devo

Mets sign Guillermo Mota to a two-year, five million dollar contract. http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/new...sp&c_id=nym Even though it's basically for a year and two-thirds, it's still a hell of a deal. Two and half million per for a guy with his stuff in this market is fantastic.

Can anyone tell me if I should be upset that the Mets lost Jesus Flores to the Nationals in the Rule V draft? At one point the guy looked like the organization's next franchise catcher, but I really think his potential became limited after struggling at a very low level in the minor leagues and breaking his hand. Mets fans on other sites appear to be in a tizzy about losing him, but I don't see what the big deal is. Edit: Also, viva was right about Buchholz failing his physical. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writ...ay.scoop/1.html

ESPNews apparently confirmed it, though I can't find anything besides a blog mention thus far. http://www.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/200.../6/2555082.html

Coincidentally, the As go to Shea this year. I look forward to another warm welcome for Piazza (I'm sure he'll catch at least one of those games) but not so much the Met-crushing performance he put on last season.

It's as clear a sign as I've ever seen.

I'm curious as to what the penalties are for violating the ban. I'd love to see restaurants give a collective "fuck you" to the city's government and continue using trans fat if the penalty was less than what it would cost them in business or new product.

Maps! I'm actually going to be out on Long Island this weekend, so I'm mercifully spared OAK/CIN and get NE/MIA instead, which could be good. I just wish that DEN/SD wasn't on at the same time as the Jets. This is the one week where I'd have welcomed a nationally televised Broncos game.

With a lot of the quality infielders now off the market, I hope the Mets consider making a bid for Mark Loretta. His career line of .301/.391/.407 against lefties suggests that he could be a terrific platoon partner with Jose Valentin, even though the lack of any power whatsoever is a bit disconcerting. Still, I think he could easily be signed for one or two years at three or so million per and be well worth the money. Edit: Also, the Mets just traded Brian Bannister for Ambirorix Burgos. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writ...otes/index.html Scroll to the bottom. Not sure how to feel about that trade, since I felt Bannister had potential but not really more so than the several other pitchers the Mets had floating around in their farm system. Maybe this is another Peterson project. Burgos is rough around the edges to be sure.

Red Sox sign Lugo. Four years, thirty-six million. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?sectio...&id=2687819

The J.D. Drew deal is done. Five years, seventy million. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/base...dsox/index.html

That's probably the main reason, with the probable bad PR being a lesser yet still significant one.

Much better lineup this week than in Week 12 or 13. IND/JAX, BAL/KC, DEN/SD, and NO/DAL should all be fun to watch. The energy in the Meadowlands during the Jets game is going to be amazing. Coming home after big win in Lambeau + Game against divisional rival + Playoff implications for a team that was expected to be terrible = Absolutely pumped crowd.

Hey, this is actually a pretty good game. The Eagles and Panthers have been engaged in a very entertaining shootout since shortly before halftime. It's 24-24 now and Carolina seems to be on the verge of blowing yet another fourth quarter lead. Annnnd a god-awful throw from Delhomme that results in an interception makes it a virtual certainty.

Tony Kornheiser's doing his best Hank Williams Jr. impression on PTI right now.

Ooof. Well, even though they won by merit of occasionally capitalizing on the Broncos' many, many mistakes, the Seahawks thankfully emerged victorious to further muddy the AFC Wild Card picture. I can't imagine the Broncos would have lost tonight if Plummer had been at the helm.

That's cool, take your time. I'm sure you guys can go 60 yards in two minutes with a half-crippled quarterback.

Well, he's already as good as Rex Grossman. Nice going, Seahawks. That was embarassing.

Seattle Seahawks Official Offensive Gameplan 1) Hand to Runningback. 2) Repeat.

So, no offense for 51 minutes and then all hell breaks loose. Jeez, this is like the tenth break Seattle's gotten so far tonight.

I guess it was Seattle's turn to do a meaningless, poorly executed fake field goal.

The Broncos really have no desire to win this game, do they? Yeah, that's good thinking. You've completed about five passes all game, so why not hurl it down the field in the direction of Champ Bailey?

And what, exactly, did that accomplish?

The Seahawks are being completely outplayed, but it looks like they're going into the half with at least a tie. Hasselbeck looks awful. Never mind. They couldn't even get one yard off of the turnover.

Something else about that Mellencamp commerical; if it's all about nationwide inclusion, why does it feature nothing but white midwesterners? Bad move, Jay.

The Cutler era isn't exactly off to an explosive start, is it?