Does anyone remember the stock exchange scene from the movie ” Trading Places?” You know the scene where Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy’s characters foil the evil Duke brothers from cornering the orange juice market ? Well imagine that Fred and Jeff Wilpon are Mortimer and Randolph Duke respectively while Omar plays the part of Wilson – the poor soul trader that is trying to buy up all the best talent out there – when boom – all the players the covet ( and some of the ones they don’t) are going for above what they expected and they can’t do anything because their plan is in such a stage of flux . Welcome to Hot Stove season 2009 !!
                                                                    
                                                         ” Jeff and Fred – a family portrait”
With that said it is being reported by Jim Salisbury of CSNPHILLY that the Philadelphia Phillies have an agreement in place with a relief pitcher, He just doesn’t know yet who the pitcher is yet . Salisbury’s source is revealing that a agreement with the mystery player is imminent , pending a physical. There is speculation that it is either Danys Baez or
Mike MacDougal.
And the Mets keep sitting idly by .
46 comments
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-5:24pm at 5:24 pm (UTC -4)
Always nice to see an 80s movie reference.
If the Phils are indeed signing Baez or McDougal, I’m not that plussed. In fact, I’m nonplussed.
asod75
12/23/2009-5:26pm at 5:26 pm (UTC -4)
Especially MacDougal. Dude throws hard but can’t find the plate.
rustyjr
12/23/2009-5:26pm at 5:26 pm (UTC -4)
yeah but they are trying to shore up their biggest weakness
asod75
12/23/2009-5:30pm at 5:30 pm (UTC -4)
Omar has his priorities: “We didn’t have a knuckleballer last year” so he signs Dickey.
“We didn’t have enough mediocre backup catchers last year” Signs Coste and Blanco
“We didn’t have a Japanese reliever” Signs Igarishi.
He’s filling the holes, people! Merry Christmas to all. Was hoping for a nice signing to put under the Mets Christmas tree, but all we have are items not worthy of stocking stuffers.
rustyjr
12/23/2009-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
uhhhh – Takahashi?
asod75
12/23/2009-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
Oh crap, forgot about him.
asod75
12/23/2009-5:32pm at 5:32 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s hoping Igarashi is more memorable than Ken “I’m a lefty who can’t get lefties out” Takahashi.
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-5:32pm at 5:32 pm (UTC -4)
I would take anyone they had in any role in their bullpen over anyone we had in any role in our bullpen except for Feliciano or KRod. In fact, I think Clay Condrey and Scott Eyre are available and they would both be useful in the Met pen IMO.
rustyjr
12/23/2009-5:30pm at 5:30 pm (UTC -4)
btw the Dickey has landed
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-5:33pm at 5:33 pm (UTC -4)
If only his name was Ulysses Robert Allen Dickey.
Kingman 26
12/23/2009-6:22pm at 6:22 pm (UTC -4)
Or, even better, Isidore Martin Allen Dickey.
Hazmet
12/23/2009-6:31pm at 6:31 pm (UTC -4)
With fear of getting banned after 3 posts, I’m waiting for the first time he blows a relief appearance only to hear the chants of “You suk Di….” well you get the idea.
Lovin your work here GDH
asod75
12/23/2009-6:46pm at 6:46 pm (UTC -4)
This isn’t fromwhaticangather.com, so you’re safe my friend.
Hazmet
12/23/2009-7:18pm at 7:18 pm (UTC -4)
LOL,outstanding.
prismo
12/23/2009-7:20pm at 7:20 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, we keep it realz on real durrrrty.
Hazmet
12/23/2009-5:39pm at 5:39 pm (UTC -4)
Would that make Jerry Manuel Clarence Beeks?
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-5:53pm at 5:53 pm (UTC -4)
I was thinking “Cellmate # 2″ but Clarence Beeks is probably more appropriate in a number of ways.
Kingman 26
12/23/2009-6:21pm at 6:21 pm (UTC -4)
I think Tony Bernazard was Clarence Beeks….Jerry is probably the character played by the same actor, the late great Paul Gleason, in Breakfast Club–Principal Dick Vernon.
And, for the music and trivia enthusiasts, I think blues-lover Aykroyd used the name Clarence Beaks because it is the real name of the old-time blues/jazz singer King Pleasure…
Kingman 26
12/23/2009-6:17pm at 6:17 pm (UTC -4)
Hazmet, welcome!!!!
Hazmet
12/23/2009-6:28pm at 6:28 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Kong. I can’t believe it took me this long to find out where everyone went. Have a great Holiday’s and an even better New Year.
Kingman 26
12/23/2009-6:42pm at 6:42 pm (UTC -4)
I have wondered where you were, and I think you will really enjoy it here.
Thank you for finding us, and I wish a great holiday and New Year to you and yours as well!
prismo
12/23/2009-7:22pm at 7:22 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome! We would have tried to spread the word more, but unfortunately none of us were “chosen” to join the “elite” commenting group on that other website.
asod75
12/23/2009-7:41pm at 7:41 pm (UTC -4)
I’d agree with you, but my thought is “awaiting moderation.”
gonzowill
12/23/2009-7:13pm at 7:13 pm (UTC -4)
I could see Omar now on the ground yelling “sell, sell, sell!!” Or maybe “buy, buy buy” in our case. It’s so hard to be a Met fan this winter.
fongy2
12/23/2009-7:17pm at 7:17 pm (UTC -4)
Sign Kenny Powers!
jaydh
12/23/2009-7:19pm at 7:19 pm (UTC -4)
I still think we should get Valverde.
gonzowill
12/23/2009-7:25pm at 7:25 pm (UTC -4)
Scale of 1-10, 10 being the most confident. Do you think the mets will sign any of the above players. My vote -5. This is not Omar, it is the Wilpons.
fongy2
12/23/2009-7:42pm at 7:42 pm (UTC -4)
This is The Wilpon’s editing everything Omar does now.
As I’ve noted here many times
with Omar in charge, about three quarters of a Billion has been spent or is obligated
in salary. Omar’s right hand man turned out to be a nut job
who was hated throughout the organization he was supposed to be overseeing. Omar’s Chief Latin player development
guy also got the axe since the pipeline promised by spending tens of millions in
The D.R. has netted next to nothing. Omar’s first choice
for Mgr is now a Bench Coach
with The Brewers.His 2nd choice might as well be.
He’s run 5 drafts in 5 and a half seasons here and there
is little to show from that.
Our current team has 5 Superstars,all should be in their prime,yet all are question marks entering 2010.
He also gave star-like contracts to-two guys in Ollie
and Castillo who are either
no shows or guys most of us
hope don’t show yet still will count as about a 7th of
the team payroll AND as we’ve
seen the past several weeks are impossible to move.
So, I think if you or I were
Mr.Wilpon, we’d now be paying
a little more attention to
what Omar is doing.
asod75
12/23/2009-7:46pm at 7:46 pm (UTC -4)
Blind editing the blind then…..
fongy2
12/23/2009-7:55pm at 7:55 pm (UTC -4)
I won’t dispute that!
I am getting the feeling again that I had almost 3months ago when we were assured Omar and Jerry would
be back to lead the charge
into 2010 THAT
The Wilpon’s
loyalty to these men will
end up costing
us several more years of
heartache.
Once again, there doesn’t seem to be a plan and if there is,its
being approached w/o
very much focus on what
you’d think the ultimate goal should be,
Winning a Championship for the first time in almost a quarter century.
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-8:28pm at 8:28 pm (UTC -4)
IMO bringing Omar and Jerry back for 2010 is the worst decision this franchise has made in years.
As you know I’ve been more supportive (or less critical perhaps) of Minaya than you have since we’ve known each other but for me the whole Rubin/Bernazard thing was the last straw.
It was a fiasco that surely did not go unnoticed around the sport and I’m a bit surprised it hasn’t been raised more often in all the talk about why players aren’t flocking to Citi Field. To me it’s not the ballpark, or even last season’s injuries, it’s the fact the the GM who accused a reporter of undermining the organization is still here, and still here with him is his manager and his training staff.
fongy2
12/23/2009-8:49pm at 8:49 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you! How could I forget about our training staff and the Adam Rubin thing?
Mr North Jersey
12/23/2009-8:01pm at 8:01 pm (UTC -4)
Did you read over on mlbtr where if it’s true there is a clause in Lackey’s contract that if he misses significant time due to an old elbow injury he has to play for the league min in 2015.
My question is isn’t he a free agent after the 2014 season?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/odds-ends-dotel-rangers-lackey.html
asod75
12/23/2009-8:14pm at 8:14 pm (UTC -4)
Speaking of mlbtr, just saw that the Red Sox are having internal discussions about making another offer to Bay. Personally, I wouldn’t be opposed to the Sox getting Bay, as long as the Mets can swoop in and grab Holliday. I know he’ll cost more, but I think he’s the better player. However, this would also increase the Mets’ chances of landing no impact players for 2010. Omar, can you hear me? Come out from your hiding place….
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-8:24pm at 8:24 pm (UTC -4)
On tonight’s episode of “Hot Stove” on the MLB Network, host Victor Rojas spent a great deal of time ripping Omar Minaya a new one.
None of his criticism was unfounded, but he was over the top in delivering it. Normally he is more in the role of host, broaching topics and then letting guys like Harold Reynolds and Dan Plesac (who were on the panel with him tonight) argue them, then summarizing and moving on to the next topic.
But on the topic of Minaya he was literally yelling about what a terrible job he thinks Minaya has done, saying repeatedly that “the Mets have $98 million tied up in 13 players and so many holes, and no minor leaguers because he’s done a poor job of drafting and traded away the few he had” and that the Mets under him have “consistently traded away younger players for more expensive veterans” and that “this is the same thing he did with the Expos” and I won’t put quotes around this because I can’t attribute it to him exactly this way but Rojas basically said that Omar has destroyed 2 franchises and asked how does he still have a job?
Harold Reynolds tried to suggest that “the Mets looked at 2009 as ‘their year’ determining that the weakness of the team was the bullpen so KRod and Putz were acquired and we all sat here and said ‘this is the team to beat’ so how can you sit here and say they’re a shambles when they’ve barely missed the playoffs the two previous years and we all picked them to win,” but Rojas would raise his voice and say “you’re missing the point all Minaya does is throw money at major league free agents and you can’t build a team that way and if he determined that ‘this was their year’ he ruined the next 5 years to go for it and that was a bad decision that can’t be justified when you realize that his drafts are terrible and they spend no money on the draft, the Pirates spent over 3 times as much as they did this year…”
Then Harold would interrupt “you’re missing the point Victor, they have been a good team for the 5 years Omar’s been there except for all the injuries. You tell me any team would contend if they lost their 5 All-Stars for most of the season” and then Victor would interrupt and say “when you have no minor leaguers you can’t supplement when those injuries happen, this is all on Omar.”
Harold would respond “no team no matter who was in their minor league system could recover from those injuries.” The whole time Plesac is on the right in a boxer’s pose, and every once in a while he would say “in your neutral corners gentlemen” and stuff like that to break them up but Harold would try to defend and Victor would basically yell over him.
Finally Victor asks, “so what do they do for 2010?” and Harold answers “you hope your team is healthy and you try and sign Jason Bay and add him to that lineup and…” and Rojas interrupts “just throw money away again, alright coming up next…”
These things in quotes aren’t exact quotes, don’t hold me to them but I think I caught the spirit of the thing. I don’t have a DVR so I can’t roll it back to check for accuracy.
But anyway, the point of all this is: I know Harold Reynolds worked for SNY and therefore by extension he was kind of an employee of the Mets. But, I also know that Victor Rojas is the son of Cookie Rojas who worked as a coach for the Mets when Omar Minaya was assistant GM.
Do you guys know of anything the Omar Minaya may have done to Cookie Rojas while he was a coach here? Again I don’t think any of the points Victor Rojas made were out of bounds, I think all his criticisms were legitimate, but he made them in such an uncharacteristic over the top way and interrupted Reynolds’ defenses repeatedly and dismissed them rather dramatically. It just made me wonder if maybe there is some underlying tension between Minaya and the Rojas family.
stickguy
12/23/2009-8:36pm at 8:36 pm (UTC -4)
Well, just about everyone in the sports media is a whore for attention.
ANd it seems that now, there is no better way to get your self noticed than to scream about how bad the mets are.
Frankly, the Mets winning this year will be 10x more satisfying since the faithful will be able to throw all the hyperbole back in their faces.
although you know if somehow the mets make the playoffs and the yanks get creamed by injuries and miss out, all the talking heads (led by fatso) will be fawning all over the Mets so they get to ride the playoff gravy train.
Mr North Jersey
12/23/2009-8:42pm at 8:42 pm (UTC -4)
Wow Grave I wish they would do a better job of posting these things online for more to see.
I have a lot of respect for Reynolds he has always struck me as a class act.
I can’t say If I ever seen Victor in studio before but sounds like he was passionate about his observations.
I said this earlier but I have always felt from the day the season ended that we are 2 or 3 players away from seriously competing for a title in 2010.
That is why it is killing me to see the Mets, well you know.
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-8:45pm at 8:45 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know what your schedule is, but if you have MLB Network there’s a re-run of Hot Stove tonight at 10:00pm eastern.
Mr North Jersey
12/23/2009-8:50pm at 8:50 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t have MLB Network in my cable package.
fongy2
12/23/2009-8:47pm at 8:47 pm (UTC -4)
I think your reading too much into it my friend.
fongy2
12/23/2009-8:52pm at 8:52 pm (UTC -4)
Should have read “you’re”.
But hey, who knows?
I do think if there was something personal b/t Omar and The Rojas’ it would have shown itself before.
I watch alot of MLBnetwork and Rojas
has always seemed supportive of us and Omar.
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-8:59pm at 8:59 pm (UTC -4)
You’re probably right about me reading too much into it (maybe I was just looking for a TRDMB exclusive: Rojas-Minaya Feud!), but given what you say (which I agree with) about Rojas generally being supportive, and what I believe about Rojas generally just being “Mr. Host” and cheerily passing the topics to the panel, I was quite surprised by how energetic his arguments were.
fongy2
12/23/2009-9:12pm at 9:12 pm (UTC -4)
Understood my friend,
I’ll check it out later.
stickguy
12/23/2009-8:24pm at 8:24 pm (UTC -4)
Saw that item about Bay. I am actually all for that. He still scares me (thinking of him patrolling LF for the next 4 years).
At least if they sign him, it pretty much limits them to 2 options: 1) pay up for Holliday, or 2) spread the wealth on a lot of shorter term deals to improve in as many places as possible.
Both I think are better than overpaying Bay and not doing much else.
Oh, I guess there is still a 3) go hog wild on trades, but somehow I get the feeling that the cream of the farm isn’t going anywhere (probably a real good idea at this point).
maybe a nice salary dump trade to at least get something going? Either CInci. SP would be good at thsi point.
GravediggerHebner
12/23/2009-8:40pm at 8:40 pm (UTC -4)
I’m with you on ‘both are better than overpaying Bay…’
fongy2
12/23/2009-8:56pm at 8:56 pm (UTC -4)
It’ll be pretty interesting to see
what happens if Bay does sign with Boston.
A)Does Ellsbury become available?
B)How far will Omar go in bidding for Holliday?
C)Are there any other impact guys quietly
available?