Daily Archives: January 26, 2009
Jerry Manuel will be a guest today on SNY’s Daily News Live at 5 pm EDT.
The show will also re-air at 11 pm.
I took a drive to Shea Stadium this morning, to see the demolition site first hand.
There is no way around it, it was tough to look at – especially the first moment, as I drove up and over from the Whitestone Bridge, only to see a dismantled shell of what once was. It put a pit in my stomach. The longer I drove around the job site, taking pictures and video, the more comfortable I got with the idea that, in a week or so, the building will be totally erased from existence. But, seriously, that first image, wow, it was difficult to digest. And, while pictures are one thing, seeing it in person is something totally different.
The following are five photographs that I took, followed by a short one-minute video from the demolition site:
To check out the rest of my photographs, click here.
Tagged Shea Stadium |Update: 4:20 pm:
The Yankees have announced the signing of free-agent Andy Pettitte to a one-year deal.
According to the Associated Press, the deal will pay Pettitte $5.5 million, though he can earn up to $12 million in incentives.
Original Post:
Earlier today, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Yankees and free-agent LHP Andy Pettitte were in serious talks about a one-year deal worth less than $10 million.
Buster Olney of ESPN and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believe the deal is worth $6 
million, with incentives that allow Pettitte to earn up to $16 million.
Rosenthal later added the the Yankees and Pettitte are ‘closing in on a deal.’
…in other words, if the Yankees sign pettitte, it’s safe to assume they are out of the running for Ben Sheets…
…at this point, i’m not sure who is in the running for sheets, especially if he’s seeking a two-year deal… it seems to me, just looking at the market, that the Rangers, Brewers and Cardinals are seeming like he’s best option, while the Mets remain mostly focused on Oliver Perez… i am starting to think there is less and less of a chance that the Mets are able to sign both pitchers…
Last week, Full Count Pitch talked with Rick Peterson about pitch counts, evaluating pitchers, ‘getting ahead,’ and other topics.
Yesterday, Mike Silva from NY Baseball Digest talked with Full Count Pitch about his talk with Peterson.
…by the way, Happy Birthday, silva…
Speaking of interviews, Mike’s Mets talks with Joe Janish of Mets Today, who, according to the discussion, where he Division 1 baseball, catching for Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City.
…janish says he played with Kevin Morton… i wonder if this is the same Kevin Morton who grew up in Norwalk, CT, and, after being drafted by the Red Sox, gave me pitching lessons while i was in high school… during a lesson, i got to pitch to Mo Vaughn, who also lived in Norwalk, and, so nervous, i nearly hit him in the head with a fastball by accident… i didn’t handle pressure very well…
The Brooklyn Met Fan writes an open letter to Scott Boras, essentially saying, “Dude – let’s go with Oliver Perez already.”
Steve Kelley of The Seattle Times catches up with former Met Aaron Heilman to ask him about his role with the Mariners this year and his time in New York.
Heilman, as quoted by Kelley:
“Playing in New York is the only existence I’ve known and I think you get used to it. You learn to accept the fact that you are dealing with a very passionate, very knowledgeable fan base.”
“New York’s one of those markets where unless you win the World Series, it’s not a good year. I certainly didn’t look at it as I really wanted to get out of New York. I was kind of looking forward to going back and showing that last season was an aberration and to get back to what I normally can do.”
…i’ve always said that i think the guy just needed a change of scenery and i’m look forward to seeing what he does with it on the left coast…i thought that he always looked upset on the mound, but after seeing the shot of him in the article, i guess he just always looks like that…maybe he was actually calm out there, who knows…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
On Friday night, SI.com said the Mets increased their initial offer to Oliver Perez, with whom they hoped to reach an agreement with during the next few days.
…from what i can gather, the Mets upped the offer by only enough money to slightly raise the annual salary… so, i’m guessing three-years, $32 million or so, maybe less, maybe more – instead of three years, $30 million… like i have said before, i believe Mets have no intention of paying perez more than $12 million per season… like i have said before, i bet they knock down the annual salary, while adding a fourth year, before raising the annual salary above $12 million…
…also, while they’d like to sign him sooner than later, they’re comfortable waiting for his decision, since, the word from around baseball suggests Randy Wolf, Ben Sheets and Jon Garland will not make a decision until perez makes a decision…
…in the end, i bet the Mets best offer to perez is something like three years and $11 million per season, with a fourth-year team option and a buyout, though that’s a total guess…
…and i can live with this… i’d still prefer sheets… and i hope there is a way to sign both… but, like i said over the weekend, on a deal like this, if perez is a bust, if the Mets eat some money, there will always be a team willing to take on a 29–year-old, left-handed 
pitcher with potential earning less-than $10 million per season with just two years left on the deal… but, at $15 million each of four seasons, perez would be dead weight…
Speaking of Sheets…
The Orioles are not interested in signing Sheets, reports MASN.
T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com writes, “A marriage (between Sheets and the Rangers) may seem inevitable, but the process is moving slowly and a resolution is not likely to come about anytime soon.”
According to Sullivan, “The Rangers remain deeply concerned about the medical reports.”
The Star-Telegram explains that an MRI from last September revealed a tear in a muscle near his right elbow.
…the buzz in new york last week suggested the Mets were comfortable with his medical reports, though that is admittedly vague… the thing with sheets is that, even if he delivers 20 top-quality starts, that’s three months or so of having both him and Johan Santana in the rotation, which is worth considering…
…however, like i said last week, the Mets are not likely to give a two-year deal to sheets, which is what he is said to be seeking… naturally, that second year will be the sticking point with whomever he is negotiating with…
The Mets signed free-agent everything Rob Mackowiak to a minor-league deal on Friday > here.
The Braves are still interested in Orlando Hudson > here.
Yes, WFAN, Mets fans want Manny Ramirez, but they want him within reason > here.
John Maine may be considered a break-down candidate > here.
Shea Stadium is almost totally gone > here.
