Randoms Thoughts; Evan Roberts, Brett Myers, Phillies

Yesterday during the Beningo and Roberts show on Wfan, Evan Roberts broke down the Escobar-Gonzalez deal. He summed up Alex Gonzalez as a great postseason player. The guy has a career .167 postseason BA. Great? Far from it, more like one great moment.

If the Mets get any pitcher before the deadline it will be Brett Myers. He won't cost that much in terms of prospects, and more importantly to the Wilpons he is owed 3MM pro-rated. If they can get Myers he would add a little swagger to the staff along with a vendetta against Philly.

Speaking of Philly why is there rumors about Jayson Werth being available? The guy is one of the 3 best right fielders in MLB. Why are sports writers counting the Phillies out? They still are the team to beat in the NL.

More Anti Lebron shit

I'm still not over it.
I just don't understand, how a player that good joins a team like Miami.  They are the third most popular team in Miami behind the Dolphins and the U.  What a bitch! 

Don't make the mistake of counting on Beltran

Carlos Beltran is the best center fielder in baseball.  He is almost a year removed from playing his last game, and is coming off major knee surgery.  Don't think for one second that he is going come back and be that big Midseason aquisition that sports radio has portrayed.  Like we saw from Reyes earlier in the season, it takes about 5 to 6 weeks for players to get caught up to major league pitching. 

Carlos will struggle and about the time the Mets are about 7 games back by the end of August, fans will be calling for Pagan to start. 

The Mets are close but in my opinion Beltran will not be the difference in the division.  It is very short sided to think he will be that midseason aquisition.  Didn't we go through this last year?

This is typical Mets propoganda that has come out of the front office since the winter.  It wasn't that long ago how they were trying to sell fans on Ollie P and John Maine.  I am really starting to think the owners are broke.  Seriously, they could have landed Cliff Lee.  He is only owed 6MM the rest of the way, and they have a lot of good prospects.  Omar will say that he is ALWAYS looking to upgrade the team.  Except it has to be the right price.  Name one team that is willing to part with inexpensive pitching?

The deadline is two weeks away, but I don't forsee the Mets adding payroll and that is a shame. 

The greatest owner in all of sports

If GS owned the Mets or Knicks how many titles would he have won? From 1980 on how many ?

I will say at least 3 with the Mets. Two coming in the 1980s, and additional one in 2006. The guy would spend whatever it takes.

Two with the Knicks. One coming in the late 90s after he ran Pat Ewing out of town and signed Shaq and Reggie Miller. The last one in 2007, after drafting Amare Stoudemire, signing Kobe, and Jerry West retired in his final year as Knicks gm since 1995. The Knicks swept the Spurs.

Mets 48-40 at the break

If you told me that in January I would have laughed. It's not bad for this team.

Manuel has managed well. He keeps the team on an even keel, and seems to have a good feel about what his guys can do.

It's too bad this team can't take on some extra salary. They are close enough to make a run at a playoff spot. The team has holes but a little tweaking could go a long way. Obviously a front line starter would be ideal, but a guy that can eat innings and get you quality starts would do wonders. Kenny Rogers had one bad inning, but he pitched great down the stretch of the 1999 team.

I will say it again. Castillo has to go. The guy is not a good fit on this team. I want Steven Drew for 2b.

Jim Dolan should buy the Mets if they are in financial trouble. The guy tries to buy people and help the team. The same can't be said about the Wilpons.

The storm has passed

Well I'm used to being disappointed with my three favorite teams. Now that I digested the whole LeCon thing, here is what I think.

Enough of the wait for the class of 2010,2011, and 2012 free agents. Unless you are one star away, the free agency thing doesn't work in the NBA.

Trading is the way to go. The Celtics, Lakers, and Nets are just a few of the many examples and trading for guys at the right time.

Lebron James is a total pussy. Do you think Jordan or Kobe would have Ever left their teams in their prime, and joined a team that already had a star that won a championship? A true star player takes his team on his back.

I think the Knicks will miss Jamal Crawford. He would have been a nice second option to A'Mare. Galo would be the number 3 guy, and that team would be 50 plus wins.

The Knicks need one more go to guy. Enough with the Carmelo and CP3 talk, i have waited long enough. This team gets one more go to guy and they will get to the second round.

Adding insult to injury

Sounds like the Yankees are getting Cliff Lee.

I'm really happy with the teams I root for.

The NBA sucks

I know I sound like a bitter knick fan but this system sucks. You trade great players for bad players/contracts it's ridiculous. One bad contract sets you back for years. All while you tank for years hoping a great player will sign with your team. What a joke, any league where players can map the landscape of a league for years, blows. Teams are now forced to almost combine teams just to compete.

Let's go Lakers! Kobe Bryant is the real deal, the closest thing to Jordan. LeBron is Harold Minor.

Move over ARod you are no longer the most hated man in sports

Meet LeBron James the soon to be most hated athlete in the world. After tonight, he is officially public enemy number one. He took the easy route.

Tonight is up there with the 2007 collapse

I didn't think it would sting like 2007, but it did real bad. When he said South Beach, it felt like Tom Glavine was getting lit up all over again. The chance of the Knicks winning a championship was dead. I looked forward to this date for years, only to have one of my teams go down looking again.

The Knicks are the only team that Yankee and Met fans share. True blue Yankee fans now got a taste of what the Mets go through every off season. It sucks.

It was Lebron or bust

I hope Lebron comes

I have been following the LBJ watch like crazy. I hope all of these Heat reports are wrong. I just want one of my teams to win a title. Not one has done it since 1986 and I was too young to appreciate it.

Out of the Mets, Jets, and Knicks what team will win a title first?

I will say the Jets are the closest what do you think?

Pelfrey snubbed for the all-star team

I would like anyone to name a starter that had a better first half.

I just hope it doesn't hurt him in the long run. Sometimes guys kind of give up after being left off the all star team.

Strausberg tonight

I hope the mets offense puts on a show and gives this guy a good beating.

I think beating up this guy would do wonders for the teams confidence.

If they give him a beating they have to feel they can beat anyone.

Question of the day?

If you were to buy a Met jersey today, what current Met player and color would you go with???

I would get the cream pinstripe Jon Niese jersey.

Might be outdated in a few weeks if he is in the Cliff Lee trade.

Did you know??

Elijah Dukes and my boy Carl "hit bomb" Everett are playing for the Newark Bears. Who wants to go to a Bears game?

I would think somebody will take a chance on Dukes. A big time injury is bound to happen. I could see Dukes ending up with Texas. They always get low lives to play well there.

Midseason Report Card

Reyes B+ ...slow start but his defense has made the difference at SS
Wright B..great run producer but not consistent enough
Pagan B+...has exceeded all expectations
Ike B...changed the season
Castillo D....he just sucks
Bay C...good defense but no power
Francour C+... great defense but not consistent with the bat
Tejada B... Hopefully spells the end of Castillo
Catching duo A-... Great game calling and clutch hitting
Tatis D-... Was a spark plug three seasons ago hasn't been since
Carter B....has done well off the bench and relishes his role
Cora C... Bad contract

Pelfrey A+... all that and then some
Santana D+... looks like a 3 starter now
Dickey. A... Where the mets be without him
Ollie P F... Cut him
Takahashi B-...looked good early but looks exposed lately
Niese. B+.... Has been consistently great since returning from the DL

Pen
KRod C- what looked like a great signing last year looks shitty this year
Feliciano A....has come up big this year
Dessens B... Good 7th inning guy
Igarashi C.. Injury hurt him

Takahashi needs to pitch less innings

The more this guy pitches, the more he is exposed. Let's hope Omar gets Cliff Lee so the Mets can have a legit number 1.

I am looking at you Johan, the fraud.

If Takahasi goes back to being a long man/situational reliever, the Mets are better. Right now he is logging too many innings and he appears fatigued.

July 1 2010

I know this is a metblog but I have been waiting for this day for three years. Check my post on inappropriatehugs.

Prediction:
LeBron, Amare, and Joe Johnson sign with the Knicks. Eddy Curry's contract is traded for the final piece.

To all the Knicks haters you are wrong!!

Defense....defense....defense

Besides the emergence of Mike Pelfrey as an ace, I think one of the biggest difference between the 2010 Mets and the Mets of old is defense. I think defense is Jose Reyes' most underrated part of his game. There are few SS in MLB that are better defenders. Ike Davis has handled 1B like a seasoned vet. The catching duo have called great games and have been above Average defenders. Jeff Francour has made every third base coach think twice before sending a runner home. Lastly, Ruben Tejada and Alex Cora have erased memories of a hobbling,past his prime Luis Castillo. Hopefully,Castillo will be cut,so we don't have to watch him hobble between the lines.

Take a flier on Cla Meredith

The Orioles just DFA Meredith. I don't think that he is a free agent, but I would take a look at him if I was Omar. A few years ago he was one of the best relievers in baseball. He is also one of the few sub mariners left in MLB. I don't think he would cost all that much and he is only 27 yes old. Since he is a sub mariner, I envision him being like Chad Bradford. Maybe a change of scenery, combined with Citi Field restores his confidence. Like any trade it all depends on the price, but it can't hurt to ask.

The Mets are still a bat away

This season the Mets are proving that they are very resilient. This group has not been the most consistent team, but they battle every single game. That is much more than the teams of the past few seasons. It is very apparent that this team needs another top of the rotation starter. I think for the Mets to be the class of the National League, they need another bat along with a pitcher.

Compared to the best lineups in baseball, the Mets aren't even close. Dan Uggla would be my guy. Although his defense is below average, his bat makes up for the difference. He averages 30+ homers and 90+ RBI with an above average OPS. Adding him to the Mets lineup would add depth and be comparable to the best teams.

It will not be easy to make a trade with a division rival, but it will make a big difference come October.


Update: Freddy Gonzalez fired maybe there will be another firesale if the fish tank. I think now is the time to see if any of their players are available. I know they were looking to trade Uggla during the off season. Maybe Omar can be creative and get him on the cheap.

Santana NOT the Pitcher he once was

This is not easy for me to say, but I think it is true. Johan Santana is not as good as he used to be. He is still an excellent pitcher just not a top five starter anymore. His stats would suggest he is still amongst the games best pichers. I've watched all of his starts this year, and I think we are not seeing the same pitcher. His velocity now at a consistent 88-89 mph is considerably lower than when he came here in 2008.(94-95mph)

Maybe his velocity is down because he had surgery in September. Or maybe its because he just has too many miles on him,(Career high 234 iinings pitched in 2008) combined with going on short rest down the stretch. Maybe he will prove me wrong and have a really strong second half.

Whatever it is, I think with Santana's diminished stuff makes it even more important the Mets add Cliff Lee. Acquiring Lee might light some fire under Johan. Even if Lee is just a rental, he could end up being the final piece for the Mets. Adding some competition to the starting rotation would help getting the most out of Santana.

Maine is bad for this team

Listen it isn't 2007 anymore. John Maine is no longer the pitcher he once was. He was once a pitcher with electric stuff. The guy had a 94-95 MPH fastball with movement. He pitched that one hitter down the stretch in 2007, only to have Tom Glavine go a third of an inning the next day. John Maine won 15 games that year and it seemed he would be the ace in the hole. Fast forward three seasons of arm problems and a bad attitude, and you have a problem.

John Maine might turn out to be a serviceable major leaguer. It just can't be with this team or in this clubhouse. I'm not in the dugout everyday, but it is easy to see JM is unhappy. The whole showing up Jerry Manuel thing bothered me. He was throwing 80 mph and started bitching when he got the hook. If he was a great pitcher I would understand, but he won 15 games once, and hasn't won shit since.

I don't want the Mets to cut him because injuries happen way too often. Let him go to the Bisons or St. Lucie and let him work out his arm and head problems. When the time is right give him the spot start and trade him. He is just not good enough to be in the rotation or the bullpen.

Thank Bernard Madoff

Prior to the 2009 season, every Met fan wanted Manny. You would not be able to find one Met fan that didn't want Manny. And why not? There was talk about Manny being the GREATEST right hand hitter of all-time. He was coming off a strong second half to lead the Dodgers to the playoffs, all while the Mets were choking for a second straight season. One positive steroid test and 25MM later, we should all be thanking Omar and Bernard Madoff.

I am not going to give Omar all the credit on this one,because I really think the whole Madoff thing had something to do it. But maybe Omar heard the steroid rumors about Manny, and decided it was too much of a gamble. Manny is a shell of his old self, and it seems he was just another roid head in a sport, that was full of them. But can you imagine if he was on the Mets? He would be more hated than ARod in the 2007 postseason. So I guess I have to thank Bernie after all.

Let's Get Some Fresh Sheets After Years of Shitting the Bed

April 12th, 2008 -

We had a pretty good group together in the right field upper deck for Johan's Shea debut. Santana was going to be all the Mets needed to get them over the top that season.

The Mets got off to a good start in the game with an early lead. Then Johan gave up long balls to Hall, Weeks and Kapler while Ben Sheets settled in. When Willie took the ball from Johan he was showered with boos. The corpse of Game Over closed the Mets out 1-2-3 in the 9th and it was officially time to rethink how Santana was all the Mets needed.

Sounds like the Mets of the present have found themselves as buyers in a buyers market. I don't ever recall that happening.

Cliff Lee is the one I want from what's out there. Of course he is the one with the biggest price tag. Should the Mets go all in for him they sure as shit better have a contract in place when making the deal.

With the Mets not exactly having the farm system of their glory days, I think it'd be wise to set their sights on Sheets. Sure he hasn't lit the AL on fire this season, but I'll cut him slack since he's still getting his bearings after a year of rehab. Does Ruben Tejada + Brad Holt sound like enough to get it done? I think Oakland ownership would be eager to shed what's left of his $10 mil/1 yr contract. If there's other teams in the hunt with better prospects than the Mets that can also take on a little money they surely will be looking at Lee/Oswalt first (too bad there isn't a guy named "Harvey" to throw in between those 2).

It's never easy dealing with Billy Beane. But I think the tables have turned on this one. Let's make it happen.

M's discussing Lee for Niese

According to Matt Cerrone the Mariners have had multiple discussions with the Mets about Cliff Lee. Omar Minaya has been reluctant to include Jonathan Niese in a deal.

Good for Minaya. It is too early to deal Niese. Unless Lee signs an extension with the Mets, I would NOT trade Niese. The Mets are not the Yankees, they don't need an all-star every spot in the rotation. As the trading deadline nears the asking price for Lee will drop considerably. If Seattle decides to keep him and let him walk at the end of the year, they will get two draft picks. So a deal will have to include at least two top tier prospects. I say wait it out, then get him when the price comes down.

No coincidence the team has played better

Since GMJ was cut, Olllie P on the DL, and Luis Castillo also on the DL. The Mets have played much better. Coincidence, I don't think so. GMJ was a total bust, and the only reason he was on the roster was an insurance policy to Angel Pagan. Secondly Ollie P is just awful . And lastly, the team has played much better without Luis Castillo. Let's face he has played OK this year. But the bottom line is that he just doesn't fit well on this team. It doesn't mean he is a bum, he is not the right fit for this team. That being said the Mets should just turn the page on all three of these guys. They cut one guy, two to go.

7 Games Over 500...........But

For a team that everybody thought was going to be pretty shitty this year, the Metsies are doing pretty good. Bottom line pitching, pitching, and more mother fucking starting pitching. Long gone are the two losers(Maine & Perez). Timely hitting, and next thing you the Ny Mets are 7 games over 500. But the better Met fan in me knows it is no time to start giving Atlanta and the Phillies the finger. Even though they are playing very well they haven't exactly beaten World beaters. So sit back enjoy the ride and let's hope Omar doesn't go and start trading everyone just yet.

Time to consider Pedro......ugh

I really can't believe that I am saying this, but I think the Mets must consider Pedro. It would be easier if he didn't pitch for the Phillies last year. I know Pedro is nothing more than a five inning pitcher, but considering his success last year, he is worth a look. Getting Pedro would push Takahashi back to the pen, thus giving the team another good arm in the pen. Also I think Pedro would have a lot of success pitching in Citi field. Another aspect to consider it seems that pitching is dominant again(say goodbye to the steriod era).

Are the 2010 Mets for real?

This team is mind boggling . At home, they are unstoppable playing Citi Ball. However, on the road they are unclutch and at times they look really bad. But if you are Omar Minaya do you mortgage your future if this team has the same record in July ? I think that we have to see more from this team including a nice little road winning streak. And more consistency from the bullpen and their regulars.( I'm talking to you Jason Bay and David Wright). Before this team starts trading their prospects for a starter they must find a way toe more consistent.