Daily Archives: January 25, 2009
Free agent pitcher Randy Wolf is still in talks with the Dodgers, Mets and ‘other clubs’ according to Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports.
On Wednesday, Rosenthal wrote that Wolf was close to signing with the Dodgers.
Rosenthal notes that Wolf was briefly offered a three-year, $28.5 million offer from the Astros before they pulled it due to cost-cutting caused by the tough economic conditions, and may now have to settle on a one-year deal worth less money.
Tagged Randy Wolf, Regis Courtemanche |
Michael Baron took more photographs of Shea Stadium, which you can check out by clicking here.
…there had been talk that Shea Stadium would not be down enough to pave it over for parking by the time Citi Field opens roughly 3 months… but, word from the job site this week is that the majority of the building will be rubble by the end of next week, putting them on schedule for opening day…
Lastly, to check out some video of part of Shea being ripped to the ground, click play below:
Tagged Shea Stadium |In a report for the New York Post, Kevin Kernan talks with John 
Maine about his recovery from shoulder surgery, the Phillies, getting ready for 2009, his personality, missing out of the final stretch last season, and his personality, of which he says:
“I’m a little meaner than people think. And I’m not as naive as people think. As clichéd as it is, I can’t stand losing. It drives me crazy. I hate losing more than I like winning. It really aggravates me when things don’t go all that great.”
…i have been thinking of maine as a reliable, 32–start starter for the Mets in 2009, but the following has me a tad worried…
In a post to blog, NY Baseball Hack, Dan Graziano talked with some peoples outside of the Mets organization about Oliver Perez, Ben Sheets, and others, and had the following to say about Maine:
“There’s a feeling in the organization that John Maine‘s shoulder problems, coming as they did after the departure of former pitching coach Rick Peterson, were no coincidence. Peterson had a program that sought out extra days of rest for Maine when the schedule permitted (off-days, rainouts, All-Star break, etc.) because he feared Maine’s delivery made him a breakdown candidate if he pitched every fifth day for months at a time. Maine did break down in the second half last year, and some wonder if they’ll have to build in extra rest for him in 2009 to make sure he’s healthy.”
Graziano also points out that Mike Pelfrey pitched more innings in 2008 than any other year of his career.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
According to MLB.com, free-agent LHP Tom Glavine is interested in playing for the Nationals.
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes free-agent starting pitchers Jon Garland and Randy Wolf are receiving one-year offers, worth between $5 and $7 million, while Peter Gammons of ESPN.com adds that each deal includes incentives as well.
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |
…i guess i shouldn’t be surprised, but i am… it has essentially been 48–straight hours of The Mets Should Get Manny talk on WFAN the last two days…
On Friday I ran a poll on MetsBlog.com that asked, “How many years are you willing to guarantee Ramirez,” and 49 percent said only two years, while 39 percent said to give him three years.
That said, if the Mets have $20 million left to spend, only 10 percent prefer the team spend it on Ramirez – while the other 90 percent prefer they spend it on some combination of pitching and hitting, like Ben Sheets or Oliver Perez and Orlando Hudson.
In fact, more people said to spend the money on both Sheets and Perez, while ignoring a bat altogether, than said the Mets should sign only Ramirez.
…i will not deny it, i am intrigued by the idea of ramirez hitting clean up for the Mets… but i do not want it to happen at the expense of the pitching staff… i hope to learn more about it this week, but, my hunch is that, if the Mets square away their rotation and have money left to spend, they’ll consider ramirez… this is total speculation… but, i just find it hard to believe that when all is said and done, they will not at least quietly entertain the option, assuming it is a realistic option…
…the front office is not ‘stupid,’ like some fans want to believe… i know they’ve discussed manny… i know they know how good he is, and i know they know how good they’d be with him, but to get him it will cost a ton of money, and probably a three-year commitment, and it may impact how they address the rotation – and so i do believe Omar Minaya has yet to present Jeff Wilpon with a financial recommendation on how to sign ramirez, because it’s just not minaya’s top priority right now, nor should it be… and so, i hope they’re just being wise and prudent while filling out the rotation, and not just ignoring the obvious for the sake of ignoring the obvious…
Nevertheless, the national editor of Forbes Magazine, Michael K. Ozanian, writes to his blog: “It is ridiculous that New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon has not already penciled in Manny Ramirez as his left fielder. The 36 year old Ramirez is the best hitter in baseball and shows no signs of declining production.”
Lastly, Tommy Dee of the Knicks Blog explains why Jeff Wilpon’s statement about Manny Ramirez insulted Mets fans much like Isiah Thomas used to insult Knicks fans.
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Braves are still on the Braves radar.
…interesting… because, the winter meetings buzz had been, that if the Braves could sign hudson or Orlando Cabrera, to play second, they’d more more inclined to part with Yunel Escobar in a deal to get Jake Peavy from the Padres… which is not to say that is why they’re still interested in hudson, but it’s worth noting…
Speaking of Hudson, the Nationals remain interested in him, as well as free-agent OF Adam Dunn, reports MLB.com.
… seriously, what is Jim Bowden’s fascination with stock piling outfielders, creating a log jam, all at the expense of his starting rotation… he did the exact same thing with the Reds, and what’s weird is he’s doing it again with dunn and Austin Kearns… he should just sign Ken Griffey Jr. and get it over with…
Tagged Orlando Hudson |
