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2012
MMO Hits & Misses: Kid Patches Are Sweet, Buns Of Steel, Forever Young?
An article by 
Good morning, everyone. Who’s ready for a Mets baseball game on Monday? 
Free agent pitcher Chris Young reportedly wants a major league deal, which makes it highly unlikely he’ll be joining the Mets this season no matter how interested Sandy Alderson is on bringing the right-hander back. Young dazzled in his very brief tenure with the Mets last season which lasted all of 24 innings, but lets get real here… He wants a guaranteed major league contract? With his medical rap sheet that stretches from here to the Mississippi? Gimme a break, dude…
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I loved this quote by Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen about Jason Varitek announcing his retirement today. ”Good players retire. Horse(bleep) players get released … I got released.”
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I read today that Dillon Gee did Pilates during the offseason at the recommendation of now-departed Chris Capuano to try to get into better shape for a long season. Andy McCullough says that Jason Bay and Scott Hairston also do it. I wonder if any Mets did “Buns Of Steel” or “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” back in the day? I bet Roger McDowell did…
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Check out this photo courtesy of MetsBlog of the Gary Carter “Kid 8″ uniform patch being worn by all players today and for the duration of the 2012 season. That’s pretty awesome! Also very appropriate to have a Kid patch with the Mets expected to have the youngest starting 25 in the league. I think “Kid” will be smiling down upon the 2012 Mets this season… LGM
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Mets players felt the pinch yesterday as the first round of HGH testing got underway according to David Lennon of Newsday. I know this is the right thing to do, but I have a feeling there will be plenty of surprise positive test results coming out in the next two weeks. And thanks to Ryan Braun, every single one of them will be disputed, maligned and alleged they were tampered with. 2012 is going to be a tough year for sample collectors. You should have listened to your fathers and gone to Law School instead.
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I just wanted to commend Pete Shapiro (Petey Pete) and Nick Pugliese for doing a bang up job covering the Mets minor leagues, prospects, and the upcoming MLB Draft. It’s some of the finest coverage you will read and both of them go through great lengths to be as concise and accurate as possible when reporting. Also a big thank you to Stephen Hanks (Tom Terrific) for helping MMO out of a big jam in the last two days, and Clayton Collier for his efforts as well. Thanks, guys!
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Finally, I’m off to the VA Hospital for another surgery. I won’t be around for a few days, but I know our talented team of writers will keep all of you entertained with their keen insights and passionate opinions. I’ll have a few posts that I previously wrote scheduled for posting, but I won’t be around to answer any questions in the comments. Hey, Friday’s almost here… Go have yourselves an Amazin’ Weekend!
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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I guess Young is happy getting ready on his own, and waiting for a team in need to call (a la Clemons?)
But, if he isn’t pitching somewhere, probably not a very good chance that happens.
I guess it doesn’t hurt to hold out a bit. he can always sign a minors deal at some point when he is (thinks he is?) ready to go.
All the best Joe and get off the DL ASAP.
One thing, probably the only thing all MMO readers can agree on is we’ll all be rooting for you and can’t wait to see you back.
Good luck, Joe. We’re all thinking of you.
“Free agent pitcher Chris Young reportedly wants a major league deal,”
And I want Scarlett Johansson. I’ve got the better odds.
“I read today that Dillon Gee did Pilates during the offseason at the recommendation of now-departed Chris Capuano to try to get into better shape for a long season. Andy McCullough says that Jason Bay and Scott Hairston also do it. I wonder if any Mets did “Buns Of Steel” or “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” back in the day? I bet Roger McDowell did…”
Al Letier used to lead a Tae Bo class i nthe club house
“2012 is going to be a tough year for sample collectors. You should have listened to your fathers and gone to Law School instead.”
So they could shovel the “samples” instead of collecting them.
I think they should all do yoga of some kind (for flexibility).
Screw that hippy crap. Club House Fight Club. Just leave the imaginary friends at home.
Best of luck to you, Joe. Hope you’re back on your feet in short order.
Best wishes on your surgery, Joe. I’ll be thinking of you.
Ozzie should provide some entertainment this year in Miami.
Can’t help but hear in my head: ‘Come out to the park and join Ozzie and friends under the Big Top’.
Joe D.,
Most importantly, good luck with the surgery and we all know you’ll be doing fine.
As far as some of the reporting goes, I’m glad Alderson learned that one doesn’t offer a player who pitched only 20 innings the year before (and just 76 the season before that) a $1.1 million major league contract like he did in 2011. The amount doesn’t sound like much but it would have meant Young having to make the team and not taking away a roster spot.
It’s so ironic that an ownership so thoughtful in the way it developed a patch in memory of The Kid would also not have the hindsight to recognize how the players would react to the owner giving them underdog tee shirts, even if done only in fun. Obviously the patch was designed for his approval whereas the tee shirt was of his own inspiration – which isn’t surprising, considering the inspiration he had regarding the design of Citi Field.
that’s why young came in on (IIRC) a MiL deal last year, or at least one that was primarily incentives based.
So they really only paid him for what he did (and they got a good, albeit not very long, return on their investment !)
Young did sign an MLB contract last year but was only paid 1.1M assuming there was not any protection in that for the Mets. The Mets also had a little more room on the 40 man to play with than they do this year.
jeffy designed the shirts, freddy designed the stadium
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”
“A Wilpon by any other would smell as…..”. – you guys fill in the blanks.
Joe D, the CORE is with you man.. good luck on your surgery.. And as long as the articles are not coming from that guy to talk about urinals and sabermetrics it’s all good.. (Roll eyes) he’s the worst out of the bunch…
Goodspeed there Joe!
all the best Joe, get well soon
Good Luck Joe D!
Best of luck Joe with the surgery.
Wow, way to bring us back to reality Joe. To think while you are worrying over this we are driving up your hits with pointless debates over which stat is more useful. LOL.
By “WE” you mean the sabergoons!?!?!?!!?
Stay classy, alex.
Keep making the same arguments that don’t make sense.
“THE BORE SALUTES YOU!”
We all owe you a ton for everything that you’ve done for your fellow Mets fans with this site. I’m sure if there were anything that you needed, the collective of MMO regulars would GLADLY do everything in our power to see that you’re taken care of and come out the other end of this surgery 10x’s better than you went into it. Be safe Joe D.
Good luck Joe!
Damn even Mets bloggers can’t stay off the DL…… Good luck Joe quick recovery
Stay strong, Joe! I’m on the bench if you need a pinch-hitter!