Greetings my fellow Mets fans it’s time for the Monday morning edition of ” This Day In Mets Infamy With Rusty “. So without further ado lets get this thing started.
First off on a sad note on this date in 1992 former coach and interim manager of the ’67 team Salty Parker passed away
New York Mets released Jimmy “Fear strikes out ” Piersall on July 27, 1963. this came a day after his famous ( or is that infamous) 100th career homerun that he ran the bases backwards. Legend has it that Casey Stengel was so incensed by this that he had him cut immediately.
New York Mets released Cleon ” Neon” Jones on July 27, 1975. ( I’m sure M. Donald Grant took pleasure in that move)
New York Mets traded pitcher Mike Marshall to the Boston Red Sox for Greg ” Und Gretel ” Hansell, Paul ” I’ts Just An Old Fashioned Love Song” Williams and Ed Perozo on July 27, 1990.
New York Mets traded Turk Wendell and Dennis Cook to the Philadelphia Phillies for Bruce Chen and Adam Walker on July 27, 2001. as I said earlier last week this was in responce to Todd Pratt and their outspokeness on the way Steve Phillips and the front Office screwed up the season.
New York Mets signed free agent Carlos ” Speedy” Gomez on July 27, 2002. Good luck with the Twins Carlos !!
And lastly Mo Vaughn will be at Ben Bensons Steakhouse for a Rockie Mountain Oysters eating contest – for all you novices out there rockie mountain oysters are bull testies ( Mo says “yummy” !! )
35 comments
stickguy
7/27/2009-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
I can just see this vendetta leading up to a UFC match between you and Mo. For charity, of course. ANd chicken wings.
sabermetrician
7/27/2009-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
Guys, I’m glad Francoeur is producing, and I know Omar plans to make him our RF next year, but that is horrible for this team. Francoeur is not a good player. Pagan is better than Francoeur, but he shouldn’t be starting either. I joked yesterday about accepting Pagan, but really if our OF is Pagan, Beltran, and Francoeur next year, we won’t make the playoffs next year either.
stickguy
7/27/2009-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
pessimist.
The key to Frenchy becoming a solid starting option is for him to finally embrace the need (and benefits) to changing his approach, and actually taking walks.
he has the natural hitting ability to be a beast, once he finally decides to let the crap go by, and to let the pitcher dig himself a hole, putting the count in thebatter’s favor.
And I am sure the scouting report Warthen shared with him said just that. Throw crap off the plate, and let Jeff dig himself into a hole.
He is only 25, and does have solid power, and that is a combination that isn’t the easiest thing to find these days.
I do agree that Pagan should not be a starter, certainly ot on a team short on power.
So, if they get a “big bat” for LF, and have Beltran and Francouer out there also, with say Pagan and Reed as the 4th/5th OFs, that to me is a solid OF.
fongy2
7/27/2009-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
WHAT!?! No Danny
Murphy!?!
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Nope. He’ll be playing 1B!
fongy2
7/27/2009-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Great!!!
fongy2
7/27/2009-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
So,our 1Bman of the future is a .243hitter with no power and isn’t a run producer!?
Yeah,that’ll work! OH,AND not Mientkewicz
with the Glove.
Great!
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
No, I was being sarcastic just like I thought you were in wondering where Murphy was in the 2010 OF equation.
However I am not based on 1/2 season prepared to label him a .243 hitter, just like I wasn’t prepared to label him a .313 hitter based on 131 ABs.
I think the “real” Murphy lies somewhere in between, and I think he can develop Keith Hernandez type power over the next few years.
I don’t think he’ll ever by Keith with the glove (who is?) but he makes some excellent plays at 1B and it’s not his fault he didn’t get proper seasoning there in the minors.
Assuming some improvement with experience, he’s good enough at 1B with the glove for me.
fongy2
7/27/2009-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
I am being sarcastic BUT seriously ,Murph isn’t the answer at 1B.
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
That’s fair. I’m slower to boil on that decision than you are.
The way I see it is:
The 2010 Mets are going to need a LF, a 1B and a #2/3 SP. I don’t see the past history to suggest Omar is going to go out and trade for or sign all 3, so at least 1 is going to have to come from within.
I think Murphy is going to be the one that comes from within simply because at those 3 positions Murphy’s the closest thing already here to filling the role. There’s no viable LF or #2/3 SP for 2010 I see in the system.
If you wish to say that Murphy is not a viable 1B you may, I’m just saying he’s more viable there than what we’ve got at LF & SP.
This thought process includes Niese being one of the SP, but not a #2/3.
fongy2
7/27/2009-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
OK Heb! As always you make valid points.I may disagree BUT thats not to say you’re wrong.
We’ll see down the road. Later!
Gotta hit the road.
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Have a good day, and whoops I forgot to include C in the Mets 2010 needs. Silly me!
rustyjr
7/27/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
look down heb i posted available free agents – junior ortiz and alex trevinio may be available lol
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2009-10:44am at 10:44 am (UTC -4)
If Frenchy gave you in 2010 .270/AVG 16/HR 90/RBI 165/H 30/2B 35/BB 124/SO would you sign up for that?
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2009-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
2008 New York Mets Right Field total combined offensive output
(Church 82/games, Chavez 53/games, Tatis 39/games, Nixon 5/games, Clark 2/games, Pagan 1/game)
.283/AVG 17/HR 80/RBI 176/H 30/2B 58/BB 125/SO
fongy2
7/27/2009-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Yeah and good enough for
2nd place,out of the playoffs
during a season when Reyes,Wright,Beltran&Delgado
played almost every game and
all put up AllStar numbers.
Jeez, things really are a mess!
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
Yep I think that is the way I remember it. In a year that the pen could not hold a lead if their lives depended on it and we fell one game short. The horror!
fongy2
7/27/2009-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
So in other words…The TEAM, wasn’t good enough.
And would that be the same PEN
built by Omar?
Jeez,how can anyone trust this guy at
this point?
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2009-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
Yep if you fail to make the post season I believe that qualifies as the team being not good enough.
In a year we had a bullpen built by Minaya we fell one game short. Too bad Minaya should of had someone that could replace Wagner when he went down.
Hopefully he learned from his mistakes and we have KROD’s replacement if (God Forbid) he should ever go down.
fongy2
7/27/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, ya know you’re right! Poor Omar! Crap for luck!
If not for bad luck we’d be sitting on a Championship or two and this season wouldnt feel so painful!
Damn ! Bad luck! Thats allit is! Omars done an otherwise great job.Right? Atleast we can be proud of HOW he runs things,the guys he surrounds himself with AND how they all carrythemselves and make one pround to be a Met fan! Who needs Championships?
Its all luck anyway!,Right?
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2009-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
Your Funny
rustyjr
7/27/2009-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
yeah fongy is a trip lol btw did o.j and omar finish the investigation yet?
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
I think the potential negative is that Frenchy has NEVER walked 58 times.
I think the potential positive is one would expect more 2B & RBI.
The Mets ’08 numbers you listed above are roughly, with a couple key differences, Francoeur’s numbers from ’07:
.293/BA 19/HR 105/RBI 188/H 40/2B 42/BB 129/K
Can he come close to duplicating that is the question we need answered.
fongy2
7/27/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
Are we still “buyers”?
AND if so,whos making
THAT call??Not that I’m adverse to trading
ANY player in our system in the right
deal BUT with Omar
FINALLY recieving some
heat, my fear is something along the lines of FMart for
Ordonez.
Where are you Freddy???
rustyjr
7/27/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
guys here is the potential free agent list for 2010 i left out shortstop thirdbase and2nd base but i left all outfielders since they can usually play all 3 positions so tell me who you would want from the list – imo its pretty limited
Brad Ausmus (41)
Paul Bako (38)
Rod Barajas (34)
Josh Bard (32)
Michael Barrett (33) – club option
Henry Blanco (38)
Ramon Castro (34)
Sal Fasano (38)
Toby Hall (34)
Ramon Hernandez (34) – $8.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jason Kendall (36)
Jason LaRue (36)
Victor Martinez (31) – $7MM club option with a $250K buyout
Bengie Molina (35)
Jose Molina (35)
Miguel Olivo (31) – $3.25MM mutual option
Mike Redmond (39)
Ivan Rodriguez (38)
Brian Schneider (33)
Yorvit Torrealba (31) – $4MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Javier Valentin (34)
Jason Varitek (38) – $5MM club/$3MM player option plus incentives
Vance Wilson (37)
Gregg Zaun (39) – $2MM club option with a $500K buyout
First basemen
Rich Aurilia (38)
Russell Branyan (34)
Miguel Cairo (36)
Frank Catalanotto (36) – $5MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Tony Clark (38)
Carlos Delgado (38)
Nomar Garciaparra (36)
Ross Gload (34) – $2.6MM club option
Eric Hinske (32)
Nick Johnson (31)
Adam LaRoche (30)
Doug Mientkiewicz (36)
Kevin Millar (38)
Chad Tracy (30) – $7MM option with a $1MM buyout
Daryle Ward (35)
Dmitri Young (36) -$6MM option vests with 500 PAs in ’09
Left fielders
Garret Anderson (38)
Marlon Anderson (36)
Jason Bay (31)
Emil Brown (35)
Carl Crawford (28) – $10MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Johnny Damon (36)
David Dellucci (36)
Cliff Floyd (37)
Matt Holliday (30)
Jacque Jones (35)
Gabe Kapler (34)
Greg Norton (37)
Wily Mo Pena (28)
Manny Ramirez (38) – $20MM player option
Dave Roberts (38)
Fernando Tatis (35)
Center fielders
Rick Ankiel (30)
Rocco Baldelli (28)
Marlon Byrd (32)
Mike Cameron (37)
Endy Chavez (32)
Coco Crisp (30) – $8MM club option with a $500K buyout
Darin Erstad (36)
Ryan Freel (34)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (34)
Reed Johnson (33)
Andruw Jones (33)
Gabe Kapler (34)
Mark Kotsay (34)
Corey Patterson (30)
Scott Podsednik (34)
Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (36)
Jermaine Dye (36) – $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Brian Giles (39)
Vladimir Guerrero (34)
Eric Hinske (32)
Geoff Jenkins (35) – $7.5MM mutual option with a $1.25MM buyout
Gabe Kapler (34)
Austin Kearns (30) – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jason Michaels (34)
Xavier Nady (31)
Magglio Ordonez (36) – $15MM club/vesting option with a $3MM buyout
Randy Winn (36)
Designated hitters
Hank Blalock (29)
Jason Giambi (39) – $6.5MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (40)
Aubrey Huff (33)
Hideki Matsui (36)
Gary Sheffield (41)
Matt Stairs (42)
Mike Sweeney (36)
Jim Thome (39)
Starting pitchers
Brandon Backe (32)
Miguel Batista (39)
Josh Beckett (30) – $12MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Erik Bedard (31)
Kris Benson (34)
Daniel Cabrera (29)
Chris Capuano (31)
Bartolo Colon (37)
Jose Contreras (38)
Doug Davis (34)
Justin Duchscherer (32)
Adam Eaton (32)
Shawn Estes (37)
Josh Fogg (33)
Freddy Garcia (34)
Jon Garland (30) – $10MM mutual option with $2.5MM or $1MM buyout
Tom Glavine (44)
Mike Hampton (37)
Rich Harden (28)
Mark Hendrickson (36)
Livan Hernandez (35)
Tim Hudson (34) – $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Jason Jennings (31)
Jason Johnson (36)
Randy Johnson (46)
John Lackey (31)
Cliff Lee (31) – $8MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Braden Looper (35) – option
Rodrigo Lopez (34)
Jason Marquis (31)
Kevin Millwood (35) – Rangers can decline $12MM salary for ’10 unless he reaches 180 innings in ’09
Brian Moehler (38) – mutual option
Brett Myers (29)
Vicente Padilla (32) – $12MM club option with a $1.75MM buyout
Chan Ho Park (37)
John Parrish (32)
Carl Pavano (34)
Brad Penny (32)
Odalis Perez (33)
Andy Pettitte (38)
Joel Pineiro (31)
Sidney Ponson (33)
Mark Prior (28)
Horacio Ramirez (30)
Jason Schmidt (37)
John Smoltz (43)
Tim Wakefield (43) – perpetual $4MM club option
Jarrod Washburn (35)
Brandon Webb (31) – $8.5MM club option with a $500K+ buyout
Todd Wellemeyer (31)
Kip Wells (33)
Randy Wolf (33)
Closers
Ryan Franklin (37) – $2.75MM club option with a $250K buyout
Mike Gonzalez (32)
Kevin Gregg (32)
Trevor Hoffman (42)
Fernando Rodney (33)
Rafael Soriano (30)
Jose Valverde (30)
Billy Wagner (38) – $8MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Right-handed relievers
Luis Ayala (32)
Danys Baez (32)
Joaquin Benoit (32)
Rafael Betancourt (35) – $5.4MM club option
Chad Bradford (35)
Doug Brocail (43) – $2.85MM club option with a $250K buyout
Chad Cordero (28)
Elmer Dessens (38)
Brendan Donnelly (38)
Octavio Dotel (36)
Kelvim Escobar (33)
Eric Gagne (34)
Tom Gordon (42)
LaTroy Hawkins (37)
Matt Herges (40)
Bob Howry (36)
Jason Isringhausen (37)
Jorge Julio (31)
Masahide Kobayashi (36) – $3.25MM club option with a $250K buyout
Brandon Lyon (30)
Gary Majewski (30)
Guillermo Mota (36)
Troy Percival (40)
J.J. Putz (33) – $9.15MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Juan Rincon (31)
Duaner Sanchez (30)
Rudy Seanez (41)
Russ Springer (41)
Julian Tavarez (37)
Luis Vizcaino (35) – $4MM club option with a $500K buyout
David Weathers (40)
Jamey Wright (35)
Yasuhiko Yabuta (37) – $4MM club option with a $500K buyout
Left-handed relievers
Joe Beimel (32)
Alan Embree (40) – $3MM club option with a $250K buyout
Scott Eyre (38)
Casey Fossum (32)
John Grabow (31)
Eddie Guardado (39)
Ron Mahay (39)
Trever Miller (37)
Will Ohman (31) – $2.2MM club option with a $200K buyout
Darren Oliver (39)
Glendon Rusch (35)
Scott Schoeneweis (36)
Brian Shouse (41) – club option
Ron Villone (40)
Jamie Walker (38)
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
It’s quite an overwhelming list in terms of quantity yet underwhelming in terms of quality.
Excluding guys with buyouts, I think the guy I would most want is John Lackey. I love his game. I’m sure lots of other teams do too.
I find Rick Ankiel very intriguing. I think I would enjoy an OF of Ankiel, Beltran & Francoeur.
My thoughts on C are not sexy at all, but maybe someone like Josh Bard on a 1 year to split time with Santos until the system produces a replacement.
Given what I said above about Murphy being the 1B that leaves us with
c – Bard/Santos
1b – Murphy
2b – Castillo
3b – Wright
ss – Reyes
lf – Ankiel
cf – Beltran
rf – Francoeur
sp1 – Santana
sp2 – Lackey
sp3 – Perez
sp4 – Pelfrey
sp5 – Niese
I’m not prepared to fill in a bench and a bullpen right now.
In this scenario I assume Maine out of the picture either due to injury or some other reason. If that reason is a trade then maybe Pelfrey has more value and he would be traded with Maine taking his 4th spot in the rotation. Perez is 3rd simply to break up the lefties, not because I think he deserves it. As 5th starter Niese will be all over the place due to offdays and skipping his spot.
rustyjr
7/27/2009-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
josh thole as catcher perhaps?
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps. I’m assuming based on other people’s opinions that I have read that he could probably hit up here right now, but he’s kind of a crappy defensive C. I’m guessing that he’ll need 1 more year in the minors in 2010. I’d be happy to be wrong about that.
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
My initial shot at a lineup with that cast would be:
1 – Reyes
2 – Castillo
3 – Wright
4 – Beltran
5 – Ankiel
6 – Francoeur
7 – Murphy
8 – Catcher
And if one really wanted to one could flip flop 5/6 & 7/8 versus a LH pitcher.
It doesn’t scream “PENNANT!” at me but it seems reasonable and it’s ultmimate success depends somewhat on what Murphy ultimately is.
rustyjr
7/27/2009-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
i would love to see ankeil – except he doesnt hit for average and at a park like citi he might suffer with homers that would of went out at busch that wont go out here
GravediggerHebner
7/27/2009-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
Good point. I’m trying not to be too scared off from acquiring power bats because of the park, earlier I got really carried away and wanted to put together a lineup of 8 slap hitters with speed. I’m trying to get back to more of a middle ground on that.
Randy Winn? I’m not sure, but when I project this stuff I operate under the assumption that Murphy will be at 1B so I feel I have to get power out of LF.
A 2003-2004 era Rocco Baldelli would be nice.
rustyjr
7/27/2009-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
look to have a team like the 85 cardnails is not realistic
we need power – i just feel its gonna happen via a trade and it will be a derrick lee type who has previously done the job but has been trailing off – ala sean green in 06
CaseStreet
7/27/2009-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Somehow, I can see Murph at 1B, F-Mart in LF, and Niese replacing Livan in the rotation. So, the only FA signing may come at Catcher.
CaseStreet
7/27/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
Joe Mauer is available after 2010. I say go after Molina for 2010 and Mauer for 2011.
Reyes
Castillo
Beltran
Wright
Francouer
Molina
Murphy
F-Mart
Reyes
Castillo
Beltran
Wright
Mauer
Francouer
Murphy
F-Mart
Mr North Jersey
7/27/2009-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Here is my list of possible candidates that should be looked into that any combination of 2 or 3 could possibly help in 2010.
J.Lackey (via Free Agency)?
S.Kazmir (via trade)?
V.Martinez (via trade)?
C.Crawford (via trade) or (Free Agency if he opts out)?
B.Molina (via Free Agency)?
J.Marquis (via Free Agency)?
R.Wolf (via Free Agency)?