Daily Archives: January 14, 2008
As Marty Noble alluded to last week at MLB.com, the Mets officially named Tom Nieto as the team’s first base coach today.
Willie Randolph, on Nieto’s new position…
“Tom is a knowledgeable baseball man and I know he will do a great job for us…
“He has experience on the bases and we will have the added bonus of having him the dugout between innings so he can interact with the players more, especially our catchers Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro.”
Nieto, on his new position…
“I am looking forward to the change. Every year I managed in the minors I coached third, so being on the bases is nothing new. Also being on the bench will help me assist the catchers with the game management.
“I think it is going to be an ideal situation.”
In an interview with WFAN at the end of last season, Mets GM Omar Minaya noted that Nieto had done a ‘great job’ as the team’s catching instructor, while also pointing out that he was initially invited to the organization by Randolph.
In a report for MLB.com, an A’s source 
said Monday he’s expecting RHP Joe Blanton to be Oakland’s opening day starting pitcher.
…as i wrote this morning, the recent buzz from Oakland suggests that the A’s are seeking a very specific type of package in exchange for blanton…my sense is that they’ll only pull the trigger on a deal if it meets that mark, otherwise they’ll revisit trade talks in late summer…
The report also details the health of Braves RHP Mike Gonzalez, the latest on Erik Bedard, and the state of the Rolen-for-Glaus trade, among other MLB notes.
…thanks to Peter Wade, our resident eyes and ears, for the link…
Last season, Braves OF Chipper Jones hurt his hands during a collision on May 11 in 
Pittsburgh.
According to MLB.com, while at a team ‘fan fest,’ Jones said his hands stopped hurting three weeks ago - at which point he resumed ‘baseball related activities.’
Jones missed time last season with a variety of injuries, ranging from a groin pull to a strained oblique and pain in his hands.
According to the Miami Herald, Mike Piazza is interested 
in playing for the Marlins, who do not have interest in Piazza.
…i’m sorry to say it, but i think it’s the end of the road, mike…hang ‘em up, kiss your wife and baby, and shift to a more simple…you’ve earned it…
By the way, according to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, in addition to the Brewers and Mariners, the Marlins are interested in signing free-agent OF Luis Gonzalez.
In 27 at-bats last season against the Mets, while playing for the Dodgers, Gonzalez hit .333.
Tagged Mike Piazza |
“The Yankees have pulled their ‘Phil Hughes-centered trade offer’ for Johan Santana off the table,” reports ESPN Radio’s Andrew Marchand.
According to Marchand, citing a baseball official with knowledge of the talks, the Yankees will not restart trade talks unless Hank Steinbrenner has another change of heart.
…call me a paranoid, or just your typical, skeptical Mets fan, but i don’t trust the language being used here…so, if the Yankees have pulled their Phil Hughes-centered offer, does that mean a new offer with other players may still be on the table…or, are all offers pulled…
…either way, it’s pretty quiet…the insiders who had been communicating with me are no longer saying a whole lot…and i don’t know if that’s good or bad…the only sense i get is that we may start reading words like ‘two teams are close,’ and ‘reached preliminary agreement,’ etc, within the next week or so…the thing is, i just hope it’s linking the Twins and Mets, and not the Twins and Yankees, who are starting to give me an anxiety complex…
Tagged Yankees |At Baseball Prospectus, John Perrotto notes that the Yankees, Mets, and Pirates are interested in free-agent LHP Ron Villone.
…well, those are three teams you do not see listed together very often…here’s my guess, the Pirates are interested, and the Mets and Yankees are being dragged in for leverage…or, at least that’s my hope…
In his last 134 relief appearances, spanning three seasons with the Marlins and Yankees, Villone, 38, went 6–5 with a 5.11 ERA.
…anyway, if the Mets are interested, i’m hoping their level of interest does not extend beyond a minor-league deal, at best…
…i’m all for inviting anyone and everyone to spring training, as long as he can throw 60 feet…the thing is, the last time villone finished a season with an ERA below 4.00, Butch Huskey, Bobby Valentine and Lance Johnson were roaming the Mets dugout…seriously…
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, in addition to their pursuit of O’s LHP Erik Bedard, the Reds have also had discussions with the A’s about RHP Joe Blanton.
…the buzz from Oakland is that the A’s are seeking a very specific type of package in exchange for blanton…my sense is that 
they’ll only pull the trigger on a deal if it meets that mark, otherwise they’ll revisit trade talks in late summer…
…from what i can gather, while the Mets have expressed interest in blanton, the A’s hope to acquire more than the Mets will offer…and so, yes, the Mets have a shot at blanton, but they’ll need oakland’s other options to run dry, at which point the A’s may just look to trade him during the summer instead…
Last season for the A’s, Blanton was 14–10 with a 3.95 ERA through 34 starts, during which he allowed an average of just one walk per start.
He made at least 32 starts in each of the last three seasons.
He is eligible for salary arbitration this off-season, and the two after that, and is eligible for free agency after 2010.
…in case you missed it, from last week…
According to an article on the team’s website last week, Mets OF Endy Chavez injured a ligament in his knee and his ankle while running from third to home on a sacrifice fly during a Winter-League game in December.
A team spokesman told the Associated Press that Chavez is expected to be ready for spring training next month.
…hat tip to Mets Prospect Hub for the link…
In yesterday’s Daily News, citing a baseball official, Anthony McCaron wrote that the Mets are pursuing a trade for LHP Johan Santana.
According to the official, “Maybe this week something will heat up. Nothing’s going on right now.”
…well, from what i understand, i wouldn’t say ‘nothing,’ though things are certainly at a slight pause – since, as i pointed out the other day, it’s santana who is in the driver’s seat, not the Twins, Mets, Sox or Yankees…
Nevertheless, in the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo writes…
“Two general managers told me they believe the Mets are the front-runners for Johan Santana. The reason? They need him most…Of course, both GMs also pointed out that the Yankees or Red Sox are only a phone call away from getting it done.”
According to last Friday’s New York Times, Santana’s agent recently told the Twins that his client would like to have this situation settled before spring training.
However, according to a more recent report from the Associated Press, citing the player’s agent, Santana has never made an official request to be traded before pitchers and catchers are set to meet.
…like i wrote on a few occasions last week, as i understand it, santana wants to know who he will be pitching for before pitchers and catchers report, especially if he’ll be switching leagues like he prefers to do – which is why i believe there will be a conclusion to this story before February, i.e., three weeks or so…nevertheless, i don’t think he’s the kind of guy who will make painful demands on the Twins, at least to the extent that it limits their ability to deal…i mean, he’ll certainly look out for his personal best interests, but there is also a sense of loyalty and respect there for the Twins, as well…
…nevertheless, the Mets have been keeping tabs on the santana situation for quite a while now, and, as i have been writing, they’re currently the only major, pro-active team left in the mix…of course, if the Yankees wake up and decide to make Phil Hughes available tomorrow, then the Yankees will slot in as the front runners…that has yet to happen, though…of course, as a Mets fan, every day that passes, to me, feels like another chance for the Yankees to ruin my day…
