By bringing Oliver Perez back on board, the Mets rotation looks something like:
1. Johan Santana
2. Mike Pelfrey
3. Oliver Perez
4. John Maine
5. Tim Redding / Freddy Garcia / Jon Niese
With that rotation, and the surplus of possible No. 5 starters on the 40-man roster, I think the Mets should bring on Ben Sheets, if and only if he's halfway healthy.
The pitcher understands that he's injured, and from what we've seen with his career, if he can get out there, he will. Yes, he spends a lot of time on the disabled list, but I feel as though the Mets have enough arms to suffice in a time of need.
Say Sheets makes only 20 starts. That leaves roughly 13 more starts to fill in. I'm confident a rotating cast of Redding, Garcia and Niese could put together a bakers dozen worth of decent starts in his absence.
The Mets have seen, over the past two seasons, that every game is extremely important. If they can get 15 good starts out of Sheets, he might be worth the money. (Notice I haven't talked contract figures yet.)
I'm not quite sure what I'd be comfortable seeing the Mets offer Sheets. They still have a few more cogs to fit in the machine, such as a left-handed arm and possibly another bat, so I don't think they're chomping at the bit to sign him. Still, they should explore all their options and see how much he's really asking.
He'd be playing on a competitive team, much more so than Texas, a team he's been talking to of late, and would be on the big stage to try and set up for a nice payday after one or two years.
Sheets should adopt a lyric from ABBA: "Take a chance on me!"
Did I really just quote ABBA? Yikes.
2/3/09
Citigroup backing out?
Via Reuters:
Citigroup Inc is exploring the possibility of backing out of a nearly $400 million marketing deal with the New York Mets amid concerns over how lenders are using government bailout money, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.MetLife, you better be preparing your bid -- the stars are aligning for you.
2/2/09
Joel Sherman is behind the times (so is Drew Silva)
From The Post, published Feb. 2 at 9:01 p.m.:
Feb. 2 @ 9:19 p.m.:
one people missed the memo.
The Mets New York Mets have signed leftyy [sic] Valerio de los Santos to a minor league contract, the Post has learned.From me, published Jan. 29 at 9:13 p.m.:
Tony Armas Jr. will be returning to the Mets organization and Matt DeSalvo, Valerio de los Santos and Bobby Kielty will be the newcomers to the the team.And now from MLB Trade Rumors...
Feb. 2 @ 9:19 p.m.:
The New York Post's Joel Sherman reports that the Mets have signed left-hander Valerio de los Santos to a minor league contract.And the same guy, on Jan. 29 @ 7:20 p.m.:
According to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com, the Mets have signed outfielder Bobby Kielty, right-handers Tony Armas Jr. and Matt DeSalvo, and left-hander Valerio de los Santos to minor league contracts.Some
Oliver Perez and Mets agree to deal, in principle
According to Jon Heyman over at SI.com, the Mets and free agent pitcher Oliver Perez have agreed, in principle, to a deal.
Heyman believes the numbers to be for three years and $36 million.
Update: The Post has it too. Same figures. No option, vesting or otherwise, on the deal. Probably because no other team was vying for him.
While it's good to have him back, I'm still iffy on the rotation. Perez is decent and will be a nice addition to the weak rotation, but I don't think he's the anchor the Mets need.
Yay, I guess?
Heyman believes the numbers to be for three years and $36 million.
Update: The Post has it too. Same figures. No option, vesting or otherwise, on the deal. Probably because no other team was vying for him.
While it's good to have him back, I'm still iffy on the rotation. Perez is decent and will be a nice addition to the weak rotation, but I don't think he's the anchor the Mets need.
Yay, I guess?
Zeno's Paradox: 'Mets closing in on deal to keep Perez'
So says Ken Rosenthal:
Or as Donna Chang would say, "ridicurous."
The team is "trying to hold the line" on a three-year deal for Perez, one source said, but a vesting option for a fourth year remains possible.Oh, just sign him already. This is getting ridiculous.
Or as Donna Chang would say, "ridicurous."
2009 Mets outlook [Video]
On Saturday, I traveled down to Stamford, Conn. to meet with a few bloggers and talk about the Mets past, present and future.
Head over to OnTheBlack.com to watch the video with Joe Janish of Mets Today, David Doyle of Mets Report, Kerel Cooper of On The Black, and me, of The 'Ropolitans (officially the hardest URL to say or spell).
It was a great time, and I thoroughly enjoyed chatting about the team and blogging.
Click here to view the video.
Head over to OnTheBlack.com to watch the video with Joe Janish of Mets Today, David Doyle of Mets Report, Kerel Cooper of On The Black, and me, of The 'Ropolitans (officially the hardest URL to say or spell).
It was a great time, and I thoroughly enjoyed chatting about the team and blogging.
Click here to view the video.
It's officially baseball season to me
With the Steelers thrilling win last night, football season is over, which opens the door for baseball to take over my mind.
February is typically the most boring month of sports, but with pitchers and catchers reporting in 11 days, I'll take what I can get.
----
It's time for staring at pictures of baseball in Florida (while I'm freezing my butt off in Connecticut).
It's time for baseball.
It's time for people I've never heard of to take All Stars deep.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to start talking predictions and statistics.
It's time for baseball.
It's time for the crack of bats and the thump of balls hitting mitts.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to read about pitches breaking and pitchers working.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to get back in the groove, to anticipate games from the moment you wake up until the first pitch is thrown. To cheer the good times and remember to breathe through the tough times.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to live and die with 25 men, a wooden bat, a leather glove and a tiny little ball with red stitching.
It's time for baseball.
Play ball!
February is typically the most boring month of sports, but with pitchers and catchers reporting in 11 days, I'll take what I can get.
----
It's time for staring at pictures of baseball in Florida (while I'm freezing my butt off in Connecticut).
It's time for baseball.
It's time for people I've never heard of to take All Stars deep.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to start talking predictions and statistics.
It's time for baseball.
It's time for the crack of bats and the thump of balls hitting mitts.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to read about pitches breaking and pitchers working.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to get back in the groove, to anticipate games from the moment you wake up until the first pitch is thrown. To cheer the good times and remember to breathe through the tough times.
It's time for baseball.
It's time to live and die with 25 men, a wooden bat, a leather glove and a tiny little ball with red stitching.
It's time for baseball.
Play ball!
2/1/09
Super Bowl prediction
Slow day in the baseball world, so let's talk Super Bowl.
I have the Pittsburgh Steelers beating the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 28-17. I think the Steelers are just too good of a team to fall to the well-timed hot streak that is the Cardinals.
Not that the Giants last year didn't do exactly what Arizona is doing right now.
I'll never forget the New York Football Giants, 2007-2008 Super Bowl Champions. It was fun being able to say "reigning champs" all year.
I have the Pittsburgh Steelers beating the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 28-17. I think the Steelers are just too good of a team to fall to the well-timed hot streak that is the Cardinals.
Not that the Giants last year didn't do exactly what Arizona is doing right now.
I'll never forget the New York Football Giants, 2007-2008 Super Bowl Champions. It was fun being able to say "reigning champs" all year.
1/31/09
More nicknames for Citi Field
Here are some of the nicknames submitted in the comments section of this post:
- TARP Field (No, Doug, I don't get it.)
- Freddie Mac Field
- Pedro's Burial Grounds
- Metropolitan Field
- Gil Hodges' Field/Park/Grounds
- Meaningful September Field
New Poll: Will you miss Shea?
Right now, a rally is going on at Shea Stadium as the final goodbye to the old ballpark.
I found it fitting to post this poll, asking whether or not you will miss Shea.
The choices are:
I found it fitting to post this poll, asking whether or not you will miss Shea.
The choices are:
- Yes!
- Not really
- Shea...? Shea who?
- Citi Field, here I come!
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