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

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Twenty Baseball Execs and One Blogger Answer Six Burning Questions

Jerry Crasnick asked six questions yesterday and of course the first one centered around the great pitching debate of the off-season. What is Barry Zito worth?

1. Given a choice between Barry Zito and Daisuke Matsuzaka, which free-agent pitcher do you prefer?

Responses: Matsuzaka 14, Zito 5 and two undecided.


I would take Daisuke as well since I had him pegged as the best pitcher of the off-season, but Zito is no slouch. There are two pitchers who are head and shoulders above the rest and the above two are it. If you cannot get Daisuke, Zito is not a bad consolation prize.

2. Where do you think Barry Bonds will sign?

Responses: San Francisco 16, Oakland 3, Detroit 1, Angels 1.


Let's face it. San Francisco is going to stink this year. They have put up with Barry for fourteen years anyway, so what is another year? Although, with Frank Thomas signing with Toronto, Barry could still be headed across the Bay.

3. Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee?

Responses: Soriano 20, Lee 1.


This one is not even close. Soriano all the way. He'll be stealing bases in the fifth year of his contract. How will Carlos Lee be doing?

4. Where will Roger Clemens be pitching in 2007, or will he retire?

Responses: Houston 11, Boston 3, retire 3, Yankees 2, Rangers 1 and one undecided.


I pray he will retire every night before bed. Ultimately, he will be back and the Astros will have an improved offense. Next year the Astros might actually take the NL Central if Clemens does come back.

5. Which player with a no-trade clause -- Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez or Pat Burrell -- is most likely to be traded?

Responses: Burrell 16, Ramirez 2. Two respondents said none of the players will be moved. One undecided.


That one is easy. Pat Burrell. The Phillies will eat a ton of money and someone will take a low risk chance on him.

6. Which "second tier" starter do you like best: Adam Eaton, Ted Lilly, Gil Meche, Vicente Padilla or Randy Wolf?

Responses: Lilly 9, Padilla 6, Wolf 3, Meche 1, Eaton 1 and one undecided.


Ted Lilly...All the way. If the Mets fail to get Zito, I would not mind seeing him here at all. He is definitely a good option if they cannot nab an ace. Who knows? Maybe moving to the NL and getting some guidance from Rick Peterson might make him an pseudo-ace. Sure he had one year under Peterson already and didn't exactly light the world on fire, but I'm willing to take a chance on him working out better this time.

More on Zito...though he hasn't been Cy Young good anymore after actually winning his only Cy Young Award, he has been pretty good. In 2006, he ranked 10th in the AL in ERA, 3rd in the AL in innings pitched, and tenth in the AL in wins. He put up h/9 of 7.73 (4th overall) in 2001, 7.14 (behind only three Boston pitchers) in 2002, 7.23 (behind only Pedro Martinez) in 2003, and 7.29 (behind only Santana)in 2005. Those are ace quality numbers. He has pitched no less than 34 games in any season in his career since 2001. He has been in the top ten of ERA in every year he has pitched a full season but 2004 and 2005.

He may not have a dominant fastball like people want their ace to have, but the guy can pitch. He has always had some control issues, but moving to the NL should alleviate a lot of what was ailing him. I seriously would not be shocked to see him throw up a season similar to this 2002 season as a Met with a solid 3.50 ERA or so for his time throughout his contract with an average of 16 wins per season.

* * *

  • RIP Heath Bell...

    I guess it is for the best. Us bloggers can no longer obsess about Heath Bell and how he could improve this Met bullpen and maybe it is time we part ways. Heath Bell and Royce Ring were traded for Ben Johnson and Jon Adkins.

    My good buddy Keith Law's take....first on Adkins:

    Adkins is just another mediocre right-handed reliever without an out-pitch. He has an average fastball, 88-92 mph, which has well below average movement; a below-average curveball; no out-pitch; and no real weapon against left-handed hitters, against whom he works well away from any contact. He's useful while he's cheap, but isn't someone likely to return real value once he's eligible for arbitration.

    ...now on Ben Johnson:

    Johnson is the ideal caddy for right fielder Shawn Green, who can no longer hit left-handed pitching or catch fly balls that aren't hit directly at him. Johnson's bat may be stretched as an everyday corner player, although he's a good athlete and could develop into a borderline producer in right. He's a good defensive right fielder with average power and good plate discipline, and I think he'll add a little more power if he learns to extend his arms slightly and pull certain pitches. Even so, he slots right into the Mets' lineup every day that an opposing lefty starts and can be Green's defensive replacement, perhaps increasing his role after Green leaves.

    It is clear to me Ben should be the centerpiece. He had a somewhat disappointing 2006, but he did head into 2006 as the 4th rated prospect in a bad Padres system after a breakout 2005 season in AAA.

    BA: Johnson has all the tools to be an everyday outfielder in the big leagues. He has shortened his swing and developed above average power while improving his grasp of the strike zone.

    I like this move if for nothing else than a platoon and to add a right handed bat into the outfield picture. However, I think Ben Johnson might shock people. Omar has done good here.

  • The Marlins are targeting Rocco Baldelli.

    The Marlins need a center fielder, and the Devil Rays' Rocco Baldelli is the No. 1 option on their list, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

    A Devil Rays source, the newspaper reports, said the team would ask for multiple major league-ready players.

    "That's definitely going to be something the Marlins go after," an NL executive told the newspaper. "That guy fits everything the Marlins are about."

    Houston's Willy Taveras also interests the Marlins.


    One has to wonder if they shouldn't just try and nab Carl Crawford for Dontrelle Willis straight up.

  • $38 million it was....

    It's up to the Yankees to make a countermove. For now, though, Cashman refuses to second-guess the Bombers' bid of $31 million for Matsuzaka. The Mets say they're at peace, too, with their offer of $38 million. The two New York teams are both in need of an ace; logic points them in the same direction.

    Wow. Not much you can say there, but I guess we all know the Mets (and the Yankees for that matter) wanted Daisuke pretty bad. If the Red Sox did not bid so high, we would be hearing about the Mets reckless on Daisuke.

  • Quote of the day...

    "We're hot. It's hot to be a Met, we've got a good thing going on here," said one club official. "A couple of years ago, we couldn't get Henry Blanco to come here, and that was even after we offered him more money than anyone else. He still said no. That's all changed."

    Preach on brother....

  • Randoph takes second for NL Manager of the Year, but we all know he is far from a top tier manager. Good guy? Yes. Do his players like him? Yes. While I'm perfectly clear on the idea that your players liking you is part of it, he is not a top tier manager. Not yet at least, but a championship caliber team has a way of making you a good manager. All that being said, Omar is sure not fooled.

    No official offers were made in Omar Minaya's first serious discussion with Randolph's longtime agent Ron Shapiro on Tuesday. The Mets have told people they'd like to give Randolph a two-year extension for between $1 million and $1.25 million per year, while Randolph understandably would like a three-year deal for more money.

    Randolph does not deserve 'Art Howe' money. Omar built the team and the Mets success is 80% based on Omar, 20% on Randolph. You can put Carter, Oberkefell, and HoJo for that matter and I think this team still goes places.

  • Common sense? Still a part of the new Mets.

    The Mets are one of many teams who will show interest in one or more of a trio of White Sox starters -- Freddy Garcia, Javier Vazquez or Mark Buerhle -- who could be available. The White Sox have interest in Mets pitching prospect Mike Pelfrey, but one person said "Pelfrey isn't going for any of those pitchers."

    Of course I'm reading into this, but he said Pelfrey isn't going anywhere for any one of those pitchers. Meaning, they are willing to move him. I'm all for it as long as it brings back a young ace in the process.
  • 40 Comments:

    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    dude, you need to take it easy on Willie.

    Omar is a great GM, even he thinks Willie has done a great job last season.

    If Willie is really such a bad manager like you said, do you think Omar would even consider to give him a contract extension?

    12:49 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I just don't get how Mets fans refuse to embrace Willie when the rest of the baseball world does. All we hear on the blogs is "we all know he's not really a good manager" and "the pitching change he made in the 7th inning of game 114 stunk." Well, not to bring logic and facts into this, but let's look at his resume:

    - the Mets have improved by 14+ games each of Randolph's two years. Never been done in baseball history before.

    - Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling love the way he manages.

    - he was voted as the second best manager in the NL this year.

    - his team led the NL in victories despite massive injuries to their starting pitching staff.

    - David Wright and Jose Reyes have grown by leaps and bounds under his management. Of course, they deserve the bulk of the credit, but Willie deserves some. Remember Reyes under Howe?

    - Endy, Valentin, Nady and countless others come to the Mets and become significantly better players. Of course Omar deserves some credit, but doesn't Willie as well?

    In short - other than winning every game, renouncing that he ever played for the Yankees (which I suspect is the real problem), and checking with all internet bloggers before every managerial move next season, what does he need to do to please you folks?!?!?

    2:31 AM

     
    Blogger I.M. Forme said...

    oh no they dint.

    Anonymous comin into your house, tellin you you hafta love your manager, right or wrong.

    Now,Cerrone's razin you on his blog, telling you how to decorate
    ...you gonna take that?
    Oh snap! It's a blog war!

    i got yer back.

    3:59 AM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    I take it easy on no one. Willie has a lot to do in order to gain my respect as anything but an average manager. The guy was able to basically manage on cruise control. He had pitching issues when it came to the rotation, but it’s hard to say he did a great job. If Valentin, Oliver, Feliciano, and Chavez weren’t so big this year and performed better than they ever have, he does not come out looking so good. I guess it boils down to how much you think Willie himself had to do with that? When you write Beltran, Wright, Reyes, LoDuca….on the lineup card every day and the bullpen is tighter than a dog’s a-hole, things tend to work out.

    I never said Willie was a bad manager. I simply said he was not a top tier one worthy of $2+ mill per year and runner up in manager of the year honors. His biggest asset is that he is well liked. I remember the gaffes he made last year and this team masks his strategic deficiencies. Omar is on my side, hence the $1.25 million dollar extension offer and not for as many years as Willie wants. Do you think that if Omar thought Willie was such a great manager he would not have hesitated to do so? If he was so great and the next big thing in managing, $2 million per year for three years would be a veritable bargain.

    the Mets have improved by 14+ games each of Randolph's two years. Never been done in baseball history before.

    Call me nuts, but Pedro, Beltran, Wright, Reyes, Wagner, and LoDuca had something to do with that. A few guys really matured and the rest were imported. He was NOT working with the same tools as Howe in 2004. You think that same team would have improved by 14+ games each season? That’s just silly.

    he was voted as the second best manager in the NL this year.

    He is well liked around the league. Frank Robinson is hated. He was voted as one of the worst mangers in the league simply because he’s mean. We all know the guy knows baseball. Buch Showalter and Bobby V. could managed circles around Willies, but rub people the wrong way to say the least. When it comes to manager of the year contests, it’s a popularity contest and based on a team that improves or far exceeds expectations. Both things can be somewhat independent of you managing skills. A GOLD GLOVE DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE A GREAT FIELDER!!! But pick and choose what awards you choose to hold in a high reverence. But this award is based on far less facts than any other award.

    his team led the NL in victories despite massive injuries to their starting pitching staff.

    Look, I’m not saying he did nothing right, but it didn’t hurt that Omar traded for The Duque, had John Maine, and picked up Dave Williams. When your GM gives you the tools, it certainly makes their job easier. He did give a bit too many starts to Lima and Jeremi if you want to split hairs and if OMAR does not make those shrewd moves, the picture is a bit different. If anything give credit to Rick Peterson, the pitching coach. Afterall, we are talking about nice performances from unexpected pitchers, right?

    As for him being an ex-Yankee, that’s not it. If you came here years ago when he was hired, my concern was his complete lack of managerial experience to lead a team like the Mets. He was a 3rd base coach turned bench coach for one of the worst tactical managers in the league. I could care less he was Yankee. I’d love to have Phil Hughes and he’s a Yankee. My problem is I just do not think he is very good. League average at best. There are betters out there and possibly two in the Mets system.

    It’s my opinion. The only thing that will change that is some WOW moves consistently. Not just ‘gut’ feelings that typically do not work out.

    oh no they dint.

    Oh yes they did.

    Now,Cerrone's razin you on his blog, telling you how to decorate
    ...you gonna take that?
    Oh snap! It's a blog war!


    Well, frankly I still do not like Willie. My apologies. Someone can come rip off the Ken Oberkfell for manager thing from my blog when I’m dead. Last I checked, it's still America right? Freedom of Speech and all that good stuff? I'm not a part of Willie's fan club.

    I realize my dream is far fetched now that Willie is firmly entrenched, but a guy can dream, right? As for needing to update my layout…it’s just an ugly layout. But I don’t rely on flashy graphics to bring people here without the conceit. Just Mets talk man. It is all about the Mets.

    9:25 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Pat Burrell's a dickhead. He hates it in Philly, they hate him in Philly but would only want to be traded to NY, Boston, and California teams.

    TO me, with Zito, as long as people don't expect ace type performances then we're good. Because he does tend to walk a nice ammount of hitters. But I have faith he'll be good.

    Johnson just sounds like the perfect bench players. Just... perfect!

    The Marlins should realize that Wily Tavaras sucks. Go after Baldelli.
    Have a nice 1-2-3-4 of Hanley, Uggla, Rocco, and Miguel Cabrera.

    I wonder if Cerrone pushed the panic button?
    But on the topic of updating stuffs. Take the Norfolk Tides button out of there. Put that new, New Orleans button up there, w00!

    10:01 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    One thing about Omar, common sense prevails, he trades 2 relievers who have no future w/ us and gets us a bench player for the outfield who hits right handed and another bullpen arm in the event Bradford escapes, and there is no $$$ cost involved its a wash. With mediocre pitching going for 8-10 mill, he signs el duque at 6 mill who is better than all of them accept for Padilla. Resigning Valentin on a one year deal when everyone else wants a 3 year deal is another example of common sense prevailing.

    10:38 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Mike, you're spot on about Willie.

    Watching this team day in and day out it baffles me that people can defend him. It's not just the in game stuff (I'm not sure he ever watched a baseball game in his life), but the big stuff, like making the lineup and which bench players to use. Was there any reason that Julio Franco was the first right handed option off the bench? I'd rather have Sandy Alomar Sr up there.

    Also, his handling of Lastings was atrocious. Not every kid is David Wright with amazing plate discipline and pitch recognition. By batting Lastings 8th, Willie made sure that he wouldn't see a pitch to hit. I get that 'a rookie needs to earn his place', but last year was a major setback in his development and Willie has to take a lot of the blame.

    As for 14 game improvements, this team was stacked. I'd like to see Willie take a team to the WS with an outfield of Derek Bell/Timo Perez, Jay Payton, and Benny Agbayani. Omar has given a manager everything he could want: Speed, Power, Defense, Pitching, and the resources to plug holes as they open up. The 2006 team managed themselves, yet he still found ways to fuck it up.

    We need to promote Gary Carter to bench coach, now that Acta is gone, so he doesn't jump ship.

    10:43 AM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Benny, point taken on the Tides thing. I will get that updated sometime between now and the start of the minor league season.

    With mediocre pitching going for 8-10 mill, he signs el duque at 6 mill who is better than all of them accept for Padilla. Resigning Valentin on a one year deal when everyone else wants a 3 year deal is another example of common sense prevailing.

    Good points. Well done.

    like making the lineup and which bench players to use. Was there any reason that Julio Franco was the first right handed option off the bench? I'd rather have Sandy Alomar Sr up there.

    Also, his handling of Lastings was atrocious. Not every kid is David Wright with amazing plate discipline and pitch recognition. By batting Lastings 8th, Willie made sure that he wouldn't see a pitch to hit. I get that 'a rookie needs to earn his place', but last year was a major setback in his development and Willie has to take a lot of the blame.


    Good points as well. I have a post specifically about Willie tomorrow. I had no idea it would illicit so many feelings from Willie Backers.

    11:02 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    It is still America, but don't you feel the pressure to conform like everyone else? Let's face it, it may be America; at least we still believe it is America, but it might be somewhere else than where it was. These days the articles of rebellion are sold in a manner that everyone buys them so they can rebel in the same way, so go ahead, man, rail at Willie because the unconvinced minority is there with you.

    If affability was the ultimate bar, I'm sure Willie would go down as an a true blue HOF manager. I thought he was fireable his first season. He improved in his second in my view, but you are correct to note that the team has improved as much as it had because of the players and the man who brought them to NY. Willie is not bad, but I'm not convinced he's wonderful. Jury is still out.

    Anyway, I'm going to post my last comment from last night since I was writing it while you were posting the new post, Mike.

    The fact that the Mets did the Johnson deal without shipping OPerez is a sign that they like him. The Friars - how bout the FryCooks? - had been real keen on getting him back and using him as a reliever. This was their opportunity, and that issue is gone.

    If we sign Zito - and assuming that Glavine comes back - I'd start stroking the pen and going with Maine & OPerez until Pedro, Pelfrey &/or Humber are ready. I wouldn't balk at Willis or Peavy but I don't see the need for either to be traded being young and affordable. Back on point, we would have the makings of a more than able rotation while holding on to the young guys who'll take us to the next level.

    Don't buy that arg on Heilman being tradeable with two relievers out there that we could overpay. He's going to be just as valuable in July when we know if Sanchez can come back, maybe more so. Plus, like it or not, Heilman just has no leverage here: he's cheap, durable and not yet arb eligible, so what exactly is the impetus? He could walk away, but that only hurts himself.

    My read on the relievers out there is that the average crop of middies will get more money than they deserve. You're better off trading for them than signing the FA's.

    Now back to today: I think the Mets must bring back Bradford, who clearly benefited from being around Peterson again (as well as was finally injury free). I'd also give Mota a prorated deal at the discount his mistake leaves him at. Mota debuting at game sixty or so probably means we would have a fresh bullpen at the end of the year.

    11:51 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Mike I have your back too in the Willie Blog wars. He is way overrated. He is nowhere near the tactical manager that Davey Johnson was, and he was never MOY either.

    I remember in 2005, the Mets would have been legit wild car candidates IF willie had not mismanaged the team. Let alone, his trust of his "guys," his dis of D-W in 2005, his persona on Willie's World would not surprise me one bit.

    12:22 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Brooklyn Bum you wrote this:
    "Watching this team day in and day out it baffles me that people can defend him. It's not just the in game stuff (I'm not sure he ever watched a baseball game in his life), but the big stuff, like making the lineup and which bench players to use. Was there any reason that Julio Franco was the first right handed option off the bench? I'd rather have Sandy Alomar Sr up there."

    OMG! This reminded me of one other thing...there was a game over the summer...can't remember who, maybe after Jose Reyes took that digger to his hand and was out of the AS game...he had Jose Valentin batting freaking LEADOFF!! WTF is that sh*t about? I remember screaming at the TV that he had no idea what he was doing.

    12:27 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Willie is not bad, but I'm not convinced he's wonderful. Jury is still out.

    Precisely why Omar is not willing to give him his first born just yet.

    I agree on Bradford DG and I cannot see him going anywhere. That money Willie wants is going to him.

    That is one thing that got me about Willie. It was his reluctance to simply slide everyone up a slot when they were out. This dates back to last year too. He does some confusing things for sure. This may not be a big thing either, but something that you could term f-ing ponderous.

    12:36 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Willie is not Davey Johnson, but he's not George Bamberger, Jeff Torborg, Joe Frazier, or Bud Harrelson either. I agree with Mike, he's doing OK (jury still out), but he doesn't deserve a long contract or big money.

    The Mets have always had luck picking up people like Feliciano and Mota than they have buying overpriced relievers. Omar, keep doing what you're doing.

    1:13 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am not a big Willie fan. I feel his personel mgmt may be OK, but his in game strategies need work.

    The most telling comment for me was Mike Jacobs comment on Giradi. 'He made us believe'. Similarly Appier who I feel is unfairly berated, said BV was underestimated and Appier said in Sept 2001 that BV belived his team was still in that race.....

    Of all the managers mentioned above BV was among the best..he was an A-hole and lost his team somewhere around the time Clemens threw that bat...but the '98, 99 & '00 campaigns were among the best Met efforts ever.

    On Ring/Bell: I hate losing Ring. But johnson might be an Endy Chavez.

    On Heilman: I really dont care. I'd swap him for Vazquez yesterday. Vaz is Trachsel with upside. My spin is ala last yr when Bradford was signed...I'd spin Heilman for Vazz or Contreras, and look to sign anyone of..Borowski, JC Romero, LaTroy Hawkins, Dave Riske, Eddie guardado, Aaron Fultz, Dan Kolb or Steve Kline

    ............Ed

    2:35 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I still find it funny how every good thing that happens Willie gets no credit for - e.g. Wright and Reyes' development - but takes the blame for every bad thing - Milledge's stagnation.

    It kind of reminds me of how everyone in the world bashed Davey the last couple years b/c of his "weak strategy". Yet Buddy takes over and the team collapses. Now everyone loves Davey again.

    I agree - I was worried about Willie's lack of managerial experience when he was hired. And I thought he struggled his first year a bit. But I also though he made tremendous improvement last year, to the point where I no longer have any concerns about his in game moves. I may not like every single one, but he doesn't need my approval. I agree with the vast majority of them, and can see his strategy on the ones I don't.

    I never said Willie was a better tactician than Bobby V - few are. They are different managers with different paths to success. And since Bobby ain't coming back, I think comparing them is kinda an exercise in futility.

    At the end of the day, people seem to take every angle to discredit Willie's success - it's either thanks to Omar or thanks to the players, never Willie. So here's my two questions & why I support Willie more than I ever thought I would:

    1) Why does Keith Hernandez - who knows more about baseball than... well than all of us - rave about Willie as a manager? And we're not talking about a guy who "tows the company line" on the air by any stretch.

    2) How come every role player Omar signs - and most have been head scratchers at the time - become better players for the Mets. Marlon, Woodward & Castro in '05, Endy & Valentin in '06. Doesn't the manager deserve credit for that??

    4:10 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Mike, while you're updating the AAA thing, how about fixing the link to John Sickel's blog so it reads Minorleagueball.com? Minorleaguebaseball.com is a different site.

    5:12 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Who said he deserves no credit? I just said he is league average at best in terms of being a manager. He has the right pieces to work with and a better man than I and one of the best managers ever said “a good team will make a good manager and not the other way around.” There a lot of factors that go into being a good team. Did Willie Make Endy..Marlon…etc. good? I’m purely going by what I think. I could be wrong, but I think Omar’s actions say something about what he thinks about Willie. Eminently, he seems like a replaceable manager. I actually view Rick Peterson as the most important part of the coaching staff. If he goes, that is FAR more detrimental than Willie leaving. I never said Willie is worth anything so that seems to have gotten twisted, but I am not ready to be his crotch ornament.

    5:21 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I don't think that Mike's and everyone else point is that Willie Randolph is a useless piece of shit.
    The point is that he's not a top tier manager that can run circles around guys like Sciocia, Piniella, and Bobby Cox. He's more in the middle. And shouldn't be paid like a top tier, HOF manager.

    5:30 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    strictly mets? c'mon, isn't it time for the sufi girl? is sufi the right word?

    i don't really care about the willie debate. i see both sides. but i do think he gets credit for coaching, leading, motivating, and consistency, as well as not pandering to the press and straight shooting. on the other hand i agree with mike's points. although if i had to choose i'd say leadership qualities are probably more important than tactical skill. so on balance, i say, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

    meanwhile, i'm pissed about milledge. dude needs to completely redeem himself. all of his antics make me embarassed of my puff piece.

    8:25 PM

     
    Blogger michael o. said...

    Benny...I've updated the Zephyr site.

    John, Minor League ball is fixed.

    Ken Oberkfell for manager? Still there. Suck it.

    Sufi will be coming soon. I just keep forgetting.

    I never said fire him either. I just do not think he's worth a lot of money. He's average!

    Never be embarassed of you fluff piece. That could be your crowing achievement!

    8:31 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Easley...wooooooooooooooooooooo

    just kidding

    11:18 PM

     
    Blogger I.M. Forme said...

    First it was:
    "remember the alamo"

    then ...
    "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin' to? You talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one here. Who do the f--k do you think you're talking to?"

    then...
    "Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!...What the f--k happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? ....I'm not gonna take this."

    now...
    "Someone can come rip off the Ken Oberkfell for manager thing from my blog when I’m dead. Last I checked, it's still America right? Freedom of Speech and all that good stuff? I'm not a part of Willie's fan club."

    Convictions! That's why I come here!

    4:52 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    "I pray Clemens will retire every night before bed." -Mike proves there is no God.

    8:07 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    There are 30 teams in the bigs and not every team has a pitcher good enough to be called an Ace. Phillie for example does not have one while Boston may have 2 if Mr.Gyroball signs with them. While Schmidt is definitely an Ace the only true, top tier pitcher out there this season is Zito. Mike put the numbers up and he is damn impressive and if anyone can come up with numbers for a FA pitcher that are better than his I'd love to see em.

    Lilly is going to be a malcontent as he was with the Yankees, Oakland and Toronto. Just this season we saw him yelling at his manager while he was still on the field. His numbers are just not good enough for him to pretend he is a prima donna. Nor are his numbers good enough to qualify him as an ace or even a strong #2 pitcher so the huge bucks (which he will be looking for) will not be justified.

    Willie = solid. He is not a great or even very good manager, just good. He will get better as he gets more experience and makes fewer mistakes. His biggest atribute is that he has the great fortune of managing for Omar (in whom we trust) and having him surrounded by 3 or 4 guys who could be managing succesfully themselves.

    What annoys me is not that Willie didn't win but that the guy who did finished with a losing record, finished in 4th place and was not competitive in the last 5-6 weeks of the season.

    But the true indignity is that Omar STILL (!!!!) has not won a executive of the year award even after he has completely rebuilt the best team in baseball and turned is from a laughing stock into a juggernaut.

    8:36 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Just stopped off at Metsblog (yes I washed my hands after leaving it!) and yes, Cerrone is a jism eater.

    YES has a hot stove show airing every Thursday night. I found it by accident...no really I did! It was actually very good. They spent almost as much time talking about the Mets as they did the Yankees and Red Sox. It doesn't air next week because of Turkey Day. Look out for it, its worth watching.

    By and by, the YES guys and other baseball writers believe the Yanks will not chase Zito and believe the Mets are shoe-ins to nab him. I hope they are correct on both scores. They do believe that Suppan will be chased by the Spanks though...I laughed too.

    Mike, make your beautiful blog exactly he same as Cerrones for a few days and make fun of him. Nah, screw it! The best revenge is living a full and rewarding life...and spewing poisonous vitriol in Cerrones direction...jism eating feltcher!

    8:57 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    http://buccoblog.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/2006/11/you_make_the_ca.html

    Take a look at this from the Pirates website. Wh oare these mysterious pitchers?

    10:17 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    cerrone's site is getting unreadable. first the pajamas media mafia is taking over. now its millions of newly minted metsfans with opinions and lineups they have to share with us. If i want to read about zoe rice i'll buy her fucking book.

    2:40 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    First Valentin, which was ok, then El Duque, I can understand, then Easley, its a stretch but I can seem some possibility but now Alou?!?!?!?

    Can we find anyone older than these guys? This maybe the oldest team in the history of baseball.

    11:58 PM

     
    Blogger Anthony said...

    agreed. Geting very concerned with all the signings and buildings of an old team. Very weird. And then if we actually did re-sign Glavine (which I don't think will happen because he's going back to Atl) that would be another 41 yr old. WTF?

    9:58 AM

     
    Blogger I.M. Forme said...

    i can't shake the feeling that omar is collecting geezers a few reststops away from "done" on the freeway of baseball.
    Soon we'll have to add AARP to the stats we discuss VORP, OBP, etc.

    Omar better suspend all pre-game outfield jogging.

    3:34 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Get Floyd...we'll have a full season of protection for Wright then...with him and Alou. Hahaha

    8:18 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Get Floyd...we'll have a full season of protection for Wright then...with him and Alou. Hahaha

    8:18 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Only two Mets blog I read are this one and Cerrone's.

    Mike, who are the free agents NEXT year if we sign Alou? Maybe Omar is shooting into the future for that?

    - Nokes

    10:12 AM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    The "worthy" OF free agents are Eric Byrnes, Mike Cameron, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Corey Patterson, Vernon wells, Aaron Rowand, Adam Dunn, Jason Michaels, Brad Wilkerson, Milton Bradley, Jermaine Dye, Geoff JenkinsReggie Sanders, and Ichiro.

    I think Omar's plan is that after 2007, Green is gone, Milledge/Gomez will step it up and fill in that role.
    THen Alou if he does good comes back. If he's bad, then they will look to sign someone else.

    1:14 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Cookie Monster want post!

    2:01 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Wheres Waldo....I mean Mike? Must be off finding us new burgers somewhere.

    11:14 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    "The New York Mets today acquired two, 23-year-old lefthanded pitchers, Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick from the Florida Marlins in exchange for a pair of righthanded pitchers, Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom."

    I thought these guys were fringe players with a reasonable chance of making it.

    11:17 PM

     
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    If Mike is dead who will take over the blog?

    3:19 PM

     
    Blogger I.M. Forme said...

    long live Mike! Maybe he is curled up in a post DiceK-ball.

    we can just post here for the rest of eternity, aka as long as Julio Francostein is alive.

    11:05 AM

     
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