As a writer, you want your readers to be engaged and passionate and there is perhaps no reader at the site more passionate than Gus Livaditis, also known as Texas Gus.
Great spotlight! What kind of restaurant do you run Texas Gus? (I’m an amateur foodie and love traveling to find new places lol). Also, do you have a preference for ballpark food? And which ballpark do you like best? ;)
I've got nothing against Griffin. I just think that the Mets should have shopped in the top end of pitchers who would agree to a short-term deal. Buehler would have been my choice over Canning.
I think the hitters for Syracuse have performed like you would expect. Vientos hit there, Baty hit there. Gilbert was injured so he gets a pass. Acuna didn't hit there because he's not very good.
Finally, I hate seeing balls called as strikes. And vice-versa. That's not good for the game. But I don't see why we should settle for a challenge system, to get a few more calls right. I'd rather get all of them right.
Nice spot guys. Gus, can you deliver to Albany, NY 🤪. I’m all for the auto call of balls and strikes. The umps can’t get them all right, but the strike zone needs to be consistent. Batters should not have to figure out where the strike zone is each game. Would like to see Mauricio on the 26 that go north and a chance to show off that bat and speed. No reason why he should not be ready to go after the rehab he’s done. No problem with adding depth starters, but their starting staff is not even considered in the top 10. That’s no way to enter a season.
Great article. Gus you gave me a bad memory when you mentioned Lowrie. One of the biggest busts of all time for this team, and like you said, because McNeil wasn’t “proven” at that point. Crazy.
Great interview with a great writer/commenter/Mets fan.
As for some of the other points - Make the umps be better. I am not for automated balls and strikes. What's next? Automated hitters and pitching machines in games? If the umps can't hack it, replace them, kind of like no-hit utility players. I don't see Harrison Bader coming back.
I don't know what to think of Canning yet. My sense is that he is Paul Blackburn II, but that is just a first kick at the stat page. I gotta trust Stearns and the pitching lab on this one.
Syracuse looks like an odd place to judge talent. Perhaps I have a better opinion of Acuna, but it seems like there has to be more there than he has shown since he came over from the Rangers organization. His numbers before the trade were encouraging. I suspect he is better than the Syracuse version of him, but he cannot sustain the success he had for two weeks in September. I really hope Gilbert and Williams get off to good starts this year. I wonder if the weather up here in the chilly north in April gets into the heads of some of these guys.
Finally, Gus, if you can deliver to Albany, a quick trip to the outskirts of Binghamton shouldn't be any problem, should it? :-)
Thank you all for the kind words. When Brian reached out to me about this, I felt quite honored and surprised. I knew that he has done this with his writers, but that isn’t me any more. However, it was fun to probe my mind to respond to topics I didn’t spend as much time on (Canning) or that I hadn’t thought about in a while (Terry Collins, a/k/a Bozo the Manager).
Taryn, I have not been to Citifield yet (my trips back usually are during winter and early spring), but my friends rave about the choices and quality.
Stephen and Bill, if I am ever able to make it into upstate New York, I’d be happy to deliver a few pizzas or some chicken parm meals. I would also like to get back and see Brian and Metsense, and make a stop in southern Tennessee to pick up someone to join me on the trip to North Carolina, or just hang out for a few hours.
Texas Gus - what a really cool post. It was fun to learn about you Gus. I also live in Central NC, so if any if youvwant to get together, count me in.
I really think that if we want to compete with the Dodgers, that we still need to make some bold moves. In particular, a starter, either Sasaki or Luis Castillo. We cant keep shopping in the clearance section and think that we are going to win big with Montas, Holmes or Canning. That is asking too much.
I would love to see Acuna or Mauricio being this years Vientos.
Talking about Mendoza, I like him, except, one gian gaffe in my opinion was starting Senga in game one against the Dodgers, when Manaea had full rest. In that case, you go with your best.
That’s one of those moves that we all see and wonder what they were thinking. But, I read something going into that series that may have been a reason. Game 5 would have been in NYC and Game 6 in Los Angeles. Well, by pitching game 1, Senga would be in line for game 5, and at Citifield in his career he has been an absolute beast while very mediocre on the road. It may have been a case of planning ahead.
Love these interviews and conversations! Just another of the several things that make M360 my fave Mets spot. Great to learn more about you, Gus. I wish I’d known you were a restauranteur when I lived in Austin - I would have driven to your place! IIRC, Galveston? Port A?
I would second Brian's take of that day and I would like to spend another day with Gus talking about the Mets. He is more than just a passionate Mets fan. He is a compassionate human being and he cherishes family and friends. He reached out to me when I was recovering from my brain tumor with encouragement and thoughtfulness. I am honor to call him my friend.
Great spotlight! What kind of restaurant do you run Texas Gus? (I’m an amateur foodie and love traveling to find new places lol). Also, do you have a preference for ballpark food? And which ballpark do you like best? ;)
As for questions asked in the post:
I've got nothing against Griffin. I just think that the Mets should have shopped in the top end of pitchers who would agree to a short-term deal. Buehler would have been my choice over Canning.
I think the hitters for Syracuse have performed like you would expect. Vientos hit there, Baty hit there. Gilbert was injured so he gets a pass. Acuna didn't hit there because he's not very good.
Finally, I hate seeing balls called as strikes. And vice-versa. That's not good for the game. But I don't see why we should settle for a challenge system, to get a few more calls right. I'd rather get all of them right.
Nice spot guys. Gus, can you deliver to Albany, NY 🤪. I’m all for the auto call of balls and strikes. The umps can’t get them all right, but the strike zone needs to be consistent. Batters should not have to figure out where the strike zone is each game. Would like to see Mauricio on the 26 that go north and a chance to show off that bat and speed. No reason why he should not be ready to go after the rehab he’s done. No problem with adding depth starters, but their starting staff is not even considered in the top 10. That’s no way to enter a season.
Gus! Awesome write up!
Great article. Gus you gave me a bad memory when you mentioned Lowrie. One of the biggest busts of all time for this team, and like you said, because McNeil wasn’t “proven” at that point. Crazy.
Great interview with a great writer/commenter/Mets fan.
As for some of the other points - Make the umps be better. I am not for automated balls and strikes. What's next? Automated hitters and pitching machines in games? If the umps can't hack it, replace them, kind of like no-hit utility players. I don't see Harrison Bader coming back.
I don't know what to think of Canning yet. My sense is that he is Paul Blackburn II, but that is just a first kick at the stat page. I gotta trust Stearns and the pitching lab on this one.
Syracuse looks like an odd place to judge talent. Perhaps I have a better opinion of Acuna, but it seems like there has to be more there than he has shown since he came over from the Rangers organization. His numbers before the trade were encouraging. I suspect he is better than the Syracuse version of him, but he cannot sustain the success he had for two weeks in September. I really hope Gilbert and Williams get off to good starts this year. I wonder if the weather up here in the chilly north in April gets into the heads of some of these guys.
Finally, Gus, if you can deliver to Albany, a quick trip to the outskirts of Binghamton shouldn't be any problem, should it? :-)
Thank you all for the kind words. When Brian reached out to me about this, I felt quite honored and surprised. I knew that he has done this with his writers, but that isn’t me any more. However, it was fun to probe my mind to respond to topics I didn’t spend as much time on (Canning) or that I hadn’t thought about in a while (Terry Collins, a/k/a Bozo the Manager).
Taryn, I have not been to Citifield yet (my trips back usually are during winter and early spring), but my friends rave about the choices and quality.
Stephen and Bill, if I am ever able to make it into upstate New York, I’d be happy to deliver a few pizzas or some chicken parm meals. I would also like to get back and see Brian and Metsense, and make a stop in southern Tennessee to pick up someone to join me on the trip to North Carolina, or just hang out for a few hours.
If you ever make it to upstate New York, don't bring the food. Dinner and a Rumble Ponies game is on me! -- R69
Texas Gus - what a really cool post. It was fun to learn about you Gus. I also live in Central NC, so if any if youvwant to get together, count me in.
I really think that if we want to compete with the Dodgers, that we still need to make some bold moves. In particular, a starter, either Sasaki or Luis Castillo. We cant keep shopping in the clearance section and think that we are going to win big with Montas, Holmes or Canning. That is asking too much.
I would love to see Acuna or Mauricio being this years Vientos.
Talking about Mendoza, I like him, except, one gian gaffe in my opinion was starting Senga in game one against the Dodgers, when Manaea had full rest. In that case, you go with your best.
That’s one of those moves that we all see and wonder what they were thinking. But, I read something going into that series that may have been a reason. Game 5 would have been in NYC and Game 6 in Los Angeles. Well, by pitching game 1, Senga would be in line for game 5, and at Citifield in his career he has been an absolute beast while very mediocre on the road. It may have been a case of planning ahead.
Gus Gus Gus!!! What a great treat to get into the mind of the one and only! Thanks for doing this article Brian!
Im with you on Vientos, but marginally so with Baty.
In 416 PA at Syracuse, Baty has a .273/.368/.531 line for an .899 OPS. He's hit just fine in Triple-A.
Now to do it in the majors...
Indeed. Odds? 30 % chance of success. And I hope to be quite wrong.
I like the idea of Baty playing second base. 20 home runs and 80 RBI would be nice from a second baseman.
When I pick you up in the way to North Carolina, we will have plenty of time to talk about it!
Love these interviews and conversations! Just another of the several things that make M360 my fave Mets spot. Great to learn more about you, Gus. I wish I’d known you were a restauranteur when I lived in Austin - I would have driven to your place! IIRC, Galveston? Port A?
Corpus Christi
I would second Brian's take of that day and I would like to spend another day with Gus talking about the Mets. He is more than just a passionate Mets fan. He is a compassionate human being and he cherishes family and friends. He reached out to me when I was recovering from my brain tumor with encouragement and thoughtfulness. I am honor to call him my friend.