11/30/06

Bannister Available?

MLB Trade Rumors ponders if Brian Bannister may be dealt to get a good reliever after Chad Bradford signed a 3 year, $10.25 mil. deal with the O's.

...hmm, i pretty much forgot about him after his looooong lasting hamstring injury. he pitched fairly well, and i think he could be pretty good...so be careful trading him...i don't want this to bite us in the butt in a few years...

Could the '86 Mets happen now?

Joe Sports Fan has put together a very cool article seeing if the 1986 Mets team could be put together now with their adjusted salaries.

The '86 team had a payroll of about $12.5 mil.
The team would now cost an estimated $121 mil.

"What does all of that mean? Even with all of the ridiculous contracts being tossed around throughout the league, if you took one of the great teams of the past twenty years and paid them in today�s baseball money, they�d still be a cool $80 million cheaper than the Yankees.

Isn�t baseball great?


...hahahaha. great article. well done. great line at the end there...

11/28/06

Bye-Bye Bradford!

OH NO!
say it 'aint so Omar!

Chad Bradford has agreed to a 3 year, $10.5mil. with the Orioles.

...ohhhh man. this was the main guy i wanted back from the bullpen this year....

...as matt cerrone said, "this means we can't use Aaron Heilman as a trading chip."...

...which i don't especially hate, because i think he can be good out of the pen, as long as he doesnt whine about starting...

...man the bullpen market is HOT this year...

11/27/06

the Huh?!? of the week.

on Mets.com the current poll is...

"If Aaron Heilman is made a starter, which three set up? (A-Duaner Sanchez, B-Guillermo Mota, C-Chad Bradford, D-Henry Owens, E-Roberto Hernandez)"

A, B, C
A, C, D
B, C, D
A, C, E
B, C, E

...Owens isn't on the team, he was just traded to Florida....

...Bradford is a free agent...

...Hernandez is also a free agent...

...Sanchez had major shoulder surgery during the year...

...Mota is a free agent, who is suspended the first 50 games of '07...

...who puts these polls together??...

oh...and the number one choice...Sanchez/Mota/Bradford

11/22/06

Sorry about the lack of posts.

Sorry for missing out on the Henry Owens/Matt Lindstrom for Jason Vargas/Adam Bostick trade...

...well, i really never though we'd see Owens go, but i guess he never progressed into the closer/set up man we expected. Vargas started in the Marlins rotation, but ended up coming out of the pen...

let Dr. Rick Peterson get his hands on these two guys, and see what magic he can turn...


...please feel free to use the comments section as your discussion forum.
its easy to use, requires no signup...
thanks!

11/20/06

Opinion: Alou

Moises Alou...
Omar, I'm not too sure about this one.

He's 40 years old, and you want him to run around the vast outfield of Shea?
Sure he hit .346 against left handed pitchers last year, while the entire Mets team hit .254.
But this isn't the type of player that meshes with a team. He is a clubhouse killer, and thats something we do not need. We had amazing clubhouse chemistry last year, as was shown when Wright and Glavine flanked Lo Duca during that little press conference. These guys are friends as well as teammates, don't bring in someone who will put that in jeopardy...

Before you do this, resign Endy Chavez! He was amazing last year, and under Willie's guidance became a singles and doubles hitter, instead of swinging for the fences. He was near perfect in the field. He hit .333 against lefties. He has more speed in the field and on the basepath, and has shown he can play the outfield in Shea. He is young and has shown he has the ability to play every day...

Granted you do resign Endy and Alou...
does this mean Endy is relugated to the bench again??
What else does this guy have to do to earn a starting job? He is a perfect 7 or 8 hitter. He gets you singles (to clear the pitcher spot), has speed (to be bunted over) and is amazing in the field. But you go out and sign a 41 year old, who is injury prone, and only played in 98 games last year due to injuries...

so in conclusion...
DON'T sign Alou
DO sign Chavez

11/18/06

News: Moises Alou

first off...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Tons of rumors out there saying that the Mets and Moises Alou are very close to a deal.
The details vary, between a one year deal w/ an option or a 2 year deal.

...i remember we almost traded for him last year. WHY?!?! he's 41, stinks at playing outfield, and is a terrible guy in the clubhouse!!
this strikes me as downright stupid.

and he pees on his hands!!!!
ugh...i do not like this deal!

11/16/06

Mets sign Damion Easley

The Mets have signed utility man Damion Easley to a one-year, $850,000 contract.

He has played every position but pitcher and catcher in his 15 years.

...hopefully this turns out just like all of Omar's other tiny moves.
he's good at those types of things, ya know...


...hat tip to Hot Foot for the link...

Notes from around baseball

~Braves look close to getting Jake Peavy from the Padres for 2B Marcus Giles, RHP Horacio Ramirez, and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia. -says MetsBlog.com

~Blue Jays and DH Frank Thomas are close to a 2-year deal.
A's and Giants looking to Mike Piazza to fill the DH spot.
Padres are interested in Barry Bonds.
...why?!?...

~Mike Mussina seems to be staying with the Yankees, as they are close to agreeing on a deal.

~Sean Casey signed a 1-year deal with the Tigers.

11/15/06

Johnson to breakout in '07?

Hot Foot does some digging in the Padres.com mailbag about breakout players and comes up with this...

"Ben Johnson comes to mind, once again, as a player who could make an impact in the outfield. Perhaps a new manager with a clean slate will work to Johnson's advantage. It's happened before, and the man from Memphis certainly has the tools to be an exciting everyday performer similar to his good buddy, Barfield."

...sounds good to me. seriously, to me he sounds like a Xavier Nady. someone under the radar who is going to have a breakout year.
...i sure hope i'm right...

Girardi wins MOY

Joe Girardi won NL Manager of the Year.
Jim Leyland won it in the American League.

...well, Girardi did do an amazing job. i can't argue that this is a dumb call of anything. he really did do wonders with what he had.
willie will get his soon...

...he'd rather have a ring instead of this though...

Trade: Ring and Bell for Adkins and Johnson

Pitchers Royce Ring and Heath Bell have been traded to the San Diego Paders for RHP Jon Adkins and OF Ben Johnson...

...Bell and Ring are good pitchers. not great, just good. they were both up and down all year with the Mets, and never really looked as if they'd make it...

...Johnson, primarily a left or center fielder, played 58 games for SD last year. in 120 AB's he hit .250, 4 HR, and 3 SB. had a shoulder issue last year which caused him to miss some games...
...utility outfielder, or next Xavier Nady?


...Adkins, a righty relief pitcher, pitched in 55 games going 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA.
he pitched 3 innings against the mets last year, surrendering 4 hits and 2 ER...

11/14/06

Reader Comment: Mazzilli for 3B

Ok, so a faithful reader (my dad) has sent me an email with his thoughts on the third base coaching job...

To quote him...
"My pick is Lee Mazzilli. Revered Met, experienced coach, worked with Randolph on Yanks, experienced in managing w/ Orioles. Should have been a Met coach long ago."

...he has a point. this would make alot of sense. he spent 10 years with the orginization, and has worked with Randolph...

good choice dad!




p.s. This sort of thing can become common! as a reader, if you would like to voice your opinion, just shoot me an e-mail or IM, and if its good, you can get a post.
(this will work in place of a comments section. its coming eventually)

In Omar I Trust, but...

One of my favorite bloggers, John Delcos, posted a few notes about a phone conversation he had with GM Omar Minaya...

He mentioned the El Duque and Valentin signings.

...the Valentin one is where i will question him. he says he is comfertable with him at 2B, as am i...but he also mentions he will test the market, and would use him in LF.

...left?? why? there has to be a better utility man out there that can play those positions better.
i don't feel comfertable with him out there.
2B for sure. he was too solid last year to not doubt.
but left?


Omar also said they have made offers to Bradford and Floyd...

...good. Bradford was solid all year.

and Floyd, well...third base coach?

Update: Duque and Acta

Apparently El Duque is getting more money than we expected. The deal is now said to be woth $5.5 per year.
So now it's a 2-year deal worth $11 mil.

...well, thats alot more money.
it just makes me believe Omar trusts him as a pitcher and a mentor...


~Manny Acta was oficially hired to coach the Washington Nationals today.

...HoJo or Carter...those are my picks for 3B coach...

Notes : 11/14

~The Matsuzaka bidding war seems to have been won by the Boston Red Sox.
They are rumored to have bid $50 mil. The Mets are said to have bid $38 mil., a distant second.

...38 mil. wow. that really shocks me. i didn't know they were that into Matsuzaka...
all the better, $38 million more for Zito.


~Brandon Webb has won the Cy Young Award in the NL. Billy Wagner came in 6th.

...Webb had a great year. i really can't make much of a argument that Wagner should have won, but maybe next year...

Mets re-sign El Duque

Matt Cerrone at MetsBlog is reporting that El Duque has signed a 2-year deal worth $6 mill.

...i'm very happy about this. i really liked what he did for us last year. he is a good pitcher, who can come out of the pen for long relief, and start as well...

it will be interesting to see where he falls in the rotation. spring training will be mighty interesting...

11/13/06

Update: Groundbreaking = Mind Numbing

This may be one of the most anti-climactic moments ever.

I'm so excited to see the stadium, go to games, enjoy the facilities. I just want it to be up right now, and go watch some baseball. I was fairly excited to see the groundbreaking, hoping maybe they would have some new graphics, insight into the stadium (besides this).

So i hustled back from classes to flip on SNY to see the almighty Chuck Norris dishing some workout product.
I ran across campus for this?
Ok...11:30, here comes Darling and Yallof! Great! Let's get this started!
Oh, and "Hi Chris Cotter", I've missed you.

It is just speech after speech after speech.
It is so boring.
Good to see Reyes, Wright and Maine there...but gosh, i think they'd rather be back in Japan right about now.

And now...its 12:12, I haven't even seen a shovel yet.

If my memory serves me correctly, Jackie Robinson never played with the Mets.
I understand he was an amazing player, and had such a huge impact on the league, but the "Jackie Robinson Rotunda" in the new Mets stadium doesn't make much sense to me.
What about the "Bob Murphy Rotunda"??
Doesn't that make alot more sense?!

update:: 12:39
Finally some shovels!
yay!
But wait...why are they just tossing the dirt right back on the pile?!
Shouldn't they fling it over their shoulders, or at least put it in a wheelbarrow??

and I can just see it now...right in my e-mail box...
"Buy David Wright's Hardhat from Groundbreaking Ceremony!!!
Only $299.99!"
haha

Groundbreaking

Today at 11 AM, ground will be broken on the Mets new stadium, Citi Field.

You can watch the event live on SNY.

...i unfortunately cannot. i have class...bummer.

The deal is said to be worth $20 mill annually for 20 years.
This is double what the Houston Texans get annually for naming rights on Reliant Stadium.

There is an option to take Citi Field's naming rights to 35 years.

...it's no "Shea" and its no "Petco".
i really don't mind the new name, it could be so much worse...

but really. MetLife really missed their chance here...

Acta to coach Nationals

Mets third base coach Manny Acta will be named coach of the Washington Nationals this week.

...ok. this really doesn't bother me much. it's not like he was a "third base coach extrodinare" or anything...

Now the question is who will take his place...?

...i'm pulling for Gary Carter!!!!

Heres a shocker...Valentin back to the Mets

This one take me by surprise.
Jose Valentin and the Mets are close to finishing up a one year, $4 mil. contract.

...i'm assuming he will be taking the place of utility man Chris Woodward...??
but he can't play as many positions.

11/10/06

Reyes and Beltran win silver slugger awards.

Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran have each been named NL Silver Sluggers...

"Silver Slugger Awards were determined by a vote of MLB managers and coaches who selected the opposing players they felt were the best offensive producers at each position in the American and National Leagues,� explains the report.

...congrats to both the guys, they really do deserve it. Beltran had a comeback year, and Reyes had a breakout year. beautiful combo!...

Glavine files for FA.

Tom Glavine has filed for Free Agency.
This does not mean he will not be a Met next year, and he is still only talking with Atlants and the Mets.

...i have a feeling he will be back with us. just the way he came on at the end of the season, and almost had to carry the team, and he fits in as a player...i just have a feeling he will be back...

2B option...Adam Kennedy?

The Post is reporting that free agent 2B Adam Kennedy has shown interest in the Mets.

"...his agent, Paul Cohen, said he has "definite interest" in the Mets."

...he would only be a two year guy in my opinon.
he's 31 and not a real power guy. (.273, 4 hr, 55 rbi) but i could see him hitting 7 or 8.
he made 9 errors last season, so he is a pretty good fielder.
he also has the sort of 'tough guy/hustle' characteristic like Paul Lo Duca...
so thats an option...

11/9/06

Matsuzaka bids are in...

Bids for Japanese RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka are all in, with the Yankees having the only definite bid.

The Seibu Lions have until Tuesday to announce the "winner" of the bidding process. The winner is then allowed to begin discussions with Matsuzaka and super-agent Scott Boras.
Mets, Rangers, Cubs, and Red Sox were also rumored to have had interest in the pitcher.

...i'm not completely sold that he is worth all this money. he may end up being a great pitcher but spending $20 mil. just to start talking to the guy is a heckuva lot of money. that $20mil could just as easily go to Zito who has a proven record against MLB hitters.
granted Matsuzaka pitched in the WBC and was the MVP of the tourney, he still is unproven in a big market like NY with all the pressures that would come along of spending $20mil + contract...(see Carlos Beltran)

...and we all know our track record with japanese imports...

11/8/06

Adam Kennedy Update

It seems as though the Mets have contacted Adam Kennedy for the 2B job...


...He is 31 years old, a lefty, career .280 hitter...
Kennedy is fairly solid in the field, which is what we really need, more than hitting.
He is also a "scrappy" sort of guy, something along the lines of Adam Eckstein or Joe McEwing...

I could really see him fitting in with the team, and giving Anderson Hernandez time to find his swing...

11/1/06

Glavine close to two year deal...

Adam Rubin says in todays Daily News that Tom Glavine is close to signing a 2 year deal with the Mets.

The deal would be worth around $25 million dollars...

... i'd love to see glavine back, as he seems like a real team player, and pitched fairly well last year. i'm hoping he stays with the mets, and gets his 300 here. so that looks real promising...