A blog dedicated to the New York Mets with some other baseball thrown in.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Buster = Douchebag

Buster should do more research before he writes his blog. Of course he did rectify his false report today, but he still got me all excited for nothing.

Assuming that the Red Sox win the bidding on Daisuke Matsuzaka, they have the option of trading him -- but procedurally, it would have to be a sign-and-trade, with a contract being set before Boston shipped him to, say, the Mets. They cannot merely swap the rights to negotiate with him, according to the U.S.-Japanese player contract agreement: "If the highest bid is acceptable to the Japanese club, the US Commissioner shall award the sole, exclusive, and non-assignable right to negotiate with and sign the posted Japanese player to the US ML club that submitted the bid."

This entire deal is getting silly and I think the Japanese are now having fun with this entire thing. We've heard the bids were weaker than expected by some reports and we've heard Boston blew everyone else away. We'll find out soon, but enough is enough. Let's get this thing cleared up once and for all.

* * *

  • In other news, Brian Cashman pulled up yet another impressive move.

    The Baltimore Sun, citing two Orioles sources, is reporting that Baltimore will send reliever Chris Britton to the Yankees for Wright and $4 million, the amount it would have cost the Yankees to buy out Wright's contract.

    The trade won't become official until the commissioner's office signs off on the deal, since more than $1 million in cash is being exchanged, the newspaper reported.


    Britton is a solid reliever and certainly helps out their bullpen as he owned a 1.17 WHIP, .228 BAA, 3.35 ERA, and killed righties and held them to a .186 BAA. He is still only 23 so there are a lot of positives to take out of his rookie season and getting anything useful for Jaret Wright is certainly a good move.

  • Manny Acta moves on to become the manager of the Washington Nationals. Good for him and hopefully the Mets use this opportunity to promote from within.

  • Sometimes when it rains, it pours.

    When Steve Trachsel left the Mets on the eve of the playoffs, he said it was for personal reasons that had nothing to do with his marriage.

    On Thursday, however, his wife, Sarah Trachsel, filed for divorce in San Diego.

    The Daily News reported that Trachsel had left the team on Oct.1 to deal with marital issues, which both Trachsel and his wife denied.

    Reached at her home in Malibu, Calif., Sarah Trachsel said then that she was "absolutely not" filing for divorce.


    At least you still have baseball...oh wait.

  • Met-land is good these days.

    The phone calls to player agents sure get returned a lot quicker these days. Just a few years ago, they often weren't returned at all.

    When the National League East champion Mets express an interest in a free agent this off-season, those players' agents -- often tough to get hold of during the franchise's lean years -- are very attentive.

    "You get a lot different responses," said a member of the Mets front office who requested anonymity because of the team's policy of not discussing free agents. "We went from a club promising to be competitive to a team that has won a division championship. And word has spread from player to player that playing for (manager) Willie Randolph and (general manager) Omar Minaya is a pretty good thing."


    The goal for me of the 2004 season for the Mets was to create an atmosphere that players wanted to come to. It was not about reaching the playoffs or anything like that, it was about baby steps. They did not quite achieve that and managed to nab big stars anyway thanks to Omar Minaya. Now? The Mets are a place that people want to come to with the Mets being one of their top choices. Money, winning, and a great atmosphere to play in? Why the fuck should someone not want to come play here.

  • For $20 million per year, you can name the stadium anything you want.

    The sponsorship deal will be worth at least $20 million a year and will set a record for United States stadium rights. The Associated Press reported that the agreement included options for the Mets and Citigroup to extend the deal to 35 years.

    The previous record for stadium naming rights is about $10 million annually the Houston Texans receive from Reliant Energy to call their home Reliant Stadium.


    Nice.

  • 11/9: Mesa beat Phoenix 5-4. Fernando Martinez went 1 for 4 with a run scored, a walk, and two strikeouts.
    11/10: Phoenix beat Mesa 2-1. Fernando Martinez went 1 for 3 to bring his average up to .256. Blake McGinley went 1.2 innings and gave up one hit and struck out two to lower his ERA to 1.93.
    11/11: Peoria beat Mesa 13-11. Fernando Martinez went 0 for 1 and then left the game.
  • 18 Comments:

    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Okay, okay, I'll admit it. I am the winning bidder in the Matza-saka competition, and my consortium intends to sell him to Saudi Arabia for their fledgling amateur league...

    Man, what a load of waste. We're just being fucked with.

    This is from the Madden piece you linked:

    However, Matsuzaka might be worth it. Hideki Matsui calls Matsuzaka "certainly one of the top pitchers in Japanese baseball."

    Whoa! Stop everything! A ringing endorsement? One thing if Metsuzaka is the best, not the same if he's "one" of them. Especially given the track record for Japanese pitchers in the majors.

    Trachs had an ignomious end to his Met career. Deary picked an awful time to announce her bombshell (read, end Sept.). You could argue that she's endangered the wealth of her own settlement even. Should have waited till the offseason...

    Steve always had the semi-sad sack about him, non? Too bad it all fell apart on the personal side just as he was achieving on the professional side exactly what he had hoped for.

    Why such haste to re-sign Valentin? I don't think he could repeat his 06, but perhaps they've decided he's a cheaper alternative with AHern or a trade as plan B?

    2:39 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    DG, I knew you were behind this Daisuke debacle.

    Don't doubt Daisuke. He's the real deal. Matsui just needs to be all respectful and stuff.

    Trachs' wife should be ok. He did make $36,541,000 in his career to far. Next year I don't see him adding much to that total. She got out at a good time. She has a husband who completely emasculated himself in the playoffs. I don't blame her at all.

    Valentin needs to get offered arb. Simple. If he goes, buyer beware. It will cost you way too much to sign him having to give up ANY picks. That might scare off all of his suitors and the Mets could buy him back at whatever they want! Personally I'd rather have a DeRosa...Loretta...Aurila there. I don't trust Valentin eighter. I was told by my mom to never trust guys with moustaches.

    3:46 PM

     
    Blogger I.M. Forme said...

    i'm gonna turn tail and refrain from criticizing trashy from here on in. Any empathy I have for him is NOT based on his professional life.
    --------------
    "I was told by my mom to never trust guys with moustaches."

    I'm trying to wrap my head around this statement.
    --------------
    Bobby V on DiceK, in case everyone hasn't already seen this:

    Bobby Valentine, the former Mets and Rangers manager who now works in Japan, said Matsuzaka is an artist in the Maddux and Mike Mussina mold. But when Matsuzaka misses with his fastball, Valentine said, “It makes a loud sound . . . as in a well-hit ball.”

    This quote might be useful in a sour grapes situation.

    4:52 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Is there a front office run shittier than the Baltimore Orioles?
    Jesus christ.

    Brian Cashman made a solid move. I like Cashman more than others do.

    No matter what you think of Steve Traschel, i think the journalists should atleast TRY and respect his personal life. Not cool, reporting on that.

    Wanna play in New York? It used to be just the Yankees but why go there? It's fucking miserable. If players want to win and have fun doing it, the Mets is the place to be.

    Eww you like DeRosa more than Zorro? Fuck that. Fuck DeRosa. I wouldn't even consider his bench playing ass.

    4:59 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Yes Benny...I do. His Home/Away splits are good, he hits lefties well, and is a right handed bat. I'd take him over Valentin and hoping Stache gets better at hitting lefties and actually comes close to doing in 2007 what he did in 2006.

    Interesting quote from Bobby V. He made plenty of other quotes about Daisuke to insinuate that he was solid, but whatever. As long as the Mets bolster their rotation with a true ace, I'm ok. And yes, though I may be of the minority, I see Zito as a true ace. I think he would be splendid in Queens wearing the pinstripes of the good guys.

    5:49 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    duquette loves his mediocre ass pitchers! he'll give up good young ones for that mediocre one.

    baltimore is run like shit.

    this aramis ramirez signing is a joke. if that piece of shit can get $70+ im worried about whats gonna happen these next few weeks. minaya better get his plan under way.

    chicago is crazy. this guy pads his stats when things are over and they give him that kinda money. they shouldve let his garbage ass walk and tried to extend zambrano.

    7:06 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Look Chicago is dead without Aramis. Wait, thinking about that, Chicago is dead regardless.

    Mike, Trachs will get at least $5 million next year. He apparently emasculated himself only because he pitched all fucked up inside. The best can put that all down and go out there. Obviously, Trachs couldn't. I won't miss him pitching for the Mets, but he was an alright guy from what I could gather.

    Duquette keeps working on his legacy I guess. Second good deal in a row for the Yankees. I think Cashman's feeling competitive with his crosstown GM.

    7:20 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Maybe the Orioles sign Steve Traschel for his veteran presence?

    Maybe its just me but isn't it when all pitchers make mistaks, they get hit hard? lol.

    8:15 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    The Orioles will make him back into a reasonable pitcher again. Rockin Leo turned him around twice so I guess they are hoping for a 3rd time. Wright is an idiot if he leaves Mazzone again.

    So shitifield is the name. I guess $20m buys alot of shit.

    Good for Acta...bring on HoJo!!!

    "I was told by my mom to never trust guys with moustaches."- What she doesn't like Willie?

    9:06 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Valentin apparently has agreed to new contract with the Mets. 3-4 million. yikes!

    12:31 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    The stache is back and Scott is right again!!!! Damn I'm having a great off season picking what will go down!

    That said, it seems a little high priced for Valentin. I just hope he can string out 2 more years like the last one.

    1:18 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Chuck Norris is so awesome, that when he jumps in the water, he doesnt get wet, the water gets Chuck.

    1:22 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    According to Orestes Destrade, per rotoworld.com, The Red Sox were in fact the highest bidder for Dice-K.
    Estimated to be about $42 million posting fee.

    :sigh: Oh well. Finally and lets move on.

    1:57 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    $42 milllion? Is this pasaetas? Or Turkish lira? Holy shit, $42 m just to talk to the guy?!?!?!?!? This must be some sort of spoiler just to stop him coming to America. That is 1/3 the RedSox payroll from this season.

    2:35 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    The agent for Barry Zito told the New York Post that the left-handed pitcher is considering all his options but seriously thinking about the Mets. The Rocky Mountain News suggests that the Mets could heavy favorites because of pitching coach Rick Peterson, who used to work with Zito in Oakland.

    3:01 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Just sawit anounced on Fatman and Lapdog that Benny is right. $42million for Mr. Gyroball...fuck thats alot of money.

    3:07 PM

     
    Blogger SonnyD said...

    This also from Rotoworld:

    Mariners signed shortstop Rey Ordonez to a minor league contract.

    Good luck Rey!

    5:09 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Rey Ordoñez signed by the mariners?
    Does anyone smell Comeback Player of the year?

    6:50 PM

     

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