Daily Archives: February 11, 2009
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes four teams have made a contract offer to free-agent LHP Will Ohman.
…from what i can gather, the Mets have been eying ohman since the start of the Hot Stove season, but for a long while thought it he would require a long-term deal… at this point, i believe they can land him for one year and under $5 million, though i am not sure they’re interested in going that far…
According to Rosenthal, Ohman could sign a new contract as soon as today or tomorrow.
Last week, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explained why he believed the Braves were getting close to a deal with Ohman, who would not divulge details of negotiations to O’Brien in a text message.
…i hope the Mets sign ohman, if for no other reason than to ask him to repeatedly do his impersonation of Harry Caray… if you haven’t seen it, it’s hilarious…
To see Ohman’s impersonation of Caray, check out this old post from Braves Love.
Ohman, 31, was 4-1 record with a 3.68 ERA in 83 appearances for the Braves last season, during which he struck out 53 batters in 59 innings, while lefties hit .200 against him.
Update, 5:20 pm:
Tom Verducci of SI.com says Adam Dunn signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Nationals.
…good for dunn… i didn’t think he would get that much in this market…
…by the way, with dunn in DC and Bobby Abreu with the Angels, i assume this means Manny Ramirez will soon be signing with the Dodgers…
Original Post, 3:04 pm:
According to the Washington Post, the Nationals and free-agent OF Adam Dunn have reached agreement on a two-year deal.
“Daniel Murphy showed up all the veterans and several of his young counterparts by gliding through sprints this 
morning like he was Usain Bolt or something,” writes Bart Hubbuch to his blog for the New York Post.
According to Hubbuch, ‘Murphy is in great shape and looks like he wishes the season would start yesterday.’
Hubbuch also blogs about when Francisco Rodriguez is expected in camp; the bond between JJ Putz, Sean Green and Jeremy Reed; and Jerry Manuel, who is expected to arrive on Thursday.
Lastly, in a post to his blog for Newsday, David Lennon provides a lengthy quote from Ryan Church, regarding Mike Francesa’s off-season statement that he was unhappy in New York City.
In short, Church says he loves New York, adding about Francesa, adding, “Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion and stuff like that, but I know what I said and what I didn’t say.”
Mets OF Jeremy Reed is in camp, and talked to Adam Rubin of the Daily News about playing for Wally Backman during his time with the White Sox in Double-A.
“He’s an unbelievable manager,” Reed told Rubin of Backman. “Those kind of guys, they believe in you and you see it and it helps you strive to be the player you are.”
Rubin also blogs about an interview Alex Rodriguez did in 2002 about Keith Hernandez using cocaine in the 1980s, and gives a few quotes from Jose Valentin, who is not looking for money, but for one more chance to play in the big leagues.
The Mets signed the 40–year-old Valentin to a minor league deal yesterday, according to published reports, though the team has yet to make an official announcement.
…the thing is, i would almost bet on valentin making the team… the team needs a right-handed bat for the bench, and doesn’t really have any one better than valentin… especially on days when Daniel Murphy and Ramon Castro start, because, at that point, only Fernando Tatis will be a right-handed on the bench…
From what I can gather, the final section of Shea Stadium will likely come down towards the end of this week, or the start of next week.
Last week, I wrote, “The Mets should leave that one remaining section of Shea Stadium standing, just the wall, as a piece of art work in the parking lot. I think that’d be pretty cool.”
Typically, an equal number of readers e-mailed to say it was a stupid idea as e-mailed to say it was a great idea. I love when that happens.
Today, Adam, the Brooklyn Met Fan, said he likes the idea as well, writing, “Met fans would make the pilgrimage to our own wailing wall. A place to pay homage to our old friend and introduce our still unborn children to the place the Mets were (essentially) born.”
I realize there are probably all sorts of safety, logistical and construction reasons why this is not possible at this point in the demolition, not to mention it would be the city’s call, not the team’s, but it does not stop me from wishing it would happen, even though I know it won’t.
Tagged Shea Stadium |Darryl Strawberry is publishing a new book in April, titled Straw: Finding My Way, during which he talks quite extensively about the escapades of the 1980s Mets, such as, “We were the boys of summer. The drunk, speed-freak, sneaking-a-smoke boys of summer.”
For more, check out Page Six of the New York Post, which provides other interesting clips from the book, due out in April.
Meanwhile, Keith Hernandez appeared on SNY’s 
SportsNite last night, and called the current era of baseball ‘tainted,’ adding, saying any player who used steroids should not be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Hernandez said people who used steroids are greedy, and speculates that he may have hit hit 90 more home runs during his career, among other additional stat totals, meaning, when coupled with his 11 Gold Gloves, he could easily be in the Hall of Fame today, which he is not.
…i love keith, but, i recall hearing him talk quite a lot on air about the issue of speed and an amphetamines in baseball during the 80s… i don’t understand why people who argue about drugs in baseball only seem to speak about steroids, and not the other drugs that clearly influenced the game over the years…
To watch Hernandez’s segment on SportsNite, click here.
Speaking of ex-Mets…
Roberto Alomar is being sued by an ex-girlfriend, who is alleging he insisted upon having unprotected sex while he had AIDS, according to a report in today’s Daily News.
…i actually had no intention of posting this, and had been ignoring the link, because i am not sure why it matters to MetsBlog… however, LOTS of people e-mailed it to me, so, clearly there is interest, despite what i initially thought…
Ryan Church took batting practice with other teammates at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie this morning.
According to both Steve Popper of the Bergen Record, and David Lennon of Newsday, Church jokingly asked the team’s media director, ‘When’s 
Francesa coming down?’
For more on Church, including a photo of him working out, as well as other updates throughout the day, check out Popper’s blog, here, and Lennon’s blog, here.
…well played, church… if you don’t get the joke, read this old post on MetsBlog…
According to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times, Francisco Rodriguez may already be in town, though it’s unclear when he’ll report to camp.
Shpigel also blogs about David Wright’s run in with Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski while in Las Vegas over the winter – remember, Wright is a huge UNC fan.
Tagged Ryan Church |
Jon Heyman of SI.com reports the Angels and free-agent OF Bobby Abreu have agreed to a one-year deal, “worth a little more than $5 million and also includes incentives.”
Yesterday, Heyman said teams with interest in Abreu had narrowed to the Mets, Angels, Braves, Pirates and Reds.
On Monday, Adam Rubin wrote in the Daily News, “The Mets would ‘look’ at Abreu if his asking price was $2 million to $4 million for one year, which is an unlikely scenario.”
…from what i can gather, abreu contacted the Mets, and while the two sides talked about the terms of a deal, i do not believe any formal offer was ever made…
…the buzz from Los Angeles had been that, if the Angels sign abreu, the team could look to trade an outfielder, i assume that must mean Juan Rivera…
Update, 10:28 am:
…as people have pointed out, rivera was a free agent this off-season, so he cannot be traded… excellent point… i, for some reason, misread his information on Cots… anyway, this is good news, because i have no interest in rivera… also, it makes me wonder who, then, the Angels could look to trade…
In Newsday, Jim Baumbach talks with Long Island congressman Peter King (R-Seaford), who is defending Citigroup’s $400-million naming-rights deal with the Mets.
Adam Rubin of the Daily News takes a look at the final day of last season, and how the game was mismanaged.
As usual, Mike Pelfrey is being teased in camp, according to David Lennon in a post to his blog for Newsday.
Ted Berg breaks out his calculator for SNY, to explain why ‘Carlos Beltran 
is really, really good,’ ‘the Phillies bullpen is not as good as it looks,’ and why ‘Jose Reyes is pretty good also.’
In a report for ESPN.com INsider, Matt Meyers uses other stats to show why Jerry Manuel must manage his bullpen better in 2009 – for more stats, and discussion of the pitching staff, check out Jay Jaffe’s report for ESPN INsider as well.
In a post to Kiner’s Korner, Nik looks back at the influence drugs have played in baseball, going as far back as the 1930s.
Brian of Priced Out of Citi is going position by position looking at question marks on the Mets roster.
Lastly, Sean Cunninghman of Esquire lists a roster of the All Time Most Hated Yankees Ever, which includes Derek Jeter at short, Alex Rodriguez at third and Rickey Henderson in center.
…wow, how can any one hate rickey… how is that possible…
I am having all sorts of issues with the comments section on MetsBlog. I believe it has something to do with Firefox, but I don’t know for certain.
Either way, LOTS of comments are being held in moderation for no reason – it’s nothing personal, it’s all technical and in error, you have not been singled out.
I apologize for the hassle, and appreciate your patience while I work to find a solution.
Tagged MetsBlog |
