New York Mets 2009

[sonny10305]

Sonny,hope you get my PM before my account is put on inactive status....see you right here again later next month.Hopefully Manny will be around as well!

Sure did get the PM John, which I responded to.
I will hold down the fort till you get back and will miss you like crazy. Stay well and hurry back

 

[syam24]

Just saw the following tidbit on MLB.com, appears Ollie is close to returning:

NEW YORK -- Not long after the World Series ended, Oliver Perez and the Mets parted ways, each searching for something better. Yet it didn't take long for either side to realize that a return to the Mets might make the most sense for both of them.

That return may now be close to fruition. Perez is nearing a three-year deal to return to New York, according to multiple published reports, which would put a cap on the Mets' offseason spending.

FoxSports.com first reported on Monday afternoon that Perez was closing in on a three-year deal worth $36 million. The Mets had previously offered three years and $30 million last month.

 

[sonny10305]

Just saw the following tidbit on MLB.com, appears Ollie is close to returning:

.

Yup no surprise, a done deal. 3 years 36 million.
I hope we don't get the unfocussed lost in space Ollie we had last year with too may walks and lots of 3-2 counts. But I am good with this cause he should be more relaxed now and he should have learned a lot, we know he's got the stuff, just needs to improve his control He should be good to win at least 15-18 games.
Another thing I like is the three years I would worry about more and was afraid BorASS would have fought harder for four years.

So now we need to move on to the outfield and another bat
There was talk of Bobby Abreu, but now he has been offered a one-year, $8 million deal from the White Sox and I think the plan would have been to trade Ryan Church which I am against.
Another thing has prolly happened now that we signed Perez, the cost may mean the end of the Mets shopping for the off season. They are going to go after low-cost alternatives among righty reserve bats and lefty set-up men.
This also means they are not likely to after Manny Ramirez, although yesterday Manny rejected a one-year, $25 million offer from the Dodgers.

Stay tuned.

 

[syam24]

I like Ollie, even thought he's been erratic, lefties generally mature, controlwise, a little later than righthanders. Sandy Koufax was pretty wild as a young pitcher, and didn't really hit his stride until he was about 28.

 

[sonny10305]

I like Ollie, even thought he's been erratic, lefties generally mature, controlwise, a little later than righthanders. Sandy Koufax was pretty wild as a young pitcher, and didn't really hit his stride until he was about 28.

I liked your comparison to Koufax, I had not thought of Ollie that way, but you are right. He has always done well in tough situations against the big teams, the problem of course is the walks and iritic motions. But I have faith in him this year I think he will perform better, maybe he has learned a lot. I also think the4 new pitching couch (Dan)has been very good for him.

On another note, I have been a big fan of Fernando Martinez and have been witan and happen to see him in Flushing, but the kid is always getting hurt and now he is hurt, again ! He was sent back to New York from the Caribbean Series for tests on a sore elbow. This just after he blasted a clutch, two-run pinch hit homer the other day. The Mets would love to get Martinez to the majors, preferably sometime this summer, but happen body just doesn't seem to want to cooperate. Gherkin shame, sure hope it’s not serious and he gets well quick.
Speaking of injuries, I guess we lucked out by no signing Ben Sheets, he will undergo surgery on his right (pitching) elbow to repair a torn flexor tendon and could miss the entire 2009 season. He may very well be done for his entire career. Guess Omer dodged that bullet.
The Rangers were all but set to sign him until this happened. I heard they might have signed him for a future insurance spot for later in the season but decided against it. Tough break for a great prospect.

 

[sonny10305]

While pitchers and catchers are getting ready to report it was announced yesterday that Santana plans to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic. You may recall in December, both Omar Minaya and Santana told reporters it would be a judgment call made in spring training, based on how he was feeling in camp. Let’s hope something, based on his workouts, did not prompt the Mets to pull the plug on the WBC now, as opposed to waiting two weeks while in camp. Whatever the reason I support this, cause although I know it is important to these guys to represent their country in a baseball tournament, I would rather see him in preparing for ’09 in Florida. We need him healthy, let’s not forget he underwent surgery in October to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. In December, he told reporters he will be ready for spring training

The timing for the WBC is just bad for this as far as I am concerned for all the players that are going to play in that thing. Manual will be trying to get it together in his first full year and he needs that valuable time to work the chemistry in the team. We need the guys to get into a flow get some idea of where they might be in the lineup. Guys have said to me they will be “playing ball” in the WBC and that’s a good thing, well I do not agree, cause I rather they “play ball” in spring training games with their own guys.
.
Other pitching news, The Mets still are in need for a little more bull pen help and have started talking to Will Obman. A lefty who can for sure hold his own against righties, so that might work well.
As to the fifth starter, I’m guessing Garcia would be a great choice providing he can prove his durability in spring training, we just don’t know yet if he can keep the innings going. Redding would work well in long relief; he did very well against the Phillies.
Other options of course are Parnell and Neise which is a good mixture of depth and youth I like.
Others I wonder about are Sanchez and Green. Green is a good rubber arm guy we an get a lot out of, Sanchez I worry about, I suppose we will see him in the 7th inning but what are we gonna see? The disaster of ’08 or the brilliance of ’06.

Santana threw off the mound here the other day for the first time since knee surgery last October. Santana tossed 18 pitches under the supervision of the bullpen coach, and then said he will be ready to throw a full bullpen session on Thursday. I’m lovin hearin that.
Maine , who is coming back from surgery to fix a bone spur in his right shoulder, threw off the mound for the second time in four days and said he is pitching without pain. That is encouraging news cause he couldn't even throw between starts because of the soreness.
I already wrote about Perez, I am optimistic but nervous about him.
Then we have Pelfrey who I believe is gonna have an awesome year.
I wanna see more of that power sinker we saw, making him the more reliable arms in the rotation after May. Pelfrey was finally pitching with confidence, and it showed as he was a big part of the Mets pitching. YUP,"Big Pelf" will fit in nicely behind Santana atop the 2009 Mets rotation.

 

[sonny10305]

Pitchers and catchers officially report today

Actually all of them were at the facility a couple of days early all of em chomping at the bit to get started. I watched some live coverage yesterday and It was awesome to see those guys all excited about the new season, working out doing their stretches and throwing. Maine said he felt great as did Santana.
The new kids are getting to know one another and the veterans are showin the love with welcome. Yesterday Kevin Burkhart was the first to get one of JJ Putz famous shaving cream pies on the air live. That didn’t take long.

I am so excited It’s all I can do to keep from pissing my pants.
Here is what we have as of now

Projected batting order

1. SS Jose Reyes:
..297 BA, .358 OBP, .475 SLG, 16 HR, 68 RBI in 2008
2. 2B Luis Castillo:
.245 BA, .305 OBP, .355 SLG, 3 HR, 28 RBI in 2008
3. 3B David Wright:
.302 BA, .390 OBP, .534 SLG, 33 HR, 124 RBI in 2008
4. 1B Carlos Delgado:
.271 BA, .353 OBP, .518 SLG, 38 HR, 115 RBI in 2008
5. CF Carlos Beltran:
.284 BA, .376 OBP, .500 SLG, 27 HR, 112 RBI in 2008
6. RF Ryan Church:
..276 BA, .346 OBP, .439 SLG, 12 HR, 49 RBI in 2008
7. LF Daniel Murphy:
.313 BA, .397 OBP, .473 SLG, 2 HR, 17 RBI in 2008
8. C Brian Schneider:
.257 BA, .339 OBP, .367 SLG, 9 HR, 38 RBI in 2008

Projected rotation

1. Johan Santana, 16-7, 2.53 ERA in 2008
2. Mike Pelfrey, 13-11, 3.72 ERA in 2008
3. John Maine, 10-8, 4-18 ERA in 2008
4. Oliver Perez, 10-7, 4.22 ERA in 2008
5. Freddy Garcia, 1-1, 4.20 ERA in 2008
or Tim Redding, 10-11, 4.95 ERA in 2008

Projected bullpen

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez, 62/69 saves, 2.24 ERA in 2008
RH setup man: J.J. Putz, 3.88 ERA in 2008
LH setup man: Pedro Feliciano

Jerry Manual arrives today.
Can you guys feel it, baseball is in the air.

Oh Saucy, I know you are as excited as I am and I can’t wait to have you back here at JUB

 

[syam24]

I'm ready for baseball on the field, and enuff of the steroids bullshit. As for Fernando Martinez, hopefully he'll outgrow the injury bug as Jose Reyes appears to have. Bring on the games!!

 

[sonny10305]

I'm ready for baseball on the field, and enuff of the steroids bullshit. As for Fernando Martinez, hopefully he'll outgrow the injury bug as Jose Reyes appears to have. Bring on the games!!

Oh baby do I agree, all that Yankee baggage and BS they can have it.
I like to think our Mets are above all that crap.
As for Martinez, the kid can not get a break, injuries follow him around like lost puppies. I love that dude and like you I wanna see him out there this year.
Pagan too.

 

[sonny10305]

The Mets have set a broadcast schedule of the 16 games it will broadcast during spring training, 12 on SNY and four games that will be shown on PIX 11.

Here is the rundown:

Feb. 26: Florida Marlins, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., SNY
Feb. 27: St. Louis Cardinals, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., SNY
March 1: Houston Astros, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., PIX 11
March 3: St. Louis Cardinals, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., SNY
March 7: Washington Nationals, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., PIX 11
March 9: Baltimore Orioles, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., SNY
March 12: Florida Marlins, Port St. Lucie, 7:10 p.m., SNY
March 18: Atlanta Braves, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., SNY
March 19: Houston Astros, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., SNY
March 22: Atlanta Braves, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., SNY
March 25: Detroit Tigers, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., SNY
March 27: Washington Nationals, Port St. Lucie, 7:10 p.m., SNY
March 28: Florida Marlins, Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m., PIX 11
March 30: Baltimore Orioles, Port St. Lucie, 7:10 p.m., SNY
April 3: Boston Red Sox, Citi Field, 6:10 p.m., SNY
April 4: Boston Red Sox, Citi Field, 1:10 p.m., PIX 11

How exciting is that

 

[sonny10305]

As we get closer to the first spring training games let’s have a look at some of the changes the Mets made

The new guys

K-Rod: The debilitating injury to Billy Wagner forced the Mets to pursue a replacement closer. K-Rod established the single-season record for saves (62) last season with the Angels. K-Rod is flamboyant,, effective, occasionally apt to add unwanted drama, and he seems to enjoy the spotlight.

JJ Putz: The right-handed reliever the Mets obtained from the Mariners was imported to fill the void created by the ineffectiveness of Duaner Sanchez and Aaron Heilman. Putz, who was a closer for the Mariners, is being asked to accept a lower-profile role. He said recently hat he had no problem with that and he looked forward to handing the ball over to K-Rod in the 9th.Of course how great is having two closers.

Cora: He was brought in as a free agent to provide middle-infield defense somewhat the way Jose Valentin did in 2006. Plus when, not if, Castillo struggles, Cora, will be our second baseman. Mark that down for sometimes in late April kids.

Jeremy Reed: After we lost Endy Chavez, we needed a suitable replacement, Reed has defensive skills equal to that of any outfielder in Mets history. Expect most of Reed's playing time to come in late innings in left field.

Sean Green: has pitched exclusively as a reliever in his three big league seasons. He is expected to handle the innings Joe Smith handled the past two years. Green is far more effective against right-handed hitters than against their left-handed-hitting brethren.


Guys to watch


Jon Niese: A left-handed pitcher with a nasty curve, Jon made three September starts last season, pitching eight shutout innings in one game.. He had a 5-1 in seven Triple-A starts before promoted to the big league.

Daniel Murphy: I love this kid, I have not been a excited about a new player since D Wright back in ’04. he made positive first impressions last summer. He is a remarkably patient hitter with some extra-base pop.

Nick Evans: Because the Mets are likely to be a predominantly left-handed-hitting team, Evans has an enhanced chance to win a place on the Opening Day roster. A right-handed hitter, Evans could serve as the understudy for Delgado at first base.


So who’s gone

Moises Alou: He appeared in merely 15 games last season because of hernia and hamstring issues. His absence cost the Mets dearly. Now Alou is hoping to find work in the American League.

Luis Ayala: The veteran reliever who became the Mets' closer, mostly by default, last summer after Wagner was disabled remains a free agent.

Endy Chavez: A brilliant outfielder, responsible for perhaps the most remarkable catch in franchise history in the 2006 NL Championship Series, Chavez was included in the Putz trade and will serve as a No. 4 outfielder with the Mariners.

Damion Easley: middle infielder remains available as a free agent following a 2008 season undermined by injury.
Heilman: He was included in the package that imported Putz from the Mariners He wants to be a starter, good luck with that and oh yeah, bye bys now

Orlando Hernandez: Remember him? El Duque missed the entire 2008 season because of bunion problems.

Pedro Martinez: Mindful of his recent history of injury, his age , diminished velocity, first-inning problems and likely price tag, the Mets have not pursued Martinez as a free agent. The once great and beloved Met has seen his glory days fade away..

Trot Nixon: The 34-year-old veteran outfielder appeared in merely 11 games for the Mets before developing a need to have a hernia repaired surgically. No place for him anymore

Joe Smith: This bugged me, I wanted to keep Joe. Originally the Mets had intended to keep him. But when they had a chance to acquire Putz in the three-club, 12-player exchange, the plan changed. Green replaces him in the bullpen mix as the right-handed specialist.

Scott Schoeneweis: Another one I was not sorry to se go. Although he was effective against left-handed hitters, he is gone to D-backs

I am sure I left a couple out.

 

[Thad1527]

Oh baby do I agree, all that Yankee baggage and BS they can have it.
I like to think our Mets are above all that crap.

I have been thinking that all week.

Our local news is full of reports from Clearwater. It's gonna be a fun season.

I'll probably be your "loyal opposition" on this thread this season. I'm warning you...I think I'm falling in love with Raul Ibanez. We'll see if he's worthy. (Besides, you all have David Wright wrapped up tight.)

 

[sonny10305]

I have been thinking that all week.

Our local news is full of reports from Clearwater. It's gonna be a fun season.

I'll probably be your "loyal opposition" on this thread this season. I'm warning you...I think I'm falling in love with Raul Ibanez. We'll see if he's worthy. (Besides, you all have David Wright wrapped up tight.)

I look forward to your posts

As for David, you got that right baby
But he has competition this year with Daniel Murphy, he is such an intense
player, reminds me of myself when I play ball. I love that intensity and look forward to him having a breakout year.

As for Raul, The Phillies are better for him. He is capable of knocking in at least 100 runs and is capable of providing plenty of hits and including doubles.
He is getting up there in years but I dono if we will see any signs of his slowing down this year.

That's abut all I can say about him , after all he is a phillie now.
The Phillies are our biggest rivals, the team we HAVE to destroy this year.
But that does not mean we can't be friends.

I look forward to your tears as we humiliate Philadelphia in '09

 

[sonny10305]

I guess you guys have heard that Jerry Manual is seriously considering putting
Luis Castillo in the lead off position.I have been very vocal about my opposition to havin luis on the team, I would have preferred we went after a second baseman like Orlando Hudson.
But since it is lookin more and more like Jerry is gonna give Castillo the position I have decided to sit back and support the idea. Don't misunderstand, I am not in favor of the idea, I just feel after listening to Jerry and David Wright talk about and support it I wanna see what happens. Castillo has had success as the lead off hitter in the past,but is that the Castillo we are gonna get in '09?
Luis came to spring training 17 lbs lighter, and that's a great thing, at least, unlike last year, he has come to camp in shape.
Now I dono what being 17 lbs overweight is like I have never been overweight in my life, but ya gotta figure this will be good for his peanut brittle knees, at least it has to make em easier for him. I mean if we are going to let him play he can't bat 6th or 7th, hot yet,that would not work at all. Plus if he spends a couple of weeks in the lead off spot and does well, then he will gain a little confidence, the fans will ease up on him and he can be moved down in the lineup.

I do have a problem with Reyes batting third behind Beltron cause I worry that in that RBI spot he will become Home run crazy and start poppin up the ball and not hitting grounders or getting on base. That's what he did last time they moved him from lead off. Jose would be better served batting second and forget about trying to lengthen the line up, lets take one step at a time here.
I understand Manuals motivation, he has always been in Castillo corner and what he wants to do is give Luis a vote of confidence and help him make it.
Lets be real here, that's Jerry Manuals job and I like to see him shaken things up.

I never thought I would ever support Castillo in '09, but I am a Mets fan, have been since I was 10, I support my team and I would never kid myself into thinking I know more than the guys running the team. So lets see what happens.
Luis I am rooting for you.

Meantime the boys have started spring training with the first game set for next Thursday with the Marlins.

Here is my man D Wright getting ready for '09

 

[sonny10305]

Daniel Murphy has been given the left field position.
That means Murphy will get the majority of playing time in left field this season,
we originally assumed from what had been hinted at earlier that Daniel would platoon out there with Tatis. However Manual said yesterday that he has decided to platoon Tatis with Church at right instead, basically be in a super utility role. This works for me, I have been singing Murphy's praises for a while now and as far as Church and Tatis, well if you think about it, last season Murphy was a more consistent lefthanded hitter than Church.

I'm pumped

Here is Murphy in the cage the other day.

 

[Thad1527]

Daniel Murphy has been given the left field position.
That means Murphy will get the majority of playing time in left field this season

Fine with me. In my fantasy leagues Murphy was going unpicked. I've grabbed him.
He played great in the game I saw last August.

 

[sonny10305]

Fine with me. In my fantasy leagues Murphy was going unpicked. I've grabbed him.
He played great in the game I saw last August.

Great choice, I love that kid’s patience at the bat (rare with new players) and his overall approach to the game. He is a superstar in the making.
A little background on him, Murphy was chosen by the Mets in the 13th round of the 2006 amateur draft. After hitting .just above 300 with around 13 homers and at least 60 RBI at Double-A Binghamton, which is where I first noticed him, I was really impressed by the fact that the Mets elevated him to Triple-A New Orleans and then after just one game he got the call to go to the Mets.

Murphy’s results with the Mets were instant and impressive, as I recall he hit right around.400 with 2 homers, and like 10 RBI. He also drew about10 walks, which is were his patience at the plate I mentioned really showed through. Murphy has an awesome instinct for the strike zone, an ability to go the other way and a real talent for delivering in the clutch. And oh, that sweet left handed swing,
so compact.I wanna copy his stance at the plate when I play this summer,
its opem with a slight crouch I like. (Sorry D Wright)
I still need to study his swing which is fairly level but with an uppercut to hit the ball for distance.

A few guys have told me he would make a great first baseman when Delgado leaves, but he throws righty which is not good for first, and as for second we have to see more of what he has in range first.
No, leave him at right I like him there.

 

[sonny10305]

So I watched the first two spring training games with the new lineup of Castillo in the lead off spot.
Now I know of course it’s just two games but Luis did very well both days. He got a coupe of hits, ran the bases well and even stole a base. I also liked the fact that he was able to go opposite field with power, getting himself an opposite field double. And he did it left handed. He also got a nice hit right handed instead of pulling the ball as he did last season hitting righty. A far cry from last season.
Ya gotta think that Jerry Manuals new eighty pitch curve ball drill which the boys have started doing is working, especially for castillo, they have to hit all of them and they have to go opposite field with them. Castillo being a switch hitter had to do it TWICE, once from each side.

Johan Santana was going to pitch today but he is feeling a little tightness in his elbow. So what does that mean? Well probably nothing, he has had that before. But remember last season we found out late that he had been pitching with pain in his knee, and over the winter he had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in that knee. So we have to wonder is his not unusual spring training traditional tenderness in his elbow or did he hurt himself by compensating when he pitched with a sore knee last year.
I am not concerned, not at all, but I will feel a lot better when I watch Johan pitch for the first time this year. Oh. And thank God he cancelled his plans to play in the WBC.

Dono how I feel about Reyes not hitting lead off, he did very well with two homers including a grand slam, but that’s what I worry about, him trying to hard to hit it out of the park every at bat and not hitting grounders and getting on base, setting the table as well as he has always done.
We will have to watch that situation, but as well as Castillo did, I still think I want Jose leading off.

Meanwhile David Wright talked yesterday about something Saucy and I have been on him about, and that is how he changed last year from one of baseball's best clutch hitters into someone who couldn't deliver when it counted most last season. He has some pretty ugly clutch numbers in 2008, but his strong career numbers offer proof of what Wright can do under pressure. Still, he knows that won't fly, in part because two straight September collapses by the Mets mean having to grit your teeth and live with the fallout, even being called chokers by clowns like Cole Hamels
It’s not as if he had a lousy year: he hit .302 with 33 home runs and a career-high 124 RBI, yet he hit only .243 with runners in scoring position, .259 with runners on third and less than two outs and .235 with the bases loaded.
David said he always feels comfortable with runners in scoring position, and that he wants to be the guy with the bat in his hands with the game on the line. Simply put, David puts too much pressure on himself and not from any outside pressure. He just got to overly aggressive and maybe got a little out of his game.
It was all the more noticeable because Wright's clutch numbers his first three-plus seasons were among the best in the game. I looked it up and did a little research and for his career, even after last year's problems, he is hitting .300 with runners in scoring position, .447 with runners on third and less than two outs and .393 with the bases loaded.
The .447 number is beyond spectacular, and doesn't even speak to sacrifice flies or run-producing groundouts. So Wright is practically automatic at getting a runner home from third with less than two outs, and yet it was a situation like that in the final week of the season. That and a piss poor bull pen is what helped the Mets to finish without a championship in ’08.

More David Wright below..

 

[syam24]

Got to see part of today's game on MLB TV, great to watch baseball again. I don't get too concerned on who's hitting/pitching well at this point, though good performances are nice to see. I think Johan will be fine. I really start looking at performances for batters in the last 10 games of spring training, and the pitchers in the last 2 weeks. Avoiding injuries is the key right now, along with watching the youngsters for later this season or next.

 

[sonny10305]

Got to see part of today's game on MLB TV, great to watch baseball again. I don't get too concerned on who's hitting/pitching well at this point, though good performances are nice to see. I think Johan will be fine. I really start looking at performances for batters in the last 10 games of spring training, and the pitchers in the last 2 weeks. Avoiding injuries is the key right now, along with watching the youngsters for later this season or next.

Absolutly, this is the time, especially for the pitchers, to try out things get the mechanics right. I too love seeing those irregulars out there working their tails off trying to get noticed and maybe win a spot down the road on the team.
Of course it gives Jerry Manuals a chance to fool around with the lineup to see what works and what doesn't.

I follow the Brooklyn Cyclones all year and attend a lot of the games, thats were you find the future stars, and watching those kids play is sometimes more exciting than watching the big boys in Flushing.

I loooove the Mets Step program where some of the guys I have met and rooted for in Brookln come to the Mets spring training to learn and get a taste of the big time.
Right now a couple of Cyclones are there including Reese Havens, who I met and had a really cool talk with, and Brad Holt who is gonna be a superstar, trust me. It's like the ultimate baseball summer camp for those kids geting onto the minors with the hopes and dreams of making it to the majors.