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Why not watch what it would be like if Hitler followed the Mets?

What The Mets Front Office Does

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Cole Hamels says Mets are Choke Artists

In an interview on WFAN today with Joe Beningo and Evan Roberts, Hamels was promoting the Phillies' World Series DVD when he was asked outright, "Do you think the Mets are choke artists?"

he responded:

"Last year and this year I think we did believe that [they were choke artists]," he said. "Three years ago we didn't because they smoked everybody, and I think we all thought they were going to win it all. Unfortunately that didn't happen. But, yeah, that's kind of what we believed and I think we're always going to believe that until they prove us wrong.

"For the past two years they've been choke artists."


Fuckin right. Cole has some balls for saying this, but he also has some credibility. We all saw how the Mets have finished the last two seasons. Im sure your typical NYM fan will throw a hissy fit, cuss out Hamels and do nothing but heighten the already huge rivalry. But you know what, Hamels is right. And not only is he right, but hes a World Series MVP who isnt afraid to talk that shit. the Mets breakdown two years ago was historically awful, the worst collapse ever. Last year wasnt historic, but it was typical and equally as significant of a choke

The Mets and their fans can bitch bitch bitch all they want, its not going to make up for the fact that Hamels is right. I love it when athletes talk shit so blatantly and dont seem to hold themselves back, i respect that immensely. And you know what, any intelligent baseball fan cant argue with Hamels. the media has been saying this for two years, he didnt say anything we didnt already know or havent heard from ESPN forever now. And until the New York Metropolitans prove it false, they will remain the appropriately labeled 'choke artists'.

Rumors

Interesting news, a possible trade between the D-bags, i mean D-backs, and the Sox. Reported Byrnes for Lugo. This would provide needs for both teams being a second base option for the D-bags and a fourth out fielder for the Sox.

Also, the Nationals offered a 160 million offer over 8 years to Tex while the O's have offered a 6 year deal. While the majority of baseball followers see the Sox doing everything possible to obtain Tex, there is the possibility that he does go back home to help turn either franchise around, i dont know if I buy it thought. It is also reported that the Angels have made an offer in the ball park of the Nat's. As a Sox fan I am not optimistic of the signing of the first baseman, even though it would be awesome. However, Ken Rosenthal has reported on Foxsportsnet.com that the Sox are getting close to acquiring him. Saying that "Headway was being made earlier today, A rival general manager whose plans could be affected by the Red Sox's addition of Teixeira also indicated that a deal was getting closer. Teixeira is seeking a 10-year contract for at least $20 million per season. The Red Sox preference would be to sign him to a deal between six and eight years."

Burnett apparently got offered a 5th year from the Yanks who are doing anything and everything buying a new rotation cause they realize that their prospect pitchers are a couple of punk bitches. Damn i bet they are kicking themselves for not trading for Santana.

Lowe and Sheets has been circled around the Yanks too, but if the Yanks get Burnett I see only one of the two being signed. Lowe has been cited as saying that Boston is his primary choice, but is looking for a 3 year deal. Sheets is interesting because of his injury history. The way I see it, which ever signs first with the Yanks the other will be in a Sox uniform to counter their purchasing of a starting rotation.

As we know the Yanks are getting CC. But guess what I think this is a dumb sign for the money considering he has NEVER won 20 games in a season, while they lost Mussina who won 20 last year. Even with this signing, and the possible signing of Burnett, Lowe, and/or Sheets the Yanks still arent that great. They have gotten better, but their offense just isnt that great. A-Rod will have another A-Rod type season, Jeter has been on a decline, but is still consistant in output and leadership, and the only other name that really stands out is Swisher. Swisher might be the steal of the offseason in my opinion. He didnt have a good year last year but the guy flat out has raked previous to being dealt to the White Sox. What Im saying is that he is the typical type player that will be a Frank Catalano type, a Sox killer. But thats just a prediction.

Big trade went down with the Mets, Mariners, and Cleveland. Mets get JJ Putz, Jeremy Reed, and Sean Green. Mariners get Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, Jason Vargas and 3 minor leaguers from the Mets along with Franklin Guetirez. The Indians got Joe Smith from the Mets and Luis Valbuena from the Mariners. Pretty good trade all around I guess, only question is how many trades are the Indians going to make for a second baseman?

Pedro out 4-6 weeks

According to ESPN, Pedro Martinez is out for 4-6 weeks with a strained left quad. This is a huge blow to all you Mets fans out there who were pumped up after Johan's performance. This makes me more and more happy that we didn't sign this guy a few years ago.

N.L. East Finished Before the Season Starts?

New York Met’s center fielder, Carlos Beltran, is confident his Mets are the team to beat in the N.L. East. How do I know this? Because he felt Jimmy Rollins needed to know. On Saturday, he sat in front of a face full of microphones and firmly stated, “To Jimmy Rollins: We’re the team to beat.”
Good Idea to call out last years MVP Carlos. Although, he certainly has a point, the Mets look like a shoe-in for the World Series with the addition of ace Johan Santana. That being said, this does not give Carlos Beltran the right to make a bold ass statement like this. Especially after a monumental collapse at the end of last year, during which, the Mets were the laughing stock of the MLB. Also, the Phillies aren’t looking too shabby for the upcoming season either. In addition to j-roll, the Phills have homerun savant, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and last year’s surprise, Cole Hamels. Either way, I can’t see the Nationals, Marlins, or Braves making a run for the division. This is setting up to be a two-way race, with two serious contenders. Until that time, lets hold off on the bold statements.

Prediction: Mets

-Brian B.

Johan Santana Needs Tommy John

….For I am Wootman, defender of the truth, accuser of the innocent, and the best at preparing you for the worst.

Initiated by a late night prediction made by DP to me the other night, I have recently come to believe whole heartedly that Johan Santana will end his upcoming 2008 season on the Metropolitan’s bench; a victim of the dreaded Tommy John Surgery. It’s so obvious once all the facts and historical events are laid out in front of us. The Mets have this and only this outcome to anticipate for the upcoming year, the table is set. Their history with their pitching staffs make this tall skinny Phillies fan cool, calm and collected about Johan entering the gauntlet that is the NL EAST.

With that being said, let us now dive head first into the deep end of the ice cold “prediction pool”.

In order to know where this team is heading, we need but look at where they’ve been. The Mets have remained consistent in its “questionable” approach to its pitching staff. Combine this with the curse that follows its newly acquired pitchers, and you have a beautiful thing to watch unfold before your eyes.

Travel with me for a moment to a simpler time; a time when those we now know as legends were still lacing up and battling on the diamond. The time period I speak of is obviously the 1970s. This Metropolitan team entered the 1970 season coming off a World Series championship; thanks to (in part) a one Nolan Ryan. After starting the season with a one-hitter, Nolan’s time as a met would come to an abrupt end. In 1971 he requested a trade and the Mets obliged, sending him to the California Angels with three other players all in order to obtain Jim Fregosi, arguably the worst deal in Mets history.

But hey, people make mistakes right? Teams can make mistakes and just let the past be past….right? Well not the Mets, they refuse to be outdone by anyone but themselves. Why give up a guaranteed future hall of fame pitcher when you can get rid of….dare I say it…2 guaranteed future hall of fame pitchers! The date is June 15 1977 and it brought with it the biggest “shakeup” in Mets history. After a handful of seasons of floundering in the middle of the pack, it seemed time for some rather drastic changes. But when they came, the changes were more drastic than almost any New York fan could possibly have been ready for. Franchise star Tom Seaver had not been getting on well with the Mets' front office for some time.

Tom Terrific's sudden departure was itself only the tip of the iceberg. Seaver had not only been let go, inconceivable in itself, but on the surface, the deal that finally was made had not seemed to bring very much in fair exchange. There was no big-name star headed to New York to replace baseball's top pitcher. Instead, the Mets had picked up what appeared to be no more than a handful of unheralded prospects, the best of whom was an unrecognized minor league outfielder named Steve Henderson…

(this guy)

…who supposedly “glistened with star potential.” Seaver, meanwhile, enjoyed a banner summer and fall with his new club in Cincinnati, ringing up the league's second-best victory and innings-pitched totals and the top mark for shutouts. Things, of course, only got worse in the standings and at the turnstiles the following year for our bumbling Mets. Seaver's expected replacement, Pat Zachry proved largely a bust on the hill; which goes to show, just because you have a great beard, does not mean you can pitch as well as Tom Seaver.

With a quick history lesson now coming to an end, let us first of all, remind ourselves that Pat Zachry never got a fair shot at glory….and second: the Mets continued to encounter unfavorable outcomes with their pitching staffs from that point back in the 70’s all the way to the present day. Don’t believe me….HAHA I laugh at your stupid brain.

- In 1986 Mets' ace Dwight Gooden was admitted to a drug clinic after testing positive for cocaine.

- They also traded McReynolds and Jeffries for one-time World Series hero Bret Saberhagen and his $3 million contract, along with signing veteran free agent pitcher Frank Tanera for $1.5 million.

o The experiment of building a team via free agency quickly flopped as Saberhagen and Coleman were soon injured and spent more time on the disabled list than on the field

- During the 1992 season popular pitcher David Cone was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1992 season for Ryan Thompson and Jeff Kent.

o (PSST….the blue jays won the world series that year.)

- 1993

- In April, Coleman accidentally hit Gooden's shoulder with a golf club while practicing his swing.

- Later, in July, Saberhagen threw a firecracker under a table near reporters.

- Their young pitching prospect of the time Anthony Young started the '93 season at 0-13 and his overall streak of 27 straight losses over two years set a new record.

- After Young's record-setting loss, Coleman threw another firecracker out of the team bus window and injured three people resulting in felony charges that effectively ended his Mets career.

- Only a few days later, Saberhagen was in trouble again, this time for spraying bleach at three reporters. The meltdown season resulted in the worst record for a Mets team since 1965.

- Fast forwarding to more a more recent era, Pedro Martinez came to the big apple before the 2005 season. (this is coming off a world series win in Boston)

o It’s safe to say his career will never recover from the injuries he acquired shortly after becoming a met; his shoulder was all fucked and he now struggled with homosexuality (part of all Metropolitan ball player’s contracts)

Johan, I got love for you. But you fucked up coming to the Mets, that is now very clear. While all teams have had some rough times at some point in their histories, the Mets have consistently been fucking things up with their pitchers, both on purpose and on accident, for almost 40 years now. You can’t fight the truth on this one; you have to face the facts.

San--tana--AYE!

--Wootman