I’ll tell you, after watching ” Forever” Fernando Neive blow the lead in last nights Mets/ Reds game I started reaching for the Tums- but I ended up grabbing a bottle of Jose Cuervo Gold instead. You see this has been typical of the Mets the last couple of days, Mets starting pitcher pitched really well- opposition comes back to tie – bullpen blows it -okay that was only Monday nights game but the last three losses have been painful. But all I can say is that I have to thank all that is good and pure for Rod Barajas – the second coming of Dave Kingman ! Rod like Sky King never hit for a high average- nor would they ever win the award for on base % but talk about clutch hitting ! That was a bomb that he hit last night ! I haven’t seen a Mets catcher his homers with such ease since Mike Piazza ! Rod is the current Mets homerun leader with seven, and I don’t care what any of the talking heads on the television say – he is way better than Bengie Molina ! It was good to see John Maine channeling the John Maine that we came to love over the ’07 season. His velocity was better than his previous start, and he pounded the strike zone ( six strike outs in six innings !), and it is great to see that we have just entered the second month of the season and David Wrights already has more than half the amount of homers (six) than he had in four months last year ! Lets face it – the Mets needed to win this game badly, because if they didn’t it mights have been possible that they could have lost all the momentum that they fought so hard for during that eight game winning streak. Now it is time to go on another run !
Remember that there is a early 12:35 game today on SNY !
Â
                                                                
                                                               ” I’ll take Rod over Bengie anyday !”
And with that said …. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to Juan Acevedo (1970). He was a spot starter/ middle reliever from the ’97 team.
New York Mets signed free agent relief pitcher – Eric Gunderson on May 5, 1994.
New York Mets released outfielder Ben Johnson on May 5, 2008. Remember Ben Johnson? We traded Heath Bell and Royce Ring to the San Diego Padres for him and scrub pitcher Jon Adkins
And the Mo Vaughn tidbit of the day – Pillsbury has made him their ” Honorary Spokesman” – He then went on to bake The Pop N Fresh Doughboy in the oven and served him with some sausage gravy !!
76 comments
metsfan4decades
5/5/2010-7:43am at 7:43 am (UTC -4)
Interesting you mention Barajas vs. Molina. You must have saw the ‘talking heads’ last night on Sports Night face off debating that issue. It was Macannany vs. ‘Moose’ Malusis (spelling? on both). Moose was very vocal about Molina being so much better. Mac said well yeah, 4.5Mil vs. 900,000 – of course he would be better. But so what? Barajas saved them a ton of money, he works well with the pitchers and will occasionally produce the long ball and some RBIs in the bottom of the order – what’s not to like? Also, he saved them money for a possible mid season acquisition, should they need it.
Think they said something last night about 4 of his 7 HRs being game tying or taking the lead type HRs.
Rod ‘Clutch’ Barajas.
trs86
5/5/2010-7:50am at 7:50 am (UTC -4)
I don’t see how you can even compare the two without factoring in money. Not only their current salary but what it would have taken to get Molina to come to NY.
trs86
5/5/2010-7:43am at 7:43 am (UTC -4)
Hot Roid!
LOL, don’t want to start anything there.
Missed in all of this is Dwright’s HR pace. While I don’t expect Hot Rod to have 42 HR, I do think it’s logical to expect Wright to hit 28-36 HR just like he has always done with the exception of one.
metsfan4decades
5/5/2010-8:08am at 8:08 am (UTC -4)
I’ll take 28-30 from Wright. Playing now at Citi vs. Shea he might lose a handful. Then again, he keeps hitting 455 feet blasts, it won’t matter….
rustyjr
5/5/2010-8:28am at 8:28 am (UTC -4)
I feel arroyo would thrive on the mets – agree or disagree ?
trs86
5/5/2010-8:29am at 8:29 am (UTC -4)
Would be a nice pickup but they have never been interested in trading him. Only the media and blogosphere has been saying they will.
rustyjr
5/5/2010-8:39am at 8:39 am (UTC -4)
For the most part – he looked good – ho’s defense let him down
trs86
5/5/2010-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I just see them dumping Harrang instead of Arroyo. Especially if they are still in the race.
stickguy
5/5/2010-9:08am at 9:08 am (UTC -4)
Harang has continued his sting of dismal performances frmo the last couple of years. Given the huge amount of money he is owed (and I belive that 2011 becomes guaranteed if traded?) I don’t see him going anywhere.
trs86
5/5/2010-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
That’s why he has not. When Chapman is ready they will eat the cash and dump him to the Dodgers. Just my prediction. Dodgers want him but they want him for cheap.
stickguy
5/5/2010-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
I would take a flyer on a total salary dump deal (as in the cut him and he passes through waivers). Even then, right now he is not good enough to crack the Met rotation, so what move do you make to accomdate a new SP?
at the risk of beating the horse after he has already been turned into chinese food and baseball gloves, exactly why Mejia should be in the minors starting, so if they need another SP on an emergency basis, they have someone to call up.
Right now, theonly SP in the minors doing jack is Dickey. Although it might be fun to see a knuckleball guy on the Mets.
trs86
5/5/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
I think Gee would be fine.
njstuckintx
5/5/2010-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
Harang is just bad at this point. Yes, he had success in the past, but Dusty Baker killed him. I wouldn’t touch Harang with a 10’1″ pole.
ceetar
5/5/2010-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
I picked up Barajas in one of my fantasy leagues (I had/have Mauer)
rustyjr
5/5/2010-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
Barajas has the catchers instincts of grote , the fire of John stearns , and the power of piazza – not bad if I do say so myself
ceetar
5/5/2010-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
I also dropped Ben Sheets in our league, even though I suspect he may come around. (I was saying in the offseason that it’d probably be at least into May before he was even contributing much.)
I thought about dropping Vasquez, but ultimately didn’t. I picked up that Toronto starter that one of you dropped.
trs86
5/5/2010-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
That would be me. I had too many starters. LOL. My innings pitched was off the carts but it was causing my ERA and WHIP to suffer because naturally more starter innings from non-aces more chances of trouble.
ceetar
5/5/2010-9:28am at 9:28 am (UTC -4)
I always make that mistake and my ERA and WHIPs screw me. But not as bad as pitching Sheets. Shawn Marcum was it? I draw blank.
njstuckintx
5/5/2010-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
Romero. If i had options, I would have snagged him myself
trs86
5/5/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
He’s been very very good for me. I just could not take the 5 runs and high WHIP this last time. Trying to sell high. I already have Halladay, Santana, Lackey, Liriano, and Niemann.
njstuckintx
5/5/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Can’t complain about that fearsome fivesome.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/5/2010-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Santana is terrible. He’s given up 9 runs last outing (or 10 runs). Wanna trade him for Wandy?
trs86
5/5/2010-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Let me get back to you on that one. LOL.
stickguy
5/5/2010-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
big win needed today. I am a little nervouse about the pitching match ups this weekend. And, if the Cards can come through for us, it would be sweet to head home in 1st place!
I was hoping they would also take advantage of the day off to do some spring cleaning of the roster (put the stuffed mooseheads like Cat and GM out on the curb), but from reading the Rubin chat peice yesterday, he doesn’t think it was happening.
Odd answers though. He basically said that the Mets FO recognizes that they stink, but they stil lhave no intention of making any changes, including when murphy comes back. Odd, but then again, it is the Omar/Jeffy show, so anything can happen.
trs86
5/5/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
I think they just want to give them some more time. I don’t agree but looking at stats yesterday it was odd. The bench still has about league average number of pinch hits, 2nd in RBI, 2nd in HR (with one LOL). What is more likely the biggest cause is guys like GMJR have really stunk when starting, even worse than when they have been pinch hitters.
I think the best move right now would be to replace Cat and GMJR with Pridie and Carter and then leave Tatis and Cora for a while longer as we don’t have replacements lined up for those two.
stickguy
5/5/2010-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
I mentioned this in the next thread, but what is the attachment to Cat? He sucked last year, and was a NR invite, so basically MiL or DFA fodder. He also sucked in the spring, and has not history with the team. He had a shot, he sucked, so retire.
GM they could be waiting out, due to having traded for him (and owing money), and not wanting to be embarassed? Or maybe the faint hope he could eventually be traded? I am going with Stubborn on this one.
I was thinking Murphy for Cat, but sound slike it may be a while before murphy can really run. So some AAA time would not be bad for him.
njstuckintx
5/5/2010-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
yeah, he’s pretty much just bad at this point. last night when he pinch hit and barely made it past the infied grass… ugh.
ceetar
5/5/2010-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
he also hasn’t had a ton of chances ( I think he’s almost got more games than AB) but enough to see that *insert your favorite semi-prospect from the minors here* is better. Someone is getting cut for the Giants series. you can bet on it (and i would, if i could)
njstuckintx
5/5/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
About the ton of chances… I wonder when enough is enough to make a determination? I know he hasn’t had many ABs, but man oh man, has he looked fairly crappy in those.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/5/2010-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
Which one? Cat or GMJ?
As for GMJ, I agree with stick that it’s more of a stubborn move to keep him around. But Cat, I don’t understand. Whenever he comes up, I just assume it’s an automatic out.
njstuckintx
5/5/2010-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
I was meaning Cat. I can see GMJ, just for the back up CF thing. Backup 1B and corner OF positions are easily fill-able. We already have Tatis. If we’re going to have a PH/Fill in guy, he better have some pop in that bat. Cat is showing that any pop he had has since gone on vacation.
ceetar
5/5/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Rubin annoys me.
I’m going to go on record saying I think they’ll make one swap. if Murphy isn’t ready I think we might actually see Carter or Evans or something for Catalanotto.
metsfan4decades
5/5/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
Agree – on both points.
I have to believe they make at least one move to swap a bench player. I understand about them not getting a lot of opportunities but how many months can we have PHs = automatic out without at least trying something different with one of them?
stickguy
5/5/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
and in limited duty, evans and Murphy have both had some successful PH ABs, including at least 1 home run from each. For sure Evans had at least one.
stickguy
5/5/2010-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
On a more serious note, here are my latest odds.
I am putting the Beltran line back a little. 50% he is back by the ASB, and 10% he is out all year.
ANd a new betting line: 80% chance they skip Pelfs trun this weekend, “just to be careful”. The rest of the rotation stays on normal rest.
ceetar
5/5/2010-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
he skipped one start last year for a similar reason, as an over-conservative precaution.
the opportunity to do it on normal rest will be intriguing, and I guess it depends how he feels. Pelfrey’s always been a pretty sturdy resilient guy, and the mRI was fine, so I’m not really worried. If they skip him, they skip him.
Actually, not that this matters right now, but if they skip him he’d be on pace to face both NYY and PHI, if not skipped he could miss PHI (although an off day between those series, so You’d swap Pelfrey for the finale anyway)
ceetar
5/5/2010-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
I’ll put my money on “back by the All-Star Break”, but not well before. I don’t think he’ll start running next week like he says. That’s him speaking the way we would/are. “I hope he/I’m able to start running” whereas the doctors results seem to suggest he’ll need a couple more weeks.
Kingman 26
5/5/2010-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
LOL! What is the maximum bet allowed for “not back by the all-star break?”
Assuming you meant 2010…
I DO think he will be back by the 2011 ASB when Scotty B will be distributing the spumoni-colored 12-pound binders asserting why Beltran will be the best steal EVER for a 35 year old who has not played half of the previous three seasons.
trs86
5/5/2010-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Eh, good chance he is back this year. Better question is how long he stays back. Is this issue degenerative.
ceetar
5/5/2010-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
Today’s lineup pisses me off. Is Castillo nursing something that we don’t know of, or is Manuel just a complete fool and likes Cora way too much? Cora’s played 33% of the games over the past 9 or so that I remember.
trs86
5/5/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
Nursing old age I guess.
Maybe they feel that Cora needs ab’s to get going. I am fine with that but why not slide everyone up and bat him 8th?
ceetar
5/5/2010-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, agreed on that too. But It’s not old age, and Castillo, while not getting on base up to par, has still been contributing each and every day. I want to hear Manuel’s justification for playing a lesser player so often.
trs86
5/5/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
To keep that better player healthy all season? I have no idea. Castillo has usually gotten the day game after a night game off. Perhaps it’s Castillo’s thing.
ceetar
5/5/2010-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
once a series is too often. He’s not a catcher. Especially given all the off days. It’s one thing to give him off even once a week, but once a series?
trs86
5/5/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
It would only be once a series if you had a day game to end the series, right? Maybe the plan is to do it early in the season to save him for late? My thought is if they are going to do it so frequently then move Castillo/Cora to the 8 hole.
stickguy
5/5/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
the line up is what annoys me the most. why put a lousy guy in a key spot, just to not move some other players 1 spot? For 1 game, it will really matter?
if anything, guys get used to who is hitting in front or behind them. the spot in the order is almost irrelevant, esepcially after the first inning, when you could come up 1st in a inning, or with 2 outs bases loaded.
trs86
5/5/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Exactly stick. Do we think that Reyes will suddenly panic because Pagan batting in front of him instead of Castillo?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/5/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
I believe Cora has vesting option and bonus kicking in if he plays certain number of games.
This is from the Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
# 1 year/$2M (2010), plus 2011 option
* re-signed by NY Mets as a free agent 11/30/09
* 10:$2M, 11:$2M vesting option
* 2011 option guaranteed with 80 starts in 2010
* performance bonuses: $0.25M each for 80, 90, 100, 110 starts
I’m not indicating that Jerry is starting Cora over Castillo on purely based on this reason, but I’m sure it is in his mind when making decisions.
stickguy
5/5/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
I know this can happen (but usually it goes the other way), but I honestly can’t see why he would want the option to vest? Or are you thinking it has to be in his mind not to do it too often?
But frankly, why the hell would Jerry care about next year, and who has a contract? The Mejia move pretty much showed (and his line ups last september) that the only thing Jerry cares about , is getting Jerry to the next game. Future of the team is totally irrelevant to him best as I can tell.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/5/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
All I can think of is that Jerry really likes Cora and wants to get him the $$ by giving him more starts.
But I also think the biggest reason is the fact that Castillo has had history of nagging injuries and that Jerry is in the “Prevention and Recovery” or that Castillo currently has nagging injury that we are not aware of.
trs86
5/5/2010-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
Cora has made 10 starts this year which would put him on pace for 60 starts and that’s with the Reyes injury. I just don’t see how it’s possible he gets there baring injury.
trs86
5/5/2010-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
I see no way other than injuries that vest anyway. Even playing him 1/3 games is not going to get 80 starts. I can’t believe that has anything to do with it.
trs86
5/5/2010-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
Castillo has started 20 games which puts him on pace for about 120 games. I would think that’s about right for Castillo?
ceetar
5/5/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
no no no. That’s horrible Castillo should play 140+. There was no sign of fatigue last year really. There is no reason to think that he needs this day off. Cora should not be playing 40 games for Castillo. He just shouldn’t. That actively hurts your lineup more than any sense of keeping Castillo fresh would help. This tiem it’s just too far. He should’ve been in in Philly, it’s a rival. if you wanted to rest him the third game of 3 in 24 hours against the Dodgers, that’s fine, even with an off day the next, but again a week later before another off day?
So he didn’t play Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Today, Tomorrow. That’s 4 games in 9 days. Even if you extend it back to the doubleheader, that’s 6/10.
stickguy
5/5/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
what is scaring me is that I am agreeing with an arguement to play Castillo MORE. ANd that my friend sends a shiver down my spine.
I think Castillo is more damaged than the team is letting on, and they are trying to nurse him along before he breaks down completely.
ceetar
5/5/2010-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
It’s fine if he needs a couple of days and that’s the reason. Say so then. If this is a way to get him two days off in a row for healing purposes, I’ll live with it. But he’s shown no signs of being injured. He that small problem early on, but since then we’ve heard nothing.
trs86
5/5/2010-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
Go back and look how many times he has played the day game after a night game. Question is that management or Castillo.
GravediggerHebner
5/5/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
Regarding the composition of the bench, Mike Silva agrees that it needs to be changed but lays out some sound reasons why it will be a while before that change happens.
Mr North Jersey
5/5/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting observation. Thanks for the link Grave.
metsfan4decades
5/5/2010-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
I hate this lineup today….as reading above many would agree.
Cora batting 2nd?
And if you’re going to play GMJ (why?) might as well have him batting 9th. I think Niese has more of a chance of getting a hit.
metsgirl31
5/5/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
Funny and sad, but true.
stickguy
5/5/2010-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
I hate Jerry. But, at least he keeps making enough dumb moves to add proof to the “win in spite of him not because of him” theory.
cant wait to see what the actual line up is, and who is sitting for GM.
the only good thing that can come out of his obsession with playing the guy is that ift gives Mathews an opportunity to suck walnuts even with some regular PT. Which maybe forces Omars hand to cut his losses?
perfect game is Mets win big, with GM going 0-5 with 4 Ks.
trs86
5/5/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
It’s out. Cora batting 2nd for Castillo and GMJR in for Frenchy.
GravediggerHebner
5/5/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
I’m not in love with the lineup either but a couple thoughts:
- You gotta play bench guys sometimes or they rust over, see: Catalanotto, Frank. Cora is best in short bursts and there’s no reason to wear Castillo down. This scenario benefits both players;
- Francoeur has an injured knee (or is it knees?) and forearm from encounters with walls and pitches, he is getting a nice 2-day rest for those things and should be feeling better for the upcoming series against some solid Giants starting pitchers. Both this season with it’s small sample and for his whole career, GMJ’s splits are best against a RH pitcher, and even better against RH starting pitchers, so this is the best opportunity to slot him in.
trs86
5/5/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
I have no problem with the substitutions just the lineup order. It makes no sense to me that Cora has to bat 2nd because he is subbing for Castillo and you don’t want to mess with the order. I still can’t see how Reyes would rather follow Cora instead of Pagan.
GravediggerHebner
5/5/2010-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Pagan is leading off, so what is it you want, Pagan to bat 2nd or Reyes to bat 2nd, I don’t follow. Cora’s best in small ball scenarios, like Castillo, and can do well in the 2 spot. His presence there does not offend me.
trs86
5/5/2010-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Just slide everyone up one.
Pagan, Reyes, Bay, Wright, Davis, Barajas, GMJR, Cora.
stickguy
5/5/2010-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
only thing I can figure is it splits up the automatic outs. You really want GM, cora, Pitcher 7-9? Not a lot of hope down there, although Neise is not too bad of a hitter!
bright side? You got slappy on the bench if you need a pinch walker, and Frenchy if you need a guy that might hit a HR off th ebench.
trs86
5/5/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I could see that but might as well get that part of the lineup the least amount of ab’s and let them do the least damage. Cora batting 2nd is a rally killer in my opinion.
GravediggerHebner
5/5/2010-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
I’d much rather have the starters rested and healthy and ready to go up against that Giants staff than one game against a questionable at best Cincy pitcher. We moaned about the lineup Sunday against Moyer and they scored a lot off him, it was Santana who spit the bit in that game, not the backup offensive players.
stickguy
5/5/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
my issue with it is, if you have a couple of no hit guys on the bench (Omars fault there I guess), and you need to give them an occasional start, why do multiple ones at the same time? Wouldn’t it be better to slot 1 in per game to try and hide them better?
GravediggerHebner
5/5/2010-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
I have no stats to back it up but no, not in my opinion. My personal preference if I’m going to “weaken” the lineup is to do it all at once as opposed to slowly bleeding it for multiple days.
I just prefer to do the old “Sunday lineup” thing, especially against a questionable pitcher (which is what I consider Moyer and Cueto to be) and have the lineup at full strength as often as possible, rather than more often at slightly lesser strength.
In this specific instance, with an off day tomorrow, I like the idea of giving the team’s oldest starting player (Castillo) and most banged up player (Francoeur) a 2-day break.
But I must stress that’s just an opinion I have, I have no numbers to point to and say “see this is why.”
metsfan4decades
5/5/2010-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I understand the point – and about bench guys getting rusty. However our bench guys could play everyday and still not hit. I guess I wouldn’t ‘hate’ this lineup so much if our bench guys had at least a 33% chance of getting a hit.
No argument from me on that Santana game. Alas, it was all on Johan…..
trs86
5/5/2010-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
Hey if they had a 33% chance of getting a hit they would be starting. LOL.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/5/2010-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
I’m really worried about Jerry using the BP like there’s no tomorrow. Sure Nieve probably says he’s feeling good. But ask him the same question in August and September.
metsfan4decades
5/5/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
Watching pregame on SNY. Bobby O last night and today making it very clear he disagrees with HoJo, especially about Wright and what’s different this year. His opening comment to his analysis was something like ‘HoJo is the hitting coach. Why? I don’t know – he thinks he knows something about hitting’.
hahahaha !
But seriously, Bobby O has been very vocal this year that he disagrees with many points with HoJo when it concerns hitting. Bobby was obviously a pitcher, HoJo not but you have to wonder who has the more valid point? Bobby O sounds very convincing on Wright.