Daily Archives: November 18, 2009
This afternoon, I visited a Mets Clubhouse Shop and I spoke to the salesperson regarding the new Mets home jersey for 2010.
The new jerseys have arrived at the store and according to the salesperson, the Mets will be introducing a new, cream colored and pinstriped jersey for the 2010 season, and the jersey is expected to go on sale November 27.
As Matt said earlier this week, the new jersey resembles the one worn by the Mets in the 1960′s, and the team will be eliminating their current white pinstriped jersey with the black shadow.
…you can now get an authentic pinstriped jersey with the Citi Field Inaugural Season patch on sale for $90, which i don’t think is such a bad deal…
In addition, the jersey will have the players’ last name on the back and it will also be a “Cool Base” model, which is the new mesh jersey that teams have been wearing for the last few seasons, and the same material used for their batting practice jersey.
Tagged News |
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Red Sox manager Terry Francona was asked on WEEI radio today about whether his team needs a bat or a pitcher, to which he said, “Every time Theo talks to me, I always say get a pitcher.”
Francona said he considers free-agent John Lackey to be an ace.
Meanwhile, ESPN.com asks, “If Boston settles on Lackey to avoid trading valuable talent, could that leave Roy Halladay to the Yankees?”
Speaking of which, in a post to his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Andrew Marchand explains why the Mets would better off signing Lackey, than trading young talent to get Halladay from Toronto.
According to Marchand, “If the Mets’ signed Lackey, 31, they would go into nearly 40 percent of their games with the superior starter.”
Last week, David Lennon of Newsday said the Mets intend to heavily pursue Lackey this winter.
In a post to Mets Police, Shannon asks five questions in an unofficial survey fans.
Here are my answers:
I started following the Mets in 1985.
I have three favorite memories:
- 1) Refusing to go to bed, at my mom’s request, with the Mets down two runs in the bottom of the 10th in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
- 2) In the stands, the moment after Shawon Dunston singled, following a zillion foul balls, in the 15th inning of Game 5 in the 1999 NLCS, after which my friend, Johnny, and I simultaneously said, ‘They’re gonna win this game.’
- 3) Being able to go on field, and throw a mock pitch from the mound in Shea Stadium, following the ballparks final game, and know what it might have felt like to pitch there.
Unfortunately, my worst experience as a Mets fan is also on the final day of Shea Stadium. The season ended, falling short of the playoffs, again, and then having to say goodbye. It still doesn’t feel like it ended right. I am not sure it ever will.
If I could change one thing about the Mets, it would be to have them dedicate themselves to valuing Hustle, Dedication, Intelligence and Teamwork, and providing a true choice for New York baseball fans, Power and Privilege in the Bronx, Hustle and Teamwork in Queens.
If I magically owned the Mets, without having paid a dime for it, tomorrow I would start exploring how to make it a non-profit, community-owned organization.
Update, 4:46 pm:
The Brewers claimed Kottaras, according to the Milwuakee Journal-Sentinel.
Original Post:
Tommy Rancel of DRaysBay explains why now might be the time for the Rays to explore trading 1B Carlos Pena, who will earn $10 million next season, after which he can be a free agent.
The Red Sox have released 26–year-old C George Kottaras, making him a free agent, according to WEEI Radio.
Kottaras hit .237 with a .308 OBP, one HR and 10 RBI for the Red Sox in 2009, serving mostly as Tim Wakefield’s personal catcher.
Lastly, FoxSports.com believes the Mets are likely to be among teams who are interested in free-agent Marco Scutaro to be their starting second baseman.
In 144 games for the Blue Jays, most all of which he played at shortstop, he hit .282 with a .379 OBP, 48 extra base hits, 60 RBI and 14 stolen bases, while making the All Star team for the first time in his career.
He has also played second base, third, first base and left field.
The 34–year-old Scutaro was signed off waivers by the Mets in 2002, for whom he hit .218 in 75 games between 2002 and 2003. He was later released, and signed as a free agent with the A’s.
n a post to Mets Minor League Blog, Toby Hyde talks with 23–year-old Mets prospect Reese Havens about his switch to playing second base in the Arizona Fall League, during which he is batting .276 in eight games.
He hit .247 with a .361 OBP in 97 games with Single-A St. Lucie this season, where he finished sixth in the Florida State League with 14 home runs.
…when he was drafted, there was talk among people who follow the minor leagues that havens might eventually switch to catcher or second base… so, i’m glad to finally see the switch is on, especially considering, at this point, with just a few games under his belt, he might be their best second base prospect…
To see video of Havens in action, and read Hyde’s analysis of him, at the plate and in the field, click here.
The Los Angeles Times believes the Mets are among 12 teams who have expressed interest in signing 
free-agent Mark DeRosa, according to the player’s agent, Keith Grunewald.
That said, FoxSports.com believes the Phillies are the favorite to sign DeRosa, who is looking for a multi-year deal, according Grunewald.
The 33–year-old DeRosa had surgery in late October to repair a torn tendon sheath on his left wrist.
He hit .250 with 23 HR, 23 doubles and 78 RBI in 139 games for the Indians and the Cardinals.
…i see derosa’s name mention a lot among Mets fans… he’s an interesting player, for sure, as he can play third base and both corner outfield positions… the word last summer, before he was traded, was that, yes, he can physically stand on the infield, manning second base and first base, but to call him an everyday option in these spots would be a stretch… and so, for the Mets, it seem he might fit more as an all-purpose fill in, platooning on occasion with Daniel Murphy, starting against left-handed pitchers, while playing some left field, right, filling in for David Wright at third, and, if need be, playing second or shortstop in a pinch… basically, everything but catcher, pitcher and center field…
…for him, though, i would think locking in a starting job, at his primary position, third base, for the National League champion Phillies has got to be his first option…
The following is a video message to Mets fans from Wally Backman, new manager of the Class-A Brooklyn Cyclones:
To see video of Backman’s press conference yesterday, go to SNY.TV.
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, “The Yankees recently called the Blue Jays to express interest in superstar pitcher Roy Halladay.”
…like i said earlier in the week, from what i can gather, the Yankees have told the Jays they will include Phil Hughes in a deal for halladay, as well as one of Austin Jackson or Jesus Montero… i have no idea what that means in terms of what the Mets would need to offer to beat it…
Last night, Toronto reporter Jordan Bastian of MLB.com said the Blue Jays will grant an exclusive window for a team to negotiate a contract extension with Halladay, “if it means the return is significantly greater.”
“He could use his no-trade clause as a way to get a Santana or Sabathia deal,” a GM told Heyman, meaning $23 million a year.
In the end, Heyman lists the Yankees and Red Sox as the two teams most likely to acquire Halladay, followed in order by the Blue Jays, i.e., not trade him at all, then the Phillies, Angels and, lastly, the Mets, of whom he writes:
“They’ve said they’ll look into. But eventually, the likelihood is that they won’t want to dedicate $46 million to two pitchers when they have other holes to fill.”
…frankly, i’m still unsure of how i hope the Mets deal with all of this… i am very, very leery of locking in another $23 million to a 32–year-old pitcher, who will throw the bulk of his innings, and earn the bulk of his money, in his late 30s, in which you have to think his best years will have been behind him… plus, to do that, the Mets will need to trade a ton of minor leaguers… and so, something feels off about it all… that said, it is hard to ignore having a few seasons of halladay and santana, together, with Francisco Rodriguez in the bullpen… that’s pretty serious…
To read more from Heyman, who also writes about what it will take to trade for Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Marlins 2B Dan Uggla, Royals 1B Mike Jacobs, Tigers OF Curtis Granderson, check out his report for SI.com, here.
Yesterday at Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, the Class-A Cyclones introduced Wally Backman as their new manager.
In an intriguing report for MLB.com, Marty Noble says players like Tom Glavine and Billy Wagner told Jeff Wilpon they were offended by how their team’s young players seemed to accept losing.
…well, i don’t like hearing that one bit…
“So,” Noble explains, “the Mets were delighted when Jeff Francoeur became available and when Daniel Murphy wore his grit on his sleeve … and when Backman contacted Wilpon in September, looking for work.”
Yesterday, in his interview with WFAN, which you can listen to here, Backman said, while it is true his goal is to develop minor leaguers to become major leaguers, his job is also to teach them how to win.
“I will tell you this: winning is developing,” Backman told reporters yesterday, while wearing his 1986 World Championship ring. “You have to learn how to win before you can go anywhere or accomplish anything as a player… When I was in New York, we took winning and losing personally… I’d like to have 30 guys that played like I played: hard.”
In a post to his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Mets reporter Rich Coutinho says, “If the Mets get off to a rocky start, Jerry Manuel could be replaced, and unless the Mets want to ante up for the high-priced Bobby Valentine, Backman could be the guy that would provide the type of fiery field manager many feel the team needs.”
That said, though he is excited to have him back in the organization, Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach to Backman’s ability to be a Major-League manager.
Speaking of which, Backman and Manuel already have a history competing for work, which you can read more about in the Daily News.
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