Daily Archives: October 30, 2007
According to a MetsBlog.com poll of more than 3,600 people, 47 percent of those polled do not want free-agent 3B Alex 
Rodriguez on the Mets, while 38 percent do, leaving 15 percent undecided.
However, this morning, in a report for the Bergen Record, Bob Klapisch writes…
“Early indicators suggest the Mets are leaning toward a full metal jacket courtship of [Rodriguez], pending David Wright‘s blessing.”
A Mets insider, as quoted by Klapisch, said…
“We can afford him. It’s going to be a baseball question more than a money question. Do we want him? Is he a good fit for one team? That’s what we have to talk about.”
Despite his report, Klapisch lists the Mets at 20–1 to sign Rodriguez, fourth behind the Cubs, Red Sox and Angels, who he lists at 4–1.
…i keep looking at this through three sets of glasses…my fan glasses would enjoy the excitement of bringing on this tremendous player, who will break the home-run record in Citi Field, most likely retire with a Mets hat on his head, etc…at the same time, my baseball glasses realize that having the best player in the game on your team means nothing in terms of wins and losses in baseball - this is not basketball - and i fear that his presence will have a blowback effect on other people on the team…lastly, though, my financial glasses realize what he will bring to the cash registers and marketing ability of SNY, which, while insignificant for the Yankees, would be huge for the Mets, who could use all the help they can get to take over their cross-town rivals when it comes to marketing…so, yeah, i am one of the undecided in the above poll…
…the thing is, what happens to wright…
Yesterday, on ESPN Radio in New York, host Michael Kay discussed the possibility of forcing Wright to to second base for one season, after which he could shift to first base in the absence of Carlos Delgado.
During spring training last season, Wright told the New York Post that he would move positions to accommodate Rodriguez.
The next day, Klapisch wrote the following for ESPN.com…
“Nice guy, David Wright.
“‘Maybe too nice,’ said one Met veteran. ‘He’s the guy we need to be the leader here, not A-Rod.’”
Meanwhile, today, according to Steve Popper at his blog for the Bergen Record, as well as Klapisch’s column for the same paper, Wright sent a text message to reporters last night stating that he will not comment on a position switch until the team talks with him about it first.
…i have advocated building the Mets around wright’s style…that being said, he’s not a great defensive third basemen…he’s good…not great…he can pick it with the best of them, but his arm leaves a lot to be desired…i believe he could handle second base, though he is a righty…he’d probably be best served at first…of course, any switch could also be a colossal disaster…
…i’m just not sure it is wise to disrupt your franchise player, forcing him to change habits and learn a new position, especially coming off a season in which he could have realistically won an MVP award at just 24 years old…i know he would make the move, and that’s what makes him such a great teammate, but that doesn’t mean it is smart to make him do it…
According to Klapisch, team officials plan to talk with Wright about the idea of switching positions, though they had yet to do so by last night.
In a recent report for MLB.com, Marty Noble takes a look at the futures of Luis Castillo, Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Castro, Marlon Anderson, Damion Easley and Shawn Green, all of whom filed for free agency yesterday.
According to Noble, as well as other recent reports, the Mets intend to pursue Castillo, while Lo Duca will likely be a fall-back position should the team fail to fill his position via trade.
Noble also gives information on Sandy Alomar Jr., Jeff Conine, Aaron Sele and Jose Valentin, who have until Nov. 11 to officially file for free agency.
Tagged Paul Lo Duca |Mets 3B David Wright will be a guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart tomorrow, October 31.
The David Wright Foundation is hosting their Third 
Annual Do the Wright Thing Gala on November 15 at the Hard Rock Times Square.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go here.
According to WFAN’s morning show, Joe Girardi, who was named NL Manager of the Year in 2006, has accepted a three-year deal to manage the Yankees.
Tagged Yankees |In the New York Times, Ben Shpigel writes that ‘there have been indications in recent weeks’ that the Mets may pursue free-agent 3B Alex Rodriguez.
However, in the Daily News, New York columnist John Harper lists the Angels as the favorites to land Rodriguez, with teams ‘such as’ the Tigers, Giants, Dodgers, and Mariners as options as well. Harper does not mention the Mets.
Meanwhile, in the Daily News, Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden list eight teams who could realistically be interested in Rodriguez, and why they may or may not sign him.
Regarding the Mets, Feinsand and Madden write…
“Despite media speculation about the Mets being players and moving David Wright to first base, the image-conscious Wilpons are no fans of A-Rod and his off-the-field foibles, and would never commit that much money on one player. Especially a ‘24-and-1’ type of player.”
In the blogosphere, Brooklyn Met Fan says ‘no’ to Rodriguez, while Mets Geek provides an argument for signing him.
Lastly, at Bugs & Cranks, Brad Bartone does an outstanding job of listing 10 reasons why the Mets will sign Rodriguez, such as, “A-Rod wants to shove it up the Yankees’ collective asses,” of which he writes…
“Since the Red Sox probably won’t venture down a road to replace a WS MVP right away, the second best option to tickle the Yanks’ prostate is to sign right across town.”
…first of all, i have to think rodriguez is basing his future on what is best for his career and his family, not what will irritate the Yankees…that being said, the sense i keep getting is that he doesn’t want to be in new york…be it with the Yankees, or with the Mets…now, i’m sure that will change if the Mets were to offer the most money…but, money being equal, i keep getting that he wants to be on the west coast, in a smaller media market, with less pressure, so he can break his records, cash his checks, and live his life - all while winning the world series remains way, way down on the list…all that said, as noted above, if the Mets want to make it happen, i have no doubt it could happen…
Alex Rodriguez’s departure from the Yankees could open up a ‘path’ for the Marlins to trade them 3B Miguel Cabrera, who will likely earn $11 million next season through arbitration and is eligible for free agency after 2009, reports the Miami Herald.
According to the report, the asking price for Cabrera 
will be ‘steep,’ such as top, young prospects like 23–year-old OF Melky Cabrera.
…umm, top, young prospect…melky…in the first 1,000 at-bats of his career, he has 15 home runs and is hitting .270…i would hope, for the Marlins sake, they want more, such as Philip Hughes or Joba Chamberlain…on the flip side, cabrera knows the team’s new manager, Joe Girardi, from his days coaching the Marlins…
…the Mets best offer, you know the one, Mike Pelfrey, Lastings Milledge, etc, could get it done, i would think…but, i would hate to waste those bullets on a bat, though he is a tremendous hitter – and i feel that concerns over his ‘attittude’ are highly overrated…plus, it would be fun to hear Keith Hernandez bemoan and praise miguel all season long…
Tagged Miguel Cabrera |In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Braves beat-writer David O’Brien categorizes Atlanta as the ‘front-runner’ to sign free-agent LHP Tom Glavine, who became a free agent after declining an option with the Mets in early October.
…i still think there is a chance he ends up with the 
Mets, but if so, it will be because this year’s situation evolved like last year’s, in which the Braves back out…
This past weekend in Newsday, Ken Davidoff explained why Glavine is most likely to either sign with the Braves or Nationals, or just retire. Also, early this off-season, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick listed the Nationals as a possible landing spot for Glavine, as well.
Lastly, O’Brien writes that the Braves might have interest in free-agent OF Mike Cameron, who grew up in Georgia.
Yesterday, the Braves traded SS Edgar Renteria – and his $9 million contract – to the Tigers for two prospects, OF Gorkys Hernandez and RHP Jair Jurrjens, who the team’s assistant GM compared to Braves LHP Jo-Jo Reyes.
Tagged Mike Cameron, Tom Glavine |The Dodgers will fire Grady Little and replace him with Joe Torre, as early as today, reports Peter Abraham of the Journal News.
…jeez, torre is gonna give little a complex…first the ALCS, now this…either way, i bet David Wells is happy…
…oooh, Yankees fans will wince when they see ‘donnie baseball’ wearing a different team’s uniform, i bet…
…basically, the Dodgers will become Yankees East, because i can’t help but figure one of ‘their guys,’ like Mariano Rivera, Roger Clemens or Andy Pettitte will follow, among others possibly, maybe Bernie Williams, maybe even Alex Rodriguez…
…and so, from a national league perspective, i don’t like this…the Dodgers have a nice young team, and will now mix in the experienced leadership of torre, mattingly and who knows who else from new york…they were 82–80 last season, couple that to new management, the maturity of their young players and an acquisition or two and they’re in a nice position…
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