The Great Flushing Heist

Former Los Mets equipment manager Charlie Samuels has been charged with stealing $2.4 million worth of Mets memorabilia during his 30+ year tenure as clubhouse manager. For a franchise that has exactly one highlight since Samuels began working for the club in 1976, this begs the question of exactly how big was his haul? Allegedly the 1986 World Series jersey he walked out with is only worth $7,500. Did he steal the entire locker room? Did he kidnap Bobby Bonilla? Is he hiding Shea Stadium somewhere? NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly put it aptly when he said, "this is a case of the equipment manager leading the National League in steals." Take that Jose Reyes.

For more on the story, check out the Daily News.



Thanks to Daily Tailgate for the pic

Time value of shame...I mean money

Los Mets. Bernie Madoff and Fred Wilpon. The $25 million loan from MLB last season. Outstanding interest owed on Citi Field and declining attendance. Bobby Bonilla. Even if the prevalence of quality news sources like TCD covering the financial maladies of the Metropolitans and the Wilpons is on par with the prevalence of mind numbingly stupid free agent signings the organization has made over its history, the ongoing Bonilla saga - yes, I said ongoing, as in occurring presently - deserves as much attention as it can get. Especially from me.



In 2000, then Mets General Manager, and current sex addict, Steve Phillips (above, left to right, Phillips is white guy #1) decided that rather than pay Bonilla the $5.9 million left on his disastrous contact and be done with the fat, lazy and inept infielder forever, he would defer payments until the 2011 to 2035 period when Phillips would be in rehab and done with any sort of career forever. As a result, the Mets owe Bonilla 24 annual payments of more than $1.19 million per through 2035 for a total of $30 million. TCD's Phil will be 53 the last year the Mets pay Bonilla. Bonilla will be dead the last year the Mets pay Bonilla.

Clearly I do not much care for the Mets. And I don't like the Red Sox, who owe Manny about $2 million a year through 2026. I also have no problem admitting that the Yankees have made some disastrous personnel moves as well. Carl Pavano? Kevin Brown? Jaret Wright? And my favorite, "fat toad" Hideki Irabu. But the hits just keep on coming for the Mets. I don't think there is a team in professional sports haunted more by their past in the present than Los Mets. For the sake of the team and their fans, I hope Opening Day is kind to the Queens boys and that they somehow give the Phillies all they can handle this season.

Los Mets are hiring

Especially in this job market, the position as Keith Hernandez's mustache seems pretty solid...

LAUGHABLE

"Good work, Sox."

Marco Scutaro.

HA!

This dudes "career year" at 33 in his big free agent season last year?

Look out! .282 AVG, .379 OBP, .409 SLG and a whopping 12 dingers! I mean, really?

It's been a while since Marco tore it up for the Metropolitans, batting a scorching .218 as he got closer to the Mendoza line in each of his memorable 75 games, so it will be nice to have the opportunity to hate him again.

The weekly Scutaro watch begins Opening Day