Daily Archives: March 16, 2009
Mike Pelfrey has picked Kansas University to win the NCAA Tournament, and J.J Putz picked Duke, while David Wright and Ryan Church each picked the University of North Carolina.
… i have no idea who i am picking…
…i have a crazy, intricate, tendency-based system i use for the same pool with the same people every year, which has put me in at least the Top 6 of 500 people during each of the last four seasons… now, i’m feeling a ton of pressure… and i don’t like it…
Tagged Mike Pelfrey, Ryan Church |The Mets have signed infielder Junior Spivey to a minor league contract.
…wow… to me, the real news is that Junior Spivey still 
plays baseball…
Spivey last played in the major leagues for the Nationals in 2005, when he hit just .221 in 28 games.
Also, the Mets announced today that Julio Franco – yes, that Julio Franco – will manage the Low-A Gulf Coast League Mets, while Mike DeFelice – yes, that Mike DeFelicie – will manage the Kingsport Mets.
Tagged Mets Spring Training |
Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones aggravated his strained right oblique muscle and will not return to the WBC.
“I know it’s a lot worse than it was [the] first time around in Canada,” said Jones.
…Chipper seems to think he’ll be ready to start the season, but these kinds of injuries tend to linger…
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley made his first appearance on Sunday in a minor 
league game.
He went 2 for 4, with a double and two strikeouts, and played 4 innings in the field.
GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said after the game that team trainers told him Utley was “tired, but it was a good workout for him.”
And in case you missed the big news, and I don’t know how you could, on 
Friday the Washington Nationals agreed to terms with pitcher Julian Tavarez on a non-guaranteed minor-league contract with an invitation to what’s left of Spring Training.
Tavarez arrived in camp on Sunday but will be unable to pitch in a live game until he receives his work visa. The Nats will give the right-hander an opportunity to compete for a spot in the bullpen.
…I personally don’t understand this move…especially from Mike Rizzo… I mean, give the kids a chance…
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog |
According to ESPN, free-agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez has signed with the Houston Astros.
The one-year deal is reportedly worth $1.5 million, with an additional $1.5 million in potential performance bonuses.
Pudge hit .276 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs in 115 games with the Yankees and Tigers in 2008.
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |Update, 1:55 pm:
In his most recent report for SI.com, Jon Heyman believes Pedro Martinez will end up choosing between the Dodgers and Mets, though both teams are only interested at their price.
According to Heyman, “GM Omar Minaya does love Pedro, and more important, the Mets don’t love their No. 5 starting options right now.”
Heyman also reports on Manny Ramirez’s free-agency plans, the World Baseball Classic, and other notes from around MLB, such as comparing Marlins OF Michael Stanton to Andre Dawson.
Original Post:
“The Mets have shown no inclination to get back in 
on Pedro Martinez,” writes Andrew Marchand at 1050 ESPN Radio.
However, he adds, “If Martinez asks for less than a Smoltz like deal, then maybe he becomes more attractive to them.”
According to ESPN.com, Smoltz will earn a $5.5 million base salary with the Red Sox, and can earn up to $5 million in an incentive clause.
Marchand also reports on when Tim Redding is likely to return to action.
[poll id="227"]
Tagged Pedro Martinez |In a report for the New York Post, Bart Hubbuch writes about Ryan Church, who is looking healthy and hitting .314 this spring.
The Daily News, Baseball Digest and Newsday all 
look in to Nick Evans, who is batting .325 with two HR and a team-leading 10 RBI this spring, and who could very likely make the Opening Day roster.
Speaking of the Daily News, Mets beat writer Adam Rubin will talking with fans in an online chat at his blog, Surfing the Mets, at 2 pm.
The Mets claimed RHP Fernando Nieve off waivers from the Astros.
The 26-year-old Nieves was 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in 11 appearances with Houston last season.
For more on Nieve, read Toby Hyde’s Mets Minor League Blog.
The Brooklyn Met Fan says rooting for Team USA is ‘boring.’
‘The Mets are among the teams that have begun 
to request financial requirements for Pedro Martinez,’ explains Steve Popper in the Bergen Record, while citing one person familiar with the discussions.
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Mets, Pirates, Dodgers and Indians, as well as a couple of other teams, are interested in Martinez.
…i don’t doubt that… they should be interested… the thing is, are the interested at his price…
Heyman believes Martinez is still seeking a guaranteed, one-year deal, worth between $5 million and $8 million, according to team executives.
“Martinez has said he’d love to go back to the Mets,” Heyman writes, “but he and New York remain far enough apart financially that that scenario seems fairly remote.”
…here’s the question, for the Mets: Will Martinez pitch $7 million better than Livan Hernandez, Jon Niese or even Bobby Parnell…
…he may, but he may not… and, if the Mets are unwilling to spend even $1 million, why would they cave and spend seven times that for what may be perceived to be as much of a gamble as livan, niese or parnell…
…what’s more, if he stinks, how do you cut Pedro Martinez… i just don’t see the Mets being that disrespectful… instead, they’d probably end up hanging on to him too long in to the summer, as a more deserving pitcher entices you and i in the minor leagues… i mean, i can see it coming a mile away… all for millions of dollars…
…on the hand, livan is expendable… niese or parnell can be shuttled back and forth between Triple-A and Queens, at no major cost… Tim Redding will be back eventually… frankly, i am confused why Nelson Figueroa has remained absent from this discussion, since i believe he would make a good fifth starter as well…
…if the Mets had to sign a free-agent, i’d rather they sign Odalis Perez for peanuts, then give $8 million to pedro…
…the thing is, we’re talking about a fifth starter here…
…in even the most successful seasons, a team’s fifth starter will change a handful of times anyway… it’s just the way it is… some one gets hurt, a guy is terrible, he’s great, things change, and a collection of pitchers will make those missing 30 or so starts under even the best circumstances…
…right now, i am far more concerned with Mike Pelfrey, Johan Santana’s elbow, John Maine’s shoulder and Oliver Perez’s brain…
Tagged Nelson Figueroa, Pedro Martinez |
According to MLB.com, Phillies 2B Chase Utley is optimistic that he’ll be ready for Opening Day.
Utley went 2-for-4 with a double in a minor league game on Saturday, felt fine the next morning, and played in his first Grapefruit League game on Sunday, going hitless in two at bats.
“I think we’re right on track,” Utley told reporters on Sunday. “The more I play, the better I feel, the more optimistic I am. As long as we continue to have no setbacks like we haven’t had so far, I don’t see why we won’t be ready for Opening Day.”
Utley had surgery on his hip last November.
Tagged Phillies |In case you missed it…
On Saturday, Mike Pelfrey started for the first time since March 4, and allowed two walks and two hits through four scoreless innings.
According to Marty Noble of MLB.com, “He threw more changeups than usual, 11, including one to a left-handed hitter.”
Noble also points out that Pelfrey is no longer throwing a slider, instead, adding, “He was delighted with the effect of his curveball.”
However, on Sunday, John Maine let up four runs and three hits in the first inning, but rebounded to pitch three scoreless innings after that.
Following the game, pitching coach Dan Warthen told reporters he is trying to get Maine to throw 
more curveballs, and less fastballs, though Maine said that plan is ‘on hold,’ for right now.
Maine has a 10.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in three appearances this spring.
“I’m thinking way too much about little things, like my leg kick, tempo, arm slot, things like that,” Maine told reporters after the game.
…great… maine’s over-thinking things again… let her rip, john… like you said, stop thinking, meat, just throw the ball…
For more on Maine, read Adam Rubin in the Daily News, Steve Popper in the Bergen Record, and Ben Shpigel in the New York Times.
The Mets do not play today, but play tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, when Jon Niese starts against the Braves in Disney World.
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |
