Daily Archives: December 17, 2008
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com wrote that SS Rafael Furcal decided to sign with the Braves.
…for what it’s worth, rosenthal initially wrote that furcal had agreed on a deal with the Braves, but the story switched not long after to read like the above…
Today, on FoxSports.com, Rosenthal says Furcal has now decided to re-sign with the Dodgers.
For the blow-by-blow, of how things changed so quickly in the last 24 hours, read Tim’s recap at MLB Trade Rumors.
Tagged Rafael Furcal |
At Sully Baseball, Paul Sullivan compares the best all time Mets roster of home grown players versus their best acquired players.
…very cool, i would take the homegrown rotation any time…
New York Mets Online pleads their case to keep Oliver Perez.
The guys at League of Nations would rather see Megatron at the plate than Pat Burrell, and give their reasons why.
Ted Berg of SNY chimes in on whether or not David Wright is, among other things, overrated writing:
“Take a look at the list of Hall Of Fame third basemen. How many of them had four full seasons with an OPS+ over 130 before they turned 26, as Wright does? Just one: Eddie Matthews. Dick Allen did it too (and probably belongs in the Hall of Fame), but none of the others saw so much consistent success so early in his career.”
…i don’t know how people can say that the mets should trade wright for reasons like ‘he is not clutch’… in my opinion they just say it for shock value since that argument carries very little weight, even if he sometimes fails to come through at the plate…he more than makes up for those rare shortcomings the rest of the time…
Im not sure why Lil Wayne has a blog at ESPN, but he approves of the Mets signing K-Rod.
…oh, thank goodness…
On that note, this site proves that there is a blog for just about everything.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |According to Marty Noble of MLB.com, the Mets anticipate a lull in action, a) due to the holidays, and b) because of Scott Boras, who tends to take his time when making a decision.
Noble writes, while the team’s top priority is Oliver Perez or Derek Lowe, ‘The possibility of the Mets signing a lesser alternative isn’t precluded, but the club is unlikely to act on picking up another starter until it’s satisfied it has done all that is possible – and financially feasible – to bring in Lowe.”
…right, i mean, lowe is the mark…obviously…from what i understand, the 
Mets like their position, in terms of trying to acquire lowe, so long as things continue to drag out…
…the Mets believe they can compete with the Red Sox for lowe, because neither team is likely to dish out a four– or five-year deal – at that point, it comes down to money, comfort, etc.…so, as long as the Yankees stay on the sideline, the Mets are in good position…
…the way i read it, the Mets would love to sign lowe for a three-year, $40 million deal, like they gave to Francisco Rodriguez…however, at that price, which the Red Sox could easily beat, other teams, like the Cubs and Braves, will likely get involved…however, if the Mets bigfoot other teams out of the market, by offering a higher annual salary, like, say, $17 million, making it a three-year, $50 million deal, with maybe a fourth-year option in case lowe decides he doesn’t want to retire, then i think the Mets have the advantage…
Remember, Yahoo!’s Gordon Edes, who covered the Red Sox for years, recently said he believes Lowe’s desire to return to Boston has been overstated.
…the Mets are wise to let this play out…this is not to say this method will work, but patience has served Omar Minaya quite well over the last few off-seasons…
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Tagged Oliver Perez |“The Mets, Dodgers and Twins are among teams to have inquired about Rangers star shortstop Michael Young,” writes Jon Heyman, in post today to his blog for SI.com.
However, Heyman does not believe the Rangers are 
‘anxious to trade him,’ adding, “and there isn’t any evidence talks ever got serious.”
Last week, during the Winter Meetings, Tim Brown at Yahoo! wrote, “The Rangers are quietly shopping Young,’ according to an AL executive.”
Heyman later added, “The Rangers are not shopping Young, but they are willing to listen to overtures on just about anyone.”
Brown later said the Rangers are seeking young pitching in any deal for Young, who is batting .300 through eight seasons.
To check out recent photos from the demolition site for Shea Stadium, go to Stadium Page.
…the Tadium is basically a gigantic block of Swiss Cheese…
Speaking of Shea Stadium, and Citi Field…
Kyle sent in the following e-mail, which reads:
“Since the Mets are getting a new stadium in 2009, are they planning on making a new Meet The Mets song.”
This is a popular question in my e-mail, and I don’t understand why.
No, why should they create a new song.
All they need to do is revert back to the original 1962 version, which sings:
Meet the Mets, meet the Mets,
Step right up and greet the Mets.
Bring your kiddies, bring your wife,
Guaranteed to have the time of your life.
It wasn’t until 1984, when the lyric changed to: “Hot dogs, green grass all out at Shea, Guaranteed to have a heck of a day.”
Of course, should the team stink in the future, there is a colorful word that rhymes with Citi, that should make for an interesting parody one day – have fun with that.
Tagged Shea Stadium |The following video from SNY features highlights of Francisco Rodriguez’s Q&A today with reporters:
Jeffrey, as well as several others, sent in the following question:
“Why not sign free-agent 3B Ty Wigginton? He’s gritty, he has played in New York City, and he’d be a great back-up to David Wright, and a platoon-partner for Daniel Murphy and Carlos Delgado?”
Sure, Wigginton would be a border-line perfect solution to a variety of this team’s problems.
He hit .285 with 23 home runs and a .350 OBP in 111 games for the Astros last season.
And so, the question should be: “Why would Wigginton pass up a potential starting job some place else, to return to being Wright’s back-up – something he supposedly resented four years ago – all while also platooning with a rookie in left field?”
According to the Star-Tribune, Wigginton is believed to be seeking a deal worth more than the three-year, $17.5 million contract recently signed by 3B-OF Casey Blake and the Dodgers.
The Indians, Giants, Pirates, Twins and Reds have all expressed interest in signing Wigginton to be a starting third baseman, according to published reports.
Last week, Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty told reporters that he is interested in Wigginton as a starting outfielder.
So, if you’re Wigginton, at 31 years old, would you rather sign a short-term deal to be a bench player in New York, or would you rather sign a long-term, more than $20–million deal to be a starting player some place else?
The following is a video mailbag, during which I talk about Angel Pagan, and how will fit in to the team’s plan next Spring; as well as whether the Mets should make a run for Manny Ramirez.
To watch the press conference live, tune in to SNY, or click the Watch Live link on MLB.com.
Update, 11:10 am:
Interestingly, both Omar Minaya and Dave Howard have referred to Rodriguez as, ‘Frankie.’
Minaya is thanking his staff, K-Rod’s agents, their staff, Jeff Wilpon, his staff, etc., like he just won an Oscar.
Minaya called Rodriguez ‘the best closer in the game,’ adding, and ‘the stats prove it.’
Update, 11:13 am:
Rodriguez stepped to the podium in a jet-black, three-piece, pinstriped suit, over which he put on his No. 75 Mets jersey, while wearing a blue Mets hat, all while flanked by Minaya, Wilpon and Jerry Manuel.
Update, 11:17 am:
K-Rod said he wanted to come to New York because of the atmosphere, which is totally different than in Los Angeles, noting the passionate fans and the pressure to get the job done.
He says he intends to feed off the energy of the crowd, ‘I don’t think I’m going to change anything at all, and I look forward to it.’
Update, 11:18 am:
K-Rod says he is happy with his contract, ‘This is the right place to be, I’m happy to be here,’ he said in response to whether he believes he could have signed for more money last off-season, given the current state of the economy.
Update, 11:20 am:
He says it is a ‘privilege to pitch with Johan Santana.’
Update, 11:23 am:
Rodriguez does not feel any additional pressure knowing his set-up man, J.J. Putz, is also a closer.
Update, 11:26 am:
Asked why he chose the Mets, K-Rod said, ‘It was easy… They are hungry to win, and so am I… We are on the same page… When the season ended, I knew where I wanted to be, and this is place I wanted to be.”
Update, 11:28 am:
The only challenge he sees, says K-Rod, ‘is the weather.’
He has not yet had the opportunity to speak with any players on the Mets, other than Santana.
Update, 11:31 am:
K-rod has stepped down from the podium, and the media is circling around him, Jerry Manuel and others for one-on-one interviews.
Mets GM Omar Minaya appeared live on WFAN’s Boomer and Carton show, which you can listen to by clicking here.
During the informative, and entertaining, 15-minute interview, Minaya said, ‘We got ourself a bullpen, now we’ve gotta get a starting pitchers,’ while adding:
He met yesterday with his staff, and they’re in the process of ranking starting pitchers, while considering who to make offers to.
On the last day of the Winter Meetings, he met with Scott Boras, who represents Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe, to get an idea of the parameters of what his clients are looking for, ‘without talking specific numbers.’
He is looking for ‘possibly’ two starting pitchers, ‘even though we feel very comfortable with Jon Niese and Robert Parnell.’
Francisco Rodriguez loves the energy of New York, and truly wanted to pitch in this city, even if it meant taking less money – all while knowing the Angels may have jumped back in, in the event they did not sign Mark Teixeira.
J.J. Putz is a ‘competitor and a team player,’ he’s ready to compete, ‘and he wants to win.’
When asked if he will make an offer to Manny Ramirez, he said, ‘No, I mean, No. Although he believes Ramirez is a ‘great player,’ he intends to keep focusing on ‘pitching, speed and defense,’ and will look at offense later, or during the season.
Despite news of Fred Wilpon and Bernie Maddoff, he has been told by the ownership to continue to puruse his ‘A-list,’ and to keep working to improve the team as he sees fit.
Again, to listen to Minaya’s entire interview, click here.
Tagged Omar Minaya, WFAN | ← Older posts
