Last night, after watching the Giants just pistol whip Green Bay, we left Nice Guy Eddie's and went next door to the Library to play celebratory Clash and Joy Division. Met a really young guy -- he's a scout for O's and a really young, young kid.

Meeting him was incredibly interesting in that he had what appeared to be a photographic memory, and was like a Level 342 Sabermagician.

Anyway, we talked a ton about the Mets system (in short he's impressed with the The Four Horsemen, though thinks the ceiling on Harvey is overstated and that Familia is underrated -- with which I concur. He also is really high on Sexy Valdespin -- and since I'd been drinking since 4pm and it was 3am, there is a possibility I was talking to myself, Fight CLub style).

ANYWAY, he was super, super high on Marquez. Loved everything about him. Told me to make Marquez my next favorite player, once the scars of loss heal and I am ready to love again. Said Marquez was one of the most impressive position player in the draft and that he is going to be a legit monster for the Mets.

It was nice to hear. Good kid too.

I intend to be back at The Library drunk in celebration of the NFC title - so if there are any questions pending from you weenies, I will see what kind of answers I get.

Edited to add -- He also likes Gorski a lot. Thinks he'll be a solid 3rd starter. Loves his makeup. Looked at me like I was crazy when I asked him if Gorski's ceiling was Tom Glavine or Johan Santana.

Problem with Marquez is there is a pretty decent shot he makes a go of it with football and even if he doesn't he's behind the 8 ball with only playing half seasons for us while playing football. He had a pretty decent freshman season. 25 catches 240 yards.

Kirk Gibson was an all-America wide receiver at Michigan State and he ended up with a pretty decent baseball career.

Just sayin'

Gibson also posted a massive year his one year of college baseball. A little different than a raw athlete HS kid who needs reps. I'm cheering for Marquez, just realize generally these "split contract" guys don't amount to much unless they quit one sport early on and Marquez doesn't appear to be quitting football anytime soon.

- wiki

1st round pick in baseball, 7th rounder in football.

He strikes me as the kind of guy who will pursue football if he blossoms there and doesn't see immediate results on the diamond, a la the Wisconsin football player who just bailed on baseball.

Weird Kirk Gibson stat, 1 MVP 0 All-Star game appearances.

According to wikipedia he turned down the ASG the 2 years he made the team.

Which is what you'd expect from someone who's going to be hanging out in short-season leagues for the next few summers as he plays Big 12 football in the fall and spring.

If he were a top-top pick in baseball then money talks, but more often than not, a raw "flier" on an athlete won't work in this sport, that requires a dedication of far more time and deal with the idea of a long road to any success vs. the immediate dividends that other sports generally offer.

But getting hit and waking up someplace else can be a strong argument for baseball....

Fair enough; just sayin', at some point, he's going to have to make a call on which to focus on, where his "best" memories of baseball might be afternoon games in Kingsport, TN in July and August vs. Big 12 football in front of 60,000+ fans.

I thought your original point was that dividing his attention between college football and short stints of pro ball will hamoer his development in baseball.

Gibson, at a comparable age, concentrated nearly all his efforts on football and still had an excellent pro baseball career.

Dominant or not, Gibson had one year of Big Ten college baseball and wasn't just a good receiver in ollege. He set school and Big Ten records.

If Marquez is playing professional baseball in the summer, i think that's at least comparable to top-flight college baseball, which Gibson did for only one year out of four in college.