Daily Archives: January 25, 2010
In a post to Twitter, Jon Heyman of SI.com says “if the Mets really do sign Fernando Tatis mostly for first base (his worst position), they should have heads examined.”
…while the statement is a tad harsh, i can’t say i disagree…what made Tatis so good in 2008 was the role he was in, and that was a part time player and pinch hit role…while his numbers weren’t bad in 2009, he played regularly as players became injured and, at least from my perspective, i felt he was overexposed…i think if the Mets were to bring him back, he is better suited in the role he was in two years ago, because i feel the part time role has become the strength of his game…
On Saturday, Mike Puma of the New York Post suggested the Mets might bring Fernando Tatis back as part of a platoon with Daniel Murphy at first base, which you can read about here.
…like i said on Saturday, i think if it comes to Tatis as the option for the platoon, i’d rather see what Murphy can do against lefties…i just don’t know why the Mets would bring in a player and right out of the gate, exploit the weaknesses of his game because ultimately, the team will suffer as a result…
The 35 year old Tatis appeared in 125 games for the Mets in 2009, and in 340 at bats, he hit .282 with eight home runs and 48 RBI, but grounded into 13 double plays.
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Alan Nero, the agent for RHP Chien-Ming Wang, says his client will begin throwing off a mound in the next week or two.
Nero told Rosenthal “we’re anticipating a major-league offer with a substantial guarantee and substantial upside” but is willing to wait for the right offer.
…like Matt, Wang is someone who i like, although i always worry about guys coming off shoulder surgery…if his sinker is sinking he is a ground ball machine and i think he could benefit greatly by being in the National League…i wonder, if he is set to throw off a mound, if he would be ready by opening day, and if so, what is he currently bringing to the table as far as velocity and control are concerned…he hasn’t pitched a full season since 2007 and he melted down that year in the ALDS against Cleveland, so it’s going to be difficult for any team to take such a risk, although, like Sheets, there is a ton of upside with Wang if he’s healthy…
Nero said six teams have requested the medical records for Wang, who will be 30 on Opening Day.
Wang was limited to 12 games and nine starts in 2009 for the Yankees, and went just 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA, and in 2008 he made just 15 starts and went 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA before going down with a foot injury he sustained while running the bases.
Jon Heyman of SI.com does not believe the Mets will acquire Ben Sheets, so they might turn their attention to free agents Jon Garland or Jarrod Washburn.
…it’s not clear whether or not their just isn’t mutual interest, or the Mets are simply not willing to take the risk on Sheets, although of the names mentioned by Heyman i am most intrigued by Sheets…i know Garland is a safe choice, as he will be a reliable arm and give the team innings, but my question is what the quality of those innings will be…
…Washburn had a decent year in 2009, but struggled the three years prior and hasn’t posted a season of 200 innings or more since 2003, and i’m not sure that trend will change considering he is turning 36 in August…
In addition, Heyman believes free agent John Smoltz is still on the Mets radar.
…i really don’t know how the Mets can consider Smoltz for a spot in the rotation…i can certainly see him in a bullpen role but i feel if he is expected to be a starter, his arm is a ticking time bomb and a much bigger risk than Sheets…
…of the choices that remain on the free-agent market, if the Mets are searching for a top of the rotation starter, i have to wonder what they see in any of them other than Sheets…if healthy, Sheets isn’t just a number two starter – he’s an ace and a tandem of he and Johan Santana could be devastating…yes he is a risk and a big one at that, but if they cannot acquire Sheets, i’d almost be happier if the Mets went with what they had and hoped for the best rather than sign a guy who potentially won’t give them any more than what they currently have…
The Mets concluded day one of their three-day mini camp in St. Lucie today.
Johan Santana arrived today and told reporters he is feeling good, and will throw off a mound tomorrow for the first time since having surgery to clean out his elbow.
To hear more from Santana, who talks about Oliver Perez and Kelvim Escobar, as well as the Phillies, who replaced Cliff Lee with Roy Halladay, check out Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News.
To read more from mini camp, including notes from Jerry Manuel’s and Omar Minaya’s talk with reporters, check out Ken Davidoff’s blog for Newsday.
Lastly, to see video from camp, check out Kevin Burkhardt’s reports from St. Lucie for SNY, which will air tonight during SNY’s SportsNite at 10 pm.
Yes, I am also a New York Jets fan. And, I realize, had their schedule been a bit different at the end of the regular season, the Jets could have been an 8–8 team, who missed the playoffs; as opposed to a 9–7 team, who made it to the AFC Championship game.
That said, in either scenario, Jets fans would have ended the year content, just as they are today, while feeling confident about the general direction of their favorite pro-football franchise.
I talk with people in the Mets organization on a regular basis, and to a person, I always hear essentially the same thing, which is, ‘We were so injured last season, and if every one returns, and if we win 90 games and get to the playoffs, all of sudden people won’t be so critical and all will be right for the Mets and Citi Field.’
This is true, no question. The problem is, that’s a whole lot of ifs, and it doesn’t inspire confidence.
The Mets can learn from the Jets, who, regardless of whether they made the AFC Championship game, turned on a dime and immediately changed the attitude of their fans, who are notorious for being among the most pessimistic, paranoid fans in sports… and, if ever there was a team who needs to change the attitude of its fanbase, it’s the Mets.
This is not to say the Mets must replicate how the Jets went about things. However, the Jets are proof that significant changes, from top to bottom, including an overall, on-field attitude and philosophy, all wrapped in an organic group of talent, can inspire fans and reignite interest.
For instance, in 1998, the Jets also made the AFC Championship game and lost. However, Jets fans left that game with their heads in their hands, lamenting how the team blew it’s one chance for a Super Bowl, because we all knew it was occurring on borrowed time; since the coach, quarterback, running back and others were all aging mercenaries, who already had success on other teams. This time around, though, it’s an organic product, with young talent and management, who we believe will only get better with time. In fact, losing yesterday feels not like an ending, but the beginning of something new and exciting.
The most important thing the Jets did, though, was how clearly they identified a new philosophy, i.e., they repeatedly said they wanted to be a tough, aggressive, hard-nosed team, who would run the ball and be a top-rated defense, and then they found a coach who was consistent and believed in that mindset, and then acquired and drafted players to carry it out. The fans were made very aware, early on, what the team wanted to be, and more or less every subsequent move from that point forward supported that goal. And so, even when the team was struggling, Jets fans could unite knowing what was going on, and where their team was headed. Obviously, eventually the Jets must win, otherwise fans will again tune out. But, for now, the Jets have us right where they want us, believing and buying tickets.
The Mets, on the other hand, talk in vague terms. I mean, shouldn’t every team want pitching, speed and defense… add hitting and catching and they just described baseball… the game… in it’s absolute basic form. Instead, the Mets need to learn from the Jets, and create a more specific organizational philosophy, with values consistent with its talent, management, Ownership, minor leagues and ballpark, so that we, the fans, can be excited and confident in the direction they are heading, and so we too can believe again… and return to buying tickets.
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes the Mets are no longer considered the front-runners to sign free-agent RHP Ben Sheets, who did not pitch during 2009, as he recovered from elbow surgery.
He was 13–9 with 158 strikeouts and a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts in 2008.
In a report earlier today for SI.com, Heyman quoted a team executive who Sheets is seeking $8 million guaranteed.
Last weekend, Buster Olney of ESPN.com said the Mets and A’s might be in the best position to be aggressive for Sheets, ‘based on the agents perception of who has money this late in the winter.’
Instead, Heyman says the battle for Sheets could come down to the A’s, Rangers and Mariners.
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Frankie Piliere of AOL FanHouse lists three Mets minor leaguers on his list of the Top 100 Prospects for 2010.
Piliere ranks 20-year-old Jenrry Mejia No. 23 overall, with OF Fernando Martinez dropping to No. 33, and IB Ike Davis entering the list at No. 58.
In regards to Mejia, Piliere says:
“He looks like of one of the most exciting pitching prospects the Mets have had in quite some time. He can reach the upper 90s with his fastball and has learned to pitch effectively and more frequently with his secondary pitches. The Mets will try to take it slow with this powerful young arm. We could see him in 2011.”
Earlier this month, in a Top 20 Mets Prospects post for Minor League Ball, John Sickels ranked Mejia as the team’s top prospect.
In a report last October for ESPN.com, Keith Law said, if Mejia can command his pitches better, and throw his curve ball more often, “he’s a potential No. 1 or No. 2 starter.”
Mejia was 0–5 with a 4.47 ERA in 10 starts and 47 strike outs in 44 innings at Double-A.
Speaking of prospects, Jonathan Mayo and John Hart will host the Top 50 Prospects Countdown on the MLB Network on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 8:00 pm.
In a recent report for SI.com, Jon Heyman quotes a team executive who said free-agent RHP Ben Sheets is seeking $8 million guarenteed.
He says the Mets, A’s and Rangers have shown interest in Sheets
Original Post at 1:28 pm:
Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes the A’s are trying to sign Sheets, as they have available cash on hand, though they’re also considering free-agent OF Johnny Damon.
…from what i can gather, the A’s, and other teams, have talked to sheets about a one-year deal, worth around $7 million, with lots of incentives, and an option for a second season… the Mets are definitely interested… i think at first they were not eager, but the minute Joel Pineiro signed with the Angels, i think that changed… however, i heard from one person who knows the market well who feels, for the Mets to sign sheets, they might have to guarantee a second season…
…to be honest, i wouldn’t be against that… i mean, i’d make the second season similar to the first, in terms of guaranteed money and incentives… but, if he meets the quota in year one, i’d have no problem saying the second year could be guaranteed at, say, $12 million or so, but that’s only if he makes, say, 32 starts in year one…
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com says Sheets has yet to decide whether he will throw for interested teams again, like he did last week.
…the buzz in baseball is saying sheets would prefer to ink a deal this week, before having to throw a second session… but, if he has to throw, he will… which could mean we might see news on him sooner than later…
Ken Davidoff, who is blogging from Tradition Field for Newsday, said Jon Niese pitched from a mound today for the first time since having season-ending surgery on his hamstring last summer.
Niese told Davidoff he is on track to be 100 percent healthy by Opening Day.
Niese let up seven runs in 11 innings during two starts for the Mets last season, then went to Triple-A, but re-emerged to go 1–1 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts before injuring his hamstring.
…i remember feeling so, so badly for niese, because, not only did it stink to see him get hurt, for the team’s sake, but for him, given the standings, last august and september could have been a significant opportunity for him to show his best stuff and really put a claim in on the rotation… now, he’s fighting back, and on the outskirts of the rotation, depending on whether the Mets acquire a starting pitcher, which i have to think they will…
To read more from Davidoff, who talked with Oliver Perez earlier today about his off-season program in Arizona, check out his Twitter feed, here.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel talked with reporters today at Tradition Field, during day one of the team’s three-day mini-camp.
According to Adam Rubin, who is blogging from St. Lucie for the Daily News, Manuel suggested Omir Santos would be the team’s starting catcher on Opening Day, assuming Minaya doesn’t acquire a new catcher before April.
Rubin also writes, “Manuel noted how Angel Pagan has started other seasons quickly, so he’s not ready to anoint Gary Matthews Jr. his starting center fielder.”
To read more from Rubin, who writes about Carlos Delgado, Josh Thole and others, while giving his sense of what the Mets intend to do with the starting rotation, check out his post, here.
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