Daily Archives: October 16, 2009
Sam, a reader of MetsBlog, sent in an e-mail that said:
“I’m surprised I haven’t heard anything about Joel Pineiro. He is a free agent this off season and always kills the Mets. I think he would be a nice pick up. He’s ground ball pitcher, and had a 3.49 ERA this season. What do you think?”
The 31–year-old Pineiro was 15–12 
with a 3.49 ERA in 32 starts this season, including 214 innings, during which he walked just 27 batters and struck out 105.
John Lackey will be seeking a five-year deal, and so the early buzz in baseball suggests Pineiro is likely to land a two-year deal, worth around $20 million, which is what pitchers like Jon Garland, Rich Harden and Randy Wolf are likely to get as well.
I have always been intrigued by Pineiro, because he has very good control, a wicked curve ball and good command. The thing is, he’s had a very sporadic career… he’s been healthy, then injured, good, then bad, he gets hit hard, then he cruises, he’s a reliever, then he’s starter, and who knows what he’ll be next season.
Sure, I’d sign up for having 2009’s Joel Pineiro on the Mets, but his 2009 season also occurred under the guidance of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, who seems like King Midas when it comes to turning pitchers around.
The days of Johan Santana, some random, washed-up, veteran fifth starter, and three guys named Hope, Maybe and Potential, has to be a thing of the past. The Mets need at least one other reliable pitcher besides Santana.
Tagged News |According to Tracy Ringolsby, at his blog, Inside the Rockies, soon-to-be free-agent 
RHP Jason Maruis has told former teammates his goal is to sign with the Mets.
… i don’t think this is new news… i suspect tracy is referencing Jeff Francoeur, who told the New York Post in late September, ‘Marquis would love to come here,’ which you can read more about here…
The 31-year-old Marquis is 15-11 with a 3.84 ERA for the Rockies.
He was born and raised in Staten Island, NY.
…by the way, good luck to tracy, who, along with his colleagues from the defunct Rocky Mountain News, are still blogging about the Rockies, but now doing it on their own, as independents…
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The Angels offered OF Bobby Abreu a two-year, $16 million extension, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
However, Heyman believes, “He is looking for more.”
…from what i can gather, abreu is going to seek at least $10 million per season, and at least a three-year commitment, much like Rual Ibanez got last off season from the Phillies… however, reading the tea leaves, it would not surprise me to see him settle for yet another one-year deal…
Tagged News |JJ Putz is open to returning to the Mets, he said to Marty Noble of MLB.com, adding, “I liked being there.”
The Mets will have 10 days following the World Series to decide 
whether to bring Putz back in 2010 with the $8.6 million option in his contract, or buy out the contract for $1 million.
…from what i can gather, team putz believes he is stronger than ever, and, come spring training, he’ll be in great shape for next season… the thing is, nobody truly knows that, because he last pitched in July… so, i bet the Mets look to restructure his one-year deal, incorporating part of the option and buyout in to a new contract with incentives… here, he can prove his healthy, guarantee himself a job, then look to sign on as a closer for some other team for 2011…
…this entire putz situation did not go as planned for the Mets… the way it was explained to me, the plan had always been to make the trade to get putz from the Mariners, benefit from his talent used to set up Francisco Rodriguez, pick up his option, then trade him to a team looking for a closer, because, as a closer, having putz for one year at $8.6 million, would be a bargain… instead, putz is now an average set-up guy, making a ton of money, coming off elbow surgery…
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According to the Daily News, Darryl Strawberry will be on next season’s Celebrity Apprentice.
…i have not watched this show since i worked on it five years ago… yes, you read that right… anyway, i was never really a fan of the show, though i do find Donald Trump to be pretty fascinating… i might have to check this out now, just to see how darryl performs…
David Wright appeared in an episode of Celebrity Apprentice in 2008, when he was called by contestant Jennie Finch to take part in one of the show’s challenges.
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John of Metstradamus feels Jose Reyes will always be two– to three-weeks away from something.
In a post to Mets Fans Forever, Drew Costello gives a recap of Mets players in the Winter Ball.
Greg Jansen makes a Modest Proposal for the Mets, in a post to Bleacher Report, such as, “Start Johan Santana every day in 2010.’
…Ted Berg and i recently joked that santana will eventually get so frustrated, that, on days he isn’t pitching, he’ll tell them he’s starting at second base instead… and the thing is, he’s probably a good-enough athlete that he could do it…
Ed Ryan of Mets Fever argues in favor of Takashi Saito, should the Mets decide to replace J.J. Putz.
Rob from Amazin Avenue takes a look at 12 possible Diamonds in the Rough for your team’s pitching staff next season, much like Fernando Nieve had been for the Mets in 2009… before ending his season with a torn thigh muscle.
…i like Charlie Haeger, if for no other reason than i like watching knuckleballers; and Jo-Jo Reyes, who has revitalized relief pitcher written all over him…
Lastly, to check out Never-Seen Pics of the Miracle Mets from 1969, go to this archive from Life Magazine.
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According to Baseball America, Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese were among the Top 20 Prospects in the International League in 2009.
In the report, Josh Levanthal says of Martinez:
“Staying healthy continues to be Martinez’s biggest obstacle… Martinez flashed his five-tool potential while in Buffalo, particularly the ability to hit with power to all fields… He can get overly aggressive at the plate, a weakness major league pitchers exploited during his time in New York.”
To learn more about Niese, and why he turned his season around, check out Toby Hyde’s post for Mets Minor League Blog.
…i can’t help and feel badly for these guys… the truth is, not every minor leaguer is a ‘prospect,’ most of them are just minor leaguers, and only a small, elite group should be considered ‘prospects,’ who can be every-day, useful players in the big leagues… but, there is also a small window of opportunity for these prospects to jump through and get to the major leagues, and, sometimes, for all sorts of reasons, that window can shut too soon, be it because of injury, a shift in talent or because he gets blocked at big-level by another prospect or by a newly acquired player… i am for home-grown players, so i hope fernando and niese can get better and jump through that window, which is open, but it will not be open forever…
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