Daily Archives: October 9, 2009
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Braves might look to sign soon-to-be free-agent OF Matt Holliday.
…last night, holliday made a costly error in the outfield during the NLDS, dropping a line-drive in the lights, which let the winning runs score for the opposition… which led to the obvious joke: Well, obviously now the Mets will want to sign him…
This morning, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the Braves are looking for a right-handed power bat.
…i wouldn’t say the Mets will limit their search to a left-handed or right-handed hitter, but it’s pretty clear they will also be seeking a powerful hitter, and so it should be be noted, obviously, they’ll be competing in this space with the Braves, their NL East rival…
Speaking of which, Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors has posted a list of ‘right-handed power bats,’ who could be available either as a free agent or by trade, such as Holliday, Jason Bay, Josh Willingham, Paul Konerko, and Marlon Byrd.
Tagged News |The Padres released OF Cliff Floyd yesterday, according to MLB.com.
The 36–year-old Floyd appeared in just 10 games for the Padres in 2009, and hit just .268 in 80 games for the Rays in 2008.
…i by no means believe the Mets should bring floyd back… but, i do think there is a need for an Uncle Cliff type as the 25th man on the roster…
…i would say once every few months, i end up listening to the same two friends debate the idea of ‘Character Guys,’ as it pertains to baseball, performance and the clubhouse… one guy seems convinced Character Guys exist and are important, such as an Alex Cora, and the more you have on the roster the better, while the other believes they are not necessary, so long as everyone on the 25–man roster does his job in full…
…to me, reality is in the middle… yes, if everyone on the roster did their job, that would be great, but a team often needs that wise, experienced veteran to help guide people and insure that such a quality performance can happen… for instance, the floyd, cora, Jose Valentin type can relate to their younger, less-experienced teammates in a way that coaches cannot, helping them to maintain their mind and body over the course of a long, draining, 162–game season… these are young men, not robots… i know people enjoy picking through statistics, but sometimes the guy who hits .400 against lefties gets dumped by his girlfriend, feels like crap and strikes out against a left-handed pitcher that night, despite his .400 average… and, the ‘Character Guy,’ or the veteran leader, can help guide people through the awkward experience of growing up in the major leagues, be it with personal adjustments, hitting a curve ball or when and how to take batting practice…
…its seems like everytime floyd leaves a team, be it the Mets, Cubs or Rays, there is some young player who credits him with making a major impact on their experience and success… just recently, i talked with someone in Tampa who told me B.J. Upton desperately missed floyd this season, for this exact reason…
…i’m not saying a team needs a bench full of these men… but, i think it’s a smart way to fill the 25th man on the roster… sort of a player-coach, who can hit, but who is better at being a rock for people to lean on…
Tagged News |
Adam Rubin of the Daily News took time to do a Q&A with Kiners Korner, during which he discusses issues with the Mets medical staff, bringing back Omar Minaya, talk of Kevin Towers and Wally Backman, and the future of David Wright, among other topics.
…rubin knows the Mets inside and out, and so this is a great read, as he offers some interesting insight in to what happened and what could happen down the road…
Tagged News |
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks the Braves will discuss trading for Rangers OF Nelson Cruz, since they are looking for a right-handed power bat with speed.
The 29–year-old Cruz hit 33 home runs with 20 stolen bases in 128 games for the Rangers this season.
Cruz is eligible for arbitration each of the next three seasons, after which he can become a free agent.
Similarly, Lynn Henning of the Detroit News believes the Tigers would be smart to trade OF Curtis Granderson in return for a blue-chip relief pitcher, middle infielder and, ‘perhaps,’ a replacement-level center fielder.
…granderson is a line-drive hitter, he’s quick, and he’s an above-average defensive outfielder, all seemingly perfect for Citi Field… however, he’s OPS is in free-fall 
since his break-out season in 2007, and he is showing no signs of becoming more disciplined at the plate…
This season, Granderson hit just .249 with a .327 OBP, 20 stolen bases, 30 home runs, 23 doubles and eight triples in 160 games.
However, he struck out in 25 percent of his plate appearances, and he hit just .181 in 180 at bats against left-handed pitching.
The 28–year-old Granderson will earn $5.5 million in 2010, $8.25 million in 2011, $10 million in 2012, and has a $13 million team option for 2013, after which he can be a free agent.
Tagged News |In a post to Metstradamus, John wonders what Omar Minaya has learned about being GM since joining the Mets.
Rob Neyer of ESPN.com looks back on why the Yankees didn’t trade for Johan Santana, and how it has played out for them so far.
…in watching the Twins, i can’t help and wonder what santana was thinking, while sitting on his sofa, watching his former teammates in the post season…
Speaking of the Santana trade, according to the Daily News, Twins OF Carlos Gomez feels sorry for his former teammates on the Mets.
Lastly, in a video for On the Black, Kerel Cooper looks back at the five worst plays of the Mets season.
Tagged News |Update, 10:13 am:
Sam Page of Amazin Avenue lists five numbers to avoid when evaluating a starting pitcher.
Original Post:
Last night, in Game 1 of the ALDS between the Angels and Red 
Sox, Angels RHP John Lackey gave up zero runs and four hits in 7.1 innings, while striking out four and walking one.
According to John Harper of the Daily News, “Lackey surely helped his own cause as the most attractive pitcher – in an otherwise weak pool – who will be on the free-agent market this winter.”
Harper believes the Mets would be wise to make a run at Lackey, especially when ‘knowing the Yankees won’t be out there looking for high-priced pitching this winter.’
…i still believe the Mets will first look to trading for a pitcher who is already under contract, while aiming to sign a free-agent bat… that’s just a hunch, but i sense the market also makes more sense for that type of strategy…
The 30–year-old Lackey finished the regular season 11–8 with a 3.83 ERA in 27 starts, while missing six weeks at the start of the season with a forearm strain.
He also missed the first six weeks in 2008 with a strained tricep, but finished the season 12–5 in 24 starts with a 3.75 ERA.
…from what i can gather, lackey is seeking a deal similar to what A.J. Burnett signed last off season with the Yankees, i.e., five years and roughly $16 million per season… also, he looks like Peter Brady, but without the curly hair…
Harper quotes an AL scout as saying, “He’s good and he’s tough. From what I know about the Mets, Lackey’s a guy who could make a difference there.”
Tagged News |
In a post to Twitter, the New York Post’s Bart Hubbuch says he thinks Kevin Towers will eventually choose to join the Mets, “simply because Omar Minaya is in a very tenuous state.”
Last week, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said Minaya is interested in hiring Towers and former Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi.
And so, in a post to Mets Merized Online, Joe D looks at the pros and cons to Towers, asking, ‘Would he be an upgrade over Minaya?’
…i did speak with someone the other day who reminded me that it tends to be the team’s way to hire the inevitable replacement, giving them a less prominent job, but making it quite obvious who is on deck, before the current GM or manager get the axe… off the top of my head, i think of Dallas Green and Jeff Torborg, Davey Johnson and Frank Howard, Jerry Manuel and Willie Randolph, the Joe McIlvine and Steve Phillips, then again with phillips and Jim Duquette, and even minaya, who was a phillips assistant…
…i wonder if the same will eventually be said for towers, or whomever is hired in that position, as well for Ken Oberkfell, or maybe even Wally Backman, who is rumored to be speaking with the Mets about a position in the farm…
Tagged News |
