Comments on: Relief Pitcher: Hoffman wants to Meet Mets

By: GravediggerHebner

GravediggerHebner — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:13:51 +0000

Let the Braves sign Burnett for 5 years. For all the “injury prone” talk about Ben Sheets, Burnett got a 2 year career head start yet Sheets has made more starts, pitched more innings, has a better K/BB ratio, better WHIP, and will come shorter term and cheaper. I’d much rather have Sheets if Burnett is the other option.

By: mistermet

mistermet — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:48:50 +0000

How about spending a few dollars instead of nosing through the trash for also-rans like Wolf, Laird, etc.

By: mistermet

mistermet — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:48:04 +0000

Its frustrating to keep hearing about this idea, fueled by Cerrone, that all the Mets need is a closer and that will automatically turn them into a 96 win team. This teams needs a lot more than that.

By: lemmoth

lemmoth — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:01:09 +0000

“wagner chokes in every big spot

Who have you been watching all these years.

Over the last 10 years there has been only one closer more reliable Billy and we all know his name.

Everyone needs to stop getting excited about the new one or two year sensations.

It’s just as possible for K-Rod’s years as an extremely effective closer are over as it is for Billy.

By: Moises

Moises — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:04:16 +0000

Saying Anaheim isn’t really LA is like saying Queens isn’t NY. I think you’ve made some good points though. I hope we get to see how K-rod does with our media and fans.

By: Moises

Moises — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:53:06 +0000

I agree. I wouldn’t count on it, but there is the possibility he could be ready by September. I’m really liking the idea of filling our pen with these potential closers, but theres a good chance somebody in the pen is injured by Sept, which would be perfect for Wags to step in. I can dream, can’t I?

By: loopenark

loopenark — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:52:55 +0000

Makes sense to me.

By: stickguy

stickguy — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:47:49 +0000

I think they should sign wood for 2 year deal, and concentrate on the real problem from 2008:

the middle/set up guys were dismal.

Yeah, they blew some big saves down the stretch. But that wasn’t a closer issue per se. Rather, it was because the 6/7/8 inning guys weren’t doing the job (where the bulk of the blown saves came from) and not one was cabable of stepping in when Wagner went down.

so more important to me is beefing up the middle guys. Frankly makes the choice of closer less important 9and all of the main guys mentioned are soemwhat of a crap shoot).

Wood to me given the likely length of deal, $$/year, and not being a type A (no draft pick lost) but still a FA (so no prospects traded) could be the best overall option.

And if the back up guys are beefed up (the guardadao/hoffman/street/cruz/etc. options), the 2 important areas are addressed:

less blown saves (leads given up), and viable options if the closer (no matter who it is) goes down or just needs a day off.

And the mets do have a budget, and other holes to fill beside the pen. So saviing 5mill/year is certainly a positive (f used to upgrade another postion).

By: the_other_matt

the_other_matt — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:37:44 +0000

maybe it’s my “expect the worst, this is the Mets mentality…but I have a bad feeling about K-Rod. He did not look good in the playoffs and I think he’s declining power is alarming.

By: loopenark

loopenark — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:32:01 +0000

On K-Rod: First of all, he pitches in Anaheim, not Los Angeles. Anaheim is like Kansas City, only better weather and a better team. So that says nothing about his ability to withstand the heat of NY. Even if he had pitched in LA, LA is nothing like NY. Just ask Darryl Strawberry. or Jeff Kent. There are 2 newspapers in LA — one of them no one reads and the other one is heading there. Talk radio doesn’t compare. Anyway, to say that he can handle the spotlight because of what he’s done is silly. And K-Rod blew a slew of games last year (7 if I remember correctly) and created significant drama in a lot of the others. He’s not exactly Benitez, but he was a far cry from Brad Lidge.

Very few closers in history have the year in, year out ability to be consistently at the top of their games (Mariano is the most notable exception). And I think Omar knows that. Signing K-Rod may make the fans feel better, but I’m not sure it’s the right move.