The best thing about the NY Media, is that its always someones fault. And luckily, they generally pretty much know who that someone is. Bad nights just don’t exist, nor funks. A player is not having an off season, clearly it is someone elses fault. And you might never have known all this, but luckily the various tv personalities and print folk know better than you, and will point this out. Probably using a large font for the newspaper guys.

For the most part, their hatred towards Willie is easy to understand: he’s not a publicly emotional guy. Like Beltran , in public he has a public face. Cool. Calm. Chill like ice man. He’s not going to throw things, punch stuff, scream and curse and get all wild and crazy. Some say he’s gotten all hot and upset when one on one, where he feels its more appropriate. But in public, its all business. And if you’re in charge of writing stories, well, thats no fun. Hey, this is a blog. We completely understand where they’re coming from. Nothing helps us bring the funny like someone flipping out. Paul Lo Duca goes all bug eyed and tosses his equipment on the field, thats six posts right there. Remember when Scott Proctor set his equipment on fire? Thats a week worth of jokes. And you could keep a blogger busy for years just by letting him follow Kyle Farnsworth around, or documenting Jose Reyes and his dances. So when Willie handles his reprimanding of players in his office instead of in front of the media, well, he definately needs to get fired.

What makes less sense, is now extra kindling seems to be getting tossed on the fire. That kindling, is Howard Johnson (who ironically enough, is made of wood). Cerrone reported earlier that his name has come up now as someone on the firing line. This, makes less sense. A more emotional guy, known for being from a group of scrappy, fiery players. Not to mention being known as one of the more well rounded hitters from teams filled with hitters. Apparently, he’s to blame for Delgado rapidly aging to his mid40s over two seasons. Come on HoJo, get on that.

I’ve lived in NY State my whole life, most of it on LI. I hope to one day spend some time in a small market. See what its like there. When player mistakes are the players fault. When the manager and coaches are not to blame when the players don’t perform, or they merely aren’t given the players they need. Where the newspapers don’t create rumors, which the tv guys then report as a story. It’ll be strange out there, in what I assume will be Milwaukee or Minnesota. One of those weird places that no one really lives and exist solely in fiction and wire stories. Hopefully I’ll get to see the way the do things there quickly too, so I can come back to NY, and find out who’s fault it truly. is.

This week, the Mets finally 100% officially said goodbye to Jorge Sosa . He’d been struggling for quite some time, we had more relievers than we realistically needed, someone had to go. That someone was him. After all, Matt Wise once healthy looked promising. Joe Smith was young with potential. Billy Wagner is almost unhittable lately. Aaron Heilman…umm..well, needless to say, Jorge Sosa was the man to go. The Brass hit a point where it was finally acceptable to say, ‘keep your $2 mill, don’t let the bullpen car hit you on the way out.’

It was a bold move, eating that much money. But then again, its NY, and the Wilpons probably bring in that much from the beer carts on a good weekend, probably more the way the team is playing. So the question now, when does it become time to think about this option for some of the other vets that aren’t carrying their weight?

Lets face it, while we’ve used the phrase, ‘how much worse can it get?” here a few dozen times this season, we do so while hoping never to find out. Getting swept in a four game series by the Braves: bad. But is it rock bottom? Nooooo. Now losing a four game series to the Nats or Pirates, now that would be bad. But as they team struggles and struggles, would it really be that surprising? Should we wait and find out if its even possible?

Fancy speeches about stepping up, players only meetings, Willie getting sassy with the media, all thats nice, but it doesn’t win ball games. Sooner or later, if things stay as they are, Omar has to go upstairs and put some interesting options on the table, such as eating Carlos Delgado’s contract. Sure, he hits for power, and one in every six hits he has are homeruns. The problem being though that he’s getting mighty close to that Mendoza line. Something like that is useful sometimes. Last season Ramon Castro had a stretch where he hit .200 but every other hit went out of the park. But he’s a backup catcher. Delgado is our starting first basemen, and .200 isn’t quite going to cut it, no matter how many of those hits are homeruns.

We must ask the same of our aging starting rotation. When do we just give El Duque his checks to stay home rather then pretend he’s rehabbing? The team needs to just admit Duq isn’t returning, and put effort into finding a full time fifth starter, rather than pretend he’ll be back in blue and orange and its ok to juggle journeyman starters and career minor leaguers in that spot, since they’re just keeping it warm. I’m a big fan of Figgy and all, but he’s a band aid not a real solution.

Firing Willie will not solve any of our problems, since a new manager will be looking at the same players. If we truly want to avoid finding out what rock bottom is, sooner or later the team is going to have to think about saying Goodbye to its non-producing vets.

John Franco is in the news this week, having appeared on cable to talk about baseball, hi-jinks and shenanigans. So it seems the perfect time to bring up the idea of John Franco, potential Hall of Famer. Its an important topic, because Franco spent the bulk of his career in New York, his native home, and could potentially become just the second Met in the Hall. Plus, my grandmother bowls with his aunt, so you know, if I don’t support him I probably won’t get dessert after dinner next Thanksgiving.

For those who just started following baseball, John Franco was a lefty reliever, who pitched in 1119 games, 3rd all time in the NL. He recorded 424 saves amongst those appearances, the most of a lefty and still top five all time in the majors. He was a Met from 1990 to 2004, having come from the Reds (for Randy Myers) and leaving as a free agent (and then retiring). He led the Mets in saves eight times, and led the league in it three. Throw into the mix 975 strikeouts, a career 2.89 ERA, and a 1.88 post season ERA, and you have some nice numbers. His ERA+ is 137, making him 18th all time in that category amongst all pitchers. In nine of his fourteen seasons as a Met, he had an ERA below 3. Even towards the end he stayed strong, giving up just ten runs in 38 appearances, at the age of 43.

Then there are the intangibles, one of just four Met team captains (and the last so far, no one has been named since he left the team). While he might not have been one of those hard throwing closers, he was dominant for a long time, and one of those guys who seemed to always give it his all. Few closers have had his longevity. Few players in general have even had his longevity. Plus, as we learned from his interviews earlier in the week, he’s a fun guy. The type of guy who likes to have pizza delivered to the bullpen, and getting into punching games with his set up guys. Plus you know, there’s the classic John Franco Stache (currently on hiatus).

Of course, there is the big case against. He’s a reliever. One of the most looked over spots in the Hall of Fame. Bruce Sutter was the first pure reliever (someone who never started a game) to get elected into the Hall. He wasn’t elected till 2006. Goose Gossage is finally getting inducted this year, having been on the ballot since 2000, and having been given support from other Hall of Famers for years, including Cal Rapkin, Jr. Knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm and Rollie Fingers join starter turned closer Dennis Eckersley (also elected recently, 2004) as the sole relievers in the Hall. Now Franco is often considered up there with these guys, with the numbers to prove it, but those not as familiar with him might not think of him in the same league. Lee Smith holds the career saves record, and has yet to be elected. Unlike starting pitchers or sluggers, there’s really no standard when it comes to relief pitchers. Eckersley was elected on his first ballot. Sutter got in before Gossage, and many would argue that makes no sense. There will be writers that wait on Franco solely because they feel closers shouldn’t be first ballot hall of famers. Those writers: idiots.

Love him or hate him, Franco was a guy who was a Met through and through, and who consistently performed as a closer from the 80s till just six years ago (thats right Astros, I said six). He belongs in the Hall. Now the question is, will he make it there, or be forced to sit on the sidelines with other worthy Met, Keith Hernandez?

As we impatiently await the 10pm start time of the night game, the question to ask now is does the past few days mean anything?

The Mets went up against one of the best teams in baseball, and took two out of three. The team is finally healthy. Not 100%, but if we learned anything the last few seasons it never will be. Chances are one of our starters will be hurt, this is the organization that went through over a dozen starters in a season, sinking as low as Jose Lima. Chances are Pedro and Duq will not be healthy at the same time, and even if they are lets face it, someone else won’t be if and when that day comes. Joe Smith might have hit the wall again. Ollie could have dead arm. Alou might have shattered into pieces or Castillo’s knees could buckle. This is as healthy as they’re getting.

With the renewed health, we’ve seen the offense return from its slumber. Is it the return of Alou and Schneider? Partly. Is it a team with renewed fire, after being embarrassed by one of the worst teams in baseball? Perhaps? But quite honestly, who cares. All we need to know, is can they keep it up? So far they’ve taken down some good pitchers in Atlanta and Arizona. Did they take advantage of good pitchers having weak moments? Yes, but thats what good teams do. They take advantage of a weakness. Its what others teams have done to Ollie. What opposing pitchers have done to Delgado. Its what until now, the Mets have failed to do. But for all this to mean something, they have to do it again. And again. Because that is what good teams do. They don’t just do it every once in awhile. They don’t just do it against the good teams and mail it in against the bad. They do it regularly. No one can ask for perfection, not even fans in New York. Sure, technically they can, but they won’t get it (see attached files, Met No Hitters, Met MVPs). But to prove they’ve finally turned, they need to do it often.

So the last few days were not the test. The Royals have beaten the Yankees. The Rays the Red Sox. Anyone can take a series. The next few are the test. Of can they do it again. Of can they be consistent. When they do that, then we can acknowledge a turning point.

So everyone this week has been busy scooping up their Johan Santana jerseys. You know who hasn’t? This particular female Mets fan. In fact, this particular Mets fan has decided to boycott all licensed all MLB apparel. And here is why.

I am getting sick and tired of trying to find nice women’s Mets apparel. Now, I am not unrealistic. I don’t think that just because MLB makes something for a man they should offer the same thing for women. But I don’t think asking for MLB.com to sell AUTHENTIC women’s Mets jerseys is all that unreasonable. It is bad enough that when I go to Modell’s or Sports Authority or even the Mets Clubhouse they tell me that if I don’t want a pink jersey, I have to either buy a kids or a mens. And if I don’t want those because my body is not shaped like a child or a man? “Well, you can always go to the website”

Well yes…except MLB.com does not sell authentic women’s jerseys. They ONLY sell the replicas….in one style. Ya know, I would even be ok if they only sold one type of Authentic jersey without offering different colors (such as road or home alternate). But they don’t.

Well the rant is over for now. But I invite everyone to comment with their opinions. I realize not every girl is as into the Mets as I am, but I don’t think offering at least one option for a women’s authentic jersey would be that nuts.

Recently the Owners unanimously voted to extend Bud Selig’s contract for three more years. I’ve seen a lot of articles lately praising this move, saying it gives Selig time to finish his job of cleaning up baseball, to work on his legacy, to continue the peace he’s kept between labor and owners.

Its all a bunch of hooey.

Selig does not deserve three more years. His legacy should be the Steroid Era and the Mitchell Report, and if the owners really want to bring about the change in regards to players and PEDs they should have started with the man who let it happen, Selig.

Is Selig solely to blame? Of course not. The players are the ones who did the drugs. The trainers supplied them. Fellow players, coaches and owners looked the other way. We the fan even continued to come out in record numbers and spend more and more on the produce despite overwhelming signs that our beloved stars were juicing. But the buck has to stop somewhere, and that somewhere is the man with the ultimate authority, Selig. He could implement tougher testing, tougher rules. He could use the power of the lifetime ban, banishing the worst offenders to the same baseball limbo occupied by other big time cheaters and rouges like Pete Rose and the Black Sox. But instead, he’s for the most part sat idly by.

He received praise for not clapping and supporting Barry Bonds, and while he didn’t enthusiastically support Bonds he didn’t exactly go out of his way to find the truth behind the cloud of doubt that surrounded one of baseballs most suspected steroid users.

Selig is the commissioner who brought us the Strike, the tied All Star Game and tell all Jose Canseco books. When baseball was getting mired in the cloud of doubt brought about by fixed games and gambling, they moved to bring in Landis, the first commissioner to show the ownership meant business when it came to restoring the reputation of the sport. This month they had the chance to do so again, to bring in a new commissioner who could be tough on Steroids and perhaps once again clean up baseballs tarnished image.

Pitchers and catchers is by my best calculations, approximately seventeen more years away. Which, on the Hot Foot and Metsblog alone, will result in a minimum of 4.3 billion articles containing rumors about one Minnesotan pitcher, Johan Santana. The madness needs to end.

I think as a community, we the bloggers must create some sort of contract in which we agree to cease writing articles containing speculation towards where said pitcher will be. The Yankees have the players. But the Mets are in the NL, so the Twins wouldn’t have to worry about facing him. But the Red Sox. But but but. Every point has been made. Every idea has been written and read. Even the craziness of 51 player deals involving 8 teams in which Santana ends up as the new starting QB for the Giants and Eli Manning is in goal for the Quebec Nordiques.

What I propose: no posts about He Who Shall Not Be Named that are based upon an unnamed source. So no ‘person within the Twins organization.”. No ’someone familiar with Omar’s way of thinking.’ No ’senior official’, ‘person close to the player’, or ’senior ballboy and clubhouse attendant in charge of batting glove repair.’ Until a senior official (GM, Vice President of baseball operations) is willing to go on record, the story is meaningless. The senior official also cannot be a Steinbrenner, since Hank seems to make a statement once a week reversing his previous statement, presumable just to keep himself in the news. Back in my day, GMs who wanted to get in the news just fired someone, or partied with Lindsey Lohan.

Rule two: no articles on why he’d be worth trading Reyes. No explanation needed.

There is no rule three.

So there we have it, a simple plan to help end the never ending cycle of sourceless rumors involving one man who may or may not even be traded before the All Star break. Granted, now there will be only one update on most baseball blogs a week, but maybe we can start rumors about some different players, or finally read Metsgal’s Book Review and Recipe Corner. Unless of course, you have some inside scoop.

It was reported earlier this week that Mike Piazza could be leaving America in attempts to lengthen his career. The once everyday player who homered his way into history as the alltime best hitting catcher eventually found himself the weak kneed third stringer and occasional DH for the A’s. And while I can respect Mike’s desire to keep playing the game he loves, I hope he chooses a different path. With the rumormill saying the Mets coaching staff vacancies will be filled from within the farm system, chances are we’ll see coaches bumped up the line, and an opening appearing eventually weeks later in the farm system. Perhaps that man most likely to be just the second ever player inducted into the Hall in a Met cap could find his way to that opening.

The first I ever remember hearing of Piazza, was during the strike, when he appeared on Married…with Children as himself.  But aside from that, he’ll always be a Met. From his altercations with the Rocket, to his curtain call as a Padre at Shea, to his 15 straight games with an RBI.  The internal promotion will most likely set off a coaching musical chairs game that leads to an opening somewhere in A ball, perfect for a new coach. On the other side, with Piazza’s continued health issues, nothing good can come from going across the sea. A resurgence is unlikely, only a greater risk for further injury.  So come on Mike, hang up the catchers mitt, and before decisions get made try and find your way back to the Mets, to teach the next generation of Mets how to play with the passion you had.

Newsday columnist Wallace Matthews hit a new low on Thanksgiving this year. In his article, Matthews, once again, proves he does not deserve to be on Newsday’s payroll. His main goal, and he admits this, was to regain his title of “Most negative responses to a Newsday sport column”. Matthews attacks the Mets for the lack of activity during the off season so far, stating “The only activity in Mets camp was the removal of a bunion from El Duque’s foot”.

I don’t even know where to begin. I’m literally dumbfounded that he is still allowed to write for Newsday. First of all, unless I’m mistaken (and I’m not) we have not even reached the Winter Meetings yet! They start December 3rd. Just because the Yankees owner stepped down, they fired Joe Torre, and re-signed 3 key players doesn’t mean that everyone needs to follow suit.

Also, he is still referring to this being the biggest collapse in baseball history. Right, being in the ALCS, playing your biggest rival and being up 3 games to nothing, then failing to win just ONE game doesn’t qualify your team to be higher on that list? The horse is dead, put the stick down Matthews. I’ll let you read the article. He goes on to bash everyone on the Mets, without so much as presenting one statistical fact to back him up.

Oh, one last thing. Can someone explain how this man constantly has the most negative responses to a Newsday sports column and is still writing for them? I won’t cancel my subscription, and I am not advocating anyone else should. I think Newsday in general )(and David Lennon in particular) are a great place for smart, well written Mets news.