Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies on winning the 2008 World Series...See you in 2009,
10/29/08
Congrats, Phillies
Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies on winning the 2008 World Series...See you in 2009,
The closing bell
Billy Wagner is out. Francisco Rodriguez is expensive. Brian Fuentes is the quiet guy. J.J. Putz and Huston Street may be among the new targets.
These guys will not come cheap. Among them are George Sherrill, Joakim Soria, and Kevin Gregg.
My favorite of the bunch: Soria. He's young, he's good, and he has a great nickname. "The Mexicutioner" on the Mets? Yes, please.
Soria has pitched for two years in the majors, and is only 24-years-old. In 2007, he threw in 62 games, notched a 2.48 ERA, and picked up 17 saves. Last season was even better. Sixty-three games, 1.60 ERA, and a 1.60 ERA. Can't ask for much more than that out of a closer.
Mexicutioner will cost a lot. As you can tell, he's a great pitcher, and is a staple of the Royals team and one of their only bright spots. Don't expect him.
The best option out there won't be picked up via a trade, according to Ken Davidoff. He believes that Jeremy Affeldt might be the best option for a closer.
Will this World Series end already so we can embark on some real rumors and grumblings.
These guys will not come cheap. Among them are George Sherrill, Joakim Soria, and Kevin Gregg.
My favorite of the bunch: Soria. He's young, he's good, and he has a great nickname. "The Mexicutioner" on the Mets? Yes, please.
Soria has pitched for two years in the majors, and is only 24-years-old. In 2007, he threw in 62 games, notched a 2.48 ERA, and picked up 17 saves. Last season was even better. Sixty-three games, 1.60 ERA, and a 1.60 ERA. Can't ask for much more than that out of a closer.
Mexicutioner will cost a lot. As you can tell, he's a great pitcher, and is a staple of the Royals team and one of their only bright spots. Don't expect him.
The best option out there won't be picked up via a trade, according to Ken Davidoff. He believes that Jeremy Affeldt might be the best option for a closer.
Lefty Jeremy Affeldt, 29, put together a decent season with Cincinnati, striking out 80 batters in 78 1/3 innings. Interestingly, he held righty hitters to a .335 on-base percentage and .391 slugging percentage; lefties got on base worse (.301 OBP) but slugged better (.444 SLG). For his career, he has performed slightly better against lefties (.335 OBP, .410 SLG) than righties (.348 OBP, .414 SLG).The Mets have been linked to him for a few years, so it wouldn't be surprising if they can pick him up. He's had some up and down years, and he's coming off one of his best. Interesting his name would come up for a closer for the Mets, but I like Davidoff's thinking.
Will this World Series end already so we can embark on some real rumors and grumblings.
How about Garret Anderson?
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim recently picked up team options on John Lackey and Vladmir Guerrero. They declined to pick up the option on the longest tenured Angel, Garret Anderson, who could be an option for the New York Mets.
Anderson has played the last four seasons split between left field and designated hitter, so stamina could be an issue. The Mets would look for him to play 140 games or so at his position, probably using Endy Chavez as a late-game defensive replacement and occasional starter.
In the game since 1994, Anderson has put together a pretty good career. He has a career .296 batting average, and he hasn't strayed far from that the last few years. In 142 games in '05, he hit .283 and in 141 games in '06, he hit .280. After only playing in 108 games in '07, he hit .297. Last season he hit .293 in 145 games.
Yes, he's old, but of the other options (Juan Rivera, among others), I think Anderson would be a better bet. Due to his age and career, he should be expensive. A two-year contract would be nice, and it would keep hot-shot Fernando Martinez in the minor leagues so he can grow.
I know the Mets should get younger, but LF is a big, open hole, and Anderson could be a serviceable option.
Anderson has played the last four seasons split between left field and designated hitter, so stamina could be an issue. The Mets would look for him to play 140 games or so at his position, probably using Endy Chavez as a late-game defensive replacement and occasional starter.
In the game since 1994, Anderson has put together a pretty good career. He has a career .296 batting average, and he hasn't strayed far from that the last few years. In 142 games in '05, he hit .283 and in 141 games in '06, he hit .280. After only playing in 108 games in '07, he hit .297. Last season he hit .293 in 145 games.
Yes, he's old, but of the other options (Juan Rivera, among others), I think Anderson would be a better bet. Due to his age and career, he should be expensive. A two-year contract would be nice, and it would keep hot-shot Fernando Martinez in the minor leagues so he can grow.
I know the Mets should get younger, but LF is a big, open hole, and Anderson could be a serviceable option.
10/28/08
The Pedro quandry
Should the Mets re-sign Pedro Martinez? It's a tough one.
In short, I don't think they should. He can't stay healthy, can't get through six innings, and is going to want more than one season in his contract.
But, and there is always a but with me, he might be able to give you some quality innings. Nothing spectacular, but decent fifth starter type starts, allowing three runs over 5 2-3 innings or something to that degree. Would you take that out of Pedro Martinez?
With a one-year contract, worth a couple million, I wouldn't be against it. It would give security heading into spring training, if guys like Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell aren't as ripe as we all hope. He could also serve as a mentor to the young guns as they prepare to embark on their MLB career.
I don't think it would hurt to sign him again, for something short and something cheap, because he won't be breaking the Mets bank. He seems to enjoy pitching and being a part of New York City, so I figure he'd be willing to stay, maybe even for a bargain.
It truly depends if he even returns at all. He's in the twilight of his career, and with his father's passing this year, his heart may just not be in the game anymore.
I'd like to see him back, but won't be heartbroken if he retires or ends up elsewhere.
In short, I don't think they should. He can't stay healthy, can't get through six innings, and is going to want more than one season in his contract.
But, and there is always a but with me, he might be able to give you some quality innings. Nothing spectacular, but decent fifth starter type starts, allowing three runs over 5 2-3 innings or something to that degree. Would you take that out of Pedro Martinez?
With a one-year contract, worth a couple million, I wouldn't be against it. It would give security heading into spring training, if guys like Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell aren't as ripe as we all hope. He could also serve as a mentor to the young guns as they prepare to embark on their MLB career.
I don't think it would hurt to sign him again, for something short and something cheap, because he won't be breaking the Mets bank. He seems to enjoy pitching and being a part of New York City, so I figure he'd be willing to stay, maybe even for a bargain.
It truly depends if he even returns at all. He's in the twilight of his career, and with his father's passing this year, his heart may just not be in the game anymore.
I'd like to see him back, but won't be heartbroken if he retires or ends up elsewhere.
10/27/08
Mets corners are loaded
Giving a new meaning to the "hot corner."It should be noted that Wright has probably been around guns for most of his life, as his father is a police chief in his home state of Virgina.
Reader photos
Since I posted my "favorite photo from Shea," I've gotten a few e-mails from readers and friends with their own pictures.
Here is an album from commenter Buzz from the last game and ceremony at Shea Stadium.
And here are three photos from my good friend Kay. The first is her favorite picture from the old stadium, also dealing with the seats. The other two show her tattoo on her ankle, and her dog, both of which you can see on Brooklyn Met Fan.
If you ever have anything you want to submit, feel free to send an e-mail to TheRopolitans@gmail.com.
Here is an album from commenter Buzz from the last game and ceremony at Shea Stadium.
And here are three photos from my good friend Kay. The first is her favorite picture from the old stadium, also dealing with the seats. The other two show her tattoo on her ankle, and her dog, both of which you can see on Brooklyn Met Fan.
If you ever have anything you want to submit, feel free to send an e-mail to TheRopolitans@gmail.com.
Not taking a Holliday
Matt Holliday is rumored to be available (again), so do the Mets take a look at this power-hitting left fielder? I say no.
My main reason to say "No" to Holliday is his home / away splits. He's lucky enough to play in Coors Field in Colorado, a place where the ball takes off, no matter what Major League Baseball does to try and counteract the thin air.
This took me all of 14 seconds to look up, and I hope Omar Minaya does the same before he considers trading for Holliday, who is entering the last year of his contract.
Too much disparity there for me.
He's playing in a stadium that greatly favors the hitter, and it shows. In only 20 less games away from Coors, he has nearly half as many home runs. His RBI's are almost in half as well.
His average drops nearly 80 points, as does his on-base percentage. Slugging is a completely different story, as it drops nearly 200 points.
Still, I'll return to my old mainstay: If you can get him for cheap, then go get him. If not, just walk away.
My main reason to say "No" to Holliday is his home / away splits. He's lucky enough to play in Coors Field in Colorado, a place where the ball takes off, no matter what Major League Baseball does to try and counteract the thin air.
This took me all of 14 seconds to look up, and I hope Omar Minaya does the same before he considers trading for Holliday, who is entering the last year of his contract.
| Games | AB | Hits | Runs | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | |
| Home | 359 | 1,353 | 483 | 285 | 106 | 84 | 307 | 129 | 230 | .357 | .423 | .645 | 1.068 |
| Away | 339 | 1,303 | 365 | 194 | 82 | 44 | 176 | 122 | 275 | .280 | .348 | .455 | .803 |
Too much disparity there for me.
He's playing in a stadium that greatly favors the hitter, and it shows. In only 20 less games away from Coors, he has nearly half as many home runs. His RBI's are almost in half as well.
His average drops nearly 80 points, as does his on-base percentage. Slugging is a completely different story, as it drops nearly 200 points.
Still, I'll return to my old mainstay: If you can get him for cheap, then go get him. If not, just walk away.
10/26/08
Oh, happy day
Great news. Simply great news.
From Bob Raissman:
From Bob Raissman:
Next team to take down: Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.Could the 19-year "Sunday Night Baseball" broadcasting partnership of ESPN's Jon Miller and Joe Morgan be coming to an end? And will their ESPN Radio call of the Rays-Phillies World Series be the final chapter?
Well-embedded baseball moles contend the answer is "yes" to both questions. Both Morgan and Miller have two years left on their ESPN contracts, but that would not prevent a change.
Sources said Morgan could be shifted to the network's midweek baseball telecast, where he would work with a new play-by-play partner.
Mets aiming Lowe?
He's old(er), but he's consistent. Derek Lowe seems to be the Mets current target.
According to Joel Sherman, the Mets will look to Lowe and Brian Fuentes during this offseason.
Fuentes is another guy I wouldn't sign for very long, but would love to have. He will be a lot cheaper then Francisco Rodriguez, so that is a plus.
Not totally infatuated with either of them, but they will be welcome additions to the club, if the Mets can land one, or both of them.
According to Joel Sherman, the Mets will look to Lowe and Brian Fuentes during this offseason.
The Mets plan on targeting Derek Lowe and Brian Fuentes in the free agent market, an NL executive who has talked to team officials told the Post.Lowe is 35-years-old, but he's been consistent and healthy. A long contract won't be the best option, but something in the 3-year range, with a team option would please me.The Mets are promising to be creative and explore many avenues. But Lowe (a dependable innings eater) and Fuentes (a proven closer) fit the Mets' top two needs, and are going to be pursued by the organization this offseason.
Fuentes is another guy I wouldn't sign for very long, but would love to have. He will be a lot cheaper then Francisco Rodriguez, so that is a plus.
Not totally infatuated with either of them, but they will be welcome additions to the club, if the Mets can land one, or both of them.
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