Daily Archives: November 7, 2008
Gotham Baseball Magazine’s Paul Greco recently returned from the Arizona Fall League, where he conducted interviews with a group of Mets prospects, including Daniel Murphy.
Greco will air his interviews, and talk about his experience at the AFL, tonight on Live from Mickey Mantles, which you can listen to live at 6 pm by clicking here.
The Long Island Ducks have named Gary Carter their manager for 2009.
According to the team’s website, the Ducks will introduce Carter as manager at a 1:00 pm press conference on Monday at Citibank Park.
Tagged Minors, Regis Courtemanche |
In a column for the New York Observer, Howard Megdal makes the case for the Mets re-signing Oliver Perez. He writes:
The most frequent attack on Perez is that he is too inconsistent to be relied upon. But leaving aside the fact that he just completed his age-26 season… the charge simply isn’t true.
From June 3 through the end of the season, Perez pitched at least six innings in 17 of 22 starts, striking out roughly a batter an inning and pitching to a 3.56 ERA… His effort from June 3 on matches almost exactly his 2007 season, when he struck out nearly a batter an inning and pitched to a 3.56 ERA.
Megdal uses historical comparisons to evaluate Perez’s case for returning against some of the other likely options, including free-agent starter Derek Lowe.
Speaking of which, I wrote a column on SNY.tv today about the frustrating rumor mill and the market for starting pitching.
I’m a bit concerned by all the Edwin Jackson talk, because I fear his perceived value might be a lot higher than his actual value:
Based on some surface-level stats, Jackson showed solid improvement in 2008, going 14-11 with a 4.42 ERA in 183 1/3 innings. That’s a fine season for a 24-year-old, but I’m concerned by Jackson’s lofty walk and home-run rates.
His youth, combined with a fortunate record in front of a great defense and strong lineup, will drive up his price. Plus Jackson still carries some of the mega-prospect cache from his teenage years in the Dodgers’ system.
For more on that, check out the column.
Tagged Oliver Perez, Ted Berg |According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, ‘The Angels, Mets, Rangers and Tigers are interested in Chad Cordero, and each team has asked to look at his medical records.’
He had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum, missed the rest of the season, and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.
“Cordero’s first choice would be to sign with the Angels,” explains Ladson, “because he is from Anaheim and grew up an Angels fan.”
However, he adds, “Cordero also wouldn’t mind having a reunion with Mets general manager Omar Minaya.”
According to Ken Davidoff in Newsday, the Mets will also ‘investigate’ free-agent set-up men LHP Joe Beimel, RHP Juan Cruz and Cordero.
The 26–year-old Cordero has yet to finish a season with an ERA above 3.36 in his six-year career, during which he has been successful 83 percent of the time in save opportunities, while striking out 292 batters in 320 innings.
There is an intangible that Omar Minaya has to take into consideration this offseason: Team chemistry.
The 2008 Rays had it. The Red Sox of recent years had it. In fact, any great dynasty, such as the Yankees, Chicago Bulls, or Dallas Cowboys had it. Good team chemistry is the difference between being a great team on paper, and being a great team on the field.
In 1986, there was in-fighting between Keith and Darryl, but they shared a common vision…to win. Every player knew their role, and performed it to the best of their ability in order to win despite any differences they may have had.
When they were on the field, they were one cohesive unit and it showed. They didn’t need to be friends; they just needed an equal desire to win a championship.
A team’s ability to stick together, have each others’ backs, and fight to win during pressure-filled situations and losing streaks is what makes a championship team. They aren’t affected by the media or the fans as they strive unwaveringly towards their common goal.
The Mets need to acquire players with a ‘winner’s mentality’ to supplement David Wright. Lenny Dykstra was an example of a win-at-all-costs type of player that they need. Cliff Floyd also had a ‘winner’s mentality,’ and was a positive clubhouse presence that contributed to team solidarity. It’s about more than talent alone.
The Mets showed heart in many of their games this year, such as on September 25 when Ryan Church‘s nifty slide and Carlos Beltran‘s walkoff hit won them a game against the Cubs. But there were just as many games where they seemed distracted, as if they weren’t playing together with any true sense of purpose.
Obviously pitching is the team’s greatest need, but as Minaya considers new additions this winter, he needs to be conscious of chemistry so the team can finally get to where it needs to be.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |At the blog Tornadic Activity, El Juglar recaps an interview he attended with Dwight Gooden yesterday, writing:
“The funniest moment of the night came when an audience member asked of the three distinct hair styles Doc sported during his career (close cut, flat top and jheri curl), which did he prefer. Doc thought about it and then said “definitely the flat top”.”
…just let your soul glo doc…
Eric Stashin at Gotham Baseball says that Brad Holt may be another Joba Chamberlain type player.
At NY Mets Report, John Delcos asks his readers the popular question, “What to do with Heilman?”.
For those of you who have been wondering what former Mets OF Darryl Hamilton has been up to, check out this article at the New York Times to find out more about baseball’s senior specialist for on-field operations.
Lastly, Eric Simon at Amazin’ Avenue continues his list of all-time Mets:
“#34 Bobby Bonilla: Whatever the perception of Bonilla the player, everyone wanted him and the Mets got him. He finished in the top three of the NL MVP voting in his final two years in Pittsburgh and was an All-Star in his final four seasons with the Pirates.”
…i was having such a good friday before recalling bobby bo memories, thanks eric…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |In a recent report for SI.com, which is jam packed with all sorts of information, Jon Heyman wrote:
“Some Mets people are concerned about their catching. But some in their hierarchy don’t like that the best free-agent options… Pudge Rodriguez and Bengie Molina don’t exactly make them younger.”
Meanwhile, in today’s New York Post, Joel Sherman believes that the Mets could have interest in free-agent C Jason Varitek, if his demands drop from a four-year deal to a more reasonable two-year deal.
According to Sherman, “There are some Met officials who believe they need a better game-caller than Brian Schneider to shepherd their pitching staff.”
That said, according to Evan Grant in the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers will listen to offers for all of their catchers, including Max Ramirez, Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
However, in all cases, writes Grant, the Rangers will want a top-flight, proven, under-contract, young pitcher in return, such as Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz, according to the Boston Globe.
By the way, according to Ken Davidoff in Newsday, the Rangers are interested in RHP Aaron Heilman, who will turn 30 later this month, and who is not eligible for free agency until after 2010.
Lastly, Sherman explains, if the Mets decide to trade Schneider, the Reds might be interested, among other teams.
Every week, for SNY.tv, I will be talking with Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors about the state of the Hot Stove.
In this week’s edition, which you can watch by clicking play below, we talk about the early rumor mill, who will sign and be traded first, and the most popular names in the market.
To share this video, or embed it on your blog, click the icon in the lower-right corner of the screen.
According to Jon Heyman, at SI.com, “The world champion Phillies are one of the most aggressive pursuers of Rockies superstar outfielder Matt Holliday.”
…man, that sentence hurts on so many levels…thanks, jon…
Heyman believes the Rockies will most certainly request OF Shane Victorino, adding, “Several teams have shown interest, including the A’s, Mets and Rays, but so far it appears the Phillies may have the best chance among those teams.”
…hmm, tough one…seriously, i would almost rather the Phillies have holliday than victorino, that’s how damaging and irritating victorino has been…whereas holliday, who knows…
By the way, Rockies reporter Troy E. Renck, in the Denver Post, continues to write that the Phillies and A’s are the most likely destination for Holliday.
…holliday is just what the doctor ordered for the Mets in left field…but, when names like Carlos Carrasco, victorino, Phil Hughes, Robinson Cano, etc., are mentioned in hypothetical deals, i am not sure what the Mets could offer, without hurting their chances of trading for a starting pitcher or relief pitcher, or some other more pressing need…
“Pedro Feliciano, Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis are available for the taking,” writes Ken Davidoff in Newsday.
According to Davidoff, the Mets will 
also ‘investigate’ free-agent set-up men LHP Joe Beimel, RHP Juan Cruz and RHP Chad Cordero.
The Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs and D’Backs have interest in Heilman, wrote Adam Rubin in the Daily News on Tuesday.
Davidoff adds the A’s, Rays and Rangers to the short-list of teams who could be interested in Heilman.
Speaking of a closer, today in the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes, “Brian Fuentes appears the clear-cut target while Francisco Rodriguez’s asking price appears to exceed the sum the Mets would find palatable.”
However, according to Joel Sherman in the New York Post, regarding the closer’s market, “Met officials departed the GM meetings confident that someone they like from the free-agent field will fall to them in this game of big-money musical chairs.”
…sherman makes an important point, in that the Brewers, Cardinals, D’Backs, Rockies, Indians and Tigers, and the Mets, are all in the market for a closer…
…however, most of those teams are unlikely to spend huge money on rodriguez or fuentes or wood, instead, they would prefer a more cost-effective option like trading for Bobby Jenks, Jose Valverde, J.J. Putz, Kevin Gregg or Huston Street…
…meaning, as sherman concludes, the Mets have a pretty clear advantage in the free-agent market…
…at any rate, i think it’s pretty clear Omar Minaya and Company are operating with a laser-like focus on upgrading the bullpen and rotation, while letting the offense sit tight for a while…
Tagged Pedro Feliciano, Scott Schoeneweis |
