Tonight at 11 PM ET, on Blog Talk Radio, the Baseball Bloggers Alliance will debut its new weekly radio program, BBA Baseball Talk.

The show will feature a rotating cast of bloggers (yours truly will be co-hosting the April 13^th show along with Adam Bernacchio of The Ghost of Moonlight Graham) tonight BBA founder and St. Louis Cardinal blogger, Daniel Shoptaw of the site C70 At The Bat will co-host with Ron Kaplan of Ron Kaplan’s Baseball Bookshelf.

Daniel and Ron will be taking listeners phone calls so call in at (347) 884-8690

Now that we amateur GM’s are ready to get down to business fortifying the Mets roster for 2010, the one item that is marked ESSENTIAL is The Bill James Handbook for 2010 (published by ACTA Sports). The Handbook is loaded with stats and leader boards that you would hope the front office is studying like it was the college boards.

As bad as the Mets season has been there were a few (surprise) Amazin’s who were ranked in the top 10 in some important categories for the 2009 season like Angel Pagan:

Angel Pagan-4^th in the NL for most Triples (11)

                      9^th in NL Leadoff Hitters OBP (.358)

                      4^th in NL OPS by CF’er

If Pagan had some semblance of baseball instinct and the ability to stay healthy the search for the everyday LF’er would be a moot point.

Digits like this and much more are in the Handbook. You can get your copy by going to Acta Sports or at the book store or online vendor of your choice. When you’re curled up by the hot stove this winter, your 2010 Bill James Handbook will leave you with that toasty feeling.

This post is not baseball related at all but when I read this morning that the Celtics and Rajon Rondo, my favorite Celtic have reached an agreement on a 5yr/$55 mil contract extension, it more than made up for an awful sports weekend As Tommy Heinsohn says

 I LOVE RONDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Join Frank Manascalco (a/k/a Frankie The Sports Guy) at 10PM ET for Sports Radio NY on AM 1240 WGBB. Frankie’s guest will be Mets fan extraordinaire and author Dana Brand, baseball blogger, Adam Bernacchio of The Ghost of Moonlight Graham and former Yankee third baseman, Charlie Hayes.

Frankie’s show steams live on the web at am1240wgbb and at sports radio ny.

Here is a link to my vote and the post that went with my ballot

On Saturday night, The Chicago White Sox had a 5-0 lead over the Detroit Tigers in a game that had a bearing on the AL Central race. The Tigers came back strong to score 12 unanswered runs to win the game 12-5. After the game, the White Sox players retreated to thier clubhouse and to drown their sorrows in college football. The sight of this “who gives a shit attitude” among his players led Guillen to go off:

‘‘The people we have in baseball now let players do whatever they want. My job is to teach the kids that’s not the way it’s supposed to be,’’ Guillen said. ‘‘I never tell my players what to do or how to prepare yourself, but when you lose a game and all of a sudden you look around and they’re watching another thing, that means you are teaching the kids. ‘Don’t worry about it — this is the big leagues. If we lose a game, who cares? We’re out of the pennant race.’

‘‘I’m old-school in the new era of baseball. I have to teach these kids this is not the way we should handle this stuff. If I let that thing go away, then I don’t have the power and the right to tell kids in the future what to do because it was like, ‘Well, two years ago, you let them do it.’ Anyone who is going to play for this organization will learn how to be a professional and how to handle things the right way.’’

‘‘Respect the game and the people who pay to see you,’’ Guillen said. ‘‘You know how many people walked out of here and were embarrassed by how we play? We appreciate their support — I’m a fan too, a Chicago fan, and that’s why I feel this way.’’

Now, that’s Gangsta’

Congrats to Big Pelf on becoming a first time Daddy.

It seems I’ve hit a nerve with some readers on calling out D-Wright for not charging the mound after Brad Thompson whizzed a pitch at his head, and I will say that I am stunned that some of you guys think he did the right thing by not going after Thompson. All I can tell you pacifists is the Mets have a rep around baseball as a bunch of pussies who when they are challenged never step up not just to fight but when times get tough they wilt like flowers in a rain storm. Thing will never change until the team grows some balls and if you think that is neanderthal thinking well it is and I don’t apologize for that and if you don’t like it then kiss my hairy cave man ass.

Thank God for the New York Fottball Giants to take my mind off this awful Mets season

In a bid to keep the peace at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies wanted to cloak or replace the 16-by-16-foot Mets banner at the top of the set decoration at the Billy Joel/Elton John concerts tonight and Saturday.

Alas, they could not find anything suitable.

Joel will wear a Phillies jacket for at least part of the show and will make some sort of joking reference to the Mets and their 10-games-back status

My colleague Bob Ford and I hear that the Phillies had reached out to the “Face 2 Face” concert to express concern about Joel’s New York-theme set.

It’s not that the Phils are worried about any kind of baseball rivalry, we hear; they just don’t want some yahoo having too much to drink and throwing something at it or starting a fight. The Mets banner was visible at recent shows at Nationals Ballpark and Wrigley Field.

Perhaps Joel will sing “Philadelphia State of Mind,” as well.

My wife actually has Billy Joel albums but when I get home tonight they are going in the trash where they should have been in the first place.

Imagine this old broken down douche is going to wear a Phillies jacket? What a piece of shit! If you don’t any song played at $iti Field by this hack then you’re not a Mets fan

As per Adam Rubin Carlos Beltran is going on the 15 day DL Ken Takahashi is going to Buffalo and Pat Misch comes up to NY

As Per Mike Francesa F-Mart is on the way back to Flushing

hide the shoe laces and sharp object.

Baseball like it ought to be, MY ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!

There was another game to be played on the field after ours and the teams were milling around waiting for our game to end. The coach of one of the teams was a guy I’ve known for a few years so I told “Don’t worry Jim we’ll be quick” and we both laughed. What are you gonna do cry? First kid up grounds out. Next kid walks. Next one hits a bloop over short. Next batter drills one to the gap in left center-a bloop and a blast-and it’s 13-8. Next batter walks then another walk and a strike out and a hit batsman. New pitcher and it’s 13-9 with two out. First pitch to the batter a hit down the left field line and holy shit it’s 13-11 with two out and then a infield hit and it’s 13-12 with two out. Now I’d love to say the next batter drove in two more runs but that only happens in the movies. The next kid K’d and we lost 13-12 but from the roar of the crowd and the kids waiting to play you would have thought we won a championship.

When the game ended we took the kids over to the snack stand which was the plan win or lose to buy them lunch. As we come off the field, the people at the complex were clapping and patting the kids on the back which was great because they really deserved to for not giving up and fighting back. But the best part of it was when one of the kids, the pitcher I took out after two innings said “We never give up because the coaches never give up on us”

And that right there is worth all the vacation days I’ve used and all the overtime I’ve given up and all the food, drinks, and baseballs I’ve bought and all the time I’ve put into practicing with these kids. Johan Santana, Alex Rodriguez Carlos Beltran they are all making a ton of money in baseball more than me but I guarantee they are not loving baseball more than I am.