Mr. Burgos goes to prison

Ex-Mets relief pitcher, Ambiorix Burgos, has been sentenced to nine months in jail.

Burgos was found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend in a hotel room last Sept. 8.

From the AP:

Prosecutors say Burgos punched, slapped and stepped on then-girlfriend Maria Lopez when she tried to leave the hotel where he was staying.

She testified that he told her, "The police won't do anything to me. I am a baseball player."

Burgos is still awaiting charges in a case where the prosecution claims he ran over and killed two women in the Dominican Republic.

Ambiorix Burgos found guilty

Ambiorix Burgos was found guilty of beating his girlfriend in New York, and will be sentenced on April 3.

From the Daily News:

Burgos, 24, was convicted Thursday of beating his girlfriend in a hotel near Shea Stadium in September after she tried to leave their room to go register her young daughter for school. A jury spent just over an hour deliberating before convicting the 6-foot-3, 235-pound righthander of misdemeanor assault.
---
Burgos beat and bit single mom Maria Lopez, 26, and threw her up against a wall. But his lawyer, Edgar DeLeon, said the woman waited two days to photograph her injuries and implied that she was out to get the free agent ballplayer's money. He was sent straight to Rikers Island and faces up to a year when he is sentenced April 3.

This is only the first hurdle for Burgos, as he still is set to stand trial in the Dominican Republic for reportedly killing two women with his Hummer. Burgos claims he was not driving.

What an idiot.

Happy Mets Festivus

Today, Dec. 23, marks the celebration of Festivus. Today, we will go through the many rituals of Festivus, of course dealing with the Mets, so why don't we just call this "Metstivus."

Break out your aluminum poles, and let us begin with the Airing of Grievances:

Luis Castillo: Your albatross of a contract has weighed on the team since the day you signed. You may have been a necessity to get Johan Santana to sign long-term, but if you backed up the money you're being played with "decent" play, I think people would look the other way. Instead, you miss tons of time with your bum knees and slap your way into double plays. You are the biggest waste of money on the Mets and since Aaron Heilman is the newest resident of Seattle, you will become the fans new personal scapegoat.

Left field: Yes, I'm airing my grievances toward the entire position. It seems to be cursed. Let's start with 2008. Endy Chavez saw the most games in LF -- he's now a Seattle Mariner. Follower up by Fernando Tatis -- he missed the end of the season with a shoulder injury. Daniel Murphy seemed to escape the curse, as did his rookie counterpart Nick Evans. After them was Marlon Anderson, who struggled mightily at the plate all season long. Then Angel Pagan, who lost most of the season to a shoulder injury. Behind him was Moises Alou, who only appeared in 14 games for the Mets in '08.

Looking to 2007, Alou led the list, and again missed lots of time to injuries. Chavez was behind him, and also lost time to a hamstring injury. In third on that list was Carlos Gomez, who was traded in the off season to the Minnesota Twins.

Now to 2006 and Cliff Floyd, who suffered many injuries throughout the year, none more memorable or heartbreaking as in the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Floyd held his own from 2003-2005. 2004 featured Roger Cedeno as the almost everyday left fielder, with Timo Perez a distant second. Let me just list some left fielders the Mets have had "recently" (these are the players who saw the most games in LF that year): 1995 - Joe Orsulak, 1994 - Kevin McReynolds, 1993 - Vince Coleman, 1992 - Daryl Boston.

Maybe -- hopefully -- the move to Citi Field rids LF of it's apparent curse. Only few have escaped it since the early '90s.

Ryan Church: Stop running into things.

Luis Aguayo: Good riddance!

Willie Randolph: See: above.

Aaron Heilman: See: above.

Scott Schoeneweis: See: above.

Ambiorix Burgos: Get a safe, get a chauffeur, get anger management and get a lawyer. Also, see: above.

On to the Festivus Miracles!

It's a Metstivus miracle Omar Minaya signed Francisco Rodriguez for that price. Sign of the economy or just good dealings by Omar?

It's a Metstivus miracle he also helped sure up the 8th inning when he dealt the embattled Heilman and others away to land J.J. Putz.

It's a Metstivus miracle what Carlos Delgado did in the second half of the season.

It's a Metstivus miracle the Mets got Johan Santana earlier this year. (That was this year?! Geez.)

And finally, the Feats of Strength.

The Mets newest feat of strength will be when they flex their power in the 8th and 9th innings next season. I'm truly excited to see the day when Santana pitches seven strong innings and then has no fear or regrets as Putz shuts them down in the 8th and K-Rod comes in for the 9th. "Santana to Putz to K-Rod, the first Mets perfect game!" OK, I'm dreaming a little here, but still.

Another feat of strength, which also made last year's Festivus celebration was Shea Stadium. Holding up all those years, especially after Game 6 in 1986, is truly a feat of strength. You will be miss, Shea.

And finally, the fans. After having to put up with two heartbreaking collapses in two seasons, the fans will come flocking back to the team like nothing ever happened. With a renewed attitude and vigor, anxiously awaiting the chance to wash away the past two years and watch their team play baseball again. I can tell you I am among these fans. Spring training can't start soon enough.

Happy Holidays, everyone! Let's go Mets!

Please go check out Scott Proctor's Arm for a Yankee Festivus (featuring appearances by yours truly!)

Ambiorix Burgos released from jail

He's still in a huge amount of hot water, but now he'll be free to suffer on the outside.

Ambiorix Burgos has been released from a Dominican jail after paying $57,000 and now he must appear at court every two weeks. He is prohibited from leaving the country.

Burgos is slated to pitch in winter ball with the Azucareros del Este in the Dominican league, but who knows if he'll ever be a Met within the next few days.

Just release him, Omar. He's more trouble than he's worth.

Go directly to jail, do not pass Go, do not collect $200

Ambiorix Burgos better get used to being behind bars.

Burgos will spend three months in jail, as he awaits his trial for the hit-and-run in the Dominican Republic.

The AP relays a quote:

"I am going to come out of this fine because my conscience is clear, and I'm not worried this will affect my career because I haven't done anything."

Good luck with that one.

I'm surprised the Mets haven't come out and said anything yet. Surprised he's still in the system, too.

Also, here's a photo of him being escorted away:
Seriously, buddy? No Mets hat? Maybe the Mets are better off. Sorry White Sox.

Ambiorix Burgos surrenders

The Domincan Republic's Most Wanted.

After supposedly killing two people in a hit-and-run accident in the DR, Ambiorix Burgos has surrendered to authorities.

From the AP:

Ambiorix Burgos turned himself in on Tuesday, a week after police say he was involved in a hit-and-run accident that killed two women.

Authorities were interviewing him, prosecutor Raul Quiroz told The Associated Press.

The news comes after the mother of one of the two victims accused Burgos of intentionally running her daughter over because she refused to go out with him.

That is an awful way to get someone to go out with you. Not that I would know from experience.

Cut him, Omar.

Ambiorix Burgos is a terrible person

This is just awful.

Ambiorix Burgos, who has been at the center of controversies already this season, has allegedly struck and killed two people during a hit-and-run.

According to the Daily News, Burgos was driving a Hummer in the Dominican Republic, when he struck two people, then fled the scene.

He is also wanted for a gun possession charge.

Brugos was arrested earlier this month after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in New York. He also had his "bling" stolen during spring training.

The Mets should cut their losses and release him immediately. This should not be tolerated.

Ambiorix Burgos is not dead

Remember that player in the Brian Bannister deal? (And before you jump all over Omar Minaya, Bannister is 7-9 this year, with an ERA of 5.33).

Ambiroix Burgos made his first appearance while rehabbing his way back from Tommy John surgery.

In two innings for the Gulf Coast Mets, Burgos allowed three hits and two earned runs, while striking out four.

Burgos, only 24, has appeared in 144 games in his short career, only 17 with the Mets. He earned his only win as a member of the Mets when the team rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs on May 17, 2007.

Remember me? The missing Mets

Have a good memory? See if you remember these Mets...

from left to right: Moises Alou, Orlando Hernandez, Matt Wise, Ambiorix Burgos, Angel Pagan

Honorable mention: Ryan Church, who returned to the lineup yesterday against the Yankees.

These five players have appeared in a combined 54 games for the New York Mets in 2008. Two of them have not appeared in any games...at any level.

Alou has played in 15 games for the team, and is looking to come off his third DL stint, possibly as early as this weekend. A habitual member of the DL and has appeared in only 102 games for the Mets in two years. Alou is often seen without batting gloves and may or may not be riding around in a Rascal Personal Scooter.

El Duque has appeared in a total of 47 games for the Mets since coming over in a trade from Arizona for Jorge Julio. He has not pitched at all, in any level of professional baseball in 2008 and has been in a protective boot for months. Look for the limp and/or high leg kick.

Wise came to the Mets as a free agent in before the '08 season. Two stops on the DL has limited his playing time to only eight games (seven innings) for the team, sporting a 6.43 ERA. He's lanky, and that's about all the info we have on him.

Burgos has only appeared in 17 games for the Mets since coming over on December 6, 2006 for Brian Bannister. Burgos is often seen wearing lots and lots of bling, if it has not already been stolen.

Pagan, who had a breakout spring training to catch on with the Alou-less Mets, registered 91 AB in 31 games for the team. He went down with a shoulder injury after making a spectacular diving grab into the stands on May 7th. He may need surgery, which would cost him significantly more time off. Pagan can be seen jumping into the stands and hitting one game winning hit for the team.

If seen, please call the New York Mets at 718-507-METS.

Mets close to trade..

The Mets are close to trading for Royals relief pitcher Ambiorix Burgos.
The Royals are looking to get a pitching prospect in return.

...well, i can't say that name at all...

...im assuming they want Bannister, Maine, or Pelfrey. i'm very scared to give up any of them, as they all look way too promising. i would love to keep them all, along with Perez and have a really solid rotation...