I’m ready to call it quits on the offseason, barring a last minute miracle trade. This Smoltz talk is completely useless in my opinion. Last season Smoltzy started 8 games for the Red Sox, with an ERA of 8.33, leading to his departure from the team. The Cards picked him up, and John pitched better in 7 starts, with an ERA of 4.26, but only averaged 5.4 innings per start.
Smoltz is on the wrong side of 40, as he’ll turn 43 in the second month of the baseball season. His numbers are unlikely to improve much, and I’m fairly certain that Nieve or Neise can rack up and ERA under 5 and throw more than 5.4 innings per start.
There’s no anti-Smoltz sentiment in my thinking. I don’t care that he used to be a Brave, I like John Smoltz. From what I’ve heard he’s a good person and was an excellent starter (and closer) for several years, and likely a future hall of famer. A few years ago I would have taken Smoltz in a heartbeat, but he’s way past his prime.
Smoltz is only an example of what Omar shouldn’t resort to as free agency slowly grinds to a half over the next few weeks. The Mets are what they are: a team with a few excellent players and a lot of younger players with potential, but whom are also big question marks. And you know what? I’m okay with that. Is this a first place team? Probably not, but it is a team with potential. I don’t think adding an aging, declining player will get the team over the hump. Whether that be Smoltz or Delgado or Gary Matthews Jr. I’d rather see the youngins get a chance to prove themselves.
It may be a blessing in disguise; saving money this year. Next offseason will bear a much more fruitful crop of free agents, and the Mets could use some extra cash to spend on them. Again, I’m not giving up on this season. The team has potential, if a lot of things go right; to make the wild card, but it doesn’t hurt to look ahead to 2011 and years beyond.
20 comments
mrose
1/27/2010-7:52am at 7:52 am (UTC -4)
See, depending on how much he would require… I’m ok with the Smoltz signing.
A) He is a vet who probably could help some of our youngins.
B) I don’t really want or see him as a starter but as a long relief guy or just a fill in whenever needed guy. Not to say the same stats will be put up, but remember the last time we had a true veteran long relief/emergency guy? Darren Oliver and it was 2006.
I dunno, if we don’t sign him, I won’t be upset.. if we do for a reasonable amount of money, it still doesn’t hurt our money for the trade deadline or next year.
prismo
1/27/2010-7:54am at 7:54 am (UTC -4)
I’m pretty sure he wants to start though. As a reliever, sure, I don’t care. But I’m confident that Niese or Nieve could do a better job as a starter than Smoltz at this point in his career. Nieve was dynamite for the Mets in 7 starts last year (2.95 ERA). Obviously he won’t keep that up, but it’s reasonable to think he could have an ERA below 4.3 and average more than 5.4 innings per start.
mrose
1/27/2010-8:01am at 8:01 am (UTC -4)
I’d have to look it up, but I thought I read that he’d like to start, but he would be a reliever as long as hes the first one out. And honestly, is that such a bad thing?
Johan
Pelf
Perez
Maine
Niese/Nieve
If he has it made clear that those are the top 5/6 people and he can start if one/two of those go down… how is that so bad? It allows us to stop from bringing up AAA nobodies or rushing a prospect. If they don’t go down, GREAT, he is a nice longman to have out of the bullpen…
prismo
1/27/2010-8:04am at 8:04 am (UTC -4)
Yep, then we pretty much agree! I’m cool with him as a reliever. Honestly, I don’t care who a team has as its middle relievers for the most part. The majority of middle relievers are crap-shoots from year to year anyway. I just don’t want Omar or Jerry to sign Smoltz and pencil him in as a starter right away.
stickguy
1/27/2010-8:00am at 8:00 am (UTC -4)
this piece, I like, and it pretty much agrees with what I have been posting lately. They should still try to add some peices that make sense, and the trade option is very real, but for the most part, it is what it is. Nick evans as the BU 1B/RH bench bat isn’t the end of the world, given some of the other options out there. And easily replaceable.
Do a fair number of things have to go right for them to win 90 games and make the playoffs? Of course, but that is true really for every team.
Normal amounts of good health, a career year or 2, and a guy coming out of nowhere with a big year (like pagan last year), and you are the rockies or Rays and in the playoffs.
Teams can also make moves as the season goes along. Heck, at this time last year, who expected SHeffield to be a Met?
metsfan4decades
1/27/2010-8:09am at 8:09 am (UTC -4)
At this point, I believe we all realize that good addition to the starting rotation isn’t happening.
I truly believed, if nothing else, we would see an addition of a SP or two. Looks like that isn’t happening. Whether that was by design or not (re: Mets were lukewarm regarding FA pitchers available), we’ll probably never know. That being said, I don’t believe we have enough depth in that area to cover injuries – and you know there will be some.
I agree with Prismo above concerning Smoltz – but if nothing else he would alleviate some of the depth problem we have. What if two pitchers for whatever reason, are not ready to start the season? What’s the backup plan as currently constructed?
Crossing fingers going forward does not instill confidence, IMO. I did enough of that last season.
stickguy
1/27/2010-8:16am at 8:16 am (UTC -4)
I think there is still 1 more regular SP coming in (via trade, not Smoltz) to take the 5th spot. I think they recognize the need for more depth, and would ideally like to start Neise in AAA and Neive in the BP as a swing man. They both could end up in the rotation, but it would be nice to not have it be required to start the season!
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-8:16am at 8:16 am (UTC -4)
I agree completely, and I will even raise you one—if the potential of the team is somewhat realized, we can use the money and/or prospects to bring in a frontline player during the season.
Enough debating the garbage that no one in baseball wants.
And the Nabobs cab flame away, but Pelf, Maine, AND Ollie have had tastes of serious success at the big league level and they ain’t 40 years old.
I am ready for spring training.
prismo
1/27/2010-8:19am at 8:19 am (UTC -4)
I call your raise! Excellent points Kingman.
stickguy
1/27/2010-8:21am at 8:21 am (UTC -4)
wait, you mean I am not the only one on the “the Met rotation isn’t as bad as generally thought” bandwagon? Damn, I thought I had the ride tomyself.
prismo
1/27/2010-8:30am at 8:30 am (UTC -4)
It’s a rotation full of crap-shoot starters (after Santana).
Ollie/Pelf/Maine/Nieve/Niese are FIVE pitchers who wouldn’t shock me if they posted a 3.50 ERA or a 4.50+ ERA next season. I think that range is fair for any of them, maybe save Niese (I think a sub-4 would him would be a surprise).
darknova306
1/27/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
Agreed on Pelf and Maine. I fully expect those guys, if they stay healthy all year, to be better than 2009 (how much better is the real question). They’ll be better, I just hope they’re good enough to keep the rotation from being a detriment.
I was elated when Ollie went into free agency, as we were finally able to rid ourselves of him. Thanks, Omar!
I don’t care how much weight he lost or how hard he threw in mini-camp, my faith in him is zero, and he still makes me ill when I see him on the mound. Hopefully he can finally stay focused over the course of more than an inning and pitch the way he theoretically is capable of, but I’m not holding my breath. Call me a Nabob if you will, but I’m sick of this guy.
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
I guess all I personally would like is for folks to give Ollie another chance.
Yes, last year was beyond disastrous, no argument there.
But, we are hearing that Ollie worked very hard all offseason on his mind and on getting in shape, and I am sure you can agree that if he grows up and harnesses his obvious talent and stuff, the guy can be a winner at the MLB level, and maybe even a real good pitcher, as he appeared to be becoming in 2004 and 2007.
Yeah, I go overboard on the optimism, but I really cannot get excited about Wang or Smoltz or Garland, and I am thrilled that we do not have Pineiro.
If Ollie cannot get it done this year, then yes, we have to pay much of his salary for 2011 and get him out of here.
But I am eagerly willing to see him try to regain the 2004 and 2007 form.
CaseStreet
1/27/2010-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
So who will be this year’s Redding, Livan and Garcia?
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-8:57am at 8:57 am (UTC -4)
No, and I vehemently agreed with your posts yesterday, especially one of them.
Might we see the 2009 versions of Ollie, Maine and Pelf? Sure, we might.
But we also might see the 2008 Pelf and the 2007 Maine and Ollie.
They are all far too young and talented to write off just yet.
I have to chill, because the obnoxious negativity, and the downright silliness of the next post about Murph really bug me.
I mean, am I among the only ones here who just plain love baseball and the Mets, and don’t enjoy the daily bi**h-fest that every Met site has become??
Bring on the season so we can hopefully enjoy the Mets again and shut the damn Nabobs’ whiny mouths.
And have a nice day!!
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-8:58am at 8:58 am (UTC -4)
This was means as a response to Stick’s response to me right above….it went to moderation over the word bi**h!!
Metsblog flashback! Scary!
johan4cy
1/27/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
Did Ching ming wang suck last year because he was hurt or because he “lost” it. Either way, if he’s healthy, he doesn’t look like a bad option considering that he is a 2 time 19 game winner and didnt look like he was slowing down.
johan4cy
1/27/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
Chen*
stickguy
1/27/2010-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
worth a flyer. The problem with these guys is when (like sheets) they go from being a livan-level contract to a real-player price tag.
A ST invite? no brainer. A 1 mill guarantee + a make the roster bonus? Worth the investment. 10mill guaranteed even if he neve rpitches? Don’t think so.
GravediggerHebner
1/27/2010-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
When I read “but only averaged 5.4 innings per start” as a disparaging remark toward Smoltz, it loses some oomph when I think that probably would’ve been second best on the Mets last year.
Now that’s probably not factually correct, but just the idea that it even comes to mind as a possibility is an indictment of this pitching staff.