It seems like the Mets beat writers are taking a break (hey, it’s been a long season for all of us, but we’re still here). So in addition to Mets in the Papers I’ll be doing a Mets Blogs Round-Up to see what our fellow Mets fanatics are saying. Without further ado, here’s the Mets Blogs Round-Up.
Metsblog: Buzz: Mets prefer Matt Holliday to Bay by Matthew Cerrone
…i have no idea what the Mets intend to do, but signing holliday would not surprise me… holliday is going to ask for a seven-year deal, probably worth around $18 million per season, i.e., the same deal signed by Mark Teixeira last winter… in the end, though, because of the market place, i bet he has to settle for five years, and more like $16 million per season, which i could see the Mets dishing out, considering Carlos Beltran is a free agent in two seasons…
Mack’s Mets: Minors Stuff by Mack
Mets acquired first baseman Eddie Lora and outfielder Chris Carter as the players to be named later for Billy Wagner. The 20-year-old Lora batted .222/.287/.414 with three homers and seven RBI in 99 at-bats with the Red Sox‘s Gulf Coast League affiliate in rookie ball. It remains to be seen whether or not he’ll make an impact at the big league level, but along with Carter, it’s a solid enough return for a player who didn’t factor into the Mets’ plans for 2010.
Mets Merized: The Three Stooges Redux by Doug Branch
(If Howard called the fans “customers†one more time, I was going to heave a live child at the TV. A customer is one who walks in interested in a purchase with the possibility of leaving on their own accord, and dignity in tact. A fan is someone that risks sky-high ticket prices, exorbitant concession costs, parking rip offs-which Howard was proud to say belonged to the Mets after many years going to the City, in hopes of seeing a professional baseball team in action.
Pick Me Up Some Mets: GaryKeithandRon year-end event video\Â by pickmeup
 This past Saturday, Oct. 3, was the final Gary, Keith, and Ron event of the year. The GKR Elves began setting up at 9AM for this fantastic afternoon at the ball park. Not even pouring rain could dampen our spirits or our fun. Expect cameos from the Mets’ Omir Santos, Howard Johnson, Ron Darling, Mr. Met, and more!
Hot Foot: Don’t Move Home! by Andrew Beaton
Sure, the Mets hit only 95 home runs, which was good (aka bad) enough for fewest in the majors and the fewest since only popping 93 homers in 1992, but is that really a problem? Yes it can get boring as a fan, but it’s not as if Citi Field is causing this major hitting problem for the team, after all they hit better at home. Add this to having a healthy middle of the order, and the hitting at home isn’t looking half bad, plus with a healthy lineup those home run totals will go up.  Â
Amazin’ Avenue: Productive Base Stealing And The Mets by James Kannengieser
During the Omar Minaya era (2005-present) the Mets have been one of the best baserunning teams in the game, especially when it comes to stealing bases.
Unfortunately, stolen base success is not enough to make up for a lack of good hitting, evidenced by the 2009 Mets. A team of Juan Pierres might steal a ton of bases but won’t score many runs. The Mets offense from 2006-2008 boasted a potent all-around attack: OBP, SLG, and valuable baserunning. It’s fair to imagine that the OBP and baserunning portions of the offense will have continued success in 2010, given the (expected) returning players’ skill sets. Let’s hope the SLG portion picks up the slack.
Amazin’ Avenue: Daniel Murphy’s New Approach To Fastballs by Sam Page
Please let me know if there’s a blog post I missed.The problem is that the approach he demonstrated in those months does not set him up well for future success. Murphy should swing at fastballs over the inside and middle of the plate, but at the cost of swinging at nearly everything else, it’s probably not worth it. Hopefully next year he can use his natural batting eye to find a balance, in which stays patient on outside and even borderline pitches, while making high levels of contact on pitches in the zone.Â
65 comments
GravediggerHebner
10/8/2009-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Quite a coincidence that Keith Hernandez got a flat tire on the GKR event day.
Just busting your chops, Keith. I know you enjoy our blog (wishful thinking out loud).
GravediggerHebner
10/8/2009-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
Regarding the Hot Foot piece, I don’t know if I am in a majority or minority in this thought process (perhaps a poll?) but if my choices are tiny ballpark with constant barrage of home runs or huge ballpark with rare home runs, I choose huge ballpark with rare home runs.
I prefer a home run to be well earned. As an example I would say many of the home runs I saw in highlights go over the right field wall at Yankee stadium this season were not what I would call well earned. I enjoy a 2-1 game more than an 11-10 game, although in the interest of full disclosure part of my motivation is selfish in that the 2-1 game is almost certainly going finish about an hour sooner than the 11-10 game, thus freeing up more hours of my life for other things.
I hope the Mets will not move home plate or otherwise alter the park dimensions. It is what it is, and it is what everyone involved in it’s development wanted it to be. Now the same group of people involved in that process need to work together to craft a roster that functions best in the park they’ve created.
trs86
10/8/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
Agreed,
metsfan4decades
10/8/2009-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
Agreed.
I will never understand why MLB didn’t standardize all dimensions from home plate to the fences when they started building new ball parks during this modern era. Correct me if I’m wrong – b/c I’m not a big fan, but isn’t the football fields and basketball courts all regulation size/distances?
Yes, I know it’s standard between the mound and home plate and base to base and home plate. So why not home plate to the fences?
I know there is another perspective to this I’m just missing…
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
I like the charm of the different parks and part of that comes from their different dimensions. Does it really feel special to be in one basketball arena as opposed to another?
That said, I agree with those who prefer the spacious fields. I was at Yankees-Sox game earlier this year and there was no charm to its dimensions at all. In fact, I felt like the game was a fraud with Dustin Pedroia leading off with a HR to RF that looked like a routine fly ball of the bat and a couple of other similar shots to RF.
trs86
10/8/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
As a basketball fan, yes there is a lot of differences in basketball arena’s. No the court sizes don’t differ but anything from rims to the position of the fans are all unique.
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
You’d better edit that post before Kingman and his apostrophe police crack down…
trs86
10/8/2009-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
LOL, very true. And I have NO idea why I even put it there. That’s what happens when you are grading test, talking about the revolution and typing on a blog at the same time.
Kingman 26
10/8/2009-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Easy there tough guy!
Geez, I never should have mentioned that, but why do people put apostrophe’s in for plural’s?
Seems like I see it everywhere all of a sudden the last couple of year’s.
trs86
10/8/2009-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
Nice post there King’man.
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-2:54pm at 2:54 pm (UTC -4)
In all honesty Kingman, it drives me crazy too. I make a point of identifying the errors on store signs, menus, etc. every chance I can. But here, where I usually have the phone on one side of my head, TRS is grading papers, Fongy is spying on unsuspecting fraudsters and Darknova has one hand up a cadaver’s (appropriate apostrophe) rear end, I figure no one is paying attention to their typing.
Kingman 26
10/8/2009-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
L’O'L!!
darknova306
10/8/2009-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
Wait, I’m doing what, now?!?
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
I hope you washed your hand’s before typing.
(the apostrophe for Kingman’s enjoyment)
darknova306
10/8/2009-4:51pm at 4:51 pm (UTC -4)
LOL
For the record, I do imaging science work for a government contractor in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sector.
udontmesswthejohan
10/8/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
I would disagree. If all the stadiums had to have the same dimensions I think you would lose a lot of the quirkiness/uniqueness taht these new wave of stadiums have given us.
All football fields are 100 yards long and 50 yards wide and of course they have to be. But for that reason, I find it hard as a spectator to get all that excited about the new Jets/Giants stadium. At the end of the day it’s a football field.
metsfaninindia
10/8/2009-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t know about that. The design of a football field changes the dynamics of the wind currents, noise level, etc. Not to mention domes and no domes. Football fields are quite unique too.
trs86
10/8/2009-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
Hey MFII, nice to have you back.
udontmesswthejohan
10/8/2009-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
But as a spectator, I’m not really concerned about the wind currents. As far as domes go, they should be officially abolished.
dirtysanchez
10/8/2009-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
I agree 4d. Have them all the same distances and leave the quirkiness or uniquness to other things(hell make the staduim seating resemble a M). I think it would make things alot more fair and balanced(especially in FA nego). That will never happen though as baseball continues to see itself above all other sports…
metsfan4decades
10/8/2009-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
I’m all for unique for each ball park. You can accomplish that though even with standard distances to the fences – couldn’t you?
Good point on the FA acquisitions.
Our park now might make it easier to acquire a pitcher we’re after – as opposed to say CBP. If you’re a pitcher, wouldn’t you rather pitch in a ‘pitcher friendly park’, as opposed to say Philly or Colorado?
IDK, just a thought…
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
yup, can’t wait for Reyes to shatter his triple records.
just gotta focus on getting on base, taking bases and hitting to the gaps
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
I’d be very happy w/ Holliday at 5 yrs/$16M per.
udontmesswthejohan
10/8/2009-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, I just don’t see him leaving St. Louis. Not at that price at least.
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
but can St. Louis outbid the Mets? don’t know.
udontmesswthejohan
10/8/2009-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
No probably not. I don’t know enough about what motivates him, but if he is the type of guy who is not necessarily motivated by the biggest check, then I think he will stay. Just from an outsider’s point of view, it seems like a great fit for him and that lineup out there. Hope I am worng.
trs86
10/8/2009-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
The Good AND Bad news is that his agent is Boras.
dirtysanchez
10/8/2009-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Not only that, dont the cards have some other pitchers to retain. I believe Holiday is rep by boras which means you will have
Yanks
Mets
Cards
Secret Team (there always is one in boras nego)
all vying for matts services. I dont know if holiday stays in St louis but this is going to get expensive and get expensive very quick.
trs86
10/8/2009-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
If I were the Dodgers and could weasel out of the Manny contract I would be all over Holliday. For the Mets, they HAVE to make the top offer other than the Yankee’s if they get involved. If he does not take it so be it. But you have to at least make the top offers to both Lackey and Holliday.
dirtysanchez
10/8/2009-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
yep..you can bet the mets will be all in on lackey and holliday/bay(if he even reaches fa). The dodgers i think will not resign manny but will be obligated to what 15 mil for next season to him(if i remember correctly). Im surprised the dodgers payroll is not over the Mets with the type of money they swing around..
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
hey dirty, where u been?
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
RE: Lackey, other than the Mets and Angels, who else has shown interest?
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
From ESPN.com:
Lackey a $100 million man?
11:01
AM ETJohn Lackey | Angels Top Email How much could the postseason be worth for John Lackey? Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times thinks a dazzling October could make the Angels’ right-hander a $100 million man.
Lackey will be a free agent this winter and potential suitors always remember their last impression. Shaikin points to Kevin Brown, who turned some strong Octobers into a $100 million deal from the Dodgers a decade ago.
There even has been talk that the Angels might factor this October into whether they will make a serious effort to retain Lackey. “I don’t think John is auditioning for anything,” manager Mike Scioscia told the Times.
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
If you had to choose, Lackey or Holliday?
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
Lackey. Fills a bigger need (in my opinion) and is a scarcer resource.
Not sure who else has expressed interest but I’m guessing the list will grow once the period begins.
fongy2
10/8/2009-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
As usual mattsblog is wrong w/their facts. Mark Texeira signed an 8yr-180 mil contract
which incl a 5mil bonus,20mil this and next season and 22.5mil per ’til 2016..
Funny too that it was posted by the blognazi himself.
Hey matt, is it too difficult to check facts before posting a story which then speculates on
how much the best FA on the market will sign for using incorrect info?
And WE HERE were banned by you? Jeez, what a joke!
Like I posted a few days ago fellas, Lets not waste half the winter chasing Holliday if
Boras is gonna play games. If he wants to sign w/the Rangers or whomever for the most
money/yrs, fine. However, given our situation, we cant afford to have it drag out while
plans B,C,D,ETC. go elsewhere.
B/T/W, Good job Omar FINALLY getting Chris Carter! He should be looked at along w/Murphy
as a possible answer @1B. The kid really has been held back in the Sox system and looks
like an MLB prospect. Maybe not a great one BUT a good one.
metsfan4decades
10/8/2009-4:11pm at 4:11 pm (UTC -4)
blognazi – LOL.
Obviously, Boras is very good at what he does. But it’s the same reason most fans get a bad taste in their mouth talking about him…
I remember that Jan. with the going back and forth with Johan. He was quoted as saying, ‘just get it done, somewhere. I’d like to move my family and get them settled before the season begins’.
With some, maybe the $$ is not the bottom line.
And after we signed Ollie last year, he was interviewed, saying he was very happy when Boras called him to tell him he’s signing with the NY Mets. Come on, these players don’t let their agents have that much control, do they? I’m thinking that was just b/c it’s Ollie and he doesn’t strike me as the type that would be very involved in his own negotiations…
fongy2
10/8/2009-4:22pm at 4:22 pm (UTC -4)
Sad but true that ,for the most part, these guys let their agents make/take
the best deal over best situation and/or even chance to win.
Especially with a guy like Boras who,while I too can’t stand him,is great
at his job. We may get Bay for 5yrs/80mil but I see no chance getting Holliday
for anything even close to that.
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
Holy Mary Mother of God!
Today is a Day of Infamy for TRDMB.
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-4:18pm at 4:18 pm (UTC -4)
good job fongy, there’s a huge difference between $180M and $126M.
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-4:19pm at 4:19 pm (UTC -4)
I’d settle for the difference myself.
fongy2
10/8/2009-4:23pm at 4:23 pm (UTC -4)
I’d settle for a tenth of the difference!
fongy2
10/8/2009-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks, Its one thing to discuss what you think and/or opinion BUT
our old friend matt stes up an entire thread based on incorrect, factual
info and the sheeple you still frequent his blog are off and running!
C’mon!…We may all get into it from time to time here but at least
we rarely make bonehead mistakes like that and we someone does, we’re
pretty quickly corrected by a fellow TRDMB brother.
More proof this is the best Mets Blog on the Web!
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
The best part of Texeira’s deal is that he gets to purchase 8 of the best seats at the Stadium. I’m sure that’s what got the deal done!
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
Pujols only gets 3 and a luxury box.
steveo
10/8/2009-3:42pm at 3:42 pm (UTC -4)
Lackey will have interest from the dodgers mets angels o’s tigers and cubs to name a few al who have money to spend but be very weary on how much is offered by the angels they know there guy and they know about his injuries
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think the Cubs will have money to spend. From what I’ve read they may look to cut some salary.
fongy2
10/8/2009-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
I guess it depends their new ownership. I’ll tell ya, if they start selling,
I want Derek Lee!
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-4:20pm at 4:20 pm (UTC -4)
def agreed.
damn, that’s twice today.
no more plz.
fongy2
10/8/2009-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
Looks like were in a good mood today!
Plus, we don’t have to worry about anymore agita from
our 2009 Mets! As much as I didnt want Jerry and Omar back,
Im glad the decisions were made quicky.
This way we know what is and move onto the next order of biz!
darknova306
10/8/2009-5:02pm at 5:02 pm (UTC -4)
D Lee is a solid player, but also one of baseball’s good guys. I’d love having him over here.
CaseStreet
10/8/2009-4:55pm at 4:55 pm (UTC -4)
tigers, aren’t they broke and trying to move Magglio’s contract?
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-4:04pm at 4:04 pm (UTC -4)
From keith law’s ESPN.com chat:
Jason (St Louis)
Will there be anyone at the 7th pick that can help the Mets in the near future? The Wilpon’s money issues won’t keep them from taking the best player available will it?
Klaw (1:46 PM)
I would not expect them to go over slot.
Law later said that this draft is much stronger on HS talent than college.
fongy2
10/8/2009-4:07pm at 4:07 pm (UTC -4)
Great!, Shawn Abner… anyone?
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-4:11pm at 4:11 pm (UTC -4)
Only if the next Eddie Kunz is unavailable. Maybe they can get Stanley Jefferson or Kirk Presley II.
fongy2
10/8/2009-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
Or Eddie Williams?
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-4:19pm at 4:19 pm (UTC -4)
We could use another Choo-Choo Coleman because if you don’t have a catcher you’ll have a lot of passed balls.
fongy2
10/8/2009-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
I think that one was Hobie Landrith!
Or Chico Escuela?…Beisbol has bein bery,bery good
to me!
wannybackstra
10/8/2009-4:47pm at 4:47 pm (UTC -4)
Great stuff on Choo Choo from Wikipedia:
While Coleman never had great success as a player, he became somewhat famous for his malapropisms. Perhaps most famous was an interview on Kiner’s Korner, the Mets post-game show. Host Ralph Kiner asked Choo Choo “What’s your wife’s name and what’s she like?” Choo Choo replied “My wife’s name is Mrs. Coleman and she likes me, bub.” [2] Another time Kiner asked Clarence how he had gotten the name Choo Choo. “I don’t know, Ralph.” was the answer.
Upon first introducing Choo-Choo to the media, Mets manager Casey Stengel didn’t exactly sing his praises. He said of Coleman “You have to have a catcher or you’ll have all passed balls.” [3] But he did refer to him as “the best low-ball catcher in baseball”, a commodity the early Mets staff probably needed.
In 1963, during Duke Snider’s only year with the Mets, he told a reporter how Choo Choo didn’t know his name. Having spent months on the same team, the reporter didn’t believe him. To prove his point, Duke said to the Met catcher, “Choo Choo, do you know me?” Choo Choo replied, “Yes, you’re number 4.” Roger Craig once said: “Choo Choo would give you the sign and then look down to see what it was.” [4]
trs86
10/8/2009-5:34pm at 5:34 pm (UTC -4)
Or maybe, David Wright, or Mike Pelfrey (still servicable if not great), or Holt or Davis.
I know your point is that HS player beware and these guys are not HS guys but my point is that they have drafted a few good players AND they did go SLIGHTLY over slot this season. So there IS hope.
metsfan4decades
10/8/2009-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
Go Rockies! Colorado making my day here this afternoon.
I had a ‘discussion’ with some Met fan last year who was disappointed that Cole signed an extension with Philly. Said he’d really like to see him on the Mets. I wasn’t that impressed. If you watch him pitch, it appears he only ever has two pitches working for him. Those pitches must have been very sharp, especially in post season last year, but this year – not so much. He wound up with a losing record (10-11, I think) and he’s not looking real good out there today. Might be the same effect as Pelfry with ’08 and the amount of innings pitched, but I would not put Hamels in the same league as Johan…
darknova306
10/8/2009-4:43pm at 4:43 pm (UTC -4)
Hamels IP
2007: 183.1 (+6.2 postseason) = 190
2008: 227.1 (+35 postseason) = 262.1
Now THAT’S a workload difference. Yikes.
trs86
10/8/2009-5:29pm at 5:29 pm (UTC -4)
No doubt Cole has been Verducified.
darknova306
10/8/2009-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
“And a good call over there by Angel Hernandez”
Wow, never thought I’d hear someone speak those words.
stickguy
10/8/2009-7:00pm at 7:00 pm (UTC -4)
nice to see the cocky phils not come back for the win. They have gotten a case of the Yankee smug attitude (the “we know we are better, and of course we are going to win” deal).
Even better? Saw old Cholly interviewed, and it looks like Pedro migth get the call on Saturday. In denver, when it is supposed to be mid-30s and maybe some snow.
That could go well.
man, it wold be fantastic if the Rockies could win this in Colorado. That, combined with a Giant victory, would really make my weekend!
I have given up on the Twins. Hopefully whichever team from bos and LAA that has the best chance to take out the yankees will sweep their series.