Minaya's Q&A

Steve Serby of the POST has a great Q&A session with Mets GM Omar Minaya. Here are a few highlights:

Q: You met again with Team K-Rod the next day.

A: We had met at the Bellagio late in the afternoon - 4, 5, 6 (p.m.)- then we kinda went back and forth for about 12 hours. Jeff was really the one driving this. I don't want to be the one taking credit. We work together as a team, between [John] Ricco and Sandy Johnson and Tony Bernazard and (pro scout) Brian Lamb.

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Q: K-Rod had one concern.

A: He also wanted to know "Who's the guy that's gonna give me the ball?

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Q: You're the talk of the town.

A: Being a Met fan, it's a passion. I just want Met fans to know we all care. I say, "Look, if you're afraid of your heart being broken, you cannot be a baseball fan," but you can't be a Met fan if you're afraid of your heart being broken. We overcome tough losses. It's like relationships in life - you overcome them. You bounce back. The fact that it's Christmas in the city, waiting for spring to start for new hope of a better year - they (Mets fans) should feel ownership and the front office will continue to do everything they can to provide them a championship team.

Minaya has definitely proved his worth as GM so far this off-season. He still has some work to do, but the bullpen -- which has been the major issue the last two seasons -- has been completely overhauled.

Two marks on the To-Do list down, a few to go.

I like K-Rod already

Brash. Attitude. Bold.

All things I like about Francisco Rodriguez, besides the talent of course.

Here's what K-Rod said during a conference call today:

Of course, we're going to try to win the division. Of course, we're going to be the front-runner. Of course, we're going to be the team to beat.

Good man. I'm sure the Phillies hate him already.

Oh, and come on MLB! You can't Photoshop K-Rod into a Met uniform any better than that?!

Update: Check out this in-depth article by Christian Red of the Daily News.

Toby Hyde on Connor Robertson

Though the Mets newest acquisition has some pretty awful numbers at the big league level, Toby Hyde of Mets Minor League Blog posts some stats from Connor Robertson's minor league appearances, and they look fairly interesting.

Robertson is a fine athlete who was a second-team All-American as a 3B at Birmingham Southern where he is the career leader in HR, TB and RBI.

In 306 minor league innings, Robertson struck out 383 batters while walking 123. That works out to 11.26 K/9,, [sic]3.26 BB/9 and a K/BB of 3.11. The nine big league innings that hardly indicate his underlying abilty [sic].

Very interesting. Maybe all he need is some seasoning with a different pitching coach.

The Mets sent Scott Schoeneweis along with $1.6 million to Arizona for Robertson on Friday.

Mets trade Schoeneweis

That's right everyone, Scott Schoeneweis is no longer a Met. Omar Minaya is absolutely gutting this bullpen. I wonder if anyone from the 2008 pen will be around next season...

The Mets have traded Schoeneweis to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right handed relief pitcher Conor Robertson.

From the press release:

Robertson, 27, was 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in nine games with Arizona this past season. In 7.0 innings, he allowed eight hits, four runs, earned, with two walks and two strikeouts. In addition, the 6-2, 220-pounder went 7-4 with a 5.02 ERA in 47 contests with Tucson (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League. In 71.2 innings, he surrendered 69 hits, 45 runs, 40 earned, with 30 walks and 72 strikeouts.

My one issue is that the Mets need some sort of veteran leadership in the bullpen now. All these young guys in, or possibly in, the bullpen could lead to some strange issues.

Trevor Hoffman, anyone?

Anyway, so long Schoeneweis. I will not miss typing your last name.

Tidbits: Ibanez off the market, Mets look to Cora, choke artists

As I'm sitting here at a Starbucks on the corner of 40th and Lexington, piggy backing on someone's unencrypted internet, I figured I'd post a few tidbits of news from the day.

• According to ESPN, the Phillies and free agent Raul Ibanez agreed on a three-year deal today. Ibanez, who the Mets had shown great interest in, will take over for Met-killer Pat Burrell in left field for the Phils.
• The Mets are apparently targeting free agent Alex Cora to be 2009's Damion Easley. Cora spent the last few seasons with the Red Sox. He played seven games at second base and 69 games at short. Can't say I would mind Cora. How bad could a utility infielder be?
  
• Cole Hamels told WFAN yesterday that the Mets are "choke artists." I've heard such a hubbub over this. Too bad he's right.

Enjoy J.J. Putz's entrance music...

Manny will never stop being Manny

That doesn't mean I don't want him on my favorite team, though.

Manny Ramirez is a five-year-old. He feels ignored, so he's stomping around the playground making big, bold statements. According to Ken Davidoff, Manny is threatening retirement if no "good" deals come about.

What a goof ball, but darn can he hit.

I hope when Manny finally does retire, he becomes a coach. I'd love to see him go Ozzie Guillen on anything and everything.

J.J Putz: By the numbers

Here is a By The Numbers look at the New York Mets set up man J.J. Putz.

31: Age of Putz.

22: Career wins.

17: Career loses.

3.07: Career ERA.

337: Career strikeouts.

1: All Star appearance. (Francisco Rodriguez replaced Putz in the game after Putz allowed two runs in the 9th, and closed out the game. Johan Santana also appeared in that game, earning a hold for a scoreless 7th inning of work.)

77: Inches tall.

250: Pounds.

0: Career at bats.

308: Games appeared in.

323: Innings pitched.

101: Career saves. (I guarantee he gets at least one this season.)

0: Postseason appearances.

.955: Career fielding percentage.

1.38: ERA in 2007.

1: Set up guy.

Check out Francisco Rodriguez's BTN.

Still trying to make Marquis a Met

Omar Minaya will not rest, will not sleep for an instant until the 2009 Mets are ready to go.

Jon Heyman continue to bring up Jason Marquis to the Mets.

Marquis, a Staten Island native, would fill a need in the Mets' rotation at a reasonable cost. The Cubs are offering to pay some of Marquis' $9.5-million 2009 salary to defray the cost. The Mets could also consider sending reliever Scott Schoeneweis to the Cubs to further offset Marquis' salary.

For a second, I got very, very excited that the Mets were sending Schoeneweis for Marquis straight up. Darn.

I'm not quite sure what else the Cubbies need, outside of bullpen help. They might need a right-handed bat in the outfield, but I'm not quite sure the Mets have enough righties on their team as it is.

I'd like to see Marquis, as he'd be a solid #5 starter. Don't forget about Jon Garland, Minaya!

Mets pick two righties in Rule V draft

The Mets picked righthanders Darren O'Day and Rocky Cherry in the Rule V draft.

O'Day was selected from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise. He appeared in 30 games for the Angels in 2008, he notched 43.3 IP and posted a 4.57 ERA.

Cherry, who sounds a lot like an ice cream flavor, has a career 5.77 ERA, and was selected from the Baltimore Orioles franchise. He's appeared in 40 games over two years with the Chicago Cubs and O's.

A sneak peek at Omar Minaya's notebook [Updated]

I was lucky enough to get a photo of Omar Minaya's notebook for the Winter Meetings thanks to a source in Las Vegas. Take a look!
Hopefully he can check off that first item very soon.
Update - 12/9: Deal is done, pending physical.

Update - 12/11: Bullpen help -- Check!

What's next for Omar? Stay tuned!