Daily Archives: July 10, 2009
Earlier tonight, the Mets traded OF Ryan Church to the Braves for OF Jeff Francoeur and ‘cash considerations.’
…i understand why the deal was made, i am just not sure it matters or makes total sense… though, i like having frenchy’s defense and arm in Citi Field, and, if he gets it together, he has the potential for power that i am not sure church had… either way, this was clearly a change-of-scenery deal, and i’m not sure it will have that big of an impact in either direction…
Last month, in a report for SNY.TV, Ted Berg wrote, “If the Mets trade for Francoeur, I’m out. I’ll find someone else to write this column.”
Today, in a report, still for SNY.TV, Berg reviews the deal, and writes:
“I’m here, so I haven’t quit quite yet, but some small part of me hopes someone holds me to that statement… I was mostly kidding because I didn’t think the Mets would do something like that; I didn’t think the front office could be so silly as to think Jeff Francoeur might be the answer to any single one of their questions… Egg on my face.”
In a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff says, among other things, “What does it say about how little regard the two teams held for these two players, that they were willing to make this trade even though the Mets and Braves are both historic rivals and current rivals? Neither club apparently feared the ramifications of this deal enough to squash it. Both clubs were that desperate.”
According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, “One scout who specializes in the National League called it a win for the Braves, noting that Atlanta seemed unlikely to tender Francoeur a contract after the season, effectively releasing him.”
The scout labeled Francouer ‘a project,’ Price says.
Jim Bowden, on the other hand, said he gives the edge to the Mets.
In a post to Mets Geek, Alex Nelson writes, “I suppose Francoeur does have more upside than Church… But at this point, 2600-plus plate appearances into his career, I just don’t see him ever meeting that ceiling, or coming very close.”
Lastly, at his blog for ESPN.com, Rob Neyer asks, “The Braves got a decent hitter and fielder who bats left-handed… The Mets got… what, exactly? If you figure it out, drop a line to Jerry Manuel. He’s going to need all the help he can get with this one.”
Tagged Ryan Church |The Mets (40–45) lost to the Reds (42–43) by the score of 3 to 0 in Citi Field tonight.
For a recap and boxscore, click here.
The Least You Should Know:
- Bronson Arroyo pitched a complete game shut out, and the Mets can’t hit.
- Seriously, that’s all you need to know.
Misc., Etc., and Other Observations:
- Fernando Nieve looked better tonight than he had in his last few starts, commanding his fastball and getting swings and misses. However, he let up a home run to Joey Votto, and a throwing error by David Wright at a play at the plate, where too much to match Arroyo.
- Arroyo entered the game having allowed five runs in four of his last five starts, and yet he dominated the Mets. He mixed his pitches well, and the Mets just kept topping him, hitting ground ball after ground ball after ground ball. They only hit a handful of pitches in to the outfield. They never got anything going against Arroyo. I mean, they left only three men on base.
- Seriously, like Bobby Ojeda said on SNY’s post-game show, though it was just 3–0, it felt like 300–0.
- The Mets have gone 66 innings without a home run, according to WFAN.
- In their last 30 games, the are batting .249, while the starting pitching has a 5.39 ERA. I mean, you don’t have to be a rocket surgeon to understand why they’re 10–20 during that time.
- On Twitter, MetsTweets said, “The Mets should be able to use a tee.”
- Again, Jerry Manuel is laughing in his post-game discussion.
- There are just two more games until the All-Star break.
The Mets play the second game of their three-game set with the Reds tomorrow, starting at 7:10 pm, with Johan Santana facing Johnny Cueto.
The Mets have traded Ryan Church to the Braves for OF Jeff Francoeur.
Update, 6:47 pm, by Matthew Cerrone:
Omar Minaya said the Mets will receive 
‘cash considerations’ in the deal from the Braves with Francoeur.
Minaya described Francoeur as a Gold Glove right fielder, who, as he put it, ‘some consider to be the best defensive right-fielder in baseball,’ and a guy who has a very good arm.
He said talks with the Braves started yesterday afternoon, and he followed up with GM Frank Wren this morning.
Minaya credited Assistant GM John Ricco with initially suggesting the team look in to acquiring Francoeur.
“This had nothing to do with not liking Ryan Church, but, one thing we like about Francoeur is the amount of games he plays,” Minaya explained, pointing out that he’s played over 152 games each of the last three seasons.
“We’ve got to keep on trying to do these type of things,” Minaya said. “We are working, it’s not that we’re not, there a couple of things we are talking to other clubs about, they may be big, they may be minor, but we’ve got to continue to try to do things to shake it up a little bit, and not just be complacent.”
…i believe this may be part of a larger plan to essentially re-create the team to be Citi Field Specific, i.e., the best defense possible, speed, some power, more speed and lots of pitching… i hope this is the case… one step at a time, i guess…
Update, 7:01 pm, by Matthew Cerrone:
Ryan Church told reporters, before leaving the clubhouse, that he looks forward to getting a new start with a new team.
He said he has no problem with how the team handled his injuries last season, though he admitted things probably could have been handled differently.
“I’ll always love New York,” he said. “I just want to thank all the fans, and it’s been great playing for this organization.”
Original Post, by Mike Nichols:
Francoeur had been hitting .250 with a .280 OBP, five HR and 35 RBI in 304 at bats for Atlanta this season.
He is under contract and eligible for arbitration through 2011, after which he can become a free agent.
...love the deal…the Mets needed to shake up the roster… the potential francoeur has is much greater than that of church, plus the Mets lose nothing on the defensive side…
…welcome aboard, frenchy…
Update, 6:17 pm, by Matthew Cerrone:
Nick Evans will remain on the roster, since Church has been traded.
… i assume he will again be demoted when Jeff Francoeur arrives from the Braves…
…well, i kept saying, if the Mets were going to make a trade, it would be for this sort of player, i.e., an outfielder, under contract, with upside, who has yet to meet the hype, like an Xavier Nady 2006 type… and, i’d say francoeur fits that mold, to say the least…
…i am still unsure of this deal… i liked church, and still feel he got a bit of a raw deal… that said, francoeur is 25 years old, and few young players in the game have his size and power, with one of the best outfield arms in the league… and, i agree with mike, in that francoeur has much more upside…
[poll id="280"]
Tagged Mike Nichols, Ryan Church |
Prior to today’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters that John Maine threw a side session this afternoon in St. Lucie, ‘and could be back as early as next month.’
…Angel Pagan today… maine could be back within 30 days… J.J. Putz said yesterday he is ahead of schedule, as is Carlos Delgado, who the team is hoping will return towards the end of August… and Billy Wagner is likely to return by the end of next month, as well… i don’t know what to expect from Carlos Beltran or Jose Reyes, but that list above would go a long way in making up six games in the standings…
Angel Pagan has been activated, and will start tonight in center field and bat leadoff for the Mets.
Nick Evans was sent down to Triple-A. Evans is batting .212 in his last 33 at bats.
Pagan will be followed in order by Alex Cora, Daniel Murphy at first base, David Wright, Ryan Church in right field, Jeremy Reed in left, Argenis Reyes at second and Brian Schneider behind the plate.
…for the first time in a long while, this is a pretty strong defensive outfield, which, like jerry said yesterday, must be this team’s second priority right now behind quality pitching…
Fernando Nieve will be tonight’s starting pitcher. Nieve allowed nine runs, 17 hits and seven walks in his last two starts, after starting 3–0 with a 1.31 ERA in his first three starts fo rthe Mets. Nieve has two hits in seven at bats this season.
Bronson Arroyo will start for the Reds. He is 0–3 with a 10.29 ERA in his last three starts, during which opponents hit .426 against him.
Update, 5:11 pm:
“He was huge for us,” Jerry Manuel said today, when asked about Pagan’s performance earlier in the season. “Hopefully we get back the same guy.”
Manuel will be in Sacremnto during the All-Star break, but expects to speak with management about the state of the roster.
In the end, Manuel said, if the Mets are going to ‘make a run,’ he feels the team will need four starting pitchers to get ‘hot.’
This afternoon on WFAN, co-host Evan Roberts said, according to people he has talked to in the organization, the Mets do not have an Old-Timer’s Game, ‘because it’s too much work.’
…jeeez… too much work… really… i guess i understand that… it’s just, as a fan, who is proud of this team’s history, i’d love to see guys like Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Tom Seaver, maybe Mike Piazza, Robin Ventura, etc., on field, having fun, and playing again…
…although, since the Championship Banners are tucked away, hidden, facing the chop shops, and since nobody has any idea where the World Series trophies are, i wouldn’t be surprised to see this Old 
Timer’s Game played in the Wiffle Ball field in center field…
Speaking of a World Series Trophy…
The 1986 Mets World Series Owner’s Trophy sold for $32,000 through Robert Edward Auctions.
…according to the auction, this is only one of three owner’s trophies made from 1986, and i’m going to assume it’s Nelson Doubleday’s…
Tagged WFAN |John Wozny: Be honest man, you really think we have a chance?
Matthew Cerrone: I do. Of course, I always believe, because I always hope to see a miracle – and, let’s be honest, this would be a miracle. I do not think the Mets will continue to go 10–18 every 18 games they play. I think they’re capable of playing around .500, as is, assuming they tweak the rotation, keep pitching well out of the 
bullpen, and commit to a lineup and defense. I expect them to make some sort of trade, though I’m convinced it will not be for a big-time player. That said, who knows, maybe the Phillies suffer a devastating injury or two, or maybe the Marlins panic and collapse? I’m not counting on this, of course, and I doubt it will happen, but you never know… and, it’s that, ‘You never know,’ which I’m clinging to, because isn’t that what sports is all about…
R Mats 89: I don’t understand why no one in the media or the fans are questioning the team’s training staff… A major league team hasn’t been this ravaged by injuries in a while and no one is looking in that direction.”
Matthew Cerrone: Well, I think everyone is tired of complaining. I mean, we ran that argument in to the ground last month, after the first wave of injuries, moaning and groaning about the medical staff, why, who’s to blame, etc…
The reality is: injuries are up all across baseball. The Phillies lost Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge. Other teams are banged up. I recall reading injuries are up roughly 25 percent from last season all across the league, and the Mets are not even the most injured team.
That said, I can’t imagine any team has suffered this many injuries to this caliber player, i.e., three All-Star sluggers, two starting pitchers and a set-up guy, not to mention Ryan Church and Brian Schneider spent time on the disabled list as well. I mean, think about it, every position player from the Opening Day lineup has been on the disabled list at some point this season, except Daniel Murphy, David Wright and Luis Castillo.
To watch this week’s Video Mailbag, presented by Verizon, click below:
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the Giants 
would need to give up more than RHP Jonathan Sanchez to get 2B Freddy Sanchez from the Pirates.
Jonathan Sanchez has made at least 27 starts each of the last three seasons, but is just 15–26 with a 5.21 ERA in his four-year career.
…i have no idea who on the Mets would compare to Jonathan Sanchez, plus another prospect, to create a possible mock deal… i’m thinking Mike Pelfrey is too good, but Jon Niese is too young and un-proven, though that may be OK in a deal like this… you know, i guess the fact that the Mets do not have one of these mid-range, under-contract, semi-established pitcher speaks volumes about a whole other issue, i suppose…
Yesterday, Kovacevic said the Pirates are working hard to trade Sanchez, who’s hitting .316 with a .355 OBP in 304 at bats for the Pirates this season.
Sanchez, 31, won a batting title in 2006, after which he hit .304 in 2007 and .271 last season. He will likely earn $8 million next season, after which he is eligible to be a free agent.
Speaking of trade rumors…
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com believes the Phillies are willing to part with top pitching prospects Kyle Drabek and Jason Knapp, and OF Dominic Brown, in a deal for Blue Jays RHP Roy Halladay.
As Zolecki points out, “Baseball America ranks Brown 17th and Drabek 24th amongst the Top 25 prospects in baseball.”
Yesterday, on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets had a meeting earlier this week to discuss their prospects, and seem to have 
no interest in trading Double-A RHP Brad Holt or Jennry Mejia, as well as Fernando Martinez or Ike Davis, among others.
The 22-year-old Holt is 0–3 with a 8.40 ERA in four starts since being promoted to Double-A Binghamton, though he allowed five earned runs in just 0.1 innings in his second start.
Last month, during my trip to Double-A Binghamton, I talked with Holt.
Matthew Cerrone: What has the adjustment to Double-A been like thus far?
Brad Holt: The hitters here are a little more patient. From talking to everybody, they said that if you made mistakes pitching it would cost you… they’d square the ball up. And that’s one thing that I did notice, they get a lot more solid contact, and they square the ball up.
Matthew Cerrone: I talked to you during spring training and all the guys were goofing on you about only throwing fast balls. How is that coming along? How are the other pitches working?
Brad Holt: They are coming along great. The change-up, like I said in spring training, is just a matter of repetition, and the change-up has gotten to be almost a plus-pitch now, and I have been using it a lot.
Matt Cerrone: What pitcher or teams did you enjoy watching as a kid?
Brad Holt: Well, the only team that we had close by us in North Carolina were the Braves. Other than that, I liked watching Roger Clemens growing up. He had that bulldog mentality on the mound that was fun to watch.
Speaking of the B-Mets…
This Saturday, Julie Alexandria and Mets Weekly will profile 22–year-old Double-A C-1B Josh Thole, who had been hitting .346 with 24 extra base hits before going on the disabled list with a thumb injury.
Alexandria also talks with Francisco Rodriguez about the first half of the season, while also profiling Andrew Vazzano of the Ropolitans.
Mets Weekly will air this Saturday at 12:30 pm on SNY.
Andrew Beaton of Hot Foot explores the idea of trading Gary Sheffield and other veterans, like Pedro Feliciano.
…it’s tempting andrew… but, the reality is, at best, the Mets would get a low-level minor-leaguer for a guy like 
sheffield, or even Livan Hernandez, both of whom are far more likely to get claimed on waivers than get shipped out in a pre-deadline deal… most teams already have players on their current roster who are better than these two… feliciano, on the other hand, probably could get a player back, but not a prospect… in short, look at deadlines past, it’s not the late 90s anymore…
Speaking of prospects, Eric Simon of Amazin Avenue posts a very long, in-depth Q&A about the Mets farm system with John Sickels of Minor League Ball, who says of Ike Davis, “As a hitter, he projects as a regular first baseman… he’s doing a lot better this year and controls the zone very well.”
Sickels also weighs in on Brad Holt, Jennry Mejia, Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada, among others.
Mack, from Mack’s Mets, makes the case to call up Nelson Figueroa.
Caryn Rose, of Mets Grrl, writes of leaving last night’s game before it ended, only the third time she has done this in two years.
In a post to Mets Fever, Ed Ryan looks at some stark numbers about the Mets, during the Omar Minaya Era.
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