Colorado Rockies 1976

It didn't look any better in the clip I saw on the Mets' site lol.  Whoever the announcer was (it wasn't the SNY crew) made a good point, there's literally no downside to fielding it.  At worst it's either foul or you get an easy out at first.

I saw it, and yeah, it's hard to fathom.  And yeah, no downside to fielding it...geez, first and third basemen make plays on foul balls all of the time.  I can't remember ever having seen an infielder pull such an obvious Roger Dorn before.

Anyway, if the Mets don't do SOMETHING with Ike (what are they going to do now, bat him 8th?), then it just goes to show that nothing with the Mets has changed, no matter what they have coming up through their system.  I listened to the WFAN yesterday after the game (around 5:00), just to hear what Met fans had to say, and the overwhelming consensus is that Sandy is a befuddled moron who'd better start showing some signs of life very soon.  Yeah, it's easy for fans to say that, and it's not like Sandy can hit for Ike and Duda, etc. 

But Fatso made some good points yesterday (it'd be nice if Fatty didn't have to take such obvious pleasure in the Mets' sucking, but that's Mikey)...one of them being that Captain Passive needs to answer some questions by the end of THIS season, and not turn 2014 into a re-do of this season.  What that means if Ike and Duda continue to suck for the rest of this season, or suck enough that Sandy shouldn't feel comfortable keeping them in the team's plans beyond this season, he can't try to sell Met fans on "Well, we're going to give them one last chance in 2014 to see what they both can do."  Met fans were willing to punt on 2013 right along with Captain Passive, provided they saw progress and were given reasons to believe that 2014 would mark the end of 70-79 win, noncompetitive seasons.  But everyone's patience is running very thin, and Stammerin' Sandy better not to try to sell us on 2014 needing to be an extension of 2013 so he can be sure about certain players.   

And for the love of God, if everything else this season is lost, at least restore some friggin' ACCOUNTABILITY in this organization!  Ike Davis has played himself out of the lineup, despite being given an absurd amount of opportunities to get himself going.  He flat-out doesn't deserve another game at the major-league level.  The Mets have to show their fans they actually dare to hold their players accountable when they're doing NOTHING for this long!

My confidence in Sandy is pretty much minimal right now. 

who was the one that got the "victory lap" contract?

Marty was, with his most recent deal.  I think both parties knew there was a good chance, simply because of age and mileage, that Marty might not be terribly good in Year #2 of this deal, or even Year #1 (the balance of the previous two seasons were inconsistent).  Year #1 was not good (definitely not by Marty standards), and in Year #2 he's going to be 41.  I had no problem with Lou bringing him back...he was very good in the second half of 2011-12, and played well in the playoffs, and I can certainly understand why both Lou and Marty felt he might be able to continue that success (I don't remember the exact numbers, but in his last 52 games or so of the '11-'12 season, regular season and playoffs, I think he had a save% in the mid-.920s).  And yeah, when you have an all-time great, you reward him for everything he's given you, especially a guy who gave the player's association the finger over and over again by taking less-than-market value with each new contract...no, he may not live up to the value of this current deal, but it's a small price to pay for an incredible career...you live with it, and like I've said, hope it leads to a graceful exit.    

What's good about this is that, if all goes according to plan (BIG if of course...a lot can happen with young arms), Niese will probably be a #4.  No knock on Niese, but that's probably where he belongs, and will have the best chance for success...he could be a terrific #4.

Lou will let Marty start in goal for as long as he wants to. I see Marty starting for the next 3-4 seasons.

The above is probably sarcasm (I hope), but people are forgetting that if Marty turns in another season like this one, the decision isn't going to be his.  His contract is up after next season, so the Devils hold all of the cards here.  Lou has already doled out one "victory lap, thanks for everything" contract...he shouldn't be expected to give Marty another one, at the expense of the team.  If Marty's pretty good next year (I'd consider that .905-.910 save% territory at this point), then I hope Marty is smart to enough to realize he should leave the game on respectable terms, and leave the table while he's still up.  Everyone knows what Marty's meant to the Devils, but that doesn't mean that Lou and the Devils are indebted to him forever, especially at the expense of the on-ice product. 

And I DO firmly believe that Marty is not going to pull a Messier here and put his franchise in an uncomfortable situation.  I think he will do right by his team in the end.