Mets Manager Jerry Manuel's "Mis-Decision"

The New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel stiffed the Mets fans by resting all their position starters in a Saturday afternoon homegame against the Florida Marlins. In making the decision to bench his stars, Manuel showed either blatant disregard or sheer arrogance towards the Mets faithful.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Flushing, Queens, excited Met fans, young and old, where mistreated to a D-League lineup that excluded David Wright and Gary Sheffield.

Just think of all the kids who were disappointed and letdown. Think of those who's visit will be their only one this season. Think of fans who shelled out big bucks to see a game to be mistreated to a bunch of minor leaguers!

But there is a lot more to the story then just upsetting the fans. Last year Jerry Manuel promised not to bench his stars on a homestand after he did the same injustice to the hometown fans - is senility setting in?

Get this. The Mets had an off day the previous day. But Manuel still went ahead with decision knowing that on the following Monday the Mets were starting a next road trip was against the weaker teams and lowest fan attendance in the National League (Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals) - a perfect time to rest the players.

But here is the kicker!! The Mets were facing the Marlin starter Josh Johnson. Johnson was undefeated against the Mets (6-0 lifetime) and Jerry Manuel made the conscious decision to concede the game before it was even played. The Mets front office should really question his decision-making and competitiveness.

But this is just another episode in the long history of the Mets front office and managers to completely disregard and disrespect all that is the Mets - it's history, some of it's former players and especially their fans.

I believe Mets fans will get over this, as long as the next Manuel "mis-decision" doesn't cost the Mets a chance at the pennant.

The MLB All-Star Selection Debacle

Major League Baseball's annual mid-summer classic sets the stage for showcasing the best talent the league has to offer. The integrity of the All-Star Game and MLB itself are in question, if changes are not made to the All-Star selection process.

Baseball fans vote on the starting positions for the All-Star Game on the internet. This method slights the small market teams because most of the starting players come from teams that have large fan bases, such as the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

Let's face it, the fan vote is a popularity contest and not a real assessment of who the best players are. MLB should revise the process by weighing in the votes of players, coaches and managers together with the fans votes. If there is significant difference between the fans and the players use the season's statistics to determine the starter.

Another change needed to the All-Star selection process is to prohibit players that violate MLB's drug policy from playing in the All-Star Game. It is unbelievable that Manny Ramirez (LA Dodgers), currently serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, is eligible to play in the 2009 ALS. He is currently fourth among outfielders in the All-Star voting.

There will always be debates on the All-Star selection process but one thing is for sure, MLB needs to send a strong message and take action on violators of it's drug policy.

The Infield Fly Rule Explained

Did you see the Phillies - Rays game (Game 5). IT had to be suspended due to the wind and rain. It was so bad, that the infield umpires did not call the infield fly rule on a routine infield fly.

Well it wasn't routine. In fact Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies missed a easy pop fly earlier in the game. The umpire waived the infield fly rule because, in his determination, catching an infield fly ball was nothing but routine. I found it quite interesting.

Learn more about the infield fly rule and other interesting baseball situations. Even learn how to score the game.


The infield fly rule is a situational play that is ruled on by the umpire when the following conditions are met:

• There must be less than 2 outs in the inning
• There must be a force play at third base or homeplate
• There must be a popfly to anywhere in the infield. It must be in fair territory.

When all three conditions are met the umpire rules an "Infield Fly" or "Infield Fly Rule" Umpire.

Infield Fly Rule: Some Rules

• The batter is declared out and the runners cannot advance.
• The ball does not have to be caught by an infielder.
• The runner can run after the catch
• If the fielder drops the pop fly, it is still an out and the runners cannot advance
• Runners must tag up (retouch the base) before advancing. Failure to do so could result in a putout on an appeal play by the opponents.
• If the player drops the infield fly there is no need to tag up.

Infileld Fly Rule: Other Important Facts

This rule was added because fielders were intentionally dropping fly balls and getting double and sometimes triple plays.

Just to make sure you understand and there are no misconcepts ...

An infield fly rule CANNOT occur with only a runner on first base. The rule is for popflys in the infield only. No bunts! No Line Drives!

The player who catches the infield fly gets credited with a Putout. If the ball is not caught, credit a putout to the fielder closest to the ball.No error is charged to a player who drops a ball when the Infield Fly Rule is in effect. However, an error could occur after the Infield Fly Rule is in effect. It is in effect until the ball is caught or the ball is dropped.