Daily Archives: September 14, 2009
In a must-read report for Newsday, Neil Best spends the day with Keith Hernandez at his home in Sag Harbor, 
detailing Hernandez’s home life away from baseball and SNY.
“People think I’m more of a loose cannon than I really am,” Hernandez told Best. “I’m not that far off the charts. My life is pretty mundane. When people meet me and they’re all excited, I tell them, ‘Trust me, I’m overrated. Just ask my wife.’”
…i don’t know, keith, speak for yourself… i mean, most fans, myself included, think you are a pretty fascinating individual… earlier today on Twitter i asked, “If Keith Hernandez wrote a blog, what would you u want it to be? Player analysis? His day-to-day adventures? Baseball? Non-Baseball?”… feel free to respond in the comment section… also, to follow me on Twitter, click here…
Speaking of SNY…
Tonight, at 7 pm on SNY, Ron Darling will host Amazin’ Aces of ‘69, featuring interviews with Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Nolan Ryan.
Tagged News |In a post Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde takes a look at a handful of Mets prospects playing in the IBAF World Cup, such as 22-year-old Ike Davis, who has been playing outfield for Team USA.
Hyde writes about whether Davis, “who was already a fine defensive first baseman, can play the outfield as a professional.”
Davis hit .309 with a .386 OBP, 27 extra base hits and 43 RBI in 55 games in Double-A this season.
…any time i have talked with a minor-league expert about davis, they all always seem to mention his strong arm, which goes somewhat noticed when playing first base… i have heard he could easily switch to being a relief pitcher, if he weren’t such a talented hitter…
…hmm, it would be interesting to develop a player to also be a relief pitcher, because, technically, he could trot to the mound from first base, pitch to a batter, then trot back to first…
Tagged News |In a post to NY Baseball Digest, Mike Silva wonders if John Maine would do better as a set-up man, instead of starting pitcher.
“Even if Maine is healthy,” Silva writes, “he lacks durability and length, two key 
traits of an effective starter.”
…this was discussed online and on air a lot last season, as well, when maine first returned from the disabled list in August, as a closer, in the absence of Billy Wagner, but it never happened…
…i still think, when healthy and feeling confidence, maine can be an effective and much-needed starting pitcher for the Mets… he’s been hurt, dealing with this shoulder thing, he had surgery last off season, had a bumpy 2009, and i think he deserves the benefit of the doubt to re-take his spot in the rotation…
…i mean, if he can just get back to where he was headed in 2007, he’ll be more than fine for this rotation…
Maine was 23–16 with a 3.94 ERA in 51 starts during 2007 and the first three months of 2008.
However, he is 7–6 with a 4.63 ERA since.
He pitched three innings on Sunday, in his first start since returning from the disabled list, and gave up one run and two hits.
To hear from Maine, and read more about his start on Sunday, check out these reports in the New York Post and the Daily News.
Tagged News |In a recent reports for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal looked at the market for starting pitchers, which will is likely to include:
John Lackey, Rich Harden, Randy Wolf, Jarrod Washburn, Jason Marquis, Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Erik Bedard, Ben Sheets and Joel Pineiro.
…there are plenty of pitchers on this list, and they can’t all sign with one or two 
teams, so it’s looking like a buyer’s market for this level player… which is good for the Mets… because, i think every one agrees they need a bonafide, reliable second starter to couple up with Johan Santana…
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes there has been very little talk this season between the Angels and Lackey.
…the early buzz suggests lackey will be seeking a four– or five-year deal, much like Derek Lowe got last off season, worth roughly $16 million per season…
In addition to the free agent market, the Braves may look to trade Javier Vazquez, reports Jon Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus.
Meanwhile, the Cubs may field offers for RHP Carlos Zambrano, while the Astros may finally look to deal Roy Oswalt, according to this recent report from Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, during which he also discusses Carl Crawford’s future.
Zambrano is due roughly $17 million each of the next three seasons, with a vesting-player option for 2013.
Meanwhile, the 32–year-old Oswalt is due roughly $30 million through the next two seasons.
…zambrano is tempting… he’s crazy… which is a good thing, and a bad thing… i think the Mets could use some attitude like that… at the same time, he’s freakin crazy… remember this… i mean, i love the show, but i can see where that could be disruptive, to say the least…
…and, of course, there will be the Roy Halladay sweepstakes…
Speaking of pitching…
Tonight, at 7 pm on SNY, Ron Darling will host Amazin’ Aces of ’69, featuring interviews with Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Nolan Ryan.
Tagged News |
In a post to Amazin Avenue, Eric Simon creates anagrams out of names from the Mets.
…wow, i mean, you know it’s a lost season when this sort of thing is going on… that said, i may need to start calling Carlos Beltran the ‘Carnal Lobster,’ as well as ‘Oh, Me Ninja,’ for John Maine, which would look hilarious on the back of a jersey…
Phil Hoops of Mets Merized Online gives props to Bobby Ojeda, who was quite critical on SNY yesterday of the Mets work ethic and performance this season.
Lenny Dykstra is auctioning off his 1986 World Series ring, according to SI.com.
Dom of Pessimets is embracing the role of ‘spoiler.’
In a post for Mets Police, Vegas Rich believes Daniel Murphy is still a guy ‘you build your future around.’
By the way, Murphy is batting .300 over the last seven weeks.
To read about the Most Memorable Regular-Season Home Runs in Mets history, check out Mets Walkoffs.
Lastly, Jason from Faith and Fear in Flushing writes about watching Pedro Martinez pitch for the Phillies.
By the way, the final Amazin Tuesday is coming to Two Boots in NYC tomorrow night, which you can learn more about here.
Tagged News |Phillies RHP Pedro Martinez pitched eight scoreless innings yesterday, eliminating the Mets from playoff contention.
Martinez is 5–0 with a 2.87 ERA in seven starts this season, during which the Phillies are 7–0.
Following the game, Martinez was informed of him eliminating the Mets, to which he told reporters:
“That’s probably coincidence because I had no idea. I had no idea. I just gave David Wright a big hug and I didn’t know that… I’m sorry for them, because they have a whole bunch of good guys over there and a good coaching staff and a lot of good people in that stadium and people that I will never forget. I have a lot of respect for those people regardless of what happened in the winter, and why I’m not with the Mets. It doesn’t matter any more. It’s all business. I just have to let it go. They’re rooting for me, like David said, he’s rooting for me to hopefully get a ring.”
…like i said yesterday, it’s so difficult, because, on one hand, i hate the Phillies… and so, naturally, i should dislike pedro… but, i like pedro, and i’ve always liked pedro, even before he joined the Mets… and so i am glad he’s having success… but, it kills me to hear Phillies fans cheering, ‘Let’s Go Pedro,’ yet i’m happy for him to be back doing well… ugh… of all the teams, he had to get to Philadelphia…
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Tagged News |
Fernando Tatis sprained his left index finger yesterday trying to make a catch in the first inning.
Tatis later left the game, but, according to the Daily News, despite swelling, “he could return soon.”
…i don’t want any one to be injured, obviously, but, i do want Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans in every game possible, be it against lefties or righties… i know what tatis is about… but, as a fan obsessed with what this team will do in the off season, i think it’s important to see evans and murphy get as many bats as they can between now and the end of the season…
Tagged News |
