mitre in the fifth starter’s spot. After he clears waivers, Penny would cost the club signing him $100,000.
. . . “He’s got good stuff,” Johnny Damon said of Penny, whose fastball touched 97 mph and averaged 91 to 93. “His secondary stuff might need a little tweak but his fastball was electric, it cut and he hit his spots with it. Bring him here, why not? I love the way the guy competes.”
- Jorge’s finger will bother him the rest of the season?:
. . . Posada’s left ring finger had been struck with a foul ball, aggravating an injury that first happened about two weeks ago. Now the Yankees have to wonder how much of an impact his fragile finger can have on them as they power toward the postseason.
“It’s not going to go away,” Posada said. “It’s going to stay there until I get some rest.”
If the Yankees have a comfortable enough lead in the American League East in September, they can presumably give Posada a week off. Since rosters will have expanded to 40, the Yankees will have the backups Jose Molina and Francisco Cervelli, up from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, to handle the catching. Manager Joe Girardi hinted at that possibility.
But Posada said a week off would not make a difference. When he said he needed rest for the finger to heal, he meant that he needed extended rest for the swelling to subside and for the finger to be pain free.
“I don’t think it’s going to heal until the season is over,” Posada said. “The joint is bruised. There’s not much I can do.”
- Boss George remembers the late Ted Kennedy.
- Late news . . . the Mets season has abruptly ended . . .
- Here’s one way to pass the time during the crappy weather forecast for this weekend. You can test yourself on the trivia questions posed during the recent SABR Trivia Contest.
- Jay Witasick (32 non-descript games in relief in 2001) turns 37 today. Witasick also pitched in one game of the 2001 World Series: 1.1 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 4 K (!).
- Louisiana Lightning, Mr. Ron Guidry, is 59 today.
- Mike Torrez turns 63, and Lou Piniella turns 66 today.
- On this date in 1977, birthday boy Guidry fires his 3rd shut out of the year, a 1 – 0 whitewash of the Rangers. Guidry faces just 28 batters, allowing two hits.
- On this date in 1996, Seattle’s 10-2 win over the visiting Yankees is delayed 10 minutes by a bench clearing brawl in the 8th inning following a close pitch by M’s rookie Tim Davis. The M’s John Marzano and Yanks Paul O’Neill and Jeff Nelson all receive 2-game suspensions, with the New Yorkers each getting fined $1,000. Nelson opened the 8th by plunking Joey Cora.
See you Monday.
hey come on, to be fair I think Jay Witasick's tenure in pinstripes was VERY descript. People ask me if a relief pitcher is bad and I just tell them "Well he's no Jay Witasick..."
I remember that M's brawl well, John Marzano actually passed away suddenly a few years ago and the picture every website/newspaper used in their obit was of he and O'Neill getting into it
Happy Birthday Gator.
LOL the Mets story. Though it is kind of easy to tag out players when they are all in wheelchairs.
Diane, if you were on the Mets that broken pinky toe would have been diagnosed as an ear infection and you would have been starting tonight.
Off the topics above: Kim Jones is a very good talk radio host. She was filling in for Boomer and Carton this morning. She revealed an interesting thing Damon said to her after yesterday's game. He mentioned how well-positioned the Rangers outfielders were, and how they constantly adjust to batters. She also mentioned how Jeter's adjusted his positioning in the field this season.
Her insights were so much more interesting than the usual talk radio fare.
NY sports talk radio needs less noise, and more insights from the likes of Ms Jones.
Brad Penny is just the type of crappy pitcher the Yankee front office loves (OMG THROWS HARD, allows a ton of baserunners, had that one good year in the middle of many bad or injured ones.) If he just walked a a little bit more guys, the Yankees wouldn't be able to contain themselves.
Lets hope the Twins pounce quickly.
[3] Agreed, I like her with The Bull (although I find him to be kinda meh) but I REALLY liked her with Carlin.
I still say, for all his shortcomings Michael Kay's show is the best one in this market. It's 3 guys who a) know something about what they're talking about (although MK can do the indignity thing a little too much) and b) actually seem to like each other....crazy concept, I know
[3] I agree. I refuse to listen to Boomer because of his compulsion to throw in his misleading right wing political talking points, so Kim and Bull are a welcome change.
[6] I try not to think of the political affiliations of anyone in sports (and especially sports media) because its liable to just infuriate me.
Exhibit A: http://38pitches.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/curt-schilling/general/2009/08/06/move-along-here-nothing-to-see/
[3] Now, to be fair, cats in heat are a better listen than Boomer and Carton.
That being said, Kim Jones stints on Francessa's show and Joe and Evan's show have been really, really good.
I'm also convinced that OJ is gonna find the real killers before The Sports Pope finds a new co-host
[0] [2] [3] I think all these injuries are part of Minaya's devious scheme to swoop in and get the first pick, so they can draft Bryce Harper next summer and give Mets fans something to look forward to!
[4] The Twins make sense - they could use the help - but if I were Brad Penny, I'd make a beeline straight for the comforting ease of
AAAAthe NL.[7] Boomer makes it impossible to avoid, so I avoid him. For the same reason, I won't click on that link.
[7] I really don't need to hear any kind of entertainer go on their political rant, on either side of the spectrum. Just shut up, play your game/make your movie/write your book/sing your song and leave politics out of it. If I really want to hear talking points on [x] political issue, I'd watch Meet the Press.
And, as if on cue, my twitter just popped up with this.
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3108-Baltimore-Republican-Examiner~y2009m8d28-Curt-Schilling-may-run-for-Ted-Kennedys-Senate-seat
[12]
I wonder if the bloody sock will be prominently featured in his campaign ads. :-(
[8] Speaking of Francesa, it seems that he isn't going to have a new partner? I was hoping that it would be Kellerman, but his intelligence probably scares Francesa, whose view of baseball is stuck in concrete that was poured 20 years ago.
[13] "Ask not what my bloody sock can do for you, but... hey, you gonna eat the rest of that?"
[12] I think thats a legitimate stance, I mean I understand why more conservatives feel that way than liberals, but sad fact is that Curt Schilling isn't really any more of an "authority" than say Sean Hannity (and just to show I'm not picking on Republicans: Keith Olbermann has about as much weight to his opinions as LeBron James). Everyone has the right to voice their opinion, and then we all have the right to ridicule them mercilessly. Its a fair tradeoff, hell at least it gives us people to make fun of.
And I think as Yankee fans, regardless of political affiliation, we can all agree that it would be WONDERFUL to see Schilling run in Massachusetts...because he would end up being embarassed. And that is something we can ALL celebrate.
[12]
Look at how many athletes have become successful politicians .... Jack Kemp and Jim Bunning spring to mind.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Schilling run ...
[17] Bill Bradley, Tom McMillen... Name recognition is invaluable in the age of mass media, but MA is the wrong state for Schlling.
[18]
I hear Alaska has a vacancy :-)
I can definitely see Schilling running, and more power to him if he wants to...at least he'd be putting his money where his mouth is. But from a pure political standpoint, running in Massachusetts would be suicidal.
Yes I understand that they've elected Republicans to statewide office in the past (Weld, Romney) but I have a tough time seeing them giving him a Senate seat. Honestly his best bet would be Governor (Patrick's ratings are in the the toilet), but I still have a tough time seeing a born-again social conservative winning statewide up there. He'd probably be better off giving Arizona a shot.
I hope Schilling doesn't run for that Senate seat. I'd hate to have to root for him.
Witasick also pitched in one game of the 2001 World Series: 1.1 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 4 K (!).
TOFTT. I remember watching the game in disbelief. Yanks have 3 great games, and lead the series 3-2 going back to AZ, with "big game pitcher" Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens in games 6 & 7. Very disappointing losses, were games 6 & 7.
[4] If the Twins don't get him, the Angels probably will.
[22] I still say if I could have 1 back it would be '03 though. I can live with '01, its one of those "hey you went to the bottom of the 9th with a lead in game 7...it just wasn't meant to be" deals.
'03 on the other hand...sweet sassy molassy I still have a tough time swallowing that one.
[22] GOOD
I just read the '03 World Series entry on Wikipedia...why do I do these things to myself?? I need a stiff drink after that.
I've been relatively neutral to Jeff Weaver lately. I'm sure I don't need to read that.
[26] yeah but when you go back and look at it you realize he barely even factors into the equation. How the hell do you lose to Braden Looper and Brad Penny (TWICE!!) over the course of 6 games??
[20] et al - Derek Jeter has a better chance of being elected as President of Red Sox Nation than Curt Schilling does of being elected a US Senator from Massachusetts. Even when it elects Republicans, this state only elects socially moderate/liberal Republicans.
If you want to entertain someone Sox-related who could easily win Kennedy's old seat, if he so desired, the list starts and ends with (Massachusetts-native) Theo the Boy Genius. The only thing that could maybe stop him is if he wore a Yankees hat at every campaign appearance - and maybe not even that.
[23] I agree...I always consider 2001 to be the WS the Yankees won 3 games to 4. On the other hand, 2003 was a completely wasted opportunity, partly because of an ALCS hangover, but also because of poor managing by Torre.
[28] I am not so sure about that. Schilling is very popular up there and should be able to raise the needed funds. He also has no public record, so I am not sure how anyone could label his politics just yet. Celebrities sometimes transcend politics because their fame overshadows their philosophy.
[24] I dunno about that; both the Twins and Angels offer a defensive upgrade over the Red Sox, that may help Penny a bit. Also Penny is an upgrade over what they're already throwing out there.
[23/25] Weaver is one of many things that went wrong that series. Boone & Soriano slumping, Giambi & Wells' injuries.
the '01 Yankees probably will go down as one of those "beloved runner up" teams that end up being more popular then the team who actually won the Series. I think that list includes:
'51 Giants (to an extent)
'67 Red Sox
'75 Red Sox
'82 Brewers
'93 Phillies
[12] I love love love that picture of Ann Coulter she has on her homepage, with the hair covering one eye. Man, that is hilarious. I remember one time she came on Conan O'Brien and after about a minute she started with all these digs at BIll Clinton. This was 5 or 6 years after Clinton left office ... O'Brien was baffled, and told her so (in a humorous way, as is his wont).
[27] Especially considering that Weaver acquitted himself the inning prior, and was facing the bottom of the order in the 12th.
[31] Yeah Giambi suffered a sudden case of "being out on Ocean Drive with Rickey Williams till 4 a.m."...that's the same thing that did in Ted Williams back in '46
Boomer is not that bad. I don't always agree with his politics, and he probably shouldn't bring it up on a sports radio talk show, but in truth the show is about more than sports. I stopped listening because of Carton. Seriously the hyperbole just got to be too much. 1 game in May or June is not the end all be all of a baseball season. Just a ridiculous, annoying, unknowledgeable sports commentator. Let me know when they partner someone else with Boomer.
Curt Schilling is one of those guys you can tell is an a**hole without actually knowing him.
[30] With his mouth, Schilling doesn't need a public record, or anyone to "label" his political views for him. Believe me, everyone up here is all-too aware of his political views.
And while folks in Massachusetts may be dumb as anything when it comes to driving, they are pretty savvy about separating their love of all things connected with the 2004 Red Sox and their politics. About the only way to get any kind of a negative reaction out of Red Sox Nation, just after the Sox won it all in 2004, was to point out how their "bloody sock hero" was stumping for Dubya up in NH days after the victory parade.
[37] Give him credit for raising money for ALS-related research, and especially for raising awareness of the dangers of too much unprotected exposure to the sun and money for skin cancer-related research.
[15] Good one, Sliced. I can see some 527 group called "Swift Sock Veterans for Truth" or "SockOn.org" trying to discredit the whole bloody sock episode... The week before the election they will produce a "smoking" red Sharpie... ;-)
[33] How did that woman's name get through the obscenity filter?
[39] Absolutely.
[39] Also give him credit for that leather jacket during the 2001 WS.
Slick!
[40] Being that Sock & Awe is already taken... >;)
[38] I guess we'll just have to wait and see if he runs. I think it could be very entertaining. I don't think he wants to add the workload and take a pay cut though.
[41] Probably due to the same bug that let through the name of the former president ;)
If anyone politician's name shouldn't be allowed through the filter its this guy...
http://www.nndb.com/people/875/000127494/
[47] ...or this guy...
http://www.nndb.com/people/211/000024139/
I really don't know what to make of this, I mean I'm not ripping on Chipper he's a goober but he seems like a decent enough guy...just a bizarre story though.
http://tinyurl.com/mut2yn
[46] I have a lefty equivalent. Let's see if it goes through: Cynthia McKinney.
[41], [46], [47], [48] Whatever happened to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"?
[49] There seem to be no winners on either end of that interview, except... remember that episode of South Park when the aliens came for John Edwards (the psychic) and took him back to an intergalactic awards ceremony to give him the Biggest Douche in the Universe award?
schilling's last experience in the senate chambers wasn't too impressive
anyway - i hope we get the game in tonight - right now cc and andy are the only starters i enjoy watching and i would really like to see the big man on the mound tonight
[51] click the link on my name and read the top story and you can hear all about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
/end shameless self promotion
More Mets injury news!
http://tinyurl.com/mkzjo4
With starting pitchers Johan Santana (elbow) and Oliver Perez (knee) already scheduled for season-ending surgery, the New York Daily News reports shortstop Jose Reyes could be the latest Mets star to join them in the operating room.
Reyes, who hasn't played since May 20, recently was discovered to have a completely torn hamstring behind his right knee. No decision about surgery has been made yet, but the prognosis is that Reyes would be ready for spring training if he had the procedure.
Link:
[54] They just found it now, huh? Wonder if they found Waldo yet...
I ran into a friend and fellow freelance PA the other night; haven't seen him since Spring Training had begun. At some point I said to him, "Sorry about your Mets, man..." his whole face slid down to his knees and his body lost all carbon composition. His friend who was with him looked on conciliatory, "Don't talk about that around him..."
I also think that there's a natural protest going on against the current Mets regime, but then that speaks for itself...
[55] Careful, there are Lemon Laws in New York State...
[53] Now that's a "no look pass", do I get the assist? >;)
[57] If they go on to win the WS after you bought them would the Bob Lemon Laws apply? ;-)
[59] At this point, they'd all be better off with the Joba Rules >;)
Hmmmm .... Angels close to a deal for Scott Kazmir ...
http://tinyurl.com/narnox
[44] BRILLIANT! (I got a 9)
[61] Looks like the deal fell through...