<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
		>
<channel>
	<title>Comments on: The Toughness Factor: Why the Mets Need an Edge</title>
	<atom:link href="http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 14:30:30 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1</generator>
	<item>
		<title>By: rustynail</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378925</link>
		<dc:creator>rustynail</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:47:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378925</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[i think john buck falls in the catagory  on no nonsense guys who will be gritty when needed.he will be a very good player for the mets this year in my opinion.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>i think john buck falls in the catagory  on no nonsense guys who will be gritty when needed.he will be a very good player for the mets this year in my opinion.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: TRS86</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378729</link>
		<dc:creator>TRS86</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:09:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378729</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[“I never use a cup, but I’ve got to because I’m really scared of the ball hitting me in the b—-,” Valdespin said Wednesday, according to the New York Post. “I have to do it now so I never forget.”

LOL, this is a funny read:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/03/13/very-scared-jordany-valdespin-learns-lesson-vows-to-wear-cup/]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>“I never use a cup, but I’ve got to because I’m really scared of the ball hitting me in the b—-,” Valdespin said Wednesday, according to the New York Post. “I have to do it now so I never forget.”</p>
<p>LOL, this is a funny read:</p>
<p><a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/03/13/very-scared-jordany-valdespin-learns-lesson-vows-to-wear-cup/" rel="nofollow">http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/03/13/very-scared-jordany-valdespin-learns-lesson-vows-to-wear-cup/</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: neekerbreeker</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378672</link>
		<dc:creator>neekerbreeker</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:04:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378672</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Totally agree here. The Wilpons have always been image obsessed ... in trying to build their &quot;legacy&quot;  their attempts have tended to backfire and they&#039;ve just dug a deeper hole for themselves with the public. They&#039;ve focused WAY too much on character and temperament, meanwhile it&#039;s been one PR nightmare after another with these guys from their business dealings to their debt to their homage to the Dodgers with the new ballpark. Too bad they haven&#039;t figured out that the public will forgive an awful lot if they would only put a winning product on the field. Their biggest PR disaster is and always has been not winning enough.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Totally agree here. The Wilpons have always been image obsessed &#8230; in trying to build their &#8220;legacy&#8221;  their attempts have tended to backfire and they&#8217;ve just dug a deeper hole for themselves with the public. They&#8217;ve focused WAY too much on character and temperament, meanwhile it&#8217;s been one PR nightmare after another with these guys from their business dealings to their debt to their homage to the Dodgers with the new ballpark. Too bad they haven&#8217;t figured out that the public will forgive an awful lot if they would only put a winning product on the field. Their biggest PR disaster is and always has been not winning enough.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Just-Da-Damaja</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378653</link>
		<dc:creator>Just-Da-Damaja</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:40:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378653</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most met fans nowadays would gasp in horror if the current roster was anything like the 86 mets they claim to adore.

I grew up watching the mets become the bullies and then become the pansies.

doc gooden said the SAME THING in 1992/1993... a short while later he was off the team

and to me, this ALL started when the Wilpons became 50% owners during the 86 season and had Kevin Mitchell traded for Kevin McReynolds.

That trade to me, more than any other single transaction, has represented the Wilpon era.

Nice talented...clean cut choir boy like Kevin McReynolds....who did not have the guts to play in NY...and really wanted no part of this city..and his rep eventually suffered when his production did. 

with varying results, we have seen K-Mac morph into Vince Coleman, Shawn Green, Bobby Bo, Jason Bay, Luis Castillo, Mike Piazza, etc the list goes on and on....

the guys with COJONES...are guys that can scare the opposition...but unfortunately scare the ownership...

and IMO that is more Fred&#039;s doing than Jeff...

Jeff looks like a Type A maniac who was in reality the close confidant of Tony Bernazard ( another Type A maniac )....he probably doesnt like people to challenge HIM

Fred looks like a Type B passive aggressive back-stabber...

Fred will say nice things to your face than talk all kinds of junk behind your back...and doesnt like confrontation AT ALL]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most met fans nowadays would gasp in horror if the current roster was anything like the 86 mets they claim to adore.</p>
<p>I grew up watching the mets become the bullies and then become the pansies.</p>
<p>doc gooden said the SAME THING in 1992/1993&#8230; a short while later he was off the team</p>
<p>and to me, this ALL started when the Wilpons became 50% owners during the 86 season and had Kevin Mitchell traded for Kevin McReynolds.</p>
<p>That trade to me, more than any other single transaction, has represented the Wilpon era.</p>
<p>Nice talented&#8230;clean cut choir boy like Kevin McReynolds&#8230;.who did not have the guts to play in NY&#8230;and really wanted no part of this city..and his rep eventually suffered when his production did. </p>
<p>with varying results, we have seen K-Mac morph into Vince Coleman, Shawn Green, Bobby Bo, Jason Bay, Luis Castillo, Mike Piazza, etc the list goes on and on&#8230;.</p>
<p>the guys with COJONES&#8230;are guys that can scare the opposition&#8230;but unfortunately scare the ownership&#8230;</p>
<p>and IMO that is more Fred&#8217;s doing than Jeff&#8230;</p>
<p>Jeff looks like a Type A maniac who was in reality the close confidant of Tony Bernazard ( another Type A maniac )&#8230;.he probably doesnt like people to challenge HIM</p>
<p>Fred looks like a Type B passive aggressive back-stabber&#8230;</p>
<p>Fred will say nice things to your face than talk all kinds of junk behind your back&#8230;and doesnt like confrontation AT ALL</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Metsie</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378592</link>
		<dc:creator>Metsie</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:49:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378592</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[True toughness is about NOT SHOWING Fear....Not how Good you are or quick at showing Violence...

It takes a very tough guy to be a Navy Seal....
But I would guess the guy who works EOD (Bomb Disposal) is actually a bit tougher than those guys!
Both are outright Crazy! LOL]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>True toughness is about NOT SHOWING Fear&#8230;.Not how Good you are or quick at showing Violence&#8230;</p>
<p>It takes a very tough guy to be a Navy Seal&#8230;.<br />
But I would guess the guy who works EOD (Bomb Disposal) is actually a bit tougher than those guys!<br />
Both are outright Crazy! LOL</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: neekerbreeker</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378573</link>
		<dc:creator>neekerbreeker</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:32:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378573</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Reminds me of
Piazza &gt;&gt;&gt; Mota, spring training ... 

remember that one? lol!]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Reminds me of<br />
Piazza &gt;&gt;&gt; Mota, spring training &#8230; </p>
<p>remember that one? lol!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: TJ</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378569</link>
		<dc:creator>TJ</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:29:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378569</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Good point,  There are several angles to toughness, but to me it is just necessary to be tough enough so the opponent does not take advantage and gain an edge.  This can be done quietly, it can be done in a very attention-grabbing manner, it is both mental and physical, and how it is done doesn&#039;t matter to me.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Good point,  There are several angles to toughness, but to me it is just necessary to be tough enough so the opponent does not take advantage and gain an edge.  This can be done quietly, it can be done in a very attention-grabbing manner, it is both mental and physical, and how it is done doesn&#8217;t matter to me.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Metsie</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378559</link>
		<dc:creator>Metsie</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:22:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378559</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have worked as a bouncer and done bodyguard work for a few bands and celebrities on Movies...

And you know what I learned from that?

The guys you think are tough are NOT the ones to worry about....

It&#039;s that Quiet soft spoken Nice Guy who lets it out all at once in an explosion that happens rarely but when it does it is Nuclear! LOL]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have worked as a bouncer and done bodyguard work for a few bands and celebrities on Movies&#8230;</p>
<p>And you know what I learned from that?</p>
<p>The guys you think are tough are NOT the ones to worry about&#8230;.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s that Quiet soft spoken Nice Guy who lets it out all at once in an explosion that happens rarely but when it does it is Nuclear! LOL</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: neekerbreeker</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378549</link>
		<dc:creator>neekerbreeker</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:17:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378549</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It helps when you care about your teammates enough to put yourself out there ... you&#039;re right about Beltran though, one of the most under-appreciated players in Met history if you ask me.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It helps when you care about your teammates enough to put yourself out there &#8230; you&#8217;re right about Beltran though, one of the most under-appreciated players in Met history if you ask me.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Metsie</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378530</link>
		<dc:creator>Metsie</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:57:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378530</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I think perhaps you underestimate those quiet and NICE guys ability to get tough or be tough....

Harrelson was one of the nicest guys around and he still went at it with Pete Rose...
Beltran you might feel had no fire but even injured he retaliated for the hard slide into Tejada that no one else on the team bothered to do.

I can&#039;t think of a more polite player than Dickey yet he drilled a guy (as best as he could) in retaliation.

So looks and appearances can be decieving can&#039;t they?]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I think perhaps you underestimate those quiet and NICE guys ability to get tough or be tough&#8230;.</p>
<p>Harrelson was one of the nicest guys around and he still went at it with Pete Rose&#8230;<br />
Beltran you might feel had no fire but even injured he retaliated for the hard slide into Tejada that no one else on the team bothered to do.</p>
<p>I can&#8217;t think of a more polite player than Dickey yet he drilled a guy (as best as he could) in retaliation.</p>
<p>So looks and appearances can be decieving can&#8217;t they?</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Matt</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378524</link>
		<dc:creator>Matt</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:49:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378524</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well...if you can&#039;t be good...might as well be tough.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Well&#8230;if you can&#8217;t be good&#8230;might as well be tough.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: TRS86</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378511</link>
		<dc:creator>TRS86</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:33:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378511</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Again, I think I would have still traded Wiggy for Benson and Kepp 9/10 times.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Again, I think I would have still traded Wiggy for Benson and Kepp 9/10 times.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Matt Balasis</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378503</link>
		<dc:creator>Matt Balasis</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:27:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378503</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Randolph never really gave Kepp a chance, I think he never fit with the sort of athleticism he saw as being necessary for 2B ... who knows. Kepp went on to have some pretty darned good seasons. Wiggington to this day is the last Met to bowl over a catcher at home plate ... that itself says something about the make-up of the Mets teams of the last 5 - 6 years.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Randolph never really gave Kepp a chance, I think he never fit with the sort of athleticism he saw as being necessary for 2B &#8230; who knows. Kepp went on to have some pretty darned good seasons. Wiggington to this day is the last Met to bowl over a catcher at home plate &#8230; that itself says something about the make-up of the Mets teams of the last 5 &#8211; 6 years.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: TRS86</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378498</link>
		<dc:creator>TRS86</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:21:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378498</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I think at the time I would have still traded Wiggy for Benson and Kepp.  Odd that those two were traded for each other.  Kepp only played 33 games for us and had an OPS under .700.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I think at the time I would have still traded Wiggy for Benson and Kepp.  Odd that those two were traded for each other.  Kepp only played 33 games for us and had an OPS under .700.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Matt Balasis</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378492</link>
		<dc:creator>Matt Balasis</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:12:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378492</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ty Wiggington and Jeff Keppinger are certainly a couple of guys I would have held onto ... the organization just doesn&#039;t seem to value those types.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ty Wiggington and Jeff Keppinger are certainly a couple of guys I would have held onto &#8230; the organization just doesn&#8217;t seem to value those types.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Matt Balasis</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378482</link>
		<dc:creator>Matt Balasis</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:58:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378482</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I think it was both in 07/08, I think there were a lot of celebratory antics but the team also just wasn&#039;t very tough. It&#039;s hard to quantify toughness, to some extent it may be playing with a certain reckless abandon and playing hurt, to some degree it may be about carrying yourself with a certain pride, &quot;attitude,&quot; making it clear you&#039;re not going to be intimidated. The opposition will intimidate you every time if you let them. Yes ultimately it&#039;s about the talent, but you have to have some hard-nosed types on your roster if only to level the playing field when things get nasty as invariably they will from time to time. 

It&#039;s not so much about garnering whatever benefit showing up the opposition by standing up for yourself might bring, quite the contrary it&#039;s about avoiding the damage of NOT standing up for yourself, of taking it and doing nothing about it -- there&#039;s nothing more deflating to a group of men than the perception that they are &quot;cowards.&quot;]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I think it was both in 07/08, I think there were a lot of celebratory antics but the team also just wasn&#8217;t very tough. It&#8217;s hard to quantify toughness, to some extent it may be playing with a certain reckless abandon and playing hurt, to some degree it may be about carrying yourself with a certain pride, &#8220;attitude,&#8221; making it clear you&#8217;re not going to be intimidated. The opposition will intimidate you every time if you let them. Yes ultimately it&#8217;s about the talent, but you have to have some hard-nosed types on your roster if only to level the playing field when things get nasty as invariably they will from time to time. </p>
<p>It&#8217;s not so much about garnering whatever benefit showing up the opposition by standing up for yourself might bring, quite the contrary it&#8217;s about avoiding the damage of NOT standing up for yourself, of taking it and doing nothing about it &#8212; there&#8217;s nothing more deflating to a group of men than the perception that they are &#8220;cowards.&#8221;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: TX</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378473</link>
		<dc:creator>TX</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:45:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378473</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[That&#039;s the first thing I thought.  Tough?  no.  Gritty?  no.  Suffering from some sort of Mental Defect?  possibly.  Stupid?  Completely.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>That&#8217;s the first thing I thought.  Tough?  no.  Gritty?  no.  Suffering from some sort of Mental Defect?  possibly.  Stupid?  Completely.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: TRS86</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378463</link>
		<dc:creator>TRS86</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:36:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378463</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nah, it&#039;s gritty and tough.  Imagine how tough we would consider a football player who forgot his helmet.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Nah, it&#8217;s gritty and tough.  Imagine how tough we would consider a football player who forgot his helmet.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: JJ</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378459</link>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:33:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Doesn&#039;t the term &quot;STUPID&quot; jump out to anyone in regards to not wearing a cup!??]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Doesn&#8217;t the term &#8220;STUPID&#8221; jump out to anyone in regards to not wearing a cup!??</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: TRS86</title>
		<link>http://metsmerizedonline.com/2013/03/the-toughness-factor-why-the-mets-need-an-edge.html#comment-378458</link>
		<dc:creator>TRS86</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:32:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://metsmerizedonline.com/?p=110702#comment-378458</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Agreed.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Agreed.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
</channel>
</rss>

<!-- Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: http://www.w3-edge.com/wordpress-plugins/

Page Caching using memcached
Content Delivery Network via smhttp.18058.nexcesscdn.net/808D60/wordpress

Served from: metsmerizedonline.com @ 2013-05-24 10:30:31 -->