There are some awesome patch cards on the the market these days, some of which are COMPLETE patches from jerseys. Just awesome. But in 2004, not many of those cards existed, collectors were left to collect multi-colored patch cards as this 2004 Hot Prospects Draft Edition ‘Double Team” card of Carlos Beltran.

This card is stunning in person. I pulled it from a box of Hot Prospects I purchased about two years ago. It features patches from his Astros jersey and Royals jersey. Both patches are multi-colored and feature several breaks. as you can see here. And to top it off, the card if serial numbered to just 50 copies.

Astros

Royals

Well, if the New York Mets couldn’t win in Citi Field, the three American League ballparks, and the other 15 National League ballparks in 2010, why not try somewhere new in 2011?

According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets are working on playing some regular-season games in Puerto Rico. The games would be considered road games for the Mets and would be played in Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.

The most likely opponent would be the Florida Marlins.

Beltran would be a big hit in Puerto Rico

This is the equivalent of the NFL playing games in London, but people in Puerto Rico care about baseball and this actually makes sense.

Thanks to the signings of Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, the Mets have a large Puerto Rican following. Beltran, who is opening up a baseball academy in Puerto Rico, would sell out the game by himself.

The Mets also have Pedro Feliciano, Angel Pagan, and Omir Santos on the roster who were born in Puerto Rico.

The Marlins being the opponent for the Mets makes a ton of sense as well. Since the Marlins draw like 5,000 fans for a home game, the Marlins would probably generate more revenue from playing three games in San Juan than they would playing three games in Florida.

Hiram Bithorn Stadium was home to the Montreal Expos for some games during the 2003 and 2004 season.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

Tiempo atras encontre en mis archivos una columna en que felicitaba a los directivos de las ligas invernales profesionales de Puerto Rico y República Dominicana.

En esa columna agasajaba en que ambas ligas habian aceptado una propuesta nuestra en que se celebraran dos juegos de estrellas entre peloteros boricuas y quisqueyanos de ambos circuitos.

Esos juegos eran para servir de preambulo para la creación de juegos interliga entre ambos paises.

Esa columna fue publicada en el verano del 2002.

Siete calendarios despues aquellos partidos de estrellas fueron realidad y  éxito y este venidero fín de semana una vez más en ambos paises en sus diamantes comenzará la celebración de partidos entre ambas ligas.

Para los fanaticos beisboleros debe ser un manjar deportivo en especial por las figuras de liga mayor que están ya en uniforme con sus equipos en Quisqueya.

En esta serie de interliga se extrañará la presencia de la tradicional franquicia de los Cangrejeros de Santurce de la Isla del Encanto.

Los Cangrejeros recibieron una dispensa de la liga de no jugar por razones económicas.

Los Leones de Ponce andan defendiendo su título de campeones en la primera temporada desde la campaña 1993-1994 que el torneo borincano se celebra con cinco conjuntos.

Más entiendo se extrañará en el terreno para tan importante serie las figuras de alto calibre de Borinquen.

Es muy cierto que figuras entre otros como Carlos Delgado, Yadier Molina e Iván Rodríguez han dicho que estarán presentes en algun punto de temporada.

Muy bueno pero deberian ya estar en acción. Punto.

Si tomamos en cuenta en general la actuación de los puertorriqueños en la gran carpa esta pasada temporada fue una de las más pobres en mucho tiempo. En especial del lado ofensivo que los maderos estuvieron en grupo casi congelados.

Vale señalar que los que sacaron la cara por Puerto Rico este año en el gran circo lo fueron los serpentineros Javier Vazquez y Joel Piñeiro.

Es también cierto que se puede discutir que Carlos Beltrán si no hubiese sido por su lesión en su rodilla derecha hubiera quien sabe terminado con una excelente campaña.

Al paso que llevaba hasta el mes de junio estaba entre los mejores bateadores de la Liga Nacional y en rumbo estar junto a Yadier Molina en el Juego de las Estrellas.

Beltrán ha dicho que esta recuperado y no veo porque no diga presente en el actual torneo.

Es verdad que se tiene que cuidar pero le vendria muy bien recuperar el tiempo perdido y estar mejor para la venidera campaña. El mismo ha dicho publicamente que su mayor deseo es estar en su mejor condición fisica posible para la próxima temporada de las mayores.

Y más que muy bien sabe será la cara lider de los Mets de Nueva York quienes andaran buscando volver a la ruta ganadora.

Si de verdad muchas de las figuras de liga mayor van a jugar vuelvo y repito porque Beltrán no lo hace por su Puerto Rico.

Beltrán es considerado una de las figuras más seguidas por toda la afición deportiva y porque no jugar en su propio patio ante los suyos.

En el pasado Clásico Mundial de Béisbol Beltrán demostró que puede ser cabecilla de grupo y no veo porque como están las cosas en estos tiempos le ofrezca a los suyos lo que es compromise de liderato y orgullo nacional.

Con el regreso anunciado de Carlos Delgado con la novena de Carolina entiendo seria no por la liga sino gigantesco por su pueblo y gente que el otro afamado Carlos viera acción en uniforme.

Tal como hacen año tras año Dominicana, México y Venezuela, sí Beltrán se une a la liga, seria también enorme para Puerto Rico quien sea el campeón se vuelva a componer un gran conjunto para la Serie del Caribe a celebrarse en febrero del 2010 en Isla Margarita.

Puerto Rico no gana una serie caribeña desde el 2000 gracias a los desaparecidos Cangrejeros de Santurce.

Por cierto si alguien ha olvidado fue Puerto Rico que comenzó el concepto de los equipos de ensueño en Series del Caribe. Quien ha olvidado aquel trabuco en 1995 de los desaparecidos Senadores de San Juan. Aquel equipo fue considerado como uno de los mejores equipos beisboleros en el mundo mejor visto del pasado siglo.

Quien sabe si todo esto ocurriera sí Bernie Williams hasta suelta su guitarra y vuelve al diamante boricua como hizo el año pasado para formar parte de la novena de Puerto Rico en el Clasico Mundial de Beisbol. Recuerden que el nunca dijo que se habia retirado del deporte del guante y el bate.

Le dejo el reto a Carlos Beltrán a jugar por Puerto Rico.

WARNING: If you are sensitive to the topic of race, I suggest you move on. This blog is not for you. I am not making accusations at all Mets fans. This for a select few. I have no issues with whites, blacks, hispanics or any other race. I am making a relevant point here. Rude and racist comments will not be tolerated. If you have something to say, that is what email is for. I will not tolerate you offending my readers.

Ever since I started to blog, I’ve come across some interesting Mets fans like those that are so obsessed with their team they rely on gimmicks to get noticed by other fans or the front office. There are those who are the casual fans and just watch their team when they are doing well.

Then there are the racist jerks who one almost swear have confederate flags hanging in their bedrooms. Yes, my friends, racism is still, unfortunately, alive and well here in the United States.

Outrageous you say? Well DUH!

What is more outrageous than blaming a GM for a poor job based on his race?

What is more stupid and ludicrous than blaming laziness and mistakes on the basepaths, field, or anything else on a specific race?

I’ll tell you what is more stupid. The people who makes these insinuations. Never in my entire life have I been more embarressed to say I am a Mets fan.

You’re probably right if you’re thinking it is in every fan base. However, it does not make it right. In a game as wonderful and American as baseball, there is no room for this nonsense.

I remember talking to a Mets fan on Facebook, it seems that is where I talk to most of my readers, and he had the audacity to say Omar Minaya is stupid and there should be a white man in the front office. He told me that there is no room for latinos.

Now, at the risk of losing a loyal reader, I told him to drop dead and never set eyes on my site again. If he has a problem with latinos, he has a problem with me. I am a proud latina working my ass off to get where I want to be in the sports media industry. So is there no room for me?

Since Minaya took the job of General Manager of the New York Mets, he has been accused of making the Mets a hispanic team. They became known as “Los Mets”.

My question to you is: So freakin’ what?

You wanted these latinos on your team. When Carlos Beltran was a free agent, everyone was screaming for him to be signed. You got him. You also got Pedro Martinez. You wanted him too. Or do you not remember how excited you were when he signed on the dotted line? You were among the first ones to get a Martinez jersey.

You begged for Minaya to get the job done in acquiring Johan Santana. Um, guess what? He’s a hispanic. That’s right ladies and gentlemen. Your ace is a latino. Oh the horror of it all! What did you get? A hard-ass pitcher who will fight tooth and nail to win a game.

Let’s see. What else did the inept latino GM get? Oh yes! I remember.

I remember a particular closer who was on the free agent market last year. Every fan knew the Mets needed a closer because of Billy Wagner going down for surgery. All fans wanted this closer because he was dominating. He even had a nickname: K-Rod. I wonder what happened to him.

Oh that’s right! He is on the Mets now. You wanted him. You got him.

I know I am missing some other points here. Oh right! Who is best closer of all time in baseball? Mariano Rivera. Do you know where he is from? Panama.

One of the most beloved and respected players in all of baseball was who? Roberto Clemente. Great player and a great humanitarian. You could learn a few things from him. Oh my gosh! I know. The absolute horror of having to learn something from a hispanic. Oh dear me!

I spoke to one Mets fan, Eric, on my college campus about how he felt about Minaya and all of the latinos on the team. Unfortunately, I left my notes at home and do not have the interview with me. I’ll post his responses later tonight. However, his whole issue was not the fact that Minaya was hispanic or that there were a number of hispanics on the team. It was how Minaya handled the team. It was poor.

I askd Eric what if the whole team were hispanic. Eric’s response:

They know their baseball.

He does not care if it is all black, hispanic, white, or asian. Just as long as a championship is brought to Flushing. That is all that matters to him.

That is all that should matter to you.

Do not blame incompetence on race. Last time I checked, former President Bush was white and he screwed this country up royally.

Minaya did what all of you wanted. He got the players that you wanted. He is not inept. Minaya knows what he is doing. The players did not give us what we thought they would. You cannot blame a player’s performance on the General Manager. Minaya’s job is to sign the players. The coaches are to work with the players to get them to perform at peak efficiency.

You can make the argument that he is inept when it comes to the media. I’ll give you that. At that he is awful. He should have a spokesperson. But it has nothing to do with his race.

Take a long look at yourself in the mirror. Guess what? You have two strikes against you. You are racist and inept. Care to go for strike three?

Wrigleyville (the community of fans as opposed to the neighborhood around the ballpark) is abuzz with speculation about whom the Cubs will get in exchange for one Milton (no middle name) Bradley of Harbor City, California.

Shoot, I thought all mass murderers or assassins had middle names. Isn’t that what Milton Bradley is? For all the bile spewed in his name since his very first game at Wrigley Field as a Cub, Bradley has to rank among John Wayne Gacy and Richard Franklin Speck as a local villain.

Of course, he’s brought much of the odium on himself but the rage expressed at Bradley is alarming. I mean, jeez, he’s just a ballplayer, albeit one with a paranoiac streak and who can’t control his rages and alienates just about everyone he’s ever shared a shower room with. It’s not like he lied to the country to whip up war fever or is mad because taxpayers won’t pick up the tab for an eight-figure bonus he thinks he should get.

Still, don’t count me among the Bradley defenders. (Then again, are there any Milton Bradley defenders anywhere?) I’m one of those numbers-crunching stats geeks old-time baseball fans like to pillory. I’ll always look to a player’s BAbip, VORP, WARP2, OPS+, UZR, and occasionally his pH level rather than fairy tale attributes like “character,” “ability in the clutch,” and (ugh) “scrappiness.” I have no idea what a “gamer” is but I do know how many Runs Created each player on the Cubs roster was responsible for in 2009. And Milton Bradley is one fine ballplayer based on any metric you can name.

That said, there’s no place for him here next year. If you can find anybody who’ll disagree, then you ought to play the lottery.

Gameboard is owed $21M for both the 2010 and ’11 seasons. The other 29 GMs in MLB know Jim Hendry has to exile Bradley from Cubville. So you might think Hungry Jim is over a barrel. He may have to eat up to $10M of Milton’s remaining pay and accept some other team’s albatross in the bargain. You may be right. Yet, there’s always someone who thinks he can handle the other guy’s problems, especially if that problem is good for a plus-.375 on-base percentage. Might someone be willing to swap some usable talent for him?

The Mets are said to be sick to death of both Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran. The Rays are stuck with Pat Burrell’s big contract. The Blue Jays may want to rid themselves of Vernon Wells’ bloated contract. Then there are the Red Sox who always are on the lookout for hitters who produce, leaving others to fight among themselves over the Boy Scouts.

Some say Hendry ought to agree to a deal with the first team that offers to take Bradley off his hands, no matter the return. But reporters like Ken Rosenthal and Bruce Miles claim their sources tell them Hendry already has received more than courtesy calls regarding the wayward rightfielder. Even if Hendry takes his time to sort through whatever competing offers there may be, he has to close the book on Bradley before or at least early on in December’s general managers meeting. The Cubs absolutely cannot stand still as they did in the 2004-05 off-season while trying to exile Sammy Sosa. Not only did they get next to nothing back for a man who’ll waltz into the Hall of Fame, they were unable to pull the trigger on any other signings that might have actually improved their chances the next season. In the weeks leading up to Sammy’s foregone departure, other teams snapped up the likes of Beltran, Magglio Ordonez and even Roger Clemens. I’m getting aroused just thinking about any of those three on the Cubs.

Anyway, Hungry Jim has about five weeks, max, to peddle Bradley. If he doesn’t do the deed by then he may as well hang on to him, which means a lot of unneeded clubhouse drama next season. Whereas clubhouse drama doesn’t necessarily preclude the winning of the World Series, as the mid-70s A’s or late-70s Yankees proved, it doesn’t make the task any easier. And, it must be said, the 2010 Cubs will not compare favorably with either the of those champs.

Had I magic in the snap of my fingers, I’d put together a package of Carlos Zambrano, Milton Bradley and Sean Marshall for Beltran and Reyes. Everybody’s happy that way — the Mets get rid of a couple of guys whom they (wrongly) consider lacking and they get the stud pitcher and outfield masher they so crave. The Cubs, meanwhile, wave bye-bye to their most villified player since Todd Hundley as well as a guy whose mound blow-ups are becoming increasingly intolerable. Plus, they get a brilliant switch-hitting leadoff man shortstop and slugging centerfielder, neither of which they’ve had since the Fillmore administration. Sigh.

Will it happen? Hell no! But that’s what I love about the hot stove season — I can pretend it might.

The Boston Herald must be losing it. The cold air must have freezed up their brains.

I find it very hard to believe that the Boston Red Sox would seriously consider bringing on Carlos Beltran.

The Herald seems to think if the Sox fail to bring back Jason Bay, the Sox could put in a contingency plan involving Beltran. It is all speculation. I think they’re just trying to sell papers.

Let us get that thought out of their heads. Beltran still has $18.5 million on his contract which is still in effect for two more years, 2010 and 2011.

If the Sox cannot bring back Bay for monetary reasons, because that is the only reason I can think of for Bay not going back, then I do not see how they will take on Beltran’s contract.

On top of that, Beltran, like all Scott Bor-ass clients, has a no-trade clause in that contract. I do not see Beltran waiving that clause.

Jacoby Ellsbury is not going anywhere and Beltran is surely not being moved to another position. After all, the Mets had to move Mike Cameron to right field just to accommodate Beltran. Remember? Ellsbury will have to move to either right or left field.

This is a “no-deal” scenario. I would hang up the phone on Theo Epstein so loudly that he would never make such a foolish call again.

I would demand Ellsbury and Clay Bucholz just to start. There is no negotiating on this. This is what I want. Give it to me or quit tying up my line.

But like I said: Beltran is not going anywhere.

Poor AJ. His boys won 95 games in 2009. Apparently they were the wrong kind of wins. Or something.

I would have sawed off my right pinkie for 95 wins (not my left pinkie, though, since I’m trying to learn how to play the guitar.)

Are your fears for the Flaming Hose really warranted? Ortiz’s RBI were “quiet”? Bay “put up terrific numbers but… he’s a bit overrated”? Papelbon “gave up walks or hits and often had difficulty finishing batters off”? Ellsbury “can be pitched to by better pitchers”? Sheesh!

Whaddya want 105 wins?

I suppose the answer yes. Who wouldn’t want 105 wins? But no one — repeat, no one — can construct a team with the expectation that they’ll win 105. Not even the colossus that occupies new Yankee Stadium won 105 (of course, they did knock off 103 opponents but let’s not quibble.)

Have the Red Sox and their fans become — dare I say it — too demanding? It seems a short half decade ago, il Nazione del Calzini Rossi would have been thrilled to string up 95 fascisti. Now, 95 wins — bah! A bag of shells.

Were I the majordomo of the Sox, I wouldn’t worry too much about Papelbon’s walks or hits (his WHIP stood at a fine 1.15.) If Bay’s putting up terrific numbers, I’d say, Keep it up, Jason my boy. As for Ellsbury’s problems with better pitchers? Um, I’d guess the reason those guys are “better pitchers” is because they get most guys out, period.

I would fret a little about David Ortiz. He’s now 34 years old and weighs 230 pounds — at least that’s what the Red Sox web site claims. His bathroom scale might dissent. His best years are like a big ass — behind him. Then again, most AL teams would drool over the prospect of their DHs putting up mediocre Ortiz numbers. The Boston club really ain’t got much to worry about does it?

Sometimes fans and even GMs can overreact. Take last off-season. After the Cubs had led the National League with 97 wins, they went out and jumped in front of that speeding bus from LA. Fans boo-hooed as if the Cubs had gone sub-.500. Lou Piniella suggested that maybe the team needed a left handed bat to counteract teams loading up with righthanders against them — as the Dodgers did. Hungry Jim Hendry promptly turned over 40 percent of his roster, mainly in an effort to afford the $30M/3-year deal he bestowed upon Milton Bradley.

Pardon me while I have a seizure. Gurgle, gulp, ack-ack-ack. The memory of the Bradley signing is now a lesion in my brain that occasionally causes electrical disturbances among my remaining several hundred neurons. Ah — all better now.

Hendry dumped Mark DeRosa, Kerry Wood and Jason Marquis, all in an effort to squeeze Gameboard into the budget. The 2009 team could have used a nice fifth starter like Marquis (who, by the way, went to the all-star game.) They would have benefitted greatly from DeRosa’s 23 home runs, especially in Aramis Ramirez’s absence. Wood? Well, he stunk the joint up with the Tribe but he still was better than the execrable Kevin Gregg.

Be careful what you wish for, AJ. What’s Theo Epstein to do? Look for a centerfielder? Yeah, you could do better than young Jacoby. You could grab Carlos Beltran from the Mets and hope he thrives in Fenway. But at what cost?

Should Theo let Bay or Drew walk? Whaddya gonna do then? Play Joey Gathright and Rocco Baldelli?

In terms of planning, a good GM walks the tightrope. He (or she — Kim Ng, I hear, is in the running for the Padres job) can’t rely on an unchanging roster year after year. He also can’t swap his assets like so many baseball cards.

The Big Mike Philosophy of Building a Baseball Team, taught at the better universities around the country, holds that the GM should build his team with an aim to win 90 games. If your team is a consistent 90-game-winner, you’ll be battling for the division title every single year. And while the team may occasionally dip to 84-78, it’ll just as often rise to 96-66. That’s definite Champagne territory.

Now you may say 96 wins is fine for the Minnesota Twins or the Colorado Rockies but the Red Sox share a division with the Yankees. Okay. Let the Yanks spend $200M every year and win the East. It’s no dishonor to sneak into the playoffs via the Wild Card. In fact, the Red Sox of 2004 rode that ticket to their first World Series win in 10,000 years (that ancient triumph over the hated Jericho Palms!)

Just because New York assembled an all-star team and danced to the division title doesn’t mean Theo (and you) should panic. Theo (and you) should start planning for a future without Big Papi but the current lineup built around Pedroia, Bay, Youkilis and Martinez (assuming everybody’s re-signed) is scarier than a Glenn Beck commentary.

Boston is a lock to win at least 90 in 2010. Even if David Ortiz’s bat continues to soften and Josh Beckett’s back continues to throb, the Red Sox, along with the Yankees and Angels, will be the cream of the league. You worry too much.

Me? I’ve got Bradley in right field, Carlos Zambrano on the mound, and a century-plus of losing on my mind. I worry.

When Troy Tulowitzki struckout on that nasty slider from Brad Lidge, the Colorado Rockies’ offseason officially began. Just like with every team, the Rockies face some difficult offseason decisions.

One of those difficult decisions for the Rockies is whether or not to trade RF Brad Hawpe. 

The Rockies also have a surplus of young, talented outfielders. Seth Smith, Dexter Fowler, and Carlos Gonzalez seem to have the three outfield spots locked down for 2010.

Hawpe could be dealt this winter

And with Hawpe due *$7.5 million in 2010 and having a club option for $10 million in 2011 (if Hawpe is traded, he can void the 2011 club option), Hawpe seems to be the odd man out in Colorado.

I think the Rockies will make every effort to trade the 2009 All-Star. But what type of player are they trading and who would be interested in Hawpe?

Let’s a look at Hawpe and what he brings to the table…

Positives

Hawpe is a remarkably consistent offensive player. For the last four years, Hawpe has averaged .288/.384/.518 with 25 HR’s in 146 games. And if you look at his numbers on a year to year basis–he does that every year.

It’s kind of freaky to be honest.

Hawpe also crushes right-handed pitching. In 357 AB’s against right-handed pitching in 2009, Hawpe hit .303/.403/.552 with 17 HR’s.

And for those of you who think Hawpe is just a product of Coors Field–he is not. He hit more HR’s on the road in 2009 than he did at home (14 to nine). For his career, Hawpe has hit 54 HR’s at home and 57 on the road.

Also, his OPS for his career at home is .887 and on the road is .864. Not much difference.

Negatives

While Hawpe might a remarkably consistent offensive player, his defense is flat-out offensive. He might be one of the worst defensive RF’s in baseball.

His UZR/150 in 2009 was -19.5, which puts him amongst the bottom of major league RF’s. What ever he brings to the table offensively, he takes away from it with his defense.

Hawpe can’t hit left-handed pitching. Hawpe’s career OPS vs. left-handed pitching is 158 points lower than it is against right-handed pitching. If Hawpe plays against a lefty and with his defense, you might as well just bring back Terry Shumpert to play the OF.

Here is another thing that bothers me about Hawpe and is a negative. Every time the Rockies are in prime time, Hawpe just disappears. He only has two extra-base hits in 42 career postseason AB’s.

How telling was it that Hawpe only got four AB’s against the Phillies in four games? He was one of the Rockies best offensive players throughout the year and he didn’t even sniff the batter’s box in the postseason.

Jim Tracy didn’t even go to Hawpe against righties. He used Jason Giambi as his primary left-handed pinch hitter off the bench.

Now that we looked at Hawpe as a player, what teams would be interested in trading for Hawpe? Here are some teams that makes potentially make sense for Hawpe…

Boston Red Sox – If they don’t re-sign Jason Bay and Matt Holliday re-signs with the St. Louis Cardinals, who is going to play LF for the Red Sox? If the Red Sox could live with Bay’s defense in LF, they could certainly live with Hawpe in left.

New York Mets – The Mets are desperate for any type of power infusion and need a left fielder. However, having an OF of Hawpe, Carlos Beltran (bad knees), and Jeff Francoeur (-3.2 UZR/150) means a lot of balls will be dropping in at cavernous Citi Field.

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs will do their best to trade Milton Bradley this offseason, leaving a hole in right field. Hawpe could give the Cubs the left-handed power hitter they have wanted since last year.

Atlanta Braves – If the Braves had their perfect world, their OF in June of 2010 would look like Nate McLouth in left, Jordan Schafer in center, and Jason Heyward in right.

If the Braves feel Schafer is still not ready for prime time yet, the Braves could look to Hawpe to take over for Garrett Anderson in left.

Kansas City Royals - The Royals need some offense and the Rockies would like some young relief pitching. Dayton Moore trades young relievers for DH-types all the time.

One of the issues the Rockies would run into if they decide to trade Hawpe is that there are a lot of DH-type players (Carlos Delgado, Russell Branyan, Hank Blalock, etc…) available on the open market this winter. Why would an American League GM trade prospects and add salary, when they can just add salary via free agency?

Hawpe figures to be one of the most talked about names on the trade market this winter. We will just have to wait and find out if the Rockies trade their right-handed crushing, poor fielding right fielder.

*All contract information was supplied by Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

For your morning fix, three quick news items:

• IPK threw 4 innings last night for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. He did what he normally does, baffling minor-leaguers, as he held the Peo Javelinas (awesome names in the AzFL) to just 1 ER on 2 hits, while striking out 4. I’ll have more on IPK later in the day.
• Next up, Johnny Damon’s miserable ALDS against the Twins — 1-for-12 with 4 K and 1 BB — has him preparing for the upcoming ALCS with the Angels. Though Tuesday was an off-day for the team, Damon joined Eric Hinske, Jerry Hairston, Brett Gardner, Frankie Cervelli, and Nick Swisher for batting practice. Hopefully Damon’s .333 BA against John Lackey will carry over to Friday.
• Finally, as you all know I’m a big fan of trade musings and winter speculation. Joe over at RAB delivers with a hypothetical solution to the Yankees’ left field void in 2010—Carlos Beltran. Sure, it’s a whimsical and unlikely scenario, but, as Kevin Garnett eloquently stated, “Anything’s possible.”

Back with more, later…

Name: Carlos Beltran

Position: OF

Team: New York Mets

Set it’s from: 2008 Upper Deck SPX

Serial Number: 81/99

How obtained: eBay

Why this Card?: At first I thought this was a fake, but the more and more I researched, I found out that it was indeed a real patch card.  I loved the way it looked, and to top it off, it has the black jersey instead of the white or gray one.  When I set out to build a patch collection, I wanted one patch from each team and the only player on the Mets that I really wanted was Beltran.  Beltran will finish his career with 350 homer and 350 stolen bases, which should put him in some elite company.  Easily one of my all time favorite patch cards.

But What About the Set?: 2008 SPX boxes run about 110 bucks. They contain 10 packs with 3 cards per pack. You get 10 autographed or memorabilia cards per box, including one patch.   At about $10 a hit it is really worth the money.  Unfortunately I am just not a fan of the overall design.

Beckett’s Value: $20

eBay Value: I got it for a $3.75 plus shipping.

National League East

In continuing my analysis of current MLB players headed for the Hall of Fame, I came across some interesting cases in the NL East.  On one hand you have you have the Phillies, a team full of All-Stars, former MVPs, and Cy Young winners.  Then there are the Mets, a team of talented individuals who have had little success as a unit.  Then are there are the Braves and Marlins, replete with young stars on the rise, who are just starting their young careers.  And lastly, does anyone on the Nationals deserve serious consideration for Cooperstown?  The answer to that last question is “no” but I’ll still take a look at some of their players for the sake of fairness.  So with that said, let’s get the column underway!

Philadelphia Phillies

Cliff Lee

For the record, Cliff Lee, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, has been really good the last two seasons.  His award winning season last year has been well documented, and he’s been almost as good this season.  Furthermore, many people are unaware that he actually finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2005, when he won 18 games and posted a 3.79 ERA.  However, other than his three great seasons, he has posted three seasons equally as bad, posting ERAs of 5.43, 4.40, and 6.29.  He’s already 30 years old, but he has seem to hit his stride.  If he can continue to consistently pitch like this for 4 or five more years, he has a shot, but I think he just took way too long to develop into a great player, and that will ultimately hurt his chances at the Hall.

Verdict: Out

Brad Lidge

Lidge came to prominence in Houston, but became known as a great closer thanks to his impeccable effort last year.  However, he really seems to have fallen apart this year.  He finished fourth in Cy Young voting last year, as well as eighth in MVP balloting, but he’s only been to two All-Star games and teams seem to have figured him out.  He’s been in the top ten in saves five times, but never led the league in that category, and his lifetime ERA is 3.56 (7.21 this year) which is a high lifetime ERA fore an elite closer.  Also, hall of famers don’t really have seasons that are this bad.  A lot of people think he’s done, and he’ll really need to pick it up the next few years to prove them wrong.  I don’t think he will.

Verdict: Out

Pedro Martinez

Most people think Pedro Martinez is a slam dunk, first ballot Hall of Famer.  The only real knock on Pedro would be his win totals, which are good for only 76^th on the all-time list, and would be among the lowest of Hall of Fame pitchers.  However, he is sixth ever in career win percentage.  He’s been an All-Star eight times, starting in one game and won three Cy Young Awards.  He’s also finished in the top four in balloting four other times.  He’s third among active pitchers in the ERA category, having twice posted an ERA under 2.00, which is absolutely unheard of for a modern day starter.  He’s third all-time in WHIP, eleventh in hits per nine innings, and third in strikeouts per nine innings.  The Hall of Fame is reserved for players that have been dominant.  For about ten years, Pedro Martinez was the definition of that word.  He’s in, no question.

Verdict: In

Jamie Moyer

I’m imagining that the same 5.5% of voters that elect Harold Baines each year will also vote for Jamie Moyer.  Both are fine players, but their candidacy is based on longevity rather that greatness.  Moyer has been pitching in the Bigs since 1986.  The fact that he’s completed 23 seasons as a starting pitcher is amazing.  He’s won 258 games, which is 41^st in baseball history.  He actually ranks ahead of the likes of Whitey Ford, Juan Marichal, Mordecai Brown, and the aforementioned Pedro Martinez in that category.  He’s also 41^st ever in strikeouts.  However, he’s only won 20 games in a season once, finished significantly in Cy Young voting three times, and been an all-star once.  His lifetime ERA is 4.22, which would be astronomical for a pitcher in the Hall.  Some voters seem to think that “great” and “good for a long time” are synonymous.  They aren’t. Moyer has had a fine career, but he has never really exemplified the word “great” and for that reason, he’s out.

Verdict: Out

Ryan Howard

Howard, for me, is a difficult case.  He’s one in which my gut says no but my research says differently.  He’s only in his fifth full season, but he’s already won a ROY Award and an MVP.  He’s been runner-up in another MVP voting, and fifth in a third.  More amazingly is that in three of his five seasons, he’s driven in over 140 runs.  He’s the active leader in at bats per home run, and still bats .279, which is pretty strong for a power hitter.  He’s consistently near the top in slugging percentage, OPS, intentional walks, and homers.  He strikes out a lot and isn’t going to win any Gold Gloves, but his body of work thus far has been pretty impressive.  What might hurt him is the strength at his position.  The NL has a number of strong first baseman, and a player isn’t going to reach the Hall being the fourth or fifth first baseman of his generation.  He needs to stay healthy and establish himself solidly behind Pujols as the NL’s second best first baseman, but his stats have been undeniably dominant over his first few years.

Verdict: In

Jimmy Rollins

The Phillies’ other former MVP, Jimmy Rollins won the award in 2007, and finished tenth in 2005.  He’s been playing full time since 2001, and has been named to three All-Star teams, won two Gold Gloves, and is the active leader in triples.  However, he’s been a poster child for inconsistency.  This year, he’s only batting .250 and has a lifetime average of .274, which may be impressive for a power hitter like Howard, but not for a contact hitter like Rollins.  Also, he only gets on base 33% of the time, which isn’t great for a player that bats near the top of the lineup.  He’s been a very good player, and great at times, but he just hasn’t consistently put up Hall of Fame caliber numbers, and that’s what will hurt him in the end.

Verdict: Out

Chase Utley

Of all the Phillies’ star infielders, Utley might actually be remembered as the best of the bunch.  He’s been named to four consecutive All-Star games, and is unquestionably the best second baseman in the NL.  He’s also won three consecutive Silver Sluggers and finished in the top ten of MVP voting twice.  Unlike Rollins, Utley consistently hits for average (.295 lifetime) and gets on base 38% of the time.  He has good power for a second baseman, having hit over 30 homers three times in his career.  He can usually be found among the league leaders in runs scored and extra base.  I actually think that Utley has the best chance at the Hall- even better than his former MVP running mates.

Verdict: In

Others with a shot:

Cole Hamels: Reigning Word Series MVP isn’t having the strongest of campaigns this year.

J.A. Happ: Having an amazing year, but we can all name a number of pitchers who have faded fast.

Florida Marlins

Hanley Ramirez

Hanley Ramirez has recently emerged as the NL’s best shortstop, and I envision him starting alongside Utley for a number of Midsummer Classics.  In fact, at 25 years old, his stats are strikingly similar to those of Derek Jeter through the same age.  He won the batting title this year, and has previously led the league in runs scored.  He’s been in the top eleven in MVP voting twice and will probably finish in the top ten again this year.  He’s been an All-Star twice and won a Silver Slugger as well.  Also, he’s consistently among the league leaders in steals and hits.  He’s still very young, but barring injury he should do enough in his career to get the call.

Verdict: In

Others with a shot:

Josh Johnson: The young starter has been lights out in his young career and I really like his chances.  I think he’ll be in.

Dan Uggla:  Twice an All-Star (even if his appearance last year was memorable for the wrong reasons) but his stats aren’t wonderful through four years.

Cameron Maybin: Really hot young prospect has shown flashes of brilliance.

Chris Volstad: Not following up a strong start last year with a good showing this year, but has potential.

Atlanta Braves

Tim Hudson

Tim Hudson is one of a number of recent former Oakland Athletics pitchers who have started out strong and faded a bit later in their careers.  In his first six years, he was clearly an elite pitcher, having been named to two All-Star teams and finishing in the top six in Cy Young voting three times, including being the runner-up in 2000.  However, since 2005, Hudson hasn’t made an All-Star team or finished significantly in Cy Young voting.  Furthermore, he only appeared in seven games this year, suggesting that his health may be declining at the age of 34.  Having said that, his stats haven’t been terrible during his off years.  From 2005-2009 he’s only posted an ERA higher than 4.00 once, and has never had a losing season in his career.  Among active players, he’s eleventh in wins, fifth in winning percentage, eleventh in ERA, and third in homers per nine innings.  He has had a very good career, but his lack of All-Star appearances and Cy Young consideration will ultimately keep him out.

Verdict: Out

Derek Lowe

Lowe has had a long career and is mostly recognizable due to his role in the heated Yankees/Red Sox rivalry of the mid 90s-2000s.  He’s played thirteen major league seasons and has posted a respectable lifetime ERA of 3.84.  However, he’s only been selected to two All-Star teams and appeared in Cy Young voting once.  Also, for every great season he’s had, he has posted an equally horrible one, with an ERA over 6.00 in one season (his rookie year), an ERA over five once, and an ERA over four three times.  Furthermore, despite his long career, he’s only 16^th on the active wins list, although that will be affected by the time he spent as a reliever.  Honestly, I just don’t see Lowe embodying greatness in a baseball career.

Verdict: Out

Brian McCann

I’ve noted throughout my posts that it’s incredibly difficult for catchers to make the Hall of Fame.  Although McCann isn’t as well known as the likes of Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek, I actually think he has a better chance of making the Hall than those two.  First of all, he has won two Silver Sluggers and boasts a lifetime .293 batting average, which is quite good for a catcher.  Furthermore, he’s been selected to four consecutive All-Star games and has basically been the best catcher in the NL for the last five years.  I think that if a player is clearly the best at his position, in his league, he belongs in the Hall.  However, he hasn’t really significantly figured into the league leader board (other than 2006, when he hit .333) and is never in the mix for MVP or Gold Glove awards.  There are certainly some young catchers who can challenge McCann’s title as best NL backstop, and when you consider the caliber of some catchers that aren’t in the hall, like Thurman Munston or Elston Howard, I’m not completely sold on McCann’s chances.  I won’t completely write him off, but I just don’t think he’s in there.

Verdict: Out

Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones disappeared a bit from baseball’s consciousness when the Braves became irrelevant and they inexplicably moved him to left field for a few years.  However, it’s hard to deny that Chipper has been one of the best players of his generation.  He’s just finished his 16^th major league season and has once heck of a resume.  He won the NL MVP in 1999, and has finished in the top ten of voting six other times, coming in eleventh twice.  He’s been elected to six All-Star teams, having started in five, and has led the league in batting average, on base percentage and OPS.  Among active players, he’s 12^th in batting average, fifth in OBP, ninth in OPS, eighth in runs scored, eleventh in hits, seventh in homers, seventh in RBI, and third in walks.  Chipper Jones has had an impressive career and unquestionably belongs in Cooperstown.

Verdict: In

Garret Anderson

Another grizzled veteran, Garret Anderson has also compiled some strong offensive numbers.  He’s a three time All-Star, has won two Silver Sluggers, and came in fourth in MVP voting in his career.  He’s currently eighth on the active hits list and has led the league in doubles twice.  However, three All-Star games in 16 seasons aren’t particularly impressive.  Other than one or two years, he’s never been considered seriously in MVP voting, and has been criticized for taking plays off.  He’s another one who’s been a very good player, but just doesn’t have the resume to enter the Hall.

Verdict: Out

Others with a shot:

Jair Jurrjens:  He’s having a Cy Young caliber year and is looking like a dominant starter.  He’s only 23 years old, too.

Nate McLouth: Getting away from the Pirates is always a good thing.  A good fielder, but needs to improve his batting average to have a real shot.

New York Mets

Francisco Rodriguez

“K-Rod” is only 27 and already has 231 saves.  He has finished in the top 4 of Cy Young Voting 3 times, top ten of MVP voting once, and been to four All-Star Games.  Of the younger players on the list, he has the best chance.  He has led the league in saves four times, and won two Rolaids Relief Awards (I feel awkward tying that).  Rodriguez boasts a lifetime ERA of 2.31 and strikes out 11.5 batters per nine innings.  Needs a few more years under his belt, but looks like a good bet.  

Verdict: In

Johan Santana

Santana has just finished his tenth Major League season.  He’s 30 years old right now, and only has 119 wins to his name.  Also, despite a perception of dominance, he has only been an All-Star four times.  However, there was a three-year period where he was basically unhittable.  He finished in the top ten of Cy Young voting six times, and twice in the top ten for MVP voting.  Among active players, he ranks fourth in ERA, fourth in wins and twelfth in strikeouts.  However, he hasn’t been very durable and, as a result, lacks the win totals and innings pitched to include him in with those in the other categories.  For me, he’s iffy, but I think if he can get in two or three more All-Star caliber seasons, he would make a compelling case.   I think he bounces back from the surgery and gets it done.

Verdict: In

Luis Castillo

Castillo is a three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner.  He’s been one of the top second basemen in baseball for a while and has been pretty consistent over his 14 MLB seasons.  He’s actually the fourth leading base stealer currently playing, and very rarely strikes out.  However, he’s never really been a serious MVP candidate and rarely shows up as a leader in significant batting categories.  Yet another good player that pretty clearly isn’t going to the Hall.

Verdict: Out

Carlos Delgado

Here’s a shocking statistic: Carlos Delgado has only been an All-Star two times in his career.  I think most baseball fans would expect that Delgado has played in the Midsummer Classic more than just twice.  After all, he has 473 homers, 1,512 RBI, and 2,038 hits.  He’s been in the top ten of MVP voting four times and won three Silver Slugger awards.  He’s sixth on the active list in both homers and RBI, and ninth in slugging percentage.  These stats are very impressive and his career .280 AVG suggests that he is right on the cusp of entering Cooperstown.  However, I just can’t get over the lack of All-Star appearances.  Personally, I think All-Star selections are significant, in that they tell us how many times a player was considered among the best players at his position.  Of course, there are some exceptions.  The fans, managers, and players have a history of making baffling choices, and there are times when a player really picks up production later in the year.  However, I see Delgado’s stats as being borderline to begin with, and his lack of All-Star selections will keep him out.

Verdict: Out

Jose Reyes

Reyes looked like a safe bet a few years ago, but his contention for the Hall of Fame has to be in some jeopardy, following injuries and sub-par seasons.  In seven seasons, Reyes is a two-time All-Star, who finished seventh in MVP voting in 2006.  He’s led the NL in steals three times, and is consistently among the league leaders in that category.  His batting average is a respectable .286 and he has a real knack for scoring runs.  However, there are a few factors that worry me with Reyes.  First of all, as I said earlier, his AVG is respectable, but not great for a contact hitter.  Furthermore, he only gets on base about 34% of the time, which is pretty poor for a leadoff hitter.  Furthermore, he’s about to undergo surgery on a leg injury, which isn’t great news for a player who relies primarily on speed.  He’s a good player, but there are way too many ifs with him.

Verdict: Out

David Wright

People in the New York area are complaining about an off-year for Wright, in that his power numbers have dipped significantly this year.  Wright went from a 30 home run guy, to only hitting ten in 2009.  Furthermore, he hit 52 fewer RBI than he did last year.  The Mets organization is blaming this dip in production to the lack of play around him.  That may be the case with the RBI, but Wright needs to hit more than 10 homers per year, even with a lack of protection in the lineup.  However, he has been selected to four consecutive All-Star games, and his AVG and OBP are virtually identical to last year.  He’s finished in the top ten of MVP voting three times, won two Silver Sluggers and is still a premier third baseman in the NL.  I say he bounces back strong next year and continues his stellar play.

Verdict: In

Carlos Beltran

Beltran is a five time All-Star (even if he missed the game this year due to injury) and a former Rookie of the Year.  He’s a three time Gold Glover who has finished in the top ten of MVP voting twice.  He’s consistently among the league leaders in steals, and total bases, and has pretty strong power numbers as well.  But Beltran’s problem has always been his consistency.  He’ll hit .307 in one year, and .267 the next (2003 and 2004).  His career AVG is .283, which is good, but not great.  He’s had some great postseasons, but he just hasn’t seemed to have done enough to get in the Hall.  He’s still just 32, so he has a chance to add to his numbers, and he was looking as good as ever before the injury struck in 2009, but I don’t see him in Cooperstown with all the other great outfielders.

Verdict: Out

Gary Sheffield

Sheffield is really the definition of a borderline Hall of Famer.  He has 500 home runs, which used to guarantee election to the Hall.  However, that number has lost its appeal, as the great power hitters of the 90s and 2000s have fallen under the PED cloud.  And Sheffield is no different, having admitted to using PEDs in the past.  He’s been to nine All-Star games, finished in the top ten of MVP voting six times, and led the league in hitting in 1992.  Among active players, he’s eleventh in OBP, fifth in hits, fourth in RBI, and fifth in HR.  However, he will forever be linked to PEDs, and I think in the future that will be enough to keep a borderline player out of the Hall.  Without steroids, he’s in, with them, he’s out.

Verdict: Out

Washington Nationals

Christian Guzman

Guzman has just finished his tenth season in the bigs, and has been an All-Star twice, and has had a few really good years in which he didn’t make the team (most likely because he’s a National).  He has a lifetime .271 average, mostly because he’s been horribly inconsistent throughout his career.  There have been years when he’s been one of the best shortstops in baseball, and years in which he’s been one of the worst.  His OBP is only .307, which is pretty dreadful for a guy with a .270 lifetime average.  He really has little chance at getting in.

Verdict: Out

Others with a shot:

Ryan Zimmerman: A strong young kid who will probably need to get on a better team to warrant serious consideration.

Jordan Zimmerman: A lot of hype coming up, but not the greatest of rookie years.  He’s really young though, and has some potential.

So that’s it for the NL East, which presented me with some difficult calls.  I’m still stressing over my decisions on Delgado, Sheffield, and McCann, but I had to go with my gut on those ones.  Up next: the AL Central, which has provided us with some of the best pennant races in baseball recently.  I’ve been travelling around for the last month and a half, but now that I’m settled, I should be updating the blog 3-4 times per week from now on.  So with that said, hopefully I’ll see you soon.

Posted: September 23, 2009

For those of us who participate in Dynasty/Keeper leagues, now is the time we start to consider the question “who will we hold onto for next season?”  Injuries, age, team, current season numbers, expert opinions, they all influence our decisions.  Here are, in my humble opinion, the top 60 keepers for 2010 (based on 12 team leagues, with a max of 5 keepers).

*”Age” is the age the player will be on opening day 2010.  Current #’s are prior to games played on 9/23.

The New York Mets have taken an interesting approach to selling game-used memorabilia, and although the results have not been revealed by the team, it appears that this new way of selling game-used items is working, at least for this season, according to the New York Times.

While many teams sell game-used items, instead of high-priced pieces worn by top players like Johan Santana, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran, the Mets have opted to sell virtually anything. Available items include dirty pants from Cory Sullivan, the bat boys’ batting helmet, and a broken bat swung by Ramon Castro, who was traded in May. The team has employed a garage sale-esque style of purveying these items on tables in concourses as a means to keep the majority of prices reasonable.

The big draw for fans is to own a piece of the game for a recession friendly price. The Mets come away with additional revenue for what has become, essentially, a lost season. Part of the proceeds from memorabilia sold in Mets’ team stores goes to Aramark, but all revenue from items sold on the tables goes to the organization.

There is also an opportunity for fans to purchase memorabilia from the Mets’ star players like a Francisco Rodriguez worn batting practice jersey, through a silent auction that runs until the end of the fifth inning.

Through this fascinating tactic, the Mets allow fans to take away a piece of this memorable season, even if it is one fans would rather not remember. Either way, this idea appears to be a win-win for everyone.

Seguimos de fiesta.

Los hispanoamericanos que residimos en los Estados Unidos andamos de celebración por ser el Mes de la Herencia Hispana.

El Mes de la Herencia Hispana dio comienzo el pasado 15 de Septiembre y hace honor anualmente a las personas con antecedentes hispanos en los Estados Unidos.

En mi pasada columna en conmemoración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana me dí a la tarea de nombrar los que a mi entender son los mejores 9 jugadores hispanos en la historia de cada franquicia en las Grandes Ligas.

Esta ocasión me he dado a una asignación mayor. He tomado a mi entender de nombrar los 20 mejores hispanos por país en jugar en la historia de Las Mayores.

Nuevamente cada persona tiene su opinión y esta es mi lista:

 CUBA
Rafael Palmeiro

Tany Pérez

Tony Taylor

Bert Campaneris

Yunel Escobar

Cookie Rojas
Zoilo Versalles
José Canseco
Leo Cárdenas
José Cardenal
Minnie Miñoso

Tony Oliva
Camilo Pascual

Mike Cuellar

Livan Hernández

Orlando Hernández

Pedro Ramos

Luis Tiant

Rolando Arrojo

José Contreras

MÉXICO

Erubiel Durazo

Adrián González

Beto Avila

Jorge Cantú

Alfredo Amezaga

Rubén Amaro

Vinny Castilla

Aurelio Rodríguez

Karim García

Fernando Valenzuela

Enrique Romo

Joakim Soria

Teddy Higuera

Yovani Gallardo

Ismael Valdes

Esteban Loaiza

Rodrigo López

Ismael Valdes

Sid Monge

Armando Reynoso

PUERTO RICO

Iván Rodríguez

Santos Alomar Jr.

Javier López

Jorge Posada

Benito Santiago

Orlando Cepeda

Carlos Delgado

Roberto Alomar

Mike Lowell

Edgar Martínez

Roberto Clemente

Carlos Beltrán

José Cruz Sr.

Juan González

Rubén Sierra

Bernie Williams

John Candelaria

Eduardo Figueroa

Javier Vázquez

Guillermo Hernández

REPUBLICA DOMINICANA
Tony Peña

Felipe Alou

Albert Pujols

David Ortiz

Juan Samuel

Alex Rodríguez

Tony Fernández

Hanley Ramírez

Miguel Tejada

George Bell

Pedro Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrero

Manny Ramírez

Sammy Sosa

Juan Marichal

Pedro Martínez

Bartolo Colón

Joaquín Andujar

José Rijo

José Mesa

VENEZUELA

Baudilio Díaz

Eduardo Pérez

Andrés Galárraga

Miguel Cabrera

Manny Trillo

Luis Aparicio

Chico Carrasquel

David Concepción

Ozzie Guillén

Omar Vizquel

Carlos Guillén

Bobby Abreu

Tony Armas Sr.

Richard Hidalgo

Magglio Ordóñez

Wilson Álvarez

Freddy García

Francisco Rodríguez

Johan Santana

Carlos Zambrano

Y no nos podemos olvidar los aplausos al mejor de Nicaragua Dennis Martínez y de ambos campocortos de tierra colombiana Orlando Cabrera y Edgar Renteria. Y claro esta no olvidar tampoco los mejores de Panamá Rod Carew, Ben Oglivie, Carlos Lee y Mariano Rivera.

Daniel Murphy is far from an excellent defender at first base, and he may never hit enough to make up for that deficiency as a full-time cornerman.

But he does have at least one trait that is commonly seen in players on winning teams: the willingness to take responsibility for his actions.

From David Lennon’s column on Newsday, in regard to last night’s ballgame:

“I’ve got to make that play,” Murphy said. “I make that play 100 times, but tonight I booted it and we lost the ballgame. It’s tough. I left a small village on the basepaths tonight, then booted the ball that lost the game. It was a pretty awful game on my part.”

The truth is, Murphy didn’t lose the ballgame. The METS lost the ballgame. They lose as a team and win as a team. Murphy can be identified as a scapegoat for the loss, but he had help. The fact that he’s willing to shoulder the blame, however, suggests that he thinks about his actions in a larger context beyond himself — he understands that what he does, good or bad, can affect the outcome for everyone.

In contrast, there is this quote from his “teammate” — and I use the term loosely — Francisco Rodriguez:

“It looked like a foul ball all the way,” K-Rod said. “But regardless, you’ve got to stop the ball, somehow, some way. After that the game fell apart.”

Some have explained away this comment as “frustration”, due to the hard loss and the even harder season — both for the closer and the Mets. However, rather than a result, I believe it is a central reason — a symptom, if you will — for the Mets’ inability to win this year.

Daniel Murphy made a physical error. He’s someone whose strength has never been defense, and has been placed in a position where has very little experience. He’s trying very hard, and working hard, to be adequate. This is not a case where you have a guy who was too lazy to bend over for a ball, or who takes his roster spot for granted. A Major League first baseman might have made the play on the grounder that went for a double. But Murphy is NOT a Major League first baseman (yet).

For Frankie Rodriguez to say what he said — to pin the blame of the loss on Murphy — may have come out because Frankie was frustrated. But it was also exposing his own character flaw of selfishness. It’s bad enough that K-Rod’s feelings were blurted out after a game, but the more alarming issue is that THE THOUGHT WAS IN HIS HEAD. Winning teams do not think in terms of placing blame; they don’t find ways to escape responsibility. Rather, they find ways to rise above adversity — to pick up their teammates who have faltered. Mistakes happen — as evidenced by K-Rod’s hitting the next hitter to put the winning run on base. Do you think Daniel Murphy was muttering to himself, “it’s Frankie’s fault now, he just put the winning run on base” ? Not likely … he was probably thinking, “OK, he made a mistake, let’s pick him up”.

As it turned out, Murphy did the opposite of “picking up” his teammate, but that’s not the point. The point is how one approaches the situation. It happened, it’s done, now let’s see how we, AS A TEAM, can overcome it.

K-Rod’s comment last night, coupled with Johan Santana’s similarly selfish finger-pointing back in April (ironically, also of Murphy), and several comments through the year by Carlos Beltran are hints of an ineffectual, potentially harmful ethos evolving in the Mets’ clubhouse — one which has been supported by Jerry Manuel (who has been blaming the Mets’ poor record on injuries since May), and is not the kind of attitude that leads to winning. Instead, it is the language and habit of losers.

Beltran, Santana, and Rodriguez are all exceptionally gifted athletes and outstanding players, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to conduct themselves as winners. All three have played on teams that went to the postseason, but unfortunately, none seem to really “get” the concepts that drove them there. This isn’t tennis — it’s baseball, which again, is a team sport. Absolutely nothing positive can be gained by pointing out the mistake of a teammate; he already knows when he’s screwed up. Negativity never breeds success.

There may be some people who feel that these “leaders” are expressing themselves as a means of telling the front office that they have made a grave mistake in forcing Daniel Murphy into the lineup and on the field. If that’s true, it’s something that needs to be discussed behind closed doors — not in this passive-aggressive style of using the media as a conduit. Still, it’s not how true leaders, or winners, conduct themselves. Winners find solutions, while losers look for excuses.

(BTW, I’ve written a similar post on LockerBlogger, a new social networking site for connecting fans, athletes, and coaches.)