Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Mets’ Category

The Wil-Ponzi Scandal

Posted in Mets on January 30, 2026 | Leave a Comment »

The Wilpon family seem to be on the hook for paying back money in regard to the law suit coming from the people who lost money off Bernie Madoff scandal. For years, there has been rumors circulating that the Wilpon family lost a large sum of money from Madoff. The Wilpons have denied that they are broke as a result of Madoff. Now, they are looking to sell off part of the team to get money to pay off the lawsuit. Good Bye Jose Reyes!

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/29/fanhouse-tv-steve-phillips-on-mets-bernie-madoff-scandal/

Sandy Alderson can run a team on a budget. But, this definitely changes the equation. This scandal will live on for a long time and rumors will circulate all year long. Huge uncertainty will have the players answering questions about this. Bad situation for not only New York, but for the organization moving forward. The Mets have alot of money coming off the books after the season. Who knows if they will have money to spend.

Read Full Post »

Mets face lift begins with the middle infield

Posted in Mets on November 28, 2025 | 2 Comments »

Did I just wake up from a great dream? It’s been almost two months since the 2010 season ended, and the Mets organization has transformed the organization from the top down. Some of the great franchises in the game (such as Yankees and Rays) use a group of bright front office personnel to make those important decisions for the franchise. A great front office can really help new skipper Terry Collins be successful. An example of this can be borrowed from a quote from Joe Maddon from the TBO (where number crunching data gave Willy Aybar a rare start):

“I cannot take credit for that,” Maddon said. “This is something we do back at the office, and we really crunch numbers and do so many things. Willy came out on top versus Greinke.”

The thing that sticks with me with the Mets hiring of Sandy Alderson as GM is that their will be a deliberate culture change with this organization. This new direction will not always make the moves that will be popular, but will be part of their master plan. For example, instead of making a big splash in free agency at a player such as Cliff Lee, they will use the open market to fill in the roster with valuable players for the end of the pitching rotation, and position players who can supplement the existing position players.

With the team looking toward the future , it’s no secret that with the Mets All-star starting SS Jose Reyes will be moved. Especially since he has a track record of being injured often, and his attitude and work ethic has been questioned at times.

The Mets front office has clearly looked at what Jose Reyes brings to the team from a numbers perspective. In 2010, he continued to show some pop from the middle infield position with an OPS+ above 100. However, his production also includes a low 300 on base percentage and failure to take a lot of walks for a lead off player. From a defensive perspective, Jose Reyes has been below average :

  • Rtz – Total Zone Fielding Runs above average -4
  • RtzrD – Total Zone Fielding Runs above average on road -5
  • Rtzhm – Total Zone Fielding Runs above average on road 1
  • RF/9 – Range factor per 9 innings 4.16 (lg avg 4.31)

I would think the Mets would take a package for Reyes that begins with a SS of the future, and a couple of young arms. Tejada played SS in the minor leagues and could have a year two follow up on some of his quality play he began to show in his first year in the majors.

To be clear, the Mets defense did help the pitchers (who gave up almost 100 less runs as the season before) . The Mets defense not exceptional, but one of the better defenses in the National league. Moreover, from a defensive perspective the UZR showed they are at the bottom at 2B. They played a wide array of representatives working second base last season with Castillo (74 games), Tejada (50 games), Cora (47 games), Arias (13 games) and Hernandez (10 games).

One player who could be a nice bench player to be in the mix to fill the holes for the Mets in 2011 is Willy Aybar. In 2010, Aybar took the field only nineteen games at 1B,2B,3B due to Rays middle infield log jam. Over his career Willy Aybar has shown some pop, and could provide some needed offense up the middle.

Read Full Post »

Logic Restored For Mets

Posted in Mets, MLB on October 31, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

The Mets didn’t just make a regime change on Friday with the hiring of Sandy Alderson as their new general manager. The Wilpon’s have brought on board what will amount to a installing a complete new blueprint on how the organization moves forward. It will consist of a team of a thinkers led by Alderson who will use sound decision making and consider long term impact when making decisions. One with a methodology and a plan. If you can build a successful franchise on a strict budget, you can do magic with some payroll flexibility. Gone are the days of building the core of the franchise via free agency and handing out bad contracts as far as number of years and dollar amounts. Back are the days when the organization builds the franchise from the bottom up.

Going back the past 20 years, this franchise has not really been run with sound thinking. In the glory years the organization was built around youth and pitching with GM Frank Cashen. Moreover, Cashen always had the ideal that you never sign a pitcher for more than 3 years contract. Now, the game as surely changed with that way of thinking in the market place. However, it shows you that back in the day that there was some thought given out how you hand out the money to key resources in your organization. Over the past few years with Omar, it always seemed they went for the headlines rather than an organizational fit. They overpaid in the dollar figures and number of years given to contracts. It seems they never performed due diligence either.

I am excited for the N.Y Mets organization, and am proud they have finally realized that important changes needed to be made. Better late than never. Hooray for the Fans!

Read Full Post »

Projected NL East 25 Man Rosters

Posted in Braves, Marlins, Mets, National League, Nationals, NL East, Opening Day, Phillies, Projections on April 1, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

The final rosters do not have to be finalized until Sunday afternoon, but looking at what we know today, here’s how I see it in the NL East:

Pos Mets Marlins Braves Nats Phils
C Barajas Baker McCann Rodriguez Ruiz
1B Jacobs Sanchez Glaus Dunn Howard
2B Castillo Uggla Prado Kennedy Utley
SS Cora Ramirez Escobar Desmond Rollins
3B Wright Cantu Jones Zimmerman Polanco
LF Bay Coughlin Cabrera Willingham Ibanez
CF Pagan Maybin McLouth Morgan Victorino
RF Francoeur Ross Heyward Harris Werth
OF Catalanotto Carroll Diaz Bernadina Fransisco
OF Matthews Jr.
 Bonofacio Hinske Morse Gload
IF Carter Helms Infante Gonzalez Dobbs
IF Tatis Lamb Thurston Guzman Castro
C Blanco Paulino Ross Nieves Schneider
SP Santana Johnson Hudson Lannan Halladay
SP Pelfrey Nolasco Lowe Marquis Hamels
SP Maine Sanchez Jurrjens Stammen Happ
SP Perez Volstad Hanson
 Hernandez Kendrick
SP Niese Robertson Kawakami Mock Moyer
RP Rodriguez Nunez Wagner Capps Madson
RP Igarashi Sanchez Moylan Olsen Baez
RP Feliciano Meyer Saito Bruney Zagurski
RP Mejia Veres Medlin Clippard Durbin
RP Calero Hensley Reyes Burnett Bastardo
RP Figueroa Pinto Chavez
 Bergmann Lopez
25th Adams Barden Conrad Batista Ransom
  • Mets: Beltran, Reyes, Takahashi, Nieve, Tejada, Santos, Escobar, Murphy, Parnell, Green, Dessens, Muniz
  • Braves: Freeman, Hicks, Sammons, Boscan, Schafer, Young, Proctor, Venters, O’Flaherty
  • Marlins: Badenhop, Richar, Davis, Luna, Murphy
  • Nats: English, Martis, James, Walker, Spier, Orr, Coste, Taveras, Maxwell, McDougal, Wang, Detwiller, Duncan, Bruntlett, Flores
  • Phillies: Blanton, Lidge, Romero, Valdez, Guzman, Hoover, Brown, Wise

Read Full Post »

Things Going Wright

Posted in Around the Web, Mets, Minors, Prospects on March 5, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

As the Mets had one of their worst offensive seasons in team history in 2009 scoring only 671 runs, with only 95 HRs. As, compared with 799 runs and 172 HRs the previous year. We have former Mets executive Tony Bernazard to blame, but when David Wright goes yard to the right side for the first time in a while (inside edge database reference).

With a new approach at the plate instilled by hitting coach Howard Johnson, along with added muscle, we expected a big bounce back from Wright. The Citi Field dimension change sure helps too. Ike Davis is not too far away either .

Some other Tape Measure Blasts:

Read Full Post »

Bay City Rollers

Posted in American League, Mets, National League, Pirates, RedSox on December 25, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

It has certainly been a curious case, for free agent Jason Bay, in his first time on the free agent market. He had been offered big money by the Red Sox to lock him up with a franchise that is certain to be in the mix for post season play for many years to come. But, it seems for Jason Bay its not about the money. For some reason, he does not want to take residence in the New England area. The Red Sox have moved on as well, signing Mike Cameron as a suitable short term replacement.

In Jason Bay, you are talking about a player who was not the all world prospect coming up through the minor leagues. However, a light went on in the end of his minor league career which led to his recall with the Padres before suffering a beamed ball just a few at bats into his Major League career. The following season Jason Bay and and Oliver Perez were the young major league ready talent sent to the Pirates for Brian Giles. In Pittsburgh, he became a productive player and an all-star for the Pirates. But, there was not enough talent around with Bay, and it was clear he wanted out to play for a contender. He got his wish when he was traded to the Red Sox in the last minute Manny Ramirez trade.

Its not clear what type of fit Bay is looking for. His agent is not doing him any favors as he could have signed near his hometown in Seattle, but negotiations dragged on and the Mariners looked elsewhere and acquired Milton Bradley.

Will he go back to Mets? This is a team that traded him away early into his minor league career. He is clearly one of the best bats left in the market, with Matt Holiday the only other comparable player. From what has transpired this off-season with Bay, he comes off as sort of a player with some baggage. In the end, he will go with the money. That either takes him to Mets or the Cardinals (if Holiday talks break down). Forget Boston, that train has left the station.

Read Full Post »

Gotta Take Unhittable Santana over 2 Questionable Aces

Posted in Cy Young, Marlins, Mets, National League, Padres, Rotisserie on April 19, 2025 | 2 Comments »

For one of my NL only fantasy squads, how to approach the availability of several top tier starting pitchers was something I wrestled with leading up to the auction draft this April. With Santana available, I knew he would go for some big money. The thing I kept kicking around was would I be better off getting a pitcher who might be close to the talent of Santana, but would go for a price that would save me some money. For the money saved by going for the lesser talent, I could use that money to help me go after an additional top tier pitcher. I thought this plan might work. Peavy was coming off an off year. He was rumored to go another team in trade rumors. We all knew last year he was just not the same pitcher pitching away from Petco Park. I figured I could save about $10 in the draft by going with Peavy as my top pitcher, rather than Santana. Then, I could use that $10 to add to my budget for a second pitcher, as I just dropped Scott Olsen prior to the draft at $12. I had targeted one of my favorites in Ricky Nolasco as that second pitcher. At the draft, the numbers came close to what I expected on this plan. I saved $8 by going with Peavy ($31) over Santana ($39). I used that money to get Nolasco at $24

Its only three starts into the season, but it appears as if I might of been better at going with Santana as he has been dominant so far on the season. Here is the numbers compared so far on the year:

Player Park K BB ER H
Santana
 Great American (Cincinnati) 7
 4
 1
 3
Santana Dolphin Stadium (Miami) 13
 1
 0
 3
Santana Citi Field (N.Y.)
 7
 0
 0
 5

Santana has 27K’s on the season, and only one earned run.

Player Park K BB ER H
Peavy
 Petco Park (S.D.)

 8
 2
 3
 7
Peavy Petco Park (S.D.) 10 0 3 7
Peavy Citi Field (N.Y.)

 5 4 3 6

Peavy has been good, but not great. He lucked out in his third start and got some good run support for his second win. His pitching performance away from Petco has began by looking a lot like last year .

Player Park K BB ER H
Nolasco

 Dolphin Stadium (Miami)

 6
 0 5 7
Nolasco Dolphin Stadium (Miami)

 2 2
 4
 7
Nolasco
 WAS
 4
 1
 2
 7

Nolasco started off good in his first start, and it looked like he might be in line to continue the good pitching shown in his second half of last season. But, later in the game he got lit up by the Nationals, but the Marlins run support gave him the win. He has continued to look bad in the next two starts and the Marlins brass is trying to figure out what Ricky’s problems so far are on the season.

A lesson to be learned here. If you have a chance to get that special pitcher. Go for it. As, Santana is showing that he is that good. The bullpen blew alot of his wins for him last year, costing him a Cy Young. Unfortunately, for the most part, the voters look mainly at the pitchers wins, and don’t drill down enough on the pitching peripherals. Again, its only three starts, but the comparison here is worth following to see how this plays out over the season.

Read Full Post »

Hey Murph

Posted in Mets, MLB, National League, NL East, Opening Day on April 12, 2025 | 2 Comments »

murphyFor the last few years, all we have been hearing out of the Mets farm system is about Fernando Martinez as the next big thing. Somewhere along the way last season, the Mets untouchable prospect Martinez (in the Santana trade negotiations) got passed by a pair of lower level minor league outfielders, who did not show up at the top of all the prospect lists.

In 2008, Danniel Murphy and Nick Evans, shot through the minor leagues and made their Mets debut. Out of the two, Daniel Murphy made the most of the opportunity. Here are Daniel Murphy’s numbers over the past two minor league seasons along with his 49 games with the Mets:

Year
 Games
 HR
 AVG
 OBP
 SLG
 OPS
 BB
 SO
2007
Minors		 135 11 0.285 0.338 0.430 0.768 42 61
2008
Minors		 99 13 0.315 0.379 0.493 0.872 40 48
2008
Mets
 49 2 0.313 0.397 0.473 0.870 18 28

Daniel Murphy , was a 13th round draft pick out of Jacksonville Univerity (JU) in Florida, where he was the Atlantic Sun conference player of the year in 2006. Murphy’s claim to fame is his hitting. His bat is what got him to the show as his defense has still a ways to go. Murphy’s natural position is third base, but played in the outfield some in college.

“He’s got basically one tool, hitting, and everything else is average,” said his father,
Tom Murphy. “The way he runs, throws, plays defense - average. His glove was always a little shaky, but that bat worked.”

Murphy was selected as the everyday left fielder early in spring training and his bat has been on fire ever since. One developemnt was the story about how Murphy keeps track of each at bat in a little binder. Something he began after witnessing Carlos Delgado’s ritual a few springs ago.

If you want to know how hard of a worker Murphy is, see some of the feedback from his former teammates:

“My name is James Murdock and I also played with Daniel Murphy at JU. I was a senior last year and got the priveledge to play with Daniel for 3 years. I can honestly say it was a honor to play with him on and off the field. On the field, you won’t find a harder worker at all aspects of the game. In the club house, he was the most respected for how he acted on and off the field. I was 2 years older than Daniel but I looked up to him for how he respected the game and how he went about his business. I got hurt my junior year and thought about not coming back for my senior season but I can say Daniel Murphy was one of the main reasons I came back and he contributed to the most exciting season of my life. He will have success at every level he plays and I am looking forward to following him throughout his career. He is a great baseball player, friend, and role model.”

This season Murphy is off to a great start batting .348/.400/.522 with an opening day home run which helped Santana go on to an opening day win. It looks as if Manuel made a great decision in making Murphy a starter in spring training. He is providing a good #2 bat following Jose Reyes in the lineup. His numbers he has shown the past few years in something he will definitely be capable of. With Carlos Beltran a fixture in center field, and Sheffield now with Mets, and Ryan Church playing well, I am not sure where Martinez fits with the Mets. Certainly, after a good spring by Nick Evans, he gets a shot in the big leagues again before Fernando Martinez does.

Read Full Post »

Our Lives Change Due To Friends Of Youth

Posted in Mets, MLB, Orioles, World Baseball Classic, Yankees on April 10, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

In growing up in the suburbs in New York, the friends I had sure influenced my love of sports. Unlike the days of today with kids in year round school, the summers were long and you had to find something to do to pass the time. One summer we decided we would become the kids version of major league baseball. We turned our t-shirts into major league baseball uniforms, and would have games almost every day. One team I am certain was the Baltimore Orioles, after all these years I can’t recall the other team. We would become just like the pros, keeping track of the statistics we did on the field on old Broadview Lane. We would become our favorite players that we had in our baseball card collections. We certainly learned about baseball and how to the game was played. We all dreamed of being the all-stars that we had on our baseball cards that we flipped when the games were over. With my friends of youth, we were either playing baseball, or watching baseball on TV all the time. The Mets and Yankees were always on TV all the time, and I know for sure I lived for Mets Kiner’s Corner. However, baseball never would have meant as much to me had it not been for my friends who introduced me to this great game.

What made me think of this is the story of Henry Pearson, the person who also died in the Nick Adenhart tragedy:

I wouldn't be anything like I am today without Henry.
He changed my life more than anybody. I've lost
my best friend and the world's lost an unbelievably special
young man that had such a bright future ahead.
We'll miss you buddy, you have no idea.

Read Full Post »

Reyes passed by Hanley

Posted in Around the Web, Marlins, Mets, World Baseball Classic on March 7, 2025 | Leave a Comment »

As Jose Reyes was the original power-speed combo at shortstop. Now, Hanley Ramirez who is younger with similar skills has surpassed Reyes in the box scores, and now as the starting SS in the World Baseball classic.

So much for Ramirez being Jose Reyes lite. He is the real deal.

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.