Daily Archives: December 11, 2009
In the Daily News, John Harper says, “Mets season-ticket sales are coming in more slowly than expected.”
In his report, Harper talks to Jeff Wilpon by phone about the Mets off-season approach towards improving their team, as well as accusations that the team has no intention of spending money this off season.
“I don’t think anybody can say that right now, at this point in the offseason,” Wilpon told Harper. “When we get to Opening Day, let’s see what the team looks like, and then people can judge.”
According to Harper, “In the last couple of days the Mets have suddenly shown more interest in the top free agents on the market.”
…suddenly… really… i mean, it’s the middle of December… the off season has been underway for seven weeks, and Pitchers and Catchers report in eight, how much longer should they have waited…
Yesterday, news that the Mets made offers to free-agents Bengie Molina and Jason Bay was made public on WFAN by reporter Mike Francesa, who repeatedly referred to his information as ‘fact.’
In a post to his blog today for the Daily News, Bill Price questions the team’s motives and writes:
“I read the situation as someone with Met ties were letting their fans know – through Francesa – that they do mean business… It could be a source hooking up Francesa, but I think it was someone trying to generate some positive buzz on the heels of the Yanks dominating the headlines at the winter meetings… It’s nice that they made the offer to Bay, but now that the world knows they made the offer, they better be willing to do whatever it takes to get Bay or – once again – end up looking foolish.”
…i think we need to stop questioning motive and just wait and see what actually happens…
…i’m not saying i think it’s total coincidence that news of the Mets making offers to molina and bay hit on air, during the city’s number one drive-time radio show, on the final day of a quiet Winter Meetings, while news of slow season-ticket sales emerged… i get that… i understand how public relations works… i’m just saying, isn’t it also possible the team actually wants molina and bay, and it’s not just a ploy to show the appearance of action… perhaps it is actually action for the sake of acting, you know, ‘acting with acting,’ because they’d like to be better… i don’t know of their motives, nor do i care… i just want them to make the right move… why they make it doesn’t necessarily matter… and, the thing is, i am not a huge fan of molina, and i prefer Matt Holliday to bay… so, to me, this news is disappointing, not because of why or when, but because of the who…
Jeff Francoeur told Mark Hale of the New York Post the recovery from ligament surgery in his thumb is slower than he thought, but is set to hit off a tee by January 1.
…having had a similar injury, i can say it can be a long and painful recovery, but i would expect he will be fine by the start of Spring Training…
Meanwhile, with regards of possibly acquiring Jason Bay, Francoeur told Hale:
“”It would be nice…I think you’d be looking at a pretty good lineup one-through-nine.”
With regards to Bay’s ability to handle New York, Francoeur said:
“Boston’s a tough town to play in…I think he’s going to be fine if we could end up landing him.”
With regards to signing Bengie Molina, Francoeur thinks it would be a “good transition as far as having him catch our guys.”
…i don’t question Molina’s ability behind the plate, and he would likely be a good offensive upgrade to what the Mets had in 2008 and 2009…i simply question the dollars and years it appears they are willing to offer him, and the fact they have a guy like Josh Thole who could be close to being a full time starting catcher…
For more on Francoeur, check out Hale’s article here.
Jed from New York Baseball Digest think’s Jason bay would be a perfect fit for the Mets.
Paul from Mets Fans Forever is thankful things finally appear to be in motion for the Mets.
Kerel Cooper, in a post to his blog On the Black, shares a Q&A with Rockies Blogger Andrew Fisher from Purple Row about free-agent RHP Jason Marquis.
Finally, if you have time, please vote on my Mets Photo of the Week on Twitter, here.
Joel Sherman, in a report in today’s New York Post, wonders if the Mets offer to Jason Bay is genuine, or a response to lagging ticket sales and screaming fans, asking “was this an offer designed as a first step to more negotiations or an offer designed to be rejected, but also to get the Mets the positive feedback of being linked to a top player?”
…there is still no way to know who the Mets are going to acquire this off-season, but i can’t believe the Mets would make this offer to Bay, which is currently higher than any other known offer, just for the sake of appeasing people…i have to think an aggressive offer like this is with the intent to sign the player, although it’s not clear as to whether or not the Mets will raise this offer…
…i think it’s easy for everyone to be antsy, given the results last year and the lack of movement so far this winter, but with the exception of the Yankees there have been very few major signings and trades, and all of the big free agents are still available…
If the Mets were to land Bay, Sherman says the Mets would then try to make a deal with a second-tier free agent such as Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Jason Marquis, or Joel Pineiro, but if they are unable to land Bay, they would turn their attention towards John Lackey.
…while i wouldn’t be upset with the Mets acquiring either Holliday or Bay, there is something about Lackey and Johan Santana putting together somewhere in the ballpark of 36 wins that is comforting to me, and acquiring Lackey would allow Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, and Oliver Perez to pitch in a spot i think they belong, which is lower in the rotation…
On Wednesday, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Mets would look to sign one of Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, or John Lackey.
…management has been saying for the better part of two months that the team will be involved in the bigger free agents this winter, and this offer to Bay is an indication of that…given that Omar has acquired premier talent through trade or free agency every year of his tenure, i believe he will be doing the same this winter…
The Mets were the only team to draft four or more players in the Triple-A Phase of yesterday’s Rule 5 Draft.
The Mets picked RHP John Lujan from the White Sox in the Triple-A phase of yesterday’s Rule 5 Draft.
The 25–year-old Lujan was 3-5 with a 4.45 ERA in Double-A last season, while striking out 51 batters and walking 28 in 58 innings.
Later in the Triple-A Phase of the Draft, the Mets picked 27–year-old 1B Marshall Hubbard, who had been stuck in Double-A the last four seasons.
Lastly, the Mets added two pitchers from the Padres, RHP Rolando Valdez and LHP Orlando Lara, in the final rounds of the draft.
…i have no idea if any of these players will matter, but, it’s clearly an attempt to add bodies to Triple-A Buffalo, and, who knows, maybe someone will pan out and be a surprise… good luck, gentlemen…
For details on Lujan, Hubbard, Valdez and Lara, as well as two players the team added from the Double-A Phase of the Draft, check out Toby Hyde’s post on Mets Minor League Blog.
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