Daily Archives: November 13, 2008
David Wright won a Silver Slugger Award: Click Here.
The Mets are all in on Francisco Rodriguez, and they may be connected to Bobby Abreu: Click Here.
The Tigers and Angels will not bid on Rodriguez: Click Here.
The Yankees acquired OF Nick Swisher: Click Here.
Omar Minaya spilled his gust to WFAN’s Mike Francesa, in an off-air interview: Click Here.
Keith Hernandez likes MetsBlog, and Velcro: Click Here.
A.J. Burnett likes the Yankees more than the Mets: Click Here.
The Marlins traded Kevin Gregg to the Cubs: Click Here.
The Red Sox have contacted Derek Lowe, Freddy Garcia is drawing interest, and the Yankees intend to spend a lot on CC Sabathia: Click Here.
I did a phone interview with Tim Dierkes from MLB Trade Rumors, and talked a little Hot Stove: Click Here.
The Mets do not love Huston Street: Click Here.
The White Sox are scouting Mets minor-league pitchers, and will likely trade Jermaine Dye: Click Here.
Lastly, David Wright thinks the Mets bullpen needs a facelift, and he likes a player with heart: Click Here.
David Wright won his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award today, according to a team press release.
The award is voted on by the National League’s managers and coaches.
Wright, as quoted in the team release, said of the award:
“It’s a very prestigious award and I am proud to win it, considering the people who vote for the award. This honor will help motivate me to an even better season in 2009.”
In 2008, Wright became the first Mets player to accumulate four seasons with 100 or more RBI.
In a recent post to his blog for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark cites executives with two different teams as essentially saying, the Mets are ‘all in’ on Francisco Rodriguez, ‘regardless of what you have heard.’
In fact, the two executives predicted to Stark that Rodriguez will eventually drop his asking price to a three-year deal.
…this is basically what we have all been saying could happen…i’m glad to see the industry alluding to it as well…
…the more and more i think about it, and the more and more people i talk to about the specific players, the more and more i believe K-Rod should be this team’s next closer…a) he is an immediate, perfectly-prescribed pill for the massive hang-over from the end of last season…and b) of all the potential closers, short of Bobby Jenks, who would cost talent in trade, K-Rod is electric, high-energy, he loves the big game, has pitched in a major market, and appears to be a guy who thrives on pressure…and, as you know, he will be faced with tons of pressure the first time he steps to the mound at Citi Field…there will be no time to waste…
Stark also writes, “We’re also hearing talk connecting the Mets with Bobby Abreu, although Abreu’s initial asking price (three years, $45 million) isn’t close to what they had in mind.”
…please, no…as i have written before, i want nothing to do with abreu…he’s one of those players who look good on paper, 
but when you watch him play it is painful…i have no doubt that he would basically be a singles hitter in the NL and at Citi Field, and he often runs around the outfield like he’s lost, or being chased by a bee…no thank you…
Stark also takes a closer look at the market for CC Sabathia; talks between the Padres and Braves regarding Jake Peavy; and whether Manny Ramirez will be the last player to sign.
Speaking of Stark, check out this article, for ESPN.com, in which he looks at the wants and needs of every MLB team.
According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the 
White Sox have traded OF Nick Swisher to the Yankees for minor league pitcher Jeff Marquez.
The Yankees will also get RHP Kanekoa Texeira from Chicago, adds FoxSports.com.
The 27–year-old Swisher, who hit just .219 last season, will earn $21 million over the next three seasons.
…again, we mull over rumor after rumor every day, all day, and yet here comes another trade that nobody was talking about, just like Matt Holliday, just like Scott Olsen and Josh Willighman…
…Update…4:05 pm…
SI.com’s Jon Heyman called in to WFAN to say Wilson Betemit may be involved in the deal, as well as other minor leaguer.
“Marquez is a pretty good minor leaguer, but not a top-shelf guy,” according to Heyman.
Heyman says ‘every one is up for grabs on the White Sox,’ since Ozzie Guillen would like his team to get ‘younger and faster.’
If you live and die with the Mets, especially the latter, you can have a coffin custom-made for yourself or a loved one at the Branch Funeral Home in Smithtown.
…truly disturbing…
Braves fans at The Launching Pad are getting antsy about the whole Jake Peavy situation, saying, “If something doesn’t happen soon, I’m gonna just lose it. I’m sick of the perpetual state of limbo this trade has remained in and I’d like something else to blog about other than Peavy but there’s not much else happening.”
The city council is voting on the development of Willets Point this afternoon.
…Update…4:45 pm…
According to NY1, the plan was approved by a vote of 42-2 meaning that the city will develop it into a 62-acre hub with housing, shops, a school, and convention center.
Looking for a job? The Mets Police forwarded a job description from the Mets for a Pitch f/x Operator.
…with the economy being the way it is, i might be applying for that pretty soon…
Lastly, Tom Seaver did a Q&A with the Daily Pilot and had this to say about the Mets’ failure to make the playoffs last year:
“It’s been tough for them. People don’t understand, it’s not easy. Just because you paid a whole bunch of people a lot of money, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to have them gel and come together and have them win. There’s more to it.”
…hat tip to jeannie w. for the link…say hi to sasha for me…
WFAN’s Mike Francesa says he talked with Mets GM Omar Minaya earlier today.
According to Minaya, per Francesa, the Mets intend to use all of their money on pitching, pitching and more pitching this off-season.
The Mets are interested in Francisco Rodriguez, but not for five years, as well as Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood, and they like White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks, M’s 
RHP J.J. Putz, and Rockies RHP Huston Street, Minaya told Francesa.
The Mets have interest in free-agent pitchers Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett, but not Ben Sheets, according to Francesa.
Additionally, Minaya told Francesa he intends to make a contract offer, ‘of some sort,’ to Oliver Perez and Pedro Martinez.
…francesa essentially said minaya expects perez to seek a contract similar to the four-year deal given to Carlos Silva, which, according to minaya, had a major impact on the market for starting pitchers…
The Mets do not intend on pursuing any big-time offensive players, including Manny Ramirez or Orlando Hudson.
Instead, Minaya intends to start the season with Luis Castillo at second, Carlos Delgado at first, Ryan Church in right, and a platoon of Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis in left, according to Francesa.
…sure, omar, i’ll believe that when i see 
it…i think they have to say that right now, because the focus is pitching…however, once they settle on a pitching staff, i am 100 percent certain they will revisit the offense…but, what i am hearing above is, if they are unable to improve on offense, they’ll deal with it, because pitching is that important…
Francesa says Minaya believes Murphy can eventually blossom to be his team’s version of Kevin Youklis, or Dustin Pedroia, i.e., a gritty, hard-nosed player, who other players emulate.
Lastly, the Mets are 100 percent satisfied with Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro, Minaya told Francesa, who added, ‘All of this talk about upgrading at catcher is untrue.’
…nice, NICE work by francesa here, i think…
…i mean, i am little confused why minaya essentially just handed over his entire off-season playbook to a radio talk show on the record…i’d like to think omar is more savvy than that, in fact i know he is, so my suggestion would be to take all of the above with a grain of salt, and understand he is talking in the present…
To listen to WFAN live from your computer, go to WFAN.com.
Tagged Oliver Perez, Orlando Hudson, Pedro Martinez |
In a recent piece at SportsBusiness Journal, Keith Hernandez was featured in a Q&A, which highlighted his general likes, dislikes and opinions.
When asked what invention he wishes he had thought of, Hernandez said, ‘Velcro,’ and when asked of his favorite motto, he said, ‘Just Win, Baby,’ made famous by the Oakland Raiders.
Hernandez also says there is too much music playing during a baseball game, and he dislikes front-running fans.
Lastly, his heroes are Jesus Christ, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill and Harry Truman, his favorite drink is a Perfect “Knob Creek” Manhattan Up, and, of course, his favorite blog is MetsBlog.com
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
In a post to his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, the Yankees are a far more likely 
landing spot for free-agent RHP A.J. Burnett than the Mets, according to a source with knowledge of the player’s thinking.
…honestly, i think the feeling is mutal, as i have not picked up much buzz connecting burnett and the Mets anyway…
Marchand’s source listed six teams who Burnett has interest in playing for, which includes the Yankees, Nationals and Braves.
Burnett is a career 87–76 with a 3.81 ERA.
By the way, later in his blog, Marchand quotes Scott Boras regarding the agent’s approach to Mark Teixeira this off-season.
Tonight is the 2008 debut of Mets Hot Stove, live at 7 pm on 
, with guest Jon Heyman and David Lennon.
Call in and share your thoughts at 212-BUZZ-SNY, or submit a question to the show by clicking here.
The Marlins have traded RHP Kevin Gregg to the Cubs, according to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com.
The Marlins will recieve RHP Jose Ceda from Chicago, adds Clark Spencer at his blog for the Miami Herald.
Earlier in the off-season, a scout told the Sun-Sentinel, “He’s not a closer. Not for me. Maybe you stick him back in the seventh inning like he used to be for the Angels, but the arbitration number ($4 million or more) is too high for that role.”
In 72 appearances for the Marlins this season, Gregg was 7–8 with 29 saves and a 3.41 ERA.
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