Daily Archives: October 29, 2008
According to MLB.com, the Mets sent RHP Nelson Figueroa, LHP Adam Bostick and C Gustavo Molina outright to Triple-A Buffalo, removing them from the team’s 40–man roster.
…thanks to steve in nc for the heads up…
Tagged Nelson Figueroa |
Omar Minaya has stated on several occasions that the Mets would explore both external and internal options to fill the closer role in 2009. While most of the media has been focusing on those external possibilities, little has been made of the internal ones.
It’s doubtful the Mets would consider moving John Maine to the bullpen, considering that two rotation spots will be open, assuming both Oliver Perez and Pedro Martinez leave via free agency.
Scott Schoeneweis had some success closing for Cincinnati. However, neither he nor Pedro Feliciano would be ideal, as they have trouble retiring right-handed batters. Also, neither are dominating, and despite the Bob Wickmans of the world, I see the Mets choosing someone with more “filthy stuff” or velocity.
If that’s true, then Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith and Brian Stokes would be the top candidates.
Many fans dislike Heilman, but he has a 96-MPH fastball, a sinking change-up, and a decent slider – from the standpoint of pure “stuff”, Heilman is well-armed for the closer role.
If Sanchez can ever regain the strength and confidence that made him a lights-out setup man in 2006, he’d be the ideal choice.
Smith’s nasty slider and improvement against left-handed hitters makes him a candidate.
Stokes also reaches 96-MPH, but his breaking pitches are inconsistent. He would need to establish one above-average second pitch to be considered.
It appears that Eddie Kunz is being groomed for the role – despite Jerry Manuel’s reluctance to use him last season; Bobby Parnell didn’t show enough in his limited stint to be a clear candidate; Brant Rustich and Brad Holt are darkhorses, but have been impressive at the lower levels.
The bottom line is that it’s not inconceivable to think the Mets will find a closer from within. I’m not sure it would make sense to run auditions in spring training – what can you really learn from a handful of games against questionable competition?
In my mind, the Mets should decide who the closer will be from the outset, and commit to him at least through May – just as a team would with an established fireman. The closer-by-committee concept is unlikely to work with this group – they certainly didn’t respond well to the “setup man by committee” plan in 2008.
The Angels will exercise their 2009 options on OF Vladimir Guerrero and RHP John Lackey, but will decline their option on OF Garret Anderson, making him a free agent.
The 36-year-old Anderson hit .293 with 15 HR and 84 RBI in 145 games this season.
Anderson is intriguing, in that he has hit at least .280 in every year of his career and he’s a left fielder.
However, he’s 36, a left-handed bat, he’s 36, and he has played his entire 15–year career with the same west coast team, which always concerns me when bringing a player in New York.
Eddie Kunz will blogging his experience in the Arizona Fall League at MLB.com, and will occasionally be joined online by Bobby Parnell, Tobi Stoner and Dan Murphy, among others.
Today, Murphy jumps on to the keyboard to discuss his time in the AFL so far, while writing the following about his recent injury:
“As of right now I am currently not in the lineup due a forearm injury that took place in the annual Rising Stars game. Hopefully I should be ready for action by the end of this week but as of now I am daily consulting with our trainer Joe Golia who has taken care of me since the injury. But I am looking forward to being back in the lineup and further hone my skills at second base and in the batters box…Everyday I am getting top of the line coaching and I feel that I am getting more consistent at second base and hope to one day be able to help the Mets at that position if they so choose.”
In 10 games in the AFL, Murphy is batting .400 with four doubles, one HR, 11 RBI and just three strike outs.
Last week, in a report for the Daily News, Bill Madden wrote about Phillies GM Pat Gillick, who discussed how his team and the rest of the NL East hate the Mets.
Yesterday, in a report for SI.com, Jon Heyman quotes Gillick as saying of the Mets:
“I think sometimes it’s good to be celebratory, but sometimes it reaches the point where they’re taunting the other the team. Everyone should have the opportunity to celebrate. But there’s a fine line, and sometimes they tend to go over the line and taunt the other team.”
According to Heyman, Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins agreed, when asked if teams in the NL East ‘detest the Mets, adding,’ “In spring training next year go to each clubhouse and you’ll get a number of answers.”
Last week I wrote, “So, does this mean the Mets can now only win if teams love them? What does that even mean? Seriously, who cares if teams hate the Mets? Hey, how about the Mets just play better baseball and win on their own effort, and not care about 
what other people think of them. How about that? How about, instead of backing down, the Mets fight back.”
This is going to be a story in spring training, mark my words. These reporters will not forget about this – at least, I hope they do not forget about it. Because, instead of the Mets running from this, and letting these teams get in to their heads, they should take it on as something to rally around.
Jerry Manuel should use this to his advantage. He should make this an us-against-them type of fight, more than it usually is. He should make his team aware of the apparent fact that his squad is on the outside, that they have not won anything in two years, yet that they’re hated and nobody likes them. He should try to put a chip on this team’s shoulder, get them in a foxhole, make them gangsta, whatever you want to call it, and challenge them to truly give this division something to hate them for, like winning, and winning hard.
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Omar Minaya’s top priority is to upgrade his team’s bullpen, followed by catcher, the rotation and possibly the outfield, adding, “Second base is of lesser consideration.”
As such, the Mets have discussed trading for Giants C Bengie Molina, writes Heyman.
In 145 games in 2008, the 34–year-old Molina hit .292 with 16 HR and 95 RBI while batting clean-up for the Giants.
Molina threw out 34 percent of runners attempting to steal against him last season, his highest rate in five years.
He will earn $6 million in 2009, after which he is eligible to be a free agent, though he has talked about wanting an extension.
…i like molina…but, i remember talking to a few people in san francisco, a few years back when he was a free agent, who noted how sensitive he is…he does not take criticism well, from fans and reporters, this person noted…this may or may not be true…however, considering the new york market, this may be something to consider…
…that said, the Giants have a young catcher Pablo Sandoval, who was essentially Barry Zito’s personal catcher down the stretch, starting over molina, so it stands to reason that molina can be had…
…i wonder if a deal for molina and Randy Winn could be struck…
Speaking of catcher, according to Heyman, Boston will offer C Jason Varitek a two-year deal, but not the four-year contract he is looking for, suggesting, instead, they may try to trade for Rangers C Gerald Laird or Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
…if the Mets intend to upgrade from Brian Schneider, it’s going to have to happen with a trade, as the top free-agent catchers include Brad Ausmus, Josh Bard, Paul Lo Duca, Pudge Rodriguez and the 36-year-old varitek, who hit just .220 last season and, as noted above, wants a four-year deal…
Heyman also reports on the Yankees and CC Sabathia; whether Coco Crisp will stay in Boston; the cost of Matt Holliday; Mark Teixeira; and where free-agent Ken Griffey Jr. could end up.
