Daily Archives: November 5, 2009
Chris G sent me the following e-mail:
“Can the Mets possibly stick with Luis Castillo for one more year and put Daniel Murphy in Triple-A for an entire season to learn second base? They can then resign Carlos Delgado at first base, and, either by the end of 2010 or Opening Day 2011, have a brand new right side of the infield in Murphy and Ike Davis? This would also allow Murphy and Davis to get some chemistry playing next to each other in Triple-A next year… This would have to be the most cost-effective solution to the right side of our infield for both next year and the years to come. But, would Delgado sign a one-year contract for cheap? And, do the Mets higher-ups still believe Delgado can be an impact?”
From what I can gather, in 2008, Murphy played second base in the minors and last off season because it was the best way to get him at bats in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League. From what I can tell, the Mets see him at first base or third, but not second, where he did not have the slickest foot work, even though he positioned himself and got to the ball very well.
As for Delgado, I think he will and should want to go to the American League and start the DH-phase of his career. He does himself, and his hip, no favors by playing the field… at this point, he’s valued as a hitter, so he may as well protect that asset.
I hope he signs with a team like the Mariners, or some other mid-market team, where he can hit, collect his paycheck, avoid the spotlight and ride out his career in peace and quiet.
The way I see it, Delgado needs to move on from the Mets; and, more importantly, the Mets locker room needs to move on from Delgado.
Tagged News |
According to the Daily News, the White Sox have agreed to send 2B Chris Getz and 3B Josh Fields to the Royals for infielder Mark Teahen.
Teahen hit .271 in 144 games 
for the Royals in 2009, during which Getz started 100 games for the White Sox at second base, while batting .261.
…i think we’re going to see a lot of trades like this…
Last week, in this post, I mentioned how Buster Olney of ESPN.com explained why, “The arbitration process is now outdated,” as a high-ranking MLB executive told him.
…in case you missed, in that post, i wrote:
…olney makes an excellent point… from what i understand, last july, before the trade deadline, Mark Teahen was discussed a lot, because he fits the mold of what olney is saying, which is, he is a good player, not great, but still with upside, but also due too much money through arbitration the next two seasons for the Royals to justify keeping him around, but enough money for a team like the Mets or Yankees to take a chance on, especially in return for a prospect or two… Jeff Francoeur fit in to this bucket as well, when with the Braves… as does Marlins OF Jeremy Hermida this off season…
In his report, Olney listed Brewers SS J.J. Hardy among two players in a similar situation, and whose contract might get him non-tendered.
For a list of other players who could find themselves non-tendered, and free agents, such as Garrett Atkins, Mike Fontenot, Ryan Garko, Conor Jackson and Delmon Young, check out this October post from MLB Trade Rumors.
Tagged Twitter |Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said in a chat yesterday that the Cardinals and Matt Holliday have discussed a six-year, $96 million contract.
…hat tip to MLB Trade Rumors for finding the link…
…look, the Cardinals are going to work to re-sign holliday… obviously… he’s an awesome player, he did well there, they even hired Mark McGwire, his off-season hitting instructor, to be their batting coach, and what better way to show Albert Pujols how serious they are than to bring back holliday, who they traded top prospects to get… the thing is, holliday can and will likely get more than a six-year, $96 million deal… especially if the Yankees, Red Sox, Braves, Angels and Mets are legitimately roaming around the market place…
…i had one agent predict to me that holliday will sign a seven-year deal, and he’ll likely get a full no-trade clause… he compared holliday’s position in the market place to where Carlos Beltran was in 2005, when he got a seven-year, $119 million deal from the Mets… he believes most teams will prefer to give a five-year deal, there will be talk of an option, but, in the end, boras will get the seventh year for his client, and he will sign with whomever guarantees it… in fact, the agent said he feels holliday will get a very similar deal to what beltran signed years ago, i.e., seven years, $17 million per season…
Last month, in a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff said Holliday’s first choice is to sign with the Yankees, followed by the Mets.
Holliday hit .353 with a .419 OBP, 13 home runs, 16 doubles and 55 RBI in 63 games batting behind Pujols this season, after being acquired by the Cardinals from the A’s in June.
[poll id="308"]
Tagged News, Twitter |
According to Stadium Journey, which toured 29 ballparks this summer, 21 other ballparks are better than Citi Field, including Camden Yards, Turner Field, the new Yankee Stadium and Citizen’s Bank Park.
Now that he won a World Series MVP, is 35 years old and a free agent who can’t play the field, Greg Pomes of Mets Fans Forever wonders if Hideki Matsui will end up on the Mets next season.
According to Lou Di Falco of Never Forget 69, the future can be bright.
Kevin McCarthy of Metsopolis lists five players who need to step up in 2010.
Mack, from Mack’s Mets, takes a look at how Reese Havens moving to second base will impact the team’s other infield prospects.
“Thank God it’s over,” says Matt Pignataro about the World Series, in a post for Seven Train to Shea.
Similarly, Kingman points out the following in a post to Loge 13:
“The Mets open a new stadium. We get a pandemic of injuries, a shirtless assistant GM who challenges minor leaguers to fist fights and a GM who accuses beat reporters of scheming for jobs. The Spankees open a new stadium and win a World Series.”
Lastly, in a post to his Twitter page, here, our friend Mike Nichols writes, “Next person that says the words True Yankee gets a punch in the face.”
…i hear ya, mike… but, this is important, in that, what does it mean to be a True Met… i never hear that expression, do you… but, i hear it all of the time with regards to the Yankees… why…
Tagged News |
David Wright hit .307 with just 10 home runs, 72 RBI and a .390 OBP in 144 games for the Mets in 2009.
In the most recent edition of the Bill James Handbook 2010, using an intricate system of statistical analysis, Bill James projects Wright will hit 22 home runs next season, while batting .302, with 99 RBI.
In last year’s book, James projected Wright would hit .311 with 33 HR, while continuing to be one of the top five young players in MLB.
…i still believe wright’s problems in 2009 were deeper than anything we can totally understand… first, to start the season, it seemed Citi Field got in his head a bit, and, despite how it turned out, the ball was going no place in that building during April… then, everyone on his team got hurt, and he wasn’t getting much to hit, he started pressing, changing his swing and it compounded matters for him… then, for the first time in his career, the season got totally out of hand in mid-summer, the team was losing, he got beaned in the head, mocked for his kazoo-like helmet, and before we could blink, it was over…
…next season will be different, because i have five other years to lean on, and so does he… in June of last year, roughly 300 or so at bats in to the season, he was on pace to hit roughly 50 doubles and drive in 100 runs, while hitting over .350 and contending for a batting title… then reyes got hurt, Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran disappeared, and, in what can’t possibly be a coincidence, wright’s power numbers disappeared as well…
…he is the least of my concerns for 2010… he’s too gifted and too smart to let such a bizarre season carry over and get them best of him…
Additionally, James also projects Jose Reyes will return from injury to hit .285 with 57 stolen bases, 14 home runs, 67 RBI and 113 runs created.
…man, i hope so… it looks to me like james essentially took jose’s brief 36 games in 2009 and extended them out over 162 games, which is totally fine by me… i’d take that line from jose… give me those lines from jose and wright, and a full season from Carlos Beltran, pop that in to last year, and i don’t think we’re having many of the conversations we’ve been having…
Lastly, James projects Jeff Francoeur will hit .276 with 18 home runs, 87 RBI and 75 runs created in 588 at bats.
To see 2010 projections from James for Beltran, John Maine, Johan Santana, and other Mets, go to Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News.
Tagged News |Seriously, thank God that is over…
Yes, it was a well-played World Series between the two best teams in 
the league, and the better team won, and so that is nothing but good for the game.
Congratulations to the Yankees, and my Yankee-fan friends… specifically my wife, who will wear this jacket and this shirt to school today… ugh.
That said, as a Mets fan, this wasn’t easy, I’m glad it’s over, and I look forward to the Hot Stove season, all while knowing there are 106 days until pitchers and catchers.
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