Daily Archives: November 11, 2008
The Long Island Met Fan points out an article in the Daily News which notes that Bobby Ojeda may join the SNY broadcast team in 2009 in a pre and postgame studio role.
Mets Geek, no longer Rays Geek, evaluates the Mets’ plate discipline, writing:
“O-swing % is how often a player swings at pitches out of the strike zone. Castillo (who swung at a low rate of 12.64%) would have easily led all of baseball in O-Swing % if he had enough plate appearances to qualify.”
…castillo is great at laying off of bad pitches, but when he does swing it is hardly the most impressive thing i have ever seen to put it nicely…
Marty Noble at MLB.com answers fans’ questions including; “What do you think about bringing back Oliver Perez as a closer?”
…i don’t know about you, but thanks to scott boras, i feel that we have seen the last of ollie in a mets uniform…
Finally, Mark Kram of Philly.com follows financial guru Lenny Dykstra, who “was born to make money”, around for a day.
…mark kram eh, nice palindrome…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
In his latest report for SI.com, which is full of Hot Stove information, Jon Heyman writes, “The Mets are trying to swing a deal for White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks before doling out free-agent riches to Brian Fuentes or Francisco Rodriguez.”
Jenks, 27, completed 30 of 34 saves in 2008, with a 2.63 ERA in 61 innings pitched, during which opponents hit .230 against him while striking out just 38 times.
…jenks has been a pretty good pitcher since joining the league in 2005, to say the least…what’s more, he is under contract for the next three seasons…so, he’s going to cost a decent number of prospects, should the Mets work to acquire him…
Earlier in the off-season, in Newsday, Ken Davidoff wrote, “The Mets believe they have enough minor-league talent to trade for a closer, such as M’s RHP J.J. Putz, O’s LHP George Sherrill, Royals RHP Joakim Soria and Marlins RHP Kevin Gregg.”
…the thing is, if a team like the Indians and other teams are going to trade for a closer, as reports continue to suggest they will, i still feel the Mets best chance to get a closer will be through the free-agent market…
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The Associated Press is reporting that the Giants’ Tim Lincecum has won the NL Cy Young Award and received 23 of 32 first-place votes.
Brandon Webb of the Diamondbacks finished second, and Johan Santana finished third.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Tim Lincecum |
According to the Associated Press, Mike Piazza is writing a memoir.
Of the book which will be released in 2010, Piazza said:
Tagged Mike Piazza, Regis Courtemanche |“I look forward to having the chance to take people behind the scenes and to talk about the many great people and characters I’ve played with and for over the course of my career.”
Following yesterday’s trade, which sent RHP Huston Street to the Colorado, Scott Miller of CBSSports.com said the Rockies 
are prepared to turn around and trade him, ‘though to which team he wasn’t sure.’
In a post today on his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman writes:
“The Mets have had only mild interest in Street (they are much more intrigued by Fuentes), but are sure to talk to the Rockies. I would think the Cardinals might be the team more likely to make a strong run at obtaining Street.”
In 63 appearances for Oakland in 2008, the 25–year-old Street was 7–5 with a 3.73 ERA in 70 innings, during which opponents hit .229 against him and struck out 69 times.
He had a 2.88 ERA in 2007, and a 3.31 ERA in 2006, during which he also had 37 saves.
According to NPB Tracker, the Mets are reportedly interested in Japanese RHP Koji Uehara as a reliever since declaring his intent to play in the United States.
Uehara, who has played for the Yomiuri Giants since 1999, has a career record of 104-57 with a 2.96 ERA.
Here is a video from YouTube of Uehara pitching in the World Baseball Classic:
Andrew Beaton at Hot Foot also points out a few other Japanese players the Mets should look in to.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
In a recent report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes:
“The sudden availability of Hoffman raises the possibility that one or more of the top free-agent closers might be left without a high payroll slot — and leaves the Mets almost certain to find a quality replacement for the injured Billy Wagner.
“The Mets can choose among Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood and Hoffman. No other team considers the signing of a closer to be as high a priority. Not the Tigers, not the Cardinals, not the Angels and certainly not the Padres.
“The Tigers do not intend to pay top dollar for a closer. The Cardinals want a stopgap until Chris Perez is ready to assume the role full time. The Angels and Cubs also could replace closers from within, and the Indians ultimately could be left with a bargain.”
Rosenthal also reports on the Braves effort to acquire Jake Peavy from the Padres, details of the Nationals-Marlins trade from yesterday, and other notes from the Hot Stove.
This morning on WFAN, Paul Kinzer said his client, Francisco Rodriguez, is unlikely to accept a three– or four-year deal at this point in his career.
Kinzer was quick to point out that Francisco Cordero, at 32 years old, got a four-year deal from the Reds last season to be a closer.
“However,” Kinzer explained, “You have to keep an open mind, and see where the market will take you.”
According to Kinzer, there are three to four teams who are interested in Rodriguez, ‘though it’s a select market.’
When asked if Rodriguez would accept a five-year, $75 million deal, Kinzer laughed and said, ‘Sure, we’d probably be there.’
…this is weird…i mean, the guy is essentially negotiating on air…it’s like, he wanted the Mets to be aware of his demands, yet chose to do it on radio…odd…
…so, as of now, it sounds to me like he still expects to get at least a five-year deal, worth at least $13 million per season…
Rodriguez likes New York, Kinzer says, and he likes the big stage, and is very intrigued by the Mets.
…by the way, nice job by Craig Carton on WFAN for making some news in this interview…nice work…
To listen to Kinzer’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
The National League Cy Young Award will be announced today at 2 pm EDT.
According to a survey from Rasmussen Reports in mid-October, 19 percent of baseball fans said Johan Santana should win the award over Brandon Webb, Tim Lincecum and Ryan Dempster.
However, according to Jim Molony of MLB.com, Lincecum and Webb are the favorites to win, while Dempster, Brad Lidge, CC Sabathia and Edison Volquez are listed as ‘dark horses.’
Molony does not list Santana as a ‘favorite’ or a ‘dark horse,’ instead he lists him among 10 others as only an ‘honorable mention.’
The way I see it, Santana should win the Cy Young Award because no other pitcher in the league was on the mound longer, and no other pitcher had a lower ERA over the course of the entire season – and to me, that’s what it’s all about.
“Trevor Hoffman will not return to the Padres for 2009,” reported Buster Olney on ESPN.com last night.
According to Olney, the Padres pulled back their contract offer of $4 million for 2009 to Hoffman, who is eligible for free agency this fall.
…this is good news for the Mets…not because i think they should or will sign hoffman…but, because, teams who will not spend on Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, but who need a closer, like the Indians, Tigers, Rockies and Cardinals, hoffman will join a column of low-cost solutions like Bobby Jenks, Jose Valverde, J.J. Putz, Kevin Gregg and Huston Street…
…and with news yesterday, here, that the Angels have no intention of bringing back K-Rod, suddenly the Mets are in a good position to sign a closer, and keep talent to use in a deal for another position, like a starting pitcher…
…as for hoffman as a solution for the Mets, i have no interest…he’s not the same pitcher he once was, and i want no part of a closer on the last leg of his career, switching cities and coasts for the first time, especially considering his reputation in big games over the last few years…
