|
…i have been sent a few e-mails and IMs today asking about the state of talks regarding Johan Santana…
…frankly, it’s quiet - and though i have talked with people connected to santana, as well as people connected to the 
teams involved, nothing has really changed all that much…
For a wild ride, click here and read back on all of this off-season’s Santana posts from MetsBlog.
…as i have been saying for weeks, though - and like others have started writing today - the Twins want Phil Hughes from the Yankees…plain and simple…it doesn’t matter if he is paired with Ian Kennedy…it’s all about hughes…the problem, though, is that Brian Cashman has no interest in trading him…
…my sense is that the Twins are simply baiting the Yankees in to giving up hughes by flirting with the Red Sox…i mean, on two occasions during the last two weeks, people close to santana were under the impression that he was inches from heading to boston…yet, nothing happened…i even heard a rumor that santana had rejected a deal to the Red Sox, which people connected to him have denied…to me, that stinks of minnesota-spin, hoping it would shake out hughes…and so far, it hasn’t…
…meanwhile, boston’s current offer is about as far as they’re willing to go…frankly, the sense i get, as i have written time and time again, is that the Red Sox are only really interested in santana to the extent that the Yankees are interested in santana, and vice-a-versa…which, as a Mets fan, is quite frustrating…i mean, if he can be had for a minimal-effort package, i’m sure the Yankees and Sox would happily take him, but if santana is going to cost a major talent i believe these two teams would just as soon see him on the Mets…
…again, as i have said before, the Mets best bargaining chip is a) santana wanting to be in the National League, specifically on the Mets, and b) the Twins preferring he be out of the American League…the thing is, above all else, including which league he ends up in, the Twins have to get back some serious talent, which is why they’re most likely going to milk this while trying every possible way to get a player like hughes before they’re forced to make an ultimate decision - be it with the Mets, Red Sox, or whomever…
…honestly, the team i worry about is the Angels…i have not heard them mentioned at all, and have no real reason to fear them, but they’ve been so quiet - and they have the young talent and money to make a deal happen…
…as i said a while back, from what i can tell, if santana doesn’t end up on the Mets, it most likely means that either a) he and the Mets could not agree to the terms of a contract extension, b) the Twins simply chose to keep him for one more opening day, or c) the Twins had no choice but to skip over the Mets to accept a much-better offer that they couldn’t refuse, like getting hughes from the Yankees, and santana did not stand in their way, which all is still very possible…
 |
 |
 |
RSS 2.0 Both comments and pings are currently closed.
If the Mets know for sure that Johan really wants to pitch for them… why overwhelm the Twins with an offer? Just wait until October and sign him then.
Why doesn’t Omar approach Theo Epstein about a three way deal to get Santana? It will keep Johan away from the Yankees, helping both the Mets and Red Sox.
completely agree.. thats the way to get it done.
maybe send Heilman and Mulvey to Boston for Lester and then send Lester, gomez, Joe Smith and Neise to Minny
works out to Heilman, Mulvey, Smith, Gomez and Niese for Santana
Lester, Gomez and Smith plus Neise has got to be enough to get it done… gives minny their top pitching arm plus a top Centerfield prospect, a somewhat proven bullpen arm and a good prospect
I think a big question here is whether Twins scouts think Heilman can close in the AL. He’d be pretty appealing if they do. If acquired, they can basically get two seasons out of him and then sell higher than they bought, even if it is just a rental then.
I really think a big sticking point for the Sox though is that they’re offering up two position players for premium positions. Jed Lowrie is the big difference maker between what the Yankees have offered. The Twins seem to prefer that deal even though Hughes is clearly the superior prospect to Lester. Melky is probably more valuable than Crisp as well. He’s younger, cheaper, locked up longer, still has some upside, and will probably give you a similar level of production to Crisp for 2008.
Lowrie though, is blocked by Lugo, who will make $9 million each of the next three seasons. The Sox can’t move him to 2B either with the reigning AL ROY holding that position. Lowrie’s pretty expendable. He won’t find an everyday job on the Red Sox roster, and at age 23 he isn’t gaining any value in the minors. What if the Mets sent Deolis Guerra to the Red Sox for Lowrie and then Mulvey, Gomez, Lowrie, and Heilman to the Twins for Santana. The Sox get a high upside, low level pitching prospect for a piece they have to move anyway (and keep Lester AND keep Santana out of the AL). The Mets get Santana and maintain some RHP relief depth with Smith and some pitching depth on the farm with Niese (who could be the Mets next Mulvey). And the Twins get two high upside prospects at premium positions to go with a good pitching prospect and a cheap potential closer. The upgrade of Crisp to Gomez and Masterson to Heilman easily makes up the difference between Mulvey and Lester, maybe even more.
i think from a mets perspective Guerra should be on the level of Fernando in terms of his prospsect standing. giving up Guerra for Lowrie doesnt sound too appealing.
From the Sox perspective, Lester is essentially blocked by Buchholtz for at least this year. Heilman offers an intriguing arm for their bullpen and they can afford the arb years. With his change up he would make a great tandem to Papelbon in the AL.
The Twins on the other hand, may not be enticed by picking up Heilman’s arbitration cost and may be more intrigued by Smith’s controllability as well as his upside and cost as a somewhat proven bullpen arm. He clearly was overused and tired in the second half and iI’m sure more GMs would recognize that.
Certainly Gomez offers more to the Twins in upside than either Melky or Crisp.’
The Mets have the RH Relief depth on the farm with the too high rookie draft picks so Smith is essentially expendable (with Sanchez possibly coming back even more so) Mulvey and Neise become expendable if you keep Pelfrey and Humber in this scenario.(which gives the mets two ML ready arms to fill in on spot starts.
Its an intriguing scenario. But int he end.. if you asked me would i as the Mets management rather have Smith or Guerra its not even close. Guerra is big time upside. Smith is ML ready but is what he is.
I have to disagree.
1. Why would the Sox trade Lester? Just to get Santana out of the NL? They don’t desperately need Heilman, and Lester is already completely beloved by “the Nation”. I think if they want to move Lester, and all they have to do is ship a few spare parts like Crisp and Lowrie away to get Santana, why not just do that? Doesn’t make sense. If they’re not getting Santana, they’re not trading Lester.
And Buccholz maybe a favorite for a rotation spot, but its hardly guaranteed, nor is it guaranteed that Schilling, Wakefield, Matsuzaka, and Buccholz all hold up for 30+ starts. Why not just use the loser of the spring competition between Buccholz and Lester as the sixth man this season? If one of them establishes himself well this year, the other can just replace Schilling next year.
2. I don’t think the Twins want three pitchers. If they did, they’d just take the Yankees deal. Hughes is already a much better start than Lester, and the Yankees have 5 or 6 guys that would be more appealing than Niese and Smith. Gomez has a thousand times more upside than Melky, but Melky’s MLB ready and the pitching side is MUCH better for the Yanks.
I really think Lowrie is something of a dealbreaker here. He’s an MLB ready SS with a bat. Plus, as far as the Sox are concerned, he’s basically a spare part. He has good value, but it won’t last much longer. They have to move him now if they want any value.
3. I think the Twins would be more interested in Heilman than Smith. A first year arbitration eligible career MR (even a good one) isn’t going to make a ton, and he’d be an instant favorite to replace Joe Nathan if he were dealt. The Twins could pay him $2-3 million over the next two seasons, and if he manages to succeed as a closer, they could trade rent out his last year for a nice return like they might do this year with Nathan. If you ask me, that’s a pretty crafty gamble for a team building to compete in 2010.
4. While I’m also real high on Guerra, I think the Mets might have to give him up. I’d give him to the Twins in a deal for Santana, but I just don’t think he puts the Mets over the top the way Lowrie would. I just think the Twins are more interested in an advanced position player than a low level pitcher oozing with upside.
I also don’t think Niese could be a big piece of anything right now. He had a strong 2008 finish, but his value is minimal on the trade market. He certainly wouldn’t be a good enough 4th piece if Smith is the 3rd. Maybe the Mets could get lucky and deal Niese and someone else for Lowrie since the Sox don’t need him, but I doubt it. He’s still a solid MLB ready prospect at a scarce position. I bet having Lowrie is just making Theo kick himself even harder over Lugo.
Guerra would be a nice piece for the Sox to get in return for Lowrie. I also think he’s more expendable than your two best right handed relievers combined, especially from Minaya’s perspective. Minaya won’t care much about the Mets when Guerra’s getting a chance in the Spring of 2010 if he’s not the GM. The only player I draw the line with for Santana that’s under 20 years old (or 24 years old for that matter) is Fernando. He’s EXPECTED to be a star. Guerra has a ton of upside and projectability, but its still a little premature to make a claim like that about him.
If Lowrie puts the Mets over the top for Santana, and the Sox would trade him for Guerra (why wouldn’t they) or anything less, I do it in a heartbeat.
I’d probably do your deal too, but I don’t think its as appealing for any team, including the Mets.
I guess I value Guerra more highly than you do.
But if you look at any of the prospect rating services Deolis Guerra is usually ranked as the second best prospect in the Mets System behind Fernando. Fernando got most of the pub when he signed but Deolis was signed at the same time and is a monster in the making.
I wouldnt under any circumstances like to see him get traded — even for Santana .
The thing about this Santana situation is obviously you have to pay 140+ mil for over 6 years and give up big time pieces. If the pieces are replaceable or not significant to the long term future of the franchise than you do it. Fernando & Guerra are the type of prospects you just say no to.
Gomez is blocked by Beltran at his best position and is replaceable by Martinez. Heilman is a key chip to move this year and Mulvey/Smith etc are replaceable from within. So it makes it palatable.
I dont think realistically Omar is worried about his job security. He has the trust of the Wilpons which doesnt come easily.
Lowrie is a nice prospect but there are at least 10 shortstop prospects that are rated higher than him.. And some say his best position may be second base
As for Lester, Im not sure what the Red Sox Nation thinks about him but Im sure they swoon over Buchholz more after his no hitter.
Goes to show there are plenty of matches to get a three way done.
Damn! and I thought the Santana posts were over. The next Santana post better read: Santana is dealt to the Mets for Gomez, Humber, Pelfrey, Heilman and a B prospect.
Just please stop saying, “frankly” during every post!
Are we at the 100th Santana teaser post yet Matt?
I hate to be another grumpy Mets fan but this is getting a little ridiculous. I would love to see him on the Mets but at this point all the waiting and conjecture are taking a toll. I might almost be relieved to see him traded somewhere (like the angels) just so all this will stop. That being said: Gomez, Pelfrey blah, blah, blah should get it done if the Fanks don’t want to part with Phil “the next Sandy Koufax” Hughes. The fact of the matter is that the Twins stand to lose quite a bit by not trading him. My gut says that he ends up on Boston or the Yankees because everyone on Earth has so dramatically reduced the value of the Mets’ prospects possibly deservedly so. Just go get Blanton, big deal if we have to give up Heilman. The people that balk at that are the same people who want to throw 8 players at Minnesota thus depleting the farm of everything. Granted they are worlds apart as pitchers but let’s be reasonable folks. If we have to give up 7 players for a guy that Boston or the Yankees can get for 4 players maybe it’s just not meant to be.
where did this whole Santana Loves and desires to be on the Mets thing come from?
Didn’t you get the memo? Apparently Santana has the same agent as Reyes. He also loves to hit. Therefore, he wants to be on the Mets.
Matt Cerrone’s #1 source, Matt Cerrone.
+4
hahaha
Awesome comment. And very true.
yep, because he’s going to name his source on the page…
puhlease.
[sarcasm]As a true Journalist with both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in the field Matt would rather be in contempt of Court and spend time in jail than give up his sources. [/sarcasm]
Haha…just what I want to do to torture myself. Read all of the off-season metsblog posts on Santana.
I’d even be skeptical if the rumor was that RAFAEL Santana wanted to sign with the Mets
My bet is that either (a) the Twins will keep him b/c they don’t get the pcakge they want and the new GM will decide it’s safer to appease the fan base by pairing him with Liriano and seeing what happens in the first half, or (b) he’ll be traded to a team not currently on everyone’s radar who puts together a stunning package of prospects (e.g., like the Tigers gettng Cabrera and Willis, after those guys had been “reliabaly rumored” in trades with other teams).
I think the Twins have to trade him before the season starts. Why? They won’t get a return anywhere near what’s available to them now. There are only a handful of teams that could extend him…Yanks, Sox, Mets, Dodgers, Angels, Cubs. What if 3 or 4 of these teams fall flat on their face and are 20 games under at the all star break? Then there is no market. Everyone is a contender in December.
Stop fueling the fire ,by posting the same comments we get everytime Matt posts this dumb story..just let this thread die..plz.
sir, yes sir!
stop posting comments saying stop posting comments
:P
ENOUGH SANTANA BS!!! MATT DO US ALL A FAVOR AND POST SOMETHING ABOUT HIM WHEN & IF HE IS FINALLY TRADED…..IM SICK OF IT!
EXACTLY. i’d rather hear nothing then hear the same thing reiterated. just because people email you doesnt mean you need to rehash all of the same BS. santana hasnt been traded yet, the minnesota twins are having a field day watching every baseball fan in america squirm. all minnesota has ever been good for is the feature film “Little Big League”. Let us know when he’s traded, until then, lets just complain about ticket prices.
Wasn’t “Major League” the Twins too?
Are you serious?
No.
Actually “Major League 3, Back to the Minors” was about the Salt Lake City Buzz and the Twinkies.
one solution .. don’t read the article or the thread.
I agree with what mostly Matt wrote.
I think the Twins feel like that hot chick who always has to turn down dates, finally realizing that no one, to her liking, will ask her out.
We don’t need no stinkin’ Santana….oh wait yes we do…never mind.
At some point the Twins have to decide what will be more helpful the packages being offered by the Mets, Sox & Yanks or the draft picks they will get when Santana walks.
The Twins should be looking to restock and be a power in 2009 or 2010. Going that route, they might as well start the year with Santana and bill his home starts in the first half as a good bye tour, then move him at the deadline. You might reduce the overall quality of the package by doing that but I’m sure they could still get Gomez, Kennedy or Lester at that point.
I think we should trade Anderson Hernandez and Francisco Pena for Santana. Think the Twins would do that? If they don’t want Pena, maybe we can throw in Ben Johnson (queue all the Omar haters saying “that could have been Heath Bell).
What about the Dodgers? We haven’t heard about any willingness on their part to add that much payroll, but their divisional foe just added Haren and has a wicked 1-2 punch at the front of the rotation. The Dodgers definitely have what it takes to get Santana, times two. It’s just a question of their willingness to spend and his willingness to go to LA. Something tells me that if they really wanted him, they could convince him. . . .
Of course, given the superiority of their prospects, I have to give them credit for sticking with them.
Is it just me, or is Matt’s last point fairly obvious?
“…as i said a while back, from what i can tell, if santana doesn’t end up on the Mets, it most likely means that either a) he and the Mets could not agree to the terms of a contract extension, b) the Twins simply chose to keep him for one more opening day, or c) the Twins had no choice but to skip over the Mets to accept a much-better offer that they couldn’t refuse, like getting hughes from the Yankees, and santana did not stand in their way, which all is still very possible…”
What other possibility is there? Of course one of these circumstances would have to happen for the Mets to not sign Santana.
Other possible alternatives are that Santana nixes a trade to the Mets or doesn’t want to sign an extension with them. I think it’s just Matt’s way of saying that the Mets are high on his list.
I could actually see him not wanting to sign an extension with the Yankees who according to Matt’s sources are below the Mets on Santana’s wish list.
Haha, yeah I noticed it too. I love this site and what Matt has done for us fanatics, but he’s posted that silly comment before.
From what I can gather, Duaner Sanchez is now fat because a) he ate too much, b) he gained more weight or c) he had no choice but to skip over his rehab and accept a much better offer from the guy who tells him to eat more.
Another clear possibility is a hurricane or a tornado or a jumanji
A hurricane, or a tornado, or a board game?
Matt,
Isn’t SNY giving you enough money that you don’t need to milk the audience with a million Santana non-stories? Plan for next winter better buddy, or start a football/basketball blog.
I’m starting to agree with J.R. Dot and Firemetmanagement that Cerrone isn’t all that smart.
After all — if Cerrone was a genius, why would he spend his money to run a free website where trolls like them could come and slam him over and over again, and not even ban their IP addresses and logins?
You are kidding, right? Cerrone isn’t SPENDING his money! You see all the ads on the side of the site – he is MAKING money. He has stated before this is his full time job. He makes money as long as there is a substantial reader base. As we are the readers who make him money, we should be allowed criticism. We are his customers, and the customer is always right.
He’s not kidding about you and Firemetmanagement being trolls.
But, you are right that, like any other business, Matt opens himself to criticism of his product. That said, however, when there are posters who do little but complain about the product, to the point that they annoy his other customers, it might be a shrewd business decision to freeze them (you) out.
Hey, it’s a real slow day. What else do you expect him to blog about? Besides i’ll say it till i’m blue in the face…if he really wants to play for the Mets Santana will tell the Twins to make the best deal they can with the Mets for him or let him walk as a FA at the end of the year.
So what Matt is saying is that right now the Mets have the best offer and that the Twins are waiting to see if they can get Hughes instead of what the Mets are offering?
Also how about a three way with the Giants, something like:
Giants get Gomez, Mulvey, Pelfrey,
Twins get Linceum (sp?)
Mets get Santana
Twins want a major league ready pitcher, Giants want some offense and get a good prospect in Gomez, and Mets get their man in Santana.
I don’t understand why you people are getting on Matt for keeping us up to date, albeit it is still rumor much about status quo, but if you don’t want to keep reading about Santana, why are some of you commenting so many times on the same thing? Either don’t comment and wait until the next topic or don’t check in at all if it bothers you that much.
I’m sitting here waiting for this trade to happen every day, and it is frustrating, but I’m still optimistic about it. Why? Because I’ve been a Met fan since the mid – 60’s and optimism is all of us diehards have!
Some Mets fans are masochists. They hate almost everything about the team yet they can’t bear to give up rooting for them. They hate Matt’s frequent Santana updates, yet they feel compelled to click on the comments section to immerse themselves even more in the new Santana non-news. They just love punishing themselves. Or so it seems.
It’s not “keeping us up to date” if he’s just rehashing things he wrote weeks ago.
I understand that sources can never be revealed, but I think it would be very helpful if Matt would disclose his sources or at least be a bit more specific about where he gets his info from. The reason I say this is because Metsblog is the only place that ever makes it seem like the Mets have any chance at Santana. Usually, the Mets arent even mentioned in the discussion, and when their name is brought up its only to say that they have no chance at obtaining him. I really want to be optimistic and have hope that the Mets will trade for Santana, but if I dont hear anything about it being a possibility except for here on METSblog then how can I realistically take it seriously. One thing I know for sure, Matt’s sources are not anyone who report in any form of media.
I don’t think Matt should reveal his sources. His reputation stands on its own and is built up over the years he’s run this blog. Longtime readers know that he doesn’t indulge in wild rumors and mindless gossip. Are all his sources always right? Probably not. But then neither are the sources for the more established media.
Did everyone forget how Klapisch boldly proclaimed after A-Rod opted out that the Mets were going to go full bore after A-Rod? Not that they might. Or could. But that they were going to do it. According to his source. I have more faith in Cerrone’s “Buzz” than I do in someone like Klapisch.
Some reporters in NY have a bias against the Mets and it shows up in their writing. Wallace Matthews, Klapisch, and Madden are 3 of them. So even if someone told them Santana preferred the Mets, they might not believe it.
He doesn’t even need to specifically reveal them. If he said “I spoke with a GM for an AL team” I’d believe him. But he doesn’t do that. He just says he talked to people. Or that there is “buzz”. That’s not specific enough and it comes across, at least to me, as if he’s talking to a bunch of know-nothings.
Well, no. He says he talked to people “close to Santana” and his camp or “close to the Mets” which I think is pretty specific enough without revealing more. AFAIC, if you don’t name the sources right out, then whatever else you say is all the same. What it comes down to is whether or not you believe in Matt’s integrity.
See that’s where I disagree. People “close to Santana” could be some guy who sold him a sandwich at lunch. That’s exactly what I meant by “know nothings”. I think he would be much more effective, and taken more seriously, if he got a little more specific.
C’mon, gland. You think Santana is going to tell a sandwich guy what team he wants to pitch for most? And there’s no way Matt is going to use as one of his sources a sandwich guy. That’s what I mean by saying it all comes down to whether or not you trust Matt. I trust him enough to think he’d laugh off a sandwich guy.
Please don’t take everything so literally. Obviously it could have been a pizza guy.
(THAT WAS SARCASM)
But seriously, when he says he talked to Santana’s people, how far is he going out? His agent? His agent’s assistant? A guy who spoke with his agent’s assistant?
Personally I trust Matt but only to a limit. I don’t think he’s out to deceive, but I also don’t think he’s all that well connected, and a lot of things he posts are just his opinion. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I’d prefer a little back up.
Matt always clearly differentiates his opinion from “buzz” he’s gotten from his sources. So I don’t see how you can confuse the two. If you have doubts whether it is opinion or sourced material, what you’re saying then is you don’t trust Matt to be telling the truth.
As for the quality of his sources, I think they’re good. I have no way of knowing that and I don’t care. I trust him. More than I trust some of the NY reporters who have clear agendas or are just sloppy for some reason (Klapisch) …. or more than some websites such as Gotham Baseball which has a spotty reputation.
Matt is actually pretty conservative with his “buzz.” That’s another reason why I trust it. He doesn’t go out on a limb the way a site like Gotham seems to do all the time.
Obviously (opening this discussion) I agree with Gland. Matt does not need to divulge his exact sources, but something more specific would add credibility. Now, VCarver, what makes you so confident in Matt and his sources? I dont ask this to be confrontational, just because I want to trust him too. You seem to be very confident that what he says has solid backing, and hopefully you are right, but why do you believe this. This is just a blog after all, and say what you want about other reporters being wrong often (obviously they are) considering their position they have to be taken at least somewhat seriously.
The bottom line here is that I find it curious that the NO other sources besides Matt have disclosed that Santana wants to be a Met, and for that matter that the Mets are even in the discussion. Its a little puzzling.
as I mentioned the other day, no one reported zito to the giants last year, and that’s what happened (the major story of that hot stove season) why would they be right this time?
dogg, there are two important issues here — 1) How the Twins perceive the Mets offer and 2) What Santana himself would prefer.
Because of #1, all the reporters are saying the Mets chances are small. And they may be right in terms of a trade before the season starts. Unless of course it’s true the Yankees have taken Hughes off the table in which case I think they (most of the media) are wrong. But Matt is talking in terms of #2 which perhaps the established media is not aware of. Maybe they just assume the Yankees will get him — just like I see many Mets fans here think the same way. You had fans here boldly predicting that by the end of the winter meetings, Santana would be a Yankee. Why did they say this? Their own misconceptions. The same ones that some in the media may be working on when they say the Mets don’t have a chance.
So why do I believe Matt? Because I have followed this site for a few years now. And quite frankly, Matt’s track record is pretty solid. He simply does not indulge in the mindless speculation and wild gossip other sites do. Even his opinions are pretty solid, though I often disagree with him. As for the need to take the established media seriously, I disagree with you. Time and time again their reporting is inaccurate. I gave Klapisch and his A-Rod bit as just a recent example. I don’t find them anymore reliable than Matt, and in some cases I find them less reliable, depending on the reporter.
How long have you been reading this site? How many times have you known Matt to be wrong or misleading his readers on an issue like this?
“… early indicators suggest the Mets are leaning toward a full metal jacket courtship of the slugger, pending David Wright’s blessing.”
This is exactly what Klapisch wrote at the end of October. The Mets never even made an offer for A-Rod. Now who’s using sandwich guys as sources?
OK. Thats all I wanted. If you have been following this site for a long time (I havent) and have found Matt to be on target, then in this (Santana) case I am glad. Hopefully he does have a better feel than the rest of the media and we get him.
If you read it correctly he couched his statement in terms such as “indicators suggest,” and “leaning.” He did not say the Mets were definitely going to make a major offer for A-Rod and to be honest I don’t know (perhaps you do) what was said in the Mets front office meetings on this subject or what Omar said in his meeting with Boras. But even the best of Journalists are wrong at times or get wrong information or the information changes from the initial reports. If Klapisch was as wrong or constantly guilty of misinformation as some of you imply here he most probably would have lost his respect and his job.
How do you reconcile “full metal jacket courtship” with what was essentially nothing? From all indications, not a team bid on A-Rod. And it’s not as if no one knew what he was asking for before he opted out. Everyone knew. Boras had bandied about figures of $32M/year or thereabouts.
At the very least, Klapisch was guilty of extreme exaggeration. And I wouldn’t get on him if it were not for the fact he’s made lots of errors like this before as well as factual errors in the past. In talking about a certain Met pitcher, he once said he was coming off of surgery. I’m pretty sure it was Zambrano during the winter after his first season with the Mets. Well he hadn’t had surgery at that point; they had just shut him down early. Maybe I pick on Klapisch because he’s also anti-Met. So the errors stick in my mind and I tend to bash him more. He’s not the only NY journalist with a spotty record for accuracy, but he’s notable.
Bottom line is that I believe Cerrone’s credibility is fairly high and I have more faith in what he says than klapisch and some other area journalists.
The part where he would rather play in N.Y. and he likes to hit came from his ex-teammate Torri Hunter. Go into yahoo sports and search for Mets rumors. It was said before Hunter signed with L.A.
Over the last three or four years, I have checked into just about all the Met blogs and forum boards. I have signed up for a bunch of them under different names and have even been a moderator on one of them. I trust this site and its “sources” more than any other site, and I trust it better than most of the papers. About the only person besides Matt and his staff here that I would like to sit down and talk to “off the record” would be Eddie Coleman.
Why? Why do you have so much confidence in this blog? I am not saying you are wrong, but for my own edification I would like to know why and be confident as well.
my confidence comes from my experience with the blog… over the past two years matt has shown himself to be honest, candid, and mostly accurate, and makes it clear when he is unsure, unlike so many writers out there who write like their word is gospel based on things that “fit” and other nonsense like that.
In the past I agreed with this a lot more. This season it just seems like he’s grasping for straws, trying to keep people believing that the Mets are still major players in the Santana dealing. Yet his evidence for this is developed from sources he won’t name, and it is coming across as flimsy at best. I can’t believe that the twins are basing their making a deal for Santana on his supposed preference to play in the NL. A) that doesn’t make sense and B) the idea that he has this preference is not coming from any legitimate named source. So when Matt keeps trotting this idea around it seems that all he is doing is trying to stir everyone up.
And VCarver, yes Matt does often state what is his opinion and what isn’t, but way too many of the posters on this blog just take whatever is written, opinion or not, as the gospel.
I agree. I trust that Matt does have contacts, and trust him to report accurately the information he obtains from them. When I hear info from various unnamed “insiders”, etc., I take it with a grain, but I don’t think it’s fabricated. It is what it is. It’s not sold as Gospel.
Also: OBVIOUSLY, there are a lot of Met fans who want Santana updates. They email Matt, and he responds to demand with these posts. Don’t like it? Just skip it. I think the frustration has more to do with the Mets’ inactivity than Matt’s posts. The frustration, in turn, has to do with the unfortunate half-truth that the games are, if only to some extent, won and lost on cell phones and in emails during the offseason. Frankly, I take the view that player performance is not so set in stone that watching GMs is the most interesting part of baseball — far from it. But, I do enjoy the suspense associated with the offseason, and look forward to having new reasons to be hopeful about the upcoming season.
I can’t believe that the twins are basing their making a deal for Santana on his supposed preference to play in the NL
I think Matt said this is merely a consideration. I mean I don’t think he ever said it would be the #1 consideration in their decision.
And VCarver, yes Matt does often state what is his opinion and what isn’t, but way too many of the posters on this blog just take whatever is written, opinion or not, as the gospel.
He always makes it clear what is what. You only miss it if you want to or are careless. Yes, some fans probably don’t pay attention. But that’s their problem. Not Matt’s.
on the last day of the season when the marlins were pounding glavine to end the mets hopes, mets fans universally knew that the mets needed a top-of-the-rotation starter along with a lights-out 8th inning reliever.
most reasonable mets fans would have settled for a quality middle-of-the-rotation starter along with a proven, quality bullpen arm.
unfortunately, it’s pretty clear that’s not going to happen. the offense and defense should be slightly better with castillo there full-time and church replacing green.
it’s going to be a dog-fight in 2008. though i’m pretty sure the team will make a healthy profit so at least the business end is going well.
I’m with the comments by VCarver. I’ve been reading this blog since Matt started it. He is the BEST! I love the updates about something that is on my mind all the time……Santana. There isn’t much out there except the media anti Mets attitude so I like Matt digging around every time something is said in the “press” and lets us know what his “sources” say about it and if anything has changed.I can’t believe some of you guys jumping all over Matt for being a “profiteering liar”. No, no one said that specifically but that is the insinuation by the criticism. Seems to me that is smacks of jealousy. I hope Matt makes a ton of money on this blog. He is the BEST! and I’m glad we have him. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MATT.
In Matt AND Omar I trust. It was a vast wasteland for Mets fans before both of them arrived on the scene.
well put.
Thanks mOOkie. I agree with and support your statements on this subject also.
couldn’t have said it better myself
“In Matt AND Omar I trust. It was a vast wasteland for Mets fans before both of them arrived on the scene.”
Relax. It was a vast wasteland for Met fans in 1969? In 1986? We get it, you like Matt. Lets not get crazy. The franchise will carry on without Omar and believe it or not, this blog.
LOL. Very true. I think this blog is ok (I obviously don’t agree with many of Matt’s techniques), but wow people here sure LOVE it! And Matt!
That’s what’s awesome about the internet. There is something for everone!
Lets go Mets.
After the New Year, I believe Omar will go into a full court press because he will either have to get Santana or he will move onto Blanton. Everybody is bluffing right now,holding their cards, but it’s coming to the time to fold ‘em or raise ‘em. Either way, the cards have to go on the table real soon.
For some strange reason i think we’ll wind up with Santana. It’s just a gut feeling but i really think the sox and skanks are just there to stop one another from getting him and don’t really want him. Again JUST A GUT FEELING.
I hope, I hope, I hope.
I have the same feeling. This feeling is also based on the West Coast teams seemingly not involved. Gives more credence to Matt’s analysis about Santana being firm about the East Coast and playing in New York or Boston.
I had also read a statement from Tori Hunter when someone asked where Santana would wind up he said Santana liked N.Y. and also added that Santana liked to bat. For whatever reason that kinda gave me hope, but i know we don’t have the players to make it happen.
You’re all missing the point of what Matt is doing here. This is his blog about his fandom for the Mets. He hears stuff, he puts it in the blog, but he can’t reveal his sources, otherwise he’d never get information again. He probably keeps posting about Santana because 1. there isn’t anything else to post about, and 2. he is a fan like all of us, and is optimistically hoping that something will be worked out where Santana will be a Met. That’s his bias. He’s not objectively reporting on this stuff, he’s a Met fan, who is an optimist usually, and sees how things could favor the Mets in the right situation, as he has layed out about a hundred times this offseason. He doesn’t need to do anything objectively, but one thing he has always been over the years is truthful and even keeled. He’s not spitting out unresearched rumor, he’s bringing us something with at least some substance. With bias,? Sure, he’s a Met fan, thats the point of the blog.
Ahmen.
werd to that.
And you’re missing a major point; Matt does this for a living. This blog feeds his family and thus takes on added importance from when it was just a fan’s blog. This in no way is meant to denigrate this blog or Matt; in fact it’s just the opposite. The blog is a useful source of information and this is the primary reason I visit it and in this regard it has improved over what it had been.
Now I do agree with you that Matt cannot reveal his sources if he wishes to retain them and you have to take it on faith and his reputation whether or not you believe him . And as long as people keep on debating it Matt will continue his threads on Johan.
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune dated today, 12/26…
The Twins checked in with the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets just before everyone split for the holidays but nothing major appears to be heating up.
Yes, you just read the word Mets. Indications are that the Mets remain a viable destination for ace Johan Santana, and that the Twins like enough of their players that a deal could be worked out without shortstop Jose Reyes being part of the package.
Outfield prospects Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez have been mentioned in other reports as possible targets. Pitchers Mike Pelfrey, Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber are considered good prospects but it’s unclear how much the Twins like them. And, it’s unknown if there are any established players the Mets are willing to part with (Reyes and David Wright seem untouchable).
This is pure speculation, but you have to wonder if the Twins would prefer to deal Santana to a National League team. Santana, a career .258 hitter, would get the chance to swing the bat. And, except for interleague play, the Twins wouldn’t have to face him during the regular season.
Other than that, things appear to be dormant on the trade front (I was told, `dormant,’ definitely was a good word to describe dealings with the Red Sox). But, like I always point out, that could always change.
Also heard that, in some trade scenarios discussed with the Yankees, that lefthander Kei Igawa’s name has popped up. Igawa, 28, was 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA last season. There’s a belief that he needs to get out of New York to establish himself. And, of course, Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson isn’t afraid of such a project. It’s still believed that Phillip Hughes and Melky Cabrera would lead any package from the Yankees.
It appears that someone is still waiting for the other to blink. The Twins are aware that going to spring training with Santana isn’t the best scenario, but they’ll do it if they have to.
I can’t commit to filing a daily report, given that it’s the holidays. But if there’s anything worth blogging, you’ll be informed here.
but .. but .. no one is saying mets, matt’s a crazy opportunist just trying to get us to read posts, with no sources and no journalistic integrity, and omar’s been snoozing!!!
:P
That was a Minnessota newspaper that he copied the article from. I just went to their website and read the same article.
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune dated today, 12/26…
There have been posts that made these assertions but VCarver, you, etc. make it sound as if everyone who disagrees with your premise is doing so. I don’t have a degree in Journalism (I have a PhD in Electrical Engineering which is basically another universe if you compare it to Journalism) but a colleague’s son is studying for such a degree and he interned with Newsday this past summer and spent time in the Mets clubhouse and learned much from the beat writers. Based upon what he told me I came away with a healthy regard for these writers and the difficulty of their job. While I respect Matt and come to this blog for Mets information I also respect the print media.
I guess my disdain for the major media is obvious, and my distrust of sports reporters is probably a hang over from my larger distrust of the major media outlets at large. I definitely respect guys like delcos, gammons, eddie c, sweeney, etc, but I think many of the columnists (rosenthal comes to mind) are cocky and irritating, and spew more conjecture and hearsay than facts.
I’m a programmer and a musician, as far away from a journalist as you can get, but I do have faith (maybe too much sometimes) in the new media and it’s self-correcting ability, and Matt’s shown nothing but integrity, and is presenting these posts as is, as a blog, where we can grouse all day long, and as such, I take his word for what it is…
here’s the link to the above referenced story…
Btown
Thanks 4 the post
http://nc.startribune.com/blogs/neal/
Good story thanks for posting. Let’s hope the Mets are getting back into the sweepstakes!
Whoa!! Went to bed too early last night. Glad to see the posts and the article in the Minn Star Trib from yesterday. Thanks. Hope springs eternal.
http://nc.startribune.com/blogs/neal/
This blog was posted by La Velle E. Neal III on Dec 26th.
He is stating the Mets and Twins (along with Yankees, and Sox) were in contact before the Holiday. He seems to think the Mets still have a good chance to land Santana. Maybe I’m just holding out hope that this will happen to ease the pain of such a terrible off-season. On the other hand, should we not get Johan, I am content to roll out opening day with our current starters. Pedro, Maine, Perez, Pelfrey, (and squeeze Heilman in there). It would also not bother me in the least to keep Gomez and Martinez, Church and Alou are not the answers in RF and LF and Beltran isn’t getting any younger. Next season there will be plenty of free agent pitching out on the market (barring any midseason resignings) that we can snag someone then. Just my unvarnished opinion….
My fault, I see someone linked to the article up above.
Atomoxetine hydrochloride….
Eli lilly atomoxetine hci….
glad we are all grown men here making “yo mama” jokes (which by the way are probably worth more than your life, your baby mama life, your kids, or any other loser who shares your DNA.
So, no need for yo mama jokes, especially when you are from a clearly inferior gene pool.