Amazin' Avenue Audio

In the "1988: The year the Mets broke little Jeffrey's heart" edition, Greg and Jeffrey say good bye to the 2014 season. We talk about whether or not we actually enjoyed this year's Mets experience, discuss our favorite moments from the year that was, and spend 30 seconds or less on every single player that made an appearance for the Mets in 2014. Next, we start our road to the AA 2015 Prospect List with a discussion of Rafael Montero. Finally, we wrap things up with an e-mail about TRAID value.  

In the "Ya gotta believe in the Mets draft since they aren't picking college relievers anymore" edition, Jeffrey and Alex take a look at the Mets 2014 draft. We try to talk ourselves into Michael Conforto, figure out where he fits on those midseason prospect lists that Jeffrey refuses to do, and wonders what exactly Keith Law was thinking when he declared Conforto the best prospect in the system. Next we bounce around the top 10 picks, wonder if Milton Ramos will ever hit, whether Eudor Garcia-Pacheco is a DH, and if tall pitchers are the new market inefficiency. Then we give our deep sleepers in this draft class and wrap up with an e-mail about best Mets farm system names, which is right up our alley.

In the "Wild Strawberries was a less alienating road trip edition," Rob and Jeffrey are not feeling so great about the 2014 Mets. We start off talking about the Travis d'Arnaud demotion, and Jeffrey gets a liiiiiitle bit ranty. Next, we talk Hartford stadium politics, because it is better than continuing to talk about this train wreck of a baseball team. Then it is time for your e-mails, which take way longer than Jeffrey was anticipating, and that makes him even more sad. Always time to take a shortstop e-mail though. Those are important.  

In the "This year the Mets don't have the 71st pick in the draft" edition, Jeffrey, Mike, and Steve get you caught up to speed before Thursday night's 2014 draft. We also get you caught up to speed on the Mets 2009 draft (parental guidance strongly recommmended). We discuss what went wrong in 2009 and who other than Steven Matz still has a chance to make the majors. Do you like potential middle relievers and backup catchers? We sure hope so! Then it is on to the main event as we debate who the Mets will select with the tenth pick in the draft, who we like and don't like at that pick, and how the whole thing will play out on Thursday night. And of course we wrap things up with your mostly draft-related e-mail queries.

In the "We're a little disappointed Amazin' Avenue hasn't opted for the BREAKING NEWS: IT'S A SHITSHOW banner" edition, the podcast gets a little blue. Jeffrey is upset he has to talk about the Mets at all frankly, Rob has no thoughts on the Champions League Final, and we can only kill time talking about A-ball relievers for so long before we have to deal with the 2014 squad. We tap dance a little more talking about prospect list updates, but eventually have to deal with the Hudgens firing and TC's bullpen management. There's a a brief respite as Liz Roscher joins the show again to wax poetic about a Ruben Amaro, jr. commisionership and "preview" the Mets/Phillies series over (more) drinks. We of course wrap things up with your e-mails on Chris Young and Terry Collins probably bleak future (because on a long enough timeline, we're all dead anyway).

In the "PROTIP: You should always keep a tin of shoe polish in the dugout" edition, Rob and Jeffrey take on the #FreeLagares hashtag and wonder if Terry should be given the benefit of the doubt (ehhhhhh maybe?). We try to parcel out blame for the whole kerfluffle between the media, #MetsTwitter, Terry, and the FO (and of course, Carlos Beltran). Then we answer a boatload of e-mails covering everything from a Daniel Murphy trade (again), the Mets upcoming rotation crunch, the future of the bullpen, who's worth watching in Bingo, and least surprising of all, Dario Alvarez.

In the "This isn't 'goodbye,' Josh Satin, just 'until we meet again'" edition, Rob and Jeffrey have lots of important Mets issues to discuss, like if you pronounce it "lawl" Mets or "el-oh-el" Mets. We kick things off with a look at whether or not the field staff deserves to be under fire, or if we should all #BlameSandee. Next, we break down the recent roster shuffling on the Mets. Unsurprisingly, Jeffrey isn't thrilled with the Mejia move to the pen (even after his reverse Ric Flair strut Monday night). Of course there is Shortstop Avenue Audio covering the recent Flores promotion as well. Then, we discuss the Subway Series and whether it has lost some of its luster over the last 15 years. Finally, we wrap things up with your e-mails on David Wright's missing power, our dream moves for the Mets, and whether or not we are with #28.

In the "The only reason the Mets should ever go to Colorado is to visit the Left Hand Brewery" edition, we attempt to discern if there is anything useful to glean from the Mets current struggles. Jeffrey is not thrilled with the way the pitching is being handled, while Greg takes umbrage with a certain position on the diamond that you might be familiar with, and may or may not have a catchy jingle associated with it. Then, Jeff Moore of Baseball Prospectus joins the show to chat about the St. Lucie Mets, and since you didn't send us any e-mails, Jeffrey wraps things up by talking about soccer. 

In the "Josh Edgin, fungible commodity" edition, Jeffrey and Greg consider whether or not the Mets are a good team, and if not, what moves they need to make to get them there in 2014. Also, we weigh in on the latest edition of LOLMets and discuss the relative merits of a third round draft pick. Next, Toby Hyde joins the show to talk about some of the big names down in Savannah and properly pronounces"Gsellman" without needing a media guide. Finally, we wrap up with your e-mails and a mea culpa for overlooking one of the truly elite 80 hair guys in all of baseball history.

In the "Ike Davis Dog is Traded" edition, we've done away with our usual naming convention (sorry Doug Simons). After a week off (#blameJeffrey), we have a lot of e-mail to catch up on. So in the first of two episodes this week, Rob and Jeffrey answer questions about the Ike Davis trade, when we should start worrying about Curtis Granderson, and how awesome Brandon Nimmo is. There's also minor league merch talk, a spirited Lutz/Satin/Campbell debate in which Jeffrey pledges to fight people to the death, and the expected & than return of Shortstop Avenue Audio.

In the "Elmer Dessens was a nightmare for sabermetrics long before Aaron Cook" edition, Jeffrey and Chris consider turning the podcast into a morning drivetime zoo crew show. Next we consider how the Mets should adjust their lineup for Chris Young (turns out the answer was just wait a few hours for the entire outfield to get hurt), discuss which bullpen arms might be hittin' the ol' dusty trail, and talk about our trip(s) to Manchester, NH to see the B-Mets. We also answer your e-mails, and Chris puts in a spectacular performance during Mets trivia.

In this Chris Schwinden edition, Chris McShane tries to say "wish Schwinden" but fails. And then Chris and Rob talk about the Mets' first couple of wins, Travis d'Arnaud's then-forthcoming first hit of the season, the bullpen, Jenrry Mejia's strikeout move, and Mets-related Hank Aaron trivia.

In the "Elvin Ramirez could probably be of use in the Mets bullpen at this moment" edition, it's time for Rob and Jeffrey's minor league preview. We keep it under two hours this year, but still find time to bemoan the Binghamton roster, predict the first promotions, and give you our "My Guys" lists. We have e-mails to answer as well, including the debut of the Amazin' Avenue Audio Drinking Game (Drinking Avenue Audio, natch'), and Jeffrey tries to get a Mets trivia winning streak going.

In the "Livan Hernandez is probably still pitching somewhere" edition, Jeffrey and his archenemy Greg try and parse small sample sizes (small sample sample sizes). Can we find something nice to say about opening day? Well, there's always David Wright. Was Monday an ill portent for the Mets bullpen? Well, there's not nearly enough evidence to conclude that, but probably. Also, Jeffrey issues a mea culpa for ever doubting Jenrry Mejia, and we try and deduce who will be off the 25-man roster for Jon Niese. There's plenty of talk about Bobby Parnell's elbow as well, which, come to think of it, is probably more convincing evidence that the bullpen is doomed.. And of course we answer your e-mails, and bring you a Montreal travelogue set to the soothing, public domain sounds of Erik Satie.

In the "You should all feel bad for telling Jon Rauch to kill himself on twitter" edition, Rob and Jeffrey wrap up our 2014 preview with the bullpen, which we are not excited about (the preview that is, but also, probably the bullpen). So that leaves plenty of time to discuss the fifth starter situation, just how many first basemen the Mets are going to carry, and to check in on our sister podcast, Shortstop Avenue. We wrap up with some college baseball talk, a couple of e-mails, and the beginning of a triumphant winning streak at Mets trivia.