Back in 2004, or the last time the Mets' front office was in this much
turmoil, one guy (with some help from another guy) was the divisive
force that created so much havoc that super-prospect Scott Kazmir was
traded for a injury-prone, arbitration-eligible (and serious non-tender
candidate) right-hander, Victor Zambrano. That guy's name was Al Goldis, and his partner in crime was Bill
Livesey. Yeah, those guys. “The Super Scouts”. These two geniuses
helped destroy a blossoming farm system, an exceptional scouting
department, and got an undeserving GM fired. They also helped turn a
fan base against Jeff Wilpon.
The Mets fan base doesn't know what to do with itself. Neither it seems, do my colleagues in the media. The same people that have been calling for Willie Randolph's head since
the end of last season, seem to have softened the last week because
Randolph showed a sense of humor – for the first time in four years --
about his inevitable situation.
No, this isn’t a rendition of The Who’s hit "Won’t Get Fooled Again" so
much as it is a re-introduction to the Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo.
Though he may not need an introduction to readers of Gotham Baseball,
(it is his third time leading the Brooklyn team) his two McNamara
Division titles and 2001 Co-Championship are definitely worth mentioning again.
When 6-foot-3’ Stephen Cotov stepped onto the mound to pitch the second
inning of the C.H.S.A.A. Senior Classic, he was the biggest man on the
field, and he had to be. The Archdiocese of New York' All-Star team has
just knocked around Cotov’s rival pitcher turned All-Star
teammate—Dominick Scavelli of Xaverian—for four runs in the first
inning. As Cotov faced the top of the order, he had to stop the
bleeding for the Diocese of Brooklyn-Queens.
There's blood in the water, and even the dolphins are starting to get hungry. That's the feeling around Shea Stadium these days. From ownership to
the fan base, there is a general disgust about the lack of consistency
the New York Mets have exhibited since sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 2006 NLDS.
On June 6th and 7th, the Brooklyn Cyclones front office staff will
again play 24 straight hours of baseball in a charity fund-raising
effort, benefiting Autism Speaks, HeartShare Human Services of New
York, and the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation (NYPLCF). Staff members (13 men and women, total) will take the field at 12 noon
on Friday the 6th, and in the first contest of the marathon, will face
a team made up of local media, which includes Gotham Baseball
Magazine's Owner and Executive Editor Mark Healey.