Injuries, financial issues, youth movements offer Mets intriguing buy-low candidates
(Editor’s note: this piece was written by Mike Mattone)
As the burners of the Hot Stove begin to warm, and general managers met in Chicago, speculation for trades are swirling faster than the winds of the Windy City. Every GM, assistant, media guy, bell hop, Starbucks Barista, cab driver, and bartender at Murphy’s Bleachers, Howl at the Moon, and Lion Head Pub/Apartment Bar Lounge (the places I frequented in my Pink Polo when I went to watch the Mets get pasted by the Cubs in August) knows Omar Minaya needs to make a big time splash this winter. The only question is when the splash will be made, and what key players are brought into Queens next year.
I’ll say this about the GM meetings: I wish I could go. I love Chicago. Great city. The bars, the Navy Pier, the atmosphere of Wrigleyville; I hope the Wilpon Family tries their hardest to turn Willets Point into Wrigleyville East. Heck, I even met Omar Minaya in 2007 in Chicago. (7am the Saturday before Glavine’s 300th, I sat to wait for my dad and little brother to go to breakfast in the lobby of the Westin Michigan Ave., and lo and behold Omar sits across from me with a morning paper and a coffee. Nice little moment.) Unfortunately I could not attend the meetings: guess the invite got lost in the mail. But if I did, I would tell Omar the following.
Omar, your fan base, although fickle, is smart. You are operating on a tight budget. Don’t go blow money on one or two guys who might not play up to their contracts. Take the farm system that everyone is saying is better than people think, and use it to buy low on guys who can pan out with a change of scenery. Think Jeff Francoeur, and build on it. Go trade Luis Castillo for Milton Bradley and spin him for an Overbay (as rumored). Take two guys who probably won’t develop under our vaunted Prospect Mis-Management program and bring in a Gil Meche type to be a number three starter in the National League instead of pressuring him to be a number one in the AL. And most importantly, take big time names in our farm system that will turn into Lastings Milledge/Alex Escobar/Generation K if they stay with the Mets, and give them to franchises that are more adept at developing talent to get proven talent in return, especially if they are buy-low candidates. Below are five buy-low guys (including Meche as mentioned above) who can make a big difference with the Mets without costing them a nine figure contract.
- Gil Meche: Since I mentioned him, I’ll go in depth here first. Meche last year finished 6-10 with a 5.09 ERA, and finished the year on the DL. Sucks, right? Not so fast. In the three previous years his ERA was 4.48, 3.67, 3.98 with a cumulative record of 34-32 on American League teams that finished well below .500.  Before the All-Star break (and his injury issues) Meche had a 4.50 ERA, a quality GB/FB ratio, and an unusually high BABIP against, which will likely regress to the mean in the next few years. With $24 million owed to him in the next two years, the Mets could probably get KC to take Castillo and a low-profile young arm for Meche and a few million bucks, opening the door for O-Hud and getting an experienced arm to have a bounce back year in Citi Field.
- Conor Jackson: Another injury guy, this one losing his spot on the depth chart to younger players in Arizona. He has a career .281/.361/.431 in three full seasons of ABs. In the past three years, he is .302/.410/.488 against lefties. He can play leftfield and first base. Look at that, Danny Murphy, you got yourself a platoon mate. Jackson can likely be had for a decent young arm who likely would flame out in Binghamton if not traded.
- AJ Pierzynski: Tyler Flowers might be ready for the White Sox. He might need another year. Regardless, the Pyrex man is 9 years older than Flowers, and Ken Williams might want to trade the 32 year old catcher now before paying him $6.25 million to platoon with a potential young stud behind the dish. It might take more to get AJ to come home (he is a native of Bridgehampton, NY), but for a catcher who hit .300 last year with 14 homers, and is a career .286 hitter with a career 4.20 CERA (Catcher’s ERA) in mostly American League time, trading for him to catch Johan and company will be more than worth it.
- Andy Sonnastine: Yes, he has a 6.77 ERA last year. Yes, he got bombed by the Yankees, Red Sox, and other big time offenses throughout his career. But look at the potential of Sonnastine, who is WAYYY past due in Tampa Bay. He is 26. He is a year removed from a 13-9 season with a 4.39 ERA. His stuff (fringe fastball, great change, mixes location well, only 97 walks in 76 career games) screams young quality #3-4 starter in the National League, and that’s exactly what you stockpile to fill your rotation instead of Livan Hernandez, Freddy Garcia, and the rest of the dregs Omar brought in last year. Convince the Rays they can develop a raw young talent, and Andy is all yours.
- Josh Hamilton: The Big Fish in this equation. He had an injury plagued year. He had an unfortunate relapse with his alcohol problem. The Rangers are planning on selling their team, which speaks to financial unrest within the organization. They have Nelson Cruz, Pedro Borbon, Brandon Boggs, Justin Smoak coming up, and are likely to re-sign Marlon Byrd. Money that Hamilton wants will likely go to pitching. Dangle F-Mart (who is injury plagued in his own right) as the centerpiece of a deal for Hamilton, who is only 28 years old, and you might have yourselves a younger, more athletic, more powerful Matt Holliday at a much lower cost. Trade a potential future superstar for a potential superstar right now. That’s what the big market teams do when they need to win. New York is a big market. Go make the phone call, Omar.
These, I firmly believe, would be five quality acquisitions in the re-vamping of the Mets. Only Hamilton would require top young talent to leave, and if we make these deals and sign O-Dog and Lackey, maybe the Canyon of Heroes will be filled with Orange in Blue in 2010 instead of pinstripes.
49 comments
GravediggerHebner
11/12/2009-1:17pm at 1:17 pm (UTC -4)
All very interesting selections.
CoJack a few of us have thrown around before. I am in the camp that (if healthy) he is a “Citi Field” type of player, in other words his strengths fit the park well.
Sonnanstine’s career BB/9 ratio is just what the doctor ordered for the Mets, but it is alarming how much it jumped last year and I have little faith that Dan “Lord” Warthen could do anything about it. If he were to just naturally return to form that would be great.
AJ is the answer to the prayers of every Met fan calling for a feisty catcher. That he is a left handed, more powerful version of Paul Lo Duca is simply a bonus.
Meche I think is realistically a # 2 for the Royals behind Greinke and I have read that they are quite happy to keep him.
I worry about Hamilton regressing into darkness in NYC. In fact I would fear for him anywhere in the NE, in any “high pressure” market. Maybe I’m not being fair to him, but I just feel he’s better off away from the bright lights and the big city. I know he kicked butt in Yankee Stadium in the HR contest, but that was one night, not eighty-one nights.
Very interesting provocative suggestions though. I look forward to the comments.
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
Needless to say that Hamilton would be an enormous risk in NY. And I’m not so sure Texas is in such a rush to trade their potentially best player for minor leaguers.
stickguy
11/12/2009-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
yes he is a risk. Frankly, most of the FAs carry some kind of risk (performance, health, financial). His just happens to be a little bit different!
No idea if the spotlight would be good bad or indifferent for him. Hell, for what they pay him, the team could hire a babysitter (er. companion) to hang out with him!
Also, I am not quite sure why the Rangers would want to trade him, but he makes nothing (not even arb eligible for a few years) so your financial exposure is no-existant.
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
Good point on his service time. There’s no good reason to trade him unless it’s for premier MLB ready pitching.
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Pierzynski is an interesting name we haven’t thrown around here yet. My guess is that the Sox will try to compete with Peavy in town, the now-trade for Teahan, etc. and that Pierzynski probably won’t be moved unless the Sox are out of it in July.
I’ve read that Flowers defense leaves a lot to be desired still and that he’s the frontrunner to DH for the Sox this year.
I’m a Cojack and Meche supporter. Both could probably use a change of scenery.
Sonnanstine doesn’t do it for me. Admittedly, I tend to favor stuff… but look where stuff got us with Ollie Perez.
fongy2
11/12/2009-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
Good names/ideas.
I’ve advocated on behalf of
Meche and Jackson a couple
times since mid-season past.
I’d love A.J.despite his age.
Both loved and hated in every
clubhouse hes ever been in.
Maybe really what we need!
Sonnastine,Okay BUT purely as
a back-end guy.
But absolutely NO to Hamilton,
God bless him and I hope he
continues his recovery.
Just not with us!
Too much of a risk,especially
given the depth of his addictions.
trs86
11/12/2009-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
Meche I think they keep.
Jackson a good pickup to compete for a spot but I don’t think you can just assume a rebound.
AJ stays
Sonnanstine would be a good back of the rotation pick up
Josh is going nowhere yet.
trs86
11/12/2009-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
Cerrone made a funny:
Price of the Daily News believes the Mets need to do something drastic, such as trading David Wright for Roy Halladay, while signing Chone Figgins.
…umm, yeah, and i’m supposed to be the reason the newspaper business is falling apart… ok, guys, whatever you say…
LOL Cerrone and the media gotta love it.
fongy2
11/12/2009-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
LOL indeed! I also love the story on The Indians trying
to move the last 2 yrs and 20 mil owed to Kerry Wood.
Yeah, like THAT signing was
ever gonna work out.
AND for what its worth,coming from someone who was ina previous life in the newspaper biz and who had several,older
family members and friends
in that biz, the death of newspapers in all large cities
in America stem MOSTLY from
two things, the internet and
those under 30 and new immigration. Those in both categories simply don’t read
the newspaper on a daily basis
like most of us have all our lives. And please,I don’t in
anyway mean that to be offensive.I am the son of immigrants.
metsfan4decades
11/12/2009-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
‘Times, they are a changing’.
There is no stopping what some call progress.
From the death of good old fashioned newspapers, to printed books, to landline phones, to cable connections. It’s all coming…
I had a subscription to the local county newspaper for years and years. Moved to the other side of the township over 8 years ago and stopped the subscription strictly for the reason that recycling of newspapers is mandatory in the county, my town only picks them up once a month, and the distance between the house and the driveway in my new home tripled. I didn’t want to deal with trying to get those bundled newspapers to the curb as I’m not as young as I used to be.
So I turned to the internet for my news updates. Turns out, I’m more up to date than I ever was with newspapers and can read that news almost as it’s happening.
My Dad, who will never give up his newspapers and doesn’t do a computer, calls me daily for Met Hot Stove updates as I’m reading about those and all associated rumors 24 hours sooner than he is….
fongy2
11/12/2009-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
Thats a very nice story but
makes me feel old b/c I still
need to be able to physically
turn the pages while have my
coffee in the morn.
Also, I spend alot of time
in alarge B&N
about half an hr from me in central PA
and very recently walked
to the back, music
section which was huge only to find more than half of it
taken over by
Blu-Rays.
What the heck!
I never occurred to me until my wife pointed out, no
ones buying CDs
anymore b/c of
i-pods, etc..
Jeez, I felt like a dope!
Hadn’t even thought of that!
CaseStreet
11/12/2009-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
that’s a great analysis fong, where’d you get that one?
The reason newspapers are dead are because they refused to keep up with technology and depend too heavily on advertising. From an npr article:
“In shorthand, the major problem: Swiftly moving competition from emerging Web sites has hastened the downfall of newspapers. As more people turn to the Internet for news — even, ironically, to the newspapers’ own Web sites — fewer subscribe to news printed on paper. As circulation dwindles, so does advertising revenue. And without the same amount of advertising revenue, newspapers can no longer afford large, comprehensive, news-gathering operations. So the newspaper shrinks, attracting fewer readers, leading to a decline in advertising revenue, and the death spiral continues.”
That has nothing to do with under 30 or immigrants (who by the way read as much as others, except they read papers in their language – I see it every day).
stickguy
11/12/2009-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
well thought out moves. I could live with them all, especially since you worked in moving Castillo out.
Where I do disagree is with some of the guys you didn’t number, but mentioned.
I personally would prefer someone other than Hudson for 2B, but will accept him if the deal is reasonable (as in no more than what they owe Castillo now, 2/12), but still think they could get a younger and/or better options. But, still likely an upgrade.
I also don’t see them getting lackey too, if they add Meche and Sonnestine. I also don’t know what a few of the guys you are bring in make (like Hammilton), so quite possibly they won’t have the budget left.
But, with johan, sonne, meche and pelfrey all pencilled in, and perez likely here still, and Maine (who I hope they bring back) and Neise (if he didn’t go in one tof the deals), they pretty much have a ful rotation, and enough talent to get by without lackey.
Of course, the real benefit to that is the 15++mill sallary that they can deploy elsewhere (you can buy a lot of good pen arms for that).
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
I love that you’re the president of the Free Castillo from the Mets club!
stickguy
11/12/2009-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
I even added it to my resume. Makes me stand out from the crowd.
stickguy
11/12/2009-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
One more (related) comment. I saw this nugget on MLBTR. I know it is Olney being quoted, but still food for thought (the thought being, this isn’t the year to overpay for non-superstar FAs):
“•Olney believes other teams could join the Reds and Tigers in cost-cutting mode. He says the teams with payroll space “will be in position to make some excellent deals.”
Well, the Mets probably have as much payroll space as just about any team. Just not sure they have a GM that knows what to do with it!
fongy2
11/12/2009-2:11pm at 2:11 pm (UTC -4)
Okay, I’ll take Phillips&Arroyo
from the Cincy Commies AND
Granderson&Jackson from
Los Tigres de Detriot!
Thank You And Thank You!
trs86
11/12/2009-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
Mentioned that earlier today. I would be very happy with that and call it a day.
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
Edwin Jackson’s second half ERA of 5+ and WHIP of 1.5 are remarkably closer to his career averages of 4.66 ERA and 1.5 WHIP than his first half season was.
Buyer beware with Edwin. His first half of last season is right now the outlier.
As I posted in another topic just before, Granderson’s career line v. left handed pitchers is something like 210/270/340. That renders him useless in late game situations when bullpen lefties will feast against him and against the Phillies in general with Hamels, Lee, Happ and Moyer.
trs86
11/12/2009-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, we don’t need either. Or are you saying we should not pay much?
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Well, they’re both better than what we currently have despite their defects so I’ll go for the latter. Not my first choice this offseason.
And it is possible that Jackson can still develop further. He’s only 25. But right now he looks more like a $100 arm and a 2 cent brain like Ollie.
trs86
11/12/2009-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe?
But I think with Granderson his positives out weigh his negatives. I don’t view him as a platoon player.
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
His defense makes him an everyday player (assuming he plays LF as well as he does CF).
But I might not hesitate to pinch hit for him late in a game if I like the matchup better of my next guy v. the right hander in the pen behind the lefty facing Granderson.
fongy2
11/12/2009-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
Understood and
I don’t think anyone feels any of these are perfect players however,
all are fairly young,not very costly(salary wise) and w/o
question pretty good MLB players
Also,none come
w/prior health issues and would
still allow Omar to make a big move for
a premier power
bat and/or top
of the rotation
arm. Lastly,
while re-tooling
Omar cannot worry about how
certain guys match up with
the Phillies
or anyone else
except for the rest of the guys
on The Mets.
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
Can not argue with any of that.
There’s nothing bad about accumulating “good players.” Afterall, our criticism of Omar has always been that he’s never acquired “good players” to surround our “great players,” i.e. Beltran, Wright, Santana, etc.
fongy2
11/12/2009-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
What! You didn’t like Rob Mackowiak?
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
Only in Scrabble.
metsfan4decades
11/12/2009-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting picks. Oh, for the love of a crystal ball.
With all the Mets need to get done this off season, I find it curious the most articles I’m reading to date have been concerning getting rid of Castillo. Not that I wouldn’t welcome it. Give him credit for his hard work during the ’08 off season and staying on the field in ’09 (by comparison, a huge accomplishment right there), but if we can move him along, it would only be all good. No matter what he does this year if he remained, we’d need to be looking at that anyway.
Wonder why the Mets aren’t looking at Felipe Lopez? Doesn’t this kid play just about every position with the exception of Pitcher, Catcher and CF? With the kind of shape the ’09 team wound up in last year, wouldn’t he be a perfect fit?
fongy2
11/12/2009-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
Cost! High Pick and Big Bucks!
metsfan4decades
11/12/2009-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
Ah….I didn’t even check. So he’s a type A FA? Dang….
stickguy
11/12/2009-4:01pm at 4:01 pm (UTC -4)
keep in mind that many people feel the big off season need (on the non-pitching side) is more pop (although better D is certainly up there too!)
Well, if you aren’t getting a legit, hit 40+ in any park, kind of cuy, the other option is to get more power out of more spots.
I will skip my usual rant that power can also be doubles and triples, and just focus on the usal (HR) context!
Last year, the 2B and SS spots were dead spots for HRs. C not far behind, but I guess pretty much league average (iow, not piazza esque).
So, if someone like Barajas (or -gag- Molina) comes in and hits 15, Reyes comes back and puts up 12, and you can get a 2B (say, philips) that can do 15, and DW rebounds to say 20 (still way off his career) and Beltran has a normal year (all, IMO, reasonable expectations):
Suddenly, the Mets will be solidly in the middle to top 3rd of the league in HRs, and this is without assuming any big jump from LF or 1B (both of which likely go up too, assuming they dont go all slappy in LF).
I can’t prove it, but I bet you score more runs (or at least have better rallys/big innings) with 4 guys hitting 20, than 1 guy hitting 40, 1 guy at 20, and 2 slappys below 5.
CaseStreet
11/12/2009-4:24pm at 4:24 pm (UTC -4)
That’s it.
Sign Lackey and trade for Halladay.
Put Pagan in LF and Murphy at 1B. Thole/Santos C and Maine to SU.
Case closed.
(sorry, I’m starting to get hot stove fatigue. I know it’s too early for that)
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-4:42pm at 4:42 pm (UTC -4)
From Heyman:
• Minaya said some teams have shown interest in Luis Castillo. The Dodgers are one team to have spoken to the Mets. How about Castillo for his old Marlins teammate Juan Pierre?
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jon_heyman/11/12/gm.meetings/1.html#ixzz0WgTN4xZA
Get a free NFL Team Jacket and Tee with SI Subscription
Ummm… no.
CaseStreet
11/12/2009-4:53pm at 4:53 pm (UTC -4)
Seriously, no.
I was trying to see if they had some young players, they’d like to get rid of.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Chad Billingsley rhp 3.110
Jonathan Broxton rhp 4.020
Andre Ethier of 3.153
Matt Kemp of 3.049
Hong-Chih Kuo lhp 3.114
James Loney 1b 3.012
Russell Martin c 3.150
Jason Repko of 3.067
George Sherrill lhp 4.147
That’s a great list of players to have under arbitration. That’s really what the Mets should be striving for. You keep the stars like Kemp and let the others go via FA or trade in the last year.
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-5:39pm at 5:39 pm (UTC -4)
I suppose they might be willing to deal Sherrill. But his value probably far exceeds that of Castillo.
CaseStreet
11/12/2009-5:55pm at 5:55 pm (UTC -4)
yeah, and I haven’t heard the Dodgers were trying to save money.
stickguy
11/12/2009-4:52pm at 4:52 pm (UTC -4)
I am the president of the “unload Castillo†fan club. If they can get something back that fills another hole (spare catcher, set-up arm for the pen, young SP, even a couple of prospects to beef up the farm) then move him right along. So, it is nice to hear that some clubs actually are interested in obtaining him.
I haven’t really analyzed the cubs or dodger rosters, but I am sure there are some parts that would work (but I would prefer to stay away from bradley, although if the Cubs ate the salary difference, he becomes an interesting trade chip). But, even I would rather keep luis than swap him for pierre (as mentioned elsewehre).
plenty of options for filling 2B once Castillo is gone. But not Figgins at 3/30+.
Perfect storm could be castillo to fill one hole, then move something not too improtant to save the Reds $$ and get harang and philips. Fill 2 holes with that move.
johan/harang/pelf/ollie/maine/neise (if here) + 1 more cheaper signing (Harden?) could be a very good rotation.
reyes/philips/wright/beltran/ a great top 4.
murphy/francouer/barajas(?) a solid 6-8.
Just need the right move at LF and the 5th hole to cement the team. Would a cheap bradley as part of a mix (with Carter and pagan) be worth the risk?
Holliday of course would look just fine there, but is he worth the cost?
From the reports, harang/philips just might be doable for a prospect return I woul dbe willing to do. If so, the rest could be easy, especially if Omar can snag a LF for the right price!
stickguy
11/12/2009-4:53pm at 4:53 pm (UTC -4)
how did my post end up in the middle here, out of chronological order?
Did you guys but the old metsblog software from MC?
CaseStreet
11/12/2009-5:03pm at 5:03 pm (UTC -4)
Some Cubs and Dodgers Arbitration Eligibles
Chicago Cubs
Jeff Baker inf 3.049
Neal Cotts lhp 4.081
Tom Gorzelanny lhp 2.160*
Angel Guzman rhp 3.095
Aaron Heilman rhp 5.123
Koyie Hill c 3.006
Carlos Marmol rhp 3.084
Sean Marshall lhp 3.088
Ryan Theriot inf 3.118
Los Angeles Dodgers
Chad Billingsley rhp 3.110
Jonathan Broxton rhp 4.020
Andre Ethier of 3.153
Matt Kemp of 3.049
Hong-Chih Kuo lhp 3.114
James Loney 1b 3.012
Russell Martin c 3.150
Jason Repko of 3.067
George Sherrill lhp 4.147
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-5:42pm at 5:42 pm (UTC -4)
Harang last pitched on August 20 and was apparently injured again.
He was pitching very well at the time.
I know Fongy’s answer, but do we trust the Mets to evaluate his health before taking on his $12.5m?
metsfan4decades
11/12/2009-5:34pm at 5:34 pm (UTC -4)
Carlos Beltran is a guest tonight on SNY’s regular Thursday evening Hot Stove show.
metsfan4decades
11/12/2009-5:39pm at 5:39 pm (UTC -4)
OMG, Stickguy is right – LOL. Look where it stuck this post of mine. Should have been lower after my 5:28pm post.
trs86
11/12/2009-7:36pm at 7:36 pm (UTC -4)
Guys when there are site issues let us know as we may not know unless you do.
We are in the process of fixing the download issues.
stickguy
11/12/2009-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
I am all for picking up guys like this on the cheap to have depth in AAA, or the bench if it works out.
But, didn’t you also just describe Carter (my dark horse for the 2010 “forgotten guy that ends up having a much bigger year than expected” award).
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-4:12pm at 4:12 pm (UTC -4)
I was worried that I would have to pick an argument with TRS in order to incite some activity here…
Oeltjen probably falls into the Cory Sullivan category of worth signing, assigning to Buffalo and hoping not to have to use. I do recall him as a toolsy type player.
I actually think identifying these types of players is Omar’s strength. His track record of plucking Valentin, Livan, Tatis, Sullivan, Pagan types is pretty good.
wannybackstra
11/12/2009-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
I am also optimistic on Carter’s abilities. I just question whether he is the type of guy that Manuel will utilize properly. One 0 for and he’ll be buried. Power hitters and hitters in general are streaky.
GravediggerHebner
11/12/2009-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
Hey guys I can’t get the site to load on my computer so thinking my comment with the link in it was causing the problem, I went in the side door and deleted it. But I still can’t get the site to load. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. I hope it’s loading OK for you guys.
stickguy
11/12/2009-4:56pm at 4:56 pm (UTC -4)
This site for me always loads incredibly slowly (slowest by far of any site I go to). Remnids me of dial up days.
Sometimes I wonder if you have 2 squirrels powering a Commodor 64 supporting this place!
metsfan4decades
11/12/2009-5:28pm at 5:28 pm (UTC -4)
My experience is the same – although the web site that is by far slower with loading for me is that MetsGirl blog….
It wasn’t like this in the beginning. I notice that it always almost loads for me, but seems to get hung up at the end with various sites like DoubleClick, or ica.contextweb.com, addtoany.com, Facebook.com, etc. It’s always a different one.
Sometimes it loads but not with all the graphics or adds between the posts.
I’ll bet the more adds/graphics it’s trying to load, the more problems there might be.
I once thought it was Firefox, which I almost always use and always seems to have problems with each upgrade they put out. However, when I’m having difficulty, I try loading with I.E. and that seems to be worse for me.