ExWNYer

@Gugny Happy Father's Day, gents. I hope you all had a great day either with your kids, your dads, or both (if you're lucky). I had not heard that about Grimace @SinceThe70s. That's funny. I also didn't know that Grimace was still a thing but it's comforting to know that some things from our childhood still remain. lol IMO, there is more than a good chance that a team below .500 makes the playoffs this year, @Another Fan Entering play today, there were only four teams in the NL with a record above .500. With their win today, the Cards got to .500 and with their win, the Natalies got to within one game of .500. Interestingly, there were only seven AL teams with records above .500. There are a handful of powerhouse teams right now (Dodgers...yawn, Skanks...ugh, & Phils...puke....Go O's!) and everybody else. This is a bizarre year. I can't watch a Skanks/Philthies WS. I...just...can't. Speaking of bizarre, our beloved and schizophrenic Mets have had a bizarre and confounding season, even by Mets standards. After their 0-5 start to the season, they went 12-3 over the next two weeks and then fell right back into the toilet and fully into the sewer until this latest two week stretch where they've won nine of their last eleven and gone 11-4 overall to get within four games of .500 themselves. I don't believe much in the power of "players only meetings" but the team has gone on this mini-run since Lindor called the meeting. Maybe there was some merit to it...or maybe it was Grimace...or maybe...just maybe, this band of overpaid misfits is finally starting to play up to the backs of their baseball cards. Whatever the case, I just hope it continues and they decide to add to this roster rather than sell for the second straight year. Color me cautiously optimistic but still skeptical. Two, two-week stretches months apart are still not enough to get me to buy in all the way. But it's been an entertaining two weeks. And welcome back from the dead, Edwin Diaz. LGM!

@Gugny Ciao! We got back from Italy a week ago Saturday but I just haven't felt much like visiting the boards or posting. The trip was awesome...the people, food, art, history...everything was amazing. There is just too much to see and do in one trip. I watched both of the games against the Phillies just because they were in London and on early which was nice. Watching at 10:10 AM on Sunday was cool. I fully expected them to lose Saturday against Ranger Suarez and, not surprisingly, that came to fruition. I will say that they had ample opportunities to get to Suarez but left plenty of men on base in crucial situations. They could have easily scored 5 or 6 runs against him but they are not clutch. They are piss poor at the little things...making productive outs with sac flies, etc...when it matters most. When they got down 3-0 on Sunday I really thought that game was over but I watched to the end and was shocked that they held on to win, which was a pleasant surprise. It was a wild ending. When they went to the bottom of the 9th up, 6-4, I told my younger son "I guarantee they find a way to lose this game." Glad I was wrong but it didn't look like I was going to be. We've seen that movie way too many times this season. That said... I know they are not far out of the last WC but, unless they are at least .500, I can't even entertain that possibility. They are just too inconsistent. At this point, they could ship out every player except for Francisco Alvarez (and maybe Alonso) for all I care. They are just not entertaining and the core sucks and needs to be changed, IMO. I don't ever need to see Jeff McNeil in a Mets uniform ever again. And they can DFA Quintana, too. I don't know what happened to him but he is hot garbage. He at least used to be serviceable. They won Sunday despite him lasting a whopping 3 2/3 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on a puke-inducing 6 hits and 2 walks. Going into the game he was 1-5 with a 5.17 ERA. He was fortunate to get a no decision. Hit the bricks, pal. I remember watching that Padres game. It was way before all of these "pay for" regional sports networks. Our cable company in VA carried WOR (Mets), WGN (Cubs), & TBS (Braves). Got to see almost every Mets game. Those were the days. The two things that stood out for me watching the clip of that game were: 1) The old rules where the catcher could just block the entire plate and how the baserunner could just bowl over the catcher, if said backstop were in the way. You had to be tough hombre to wear "the tools of ignorance" back then. 2) The catcher that game was current Mets bench coach John Gibbons. He got annihilated on that play and still managed to hold the ball for the out and get the double play by throwing a dart to third. He was a tough SOB.

Thanks, appreciate it! Diaz was one of the few things I was looking forward to this year and that has already gone bust. At least Christian Scott looks like he might be worth getting excited about going forward. We'll see. So far, he looks like the real deal.

Thanks! If I see him I'll tell him that his former team is back in their rightful place as the overpaid embarrassment of the NL. 😁

@Gugny @SinceThe70s @Another Fan Up 4-2 in the ninth, Diaz blew another save against the damn Phillies tonight and the Mets lost 5-4 in ten. He's already allowed three HRs on the year and is looking more like pre-COVID Diaz than 2022 Diaz. Oh well, fug it. We're flying from Richmond to JFK in the morning with a layover and then on to Rome. Rome, Florence, Venice, & Tuscany await...free of Mets aggravation. Take care fellas, see you online in a couple of weeks. Ciao!

@SinceThe70s Yeah, I was disgusted. A no-no into the 8th and not only did they find a way to lose it but the salt in the wound was that Diaz is the one who blew it. Even had he held in the 9th, they would have found a way to lose it in extras anyway. That 12-3 stretch after the 0-5 start was an anomaly. I'm with you Gugs. I was excited to finally be witnessing a legit no hitter. Santana would have lost his had replay been around then and the other is a combined no hitter which I don't even count. I can't believe that a franchise that has been around since 1962 and has a rich tradition of good pitchers has nothing but those two flukes. <sigh>

Per Pro Football Network (as of 8:55 PM):

Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State - Cardinals Rome Odunze, Washington - Bears Ladd McConkey, Georgia - Panthers Brian Thomas Jr., LSU - Bills Xavier Worthy Texas- Jaguars Bonus Bills pick - Brian Thomas Jr.

I remember this game like it was yesterday. I was three days shy of my 10th birthday and we were visiting my Aunt Mary & Uncle Bill for the day at their place in Lancaster (we were living on Grand Island at the time). The adults were off doing something and I was in the living room nervously listening to the game on the radio with my little brother. Back then we normally only saw the Bills seven times when they were on the road and listened on the radio for the other seven when they were at home because of the blackout rules back then. I can still recall pacing and hoping & praying that John Leypoldt would make that kick for the lead. Needless to say, we were elated at the result. Ah, the innocent, joyous memories of youth. Thanks for sharing. I always liked Roman Gabriel. As a kid, I thought his name was cool. RIP.

I have never been to Europe either and have always wanted to go to Italy, as has my wife. My family is from Sicily and hers is from the Calabria region. She promised her grandmother that they would make it to Italy one day but, unfortunately, that never materialized before her Nonna passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 98. We are partly going to honor her memory. Sadly, we won't make it to the southern part of the country from where are ancestors came. We will be in Rome, Florence, & Venice with a day in Tuscany. Looking forward to seeing the Vatican and the "touristy" things in Rome and then the slower pace and beauty of the other areas we'll experience. 😎🍷

@SinceThe70s @Another Fan Safe travels, Gug. I leave for Italy in about four weeks (family vacation). Something that I didn't expect but found myself pleasantly surprised by is the fact that I find this team very likable. There are a few 'name' core players like Pete, Lindor, Nimmo, & Diaz...who always play with passion...along with some kids trying to make their way and some 'no names' trying to make a name for themselves. They are an easy team to root for day in and day out. I really like Tyrone Taylor. Also, Butto and Garrett have been fun to watch pitch. Mendoza looks like he knows what he's doing and may be the one to finally push the right buttons. Kudos to David Stearns, as well. He was known for putting together good bullpens in Milwaukee and so far, in this small sample size of a season, it looks like he may have done it in Queens, too. LGM!

Of the current options in the poll, Suamataia represents the best value, IMO. I would have voted Hall, were he a 1-technique, but he's more of a 3 or 5. I would not take a safety here at all.

NFL Mock Draft Database Simulator: Trade Recap: Buffalo Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 30 2024: Round 3, Pick 93 Baltimore Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 28 2024: Round 5, Pick 163 Buffalo Receives: 2024: Round 2, Pick 63 2024: Round 4, Pick 124 2024: Round 5, Pick 135 San Francisco Receives: 2024: Round 2, Pick 60 Buffalo Receives: 2024: Round 5, Pick 136 2024: Round 5, Pick 147 Denver Receives: 2024: Round 4, Pick 133 Buffalo Receives: 2025: Round 4 2025: Round 5 2025: Round 7 2025: Round 7 Detroit Receives: 2024: Round 5, Pick 136 Buffalo Receives: 2024: Round 5, Pick 161 2025: Round 6 Philadelphia Receives: 2024: Round 5, Pick 160 Buffalo Receives: 2024: Round 5, Pick 167 2025: Round 5 2025: Round 7 2025: Round 7 Minnesota Receives: 2024: Round 5, Pick 161

I got here too late to vote but would have voted for Franklin. I want nothing to do with Coleman and will be disappointed if the Bills take him with their first pick whether that's the first round or the second. He can't separate and is just a high-point specialist with average speed. He's not the WR that this offense needs.

@Another Fan I was sad when I heard the news of Pat Zachary's passing. As a 13 year old, I was devastated when the Mets dealt Tom Seaver to the Reds but I always liked Pat. He, along with Lee Mazzilli, were two of the few bright spots of those late 1970s/early 1980s Mets teams. I remember that game when PZ came back to the dugout and broke his toe in a fit of anger. So 'Metsy'. lol BTW, to this day, Seaver and Mazzilli are still my two favorite Mets of all-time. Maz was a NYC native and 'matinee idol' and I identified with him as a fellow Italian. He was the shiz back in the day. I think we all agree that they were going to find a way to blow that game, especially since Atlanta's ballpark has been a complete house of horrors for them over the years. It was nice to see them win that and then the following night they showed a lot of resolve, IMO, after getting down 6-0 and rallying to 6-5 in the 9th with a chance to either tie or win it but falling just short. I thought they were dead in the water at 6-0. Then they took the rubber game, 16-4, with Tyrone Taylor capping the festivities with a granny off of Luis Guillorme (weird seeing him in a non-Mets uni). That was only the third time in their history that they defeated Atlanta by at least 12 runs. If nothing else, it looks like they will be scrappy and be in a majority of games depending on the injury situation and how the pitching holds up. Nimmo and some of the others are finally working their way out of some early season funks and Baty looks like he's taken a nice step forward. I'm still a little concerned about yet another Lindor slow start. He needs to get it together soon. These yearly slow starts are annoying from such a highly paid core player. He was a large factor in last year getting off on the wrong foot and they never recovered from that coupled with the Scherzer & Verlander debacles. One other thing that concerns me is the inability of the pitchers to keep runners close. They are putting the catchers in an impossible situation and the opposition is stealing them blind. Last time I checked, they were a combined 0-21 in throwing out basestealers. That has got to change or they are in trouble. Clean it up, boys. LGM!

Checked out may have been the wrong choice of words because I was back watching the fourth game in its entirety like I knew I would; however, it just pissed me off even more to see them lose yet another game due to offensive ineptitude after Manaea gave them six scoreless, one-hit innings. I guess I'll rephrase and say that although I'll watch, it will be to see if there is any development from the youngsters or call-ups of some of the pitching prospects. For the first time in a while, I am convinced less than a week into a season that they will not even compete for a Wild Card spot. It's destined to be another lost season while Atlanta and Philly keep on keepin' on.

Why is it just now dawning on me after all these years that John Murphy was the actual model for the Quaker Oats logo? 🤔

Wow, 35. Hard to fathom. RIP, Vontae. May your family find peace and comfort.

I'm already checked out three games into the season. The only things worth watching for me at this point are Alvarez and Diaz. The starting pitching staff is as bad as always. Too many deep counts and baserunners stealing them blind. Rinse & repeat. I'm fully expecting them to be out of it by the trading deadline and dealing Alonso and then attempting to pay Bor-ASS' ransom to re-sign him in the off-season. They've lost 9 of their last 10 to the average to slightly above average Brewers. Good times. LGM?

Because he's a pain in the neck...

Imagine him in a defensive backfield with Rachad Wildgoose...

'On The Clock' simulator (no trades allowed):

Good move, IMO. Their goal should be trying for a Wild Card while retooling and they weren't doing it without another bat. He's a professional hitter and had an .893 OPS last season (8th best). One year deal with some of the money deferred was a no brainer and he offers protection for Alonso and lengthens their lineup. It will take him a couple of weeks to be ready but he should be hitting cleanup with Alonso in the three hole. The starting offense doesn't look too bad on paper. It's going to be all about the pitching. Senga is due to start throwing again in a week or so so that is potential good news, too. LGM!