Hey baseball fans...

I just want to reply to a couple of comments:

1. I know that Benitez will be a set-up man for Rivera. However, if Benitez does what he does best, which is screwing up games and losing the lead, Rivera will not be needed as a closer because there will be no game to save. I probably did not make that clear in my previous post.

2. Tino Marinez is one of the nicest players in baseball. Benitez was being a bully in that game where he beaned Martinez. I can't answer why there isn't much of a fuss over the Clemens/Piazza incident from a couple of years ago (side note here: As a Yankee fan, I do believe that Clemens intentionally threw the bat at Piazza - this is the same statement I made on NY1 News when I was interviewed the day after). Maybe because the Yankees win and the Mets keep on losing. And you can't say that it's all about money because the Mets have been spending, spending, spending, but with no results! Maybe if the Mets begin winning some games, then they can make a stink about the Clemens-bat-throwing incident!

Not to get too much into this...but when Benitez threw at Martinez, he was on the Orioles. In all the years as a Met, he never threw at anyone. That's an old story and has no relevance to this trade..the media likes to bring up old dirt.
The Mets are losing this year not due to money spent, but due to poor scouting, too many veterans with nagging injuries and a team that hasn't had an opportunity to gel.

'Maybe if the Mets begin winning some games, then they can make a stink about the Clemens-bat-throwing incident!'

What does this have to do with the price of potatoes? Because Yankees win games, the pitchers can hurl 90 mile and hour fast balls at players heads? And I know Tino is a nice guy, but Piazza is too....so it's agreed that Benitez and Clemens belong on an island together throwing balls at eachother until their hearts content! The pent up a**holes.

Benitez probably will be a great set up man for you guys, but pray that Joe doesn't put him in a pressure situation! If he doesn....it's curtains!

Well said Leelee, that's it in a nutshell...hopefully the 'gel' will set this winter!

he is your problem now.....

If the yankess take such sloppy leftovers why do they do so well? Maybe they get treated better then on other teams.Most whom have played for other teams and then came to the yankees would rather retire then go to another team. Why is that? Because they are treated better. Some players do not see how well they are treated on the yankees, leave and now seems very miserable on there new teams. Many times you quote players on how the yanke organization is and how it is very different.

I believer they are good player always (they just do not have the push or support the yankees give there players) and when they come to yankees they realize it does not have to $uck.

Oh, one more thing. How come the Mets have a large budget just like the yankees yet they can't seem to win, why is that? Bad choice I say. Invest in the future and maybe you'll have a chance to win instead plugging in old players who are wilting in front of our eyes!

P.S. I'm a yankee fan if you didn't notice

That takes me right back to my double standard question...and proves my point, that one does exist. Always has, always will.

And, I believe dumping Benitez, (as well as Steve Phillips) is the first step to a rebuilding that has been a very long time coming....

This NY'er knows her team is in last place - but would never call them a joke. Not matter how much they stink - I still love my Mets!

Leelee - you made the right points!

sorry julybaby - I understand you point now about the closer thing...LOL I thought you were seriously asking if he was replacement for Rivera -imagine that!!!

Ahd what is this crap about the Clemens incident. I say get over it. It is over and done with and way out of proportion. Met fans have nothing better to do then worry about what the yankees are doing. Everytime the yankees come up you bring up clemens-how many years ago was that?

I am not a huge Clemens fan, but he is a yankee and I will defend him if I have to. Many pitcher pitch inside and have hit people in the head and other places which caused injury(Benitez-tino has never been the same since) so don't tell me to get over the tino incident until you get over the clemens incident.

But that's what I said...the Yankees have a way of taking other teams sloppy leftovers and making them shine! One team's junk is another team's diamond! It's not just the Mets..it's other teams as well. The Yankees have phenomenal scouts...they know what they're doing.
What I said wasn't at all a jab against the Yankees...it was a pat on the back!!
I'm a Mets fan..always have been and always will. EVERY team goes through strings of losing seasons...even the Yankees. It happens to all teams.

If Steinbrenner at all considered Benitez as a closer, it's time for him to give up the Yankees!

Do you think the managerial skills of Joe Torre has something to do with the Yankees winning? That may sound like a dumb question, but a question worth looking into to. I have to admit I don't know much about Art Howe except that he was pretty good with Oakland. Could Howe get his Mets to gel? It seems that there isn't a lot of team camardie (is that how you spell the word) on the Mets.

Speaking of Mets, I finally found Bobby Valentine. He's a sportscaster on ESPN Baseball Tonight show.

'Ahd what is this crap about the Clemens incident. I say get over it. It is over and done with and way out of proportion. Met fans have nothing better to do then worry about what the yankees are doing. Everytime the yankees come up you bring up clemens-how many years ago was that? '

My double standard point is being proven repeatedly on this post!

I brought this up as a question, asking WHY this doesn't matter, but Benitz drilling Tino in the back when he was an Oriole...not even a Met...did matter.

Double standard!

Oh...and yes, Bobby always was a better talker than do'er. He had no clue how to manage, but he was an encyclopedia of the game. I always said he should teach a college class on baseball....but manage? No way.

It's all good ladies...good luck to ya!

Listen, I'm quite excited because this is my first drama I've been involved in since I've been a part of the LIWeddings community, but I have to pick up my mail from the post office and find my marriage license. My DH will be shocked to hear that we talk (and argue) about other things here besides wedding, like sports!

Drama? No way this is fun! It's sport!
I have tons of respect for the ladies on this board (Yankee, Met, Ranger, Islander...whatever) that can talk sports!

Ah ladies...you've hit a sore spot with me!

Benitez threw at Martinez...Benitez was an ORIOLE at the time and Martinez is now a Cardinal. Big deal..it has nothing to do with the Yankees aquiring Benitez. Didn't Clemens throw at several Yankees while he was on opposing teams?? Yes! The Piazza/Clemens incident-Benitez/Martinez incident has nothing to do with this trade.
Benitez is a fine pitcher...we all tend to forget the good because the bad sticks with us. His numbers are great and he's very consistent.
And..just a side note..to stress it again...veteran players, high budgets. You can't accuse the Mets of being in that boat alone. The Yankees have many older, veteran players who will also wilt in time.
The Mets are having a transitional year this year..all teams go through it.

Edited to add...this isn't drama! It's girls being able to play the traditional guy game! I love it!! And I respect any and all girls who can talk sports!

OK, I admit, I HAVE A BORING LIFE!!! This is my idea of drama - arguing sports with the ladies (this must be quite a turn-on for the men)!

Yes, the Yankees do have a lot of veteran players, but they usually retire before the wilting becomes obvious (Paul O'Neill, Scott Brosius). My question for the Mets fan is this: If the Mets did so well in 2000, why couldn't they keep the momentum in 2001? Were they in last place in 2001, or second to last place? What happened?

Now I really need to pick up the mail before the line gets outragous!

To this day, I do not think the Mets did well in 2000. lol. That is my honest opinion as a Met fan. We should not have been there.

Well..2001 was an interesting season for the Mets. As you might remember, they had a rough beginning but had an amazing comback and almost (could have) had the wild card spot. There were a lot of bull pen meltdowns that season...not just Benitez, but Franco wasn't able to pitch effectively. The overall complexion of the team changed winter of 2000/2001...Mike Hampton left (and as much I hate to admit it..it made a huge impact on the team), some of the veterans-most notably Ventura and Zeile started slumping, etc.
Things change yearly...
One could say the same about the Yankees. What happened to them over the past few seasons? They were eliminated last year from the post-season right away.


Edited...Misty, anyway they can get there is fine by me!

I wish you guys were around to back me up when FH gives me grief about the Mets. He's a BRAVES fan! Ugh!!! What am I doing?

We'll be in Atlanta this weekend and guess who is playing the Braves? FH wants to try and get tickets to the game. Pray for me that I don't strangle him if the Mets lose!