Hey Guys, if your around tomorrow at 3 P.M. EST, stop by MVN.com/fourthandinches for the two year anniversary of the show with myself and Jimmy. You can call in to talk NFL offseason at 360-450-5NFL.
Towards the end of the show there will be a special montage dedicated to the two years me and Jimmy have done the show, complete with memorable moments and clips. Thanks, hope to see you there!

Filed under: myEDI Media | 1 Comment

Have you ever heard more about a guy who’s in charge of player development and minor-league system?  Better yet, have you ever heard anything more negative about a guy most don’t even know what looks like?

People have had bad things to say about Tony Bernazard, Mets assistant to the GM and VP of player development, pretty much always.  It goes all the way back to January of 2005 when Carlos Delgado criticized Bernazard on the “Latin” pitch to join the Mets.

Bernazard, a former Players Association administrator, was brought in by Omar Minaya to be an assistant, that’s it.  Well Bernazard is in a tie with fictional character Dwight Schrute from NBC’s The Office as the most known name for a guy who’s title starts with “Assistant to the…”

It’s become quite apparent that he never like Willie Randolph and had a large part in that firing finally happening.  It even seems like he was totally against Minaya’s wishes to hiring Willie in the first place, supporting an even less experienced guy in Manny Acta to get the job back in 2005.

As an assistant, Bernazard played the game smart becoming friends with Jeff Wilpon, another jerk in the Mets organization.  You remember Jeff, he’s the one that said it was a bad idea to sign Vladimir Guerrero and then encourage trading a young lefty named Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano.  Together, these two are basically in search of guys they like over guys who could help benefit the team most.  Reports have also stated that Bernazard was heavily against Minaya making any move for Kevin Millar, only because Millar was a replacement player in 1995 when Bernazard was with the Players Association.

He’s a man who hopes to become a GM.  While Minaya’s assistant, you could safely assume he would stab Minaya in the back the moment he could get that position of Mets GM.  All he’ll have to do is persuade Jeff Wilpon enough to believe he’s the guy to help find this team’s direction.

Bernazard is always around the team, constantly hanging around the clubhouse or sitting in the dugout during batting practice.  He seems to have a good bond with some Latin players, as he become a confidant to Beltran during the days in Players Association.  But there’s some Mets who don’t know too much about Bernazard, one being Billy Wagner.  “He comes around and talks to everybody but I’m not even sure what his job description is,” said Wagner.

More and more it seems like Tony Bernazard is a big problem for this team, as much as he says he wants to win.  There has to be a line drawn between the clubhouse and front office, and I think something is wrong with the assistant being around more than the actual GM.

Filed under: Matt Dahl, New York Mets | No Comments

watch?v=S5VHc8OufU8

Filed under: myEDI Media | No Comments

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Jerry Manual talked with reporters, regarding what he said after Jose Reyes threw a tantrum by throwing his helmet and storming off the field because he was being pulled from the game.

“I told him the next time he does that, I’m going to get my blade out and cut him, right on the field. Hey, I’m a gangsta now. You go gangsta on me, I’m gonnahave to get you now.”

I love this whole gangsta thing. I guess this is the ‘laid back’ Jerry Manual at his best. If the Mets have to keep it ‘Gangsta’ for the whole season in order for them to win, then “Gangstas on the field, ladies on the bus” as Jerry Manual would say. I think this will give the Mets a new life and it’s good to see himself someone enjoying themselves as manager of the Mets.

Manuel, on his relationship with the players, while speaking to reporters prior to Wednesday’s game:

“Once you step into an authoritative position, you’ve got to be an authority. That’s the bottom line, and that has to be accepted. I’m not here to make friends, or for people to like me, or for people to say this or that about me, I’m here to run the club in the best way that I think is possible.”

Filed under: myEDI Media | No Comments

This post is about Single A ball. I do not think it would be appropriate for me not to mention what happened in the Staten Island Yankee game vs the Brooklyn Cyclones in Brooklyn on Thursday night. For those who do not know, the Staten Island Yankees are the single A affiliate for the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones are the single A affiliate for the New York Mets.

The Yankees had a commanding 7-1 lead over the Cyclones when Pat Venditte came into pitch. He was drafted by the Yankees last year in the 45th round but after not signing was drafted again this year by the Yankees in the 20th around. What is so unique about him, is that he has a baseball glove that supports both his right and left hands. The reason? He is a switch pitcher. That is right he can throw both lefty and righty. More information on his background can be found by a Sports Heaven favorite, Jim Baumbach. Check out the article here. http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spjim0615,0,1734581.column

In the game Thursday night against the Cyclones he retired the first 2 batters he faced. Both were right handed hitters so he pitched right handed. The third batter, also a right hander, got a base hit into Center Field. This is when the fun started. The next hitter was a switch hitter! So now the question is what will the batter bat and what will the pitcher pitch? The batter stepped into the box as a right handed hitter. Pat put the glove on his left hand so he can pitch righty. Immediately after even before a pitch was thrown, the batter switched to the other side of the plate to bat lefty. Pat stepped off the mound and switched the glove to his right hand so he can throw lefty. This happened a few times back and forth before the first pitch which got laughs from both benches. After it happened about 4 times, it became serious. Pat was not happy that he had to keep switching his glove hand. Both managers had to come out to discuss the situation. About 10 minutes passed before the first pitch was thrown to discuss the situation. According to Sports Heaven baseball expert Dan Novick, this happened in college once before and the rule stated the pitcher must declare what he is going to pitch. This rule either is not stated in minor league rules (yet) or the rule just did not get down on to the field.

What ended up happening? The batter just said, “ok whatever I will just bat right handed.” So Pat pitched righty and the hitter looked foolish and he ended up striking out and the Staten Island Yankees won the game.

Pretty funny stuff!

Filed under: NY Yankees, New York Rangers, Sports Heaven | 1 Comment

Tuesday’s disaster is no way has gotten behind the New York Mets.

When you hoped the crazy day of the organization could just have reached its end with the 5pm press conference, last night’s loss to the Angels started with Jerry Manuel and his superstar player, Jose Reyes, getting into an on-field disagreement on the first play of the game. From there, the newest era of Mets baseball looked just as bleak as the old, with sloppy play and unenthusiastic offense.

Then you wake up today and you see the New York papers labeling the Mets as a “disgrace” or a “joke”. The New York Post even went as far as placing a clown nose on Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Omar Minaya.

While now the news is more than a day old, there’s still a very bad feeling among the Mets. I feel more and more will begin to come out regarding the front office of this team, mainly regarding Jeff Wilpon and Tony Bernazard. And I think it’ll be a good bet that nothing good comes.

Omar had his spin on how this was “his” decision, and he sold it well, but it’s still hard to buy. I do believe he made the final call, but I also believe he was sat down in a room on Sunday at some point during the double header, and in a room of four with him, the Wilpons and Bernazard, I think it was three against one. Now I don’t think he was told he must fire Willie, but I think he was starting to get the hint he was the only supporter.

But let’s be real, if you needed a real example on what the problem is regarding this team, last night’s game was perfect. Willie Randolph not having enough “fire” wasn’t the issue for the poor play. A change was obviously needed, but it’s a change within the players. There’s gotta be some guy on that 25-man roster that stands up and makes it clear that people have to start getting the job done. Then, and only then, will this team succeed.

You can change manager, coaches, whatever… they can’t help out this mess of a mentality the ball club has.

Filed under: Matt Dahl, NHL, New York Mets | 1 Comment

Today at 12:30 PM Matt Pignataro and Mike Lucre discuss the Mets firing of Willie Randolph, Rick Peterson, and Tom Nieto.

Then at 1 AM following the Mets game Matt Pignataro and Greg Tortora go more in to depth about the Mets firing Willie Randolph.

To listen to the show live click here.

To call into the show dial (347) 215-8253.

Filed under: myEDI Media | No Comments

At around 3:15am EST, the Mets announced the firing of Willie Randolph. He will be replaced by Jerry Manuel on an interim basis.

Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto were also fired. Coming from Triple-A as replacements will be Ken Oberkfell most likely as the new bench coach, Dan Warthen will be the pitching coach and Luis Aguayo will be the first base coach coach.

Willie was in his fourth season as Mets manager and had an overall 302-253 record.

While I won’t disagree with the firing of Willie, I strongly question the timing and the thought process put behind this. It’s a bit strange to make him fly all the way out to Anaheim and fire him in the hotel after a victory. I said Friday morning anything short of a sweep to the Rangers would lose him his job, turns out it did. I personally would’ve kept Willie for the season, mainly because I feel he’s a better manager than Jerry Manuel.

I feel bad for Willie the way all of this was done. If the organization knew he would be fired, then don’t drag him all the way out west. It makes the Mets an embarrassing organization (once again). If you look around this morning you’ll find plenty of Mets bashing, all at the front office.

I’m not sure how other Mets fans feel, but I’m a bit embarrassed.

Filed under: Matt Dahl, New York Mets | No Comments

Hey everybody! It’s Jon, your favorite Mac guy. Now, let’s talk browsers. You know, the war between the big blue e, the fox, and the compass. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m referring to the big three web browsers: Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. Since I’m such a big Mac user, most people assume that I use Safari as my primary browser. Oh, how they wrong they are. I’m a hardcore Firefox guy, no way around it. Due to this, it gives me great pleasure to tell you guys that Mozilla, the parent of Firefox, is attempting to set a Guinness World Record. Mozilla will be aiming to set the record for most software downloads in 24 hours, and the release of Firefox 3, the newest version, is the launching pad. so I encourage you all to go to SpeadFirefox.com and pledge to download tomorrow. So far, 1,421,920 people have pledged to download Firefox 3. Don’t get left out, be one of the knowledgeable ones. The official Download Day starts tomorrow, June 17th, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Enjoy the new Firefox, and let’s see if we can get that record!

Filed under: myEDI Media | 1 Comment

The Yankees did not receive good news on Monday. After rounding third base in Sunday’s game, Yankees “ace” Chien-Ming Wang injured his foot badly. He was forced to leave the game after throwing 5 shutout innings of baseball. After the game the Yankees called it a sprained foot.

After an MRI on Monday and much closer examination, it turned out to be much worse. Wang has been diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain of the Lisfranc ligament of the right foot and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon of the right foot.

This injury will have him sidelined until early September and possibly the remainder of the 2008 season. The Yankees have already lost Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy to injuries in the starting rotation. Darrell Rasner and Joba Chamberlain have filled in. The Yankees have also lost Brian Bruney out of the bullpen for most or all of the season and Albaladejo another bullpen pitcher also is out for the season.

The Yankees say Dan Geise will most likely fill in for Chien-Ming Wang in the rotation with the possibility of Kei Igawa getting another chance in the majors.

The Yankees have a guy in the system who was recently called up to Triple A by the name of Dave Robertson. He is a bullpen pitcher and has been nicknamed Joba II. If necessary, we may see him in the majors much sooner than expected.

This is a very bad situation for the Yankees right now. Chien-Ming Wang has been the winningest pitcher over the last 2 seasons and is deemed the Yankees ace. The Yankees are going to need a lot more offense with their current situation. With Mussina and Pettitte’s age there is no guarantee their success can continue through the remainder of the season. Their health is no guarantee to last either. We also do not know if Rasner’s youth and inexperience will eventually get to him. Joba Chamberlain’s transition has finally ended and will not have a pitch count his next time out but we of course do not know how well he can compete as a starter over the long haul. There are a lot of questions with the Yankees and with Dan Geise filling in for Wang for the time being leaves one less person in the bullpen and the Yankees will have to fill that spot.

Expect to see some young players gone by the time the trade deadline rolls around. Expect to hear names like Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner as we approach the deadline as the Yankees may find themselves in a situation to trade these top outfielding prospects.

Filed under: MLB, Mark Elliot, NY Yankees, New York Yankees | No Comments