Fossum "Blade" Applesauce - Met manager Frazier passes away, Torrealba loses grievance, Maine to CO

by Joe Budd on Feb 18, 2011 8:35 AM EST in Applesauce

Meet the Mets

Spring Training is one of the few times that we, as fans, get to hear about some of the lesser known players who populate various levels of the Met organization. This is a good thing. Especially when what we learn is like this about Casey Fossum.

Sad news today, as former Met manager Joe Frazier passed away at the age of 88.

John Maine is not going to be pitching for the Phillies. That being said: best wishes to John.

Having been replaced as Met hitting coach, Howard Johnson is leaving the organization entirely. It had been expected that HoJo would find another role with the team, but I guess not.

Looks like I couldn't get through an offseason without a Met/Yorvit Torrealba story, but at least this year it's good news for the Mets.

Ted Berg talks with Joe McEwing.

Patrick Flood tries to figure out whether or not he is looking at things through Alderson-colored glasses.

Around MLB

Gary Sheffield has retired. We now have five years to look forward to his Hall of Fame debate. In case you haven't been paying attention for all these years, this is what the guy did.

Miguel Cabrera was arrested for DUI in St. Lucie. He doesn't look too upset about it though.

Joba Chamberlain looks like he found CC Sabathia's lost weight.

Happy 118th birthday to Wally Pipp.

Jose Bautista = Rich Aurilia?

And, FYI, Jack Clark has the most extra inning home runs of anyone in MLB history.

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Comments

Just wanted to add 1 thing about King Albert

I watched the interviews with him as he arrived at ST. This guy is great, he handled the questions with ease, very professional. I have to give him credit.

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Feb 18, 2011 8:39 AM EST reply actions

If Jose Bautista = Rich Aurilia,

then the Blue Jays made a worse mistake than they did when they signed Vernon Wells.

Now, kids, being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep; in giant blender.

by meigs1414 on Feb 18, 2011 8:43 AM EST reply actions

They only re-upped him at an AAV of ~$13M a year

So it isn’t a bad deal by far given what he did last year and what he’s likely to do going forward. The deal values him substantially lower than 2010, so it appears the Jays are assuming a regress.

If they aren’t however, the problem isn’t the money but the production that won’t come.

Writer at Beyond the Box Score and tortured Mets fan (is there any other kind?)

by Bill Petti on Feb 18, 2011 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

HoJo

I hope they left on good terms. HoJo was my favorite player growing up and I would hate to think that there is bad blood between him and the Mets.

by CCE718 on Feb 18, 2011 8:59 AM EST reply actions

yeah..hojo has a part in my mets fandom growing

i know the number 20 will never be retired because of him. But his mustache will live on side by side with keith’s

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Feb 18, 2011 9:42 AM EST up reply actions

25

they doing a 25 year reunion? see if he shows.

-Ceetar, the Optimistic Mets Fan

by Ceetar on Feb 18, 2011 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

During the entire Mets manager search...

… how did Joe cEwing get lost in the shuffle? If he’s already a AAA manager, the guy basically has a rocket on his back. He’s got ties to the organization during its championship years, he’s grissionate, he’s the total package!

"It’s like being in love with an alcoholic. It’s like, you constantly defend her, and people are like, ‘Dude, your alcoholic friend is a mess,’ and you’re like, ‘Nah, you don’t know her like I do."- Jim Breuer

by spaceboy761 on Feb 18, 2011 9:57 AM EST reply actions

grissionate

please…explain

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Feb 18, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

grission = grit + passion

grissionate = grit + passionate

The OED gives a preferred usage of grissionatty, but grissionate is acceptable, if a bit archaic.

by hotspur on Feb 18, 2011 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

That may be what the OED says

but what about the ODB?

by JoshNY on Feb 18, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Grissionate

Because Little Mac is old school.

by spaceboy761 on Feb 18, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

I wanna hear Gary Cohen say the "Blade."

LOL

by nelsonc on Feb 18, 2011 11:09 AM EST reply actions

"picked up a bottle of Scotch and started drinking in front of a sheriff's deputy."

i know i shouldn’t condone these actions and it sounds like he’s going through some tough times, but Miguel Cabrera is AWESOME.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON... BUY THAT MANSION. WE DONT NEED A CONDO.

by kendynamo on Feb 18, 2011 11:23 AM EST reply actions

eh, drunk driving = douche

the math is simple, and irrefutable. Also I find yelling “do you know who I am?” while he’s being arrested is kinda arrogant too. To be honest I’ve always hated the guy. So much talent, such a waste of a human being.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 18, 2011 11:31 AM EST up reply actions

Why do people with so much money

drive drunk regularly? Pay a fuckin driver.

I realize I may be a little out of touch because I live in a city with an abundance of cabs and car services, but I imagine that $20M a year puts you in position to find someone to drive you home anywhere in the US.

by Shomov on Feb 18, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

A full-time driver should be part of your contract, imo

Let’s say your an owner paying guys $1M+/yr to play a game. How much can a full-time driver cost? A DUI or an injury costs a lot of loot is penalties, lost playing time, and terrible PR. Look at Tony LaRussa. If they hired a guy to drive his degenerate butt around, they could have avoided that whole scandal. (Plus, he could have got twice as drunk; but that’s his problem.)

And your team likely has an Official Beer, Wine, Wine Cooler, and Afterdinner Liqueur. If you’re telling fans to “Enjoy Responsibly”, you better put your money where your mouth is.

by hotspur on Feb 18, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Different sport

but just look at Danny Heatley. If they had a driver for him, he wouldn’t be down a teammate and friend (Dan Snyder).

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Feb 18, 2011 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

Ask Duaner Sanchez

about a fucking driver.

by JavaJoe on Feb 18, 2011 6:19 PM EST up reply actions

Hell, even just having a car service on contract for your players would be worth the money.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Feb 19, 2011 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

he just likes to party really heavy

kidding. i’m sure hes a piece of crap. that line in the lead paragraph just cracked me up.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON... BUY THAT MANSION. WE DONT NEED A CONDO.

by kendynamo on Feb 18, 2011 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

the imagery is fairly amusing

I can’t deny that, just because of how ungodly stupid it is

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 18, 2011 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

I think Sheff gets into the hall, not first ballot mind you, but he'll probably get in

Based on some of the other guys in there, his numbers are in line with what passes for a HOF player these days. That said, I hope they screw him over and leave him out. Anyone who intentionally boots plays because they don’t like the team they’re playing for (see his Brewers days) has no business being in the hall.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 18, 2011 11:39 AM EST reply actions

Agree with your opinion re Sheff; I never liked him for the same reason.

As for his HOF chances…5 years ago he would have made it easily because of the 500 ~~rallies killed~~ home runs. Now, I’m not so sure. If Bagwell can be called in to question with no evidence of PED, how will Sheff do with his name in the Mitchell report?

What's the score, boys?
What did Bugs Bunny do?
What's with the Carrot League baseball today?

by StorkFan on Feb 18, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

true, the steroid thing might keep him out (fingers crossed)

but if they ignore that as speculation, he’s better than guys like Jim Rice, so he’ll probably get in.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 18, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Small Hall guys won't vote him in, nor will the anti steroids moralists.

He was a great hitter but he’s in that Jim Rice and Larry Walker range which the small hall guys don’t love.

by FrancoTAU on Feb 18, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

I agree that small hall guys won't vote for him,

but Sheff is much better than Jim Rice. 120 more HRs, 250 more RBIs, 50 points better in OPS (mostly in OBP), and more than 400 more runs. He also had more than twice as many BBs, and fewer Ks.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Feb 19, 2011 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

Small Hall guys won't vote him in, nor will the anti steroids moralists.

He was a great hitter but he’s in that Jim Rice and Larry Walker range which the small hall guys don’t love.

by FrancoTAU on Feb 18, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

Smokin' Joe Frazier

He is one of the most unforgettable Met managers (Yeah Salty Paker too, but he only managed a few games). The Mets highlight film of 1976 begins with Frazier saying, “we’re going to run, run run and run.” The 76 Mets stole 66 bases and were caught 58 times (bud Harrelson and the great Bruce Boisclair).
RIP Smokin’ Joe.

by jacksonvillesuns on Feb 18, 2011 4:18 PM EST reply actions