2008 MotY: Orange Bracket Round 2 results

Two blowouts, as expected.

Here are the results:

1. Johan Santana vs. 9. Fernando Tatis -- 98.53% to 1.47% (67-1)

5. Scott Schoeneweis vs. 4. Carlos Beltran -- 2.7% to 97.3% (2-72)

So Santana and Beltran move on to face each other in the Elite 8 round. That should be a pretty interesting matchup.

Next polls up at 9:30 am.

2008 Met of the Year Award: Orange Bracket Round 2 [3 hours left!!]

Let Round 2 begin!

Criteria for voting: Voting can be based on whatever you choose. Stats at the plate, play in the field, a game-winning hit at a game you attended, the fact that he signed your hat at the stadium, how cute he is, VORP -- whatever you choose!

Today's TWO matchups (scroll down for the second poll):

Polls closed.

Voting will end at MIDNIGHT.

My prediction: Santana in a romp over Tatis. Beltran destroys Schoeneweis. Top seeds move on.

David Wright will be your starting third baseman, USA

Attention United States of America:
David Wright, and not Chipper Jones, will be the starting third baseman representing your country in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

According to Joel Sherman, Wright is one of two third basemen on the Team USA roster.

Wright has been told directly by USA manager Davey Johnson that he will be receiving the majority of the time at third base. Atlanta's Chipper Jones already has confirmed he will be one of the two American third basemen, but it is expected that he will serve often as the DH.

Good for him. Go USA!

I got mine

I got my Francisco Rodriguez Mets shirt the other day at Modell's. They also had blue ones, but instead of "Rodriguez" on the back, they only had "K-Rod." It struck me as a little weird, but that is his nickname.

As of now, we only know K-Rod will be No. 75 and J.J. Putz will wear No. 40. The other acquisitions haven't been assigned numbers yet.

I wonder if they'll mass produce Putz shirts? Would you buy one if they did?

Anyway, I'm wondering who else picked up their Rodriguez shirt already? Or are you waiting for Christmas or Hanukkah?

2008 MotY: Blue Bracket results

Here are the results from the Blue Bracket Round 1 voting of The 2008 Met of the Year Award.

2. Mike Pelfrey vs. 15. Argenis Reyes -- 98.18% to 1.82% (54-1)

3. Oliver Perez vs. 14. Brian Stokes -- 67.35% to 32.65% (33-16)

7. Ryan Church vs. 10. Duaner Sanchez -- 95.83% to 4.17% (46-2)

6. Brian Schneider vs. 11. Luis Ayala -- 79.59% to 20.41% (39-10)

Here is an updated bracket, all the way through Round 1.

For a full-size image, click here.

I feel like I can predict who is going to win these next few matches, but 12-seeded Daniel Murphy has seemed to quickly garner a big following, as he was the biggest upset in Round 1, toppling the fifth-seed in John Maine.

Stay tuned. Voting in Round 2 begins tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. The matchups will be from the Orange Bracket.

2008 MotY: Blue Bracket voting

Voting closed. Here are the results.

This is the final voting in Round 1. The Blue Bracket in the Piazza Division.

Here are today's matchups. (There are four polls. I notice the top poll has more votes than the others, so make sure you scoll down for the others!)

The case for Tim Redding

Back on Thursday Dec. 16, I proposed a plan for the Mets to sign Tim Redding. Not only would he help the back of rotation if he has a strong spring training, but he could also serve as the long man out of the bullpen if need be.

I was also tickled by his relation to a character on The Honeymooners and had a whole host of ideas planned out for him.

Well it seems like this Redding-Mets thing is gaining steam. I present the case for Tim Redding.

In the Major League Baseball System the players are influenced by two separate, yet equally important groups. The teams that want to sign the players and the agents who represent them. These are their stories.

DUN-DUN

Exhibit A: Jon Heyman links the Mets and Redding as a "Category B" type starter. Filed Dec. 19 at 2:45 pm.

Pitchers on that list include free agents Freddy Garcia and Tim Redding, plus Cubs starter Jason Marquis.

Exhibit B: Ken Rosenthal makes a similar claim, as the Orioles are attempting to sign Redding as well. Filed the same day, a few hours later.

The Mets and several other clubs also are interested in Redding, who is seeking a two-year contract. The Orioles likely will be reluctant to go two years, but that might be the only way for them to get him to Baltimore.

Exhibit C: Rosenthal has a new lead, citing sources, he claims the Mets will make a push to sign Redding.

The Mets, trying to create additional options for their rotation, are attempting to sign free-agent right-hander Tim Redding, major-league sources say.

Rosenthal goes on to confirm my statement of having Redding possibly challenge and compete with Jon Niese for the 5th spot in the rotation.

And finally, Exhibit D: Peter Botte spoke to Redding's agent. Filed Saturday Dec. 20, 1:51 am.

"The Mets are very much in the mix for Tim, he's a Northeast guy and loves the city," agent Tom O'Connell said of Redding, who is from Rochester. "We're still relatively early in the process, because Tim just got on the market, but we definitely are considering New York, 100%."

The case is not closed yet. The teams have a chance to make closing arguments and offers to Redding before he chooses.

DUN-DUN

2008 MotY: Black Bracket results

Here are the results from the first round of Black Bracket voting. We had our first big "upset" and also the closes match so far.

4. Billy Wagner vs. 13. Nelson Figueroa -- 79.07% to 20.93% (34-9)

5. John Maine vs. 12. Daniel Murphy -- 31.71% to 68.29% (13-28)

8. Damion Easley vs. 9. Ramon Castro -- 44.44% to 55.56% (20-25)

1. Carlos Delgado vs. 16. Nick Evans -- 97.62% to 2.38% (41-1)

2008 MotY: Black Bracket voting

Update: Polls fixed. Vote away!

Here are your polls for the Black Bracket Round 1 voting.

4. Billy Wagner vs. 13. Nelson Figueroa -- VOTE!

5. John Maine vs. 12. Daniel Murphy -- VOTE!

8. Damion Easley vs. 9. Ramon Castro -- VOTE!

1. Carlos Delgado vs. 16. Nick Evans -- VOTE!

To make up for the delayed voting, this poll will run until 9:00 am on Dec. 21.

Enjoy!

2008 MotY: White Bracket Round 1 results

Sorry for the delay everyone. The site I use, PollDaddy, was down for a long time and I just got yesterday's results. I'm also fighting a might sickness, so sorry for the sparse posting.

Here are the results from the White Bracket Round 1:

6. Joe Smith vs. 11. Angel Pagan -- 82.56% to 17.44% (213-45)

3. Jose Reyes vs. 14. Endy Chavez -- 98.04% to 1.96% (250-5)

7. Pedro Feliciano vs. 10. Pedro Martinez -- 66.4% to 33.6% (166-84)

2. David Wright vs. 15. Jorge Sosa -- 98.41% to 1.59% (247-4)

Not surprised as all the favorites won yesterday. Nice to see Martinez get a handful of votes though.