Yesterday (4/2/09) Stallworth had a court date in Florida, and surrendered himself to authorities on charges of DUI vehicular manslaughter. On March 14th at 7 a.m. Stallworth allegedly struck and killed 59 year old Mario Reyes. Initially Stallworth had claimed Mr. Reyes had been in the middle of the road when he hit him, but I have heard other reports saying that Stallworth actually drove his Bentley up on the sidewalk and hit him. He was given a breathalyzer test and blew a .126, almost twice the legal limit of .08 in Florida.

Sadly, he isn’t the first athlete to be caught driving under the influence, or even worse , taking a life while doing it. Former Yankee catcher Jim Leyritz is involved in a similar case. I don’t understand what these guys are thinking, unfortunately drunk driving is a massive problem in this country. I am positive that many people you know, or maybe even yourself has been guilty of this crime at one time or another. The fact that you made it home safely doesn’t change the fact that you are a complete moron for doing this. I am sure Stallworth didn’t have the intention of mowing somebody down on the way home. That’s the thing about alcohol, it impairs your judgment.

I am not making excuses for the common man with this next point, but I have to say it bothers me even more when it’s an athlete, or celebrity that gets nailed for this. I say that because these type of people have unlimited resources in terms of money. If you know you are going out, higher a car service. If you end up going out and have a few too many and weren’t planning on it, call a cab ! I mean it’s just ridiculous , what’s the big deal? Stallworth just received a 4.5 million dollar roster bonus the day before this happened. Are you trying to tell me he didn’t have enough to take a cab home?

I am sure that is not the case. Yet these things still continue to happen. We all know the dangers, it has been beaten into our very sub conscious at this point, yet drunk drivers are still responsible for so many deaths year to year. It is completely unacceptable in my opinion. I think a lot of it is the alcohol impairment, I think some of it is just plain arrogance. Whatever it is the law doesn’t care. The law does not distinguish between one life and another based on financial status , class, or looks etc. it is not a nightclub. When you irresponsibly get behind the wheel impaired, you are gambling with the lives of many, and that is where the arrogance comes in. I wish I had answers, I do not. All I know is many lives have been ruined because of this incident, Mr. Reyes who paid with his life, his loved ones.

I am trying to cope with Stallworth’s senselessness, who probably will be heading to prison for 15 years.

So, you guys tell me, when will this end? When will we learn ?

What is the reaction to this from Yankees fans? You would think that if your team lost it’s best hitter for any amount of time, the feeling would be doom and gloom. I am a Mets fan (yes I know the Heimlich maneuver), and if one of my star players went down (Beltran, Wright, Reyes), I would be freaking out. Not to mention that the Yankees don’t really have a suitable replacement for Alex, unless they play Texiera at third and let Swisher play first.That would be a lot of pressure on Mark Texiera might I add. More than likely they will live with Cody Ransom for the time of Alex’s absence. You would think the Yankees fans would be a little bummed, you would think they would be in a little bit of a panic. Nope. Not a chance.

I have been listening to sports radio all day, and the genuine consensus seems to be, “Good we don’t need him anyway”. Really? You don’t need him? Please stop. One guy actually called in and said to cut him and eat the money (I am not making that up). Please lay off the acid. Yea I am sure the Yankees front office is going to eat 9 years of a contract at 27.5 million per year. Get a grip people. This guy is your best player hands down. I have heard all the garbage: he doesn’t hit in the clutch, he isn’t a true Yankee (whatever that means), he doesn’t get it done in the postseason, he only hits home runs when the Yankees are up 10-0, etc.

Are Yankee fans that arrogant, that spoiled, that stupid , that you truly believe you are better off without Rodriguez? You can’t be serious.  This guy has won two MVP’s in the 5 seasons he has played for you. I don’t want to hear about the steroids for two reasons. One, this anti A-Rod attitude has been going on since he got here. Two, from everything I have read there were a lot of other guys on steroids too, which in my mind levels the playing field.

I want to be clear that I am not singling out all Yankees fans. I know a lot of you, and many of you understand Alex’s importance in this lineup . I also want to let you know that I take no pleasure in this just because I’m a Mets fan. The fact is I just don’t understand how any of you can say you don’t want him here. The “he doesn’t get it done in the playoffs” line of reasoning is a load of crap too. I am not saying he gets it done, but if I recall correctly in 2007 the Yankees don’t even sniff the playoffs without him. The problem is this. Yankees fans are ungrateful, you think it is your birthright to win a World Series every year. Instead of being satisfied and appreciative of what this franchise has given you, you all have your hands out looking for more. This guy is a hell of a player, maybe the best in the game today. I am not saying he is perfect, I think he does have mental problems, I think he is a horrible public speaker, and he has definitely made mistakes. However, he is as close to perfect as it gets on a baseball field. All that should matter is whether or not he helps your team win, and there is no debating the Yankees are a better team with Rodriguez than without.

The bottom line is this, Yankees fans need to appreciate what they have. You need to get behind this guy and cheer for him. I am sure none of you boo birds out there would ever realize that maybe all your criticism has actually perpetuated some of A-Rod’s failures because he is obviously sensitive to it.  My advice is lighten up on this guy, cheer him, accept him, drop all the true Yankee chatter. It is only going to make him worse not better. If you choose not to, that’s fine, but I don’t want to hear you bragging years from now or see you on your feet clapping when he starts hitting all those milestone home runs (whether they are tainted or not). Just don’t be a hypocrite , because that’s worse than being a mindless moron.

Here is the thing with Chamberlain (and I don’t blame him for this), the Yankees seem to really baby this kid. Last year he started off in the bullpen, then about mid season they started stretching him out (during live MLB games might I add), and put him in the starting rotation. These actions, as unique as they may be , were all part of a plan that was conjured up during last years spring training. The ” Joba Rules ” as they were later dubbed, were designed to protect young Joba from injury by limiting his innings and pitch counts. I didn’t necessarily agree with the plan, but I understood the desire to protect this young arm (Francisco Liriano anyone?). The plan didn’t work too well however, as Joba missed the end of last season with an injured right shoulder (if I remember correctly).

Joba has what I consider to be a violent delivery. History in baseball shows us that once a player (especially pitchers) it seems to become a recurring problem. This has lead to the Yankees to state a couple of things in this spring training so far. First Joba is slated to be the fifth starter (must be nice to be the Yankees). Secondly, and this is the thing that is driving me nuts, they have stated that Joba will be limited to five or six innings per start. Over the course of a season, barring injury, will probably put him in the 150 to 180 innings pitched range. My question is this: when do they take the kid gloves off this guy?

Getting back to my opening paragraph, the huge debate among fans seems to be whether or not this kid should be a starter or reliever. Really? Is this really even a legitimate question? Given the way the Yankees limit this kid, the way they limit his pitch counts and innings, isn’t the solution obvious? He belongs as the eighth inning guy. Not only do the Yankees have a wealth of studs in the rotation, making Chamberlain a serious luxury, he has had most of his success as the set up guy to Mariano Rivera. The Yankees have plenty of guys to throw in that fifth spot (Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy), and the bullpen is much stronger with Joba than without him. Not to mention ( and I know we say this every year ) how many more years does Mo have on that arm? When Mo retires you can slide Joba right into the closers role. It’s a no brainer to me.

That’s the situation people. On another team I can understand wanting this guy as a starter, he has ace kind of stuff. The Yankees are not any other team. I don’t have a problem with him starting , but if that’s the route they are going to take with him, then stop the coddling and let him pitch! How long are they going to continue babying this guy? Like I said, if the babying is out of concern for his durability, then the answer is clear, put him in the pen and ensure yourself a spot in October.

If you are unaware of what has been going on with Alex Rodriguez the last few weeks, you must be living under a rock (tell cousin slug I said hi). Here is a quick recap. A-Rod was exposed as a steroid user by Selena Roberts of Sports Illustrated. He then grants an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, in which he admitted using steroids from ‘ 01-’03, his years with the Texas Rangers. Many people were dissatisfied with the interview, poking holes in A-Rods story. Rodriguez then holds a massive press conference upon his arrival to spring training. A few more details (the cousin), but pretty much more of the same. The public and the media having a field day ripping Alex apart,as he attempts to excuse  all his actions by either saying he was ” young and stupid “, or that he didn’t think that they even used the steroids properly.You want to know something ? Personally, I couldn’t give a flying (insert your own word here!)

The thing is this, I don’t think I am the only one. I want to get to the business of baseball. I love the game and I really am tired of hearing all this garbage. Can we get to the part where we debate about who has the best pitching staff, or who is going to have a break out year ? No. This truly is the NEVERENDING STORY.
I keep hearing how the steroid guys have cheated the game, how they have tarnished the record books, how they have set a poor example for young athletes. You know what? Stop ! If you are that disgusted with this era, then boycott the game! Don’t go to the park, don’t watch it on T. V. and stop buying merchandise. No one is forcing you to participate. Sound extreme? I suppose but the point is I won’t, I love the game I love my Mets, I am a little saddened that all these players felt the need to put poison in their bodies, but who am I to judge? The fan does have some power here, it’s like I said you can boycott the game, but I can’t. I tell all of you this because as disgusted as you may be, it’s not going to go away anytime soon.

Yesterday it was reported that A-Rod has been linked to Angel Persinal. Persinal is a trainer from the Dominican Republic, who has been banned by MLB because he is a suspected steroid guy. Rodriguez was linked with this guy as late as 2007. What does that mean for A-Rod? I don’t know, but it certainly makes it hard to take him at his word about being clean since he has been in New York. It doesn’t end with A-Rod either. Persinal has been linked with other players: Juan Gonzalez, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero, Bartolo Colon, Miguel Tejada, Adrian Beltre, Moises Alou, Jose Guillen, Ervin Santana, Ruben Sierra, Francisco Cordero, Jose Mesa and Juan Guzman, among others. Now this doesn’t mean that the players listed above are roid users, but you know it’s going to cause much speculation.

I do not condone steroid use. I feel badly for the fan who feel they have cheated. All I am saying is this; the steroid era is far from over. There is a lot more to come, and I am afraid some of the names you are going to hear are going to be guys you would not have ever suspected. I for one am done, I really don’t care what they do anymore, I am a fan of the game, and nothing is ever going to stop that.

You guys remember 2003? That was the year that baseball started randomly testing players to get a feel for whether or not steroids was a problem in their sport. If I remember correctly, if 5% of the players tested in that random focus group tested positive, then MLB would institute mandatory random drug testing in the sport. Well guess what? More than 5% tested positive (shocking), and because of that we now have a drug testing policy in Major League Baseball.

The names that tested positive for roids during that dry run of drug testing back in ’03, were never supposed to be made public. However it seems that even though that list of 104 drug cheats was to be destroyed, it wasn’t, and now slowly but surely is being leaked. Barry Bonds is rumored to be on that list  (surprise!), and it seems to be one of the major pieces of evidence that prosecutors will use against Bonds in his upcoming perjury trial. Today, we get a second name, maybe the biggest name in the sport, the man known as A-Rod. I , for the sake of the game, would pray that this is untrue, but Sports Illustrated did their homework. S.I. apparently has four unrevealed sources confirming that Rodriguez is on that list. Which leads me to believe that they are extremely confident that there accusations are factual.

I guess with all that has happened in the steroid era, there is not a name that should surprise anyone when it is linked to the juice. I have to say though while not surprised, I am very disappointed. I watched that night when A-Rod did his interview with Katie Couric. She flat out put him on the spot and asked if he had ever used performance enhancing drugs, or ever been tempted to use them. Alex said, “No”.

I am not a huge A-Rod fan, too much of a pri-Madonna for me (pun intended), but I really looked to this guy with his incredible talent, and God given gifts, to be the guy who would break the all time home run record and put all the debate about the Bonds/Aaron debacle to bed. Now he is just as tainted as everyone else. It doesn’t matter what he does now, his credibility is shot. He can pee in a cup everyday for the rest of his career and there will still be fans who question. He has tarnished his yet to be complete legacy. That makes me a little sad, not because I am a Rodriguez fan, but a fan of this game that has thrilled so many over many eras and generations.

All I can say is Joe Torre is somewhere appreciating the fact that A-Roid just took him and his tell all off the radar.

A few days ago a photograph of Phelps taking a bong hit at a party became front page news (yes front page news, apparently there is nothing more pressing going on in this country than a kid with a bong). I have so many problems with this that I can’t possibly fit it into this blog, so I will stick with my original point. Did Phelps make a mistake? Yes. He got caught on camera doing something he shouldn’t have. That’s it, that’s the mistake! I am not going to sit here on my high horse and kill this kid for smoking pot at a party.

I have had a whole bunch of jobs in my professional life, and let me tell all of you a little secret: more people in this country smoke pot than don’t! That’s right! The cat is outta the bag! Shocking? Maybe but I gotta tell you it seems like no matter where I go, or work, or any group of people I meet, I find that the majority of these people smoke weed. Did Phelps commit a crime? Yes, but it’s only a crime because the government can’t figure out a way to profit from legalizing marijuana. That being said, get over it America !

I am so exhausted by the whole, ” he is a role model, he should know better ” chatter. It is not an athletes job to raise your children. It is the responsibility of the parents. Guess what? Kids are going to see things, they are going to be exposed to drugs and alcohol. If you want to point fingers at Phelps , that’s fine. However if you are going to rely on a 23 year old kid to teach your kids right from wrong , then you are not fit to be a parent. My son asked me the other night (he is 10) what was going on with Phelps. Why was he in trouble. I explained to him that Phelps smoked pot at a party (then had to proceed to explain what pot was), and someone took a picture of it and leaked it to the newspapers. I explained to him that it is something that is frowned upon, that it is considered a drug, that it is not something he should be doing. Now my son is not the biggest sports fan, but he likes Phelps , and asked me if he should still root for him. I told him that everybody makes mistakes whether they are in the public eye or not. I asked him that if his best friend made a mistake would he turn his back on him? His answer… no. He had his answer.

I am not condoning what Phelps did. I am no hypocrite though, and I am sure there are pictures out there of many of us that we wouldn’t want people to see. I understand the Olympic committee suspending him, I do. It is necessary. For all you other people ridiculing this kid, back off! People in glass houses should not throw stones, and I have yet to meet anyone in my life that doesn’t have at least a glass wall. Instead of complaining , take this opportunity to teach your kids about life, and talk to them about drugs, and be the role model you are supposed to be, instead of depending on some random athlete to do it for you.

I have been listening and reading all week how Joe Torre is a hypocrite. How Joe always used to tell his players “keep it in the clubhouse”. Now Joe is airing that clubhouse dirty laundry. We have all heard the excerpts, how A-Rod is referred to as “Afraud”, how A-Rod had an obsession with Derek Jeter and all the admiration Jeter received. The accusation that Cashman betrayed Torre in his final meeting with the Steinbrenners. How he was insulted by the final contract he was offered. The allegation that Yankee doctors informed Steinbrenner about Joe’s prostate cancer, before telling Joe himself (that would anger me as well).

My whole problem with this high school ” he said, she said ” , is the fact that this book hasn’t even been released yet. I am sure there are sports pundits that have gotten advanced copies, but most of the media is obviously running with the most salacious quotes from the book they can find. I don’t know Joe Torre, I am a Mets fan. That being said , I can guarantee you that all this hype you are reading is probably taken out of context. I am sure that there are things said by Torre expressing some unhappiness. I am sure that there are things said about players that maybe they would take offense to. I also know that without reading the book in it’s entirety that all these media outlets are doing is filling space or air time with what people love, gossip.

We are all familiar with gossip. It came to us at an early age (elementary school for me), and it never seems to end (it’s my mother in laws favorite pastime). I don’t mean to offend any of our younger readers, but gossip is soooo high school (like omg, he said what?). Yet it seems that the public has an insatiable appetite for it (tabloids and paparazzi anyone?). It really drives me nuts.

Is Joe Torre a hypocrite? Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know because I haven’t read the book yet, and like a responsible adult I will reserve my judgment until I have the whole S-Torre. This could all be a clever marketing ploy by Doubleday to sell books (mission accomplished boys). What does that make us then? Sheep. I suppose I should just let it go, gossip and its other ugly brethren will continue long after I am gone. Especially with the Internet (I swear the Internet was created to gossip and watch porn), rumors travel in nano seconds.

Let me know what you guys (and gals) think. Sports is the ultimate reality show, I get that, but when the behind the scenes stuff starts dominating the back pages, I feel like it takes away from the beauty of the sports we love. Athletes and sports figures are human, no different than you and I, they have feelings, they show emotion, they gossip. If spreading rumors and lies is what you’re into, then I think you need to re-examine your purpose in life.

Alrighty, enough griping I gotta get out of here, my wife wants to tell me a story about our 16 year old neighbor who became impregnated by the substitute mailman, while carrying on an affair with our regular mailman, who also happens to be bisexual, juicy stuff, maybe I’ll write my own S-Torre.

Total Pro Sports – Let’s take you back to August 20th, 2008. Max Gilpin, an offensive lineman for the Pleasant Ridge Park high school football team in Kentucky, collapses at practice. It was a 94 degree day and as anybody who has ever put the pads on knows, unpleasant weather to be practicing football in.

Coach David Jason Stinson and his staff had waited until 5pm to begin practice, hoping that a later start would make the elements more bearable. From what I’ve read, the coach was running a grueling practice. Allegedly, the coach was pushing his players hard and withholding water from them. After Max collapsed he was taken to the emergency room where he was reported to have a 107 degree body temperature. They were too late in getting Max treatment, and Max passed away. It is a tragic story.

How does this happen?

Doesn’t everybody know at this point how important hydration is, especially while being active in extreme heat. If you go to NFL training camps over the summer, you will see prior to practice that all the lineman are given intravenous fluids to prevent such accidents. How does a coach who played at a high level (he was a center at the college level) not realize that withholding water from players is completely negligent? Coach Stinson has since been charged with reckless homicide.

Where does the responsibility lie in this situation?

Should the players have demanded water? Maybe, but I played high school football and I know that most kids don’t have the maturity or the fortitude to question their coaches. I was denied the football captain in my senior year, even though I had won it in voting amongst my teammates. I never said anything to him,even though I was extremely upset, even though it still eats at me to this day (I am 35), even though it may have changed the whole course of my life. That being said, I was never in any danger of dying. My feelings were hurt. Bottom line is this: high school athletes are trying to impress their coaches, and questioning their authority is not looked upon as the way to achieve that goal.

I think we are all in agreement when I say that the responsibility of the players well being is put upon the coach in charge. What this coach did may have been acceptable in the 60′s and 70′s, but certainly we know better today. I myself am a coach (baseball,football) and  know that maybe sometimes an athlete needs tough love, but never at the risk of my players health. Why not practice in the gym that day? Maybe we could go over playbooks in a classroom that day. Maybe we can make sure that they are forced to hydrate at regular intervals during practice! Now I am sure that coach Stinson meant no harm to his boys, but what he did was extremely reckless, and pleading ignorance (I don’t know whether he did or not)is unacceptable. I think the charge of reckless homicide is fair and just.

Coaches you need to be aware when you take on an authority role that you are responsible to your kids. Athletes, make sure you are completely hydrated before engaging in sports activity. A good way to tell is by your urine.If it is clear you are hydrated if you are not, no good. Remember you have a right to speak up, it may just save your life.

My prayers go out to Max Gilpin’s family, friends, and teammates. I also send them out to coach Stinson, who I am sure had no intention of this happening. Remember sports are supposed to be fun, and I know with all the money involved on pro sports we tend to forget that, but face it not many get to live that dream.

I would really like to thank all of you who have been reading and commenting on my posts. I usually do like to mix in some sarcastic humor within my posts to keep things light.

Today’s topic: who are the best free agents left out there, and where I think they’ll land. Let’s get right to the list in no particular order. Remember if you don’t see someone on this list that you think should be……TO FRICKIN BAD! Besides that what the comment section is for.

Ok here goes, lets take a look at Top MLB Free Agents Left On The Market.

Ben Sheets (Pitcher) – What can you say about this guy? He has quality ace stuff, still in his prime, and no doubt in terms of ability, the best pitcher left out there. Unfortunately for Ben that late season elbow injury really cost him going into free agency (oh my bleeding heart). Still in ‘ 08 Sheets had a respectable year, starting 31 games, pitching almost 200 innings, and an era just above 3 (3.09 to be exact, yes I can Google too). Had Sheets stayed healthy he might have gone as quickly as C.C. and A.J.  From the biz end of it I think right now Sheets could be gotten for 2 years 16 million. Maybe throw in some performance clauses to entice him. I think the risk is certainly worth the potential reward, this guy is an ace when healthy. Fits perfectly on the Mets (please, please, please), although I know the Rangers are interested, and I wouldn’t count the Yankees out as long as they don’t have Pettite signed to a new deal.

Oliver Perez (Pitcher) – Being a Mets fan all I can tell you is Ollie is the perfect Met. Why? Because he is wildly inconsistent, one day he looks unbeatable, next day looks like he should be playing with high school kids. Still he is a left hander under 30 , and lefties tend to hit there stride later in their careers. When Ollie is on, he is as good as any pitcher in the game, but only seems to retain his focus in big games. If Ollie could ever maintain a consistent performance level he could easily be one of the best pitchers in the game. However that is a big if. Still, ultimately I think Ollie ends up back in New York for 4 years 50 million.

Adam Dunn (Outfield) – You would think a guy that has hit at least 40 home runs over the last 5 years would be flying off the shelf. The big criticism with Dunn that he strikes out too much. What does that mean exactly? In my opinion an out is an out. Does it matter how the out is made? Is it less of an out to ground out or fly out? Ok maybe it hurts you if there is a runner on 3rd with one out and you need him to connect to drive a run in. Flip side to that, isn’t a strike out better than hitting into a double play ? Amazingly enough there doesn’t seem to be much interest in Dunn. Things may change after Manny gets signed, but right now it seems like the Nationals are the only team interested. If he signs there expect no more than 3 years 17 million (again waaa waaa!).

Manny Ramirez (Outfield) - What can you say? Manny in my opinion is the greatest right handed hitter of our generation. And, what’s more he does it in the big spot. There is not a team in baseball that couldn’t use this guy. Manny’s presence in a line-up gives that line-up instant credibility. Manny is represented by evil super agent Scott Boras, which means it’s all about the money. Whatever team offers the biggest contract, that is who is going to get him. Which really eliminates everyone but a handful of teams.

Manny being Manny is also another reason why g.m.’s around the league are not so willing to lay out the dough. Listen to me though, if a player of Manny’s talent didn’t have some baggage we wouldn’t be having this conversation because he wouldn’t be available. I know everyone says he quit in Boston and I can’t defend him. However there are 2 sides to every story, and a game breaker like him is worth taking that kind of risk. This man single handedly willed the Dodgers into the playoffs. I think Manny is a perfect fit for my Mets, he gives them everything they are missing. I think the Mets are scared to take the risk and ultimately I think he stays in California either with the Dodgers or the Angels.

That’s how I see it boys and girls. Agree, disagree? Let us know feel free to leave a comment share your opinions. I mean not that it matters because I am obviously right, but it gives me a chuckle. Just kidding all, really want to hear from you guys out there, so let’s get going.

That being said, let’s get right to the point. I am and have always been a fan of the New York Metropolitans. I would briefly like to explain to you readers out there what it is like to be a Mets fan. I equate it to being the victim in an abusive relationship. They get your hopes up. They get you believing in them. They make you think it’s all going to be ok. Then they become uncomfortable with their own prosperity and find some way to choke it away and rip your heart out!  What makes me feel like the battered wife ( or husband I guess,  I need to be politically correct here! ), is I keep coming back for more.

What’s worse, is over the last two seasons it feels like this cycle takes place within every game. I understand that there are other franchises that are certainly more pitiful than my Mets ( Pirates anyone?). You have to understand though in the New York market, Mets fans have a built in inferiority complex because of that other team in the Bronx.

This brings me to the purpose of this posting. The Mets are frustrating because they never seem to do whatever it takes to win. I realize this has been a strange off season because of the economy, and it seems to be affecting the approach of most teams. I get the fact that the Yankees are in a different stratosphere, but c’mon ! I applaud Omar Minaya for seemingly fixing the bullpen ( it is the Mets though so you never know). However a monkey could figure out that the bullpen is a major factor in the annual collapse.

What about the starting rotation, what about the big right handed bat we need ? They tried to Lowe-ball Derek Lowe ( pun intended ), and he signed with a division rival. Now Scott Boras has us over a barrel because he knows we need Erratic Perez. Omar can we think outside the box? Lets go get Sheets. I know he is a health risk but he is still the best free agent pitcher left out there. You sign Sheets ( 2 years-18 million ?) and you no longer appear desperate to Boras, who also knows there is not much of a market for Ollie Perez. That puts you on equal footing, and now you go sign Perez for what you want versus the 5 years $60 million that Boras is trying to get you to pay. Problem solved, and you get two pitchers for what I consider a reasonable amount.

Now we need to address that bat. Has anyone else realized that possibly the greatest right handed hitter of our generation is a free agent? Not to mention that Manny Ramirez may also be the best clutch hitter ever? You can’t possibly believe a Murphy/Tatis platoon in left is the answer. There is no guarantee that you are going to get the production you got from Tatis last year. Murphy looks ok, but he has no track record. And I don’t think anyone is confidant that Carlos Delgado is going to repeat last years performance. Manny is the perfect fit, even if he isn’t the perfect person. If he can get me a championship, I’ll be more than happy to deal with Manny being Manny.

Please Mr. Wilpon, you have got to stop going 90% of the way and expecting to win. The Mets have the money , go get these players and show me that you really are sorry for beating on me all these years. If not, maybe I’ll pick up the kids and go to the nearest shelter. Yankee Stadium perhaps?