January 16, 2009 - 8:27 PM | Comment
Be sure to take a look at our latest sports video, featuring Friday's unveiling of the Bisons' new uniforms and a conversation I had with Mets legend Ed Kranepool. The Mets' all-time leader in games played and hits was a big hit himself at the Herd's winter Hot Stove Luncheon, regaling fans with stories of his days playing for Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges, signing plenty of autographs and posing for numerous pictures.
---Mike Harrington
January 16, 2009 - 3:00 PM | Comment
We'll see how well fans will accept the Bisons' new home and alternate jerseys as my initial reaction is somewhat lukewarm to them. But I give a 100 percent double thumbs-up to the road gray unis with "Buffalo" in that classic Mets-style script and the parent club's interlocking "NY" underneath while the new circular Bisons' logo is planted on the left sleeve. Sharp, sharp, sharp. The talk of the Adam's Mark grand ballroom at Friday's Hot Stove Luncheon.
I've also been lukewarm to the Mets' winter free-agent signings which have been mostly unimpressive. But they scored big Friday with the announcement that outfielder Jason Cooper -- the team's modern-era leader in games played -- has been signed and former big-league pitcher Casey Fossum has also agreed to a deal.
The Cooper signing just made sense. He needed a new organization and why not play in a city where he's done plenty of community work and has had some success on the field as well. Cooper will probably still be a fourth outfielder here but he's a pretty good insurance policy to have.
For those of you who were at the luncheon and those of you checking them out here, give us some of your impressions of the new unis.
---Mike Harrington
Photo: Mets legend Ed Kranepool and team models unveil (from left) the Bisons' new alternate, home and away uniforms/James P. McCoy-Buffalo News
January 16, 2009 - 8:24 AM | Comment
Be sure to check back later today at Buffalonews.com and in Saturday's print editions for a full report -- complete with video -- on the Bisons' annual winter Hot Stove Luncheon, which will warm up a cold day this afternoon in the Adam's Mark hotel. Former Mets legend Ed Kranepool is scheduled to be on hand, as well as Mets executives Tony Bernazard and Adam Wogan. The big news of the day will be the unveiling of the Bisons' new uniforms so I'll have my fashion police eyes going.
---Mike Harrington
January 12, 2009 - 8:00 AM | Comment
Rickey Henderson is a shoo-in but this is the last year on the ballot for Jim Rice and he's a hot topic of debate. After that, it's hard to tell what's going to happen today when voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame is announced (MLB Network, my new awesome best friend on TV, goes on the air with a special show at 1:30 and the balloting is revealed at 2)
I don't have an official ballot but I would be casting mine for Henderson, Rice, Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris. I'm not sold on the candidacies of Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Dave Parker, Don Mattingly or Harold Baines. I suppose you could make a case for any of them. No way I vote for Mark McGwire.
When you vote for the Hall, you can technically pick any number of candidates. I'm going to limit you to four and that's being generous since that number never gets inducted. Fill out your ballot below.
---Mike Harrington
