Mets forever

[sonny10305]

David Wright hangs out with Boomer & Carton on WFAN
Good stuff!


Opps dono why that came up twice. Anyway read more about David's charity work here
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/ar...t_id=2299016&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

 

[Sausy]

David Wright is to unselfish class act what A-Rod is to self-absorbed.I'm glad to see he will have no more worries about his playing third base now A-Rod has dropped the circus tent and moved back in after the trial separation with the Yankees.David actually has done this since he was a rookie without a proven track record as a player...genuine from the beginning and he never will change!

 

[sonny10305]

David Wright is to unselfish class act what A-Rod is to self-absorbed.I'm glad to see he will have no more worries about his playing third base now A-Rod has dropped the circus tent and moved back in after the trial separation with the Yankees.David actually has done this since he was a rookie without a proven track record as a player...genuine from the beginning and he never will change!

Well, we have both expressed our love for this guy before, you and I.
It's Davis's upbringing, he comes from a close knit family whom he adores.
He has had some very strong influences in his life which have helped make him the sweetheart of a guy he is today. Not to mention one hell of an athlete
Read more about the Charity event here
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/ar...t_id=2299016&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

As for A-Rod, yeah, he blinked. It was just a matter off time till, as you put it, the circus would end.
He is ready to make a deal now, looks lkike 275 million over 10 years.
The interesting thing is he is doing it without Scott Boras, some third party got involved, dono who yet.
Boras fucked that whole thing up, and A-Rod understands that now.

 

[sonny10305]

Well with the A-Rod scare pretty much out of the way and my David Wright safely secured at third,we still have a couple of things to wok out.

!. Pitching

Glavin I think is gone, he is talking to Atlanta, I don't expect him back. I would love to get Willis, I think Florida will be up for the idea of a trade there. Next would be Santana. And maybe Haren, I like his stuff as well. I am looking for great things from some of the other starters like Hernandez, Maine, Perez and Pedro

2. Catching

Not looking good for Lo Duca, looks like Torrealba is coming in. and Castro is set with a new a two-year deal for backup
What I am still trying to understand is, even though the Mets have said they are going to be talking to Lo Duca, they never have. NEVER.
All Minaya did was call Paul to find out how many years Paul would be looking for, all this at the same time he was talking to Torrealba.
Torrealba is no Lo Duca with a bat, something around .250 had maybe seven or eight homers and a decent amount of RBIs. He proved he is good with young pitchers, so that will be good for Maine and Perez. I need to know what hair the Mets have up their ass about Paulie, I don’t like what’s going on. Prolly with Torrealba leaving Colorado Lo Duca will go there. I think the Rockies are interested in Lo Duca.

Second base

Omar Minaya doesn't seem to be tripping over his feet to re-sign Castillo and now word id that Eckstein may be our man for 2nd.
I could live with that, I mean he was the World Series 2006 MVP,(sorry Cory)
When I first heard about Eckerstein I thought, wait a minute, we have a shortstop. But they want him to play second, I have not heard how David feels about switching positions.

Infield


Good shape with Delgato, Easily, Gotay, Hernandez, Reyes and Wright.


Outfield

Good as well with, Alou, Anderson, Beltron, Chavez, Gomez, Johnson and Milledge.
Although I prefer Green over Milledge.

 

[Sausy]

Torrealba backed out....interesting to read the paper tomorrow to read what happened and who is the next target to catch for the Mets.I do think what remains is still fundamentally lasdt year's Mets,with new holes at catcher and frontline pitching that must be addressed.Is Lo Duca on their radar again,and the way they refused to deal with him after the season(Until nothing better shows up,right about now)would he want to return?

It gratifies me to see David Eckstein mentioned as a serious candidate for second(already meeting with Mets management)because he is exactly what they need more of...someone who may not be the best natural talent but really gives total dedication and effort EVERY game.San Diego wants him for second as well...maybe because of his lack of a great throwing arm,his future lies there.He can hit for a good average,run a little,move the baserunners over,do all the intangible things that winning teams can always never get enough of.Even though he is about Castillo's age,he has healthy knees and I wouldn't be as scared off by the idea of a 4-year commitment.

We'll see if Eckstein is their man soon enough,and can't wait to see the Winter Meetings early next month to see if the Mets can fulfill their biggest need,a true ace who is capable of winning the tough games necessary to get far in the playoffs.

 

[sonny10305]

I heard about Torrealba just after the Notre Dame game. He was supposed to have agreed to a three-year, $14.4 million contract, all that was left to be done was a physical, still no word today as to what happened.
So now what? the only free agent catcher I know of is is Michael Barrett,
but I don't think the the Mets care for him. I think maybe the Mets liked Torrealba because they could add a catcher without giving up anyone.
But as I wrote before I am not that into him, I would prefer a catcher who can perform well at the plate as well as behind it, like, HELLO, Lo Duca.

Speaking of great offensive catchers, Mike Piazza is thinking about retirement.
Piazza is, and always will be loved by Met fans, I remember last year he got a home run at Shea and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. They even called, and he gave them, a curtain call. When has a player playing for the opposing team ever gotten that. What class we mets fans have.
I was so proud of us

 

[sonny10305]

Looks like Mariano Rivera is getting close to making his deal after all. I heard today he is just about ready to finaly re-sign.

The Torrealba thing has me wondering if maybe it was the physical that did the deal in. Perhaos his shoulder is worse than we thought. He had a rough time throwing guys out at second, as I remember.
Still hoping for Lo Duca, although talkng to my dad today, he things maybe Romon Hernandez or Miguel Olivo could end up with the job.

More A-Rod fallout for Boras, Kenny Rogers dumped him and is representing himself in his talks with the Tigers.

 

[Sausy]

I heard about Torrealba just after the Notre Dame game. He was supposed to have agreed to a three-year, $14.4 million contract, all that was left to be done was a physical, still no word today as to what happened.
So now what? the only free agent catcher I know of is is Michael Barrett,
but I don't think the the Mets care for him. I think maybe the Mets liked Torrealba because they could add a catcher without giving up anyone.
But as I wrote before I am not that into him, I would prefer a catcher who can perform well at the plate as well as behind it, like, HELLO, Lo Duca.

Speaking of great offensive catchers, Mike Piazza is thinking about retirement.
Piazza is, and always will be loved by Met fans, I remember last year he got a home run at Shea and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. They even called, and he gave them, a curtain call. When has a player playing for the opposing team ever gotten that. What class we mets fans have.
I was so proud of us

Sad hearing about Mike Piazza.Those first four years he gave us were great...Piazza at his All-Star best.Mets on the rise,then things fell flat for him and the team.But he helped get us to the World Series(I was hoping for the Mets over the Yanks in 2000,I always lean Mets over Yanks)He really is is more of an East Coast guy,raised outside of Philly (despite those years in La la Land)!Tough the last few years were marred the by injuries and the overall wear and tear getting to him behind the plate.Best offensive catcher in this generation,hope he does go in the Hall of Fame as a Met.And despite our reputation,yes we do have classy fans under it all and they will always cheer a faithful son.

 

[sonny10305]

I did not expect it but, Luis Castillo decided to stay with the New York Mets, reaching a preliminary agreement Sunday night on a $25 million, four-year contract. Castillo must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized, a person with knowledge of the talks said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not made an announcement.

Soooo what happened to the Eckstein deal?

The New York Mets are facing a catching dilemma. Posada, went back to the Yankees. The deal for Torrealba, fell through. Will the Mets now come back to Paul LoDuca?

 

[Sausy]

I did not expect it but, Luis Castillo decided to stay with the New York Mets, reaching a preliminary agreement Sunday night on a $25 million, four-year contract. Castillo must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized, a person with knowledge of the talks said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not made an announcement.

Soooo what happened to the Eckstein deal?

The New York Mets are facing a catching dilemma. Posada, went back to the Yankees. The deal for Torrealba, fell through. Will the Mets now come back to Paul LoDuca?

Eckstein apparently wanted four years,$36 million,too rich for the Mets blood despite his ability and outstanding character.I don't blame them,and they did really supposedly look into Castillo's knee problem...Castillo had it cleaned out recently and supposedly will be fine for spring training.He is a great contact hitter with speed if knees are sound and a Gold Glove defender,so four years at $25 million is a pretty damn good deal.Still,they were supposed to emphasize youth and defense,and haven't gotten any younger yet(keeping Delgado,Alou,Castillo,Easley....but then again,look at the Yanks ...lots of young pitching prospects but where are the younger,more athletic position players?)

Interesting where the catching dillemma solution will come from...back to Lo Duca,or going outside the organization...now it's anyone's guess.

 

[Sausy]

Sonny,do you think the Mets will pull out all the stops for Johann Santana or another top quality starter?

 

[sonny10305]

Sonny,do you think the Mets will pull out all the stops for Johann Santana or another top quality starter?

I think if the Mets are serious about going after Santana or Willies they must be prepared to give up some prospects. Which if you think about it would be smart. But it will have to be a proven player like Santana, for example, and I would want a deal that goes beyond his free agency.
They may have to give up guys like Milledge, Gomez, Pelfrey or Humber.
Omar is faced with the fact that there is not a lot of free agent pitching available
(no Zito’s out there this year) so he may be looking at a trade. Plus I don’t see him spending millions of dollars on a fourth starter. The Mets might also be interested in Haren or Blanton.
Which brings me to Heilman who I thought was untouchable when it came to trade talks, but now he may be the guy to deal, for maybe Blanton, if the Mets want to improve their starting rotation. I think Omar is set to pull off a major deal. They are going to use some prospects as trade chips. I mean guys like Heilman, Humber, Mulvey, Plfrey or Smith. And as I said, Milledge or Gomez.

The catching situation continues to bug me. Now Omar has said maybe Castro could be a primary pitcher? I don't think so.
If we can’t get Lo Duca back, maybe a trade for Ramon Hernandez or Laird.?
I still think if Paulie were to accept a one year deal at the same money the Mets paid him last year a deal could still be made. But If Lo Duca wants three years it ain’t gonna happen. I mean he’s 36 now.

I'm settling in on the Castillo deal. The doctors must have given his knee a clean bill of health, I sure hope so. Plus I think $25 million for 4 years is ok.
I do like him in the #2 spot, if I can't have Lo Duca.
As for Eckstein, I wonder if he really wanted to change positions or even come to NY

 

[Sausy]

I like the trade for Johhny Estrada,who is Paul LoDuca without the agita.He is a similar contact hitter,limited poeewer but gets lots of doubles and moves runners over...excellent contact hitter who doesn't strike out much.He's good defensively,hamdles pitching staffs well and calls a good game.Two negatives,he barely walks and he rarely throws runners out(less than 20% last season)but it isn't like Lo Duca was reallly better in those categories,certainly not enough to make a difference.He's a free agent after next season,but could be the answer at least for next year.And we got rid of the useless Sosa to get him.

The Mets really seemed to want David Eckstein at second precisely because of the grinder and gamer he is,after the complacency and lack of hustle and urgency that contributed to their collapse last September.But they apparently re-signed Luis Castillo after Eckstein apparently wanted close to four years,$40,000,000 as I had mentioned before.As much as I love his style of play,like you said maybe he wasn't really sure he wanted to change positions to play second.A lot of money to give a complimentary offensive player.I guess if the demands were closer to what Castillo received,Mets would have gotten him signed.

 

[Sausy]

If the Mets cannot satisfy Minnesota for Johann Santana,then I think the best pitcher they could get would be Dan Haren from Oakland.He could be a future ace,With a 3.07 ERA in a hitter's American League,he seems to be confident,poised,and consistent and at 28 next year,the kind of young veteran top line strarter the Mets need.Would NOT do Blanton,who is very hittable and seems not to have nearly the high ceiling as Haren.I wouldn't waste my time on the potentially expensive mediocrities on the free agent market.I would surrender Milledge,Pelfrey or Humber,and Aaron Heilmann to make a run for Haren.I don't want to surrender Carlos Lopez or Fernando Martinez,who could make for an explosive outfield with Carlos Beltran in center by 2009.

 

[sonny10305]

.
I’m ok with the Estrada trade, the Mets clearly made a good deal here.
Trading a 6th or7th inning relief pitcher (Mota) for a switch hitting catcher I’d say they did well. Estrada hit around .300 the last couple of years, and was an all-star. Estrada spitting time with Castro works for me, One thing though, he comes with some injury concerns, Estrada underwent arthroscopic surgery in October to repair the torn medial meniscus in his left knee and also had a bone spur removed from his right elbow. I guess the Mets definatly traded up from LoDuca.
I also say, good riddance to Mota. I still remember that game where he shook off Lo Duca's call for a 1-2 changeup and throw a fastball instead.. Well, Spiezio hit it for a game-tying triple costing the Mets Game 2 of that NLCS. He was a flat out disaster and posted dreadful numbers, with an ERA of like 6.00
AND, he positive for steroids. So he obviously was not the same pitcher without the steroids

I have no clue what the Brewers are thinking on this one, I know they’re desperate for pitching, but Mota?
For sure the Mets gotthe better of the deal here.

 

[Sausy]

It looks like the Mets are thinking of Johnny Estrada as an option rather than a definite starter/platoon with Castro.Their take on it seems to leave open the option of getting another one altogether who would be an upgrade,or go into next year with Estrada as their catcher.They could decide not to offer him arbitration,which he is eligible,so if they can find better(they have much more leverage now they were able to acquire Estrada from the Brewers then just having Castro back)they'll decline and he'll be a free agent with the Mets at least having protected themselves.They didn't have to surrender young players in return,just Sosa,who was dreadful last year....and you're right sonny,he wasn't the same coming off the steroids deal and he did fuck up in the playoffs in his juiced year.

 

[Absolut]

Can anyone find a countdown clock online until pitchers and catchers report in 08' to use for my signature??????

 

[sonny10305]

Can anyone find a countdown clock online until pitchers and catchers report in 08' to use for my signature??????

Aw Cory, you are so freakin cute.
I dono of any, but trust me babe if I find one you will be the first to know.
Plus I want one for my house and my car. maybe even keep one in my pocket.

 

[sonny10305]

Mets release 2008 schedule, which will be the last season at Shea.
AND they play the Phillies on opening day at Shea, that will be sooo much fun.

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/schedule/tentative.jsp?c_id=nym&year=2008

 

[Absolut]

I am totally gonna copy sonny

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/schedule/tentative.jsp?c_id=stl

But sonny, is the Mets' schedule set in stone? Ours is tentative...