The Braves sign Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito. The Phillies sign Placido Polanco and trade for Roy Halladay. The Yankees sign Curtis Granderson. The Red Sox sign John Lackey and Mike Cameron, and are making an effort to trade for Adrian Gonzalez.
How do The Mets respond? By signing 30-year old Japanese relief pitcher Ryota Igarashi, that's how.
Omar expects to hear from Jason Bay today, and I've heard the Mets are searching through the all-you-can-eat buffets in Bengie Molina's native Puerto Rico to find him and get an answer from him.
All kidding aside, I've reached a point where I think it's okay if Omar doesn't sign either guy. It'd be a shame, but with the pitching staff in its current state, I honestly don't think either acquisition will be enough of difference maker.
For Bay, although I like him a lot, committing that kind of money to a marginal defensive player a year before Carl Crawford will be a free agent is a huge mistake. As I've evidenced several times before, Crawford is a perfect fit for The Mets.
For Molina, he's now asking for a 3-year, $20MM contract. Laughable, I say!! I'm wondering which other teams are involved in signing Molina, and which ones are offering more than the Mets original 2-year, $10MM contract? I don't want Molina at all, and it'll only make me more upset if he gets a 3-year deal!
Anyway, my point is that the 2010-2011 free agent class features a much better group of pitchers and outfielders. Brian Cashman had the right idea when he passed on Johan in 2007-2008, because he signed CC, AJ and Tex in 2008-2009 and the rest is history. Unfortunately for Omar, if the Mets have a bad showing in 2010, he may not have the chance to pull a Cashman and redeem himself.
And this is why I'm seriously concerned. Omar, in a effort to retain his job, might make a deal for the sake of making a deal (bidding against himself for Bay and/or Molina). I just hope whatever he does this year doesn't affect what the team can do next year, because let's face it... the 2010 Mets are not a "Win Now" team.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Is it already over?
Today is a great day to be a Mets fan. We're going to find out over the next 72 hours whether Jason Bay accepts our 4-year, $65 million offer. In the meantime, John Lackey has signed with Boston (5-years $85 million) and ... wait for it ... wait for it ...
The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed, in principle, to send Roy Halladay to Philadelphia as part of a three-team trade that also involves The Phillies moving Cliff Lee to Seattle.
Don't worry... Bengie Molina will be our catcher, so naturally, our pitching staff won't need improvements at all. Amidst the mediocrity that is our starting pitchers not name Santana lies a full-fledged #2.
Is it 2011 yet?
The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed, in principle, to send Roy Halladay to Philadelphia as part of a three-team trade that also involves The Phillies moving Cliff Lee to Seattle.
Don't worry... Bengie Molina will be our catcher, so naturally, our pitching staff won't need improvements at all. Amidst the mediocrity that is our starting pitchers not name Santana lies a full-fledged #2.
Is it 2011 yet?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Putz Me Down!
I'm really bummed to see that J.J. Putz has signed with The Chicago White Sox. Last year, after the Mets announced the trade that brought Putz and Sean Green to New York, I was so looking forward to the concept of two lights-out relievers pitching in the 8th and 9th innings.
As we all know, Putz was never able to fill that role -- due in part to injury and perhaps in part because he wanted to close. Regardless, I thought it would've been a wise choice for the Mets to try to bring J.J. back on an incentive-laden one-year contract to act as a setup man for K-Rod and to basically audition himself to be a closer again in 2011.
Now that Putz has signed with Chicago, my fantasy of the one-two punch in the bullpen is down the toilet. Who is our setup man now? Pedro Feliciano? Bobby Parnell?
Is this just more bad luck for the Mets? Takashi Saito went from saving 40+ games for the Dodgers in 2007 and 2008 to being a setup man for The Boston Red Sox in 2009, and he pitched beautifully there. Now Saito is in Atlanta, acting as the setup man to Billy Wagner. Could it be that the Braves will successfully implement the lights-out 8th-9th bridge that we aimed at in 2009? And how painful will it be to see Wags closing things out for them?
On the bright side, we did make an encouraging offer to sign Jason Bay -- 4 years, $65 million. Not an overblown offer at all. Shocking for Omar. Granted I'd rather have seen an offer made for John Lackey, but I can't have everything.
And now to bring things down a notch again, it's being reported that The Phuckin' Fightins are the front-runners to obtain Roy Halladay. I'm not even kidding when I say I'll kill myself if he's the ace of that staff and Cliff Lee is their #2.
As we all know, Putz was never able to fill that role -- due in part to injury and perhaps in part because he wanted to close. Regardless, I thought it would've been a wise choice for the Mets to try to bring J.J. back on an incentive-laden one-year contract to act as a setup man for K-Rod and to basically audition himself to be a closer again in 2011.
Now that Putz has signed with Chicago, my fantasy of the one-two punch in the bullpen is down the toilet. Who is our setup man now? Pedro Feliciano? Bobby Parnell?
Is this just more bad luck for the Mets? Takashi Saito went from saving 40+ games for the Dodgers in 2007 and 2008 to being a setup man for The Boston Red Sox in 2009, and he pitched beautifully there. Now Saito is in Atlanta, acting as the setup man to Billy Wagner. Could it be that the Braves will successfully implement the lights-out 8th-9th bridge that we aimed at in 2009? And how painful will it be to see Wags closing things out for them?
On the bright side, we did make an encouraging offer to sign Jason Bay -- 4 years, $65 million. Not an overblown offer at all. Shocking for Omar. Granted I'd rather have seen an offer made for John Lackey, but I can't have everything.
And now to bring things down a notch again, it's being reported that The Phuckin' Fightins are the front-runners to obtain Roy Halladay. I'm not even kidding when I say I'll kill myself if he's the ace of that staff and Cliff Lee is their #2.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Being Ahead of the Curve...
I'm not one to brag, but anybody within earshot of me after the 2006 season heard me bitching about the fact that the Mets didn't bring back Chad Bradford and Darren Oliver. Both were replaced, the former by Joe Smith and the latter by Scott Schoeneweis. How'd that work out for us?
On MetsBlog.com this morning, there's an interesting snippet that suggests the Mets are going to be in on signing Darren Oliver. I wonder if they'd held onto him in 2007, 2008 and 2009, if they'd be one of five teams in on him right now. I also wonder how much better the 2007 and 2008 bullpens would've been...
Another good, encouraging sign from MetsBlog this morning is that there are reports that suggest the Mets will start to aggressively pursue John Lackey. It's about frickin' time is all I have to say. The guy's the best free agent pitcher on the market by leaps and bounds, and now that guys like Tim Hudson and Randy Wolf have 3-year deals, Lackey asking for 5 doesn't seem that unreasonable. Oh and the guy's a bulldog and would be a perfect #2 behind Johan.
I thought Bengie Molina would be the big signing for the Mets at the Winter Meetings... perhaps Omar will shock us and and it'll be John Lackey -- 5 years, $90 million. Merry Christmas to us, if that's the case.
On MetsBlog.com this morning, there's an interesting snippet that suggests the Mets are going to be in on signing Darren Oliver. I wonder if they'd held onto him in 2007, 2008 and 2009, if they'd be one of five teams in on him right now. I also wonder how much better the 2007 and 2008 bullpens would've been...
Another good, encouraging sign from MetsBlog this morning is that there are reports that suggest the Mets will start to aggressively pursue John Lackey. It's about frickin' time is all I have to say. The guy's the best free agent pitcher on the market by leaps and bounds, and now that guys like Tim Hudson and Randy Wolf have 3-year deals, Lackey asking for 5 doesn't seem that unreasonable. Oh and the guy's a bulldog and would be a perfect #2 behind Johan.
I thought Bengie Molina would be the big signing for the Mets at the Winter Meetings... perhaps Omar will shock us and and it'll be John Lackey -- 5 years, $90 million. Merry Christmas to us, if that's the case.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Catching up
Ah the Winter Meetings are in full swing, which means Omar Minaya is busy monitoring all the aging, over-priced free agents. Since my last post, The Phillies have improved (signing Placido Polanco to play 3B) and The Braves have REALLY improved (signing Billy Wagner to close and Takashi Saito to setup, while looking to resign Mike Gonzalez and/or Rafael Soriano). Even The Nats have improved (signing Pudge Rodriguez to catch and Brian Bruney to be a dick in Washington instead of New York).
The Mets have improved, too. Well, not really. We've spent $3.5 million on backup players Alex Cora, Chris Coste and Henry Blanco. From what I've read, Blanco is a terrific defensive catcher, which is enough for me to say he should platoon with Omir Santos and we should skip out on the Bengie Molina experiment.
Unfortunately, it's just not like Omar to avoid signing an older player with whom he's always been infatuated. It's reported that Minaya offered Molina a 3-year deal before picking up Paul LoDuca after the 2005 season. I don't care how many HRs Molina hit in 2009... the guy is 36 and is already slower than molasses! I'd pay money to see a foot race between him and former goggle-wearing Met C/1B Jason Phillips.
I've heard reports of how well Molina handles a pitching staff. I can't argue against that, as San Francisco's starters have been quite good (back-to-back Cy Young seasons for Lincecum). Still, Molina goes completely against (what should be) the team's "pitching/speed/defense" philosophy. I don't want him for 3 years. Or for 2 years. Or for 1 year. I say NO to Bengie Mo!!!
My guess is that Omar makes some big splash before the end of the week, and my guess is that the big splash is Molina for 2 years and $12 million.
UPDATE - I'm thinking more about this whole "We need a catcher who can handle a pitching staff" argument the Mets are making right now, and I'm getting more and more nervous. It seems to me like they're posturing to send out the same exact rotation in 2010, save for the 5th spot. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the very definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Oh but there's a new catcher, and as a result, Ollie Perez will be able to throw strikes! And Mike Pelfrey won't have the yips any more! Give me a break...
The Mets have improved, too. Well, not really. We've spent $3.5 million on backup players Alex Cora, Chris Coste and Henry Blanco. From what I've read, Blanco is a terrific defensive catcher, which is enough for me to say he should platoon with Omir Santos and we should skip out on the Bengie Molina experiment.
Unfortunately, it's just not like Omar to avoid signing an older player with whom he's always been infatuated. It's reported that Minaya offered Molina a 3-year deal before picking up Paul LoDuca after the 2005 season. I don't care how many HRs Molina hit in 2009... the guy is 36 and is already slower than molasses! I'd pay money to see a foot race between him and former goggle-wearing Met C/1B Jason Phillips.
I've heard reports of how well Molina handles a pitching staff. I can't argue against that, as San Francisco's starters have been quite good (back-to-back Cy Young seasons for Lincecum). Still, Molina goes completely against (what should be) the team's "pitching/speed/defense" philosophy. I don't want him for 3 years. Or for 2 years. Or for 1 year. I say NO to Bengie Mo!!!
My guess is that Omar makes some big splash before the end of the week, and my guess is that the big splash is Molina for 2 years and $12 million.
UPDATE - I'm thinking more about this whole "We need a catcher who can handle a pitching staff" argument the Mets are making right now, and I'm getting more and more nervous. It seems to me like they're posturing to send out the same exact rotation in 2010, save for the 5th spot. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the very definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Oh but there's a new catcher, and as a result, Ollie Perez will be able to throw strikes! And Mike Pelfrey won't have the yips any more! Give me a break...
Monday, November 30, 2009
Getting started...
Earlier today, the Mets made two minor signings. One I'm okay with. The other, not so much.
The Mets brought back Alex Cora today on a 1-year, $2 million deal with a vesting 2011 club option. Let me reiterate what I've said many times before about Alex Cora. I liked what he did for The Mets in 2009. He plays the game the right way, is a great club house presence, and he proved to be an absolute warrior playing with TWO messed up thumbs. Is he worth $2 million? I don't think he is. He's a backup middle IF, and despite what I just said, he's an average player on his best day.
As Jon Heyman put it, Cora will make "50 grand for ballplaying and $1.95 mil for being a helluva nice guy." I know what Heyman is saying, but I think his assessment is a bit unfair. I would've preferred he make $1 million a year at the most.
Does Cora fit into my plan? Not exactly, and not because I think he doesn't fit on the team. He's an adequate backup. I'm just not all about paying millions of dollars to a backup.
The second move made today was the signing of former Phillies backup catcher Chris Coste. I remember him as the pasty white bastard who always seemed to appear as a pinch hitter and come up big against the Mets in 2007 and 2008. He split time between Philly and Houston in 2009, posting a .224 batting average. Regardless, I'm fine with this move.
From what I've read about Omar Minaya, he likes to do his sort of thing before the winter meetings. The thought here is that Minaya will have a veteran catcher at his disposal if he fails to sign a free agent. I'm hoping Omar signs Rod Barajas, but I'm hoping even more that he doesn't fall into the trap that is Bengie Molina. I'm just not a fan of bringing in a 36-year old catcher who's slow as molasses. Then again, Chris Coste is 36, so color me a hypocrit...
The Mets brought back Alex Cora today on a 1-year, $2 million deal with a vesting 2011 club option. Let me reiterate what I've said many times before about Alex Cora. I liked what he did for The Mets in 2009. He plays the game the right way, is a great club house presence, and he proved to be an absolute warrior playing with TWO messed up thumbs. Is he worth $2 million? I don't think he is. He's a backup middle IF, and despite what I just said, he's an average player on his best day.
As Jon Heyman put it, Cora will make "50 grand for ballplaying and $1.95 mil for being a helluva nice guy." I know what Heyman is saying, but I think his assessment is a bit unfair. I would've preferred he make $1 million a year at the most.
Does Cora fit into my plan? Not exactly, and not because I think he doesn't fit on the team. He's an adequate backup. I'm just not all about paying millions of dollars to a backup.
The second move made today was the signing of former Phillies backup catcher Chris Coste. I remember him as the pasty white bastard who always seemed to appear as a pinch hitter and come up big against the Mets in 2007 and 2008. He split time between Philly and Houston in 2009, posting a .224 batting average. Regardless, I'm fine with this move.
From what I've read about Omar Minaya, he likes to do his sort of thing before the winter meetings. The thought here is that Minaya will have a veteran catcher at his disposal if he fails to sign a free agent. I'm hoping Omar signs Rod Barajas, but I'm hoping even more that he doesn't fall into the trap that is Bengie Molina. I'm just not a fan of bringing in a 36-year old catcher who's slow as molasses. Then again, Chris Coste is 36, so color me a hypocrit...
Friday, November 13, 2009
Fixing the Mets - CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
With the right additions, I firmly believe that the 2010 Mets can compete with any team in the National League. I’ve outlined several options the Mets can act upon to greatly improve the team. My best and most realistic suggestions would have the team looking like this:
STARTING LINEUP
1 – Jose Reyes, SS
2 – Carl Crawford, LF
3 – Orlando Hudson, 2B
4 – Carlos Beltran, CF
5 – David Wright, 3B
6 – Jeff Francoeur, RF
7 – Daniel Murphy, 1B
8 – Rod Barajas, C
The biggest thing missing from this lineup is power. But is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. CitiField is the kind of park where it’s possible to score runs without the benefit of the long ball. I think this lineup has that potential. Reyes and Crawford atop the lineup will be a top-notch combo and will wreak havoc on the base paths. Hudson, Beltran and Wright can drive them in. Sounds good to me.
UPDATE: 11/13 - My post from this morning (which was supposed to be published 2 days ago) suggests that the Mets get Vernon Wells and Roy Halladay in the same deal. If that happens, we don't get Carl Crawford, so I'll slot Hudson in the 2 hole, Wright in the 3 hole, Beltran cleaning up and Wells in the 5 hole.
STARTING ROTATION
1 – Johan Santana
2 – Roy Halladay
3 – Mike Pelfrey
4 – Oliver Perez
5 – John Maine
Halladay and Santana could potentially combine to win 50 games. Throw in 10 from each of the others and that’s an 80-win season. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities.
Pelf and Ollie could switch spots in the rotation, and Maine isn't a guaranteed #5. We've got to stop kidding ourselves about all the "potential" surrounding our rotation. Adding Doc puts Pelf, Ollie and Maine is realistic positions.
UPDATE: 11/13 - My post from this morning also suggests that we would trade away either Maine or Pelfrey to get Halladay and Wells from Toronto. If that's the case, I'd insert Jon Niese as the #5 starter, and either Pelfrey #3 and Ollie #4 or Ollie #3 and Maine #4.
BULLPEN
Francisco Rodriguez, CP
JJ Putz, SU
Pedro Feliciano, LHP
Brian Stokes, RHP
Bobby Parnell, RHP
Shawn Green, RHP
Joe Beimel, LHP
Nelson Figueroa/Pat Misch
I still say that a healthy Putz setting up for a motivated K-Rod will make a terrific 8th/9th inning tandem. Halladay will provide some much needed relief for when the ‘pen has to pick up the pieces when “Bad Ollie” rears his ugly head.
Adding Biemel might make Green expendable, which would free up another spot on the bench. Regardless, I think this is a very solid bullpen.
BENCH
Omir Santos, C
Angel Pagan, OF
Fernando Tatis, OF/1B/3B
Wilson Valdez, 2B/SS
Cory Sullivan, OF
If we remove a bullpen arm, we can add another guy to the bench. I’m thinking Chris Carter or another Omar scrap heap pickup guy that he overpays. Regardless, if the bench is the weakest part of the team, you won’t hear any complaints from me!
That's it. That's my plan. It's a plan for fixing The Mets now without completely abandoning the future. It leaves the door wide open for Ike Davis in 2010, Josh Thole in 2011 and Fernando Martinez in ... well, sometime in the next 10-15 years. I know that it's likely that one (or more) of these guys end up in a package for Doc Halladay, but I'm okay with that. As I said in the very beginning, without solid pitching WE CANNOT COMPETE!!
With the right additions, I firmly believe that the 2010 Mets can compete with any team in the National League. I’ve outlined several options the Mets can act upon to greatly improve the team. My best and most realistic suggestions would have the team looking like this:
STARTING LINEUP
1 – Jose Reyes, SS
2 – Carl Crawford, LF
3 – Orlando Hudson, 2B
4 – Carlos Beltran, CF
5 – David Wright, 3B
6 – Jeff Francoeur, RF
7 – Daniel Murphy, 1B
8 – Rod Barajas, C
The biggest thing missing from this lineup is power. But is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. CitiField is the kind of park where it’s possible to score runs without the benefit of the long ball. I think this lineup has that potential. Reyes and Crawford atop the lineup will be a top-notch combo and will wreak havoc on the base paths. Hudson, Beltran and Wright can drive them in. Sounds good to me.
UPDATE: 11/13 - My post from this morning (which was supposed to be published 2 days ago) suggests that the Mets get Vernon Wells and Roy Halladay in the same deal. If that happens, we don't get Carl Crawford, so I'll slot Hudson in the 2 hole, Wright in the 3 hole, Beltran cleaning up and Wells in the 5 hole.
STARTING ROTATION
1 – Johan Santana
2 – Roy Halladay
3 – Mike Pelfrey
4 – Oliver Perez
5 – John Maine
Halladay and Santana could potentially combine to win 50 games. Throw in 10 from each of the others and that’s an 80-win season. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities.
Pelf and Ollie could switch spots in the rotation, and Maine isn't a guaranteed #5. We've got to stop kidding ourselves about all the "potential" surrounding our rotation. Adding Doc puts Pelf, Ollie and Maine is realistic positions.
UPDATE: 11/13 - My post from this morning also suggests that we would trade away either Maine or Pelfrey to get Halladay and Wells from Toronto. If that's the case, I'd insert Jon Niese as the #5 starter, and either Pelfrey #3 and Ollie #4 or Ollie #3 and Maine #4.
BULLPEN
Francisco Rodriguez, CP
JJ Putz, SU
Pedro Feliciano, LHP
Brian Stokes, RHP
Bobby Parnell, RHP
Shawn Green, RHP
Joe Beimel, LHP
Nelson Figueroa/Pat Misch
I still say that a healthy Putz setting up for a motivated K-Rod will make a terrific 8th/9th inning tandem. Halladay will provide some much needed relief for when the ‘pen has to pick up the pieces when “Bad Ollie” rears his ugly head.
Adding Biemel might make Green expendable, which would free up another spot on the bench. Regardless, I think this is a very solid bullpen.
BENCH
Omir Santos, C
Angel Pagan, OF
Fernando Tatis, OF/1B/3B
Wilson Valdez, 2B/SS
Cory Sullivan, OF
If we remove a bullpen arm, we can add another guy to the bench. I’m thinking Chris Carter or another Omar scrap heap pickup guy that he overpays. Regardless, if the bench is the weakest part of the team, you won’t hear any complaints from me!
That's it. That's my plan. It's a plan for fixing The Mets now without completely abandoning the future. It leaves the door wide open for Ike Davis in 2010, Josh Thole in 2011 and Fernando Martinez in ... well, sometime in the next 10-15 years. I know that it's likely that one (or more) of these guys end up in a package for Doc Halladay, but I'm okay with that. As I said in the very beginning, without solid pitching WE CANNOT COMPETE!!
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