January 2010

In a post to Caught Lookin’, Matt Silvestri wonders why the Mets can’t move Luis Castillo.

Meanwhile, Jed from New York Baseball Digest thinks Mets prospect Ike Davis has a chance at contributing at the big league level this year.

Kevin from Chemetsry gives his reasons as to why John Smoltz would make sense for the Mets.

Finally, Kerel from On the Black is wondering how many stolen bases you think Jose Reyes will have in 2010.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Today is the last day of January, which means we are entering the month baseball makes it’s return.

While I’m cautiously optimistic about the Mets, I am also excited.

Matt has said it before, and I agree – this current group of Mets should be in contention throughout the 2010 season, provided they remain healthy. They have a fantastic group of talent as part of their core, and I think guys like Henry Blanco and Frank Catalanotto will help enhance their abilities and hopefully lead them on a path to success.

I’m looking forward to seeing the progress of Jose Reyes and Johan Santana this February, as well as many of the young players like Wilmer Flores, Ike Davis, Jennry Mejia, and Fernando Martinez.

Most importantly, it’s been a long off-season, so I am looking forward to seeing baseball.

I will be at Tradition Field photographing and blogging with my fiancee on February 20, and again with my dad on February 27 who is making his first trip to Tradition Field.

If you are around and you would like to meet up on February 20, I have provided a “Facebook Event” here where you can RSVP.

Hope Springs Eternal, so Let’s Go Mets!

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

In a report in today’s Daily News, Anthony McCarron breaks down the remaining possible starting pitching options for the Mets.

McCarron takes a look at RHP John Smoltz, LHP Jarrod Washburn, LHP Hisanori Takahashi, RHP Braden Looper, LHP Erik Bedard, RHP Pedro Martinez, RHP Chien-Ming Wang, and possibly trading for either Aaron Harang or Bronson Arroyo.

…all i know is if the Mets were to re-acquire Looper, they would have to evaluate their scoreboards to make sure they can get the never ending “O” to go around the Citi Field bowl, like they did in Shea Stadium when he was their closer in 2004 and 2005…he pitched the entire 2005 season with a shoulder injury and despite his struggles, he never said a word and went out there and did his best, and even though he should have spoken up about the injury, i admire his will…

…i think Arroyo is the safest bet for the rotation out of these possible options, but so far, there hasn’t been much movement towards a trade with the Reds, although earlier in the month there were some rumors that a trade could be made…if the Mets ultimately can’t swing a deal with the Reds, i think the guys that interest me the most are Wang and Bedard, and i’d lean towards Bedard because he is lefty, and has pitched more recently than Wang…then again, Wang knows New York and has pitched in the postseason here, so he might be a better fit in that regard…if healthy, i believe both Wang and Bedard could be top of the rotation arms…

On Friday, Jayson Stark of ESPN said that both the Orioles and Bedard were interested in a possible reunion, which you can read about here, but on January 9, Orioles GM Andy McPhail told Rosh Kubatko of MASN Bedard was in no rush to sign, saying he could sign by late January, at best.

Earlier this morning, in a post to Twitter, Jon Heyman of SI.com said he heard Wang would join a team on one of the coasts.

Bedard made just 15 starts for the Mariners last season, but went 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA, striking out 90 batters in 83 innings.

…i think the risk at this point with Bedard is not whether or not he is injured right now, but how long he will go before he gets injured…i think a tandem with he and Johan would be downright nasty if both are healthy, and i like the matchup in the division of possibly both of those guys going against Adam Dunn, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley…

…i think if the Mets plan right now is to have Fernando Nieve and Jon Niese audition for the fifth starter spot, why not add a level of depth and take a chance on either Wang or Bedard…while there is a ton of risk with both, there is tremendous potential if they are healthy and worst case scenario is Niese or Nieve end up in the rotation anyway…

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Due to server difficulties, you might have had some problems downloading these images.

If you were unable to download these images, please try again.

Original Post, 12:06 pm on January 30:

At the request of numerous MetsBlog readers, I have created some desktop wallpaper images out of my photo collection of various Mets players, Shea Stadium and Citi Field, as well as other stadiums from around the league.

To download those images, click here.

By the way, if you’re interested, check out my “Mets Photo of the Day” every week day on Twitter.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

According to Ben Goessling of MASN, Nationals outfielder Adam Dunn said Washington is the prefered destination of free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson.

Dunn, who’s agent also represents Hudson, told reporters “from his point, this is where [Hudson] wants to be” and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said he is in contact with Hudson as well as several other players, but Goessling says both Hudson and the Nationals are trying to workout a contract.

…like Matt has said over and over again, it would have just made baseball sense for the Mets to sign Hudson and bench Castillo…i understand why the Mets can’t just do that, as there are about six millions reasons for it, but management proclaimed in October they would improve their pitching, speed, and defense, and signing Hudson, even if it’s for one year, goes a long way towards reaching that goal, and i believe it’s worth paying Hudson and possibly Castillo at the same time if it means they can improve at the position…

For more on Hudson, Dunn, and the rest of the Nationals, check out Goessling’s report here.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

James over at Amazin’ Avenue says “Don’t criticize Omar for the sake of criticizing.”

Meanwhile, Adam, the Brooklyn Met Fan hates to say it, but he feels the Mets should sign Chien-Ming Wang.

…i am beginning to agree with you, Adam…i think if he’s healthy, he has the capability of being a very solid starter and potentially the number two arm they seek, although he hasn’t pitched a full season since 2007 and is coming off foot and arm problems…

Kevin, from the NY Hot Corner, has the scoop on Cuban RHP Yuniesky Maya from Jorge Arangure of ESPN, who says he hasn’t been declared a Major League free agent as of yet.

…great job on this, Kevin…that answers the question as to why we haven’t heard much about him lately…

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

According to Peter Keepnews of the New York Times, the original Shea Stadium organist, Jane Jarvis, has died at the age of 94.

According to Keepnews, Jarvis began her career as a jazz pianist and started playing at baseball stadiums in 1956 with the Milwaukee Braves, and then moved onto the Mets when they opened Shea Stadium in 1964, and she was a mainstay until 1979.

For more on Jarvis, check out the Times obituary here.

…hat tip to the Mets Police for the link…

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

According to the Associated Press, KeySpan Park, the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones will receive a new name this season, as the “KeySpan” name no longer exists.

KeySpan was purchased by National Grid PLC in 2007, and considering that, National Grid Executive Vice President John Caroselli said “it was an opportunity for both parties to discuss other options.”

For more, check out the Associated Press article, in Newsday, here.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

In a recent report for the Daily News, Adam Rubin said the Mets will not have Bobby Parnell audition for a spot in the starting rotation.

Parnell told Rubin:

“I don’t have a burning desire to be a starter, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be a starter. If I’m in the bullpen I look at it as a learning opportunity for later on…”

Instead, according to Jerry Manuel, the Mets will have Fernando Nieve audition for a spot in the rotation.

…i think we saw last year that at least right now, Parnell’s upside is as a reliever and i think with his velocity, he can be a very solid arm late in games for the Mets this year…i thought he was a bit overused early in the season in 2009 and he tired quickly, so the responsibility of course is on the starters to improve their efficiency and longevity so they can rest guys like Parnell in the bullpen…but i’ve been saying that for a few years now…

…i’m surprised, considering the Mets have yet to bring in another starter, that Manuel didn’t mention Jon Niese as a candidate, but then again, it’s possible they feel his surgically-repaired hamstring might not be ready by the time the season starts…

In eight appearances with the Mets in 2009, the 27 year old Nieve went 3-3 with a surprising 2.95 ERA, but walked 19 batters and struck out 23 in 36 2/3 innings before he sustained a season ending hamstring injury on July 19 in Atlanta.

In five appearances and four starts in the Venezuelan Winter League, Nieve went 1-2 with a 2.42 ERA, walking just three batters and striking out 26 in 26 innings.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

The Mariners announced today that they have signed free-agent OF Eric Byrnes to a one-year deal.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }