I guess you could say with all the Metcentric events that happened today – the good news out weighed the bad by and ounce. The good news is according to S.I’s resident Millhouse look a like John Heyman reported that Jose Reyes ran 90 feet – full speed – and felt no pain. The other news that Heyman reported was that low risk, high reward pitcher – Kelvim Escobar was pronounced healthy by team Dr. , David Altcheck. He will be ready for Pitchers and catchers in 12 days. Okay and now the bad news. Well we already know about the clusterphuck bomb that was dropped today – You know J.J. Putz and the case of the organization that couldn’t diagnose hay fever let alone bone spurs. And now Espn writer ( and Phillies shill), Buster Onley tweeted that as of this point in time, the Mets are finished signing players and this will be the current Mets roster going into Spring Training. Thank goodness Mike ” The Gut” Francesa was too preoccupied at ripping Rex Ryan flipping the one finger salute to some inbred that he didn’t cover either of these stories. Unfortunately I put on Michael Kay’s program and there he was , in all smugness tearing the Mets brass a new one and trying to convert young Mets fans to the dark-side. To quote Benigno – OHHH THE PAIN !!! All I have to say is Omar better be praying to Jobu that this team doesn’t fall off the cliff early, because like Steve Phillips , I can’t see any other organization taking a chance on him in any role other than an international scout.
Â
                                              
                  “Milhouse and John Heyman – Separated at birth?!?”
And with that said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Happy Birthday Wishes go out to one time prospect who pitched in three games to an E.R.A OF 13.50 for the Mets during that ill fated ’92 campaign -Joe Vitko (1970) .
Reserve outfielder from ’98 Rich Becker, is 38 (1972) .
New York Mets claimed Endy ” The Catch” Chavez on waivers from the Detroit Tigers on February 1, 2002.Believe it or not that was Endy’s second go round with the Mets ( he wouldn’t make the team until ”06). I miss his all out speed and his penchant for getting clutch hits , but alas all good things must come to an end.
Oakland Athletics signed utility infielder, Ricky Ledee of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 1, 2007.
Kansas City Royalssigned pitcher, Brian Lawrence of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 1, 2008
And don’t forget while you are crying that you got crappy numbers in your Super Bowl box, Just remember – there are just 63 more days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
28 comments
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
Opening Day, please!
So, seriously it’s going to be Niese or Nieve in the rotation. Can’t believe it.
I guess Nieve can’t be any worse than Livan and Redding.
Niese should start in AAA and once teams start figuring out Nieve, call up Niese.
I’m REALLY scared about Omar getting shelled in a mid-season trade, though.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:10pm at 6:10 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe that is what they end up with. I expect a scrub to be brought in still to compete.
But really will Nieve/Niese be any worse? The Mets needed another top pitcher and still need one. Scrubs would not have changed that I guess.
GravediggerHebner
2/1/2010-6:08pm at 6:08 pm (UTC -4)
Wow a lot of offensively impotent OF in today’s infamy.
I’ve always thought of Buster Olney as a Yankees shill since he covered them for the NY Times and wrote a book about them. But at the end of the day what’s the difference between a Yankee shill and a Phillie shill to a Met fan?
rustyjr
2/1/2010-6:52pm at 6:52 pm (UTC -4)
the only difference is one fan has 27 rings to oggle at while the other fan only has 2 rings – uuuh jeeez
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-6:48pm at 6:48 pm (UTC -4)
Mets response to Putz:
“In our review of the player’s medical records in the acquisition of J.J. Putz, we were aware that he had a bone spur before the trade. He had the same condition in 2008 and was able to pitch with it. J.J. underwent an exam during Spring Training and an additional exam and MRI before he was cleared to play in last year’s World Baseball Classic. Unfortunately the spur did flare up again in May, and he missed the rest of the season. We are happy to hear he is feeling well, and wish him success with the White Sox.â€
They’re not denying they knew about the spur and didn’t have an exam until ST. At least they didn’t make it any worse, I don’t think.
Interesting that MC hasn’t weighed in on this.
rustyjr
2/1/2010-6:51pm at 6:51 pm (UTC -4)
the mets from what i can gather told him to shut up lol
trs86
2/1/2010-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
LOL that’s funny.
metsfan4decades
2/1/2010-7:56pm at 7:56 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, good one.
trs86
2/1/2010-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
Can’t wait.
But looks to be that the Mets did their part. They knew it existed, looked at his records and numbers when he returned, examined him before WBC and ST.
rustyjr
2/1/2010-6:57pm at 6:57 pm (UTC -4)
still it kida reeks of poor judgement trs
trs86
2/1/2010-7:01pm at 7:01 pm (UTC -4)
Which part? The trade? I think it was what people wanted them to do this year. Take a gamble. It backfired and most likely that combined with all the other junk has made them more reluctant to take those risk this year.
rustyjr
2/1/2010-7:08pm at 7:08 pm (UTC -4)
no not the trade – the fact that it was common knowledge that he had arm problems and they only reviewed his records and not insist on a intensive exam of the affected shoulder – this is a mans career here
trs86
2/1/2010-7:18pm at 7:18 pm (UTC -4)
Looks like they did examine him a few times. I guess they could have before the trade was completed but I think they looked at his records and stats after the surgery and took a gamble.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-7:05pm at 7:05 pm (UTC -4)
no need to “take a gamble” on Putz when their were tons of closers on the market.
They could’ve signed one on a one year deal, avoiding the need to lose prospects and risk the bullpen.
trs86
2/1/2010-7:10pm at 7:10 pm (UTC -4)
They lost one prospect in Carp. I am sorry but who are those closers on a 1 year deal that would have came to NY to setup Krod? Again, no one really seemed to have a problem with it last year and we all knew there was lots of injury potential. What did they really give up? Carp and uh….
rustyjr
2/1/2010-7:11pm at 7:11 pm (UTC -4)
smith vargas who pitched well and that low level second baseman has gotten rave reviews
trs86
2/1/2010-7:13pm at 7:13 pm (UTC -4)
Smith and Green are about even. Vargas is a guy they were going to lose unless they carried him and every one screamed he was terrible any time his name was mentioned. The 2B we will have to wait and see.
trs86
2/1/2010-7:15pm at 7:15 pm (UTC -4)
But again, they did not give up much in terms of players for a gamble on a guy who could be lights out. It backfired but I don’t have any problems with the deal.
Few more minutes someone will be bringing up the Lindstrom, Owens trade about how they got nothing back in Vargas.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-7:37pm at 7:37 pm (UTC -4)
The CFer we sent did very well in AA.
Joe Smith > Sean Green
I would’ve taken Juan Cruz at 2/$6M
trs86
2/1/2010-7:59pm at 7:59 pm (UTC -4)
Cruz waited forever to sign if I remember and was a type A and wanted big money right? He also ended up with a 5.72 ERA.
trs86
2/1/2010-7:59pm at 7:59 pm (UTC -4)
Signed Feb. 28th.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-7:03pm at 7:03 pm (UTC -4)
“He had the same condition in 2008 and was able to pitch with it.”
LOL. They act as if Putz actually pitched well or was healthy in 2008. Idiots.
rustyjr
2/1/2010-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
was he too pooped to putz?
trs86
2/1/2010-7:12pm at 7:12 pm (UTC -4)
2nd half of 2008 he was very good. 2.96 ERA with 33K’s in 27 innings.
rustyjr
2/1/2010-7:14pm at 7:14 pm (UTC -4)
uh didnt he have surgery and came back in the second half of 08?
trs86
2/1/2010-7:17pm at 7:17 pm (UTC -4)
Yup, but my comment was to that he did indeed pitch well after surgery in 2008. Thus I am sure the Mets thought there was a good chance he could continue that success. It was a gamble and it backfired.
CaseStreet
2/1/2010-7:40pm at 7:40 pm (UTC -4)
okay, that makes more sense
Hazmet
2/1/2010-7:25pm at 7:25 pm (UTC -4)
Over the past few days I’ve seen many posts pumping up the positivity rah rah bus based I guess on the mini camp. Today, to me, we get some real positive with Reyes running and even proclaiming he feels “baseball ready”, Escobar cleared as healthy to start ST and the focus seems to be on Mr. Putz. Who cares, he’s gone, and from his utterance good riddance. Yeah, the FO was stupid from how the story plays out but tell me something I don’t know. FO stupidity is in the Mets DNA, accept it and stop biting on the unsubstantiated “from what I can gather” crap guys like Olney push to stay employed. Wouldn’t the irony here be the Mets medical staff fixes Putz and he goes on to higher heights and the only thing he’d have to say is “boy those Mets, what a mess”. If that happens I can pretty much guarantee that spin will never happen.
Today was a good day, a great day, Jose running, Escobar cleared, Putz can now give Chi-town ED.