Monthly Archives: December 2009
I started MetsBlog.com in 2003, as an out-of-market Mets fan, going to school in Washington, DC. It was a project for college, but it also was a way for me to stay in touch with what was going on with the Mets, since I couldn’t listen to WFAN, watch games on TV, or talk with other fans.
I never thought I’d be writing the blog as a full-time job seven years later. I love every minute of it, and can’t thank you enough for continuing to read and support my work.
The site had a slight dip in traffic during September, for obvious reasons, but rebounded, and even doubled in readership during December, during which I’m pace to log nearly six million page views, which is roughly a 80 percent growth from last December. In fact, according to Google, 57,000 unique, individual people read MetsBlog.com on Tuesday, when news emerged that Jason Bay agreed to a deal with the Mets.
I get tons of angry e-mails from people, criticizing me for all sorts of things, others support my work just as passionately; but, in the end, I think what sustains me in writing MetsBlog.com is knowing we all essentially agree on the same thing, which is that you and I both want the Mets to win a Championship – we may disagree on the best ways for them to do this, but we all agree on the goal.
So, here’s to hopefully seeing this team attain that goal in 2010, and thank you for supporting me and MetsBlog.com over the last six years.
Let’s Go Mets, and Happy New Year.
According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the D-Backs are still looking to trade C Chris Snyder.
Snyder, who hit 16 HR in 2008, but missed 100 games due to back surgery in 2009, will earn at least $11.5 million over the next two seasons, after which he can be made a free agent.
Gilbert says the D-Backs had a deal in place to send Snyder to Toronto in return for 1B Lyle Overbay, “but the Blue Jays backed out due to concerns about Snyder’s surgically repaired back.”
In early November, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Mets approached Arizona about swapping Snyder for 2B Luis Castillo, “but that initial foray proved unsuccessful.”
…there was a point there where the Mets were working hard to trade castillo, and also exploring the trade market for catchers, but i have a feeling that ship has sailed… from what i can tell, the only contract swap the Mets could realistically make for castillo would be for Gary Matthews Jr., and any team looking for a second baseman would sooner sign Felipe Lopez or Orlando Hudson, or one of the other free-agents begging for a job…
…as for catcher, i think it’s pretty clear at this point, the free-agent market is at a place where the Mets could probably get Rod Barajas or Bengie Molina on a deal they see as affordable… frankly, i’d rather Ryan Doumit or Dioner Navarro, but those guys will cost prospects, whereas molina and barajas will only cost cash, and so, for a team like the Mets who are trying to protect every minor leaguer they have, i can see why the free-agent catcher makes the most sense…
In a post to Mets Underground, Eli from Brooklyn asks why David Wright, and not Jose Reyes or Johan Santana, is the Face of the Franchise.
…well, it’s just an expression… it’s not like there is an actual Face to the franchise… so, i think wright was the face last season, because, well, he was the only face there at many points… in 2006 and 2007, when they were clicking, i think reyes and wright were presented to the public in the same way, together, as a sort of Faces of the Franchise type thing, because they were young, home-grown, every-day players, and All Stars, and that was the best scenario… hopefully, the Mets get back to that, which would mean both players stay healthy and return to form…
According to Ed from Mets Merized, Jason Bay is Kevin McReynolds.
…ugh… please, don’t say that…
Speaking of Bay, if you want to get to know him, read Kerel Cooper’s post to On the Black.
In response to me posting my 1986 Mets Pennant last night, Shannon from Mets Police posts his.
…that second one is awesome, shannon… what does it say on the scroll…
Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing looks back at the Age of Mike Piazza.
Lastly, the Daily Stache is debuting a new message board.
In a report for the Daily News, Anthony McCarron talks with Sean Casey about Jason Bay, who reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with the Mets earlier this week.
Casey, who played with Bay on the Pirates and Red Sox, told McCarron:
“That team really needs a guy like that, a gamer, a guy who comes to play every night, to rub off on guys who are maybe thinking about their stats… Sometimes when you watch the Mets, you think it’s a bunch of individuals, and this guy is a role model of someone who grinds it out every day.”
To read more from Casey, including advice to him from Mike Piazza regarding how to succeed in baseball in New York City, as well as his thoughts on Bay’s defense, check out McCarron’s report, here.
Speaking of Bay, Rob Neyer of ESPN.com and Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports were quite critical of Mets GM Omar Minaya’s efforts yesterday; and SNY’s Ted Berg of TedQuarters disagrees, to a point.
Similarly, Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest takes issue with the Boston media’s reaction to Bay reportedly signing with the Mets.
Lastly, James from Amazin Avenue is asking fans to predict Bay’s defensive stats for 2010.
Cubs GM Jim Hendry told the Chicago Sun-Times he expects Carlos Zambrano to return to his team in 2010, and be the same ‘old Big Z.’
…that may be, but any one i have talked with around baseball has no doubt the Cubs have talked to teams about potentially trading him… which is not to say they will… but, word is they’ve certainly asked…
In the Daily News, Anthony McCarron says, “A baseball official with knowledge of the Mets thinking shot down a recent radio report that the the team was nearing a two-year deal with free agent catcher Bengie Molina.”
Earlier this week, 1050 ESPN Radio said the Mets were close to signing Molina to a two-year deal.
Instead, Mike Puma of the New York Post cites a team who source who feels Mets GM Omar Minaya could acquire a starting pitcher before acquiring a new catcher.
…i believe the Mets will wait out molina as long as they have to, because they feel confident they can beat any other offer he gets, and still end up feeling it was a bargain… and they’re probably right… of course, the problem isn’t the money, it’s the player… anyway… i also feel the Mets are are working the trade market for a starting pitcher, while continuing to try to trade Luis Castillo… i think they prefer to trade players and rotate salary in an attempt to acquire a new starting pitcher, who would only be under contract next season, or one season after that, but will turn to the free-agent market if they absolutely have to, hoping to sign someone to a short-term deal…
…personally, i think they also need to acquire a platoon-partner for Daniel Murphy… i trust murphy can handle the job… but, the Mets need a back-up plan just in case… free-agent Ryan Garko makes sense… as do others…
…the buzz from Puerto Rico is that Carlos Delgado suffered a set-back, connected to his hip, but is working hard to get back on the field during the first week or so of January, to showcase whether or not he’s capable of being ready and 100 percent by Opening Day…
…things will be quiet the next few days… but, i expect it to pick up big-time next week…
Chad Jennings of the Journal News talked with Yankees Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations Mark Newman, who said free-agent Cuban RHP Aroldis Chapman was not where Stephen Strasburg was, when Chapman threw a bullpen session earlier this month in front of 15 to 25 teams, including the Mets.
Newman said Chapman showed off a ‘huge fastball,’ ‘spotty command,’ and ‘inconsistent secondary pitches.’
In the event Chapman ended up on the Yankees, he says they would begin his career in Single-A or Double-A, noting, “Wherever it is he pitches, he needs to be comfortable and he needs to work on the command and secondary pitches. And when he gets that, he’s going to take off.”
Yesterday, the San Francisco Chronicle said the A’s are in the thick of the bidding for Chapman; as are the Marlins, who made him an offer last week, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
The Cardinals and free-agent OF Matt Holliday are working towards a new contract, and it’s ‘gaining momentum,’ reports Derrick Gould of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Jon Heyman of SI.com said Holliday rejected a deal worth at least six years from the Cardinals at some point over the last few weeks.
According to Heyman, “Holliday is still talking to multiple teams.”
Updated at 6:38 pm:
According to the Baltimore Sun, “Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail vehemently denied a report that said the club had made an eight-year, $130 million offer to Holliday.”
Updated at 2:39 pm:
Tracy Ringolsby of FoxSports.com believes the Cardinals have made an eight-year offer to free-agent OF Matt Holliday, which could be worth up to $140 million.
Similarly, Ringolsby says the Orioles made an eight-year, $130 million offer to Holliday.
Troy Renck of the Denver Post believes the Rockies are likely to sign free-agent C Miguel Olivo to a one-year deal.
Original Post at
The Rockies are working on finalizing a contract with Olivo, according to FoxSports.com.
In early December, ESPN.com said the Rockies and Torrealba were getting close to agreeing on a two-year contract; but talks were put on hold, as the two sides disagreed over the value of the deal.
Olivo hit .249 with 23 HR and 15 doubles in 114 games for the Royals last season.
In case you missed it, from last month, check out Dan’s photos on Mets Police from the Ticker Tape Parade in New York City 1986 celebrating the Mets World Championship.
…amazing work, dan… i can’t imagine what that much have been like… hopefully some day soon i’ll get a chance to find out… by the way, ya gotta love the white hats, mustaches, sunglasses, blue jackets, racing stripe uniforms and white sneaker look… god bless the 80s…
Updated at 7:55 pm:
…i was going through boxes tonight, and found my old 1986 Pennant, which couldn’t be more dusty… i think i’m gonna tack it up to the cork board in my office…
