" This is where the fun begins !"
Front office assembled
: check
Scouting department overhauled: check
Manager hired : check
Okay so Sandy Alderson has finally assembled his inner circle of confidants along with a manager with the heart of a drill sergeant ( Terry Collins) , so now it is time for him to roll up his sleeves and get to work , because the easy part is over, the challenge of turning this team of underachieving players whose attitudes reek of entitlement will loom large.
I feel that Alderson must be the anti Minaya whose focus on targeting one player at a time while better players signed elsewhere ( Wolf, Garland) came back to bite him on the ass. No Alderson will have to keep the channels of communication open with both agents and his fellow general managers alike. He has to solidify a starting rotation that will be lacking our ace, Johan Santana for a indeterminable period of time. He also needs to shore up the leaky pen. It would be nice to see some new blood at second base, but I will be content with a Murphy/Tejada platoon if the cut rate price of those two helps to land a quality mid level free agent.
I am hoping Sandy can force the Wilpons to hold their noses while the sign the papers that will cut the bloated contracts of both Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo , realizing that irregardless that money is lost forever. I am hoping that Alderson can either trade for or sign a reasonably priced back up catcher to help mentor Josh Thole .
I just hope that by the time spring training ends I will have a much better sense of what next seasons team will be about.
Because I like my fellow Mets brethren desperately want to see winning baseball in Citi Field next season.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Mets alumni Celebrating Birthdays today are:
One time Yankees and Mets pitcher, Bob Friend is 80 today (1930) .
Middle reliever from ’94-’95 Jason Jacome is 40 (1970) .
Sadly on this day in ’03 pitching legend and one time Mets player/coach, Warren Spahn passed away along with Mets coach from the ’77 team, Tom Burgess in 2008.
New York Mets traded back up first baseman/ outfielder, Dave Gallagher to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher, Pete Smith on November 24, 1993.
New York Mets traded first baseman, Mike Jacobs, along with minor league prospects, Yusmiero Petit and Grant Psomas to the Florida Marlins for power hitting first baseman, Carlos Delgado on November 24, 2005. Delgado was the key to the Mets success in ’06 . Too bad the rumors of him being a clubhouse cancer combined with his hip problems helped to start this team in the nose dive that hopefully has ended.
And while you are running through the isles of your local grocery store, trying to find the canned yams that will finish your shopping for Thanksgiving – just remember that there are just 128 days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and there is only 135 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn will be eating tofurkey tonight in preperation for the real thing tomorrow !!!
47 comments
metsfan4decades
11/24/2010-7:44am at 7:44 am (UTC -4)
I’m with you, Rusty….hoping for a new era in Met baseball. I’m thinking with a GM that seems to be the polar opposite of the old GM, with a new manager that couldn’t be much more different than the old manager, that the players themselves – and collectively – can now concentrate on just playing baseball without the added distractions of the circus that has hopefully left town.
No one is ever going to convince me this team is currently comprised of soft, lazy ‘me’ type ball players. Many have been quoted as saying they want to win and will do whatever it takes to help the team do just that. A few have made enough comments this off season thus far that leads me to believe the behind the scene and off field antics of the past few years have significantly affected the team as a whole.
With a new FO, new heads of minor league and scouting positions and an old school type manager, here’s hoping the Mets can finally get back to just playing the game the way it ought to be played.
If Sandy can get us a couple of pieces this year, we very well could be a competitive team as well.
That’s my opinion right now. It’s a little early though for me to be making any type of predictions.
rustyjr
11/24/2010-8:04am at 8:04 am (UTC -4)
I agree – even though I doubt the roster will change drastically , I think the mindset will be overhauled – gone will be the meekness that this team has shown over the last 2 seasons – hell I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw a bench clearing brawl or 2
fongy2
11/24/2010-8:08am at 8:08 am (UTC -4)
I think after ’07 this was a teamwaiting for something to go wrong
if you know what I mean. The opposite of Davey’s teams and most of Bobby V’s team who played like they were never out of it AND weren’t bother by losing a guy here or there to injury.
TRS86
11/24/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
Most is right Fongy. I think 2007 did have a major effect. However as to your point on Davey and Bobby V, they also had times where they lost their team.
metsfan4decades
11/24/2010-8:40am at 8:40 am (UTC -4)
Fight! Fight!
fongy2
11/24/2010-8:05am at 8:05 am (UTC -4)
I’m with ya as far as not thinking this was a team full of “me” type
players who are soft, but remember it only takes a couple of
wrong ingredients to ruin a stew and I think THAT was a large part
of the problem. A few of the wrong type players along with the
wrong cooks. Anyway, hard to believe one time blue-chip prospect
Jason Jacome is 40. Man, am I getting old!
Happy Thanksgiving to all you turkeys! Be safe and well in your
travels and Let’s Go Mets!
metsfan4decades
11/24/2010-8:39am at 8:39 am (UTC -4)
Good point, fongy. I’m willing to bet there was/is a player or two that can be labeled that way. Here’s hoping if there are any still left on the roster, they’ll be soon gone.
You and yours have a great Thanksgiving as well!
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-8:44am at 8:44 am (UTC -4)
How long before Feliciano has to reject or accept Arb.?
Happy Pre-Thanksgiving to all.
Go Go Gadget Garland.
Go Big Murph.
fongy2
11/24/2010-8:50am at 8:50 am (UTC -4)
Beat the Bills!
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-8:53am at 8:53 am (UTC -4)
I’m really hoping Seymor’s “punch” has awoken the beast. To me it seemed like they were listening to the talk show hosts talk too much about how good the Steelers were without backing it up.
kingman 26
11/24/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Beat the Raiders!
Ceetar
11/24/2010-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
I worry about Reyes. He’s one of my favorite Mets and I want him to remain a Met forever. I don’t know if he’ll ever peak as competing for best SS in the game again, but it seems sure he’ll be one of the top handful. There are going to be _a lot_ of teams looking for a shortstop next season, particularly the Yankees and the Red Sox. Meaning there is going to be a lot of money to be had. Hanley will be making $15million, and even if Reyes isn’t as good, he’s good, and SS is a sparse position. I could see, in a bidding war, him getting $20 a year.
I would definitely take the ‘gamble’ of buying low and extending his contract right now.
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
I’m in that boat as well. I hope they can extend him 3 years, at 15 per (or 11, 15, 16, 16) and see if he bites. Push for the extension now!
metsfan4decades
11/24/2010-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
I’m in agreement with this and always have been.
But apparently, Sandy’s been quoted as saying on WFAN this morning:
He would prefer to see Jose Reyes play in 2011, before declaring him the team’s shortstop of the future.
**************
Sigh….
Ceetar
11/24/2010-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
yeah, I saw that. But he also said he wouldn’t be opposed to it earlier. Guess we’ll see. Maybe in Spring? like he shows up healthy and agile and mashing it?
metsfan4decades
11/24/2010-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
Nothing wrong with seeing though how the first half goes, if he stays healthy, if he’s back to pre -09 form. If there are no problems, I don’t see it as bad business to talk extension mid season.
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
well, if he’s ripping it up, it’ll also raise the contract a couple mill per season too.
rustyjr
11/24/2010-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Yeah but with over 60 mil coming off the books next season we can faired to pay him
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
I hear you. That said, a couple extra million here, a couple extra million there adds up.
Ceetar
11/24/2010-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
‘backload’ the contract so he makes the same in 2011. (The Mets have said they’re not broke, but looking for flexibility. This doesn’t mean they can’t spend a couple extra on Reyes. )
I’m not sure the Mets would negotiate mid-season. maybe. I hope so in this case.
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
Those backloaded contracts scare the crap out of me. See Rodriguez, Frankie on that one.
rustyjr
11/24/2010-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
Or Bay& Beltran for that matter
Ceetar
11/24/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
Not talking a ‘real’ backloaded deal, just a “Hey, we’ll give you another million per if you keep it at 11 this year. a real ‘extension’ instead of a renegotiation.
Frankie’s a vesting one, and I’m not too worrieda bout the amount. same with Beltran, who’s poised for a good year.
and Bay had a bad first year, but I think he bounces back. we’re not at the end yet for sure. and he’s the only guy signed so far in that year.
rustyjr
11/24/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
I agree
TRS86
11/24/2010-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
I think this is the right approach. Jose needs to prove his past is behind him and he is ready to mature into that long-term guy. I have no problem with waiting until the ASB and seeing where he is. If he locks the Mets out because they wanted him to prove himself then so be it.
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
Again, if he’s ripping it up, he’s going to have a little dancing devil sitting on his shoulders whispering to him about the oodles of cash that Boston will potentially dump in his lap. He’ll hit FA for sure. 2 Draft picks will be nice, but I’d rather have Reyes (and not at 18+ per for 4-5 years).
rustyjr
11/24/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
So be it – by that time our farm system might have his replacement
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
In Sandy we trust, I guess.
TRS86
11/24/2010-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
He might but that’s just a chance we in my opinion have to take instead of being stuck with last year’s Jose for 4 years and 60M.
Ceetar
11/24/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Make sure he’s willing to negotiate midseason, but if you do that, his value is going to be up.
We’re really only talking about an oblique strain last year that was mild and kept him out about 15 games. (so really only one serious injury/timegap in the last 5-6 years) His numbers weren’t amazing, but the Mets need to look at that and think if they think there is any reasonable shot they can find someone else to put up at least that in 2012 and 2013. You weigh it against what you think the probability is Reyes hurts himself and misses significant time again.
You can certainly take the extra 2-3 months to help convince you, but is that short time span going to hel pconvince you about long term health? And do we really think he’s going to hit like .220 and suggest he’s not going to be good for a couple of years? Is that added couple of months of data worth what could easily be an extra million or two a year on his ‘value’?
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
exactly!
kingman 26
11/24/2010-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
His value sure will not be up if he plays the way he did last year; nothing could be more certain than that.
He has TWO things to prove—that he can stay healthy AND that he can produce like he did in 2006–2008.
Without both of those things being proven by July 1, his value will most definitely not be going up; quite the contrary.
kingman 26
11/24/2010-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
“I think this is the right approach. Jose needs to prove his past is behind him and he is ready to mature into that long-term guy.”
Wow, could not agree more. The Jose of 2006–2008 is worth almost anything.
The Jose of 2009–2010 is worth not very much at all.
Let’s see where he is on July 1; then let the trade or contract extension talks begin.
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
Since I saw it on MLBTR it made me think of it. Would you trade Reyes for Bumgarden SF Giants) straight up?
metsfan4decades
11/24/2010-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Boy, that’s a tough one for me.
I want Reyes to be our SS of the future.
On the other hand, from what I saw of the 21 year old Bumgarden last year, especially in the post season, well I was impressed.
He pitched well as a starter, he came in in relief – all for a young guy they tried to trade the year before b/c they thought he wasn’t going to pan out at all.
Good pitching is hard to come by.
I guess someone smarter than me in saber metrics would have to look at his projections to try and determine what he’d look like going forward.
kingman 26
11/24/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Wow, great question.
Doubt the Giants would do it; this guy has excelled at every level.
Would I do that deal?
Today, probably.
On July 1st, I hope Jose has done enough to make me say no.
Mr North Jersey
11/24/2010-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
why would frisco do that trade?
Reyes is on his walk year.
Seems to me Madison’s value is pretty high and could fetch a more long term type player imo.
njstuckintx
11/24/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
I was just throwing it out there for giggles sake. They (MLBTR) mentioned SF possibly targeting Reyes if he was available and that was the first thought on what they would have that the Mets would want. I don’t know their minor league system at all. I probably wouldn’t trade Bumgarden, but that’s who I’d ask for if I was Sandy. I’m sure they’d spit their Chai Tea through their noses, but whatever. Never hurts to ask!
oleosmirf
11/24/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
you have to make that trade although the Giants would never do it.
TRS86
11/24/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
Uh yesterday.
TRS86
11/24/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
I would not say that the 2010 Jose is not worth much at all. He is just not worth the likely contract he would seek. Now granted if he would do something like 4/40 tomorrow? Sure. That’s tradeable and also not happening.
saltygary
11/24/2010-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
IT’s a reasonable contract if he can demonstrate that he still can run. If he can’t move on base like he used to, then it might be time to look at other sub-par options and look at taking the money and upgrading another position.
oleosmirf
11/24/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
question:
do you lose any draft picks if you sign a type B FA?
metsfan4decades
11/24/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
According to MLBTR:
A free agent can also be classified as a Type B based on his stats. Teams don’t have to give picks up to sign Type B free agents, but teams that lose Type Bs obtain supplementary round picks in the next year’s draft.
TRS86
11/24/2010-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
No and the losing team only gets a compensation pick (btwn 1st and 2nd)
oleosmirf
11/24/2010-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
in that case we should have no problem finding a backup catcher that can produce when called upon.
Rod Barajas (35) – Type B, not offered arb
Josh Bard (33)
Henry Blanco (39)
Gerald Laird (31) – Type B, not offered arb
Bengie Molina (36) – Type B, not offered arb
Miguel Olivo (32) – Type B, offered arb
A.J. Pierzynski (34) – Type A, not offered arb
Yorvit Torrealba (32) – Type B, offered arb
Matt Treanor (35)
Jason Varitek (39) – Type B, not offered arb
Gregg Zaun (40)
You can eliminate Olivo, Pierzynski, Torrealba, Bajaras as those 3 are still starters in this league. My preference is sign Varitek or Zaun to a cheap 1 year 1 mil deal with incentives and compliment that with a minor league deal for someone like Laird, Bard, Treanor or even Blanco in case age/injury gets the best of them.
saltygary
11/24/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
The good thing most catchers ar free agents this year. Tek is toast. Guys like Laird or Bard would be a good pickup.