Daily Archives: November 3, 2008
The night the Phillies won the World Series, fans of the team flipped over Ted’s car – and he has since started a blog, at Philly, Fix My Car, to help raise money to either have the vehicle fixed or replaced.
…way to stay classy, Philadelphia…
So far, Ted has raised $2,750.
…i bet it was the Philly Phanatic…i blame him for everything…
Tagged Phillies |In a column for the New York Times, Jack Curry takes a look at 12 free agents, not named Sabathia, Teixeira or Ramirez, such 
as Orlando Hudson, Derek Lowe, Juan Cruz and Joe Beimel.
According to Curry, “If the Mets ate most of the $18 million left on Luis Castillo’s contract and traded him, they could sign Hudson. Still, GM Omar Minaya said, ‘Right now, I think Castillo is going to be our second baseman.’
…i love how that is prefaced by, ‘Right now,’ which is classic…i mean, right now, it’s Monday…tomorrow, it will not be…
…i sense the Mets have interest in hudson, and they like him a lot, for a variety of reasons, but i do not think he’s a priority – at least in terms of how they spend their money, and how to fill the roster…if, for some reason, they get iced out of other positions, like left field, or catcher, etc., things could change…
By the way, speaking of second base, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals 2B Adam Kennedy requested a trade in late August of last season.
Tagged Orlando Hudson |
According to Bill James Online, the 2008 Fielding Baseball Awards were selected by a panel of 10 baseball experts, including John Dewan and Bill James.
This year, the panel named Carlos Beltran the Best Defensive Centerfielder in baseball.
Meanwhile, David Wright finished sixth among third basemen and Jose Reyes finished 10th among shortstops.
No other Mets finished in the top 10 at their position.
…Update…2:32 pm…
Actually, Johan Santana finished sixth among the best defensive pitchers.
If you would like to bid on George Foster’s 
1986 Mets World Championship Ring, go to Leylands.com, which has a current bid of $8,052.
…thanks to Rich D for the link…
…once, while in line outside of Shea Stadium, to buy Opening Day tickets for the 2000 season, Bobby Ojeda let me wear his World Championship Ring…for a kid of the 80s, it was very surreal…the ring was too big for my thumb…
In his latest report for SI.com, Jon Heyman lists his version of the Top 44 free agents and the Top 13 names in the trade market, as well as other Hot Stove information.
…this is a must-read report, as it’s 
an outstanding overview on what the off-season will bring…
In Heyman’s opinion, when all is said and done, the Mets could end up signing Brian Fuentes to a three-year deal and Derek Lowe to a four-year deal.
Lastly, according to Heyman, the Rockies and D’Backs and other teams still believe that Aaron Heilman can be starting pitcher.
In case you missed it, on Friday, the 
Mets picked up Carlos Delgado’s 2009 option, which will reportedly pay him $12 million.
…however, as i wrote in early October, despite picking up his option, it sounds like delgado’s future with the Mets will depend on what other options exist in the market place, as he can still be traded to another team – most likely for a closer…
…of all the players the Mets could potentially acquire this off-season, Mark Teixeira is the one guy i am most interested in, assuming delgado could be moved for a closer…
However, in a recent report for SI.com, Heyman lists the O’s, Angels, Yankees, Mariners and Red Sox as teams likely to be interested in Teixeira, who Heyman believes will ultimately remain in Anaheim on an eight-year deal.
…he plays Gold Glove defense, is an unassuming guy, and he hits every day, regardless of the circumstance…
…to me, he’s exactly what the middle of this lineup needs…
…the thing is, he is represented by Scott Boras, is probably seeking a seven-year deal, like Carlos Beltran got, and the Mets would not be the only big-money team who would be interested in him…plus, the Mets have so many other problems to solve, i just can’t see them sinking that much money in to one guy, to solve one position…
According to Ken Davidoff in Newsday, the Red Sox will aggressively pursue Teixeira.
Last week, in a report on SI.com, Jon Heyman wrote that Omar Minaya’s top priority is to upgrade his team’s bullpen, followed by catcher, the 
rotation and possibly the outfield.
That said, the Rangers are willing to trade C Gerald Laird, according to one baseball source, reports the Boston Globe.
According to Evan Grant in the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers will actually listen to offers for all of their catchers, including Max Ramirez, Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
However, in all cases, writes Grant, the Rangers will want a top-flight, proven, under-contract, young pitcher in return.
Additionally, the Mets have discussed trading for Giants C Bengie Molina, writes Heyman.
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
Varitek, as well Brad Ausmus, Josh Bard, Paul Lo Duca, Pudge Rodriguez, among others, are all free agents.
In the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo writes, “The Mets are still eyeing Mariners free agent Raul Ibanez.
Ibanez played in all 162 games this season, and hit .293 with 23 HR, 110 RBI and a .358 OBP.
He has hit at least .280 with 20 HR and a .350 OBP during each of the last four seasons with the Mariners.
According to Cafardo, “They need a consistent hitter in the outfield, and Ibanez seems to fit what Minaya is looking for.”
During last season’s trade deadline, ESPN’s Peter Gammons said the Mariners had been requesting two of Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Robert Parnell from the Mets in a deal for Ibanez.
…ibanez would help bring balance and consistency to the Mets lineup…for the most part, he hits roughly the same whether against lefties or righties, in april or september, with men on base or not on base…he’s not going to wow you day in and day out, but he’s reliable, consistent, will keep the line moving, and be a good supporting player to the middle of the lineup…at the same time, he’s 36 years old, which is a concern, especially if he’s looking for a three-year deal…
Tagged Raul Ibanez |
