213 Miles From Shea

One aspect of Baseball that stands out from the other major sport leagues in this nation is the playoff system. A team has to be a good team to make the playoffs since only 4 teams from each league get into the playoffs, not 50% of the league like a few other sports.It was a huge deal the last time a Wild Card team was added to the season, and I think that was a good idea when you think about it. Expanding playoffs from 4 to 8 teams didn't diminish the talent in the playoffs too much as there is enough talent to field 8 good teams, as long as each division is strong. Plus, the league was expanding over time in the amount of teams that made it up.

However, baseball now wants to add two more Wild Card teams, one for each league, and then have a play in game, or a best of three series to get the actual Wild Card Spot. This only becomes a viable addition to the post-season when there are several strong teams pushing for the Wild-Card spot at the end of the season, then this Wild Card game or series could be exciting (think of the story lines).

The main problem for this new system comes when the league is dominated by four teams. When a league is dominated by four teams, that fifth team diminishes the playoffs. If that team somehow has a better day than that other Wild Card team in that play-in game, then all of a sudden the playoff field gets that much weaker. There are also two other smaller issues. First, this could cause, especially if its a best of three, extra rest for the other playoff teams. We have seen in the past teams with too much rest falling apart in the playoffs, plus the season would have to be shortened otherwise the season would almost always go into November (unless started in March). Finally, this just reeks of greed. Generally, the teams that just miss the playoffs if they didn't make it are big market teams.

Overall, right now there is no need to add extra teams into the Playoff system. So just don't do it.

On the front cover the New York Times today (story by Michael S. Schmidt) is a story about the controversy surrounding investors in America and Baseball Camps in the Dominican Republic. The New York Times found the a critical voice against this issue (to be explained momentarily) in the new GM of the Mets, Sandy Alderson and after reading his comments, I am glad and proud that he represents the New York Mets organization.

The controversy starts off as something that should be beneficial, but as many things that involve large trade offs of money, turns sinister. As Baseball teams have become more competitive over getting young talent from other countries, people have in turn opened up Baseball Camps. Students as young as 13 or 14 can enroll in these camps and learn about baseball, but they have to give up their education to do so. These camps fund these students with equipment and money to their families in return for taking a cut of their first contract and signing bonus. Sandy basically put in the best possible way what is actually occurring:

“If the investment is benefiting the player in some way and improving his circumstances, providing as I said, educational opportunities, etc, then it can be a good thing. But generally speaking, there is no assurance that is happening.”

The article then goes on an talks about the differences among camps that are being supported by a variety of people in the United States. These camps could be nice but there also a lot of instances of camps that feel like prisons. They are surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire and all of the players have to sleep in one room. Ones that have houses aren't better as the players are packed into the main room. The conditions are poor at best.

This is how the article ends, “Mr. Alderson said he hoped the American investors realized their investments were teenagers, many who will never reach the major leagues. 'These people who have given up other possibilities, forgone other opportunities have not gone to school,' Mr. Alderson said. 'It's not just mailing in a check to some mutual fund and hoping that you're going to get a return.'”

I agree with all of Sandy's points here. In an ideal world these camps are a good idea if the students that are in them have good to great living conditions and if they are also still going to school (that is key). The fact that people are paying for them to not have to go to school anymore, and then risk a lot by not getting into a major league organization is disturbing. It's essentially making risking investments where all the investor looses is money, but the investment, the player, can loose a whole lot more. I expect this to eventually become an issue that the MLB will have to deal with, and I'm glad Alderson is on the right side on this issue early.

The field for the for the next manager of the Amazin's has entered the second round. Where well over a dozen people were considered by the media, and probably slightly less than 10 were actually interviewed, the Mets Front Office has made its announcement for the final four contenders. Not in the group is Clint Hurdle, who as of last week was picking up steam as a dark horse candidate, but he has taken the top job out in Pittsburgh. Without any further delay, here are the Mets top four choices, to be interviewed in Orlando soon:

Wally Backman: This surprised me. I still do not think he will be the Mets next manager, but he is in this round. He must have said something amazing in that first interview, or maybe they are trying to get him to be seriously considered for a bench position, or a higher up managerial spot in the minors.

Chip Hale: Hale I am not as surprised to see him in the final round. Although he has not had major league experience as a manager, he seems to be a leader on this club and takes winning seriously. I could get behind a Hale ran team.

Terry Collins: Considered by many to be on the fast track for the manager job, I'm still not entirely sure of his appeal. I wouldn't be against him as manager, but its not him that I'm looking for.

Bob Melvin: I used to be very much against Melvin. Now I have a different perspective. He has been with the team for a while in scouting, so he has a good idea of talent, he has some more recent managerial experience as an MLB manager I have a lot of respect for his baseball knowledge

Ultimately, the Mets need a smart manager who can handle what will hopefully be two very different seasons over the next two yeas as next season is shaping up to be a combination of a lame duck, lets see if we can win with these pieces, season as there really isn't much the Mets can do / a rebuilding season, and 2012 seems to be a season where the Mets could make a lot of moves.

Well it looks pretty clear, or really clear, at this point that Lee Mazzilli will not be candidate for the Mets Manager job. It just doesn't seem like its going to happen. Sandy has his plan, I have my own plan, Sandy is a GM with a fantastic resume, I'm a blogger who does this as a hobby and is really a scientist, so in the end, I'll trust Sandy. I guess I'm just bitter my boy didn't get a shot to interview, but I'm happy with the remaining candidates and I'm happy with the new front office, so I'm not going to be upset at it. I had two stories ready to go for an article in case Lee was offered an interview, and I'm not one to waste good pre-writing, so without further ado, here are my two favorite Lee Mazzilli stories.

The first is one that I experienced first hand. When I was in High School, Lee was the manager of the Baltimore Orioles, and held the helm of the last time it felt like the Orioles actually had a shot to make some noise (seriously, that was a feeling back in the beginning of the 21st century). There was one game, it was during interleague play, that would be hard to forget. It was right around the time that the Orioles were starting to slip and the Red Sox and Yankees were roaring. The Orioles were playing the Rockies, for some reason (I'll hold my opinion on Interleague Play) and one of my favorite batters (also for no reason in particular) was at the plate: Chris Gomez. Gomez took a pitch and sent it right the left field corner. Was it a homer? Did it curl foul? The umpire called it foul and then Lee just went off. Also important to note is at the time, I would say because he was a New Yorker but I'm biased, he was losing the public opinion. Well Lee let the umpire have it. He argued for a while on the field, got his money's worth, and then went back into the dugout. He then proceeded to pick up the box holding the bubblegum and tossed it all over the field. The crowd loved it, and loved him for the day.

By the way, the ball was foul.

My other favorite Lee Mazzilli story was one that I didnt experience first hand. I wasn't even close to be being born yet. Thankfully, I was able to experience it thanks to the fantastic book The Bad Guys Won, By Jeff Pearlman:

“As Mazzill's Q-rating increased, his attitude went polar. He pouted when, to make room for Wilson, manager Joe Torre made him play first base or a corner outfield position, and he irked older teammates by strutting around the stadium like a ten-year veteran. Cazeneuve, the batboy turned right fielder remembers sitting at a table in the clubhouse before a Spring Training game, quietly eating an egg and imitation bacon sandwich, when out nowhere Mazzilli picked it up and took a big bite. ” What's this shit?” he mumbled. Cazeneuve, a vegetarian, explained to Mazzilli that it was homemade and healthy. “Okay,” said Mazzilli. “If that's the case” He then shoved the entire sandwich in his mouth leaving Cazeveuve stunned.”

I'm not sure what it is about that story, but it always makes me laugh.

I know this isn't new. I know this is highly reported.

Bill Jone's Gumball Helmet Collection is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in sports. To be frank, I think I'm at the level of obssessed with it. Jones has been creating Gumball Helmets for a while, and while a lot of the story has been documented here, the article has fallen to a terrible epidemic on the internet: link rot. Since the article was written a long time ago, a lot of the links have disappeared. What is so incredible about his work is that it merges the old time collectible of the Gumball Helmet with the era of a zillion minor league teams and baseball gimicks.

After discovering that, I decided to look on the internet for more Jones work. His peices of art (and I really mean art) are frequently featured on Uni Watch Blog, and after a lot of searcing, I believe I found his flckr stream.

Anyway here are some links to some of the gem's in his collection:

Just a Portion his massive Minor League Baseball Helmet Collection. Around the middle of the page are the three Cyclone hats.

Yeah, this guy has ever gimick covered. I mean every gimick.

Yes, these are Gumball Helmets for the newly formed Austrailian Baseball League.

Look, its all really impressive so check it out. Also, if you know any other collections you think I should highlight, let me know!

Well fans, we are essentially about to be in the full swing of Mets Manager Interviews as they have just started to go underway and more interviews are being set up for next week. Here is a recap, with information mostly collected from Mets Blog, of the people who have had confirmed interviews to become the Mets skipper –

Ken Oberkfell – Oberkfell is currently the manager for the Bisons and has a fairly impressive non-Major League managing resume. He is the manager right now for a team in the Dominican (the same team that he led to the championship last season) and in 2005 he was the Minor League Manager of the year. As a player he has one World Series Ring and an additional pennant. What hurts him is that he does not have any major league experience as a Manager.

Bob Melvin – Already Interviewed. I am slowly warming up to the idea of having Melvin as a manager. He has experience on all sides and is considered to be smart. I guess what disappoints me with Melvin is that he isn't Mazzilli, but I wouldn't complain if Melvin was hired.

David Jauss – Also Already Interviewed.

Wally Backman – To Be Interviewed this weekend.

Chip Hale – To Be Interviewed this weekend. Ownership has been vocal that they want him involved on the management team no matter who the next manager is

Terry Collins – To Be Interviewed this weekend.

Don Wakamatsu – No Interview confirmed yet. But I have a strong feeling he will end up being slotted soon (unless someone else on this list blows Sandy away).

As for other people, if a planned interview isn't decided by the end of the next week, then they probably will not be considered for the position. In other words, I think the Mets will try to wrap up the first round of interviews as quickly as possible.

Other Management/Front Office News:

In addition to Hale, ownership apparently also wants to keep Warthen on for next season. As much as I like Hale, and as indifferent as I am to Dan, I really feel that ownership should not be doing this. The coaching staff should be the responsibility of the new manager or Sandy.

Sandy is making progress in trying to get DePodesta as he has now been granted permission from the Padres to talk to him. I would love for him, Riccardi and Sandy to all have a chance to fill in the gaps on the roster for next season. It would be a great set of brains to try to find affordable talent to give this team some nice surprises for next season.

The Giants won the World Series and really all I have to say is put this one in the book of pitching. The argument which is overwhelming one-sided (because one side has all of the statistical support) is in the end Good Pitching will beat Good Hitting. This World Series was literally that as one of the best pitching teams in the game, the Giants, beat one of the best hitting teams in the league, the Rangers. Of course, the series wasn't always like that as the first game was a surprise to everyone as both teams struggled on the mound. Since I really don't care too much about either team, I don't have much to say but I'm glad the Giants won.

Now for the beginning of our next season.

The Hot Stove officially starts now, although it feels like we have been on it for the last month with the hiring of Sandy as the new GM of the team. What we have to look forward to in the short run is the hiring of a new manager, a new coaching staff, and a new front office staff. Also Takahashi fits in somewhere in that short time line.

After that, its who knows? The Mets have a lot of money on the books and Rome was not built over night so it would be crazy to think we can splash money around and just cut many of our losses free without thinking about assets. I have faith in Sandy that he will get the groundwork done to make this team into a champion, but I know it will take some time.

I do look forward though to an off-season with some creative moves and some good scouting.

Lets Go Mets!

SNY produced a list possible Mets Managers who maybe, or already have been contacted/remove themselves from the list, for next season:

Wally Backman

Terry Collins

John Gibbons

Chip Hale

Clint Hurdle

Lee Mazzilli

Bob Melvin

Ken Oberkfell

Joe Torre

Bobby Valentine

Don Wakamatsu

Thats a pretty good list of people. On that list we can already cross out one as the former Met John Gibbons who has declined interest in the role. For that matter, I think we can cross out Joe Torre. I just don't see him coming back to Queens (and of course now that I said that, he will probably be our manager next season).

Of course if you know me, then you know that I am still holding out hope for Lee Mazzilli.

Earlier this week we discussed the new addition to the Seattle Mariners rotation, and it looks like something is brewing with a team closer to home, the Washington Nationals. According to Let Teddy Win, a Washington Nationals Blog, there will be a VIP event on November 6th where it speculated the Nationals will announced some new uni's for next season.

What will they look like? Well the main criticism for the team has been that current Nationals jersey, not only looks ridiculous, but does not honor the history of teams in the district. They recently made some positive changes by changing the away uniforms by changing the front script to look more similar to the Senators, but they kept the back numbers in the stupid block, red and gold format.

Well here's a positive rumor.

It was posted yesterday at Uni Watch Blog, where Lukas admits that he doesn't know if it is legit or not. I hope it is.

With all of the coverage of the Giants in the National media right now, like how they are a group of misfits, and just an overall lovable team, has made me question something about the Mets I have never questioned before.

Are the Mets lovable?

My initial thought was, “when did that go up for grabs?”

Before I explain, or attempt to explain, this topic, I really should set some context to my Mets fandom. I am 21 years old, product of the last year in the 80's. I grew up in Baltimore during the apex of the Cal Ripken years, starting grade school during the last two seasons the Orioles actually made the playoffs. I remember the Orioles games on in my house, really more because it was a baseball house, but I was told to like the Mets, which was easy, I mean I was like 6 or 7. You could probably tell me back then to like a piece of grass and I would do it without question.

As I became conscious of my surroundings and older, the Mets became better. Cue the 1999 and 2000 Mets, especially the 2000 Mets who appeared during the my middle school years when I shared a locker with a Yankee fan (great World Series for that). Of course we all know the Mets sorta fell apart after that, but I was still attatched them (Piazza has that effect). Then came High School, which brought at the end the 2005 and 2006 teams. College has been a great time in my life, but baseball wise not so much as my Fall's in college have had the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 teams.

But I have never seen the Mets as not lovable. Maybe its because when I became aware of these players as people, it was during the days when Wright and Reyes were just coming up. Reyes was full of hope, and it was still a possibility that he could take Ricky Henderson's stolen base record (remeber I was still in middle school, so to have those high “never going to happen” hopes was completely natural). Wright had to carry Cliff Floyd (my favorite player from middle school to high school) luggage everywhere with hillarious outcomes. These are the Mets I know, and these are the Mets I see when I look at the team today. I do not see the Perez issue, the negatives with the budget, and the other problems. I would argue that most fans do not see this either when they think about their personal relationship with the team, which can influence how we percieve about how others percieve the New York Mets.

I would argue when most Mets fans look at the team, they see the team that they remember from their formidable years. The team that first taught them about hope and disapointment. This relationship in some ways is the definition of lovable.

But with the last four years, the Mets have taken on the role of league laughing stock. It doesn't matter that other teams have nearly historic collapses (2009 Tigers) or teams that have led their division for an entire season. but didn't make the playoffs (2010 Padres), the punchline is always on the Mets. There used to be a time where this would be “lovable”. But If the Mets made the World Series this past season, would they be described as lovable? I doubt it. The team has become some clouded with controversies from fighting minor league coaches to fights in the family waiting room, that the average person or the average baseball fan wouldn't dare call us lovable.

I'm not entirely sure what my point is here. I think it is just that kid in me that still wishes that everyone could see the Mets as I see them; as this ambigous microcosm for life. Haters gonna hate I guess.