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Willie Randolph talked to reporters after yesterday’s intrasquad game, and had the following to say regarding…
…Duaner Sanchez, who threw 26 pitches during the game…
“It was good to see Sanchez let it loose a little bit. I thought he ran out of gas a bit, since it was his first time on the mound in a while. So, his legs got a little heavy. But, it was very encouraging to see him out there moving around…He threw back-to-back change ups at times, and he looks like he’s on the way back…It’s just very positive to see him go out there and get his work in…It’s not easy facing hitters for the first time in a year and a half. It’s a different feel…He is in better shape (than before the taxi cab accident), but he still needs to get that real good feel back. I’m sure he’s optimistic, and he should be, he’s worked real hard, and if all of this stays together and translates into him feeling good about himself, and if physically he feels better, than that could make him a better guy. I hope that’s the case, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
…Jon Niese, a left-handed prospect who threw a shaky inning…
“He’s a cool customer from what I’ve seen, and I think he was a little bit nervous before he started. We were getting ready to start the game, and he was sitting in the dugout, I’m looking at him like, ‘Hey, let’s go, are you gonna go out there and pitch.’ (Laughing). It was like he didn’t know the game was gonna start. So, it was probably just a little bit if jitters…But, yeah, he’s impressed me all spring with the way he’s used all of his pitches, especially his curve ball. You don’t see a lot of curve balls from lefties, and it had a nice little break to it.”
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That was a nice compliment from Willie regarding Niese. I was expecting something more like “He’s got a long way to go man. He’s not Sandy Koufax yet.”
Niese sounds like a guy we’ll be talking about for along time. Whether it’s this season or next, I think he can be another key addition down the line for the Mets.
Duaner, Duaner, what can you do?
I think he will be a good relief pitcher again, but I have some doubts whether he will return to being lights out like he was in 2005 and 2006. Perhaps it is due to the way he was acting in ST last year.
I just want my 8th inning closer back…
you’re doubting him because of his attitude from a year ago? I understand people doubting him, but I”d say the only reason would be his shoulder, his attitude seems fine now. And as for returning to be lights out, I hope none of you think he’s going to match that 18 inning 0 earned run streak, and ‘05? He wasn’t on the team in ‘05? Where have you been? He was a very good set up man for us in the 1st half of ‘06 which included that stretch at the beginning of the year, which I fear has warped everyone’s expectations.
Good point. After that scoreless streak to start 2006, he posted a 3.69 ERA the rest of the way. Pretty good, but not lights out. And in 2004 and 2005 with the dodgers, he put up 3.38 and 3.73 ERAs respectively. Again, very good but not lights out.
He may not have pitched for the Mets in 05, but he was a heck of a reliever for the Dodgers.
“Jon Niese, a left-handed prospect who threw a shaky inning…”
Not quite sure I see a 1-2-3 inning as being “shakey”.
Yeah, I was gonna say. I thought he had done well yesterday, but I couldn’t locate any reports on the web. Maybe Matt was referring more to his obvious butterflies.
One thing the Santana trade did is open up opportunities for the guys lower down in our system like Niese, Kunz, Rustich, etc.
I don’t think our system is as barren as the experts make it out to be. If one or two of these guys develop, we will be all right. I’m glad we didn’t trade Niese– I think the organization sees that good lefties are hard to come by.
I think for this year it is barren. As you said, once some guys take their anticipated steps forward it will be much inproved. Obviously it’s in the lower half, but there is somewhat of a light at the end of the tunnel.
Yeah, the talking heads seem to think that unless you are like the D’ Backs and have 4 can’t miss ML ready guys backed up, the systemis “barren”
IMO, the descriptions of the system having talent at the lower levels is more lgoical.
So, just need some of those high A/AA guys to make a jump, and become ML ready (or nearly) guys. And pitchers can move fast, especially ones out of college.
Bored and doing some number crunching this morning.
After looking at this year’s payroll, next years increases and taking all the FA off the payroll the Mets will have about 40-45 million to spend and still be able to stay under the cap.
They will have to replace
3SP
1B
LF
Now, hopefully someone from within can replace at least one of those. That’s huge because it frees up more money to spend. The most logical of those would be Pelfrey. If he can prove he is at least a reliable #5 that would help tremendously.
For sake of argument lets assume that happens.
That leaves 40/45 million for 4 players. At today’s rates not much.
Lets assume also that Pedro is resigned for something like 10-12 a year. That leaves 30 million for 1 SP LF 1B.
Delgado’s option is for 16 million with a 4 million dollar buyout so he in effect cost 12 million.
So lets start a debate what do the Mets do with the 30 million for those 3 positions?
Will Fmart be ready? If so then you could get Perez and a quality 1B.
Here is a list of potential FA and how much I think they will cost
Pitchers
Perez 13-15 for 4 years
Sabathia 19-22 for 5 years
Burnett 15-17 for 4 years
Garland 12-15 for 4 years
Lowe 12 for 3 years
Morris 10 for 2 years
Sheets 12-15 for 4 years
After that its more junk like this year.
1B
Ugly
Delgado 12 for 1 year
Tex 19-22 for 5 years
Dunn 15-18 for 5 years
After that even worse junk
OF
Not great either
Abreu 15 for 4 years
Anderson (has team option but not likely to be renewed) 12 for 3
Griffey (has team option but not likely to be renewed) 12 for 3
Burrell 2 years 10-12 million
Ibanez (personal favorite if FMart is not ready. He can play OF and 1B) 10 million for 2 years.
After that more junk.
Wow…
So much depends on this year–
->how well does Pedro do, and how much does he/the Mets think he has left in the tank? I personally see 15 wins. I think he resigns for 2 years, 10 million per.
->does Ollie progress? If he does, and kicks it up a notch and wins 16-18 games, well it’s a pleasant problem to have, but ultimately he Borases up and goes for the cash and probably leaves. But what about if he has the same type of season (13-15 wins , but inconsistent)– this is what I think will happen. Is he still young enough (and a lefty) that you give him $10 -$12 mill for 3-4 years?
->Delgado will have a bounceback year and I think you exercise that option. Otherwise, your left with junk. I don’t really want Dunn, do you?
->Of all the pitchers listed, I like Lowe the best– and he’s durable and would be reasonable. I also like Sheets, but do you think he’s an injury risk?
I think our best case senerio long run for Perez is that he continues to improve slightly but only enough to warrant a little more than Silva.
I think Texeira is going to get a killer contract or stay with the Braves, but I think Dunn might be the guy to go after, won’t cost as much but he’s productive and can play LF or 1st base, obviously i’d rather stick him at 1st. That’s if we want a masher, which is probably something we need. He strikes out a ton, but besides that he’s hitting a HR or drawing a walk, which is fine. I agree, Pelfrey needs to step up and Pedro will be signed for another 2 years I think. Perez is an option, i’m sure we’ll be in on that, if not we’ll go after someone, but not for crazy money. What really could make this easier is if Fmart goes crazy this year and forces his hand to be the opening day starting LF.
ill take sheets, tex and have the farm work out LF or bring alou back.
SP
Santana
Pedro
Maine
Sheets
Pelfrey
Lineup
Reyes – SS
Castillo – 2B
Wright – 3B
Beltran – CF
Texiera – 1B
Alou – LF
Church – RF
Schnieder – C
2009 World Series Champions
You also have to look at balance of SP I would assume we need a lefty to replace OP especially considering the Phillies. Not many of those out there.
1 option that I have thought of that could work. If Delgado puts up respectable numbers, renew the option. Then sign Dunn.
Dunn plays LF for 2009 and takes Delgado’s spot in 2010. By that point FMart will be starting in LF.
However, if you sign Dunn for 16 million and Delgado cost 12 that only leaves 2 million for a SP. At that point I guess you could revist Heilman to the rotation rumors again?
that’s not a bad idea actually, but yeah, it leaves us with little for the starting rotation. Maybe by next year Pelfrey is more then a 5th starter, maybe he improves a bunch and is a good #3, that way we can have someone cheap fill the #5 spot for a year, maybe a prospect steps up or we sign someone cheap for a year. A lot of what ifs obviously, but should be interesting to see how it plays out. I can see Delgado’s option being used, seeing as he’ll cost $12 mill ($16 mill for those wondering, but 4 mill is guaranteed in a buyout, so its only 12).
If Fmart was ready for his bumps and bruises that would be best. Then you are dealing with 30 million for 2 players instead of 3.
Reyes
Castillo
Wright
Beltran
Dunn/Delgado
Church
FMart
Schnider/Castro
Johan, Pedro, Maine, Pelfrey, Perez/12 million dollar pitcher. That would not be too bad I guess. It would put more pressure on our offense because there is no way that FMart puts up Alou numbers even if he is there an entire season. That bein said if Dunn can increase on Delgado’s numbers it would be a wash.
Ugg, you guys really want Adam Dunn on your team? He’s awful. Big zero clogging the middle of your lineup. Don’t tell me about his OBP — the guy had half again as many Ks as Hits in 2006. That’s just too much, I don’t care how many jacks he gets.
The one thing you can say for him is he could hit 20 routine popups to RF that the Shea wind might blow over the fence. But of course home plate will be facing a different direction next year, so who knows about that?
LF, everything I’ve heard and read seems to point towards Alou wanting to resign with the Mets. It’s obvious that F-Mart is the future LF’er so if he will not be ready for the bigs by next year, then re-signing Alou seems to make good sense. It does depend on this coming year, and the ability to have insurance for any injuries Alou has. However, he’s a tremendous hitter, and logically anything he can rub off onto our young players, is a positive. I say resign Alou for one more year. I see one day Alou being a hitting coach on some team, perhaps he has that ambition and down the road, the Mets can insert him into the coaching system.
1B, Delgado will do well this year. He won’t be winning any Silver Slugger or anything but he’ll do fine. Next year, I see the Mets looking at his contract as being rather expensive and choosing not to exercise the option, how ever resigning him to eight million (along with the 4 million buyout) thus costing the team 12 million for his services next year.
SP, Pedro is a commodity on this team. I foresee him being resigned. OP will be outrageously over paid, and not by the Mets. Pelfrey will succeed this year, and fill El Duque’s roster spot before this season is even over. IMO, there will most certainly be a lefty rise out of the mix somewhere in MLB and I foresee the Mets aquiring him next off-season.
Those are my guesses.
I’m under the impression that FMart’s future is RF, not left; I think they would shift Church if need be.
I’d like to have a solid 1b and c prospect in our system.
Hopefully Pena takes care of the c spot.