Lima time!

Check out the hysterical opening to the Ben Shpigel's article about the Mets signing of Jose Lima in today's N.Y. Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/17/sports/baseball/17mets.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., Feb. 16 — Pedro Martínez was cackling into his cellphone when another one rang a few feet behind him. It belonged to Jay Horwitz, the Mets' vice president for media relations, and the voice on the other end was Jose Lima's, the national anthem-crooning, towel-waving merengue singer who moonlights as a right-handed pitcher.

"It's Lima Time," Horwitz said.

Martínez abruptly ended his call and swiveled his head as Horwitz finished his conversation.

"That was Jose Lima?" Martínez said. "Why was he calling you?"

"Because we signed him, Pedro," Horwitz said.

Martínez's eyes widened.

"We signed him for real? Oh, not Jose Lima."

Martínez buried his face in his hands and started laughing uncontrollably.

Lima, who was 5-16 with a 6.99 ERA last year--and that's not the first time he finished a full season with an ERA over 6--boasts that he owns 2000 suits and has never worn any of them more than once.

According to baseball-reference.com, he's made $24 million to this point in his career. There is no justice.

More baseball stuff on the way...