‘Same Card, Different Paths’ – Card #20

1975 Topps - Card #623 – AKA – ‘The Keith Hernandez Rookie Card’

Phil Garner – Garner enjoyed a full, 16-year career as he played for 5 different teams.  A 3-time All-star, and member of the 1979 World Champion Orioles, Garner tallied 1,594 career hits including 109 home runs, 738 RBI, and 225 stolen bases.

Keith Hernandez – One of the most underrated players from his era, Keith Hernandez enjoyed a wonderful major league career.  Climaxing with the 1979 MVP Award, Hernandez was a 5-time All-star, 11-time Gold Glove Award winner, 2-time Silver Slugger winner, and a 2-time World Series champion.  Hernandez finished his stellar career with 2,182 hits, 162 home runs, 1,070 RBI, and 1,124 runs scored.  

Bob Sheldon – Sheldon’s career spanned 3 seasons and just 94 games.  Primarily used as a designated hitter, Sheldon failed to impress his managers with his offensive skills and was quickly out of baseball.  In 94 games, Sheldon managed to amass 67 career hits with 17 RBI, 30 runs scored, and a .256 batting average.

Tom Veryzer - Veryzer played shortstop for 4 big league clubs over the span of 12 years.  A fair hitter without a glaring offensive skill, Veryzer became a nice, serviceable player that remained in the big leagues due to his solid play on defense.

The Mets have the seventh overall pick going into this winter’s Rule Five Draft. A few of the more interesting players available (Aneurys Rodriguez, Steven Wright, Edgar Osuna), have been profiled elsewhere, so I brought to light a few more names I thought were overlooked.

Koby Clemens, C: Despite the fact he played in a hitter’s haven, his BABIP should have been about 100 points lower, and his last name makes him slightly overrated, the guy is still an intriguing pick after posting an OPS. over 1000 in Advanced A-Ball last year. I am not sure why the Astros will probably leave him unprotected- perhaps his defense is awful, or there are some makeup concerns (he was arrested in a bar fight last year).

The Mets could hide him as a third string catcher like the Nationals did with Jesus Flores a few years ago. Even if you do not want to waste a bench spot, however, I do not see much harm in making him second string- half the backup catchers in baseball can barely post a .600 OPS. anyways.

Kevin Whelan, RHRP: Struggles with control and has had injury problems, but  any pitcher with his K rates is worth considering. This pick has real upside.

Josh Perrault, RHRP: Older (27) but peripherals at AA and AAA the last two years have been very good.

Kanekoa Texeira, RHRP: High GB%. Would not mind seeing him compete for a bullpen spot.

Collin Curtis, OF: According to minor-league splits, he is solid with the glove in center and very good in the corners, although a larger sample size would help. Unfortunately, that is the sum of his value. Could provide value as a fifth outfielder depending on the makeup of the Mets outfield next year (a young Endy Chavez?). Too bad he cannot pinch-run.

Steven Singleton, 2B/SS: Middle infielder with some pop and has generally shown a very good glove at second. We already let go of Wilson Valdez, but Singleton could be worth considering in a later round.

Josh Wilkie, RHRP: Solid minor league numbers throughout, really turned it on after promotion to AAA in late July.

Neil Wagner, RHRP: Excellent K, very good GB rate in AA last year.

Josh Tomlin, RHRP: A bit old for Advanced A-Ball and AA the last two years (23/24), but the numbers have been very good. A flyball pitcher, he could be worth it as a mop-up man next year while providing some upside down the road.

Amalio Diaz, RHSP: Limited upside, but solid AA numbers at 22. See Tomlin.

The New York Mets caught a very bad break. The team began play in 1962, when they concluded the regular season with more losses than any other team in modern baseball history. But time and seasons marched on by, and by any standard the Amazin’ Mets haven’t done badly – five division titles, four pennants, and two MLB titles have done the team’s fan base proud. The problem is they play in New York City, and New York City baseball carries with it a lot more pressure than just ANY old standard. It’s bad enough the Mets have to compete with the mighty Yankees (with their 16 division titles, 40 pennants, and 27 championships) for the capitol of the world’s affections. But the whole reason the Mets were founded was to replace both the Brooklyn Dodgers AND the New York Giants, departed ball dynamos who, as of this date, now hold a combined 17 division titles, 41 pennants, and 11 World Series trophies. The Mets’ owners, instead of trying to establish a separate identity, have decided to cling to New York City’s NL past as much as possible. The Mets’ logo is the old Giants logo, and their color scheme incorporates both Giant orange and Dodger blue.

Gee, no pressure there.

The problem with people who talk about the Mets is that they’re always comparing them to the Jints and the Bums, which really isn’t fair because it holds them up to a standard which most other teams wouldn’t reach in an entire century. The yearly expectations for the Mets are absurdly high. Saying their fans expect a lot from them would put me into contention for understatement of the year. Yet, there have been years when the Mets have soared above and beyond even their most diehard fans’ wildest dreams. In 1969, they plowed down a Chicago Cubs team which seemed destined for its first pennant since 1945 and ultimately beat the Baltimore Orioles juggernaut in the Fall Classic.

Then there was 1986. In 1986, the Mets fielded what was unquestionably one the the greatest squads in baseball history. All the 1986 New York Mets knew how to do was win. So all they did was win. A lot. They won close, hard-fought squeakers of games. They won blowouts in which the poor opposing soul on the rubber was merely batting practice. They ran away with their division. They ran away with the best record in baseball, with a whopping 108 wins. They capped off the season with a hotly fought National League Championship contest against the Houston Astros. They thrilled fans in the World Series with an unexpected, bottom-of-the-ninth comeback in game six and clinched the title in the following game. And they swaggered, bragged, partied, drank, and backed it all up the whole time. For one glorious year, it was the Mets and not the Yankees who were simultaneously the most loved and hated team in baseball.

Thanks to Jeff Pearlman, we now have a chronicle of the most Amazin’ Mets team in history, pun VERY intended. In the introduction of the book, Pearlman subtly implies that he chose the 1986 Mets as the subject of his first book because he was disillusioned with how corporate baseball teams had become. He had been raised with the idea that Ball Four and The Bronx Zoo were accurate accounts of any given locker room. But after performing a bit of research for a Sports Illustrated article about the wild, zany Oakland Athletics revealed a team of corporate, lifeless drones, Pearlman decided to take a trip down Nostalgia Lane to write about a time when ballplayers acted like Motley Crue members.

The 1986 title came with a hint of irony. The Executive Vice President of the 1969 Orioles, Frank Cashen, was also the General Manager who built the 1986 Mets. Cashen took the job to build a team and not just apply a few band-aids. It was Cashen who got the whole crew together – Doc, Straw, Mex, Kid, Nails, and Manager Davey Johnson. (Johnson was another ironic addition because he played for the 1969 Baltimore Orioles.) When the team came together, they were a group of kids enamored by the New York City nightlife, ruled by a laid back Manager who let them have their way as long as they kept winning. The result was a group of undisciplined wildmen who all seemed to think they were invincible.

The Bad Guys Won! puts a lot more emphasis on the flippant, defiant attitudes of the Mets players than on their games. This is the only real flaw of The Bad Guys Won! Some details are in there, like the unusual series of events which followed a brawl against the Montreal Expos. But there is a general lack of in-game details. Oddly enough, however, this turns out to work in favor of Pearlman’s sarcasm-dripping writing style. Pearlman seems more bent on telling us how the Mets acted than why or how they won, so more details would have been a real hinderance on the book’s style. By describing the antics and not placing emphasis on the games, Pearlman is able to keep the read smooth and consistently brisk. It’s only in the last few chapters when actual baseball begins to play a factor in the story at large, but this is normal in this type of book. It gives The Bad Guys Won! a dramatic Hollywood apex.

Pearlman gives us plenty of information on the backgrounds of most of the players, too. This, along with Pearlman’s style, makes most of the characters leap off the page. It also makes most of the players endearing enough to root for even for the most ardent Met-haters out there. Hell, Pearlman even devotes a whole chapter to Bill Buckner, the infamous scapegoat of game six. The background information is important because it provides a glimpse of why many of the players acted the way they acted. Between themselves and the mix of other volatile personalities, someone was always getting on someone else about something.

There are few people in The Bad Guys Won! who come off poorly. Even George Foster, the most hated member of the team and the only real outsider on it, is shown a bit of sympathy. But Pearlman is also very objective about the way he portrays them. Darryl Strawberry, for example, is written as a nice guy but a boozer who is a mean drunk. Sid Fernandez is seen as a lovable idiot. Gary Carter is portrayed as a nice religious guy and a guy who cares more about endorsement deals than winning. Davey Johnson comes off as a likable, cool, laid back kinda guy who didn’t know HOW to discipline his team and, even if he did, wouldn’t because that was the way he acted while playing for the Orioles.

The Bad Guys Won! takes its sweet time describing some of the more fun scenes from the 1986 Mets. The book uses the enitre first chapter to describe the food fight and the party after the Mets won the pennant – which all took place on an airplane, the damage being so bad the airline banned the team. Pearlman has great fun describing the various pranks the players played on each other, the awful song called Get Metsmerized! which George Foster tried to sell, and the fight in a Houston bar.

And that is really the whole point of the book. Jeff Pearlman isn’t so much trying to immortalize the greatest season in Mets history here. He’s trying to relive a long-dead baseball era, a time when ballplayers were gods who played twice as hard as they worked. The fast pace, sarcasm-laced writing style, and fun antics of the team will make any fan of the Mets want to return to 1986 and get Metsmerized once again with Dwight Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Darryl Strawberry, and Davey Johnson all over again.

1986 Fleer Superstar Special with Darryl Strawberry & Tim Raines

What can I say, this is a card featuring two of my favorite players from my favorite baseball era – the 1980’s!!

The card’s theme is ‘Instant Offense’ and I don’t know if a better title could have been established for these two All-star players.

Both Strawberry and Raines were multi-faceted players whose offensive skills were some of the best in the league.  With blazing speed, home run power, and great control at the plate, there was nothing that these guys couldn’t do to ignite offense!!!

Another great card in my Darryl Strawberry player collection has found a new home!!!

(Full disclosure: I contributed a chapter to The Miracle Has Landed: The Amazin’ Story of How the 1969 Mets Shocked the World.)

On the Black, a Mets-centric blog, featured a three part series on this new collaborative effort edited by Matthew Silverman and Ken Samelson.

Part 1

Part 2 (an interview with Silverman)

Part 3 (interview continued)

It’s that time of year: Thanksgiving. Like most, my family has the tradition of saying what we are  thankful for, and this year I decided to make a list, because lists are fun, and I’ve seen a few people do it already, I’m being a copycat Soo, with that, I’m thankful for…

• My family, which is about to get a little bigger. I’m a little excited to be an auntie.
• My friends who keep my social calendar busy, and are always there when I need them.
• A job that I enjoy, it’s something I do not take for granted. Libraries feed the soul!
• A new apartment with Louie, because now I have his xbox 360 to further feed my obsessions, i.e. NetFlix and Zune.
• I’m borrowing this one from DC Comics Cover Editor Kenny Lopez ” Everything Blackest Night except the Blackest Night version of the New York Mets that played this year. ..” Let’s go Mets in 2010!
• of course, my Blackberry- it’s the world at my fingertips and keeps me connected to all my Twitter peeps

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! I’m ready for some sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce!

According to FoxSports.com, the Mets are close to re-signing Elmer Dessens. Dessens, who will be 39 next year, has a below average fastball, and at best an average breaking ball. Omar is a sucker for his 3.31 era. in 32.2 innings last year, but his 11% K rate and 5.29 FIP do not fool the more enlightened of us.

At this point in his career, Dessens has two things going for him: 13 years in the big leagues, and a GM who thinks that is enough to warrant 14.

For me, Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year. It’s one of the few times of the year when all bets are off when it comes to food. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

Thanksgiving is also the time of year where we give thanks to what we have in life. It’s no different for all 30 teams of Major League Baseball. Each team has something they can be thankful for.

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies should be thankful that they have one of the best GM’s in the game in Ruben Amaro Jr. A GM who doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves.

Atlanta Braves: The Braves should be thankful the Minor League Player of the Year, Jason Heyward is on his way. The kid looks like a star.

Florida Marlins: The Marlins should be thankful they are getting a new stadium in 2012. Maybe then they can keep their young stars like Josh Johnson

New York Mets: The Mets should be thankful that 2009 is finally coming to an end. 2010 can’t be much worse.

Washington Nationals: The Nationals should be thankful that new GM Mike Rizzo has more of a clue than former GM Jim Bowden

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals should be thankful for the fact that they get to watch the best player in the game on a day in and day out basis.

Chicago Cubs: The Cubs should be thankful that after so many years of being labeled “lovable losers,” they are finally dedicated to winning. Whether or not they are making the right moves to win is another story.

Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers should be thankful that they have an owner in Mark Attanasio, who runs a small market team, but has a big market mentality.

Cincinnati Reds: The Reds should be thankful that Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, and Joey Votto are young stars, who should provide a solid foundation for the future.

Houston Astros: The Astros should be thankful that Wandy Rodriguez established himself as a solid No. 2 starter in 2009.

Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates should be thankful for the fact that GM Neal Huntington has the team moving in the right direction. The Pirates are making the right moves to compete in the future.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers should be thankful for Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, who appear to be the foundation of the Dodgers’ offense for years to come.

Colorado Rockies: The Rockies should be thankful that they have one of the best and exciting young teams in baseball. The Rockies have finally figured out how to win in Colorado.

San Francisco Giants: The Giants should be thankful for being able to watch Tim Lincecum every five days. His unique delivery continues to amaze fans and baffle hitters.

San Diego Padres: The Padres should be thankful that it appears that they will not be trading star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks should be thankful that Brandon Webb is making progress and looks to be healthy in 2010.

AL East

New York Yankees: The Yankees should be thankful that they are the Yankees. No other team in professional sports has the advantage they have.

Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox should be thankful for their minor-league system, which allows them to trade for players like Victor Martinez and potentially Roy Halladay or Miguel Cabrera.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays should be thankful that they have the most athletic team in baseball and after so many years of losing, they have a winner in Tampa.

Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays should be thankful for the fact they got to watch Roy Halladay pitch in a Blue Jays’ uniform for the last 12 years. He will go down as the best player in franchise history.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles should be thankful for that after so many years of not having a clue, they are moving in the right direction. Matt Wieters, Adam Jones, Brian Matusz, and Nick Markakis provide a solid foundation for the future.

AL Central

Minnesota Twins: The Twins should be thankful for Joe Mauer. When it is all said and done, I believe he will go down as the greatest catcher of all time.

Detroit Tigers: The Tigers should be thankful for Mike Ilitch. Despite a ravaged economy in Detroit, Ilitch does his best to put a winner on the field in the Motor City.

Chicago White Sox: The White Sox should be thankful for employing Ozzie Guillen. His press conferences have provided baseball fans with hours of comedy. Oh yeah, the guy is a pretty good manager.

Kansas City Royals: The Royals should be thankful that there is only more year left in the Jose Guillen era in Kansas City.

Cleveland Indians: The Indians should be thankful that Grady Sizemore, Carlos Martinez, Azdrubal Cabrera, Matt LaPorta, and Shin-Soo Choo provide hope for the future.

AL West

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: The Angles should be thankful for that they have one of the best run organizations in baseball. The job Arte Moreno and Mike Scioscia have done in Anaheim has been impressive.

Seattle Mariners: The Mariners should be thankful for the fact that if they make a couple of solid moves this offseason, they could win the AL West in 2010.

Texas Rangers: The Rangers should be thankful for GM Jon Daniels. His trades and drafting over the last four years have the Rangers poised to make a run at the AL West crown in 2010.

Oakland A’s: The A’s should be thankful for Andrew Bailey. The 2009 AL Rookie of the Year and a great year and should anchor the backend of the A’s bullpen for years to come–or at least until Billy Beane trades him.

I would like to give thanks to all my readers for taking the time out of their days to read my blog. For that, I am truly grateful.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE AND THEIR FAMILIES!!!

Shelley Duncan is finally free.

After nine years of indentured servitude in the New York Yankees’ farm system, Duncan is a free agent for the first time.

Unfortunately, Duncan is no longer the long-ball hitting prospect who was drafted in the second-round of the 2001 draft.

He’s now a 30-year-old with just 68 games and 146 at-bats in the big leagues on his resume.

Duncan, the son of St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan, is best remembered for his thunderous debut in the Bronx back in 2007.

Through his first 16 games, Duncan looked like the second-coming of Babe Ruth (or Shane Spencer).

Duncan hit an astounding .317/.391/.756 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in his first 46 big league at-bats. He looked like a star on the rise, until someone decided to start tossing him breaking balls.

He only received another 37 at-bats after his hot start, and rightfully so, over his next 18 games, Duncan “hit” .182/.250/.303 with one home run and four RBIs, all the while piling up strikeouts.

In the two years that followed his Jekyll and Hyde debut, Duncan has only appeared in 34 games, amassing a total of 72 at-bats.

Duncan hasn’t exactly made the most out of his limited opportunities, having produced a dreadful .181/.250/.264 batting line with just one home run and seven runs batted in over various stints the last two seasons.

Numerous teams could show interest in Duncan who can play either corner of the outfield or first base. He’s not going to win any Gold Gloves, but he isn’t a butcher in the field either.

Duncan has shown that he can hit left-handed pitching pretty well and, if nothing else, could serve as part of a platoon.

He did, however, post a cumulative line of .271/.368/.533 with 68 home runs and 226 RBIs in parts of four seasons at Triple-A.

In those four partial seasons his total at-bats equaled out to roughly two-full seasons of big league at-bats, thus making his production all the more impressive.

Obviously, the big-time power potential is there, so a starting gig isn’t entirely out of the question.

Given his attachment to the city of New York, it is conceivable that Duncan could sign-on with the Yankees’ cross-town rival, the New York Mets.

The Mets currently have question marks at both left field and first base. Additionally, the club is looking to add more power to the lineup.

The Mets are just one of many logical options for Duncan.

The St. Louis Cardinals are another seemingly perfect fit.

Duncan could be reunited with his father and—barring the club’s attempts to bring back Matt Holliday—there may be an opening in left field next season.

These are just two of the potentially limitless options Duncan should have this offseason.

He is finally free and should be able to choose from what should be a hearty stock of suitors this offseason.

His positional flexibility and power potential will make him intriguing to numerous clubs looking for cheaper alternatives to high-priced marquee free agents.

Duncan should use his new found freedom to choose a team that offers him the one thing the Yankees failed to in nearly a decade, a real opportunity.

The White Sox and outfielder Andruw Jones have agreed to a one year, $500,000 contract. Jones can earn another million in performance bonuses. Reports indicate the Jones will not play everyday, instead splitting time as a fourth outfielder and DH.

Aside from some very good offensive years, Jones was the gold standard for center field defense from the time he broke into the big leagues until 2007, routinely saving over 20 runs above average per year with his defense alone at one of the toughest positions. After signing a two-year, $36 million dollar deal with the Dodgers in 2008, Jones had a miserable year at the plate, posting a .505 OPS. and a .234 wOBA, but still gave them average-above average defense.

Jones rebounded offensively with the Rangers in 2009, hitting .214/.323/.459 with .338 wOBA. He mysteriously played just 17 games in the field, 12 in left and 5 in right, though it is worth noting his UZR/150 was 25.5 and 22.9, respectively.

In 2008, Jones was placed on the DL twice with knee problems, and was forced to have surgery the first time around. So was Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels just trying to ease Jones back in, or did Jones defense decline to the point where it was no longer an asset?

If Jones can play an average center field, that is valuable in itself (Chone actually projects a 11.7 UZR in center in 2010). As a corner outfielder, that means he could easily save 10-15 runs per year, and be about a 3 win player.

That may not seem like too much, but you are talking about over $10 million in surplus value. Winning teams build championships by surrounding their core, 5-6 win players with cheap, 2-3 win talent.

Of course, that is a big if. Given that Jones’s defensive prowess, was not so much the result of athleticism as it was his baseball smarts and knowing how to take good routes, it would not necessarily be a smooth transition from center to a corner outfield spot.

I think Jones was denied time in the field in Texas, however, because he was in good defensive company. Nelson Cruz is a stud in right field. Josh Hamilton, despite his previous struggles in center field, was very good in limited action this year, and if Hamilton wants to play the outfield, he will play there. Marlon Byrd is an excellent corner outfielder, and was a solid center fielder coming into this year. Over his entire career, David Murphy has been solid in both corners. Julio Borbon, whom the Rangers brought up this year, was known for having outstanding range in the outfield. In fact, the first scouting report that came up on google says:

You know how about three quarters of the world is covered by water? The rest of it is covered by Julio Borbon. He has unbelievable range with his speed, and is capable of making all the routine plays and some of the tough ones. His arm is below average to average at best, but he should be able to stay in center field because of the range.

Of course, you have to hit enough to be on the field to begin with, and Jones had a lot to prove entering last year.

As a starter, Jones is a low-risk, fairly high reward to any team. Off the bench he could prove to be immensely valuable. If the Mets traded Jeff Francoeur, and signed Matt Holliday, I would have loved to see Jones split time with Angel Pagan in right. By doing so, the Mets minimize the risk of Pagan’s otherwise excellent 2009 proving to be a fluke. Not to mention it would give the Mets some excellent depth in the outfield, with Carlos Beltran’s knees in question.

There is a lot not to like about Jones; he has gotten noticeably thicker over the years, strikes out a ton, and his makeup and work ethic have been called into question more than once. The fact that he cannot even secure $1 million this off-season might be saying a lot about his fielding ability.

Plus, if he is an overlooked bargain, I doubt Kenny Williams would be the one to find him. But right now, I wish he was cigar chomping in a suite at Citi Field, and Andruw Jones was patrolling the corners next year.

Omir Santos

Congratulations to Mets catcher Omir Santos, who was named to the 2009 Topps MLB Rookie All-Star Team.

I’m not quite sure how he beat out Matt Wieters, but I’m happy that a Met finally won a post season award.

Plus, now I know Omir will have a few 2010 cards for me to collect.

‘Tis the season to reflect on the things we are thankful for, though maybe the biggest for Mets fans is that the disasteriffic 2009 baseball season is over.

Fortunately, the Daily Stache reminded us last week that there are quite a few other reasons for Mets fans to be thankful. It’s a good list. Mine is somewhat similar:

Johan Santana

1) Johan Santana. Though he may finally be starting to show some signs of age, Johan Santana is still one of the best pitchers in baseball. I watched him try to carry the Mets into the playoffs during the last week of the 2008 season, and he almost pulled it off. After the season, we found out that he was doing it with a bum knee. I will always respect him as a ballplayer for that. When Johan Santana pitches, it is still an event. It may not quite live up to the experience of seeing a young Dwight Gooden, but it’s still pretty special. I’m thankful for the chance to enjoy it.

Jose Reyes

2) Jose Reyes. When he’s healthy and playing at his best, I don’t think there’s another player in baseball as exciting as Jose Reyes. He steals bases, he makes great defensive plays and he hits with power. All of his celebratory antics may annoy the opposition, but watching Reyes have fun is infectious. I’m thankful I’ve been able to watch Reyes play every day, and I hope he’ll be able to stay healthy in 2010 — the Mets are much more fun to watch when he’s in the lineup.

Carlos Beltran

3) Carlos Beltran. I don’t think that Carlos Beltran will ever get the respect he deserves. I’m as guilty of not appreciating his contributions as most Mets fans. He’s the best center fielder who ever played for the Mets, combining amazing defense with power, speed and the ability to hit for average. Beltran’s only flaw is that he doesn’t demand your attention the way a Darryl Strawberry or a Mike Piazza would. But I’m thankful I get the chance to see him play every day.

Citi Field

4) CitiField. I’m not crazy about the name, and I do admit that the Mets’ new home has other flaws. But we finally have a beautiful new ballpark to call our home.* The planned changes for 2010 should address the issue of the place feeling too generic — or too Dodger-centric. And I’m really looking forward to seeing the new Mets Hall of Fame & Museum next year. I’m thankful to have a wonderful place to make new baseball memories in the years to come.

* If you got stuck with season tickets for the undisclosed obstructed-view seats this year, I understand why you don’t think CitiField is very wonderful. You’ve got my sympathies and I hope that you were able to resolve things to your satisfaction.

5) Owners that try to give us a competitive team. The Wilpons, fairly or unfairly, get a lot of criticism when the Mets aren’t winning. They’re certainly not perfect. But they want to field a team that’s competitive so we’ll keep coming out to the ballpark and watching SNY. We might have been able to enjoy more ticker-tape parades if they had the “win at all costs” mentality of George Steinbrenner, but at least we’re not Pittsburgh Pirates fans. I’m thankful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The New York Mexs announced today that they will be wearing a “new” pinstriped home uniform in 2010 that was modeled after the uniform worn in the franchises early years. Good Luck! It doesn’t matter what jersey you wear! You’ll still suck! Your franchise is a joke, your GM and Owner are bigger jokes, and you alienated all your fans by naming everything in the stadium after a player from the Brooklyn Dodgers. BASEBALL LIKE IT OUGHT TO BE!!

All baseball cookie tins are now on sale, choose your favorite MLB team!

The Cooperstown Cookie Company just launched it’s biggest sale ever. So, if you’re shopping for baseball fans, or cookie fans, we have a full range of gifts on sale.  All baseball cookie tins and baseball cookie gift towers are now on sale, including our popular Major League Baseball gift line.

So, if you’re shopping for Red Sox gifts, Yankee gifts, Mets gifts, Phillies gifts,  Cubs gifts, we have a great selection, and  great prices. All MLB teams are available, you can easily search for a favorite MLB team.

Stocking stuffers for baseball fans. Pick a favorite MLB team, or the National Baseball Hall of Fame gift line

We have a great selection of baseball gifts under $10, perfect for stocking stuffers or “little extras.”  Are you giving a child a bat, a glove or a week at baseball camp? Top off that gift with a Baseball Cookie Bunt Pack or Ballpark Bunt Box emblazoned with the logo and name of his or her favorite baseball team.

In addition to our great line of Major League Baseball gifts, we have the National Baseball Hall of Fame gift line. Celebrate the best in baseball with a Baseball Hall of Fame gift.

Go online, or give us a call, 888/269-7315. We will help you choose just the right gift for your sports fan. We’re here to make your holiday shopping easier.

Best,

Pati

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Getting all but one first place vote, Joe Mauer became the fifth Minnesota Twin to win the AL MVP.  Hitting .365, playing gold glove worthy defense behind the plate.  It’s hard to argue with the selection – I can’t, he was my pick, too – because there just aren’t that many players like this guy.  Mauer decided to take advantage of the count when he it was in his favor and added power, enough to lead the AL in batting, on base percentage, and slugging percentage.  Amazing, really…  [ESPN and others...]

Tom Verducci had a vote and explains it for Sports Illustrated…

Ken Rosenthal discusses his vote for Fox Sports…

The real challenge will be this offseason or next when the Twins have to try and keep Mauer around, especially since Mauer has to be worth about $20 million per season on the open market.

And in Other News…

Omar Vizquel signed a one -year deal with the Chicago White Sox.  Vizquel expects to be a mentor to infielders Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham.  [ESPN]

The Nationals say that Stephen Strasburg, who missed his last start in the Arizona Fall League, won’t need surgery on his twisted knee.  Dcctors say it’s a dislocation of the joint and he just needs some rest.  [SI]

The Associated Press released notes suggesting that Ken Griffey Jr. could earn as much as $3.9 million after incentives for the 2010 season.  [ESPN]

The Cubs signed lefty reliever John Grabow to a $7.5 million, two-year deal.  Grabow is a solid eighth-inning guy (though he can pitch in any inning from 5 through 9) who earned the contract after a year with 70 appearances for both Pittsburgh and Chicago.  However, personally I’d be leery of anyone coming off a career high in appearances and a career ERA over 4.00…  [SI]

Cuban Aroldis Chapman has fired his agent, signing with the Hendricks Brothers, agents who represent players such as Andy Pettitte.  Edwin Mejia, of Athletes Premier International, had helped Chapman escape from Cuba, setting up residency in Andorra so that Chapman couldn’t be drafted and would be signed as a free agent.  One expects a lawsuit for tampering in the very near future.  [ESPN]

Look for Roy Halliday to play out the string for Toronto, knowing that he will either be traded or become a free agent after the 2010 season.  Toronto brass fully expect Halliday to hit the road.  [ESPN]

The Marlins and pitcher Josh Johnson couldn’t iron out a deal, and per ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, it’s because Johnson wants a fourth year if he signs a long-term contract.  The Marlins are prepared to deal with arbitration, but tried to get Johnson to sign a three-year deal.  Johnson was trying to get a deal similar to the four-year, $38 million deal the Royals gave Zack Greinke.  [ESPN]

Speaking of Marlins named Johnson, the ESPN rumor mill has Nick Johnson getting plenty of interest in the free agency market.  Johnson had a .477 OBA after arriving in Florida in a late season trade with Washington.  Among the suitors?  Boston, Washington, the Mets, Giants and Orioles.  [ESPN]

Let’s stick with stories about my fish…  Former Angels prospect and Marlins minor leaguer, Dallas McPherson, signed a minor league deal with the Oakland A’s.  At 29, McPherson is past his prospect days and has missed two of three seasons with back problems.  [ESPN]

Finally, Peter Gammons compliments the management of the Marlins for winning with a payroll that, over four years, has spent less money – nearly a third less – than the Mets spent in 2009.  [ESPN]

Quick Hits…

Jermaine Dye says he is open to playing first base.  I’d be more worried about how his production fell apart after the all-star break, so this is just something to make him seem more valuable on the free agent market. [MLB]

After signing Chris Capuano and John Halama, two pitchers who have missed time due to injury and really haven’t been on the MLB radar in two or three years, the Milwaukee Brewers are showing interest in Carl Pavano.  There just aren’t enough 4.50 ERA guys with bad backs and shoulders to go around, I guess…  [MLB]

Happy Birthday!

Hall of Famer Joe Medwick was born on this day in 1911.  Joe never liked his nickname “Ducky”, which was shorted from “Ducky Wucky”, which might help explain his surliness…

Others celebrating with cards, cake, or rememberances include:  George Burns (1889) – a fine lead off hitter with the Tigers back in the day…, Billy Rogell (1904), Danny Ozark (1923), Jim Northrup (1939), Fred Beene (1942), Steve Yeager (1948), Randy Velarde (1962), Cal Eldred (1967), Ben McDonald (1967), Al Martin (1967), Dave Hansen (1968) – who could probably STILL lace a single pinch hitting for the Dodgers right now…, and Joel Guzman (1984).

The Red Sox want Jason Bay back. Jason Bay wants to be back. But, given Bay rejected their initial offer worth $60 million, will they get the money right to make it happen?

This offseason, there are very few star free agents on the market. Still, there is a lot of intrigue, and a lot of players looking to make an impact on a contending team. Here now are my predictions for where the top-five free agents will land in what should be another busy offseason in baseball.

1. Matt Holliday: The New York Mets aren’t getting any younger, and need to make a statement this offseason to get back into the winning circle. Holliday, a 29-year old outfielder who hits .330 with 30-plus homers, 100-plus rbi’s annually, would give them a force in the middle of their lineup. The Mets didn’t have a player with more than 12 homers last season, so they certainly need a long-term pick-me-up of Holliday’s caliber.

2. Jason Bay: The 31-year old outfielder who hit 36 homers and drove in 119 runs for the Boston Red Sox last year rejected their initial 4-year $60 million offer. The Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Angels, will be after him, but I expect the Canadian to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox. The two sides are apart as far as years and money are concerned, yet, there is no reason to believe that General Manager Theo Epstein won’t open his pocketbook and work out a deal favorable for both the Red Sox and Bay.

3. John Lackey: The Los Angeles Angels can’t afford to let him go, but they can’t afford him. He’s the best pitcher on the open market, and was their ace. He’s 31 years old, has had elbow troubles in the past, and will likely want a 5-6 year deal worth more than the $82.5 million, money he will probably get, despite his age and injury history. He’s out of their price range, as they have only $12 million they can donate annually this offseason. I expect the Angels to try and woo him to come back for less, but I don’t believe he will settle. The Washington Nationals are interested. So are the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, and possibly the Seattle Mariners. Where will he end up? I think the Mariners might swoop in and snag him in their effort to challenge his former team in the American League West.

4. Chone Figgins: The Angels will have to choose either Lackey or Figgins this offseason. As previously said, Lackey may be too pricey. But Figgins, their third baseman who had a career-high .395 On-Base Percentage last season and fits Mike Scioscia’s system perfectly, is too important to their success to leave. Other teams have expressed interest, but Figgins will come relatively inexpensive, and should fit in the Angels budget. Look for General Manager Arte Moreno to lock up the 31-year old for 4-5 years at $10 million annually.

5. Randy Wolf: It’s a down year free-agent-wise if Wolf is fifth. He had a career year this past season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning 11 games with a 3.23 ERA, while allowing only 178 hits in 214 1/3 innings. But, he’s 33 years old, allowed 24 home-runs, and struck out 160, meaning he’s a contact pitcher. The fact that he doesn’t strikeout many and allows a high amount of home-runs should hurt his chances of getting a 4-5 year deal, but if he stays in the National League, he should continue to be a very dependable pitcher. The New York Mets, who regrettably chose Oliver Perez over Wolf during last year’s offseason, need to add some stability behind Johan Santana in the rotation, and Wolf, at 3-years, $30 million, could give them that.

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

With the departure of free agent Yorvit Torrealba, the Colorado Rockies have expressed interest in former Met backup catcher and now free agent Brian Schneider according to The Denver Post.  Torrealba recently turned down a 2 year $4.5 million offer from the Rockies.  The Denver Post speculates that Torrealba may be headed to the San Francisco Giants with the departure of free agent Bengie Molina.  Torealba started in the Giant’s system and was with the big league club from 2001-2005.  He’ll be a stop-gap until Buster Posey is ready to take the job full-time.

Schneider hit .218 with three home runs and 24 RBIs in 59 games with the Met’s in 2009.  He’s he’s an average backup at best.  The Rockies other option is Chris Iannetta who started approximately half of the Rockies games last season.