GM Omar Minaya spoke with reporters in Tradition Field today.
In response to a question about Pedro Martinez, Omar thinks that with the signing 
of Livan Hernandez, they are set with the pitchers they have.
Earlier today, Jerry Manuel told reporters that he may look to bat Jose Reyes third, while batting Luis Castillo in the lead-off spot.
Minaya noted that it’s what spring training is for – to try out new things, and that it doesn’t matter what Reyes thinks about it if it’s what’s in the best interest of the team.
Minaya said they gave permission to Johan Santana to play in the WBC, but the issue with insurance prevented him from playing in the tournament.
Also, he says he envisions Jose Valentin acting as a player-coach for Triple-A Buffalo, much like Mike DeFelice did last season.
Lastly, he likes the team, as he did in ‘06, ‘07, and ‘08, but thinks he has put together a team that is better than last year’s.
{ 39 comments }
Play ball!!
omar is wrong. this team is NOT better than last year. believe me in late september.
You have to at least acknowledge the bullpen will be better with the additions of Putz and K-Rod. I also believe the starting pitching depth is a bit better as well. Would have liked another outfield bat, but overall I think this club looks better than last year’s, at least on paper….
Omar has rocks in his head if he thinks this team is better then last year.
Instead of just posting something like that, why don’t you tell us how this team is worse than last year’s? Now I’ll admit I wish another bat or two was brought in and that the Mets may have overpaid Perez, but how is this team worse than last year’s squad?
Any mention of Manny? j/k
O.K., who is stirring the pot with Jose. Hope that was just a reporter looking to start something and not Jose himself voicing an opinion over where he bats.
Although, I’d much rather see Jose bat first than second….
or third, yikes… though, for ST, who cares, might as well try it out and mix things up. though I don’t think this will help jose keep the ball on the ground but hey, maybe that’s the point.
Maybe. But I just love Jose leading off. He walks or gets a single, next thing you know he’s standing on third and comes in on a sac fly or a hit. Reyes run in the early innings usually means it’s gonna be a good game – LOL.
I agree MetsFan4….maybe Jose could walk more, but he has improved in that area, and as you say, when Jose leads off and gets on, good things sure do usually happen.
However, while I think Jose is the best leadoff guy for this group, I do like it VERY much that Jerry seems so open-minded….
I’d be happy with Jose Reyes batting 2nd or 3rd if Brian Roberts was batting leadoff.
I heard that on WFAN Why is Jerry going to start playing thses games now Can’t we just have a freaking set line up
LETS GO METS!
Wait, you mean we had one million dollars to spare?
-WoW
Dontrelle Willis for Luis Castillo?
Then we offer Orlando Hudson a one-year, $3 million contract.
castillo would help us more than willis.
But Hudson would help us more than Castillo. The transitive property strikes again…
I don’t know, man, I’m just throwing out ideas.
but willis would have to have a garenteed spot on the roster && that hurts us more than castillo would && hudson would not make up for it
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney heard the Royals are looking for ways to fit Orlando Hudson into their budget. Olney calls this a “terrific idea” that would likely give the Royals a “greatly improved lineup and a better defense.”
COME ON, If the friggin Royals can fit him into their budget why can’t we! What a waste.
because we need room between our payroll && the luxury tax, so that when something inevitably goes wrong we have the resources to bring in much needed help at the break
something has already gone wrong at second base. Why wait? Every game is important.
&& then when sanatan or wright or beltran or reyes or pelfrey or krod or putz go down
we have NO RESOURCES WHATSOEEVR to get help. thanks but no thanks. we have a good team.
Like Holliday, Halladay or Verlander. Mmmm…
we need flexability throughout the year, every team in baseball goes by that statement.
Do you think that we may already have, say, about 100 million more committed to payroll this year?
I was really hoping they would bring back Pedro. The only reason I could guess as to why they went with Livan instead, was that Pedro was unwilling to take a minor league deal or wanted more money than the team was willing to offer.
It’s really sad, I think, for Pedro, because he was the first to take a chance on the Mets, when they were a losing team. He was part of changing the Mets. Now, the team has the potential to go all the way, and he won’t be part of it, even though he clearly wanted to end his career with the Mets.
However, the Livan deal is great. Last year, I was arguing we should’ve gotten Livan for the 5th spot. This year, he’s one of four pitchers who’ll be competing for the 5th spot. Plus, his deal is a minor league deal worth only $1M if he makes the roster. You really can’t argue against that. Pitching Depth!
Very Bitter Sweet!!!
Hahaha….I agree about the Livan signing my friend…all upside, and virtually cost-free.
But DO NOT go into the comments area from the last post, unless you have a suit of armor, a sharp sword, and serious mosquito netting, to shield you from the overgrowth of toxic nonsense!
I saw, very nasty yesterday and today
I don’t get this Castillo at leadoff, Reyes third, DW fifth scenario Jerry is throwing around. Don’t get it at all.
its for spring training…
Jerrys not stupid, wright will neevr bat anywhere but 3rd.
I agree.
relax guys the reyes thing is just probably something they are going to try in the spring! you act like it’s august and we are in the Pennant race. As Omar said that’s what ST is for! Who knows it just might work out! The mets have to find a way to get Castillo going in the early part of the line-up because batting him 7th is just not the answer!
reyes might never even leave the leadoff spot, its just a Jerry && Omar push to help Castillo pick it up
if he does well, this team will be very very good
I agree totally, who knows it just might give Reyes a kick in the pants as well!
And guys, they may be trying it in spring training to showcase Castillo for a team lacking speed or unsure at the leadoff spot. If Castillo is healthy and running well, he might be more attractive as a trade option. And even if they have no intention of trading him, Castillo is more valuable for the Mets batting first or second than at the bottom of the order, especially if you lump him back-to-back with Schneider……
I hope Livan doesnt have an opt out in contract that allows him to not go to AAA. Garcia obviously has one, and is ready to use it… They need these backup plans to actually stick around to be backups.
Yeah, or else it makes no sense to stockpile these guys…..
If Castilo hits over .300 with a near .400 obp, (ie if Laguardia diverts the pigs flight path to over City Field) then Reyes should be first, and Castilo second. Otherwise, Murphy should be batting second ( he hit .333 from the 2 hole in 17 games, 63 AB, with a .408 obs, .932 OPS. He also (totals) hit .375 with RISP, and an OBP of .475 . Some people seem to think ‘08 was a fluke, but if it was at all, it wasn’t by much. The guy put in quality at bats time after time, working the pitcher even on his outs. Same way you could look at Miguel Cabrera his first year and know he was the real deal right away, just by watching the quality of his swing, same idea with Murphy (the next Abreu). His patients at the top of the lineup allows Reyes to steal, tires the pitcher by his batting more often in games, and gives you a .400 OBP in front of our 3-4-5.
All with me, say “I”
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