Musing 'Bout the Mets

Last night, I was thrilled to join Gary Mack on his Mets Musings podcast, bringing with me a dose of the sounds of New York City (which is beginning to be a podcast habit of mine...) as I walked through midtown Manhattan and over the 59th Street Bridge, heading to Sunnyside, Queens.

We talked Mets, the blogs and podcasts of Rising Apple and Bedford & Sullivan, Brooklyn, New York City, and of course, more Mets.

If you don't regularly listen to Mets Musings, do yourself a favor and follow the show on iTunes or whatever other medium you'd like. Gary is a very astute, long-time Mets fan who produces great Metsian conversations for your listening enjoyment.

Enough of me typing. Press Play.

MUSING. BOUT. METSIES.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

Flashback: R.A. Dickey & Mets Get Out of a 2011 Inning

We are in the thick of the 2013 Hot Stove season, with the Mets wheelin' and dealin' trying to improve this ball club.

This Monday morning, however, I want to start randomly taking a look at some clips I've taken over the years that I took way too long to go through and randomly turn into a clip on Youtube.

I don't know how often I'll do this, but the point behind it is that even in the losing seasons, the years people keep saying have been tough on Mets fans, are still indeed worth it. In this game of baseball, there's always memories that will last a lifetime. Even though the overall record was not ideal, the little details, the little moments, are still so awesome to soak up.

Enjoy this little clip of R.A. Dickey and the 2011 New York Mets.

And enjoy your week as well.

METSIE. BASEBALL.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

Converted Mets Player

Once upon a time, I was watching Center Fielder Bernie Williams get the game-winning hit in the 12th inning on Joe DiMaggio Day.

I held my forearms over my eyes 'cause I couldn't bear to watch it as Byung-Hyun Kim deliver the next pitch to Scott Brosius, only to hear the stadium go bazerk and open my eyes to see Scott Brosius  with his arms in the air as he was beginning his trot as the ball landed to tie the game in the 9th.

Then, well...I got older. I grew wiser. And I stopped caring whether the Yankees won or lost.

And now, once again, like I felt when I was a kid and just learning the game of baseball, I care deeply the outcome of all 162 Mets games.

Though most likely a different journey to the ball club (especially considering the Mets didn't offer me 64 million dollars) Curtis Granderson now joins the ranks of the Converted. He looked spiffy in that classic jersey, and I have a feeling he will not be "the next Jason Bay." Something about it just feels like much better timing than that former deal. People might lambast me for this comment, but I even think Granderson can become a better player on the New York Mets than he has been. I just feel as if the two entities are uniting at JUST the right time...

That was pretty baller telling me the first day I see you in the uniform that I've been a true New Yorker since 2005. That March, when I fully decided on the full-on switch, was only a couple months away from the 10th anniversary of my arrival as a resident of New York. I have been here since 1995, though understand that my mom is from Brooklyn and I was very much around the 5 boroughs and subboroughs since I was a baby. New York had always been a large element in my life, whether I was here, in Richmond, VA, and West Palm Beach, FL. (And hey, ESPECIALLY when I got to Florida, Amiright? Heh? Heh? Amiright...?)

It does bring up the age-old question: Who is a New Yorker? When you really look out onto this unbelievable landscape of a city, you will find NUMEROUS amounts of people who have been here since, say, 1967, but weren't born here. Or implants born in the '60's, '70's, or '80's who have now raised children in this city. As far as I'm concerned, because of the way this city operates, a New Yorker is anybody ambitious enough to become one.

And being a Mets fan helps.

Welcome to the Metropolitans, Curtis.

And welcome, Bartolo.

KEEP. ON. PUSHIN'.

LET'S. GO. METS.

(this video's one of the greatest things ever.)

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

Enjoying Some Salmon

I enjoy salmon, too, Mr. Granderson. I am guessing it tastes even better when discussing a multi-million dollar deal...

(Yeah, yeah...yesterday I said things might slow up here on Converted, but I couldn't help myself.)

It sounds like talks to wrap up Curtis Granderson for Mets fans as an early Christmas (or last night of Chanukah) present are heating up. This weekend, Grandy and Sandy had a nice meal together, a "Q&A session" of sorts, with that pink fish EVERYBODY SHOULD LOVE (sorry...I really like Salmon and always have a quizzical look on my face when someone says they don't...sorry. I shouldn't judge. Oh, and it has nothing to do with the initial syllable resembling my name...)

Rumors are swirling, so something might have come to fruition since I started writing this. I'm gonna just finish the post and see what happens, and tell you to tune into the Rising Apple Report at the end of the day, when we will not only be discussing any new information regarding the Granderson reports and other Hot Stove news, but will be talking to Phil, a die-hard Mets fan and the owner of the Two Boots Pizza franchise. And of course, we will discuss this week's number 49 as it pertains to the Mets players who have worn it.

Enjoy your Wednesday, everybody.

Here's the Random Nothing of the Day.

GRANDY. MAN. CAN?

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

Just in Time for Potential Moves...

....Is when I have to keep it a bit quiet on the Metsian Front. I have one week left of school for the semester, and other than tomorrow's Rising Apple Report, I need to zone out to finals and such. 

Five players were not tendered a contract for the upcoming season, two of which were notable surprises in Jeremy Hefner and Justin Turner. The former is out for the year with Tommy John and Justin Turner is an inexpensive versatile bench-rallyer. Both could be back, though, on smaller deals, especially Justin Turner, who seems to get a bad rap from some fans, though he can play basically all over the infield, hit admirably in the clutch and off the bench, and is always the first to cheer from the dugout and enthusiastically greet a player on their way back in.

Then of course, Ken Rosenthal reported that Sandy Alderson met with Curtis Granderson, which isn't surprising at all. The Winter Meetings are coming, and he has a lot to prepare for. I was initially against the potential signing of Curtis Granderson, but the more I think about it and hear other people's thoughts, he does make a lot of sense. Though I certainly feel his power numbers are inflated by that joke of a stadium called Yankee, he still has a lot of power to be desired, not to mention he is a plus defender. Plus, we know he can play in New York.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll chime in here and there, but there is the possibility the Converted updates trickle in rather slowly.

So, let's hope for there to be a lot for us to discuss next week when school wraps up for me.

For now, enjoy this Random Nothing of the Day.

SIGN. GOOD. PLAYERS.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

Metsian Greetings from an iPhone

Yeah, I could schedule these if I had time to write them and then do so as such, but last night and today...not so much.

So, I figured since I have this Blogger app, I might as well use it to maintain this Mets blog of the Converted type. I am working in place of the on-site manager at the Fairmont, a building at the corner of E. 75nd Street and 2nd Avenue. Am I neglecting my job right now by blogging from my iPhone? No. I'm putting it down when tenants call to put in work-orders or when I have to pass that work order onto the handyman, and other duties of that nature.

Just got word regarding the OF Chris Young signing. Besides the motivation to have every Chris Young ever to play in the Majors wear a Mets uniform, I'm fairly certain they didn't sign the low-average power hitter to start. Clearly, though, until they sign somebody who is not viewed as a reclamation project, every deal like this, or any minor league deals (which every team makes, you guys. They have to field teams down below as well), will be greeted with snide remarks and cynicism. Really, until the Mets have at least a winning season, nobody will trust anything anybody in the Mets front office and ownership says or does. It's a precarious situation the Wilpons have put themselves into as they try to hold on to the team through the Madoff scandal, losing seasons, the low attendance that brings and the debt soon due from Citi Field loans.

Man, I wish this app wasn't so limited so I could embed the Random Nothing of the Day for you. I've voiced my displeaure with the Blogger app before, but really, I shouldn't complain like some of the guys in those Seinfeld clips I post. It's just not as funny they are when complaining.

If you feel so inclined, head over to Youtube and plug in "Kramer cancels his mail." That's my Random Nothing pick for the day.

Have a great Friday and weekend everyone.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Cano, Dontcha know?

When I woke up this morning, I readied myself to write a post titled, "Shoulders Shrug, but So Long, LaTroy," in response to the middle reliever Hawkins signing with the Colorado Rockies for $2.25 million to be their closer, something he wasn't going to be with the Mets next year.

Well, apparently, in the middle of the night, a couple hours after I had fallen asleep, a story broke via the NY Post that Robinson Cano's reps (which include Jay-Z) met with Jeff Wilpon, Sandy Alderson and John Ricco for dinner last night, at the behest of the reps.

Let the dreaming begin, eh?

After so much focus on Sandy Alderson stating that it is unlikely he would want to have two players with 9-figure salary (one which includes David Wright) the likelihood he would change his stance remains slim. HOWEVER, let's think about this for a second....Cano could be the player to conceivably change that stance. When asked about the whole $100 million player, the question was in reference to much more flawed players like Sin Shoo Choo. So, maybe, just maybe, this could happen....

Whoa. I'm buying into the modern-day Hot Stove hype machine. This has to be just fanning the Yankee flames, right? Jeff, Sandy and John took the meeting...they didn't HAVE to take the meeting....they too want the conversation to change, and from a public relations standpoint, this is good stuff for both sides....AHHHHH in the same paragraph where I gave myself crap for buying into the machine, I got back into BUYING INTO THE MACHINE!!!!

You know what we need? We need Nothing.

ROBBIE. CANO...

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

So, uh, What'd I Miss About the Mets Yesterday?

Well, firstly, Marlon Byrd is off the board....and to the stinkin' Phillies, his original team.

Thing is.....it's for $8 million a year!!!!

Yeah, I was a big fan of the Byrd being the word last year. He was the man. I just certainly think the Phillies overpaid for him. As does Ted.

Why?  Did?  We do that?
Why is marlon Byrd the first free agent off the board

Well, also, the Mets are apparently showing some interest in underachieving OF Chris Young. But here's what I hate about the new-age Hot Stove: We'll get all these rumors and tweets and "interested in" and "COULD BE interested in" that have some fans flipping out at every single freakin' hypothetical....and then out of nowhere, without any inclination at all, the Phillies sign Marlon Byrd to a 2-year, $16 million contract.

I miss the days where there was an actual stove involved.

Clearly, though, offense is the key this Hot Stove Season for the Mets, and that's EXACTLY what everyone in the front office keeps saying when asked.

Sidenote...NOW you decide to talk your head off, James Dolan?

Alright, let's get to the Random Nothing of the Day.

BLAH. BLAH. BLAH. BLAH.

LETS. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

The Mets Have Interest in Everybody and Nobody

This week has been fun and not fun at all, hasn't it?

Yes, apparently I'm getting off to contradictory ways this morning, but I kinda started the trend yesterday when I first wrote this post and then wrote this other post.

The first week of the 2014 Hot Stove, the Stove that we have been waiting for since (pick a number and add months or years to it), has begun with contradictory reports.

One the one hand, Mets are interested in Shin Soo Choo.

On the other hand, they're planning on signing multiple free agents and are "less likely" to sign either Choo or Jacoby Ellsbury (something my friend Rick Elliott will be very happy about...well, if that means he resigns with the Red Sox.)

And so begins the Merry Go Round of reports, the substance of which we will have no real idea of until they, um, ACTUALLY sign somebody.

I love and hate the Hot Stove season. I love and hate it oh so much.

Here's the Random Nothing of the Day.

LONG. NOVEMBER.
LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

Making You Click on the Metsian Link

Generally speaking, but especially in the offseason, it's all about getting you to click on as many things as possible here on this thing called the World Wide Web.

Certain headlines clearly generate more interest among the fan base, looking for distractions from the actual work they have to do during the 9-5 day. "Mets may consider...", "Mets could consider...", "Sources say..." are plenty of the headlines that will make you quickly click on what you clearly would rather be doing.

Well....this isn't one of them. 

I made you look. 

I have no information or report or source or any of that type of stuff. I am not surmising anything, I am not opining anything, I am literally filling the space with absolutely nothing hoping you will reading the nothing that this something is.

And with that, instead of a Random Song of the Day...how bout the Random "Nothing" of the Day?

It kinda has to do with the Mets, right?

NOTHING. NOTHING.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

And Onward Into the Offseason We Go.

Well, those Red Sox Fans saw a World Series won on their turf for the first since 1918.

They took care of business, and of course, with Shane Victorino up with the bases loaded once more....

(Until now, I didn't even notice the crowd singing Three Little Birds...I wonder what song I'm gonna go with down below...)

And isn't it lovely to see Yadir hang his head like that?

So, here it is. I have been waiting with bated breath- What am I talking about? My breath hasn't been BATED at all!!!!!

The offseason has finally arrived. All the debate about what the Mets will or won't do....well, I guess it will continue, but this time with actual action or non-action literally right around the corner.

Enough speculation. Time to see it for ourselves.

(Sidenote: I am conducting a special Halloween edition of the Bedford & Sullivan podcast at 12PM ET. The former SF Giants owner Peter Magowan, who grew up a baseball Giants fan in Manhattan and was instrumental in helping to keep them in San Francisco and in signing Barry Bonds, will be on the program. Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Duke Snider (and a 1963 Met) once said that he hated Halloween because it shared the colors of black and orange with the Dodgers' rival, so it is fitting to have someone so connected with the franchise on today. Make sure to tune in.)

So, cue up the free agents. 

Strike up the trades. 

Bang on the hot stove drums and bring us a championship again.

The 2014 New York Mets are closer than they seem.

It's your move, Mr. General Manager.

Let's see what you have up your sleeve.

God, I love baseball.

And I love the New York Mets.

BRING. ON. NEXT. YEAR.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, and follow on Twitter here.

I Guess It Ain't So Random Anymore...

Well, considering it's the 4th day in a row I've done a....echem...."Random Mets Highlight..." and I ran with the theme of 2013 walk-offs.....the below highlight isn't really...out of the blue.

It's just a reminder that Marlon Byrd was awesome for us in 2013 (as well as bringing us back some nifty prospects) and I don't think most of us would mind a reunion next year.

We're almost ready to heat ourselves up by the stove, folks. 1-0 Boston.

WAIT. TILL. NEXT. YEAR.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, and follow on Twitter here.