Spitball Applesauce - Mets cut Takahashi, Mejia struggles continue, Wilpons make profit from Madoff
by Joe Budd on Oct 21, 2009 8:31 AM EDT
in Link Dump
58 comments
Meet the Mets
Farewell Ken Takahashi. We hardly knew ye.
Jenrry Mejia continues to struggle in the AFL, but Ike Davis picked up two more hits.
Metsradamus is angry at the Mets for depriving him of the chance to make more Darren O'Day barnyard animal jokes.
J.C. Bradbury links to James' post about Francoeur's arbritration and offers his own figure.
Looks like the Wilpons were telling the truth when they said the Mets were going to be OK through the Madoff scam after all.
Blue and Orange evaluates which position players were worth their salaries this year. The answer: not many of them.
Ted Berg can see Johnny Damon and the Mets happening.
Around the NL East
The Phillies trip to the World Series is looking pretty secure at this point with the Dodgers sending Vicente Padilla out tonight.
Athletics Nation says they actually might like the Phillies or at least don't hate them yet. I think AA readers can help them out with a few good reasons.
Charlie Manuel apparently predicted Jimmy Rollins double.
T.J. Simers writes the nastiest column I've seen in quite a while (labeling Phillie fans ugly). Not saying that I didn't enjoy it though.
Nick Johnson will probably not return to the Marlins next season.
Around MLB
A few controversies are arising from the Yankee-Angel series. The first being that there's video of Mariano Rivera spitting in the direction of the baseball. MLB says that Rivera was not cheating. The second issue, which also has more relevance to baseball at large, is yet another blown call by the umpires. This one was by far the worst in the postseason and possibly the worst of all time.
The Dodgers have extended GM Ned Colletti's contract so that he will be there for a long time.
I'm not sure if this Halloween costume is disgustingly distasteful or hilarious.
Jose Lima owes two years of child support. Is anyone really surprised?
Eric, this new program could make the game recaps a lot easier for you.
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So, Tatis was actually good this year? Interesting. I feel like I saw him do nothing but hit into double plays
by Rey-O on Oct 21, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
There was his 8th inning grand slam
that beat the Rockies in July. By far the best game the Citi saw this year…
Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!?
by CharlieH on Oct 21, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Simers article
That was possibly the worst column I have ever seen printed in a major news publication, and I’ve been reading Lupica for years now. Entertaining, perhaps, but how the hell is that guy actually employed?
by dcmetsfan on Oct 21, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed
it was like reading something your cranky, bitter old grandpa wrote.
"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Oct 21, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The recap robot
is definitely appealing. Really, not much worse than your standard AP-style recap.
by Eric Simon on Oct 21, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually
I thought the robot did a decent job on the recap. It made a few mistakes, and won’t know the context of a game, but with a editor, the robot recap could be solid. They apparently use what sounded like WPA to determine the most important player of the game, and the highest leverage moments to focus on, so the computer already has a better grasp on stats than most sportswriters.
Good bit of machine learning.
by mnbv on Oct 21, 2009 10:28 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
My dog
Has a better grasp on the stats than most sportswriters, and my dog barely sits when I tell him to. Although he is excellent at linear algebra.
"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."
by Evan_S on Oct 21, 2009 10:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
wait - so wilpon MADE money off madoff?
where have i heard before that this could have been a distinct possibility?
Lets hope that when gut check time comes again the Mets will pass it with flying colors.
by kendynamo on Oct 21, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just goes to show you that if put "according to sources..." and "reportedly"
in a sentence you can make any story you very well please.
by Major on Oct 21, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I applaud your brilliance, Kendy Namo
"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Oct 21, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does anyone have
a comprehensive explanation of what would have happened had Cano and Posado both had a foot on the bag last night? Would there still be a way to make it a DP or is it Cano’s base?
by letsgocyclones on Oct 21, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
if two runners are on the same base, one of them is called out and the other gets the base
I’m not sure which runner off the top of my head, though. I’d guess it’d be the lead runner since the lead runner is called out of a trailing runner passes him.
by JoshNY on Oct 21, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
makes sense
and despite all the bad calls, booooooooo to the idea of umpire replays. i’m not one to bitch about the length of games, but I might be moved to start.
by letsgocyclones on Oct 21, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, I say replays for anything except balls and strikes.
And even that if it gets absurd. But not yet.
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on Oct 21, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
man
i would hate that.
in football it makes sense because there are so many calls where the ref doesn’t have a good angle to actually see. in baseball the ump is staring the play in the face 97% of the time. yeah, sometimes they get it wrong and it’s maddening, but we’re talking 3 or 4 minutes of standing around after a bang-bang play.
by letsgocyclones on Oct 21, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
With PitchFX and Gameday
surely balls and strikes could just be called automatically by a machine in realtime?
by deadspy3 on Oct 21, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that's true.
But I don’t think some people would stop yelling if that happened.
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on Oct 21, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
umpires union would never allow it
and some pitchers would hate it, as they depend on their ability to stretch the strike zone throughout a game.
by KeithsMoustache on Oct 21, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm still not clear on it
Is it possible that Mets LP made money from Madoff but the Wilpons personally lost a lot in other non-mets dealings?
by letsgocyclones on Oct 21, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it depends....
if the trail runner is on the bag, and the lead runner made it all the way back without a tag, then the trail runner is out, because the bag still belongs to the runner that previously occupied it.
if the lead runner is tagged, then the base he previously occupied is free and if the trail runner gets to it without a tag, then he is awarded that base.
in last night’s debacle, the catcher did exactly what he is supposed to do…..tag the trail runner first, and then the other runner, and they should have both been called out for being off the bag. that was one of the worst umpiring calls I have ever seen in my entire life, and is an embarrasment to baseball, especially when you read the excuse the ump gave….
“When he tagged Cano, I thought Cano was on the base,” McClelland said.
DUDE…….YOU"RE PAID TO UMP……..FUCKING LOOK DOWN AT THE BASE, YOU ASSHOLE.
by fxcarden on Oct 21, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To defend him just a little,
Cano was just standing there not moving and there was absolutely no reason for him not to be on the bag, so I can at least see why he assumed he was on the bag. Still, horrible call, don’t assume.
by Mount17 on Oct 21, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I used to be a carded ump at the HS level,
you are taught to look at the bag, and listen for the tag. this clown did it backwards.
I can see me messing this up because I don’t have the years of experience, but this was just……….ugh.
by fxcarden on Oct 21, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NYM 2010
To all NYM fans boycott citi field and the NY mets until the Wilpons sell the team to someone who is not a dodger fan and willing to spend money wisely on players who want to win. The wilpons made money from berni’s ponzi scheme yet they were not willing to spend anything to save the 2009 season. Good bye Jeff, Omar and Jerry. We need an owner who is passionate about the mets and a team who is passionate about winning.
by bob c on Oct 21, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
uh...welcome to aa
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on Oct 21, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
YEAH!
They should totally sell the team to a Braves fan.
"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Oct 21, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Despite your noble intentions, you still FAIL!
Beer is good! And stuff!
by R_Adragna on Oct 21, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Madoff and the Wilpons
This is a more comprehensive article on the situation.
What I can’t figure out is if this is better or worse for the operation of the Mets? If the Wilpons “made money” off Madoff, they probably budgeted that into their operational resources for the Mets and other businesses. If they are now forced to return that “money” that is $47.8 million that will have to come out of their business holdings. I don’t know how flexible their operating expenses for their other businesses are, or what assets they could liquidate to pay back the money. But I fear that if they do have to account for this “money” it will affect how the Mets are run. Regardless of what Jeffy says.
by Reg Dunlop on Oct 21, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
my inclination is to shockingly believe wilpon that it wont affect how he runs the mets
wilpon cant mix his operations. unless he owns them 100% hes got a fiduciary responsibility to the other shareholders to keep everything separate. the only way it would affect the mets is if he becomes personally broke and then sells his stake in the mets to cover personal debts. but you cant use “mets” money to cover the losses in his real estate and investment company. just like if you own stock in microsoft, you cant demand the company pay your utility bills if you start to fall behind.
heres a link to the WSJ article on it for another take on it. its subscription only article but im fairly certain it’ll put you through if you click on a link. if not, my b.
Lets hope that when gut check time comes again the Mets will pass it with flying colors.
by kendynamo on Oct 21, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm still not clear on it
Is it possible that Mets LP made money but the Wilpons still lost a whole bunch on other Madoff accounts?
by letsgocyclones on Oct 21, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it is possible
but my guess is its more likely is that wilpon was a “winner” on those other accounts too.
Lets hope that when gut check time comes again the Mets will pass it with flying colors.
by kendynamo on Oct 21, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm not so sure
Larry King, apparently a pal of Wilpon, says that jeff personally lost $700 million. but who knows.
by letsgocyclones on Oct 21, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that number was thrown around a lot in the earlier reports
i dont put much faith in it. wilpon would want to claim that he’s not had losses but if he was a long time investor than my guess is he made money, more than the Mets LP did, and would have to give that money back or go to jail. or keep it and have really awesome lawyers.
Lets hope that when gut check time comes again the Mets will pass it with flying colors.
by kendynamo on Oct 21, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and it probably depends
on what the definition of “lost” is.
maybe the day it all went bust jeff had $700 million with madoff and he won’t see a penny of that back. even if he’d made a lot from the returns, he still feels $700 million less rich than he thought he was.
by letsgocyclones on Oct 21, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The sense i get is that the Mets Limited Corp was probably
invested short term in the fund run by Madoff. When the term of that investment was over or the Mets corp wanted their cash, which ever came first, Madoff cut them a check that had 48 mil in profit but that profit probably contained stolen funds.
Maybe Madoff did so to entice personal investments from the Wilpon family that would be seperate from the Mets Corporation and easier to steal because it would be a long term investment.
by Major on Oct 21, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
regarding Carlos Beltran's buddy Steve Phillips...
Assuming that ESPN cans Phillips for his latest freakish behavior, should we all chip into pay for other attractive ESPN staffers who will get it on with John Kruk? And Joe Morgan? And Rick Sutcliffe? And Eric Young…?
by JE on Oct 21, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
anyone think something can be done about umpires this offseason?
This season has been without a doubt the worst officiating i’ve ever seen, and the postseason has been equally horrific. I fear the umpires union is too strong to do anything but its killing the game. does selig have any real power over these guys?
by KeithsMoustache on Oct 21, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
haha, measured in blown calls against a blind person
or BCABP if you will. right now i think most of the umps have a negative BCABP
by KeithsMoustache on Oct 21, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unrelated to baseball...but damn. From John Clayton:
The Vikings might look to the draft to find a quarterback of the future, but I honestly think Favre might be back for another season. He’s having a blast. As long as his body can hold up until January, I think he could stay on for another season. Favre is amazing. He didn’t come out of retirement out of spite and anger at the Packers. He came out because he loves playing football. If he wasn’t playing in the NFL this season, he’d be playing pickup football games at the high school near his home in Mississippi.
He’s worse than Jayson Stark!
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on Oct 21, 2009 9:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Let's see, in either case shouldn't payroll in 2010 be at least what it was in 2009?
Iirc, Mets payroll in 2009 was $149 million. According to Cot’s, payroll obligations for 2010 are 93 million. Arb and raises to such as Murphy and Pagan should run around 19 million. That leaves $46 million to spend this offseason, and that’s enough to since Holliday at 20 per, Lackey at 16 per, 3 million for a catcher, 4 million for a set up man, and 3 mil for essential bits and pieces.
What am I missing?
by SeanSchirmer on Oct 21, 2009 10:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the fact that Omar's an idiot
and he’s gonna dish out $3 million dollar deals to bench players that aren’t any better than guys who will end up signing elsewhere for league minimum.
"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09
by cjmulrain on Oct 22, 2009 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In case anyone wants to vomit:
http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/4584376
Wojo is on the Phillies bandwagon. If there’s anyone worse than Stark, it’s him.
"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09
by cjmulrain on Oct 22, 2009 2:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
d'oh
posted the link to the comments – just click through to read the full article
"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09
by cjmulrain on Oct 22, 2009 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is a nightmare
Phils-Yanks, the only freaking series I didn’t want to see. I won’t watch a second of it.
"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."
by Evan_S on Oct 22, 2009 4:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no matter who wins, we lose
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on Oct 22, 2009 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The one maybe positive
is the Wilpons will see our biggest on field rival in recent years and our biggest off field rival and realize we need Matt Holliday. Of course it’s more likely they focus on leadership and grindyness and trade Wright and Reyes for some real gamers.
"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."
by Evan_S on Oct 22, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder how the Yanks would feel about a Mets-Red Sox series right about now.
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on Oct 22, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hopefully they'll find out sometime soon
that would actually be pretty awesome. Rematch of the ’86 Series, plus Yankees and Phillies fans would go crazy. Make it happen Theo and Omar! (one of these is not like the other)
"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09
by cjmulrain on Oct 22, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember in '06 my father in law
who is the biggest Yankee fan ever, was rooting for the Mets because he hated the Red Sox so much……then when the Sox almost won it in game 6, he was ripping into the Mets and me and my wife for following such a bunch of losers……then Mookie came to bat.
by fxcarden on Oct 22, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
as much as I wish that happend in '06
I’m pretty sure you mean ’86
"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09
by cjmulrain on Oct 22, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah....typo.
1986. The year my son was born.
by fxcarden on Oct 22, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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