The View From My Couch: Collins Talks Leadoff, Sandy Talks Flores at SS, and Fred Gets His New Loan

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I had a minor surgical procedure and missed a few days on planet earth. I’m fine, thanks. Since then I’ve been scouring the internet, trying to figure out what happened with the Mets. At first I thought it was me, but it sure seems like the answer is: Not much. So, I will be honest, nothing earthshaking today. A few minor items did peak my interest so here is my take on them.

– Darryl Strawberry defended Alex Rodriquez, using the always popular, “all the other kids are doing it” defense. I couldn’t care less about A-Rod, but after all these years it would’ve been nice to see Strawberry realize the error of that logic. Oh well.

– Adam Rubin found time in between MacArthur Generals basketball games to get Terry Collins input on the leadoff batter dilemma. It seems Collins likes EY Jr. best in that spot. The thing about batting leadoff is you can’t do it from the bench. Also, you have to write somebody into that spot. More and more, I’m thinking Juan Lagares is not starting the season in center.

– In a bizarre and disturbing interview, Sandy Alderson mentioned that Wilmer Flores could still see time at shortstop. I haven’t seen enough of Wilmer to personally pass judgement on the idea, but the comparison that Sandy Alderson uses is frightening. Here is the quote, thanks to Anthony DiComo:

“Is he definitely not a shortstop? I try not to say anybody’s definitely not something. We tried Duda in left field. There’s no reason why we can’t try other players at positions where at first blush you’d say, “No, that’s not possible.”

Lucas Duda was an unmitigated disaster in the outfield. Tell me, Sandy, at which blush did that change?

– There was some complaining on the Internet, especially in the Twitterverse, that Josh Lewin Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.might not be back in the radio booth. Supposedly, Jeff is behind it. Look, I like to get on Jeff as much as the next guy, but not over Josh Lewin. I heard him some and he was fine, but let Jeff do what he wants here, anything to keep him busy. Sorry, Josh, it’s not personal, it’s business.

– If anyone was rooting that the impending spring 2014 loan was going to be a financial tipping point for the Wilpons, they can sit back down. The loan, for $250 million, has been refinanced over seven years. Nothing surprising here, I’ve been saying they would be able to do this for over a year now.

That’s all for today, but I will keep looking.

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