Daily Archives: January 16, 2008
Jon Heyman at SI.com provides the latest update on the pursuit of Johan Santana.
He cites a person close to the Mets as saying he “seriously doubts” they’ll part with both OF Carlos Gomez and OF Fernando Martinez in a deal for Santana.
Heyman also writes about the differing views around the league regarding the current offers on the table, saying…
“Some execs from other teams say that any Yankee offer that includes Hughes is the best one, while others favor the Red Sox’s package with Lester. But one National league exec said that the Twins would be better off taking the Mets’ offer, assuming Minnesota can accept the idea of a longer-term rebuilding project after losing centerfielder Torii Hunter to free agency. That exec said that Guerra is a potential gem, a kid with tremendous upside.”
…and this, to me, is why it’s taking so long for a deal to be made…they have several unique offers that would each shape their team differently for the next 5-10 years…the near future of the Twins organization is essentially riding on this trade and the front office can’t afford to screw it up…
…they’re taking their time and praying someone steps up with an offer they can’t refuse so that the decision is easy on them, but that doesn’t seem likely…i’m guardedly optimistic about the Mets chances for various reasons, and as much as i just want the santana deal to be done with, regardless of where he goes, i can’t blame the Twins for taking their sweet time…
…i was fortunate to recently have a Q&A with Yahoo! Sports writer Jeff Passan…
…for those of you not familiar with his work, passan is an award-winning reporter, who previously was the national baseball writer for The Kansas City Star…he graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in journalism…
His work can be found here.
Regis Courtemanche, from MetsBlog:
You write columns, and a blog for Yahoo! Sports. In what ways does blogging differ from traditional writing? Also, in your opinion, why have many sports writers started blogs of their own?
Jeff Passan, from Yahoo! Sports:
I’d like to think that it doesn’t differ, that an individual’s writing style transcends platforms, but I’d be wrong.
Blogging is a completely different animal than the traditional stories offered by sports journalists – superior in some senses, inferior in others – and it’s one with which I’m still trying to figure out my strengths. I know I can parachute into a ballpark and write a good story about a player, a team, a manager. I’m not so sure I could consistently put out a good blog, because there are so many routes to take, and I can’t say which suits me best.
Do you go the Will Leitch route and kill ‘em with laughter? Or the David Pinto route and pound the news? Or the Buster Olney route and aggregate like an RSS reader? Or the Fire Joe Morgan route and rip apart all the garbage? Or the Carlos Gomez route and analyze mechanics? Everything – and I mean everything – in the blogosphere is accounted for.
One thing I can say: I’m a bit more casual in blogs – jokey, snarky, whatever the word du jour may be — because it’s one of the freedoms that blogging provides, and the one onto which I’ve glommed. Does it work? Jamie Mottram tells me so, but I think he’s just being nice.
In 95 percent of the cases, sportswriters start blogs because their editors tell them to. Like a few thrown-together blogs are going to drive traffic and be a cure-all for feeble Web operations. I love newspapers, but most places’ Web philosophies are laughable.
Regis Courtemanche, from MetsBlog:
As a fan, the Mets’ inability to make the playoffs last year has increased my sense of urgency in terms of a “winning now” mentality. There have been many Johan Santana rumors, but if the Mets don’t acquire Santana, what can GM Omar Minaya do right now to improve the team? Based on your answer, which players do you think he should be targeting?
Jeff Passan, from Yahoo! Sports:
Right now, Jay Payton is penciled in as the Orioles’ opening day center fielder. Wouldn’t Carlos Gomez look nice there? And Phil Humber or Mike Pelfrey sounds better than Garrett Olson as the No. 5 starter? How about Fernando Martinez repeating Double-A at 19 years old?
Now, I’m not sure that package would be enough to land Erik Bedard, but Omar ought to be killing his cell phone battery trying.
Because, frankly, I don’t blame you for wanting to win now. The Mets’ payroll is over $100 million, they’ve got the best left side of the infield in the National League and arguably the best in baseball – the other borough might argue – and they could have won the pennant again last season in a weak NL had they not done that accordion job.
Bedard is a legitimate No. 1 starter with two years before he hits free agency. Yes, he’s going to make a killing in arbitration, but to the Mets, that doesn’t matter. A rotation of Bedard, Pedro, Maine, Perez and Duque is enough to complement that lineup.
Regis Courtemanche, from MetsBlog:
Last season, many readers of MetsBlog were critical of Manager Willie Randolph – particularly of his in-game strategy. What do you think of the job Willie has done since being named Mets’ manager in 2005?
Jeff Passan, from Yahoo! Sports:
Willie never struck me as a master strategist. Let’s remember, his only coaching experience came under Joe Torre, whose ability to keep egos in check was, and continues to be, his greatest asset as manager. In-game maneuvering isn’t exactly Torre’s forte, especially when it comes to relief pitchers.
Because I don’t see the Mets every day, I can’t say with nearly the authority of a 162-game die-hard that Willie is a bungler. The problem is that the Mets hired Willie knowing that he wasn’t Knute Rockne, that in times of angst he wouldn’t stand up and give a fiery speech. It’s Omar’s job, then, to ensure that at least one of the players on his 25-man roster will do that.
Beltran isn’t the answer. Delgado wasn’t. Wright was too young. Same with Reyes. Not Pedro’s style. Maine’s, either. Who is the firebrand in that clubhouse? Wagner, I guess, but he spouts off about anything, so there’s a cry-wolf syndrome with him.
I do wonder: If the same situation crops up again this year, will Willie change his tune? Because this time it could mean his job.
Regis Courtemanche, from MetsBlog:
Pedro Martinez made a remarkable comeback at the end of last season. What are your expectations of what Pedro will be able to accomplish in 2008?
Jeff Passan, from Yahoo! Sports:
I love watching Pedro pitch, because he’s got an 
absolutely brilliant mind for it. If I could pick anyone not to play in Rock, Paper, Scissors, it would be Pedro, because just when I think I’ve got his pattern down…
That said, seeing him throw 88 mph is, in a way, sad. It’s not that Pedro isn’t effective. No, he’ll nibble you to death with that 88, hit the Flushing dot on a Queens map if you asked him to, and if he stays healthy – an Empire State Building-sized if – he should win 15 games and post an ERA around 3.50.
Regis Courtemanche, from MetsBlog:
No pressure, but as of right now, who will win the NL East next season?
Jeff Passan, from Yahoo! Sports:
Hmmmmm. Head or heart here? Head says the Mets. Better lineup (by a sliver), better pitching (by a sliver), better defense (their defensive efficiency was quite a bit higher), equally mediocre managers and more chips to play with should they need to make a trade.
Heart, however, says the Phillies. I love Jimmy Rollins. I know. He makes an embarrassing number of outs. He also catalyzes an offense with Hall of Fame-caliber bats hitting third and fourth, and to see him in that clubhouse is to see a real leader. I’m not saying Rollins in a Mets uniform would have saved them from the collapse. Actually, yes I am. There are some people who just inspire, and there is no way to measure that, no metric to apply to it, no statistic to derive from it. They win, and that’s that.
Plus I think Brad Lidge is due a nice comeback, Carlos Ruiz a breakout, Shane Victorino a 60-steal season, and the rotation gets a nice injection with Brett Myers’ return.
Again…head or heart? I went with my heart last year when I picked the Phillies – and trust me, I heard from a lot of your readers, particularly after the way the Mets manhandled them in April. I learned a dozen new synonyms for moron. But I stuck with the Phillies and it paid off. So what the hell? I’m going against my better judgment – Charlie Manuel is their manager, after all – and picking Philadelphia…with the right to change my mind after seeing both teams in spring training, when I make my real picks.
…thanks again jeff…all the best…
At NYFS, TJD explains why RHP Brant Rustich, RHP Dylan Owen, 2B Hector Pellot, OF Raul Reyes and RHP Phillips Orta are Five Under-the-Radar Prospects to Watch in 2008.
Of the bunch, only Rustich appeared on the team’s Top 10 Prospect List at Baseball America last November, during which they wrote…
“Healthy in pro ball, Rustich showed a premium fastball…He pitches inside to righthanders and uses his size well…His changeup shows flashes of being an average pitch…Control was a huge problem before and after his finger injury…His splitter was a plus pitch before he got hurt, but he hasn’t thrown it much since the injury…
“Rustich has enough stuff to start, but the Mets most likely will have him join Eddie Kunz on the fast track as a reliever. Rustich could jump to Double-A in 2008.”
Last November, MetsBlog’s Jordan Zakarin conducted a Q&A with Rustich, which you can read here, during which he had the following to say about his finger injury from 2008…
“Injuries are the toughest thing any athlete has to deal with. It’s far worse than failure. It was very hard on me when I go hurt, cause it was the first time in my life I had to sit out from any sport I’ve played…A finger injury is very significant…every pitch I throw leaves my middle finger. It basically effects everything when it comes to command. Coming back from a finger injury was more difficult than I anticipated. It was tough trying to perform in pain sometimes during my college year. I remember feeling like I let down my teammates when I couldn’t perform like I was capable of.”
In 10 relief appearances for Low-A Brooklyn last season, Rustich allowed just three runs, while striking out 10 batters and walking one through 12.2 innings pitched.
Tagged Minors |…earlier today, the Confidence Rating showed a slight tick 
upwards from the previous week’s results…
…however, i’m curious to know if our collective response will change considering the following…
If the Mets end up trading Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey to the Twins for Johan Santana, and then sign Santana to a five– or six-year contract extension…
[poll=40]
Tagged Poll |In a report for 
, Ted Berg argues that the Mets should move Mike Pelfrey from the starting rotation to the bullpen, just like the Yankees did with Mariano Rivera, the Astros did with Billy Wagner, the Angels did with Francisco Rodriguez and the Red Sox did with Jonathan Papelbon.
…i agree with ted…i think…but, i assume there is an equally long list, if not longer, of players who were moved from the rotation to the pen and failed miserably…
…that said, in this specific case, i agree with ted that pelfrey may be better suited pitching in short stints from the bullpen, though i do not believe he has the mental make-up to be a closer…
In the end, Berg writes…
“So assuming Pelfrey cannot crack the rotation in Spring Training, the Mets should keep him on the big club and use him out of the bullpen. That way, he’ll be able to cut his teeth at the Major League level, building his confidence and working on his off-speed arsenal.”
During SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, the Star-Ledger’s Dan Graziano had the following to say about Pelfrey…
“I think if we look back at the start he had against the Braves in September…That day he was so good. He wasn’t just, “Oh, this could be a good prospect.” He was ace-of-the-staff, great-fastball good that day…I think that’s a start that you look at if you’re the Mets and get excited…The question is: is the future 2008, or is that another year of development and so the future is 2009 or beyond.”
To watch Graziano’s entire clip, as well as comments from former-GM Jim Duquette, click here.
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |In a post to Mets Merized Online, Joe D conducts a Q&A with Steve Popper from the Bergen Record.
Joe and Popper discuss the recent steroid reports; the Lastings Milledge trade; and the off-season’s lack of activity.
During the exchange, Popper says a Mets official recently scoffed at reports about his team having offered a 
four-year, $40 million deal to free-agent RHP Kyle Lohse.
For what it’s worth, last month the New York Post wrote…
“It’s believed the Mets have made an offer…but it’s not known if it is for the $10 million per he is seeking.”
During his recent appearance on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal had the following to say about the Mets and Lohse…
“I think Lohse is certainly a player they’re interested in – and while he hasn’t done much in his career, the Mets like his stuff. They like his durability, his age and they like the fact that he competed down the stretch for Philadelphia…He, essentially, is this year’s Gil Meche: a guy with a world of ability, who hasn’t put it together yet…My problem with him would be giving him three or four years at big money.”
…by the way, steve should really have a ring tone that raps, “I love it when you call me Steve Popper,” if he doesn’t already…i mean, come on, it’s a natural fit…
The Cubs have signed free-agent RHP Jon Leiber to a one-year contract, reports Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.
In a recent report for the Rocky Mountain News, Lieber expressed interest in pitching for the Mets, among other teams.
According to Rosenthal, “The signing of Lieber could signal a trade of right-hander Jason Marquis or the return of righty Ryan Dempster to the bullpen.”
In mid-December, the Daily News wrote that the Cubs had been shopping Marquis, ‘and apparently like Endy Chavez.’
…well, they can like him, but they’re not getting him…
Marquis won at least 12 games in each of the last four seasons, while compiling a 4.54 ERA and averaging 33 starts per year.
Minor league free-agent 1B Brett Harper was invited to spring training by the Giants.
…from what i can gather, the Mets made an effort to bring harper back in to the fold, but the player chose to pursue other options, such as the Giants, who do not have Mike Carp and Carlos Delgado in the organization…i can’t say that i blame him…it’s a shame, though, he would have been a nice guy to have in the system during the next year or so…
The 26–year-old Harper was picked by the Mets in the 45th Round of the 2000 amateur draft, but missed nearly all of 2006 with a back injury.
In 131 games for Double-A Binghamton last season, Harper bounced back to hit .296 with 24 HR and 88 RBI, while striking out 119 times in 476 at-bats.
In a report for MiLB.com, Jonathan Mayo listed Harper as the Mets minor-league position player of the year.
…i sent MILB.com’s Jonathan Mayo an e-mail asking him about harper, and whether i should care that he’s with the Giants now, to which mayo told me…
“While no one should lose sleep over this loss, it is a little curious why the Mets didn’t bring him back. Maybe they tried and he felt he had a better chance to make it to the bigs with the Giants, given their weak 1B options. But all the Giants did was give him an invite to big-league camp. I hope the Mets had offered the same and Harper just decided the grass would be greener by the Bay…
“
I know Harper will turn 27 in late July, but keep in mind that he missed pretty much all of the 2006 season. Take his last two healthy years – ’07 and ’05 – and he hit a combined 60 homers in them…
“Will he ever be anything? Maybe not, but it might have been nice to have that kind of pop sitting in Triple-A in case Delgado falls apart.”
On March 1, Mayo, who is a Senior Writer for MLB.com, will release Facing Clemens, “A book that puts you right in the batter’s box against the The Rocket.”
For more, check out JonathanMayo.net.
Tagged Minors |In his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney compares Twins GM Bill Smith’s effort to trade Johan Santana to the popular 
NBC game show Deal or No Deal.
In his analogy, according to Olney, the million-dollar and the $750,000 cases are unavailable to Smith, ‘who only has what he regards as subpar offers on the table.’
At this point, if he were Smith, Olney writes, he would keep Santana through opening day, since most executives involved in these conversations do not believe Santana will reject a mid-season trade, despite his previous statements.
In the end, Olney concludes…
“If this were “Deal Or No Deal,” Smith still would have the $500,000 slot, the $400,000 slot, nothing better. He should just continue to say no deal and play out the Santana game.”
…it’s a fair statement…as i also have pointed out in the past, i’m fairly certain that smith can wrangle a three– or four-prospect package for santana in mid-june, just like he could settle for now…this is why, as i keep suggesting, the way i see it, santana is in the driver’s seat here…if he sits quiet, smith has all the time in the world, unless he just wants this over with and to move on come the start of the season…but, if so, that’s smith’s decision, for smith’s reasons on his own timetable…if, however, santana kicks and screams a bit, smith loses a ton of negotiating power and will be forced to pick a case…
Per usual, Olney continues on to blog about the rest of baseball, as well as his thoughts regarding yesterday’s Congressional Hearings about PEDs.
To subscribe to Olney’s blog, go here.
…and thanks to jason b for the link…
If you are interested in going to Tradition Field for spring 
training, go to MetsGrrl.com and read her Guide to Spring Training.
…i have never been to spring training…i have always wanted to go…hopefully, thanks to SNY.tv, i will be down there some time in March…
…if i am able to go, i think it could be fun to get fans together for a MetsBlog in Night in St. Lucie…
By the way, the following are this season’s reporting dates:
- Pitchers & Catchers: Feb. 15
- First Workout: Feb 16
- Position Players Report: Feb 20
- First Full Workout: Feb 21
