The 40+ year old pitcher for the New York Mets, Bartolo Colon shows a side we never knew he had…..the behind the back toss to the first baseman for the out!
Nice play – check it out here.
Tag Archives: new-york-mets
Wednesday rant – MLB and buying wins
In what endeavour would you be responsible for spending in excess of $203 million, have little or nothing to show for it results wise and still be in a job? In baseball that’s where. How does Brian Cashman, General Manager and Senior Vice President of the New York Yankees retain his job? The Yankees, who have all but been eliminated from post season play, have currently won 81 games. When viewed against their payroll (second highest in MLB), they pay about $2.5 million per win. The concept of ‘buying wins’ was adopted by Billy Beane and brought to the public’s attention in the book and film, Moneyball. By comparison, the other New York team, the Mets get better value for money as they pay about $1.17 million per win spending less in payroll and winning nearly as many games as the Yankees.
Probably the best result in 2014 has been returned by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who 
have qualified for the post season winning 86 games spending $908,000 per win. As for the Oakland A’s, they spend a little more than the Pirates at $970,000 per win and are still in the wildcard chase. The bottom line is getting value for money and the Yankees haven’t whilst the Pirates and A’s have. Maybe Mr Cashman and the Yankees need to re-think the strategy.
Sportzfan Radio show #246.1
13 May 2012 246.1 – Featuring the Professor, Daniel Eade and Sportzfan Stan in studio with guest Dan Butterly talking US sport in particular, basketball and the NBA playoffs, the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony, ice hockey and the NHL playoffs, Major League Baseball and the New York Mets. The Gelding calls in to discuss racing at Caulfield and Rosehill plus Black Caviar’s 21st win, when Danish Rock will run next and how the Sydney Colt fared with his tips yesterday.
Sportzfan Radio #206.2
12 June 2011 206.2 – The Professor queries when Daniel is going to attend a production meeting at the Great Western Hotel. Mark Fiorenti comes on the show to talk soccer & the Socceroos. He is bullish on Holger Osieck’s coaching and also the young players he tried in last week’s friendly matches. There is also a discussion of the problems confronting FIFA with corruption claims and the rumors that Cesc Fabregas will leave Arsenal for Barcelona. Mark thinks time might be running out for Arsene Wenger. Daniel and the Professor discuss NBL and the plight of the Sydney Kings who are thought to be in debt again. They also look at cricket with Simon Katich’s axing, the review into Cricket Australia and the selectors. Stan sacks the lot. Paul Dalligan talks rugby league and the coming State of Origin match. He thinks NSW will win 16-12. He also reviews the current NRL round. The Panel look at the dangers of spectators running on to the field at AFL games. Sean Callanan talks about his coming trip as Sports Geek to the US. He will meet with the NBA, see some Mets and Yankees baseball and then assist the Minnesota Timberwolves during the NBA draft in engaging the fans on line.
Sportzfan Radio #191.2
27 February 2011 191.2 – The Panel discusses cricket and Ricky Ponting’s thrown cricket protector that damages a television. They then have a discussion whether Shane Warne should have been selected as Australian captain. Mark Fiorenti talks soccer and Daniel wants to know whether teams actually train to score goals. Mark doesn’t believe Gold Coast can beat Adelaide. Given Melbourne Victory came fifth and is now out of the finals, Sportzfan Stan says coach Ernie Merrick has been there long enough and should go. There is also a discussion of the Asian Champions League matches involving Victory and Sydney this week. Daniel predicts a 2-0 win to Adelaide using his own tipster method. Mark tips Arsenal to beat Birmingham City 2-0 in the 
League Cup and agrees with Daniel on the Adelaide game. Paul Dalligan, on the golf course again, reports on the developments in NRL during the week. The redemption story of 2010, Todd Carney back in the headlines again for drink driving. Ivan Henjak sacked as coach of Brisbane Broncos two weeks out from the start of the season. Paul also reviews the World Club Challenge between St George and Wigan. He thinks the Dragons will be too strong. The Professor awards the second ‘Benny Hill’ award for 2011 to Nathan Tinkler – when is a deal not a deal? Paul says Newcastle and Tinkler are still working through a deal. Dan Butterly comes on the show to bat clean up with his US sport report. He talks NBA and Carmelo Anthony’s trade to the Knicks and also the trade by the Clippers (supposedly building for the future) of their 2011 #1 pick and Baron Davis for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. At Detroit, there are discipline problems with players
missing the shoot around. Dan says at this time of the year all eyes are on College basketball with March madness on the horizon. He thinks BYU will be seeded high by the NCAA tournament committee. Finally Dan looks at baseball and he believes the Colorado Rockies will do well this season, the Mets won’t make the playoffs, the Kansas City will be Kansas City and the New York Yankees are getting old.
New York Mets are hiring
By the way Sportz fans…. I noticed this great advertisement released by ‘John Ricco’ advising that the New York Mets are on the look out for talent of all sorts….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVkalfhzvVA
John…the Professor’s application is in the mail!!
New Mets manager like the boy with the barrow!
Professor’s Rant #2
I guess there is one thing we can say for the New York Mets management now being led by Sandy Alderson…..they picked a recycled manager in Terry Collins who has a winning record (444-434)!! 
That at least allows me to put a tick in one box for Jeff Wilpon, Alderson & Co (and there haven’t been too many of those handed out by me to the Mets over the last few seasons).
Collins main claim to fame seems to be that he managed teams that finished second…..that’s right, second, in their division five years out of six. I guess that is better than appointing a potential manager from a list that seemed packed with candidates who had losing records and were sacked from their previous roles (Collins, Chip Hale, 
Bob Melvin, Wally Backman, Clint Hurdle, Don Wakamatsu to name but a few). Let’s look at some of the candidates – recently sacked Mariner’s manager Don Wakamatsu for one. The allegations of ‘losing’ the players during a tough season isn’t a great start to a resume, especially when you combine that with a 100+ loss season and you have a recipe for disaster in New York. Let’s also take a look at Wally Backman (currently managing the Mets affiliate the Cyclones). He was sacked as manager of the Diamondbacks in 2004 just four days after starting in the job after not revealing two arrests and ‘financial problems’ to the interview panel. One heck of a stint in the big leagues Wally.
So, my burning questions are these. Weren’t there any potential managers sitting out there with winning records? Weren’t there any that had World Series experience? Why wasn’t Bobby Valentine
at least interviewed? He is curently not managing, having come off a very successful stint in the Japanese league with the Chiba Lotte Marines where he won the Japan Series and the inaugural Asia Series, but perhaps more importantly, has managed successfully before in the heat of the New York sporting spotlight garnering a 536-467 record over seven seasons (which included two 90+ win seasons). Don’t forget he is the last manager to take the Mets to the World Series.
In any event, out of all that, Terry Collins has the job and now gets to confront what to do about closer 
Francisco Rodriguez, the non performing Jason Bay and Luis Castillo and Carlos Beltran in the final year of a seven year contract.
Like the boy with the barrow, Terry has it all in front of him!