Daily Archives: October 15, 2007
At his blog for the Cincinnati Inquirer, beat writer John Fay writes that the Reds are likely to pick up the option on Adam Dunn’s contract, meaning the outfielder may not be a free agent this off-season.
Dunn’s deal calls for a $13 million, club option for 2008, which will also give him limited no-trade protection through much of next season.
John Beamer of The Hardball Times takes at look at the value of eight free agents this season.
Among the free agents Beamer projects the values for include LHP Tom Glavine, C Jorge Posada and OF’s Adam Dunn, Torii Hunter and Andruw Jones.
Beamer projects the values by using the statistical measurement of Wins Above Average or WAA and Wins Above Replacement or WAR.
According to Beamer, Glavine is worth a one-year, $9 million deal, but doesn’t expect Glavine to remain in New York.
As for Posada, Beamer projects the 37-year old catcher will net a two-year deal worth $30 million.
Posada batted .338 with 20 HR and 90 RBI last season.
…woah, i figured posada would be an option for the Mets, but i certainly wouldn’t see Omar Minaya and company paying that much for an aging catcher, especially when they can just retain Paul Lo Duca, who is one-year younger, for much less…
As for the outfield trio of Dunn, Hunter and Jones, Beamer believe both Dunn and Jones could sign six-year deals worth $90 million and Hunter signing a ‘Johnny Damon-type’ deal of $55 million over four years.
…i like the idea of the Mets going after dunn…he could play a corner outfield position in ’08 and slide on over to first base in ’09 when Carlos Delgado‘s contract expires…yes, his outfield play is atrocious and the Mets outfield would be certainly shaky with Moises Alou in left and dunn in right, but it might be worth it in the long run to have a young power hitting first baseman for 2009 and beyond…
Dunn, who has $13 million club option for 2008, with a $500,000 buyout, batted .265 with 40 HR and 106 RBI, while striking out 165 times in 522 at-bats this season.
Tagged Mike Nichols, Tom Glavine |The Sporting News have announced their 2007 baseball awards, which are 
voted by both Major League players and managers.
The Sporting News has honored Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez as their Player of the Year. Rodriguez batted .314 with 54 HR and 156 RBI.
Players and managers also acknowledged Mets 3B David Wright as the National League’s top third baseman in 2007.
Wright hit .325 with 30 HR and 107 RBI, while stealing 34 bases.
…congrats dwright…hopefully you’ll have more hardware coming your way this off-season…
Tagged Mike Nichols |Dan has a new, and super impressive set of Citi Field photos up on his Webshots page, which you can watch below…
Also, check out StadiumPage.com, which continues to update its gallery every few weeks.
At the new FOXBusiness.com, Matt Egan takes a closer look at how supply and demand will impact the number of tickets available to Citi Field.
In the column, I’m quoted as saying…
“As a regular fan who doesn’t have season tickets and a person who grew up going to the games on a whim, I realize that that is going to be a distant memory…Once you’re inside the stadium it will be great, but I think the issue will be getting inside the stadium.”
…i’m very interested to see how this all plays itself out in the open market…who will be able to afford tickets…who will not…and how will that change the atmosphere of the stadium…how will it change the dynamic between MLB and its fans, especially young and lower-income fans, and who will that further impact new fans to the sport…or, will it have any impact at all…
At Mets.com, the Mets are allowing fans to purchase individually engraved bricks that 
will surround the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at the main entrance of Citi Field.
If you order by today, October 15, at noon, you will receive a replica brick by the holidays for an extra-special gift. Otherwise, you will get a special gift certificate to let your holiday gift recipient know the replica brick is on the way.
Go to People Magazine to vote Brian Domingo, a Mets fan, as People’s Sexiest Fan Alive.
…i’m sure brian is a great guy, and worthy of this ‘honor,’ but, hey, how you doin’ Candie Locklin…
Tagged Poll |Last week at his blog for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote that 
should hire Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, among other moves, in an effort to help improve for next season.
Today, in the Daily News, Adam Rubin explains why the Mets will not finalize Willie Randolph‘s coaching staff until Jaramillo’s contact expires at the end of the month.
Minaya recently told reporters that he is likely to bring back most of the team’s current coaching staff.
For more on Jaramillo, check out this report in the Sporting News from 2004, which, among other comments, reads…
“Jaramillo inspires such reaction because of a never-ending work ethic, complete belief in his players’ ability, adaptability and a method of teaching that is equal parts understanding hitting and understanding players.”
…also, from what i recall, he’s a disciplinarian, father-figure type, especially when it comes to the younger latino players…
Of course, last season, as reported in USA Today, Jaramillo was suspended for his role during Frank Francisco’s chair-throwing brawl with fans in Oakland.
…so, if he ends up in queens, i would suggest not booing him…
…nevertheless, this is a noteworthy maneuver, which will certainly push Howard Johnson back to coaching first base in place of Rickey Henderson…why…well, 1) jaramillo, and Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, are widely considered the Rick Peterson of hitting coaches, in terms of how they are changing the way the job is done, but 2), and most important, jaramillo and Omar Minaya are close friends dating back to the mid-80s, and, if you recall, jaramillo was a top candidate for the managerial job at shea before it went to willie, which would suggest that jaramillo could be willie’s obvious, some-day replacement, while sitting next to him on the bench all season…ummm, awkward…
Tagged Rudy Jaramillo, Willie Randolph |
