MattZ

I agree with some of this, but disagree with most of it. For example, the Patriots were the best team in football last year, but they didn't win the Super Bowl. That being said, they had the best record overall, which, over time will tell you who the best team is. Any team can win one game. The Giants were better on that day. The Patriots were, without doubt, the best team in football last year. More often than not, the best team does have the best record. Its the one-game playoffs or short playoff series where things can get dicey. Of course you are right -- 162 games is the only sam

No, I couldn't tell. You are correct, after your initial post, you went on to state that you were most worried about the Phillies in September. But I thought the point of your initial post was that the Phillies are the best team in the division right now. And for a guy who relies so much on VORP and OBP, I was surprised that you were having such a tough time with GB. To be honest bobbob, I wouldn't have been surprised if you argued that even though the Mets are in first by 1 game, that the run differential and ERA and whatever other statistics you've got prove that the Phillies are stil

How about real things like W-L record? I don't think there are more important statistics than those. And I am not talking about predictions for what happens at the end of the season. I am not arguing that W-L record predicts future success. You said the Phillies were the best team in the division and I interpreted your statement to be referring to now. As in, today. And today, the Mets are 1 game better than the Phillies. After 100 games which is a decent sample size. Not trying to overstate the significance of a 1 game lead either. Just that I think we have all the evidence we need

Not sure what you base "best team in the division" on if not record. Effort? Intangibles?

bjorn - hang with me here. lay low, be cautiously optimistic. Don't take the bait. Dont take it. Um, no. The Mets are the best team in the division. By 1 game. And the Marlins are the third best team in the division. (sorry bjorn, I tried. I know I shouldn't take the bait. Damnit!)

Amazin'

Far be it from to pick on the dude who shows as much Argy Bargy love as you have in this thread. I want to buy you a beer. But I am having a hard time wrapping my head around your belief that lesser artists' best work is better than Idiot Wind, Simple Twist of Fate, If You See Her Say Hello, etc. It's ok though. It's why we all get to say IMHO.

Yeah, East Side Story. Tilbrook's biggest hit was a song he gave to someone else to sing. Pretty amazing. I still think Argy Bargy is better. Hard to think of a better 1-2 punch than Pulling Mussels>Another Nail. Not sure what you mean by BOTT being Dylan's most overrated album. Do you mean it's great, but not as good as others he's done? Or not that good?

You want to know why Starbucks needs to close some stores? Because these three stores: #7515 400 Madison Ave #11692 46th and Fifth Ave #11737 Madison and 44th are within two freaking square blocks of each other. And there are three others that I can think of in the same 2 block radius. SIX in total!!!

To bring the discussion from last week full circle, I'd like to say that, apparently, for Mets fans, having a pitcher get 3 outs with a 3 run lead in the 9th for a save isn't such a gimme.

1. yhf (wilco) 2. abbey road (beatles) 3. blonde on blonde (dylan) 4. revolver (beatles) 5. rubber soul (beatles) 6. blood on the tracks (dylan) 7. highway 61 (dylan) 8. sticky fingers (rolling stones) 9. this year's model (elvis) 10. arthur (kinks) 11. pet sounds (beach boys) 12. exile (stones) 13. argy bargy (squeeze) 14. in the aeroplane over the sea (nmh) 15. a ghost is born (wilco) 16. blood and chocolate (elvis) 17. american water (silver jews) 18. i can hear the heart beating as one (yo la tengo) 19. east side story (squeeze) 20. gold (ryan adams) Looking over my list, i see that I a

We have to ignore them. If we didn't ignore them, the third group wouldn't exist. They'd be in group 1 or 2.

Are the Pats going to cut Kazcur?

Yeah this is going to be a crazy week. I just hope people can chill out a bit and realize that no matter what happens we still have a looooong way to go. If this season (baseball or election) has taught us anything, it's that there is no such thing as momentum. The Mets just need to keep playing hard every day and not treat this series in July as the playoffs. The Mets of old would have won 2 of 3 in this series and then gotten swept by the Padres after this series was over given the inevitable let down.

I just saw that Marion Jones asked for President Bush to pardon her. For her 6 month sentence. If I was president, I'd give her another 6 months for making such a stupid request. Jeezus.

That's f*cking awesome. Wow.

Honestly?

cranes on the downtown skyline is a sight to see for some it ought to make a few reputations in the cult of number one while these seconds turn these minutes into hours of the day all these doubles drive the dollars and the light of day away suffering jukebox such a sad machine you're all filled up with what other people need and they never seem to turn you up loud there are a lot of chatterboxes in this crowd suffering jukebox in a happy town you're over in the corner breaking down they always seem to keep you way down low the people in this town don't want to know well I guess all tha

I can't wait until Hanley gets traded to the Red Sox when the Marlins don't want to pay him anymore.

Hanley has putrid RBI production relative to his HR production. 45 rbis and 23 hrs? Gimme a freaking break. That's awful. (just kidding bobbob)

I think anyone who knows anything about baseball knows that guys like Joe Borowski suck no matter how many saves they have.

Four thoughts: 1. The Joba experiment should shed some interesting light on the "Papelbon would be an average starter" and "players add more value as starters than closers" debate. I am not saying it will settle anything, but, it should be interesting to see. 2. I understand why you are citing Bill James as an authority above, but to me, the guy is still another dude with an opinion. And we've all got them. For what it's worth, I agree with him, but citing Bill James isn't evidence of anything other than someone that agrees with you (IMO). 3. I haven't read this thread all that closely, and

I often try to think of the reverse -- pitcher throws a shutout and hits a home run. But you still need your defense to make plays behind you. EDIT: How about you throw a shutout, strike out 27 batters and hit a home run. You technically wouldn't need fielders (or a catcher) in that scenario either.

Oh I am just being too literal maybe. My point is that the team could have always scored more runs or the starter could have given up fewer runs, etc. Guys make outs with men on base and then the closer gives up a run in the ninth? Sure, we can blame the closer, but the dude who struck out in the 4th didnt do his job either. That's my point.