Daily Archives: February 4, 2009
Check out this slideshow to see Mr. Met help load up a truck today for the annual trip from Queens to Port St. Lucie.
To see the Mets’ spring training schedule, go to Mets.com.
…i might try to be a stowaway next year…
Tagged Mr. Met, Regis Courtemanche |
According to a report at ESPN.com, the Dodgers and Scott Boras will re-open contract negotiations regarding Manny Ramirez.
Yesterday, Ramirez rejected the Dodgers one-year, $25 million offer.
Owner Frank McCourt has said he does not envision giving Ramirez a long term deal.
Earlier in the off-season, Ramirez ignored a two-year, $45 million offer.
USA Today has released its 13th annual “100 Names You Need to Know” for 2009 which highlights the best of the next wave of players to enter the majors.
Making the list at #11 is Daniel Murphy, of which they write:
“This offseason, he played second base in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .397 with 18 RBI in 15 games.”
“The Mets were not satisfied with second baseman Luis Castillo‘s 2008 performance, and this could create additional playing time should the team explore other left-field options.”
Jon Niese, and Nick Evans also made the list at #38 and #81 respectively.
Tagged Nick Evans, Regis Courtemanche |
New York Mets Online points out players who you may not have known were on the Mets, including Warren Spahn.
…he forgot Tom Sturdivant, as seen in this creepy pic…
Remember Shea Stadium the way it was with one of these replica ballparks from Home Fields Inc.
…i picked up a fenway replica for a sox fan, and he loved it…wonder why there’s no citi field one yet – probably wants to save the paint…
Andrew at The ‘Ropolitans says Omar still has work to do, writing that “guys like Will Ohman and Juan Cruz are still on the market, and would be excellent additions to the Mets weak middle relief portion of the bullpen.”
Nicki Jhabvala at FanNation provides her alternate names for Citi Field, including the following:
2. Heimlich Field – Everyone can expect and prepare for the late-season choke. Safety first!
…not funny nicki, move on…must be a phillies fan…
Lastly, Eric Simon asks you to “name that Mets pitcher” in his ongoing series at Amazin’ Avenue.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |The crew at ESPN, consisting of Jayson Stark, Buster Olney, Steve Phillips, and Rob Neyer, are drafting their cost-conscious rosters with a salary cap of $40 million.
Phillips advises, “I would just recommend avoiding Mo Vaughn, Roger Cedeno and Kevin Appier.”
…well said steve, well said…as for the draft, olney is like the Mets as he seems solely focused on pitching, while i think stark’s team is shaping up nicely…
Not surprisingly, since this is about getting the best player for the least money, no Met was picked in the first 5 rounds.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
According to a report in today’s New York Times, citing Citigroup’s $45 billion TARP bailout, Rep. Dennis Kucinich continues to insist that the Treasury Department intervene to dissolve the agreement between the Mets and Citigroup.
Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal said Citigroup was looking to back out of its $400 million naming-rights and marketing deal with the Mets. However, the bank and the team issued a press release stating that Citigroup will honor its “legally binding contract.”
Kucinich added that there will be hearings held on the topic of TARP-aided stadium sponsorships.
During yesterday’s press conference, Jeff Wilpon pointed out to reporters that 40 of the 44 companies who applied for TARP funds also have naming-rights deals or title sponsorship coming our of the marketing budgets.
…it’s a shame that this brand new stadium, which should serve as a distraction from all that is going on in the world, has been caught up in this economic mess…
…so here’s my proposal: every MetsBlog reader contributes about $200, and we as a group buy the naming rights and call it The BlogPark… that way, we clear up any controversy and truly have a home for the fans…
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
…i know what Citigroup keeps saying, and i know what the Mets keep saying, but i just get this feeling that with pressure from Congress and maybe even the White House, eventually, the heat will turn up so much that interfering with the relationship with the Mets may end up being used as a way to make a public example… time will tell… but, once Washington DC fixates on an issue like this, they tend to drive it home…
Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets are still trying to trade C Ramon Castro, in an effort to remove his $2.8 million from the payroll.
Sherman adds, “I heard the Brewers had some interest, but have mostly backed off of Castro now.”
Castro hit .245 with a .312 OBP in 157 games for the Mets last season, while spending two trips on the disabled list.
Castro will be a free agent at the end of next season.
According to Sherman, the Mets believe Robinson Cancel can serve as the team’s back-up catcher, just as well as Castro.
The 32–year-old Cancel hit .429 against left-handed pitching last season, though in only 21 at bats, while also hitting just .107 in 28 at bats against right-handed pitching.
…i wonder, if they’re able to move castro, will the Mets look to bring free-agent C Ivan Rodriguez in on a minor-league contract… most people around the league seem to think pudge will remain a free agent through the World Baseball Classic, where he hopes to prove his health in advance of signing a major-league deal with a new team…
In case you missed it…
To read my live blog from yesterday’s press conference at SNY, during which Omar Minaya said there will be no other big moves made this off-
season, saying all of his big priorities have been met, click here.
To see video of Oliver Perez answering questions from reporters, click here.
To watch Kevin Burkhardt’s one-on-one interview with Minaya, click here.
To watch Jeff Wilpon speak to reporters, click here.
Lastly, to watch Minaya speak with reporters in a group session, check out Bart Hubbuch’s video at the New York Post.
Tagged Oliver Perez, Omar Minaya |
Last week, Mets 20-year-old OF Fernando Martinez was added to the Dominican Republic’s post-season roster to compete in the 2009 Caribbean Series in Mexico.
Yesterday, Martinez hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning for the deciding run against Puerto Rico.
“I wasn’t looking to hit a home run,” Martinez told MLB.com. “I wanted a line drive. But thank God the ball went out.”
To see a video of the home run, click here.
This morning, Mets GM Omar Minaya appeared as a guest on WFAN’s Boomer and Carton Show, which you can listen to live, every morning, from 6 am to 10 am, on WFAN.com.
When asked about Manny Ramirez, Minaya told WFAN, ‘I think I’ve been pretty clear… This is the team we’re going with, I think we’ve made improvements and I look forward to spring training.”
Minaya acknowledged that the bottom of his batting order is ‘light,’ but he is still looking to pick up a few players on minor-league deals, including acquiring a right-handed bat.
He sees Brian Schneider as his starting catcher – and, ‘right now,’ a platoon of Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy in left field, adding, ‘today, of course, things can change as we go in to spring training.’
Minaya says he likes Murphy a lot, he likes his intensity, he likes how he hits with two strikes, saying the intensity he brings is what this team needs.
Minaya says he likes a mix of veterans and young players – he always likes to bring along one or two minor leaguers through the season.
Ryan Church is healthy, Minaya said, after having checked in with him, team trainers and doctors. Church will be important this season, 
according to Minaya, because they need his defense, noting Citi Field will require a center field-type defender in right field.
Minaya watched Luis Castillo in the Dominican Republic last week, where he’s working out every day at the team’s facility. Minaya told Castillo he needs to perform, he’s been a good player for 10 years, ‘but the bottom line is he has to perform and he knows that.’
Jerry Manuel and the coaching staff have also been in contact with Castillo. Minaya and Manuel have told Castillo, ‘The fans will keep an eye on you, and you have to overcome that.’
Minaya says it takes a mental toughness to succeed in New York, and Castillo will need to rise to that – in fact, this is one of the reasons he wanted to bring Oliver Perez back, ‘because, so far, Oliver Perez has shown he can handle New York.’
Francisco Rodriguez could handle the pressure in Winter Ball, which is worse than New York, Minaya says, ‘Here, you blow a save and they just talk about it, there if you blow a save your life may be on the line.”
The reality, he explains, is that every pitching staff on every team is a ‘leap of faith,’ because of health. However, he pointed out, the average age of his staff is 27 years old.
To listen to this entire 20–minute interview, go to WFAN.com.
Tagged Omar Minaya, Willie Randolph |
