From: scott@asd.com (Scott Barman)
Subject: Re: Jason Abner Miller and the Mets - a Nude Revue!
Organization: American Software Development Corp., West Babylon, NY
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 21:19:31 GMT

In article <20562@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> ez027993@dale.ucdavis.edu (Gary L. Huckabay) writes:
>Jason "I sentence you to watch Jean-Claude Van Damme Films" Abner Miller inks:
>
>>	When Jeff Torborg arrived from Chicago late one night in 1991, 
>>the popular sentiment was that the Mets were going to run away with
>>the whole thing.  Gooden, Cone, Fernandez, Saberhagen in the starting
>>staff, John Franco in the pen, Bobby Bonilla and Eddie Murray added to
>>the lineup, with Bill Pecota and Willie Randolph to provide some sort
>>of up-the-middle stability.
>
>What?!?!  Popular sentiment here was that the Mets wouldn't score any runs,

Gee... I just love after-the-fact predicting.  I think I have a few of
the non-local rags that had the Mets either first or second before the
start of the season.  My father and I have had fun with each other
mailing these things to each other.  We got the best laugh out of the
USA Today one that said the Mets were going to run away with it like
they did in 1986!  (I picked them second behind the Pirates)

>>	All Torborg did was get frustrated with players early in
>>the season, juggle them around, and moan to WFAN about how he couldn't
>>get the team to win.

This is to Jason (I've been away for a while and missed the original
posting):  Torborg did not moan.  He sucked it up and took the blame and
abuse heaped onto him by all members of the media.  He was very
professional and up front about everything.  The problem is he can only
make the moves, he can't go out there to make the plays.  I am not
saying he was a good manager (I think he fell in love with the double
switch), but he did not whine and moan.

>In other words, he managed in New York.

Huckaby, you don't know sh*t about New York.  (If you want to continue
on this one, drop it to email)

>Anyone who thought the 1992 Mets were going to contend was deluding
>themselves.

USA Today, Street and Smith... need I find them all?  And this is
without touching the stat-based pubs.

>>	The Mets need direction.  Trading Cone and letting Magadan walk,
>>and geting nearly nothing in return, did not help. 
>
>Agreed.  But 'direction' is a mighty ephemeral concept.  I prefer "The Mets 
>need to wake up, get an offense, get a defense, and realize that Dwight
>Gooden isn't a #1 starter anymore.  He might be OK with a real defense
>behind him, and he might be a winner if we could score some runs.  Let's
>start by taking out Vince Coleman, and shooting him."

The #1 starter matters as to who is opening the season.  Other than that,
the #1 starter is a name only.  It doesn't mean that person will get the
most innings, the most games, or will be the team's contender for the Cy
Young.  All it means is that he opens the season and will the the next
pitcher after the fifth starter pitches (or fourth if the fifth is
passed over).

>>	I would've liked to see Don Baylor managing the Mets; he has
>>a reputation as a natural leader of men, whether that's a mediot's myth
>>or not, and the Mets certainly need direction right now.  Torborg is
>>not the manager Harazin thought he was; the Mets need a manager with
>>patience and faith, and a manager who won't mess with players' heads.

Jason (again): There is one available.  He's got major league
experience, a winning record and even a World Series ring.  He is
everything you asked for.  The problems is that person is Davey Johnson.

>>1B:  Murray - numbers sink a little more each year
>
>Well, the guy turn 37 in February.  The Mets were fools to sign him.

Fools?  No.  Unwise, yes.  Especially he was practically their only
offense in 1992.  I would have rather seen Dave Magadan at forst.

>>2B:  Kent - unproven
>
>Best non-HoJo infielder they have.  Leave him alone.  He'll be OK.

He's still unproven.

>>SS:  T.Fernandez - rumour has it he's headed sharply down
>
>Stiff city.  Won't hit, has no power, doesn't walk, a disaster on the
>basepaths, and has lost two steps in the field.  I'd rather have
>Belliard.

Belliard wasn't available to the Mets.
Gary, I don't know where you get your information but the local media,
which has been roasting the Mets since their first loosing streak in
1992 do not see it that way.  There is no real indication that he's
"headed sharply down" or that he's a stiff.  I would love to see him
have a marvelous year but if he has an average one, he'll be better than
who has played short the last two years.

>>3B:  HoJo - a big question mark
>
>Just leave him alone.  He'll be OK.

Finally, something I agree with!

>>LF:  Coleman (yuck!)
>
>Capital Y.

Gee Gary, two in a row.  My old heart can't take this excitement!  :-)

>>CF:  Thompson (yuck!)
>
>Don't really know anything about him.  Some help, please?

Didn't come on until AAA.  One of those athlete-types the Jays are
notorious for taking in middle rounds of the draft and letting develop.
He did not come on until last year.  Thompson is supposed be what Vince
Coleman is billed as: a speed merchant with better defensive skills
and a little more power.  We'll see if he pans out.

>>RF:  Bobby Bo - I think he'll bounce back, but not too strongly
>
>Probably reasonable.  How about .280/.360/.440?  Sound reasonable?
>
>> C:  Hundley (yuck!)
>
>Considering the dearth of catchers, it could be worse.  He could be high
>priced.

Hight priced?  I think he makes $300K.  He's calls a very good game
whose defensive skills are improving.  Allegedly, he did very well in
the Fall Instructional League this year and has hopes of being a .280
hitter.  If he would hit .250 he could go a long way.

>>SP:  Fernandez, Gooden, Saberdude, Schourek, *gasp* Frank "I Suck Mightily"
>>     Tanana
>
>Looks slightly better than average.

Gary, three in one post!  I actually agree with Gary Huckaby three times
in this posting!  I can't believe it!  WOW!!  :-)

>>RP:  Franco (closer - YUCK!); Young
>
>Looks like dog food.  Franco's been less than stellar for a few years now.

He's also been injured.  Now what's he been looking like when he's
played?  Except for a stretch last year, he's still not "dog food."  I
would take him over many of your other choices.

>Where's Machado when you need him?  *bang*  Ah, he's over that way.

Doing what?  Not being someone's "stellar" closer, eh?

[The rest I'm not going to justify.  It's just not worth it.]
-- 
scott barman			| <This space intentionally left blank>
scott@asd.com			|
 (I can barely speak for myself, you expect me to speak for my employer??)