Fact vs Perception --- Fred Wilpon edition

This is a special edition of Fact vs. Perception … a Fred Wilpon Perception versus Facts. The quotes are from the article Madoff's Curveball written by Jeffery Toobin for the New Yorker.

Fred's Perception - On Jose Reyes "He’s had everything wrong with him."

Fact - Wilpon wasn't saying anything during 2005-2008 when he played all but 15 games, or led the league in stolen bases or triples three times. How about all the number 7 t-shirts and jerseys that are being sold, is everything wrong with that as well? 

Fred's Perception - On Carlos Beltran “He’s sixty-five to seventy per cent of what he was.” 

Fact - Four time All Star three time gold glover, two time silver slugger and ranking as high as fourth in MVP voting. That is pretty good for 65%. This year he has ht more home runs than Jason Bay has hit in this and last year combined. 

Fred's Perception - On David Wright “A really good kid. A very good player. Not a superstar.”

Fact - What makes a superstar? Does being a perennial all-star make you a superstar? Does being the face of the franchise make you a superstar? Does being  huge fan favorite with a really great and marketable name make you a superstar? Guess what Fred … yes!

Fred's Perception -  The team is shitty.

Fact - OK, you got it right here.

Other Mets news - 

• Toobin wll have a live chat this afternoon at 3 pm EST.
• Is the "Dock" in the song "Dock by the Bay" a reference to the Disabled list?  Jason Bay is hurting again, If there is a firesale, i hope they Mets can find a buyer for the Bay.
• Really a 10 run loss, nice way to show up. 
• Johann Santana is throwing off a mound ... making his return early enough so he can be showcased and traded, somehow I fear he ends up in Philly or the Bronx.
• God bless you Lenny Dykstra ... your craziness and loyalty to your friends is endless.

The Kid and other things

OK, I will break down the New Yorker article later on. Wow I bet they really wished that article came on  a day when people would have to talk about a game.  One other quick thought. On Friday every caller on WFAN or on ESPN radio who claimed to be a Mets fan said they would be ok with “1 out of 3.” We got that and we need to march on.

So Saturday night I was running around and I heard a news tease about a former Mets star with a very seriously affliction. But I never heard the end of it, later on that evening I read that former Mets catcher Gary Carter has several tumors on his brain. Holy Crap.  He is going for tests this week and hopefully he will survive this. I thought this would be a great opportunity to tell a little story about Gary Carter.

Gary Carter was not my favorite Met of the mid to late 80s, that was of course Keith Hernandez, he was my brother's favorite player. HE hit his 300th home run on my brother’s birthday one summer, my brother had a little plush bear with a Mets shirt that he called Gary. Its not that I didn’t like him, but he wasn’t my favorite.

Fast forward a several years, and I hear on the morning news that he will be at Grand Central Station signing autographs. You could bring your own item, or you can try to throw a baseball 50mph and he’d sign that ball as well as any other item. I had a really crappy job at the time and they were very loose with hours. So I went over. My heater topped out at 43 mph so I went on the slower non-50mph line. Gary signed everything anyone brought in front of him and spent a moment or two with each person, smiling for photos whatever. I have been  When I got there I said to him, “wow your ring is huge,” He was wearing his 86 championship ring. I had recently been to Cooperstown and saw a more normal sized 86 ring. He says yeah I’ve got pretty big hands, and then asked if I’d like to try it on. “Really?” And then he is handing me his championship ring. I put it on and it was enormous, probably would have fit on my thumb more comfortably. I looked at my hand with the ring and thought to my self wow.

Not wanting to linger I took it off and handed it back to him. I thanked him and shook his gigantic hand. The encounter probably took less than a minute but nearly nine years later I can still think how heavy, shiny and warm the ring was. I hope that he pulls through , because he was a great ball player and a really nice guy.

Subway Series 2011 - Part 1

The Mets and Yankees are both within a few games of each other, with the Yanks slightly above .500 and the Mets just under. So lets take a look at the match-ups

1b - Murphy/Turner/Evans vs Mark Teixeira (adv Yankees)
2b - Tejada/Turner/Murphy vs Robinson Caon (adv Yankees)
SS - Jose Reyes vs Derek Jeter (adv Mets)
3b - Murphy/Turner/Harris vs Arod (adv Yankees)
C - Josh Thole vs Russel Martin (adv - Yankees)
LF - Jason Bay vs Brett Gardner (adv Yankees)
CF - Pridie/Harris/Harriston vs Garnderson (adv Yankees)
RF - Carlos Beltran vs Swisher (adv Mets)
DH - FMART vs Posada (adv … I don't know ... but  Posada is hitting like .165)
Manager - Terry Collins vs Joe Girardi (adv Mets)
(Mets 3  - Yankees 6  - toss up 1)

I like the pitching match-ups this weekend versus the Yankees

Game 1 - RA Dickey vs Freddy Garcia (Adv - Dickey)
Game 2 - Chris Capuano vs AJ Burnett  (Adv - Burnett)
Game 3 - Mike "licky fingers" Pelfrey vs Nova (Adv - Licky Fingers)

Let's hope our advantage in pitching can overcome the Yankees advantage.

Oh yeah I hate  interleague games - here is why.

• I can't be friends with my best friend for six days every year .. that sucks.
• The schedule isn't balanced, none of the teams above us are playing the $200 million dollar men.
• The leagues don't play with the same rules, the National League team is weakened by using the DH.