Daily Archives: October 22, 2009
Update, 5:40 pm:
The Mets now expect to meet with Aroldis Chapman later this week, according to David Lennon of Newsday.
Original Post:
According to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, the Cubs and White Sox have expressed interest in free-agent LHP Aroldis Chapman.
In a post to Twitter, Dierke said, “The Mets have not yet met with Chapman, in case you were wondering.”
…thanks, tim… in fact, i was wondering…
Yesterday, Jorge Arangure of ESPN.com said Chapman had arrive in New York to begin a series of meetings with MLB teams.
In July, in a report for ESPN The Magazine, Arangure said many scouts believe Chapman is the best left-handed pitching prospect in the world.
Tagged Twitter |According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, “Multiple teams are in contact the Cubs about outfielder Milton Bradley.”
In a video for FoxSports.com in September, 
Rosenthal mentioned the Mets among several teams who called the Cubs about Bradley.
…i just can’t believe the Mets will end up acquiring this guy… he hits… sure… but, he is notorious for having a bad temper, and he’s been injured quite a lot during his career, two things the Mets do not need to engage with these days… since 2008, he has missed dozens of games due to his hamstring, shoulder, quad, knee, wrist, groin and calf… of course, if there is an opportunity here to switch off bad contracts, creating a hole through which they can eventually upgrade, i will understand the move… i think…
Rosenthal believes the Cubs will be able to deal Bradley without having to pay a large portion of the two-years and $21 million remaining on his contract.
The 31–year-old Bradley hit .321 last season for the Rangers, but hit just .257 for the Cubs in 2009, with 12 home runs this season compared to 22 home runs in 2008 – he has played with eight teams during his 10–year career.
To read more from Rosenthal, who talks about the future of Bobby Valentine and Tony LaRussa, and Matt Holliday compared to Mark Teixeira, click here.
Tagged News |
Last spring, I got a lot of positive feedback from people when wearing this t-shirt from Red Jacket, which is essentially the 1986 Mets home jersey, but without the pinstripes.
In a similar theme, Matthew Weiler sent in the following design for a new Mets home jersey, using the 1986 racing stripes on egg-shell, with no black drop-shadow, no pinstripes, and no names on the back.
I like it, Matthew. I like it a lot.
I know there are traditionalists who believe every design should include the original, thin-blue pinstripes, from 1962. I am not against the pinstripes… it’s just, I like the clean look of the uniform without them.
Also, as a child of the 80s, I love the thick blue and orange racing stripe along the side of the shirt and pants, without any shadow or black in the design.
I feel like the Weiler Design is a nice hybrid of traditional and modern… also, it’s clean, simple, classic and new.
Nice work, Matthew.
So, this got me thinking…
If you have a design, do a mock up in Photoshop, and e-mail it to me. I will post the best ones during the off season, after which in spring we can have a site-wide vote to determine the best new look.
Tagged News |According to Marty Noble, in a mailbag Q&A for MLB.com, the Mets ‘like the idea of Mike Cameron,’ since, “He would provide reliable 
and comprehensive defense in left field and might hit 15-20 home runs at Citi Field if he played 120 games.”
…noble doesn’t say if the Mets like the idea of cameron in Citi Field next season, or if they like the idea of acquiring him… he only says they like the idea… so, i am not totally sure what that is supposed to mean…
Cameron, who will be a free agent this off season, hit just .250 in 149 games for the Brewers this season, but with a .342 OBP, 24 HR, 32 doubles and 70 RBI.
…cameron was very popular with fans, as well as in the team’s clubhouse, from what i have been told… at 36 years old, he is still one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, he is still pretty quick on the base paths, and he still has some pop in his bat…
…the thing is, he also still struggles against right-handed pitching, especially power pitchers, and he is still an aggressive, free swinger, though he is walking more of late… basically, if he falls behind in the count he is toast…
…i would like to think the Mets will look to someone a bit younger and with more power to play left field… but, cameron is a decent back-up plan, especially from a pitcher’s perspective…
In 11 at bats this season in Citi Field, during a three-game series in April, against mostly Nelson Figueroa, Johan Santana and Livan Hernandez, Cameron had two hits and struck out three times.
Tagged News |Last night, the Phillies defeated the Dodgers to win the National League pennant and advance to their second-consecutive World Series.
Last night, MetsBlog reader NY Jets Fan sent me an e-mail, which said:
“I don’t know if you watched the Phillies clinch tonight but TBS showed a Phillies fan holding a sign saying, “Ya Gotta believe!” Are you kidding me? They completely stole a catch phrase that is nationally recognized for the Mets, and TBS actually shows this.”
To see the sign he is referring to, go to Mets Police.
I answered a similar question in a Q&A with We Should be GMs, in March, during which we had the following exchange:
WSBGMs: Tug McGraw first used “You gotta believe” with the Mets, but then brought the phrase with him to the Phils. How do you feel about that?
Matthew Cerrone: It’s sort of annoying. It’s our rally-cry, and speaks volumes about what it means to be a Mets fan. That said, it’s Tug’s expression, he could do with it what he wanted. I mean, if you guys are comfortable copying Mets fans, go for it I guess. I prefer to be original.
For more on the Phillies, read Adam, the Brooklyn Met Fan, who says, “The Phils are everything I wish the Mets were.”
Tagged News |Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLB Trade Rumors looks back at the top trades from the last decade, including Johan Santana to the Mets in 2008, in exchange for Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey.
Yesterday, Steve Phillips took a leave of absence from ESPN, to deal with issues involving an affair… for more, read the New York Post, and check out SNY’s Ted Berg at his new blog, Ted Quarters, as well as Howard Megdal’s report for NY Baseball Digest.
To learn about the 15 best post-season home runs hit by the Mets, go to Mets Walkoffs.
Speaking of which, sort of, Sach of Mets Merized Online looks back on the Grand-Slam Single, which occurred 10 years ago last Saturday.
Jason Fry of Faith and Fear in Flushing makes a reluctant address to Mets fans, in which he throws his support to the Phillies.
…go, Angels… the ALCS isn’t over yet… don’t make me choose…
In a post for Bleacher Report, Lou Cappetta looks at the holes on the Mets roster, and how they can be filled.
Lastly, for some non-sports reading, check out VaynerMedia, where Matt Sitomer explains The Concorde Fallacy in Business and Life.
Tagged News |
Last week, Adam Rubin of the Daily News, the Mets are close to naming Tim Teufel as manager of their Double-A team, with Wally Backman soon replacing Teufel as Single-A St. Lucie’s manager.
Yesterday, Teufel told the Greenwich Times, “It isn’t official, but it’s 99-percent finalized.”
According to Teufel, he hopes to eventually manage in the Major Leagues, adding:
“For me, it’s an opportunity to move up to a higher brand of baseball and be with some of the same ballplayers, so there’s a lot of familiarity… It’s another step on the path to the ultimate goal.”
Teufel has worked on and off in the Mets organization since 2001, ranging in positions from manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones and Single-A St. Lucie to roving hitting instructor to representing the Mets at last season’s amateur draft.
Tagged News, Twitter |
