Monthly Archives: September 2005
…it’s been a long season, friends…as such, i’m closing up shop through the post-season, since little news takes place between now and then…
…i will return with the hot stove report, which will look and function similarly to the way things ran around here as the trade deadline approached…i will provide all sorts of resources, links and information, so you can offer up an educated guess as to what on earth this team should, and shouldn’t be doing prior to the start of next season…
…i will also be bringing on a few guest bloggers along the way, to help increase the flow of information…
…as always, i will line up interviews, write reports and do all sorts of leg work to help keep you as informed as possible…
…until then, thanks for reading metsblog, and i’ll see you back here in a few weeks…
…later…
Readers…
A year ago this site sported roughly a few hundred readers. Today, it’s in the thousands. Through it, I’ve been able to talk with players, coaches, managers, learn directly from of my favorite writers, have casual conversations with experts who I’ve long admired, I’ve done interviews and been interviewed, and there is still so much to be done…
The thing is, none of it possible without you logging on…
And I can’t thank you all enough for making me your first stop every morning for Mets information…
I have no idea idea what the future holds for this website, or for me, personally and professionally, but no matter what transpires I will always be thankful for what you’ve inspired me to accomplish…
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you…
Matthew Cerrone
MetsBlog.com
…i’ve been curious what some of the league’s national baseball writers feel about the future of this team…so i asked a few to offer us some advice, to help cope with what will most certainly be a crazy, and long, off-season…
From Bob Klapisch, of ESPN and the Record…
Matt,
More than any specific player-move, the Mets need to go into spring training forgetting what happened in September. It won’t be easy; the culture of losing still permeates the organization despite all the money they spent and upgrades in the roster. It’ll be up to Randolph to change the losing-as-usual mentality…
Again, this is huge task considering he was unable to reverse the slide as it was spiralling out of control. Next year Willie needs to display a little more of an edge. The fact that he didn’t get angry once during that 2-8 road trip was, in my opinion, a mistake…
Thanks,
Klap
…to klapisch’s credit, he wrote this prior to the team’s success at the end of the month…but, his point is still valid…while i don’t put as much credence on the ol’ ‘emotional manager,’ must flip buffet tables bit, i do think a team takes its lead from the way its manager behaves, so a little more passion could help, i suppose…
…i do think willie made a huge impact on guys like wright and reyes with his approach to finishing the season strong, and not settling for anything short of a playoff spot…the key is to build on that message next spring, as you say…thanks, as always, bob…it is always appreciated…
To Adam and Red, Popper and J.P., Don, Marty and Ben, Dave and Rieber, Bryan, Mark, Lee and Ben, Scott, Brian and Pete,
My blog would be a lot less interesting if I didn’t have your work to link to in the morning…
As I see it, in addition to offering my own spin, my main job as a blogger is to encourage my readers to read your work, while quarter-backing them out to online reports and other blogs and websites that I genuinely enjoy…
Turns out, most of you are my readers, too, and that is an honor, as I truly admire the work that each of you do…
Thank you for putting in the long hours, for being witty, intuitive, unique and prompt and for providing us with outstanding information all year long. Believe me, your hard-work does not go un-noticed…
Best of luck in your future endeavors…
Matthew Cerrone
MetsBlog.com
My gut tells me this will be a wild off-season for the Mets. Last season was full of big moments, but I’m sensing this one will feature a ton of moves, some large, most small…
Before Omar Minaya and Company get busy, they need to decide if the Mets will go with a young player, such as Victor Diaz, Mike Jacobs or Anderson Hernandez, at a key position next season. If they will, which is it? The truth is, this will probably be answered based on what options are available to acquire…
Here’s what we know will be on the agenda…
“A proven, power bat,” is what I’m told the Mets seek most. Does this mean Manny Ramirez? I don’t know, but his name will be talked about more than any other. Again, this depends on what the team plans to do with Jacobs, Diaz, Mike Cameron and Cliff Floyd. Also, if it’s not Jacobs at first, Minaya will have to trade for a first baseman, because it isn’t coming from the open-market. I expect to hear a lot about Lyle Overbay, Carlos Delgado Todd Helton and Mike Sweeney…
Minaya will push hard for a new closer, and a new bullpen in general. It’s obvious Braden Looper‘s days are numbered. I’m starting to pick-up rumblings that BJ Ryan has no interest in returning to Baltimore, and Billy Wagner has already flirted with the Mets through the media. My question is, can any team justify spending big money on a closer? I mean, look back on every contract signed by a closer, and other than Mariano Rivera, they’ve all been second-guessed at some point…
I’ve been hearing that the Mets wants a new, defensive-inclined, full-time, young starting catcher, which everyone in baseball, including myself, seem to believe will be Ramon Hernandez. However, you can never assume anything in an open-market. If not Hernandez, though, then who?…
Fortunately, the Mets have a bulk of starting pitching. Teams overpay for fifth starters, so, my guess, is that this puts the Mets in a good spot to trade from strength. If I had to bet on who will go, I’d put it all on Victor Zambrano…
At any rate, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride, as usual, and I’ll return in three weeks with the Hot Stove Report to keep you completely informed…
Mike,
Thanks for giving me a reason to believe in the Mets…
Thanks for always giving your best, whether in pain, or when the team was struggling. Your professional and hard working approach to your job, regardless of circumstance, is admirable and appreciated…
Thanks for teaching me what not to do with my facial hair…
Thanks for helping me forgot the pain of 911, even if it was just for a small moment in time…
Thanks for disliking the Braves and Roger Clemens as much as I do…
Thanks for trying to play first base…
Thanks for understanding that the team’s young players look up to you…
Thanks for all that you have done for the New York community…
Thanks for your understanding and for being patient with this organization…
Thanks for bringing a little Rock-n-Roll back to Shea…
Thanks for being the greatest Mets player of all time…sorry, Seaver…
Thanks for the memories…
I’ll always be a fan…
Matthew Cerrone
MetsBlog.com
…readers, feel free to add your own thanks to the comments section…
…i’ve been curious what some of the league’s national baseball writers feel about the future of this team…so i asked a few to offer us some advice, to help cope with what will most certainly be a crazy, and long, off-season…
From Tom Verducci, of Sports Illustrated…
Matt,
I think Mets fans should be guardedly optimistic. The best thing to happen to the club is its own TV network, which forces the Mets to continue to spend money to keep the Mets interesting and competitive. And they have a GM who loves the star player and the big move. Get ready for two months of Manny Ramirez rumors in the offseason…
The reality is that the Mets need a first baseman, a closer, a second baseman, at least one relief pitcher and a catcher. David Wright is the building block of the future, while the jury remains out on Jose Reyes as an impact player. If he’s not going to hit for power or draw walks, he has to become a .320-.340 hitter, like Tony Gwynn or Ichiro Suzuki. Right now he’s almost Shawon Dunston – not bad, just not an impact player.
Later,
Tom Verducci
…i actually think reyes is very much an impact player, he could be more impactful, that’s the thing…but i hear what you’re saying…thanks, tom…
…roughly a month or so ago, the new york times promoted lee jenkins from covering the mets beat, to writing national, general assignment features, instead…
Lee,
As we’ve discussed before, I am a huge fan of your writing. Your ability to capture the human side of baseball is unrivaled in my opinion…
While I’m sad to see you leave the Mets beat, I’m more excited to read your work covering other subjects. Good luck, and thank you for all of your help over the years. It has all been very much appreciated. Hopefully, one day, I will be able to return the favors…
Best of luck…
Matthew Cerrone
MetsBlog.com
…using lexis/nexus, i culled the following clip published on september 22, 2001, the day after piazza’s home run against the braves, in baseball’s first game after 9/11…
In the New York Times, Jack Curry wrote…
After a draining and adventurous evening, Piazza hit a two-run home run off Steve Karsay in the eighth inning to propel the Mets to a 3-2 victory. When Piazza’s mammoth homer disappeared over the center-field fence, the 41,235 fans stood, screamed and forgot about their despair for a few moments. They remained standing until Piazza emerged for a curtain call, waving to the fans and blowing them a kiss.
“I’m just so happy I was able to come through in that situation and give people something to cheer about,” Piazza said. “That’s what they came out here for, to be diverted a little from their losses and their sorrow.”…
Mets Manager Bobby Valentine called Piazza’s homer on this emotional and exhilarating night “a small miracle” and raved about what it might do for New Yorkers. For a minute, an hour or maybe 24 hours, there was something different to focus on.
“That will be uplifting for the whole day,” Valentine said. “Anyone who saw it will be happy. Anyone who didn’t see it will be told about it. It’ll pick people up for the whole day.”
Shea looked regal, dressed up in red, white and blue on the scoreboard, above the banks of lights and across the dugouts, and the Mets looked as resilient as they have been for almost a month in winning for the 21st time in their last 26 games. They trail the first-place Braves by four and a half games with 14 games remaining, their chances for a miracle finish still intact…
“It told the rest of the country and the rest of the world what New York is about,” Piazza said, referring to the inspirational night and inspirational victory. “It’s a tough city, and it’s a hard city. This is something we’ll never forget. It’ll scar us, but we’ll move on.”
Even if it is helping others cope with grief, Piazza feels queasy being depicted as a hero for hitting homers. The heroes, Piazza said, never made it out of the two trade center buildings 11 days ago. The heroes, he said, are digging through the debris at the site of destruction. The Mets are trying to win for their fans, but Piazza refrained from saying that the tragedy gave them extra inspiration.
Piazza has read numerous articles about Osama bin Laden, and he was animated as he discussed how the United States might react to the attacks. Piazza reiterated that our lives have changed, bowing his head and expressing why he struggled to compare baseball in New York with real life in New York. He hugged some Braves before the game started, a game he made sure will be remembered for a long time.
“This isn’t life and death, this is baseball,” Piazza said. “I went up to a couple of guys and told them, ‘God bless you and God bless your family.’ Life is precious. We learned that here.”…
MLB.com has posted a webpage dedicated to video and audio highlights from Mike Piazza’s career with the Mets…
