Daily Archives: January 27, 2009
Jerry Manuel, on Manny Ramirez, as quoted by MLB.com:
“It’s rare that you get that type of talent. Would you like to add that? Yeah. Would you like to add something else? Yeah. But hey, we have to deal with what we have… And we have a pretty good team. We feel like we have enough tools to make it to the playoffs.”
Manuel was in Manhattan today to visit the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, where he delivered food from City Harvest.
…i know what Omar Minaya has said, and i know what Jeff Wilpon has said, but i still get this small, tiny feeling that Manny Ramirez is not totally a dead subject for the Mets… again, this is just a hunch, because i have never been told, by people i trust, that it’s a dead issue… instead, i always get the stock answer, that the team is focused on pitching… which is not necessarily a flat no…
…don’t get me wrong, i still think he’ll end up with the Dodgers, because it’s a perfect marriage on so many levels – even though i believe he prefers to play in New York… i just have to think Scott Boras will have at least one substantive conversation with minaya about ramirez before all is said and done, if for no other reason than boras is clearly waiting to see what the Mets do before locking manny in to a deal some place else…
Tanya Mercado, of Citi Field of Dreams, says single-game tickets for Opening Day and the three-game set against the 
Yankees will be on sale in an online lottery, like last season, according to a person she spoke with in the team’s ticket office.
According to a recent press release, the team will announce the sale of single-game tickets in the ‘weeks ahead.’
However, Mercado was told the sale will begin towards the end of February.
Anthony Rieber of Newsday says the Mets are a little bit closer to re-signing Oliver Perez,’ according to a baseball source.
However, Jon Heyman of SI.com says, ‘talks have slowed in the last day or so,’ according to people familiar with the situation, as both sides also weigh other options.’
According to Rieber’s source, the Mets are also ‘having dialogue’ with free agents Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf and Jon Garland
Nevertheless, Heyman says the Mets still are widely viewed as the favorite to sign Perez.
…i’m getting dizzy, again… please, make it stop…
…by the way, Pitchers and Catchers is in three weeks…
The following video is of SNY’s New York Baseball Today: Hot Stove Edition, during which SNY.tv’s Ted Berg and Andrew Marchand from 1050 ESPN Radio discuss whether the Mets are interested in Bobby Abreu, and what the Yankees may be seeking in a deal for Xavier Nady:
In short, Marchand believes the Yankees are looking to acquire a young Triple-A player in a deal for Nady or Nick Swisher, though such a request may be difficult at this point.
Meanwhile, as of now, Marchand believes the Mets are not interested in Abreu, but, ‘the longer he stays out there, and the lower his price keeps going, he could become an option for the Mets, especially if they strike out on the pitching front.’
Lastly, to check out Marchand’s blog, go to 1050 ESPN Radio.
Tagged SNY, Ted Berg |Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports the market for Manny Ramirez 
is ‘finally heating up,’ while quoting his agent, Scott Boras, as saying:
“We are negotiating with several teams. The process has begun and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Gurnick says interest in Ramirez has ‘perked up over the last week,’ though Boras would not specify the number of clubs involved.
Last week, SI.com said Ramirez is still seeking a four-year deal.
The Dodgers are the only team to confirm having made an offer, believed to be for two years and $45 million.
Omar Minaya has been quoted on several occasions as saying he is mostly focused on pitching. Meanwhile, Jeff Wilpon recently told Bloomberg, “I don’t have the opportunity to say no (to Ramirez) because Omar hasn’t brought it to me as an option. Omar and the baseball staff aren’t interested.”
Last 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.
However, 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.
Yesterday, Jerry Manuel was at the SNY studios to appear as a guest on Daily News Live, which you can check out here.
Prior to going on air, Ted Berg talked briefly with 
Manuel, for an article you can read at SNY.tv, during which Manuel talks about Freddy Garcia, and other players signed by the Mets this off-season.
Berg was kind enough to send over a few questions and answers that did not make his article:
Ted Berg: How much input do you have, with Omar, on the offseason roster moves?
Jerry Manuel: I think, because of our communication during the season and immediately after the season — we kind of sit down and have a big get-together — we’re pretty much always on the same page. There’s a lot of input immediately after the season as to the needs and to prioritize those things. Then I sit back and let him do his thing.
Ted Berg: So you didn’t tell him anything about getting a left-handed hitting reserve outfielder this offseason? There’s no niche you’re looking to fill with Rob Mackowiak and Cory Sullivan?
Jerry Manuel: Not necessarily. I really think that, if we could find a right-handed bat — I’m more concerned with a right-handed bat than I am with the left-handed bat, but those are good players. Those are guys that help you create depth on your team. In the course of 162 games, that’s what you need. They could be an asset in that regard.
Ted Berg: What about Angel Pagan, have you heard anything about his health this offseason?
Jerry Manuel: I’ve heard he’s doing well. I heard he’s hitting and doing those things everyday.
Again, to read Berg’s column, go to click here.
Tagged Ted Berg |Mike Silva at NY Baseball Digest relays an e-
mail from a reader, who is a Mets fan, who doesn’t want Manny Ramirez.
According to NY Sports Dog, Jose Reyes is on pace to get 2,000 hits by his 30th birthday, which is in the same neighborhood as Robin Yount and Alex Rodriguez, among others.
Eric at Amazin’ Avenue relays three graphs comparing Mets pitchers to the rest of the league.
Lastly, Eric Stashin from Gotham Baseball explains why now may be the perfect time for the Mets to sign Ben Sheets.
Last night on MLB Network’s Hot Stove Show, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said there are ‘rumblings’ that the Rangers and Brewers are interested in free-agent LHP Oliver Perez.
However, today, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 
writes: “When I ran Perez’s name by Brewers general manager Doug Melvin recently, he showed virtually no interest,” 1) because he doesn’t think Perez is worth the money, and 2) he doesn’t want to surrender a first-round draft pick to sign him.
Haudricourt concludes: “I think this is mostly a smokescreen provided by Perez’s agent, Scott Boras… Boras is probably trying to create a market that isn’t there for his client, which is an agent’s job.”
Tagged Oliver Perez |
…i have been ignoring free-agent C Ivan Rodriguez, because i have been assuming he would eventually find a job…however:
Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel believes the Marlins, who do not have interest in Rodriguez, are looking to the trade market to find a part-time catcher.
Meanwhile, Brad Ausmus signed with the Dodgers and Henry Blanco signed with the Padres.
…i believe the Nationals are still in search of a catcher, and so they could be an option for pudge i would think…
…no one has sent me the link, but i have been told by several readers that rodriguez was recently quoted in a latin-american newspaper saying he would like to join the Mets…
…i like Ramon Castro when he’s healthy… the problem is, he’s seemingly always fighting some sort of tweak or injury, leaving him unavailable during the end of the summer… the Mets had been considering an upgrade at catcher, according to previous published reports, though they are currently satisfied with Brian Schneider i believe…
…i would have no problem with the Mets inviting rodriguez to spring training, if he’s unable to land a job in the next few weeks – sort of like this year’s Bret Boone… at best, he wins the job, which i doubt would happen… but, there’s nothing wrong with competition… at worst, he’s a bust and it comes at no major expense… in the middle, he would be a split-time catcher, righty-bat off the bench, should the team decide to carry three catchers again for some reason…
According to Mike, from Mike’s Mets, the problem isn’t how much money the Mets aren’t spending, the problem is with what the Mets are spending money on.
…you mean, like $2 million for Cory Sullivan, when you have Jeremy Reed, and $2 million on Alex Cora, and nearly $3 million in minor-league contracts on pitchers who will likely be cut, i.e., more than half the money needed to get a bat like Orlando Hudson or Adam Dunn for one season… i totally agree, mike…
Speaking of Reed, Rob Shaw, the NY Sports Reporter, takes a closer look at the outfielder, who was a top-rated prospect for the Mariners just five seasons ago.
Last week, there was a lot of talk about the 2009 Citi Field Inaugural Patch – to read more about the Art of Logo Design, check out the Biz of Baseball, who talks with Todd Random, the man who designed the 2008 Shea Stadium Patch.
Lastly, Mack of Mack’s Mets profiles Mets minor-league RHP Jake Ruckle, adding, “I still am a firm believer that his unconventional delivery will make him an eventual one-inning specialist… No one has worked harder to be successful at his trade, and don’t be surprised if you are reading feature stories on him right after the season starts.”
The following You Tube clip displays Ruckle’s lively delivery, also knows as The Ruckle Shuffle:
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