Comments on: Buzz: Luxuries and Needs http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/ Latest Mets News, Links, Rumors and Opinion Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: CleonJones http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29701 CleonJones Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:05:02 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29701 Random thoughts... * Manny Ramirez' recent comments about possibly losing the 2007 ALCS to the Indians not being a big deal may be the impetus for the Red Sox to finally trade their malcontent LF to any team that would give them reasonable value for him. And for the last 2 or 3 years that Manny has been talked about in the off-season, the Mets have always been among the handful of teams that have consistently been linked to such rumors. The fact that Minaya has chased Manny before keeps giving life to such rumors. I would expect to see more "Manny to the Mets?" headlines coming soon... * I like the idea of trading for Bengie Molina or Roberto Hernandez, but giving up alot for either would not be my preference. Molina (my preference) would be perfect because he has a better than average arm behind the plate, calls a decent game, and would be a good offensive contributer. Furthermore, he only has 2 years remaining on his contract, which is a good thing, because in two years time you might have Tony Pena ready to come up to take over the starting catching duties on a full time basis for the Mets... * Forget the A's, they are nearly as bad, but not quite as bad as trying to make a trade with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I have allowed myself the fantasy of devising trades to bring Kazmir back to the Mets, and was wondering what it would take to get the DRays to part with Carl Crawford as well. Getting Kazmir would be impossible; getting both Crawford & Kazmir would be a pipedream. I see Rocco Baldelli as more gettable, and he has enough power & youth (provided he could stay healthy) that he would obtain near cult status almost immediately with the Mets by playing right field. When the day comes that Beltran can't play CF any longer and a shift to RF is necessary to save his knees, Baldelli could then shift to CF, as he's a natural centerfielder. Again, I can't see the DRays being reasonable even in a trade for Baldelli, but it's a nice thought... * What happens to Milledge? Well, provided the Mets don't trade for a Manny or Baldelli (unlikely), Milledge plays RF, unless of course he is used as a chip to trade for the likes of a Haren or Santana. I don't see Santana being traded to the Mets this offseason however. I think the July deadline is probably the time we will see Santana move anywhere, and maybe not even then. Billy Beane has proven you can build a pretty good farm system of prospects if you let your Type A free agents sign elsewhere, because you will get two 1st round draft picks in return. The Twins and A's have been very astute player evaluators in building and drafting their farm systems, so to assume the Twins WILL trade Santana is to overlook their desire to both win next year and build towards the future... something our current Mets are trying to do as well by having protected their best prospects thus far... * The 2B wish list of Hudson, Ellis, or Sanchez is very nice, with Hudson being the most likely available. I would salivate at the chance to stick his gold glove and good stick in our lineup. Problem is the DBacks will want the same things for Hudson that the Mets are currently chasing, pitching. Barfield is an intriguing thought, and if he could be had with Riske as well, how sweet would that be? Just can't see the Indians moving both without asking for a lot in return. To be honest, I'd be more interested in Cliff Lee or Jeremy Sowers who were both sent back to the minors before this year's playoff rosters were set. Again, despite not being needed for the playoffs (and their need to "mature" a little more), I can't see the Indians trading either Lee or Sowers without a decent return. Barfield might be "gettable", but expecting to get a Riske or Lee also may be asking for more than we are willing to pay in prospects... * I don't make the mistake of over valuing our prospects anymore. It seems the rest of MLB isn't quite enamored with anyone we have outside of Milledge or Pelfrey. In fact, I think Pelfrey would be valued higher than Milledge at this point because of his potential to be a #1 or #2 starter. So don't expect to see a Haren or Santana in our rotation anytime soon unless Pelfrey's name is part of that equation... * Speaking of prospects, when I see Carlos Gomez, I think how wonderful it would be to hang onto him and hope he could be at least the equivalent of the next Alex Rios or better. But there is also a part of me that sees him and thinks this is the second coming of Alex Escobar, and that we should trade Gomez now while he still has some value that could be used to bring in an "ace" pitcher or top flight bullpen arm... * After what happened at the end of the regular season, I'm actually looking more forward to 2009 than I am 2008, mainly because this off season is going to be very disappointing to Mets fans. Why? Because there is a crappy free agent market with which to improve from, and trades will not come easy because of the corner the Mets have painted themselves into. When other GMs know that you are desperate to change the makeup of your team, they are not going to bend over backwards to help you out. They are going to use the leverage of your desperation against you. That is why this off season will be much tougher and frustrating for Minaya, because he will have to overpay in money or prospects to make any type of signing or trade work out for the Mets advantage. If Minaya sticks by his guns as he has in the past and continues to say "no" by holding onto his prospects, this team will be relatively unchanged from the team that ended play in 2007... * Now here is why I am looking forward to 2009... Delgado off the books... hopefully Scott Boras can be counted on for his usual greed, and that will make Mark Teixeira available to the highest bidder in NY, which I would prefer to be the Mets of course. In fact, if Santana were also available in 2009, I'd want to grab him also, but getting both Tex and Santana at the cost of 50-60 million or more per year I couldn't see the Wilpons doing that, even with the new ballpark and the sports network. Wrapping that kind of percentage of your total payroll in just those two players, despite all the salaries that come off the books in 2009, just strikes me of inviting trouble in the future; especially if that future involved having to give Reyes a new contract when his current one expires. We wouldn't be able to afford him at that point, and that would be a shame. I want to see Reyes end his career in blue & orange, just like Yankees fans want to see Jeter end his career in pinstripes. If the day comes we ever let Reyes and Wright walk away because we are paying too much money for hired mercenaries, then management has truly lost the concept of building from within... * I wish Scherholz was our GM. Seriously. I love Minaya, but I don't think he is as shrewd a GM as Scherholz was, and he'll never end up with the successful track record Scherholz mustered as well in Atlanta. I come from the school of thought that the players were most responsible to the 2007 collapse of the Mets, but Minaya was the man that put this team together. His poor choices compounded by Willie's misuse of the bullpen was a disaster waiting to happen. Willie is a good man, but not the right man for the Mets. Given the choice among ex-Yankee coaches, Chris Chambliss had more experience and would have made a much better managerial selection for the Mets. If the Mets don't make the playoffs next year, I wouldn't expect another ex-Yankee to be coaching the Mets anytime soon, even if his name was Joe Torre. If I had my wish, I'd have Wally Backman as my manager, but that's just my bias getting in the way of better judgment. To be honest, I don't know what coach out there right now would be the best choice to manage this team, because I've put thoughts like that out of my head ever since Minaya said he was bringing Willie back for 2008. Getting back to the original point of this paragraph, all I know is this -- given the Mets budget this past season, I doubt Scherholz armed with that kind of money from the Wipons would have let this collapse happen under his watch. And before you Braves haters (me among them) get on my case, you need to understanding that Scherholz was building very good teams in Kansas City long before he came to the Braves, so don't let your hatred of all things Braves cloud your judgment. Minaya could never hold a candle to John Scherholz. I think 14 division titles in a row proves that point. I'm jealous because I wish the Mets were able to pull that feat off, and its doubtful any team will ever do that again anytime soon... Well, that's my 2 cents worth anyway. I'm just making up for all the times I never posted and only lurked in the shadows reading MetsBlog... lol... Peace. Random thoughts…

* Manny Ramirez’ recent comments about possibly losing the 2007 ALCS to the Indians not being a big deal may be the impetus for the Red Sox to finally trade their malcontent LF to any team that would give them reasonable value for him. And for the last 2 or 3 years that Manny has been talked about in the off-season, the Mets have always been among the handful of teams that have consistently been linked to such rumors. The fact that Minaya has chased Manny before keeps giving life to such rumors. I would expect to see more “Manny to the Mets?” headlines coming soon…

* I like the idea of trading for Bengie Molina or Roberto Hernandez, but giving up alot for either would not be my preference. Molina (my preference) would be perfect because he has a better than average arm behind the plate, calls a decent game, and would be a good offensive contributer. Furthermore, he only has 2 years remaining on his contract, which is a good thing, because in two years time you might have Tony Pena ready to come up to take over the starting catching duties on a full time basis for the Mets…

* Forget the A’s, they are nearly as bad, but not quite as bad as trying to make a trade with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I have allowed myself the fantasy of devising trades to bring Kazmir back to the Mets, and was wondering what it would take to get the DRays to part with Carl Crawford as well. Getting Kazmir would be impossible; getting both Crawford & Kazmir would be a pipedream. I see Rocco Baldelli as more gettable, and he has enough power & youth (provided he could stay healthy) that he would obtain near cult status almost immediately with the Mets by playing right field. When the day comes that Beltran can’t play CF any longer and a shift to RF is necessary to save his knees, Baldelli could then shift to CF, as he’s a natural centerfielder. Again, I can’t see the DRays being reasonable even in a trade for Baldelli, but it’s a nice thought…

* What happens to Milledge? Well, provided the Mets don’t trade for a Manny or Baldelli (unlikely), Milledge plays RF, unless of course he is used as a chip to trade for the likes of a Haren or Santana. I don’t see Santana being traded to the Mets this offseason however. I think the July deadline is probably the time we will see Santana move anywhere, and maybe not even then. Billy Beane has proven you can build a pretty good farm system of prospects if you let your Type A free agents sign elsewhere, because you will get two 1st round draft picks in return. The Twins and A’s have been very astute player evaluators in building and drafting their farm systems, so to assume the Twins WILL trade Santana is to overlook their desire to both win next year and build towards the future… something our current Mets are trying to do as well by having protected their best prospects thus far…

* The 2B wish list of Hudson, Ellis, or Sanchez is very nice, with Hudson being the most likely available. I would salivate at the chance to stick his gold glove and good stick in our lineup. Problem is the DBacks will want the same things for Hudson that the Mets are currently chasing, pitching. Barfield is an intriguing thought, and if he could be had with Riske as well, how sweet would that be? Just can’t see the Indians moving both without asking for a lot in return. To be honest, I’d be more interested in Cliff Lee or Jeremy Sowers who were both sent back to the minors before this year’s playoff rosters were set. Again, despite not being needed for the playoffs (and their need to “mature” a little more), I can’t see the Indians trading either Lee or Sowers without a decent return. Barfield might be “gettable”, but expecting to get a Riske or Lee also may be asking for more than we are willing to pay in prospects…

* I don’t make the mistake of over valuing our prospects anymore. It seems the rest of MLB isn’t quite enamored with anyone we have outside of Milledge or Pelfrey. In fact, I think Pelfrey would be valued higher than Milledge at this point because of his potential to be a #1 or #2 starter. So don’t expect to see a Haren or Santana in our rotation anytime soon unless Pelfrey’s name is part of that equation…

* Speaking of prospects, when I see Carlos Gomez, I think how wonderful it would be to hang onto him and hope he could be at least the equivalent of the next Alex Rios or better. But there is also a part of me that sees him and thinks this is the second coming of Alex Escobar, and that we should trade Gomez now while he still has some value that could be used to bring in an “ace” pitcher or top flight bullpen arm…

* After what happened at the end of the regular season, I’m actually looking more forward to 2009 than I am 2008, mainly because this off season is going to be very disappointing to Mets fans. Why? Because there is a crappy free agent market with which to improve from, and trades will not come easy because of the corner the Mets have painted themselves into. When other GMs know that you are desperate to change the makeup of your team, they are not going to bend over backwards to help you out. They are going to use the leverage of your desperation against you. That is why this off season will be much tougher and frustrating for Minaya, because he will have to overpay in money or prospects to make any type of signing or trade work out for the Mets advantage. If Minaya sticks by his guns as he has in the past and continues to say “no” by holding onto his prospects, this team will be relatively unchanged from the team that ended play in 2007…

* Now here is why I am looking forward to 2009… Delgado off the books… hopefully Scott Boras can be counted on for his usual greed, and that will make Mark Teixeira available to the highest bidder in NY, which I would prefer to be the Mets of course. In fact, if Santana were also available in 2009, I’d want to grab him also, but getting both Tex and Santana at the cost of 50-60 million or more per year I couldn’t see the Wilpons doing that, even with the new ballpark and the sports network. Wrapping that kind of percentage of your total payroll in just those two players, despite all the salaries that come off the books in 2009, just strikes me of inviting trouble in the future; especially if that future involved having to give Reyes a new contract when his current one expires. We wouldn’t be able to afford him at that point, and that would be a shame. I want to see Reyes end his career in blue & orange, just like Yankees fans want to see Jeter end his career in pinstripes. If the day comes we ever let Reyes and Wright walk away because we are paying too much money for hired mercenaries, then management has truly lost the concept of building from within…

* I wish Scherholz was our GM. Seriously. I love Minaya, but I don’t think he is as shrewd a GM as Scherholz was, and he’ll never end up with the successful track record Scherholz mustered as well in Atlanta. I come from the school of thought that the players were most responsible to the 2007 collapse of the Mets, but Minaya was the man that put this team together. His poor choices compounded by Willie’s misuse of the bullpen was a disaster waiting to happen. Willie is a good man, but not the right man for the Mets. Given the choice among ex-Yankee coaches, Chris Chambliss had more experience and would have made a much better managerial selection for the Mets. If the Mets don’t make the playoffs next year, I wouldn’t expect another ex-Yankee to be coaching the Mets anytime soon, even if his name was Joe Torre. If I had my wish, I’d have Wally Backman as my manager, but that’s just my bias getting in the way of better judgment. To be honest, I don’t know what coach out there right now would be the best choice to manage this team, because I’ve put thoughts like that out of my head ever since Minaya said he was bringing Willie back for 2008. Getting back to the original point of this paragraph, all I know is this — given the Mets budget this past season, I doubt Scherholz armed with that kind of money from the Wipons would have let this collapse happen under his watch. And before you Braves haters (me among them) get on my case, you need to understanding that Scherholz was building very good teams in Kansas City long before he came to the Braves, so don’t let your hatred of all things Braves cloud your judgment. Minaya could never hold a candle to John Scherholz. I think 14 division titles in a row proves that point. I’m jealous because I wish the Mets were able to pull that feat off, and its doubtful any team will ever do that again anytime soon…

Well, that’s my 2 cents worth anyway. I’m just making up for all the times I never posted and only lurked in the shadows reading MetsBlog… lol…

Peace.

]]> By: juunit http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29623 juunit Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:56:58 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29623 Hey I've got an idea... let's clone Wagner and Rivera to create a switch-throwing super pitcher. We'll just have him pitch every single inning of the season [add some Cy Young into the genes] and we won't have any more worries. Hey I’ve got an idea… let’s clone Wagner and Rivera to create a switch-throwing super pitcher. We’ll just have him pitch every single inning of the season [add some Cy Young into the genes] and we won’t have any more worries.

]]> By: juunit http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29620 juunit Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:53:43 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29620 Why does this always happen? One low salary team gets hot in the playoffs and suddenly everyone thinks they have it right and the rest of the league screwed up. Trust prospects? Tampa Bay Devil Rays... enough said. Why does this always happen? One low salary team gets hot in the playoffs and suddenly everyone thinks they have it right and the rest of the league screwed up. Trust prospects? Tampa Bay Devil Rays… enough said.

]]> By: juunit http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29618 juunit Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:45:18 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29618 I doubt he could be an innings eater with his perrenial tendonitis in his throwing elbow. I doubt he could be an innings eater with his perrenial tendonitis in his throwing elbow.

]]> By: juunit http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29616 juunit Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:40:47 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29616 I heard they were friends as well. And while I love the fact that he can throw 98 to 2nd base what would the point be of having 2 right handed catchers platooning? It would be rather pointless, you may as well have one defined starter and a backup if you don't have them hitting from opposite sides of the plate. I heard they were friends as well. And while I love the fact that he can throw 98 to 2nd base what would the point be of having 2 right handed catchers platooning? It would be rather pointless, you may as well have one defined starter and a backup if you don’t have them hitting from opposite sides of the plate.

]]> By: juunit http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29615 juunit Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:37:55 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29615 Heilman did start and was moved to the bullpen. His issue was his consistency by far. I was at the game he threw a one hitter that should have been a no hitter, he poorly played a ball that went for an infield hit. However the starts before and after that were horrendous, it would be interesting to see if his consistency has improved as a starter but he isn't going to get a chance to prove himself. Heilman did start and was moved to the bullpen. His issue was his consistency by far. I was at the game he threw a one hitter that should have been a no hitter, he poorly played a ball that went for an infield hit. However the starts before and after that were horrendous, it would be interesting to see if his consistency has improved as a starter but he isn’t going to get a chance to prove himself.

]]> By: mets6986 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29338 mets6986 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:53:14 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29338 More 2008 NY Mets Roster projection... by Matt of RotoWorld http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=29152 Projected New: RF Kosuke Fukudome,C Ramon Hernandez, Bartolo Colon, Kevin Gregg Tell me what you think? More 2008 NY Mets Roster projection… by Matt of RotoWorld

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=29152

Projected New: RF Kosuke Fukudome,C Ramon Hernandez, Bartolo Colon, Kevin Gregg

Tell me what you think?

]]> By: BSMITTYFDNY http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29219 BSMITTYFDNY Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:38:09 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29219 If we wanted Burnett we would have signed him as a free agent. Dont need to give up prospects for a guy we could have had for just cash. If we wanted Burnett we would have signed him as a free agent. Dont need to give up prospects for a guy we could have had for just cash.

]]> By: BSMITTYFDNY http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29217 BSMITTYFDNY Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:34:44 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29217 I agree with alot of what you have to say as well. I dont think there is any excuse for not getting Santana. He is a stopper every fifth day, number one, stud, ace, etc. I/We have been a little spoiled at the catcher position (Carter, Hundley, Piazza, LoDuca) so I would like to see us getting a young catcher that will stick for 5-10 years but it isnt that easy. There is a debate as to whether or not we shouild go after Hudson in a deal and I am still undecided. Save what prospects we have left after pursuing Santana or get a guy who gives us a sick fielding middle infield? Latter sounds good but at what cost? I agree with alot of what you have to say as well. I dont think there is any excuse for not getting Santana. He is a stopper every fifth day, number one, stud, ace, etc. I/We have been a little spoiled at the catcher position (Carter, Hundley, Piazza, LoDuca) so I would like to see us getting a young catcher that will stick for 5-10 years but it isnt that easy. There is a debate as to whether or not we shouild go after Hudson in a deal and I am still undecided. Save what prospects we have left after pursuing Santana or get a guy who gives us a sick fielding middle infield? Latter sounds good but at what cost?

]]> By: nrmax88 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29203 nrmax88 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:32:33 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2007/10/17/buzz-luxuries-and-needs/#comment-29203 The only thing about Vazuez is he sucked in Ny as a yankee. Maybe that worries Omar. The only thing about Vazuez is he sucked in Ny as a yankee. Maybe that worries Omar.

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