2009/2010 Mets. The Jerry is gone version!
889 replies
Boik14subscriberOPStarting a new one since pitchers and catchers have already arrived a week earlier then expected! Good to see the guys are anxious to get back at it. Theres also some news to report on the injury front.
Per the NY Post Blog:
I personally saw Johan Santana, David Wright, Duaner Sanchez, Oliver Perez, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Eddie Kunz all here this morning after vigorous workouts at Tradition Field on a cloudy, windy day with temperatures in the low 70s.
More than a dozen prospects and various veterans here on minor-league deals also could be seen doing sprints and throwing, and several pitchers were working out under the supervision of new bullpen coach Randy Niemann and the man he just replaced, Guy Conti (I guess -- happily -- that Guy really is being kept around instead of being shuffled off like many of us suspected after Pedro Martinez wasn't re-signed).
Several more regulars (including Frankie Rodriguez) are expected to start rolling in here in the next day or two, even though pitchers and catchers don't officially report until Friday or begin their official workouts until Sunday.
Mets officials said the heavy turnout is indicative of how eager the players are to make up for the past two collapses.
"They're ready to get going and get that bad taste out of their mouths," a Met insider told me. "It's nice to see."
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Love the enthusiasm. This team should have a chip bigger then anything Bill Gates could create after the last 3 years. Anything less then a World Series is going to be disappointing.
Vegas opened us up at 8-1 favorites and Baseball Prospectus also has us winning the division by 5 games over Atlanta. The predictions are done by the same Nate Silver who said the last two years our pen would be a huge weak spot. So damn him and all his correctness but lets hope hes right this time: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/dc/
Maine pitching pain-free
PORT ST. LUCIE -- John Maine John Maine , who is coming back from surgery to fix a bone spur in his right shoulder, threw off the mound here for the second time in four days and said he is pitching without pain. That is in sharp contrast to last season, when Maine said he couldn't even throw between starts because of the soreness. The spur wasn't removed, Maine added, but rather shaved down instead. "I feel a lot, lot better," Maine said.
~ny post
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Great news as Maine and Pelfrey are without question the keys to this staff. We know what we will get from Johan (consistency) and Perez (Inconsistency). We know Garcia and Redding are at best reclamation projects with upside and that Niese will have some rough patches when hes called upon.
The difference between an average and potentially excellent staff will be Pelfrey and Maine and whether they improve or stagnate. I tend to favor the optimistic viewpoint on both because I feel there are reasons for such optimism. Maine when hes been healthy has always been good. At his age he should just be entering his prime.
Something along the lines of 15-9/3.75/1.20/200k's is certainly within his grasp. My expectations for Pelfrey are even higher.
Lets Go Mets!
mixmaster_mattNew Membertouche on the new thread. Exciting year, cant wait for it to start, will type up more later.....
GO METS!!!!!!!!!
Higgiforum_veteranGreat to see all those arms have already reported... no WBC for Johan is just awesome. Hope his knee is good to go also.
Hopefully we can make some noise this year not relating to a late season collapse. Break in the new ballpark in a positive way. Any of you plan on going to games this year?
Boik14subscriberI absolutely plan on going to some games Higgi, just dont know which ones yet.
Boik14subscriberMets signed Stache! Viva La Pornstache. Hope he has his HGH ready cause I liked 2006 stache. :lol:
Minor league deal but still nice to have him around:
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/st/ar...ign_valen.html
Quote:
The Mets New York Mets have thrown another player into the mix to be a potential backup or alternative to Luis Castillo by signing Jose Valentin to a minor league contract, the Post has learned.
Valentin would make $800,000 if he played in the majors.
Valentin was the Mets' primary second baseman in 2006 when he hit .271 with 18 homers. He broke his tibia the following season and last year never played in the majors, leaving the Mets' Triple-A team in June claiming mental and physical duress.
Roman529New MemberLooks like Bobby Abreu is signing with the Angels. Rats!!!!!!!!!
Boik14subscriber"Roman529 wrote:
Looks like Bobby Abreu is signing with the Angels. Rats!!!!!!!!!
Good to know you know what Utley and Hamels look like! Didnt know we were playing word association buddy! :tongue2:
Boik14subscriberSome stuff from camp: http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/mets/archives/2009/02/emptying_the_no.html
Daniel Murphy showed up all the veterans and several of his young counterparts by gliding through sprints this morning like he was Usain Bolt or something (David Wright David Wright was last, by the way). Murphy is in great shape and looks like he wishes the season would start yesterday.
Mike Pelfrey's teammates are teasing him relentlessly after he admitted to crying at the end of Marley & Me. They're also giving him grief for admitting he had actually paid to see Marley & Me
Higgiforum_veteran"Boik14 wrote:
I absolutely plan on going to some games Higgi, just dont know which ones yet.
Good for you then. I am kinda sad I never made it out to Shea... Hopefully I can catch a game at Citi within the next few years.
Also love hearing about Murphy being in great shape... hope it translates into something good during the season.
Boik14subscriber"Higgi wrote:
Good for you then. I am kinda sad I never made it out to Shea... Hopefully I can catch a game at Citi within the next few years.
Also love hearing about Murphy being in great shape... hope it translates into something good during the season.
It's funny you mention it because Im actually trying to get one of my friends to sell me a seat during the opening series vs the Pads since he has season tickets this year. :up:
Murphy better do well since it doesnt look like we're getting another bat and 2B and C are black holes offensively and RF is a huge question as well.
Roman529New Member"Boik14 wrote:
Good to know you know what Utley and Hamels look like! Didnt know we were playing word association buddy! :tongue2:
I didn't wanna see Bobby Abreu coming to Philly in a Met's uniform. My cheese steak would be coming up. :lol: The Phillies have an infielder named Anthony Hewitt, their top pick last year, and an infielder, who is looking like Bo Jackson. :up: I can't wait for baseball to start back up. I am looking forward to seeing Putz and KRod. :yes:
King Felixsubscriberhopefully putz stays healthy for you guys. i wish him nothing but the best. love his intensity
Boik14subscriber"King Felix wrote:
hopefully putz stays healthy for you guys. i wish him nothing but the best. love his intensity
Thanks Felix. I love that he was one of the first ones to camp. Petcota predictions has him and Krod as the 5th and 6th best relievers with 2.56 and 2.62 era's. Could be a Wetteland/Rivera type deal there. Man that would sure be awesome. :up:
Roman529New MemberSantana tests out knee....doesn't look like he will play in the WBC:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2009/news/story?id=3896264
NJFINSFAN1luxury_box"Roman529 wrote:
Santana tests out knee....doesn't look like he will play in the WBC:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2009/news/story?id=3896264
Old news, he isn't playing, it was announced last week.
You have been hanging upside down on ski lifts to much!:tongue2:
Roman529New Member"NJFINSFAN1 wrote:
Old news, he isn't playing, it was announced last week.
You have been hanging upside down on ski lifts to much!:tongue2:
He didn't test out his knee until yesterday (Tuesday) Greg, that's what I was getting at. The rest of it is just fluff that I threw out there. I don't think the Mets want their Ace having to pitch when Venezuela takes on that tough Italian baseball team. :lol:
Boik14subscriberSome news today:
Per Metsblog: Brad Holt can bring it.....I think this gave me half a chubby :lol:
In November of last year, John Manuel of Baseball America said the following about Holt:
“My single favorite pick of the draft, I think, is Brad Holt. I’m way intrigued by the reports we’ve got, both from within the Mets and outside, of his improved breaking ball, that he flashes a plus, power breaker…
“He sounds like he might be Mike Pelfrey with a bit less downhill or sink, a better breaking ball and considerably less hype. I bet he makes their draft.”
By the way, Holt was born on the same day the Mets won the 1986 World Championship against the Red Sox.
Mets trying to trade castro, Pudge wants to play for Mets? Kinda of seems like trading injurey waiting to happen for another washed up injury but one that doesnt oversleep 1Pm games. Also per Metsblog:
However, the newspaper cites an anonymous source as saying Rodriguez would rather sign with the Mets, who have yet to make him an offer.
Last week, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Mets are still trying to trade C Ramon Castro, in an effort to remove his $2.8 million from the payroll.
Roman529New MemberWho's the Met's #5 Pitcher? :jt0323:
Boik14subscriber"Roman529 wrote:
Who's the Met's #5 Pitcher? :jt0323:
Favorite: Freddy Garcia
Rookie Gunning for his spot: Jon Niese
Darkhorses: Prospect Bobby Parnell, Vet Tim Redding...both likely middle relievers who will have a chance to compete.
Ultra Darkhorse but wouldnt upset any Met fan: Brad Holt - Kid is firing through the system after being a top 40 pick last year. 96-98 + MLB ready breaking ball both plus pitches. :wink2:
phunwinluxury_box"Boik14 wrote:
Favorite: Freddy Garcia
Rookie Gunning for his spot: Jon Niese
Darkhorses: Prospect Bobby Parnell, Vet Tim Redding...both likely middle relievers who will have a chance to compete.
Ultra Darkhorse but wouldnt upset any Met fan: Brad Holt - Kid is firing through the system after being a top 40 pick last year. 96-98 + MLB ready breaking ball both plus pitches. :wink2:
IF Garcia stays healthy, he should do a quality job as the #5 starter. I like that we have some actual options in that #5 starter role that don't include stiffs like Jose Lima or Brian Lawrence. Seemed like the team has often been woefully unprepared for the inevitable injuries that cause missed starts here and there. Of all the popular scapegoats for the Mets' 2007 and 2008 collapses, not enough people notice the lack of starting pitching depth. For example, the 2007 Mets got 26 starts (almost a full year's worth of #5 starts) from the following collection of pitchers: Mike Pelfrey, Brian Lawrence, Philip Humber, Dave Williams, Jason Vargas and...oh yes...Chan Ho Park.
The numbers for this six-headed monstrosity? 127.3 IP, 7.42 ERA, 75 K, 63 BB. Even had the #5 starters been just garden-variety bad, instead of historically bad, the Mets probably win the NL East. And yes, I know, if Pelfrey doesn't get that big league exposure and get those crappy pitches out of his system, he probably doesn't have a big 2008. Here's the funny thing though: Pelfrey was by far the best of those lousy #5 starters. His 5.57 ERA was almost 2 runs less than the group average. Had they stuck HIM out there for 26 starts, instead of Lawrence, Humber, Park, Vargas and Williams, they probably win at least one extra game.
2008 wasn't as bad, as the Mets fill-in starters were fairly respectable (and by "respectable" I mean, "not historically bad"). However, the mistake was relying on a broken-down Pedro Martinez for 20 games. Pedro's 5.61 ERA over 20 games was indisputably crippling. I don't hold the team quite as culpable here, since Nelson Figueroa, Claudio Vargas and Brian Stokes were all adequate spot starters, and since Pedro's limited 2007 numbers formed the basis for a reasonable belief that he'd give the Mets good numbers for at least half a season, or whatever he could pitch. Still, Pedro probably should have been shut down for longer, with a Plan B in place.
With Garcia, Niese and Redding around, I don't expect depth to be anywhere near the issue it's been.
Roman529New Member"Boik14 wrote:
Favorite: Freddy Garcia
Rookie Gunning for his spot: Jon Niese
Darkhorses: Prospect Bobby Parnell, Vet Tim Redding...both likely middle relievers who will have a chance to compete.
Ultra Darkhorse but wouldnt upset any Met fan: Brad Holt - Kid is firing through the system after being a top 40 pick last year. 96-98 + MLB ready breaking ball both plus pitches. :wink2:
I think it is between Niese and Redding. I just hope our #5 isn't Chan Ho Park. :no:
Boik14subscriber"Roman529 wrote:
I think it is between Niese and Redding. I just hope our #5 isn't Chan Ho Park. :no:
Theres no way Garcia isnt the front runner bro. He's healthy and Redding has already said hes willing to pitch in the pen, something Garcia really doesnt want to do. Plus Garcia is a better pitcher when hes healthy. Garcia is also the most accomplished and despite his injury hes usually pretty durable and generally good for 200 IP where as the 182 Redding threw last year was a career high.
One thing redding has going for him is that he tied Santana for the league lead with 6 wins blown for him. Redding legitimately could/should have won 15 games which would be ridiculously solid for a #5. However Garcia is more of a power pitcher which is something the Mets usually favor.
Niese will probably be used as depth but with a good enough spring, hey anything could happen. He showed flashes of his ability (shut out the braves for 8IP) but also showed he would be inconsistent as any young SP will be; Awful start, excellent start, awful start in his 3 starts.
Roman529New Member"Boik14 wrote:
Theres no way Garcia isnt the front runner bro. He's healthy and Redding has already said hes willing to pitch in the pen, something Garcia really doesnt want to do. Plus Garcia is a better pitcher when hes healthy. Garcia is also the most accomplished and despite his injury hes usually pretty durable and generally good for 200 IP where as the 182 Redding threw last year was a career high.
One thing redding has going for him is that he tied Santana for the league lead with 6 wins blown for him. Redding legitimately could/should have won 15 games which would be ridiculously solid for a #5. However Garcia is more of a power pitcher which is something the Mets usually favor.
Niese will probably be used as depth but with a good enough spring, hey anything could happen. He showed flashes of his ability (shut out the braves for 8IP) but also showed he would be inconsistent as any young SP will be; Awful start, excellent start, awful start in his 3 starts.
I think that is the big question mark with Garcia....his health. He was able to pitch after his shoulder surgery with the Tigers, but you probably won't know what you have with him until after Spring Training. I don't think he was able to throw during Winter Ball? Who knows with Freddy?
mixmaster_mattNew MemberWOOT!!! Just got tickets to the April 15th game, the second home game at CITI FIELD! Sitting up in the 500 section, but who cares right? I just want to get in the stadium and tour it.
mixmaster_mattNew Memberand to add to your 5th starter debate......
Mets reach Minors deal with Livan
Veteran right-hander among competitors for No. 5 spot in rotation
The Mets' ongoing search for starting pitching depth has led them to a familiar surname, Hernandez. No "El Duque" this year, but Livan Hernandez is coming. The club has agreed to a Minor League contract with El Duque's younger -- of course he's younger -- half-brother and invited him to Spring Training.
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