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SinceThe70s

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Posts posted by SinceThe70s

  1. 10 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

     

    "Signing an aging proven vet hitter to a high end contract" is exactly the opposite of what I meant by properly addressing the position. That is a stop gap, as were Ruf and Vogelbach. There was absolutely no excuse to have those two at DH last year on what was billed as a WS contender. None. That was a travesty and they were negligent in addressing the position. So, yeah, it was ignored. Maybe we don't actually disagree and it's just a matter of semantics, I don't know. Right now, Vientos is just Ruf and Vogelbach with position flexibility. If he turns in another near .205 year, then he is obviously not the solution. If he rakes then great, the problem may be solved. If not, it had better be fixed one way or another in 2025, if that really is the year they plan to "go all in". I said I'm fine with them using him this year, if they are retooling and don't really plan to compete but they've sent mixed messages. They don't want to go all in but they want to be competitive, whatever that means. As currently constituted, they are set up to be no more than the last WC at best if everything breaks their way. Not likely but hopefully the journey turns out to be an entertaining one. I said in my original post that my preference was Soler, a younger guy with power and the capability to hit for some average. At least someone of that ilk who can provide some lineup protection for Alonso. They are still woefully short on power.

     

    Fair enough, you did mention Soler previously, but you also mentioned Turner as a two year stopgap, thus my question to you. I think my problem is I don't see DH as a position that needs a long term solution. And I have no interest in developing Vientos  (or anyone else for that matter) as a DH. Much easier to sign a proven vet that can't field.

     

    My preference is to not have a guy that's designated as the designated hitter. Better if we we have enough depth and positional flexibility to decide who the DH is on game day. Only way I change that opinion is for a guy like David Ortiz or Edgar Martinez. I could be wrong, but I think those guys are rare.

  2. 1 hour ago, ExWNYer said:

     

    It doesn't really matter how any of us feel about the DH position because it's obvious that they are going to ride or die with Vientos this year to see whether he will be part of the core going forward or whether they should move on from him. In the micro, I can live with that since this year will be about finding out what they have in the kids. This is not a 'throw away' year to me...more like a let's assess what we have and 'retool' before diving back into the expensive free agent market next year. I can live with that since they seem to be emphasizing doing things the right way. Going in with that acceptance upfront is easier, knowing that not much is expected of them and a Wild Card run would be exciting versus what they presented last year as a supposed WS run with two graybeards anchoring the rotation and disappointing everyone. Unlike in years past when they sucked, there is still plenty of talent on this team and in the organization.

     

    Getting back to the DH topic...in the macro, I do expect them to address it properly next year, if Vientos flames out and is not the answer. He hit .205 last year so I'm not holding my breath that simply getting more ABs will be the cure all. I hope I'm wrong because I want to like him. In any event, the position is just as important as any other and has been ignored far too long. 

     

    So what would constitute addressing DH properly? Signing an aging proven vet hitter to a high end contract? If so, presumably it's someone who can hit righties and lefties?  BTW,  not challenging you, just picking your brain.

     

    For the record I'm not arguing that the position is unimportant but I disagree that it's been ignored - more like poorly filled with the likes of Ruf and Vogelbach which not only didn't provide a proven vet hitter who could hit righties and lefties but also limited us defensively.

     

     

     

     

  3. 3 hours ago, Gugny said:

    @SinceThe70s @ExWNYer @Another Fan

     

    Hey, fellas!

     

    I feel (and have felt) like the 2024 Mets season isn’t necessarily a “throw away” season, but still a “do your best with what you’ve got” kind of season. 
     

    My expectations are around .500, hopefully above - and I’m okay with that. 
     

    I think Cohen will have a better idea of the team’s needs and will be in more of a “nobody will offer more money to any player I want on the team,” mode next offseason. 
     

    The lack of attention (again) at DH is primarily what makes me feel this way. 
     

    Time to find out if last year’s rookies/newbies are gonna be part of the long-term solution - or if it’s time to move on. 
     

    Love to see Ottavino back, personally. 
     

    But I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of our young guys and see them separate the men from the boys and the contenders from the pretenders. 
     

    #LFGM

     

     

    Agree it's not a throw away season, more of a wait and see for me. If they hover around .500 it won't surprise me to see them get aggressive at the trade deadline.

     

    Interesting that both you and @ExWNYer keyed in on DH. I gotta give that some more thought as it's not a front and center concern for me. I don't like the idea of devoting a roster spot to a one-dimensional player. I will say that if Alvarez develops into a monster hitter I'd want him to get at bats at DH on off days and double-headers. Along similar lines, I like the idea of using the DH position to give regulars a rest - but one of your bench players better be able to swing the bat.

     

     

     

  4. @Gugny @ExWNYer @Another Fan

     

    Looking forward to another season of talking baseball and most likely lamenting another lost season for the Mets. 

     

    With spring training a few weeks off, thought I'd lamp it up a bit. As you may know my youngest loves playing baseball. He's a good player but a cut below the top players in our area. He missed the cut as a 7th grader and had his heart set on making the middle school team the following year but Covid cancelled the season. Long story short, he's a HS senior now and trying out for the first time since middle school. I've been taking him down to the local field to hit him ground balls and get him some swings in the batting cage. Good times for both of us. There's something special about having a catch with your son.

     

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  5. 3-0 at Orchard Park.

     

    Probably around .500 against the NJ Jets. It started well but my BIL had seasons in the 2000's and things went less well and probably evened out. Pretty sure my last NJ game was a Bills OT win where Mark Sanchez threw 5 INT's. Along the way there was also a chance encounter with Pinto Ron and his crew before I had any idea that was a thing. Good times. 

  6. 1 minute ago, Big Turk said:

    All in all I'd rather have the guy who play his ass off in the playoffs like Allen than Lamar who had one good playoff game ever and then followed it up with another mostly stinker

     

    Ironically I felt like Lamar was less inclined today to put matters into his own legs than Josh typically is. 

     

    Bottom line for me today was that the Ravens lost in large part due to undisciplined/stupid penalties. 

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  7. 3 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

     

    Did coaching drop a deep shot that hit a receiver in the hands? Did coaching get manhandled back into the QB in the clutch? Did coaching get scorched by a 34 yo tight end in single coverage? Was coaching incapable of winning a pass rush battle all game?

     

     

     

    I'm late to the party but did you really try to diminish Kelce as just a 34 yo tight end? And while I get this hindsight, who do you put the geriatric's performance on today - the coach or the GM?

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  8. 1 hour ago, Another Fan said:

    @Gugny @SinceThe70s @ExWNYer

     

    Happy Belated New Year guys.  The last Mets thread which went on for years on the site gave me some warning the thread was old about revising it.  And you know maybe I thought it was time for a new thread.  

     

    I've heard some fans upset that Cohen/Stearns didn't do more this offseason (notably WFAN's Joe Benigno) but I think we saw last year spending money won't automatically by a World Series.  Still the Stearns/Mendoza combination isbn doing much to excite me at the moment.  

     

    I think 70s posted this on the old thread

     

    https://www.immaculategrid.com

     

     

    I enjoy playing it even though if I'm lucky I only score about what the average is on the site.  My favorite answer on that was Joe McEwing or Super Joe when it asked for someone who started at short stop and center field.  Loved that guy when I was younger but he was the player in pro sports to make me realize why some guys are just part time players.  

     

    LOL - I put down Super Joe for SS/CF too. Couldn't agree more with the bolded - one of those guys where the more he plays the less you appreciate him.

     

    I'm not about to hype up the Mets off season or upcoming year - missing out on the Yamamoto was disappointing and the Mauricio injury was depressing. At the same time beyond hoping for Yamamoto I didn't expect any big moves. I'm looking forward to seeing which of the young guys step up/down - and same with the vets - especially Marte.   

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  9. On 1/25/2024 at 7:37 AM, RichStadiumGuy said:

    Yeah... Farmer Vincent had that post hole auger on the back of his little farm tractor for digging the holes to plant his critters in. They had to cut their vocal chords too so none of the visitors to the factory could hear them screaming.

     

    It was also one of John Ratzenberger's earlier roles... filmed shortly before he became well known as Cliff Clavin on Cheers. Wolfman Jack had a bit part in there too as Brother Billy. I don't think it was initially intended to be a comedy but it's certainly one of the funniest "horror" movies I've ever seen!

     

    Wowsers on Clavin and Wolfman! But I do remember the vocal chord bit - that's my enduring memory of the movie. It was a drive-in double feature. Me and the boys were there for the beers and bongs as much as the movie.

     

    BTW a dormant synapse fired and I'm pretty sure the other movie was Slaughter Hotel. Probably the second feature cuz I have zero recollection of the movie but google says it was a movie.

  10. 10 hours ago, SoMAn said:

    It's cumulative. How can you break it down to individual moments in a specific game and draw conclusions from that? It's like isolating a few minutes in your life and defining who you are by that.

     

    6 playoff appearances in 7 years.

    4 straight division titles.

    Double digit win totals in spite of massive losses to injury. 

     

    Using the same rationale of the 'Fire McDermott' crowd, Harbaugh should be canned if his team loses this week to the Chiefs.  How many times have the Ravens missed the playoffs, not made it past wildcard round? It's been what, 12 seasons since they made it to the Superbowl?  Only 3 playoff wins in that period of time. Harbaugh must go, right?

     

    Referencing the playoff wins and Championships won in a similar span of time, Tomlin, Shanahan, McCarthy, LeFleur should all be fired by that logic.

     

    If the instant-gratification crowd ever grasps how difficult it is to get into the late rounds of the playoffs, let alone get on the tournament in the first place, maybe then they'll shut up about firing McDermott. 

     

    Nice post.

     

    For the record I'm not completely on board with Sean, but I'm still waiting for someone to make a cogent argument against your point.

  11. 2 hours ago, RichStadiumGuy said:

    Motel Hell gets my vote featuring the one & only Rory Calhoun as Farmer Vincent and his lovely sidekick Nancy Parsons... we watch that flick at least once a year!

     

    You will forever have the phrase etched in your mind... "it takes all kinds of critters to make Farmer Vincent's fritters!"

     

    Wow, I hadn't heard of that movie in ages. I saw it as a double feature at a drive-in along with another movie that I think had Hotel in the name. I can't honestly say IO remember much of Motel Hell - except for people being buried up to their necks?

    • Like (+1) 1
  12. 2 minutes ago, NeverOutNick said:

    https://www.golongtd.com/p/the-buffalo-bills-have-a-decision
     

    Tyler Dunne is spot on. Great article I don’t understand how at the very least we couldn’t have told Sean McDermott hey we’re going to explore other options at head coach in the next few weeks. We are not firing you unless we find someone we think will maximize Josh Allens talents and get us to a Super Bowl more than you can.

     

    It’s an off-season that has Hall of Fame coaches just sitting there for the taking. Why not at least check it out.  What’s the worst that happens if we do that? McD gets pissy and resigns. Well thank God for that. 

     

    A large portion of the fan base want Sean gone, I get that and it's a legitimate debate. 

     

    However the bolded above could have stopped at  I don’t understand. The rest is laughable imo.

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  13. Since we're lamping...

     

    As an out of market Bills fan who has a distaste for the extremes of social media/discourse I feel fortunate to have stumbled upon this site years ago.  Appreciate all the positive and negative perspectives year round along with the wit, sarcasm...and intolerance for trolls.

     

    But more to the point I appreciate the thin connection me and my family have to what is by all accounts a fan base made up of great peeps.

     

    Go Bills!

     

  14. 1 minute ago, NewEra said:

    Thank you., I appreciate it.  It  really is the  N IF L.  Lots of hindsight
     

    I just really thought our MO was to kill clock- make them burn TOs and give our D a better chance to get a stop.  

     

    Me too on the MO - when the pass went up I  was surprised they went end zone. Only reason I was OK with it was cuz it looked like an easy TD. 

     

    I'm probably in the minority but I lost hope when they lined up for the FG - I didn't think we stood a chance of stopping KC from a winning FG with 1:45 and 2 TO's. When Bass missed I actually had more hope that we could get a stop and Josh could work some magic and get us to OT.

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  15. 8 minutes ago, NewEra said:

    I get it-  lots of ifs.  
     

    I can do the same things- 

     

    IF Josh hirs Diggs in the crrossing route for 5-6. That leaves us with a 3rd and short.  The. IF we kid Kincaid or shakir for a 5 yards pass, KC calls a TO. Then IF Josh scrambles for 5 yards. KC calls their last TO. Then IF cook runs for 3-5 or maybe a TD.  

     

    I get that some want to take TD if it’s there.  But we didn’t get it.  Then on 3rd we got nothing trying to  throw it deep yet again.  I disagree with the philosophy given the situation.  We had zero plays over 20 all game- but we risked our entire season on it on our last 2 plays of the game. 

     

    Agree to disagree.  There was plenty of time left and we have Josh Allen.  I didn’t like the decision to go for it all.  

     
     

     

    LOL - yesterday I heard a radio guy call it the N iF L.  That was a new one to me and completely accurate. BTW, always appreciate your point of view.

     

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