An insane baseball brawl [Video]

Via JSchil’s Blog…

Santana is the Baryshnikov of the hands [Quote]

Watch a master at work and stand in awe. Before each start Johan Santana, the Mets' ace, struts past his teammates, smacking and fist-bumping and shimmying, as if performing a dugout Macarena, personalizing shakes for each teammate while throwing fake pitches. The innovation is ongoing (his shakes often change from week to week) and the complexity staggering—Santana is a veritable Baryshnikov of the hands, a choreographer of camaraderie.

-Chris Ballard, The Metaphysical Significance, Staggering Ubiquity
and Sheer Joy of High Fives

Read this article.  (For the lazy, the Santana part pulls from here.)

Jeff Wilpon’s video blog [Day 2]

It’s funny because it’s true.

Here’s the second installment of Jeff Wilpon’s video blog from 12 Angry Mascots…

Jose Reyes’ overactive thyroid

From the Mets…

The additional blood tests confirmed that Jose Reyes's thyroid hormone blood levels are elevated and he is hyperthyroid. Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek last night spoke with Jose and his representatives. As prescribed by the doctors and specialists, Jose’s treatment plan is to rest, refrain from athletic activity and make changes in his diet. The doctors will monitor Jose's thyroid levels through regular blood tests. Once Jose’s thyroid levels return to normal, he will be cleared to resume baseball activities.

The waiting game begins.

Reyes’ thyroid could return to normal in a few weeks (mine were out of whack after my stint in the hospital at the beginning of February and were back to normal three weeks later), or it could be a lot longer.

Andy McCullough at NJ.com says it could be two weeks, or eight.

Update: Here’s why Reyes won’t be treated with medication, which I guess is a good thing.

For Reyes and for Mets fans, this sucks.

Just when he thought he would be returning to lead the team and when fans are itching to watch him play again, he’s sidelined once more.

Strangely, Reyes will not be receiving treatment (usually, a radioactive chemical, taken orally, to knock out some of the function from the thyroid), but will rather wait and see.  The bad part about this is, if in a few weeks, nothing is changed, he’ll have to go the medicinal route, likely keeping him out even longer.

12 Angry Mascots: Jeff Wilpon’s vlog

The mad minds behind 12 Angry Mascots are launching a Jeff Wilpon video blog called The WilVlog.

Below is the first installment.

They plan to post every Tuesday and Thursday for the next few weeks.

This should be fun.

(Driving to Atlantic City for the next few days.  Might have Internet, might not.  If not, talk to you on Friday!)

My Q&A with Macho Row

I did a quick Mets and NL East Q&A with the Phillies blog Macho Row.

Here’s a quick sampling…

How hot is the water that general manager Omar Minaya is sitting in? Is the pressure on Minaya to get the team back to the playoffs at a point where this is a make-or-break season?
Sizzling. I'm not sure this is a make-or-break season, but it might be a make-or-break year. If the team stinks it up and then he doesn't go out and get some big names by 2011, he's out.
---
What about manager Jerry Manuel? Will Manuel be the manager at the end of the 2010 season?
If Minaya's is sizzling, Manuel's is literally on fire. Manuel could be out in 20 games if they fall flat out of the gate. He's a dead man walking and he knows it too. A lot rides on the beginning of the season. I may as well write up his "obituary" now and just wait to post it.

For the full Q&A, where I discuss Citi Field, Jerry Manuel’s love affair with Jenrry Mejia and more, head over to Macho Row.

Manuel’s Musing

“With the question marks we have at two, three and four, each day those guys go out and throw strikes and compete is a big plus for us.”

-Jerry Manuel on the starting rotation

At least he admits they are question marks.  But no question mark at five?  Isn’t that the biggest question mark of them all?