All signs are pointing toward the Mets and Krod completing a three year 37 million dollar deal, and this is probably the best thing for the Mets right now. We needed a closer, badly, however there were a few things that need was contigent on. One was a closer for 3 years, anymore would be irreponsible (an option for year 4 is alright though, its that guranteed 4 year that gets scary). With that time frame, we also needed someone intense. Someone that would bring fire into the stadium, fire that matches the energy the city of New York has for Baseball.

Krod has that energy, that intense composure on the mound and is exactly what the Mets needed. The problem was he wanted 5 years and 75 million originally. That type of signing would ended the offseason for the Mets. They went bargain shopping today on the buyers market filled with closers and got Krod at 3 years and 37 million. At that price, this signing really does become a no brainer. We get the best closer out there, and we have enough money to go get other players now. Its time to start getting active.

The reason this can become a bad signing is if the Mets do not take the next step. The Mets need to get a setup guy and they need to get at least one more player in the bullpen (I still like Chad Cordero) once that pen is reconstructed, then we can start looking at getting back into the playoffs. This is exciting stuff folks.

I literally woke up yesterday and said, "I feel like we are getting a closer today!" Now although that might be a sad testament of my life, and probably due to my life being crushed by finals right now, there is that exciting feeling in the air, isn't there?

Anyway, I was very excited to hear that not only did the Mets offer a contract to K-rod, but they met with Fuentes, they set up a meeting to meet with Wood, they had talks about Street and Ryan (maybe), they set up a meeting with Cordero and they could have set up a meeting with Hoffman. That is a lot of meetings.

There are conflicting stories right now, but it sounds like the Mets are close to signing a three year deal with Krod (37 mil), even though some people are saying thats not happening (pick a paper in New York, flip a coin, and thats how they feel about this deal going through soon). However, there have been no reports of Krod meeting with other teams, which looks good for the Mets. If we can get this signing out of the way today, we can probably turn our attention to:
   a) starting pitching
   b) more closers via trade
   c) Cheap replacements in the Pen (like Cordero)
   d) changing catchers, which I still don't know how I feel about that yet

After the arbitration deadline earlier this week, the stove is starting to warm up as we approach the all important Winter Meetings. The latest rumors on the stove has been that Renteria has signed with the Giants (which I'm sure got pushed faster along when the Tigers declined to offer Renteria arbitration), and the Braves have remained very active, which worries me.

The Braves intially getting Peavy did not worry me because they would have to give up the farm system, which is very good by the way, to get him, and they wouldnt have many resources left to improve the rest of the team. It would also be only one player. However, over the last few days they have shown that they are very interested in reinserting themselves into the National League East by trading for Javier Vasquez and possibly preparing to offer Burnett 5 years or more. They are also close right now to solidifying their bench with David Ross to back up McCann behind the plate.

The only reason I guess this worries me is except for that active first few days of the offseason where the Mets actived Delgado's option and picked up Tatis, they havn't done much else except sign a few minor leaguers like Figuroa. I know however this will change next week with the winter meetings. MLBtraderumors.com even has reported whispers of a possible mega deal with the WhiteSox that would send Jenks and Dye to New York for Fernando Martinez and others (still not sure how I think about that)

Don't forget to refresh your memory on Part 1 and Part 2

The stadium emptied pretty quickly, mostly due to the blow out score of the Ravens beating the Eagles 37-7. As soon as the sectioned emptied that I was working at, we immediately began the next assignment which was combing every seat in every section for valuables. This sounds like a hefty task, especially in a huge stadium like M&T Bank Stadium, but it was over in about 4 or 5 minutes. The only valuables we found in our section was a seat cushion and a blanket. I was amazed at the amount of ticket stubs that are left (I'm sure many of you can peg me as the type that holds onto every ticket from every game I go to). There were also a ton of Raven's Team Photos that were being given out at the beginning of the game.

We were then told to report to another section for debriefing. At the time we got to that section, it was about maybe 10 minutes since the game was over and there were only four sections in the entire stadium that had people in it, and they were the four locations for debriefing. Seeing a stadium is a weird moment. People in a stadium make them seem so much smaller than they actually are. If I had a camera on me, I would have taken a picture. Anyway, down on the field, the crew just finished removing all of the sideline equipment. So in roughly ten minutes, the field was empty as well.

For us, we got our time cards signed and were sent down to the bellows of the stadium again to return all of the clothes we had to borrow and to turn in our time cards, so we can eventually get paid. And just like that, 25 minutes after game time, we were out of the stadium and back on road back to College Park.

Overall, I was very surprised how fast the Stadium gets set up in the morning, and how fast it gets taken down at night. Working Security (Part 2) was by far the most revealing portion of the day as I had no previous training for what I was doing.

In Part 4, I will be discussing a completely different side of sports. The side we all hate. It was also the hardest thing I have ever done related to sports (and I have taught kids at camps for over 8 years), I am, of course, talking about being the official, the umpire, the referee, the man in blue, the man in black and white stripes.

The Baseball Writer's Association today released the ballot for election to the Hall of Fame. For those of you who are confused by all of the ballots now, this is the main one that is a big deal to get voted in on (It's a big deal to get voted in on any one, but this one is that ballot you go on after 5 years out of baseball) and headlining this year's ballot is Rickey Henderson.

When you look at the ballot as a whole, Henderson seems like the only one who can really go in. I feel Rice should be in, and only being 16 votes shy last year, he will probably get in, but I also feel that if no one deserves to go in, then no one goes in on the ballot. (I believe it was 1970 when the Writers felt that no one on the ballot should go in). In my personal opinion, Henderson should go in. He is a ten time allstar, a 3 time silver slugger and an MVP. He is most famous for his Stolen Bases, 1406, which is about 500 more than the second place holder. That might be a record that stands the test of time.

The argument against Henderson is that he was a one trick pony. All he could do was steal bases. Before I attempt to refute how accurate that statement is,. that argument can be used on people like Thome, who has a lot of homers, but he does not lead in that category. If he had 500 more homers than Bonds, and that was all he could do, he would make it into the Hall no problem because he dominated that category. In other words, there is a line that gets crossed when talking about one trick ponies. If they dominate a statistic like Henderson has, that is more than note worthy.

He is number 4 on the games played list, 20 on singles, 56 on OBP, 40 on doubles (just about everyone ahead of him on that list is in the hall or is still active), had over 1100 RBI's, and is number one in Runs all time. So mainly, his games played, Stolen Bases and Runs should be enough to get him besides the fact that he wrecked havock on the basepaths and was a feared player when on the bags.