Tim Redding: By the numbers

Here is a By The Numbers look at the Mets newest acquisition, Tim Redding.

30: Age.

34: Career wins.

51: Career losses.

4.92: Career ERA.

3.64: Season best ERA. (2007 with the Nationals in 15 games)

476: Career strikeouts.

182: Most innings pitched in a season. (2008)

767: Hits surrendered.

96: Home runs allowed.

20: Intentional walks issued.

2: Balks.

.148: Career batting average.

5: Career doubles.

.938: Career fielding percentage.

13: Sacrifice hits in 2008. (4th in the NL)

10: Wild pitches in 2008. (6th in the NL)

100: Earned runs allowed in 2008. (4th in the NL)

20: Round Houston Astros selected Redding in 1997 MLB Draft.

1: Season with more wins than losses. (3-1 with Houston in 2001)

Thanks to Baseball-Reference for some of these stats.

Hello, Tim Redding

The deal is official. Tim Redding the your newest New York Met.

Jon Heyman was right, as the deal was worth $2.25 million, but Redding has the chance to earn up to $3 million, according to Adam Rubin.

Redding went 10-11 with the lowly Nationals last season. Against the Braves, Phillies and Marlins, he posted a 6-5 record. 3-1 against Philadelphia, 1-1 against Atlanta and 2-3 against Florida.

The Mets won two and lost one to Redding.

Jon Niese may not even factor into the rotation now, but he'll be the perfect guy to come up if a pitcher gets injured. You never know, though, with a strong spring training, anything is possible.

Mets, Redding close to deal

According to sources, the New York Mets and free agent Tim Redding are closing in a one-year deal.

Jon Heyman believes the deal to be worth $2.25 million. Ken Davidoff has it costing the Mets another $250,000.

Smart move, Mets. Maybe this isn't the exact order you'd like to sign your free agent pitchers, but it's better than nothing.

I like it. Now where is my Honeymooners-Redding post...

Holy $hmoly

From the Daily News...

Yes, the Mets also want some $80 million in additional funding for their new Citi Field, but there are some big differences.

The City Council authorized the Mets to use that money, but the team never borrowed the full amount. The cost of Citi Field, including parking facilities, has increased by only about 15% above original projections - to a total of $700 million.

Yankee Stadium, on the other hand, has zoomed from an original price tag of $800 million in 2005 to $1.3 billion today.

And that's not counting the Yankee parking garages, which are being built by a separate nonprofit. They also have jumped in price to more than $340million.

The Mets are in the same town and are using the same unionized labor force. Yet Yankee Stadium will end up costing about twice as much as Citi Field.

(Emphasis is mine.)

I don't hate the Yankees or anything, but that's pretty ridiculous.

Video: Meet the Mets, punkified (and butchered)

Via Big League Stew...

Slightly NSFW due to the use of the s-word in the intro.

Honestly, this song is terrible. If you need to cleanse your ears with the classic, click here.

Link: Hot Stove Daily: New York Mets

Jeff Passan takes a look at the Mets off season moves and gives them a bit of a reality check. Read the article here.

Braves emerge as suitors for Lowe

After catching the short end of the John Smoltz stick, the Atlanta Braves are looking to make a splash and add to their weak rotation.

Derek Lowe and the Braves brass met at Turner Field down in Hot-lanta in an effort to woo the free agent sinkerballer.

Here's the report from the AJC:

“We had a nice talk, went pretty good,” [Bobby] Cox said. “Derek’s in great shape, ready to go. Who knows? Hopefully we can get close with him.”
---
Cox has known Lowe since managing an all-star team that toured Japan eight years ago. Lowe was on it, and Cox left quite an impression with him. Boras said Sunday that the pitcher had great respect for the manager and was sincere in his interest in the Braves.

On Wednesday [Frank] Wren arranged the meeting with Lowe, a Florida resident, and Cox. Hours later, Wren was notified that Smoltz would sign with the Red Sox. Chipper Jones called Lowe on Wednesday to make a recruiting pitch, shortly before Smoltz called Jones to tell him he was leaving the Braves.

Great, so now if the Mets lose out on Lowe, they'll likely be forced to face him at least five times a year. Figures that would happen...

The Mets need to make a move, and quick. No more waiting around for something to happen. Blitzkrieg Boras and Lowe with another $2 million per and a fourth year. Let's get this over with, Omar Minaya & Co. There are still more holes to fill.

The State of the Mets -- 1/8/09

Introducing The State of the Mets!

This will be a sporadic video blog featuring me (and occasionally a few other people) talking about all things Mets. Today's episode features talk of Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, Tim Redding, Randy Wolf, Luis Castillo and the utility role.

Enjoy.

Ed. note -- This was recorded early this morning, before the Braves came out as a strong suitor for Lowe.

Oh, and possibly the greatest screen grab ever right before you click play.

Found the new Citi Field mascot

To compliment the fact that Shea Stadium had a fairly large feral cat population, a stray dog was found Citi Field yesterday.

A stray dog led animal control officers on a rainy romp through the stadium Wednesday after construction workers said she spent several days sniffing around the Mets' new digs.

The nimble pooch was finally snagged near the Jackie Robinson Rotunda after running the bases and racing up and down the aisles. Her rescuers have dubbed her Jackie.

Oh, very clever.

I say the Mets should bring this dog back, complete with one of these, one of these and of course one of these. Mr. Met and family could use a new member of the family.

I smell a marketing gimmick!

Maybe someone is listening

REDDING MULLS OFFER FROM METS

"[Minaya's] thinking is he would like to bring in six or seven starters this spring because of what happened last year," the source said.

Yay.