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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Mike Francesa’s ERUPTION over the Mets

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Mike Francesa has perhaps his greatest eruption of all time over the Mets, coming off their 4 game sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies

Repoz Posted: August 23, 2012 at 07:36 PM | 48 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: media, mets

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1. puck Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:02 PM (#4216339)

Rex Brothers got the team leading 8th win...maybe someone will get to 10 after all.

2. Blastin Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:06 PM (#4216341)

He's awful, but this.. is pretty hilarious.

3. The Yankee Clapper Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:12 PM (#4216346)

Is he always worked up like that?

4. Russlan is fond of Dillon Gee Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:25 PM (#4216354)

I have to say that Sandy et al have largely been underwhelming. I know that they have not had much payroll to work with but they haven't done much with the resources they did have. They tried to fix the bullpen and the bullpen has an ERA of over 5.00. They've largely stood pat otherwise. Really, other than the Beltran trade, they haven't done much that stands out as positive.

The Mets are probably going to suck again in 2013 and they need their pitching prospects to perform well if they are going to compete in 2014.

5. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:29 PM (#4216356)

Minor league lineup? The Rockies offense is at 94 OPS+, right at league average. It's the pitching that's awful...awful until a couple of weeks ago, that is. Colorado is 12-5 in their last 17, not bad for a team that was 38-68 beforehand...

6. billyshears Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4216357)

I really would like to support Alderson and Co., and they have been hamstrung by payroll, but they really have not done anything outside of the Beltran/Wheeler deal to improve the outlook of this team in the long term. Spending what little resources the team had on the bullpen last offseason was always a dicey idea. It was not without logic, but it has worked out terribly. I was hoping we would have seen more organization wide creativity by now. Unfortunately, we haven't.

7. Tom Nawrocki Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:37 PM (#4216361)

Minor league lineup? The Rockies offense is at 94 OPS+, right at league average.

Tulowitzki is on the DL. Helton is on the DL. Cuddyer is on the DL. Carlos Gonzalez missed the first two games of the Met series on the bereavement list. Dexter Fowler missed today's game after spraining his ankle last night.

Look at the lineup the Rockies threw out there before Gonzalez came back. It really was a bunch of minor leaguers.

8. puck Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:38 PM (#4216363)

Minor league lineup? The Rockies offense is at 94 OPS+, right at league average.

(Was typing this when Tom posted.)

The starting lineup in the 4th game:

Charlie Blackmon, RF (spent most of the year at AAA)
Jonathan Herrera, SS (utility infielder)
Jordan Pachecho, 1B (rookie, .306 avg, but 86 OPS+)
Carlos Gonzalez, LF (missed the 1st two games on bereavement leave)
Wilin Rosario, C (rookie)
Tyler Colvin, CF (not a rookie, but close)
Chris Nelson, 3B (440+ MLB PA's)
DJ LeMahieu, 2B (180 MLB PA)

9. flournoy Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:40 PM (#4216364)

Herein this radio guy makes a fifteen second point, and then spends the next ten minutes repeating and rephrasing his point. Truly terrible work.

10. Kurt Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:44 PM (#4216365)

Herein this radio guy makes a fifteen second point, and then spends the next ten minutes repeating and rephrasing his point. Truly terrible work.

What do you think these guys do for five hours a day? Make hundreds of independent and distinct fifteen second points?

11. Tom Nawrocki Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:44 PM (#4216366)

Monday and Tuesday's lineup both had Andrew Brown and Charlie Blackmon in the corner outfield positions. Those guys aren't just minor leaguers; they're not especially good minor leaguers.

12. puck Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:44 PM (#4216367)

But that is rather embarrassing the Mets scored only 5 runs in 4 games against that staff.

13. King Berenger Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:53 PM (#4216372)

Mike Francesca is always poetic in his own way. Sports talk radio is basically like hiring someone to complain about your team for you so YOU don't get your throat hoarse. Most people spend their time not listening to sports talk radio complaining in a similar manner to their friends and family. People who have no friends or family call in.

14. Gonna break my Rusty Kuntz and run . . . Arbitol Posted: August 23, 2012 at 08:58 PM (#4216376)

He's not wrong.

15. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: August 23, 2012 at 09:00 PM (#4216379)

That photo makes Francesa look like Charles Foster Kane in Xanadu, watching his wife (out of frame) doing crossword puzzles.

16. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: August 23, 2012 at 09:06 PM (#4216386)

Did Francesca imply that Matt Harvey is a made-up person?

17. Gonna break my Rusty Kuntz and run . . . Arbitol Posted: August 23, 2012 at 09:11 PM (#4216387)

At least he likes Pulsipher (he is a one time Yankee, after all).

18. Lassus Posted: August 23, 2012 at 09:37 PM (#4216399)

Francesca defines "tool". Anyone listening to him loses credibility, period.

19. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: August 23, 2012 at 10:04 PM (#4216404)

That photo makes Francesa look like Charles Foster Kane in Xanadu, watching his wife (out of frame) doing crossword puzzles.

I was thinking more Dr. Strangelove.

20. Mark S. is bored Posted: August 23, 2012 at 10:23 PM (#4216413)

I have to say that Sandy et al have largely been underwhelming. I know that they have not had much payroll to work with but they haven't done much with the resources they did have. They tried to fix the bullpen and the bullpen has an ERA of over 5.00. They've largely stood pat otherwise. Really, other than the Beltran trade, they haven't done much that stands out as positive.

They not only didn't have much payroll, but they had to cut payroll each year.

2010 - 134M
2011 - 118M
2012 - 93M

All numbers from USA Today

So they've had to cut $40M in payroll in 2 years while having very little top end talent in the minors. I don't think it's fair to judge what Alderson's done when he's only had a couple years to fix the mess the Mets were in. But, he's convinced the ownership to spend money on the draft, which was sorely needed.

21. Benji Posted: August 23, 2012 at 10:33 PM (#4216416)

Like not signing their #2 pick? Alderson is still on a honeymoon with a lot of Met fans and I don't see why. And they always bring up Beltran for Wheeler as a great triumph. But what did it accomplish? A dream of a #1 or #2 starter in exchange for a sure thing. RF has been a huge problem all year and the Binghampton/Buffalo wins don't translate to anything tangible for the Mets. And why were Bourn, Pence and Ubaldo worth four prospects, but Beltran only one? A team with no 2B, OF,catchers or relievers worth a crap couldn't get another prospect or two? And don't get me started on the KRod deal.

22. JJ1986 Posted: August 23, 2012 at 10:59 PM (#4216428)

Bourn was a year and a half, Pence and Ubaldo two and a half. Beltran was for two months.

23. Repoz

Posted: August 23, 2012 at 11:33 PM (#4216448)

Did Francesca imply that Matt Harvey is a made-up person?

Back in 2007, a caller told Francesspool that the Yankees should bring up this kid in A ball that's blowing all the hitters away.

The Pool hand-wavingly shot back..."I'm supposed to know who this Joe V. Chamberlain is!?"

24. jobu Posted: August 23, 2012 at 11:51 PM (#4216450)

In related news, Alberto Jose Alburquerque was sent to the minors.

25. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 24, 2012 at 12:05 AM (#4216453)

If you listen to Francesa's main point here, it's this:

The players have quit.

He does the same thing with the NFL. When a good team loses to a bad one, the good team "didn't show up."

It's great work, if you can get it.

26. Knock on any Iorg Posted: August 24, 2012 at 12:10 AM (#4216455)

He's lucky he wasn't in the gym shower when he had his eruption!

27. Russlan is fond of Dillon Gee Posted: August 24, 2012 at 12:39 AM (#4216461)

A dream of a #1 or #2 starter in exchange for a sure thing.

You're not wrong in your characterization of Wheeler and Beltran is a great player. But he's a great player that the Mets couldn't or wouldn't pay. If the Mets did not trade Beltran, he would have left to play for a contender at the end of the year. That was a pretty big win for the Mets.

They not only didn't have much payroll, but they had to cut payroll each year.

But what have they done to reduce payroll other than let some contracts expire? It's not the GM of Toronto who traded Wells and got the Angels to eat the contract. I'm not saying they've been awful but it's really hard to look at their track record so far and point to a lot of clear positives.

28. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: August 24, 2012 at 06:24 AM (#4216505)

We get to watch Francessa on TV, thanks to YES. What a boob. He's so serious. I think he really believes he's an "expert", when he's just another Monday morning quarterback, like the rest of the world.

29. Flynn Posted: August 24, 2012 at 07:10 AM (#4216512)

He used to be much more knowledgeable. He's got relatively young kids for a man his age, so maybe he's turning off the TV to watch them grow.

30. AJM Posted: August 24, 2012 at 07:25 AM (#4216514)

As much as the team sucks, a lot of good has come out of this year. Wright looks like an MVP again, Tejada can play, Murphy's knee has stayed in place while he's been an average hitter, and the young pitchers look good.

31. Gonna break my Rusty Kuntz and run . . . Arbitol Posted: August 24, 2012 at 08:30 AM (#4216533)

There is the makings of a pitching staff here. Dickey & Neise should be at least solid again next year; Harvey seems ready to be at least an average starter; hopefully Gee will be back, but if not McHugh's minor league numbers look a lot like Gee's; a slim majority opinion seems to be that Wheeler is actually better than Harvey; who knows what if anything Santana has left.

Position players are another matter. Wright, Tejada, and probably Davis look like they can be starters on a contending team. Beyond that is nothing (you could live with Murphy too, but the rest of the team better look a whole lot better than the 2012 Mets).

I am not a believer in Familia or Mejia. Maybe it's time to see if they can be swapped for some position players. Somewhere a 2-3 WAR outfielder or three has to be available.

32. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 24, 2012 at 08:31 AM (#4216537)

The best part, if you watched on YES, was immediately following Francesa's rant, when the update guy came on with a concerned look on his face.

33. Lassus Posted: August 24, 2012 at 08:32 AM (#4216538)

He was only concerned because Francesca didn't have a heart attack. "Jesus, another day."

34. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: August 24, 2012 at 08:44 AM (#4216546)

That so many people care what professional blowhards have to say--not just about sports, but about everything--is the thing I like currently like least about America. Well, that's an exaggeration as our continued obsession with eradicating our megafauna upsets me more, but it's definitely up there.

35. Tom Nawrocki Posted: August 24, 2012 at 08:52 AM (#4216552)

That so many people care what professional blowhards have to say--not just about sports, but about everything--is the thing I like currently like least about America.

The scary thing is, most of the political blowhards know even less about the subject they cover than the sports blowhards.

36. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: August 24, 2012 at 08:56 AM (#4216556)

The scary thing is, most of the political blowhards know even less about the subject they cover than the sports blowhards.

It's very frustrating, but there are literally billions of dollars to be made in channels devoted to blowhardery. More depressing than frustrating, I guess. You can't even go to the airport or a diner anymore without being bludgeoned by that ####, either.

37. Darren

Posted: August 24, 2012 at 09:23 AM (#4216578)

Francesa has a special set of rules for the Mets and Jets. They are to be praised rarely, generally condescended to, and any time anything goes even a little wrong, they are to be yelled at for hours.

38. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide Posted: August 24, 2012 at 09:31 AM (#4216583)

Francesca defines "tool". Anyone listening to him loses credibility, period.

But he's got fungibility.

39. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish Posted: August 24, 2012 at 09:49 AM (#4216601)

Francesa has a special set of rules for the Mets and Jets. They are to be praised rarely, generally condescended to, and any time anything goes even a little wrong, they are to be yelled at for hours.

That's pretty much what the entire NY press corps does, not to mention most fans.

40. Howie Menckel Posted: August 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM (#4216606)

The Francesa "fungibility" youtube clip may be his finest hour.
Sometimes blowhards get something wrong, but never as precisely 100 pct wrong as that one. And the attempt to talk his way out of it is even better.

41. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: August 24, 2012 at 10:15 AM (#4216621)

Francesa has a special set of rules for the Mets and Jets. They are to be praised rarely, generally condescended to, and any time anything goes even a little wrong, they are to be yelled at for hours.

That's pretty much what the entire NY press corps does, not to mention most fans.

Well, they're the red-headed stepchildren of the successful teams. That's what happens.

42. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: August 24, 2012 at 10:27 AM (#4216630)

I understand the knee-jerk frustration of Mets fans but, hey, didn't everyone not named Lassus pick them to finish last? In contrast, Francesa should STFU since he's just another Yankee fanboy with an acute case of Schadenfreude.

43. Ravecc Posted: August 24, 2012 at 10:46 AM (#4216646)

The overachieving in the first half raised expectations. But they were never going to win with no speed, no power, and that bullpen, even if they led the world in 2-out runs.

Francesca has been going after Alderson for quite some time, saying there should at least be a sense that the Mets are climbing out of the Omar hole. There are signs: better-than-most starting pitching, a settled infield, and an improving minor league system. The 2 blackholes: the outfield and the bullpen. That won’t get fixed next year, not with Jason Bay and Johan Santana consuming half the payroll.

44. Lassus Posted: August 24, 2012 at 10:49 AM (#4216650)

I understand the knee-jerk frustration of Mets fans but, hey, didn't everyone not named Lassus pick them to finish last?

Yes, but jesus, we're really trying now, it seems.

45. puck Posted: August 24, 2012 at 11:01 AM (#4216660)

Maybe it's good at least someone still cares about the Mets? I don't listen to the local guys much out here, but I have heard them saying of the Rockies, "They're still playing?"

46. ecwcat Posted: August 24, 2012 at 11:37 AM (#4216700)

Mets suck and so does anyone who cares about them.

47. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 18, 2012 at 03:32 PM (#4239323)

Mike Francesca falls asleep during interview. (The 0:55 mark is hilarious).

Prank callers make jokes about Mike Francesca falling asleep.

48. Joe Kehoskie Posted: September 18, 2012 at 03:47 PM (#4239346)

What happened to the Primate known as 'Something Other'? He was always great in these Mets threads.

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Mike Francesa’s ERUPTION over the Mets

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