10/1/08

Ambiorix Burgos is a terrible person

This is just awful.

Ambiorix Burgos, who has been at the center of controversies already this season, has allegedly struck and killed two people during a hit-and-run.

According to the Daily News, Burgos was driving a Hummer in the Dominican Republic, when he struck two people, then fled the scene.

He is also wanted for a gun possession charge.

Brugos was arrested earlier this month after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in New York. He also had his "bling" stolen during spring training.

The Mets should cut their losses and release him immediately. This should not be tolerated.

Johan Santana is better than you and me

His last start: 9 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs. All on a torn meniscus.

Johan Santana had surgery on his left knee, and had been playing through pain for the last month. He did not alert the team to the situation, nor know how bad the injury actually was, as he did not want to cause a stir.

I've been through this same injury, on my right knee. I haven't been able to find if they were able to sew the meniscus back together, or if they had to cut it out. For me, they had to remove the damaged part. The sewing back together led to a longer recovery time, so it's something we may be able to find out if he makes any appearances with the team.

Hopefully they repaired it, as any team would want their $137.5 million investment to be playing with all his normal body parts.

The pain of a torn meniscus is something you can cope with. It's a dull, stinging pain as you put pressure on the leg, at least where mine was torn. Walking was fine for me, but anything quicker than that, even a light jog, brought the pain back. I couldn't imagine what pitching must have been like. Ouch.

What a gamer. The more I know about Santana, the more I respect him. As David Lennon wrote, the "Santana legend grows."

My playoff predictions

Since the Mets are MIA from the playoffs, I figured I'd make a few picks and predictions on what will happen in the first round.

NL:
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
LA Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
AL:
Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels of Anaheim
Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

MIL vs. PHI
I'm taking Philly here. The Brewers had to scrape together a starting rotation for the last week of the season, and now with Ben Sheets struggles, they'll have to continue to hope and pray for good starting pitching. Philly caught fire late, and has been rolling near the end. Their bullpen is far superior, as is their starting pitching, and offense. Philly in three.

LAD vs. CHC
Tough one. Cubbies in five. I think this will be the toughest fought out match-up. The Cubs are really good, so are the Dodgers. The Cubbies can rely on both their starters and their bullpen, plus they have a nasty offense. The same argument can be made for the Dodgers.

BOS vs. LAA
Angels in four. The Sox are good, but I think the Angels are going all the way. Their SP hasn't been the same, but it's kind of tough to pitch when you've locked up the division in early September. The Sox will miss not having Josh Beckett until game three. Angels are going to win it all, beating the Cubs in the WS.

CHW vs. TB
Tampa in four. A good run for the Pale Stockings, but it's going to have to end. They won three games against three different teams to close the season, but the Rays are going to come out and be running on all cylinders. Tampa is nasty. Go Scott Kazmir?

Thoughts? How do you see the playoffs breaking down?

9/30/08

No sympathy

The Met-killers of old are getting up there in age. It's about time.
Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell left today's workout with a sore lower back, a day before Philadelphia opens the NL playoffs.
Aww...shucks.

Burrell will most likely not be in Phillies red and white next season, thank goodness. Chipper Jones is getting old, but he can still hit. Maybe these two are finally on the decline, and the Mets might be able to get him out sometime in the near future.

Also, what the heck is this? A pronouncer? An incorrectly spelled one, if it is.
Weird.

Eric Byrnes for Luis Castillo? Yes yes yes yes yes

People actually think this guy can still play baseball? Chumps!

Nick Piecoro, in The Arizona Republic:
Outfielder Eric Byrnes would figure to be the toughest to deal as he's coming off an injury-riddled season and is owed $22 million over the next two years. But the club could look to match up his contract with another team's bad contract, like that of Mets second baseman Luis Castillo, who is owed $18 million through 2011.
I will personally drive to Phoenix to pick up Byrnes and drive him here.

I've never been too hot on Byrnes, as his off-the-wall attitude always struck me as annoying. But he's a hard-nose, no nonsense player, something this team desperately needs.

If the Mets can trade Castillo away and get something, anything in return, it will be a huge plus.

Should they stay or should they go? [Hitters]

As we solemnly shift into the 2008-2009 off-season, I guess it's never too early to look ahead.

Here's a list of all the position players who made an appearance with the Mets in 2008, and whether they should stay or go, and why:
Hitters

Brian Schneider - Stay. He wasn't as good defensively as I was lead to believe. He also did not throw out as many runners as expected. His hitting is typical of a catcher, so I can't complain much there. I say he stays simply because Ramon Castro can't stay healthy enough to be a full time catcher. Otherwise, I'd say trade him and move Castro up to #1.

Ramon Castro - Stay. His hitting for average was down this year, as was his power numbers, but another year where he struggled to stay healthy and showed he can't be a teams full time catcher. His numbers with Johan Santana are in stark contrast to the games Johan threw with Schneider, and I would keep him purely for that reason. Keep your $137 million investment happy.

Robinson Cancel - Go. At least back to the minors. Decent as a third string catcher. Had some timely hits, and looks like a Ninja Turtle. What more can you ask?

Raul Casanova - Go. Not really much to say.

Gustavo Molina - Go. Did not realize how many catchers were up with the Mets this season.

Carlos Delgado - Go. Maybe. This is the toughest call on the team, I think. He was absolutely abysmal for over a year, then seemed to flip a switch in July and August and absolutely tore up the league. September saw him come back down to the Delgado of old. His bat seems to be still there, at least due to the last three months of baseball. But the Mets cannot forget about what he did for most of 2007 and the beginning of 2008. I think his defense at first in underrated, and he saves tons of David Wright errant throws. He might be worth picking up the option unless the Mets think they can sign Mark Teixeira, which I doubt. So I say "go," only because I don't think he'll be able to put up the same numbers again. I don't know where else they can turn though.

Luis Castillo - Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. I don't care what you do, Omar Minaya, but get this guy off the Mets as soon as possible. Eat the rest of the $25 million if you have to (and you will), but trade him for a bucket of balls and some Big League Chew. I'd be pleased with that.

Damion Easley - Stay. I love this guy, and I feel the worst for him. He's played the most games without making the playoffs, and he missed out again. He may be cursed, but he was amazing as a utility player this season. When Castillo went down and Argenis Reyes couldn't cut it, Easley was always there to fill in. His age started to show, but he's a veteran. He doesn't rub me as a leader, as he seems too quiet, and I wish he was more outspoken, but he's a decent utility / man off the bench, who you know you can rely on.

Argenis Reyes - Stay. The 26-year-old came out of nowhere in spring training and really surprised a few fans. When he came up to the Mets, he was hitting, playing stellar defense, and making everyone quickly try to put Castillo out of their minds. Unfortunately, he fell back to Earth, and hard. He's the poor mans Anderson Hernandez. Can hit a little better, but not as good defensively. Not a pinch hitter, but could work off the bench. Teach him SS, and see what happens.

Ramon Martinez - Go. Yes, I know he was clutch down the stretch (all 16 AB's) but I don't see him coming back, at all.

Jose Reyes - Stay. This should be a no-brainer, but some "chubby" radio hosts in New York seem to think that he, or Wright, should be traded away because "they haven't won with them, maybe they can win without them." Ridiculous. He's the most exciting player in baseball, posted amazing numbers once more, and is a stalwart in the field. He puts peoples in the seats.

David Wright - Stay. That same chubby host also entertained the idea of trading Wright. He put up the #2 RBI total in the league. He's the face of the franchise. He's not a gold-glover (at least not his throws) but he's well above average at the hot corner. If the Mets trade him, you will see true anger and bitterness toward the organization.

Moises Alou - Go. If any team signs him, I'd be shocked. Maybe as a DH, if they really need somone. The guy can still rake at the plate, if he can stay healthy...which is never.

Fernando Tatis - Go. His come back was amazing this season. He came out of left field (and was a savior in left and right for a time) and put up stellar numbers. A case could be made for Comeback Player of the Year. But I can't see him performing the way he did for another year. No way, no how. Some team will take a flier on him, though.

Carlos Beltran - Stay. No brainer. If he's traded, Omar is an idiot. He'll never hit for average, but he's proven to be more "clutch" than most people think. He's the best centerfielder I've seen, and makes some ridiculous catches look like simple pop flies. He's a cornerstone of this team. Bat him second!

Ryan Church - Stay. But I can see him being traded. He was great at the beginning of the season. Just absolutely unbelieveable and unexpected out of the gates. Then he got hurt again, was completely mishandled by the Mets organization, and never seemed to recover. He might be able to put up similar numbers, but who knows. He's still yet to play a full season.

Endy Chavez - Stay. Another spectacular catch in a huge game solidified his folk-like status among Mets fans. Amazing as a fourth-outfielder, and capable as a spot starter. Bring him back.

Angel Pagan - Stay. Remember him? If anyone thinks he's going to put up the same numbers, think again. He was hot when he was healthy, then went down with a shoulder injury and has yet to recover. See what he can do in spring training again, and see if he can actually be a consistent starter.

Daniel Murphy - Stay. Next years starting second baseman? Possibly. This kid can hit, that is undeniable. He might be in LF, might be at 2B, and I think they should test him at first. He'll be back. He's already a fan favorite. I just hope he's not a Jacoby Ellsbury-type player. Flash in the pan?

Nick Evans - Stay. Next years starting left fielder? I think he was overmatched for most of the season. The Mets are high on him, and I think he can be a solid hitter. Just where does he fit, though? Completely possible that Evans or Murphy gets traded for a legitimate major league player.

Trot Nixon - Go. No fit.

Chris Aguila - Stay. Stick around the minors a little more. Getting a little old for the minor leagues though.

Brady Clark - Go. Gone.

Marlon Anderson - Go. Fell apart after his injury to his hamstring. Just not the same hitter. No way he was 100 percent, and it showed. Might be the best pinch-hitter on the team, but was anemic for most of this season.

Also: check out my Should they stay or should they go? [Pitchers] post.

9/29/08

This is fitting

Pretty indicative of the Mets season, if I do say so myself.

AP Photo

Bittersweet: Johan Santana named NL Pitcher of the Month for September

Oh, yay.

Via Mets.com:
During September, Santana tossed 44.1 innings, allowing nine runs on 39 hits with 13 walks and collecting 47 strikeouts. The 29-year-old did not allow more than two runs in any of his six starts, and recorded 10 strikeouts on two occasions (9/1 at MIL and 9/23 vs. CHI). The three-time All-Star hurled a three-hit shutout on three days' rest against the Florida Marlins in his last start of the season on September 27th. Santana became the fifth pitcher since 2000 to post a complete game on three days' rest. The two-time A.L. Cy Young Award winner finished the season 16-7 with a Major League-best 2.53 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 234.1 innings pitched. This marks Johan's sixth career monthly pitcher honor. He won five times in the American League, most recently in July 2006.
He should be in contention for the NL Cy Young, but the bullpen was just terrible, and blew any chance he had for that award.

He's been worth every single penny. He almost saved the season, and he's done as much as possible for the team.

Congrats, Johan. Here's to next year...

Should they stay or should they go? [Pitchers]

As we solemnly shift into the 2008-2009 off-season, I guess it's never too early to look ahead.

Here's a list of all the pitchers who made an appearance with the Mets in 2008, and whether they should stay or go, and why:

Pitchers

Johan Santana - Stay.

Mike Pelfrey - Stay. Probably the #2 starter next season.

Oliver Perez - Stay. Maybe. First tough one. He's good, he's young, and he's lefty. Too bad he's going to be expensive. I would say sign him again, maybe a three year deal. He's proven capable of pitching, sometimes. He put together a few good starts, but struggles at times. If he's re-signed, Mets fans must accept he will never be consistent.

John Maine - Stay. Surgery for him on Tuesday, and with a full recovery, he'll be back to normal. Without any huge acquisitions (CC Sabathia), Maine could be the #3 guy in the rotation. I think the Mets need a bit of an upgrade in the starting rotation, so Maine might be the #4. I love his fight and I think he can be a top-class pitcher if he can limit his pitch count and work further into games.

Pedro Martinez - Go. Sorry, Pedro. I love you, you helped turned this team around, but I can't see the Mets bringing you back, if you even keep pitching past this year. I say call it a career. Focus on your family, and become a fun-loving announcer or something like that. You've had a great run. Sorry this team couldn't send you out on top.

Billy Wagner - Go. Injured, and out for all of 2009. He's thrown his last pitch as a Met. Too bad they'll still be paying him.

Pedro Feliciano - Stay. Though he'll probably take a month off after appearing in 86 games this season. He's decent for what he does and won't be too expensive.

Joe Smith - Stay. I love him. He is overused, but that was a creature of the rest of the bullpen. He's great.

Aaron Heilman - GO! Trade him away, ship him somewhere, get him off the team. He's worn out his welcome on more than one occasion, and if the Mets want to please Mets fans and pay them back for what they've done these last two season, they will trade Heilman as soon as possible. He's the scapegoat of this team and he will never prosper while pitching in Queens.

Scott Schoeneweis - Go. People had interest in him nearing the end of July, so hopefully there is still some sort of market for him. Trade him.

Duaner Sanchez - Stay. Only because I think he wasn't fully prepared for a full season of pitching. After getting this under his belt, and a long offseason, I think Sanchez can come back as a decent pitcher. Take a chance.

Nelson Figueroa - Stay. I say keep him. He's perfect AAA fodder. He can start, come out of the bullpen, and is very versatile. He's not lights out, but he's capable and a New York native.

Brandon Knight - Stay. Why not? He's not going to cost much and can pitch three good innings. He's better suited out of the bullpen, as opposed to starting. Will not be heartbroken when the Mets release him, though.

Claudio Vargas - Stay. This is going to become a theme. I don't mind keeping guys like this because we all know the Mets will suffer injuries. They're going to need "veterans" to come up and fill in. Vargas was much better than I expected, so if he can keep that going, I wouldn't mind a spot start or two from him.

Brian Stokes - Stay. Smoking fastball, and with a bit of tweaking, he'd be a great relief pitcher. His fastball doesn't seem to move much, but he can get it up there. A good 6th or 7th inning guy, but nothing in clutch situations. He's not the next closer.

Carlos Muniz - Go. I know he's been on the Heath Bell Express, but I haven't seen more than a handful of good performances from him. Stay in the minors, please.

Luis Ayala - Go. Worth what we traded for him, but he's a guy on the fence. He's not a closer, but he might be able to pitch in relief in non-pressure situation. But then what's the point of keeping him around? Adios, amigo. You successfully got Anderson Hernandez out of this organization, and for that we are forever in debt to you.

Jonathon Niese - Stay. Possible starter next year? We saw what he's capable of with that eight inning, shut out performance against the Braves. Young, with a nasty curve ball. He's obviously not going anywhere, but it's yet to be determined if he can make the cut for the majors. See you in spring training.

Tony Armas - Stay. See: Claudio Vargas.

Matt Wise - Go. What a waste of a contract. Eight games, seven innings, 6.43 ERA. Good riddance.

Bobby Parnell - Stay. Another guy who could be starting next year, if things work out in his favor. Could also stick in the bullpen, but more valuable as a starter, I think. He looked a bit less polished than Niese, so we'll see him in spring training, and maybe if someone gets hurt.

Ricardo Rincon - Go. No sir.

Eddie Kunz - Stay. Closer of the future? That's yet to be determined, but he showed some signs of brillance. A big guy that can throw heat, how can you not love that. I could see him sticking in the bullpen out of spring training.

In the end, I'd like to see a starting rotation of:
Santana
Pelfrey
Maine
Perez (if cheap)
Niese / Parnell

And a bullpen of:
Smith
Feliciano
Stokes
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Kunz, Parnell, or Niese could all fit in there at some point in time, and maybe Knight for long relief.

Omar Minaya has a lot of work to do with this bullpen. Hopefully he doesn't take all four years of his contract extension to put it together.

9/28/08

A tearful goodbye

I didn't think I'd be so beat up over this, but I already miss Shea Stadium. That final send off had me in tears from beginning to end, and I wasn't even around for most of that history.

Seeing Mike Piazza and Tom Seaver walk from home plate, out to center field, and "shut the door" on Shea Stadium has me teary eyed even writing about it.

Goodbye, Shea. You served us, the fans, admirably for 45 years. We'll all miss you, but we'll never forget the memories we saw within your walls.