tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74521335394869652792024-03-05T09:19:25.365-08:00It's Outta Here!!!Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-64250077818562654032014-04-08T11:39:00.000-07:002014-04-11T11:40:32.919-07:00April 8th - Mets 4 Braves 0 - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuR5u3XSscyaLnpt1RbYyPsH6tCrYABX39-lDYvBwvmohO-4coiuk0GzHIUm6CSNS-qpztP59VQQLOswNkSSF4YiStaRd00EEclANec2hoZdSfGKias2LGNzw5JjkptNFN-gBN-DV_gAG/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuR5u3XSscyaLnpt1RbYyPsH6tCrYABX39-lDYvBwvmohO-4coiuk0GzHIUm6CSNS-qpztP59VQQLOswNkSSF4YiStaRd00EEclANec2hoZdSfGKias2LGNzw5JjkptNFN-gBN-DV_gAG/s320/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" /></a></div>After taking two out of three from The Reds, the Mets traveled to the den of horror that is Turner Field, a place the Mets usually do not fare well in. The Braves have gotten off to a good start, despite some serious blows to their starting rotation in spiring training. The Mets sent Bartolo Colon up against Arron Harang.<br />
<br />
THE GOOD<br />
BARTOLO COLON: An excellent start where he was borderline dominating, Colon kept the Mets' streak of quality starting pitching going. He threw 7 innings of shutout, no walk/5 strikeout ball and looked good doing it, keeping the Braves lineup off balance the whole night. <br />
<br />
TRAVIS D'ARNAUD: FINALLY. d'Arnaud broke his hitless streak to start the season with TWO hits (including a double). He did look better overall at the plate, but I wouldn't say he's turned the corner just yet.<br />
<br />
THE BULLPEN: Farnsworth to Valverde. Two innings, no runs. Valverde made it a little too interesting in the end by throwing a potential game ending double play ball into centerfield, but with the basesloaded and only one out, he got the job done and preserved the shutout. <br />
<br />
RUBIN TEJADA: Two hits, two runs, two RBI (and even a walk). He played a part in all four runs tonight and looked very good at the plate. I have no real faith this is a trend that will continue though. I still want Stephen Drew. ah well. <br />
<br />
THE BAD<br />
THE BATS: Looking at the batting average of some of the regulars (Young Jr: .174, Murphy: .250, Wright: .192, Granderson: .154, Duda: .167, d'Arnaud: .105) it's very evident the Mets are not hitting well. Wright and Murphy will both come around, but some of the other need to step things up.<br />
<br />
THE UGLY<br />
Since I already put the Bats in the "Bad" column, I think for one night, there's really no true "ugly". Hey, a shutout win of the Braves IN Turner Field? Hard to find something ugly with that. Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-75278109868237553252014-04-05T22:09:00.000-07:002014-04-05T22:33:33.576-07:00GAME FIVE: Mets 6 - Reds 3 - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuR5u3XSscyaLnpt1RbYyPsH6tCrYABX39-lDYvBwvmohO-4coiuk0GzHIUm6CSNS-qpztP59VQQLOswNkSSF4YiStaRd00EEclANec2hoZdSfGKias2LGNzw5JjkptNFN-gBN-DV_gAG/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuR5u3XSscyaLnpt1RbYyPsH6tCrYABX39-lDYvBwvmohO-4coiuk0GzHIUm6CSNS-qpztP59VQQLOswNkSSF4YiStaRd00EEclANec2hoZdSfGKias2LGNzw5JjkptNFN-gBN-DV_gAG/s320/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" /></a></div>Looking to see if they could string together two wins in a row, The Mets sent Dillion Gee up against The Reds in the second game of this weekend series. <br />
<br />
THE GOOD<br />
DILLON GEE: Except for one (admittedly big) mistake on Opening Day, Gee pitched quite well. Today he had a similar outing with pretty much the same type of mistake, but overall it was a good job, keeping the Mets one bright spot in 2014 so far to be it's starting pitching. He's not Harvey, and in the long run I think Wheeler and Syndergaard will both be better, but Gee is a very bright spot for what should prove to be a very strong rotation.<br />
<br />
CURTIS GRANDERSON: Despite the rough first couple of games at the plate, I haven't wavered in my thought that I'm quite glad Granderson is here. I don't expect 40+ home runs (heck, I don't expect much more than 28-30 overall), but he will provide protection in the lineup for Wright and will be a presence in the lineup that opposing pitchers will respect. His two-run shot in the 6th was a nice start.<br />
<br />
THE BULLPEN: Two pitchers, (Rice and Torres), 1.2 innings, 3 Ks and NO RUNS. It's a Christmas Miracle. <br />
<br />
IKE DAVIS: Two days after he lost the first base job to Lucas Duda, Davis makes himself relevant again with his ninth-inning walkoff grand slam. I'm a Davis supporter, so I hope he can fight his way back into everyday play. We shall see.<br />
<br />
THE BAD<br />
THE BATS: The final score is a little misleading because six runs makes it look like a healthy offensive day, but the first half of the game the Mets bats were as anemic as a Karen Carpenter luncheon. For the second day in a row, all scoring came via the long ball. The Mets are going to have to improve their situational hitting.<br />
<br />
LUCAS DUDA: One day after his two-homer/four RBI day, Duda went 0-4 with three strike-outs. I told you yesterday that you shouldn't count on many days like Friday night for him.<br />
<br />
THE CATCHING POSITION: Anthony Recker didn't hit any better than d'Arnaud has, and The Mets' catchers haven't had a hit all season.<br />
<br />
THE UGLY<br />
ERIC YOUNG JR.: Finally got a hit, but the Mets leadoff man is hitting a disturbing .063 for the season. That's not setting the table... that's not even in the kitchenPatrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-82242525199817016642014-04-05T12:51:00.000-07:002014-04-05T13:00:34.285-07:00Teixeira Lands on DL: How It Affects the Yanks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZY92fOapKaSSJbDNQ6xczFQ9PzXGkNQZ9qGilDg9exPky0bVHyN4b7eV1Y_-n1V0j9WtyYoXL1L2bybVsV4uHxQN3EWrCcyDvoVV2aMHRZnv5OOZmY7gXPrYMU_2L3usfs3E2_kLg9be/s1600/Yankee+Logo+2x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZY92fOapKaSSJbDNQ6xczFQ9PzXGkNQZ9qGilDg9exPky0bVHyN4b7eV1Y_-n1V0j9WtyYoXL1L2bybVsV4uHxQN3EWrCcyDvoVV2aMHRZnv5OOZmY7gXPrYMU_2L3usfs3E2_kLg9be/s320/Yankee+Logo+2x2.jpg" /></a></div>Mark Texeira spent very little time on the DL over the first nine years or so of his career and for the first three years of his Yankees tenure he rarely missed time, missing only 16 games in that span, but the last year and a half hasn't been kind.<br />
<br />
Just a few days after telling reporters he wasn't sure if his surgically repaired wrist (which cost him 147 games last season) would ever be the same, Teixeira pulled up lame during last night's win over the Toronto Blue Jays. While the severity of the hamstring injury is not yet known, it was evident in Teixeira's face and reaction that it wasn't good. He was visabily upset and slammed his glove when he came out (thankfully not injuring anything else in his fit of anger).<br />
<br />
To me, this is a fairly decent blow to the Yanks. I have felt that they need Texeira to have a solid season in order to make it back to the playoffs. Now, a two week stint on the DL isn't going to break his or the Yankees season, but you have to hope that it's limited to a two or three week at the most stay. Out of the big editions the Yanks have made in the offseason, I think Tex returning was a big one. Ellsbury has to prove he's going to be able to stay on the field and even with the solid season he had last year, Beltran is getting up there in age. There's already some question marks in the lineup at second and third base, so adding first to that weakens the team both at the plate and defensively. If Teixeira isn't going to be out there for at least 140 games and give the Yanks the glove and bat he was for the first three years in pinstrips, there is going to be that much more pressure on the new guys to produce. To my thinking, the biggest bat in this lineup with a chance to carry the team on his shoulders may very well be Brian McCann, who if he stays healthy might ravage that short left-hand porch in Yankee Stadium to the tune of 35 to maybe even 40 home runs. That doesn't remove the need for Teixeira in that lineup though. <br />
<br />
My gut? Teixeira is going to be hard pressed to be the player he was. While I'm not thinking he's going to miss most of the year again, I have a feeling this isn't going to be his one trip to DL Land, and Yankee fans might want to temper expectations for him going forward.
Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-61794523600713729882014-04-05T06:54:00.000-07:002014-04-05T06:56:07.059-07:00Daniel Murphy and the Paternity Problem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuR5u3XSscyaLnpt1RbYyPsH6tCrYABX39-lDYvBwvmohO-4coiuk0GzHIUm6CSNS-qpztP59VQQLOswNkSSF4YiStaRd00EEclANec2hoZdSfGKias2LGNzw5JjkptNFN-gBN-DV_gAG/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuR5u3XSscyaLnpt1RbYyPsH6tCrYABX39-lDYvBwvmohO-4coiuk0GzHIUm6CSNS-qpztP59VQQLOswNkSSF4YiStaRd00EEclANec2hoZdSfGKias2LGNzw5JjkptNFN-gBN-DV_gAG/s320/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" /></a></div>There's been a decent amount of talk on the whole Daniel Murphy paternity leave situation where he missed the first two games of the season due to the birth of his first son, who was born to a c-section. WFAN's Mike Francesa and Boomer Esiason both had rather hard feelings on the matter. Francesa remarked "You’re a Major League Baseball player, you can hire a nurse to take care of the baby if your wife needs help." Esiason was a little less pointed but still said "Quite frankly, I would have said C-section before the season starts. I need to be at opening day, I’m sorry."<br />
<br />
Listen, both talk show hosts have a right to their opinion, but in the end, it really seems like they are chastising Murphy for not making The Mets and the first two games of the season a priority... which, frankly, is quite twisted. <br />
Murphy is an important part of this team, and without his bat there is no doubt the lineup suffers. However, I find it hard to accept that grown men, both whom which have children, could really feel a baseball game, even a professional one, is more important than family. I highly doubt that either would have a problem with a garbage man, a cook, an auto mechanic or a business executive missing three days of work for the birth or their first born. Because Murphy's job is on a national stage he's expect to not want to be there for his family? C'mon. I'm curious to know if Francesa missed work when his kids were born. <br />
<br />
The Mets need all the help they can get, and there is defintely a chance that Murphy's bat could have helped the Mets squeak out a win in one of those two losses to start the season, but I'm in support of his decision to be at home with his family for the days his union collectively barganed for. In a world where I constantly question people's priorities, I can honestly say Daniel Murphy's seem firmly in the right place. Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-52828033377006623332014-04-04T20:40:00.000-07:002014-04-04T21:06:25.685-07:00GAME FOUR - Mets 4 Reds 3 - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuR5u3XSscyaLnpt1RbYyPsH6tCrYABX39-lDYvBwvmohO-4coiuk0GzHIUm6CSNS-qpztP59VQQLOswNkSSF4YiStaRd00EEclANec2hoZdSfGKias2LGNzw5JjkptNFN-gBN-DV_gAG/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuR5u3XSscyaLnpt1RbYyPsH6tCrYABX39-lDYvBwvmohO-4coiuk0GzHIUm6CSNS-qpztP59VQQLOswNkSSF4YiStaRd00EEclANec2hoZdSfGKias2LGNzw5JjkptNFN-gBN-DV_gAG/s320/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" /></a></div>Well, they finally won one. After a opening series sweep by the likely NL East Champs, The Washington Nationals, the Mets managed to win the first of a three game series with the Cincinnati Reds. Let's take a quick look at the good, the bad and the ugly from the Mets first win of 2014.<br />
<br />
THE GOOD<br />
Jenrry Mejia: Six fairly solid innings of 4 hit, 1 run, 8 Strikeout ball. The five walks are a bit of a blemish, as like Zach Wheeler is prone to do, Mejia put himself in some trouble, but overall he seemed in command of the Reds' lineup.<br />
<br />
Lucas Duda: One day after being handed the first base job (a move I think is a mistake), Duda launches two homeruns and drives in all four runs. We'll see how well his accention to everyday player goes, but I fear we won't be seeing a hell of a lot of days like this.<br />
<br />
Kyle Farnsworth: After three games of terrible bullpen, (four if you count John Lannan's poor outing tonight) it was nice to see a solid effort from someone... which leads to...<br />
<br />
Jose Valverde: He had to walk someone, because it's written in the contract of every Mets closer that saves must come with some agita, but Valverde closed out the win and is 1 for 1 in save situations and I think is the only member of the bullpen to not give up a run yet this season.<br />
<br />
THE BAD<br />
Daniel Murphy's Defense: I love Murph, and I think his bat and grit are intricate to this team, but he's looked bad in the field in the two games he's played. If this team continues to fail to make double-plays, there are going to be a lot of hard luck losses in the future.<br />
<br />
Rubin Tejada: Not really hitting and defense not looking that good either. Making no real contributions to this team. I just cannot see him lasting much longer.<br />
<br />
John Lannan: Has pitched twice, hasn't gotten through a whole inning either time, and has given up 2 runs in each appearance. He has an ERA of 36.00. Nuff said.<br />
<br />
THE UGLY<br />
Travis d'Arnaud's bat: I hate to say it, and I'm not giving up on the kid, but at some point he needs to use his bat for something other than to lean on. Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-22248076157939708392014-02-17T14:08:00.003-08:002014-02-17T14:08:53.343-08:00I Heard You Missed Us... We're Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0rj7-x5Y6u5bcqyxYybW05RCd4bZxQIQpAnYid6n1p2XNEDsX51woG8vVNe4qNTyCXvq9peu7WEtiI4JU4XACK-mojCaKTBQ77EIsN-4AS8I5ZbxP-ySAFt9XswuMzuqrceHuEhsGD06/s1600/Rawlings_baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0rj7-x5Y6u5bcqyxYybW05RCd4bZxQIQpAnYid6n1p2XNEDsX51woG8vVNe4qNTyCXvq9peu7WEtiI4JU4XACK-mojCaKTBQ77EIsN-4AS8I5ZbxP-ySAFt9XswuMzuqrceHuEhsGD06/s200/Rawlings_baseball.jpg" /></a></div>So, basically I took most of the last year and a half off of the Baseball Blog thing. The reasons aren't important. What IS important is that I'm back and ready to share my innermost thoughts and desires with you.
Wait... no... not like that. Don't be a pervert.<br /><br />
So Matt Harvey is on the shelf for 2014, but the Mets have actually spent some money so there's a somewhat slightly higher expectation with the team. Will they be relevant? Can they play at least .500 ball or even *gasp* dare to contend for a wild card?<br /><br />
We shall see... and i'm back to take that trip together with you. <br /><br />
And there will be no crying here people. Let's be adults.<br /><br />
Until we start screaming at the TV that is.
Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-18685978640681935652013-06-13T13:49:00.000-07:002014-02-17T13:51:16.714-08:00Harvey The Savior<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__179KqySuwQY7blb_DEuAjCudcB0aP4AtKKieN2yBlM-Kx-_KqUIt1bRHBm9kY-t3PHyKdh1XjnmYQu5ftgC_jJkNP6JfbjiZ-mNF0yRwAVp7BFnQC3OUCe0457v-_40FFRj-WUf3UL7/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__179KqySuwQY7blb_DEuAjCudcB0aP4AtKKieN2yBlM-Kx-_KqUIt1bRHBm9kY-t3PHyKdh1XjnmYQu5ftgC_jJkNP6JfbjiZ-mNF0yRwAVp7BFnQC3OUCe0457v-_40FFRj-WUf3UL7/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" /></a></div>The important thing about Matt Harvey isn't his ability to throw a baseball... I mean it IS, but it ISN'T.
Confused? Ok, I'll explain.<br /><br />
The Mets really haven't been very relevant over the last number of years, thanks to ownership forgetting they are in charge of an actual Major League team in an actual huge market. The embarrassing Bernie Madoff scandal isn't something I need to rehash here, but it's effect have been long reaching and have neutered the team's ability to do much more than pretend to care about its fans while they rebuild. <br /><br />
The few bright spots since 2007's collapse out of the playoffs have come with younger players giving the fans some dim hope. Daniel Murphy and Ike Davis come to mind as some relief to the pain of watching the likes of Mike Jacobs, but even these brief respites haven't given way to wide-spread excitement like the young Mr. Harvey has.<br /><br />
Harvey is Dwight Gooden. He's Generation K. He's Jose Reyes and David Wright combined. Harvey is a view that there is a light at the end of the tunnel that is';t signaling an oncoming freight train. <br /><br />
Fans can look at Harvey and his electric stuff on the mound and they can dare to dream again. Especially when they whisper, in a hashed like voice afraid that being too loud will wake them from a dream, names like Zach Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero. Add them to existing pitchers Dillon Gee and Jon Niese and suddenly you start thinking of comparisons to the holy five of Gooden, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, Bobby Ojeda and Rick Aguilera.<br /><br />
And for Mets fans, who can remember the pain of Oliver Perez, those names are music. Sweet, sweet music.<br /><br />
So, yeah... Harvey's arm is the thing... but the dream of that arms is even bigger. Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-48623147308033019552012-03-29T13:52:00.000-07:002014-02-17T13:53:54.563-08:00The "Pre-Spring Training" 2012 Mets overview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__179KqySuwQY7blb_DEuAjCudcB0aP4AtKKieN2yBlM-Kx-_KqUIt1bRHBm9kY-t3PHyKdh1XjnmYQu5ftgC_jJkNP6JfbjiZ-mNF0yRwAVp7BFnQC3OUCe0457v-_40FFRj-WUf3UL7/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__179KqySuwQY7blb_DEuAjCudcB0aP4AtKKieN2yBlM-Kx-_KqUIt1bRHBm9kY-t3PHyKdh1XjnmYQu5ftgC_jJkNP6JfbjiZ-mNF0yRwAVp7BFnQC3OUCe0457v-_40FFRj-WUf3UL7/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" /></a></div>While I'm not quite as optimistic, I do agree I think the general feeling the Mets are a disaster is totally unfounded. I'm not even convinced they have the worst rotation in the NL East. If Josh Johnson doesn't return to health, and he's been fairly injury prone, their pitching staff is basically Sanchez and Buehrle.
<br />
<br />As presently built, I see the Mets as a team that can finish at .500 (this is counting on at least 29/30 starts from Johan Santana). If Mike Pelfrey can pitch like he did in 2008 & 2010 instead of how he pitched in 2009 & 2011... If Jason Bay can return to even about 80% of what he was in 2009... If Niese and Murphy can stay healthy for the whole season... If we get the 2010 Wright instead of the 2011 version... Then I can see the Mets winning upwards of 86 games. In that area, a couple of things go right and suddenly 88/89 wins are not out of the question and maybe that gets you a wild card.
<br />
<br />Yeah, that is a lot of "Ifs". I know. But most of those "ifs" aren't exactly extremely difficult to imagine possibilites.
<br />
<br />Is it likely? Probabally not. But it's not an insane thought. I wouldn't count on the Mets losing 90 games, much less 100. Of course if they get ravaged by injury again, then all bets are off... but you can basically say that about ANY team in the Majors.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-8450183400547438232012-03-22T13:54:00.000-07:002014-02-17T13:55:47.278-08:00Nestordamus Predictions: Booms and Busts of 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0rj7-x5Y6u5bcqyxYybW05RCd4bZxQIQpAnYid6n1p2XNEDsX51woG8vVNe4qNTyCXvq9peu7WEtiI4JU4XACK-mojCaKTBQ77EIsN-4AS8I5ZbxP-ySAFt9XswuMzuqrceHuEhsGD06/s1600/Rawlings_baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0rj7-x5Y6u5bcqyxYybW05RCd4bZxQIQpAnYid6n1p2XNEDsX51woG8vVNe4qNTyCXvq9peu7WEtiI4JU4XACK-mojCaKTBQ77EIsN-4AS8I5ZbxP-ySAFt9XswuMzuqrceHuEhsGD06/s200/Rawlings_baseball.jpg" /></a></div>Yes, many of you must know the famous French apothecary and reputed seer Nostradamus who made many predictions of the future than may or may not have been true, depending on your interpretation (or misinterpretation) of his writings.
<br />
<br />Well, I have taken his place as the prominate seer of futures that can easily be misinterpretated. Yes, I: Nestordamus will amaze you all with my flawless predictions that will all come true... except the ones that don't.*
<br />
<br />So let's turn our eye to the 2012 Baseball season and make some Boom or Bust predictions. We'll flip back and forth.
<br />
<br /><strong>BOOM: Cole Hamels</strong>
<br />
<br />Yeah, not exactly a stretch. However in his walk year before his first chance at free agency I think we'll see a rise in the game of this young hotshot who will figure to break the bak in 2013. Unlikely to remain with the Phillies due to the incredible salaries already being paid to Halliday, Lee, Utley, Rollins, Papelbon and Howard, Hamels will be looking for a simular contract to C.C. Sabathia or C.J. Wilson, if not more. 2012 will be a season that Hamels looks to show he's not as injury prone as he's been labeled in the past, and he'll look to elevate himself to the level of his two high-profile rotation-mates in Halliday and Lee.
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<br /><strong>BUST: Hiroki Kuroda</strong>
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<br />Every Yankee fan I know has pointed to the trade of Jesus Monatro to the Mariners for Michael Pineda and the (same night) signing of the right-handed Kuroda as the proof the Yankees now have the best rotation in the AL. I think this is quite premature to claim this, and in fact think the signing of Kuroda wasn't the windfall they seem to think it is. His 3.07 ERA was excellent last year and throughout his four year MLB career his ERA has been pretty good. However remember he did lose 16 games last year, has only has one season in his career with a winning record (8-7 in 2009), has never pitched in the American League and he'll be 37 years old. Add in that short porch in right field and I have a bad feeling about him. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he'll be Kevin Brown bad... but I'm not expecting more than say a 13-9 4.30 ERA type season. Not too bad, but not the 17-6 3.65 ERA type season I'm hearing thrown about.
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<br /><strong>BOOM: Brandon Belt</strong>
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<br />The Giants don't have a lot of offense to go along with that wonderful pitching, but the youngster is someone who will add a hell of a bat to the lineup in support of the power arms that highlight the Giants chances of the playoffs. Belt's 2001 season was supposed to be his coming out party but he stumbled batting .225 in 63 games while shuffeling back and forth between the Giants and AAA. I think Belt learned a lot from last year though and the experiance will help make him mentally tougher and overall a stronger player. In support of my way of thinking, his spring was fantastic. He hit for both power and average and drew a decent amount of walks as well.
Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-31760354977169103912012-02-17T12:58:00.000-08:002012-02-17T13:54:29.060-08:00Saying Goodbye to The Kid<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfrDWbiLKpBTMNpgoESKFO5SoCs-ChYueE05pU8bDoq5qj3HoNfjleuYRDe7sPrdXf0gBgbQPWj5ww18qAlYhmwonoCcF-7dtnQVktQWKlgbyHb1e0pjR2ygBtNz52n1LEqb6CvIjwPud/s1600/Carter+world+series.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfrDWbiLKpBTMNpgoESKFO5SoCs-ChYueE05pU8bDoq5qj3HoNfjleuYRDe7sPrdXf0gBgbQPWj5ww18qAlYhmwonoCcF-7dtnQVktQWKlgbyHb1e0pjR2ygBtNz52n1LEqb6CvIjwPud/s200/Carter+world+series.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710225783489348722" /></a><br />It's been almost 24 hours since I found out Gary Carter passed away from complications from Brain Cancer. I found out while driving home from work at about 6 PM. I was shocked... not so much because I didn't know he was sick (I had been half expecting it since it was revealed he had brain cancer last year)... but more so because it hit home in a way that very few celeberties deaths have ever hit me. <br /><br />Gary wasn't my favorite baseball player... hell he wasn't even my favorite Mets' catcher (Hi Mike Piazza) ... but Gary held a special place in my heart due to the fact he was the first real SUPERSTAR to go to the Mets in their rise from basement dwellers of the late 70s and early 80s. I know that is strange to hear from me, since my favorite baseball player of all time is Keith Hernandez who was traded from the Cardinals to the Mets in 1983, but Keith's star was a little dimmed at the time and he didn't have the "SUPERSTAR!!!!" tag on him like Gary did in 1984. <br /><br />I still remember getting the paper the day after the trade. I was fourteen years old and was a rabid Mets fan. Back in '84 there was no 24 HR sports radio or internet and I was not the type to watch the news at night, so I didn't even know about the trade until Newsday came the next day. I was totally taken aback. I had watched Carter win the 1984 All-Star Game MVP award with his home run and it never occured to me he could be a Met. I liked Hubie Brooks (who went to the Expos along with Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winning ham and Floyd Youmans) a lot and thought he was going to be a great player, but to get Carter... wow. <br /><br />I remember certain moments from Carter's career like they were yesterday. Of course two of the largest were his first game as a Met (the 19th inning homerun off of Cardinals closer Neil Allen) and his rally-starting at-bat with two outs in the 10th inning of Game Six of the '86 World Series (which overshadowed the almost equally as important Game Four Carter performace when he hit 2 home runs over the Green Monster). <br /><br />There isn't much more I can say about Gary Carter than what has been said in the last 24 hours. He was a great baseball player, as well as a great role model. He was a great big boyscout on a team that partied hard in the '86 Mets. He was a family man who played the game right and led life right. I remember hearing how Carter was a guy the other teams hated, but once he was on YOUR team, everyone though he was great. <br /><br />As a Mets fan, I obviously don't have a lot of great winning memories to pull out of the hat... so of course 1986 is highest on the charts. Carter was a huge... HUGE part of that. I remember sitting on the edge of my couch, watching the 10th inning of Game Six an dafter Hernandez made out, I was totally deflated. I kicked the tv off and stormed out of the room. But only seconds later I stormed back in and turned the TV back on. I didn't want to see them lose, but I couldn't stay away. I paced back and forth, in an aggressive stride as Carter battled and get on base with a solid hit. I paced back and forth for the rest of the inning and when it was over I exploded in a way I have rarely been able to explode. The joy I felt was incredible... and it wouldn't have been there is not for Gary's great at-bat and hit to start it all. <br /><br />Gary's passing is something else to me. It's the death of a small part of my childhood. That sounds dramatic... maybe in an Emo way... but Gary, along with Mex, Doc, Straw, Nails, Mookie, El Sid, Darling and the rest was a huge part of my childhood. Especially in 1985 and 1986. I averaged watching about 145 games a year. Missed very few. Went to a few games a year but mostly watched on Sportschannel (HBO) and on Channel Nine. It was a great part of it... watching those games and learning so much about baseball... about life. The ups and downs of the game are like the ups and downs of real life... in were you have to learn to handle them both correctly and get balance between the two. Never be too up... never get too down. <br /><br />Gary was a huge part of that. I'm miss him for a lot of reasons. <br /><br />Rest in Peace Kid.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-47662710434117091572012-02-01T13:59:00.000-08:002014-02-17T14:01:43.213-08:00Mets vs. Marlins - Team Comparisons: THE HITTERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xZEk1GkakgIlqN8wUpH129EC4gvz8Ca_rrNqirhTkMewgnAbib0YTaP6TpWSOZPrht_0-p7cXwXm1F7353xDCFpQIWfP8oCxztA8oQCeEbWZblAACK-C56QApQtOZFKmhjDf5R8fPdGC/s1600/Mets-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xZEk1GkakgIlqN8wUpH129EC4gvz8Ca_rrNqirhTkMewgnAbib0YTaP6TpWSOZPrht_0-p7cXwXm1F7353xDCFpQIWfP8oCxztA8oQCeEbWZblAACK-C56QApQtOZFKmhjDf5R8fPdGC/s200/Mets-logo.jpg" /></a></div>
As I stated in an earlier post... I'm hearing a lot on how the Marlins are a team that are expected to contend in 2012, yet the Mets are a team that would be considered luck to win 75 games.
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<br />I may be alone in this... but not only do I think the Marlins will likely NOT contend... I don't think they are a better team than the Mets are.
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<br />This isn't to say the Mets are better than the Marlins. This is to say that they are fairly even teams with some things that could push either team above the other. And to count ONE as a playoff contender and not the other is pretty unfair.
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<br />So I'll be breaking down the two teams and looking at some of what we could expect. Let's take a little look at some of the comparisons.
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<br />FIRST BASE:
<br />NY METS: Ike Davis
<br />MIAMI MARLINS: Gabby Sanchez
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<br />So we have two young players who have both shown some promise here. Davis has a VERY solid rookie season and if he can hit like he did in the 36 games he played last year (.302/.383/.543) then he's an All-Star candidate. He's also an excellent glove at first. Sanchez is a decent
<br />
<br />EDGE: METS
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<br />SECOND BASE:
<br />NY METS: Daniel Murphy
<br />MIAMI MARLINS: Omar Infante
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<br />Murphy won't hit for much power and he does need to up his walk total,but as he's shown over the last three seasons, when he's healthy... he hits. He's more than capable of batting .325 rather easily. His defense isn't too good... he fields fine but turning double plays and making the pivit is an adventure every time. It couyld be worse. He could field like Dan Uggla. He needs to improve on this. Infante
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<br />
<br />EDGE: METS
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<br />SHORTSTOP:
<br />NY METS: Ruben Tejada
<br />MIAMI MARLINS: Jose Reyes
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<br />Wow it was weird typing that. Yeah, I'm not going to do anything stupid like comparing these two. Reyes is one of the best shortstops in baseball and when he's fully healthy is one of the most dynamic players period. If he's healthy this season (and you do have to say "if". Let's face it, there HAS to be some concern considering his history the last few years) then he should put up solid numbers and create his usual havoc on the basepaths. Tejada posted a .360 OBP in 2011 and isn't likely to hit much, but should be capable of getting on base at a fairly decent clip. Remember, he's only 21 years old. He doesn't have any power, but his glove is fantastic and he could very well turn out to be one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball. Reyes is no slouch with the glove himself and is better than average as a defender. I think the Mets could do worse at shortstop and should be in fairly decent hands... but he's not even half of what Reyes is.
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<br />EDGE: MARLINS
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<br />THIRD BASE:
<br />NY METS: David Wright
<br />MIAMI MARLINS: Hanley Ramirez
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<br />David Wright had a lousy 2011. Amazingly, Hanley Ramirez might have had a worse one. The major difference? Ramirez is playing a position he doesn't want to play and is also a fairly large malcontent on his team. His attitude stinks. He's a whiner and a dogger. He's going to be over shadowed bt Jose Reyes and he knows it and it bothers him. He's also a defensive liability. Wright, is a stand up guy and a hard worker. His attitude is tremendous. He's pretty much the unquestioned leader of his team. He's got a good glove, but a lousy arm. I expect both to have seasons much closer to what we'd expect. There's also a chance both could find themselves on other teams before the season is out. I give Wright the edge here for two reasons... he won't be a blight on his own team and he won't be a guy who slips into dog-it mode when he's not interested.
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<br />EDGE: METS
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<br />CATCHER:
<br />NY METS: Josh Thole
<br />MIAMI MARLINS: John Buck
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<br />Neither catcher is anything special. Both has shown small samples of some power, but not consistantly. Both have decent gloves and call decent games. The only reason I give Thole the nod here is because his
<br />
<br />EDGE: METS
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<br />CENTERFIELD:
<br />NY METS: Andres Torres
<br />MIAMI MARLINS: Emilio Bonifacio
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<br />EDGE: MARLINS
<br />
<br />RIGHTFIELD:
<br />NY METS: Lucas Duda
<br />MIAMI MARLINS: Mike Stanton
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<br />I think Duda is going to be a soild bat for the Mets in 2012. He has power enough to project for 28/30 home ruins over the course of an entire season. His defense isn't great though. He's not a disaster, but he's not going to impress much with his glove either. Mike Stanton is... well... he's likely to be a legit MVP candidate. If he can continue on the trend he's been on he last two years, then he's going to be a feared bat. His batting average is going to be a little low (think .262 or so) and his strike outs are a bit of a concern. With 166 of them last year and 123 in only 396 at-bats the year before, you'd like to see him try and lower that total. Overall though, he's liely the new Adam Dunn. I can see him hitting 40 home runs. Duda is going to be good. Stanton already is and might be great.
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<br />EDGE: MARLINS
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<br />LEFTFIELD:
<br />NY METS: Jason Bay
<br />MIAMI MARLINS: Logan Morrison
<br /> Not that Morrison is anything major to write home about, but Bay needs to show he remembers how to play baseball before we can trust him at all. No real way to defend him right now.
<br />EDGE: MARLINSPatrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-39963020536564869942012-01-31T08:36:00.000-08:002012-02-03T09:40:07.267-08:00Why are the Marlins better?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX0cU38iDhf0DJZcS6tbREdNKIjeqzQZE4Ko3BRjCu0R65YOJRUkbghLk80NXAJd8VRXqCxhg9_n3mTbLmLw2V-Z0hJErapONbyJBfzEdPLtGnbUg6DUqnCMbuTaiCWVDLD8bmxQbACpj/s1600/marlins.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 177px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX0cU38iDhf0DJZcS6tbREdNKIjeqzQZE4Ko3BRjCu0R65YOJRUkbghLk80NXAJd8VRXqCxhg9_n3mTbLmLw2V-Z0hJErapONbyJBfzEdPLtGnbUg6DUqnCMbuTaiCWVDLD8bmxQbACpj/s200/marlins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704964049376646674" /></a><br />You know what I get a kick out of? I get a kick out of the notion that every time I hear about how terrible the Mets are, they point to the last two seasons performance and say how the team isn't any better, so it cannot perform better. Then I hear about how other teams who had problems they year before or so will be able to rise above those issues. <br /><br />I'll be more specific for one in particular. Mainly... why are the Marlins considered a team that can contend in 2012?<br /><br />I mean, I know why people will say. But I don't understand WHY. <br /><br />Last year the Marlins finished behind the Mets. The last two years the Mets were not able to contend in the second half of the season. The last two years the Mets HAD Jose Reyes. <br /><br />So, why are the Marlins suddenly a possible powerhouse because they added Jose Reyes?<br /><br />Yeah, I know they added Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle... But while those are good players, how much better do they really make the Marlins?<br /><br />2011 Closer Leo Nunez had 33 saves this past season (and 89 total since 2009). He wasn't flashy and he wasn't great, but he wasn't bad either. There has been rumblings about Bell not fairing as well pitching outside of San Diego. Bell experienced a drop in performance in 2011, and that drop, while certainly not encouraging, may not be a real cause for concern going forward for the Marlins... but even if he takes only a slight step downwards, he's still not a ton better. He's likely more consistant and dependable, but it's not like they had garbage there before. The upswing isn't dramatic. <br /><br />Buehrle is basically going to replace Javy Vazquez, who may have been terrible in his first seven to eight starts of the season, but was fairly lights out the rest of the way with a 2.70 ERA in 153.1 innings. Is Buehrle really going to be much better than that? As with Bell, he's a very good player but he's not a big improvement over what they had before. He's averaged about 13 wins and an ERA about 4.05 the last few years. Yes, he should fare better in the NL than he did in the AL... but again... by much much better is he going to be than what they had in Vazquez for most of 2011?<br /><br />The big thing with The Marlins is going to be the return of Josh Johnson, and the expectation (which is a fair expectation to have) that Hanley Rameriez will return to his normal self after a disasterous 2011 Season. <br /><br />To me, the Marlins 2012 success relies heavily upon Johnson. If he comes back and is the same, the Marlins have an arm that can match up with the best in the MLB. Johnson is lights out and is on par with names like Halliday, Lee, Lincecum, Sabathia and Lester. If he's not the samee... say he's at like 75% of what he was, he'll still likely be better than a large chunk of other pitchers, which would still improve the Marlins from 2011. If he cannot pitch to anything close to his regular form or if he's unable to return at all or only makes like 10-12 starts for the season, it's going to hurt them. A lot. <br /><br />Which brings us back to Reyes.<br /><br />In 2010 the Marlins finished 80-82. At the time they had a great season from John Johnson and Hanley Rameriz and still had all-star second baseman Dan Uggla who hit .287 with 33 HRs and 105 RBI. <br /><br />I know Reyes is a different player than Uggla... but the Marlins couldn't even finish at .500 that year. <br /><br />In both 2010 AND 2011, the Mets were picked as a team who would not really be in contention. Yet, both years they had Reyes... and David Wright... and Jason Bay... and Johan Santana... and Carlos Beltran... and K-Rod... <br /><br />See where I'm going here?<br /><br />So.. I put the question again... why just by adding the three players they did, suddenly make a team that has finished below .500 the last two years suddenly a team that is expected to contend?<br /><br />Cause I don't see it. In fact, I'll go one further...<br /><br />The Marlins... with their question marks... and the brittle Reyes as their centerpiece (fair is fair... I had to listen ever year how the Mets couldn't fully expect Reyes to go the whole season without a DL trip or two) are NOT a team you can say is fully better than the Mets. <br /><br />(And no, I have NOT forgotten about Carlos Zambrano. I don't think that was a good move for them and do not expect a lot from him.)Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-53181295180586717522012-01-14T07:01:00.000-08:002012-01-14T09:29:25.704-08:00Relax There Yankee Fans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKyCpX4iA3fI517hhKWpZudxiM7jjizISxQC2KP3d1WAo6KXTVTwBR0sITGyV42gkSavzKs800djvgiOnjGmC7OStIf2ON0BNrSQFeTYFAelFazxJXQ4VSnP7oCr3XZzTvVwFSXYSn5ux/s1600/Yankee+Logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKyCpX4iA3fI517hhKWpZudxiM7jjizISxQC2KP3d1WAo6KXTVTwBR0sITGyV42gkSavzKs800djvgiOnjGmC7OStIf2ON0BNrSQFeTYFAelFazxJXQ4VSnP7oCr3XZzTvVwFSXYSn5ux/s200/Yankee+Logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697541007247860498" /></a><br />Last night the Yankees, who have been so quiet this offseason that you had to wonder if they were actually awake, made two moves that seems to be the equivelant of the wild Sabathia/Teixeria signings back in 2008. <br /><br />Or at least, everything I have heard and read this morning is putting that much weight into these moves. <br /><br />First, the Yanks moved top catching rookie Jesus Montero to the Mariners for their 22-year old phenom pitcher Michael Pineda. Yeah there were other players involved also but overall that's the main jist of it. <br /><br />They like, 40 minutes later they signed Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year $10 Million dollar contract.<br /><br />And suddenly, the Yankees biggest weakness (the starting rotation) is a major strength. <br /><br />Last night, driving home I heard the 1050 ESPN Radio host (Not sure who it was) say "The Yankees now have the best rotation in baseball."<br /><br />Jason Stark on the ESPN website touted how great these moves where, calling both pitchers "high end". He considers Pineda the Yanks #2 pitcher. <br /><br />On the boards of the ESPN and MLB websites, a majority of Yankee fans are cheering and pretty much considering the moves as a meaning the Yankees should be considered World Series favorites.<br /><br />And all of this could be true.<br /><br />Or then again, it might not. <br /><br />These moves could certainly be winning moves, but I do think you have to step back a little. <br /> <br />Pineda does have a high ceiling, but please do not say he's the no-doubt future ace of this team. His second half last year and ERA away from home (Safeco) is something to be worked on. It looks like a good trade for both sides at the moment, but it's going to be a while before you can say for sure. Pindea could go 15-7 witrh a 3.57 ERA this year and Montero could hit .264 with 19 home runs and 67 RBI and it'll be "What a steal for the Yanks!" then over the next five years Montero averages 35 HR/115 RBI and Pindea goes 57-53 with a 4.49 ERA and then you'd have to reconsider that thought. <br /> <br />In the end it'll likely be 2014 before you can really even start to evaluate the trade. Could be a great one, could be a disaster, could just be "Not bad". Just don't pencil Pineda in for greatness yet. Remember how good Fausto Carmona was in his rookie year and how he was the next Cleveland Ace? I'm not saying Pineda will be the same, I'm just saying it's not a lock he's a 16-18 game winner over the next seven seasons. <br /><br />Montero had no where to play with the Yanks. I happen to think he will be an excellent and feared hitter in his career. A David Ortiz/Edgar Martienez type, but this move made sense for the Yanks who need pitching WAY more than hitting right now. I think there is a risk for NY here with this move, but it's a risk that makes sense when you consider they have another highly touted catchering prospect who will likely be ready in 2013 (2014 the latest). <br /> <br />Also, for all the talk of "There's a reason the Yanks kept dangling Monero in trade talks the last two years" you have to wonder... why would the Mariners be so quick to trade a 22 year old young power pitcher who was making no money what-so-ever? <br /><br />You know, one thing I am getting a kick out of... for the last TWO YEARS I have had every Yankee fan I know and about 95% of the ones posting in forums on how incredible Montero's bat was and how great of a prostect he was and how he was going to be Miguel Cabrera/David Ortiz/Jason Giambi all over again. <br /> <br />Now he's traded and suddenly so many Yankee fans say he's a guy who can't play a position and you can't compare him to those guys anymore. <br /> <br />So have the last two years of touting been a mirage? Or is it just that once a guy is off your team he's suddenly no longer as attractive? <br /> <br />It's like the Mets fans who are "glad" Jose Reyes is gone because he was a DL/Injury riddled guy who celebrated too much and cheated to take himself out of the last game of the season last year to win the batting title.and wasn't worth the money. <br /> <br />Pineda looks to be a real good pickup, but c'mon... don't suddenly discount all of the building up on Montero just because he's no longer a Yankee.<br /><br />You also have to take into consideration that Pineda will be under some pressure and have a spotlight on him this season. He'll be touted as the "Can't Miss" 22-year old Phenom future Ace. Especially in the New York media. Forget it he's already penciled in as the Yanks #2 starter. There will be a lot of spotlight and pressure to not be a bust after the yanks traded away their #1 prospect who they have been saying has the bat of a Miguel Cabrera for the last two years. <br /> <br />But that doesn't mean the kid can't handle it. For all we know he's a perfect fit for New York. We won't know for a while. You would have to say the future looks promising and bright. It's not definite, but there is no reason not to be optimistic. <br /> <br />But he will have a spotlight glare on him though. No way to avoid that.<br /> <br />As for Kiroda, his 3.07 ERA was excellent last year and throughout his four year MLB career his ERA has been pretty good. However remember he did lose 16 games last year, has only has one season in his career with a winning record (8-7 in 2009), has never pitched in the American League and he'll be 37 years old. The one year deal means there is little risk here, it's not like he got a three year $32 million deal, but he's also not exactly a "no-doubt" guy. I would kind of expect simular numbers to what you were getting out of Javier Vasquez in his second go-round with the Yanks. <br /><br />So, yes, these seem to be good moves and the Yanks rotation looks miles better today than yesterday, but I wouldn't go TOO crazy just yet. I heard the radio host on 1050 ESPN radio last night say "The Yankees now have the best rotation in baseball" which is just a stupid comment. Relax a littlePatrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-85160180887798549672012-01-12T10:50:00.000-08:002012-01-14T11:33:31.514-08:00Mets rotation might be a little better than people think<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkQJ1D8hSYqHjreB0fNc1v82fPp6PHt5mZXqvn9aJk2jQH7jV6xmDoFv-mOfy7ab5RRSevZMQEwetGlSJiJmCK4eshFN7a-YvOE2uwHmKmw8BmWMXWOL2fqLE8UU6rrp1Es6iA0W_FiIE/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkQJ1D8hSYqHjreB0fNc1v82fPp6PHt5mZXqvn9aJk2jQH7jV6xmDoFv-mOfy7ab5RRSevZMQEwetGlSJiJmCK4eshFN7a-YvOE2uwHmKmw8BmWMXWOL2fqLE8UU6rrp1Es6iA0W_FiIE/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697573033241895522" /></a><br />Looking at the (expected) starting rotation for the Mets might bring a wince or sad head-shake. The concensis is that the Mets have the worst rotation in the NL East. I'm not here to try and convince you otherwise. However I do want to try and show how the rotation isn't exactly a disaster, like I'm constantly reading this offseason, either. <br /><br />At first glance, here is your likely starting five:<br />1. Johan Santana<br />2. R. A. Dickey<br />3. Jon Niese<br />4. Mike Pelfry<br />5. Dillon Gee<br /><br />Considering Santana missed the entire 2011 Season and is not expected to be the pitcher he was before his shoulder surgery then this rotation won't make anyone sweat too much. You have no-one that would be considered a "stopper", but the idea that the Mets rotation is BAD is incorrect. <br /><br />You don't know what you will get from Santana, but you might be looking at the type of pitcher David Cone became after he was unable to blow fastballs past hitters in the latter part of his career. Many have said that 70% of Johan Santana is still going to be be better than a large chunk of other pitchers. <br /><br />R. A. Dickey has had two straight solid seasons. His breakout 2010 was followed up with a nice 2011 where he had career bests in starts, ininngs and strike outs. His 3.28 ERA was 12th best in the NL. He keeps the Mets in games he pitches and his ERA over the last two seasons is 3.08. <br /><br />Jonathan Niese has been solid the last two years when healthy and has a lot of upside that could see him in this rotation for a long time, even when the young promising arms of Harvey and Wheeler get to town. He's a craft lefty who throws in the 90s, strikes out hitters and doesn't walk many, while getting a nice amount of groundballs. With a good defense behind him it's not out of the question for Niese to have a breakout 2012. <br /><br />Mike Pelfry is an enigma. His last four seasons he has teetered back and forth between strong and infurating. In 2008 he went 13-11 with a 3.72 ERA. He had a great second half that year and 2009 looked promising, however he stumbled with a 10-12 record and a rough 5.03 ERA. Then in 2010 he bounced right back and had a great season in which he went 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA and at one point in June and July was without doubt the Mets best pitcher. Then in 2011 he dropped back again going 7-13 with a 4.74 ERA. At times he's dominating and other times he's maddening. This really is the "now or never" year for him I think. Which Pelfrey will the Mets get? If it's the 2008 or 2010 model He's a potenial #2. If it's the 2009 or 2011 model he's at best a #4 and likely more a #5. <br /><br />Dillon Gee had a solid start to his rookie season, but faded in the last third of the season. He went 13-6 with a 4.43 ERA but at the end of June was 8-1 with a 3.32 ERA and at the end of July was 10-3 with a 3.69 ERA. He had a rough Sept but showed a lot of promise and poise. He had 114 strike-outs in 160.2 innings but did walk 71. If he can cut those walks down his upside can be high. <br /><br />The entire NL East has a lot of quality pitching in it. The Mets may not be at the top, but this notion their rotation is terrible makes no sense.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-5909636329837102312011-12-07T20:41:00.000-08:002011-12-07T19:49:04.962-08:00Summing up the last three days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNQTZnUr779SEirx5Ug6FgsjU0_c4nJ7WvrP9qyUE0rHYvr-5FL8aHcitBEW7lgep9R8YSGg5jMh7bYPaFu5BZD_hhGVhLoTxO1scCSGigBnles7m6Tihiwvt8GN2-wmQjbjOV-CMBTRN/s1600/Mets_logo_2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNQTZnUr779SEirx5Ug6FgsjU0_c4nJ7WvrP9qyUE0rHYvr-5FL8aHcitBEW7lgep9R8YSGg5jMh7bYPaFu5BZD_hhGVhLoTxO1scCSGigBnles7m6Tihiwvt8GN2-wmQjbjOV-CMBTRN/s200/Mets_logo_2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683585607127458466" /></a><br />So each time I thought i knew what I was going to write about here, something else popped up. It's been quite a whirlwind last few days and instead of trying to overload about one particular thing or the other, let's just tackle it all head on... shall we?<br /><br /><strong>ON THE REYES DEAL:</strong> Ok, plain and simple? This is a rough blow to the Mets and their fans. Looking at what the Marlins got him for (6 years, $106 million with a 7th option year that would be worth $22 million riding with a $5 million buyout which makes it a guarentee of $111 million) it's kind of hard to imagine the Mets allowed him to go when they were fairly close in a five year $85 million range. Frankly, the fact the Mets were <em>unable</em> (not unwilling, which they will say they were also) to match that offer or come fairly close enough to matter to Reyes is frightening. They are a New York team with a huge fanbase in a still mostly new stadium in a tremendous market. The fact this franchise is unable to give an extra year and $20 million to their BEST player to keep him is unacceptable. Yes, I agree he is a health risk, but the fact is this: over his career, when Reyes has been healthy and scored runs, the Mets winning percentage was HIGH. And to allow him to go to a HATED division rival? Unreal. Reyes saying the Mets never made an offer is kind of untrue, since his agents knew exactly what the Mets parameters were, but yeah, they could have showed him a little love and at least tried to dine him a little to let him know how important he was to the franchise. The freakin Marlins called Reyes EVERYDAY. The Mets had little contact. You have to know your own players and anyone who didn;t realize this would be a factor to Reyes dropped the ball. From what Sandy Aldersen has sadi, the mets and Reyes' sgents actually had a good conversation ojn Friday night and was positive enough to spur the Marlins to add a year and another $22 million to their offerand after that the Mets didn't even get the chance to counter since the Marlin's gave a take-it-or-leave-it to the Reyes camp. Well, they took it. Nice job there Sandy. <br /><br /><strong>ON THE RAUCH SIGNING: </strong>It's not terrible, but it's not great either. Yes Jon Rauch is a very servicible arm and maybe last year was more of a blip than the way he's heading, but he has an ERA of over 5.00 last year. It's a one year deal for $3.5 million so it's not bad, and odds are he's better than most of what they already had, but this is more of an "OK, let's wait and see" deal then a "WOW!" deal. <br /><br /><strong>ON THE FRANCISCO SIGNING:</strong> I can honestly say that the only closer i wanted to see LESS than this was Cordero. Listen, I know this guy has a great arm and packs serious heat. But he lost his closers job TWICE in the last two seasons. The Blue Jays has 25 blown saves last year (which is where Francisco and Rauch both are coming from) and as good of an arm as he has, Francisco is also prone to erratic periods. If this was a one year, $4 or $5 million deal I would be more impressed and happy. It being a 2-yr, $12 million deal? Too much, in my opinion. As with Rauch, yes he improves the bullpen, but I'm going to have to wait and see how this turns out. My prediction? He starts the year as the closer and is NOT the closer when the season ends. <br /><br /><strong>ON THE PAGAN FOR TORRES/RAMIREZ TRADE:</strong> I'm torn on this one. I was a big Angel Pagan fan. I know he had a rough 2011 and that there was a ton of reports his work ethic and baseball IQ was nil. I know there was a lot of unhappiness about the "dehydration" issues that took him out of a lot of games. I still liked him and thought he was a solid player. Torres and Pagan are very simular type of players. I know Torres has a much better rep as a hard worker and excellent clubhouse presence and he has much more pop. I also know Pagan is a few years younger and a much better overall hitter. Both have about 20 SB a year speed. The big cog here was getting Ramon Ramirez. Now HE is who I'm impressed with getting. In my opinion, he will be the Mets closer by mid-season and will be very solid in that role. He improves the bullpen a lot on his own, and with Rauch and francisco, yeah... the bullpen in twice as good, if not more, than last year, where the mets were pretty terrible for the most part. <br /><br /><strong>ON THE POSSIBILITY OF TRADING WRIGHT:</strong> Listen, right now, the Mets have VERY little star power. They have Wright. They have Johan Santana. The have a budding possible star in Ike Davis. Aaaaaaaaaaand that's really it. The loss of Reyes changes things dramatically in people's eyes. I mean, Bay's star is so fallen I cannot see it ever rising even close to where it was five years ago. Daniel Murphy is a solid bat with a suspect glove that will be beloved by smart Mets' fans and mostly dismissed by anyone else. Lucas Duda is still no one and Dillion Gee and Jon Niese have a far way to go. So take Wright from this team, and exactly why are people going to come watch them? The attendance is bad. VERY bad. It will not get better if Wright goes. IT WILL GET WORSE.<br /><br /><strong>ON REBUILDING: </strong>Yeah, at this point you have to say that is what the Mets are pretty much doing. Listen, unless they shock everyone and dive head first into the free agent market next year, the mets are likely to have a young team looking to be in contention around 2014. They have some serious arms in the minors that are likely at least a year and a half to two years away. They have some other very soild position players who could be ready in that time period as well. The problem is, the Mets have NOT said to their fanbase "We are in rebuilding mode" and without a real "direction" the fans have no idea what is going on. If the mets had kept Reyes, I do not think a rebuild tag would be placed on the team, but without him, you have to consider that the fact. <br /><br /><strong>ON THE RUMORS THAT NIESE AND DAVIS ARE TRADE BAIT:</strong> I'm sure the Mets are doing due dilligance, and talking about everyone and everyone just to gauge the market and if someone offered something insane like a top five pitching prospect (a la them getting Zach Wheeler for Beltran this past summer) and a high position prospect for one of them I guess they would have to seriously make the move, but I cannot, just flat out cannot see them doing something like this. It makes no sense. Neither player makes any real money and both have shown some serious talent so far. Many people (myself included) feel Davis is a serious .290, 30/35, 105 RBI guy with a great glove. Many people (myself included) see Niese as a VERY solid, higher end #3 starter... maybe even a lower end #2 down the line. Both have showne they can handle New York. Trading either would only make the fans think the team has flat out lost it. Gain, if they get bowled over, I can justify it. Otherwise, it makes little to no sense. <br /><br />It's hard to be a Mets fan right now. The immediate future is not very bright and 2014 seems far away. I DO like the Mets brain trust of Alderson and crew and i do thik it's smart to build up the minors to the point you are more like the Rays than the Mets of 2009. But I have a fear that as long as the Wilpons own this team that there are some serious dark days ahead.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-63903298559011723662011-12-06T13:07:00.000-08:002011-12-06T13:29:45.695-08:00I assure you... we ARE open<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM73_6SMfFbu8e0XYTDNeNp8T2BqR7lxKgGvV7NJmbiwiPoxuTNz-IjadqQclO4iBUi3DvT9yj7wY25H7kh0rNW0tTnrUgpiV9UVigy_pQXGiq6cGXgxP53AhcPz7K6rt7H1auB-2Aoqnx/s1600/outta+here+promo+jpg.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM73_6SMfFbu8e0XYTDNeNp8T2BqR7lxKgGvV7NJmbiwiPoxuTNz-IjadqQclO4iBUi3DvT9yj7wY25H7kh0rNW0tTnrUgpiV9UVigy_pQXGiq6cGXgxP53AhcPz7K6rt7H1auB-2Aoqnx/s200/outta+here+promo+jpg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683130701136526658" /></a><br />Yeah, so I took the 2011 Baseball season off. There were a lot of reasons, and the inability to commit the proper time to the blog was the largest. However, I'm back and making a go of this. I actually started up and writing yesterday, which was the day the Marlins signed Jose Reyes, which just shows the type of wonderful timing I have. Yay.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-58106861650334649222011-03-05T10:39:00.000-08:002011-03-05T12:38:55.028-08:00The perfect time for Piazza<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2B2w5iD2wGwub_eAmwqU-I58LIM3KvqBWgQBFcvUvCgel2Hti10PTJh0XNm4-9iLH2rRNPFQerdcMVa9K73BFhyphenhyphenVfkHPmDJzU6rwRogQ60mGr1dYtek1jeWE0dbMkn0-KYVc5O9ow8Zhn/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2B2w5iD2wGwub_eAmwqU-I58LIM3KvqBWgQBFcvUvCgel2Hti10PTJh0XNm4-9iLH2rRNPFQerdcMVa9K73BFhyphenhyphenVfkHPmDJzU6rwRogQ60mGr1dYtek1jeWE0dbMkn0-KYVc5O9ow8Zhn/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580697293443558786" /></a><br />You know, there is a lot of things I don't get about the ownership of the New York Mets. I don't get why it took them so long to solve the Tony Bernazard issue. I don't get why they seemed to bungle so many public relation situations like the dismissial of Willie Randolph. <br /><br />But first and foremost, I don't get why Mike Piazza's number has not been retired. <br /><br />The Mets have very little history to be proud of. There's Tom Terrific and the Mets of '69. There's the juggernaught of 1986. There's the nice (but incomplete) Subway Series season of 2000. <br /><br />Even when the Mets have what seem will be timeless icons in the making, it manages to go wrong (I'm looking at you Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden!) <br /><br />So when you have an honest-to-goodness, sure fire, first ballot Hall of Famer with a strong tie to your organization you had damn well better make sure he's so entrenched to your team that no one doubts it. <br /><br />The Mets HAVE made some nice moves when it's come to Piazza. He got a great celebration when he broke the all-time record for homeruns by a catcher. He got a very nice send off when he left the team and got a nice mini celebration when he returned as a Padre the following season. He was part of the last pitch at Shea (with Tom Seaver) as well as part of the first pitch at Citifield (also with Seaver).<br /><br />This is all nice. It's not enough. <br /><br />Let me tell you a story about my friend Tom.<br /><br />Tom is a big baseball fan (he's a Yankee fan, but let's not hold that against him). He's big into the history of the game and he and I have had endless debates about the Hall of Fame. Tom covers the Yankees (and Mets) for Newsday (first as a photographer and lately as a Videographer for the website) so he's been around both organizations quite a lot. <br /><br />So for years, he's been trying to get my (and my kids, including his Godson Alex) to make a trip up to Cooperstown. <br /><br />However I refuse to go. Yet.<br /><br />We started having the talk about going as long as 13 years ago. I was holding out. <br /><br />"I'll go," I told him, "the next time a player goes in as a Met."<br /><br />"So we're never going?" he replied. <br /><br />The jerk. <br /><br />My thought was this: Gary Carter was going on the ballot for the Hall of Fame that year (this was 1998). Carter had made it no secret that he wanted to go into the Hall as a Met. At the time, the Hall didn't decide what team's cap the players wore when they went in and generally allowed the players to choose if they had a preference and it wasn't a ridiculous one (like Wade Boggs going in as a Tampa Bay Devil Ray for example). I figured Carter would get in in his first or second year... go in as a Met and we'd make the trip to celebrate. <br /><br />Ah, the best laid plans...<br /><br />So first off it takes the voters six years to elect Carter in (which was ridiculous in itself. A year wait yes... two I could see... MAYBE three... but the fact he had to wait six was unreal) so he doesn't go in until 2003.<br /><br />And second, Dave Winfield and George Stienbrenner changed the whole way the Hall of Fame worked. <br /><br />2001 saw Dave Winfield go into the Hall of Fame (something he very much deserved). However, he chose to go in as a Padre instead of a Yankee. This, after the Yankees were to give him a 'Dave Winfield Day'. This irked George Stienbrenner to no end and rumors that the Padres paid Winfield a million dollars to choose a Padre cap circulated. Winfield actually had spent more time as a Yankee, it was argued, so why would he choose the Padres? Steinbrenner raised a huge stink about it and the Hall of Fame committe responded by taking the choice away from the players. 2001 would be the last time a plaer could choose the cap that would be on his plaque. <br /><br />Why is this relevant? Because the Hall of Fame ignored Carter's request to go into the Hall as a Met and placed him in as a Montreal Expo instead. <br /><br />So of course the trip never happened. Tom brings it up every year. <br /><br />Back to Mike Piazza. <br /><br />In 2013 Piazza will be on the ballot for the Hall of Fame. As the greatest hitting catcher of all time (with apologies to Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra and Carlton Fisk), I cannot imagine he will not go into the Hall in his first year of eligbility. Even if he doesn't by some bizarre reason, he'll make it in 2014.<br /><br />And when the time comes, Piazza woud like to go in as a New York Met. He has been quoted (more than once) as such. <br /><br />Unlike Carter in his Expo/Met split, Piazza actually played for the Mets longer than he did for the Los Angeles Dodgers. <br /><br />He played six and a quarter seasons for the Dodgers (of course he only had 69 at bats in 1992 so he was only a Dodger for Five full seasons and a half really).<br /><br />He played seven and a half seasons for the Mets. <br /><br />He never won a playoff game as a Dodger, making the postseason only once.<br /><br />He won a number of postseason series with the Mets, including going to the World Series in 2000. <br /><br />If you look at his overall best seasons they were 1995-97 with the Dodgers and 1999-2001 with the Mets. <br /><br />He hit 169 HRs with 563 RBIs for the Dodgers.<br />He hit 220 HRs with 655 RBIs for the Mets. (and that was with missing half a season in 2003 to injury).<br /><br /><em>(Yeah. I'm trying reassure myself. Shaddap.)</em><br /><br />In any case, there should be no reason Piazza will go into the Hall as a Met... but stranger things have happened. So why take chances?<br /><br />The Mets need to take total possession of the image of Piazza. Right now, when you look at Tom Seaver, you think "Mets". You don't think "Reds". The same has to be with Piazza. Have a Mike Piazza Day. Retire his number. Offer him a position in the front office or the Broadcast booth (he's actually pretty good) or as a scout or a coach or something. ANYthing. <br /><br />Make sure that when the HOF committe has to choose that cap, they think "Piazza? Met. All the way."<br /><br />With all of the issues the owners have... with the doubts about the on-field team most people seem to have... isn't this the perfect time to start garnering some good vibes? Wash away the crap for a while and do something the entire fan base will not only get behind, but will love. <br /><br />My God. What are you waiting for? Do it already.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-46890548389645412902011-02-26T11:35:00.000-08:002011-03-05T09:45:55.589-08:00Counting on Murphy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrCo-HyM8MLfTxthyphenhyphen4WV1yHVes9jHbmfUEGp2Mm9CmjOIHPUeulcJXMvbivTDMNuAyxEmdjahfqhFGqat0g6o90ymlrCWh9TX0iSDXUS1gqws1a3D3c8rUStcB6jvdT1HPd37nWWqozv7/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrCo-HyM8MLfTxthyphenhyphen4WV1yHVes9jHbmfUEGp2Mm9CmjOIHPUeulcJXMvbivTDMNuAyxEmdjahfqhFGqat0g6o90ymlrCWh9TX0iSDXUS1gqws1a3D3c8rUStcB6jvdT1HPd37nWWqozv7/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580653513965850578" /></a><br />With the Mets second base position a wide open competition, so far it doesn't look too much like any one person has a solid leg up. Manager Terry Collins feels that second base is an "offensive position" which would bode well for Daniel Murphy.<br /><br />I'm a fan of Murphy. I liked him as a rookie in 2009 and was sorry to see him get hurt and miss the 2010 season (although in the end it was the first of s string of things to happen that resulted in Ike Davis' call up in early 2010). Right now he's deep in the mix fpr the Mets second base job and in my opinion, it should be his to lose. <br /><br />Yes, I know he's not your protypical second baseman. I know his defense is suspect and his experiance is more so. I'm not saying I don't care... but... I don't.<br /><br />Murphy has a good bat. He's not going to make anyone forget Chase Utley, but Murphy's major league talent is with his stick and his hustling, excellent attitude. He'll struggle a little in the field and he'll not get to balls he should. I admit that. However, he's a full-speed ahead player who will give his all for his team, which is something everyone should like. I think his bat will be solid enough to look past the issues he has with his glove, and in the end he will likely be part of a platoon with someone who has a stronger defensive tag, to even out his rougher pedigree out there. <br /><br />Yeah, this is a matter of liking the player despite some obvious faults, but looking at how badly some players have played defense at 2nd in the past on winning teams (Alfonzo Soriano or Dan Uggla anyone?) it's not the end of the world. If he's a total mess out there, well yeah... he'll need to come out and the experiment will be a failure, but somehow I think he'll be good enough to get by, and he'll do enough at the plate to let the Met fans excuse that ground ball just out of his reach.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-87890512584716171912011-02-24T08:10:00.000-08:002011-03-05T09:22:07.356-08:00It's full circle for Izzy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwNWysfbB20D3cnN0PKODbFo9wVz9_VOUacOi55n96ysgCKumPZDodeGZu6apflA9mjPoUpppzukYIIUMc_M_VNPvU4F7alOxEua7Hz1dtIZgB6vc0JrdnWCG5jaSlC_twTB3ZMotNdlq/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwNWysfbB20D3cnN0PKODbFo9wVz9_VOUacOi55n96ysgCKumPZDodeGZu6apflA9mjPoUpppzukYIIUMc_M_VNPvU4F7alOxEua7Hz1dtIZgB6vc0JrdnWCG5jaSlC_twTB3ZMotNdlq/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580647379509038066" /></a><br />Out of baseball for over a year, Jason Isringhausen is attempting a comeback. In doing so, he's returned to the team he started with. <br /><br />Isringhausen was part of the Mets' Generation K. The trio of starting pitchers (Isringhausen, Bill Pulsephiler and Paul Wilson) that were supposed to be the Mets version of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine in the mid 1990s. In the end injuries derailed all three and Isringhausen only really found big time success as a closer for the Oakland A's after being traded in 1999. <br /><br />He would go on to save 293 games for the A's and Cardinals (he pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009 but didn't save any games). <br /><br />Isringhausen asked the Mets for a tryout and they obliged and were pleasently rewarded. His curveball looks good and he seems healthy. If he is, the chances of him making the team is actually fairly good. <br /><br />It's nice to see him in camp. I like the fact he's there and could be a nice stable arm in the bullpen. I could see him (again, if healthy) being a nice compliment to Bobby Parnell in the setup role. His experiance alone will be helpful to the youngster.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-91731117995793375132011-02-21T07:54:00.000-08:002011-03-05T08:10:23.669-08:00What's the rush?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXbdgIQC4wTo6Wu7TuJLgiricmAzlIWDxr5P6pg6THC5Y4-wYULomLn-cn0PET_JprO0ElHnZyzjRoYM3DMWKxNMy0LegNYSKc7LggFwq7u33yKHgKOiwrrNXSoIzIpwjoM9yzFOWRt4i/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXbdgIQC4wTo6Wu7TuJLgiricmAzlIWDxr5P6pg6THC5Y4-wYULomLn-cn0PET_JprO0ElHnZyzjRoYM3DMWKxNMy0LegNYSKc7LggFwq7u33yKHgKOiwrrNXSoIzIpwjoM9yzFOWRt4i/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580628804608635362" /></a><br />Oliver Perez is in camp and basically is viewed as a dead man walking. Odds are he'll be out on he butt in about two/three weeks. <br /><br />This isn't really speculation. It's pretty much expected unless he manages to find a few mils an hour on his fastball and stops walking people. <br /><br />I have heard the question though... "why is he even in camp?"<br /><br />Well, basically... why not? The Mets have to pay him anyway. His being in camp could possibly (albiet doubtfully) do two things:<br /><br />1 - He could actually pitch well enough that he earns a spot. Likely in the bullpen if this was to happen. It's doubtful. VERY doubtful. Chances of happening: about 10%.<br /><br />2 - Could pitch well enough that the Mets could trade him, while eating about 90% of his contract. Also doubtful, but slightly more possible considering the lack of depth in pitching for many teams. Chances of happening: about 16%.<br /><br />Listen, I don't want Perez taking up innings that someone who will really benefit will miss out on (say Dillion Gee, Pat Misch or D.J. Carrasco) but for now the Mets don't lose anything in having him in camp. While I doubt it'll do anything much for the Mets, the slim chance it could work out is worth the amount of time. I just hope the Mets know when to draw the line and in reality, I think they do.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-51572439121012999512011-02-18T08:05:00.000-08:002011-02-18T10:00:45.685-08:00Who says the Mets couldn't sign Pujols?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbr1qvdeJn838IlWpqRxGzKaYm2PwjEnxa-IQCQ1UfaYOUUSME3QvnvIwfO1xAi5QYbRTkLTIaGAsal64EUG3Dz4fD4PoapA2CJicaWMFq2bfACuUTmYMbrIAmT9gx_ItnIvzcArmXjuT/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbr1qvdeJn838IlWpqRxGzKaYm2PwjEnxa-IQCQ1UfaYOUUSME3QvnvIwfO1xAi5QYbRTkLTIaGAsal64EUG3Dz4fD4PoapA2CJicaWMFq2bfACuUTmYMbrIAmT9gx_ItnIvzcArmXjuT/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575078399725296322" /></a><br />You know, I'm getting a little tired of this. <br /><br />Everyone and his brother has basically written the Mets off as a franchise at this point. The Madoff Ponzi scheme hit the Mets' principal owners hard. In that there is no doubt. There is a definite chance that it will effect the Mets organization. <br /><br />A chance. <br /><br />However, from everything I'm reading and hearing, pretty much the world is expecting the Mets to become the New York version of the Pittsburg Pirates. A team that will spend little and have few reasons to expect a winning future anytime soon.<br /><br />This is just flat out ridiculous. <br /><br />First off, even with the lack of big spending this offseason, the Mets will STILL be in the top part of payroll in the Major Leagues. The Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, Tigers and Cubs will have higher payrolls. That is pretty much it. <br /><br />Second, the Mets may not have been SMART with money in the past, but they have not been cheap. They have often been in the mix for high profile players. <br /><br />With the news that the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols have not reached an agreement on a contact extention by this past Wednesday's deadline, many people are spectulating exactly what will happen to the best player in baseball.<br /><br />I, myself, still think there is a better than decent chance he will return to the Cardinals. In my opinion, the second most likely place for him is actually the Chicago Cubs. <br /><br />But I've heard time and time again how the Red Sox and Yankees, along with the Angels and Rangers are all possible landing spots. This despite both the Sox and Yankees having younger, big time, long term signed 1st basemen already (yes, I think the Adrian Gonzales signing is a for-gone conclusion). The same "experts" mention the Mets and in every case dismiss any possibility that the Mets would pursue, much less be able to sign Pojols. They use the Mets inability to spend, lack of history of spending, or lack of resources as the reasons.<br /><br />I say bull$*!#.<br /><br />Give me a break here. Without even much research I could come up with the bare bones of a scenerio where the Mets could look to sign Pujols and still be able to field a very competitive club for years to come. <br /><br />Ok, follow me here. My number projections could likely be somewhat a little low, but in all honesty are more than in the ballpark.<br /><br />The Mets have $60 million coming off the books after this season. That much is known and not under debate. <br /><br />However, part of this goes away when you factor in the fact that Francisco Rodriguez can trigger a fourth year in his existing 3-year deal at $17.5 million if he finishes 55 games in 2011. I have no idea if that will happen or not. Somehow I get the idea that Sandy Alerson doesn't want to lay a closers $17.5 million. I do not know if that option remains if the Mets trade him in 2011. Last year was the first time since becoming a closer that K-Rod didn't finish 55 games. If he hadn't gotten into the altercation with his father-in-law he would have likely finished 55 games though. He pitched in 46 before messing up his thumb on August 14th. <br /><br />So, ok... K-Rod could still be on the team and making $17.5 million. I will keep that in mind and paint the scenario as if he will be a Met in 2012.<br /><br />The other notable free agents in 2012 for the Mets are Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Luis Castillo, and Oliver Perez. There are other names coming off too, but I'll stick with the bigger ones for now. <br /><br />Reyes is going to make $11 million in 2011. Let's say you resign Reyes and he gets a 6 year, $88 million dollar contract with a fairly easily obtainable (if healthy in years 5 and 6) 7th year option that would round out the whole contract at about $103 million. That is an average of roughly $14.7 million a year. Say it's $13.5 million in 2010 then the rest of the contract averages $14.9 a year. Would that be enough? Factoring in his health issues I think that is somewhere in the realm. <br /><br />By letting Beltran ($18 million), Castillo ($6 million) and Perez ($12 million) go, you automatically have a $36 million set to play with for 2012. Yeah I know you're not looking to spend that all on one player and the Mets are supposedly looking to keep the payroll slightly on the south side of $140 million in 2012. No worry... you still can.<br /><br />But wait! It's not REALLY $36 million free. Why? Reyes has a $2.5 million dollar raise in 2012. K-Rod gets a $3.5 raise (assuming he is still on the team). That is $31 million from your $60 million coming off the books. That leaves you actualy with $29 million left of that $60 coming off the books.<br /><br />Still, no problem here. <br /><br />Ok, we're going to look at this keeping not just 2012 in mind, but also 2013, 2014 and 2015 (if not 2016).<br /><br />The Mets could offer Pujols a nine year, $247.5 million (averaging at $27.5 million a year). <br /><br />The Reyes/Pujols/K-Rod contracts in 2012 would combine for $58.5 million. Then they could spin the very talented Ike Davis in a trade with another young pitching prospect (or more likley highly regarded Shortstop prospect Wilmer Flores since you now have another 6 years of Reyes at short anyway) for a front end of the rotation arm. <br /><br />For 2012 (and going forward) you would look to have rookie Reese Havens as your 2nd baseman, Josh Thole as your catcher, Jon Neise and Dillion Gee in the rotation, Angel Pagan as your centerfielder and Lucas Duca, Fernando Martinez or Cory Vaughn in rightfield. Pagan, Thole, Neise and Gee all will have a few years of Major league experiance meaning your are really only looking at two rookies in the lineup. None of these players will make a lot of money (except possibly Pagan) for at least the first four to five years of Pujols' contract. Gee could actually find himself in the bullpen if Chris Young really works out or if Jenrry Mejia is able to crack the starting rotation. <br /><br />Yes having two rookies in an everyday line up is a little scary, but look at the lineup:<br /><br />Reyes<br />Pagan<br />Wright<br />Pujols<br />Bay<br />Havens<br />Duca, Martinez or Vaughn<br />Thole<br /><br />You also have a possible Daniel Murphy in that mix with Havens at second.<br /><br />Add in a healthy Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Niese Gee/Mejia/Young and whom ever you can spin Davis/Flores for (say a Matt Cain, Chad Billingsley type) and you have a pretty good team. <br /><br />That team would be right about at the $140 million mark. Most likely a somewhat over depending on raises for other players and who leaves and who else comes on. It's viable though... add in the crackshot management team of Alderson, Riccardi and Co. and it's not something you can just dismiss as impossible.<br /><br />Also if the Mets keep K-Rod's option from vesting or they manage to trade him, then there is more money on the table (with someone like Bobby Parnell as a possible replacement as closer). <br /><br />And do you think for a second ticket sales wouldn't go through the roof? They would. Even if the Mets raise ticket prices as a result (which they liikely would). <br /><br />Citifield would become a rockin place with buzz they haven't had since the Mets traded for Mike Piazza back in 1998. <br /><br />Is it likely? I didn't say that. Are my numbers off? Most likely, but I would wager they aren't TOO far off.<br /><br />But could it happen?<br /><br />Yeah, it could. Never say never.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-30137401006216163062011-02-15T11:39:00.001-08:002011-02-15T12:43:56.183-08:00Would Sabathia opt out?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ3FuiIq_5Z-YbbJGd36f2VEN8i72-70SKtwNdHJkcjUyZQYKNh4OBPZRSH1Bz4UfOAT6OyCgAxGNrJb9mwJDpMqo5-r_6AWUvc-sj077SAaovn5k7tKmu8MdZT2_zar7dZ1bAgtknQC-/s1600/Yankee+Logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ3FuiIq_5Z-YbbJGd36f2VEN8i72-70SKtwNdHJkcjUyZQYKNh4OBPZRSH1Bz4UfOAT6OyCgAxGNrJb9mwJDpMqo5-r_6AWUvc-sj077SAaovn5k7tKmu8MdZT2_zar7dZ1bAgtknQC-/s200/Yankee+Logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574010938770288514" /></a><br />So yesterday, C. C. Sabathia was asked about the possibility of exercising the opt out clause in his contract after this season and in response he said "I have no idea. Anything's possible."<br /><br />Not quite the soundbite that the Yanks and their fans were looking to hear.<br /><br />So what does that mean? Is it possible that Sabathia would opt out? You wouldn;t have thought so a year ago. The Yankees had just come off a World Series championship and things looked quite rosy for the team. Not that a LOT has changed... the Yanks did lose out in the AL Championship Series to the texas Rangers last year and there are questions about the starting rotation that have some people thinking the Bronx Bombers are in some trouble thie year... but it's not like the team outlook is bleak.<br /><br />There are nagging thoughts though... Sabathia never seemed to really want to come to the Bronx. Even with no other offers even close to the hugh seven year deal the Yanks have put on the table, Sabathia held out for so long that eventually the opt out clause was put in. For whatever reason, Sabathia was hesident to come to the Yankees and even with the huge championship ride in 2009 it seems that he's not 100% enamored with his presence there.<br /><br />Sabathia has five years remaining on the $161 Million Dollar contract he signed before the 2009 season. If he opts out he will be 31 years of age and leaving about $90 Million on the table. Looking at Cliff Lee's 5-year $120 million dolar contract (Lee was 32 when he signed that) it's not out of the question that with another strong year similar to last years 19-8, 3.37 ERA season could get Sabathia a five or six year deal worh as much as $150 million. <br /><br />After the World Series Championship in 2009, the left-hander repeatedly said that he likes New York and enjoys playing for the Yankees and would not try to become a free agent via opt out. While he hasn't reversed that, the changing of his tune might mean the Yanks will have to consider going against company policy and discuss a contract extention.<br /><br />While I doubt Sabathia will opt out, it's not a crazy question. If Sabathia has a great year but the Yankees do not, and it looks like he could get a nice payoff with an opt out, it's certainly within the realm of possibility that he'd look to take a leap out... especially if he really didn't want to be in pinstrips in the first place. <br /><br />Listen, no one really imagined A-Rod out opt out either... but he did and turned his insane contract into an even MORE insane one. Who's to think Sabathia wouldn't do the same?<br /><br />Look at the Phillies rotation. Now look how well Sabathia has thrived in New York and in the AL East. Do you think an NL team like the Dodgers, Cubs, Nationals or maybe even the Mets wouldn't consider an offer of six years, $150 million to try and counteract that? Al teams like the Angels, White Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, And Rangers might all be willing to go to those lengths as well. There would be a lot of interest in Sabathia should be opt out.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-48805600900560554922011-02-10T09:00:00.000-08:002011-02-10T10:41:12.358-08:00Does New York have the worst owners in sports?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgot1ZJHfpmOpZsMuBtu8jQMxLJF-vKoicUPv8xZzWhQ6r8CEh1kofCfbf_hRhBL9Z7zLwOr1LDdeNbEr64ySQy6rRPQoobI7SJoun5y987Ds2o5WfGu-VbuASQJP71OJrNyk8-YPaY5XRW/s1600/I_Love_New_York_svg.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgot1ZJHfpmOpZsMuBtu8jQMxLJF-vKoicUPv8xZzWhQ6r8CEh1kofCfbf_hRhBL9Z7zLwOr1LDdeNbEr64ySQy6rRPQoobI7SJoun5y987Ds2o5WfGu-VbuASQJP71OJrNyk8-YPaY5XRW/s200/I_Love_New_York_svg.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572109262137632434" /></a><br />Yeah it's a hell of a question isn't it? <br /><br />Ok, right away I would have to excuse the Jets' Woody Johnson and the Giants' John Mara and Steve Tisch from this conversation. Both teams have been run pretty well and none of those guys really have anything to be embarresed about for quite a while. <br /><br />So let's look at the rest and leave the NFL owners out of this. <br /><br /><strong>NEW YORK METS: FRED WILPON/SAUL KATZ/JEFF WILPON</strong><br />I don't think any of you need me to rehash this. The Mets' ownership has been a near laughing stock more often than not the last few years. From the weird constant shifting change of directions for the team in 2007-2009, the horrible handling of the Willie Randolph firing, the bizarre public relations snafu's, the entire Tony Bernazard debacle, the obvious loss of power of Omar Minaya, the way-too-much hands on work of Jeff Wilpon on team baseball strategy and running, the ponzi schemes, the bad press, the lack of respect the team gets despite being such a big market team... it's just an endless stream of embarrassment for this franchise. The latest lawsuit and the real possibility that the Wilpons and Katz may actually be forced to sell the team is just the latest in a list of things that no fan of the club wants to hear. If the team was winning at least you'd be able to take things in stride, but the last four seasons have been beyond rough. <br /><br /><strong>NEW YORK KNICKS/NEW YORK RANGERS: JAMES DOLAN</strong><br />What would you call an owner that spends a crapload of money, yet NEVER seems to have teams with winning seasons, all the while making bizarre decisions that no one can figure out? Yep, you call him James Dolan. The Knicks were not only run into the ground by long time Dolan favorite Isiah Thomas, they were crashed into a mountian, lit on fire, and blown up. For years, as Thomas made the Knicks into just about the most laughable franchise in ALL of sports, Dolan refused to even consider making a change. Once Thomas finally resigned (which really was more because of the sexual harrassment lawsuit against him than anything) it was a mere 15 months before it she was being eased back into a role with the team as a consultant. Dolan seems to want Thomas back as the team GM which is got to be the stupidest move in the history of the NBA. The Rangers have been uneven contenders over the last number of years and have not gotten past the 2nd round of the playoffs in over six years. They constantly have one of the higher payrolls in the NHL yet seem to constantly be just tossing players into roles and hoping they will be a fit. While the Rangers have been much more successful than the Knicks, it's Dolan's inability to steer clear of making bad decision after bad decision (or making NO decisions when it comes to Isiah Thomas' long term as GM and Coach) that seem to unite the two. <br /><br /><strong>NEW YORK ISLANDERS: CHARLES WANG</strong><br />I don't even know how to begin with how bad Wang has been for the Islanders franchise. First there was the neverending reign of Mike Milbury (shades of the Dolan/Thomas debacle) which really just ripped the organization into a mess. After Milbury finally stepped down, Neil Smith was hired as a GM, but lasted only a month before being replaced with backup goalie Garth Snow. Of course there was the impossible to understand 15-year, 67.5 million dollar contract that Wang signed constantly injured goaltender Rick DiPietro to. Then there was the weird cost cutting that took what looked to be a promising team with an excellent coach in Ted Nolan and ended with Nolan being fired for "philosophy differences" and the team being reduced to bscially a minor league club in a major league division. The Islanders have made the playoffs once in the last seven years. <br /><br /><strong>NEW YORK YANKEES: HAL AND HANK STIENBRENNER (AND FORMERLY GEORGE STIENBRENNER)</strong><br />It's hard to call the Yankees ownership bad, since the team is often so sucessful, but it's almost not really fair to leave them out of this espcially when you consider how controversial George was as an owner for years. Factor in things like the bizarre on/off relationship with Billy Martin, The Richard Nixon re-election scandal, the Mr. May comments about (eventual hall of famer) Dave Winfield, the firing of manager Yogi Berra only 16 games into the season in 1985, The attempt to dig up dirt on Winfield with known gambler Howie Spira which led to Steinbrenner's being banned from baseball for life (a ban that was dropped only three years later), the constant meddling in day to day baseball operations... George was quite the backpage maven. His sons have been much more restained, but still have managed some weird snafu's of their own including the weird handling of Joe Torre at the end of his tenure as Yankee manager, the bizarre 10-yr $275 million contract to Alex Rodriguez after A-Rod opted out knowing no one else was coming close to anything remotely close to that sort of offer, the very public and rough handling of Derek Jeter's contract situation this off-season, and Hank Steinbrenner's often very quotable presence in the media. Of course Hal is pretty quiet and was only in the news recentually because of the big mouth of Texas Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg. Unlike the four teams listed above however, the Yankees are quite sucessful year in and out and have enough sucess that taking all of the bizarre and craziness is easy.<br /><br />Looking at the recent lack of success of a lot of these teams and the totally bizarre on-the-field happenings with them all, it's not hard to wonder why New York sports is often tossed about as being over the top. With owner's like this, maybe a LOT of the NEw York sports franchises could use some new blood.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-24293985446760935292011-02-08T11:38:00.000-08:002011-02-10T08:59:45.783-08:00Would Michael Young make sense for the Mets?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunkG5jDaTOqVA1ePNy_4twe0a04WTbxqtWk01_OV1f3j8qp7ZxVoCExfako9PBgtxvFsthgFvS3PgkIgDOlLWWj9xR5FzDGr5R0ZrB-3Zf8_ehNPF8XQpwhaWalF2eLrVfRWccDG0vbwr/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunkG5jDaTOqVA1ePNy_4twe0a04WTbxqtWk01_OV1f3j8qp7ZxVoCExfako9PBgtxvFsthgFvS3PgkIgDOlLWWj9xR5FzDGr5R0ZrB-3Zf8_ehNPF8XQpwhaWalF2eLrVfRWccDG0vbwr/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572106522314199170" /></a><br />The Texas Rangers are looking to trade long time infielder (and bascially long time face of the franchise) Michael Young after signing Adrian Beltre during the offseason. <br /><br />Young has played shortstop, second base and third base for the Rnagers in his ten years with the club. He's been basically a selfless guy, moving his position more than once despite being a six-time all-star. He hit .284, with 21 hrs and 91 rbi last year. He would go a LONG way towards solving the Mets 2nd base issues. <br /><br />Of course there is the simple fact that the Mets are not on Young's list of teams he can be traded to, but that doesn't mean it's not possible (or that it is or is not a good idea). <br /><br />Young is due to make another $48 million over the next three years which is a lot of money. However what if the Mets tried the following?<br /><br />Offer to send Ollie Perez (and his $12 million contract) to the Rangers, along with a younger mid-level player. They then ask the Rangers to pick up $11 million of Young's contact.<br /><br />The Rangers save $25 million. They get a lefty pitcher in Perez who might just need to get the heck out of New York and how actually has a history of pitching very well against the Yankees. They get a mid-level prospect for it also.<br /><br />The Mets in the end really only wind up spending $25 million for three years of Young. That is about $8.15 million a year. They get a veteran in the clubhouse who is respected and suddenly have one of the best hitting 2nd basemen in the league. <br /><br />The line up would look like this:<br />Reyes<br />Pagan<br />Wright<br />Beltran<br />Young<br />Bay<br />Davis<br />Thole<br /><br />And DAMN if that isn't an exciting thought. <br /><br />Yeah it's unlikely on both ends and I make it sound MUCH more simple than it could really ever be.... but the idea has some merit. Doesn't it?Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452133539486965279.post-82041999036247803782011-02-05T08:30:00.000-08:002011-02-10T09:07:46.221-08:00This just keeps getting better and better...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0fLOlhAJJkd08Wydn8sgDFOm1WBhsDU7uc9_iahMf4Vc_inz6nzKm_RoK-JCmlLBJ5kS9ugn1jKo8Iqo_lZPVrbvK1IqYbAw9xHzqNUHZQRxTuAf2ylg91LtcK-ZlbLcXpiDyobv_Tan/s1600/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0fLOlhAJJkd08Wydn8sgDFOm1WBhsDU7uc9_iahMf4Vc_inz6nzKm_RoK-JCmlLBJ5kS9ugn1jKo8Iqo_lZPVrbvK1IqYbAw9xHzqNUHZQRxTuAf2ylg91LtcK-ZlbLcXpiDyobv_Tan/s200/Mets+logo+2x2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572100598026764402" /></a><br />So now it's out that Sterling, Inc was involved in ANOTHER ponzi scheme a number of years back and wound up paying someone off in a settlement on profits they made on that one. <br /><br />So, it becomes harder for Fred WIlpon and Saul Katz to look totally in good faith that they didn't have the slighest inkling about Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme. If NOTHING else, they should have seen SOME similarities in the returns I would suspect. I mean, I know nothing about this sort of thing... but having been burned once, don't you think they would have at least been a little wary of ANY investment's that seemed a little too godd to be true?<br /><br />Again, I know that Madoff and Wilpon were like BIG time, long time friends and that the friendship likely brought along a large amount of "benefit of the doubt" with it, but c'mon...<br /><br />Remember what I said about being a Mets' fan and waiting each day for that kick in the groin? Sheesh.Patrick J. Nestor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04476021827283026540noreply@blogger.com0