I was roaming Sports Spyder, which is my new vice thanks to a tip from Vinny Cartiglia over at MetsZilla, and I came across this story about former Mets’ General Manager Jim Duquette, who will be undergoing surgery on June 4 in an effort to donate a kidney to his 8-year-old daughter.
From ESPN NY:
Lindsey, now 8, has been dealing with a rare kidney disease known as FSGS since shortly after her birth, when Duquette served as Mets GM. He has been active in trying to raise awareness and funding for research. Lindsey has been on dialysis for the past year.
I remember exactly where I was when Duquette and company made the trade with the then Devil Rays in which the Mets got Victor “the wrong” Zambrano in exchange for Scott Kazmir, and I was irate, like others, for years. The bottom line? While Kazmir had some flashes, he never materialized, and he was even brought in for a try-out but didn’t come back into the fold.
This kind of story puts things into perspective. At the end of the day, baseball is just a game, and you need to make sure your priorities are in order. Best of luck to Jim, Lindsey and the entire Duquette family.
This piece was written and submitted by Michael Ganci. For more information on the New York Mets, check out the Daily Stache here. Also, follow the Daily Stache on Twitter by clicking this link.
Best wishes and good luck to both father and daughter. Speaking of Rick Peterson.... He was one of my most hated guys in all of sports..right up there with Mike Milbury, Charles Wang,Omar Minaya, Tony LaRussa, Jeff Wilpon, Isiah Thomas, and Rex Ryan. Peterson thought he was some kind of baseball god and guru, totally full of himself, with his charts and magazine folded under his arm. He was the worst pitching coach the Mets ever had and would have taken Santana out of his no hitter after the 7th inning, and traded away Dickey for Barry OK. I know that Minaya is looking good these days, but most of those minor leaguers that he signed up and now play for the Mets are either on the DL or showing that they are just flashes in the pan. Just don't forget Minaya brought us Moises Alou, El Duque, Moe Vaughn, Trot Nixon, and Sean Green and signed Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo to ridiculously expensive contracts.
He had a choice between Holliday and Bay. He took Bay because he's the better fielder and a bit younger than Matt.Holliday. How has that worked out? Bay helps the team the most when he stays on the DL. Alderson isn't that much better. He let Capuano, Reyes, and Beltran walk...getting Ittle in return. Traded away Pagan and brought in some worthless relief pitchers. Even Isringhausen could have helped the bullpen this season
I don't remember the Mets getting much for Frankie Rodriguez either.