Monthly Archives: January 2007
John Delcos on his LoHud Mets Blog posts two items of note.
Dave
Williams had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck today. It
is not yet known how long he will be unavailable to pitch. Williams had been complaining of experiencing pain as he began his throwing program.
The second item of note is that the Mets have come to terms with Ruben Sierra and have signed him to a minor league contract.
Steve DiMeglio of USA Today continues the newspaper’s Organizational Report series with the New York Mets.
The report mainly focuses on the team’s pitching staff, but also
provides a rundown of each position and a look at the organization’s
top five prospects.
In the report DiMeglio says Mets GM Omar Minaya is not worried about the team’s pitching staff.
DeMeglio quotes Minaya as saying…
“We’re going to be fine,” he says. “Our rotation is going to be fine. Our bullpen is going to be very good. We’ll be OK.”
…i agree with omar, i’m really not worried about the starting rotation…the staff is mostly the same as it was in 2006, sans Steve Trachsel…i’m sure someone like maine or perez can do just as good a job if not better in 2007…
…my only worry, with the exception of Endy Chavez, is the bench and durability of the bullpen…
DeMeglio also says Minaya expects John Maine, Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber, Jason Vargas and Aaron Sele to have a “spirited” competition for the final three spots of the starting rotation.
…not as in-depth of a report as you might see elsewhere, but you will get a brief overview of how the Mets roster may look in 2007…
According to a press release, ESPN has announced that Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is the winner of the cover story for the ‘NEXT’ issue of ESPN: The Magazine.
The winner was selected via a poll on ESPN.com.
Mets SS Jose Reyes was one of the original five finalists to be
selected as ESPN’s 2007 NEXT Athlete an will be featured in the
February 12 issue.
…oh well, reyes has already been a espn: the magazine cover boy…
Over at Hot Foot, Anthony is relaying a Boston Globe report that Mets SS Jose Reyes will be appearing in television ads for New Era.
The advertisements will be directed by Spike Lee and will feature other big leaguers such as, Red Sox P Jonathan Papelbon, Twins P Johan Santana & 1B Justin Morneau, Tigers P Justin Verlander, Cardinals SS David Eckstein and Yankees 2B Robinson Cano.
…can’t wait to see it…still waiting for the sportscenter commercials featuring David Wright to debut…
At his blog for SNY, Ted Berg says the Mets are the “clear-cut” favorites to win the NL East again in 2007.
Berg writes…
They return most of the same team that
steamrolled the division in 2006 en route to finishing with a 12-game
lead over the second-place Phillies. Sure, the Amazins have a few
question marks heading into Spring Training, most notably in the back
end of their starting rotation, but the young core of stars — David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran — will be back. The Mets have added Moises Alou, a veteran right-handed power bat to compliment Carlos Delgado‘s
left-handed one. Plus, the bullpen that carried the starting rotation
at times in 2006 will be as strong – if not stronger – with the
addition of several new arms.
Despite the Mets essentially bring back the same
team last last year, Berg says if rash of injuries occur or one of the
younger stars regresses this year the Mets might find themselves with
the rest of pack.
Berg also breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of each of the NL East teams.
…i’m not ready to go as far as berg and say the Mets are the “clear-cut” favorites to win the east just yet…i’m always worried about the Braves having one of those “everybody has written us off, so we’ll win the thing” type of seasons…the Phillies
have improved their rotation, but will have to prove they can keep the
ball in the yard…they also have huge question marks in the bullpen…Marlins will have to avoid the sophomore slump…as far as the Nationals go, John Donovan of SI.com put it best, their rotation “may be the worst in baseball”…
…don’t get me wrong, as a Mets fan I do believe they will win the east, but i also think the Phillies will be there with them for most of the season…
According to the Associated Press, Congress is monitoring George Mitchell’s investigation of steroids in baseball
and could intervene if he doesn’t get more cooperation.
The leaders of a House subcommittee that held hearings on steroids in 2005
pledged their support for Mitchell in a letter sent to him Tuesday and released
to the media Wednesday.
Mitchell told baseball’s owners on Jan. 18 that he intends to interview
active players and raised the possibility that Congress could compel
testimony – something he can’t do. Mitchell was hired by commissioner
Bud Selig last March after more than a year of allegations against
Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and other stars.
…mitchell has been facing many challenges in getting teams to cooperate with his investigation, perhaps soon this will change…
Is the Mets’ glass half-empty or half-full? NBC Sports offers their view on the state of the 2007 team:
Returning roughly the same roster for 2007, the Amazins will be looking to take
that next step, but with the Phillies and Braves both improved, the Mets’ many
veterans a year older and Pedro Martinez’s health in question, that road seems much
more treacherous than it did a year ago.
One thing the Mets shouldn’t have to worry about in ’07 is scoring runs. Fronted
by the Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, David Wright quartet, they ranked third in the
National League in runs scored last season.
With so much uncertainty in their rotation, a strong bullpen could again be the
Mets’ saving grace in ’07.
The pen’s 3.25 cumulative ERA was by far the NL’s
best mark last season, and while losing submariner Chad Bradford hurts, his loss
will likely be offset by the return of set-up man Duaner Sanchez from a
season-ending shoulder injury suffered in a freak taxicab accident.
…i think their estimation is rather accurate but the whole idea of David Wright having issues after last year’s home run derby is not something i feel will debilitate him this season…as Wright himself has said his focus is to hit with a high average and to hit into the gaps and corners on a consistent basis, not just dingers…
…the nl east is surely improved however, and although i see the mets winning it, it won’t be as easy as last year to do so…
Mike, from Newport, recently sent in the following e-mail, asking…
“I just had a question about Mike Nickeas, the minor league catcher the Mets got for Victor Diaz last August? What is his status and will he ever be an MLB starter?
…honestly, i know nothing about nikeas…so, i turn to the following…
At Gotham Baseball, Howard Medgal recently listed the magazine’s Top 10 Mets Prospects.
The list concludes with Nickeas, ranked 10th, of whom Medgal writes, among other comments…
“Nickeas is an above-average defensive catcher with a good arm. He’s hit for a decent average, but his plate discipline has lifted his on-base percentage to very high levels for a backstop.
“He has shown good power, though a wrist injury has limited his growth in that department so far.
“Still, he enters 2007 with a chance to solidify his power…in addition to his defensive prowess, his offense is ahead of schedule for catchers, who often develop late offensively.”
…hope this helps, mike…
At his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin gives his prediction on when Tom Glavine will get his 300th career victory.
Using past dates when Glavine has picked up his 10th victory of the
season, Rubin predicts the left-hander will win number 300 on July 13 versus the
Reds at Shea Stadium.
Glavine currently sits at 290 career wins.
…i hope rubin is right about glavine winning number 300 at
shea…it would be great to have the shea faithful celebrate number 300
with tommy…
Jake S recently sent in the following e-mail, asking…
“Do you think that Mike Piazza will go into the HOF with the Mets?”
Last summer, ESPN.com ran a poll, featuring roughly 37,000 respondents, in which 52 percent of the site’s readers stated that Mike Piazza should wear a Dodgers cap when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame, while 41 percent noted that he should wear a Mets cap. …more important than that, actually, is will they select a photo of him with the pencil-thin mustache and beard, or without it… …seriously, though… Tom Glavine, on Piazza and the HOF, as quoted by the Daily News… “The Mets are the team I identify him with. I know he came up as a Dodger, but he had more productive years with the Mets. He broke the home run record for catchers with the Mets. In the end he actually played more games as a Met than as a Dodger. When I think of Mike in his prime, more of those years he was a Met than a Dodger.”… …glavine’s point is accurate, in that it should all come down to what uniform he is wearing when you think of the player…clearly, every single reader at MetsBlog will say mike should wear a mets cap…my question is, what do dodger fans think… According to the poll taken last summer by MetsBlog and Dodger Thoughts, the great Dodgers blog written by Jon Weisman, 82 percent of Dodger fans feel Piazza should enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Dodgers cap. …in other words, the fans are of no help here…
