Well the past couple of days has brought us a smattering of Mets related news. From the revelation this past Saturday that the Mets were on hand to watch a private bullpen session with one time uber closer, Brian Wilson to yesterday’s announcement that Banner Day will morph into Banner Night because of those greedy shirts at ESPN.
So it got me thinking – witch is always a dangerous thing.
If the Mets do sign Brian Wilson will he have a no holds barred “Beard Off” with Dillon Gee ?
The Mets seem to be intent adding a starting pitcher, power hitting outfielder, relief pitcher, ball boy, Wilpon back scratcher etc.
Looks like Scott Hairston essentially priced himself out of the Mets budget when it was revealed yesterday that he is looking for a two year contract worth in the neighborhood of eight million dollars. Looks like the Cubs may bite.
ESPN has decided to air the Mets game on May 26th as their Sunday Night Game Of The WEEK. The problem is – IT’S BANNER DAY !!! What were they thinking ?”!? Who will want to bring their child to that game when the parade of banners will commence at 5 p.m and the game more than likely will not end until after midnight with school is in session the next day ?!? BASTARDS !!!
The Mets are keeping an eye on one time Diamondbacks ace – Brandon Webb. Are they keeping their left eye or their right eye on him?
And finally
Justin Upton isn’t worth the high price tag that the Diamondbacks has place on his tush !
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Middle reliever from the ’70 season, Ron Herbel would have been 75 today (1938).
Mets bench coach from the ’10 season, Dave Jauss is 56 (1957) .
The New York Mets traded one time number one draft pick, Billy Beane, pitcher, Bill Latham and minor league pitcher, Joe Klink to the Minnesota Twins for second baseman, Tim Teufel and minor league first baseman, Pat Crosby on January 16, 1986. Who could ever forget the “Teufel Shuffle” ?
The York Mets traded reserve catcher, Ronn Reynolds and minor league pitcher, Jeff Bittiger to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league pitcher, Ronnie Gideon and Rodger Cole on January 16, 1986.
The Minnesota Twins signed middle reliever, Randy Niemann of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 16, 1987.”Captain Nemo” would later become the Mets bullpen coach.
The New York Mets signed free agent starting pitcher, Pedro Astacio of the Houston Astros on January 16, 2002.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Jorge Sosa of the St. Louis Cardinals on January 16, 2007.
The New York Mets signed free agent reliever, Scott Schoeneweis of the Cincinnati Reds on January 16, 2007. Schoeneweis just like Tom Glavine was not devastated when he pitched the Mets out of a playoff berth for the second season in a row.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Casey Fossum of the Detroit Tigers on January 16, 2009.
Mo Vaughn is both a daydream believer and a homecoming queen !!!
36 comments
srt
1/16/2013-8:22am at 8:22 am (UTC -4)
Stupid ESPN….
I’m reading the Mets weren’t impressed with Wilson as they think he’s got a ways to go with his rehab and won’t be ready for opening day.
We’re not getting Upton simply for the reason you stated: High price tag. No way SA is giving up that kind of top prospect(s).
About this time last week we heard Hairston will make a decision by the weekend. Not it’s been moved back to this upcoming weekend. Still time to sign somewhere before ST but I have to assume either no team is giving him the years/money he’s asking for or…some team is but he’s holding out for the Mets to match it. I wouldn’t mind him back for one year but can’t see 2 years at almost the 8 MIL he’s reportedly asking for.
TX
1/16/2013-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
I understand the want (and subsequent need) to not spend money unwisely, but one starts to wonder what Sandy considers fair value or not. Unfortunately Boston signing Gomes to the ridiculous contract has now become the basis for what Hairston is benchmarking. Which is silly. 4 million a year for a platoon player? No thank you. Now, if Wilson cost you 4 million plus incentives (which will likely be much higher), I’d do that in a NY minute.
And Rusty. Which witch is which?
Stick
1/16/2013-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
I can see not wanting 2 years on hairston, but that still of course would not hamper the team in any way. They will likely need a 4th OF RH bat next year too, and would not be impossible to trade him.
4 mill is about the going rate for what he brings to the table (and I still don’t believe it is for a straight platoon). The 1 year, 2 mill reported offer is just silly in today’s market.
Still hard to judge exactly what the situation is. Is Knog right, and is there a daily scrounge through the couch cushions to make the daily expenses? Is Sandy really so old/stubborn/crotchety that he is obsessed with not overpaying based on 1999 rates (“when I was a kid, bread was a nickle…”)? Is there money, but they are playing a shell game on the fans, where instead of just saying we are going with the young guys in a rebuild year, they are pretending to have interest in real players?
Not that I want to see Hairston hacking around out there every day. i could easily imagine he ends up as an almost FT starter, and having a dismal year without the few extra HRs that made him look “special”.
srt
1/16/2013-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
I’m going with door number 1:
‘…is there a daily scrounge through the couch cushions to make the daily expenses?’
Stick
1/16/2013-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
what about Wilson? Again, this is where a well managed team with solid financial base is nice. You can give the guy a few million, even with the chance he won’t be ready right away, as sort of an “in reserve” guy to serve as along the way depth.
SaltyGary
1/16/2013-9:24am at 9:24 am (UTC -4)
Exactly, and why I am not going to devout much time to this craptastic team. This is exactly the kind of guy you want coming out of the pen. Give him a couple dollars to lock him up and let him get ready. Totally worth the risk, if he pans out then you got a anchor for the next few years.
When the young kids pitch I will pay attention, all other games Eff-them.
TRS86
1/16/2013-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
Reports are saying he’s a long way from being ready physically, so if he doesn’t want to sign a MILB contract then most likely he’s going to have to wait until later anyway. I liked the idea of signing him if he was healthy, if not, no reason to throw money at him to see if he gets healthy.
TX
1/16/2013-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
agreed.
srt
1/16/2013-9:59am at 9:59 am (UTC -4)
I second that.
Stick
1/16/2013-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
I was basing it on still being ready at or reasonably close to OD (say, May 1 to be safe). Normal teams should be able to do that.
Of course, if it is pretty clear that he is going to be July at best, then that is a different story.
TRS86
1/16/2013-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
By them saying he has a long way to go, it’s Jan and if he has a long way to go I would assume they are talking significant time.
Stick
1/16/2013-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Its the Mets, and Sandy the master of double talk and GM slieght of hand. it could mean anything.
I assume though he is working out for other teams, and given he stil is not signed, most likely it means no chance of opening day.
greggofboken
1/16/2013-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
And Alderson did resign Byrdak, despite his not going to be ready….so I’ve got to assume there’s legitimate concern and not just scrounging for dollars.
Stick
1/16/2013-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
Byrd man was a MiL deal. I am sure if Wilson was receptive to that, they would have signed him on the spot.
SaltyGary
1/16/2013-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
No by them saying he has a long way to go means that he doesn’t want a minor league contract so they passed on him. He is a type of player that no matter what is going to get a couple million on the first contract back. They kicked the tires, he said pay me, so they do their typical media routine to brain wash the fanbase to make him believe he is no good.
Stick
1/16/2013-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
random thoughts? OK, recycle another one.
Sign this alvarez dude. Even if it is a flyer, do it. A small enough investment in potential, and it will show that the operation still has a pulse, faint as it might be.
because frankly, right now, the perception of this team being dead in the water and flatlined is legitimate. There is absolutely no indication that they are a functional, normally operating ML team that can make basic moves required.
whether you really want him or not, having to walk away from Hairston because he wants 4 mill/year, when you are desperate for a legit ML RH hitting OF, looks really, really bad.
Alvarez would put the paddles on the corpse though. Would get a ton of buzz, and actually give the appearance of a plan (gathering potential foundational talent to build on the next few years). hell, consider it like signing DW, another appeasement to the fans to keep them slightly interested.
Very easy to see the mets like the “rich guy” in town with the big house and fancy car and nice clothes, who in reality is being foreclosed on, is drowning in debt but still charging away on the CCs, and is days away from declaring BK. The facade is good, but the core is rotten.
kingman 26
1/16/2013-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
“There is absolutely no indication that they are a functional, normally operating ML team that can make basic moves required.”
Thank you sir.
The non-offer “offers” to Dickey and Hairston are embarrassments, and the concept that we won’t trade for Upton because we won’t trade prospects is an outright lie. They wouldn’t take and couldn’t afford Upton if he was put on waivers and they had to trade nothing for him.
The team’s in horrific shape, as some of us have been aware of for a long time, and it is shaping up to be a really long and sad season.
And the more time that goes by, the more clear it becomes that the hopes of the next few years for this team really ultimately lie in a relative handful of players and prospects. If almost all of Harvey, Wheeler, d’Oorknob, Syndergaard, and a few others don’t pan out, the team will suck for years.
darknova306
1/16/2013-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
I’m sorry, signing Hairston to 2/8 just to show the fans the organization “has a pulse” is irresponsible. He’s a straight platoon player and not worth that deal. I’d either play hardball trying to get his price down, or I’d walk away from him and try to find a better long term option (like Alvarez, potentially).
Giving Kaptain Payday a big contract to appease the fans and sell tickets is one thing, overpaying ancillary players to appease fans? Ugh, no thanks.
kingman 26
1/16/2013-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Not at all even suggesting I want Hairston at ANY price.
My point is that offering 1/2M is CLEARLY a non-offer designed to be refused, and is f***ing embarrassing.
If you have zero intention of signing the player, a la Reyes and Dickey, don’t make an offer.
It’s getting VERY difficult to not look at this team and be utterly disgusted. Offering Hairston 1/2M is not a serious offer in any way, shape, or form.
That’s my issue.
I think he sucks and I have zero interest on having him on the team unless he was going to be strictly a bench player and spot starter.
And I would much rather the 4M or so he wants this year go to a serious starting pitcher. But we know it probably is going nowhere but to debt repayment.
darknova306
1/16/2013-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
I hear ya, Kong. I value Hairston around 1/$2M, so that’s what I’d offer. He wouldn’t take it, and we’d go our separate ways. To me, this offer just shows Hairston how Sandy values him, and he’s free to overvalue himself and look at other teams. Good for him. (I do agree with you on the embarrassing low-ball offer to Dickey, though).
Regardless of that, the team is very likely hurting too badly financially to add much more than they already have. Sad thing is, they actually have taken out a ‘bridge loan’ to pay their operating costs this year… the loan just came from Bay and Wright (contract deferments) instead of MLB.
Next year, with all the money ‘off the books’, we’ll likely see them still doing nothing, and that’ll be the “Wilpons are broke” smoking gun that no fan could refute. Dark days are very likely still ahead for years.
Stick
1/16/2013-1:28pm at 1:28 pm (UTC -4)
well, that still seems lite, and for sure, your value and the market for a guy that did 400 ABs and 20 HRs are probably going to differ.
if anything, the multi years have probably been the hang up. Seems quite reasonable if he caves and takes 1 year, someone will go closer to 4 than 2.
darknova306
1/16/2013-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t value one dimensional players very highly. One of the reasons I support shipping Duda to Siberia.
kingman 26
1/16/2013-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
Siberia would never take him.
Siberia is a total pitcher’s park.
WAY too much ground for him to cover in Siberia and he’d never hit 20 HR.
darknova306
1/16/2013-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
Hah! Love it!
Stick
1/16/2013-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
signing alvarez was to show a pulse.
Hairston, not my dream guy, but he qualifies as an actual ML player. I would prefer 1 year, but 2 at his age is reasonable.
and like Knog said, even as a platoon guy, but one likely to get 3-400 PAs, 4 mill is the going rate if not below. 1 year/2 mill is pretty much a real low ball. if that is all they will do, good thing they no longer bother with ML FAs, since they will never get one worth having!
basically, there are 2 options with Hairston; either they will only sign a guy if they get a steal (scary), or they flat out can’t pay more than slightly above minimum wage for anyone (scary and depressing!)
darknova306
1/16/2013-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
If they sign Alvarez, I sincerely hope it’s not just to show a pulse. I’d hope they seriously see potential in him as a long term piece.
srt
1/16/2013-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
I’m all for trying to sign Alvarez, if he looks/looked good. Speaking of….his ‘audition’ was supposed to be sometime this week. I’ve seen nothing on that. If/when we do, the Mets better be at least taking a look-see at this kid.
srt
1/16/2013-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
And it’s not like he’d be an expensive place holder. Right now, we’ve got no real starting OF – either on the big club or close to ready in the minors.
Stick
1/16/2013-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
that is exactly why I fixated on him. I understand not spending a bunch on a 1 year old stop gap that won’t make a difference. But they have to be out trying to grab a foundation piece when they can, and they can’t all be cheap prospects like D’backdoor or Soundgarden.
we keep hearing about this flexibility for the right move, but either it was a bald faced lie, or they will never actually see the right one come along.
kingman 26
1/16/2013-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
Ah Tim Teufel. One of my favorite Mets of that era.
Go back and check that 1987 season–3.9 oWAR in 97 games! If there was an MVP award given for platoon players, he’d have won it in 1987.
SaltyGary
1/16/2013-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone know how much the 3 headed hydra make? Seeing they aren’t doing anything, lets cut off two heads and take their money and maybe something already.
Nah eff that, I don’t want them to improve the team in anyway. I’ll just keep watching and throwing my money at them so they know of my unrelenting support…
Stick
1/16/2013-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
a lot? Cots doesn’t say, but I seem to recall hearing Sandy makes something like 2 mill? The other guys have to make a bunch less. And don’t forget Ricco, the 4th horseman.
I agree, they seem to do extremely little. Depo at least has a real job function and duties. JP, what the hell could he possibly do to fill up the day working from home? 15 minutes on his black berry checking Email, then play with the kids?
and worst of all, Jeffy is clogging up the works.
greggofboken
1/16/2013-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t cite the source, but my recollection is the fornt office is a combined $5M. (Frankly, given the importance of these people, I’m surprised the executive payscale for most teams isn’t greater.)
I don’t subscribe to the view that these folks aren’t doing anything. I do believe that by their individual natures and the collective decision-making process, they are a frustratingly deliberate group whose studiousness costs them at times.
gategem
1/17/2013-1:30am at 1:30 am (UTC -4)
“Studiousness,” is that the term used to explain “Dogs Playing Pool?”
Mr North Jersey
1/16/2013-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
Off Topic:
@nickcafardo
The Red Sox are exploring trades for a lefthanded hitting first baseman/outfielder to compliment Napoli at first and Gomes in left
https://twitter.com/nickcafardo/statuses/291539635165872130
Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy?
greggofboken
1/16/2013-5:11pm at 5:11 pm (UTC -4)
Well….in comparison, Duda would make Napoli look like Texiera at first and Gomes look like CarGo in left.
What higher compliment could there be than that?