Good Fundies

Roger and Brian discussed poor, poor, so so poor Jacob deGrom (05:00) before solving the Mets bullpen crisis by talking about it (11:00), apologizing kinda maybe to Terry Collins (15:00), determining what is Mickey Callaway's fault and what isn't (20:30), how the starting rotation should be changed (24:00), newest oldest Met Jose Bautista (34:40), Jay Bruce revisionist history (46:00), and an update on the METCON meter (50:00)

In the mailbag segment, the two answered questions about when it's time to think about trading away Asdrubal (58:00), if Frazier and Cespedes returning to the Mets will save us all (01:03:25), why a listener hates themselves and roots for the Mets (01:07:15), why some fans blame Sandy and not ownership (01:10:30), if the Mets can pay for all the heart medicine they are costing another listener (01:21:35), and if Jacob deGrom should be freed (01:22:30).

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to Andrew Lowden for the music.

The boys of Good Fundies began the show by apologizing for missing last week and explaining what they have been up to lately, as well as sharing their existential and/or Mets-related frustrations (04:00). Then they got into which previous Mets season this year reminds them of (20:00), what Juan Lagares' possible season-ending injury means to the team (27:40), the Mets messing up Yoenis Cespedes' DL stint again (36:55), Todd Frazier's injury (46:00), Keith Hernandez sticking it to The Man without getting into trouble (48:00), Devin Mesoraco (57:55), The EL POWS Jeff McNeil and Peter Alonso (01:05:10), Luis Guillorme (01:08:20), and how long Jose Reyes deserves to stay on the team (01:10:00).

Then in the mailbag they were asked and asked among themselves why the Wilpons want to own the Mets (01:26:00), their thoughts on the deGrom and Syndergaard as Yankees cover (01:35:00), how Brandon Nimmo will do the rest of the year and what the Conforto/Nimmo couple nickname should be (01:39:00), how long Vargas, Wheeler and Matz last in the rotation (01:45:20), what is to be done with Seth Lugo (01:47:40), which Met pitcher would do best and worst playing the outfield (01:53:30), and what position player you might rather have pitch than Jason Vargas (01:56:20).

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to Andrew Lowden and Das Racist for the music.

Writer/DirectorJon Hurwitz (COBRA KAI, HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE, AMERICAN REUNION) joined the Good Fundies boys.

Obviously, Brian and Roger started things off talking about the Mets designating Matt Harvey for assignment (10:15). Then Brian made a change to the METCON level, noting the Mets' unexpectedly strong NL East competition and the team's latest injury issues (33:00).

After that, Jon Hurwitz joined to chat about how he helped bring THE KARATE KID back to life (50:00), Keith Hernandez's bobblehead cameo and the Mets-related deleted scene from COBRA KAI(54:40), the movies he watched over and over again during the 80's (01:00:00), the possibility of a second season (01:02:00), if Harold or Kumar is a Mets fan (01:08:00), the 2002 marijuana Mets (01:08:30), how he became a Mets fan (01:09:00), why most comedians seem to be Mets fans (01:13:00), his thoughts on the 2018 team (01:15:50), why Jerry Seinfeld needs to "step up" (01:18:15), and pretty much everything else that's relevant.

In the mailbag segment, the boys figure out if the new catchers are failing the pitchers (01:24:00), why the Mets didn't sign Bartolo Colon (01:32:15), the issues with the Mets' farm system and why it isn't as amazing as the ones the Yankees and Atlanta has (01:34:30), if it's time for Peter Alonso and/or Gavin Cecchini (01:43:15), and if there's anything to the Manny Machado talk emanating from the 'Rumor Sphere' (01:46:00)

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to Andrew Lowden and AC/DC for the music.

This time around Brian and Roger conversed on the luck behind one-run games and extra innings and what it says about how good the Mets actually are(08:30), the rotation after Syndergaard and deGrom (13:00), Matt Harvey's bullpen adventures so far (28:00), Adrian Gonzalez's xwOBA and Jay Bruce's imminent return to first base (37:45), Michael Conforto's possible troubles (50:30), and the triumphant return of the METCON level (01:03:55).

In the mailbag, the Good Fundies guys revealed their favorite #MetsTwitter tweets (01:11:00), the team's best possible lineup (01:17:15), if someone with plantar fasciitis would feel less pain playing first over right field (01:20:30), their favorite Gary Cohen calls (01:24:00), Keith Hernandez's checkered San Diego broadcasting history (01:29:00), and their favorite MLB ballparks (01:33:30).

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to Andrew Lowden for the music.

Special guest star: Longtime MLB.com Mets beat reporter Anthony DiComo!

This time around Brian and Roger talked about Matt Harvey's move to the bullpen (06:50), Yoenis Cespedes announcing he probably wont be denying himself the pleasure of golf much longer (20:00), Jay Bruce's struggles and Mickey Callaway's management of the outfield (24:40), and if the Phillies are legitimately scary (39:30) before offering the most positive of spins about the Mets' 2018 season so far (42:15).

Then Anthony DiComo joined in to share his secrets on not going crazy after reporting on the Mets for over eight seasons (45:00), explain his Reel Big Fish intro song selection (47:40), what an off day for him is like (48:15), why Jay Horwitz always calls him 'Tony' (51:00), the biggest differences between a Mickey Callaway clubhouse and a Terry Collins clubhouse (52:00), how much input Mickey has compared to the front office (54:20), a Cespedes golf update (57:30), what Tomas Nido has to do to get more starts (59:25), if Brandon Nimmo is nicer than even Curtis Granderson (01:01:30), Jay Bruce continuing to start over Juan Lagares and Nimmo (01:03:00), the possibility of Bruce playing first base this season (01:05:20), Bruce and Todd Frazier's lack of best friendship (01:06:40), the lack of humor on #MetsTwitter (01:09:30), hat sizes (01:11:00), and ending the interview as awkwardly as possible (01:13:55).

Then after Brian decided to worry about Noah Syndergaard's foul ball rates (01:18:00), the mailbag segment featured a question about Shohei Ohtani's MVP chances (01:23:00), Harvey's future (01:28:10), the possibly overworked Mets bullpen (01:31:30), and what happens if Cespedes golfs and still doesn't get out of his slump (01:41:00).

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to Andrew Lowden and Reel Big Fish for the music.

After the boys of Good Fundies watched the Mets finish blowing a game against the Nationals (02:00), the two questioned whether such 'shocking' defeats were truly 'shocking' (03:00) Then they talked about Travis d'Arnaud's season-ending injury and what it means for the catching situation (08:00), Zack Wheeler's great start (19:00), and Matt Harvey's not so good at all start (21:10), before Brian updated us with the latest METCON reading (28:00) and the telling stats on how much Mickey Callaway is truly relying on the team bullpen (33:00).

Then in the mailbag, the two figured out if Jay Bruce would be better as a catcher than Michael Conforto (41:00), when Jay Bruce should just go play first already and give Brandon Nimmo more playing time (44:30), how to enjoy being a Mets fan if it means crappy Mets fans get to be happy too (52:15), when Jose Reyes gets the boot for TJ Rivera or Ty Kelly or Gavin Cecchini (01:15:25), what friends call Noah Syndergaard (01:18:45), and if you’d be okay with a significant other cheating on you with a Met if it means three consecutive Mets pennants (01:19:15). It concluded with a congested Roger trying to channel Jack Buck calling the Bill Buckner play (01:21:10).

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to Andrew Lowden for the music.

The Mets are probably pretty good and Mark Simon (ESPN, Sports Info Solutions) joins in on the fun on the new Good Fundies!

Roger and Brian used mostly true Mets facts and pythagorean records to determine if the Mets are good, all the while enjoying the wondrous moment in time (02:00). Then, the two got into the difference between Mickey Callaway and the former manager, Ol' Whatshisface (13:30), Brian revealed this week's METCON level (21:30), and discussed Keith Hernandez's tweeting thus far (25:30).

This was followed by Mark Simon chatting about Stuyvesant High School athletics (33:00), whether or not he's a Mets fan (34:00), his time providing stats and cool info for 'Baseball Tonight' and ESPN (35:00), how the stats on TV changed after 'Moneyball' (37:50), his new job (41:20), Michael Conforto's future (43:45), how shifting around baseball has changed so far this season (46:50), if Adrian Gonzalez's hard hit percentage is real (48:30), which teams around MLB are victims of bad luck (53:30), if the Nationals will catch the Mets (54:30), and you best believe more.

In the mailbag, the boys were asked what the Thor-deGrom-Matz-Harvey-Wheeler rotation should be called (01:00:00), if Wheeler is deserving of a rotation spot (01:04:10), if the Mets need Imagine Dragons to sing their new song (01:18:00), if Scooter is a decent center fielder (01:20:00), which Met player's DNA would you want in your child(01:23:45), if it's too early to be mad if the Mets aren't in the division race in September (01:27:20), and if it's a problem that Lagares and Nimmo aren't starting (01:32:15).

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to Andrew Lowden for the music.

Brian Wright talked about his new book "Mets in 10s: Best and Worst of an Amazin' History" and Roger and the other Brian made their 2018 Mets Over/Under predictions!

First Brian and Roger talked about Keith Hernandez joining Twitter (04:00) of course. Then they went over how they thought Steven Matz looked and Mickey Callaway's decisions after the first Mets series of the season (13:00), and the potential outfield logjam once Michael Conforto returns (27:15).

Then the boys invited a second Brian onto the show for the first time in history. Brian Wright talked about his cool new book "Mets in 10s", specifically: how his anger at Chase Utley influenced him (42:00), how he got Jerry Koosman to write the forward (44:00), how he became a Mets fan(48:00), fighting anti-recency bias when compiling Mets top 10 lists (51:00), the hardest top 10 list to compile (55:30), and keeping all of the "anguish"ing lists in one section (01:00:00).

After that, the boys got their 2018 over/unders (01:04:00). Early on, Brian remembered to update the METCON level (01:05:00).

You can pre-order Brian Wright's book 'Mets in 10s: Best and Worst of an Amazin' History' on the Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and probably elsewhere.

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to Andrew Lowden and Billy Joel for the music.

Fake Baseball is over. Time for Real Baseball and a new Good Fundies, where Roger and Brian keep it professional with Addy Baird from ThinkProgress.

After discussing the new members of the Good Fundies family and how the youth communicate these days, the boys talked about Rafael Montero's injury (14:30), Zack Wheeler's demotion (20:00), Steven Matz and Matt Harvey's futures (28:50), Noah Syndergaard's potential (33:00), Jason Vargas' Jason Vargasness (37:00), Michael Conforto starting the year on the DL (39:30), Phillip Evans (41:30), Wilmer Flores potentially winning the 1B job (44:45), Brandon Nimmo beating out Juan Lagares for CF (47:00), and their predictions on how many wins the Mets will have by the end of this season (50:45).

Then Addy Baird schooled the boys on 'The Bachelor' (01:02:45), which Met would be the best Bachelor (01:07:15), the Mets' zodiac sign disadvantages (01:13:15), and how she became a Mets fan from Utah (01:26:45).

In the mailbag segment, the two pontificated on minor league baseball's extra innings rule change (01:52:00), if Wilmer will be worse in the outfield than Todd Hundley or Daniel Murphy (01:56:00), if Dave Eiland is a refreshing change (02:00:40), and if the Mets are closer to a World Series title than blowing the whole thing up and starting again (02:04:30).

If you’re a writer and have a baseball story idea, pitch us at [email protected].

If you want to donate to our Patreon to help us pay for good writing, and to get exclusive material some consider “neat”, you can find us at patreon.com/goodfundies

Don’t forget to rate us on iTunes if you haven’t yet, and if you like us.

Thank you to The Sheepdogs, Andrew Lowden, and Mariah Carey for the music.

Larry Fleisher is a writer.

Larry and Roger talked about a lot of things live on tape at Foley's, including:

7:50 His Mets/Yankees fandom, going to some 1986 Met affairs including the day after the Mets clinching the 1986 division

12:15 Seeing the 'Tim Raines game'

14:40 His first job, writing down quotes dictated to him over the phone

18:30 Larry's first live gig watching John Rocker history

19:30 Steve Karsay's alternate version story

21:00 Experiencing champagne celebrations first-hand

22:15 Watching the Endy Chavez catch live

24:15 Getting a Marty Noble eye roll as a rookie

26:40 The nicest players

29:50 Covering the Brooklyn Nets specifically Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce

33:10 His "Walk the Line" moment

35:30 Not repeating himself

37:00 Using sources

38:30 2018 baseball predictions

39:35 Camp Jobless

40:25 The Athletic

42:00 The Simpsons

You can check out his fire tweets at https://twitter.com/larryfleisher