In a his pregame conference before last nights contest Jerry called both complimentary players and their chances of starting would depend on the off-season.  According to Metsblog it read more like this: he feels they are good complimentary players but their ability to start will depend on what happens in the off season.Â
Now, I did not see the conference myself but I hope this is just a blunder of words. How exactly will their “ability” to start depend on what happens in the off-season? Their ability will change drastically in the off-season? I respect Winter ball but come on. Or is it refering to who the Mets get in the off-season? So if the Mets get Holiday then Murphy’s ability to start increases? If the Mets get Pena or Nick Johnson, Pagan will learn how to run the bases?
40 comments
prismo
9/24/2009-8:47am at 8:47 am (UTC -4)
All I take it to mean is that Jerry is doing his usual rambling and has no idea who’s starting in 2010.
trs86
9/24/2009-8:53am at 8:53 am (UTC -4)
Maybe, who the hell knows. I hope they plan to upgrade many positions and then if one of those guys are forced into a role then so be it.
trs86
9/24/2009-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Unusually slow today.
Kingman 26
9/24/2009-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Well, the damn Met players sure ain’t helping with their anemic sleepy play, while dreaming about golf courses!!
I think Pagan is a fine fourth outfielder, while I still think Murph can be a .300 hitter with 40 doubles and 15 homers.
I do agree that with Holliday or Bay in left, that Murph at first batting 7th will be more than enough offense.
Personally, I do NOT want Pagan as a starter.
trs86
9/24/2009-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
As I said yesterday it really depends on LF.
What about Dye? No one is really mentioning his name. He very well could end up being a bargain this offseason and should not get a longterm contract.
DNDJohan aka kistics
9/24/2009-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
Hey guys~! It’s been a long time since I posted. Having a new baby and a stinky team will sway you away from the game for awhile…
While I think Holliday or Bay would be the premiere option, I like Dye option too. I think he can be the short term solution while waiting for FMart. Perhaps 2 year deal could get him playing LF next year. And Dye will certainly come cheaper than Holliday or Bay.
But I still think the Mets priority this offseason should be SP. Though I think Pelf will bounce back from his Sophomore slump (though he’s not really a sophomore), he’s not a #2 behind Johan. I think Rich Harden or John Lackey type of guys will come cheaper (injury prone) while giving the Mets high upside.
Kingman 26
9/24/2009-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
Congrats on the new baby!!
Did you name him Omar?
LOL!
DNDJohan aka kistics
9/24/2009-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
well a girl named Omar would sound little weird…LOL
Kingman 26
9/24/2009-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
LOL–just trying to make a joke out of this shared disaster called the 2009 Mets…but seriously man, congrats and enjoy!
DNDJohan aka kistics
9/24/2009-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
But Thanks!
Kingman 26
9/24/2009-9:49am at 9:49 am (UTC -4)
Actually, this might be a good idea if Holliday is too pricey after we have spent most of our FreddieBucks on overpaying Lackey….
CaseStreet
9/24/2009-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
+1
stickguy
9/24/2009-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
I wrote some thoughts on Dye yesterday (although I think it might have been elsewhere..) Same reason, he would be a delgado-like 1 year hope for a rebound pick up. But man, he was really, really bad for the lat couple of months.
The other thing to keep in mind with Dye is that supposedly his D in RF has gotten to be horrible. As in, you might wish to have Sheff back!
But, at least he seems durable.
trs86
9/24/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
I would think his defense would improve in LF?
trs86
9/24/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
Also, do we remember how bad Ibanez was said to be on defense?
CaseStreet
9/24/2009-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
Would you agree that this year’s FA market has more elite hitters than pitchers and next year’s FA market will have more elite pitchers than hitters?
If so, would it make sense to go after an elite hitter this year and an elite pitcher next year?
I’m thinking Holliday this year and Halladay next.
trs86
9/24/2009-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
Hmm good question Case. Halladay scares me as I would think he would want 5 years and that is a long time for someone at his age and innings.
As I said yesterday, shoot for Lackey make the best offer you can and if that falls through run for the friggin hills. Don’t make the Perez mistake twice.
It really depends on what Holiday wants and how many years Bay wants. How much would Dye want? I am guessing 8M tops? If we don’t get Lackey and have to settle for a 1 year guy like Garland or others why not get Johnson too? Could we get by on the following?
Reyes, Castillo, Wright, Beltran, Dye, Johnson, Frenchy, Santos/guy to be named later today.
I would think so. Sure Dye and Johnson could get injured and it could blow up. But at least we would have Pagan and Murphy to back them up and neither would be here more than 2 years?
Pitching staff
Johan, Garland type, Pelfrey, Perez, Maine/Nieve/Niese?
Most likely those 3 would spend between 22-24 of the 28-32 we should have leaving us about 6-8M to spend on the bench and pen?
DNDJohan aka kistics
9/24/2009-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
I wrote something on Webb and Hudson below. I still think SP should be the #1 priority. If both Hudson and Webb becomes available, I would prioritize like this
Webb
Lackey
Hudson
Harden
.
.
.
Bedard
Marquis
Pinero
.
.
.
.
.
Myers???….. NAH!
metsfan4decades
9/24/2009-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
Couldn’t agree more with the Myers comment. I say we stay away from him.
DNDJohan aka kistics
9/24/2009-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
Both Hudson and Webb have club options next year. They are (or will be) both going come off major injury this offseason. Hudson gets 12M in 2010 with 1M option. Webb gets 8.5M with 1-1.5M buyout. Do you guys think both teams will exercise their options?
I think both of them will become FAs. Although Webb’s contract is very reasonable and have been a great pitcher for the DBacks, they are relatively small market team and 8.5M is a lot of money for them. Plus they have good ace in Haren and young talent of Scherzer. I’m not sure what their young pitching prospect pipeline looks like, but I would say there is greater than 50% chance that Webb becomes a FA.
Hudson on the other hand has 12M with 1M option. 12M is pretty pricey for a pitcher that missed almost 1.5 years. Braves have good pitching in their rotation and they also need more hitting.
Kingman 26
9/24/2009-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
Maybe it is extreme and unreasonable, but I think we absolutely must avoid anyone with serious injury histories, especially pitchers.
Nick Johnson is different.
DNDJohan aka kistics
9/24/2009-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
Yes, pitchers with serious injury history could result in bad result. But I think Hudson and Webb have very high upside to pass up.
trs86
9/24/2009-10:31am at 10:31 am (UTC -4)
I would imagine that both are retained. As for Hudson I expect the Braves to keep him and trade Vasquez for a hitter. I don’t see them going for Bay or Holiday so their ugrade will be by trade. Webb is a risky gamble for the Dbacks but can they really let him walk for 7M? If he becomes available then of course we should be interested.
The problem is that even more than a #2 we need a guy that can pitch 200 innings first. Then we need someone that can pitch 200 good innings. If we don’t get a guy that can at least pitch 200 innings it won’t matter WHO we bring in for offense.
DNDJohan aka kistics
9/24/2009-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Hudson and Webb has pitched close 200 innings most seasons before the recent injuries. I think IF they are available, Omar should seriously consider going for them.
You maybe right on Hudson, but Vazquez does have limited no-trade clause and has pitched real well this season. Considering Hudson’s injury and Vazquez’s performance, Bravos might let Hudson walk.
trs86
9/24/2009-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
Regardless I think they are nice guys to pick up but are too risky to count on as our 200 inning man. Now if you said sign one of them and Garland or another 200 inning lock fine.
Look what we have, we don’t really have anyone besides Santana that we can say will give us 200 innings.
CaseStreet
9/24/2009-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
Webb would be the guy to go after, if the D-Bags don’t extend him.
trs86
9/24/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
For how much and as the ONLY SP addition?
CaseStreet
9/24/2009-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
If we greatly improve the offense (let’s say Holliday and Pena), could the Mets risk it w/ a guy like Webb?
I could be persuaded to think so.
trs86
9/24/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah but what are those chances? Besides we would not have the cash. That would be 28M plus Webb.
CaseStreet
9/24/2009-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
if the Mets have $40M to play w/ I think it fits. Especially, since he’d be on a 1 year/incentives type contract anyway.
trs86
9/24/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
Remember it’s 30 not 40.
CaseStreet
9/24/2009-1:15pm at 1:15 pm (UTC -4)
says you.
I count 40 and so does MLBTR.
trs86
9/24/2009-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Hey case remember when we already discussed this? The Mets payroll was 150M this year and that counts all players on the 40 man roster. If you look at this spreadsheet and replace all the arbitration blanks and just plain old blanks with cash it comes up to 118-122 pending on arbitration.
Which leaves 28-32M
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p4ew-fwu2XT2R6BFbZ5C_Ww
DNDJohan aka kistics
9/24/2009-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Even with 40 coming off the books, it’s highly doubtful that the Mets will spend all of it. I think it’s going to be either #2SP or big offense.
If Omar signs a big time SP, he’ll settle for a mediocre offense and vice versa.
metsfan4decades
9/24/2009-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
I took Jerry’s comments to mean it depends on off season acquisitions and trades. What we get, what holes we still might have come spring training, will depend on who here now gets a starter shot…..
trs86
9/24/2009-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
But does that improve their “ability” to start?
metsfan4decades
9/24/2009-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
Truthfully, when I heard it I thought he was really saying ‘opportunity’ and not meaning ability. I could be wrong.
trs86
9/24/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Most likely was a Metsblog blunder then.
steveo
9/24/2009-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
Hudson will take the 1 mil buyout and then renegotiate with the bravos he wants to be there.Vasquez will be traded for a bat plain and simnple the braves know vasquez success this year won’t last.
trs86
9/24/2009-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think it’s a matter of them thinking Vasquez success won’t last. It’s just that he is the most expendable because of cost and ability. Hudson can’t net any value in a trade and the rest of the guys besides Ken Kalwhatever they don’t want to trade.