Daily Archives: April 3, 2009
Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets are close to signing free-agent Gary Sheffield.
According to one of Sherman’s sources, “Unless something drastic happens, he is a Met… Someone would have to offer him a second year, and I just don’t see that happening.”
…last week, i was against this… it still concerns me, because he is such a wild personality, and i worry about how it will impact what currently seems like a confident and peaceful clubhouse…
…however, if he signs for just $400,000, which it sounds like he will, at minimum, he’s a disgruntled, right-handed power bat for the bench, who is one step away from filling in for Ryan Church or Daniel Murphy, but who could be cut at any time with no major hit to the payroll…
…at best, he takes a job away from murphy, though more likely church, and he produces, and the Mets get a bargain…
…either way, this will likely mark the end of Marlon Anderson’s time with the Mets… sorry, marlon, but we all knew this day would come…
Sheffield hit .225 with a 19 HR in 114 games for the Tigers last season, and hit .265 with a .378 OBP and 25 HR in 133 games in 2007.
He played in just 39 games in his final season with the Yankees in 2006, while struggling with a variety of injuries.
[poll id="239"]
Update, 12:13 pm:
In a post to his blog for Newsday, David Lennon writes, “The Mets have contacted Gary Sheffield directly to gauge his interest in coming to New York and a person familiar with the situation said today that he could sign with a club as soon as tonight.”
…from what i can gather, there is some buzz going on suggesting the Mets could do a pre-game press conference, fron Citi Field, before batting practice, which was originally scheduled to be just Omar Minaya… but, that is all predicated on them actually reaching a deal… otherwise, it will revert to a minaya solo address…
Lennon further speculates on how a potential signing of Sheffield will impact the current, projected 25–man roster.
Meanwhile, Andrew Marchand, on his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, says, “The Mets are trying to figure where they could find at-bats if they pursued Sheffield.”
…read marchand’s post, it sounds like he is skeptical that a deal will ever be worked out, mostly due to the player and the history…
Update, 10:37 am:
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Mets are showing ‘real interest in Sheffield,’ saying the team sent two scouts to watch him throw in Tampa.
Sheffield prefers to play for the Mets over the Phillies and Reds due to ‘playing time concerns,’ according to Heyman, who spoke with the player’s agent.
Tagged Mike Nichols |Earlier this week, I ran polls on MetsBlog.com and e-mailed Ken Rosenthal, Chris Carlin, Kevin Burkhardt, Evan Roberts, Ted Berg, Dan Graziano and Mike Nichols with a variety of Under-Over scenarios for the 2009 season.
Here are the results:
Johan Santana’s ERA: 2.99
Under
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.Over
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.
Starts for Livan Hernandez with the Mets: 10.5
Under
NobodyOver
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.
…86 percent of the 4,000 people who responded believe livan will make more than 10.5 starts… the reason i set that number in that spot is because 10 starts puts him in to May, and i was curious if people projected him in that role six weeks or so in to the season… apparently more or less everyone, myself included, thinks he will…
Wins for John Maine: 12.5
Under
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.Over
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.
Home runs for Carlos Delgado in 2009: 30.
Under
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.Over
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.
National League East teams to make Post-Season: 1.5
Under
NobodyOver
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.
…in other words, every one believes the Wild Card team will come out of the National League East…
Saves for Francisco Rodriguez in 2009: 43.5
Under
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.
Over
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
…the reader poll said Over, but it was close, with only 51 percent of the 5,000 people looking upward… the rest of us, accept carlin, picked under… it’ll be close… for me, i believe J.J. Putz will actually be given a handful of save situations, and i also suspect a lot more close and late games, that could adjust who gets the save and who doesn’t… so, my vote is less to do with K-Rod’s ability, and more to do with the people and circumstances around him…
Games started at second base by Luis Castillo: 100
Under
NobodyOver
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.
…this one was closer among fans than others, with 65 percent of the 4,200 voters saying castillo will start more than 100 games… i had to think about it, and i’m guessing others did as well…i believe he’ll have a good-enough season, especially batting eighth, to stay in the lineup… the question is actually more about a belief in his health than talent, i suppose… and, apparently, most of think he’s healthy…
Number of days Fernando Martinez will be on the Mets in 2009: 14.5
Under
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.Over
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.
…hmmm, so what does rosenthal know that we don’t…
Total wins for the Mets in the regular season during 2009: 88.5
Under
Mike Nichols, from MetsBlog.com.
Ken Rosenthal, from FOXSports.com.Over
Dan Graziano, from SNY.tv.
Evan Roberts, from WFAN.
Kevin Burkhardt, from SNY.
Reader Poll, from MetsBlog.com.
Ted Berg, from SNY.tv.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog.com.
Chris Carlin, SNY’s Pre– and Post-Game Show.
…this number was based on the current odds in Vegas… i was surprised to see 90 percent of the 4,800 people who responded to the poll believe the Mets will win more than 88.5 games, which is quite positive to say the least…
Here is a clip from SNY of the Mets entering Citi Field for the first time last night, in suits, checking out the field and the clubhouse:
“It’s pretty unbelievable,” Mike Pelfrey says, with a huge smile on his face. “It’s pretty awesome, like being a little kid in a candy shop.”
Tonight the Mets will play their first game in Citi Field with the first of two exhibition games versus the Red Sox, starting at 6:10 p.m. EDT.
Last night following their flight from Florida, which was delayed two and half hours, the Mets got first look inside their new home.
Ben Shpigel of the New York Times reports on the initial reactions of many players on their new digs, which ranged from ‘wow’ to overwhelming, and provides an interesting tidbit on Daniel Murphy seeking out the new batting cages, of course.
The New York Times has also provided a variety of multimedia looks of Citi Field, including a panorama, here, and an interactive look at the amenities inside Citi Field, here.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast locally on SNY. Coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. EDT with KFC Pre-Game Live.
Tagged Mike Nichols |Good morning, MetsBlog.com.
Yes, I changed the layout of the blog last night.
It needed to be freshened up; and, though all I did was flip around the sidebars, I believe it makes it easier to consume and break up different types of content.
Also, until I can figure out issues with installing a mobile interface, this should at least eliminate the need to scroll for hours through the sidebar before viewing the the text column when using a BlackBerry.
Additionally, I installed Intense Debate to facilitate the comments section, which will allow you to create a user profile; rank other commenters; custom sort how comments are displayed; and be notified by e-mail when someone responds to you; as well as a whole host of other bells and whistles you can explore.
Lastly, I will soon be installing Facebook Connect as the entry way to the comments section, just like Deadspin, Gawker, TechCrunch, and other popular blogs have done, because it helps create a more responsible and self-sufficient community. I expect to install Facebook Connect in the next week or so.
Thank you for reading MetsBlog.com, and if you have any questions or concerns about the new design please let me know.
Lets Go Mets,
