Because December needs it badly, the Varsity Letters sports discussion and reading series will devote itself to baseball this Monday night — and not just any baseball, but National League Champion Mets baseball. I will have the honor of speaking there and hope you will be there to listen and speak back.
I’ll be previewing my forthcoming book, Amazin’ Again: How the 2015 New York Mets Brought the Magic Back to Queens (available for pre-order right this very minute), and generally basking in the afterglow of our very recent pennant-winning campaign. David Roth of Vice Sports and Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal are also on the announced roster of speakers, ensuring a fine and necessary night of Mets talk.
Varsity Letters happens at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. (between Thompson and Sullivan streets in the Village), easily accessible by subway. Admission is free. Doors open at 7, the program begins and 7:30, plenty of time will remain later to watch the Giants take a lead deep into the fourth quarter of their game in Miami…but that’s another sport. As Casey Stengel once told a Senate subcommittee, “I am not going to speak of any other sport. I am not here to argue about other sports, I am in the baseball business.”
Or as the Mets’ new shortstop might add, get your Asdrubal down to Varsity Letters on Monday night. You’ll be glad you did.
I’ll be there!
Looks like Cuddyer is retiring after a single lost season, according to ESPN. Talk about addition by subtraction! Now he can present that WWF belt to himself for the only good thing he’s done all year. More shtick than stick.
And that Niese trade is terrific, getting what appears to be a pretty good position player for a not-so-good pitcher. Didn’t he win a free nose job from Beltran? He should have gotten his money back.
If those Cuddyer news are true, it would be the best day this offseason yet.
Go home, old man!!
And take your friend with you. Seems all we do is discuss acquiring players who can back up David Wright.
No way to run a franchise.
And no coincidence Mets made WS with him out all year.
I’m not going to say that he’s the same player he used to be — he clearly is NOT — but Wright hit .289/.379/.434 last year, which is about the same as what Adrian Beltre, Mike Moustakas, and Evan Longoria did. Also, it wasn’t that long ago that Met fans were screaming about the pathetic offense they were putting out there most of the year (3B being manned mostly by Campbell), and .289/.379/.434 certainly doesn’t qualify as pathetic, even for a 3B. For a little perspective, Daniel Murphy went .286/.325/.423 during the regular season.
The injury concern is a legitimate point, but Wright has not been a drain on the lineup when he has played, and he’s not likely to be in 2016 either. And with Cabrera and Walker in tow, they already have this year’s Johnson & Uribe.
All great points Rob, but it’s futile trying to convince this guy that Wright is a good player. I’m sure he knows exactly what it’s like to play baseball at it’s highest level (and wiffle ball in your Mom’s backyard doesn’t count).
Such criticism of actual MLB players by those whose claim to fame was maybe going 2-4 in a coed softball game always makes me laugh. I respect Cuddyer for doing what he did (although I’m sure he probably did get some buyout from the Mets). He could have easily taken up a roster spot and collected a fat paycheck while taking it easy like some players might have. Best of luck to him.