Rest of the Bullpen - 2006

[Guest Rotblatt]

I dunno. I think he'd be okay as a ROOGY, but I'd worry that Willie would decide to use him in the eighth instead of Heilman because he "has experience."

I'm all for idiot-proofing our bullpen & rotation as much as possible--no former closers unless they're as good as Heilman was last year.

[Elster88]

Rotblatt wrote: I'm all for idiot-proofing our bullpen & rotation as much as possible--no former closers unless they're as good as Heilman was last year.

You mean "Willie-proofing"? [/cheap shot at Willie]

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I think the Mets would be best to pass on Alfonseca. The extra money he would cost the team in after game spreads could be better put to use in my opiniion.

[Guest Rotblatt]

We're apparently also interesed in Tavarez. A good idea, I think, but he's reportedly asking for four years, which is way too much.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Would a six-fingered pitcher be twice as good as Mordecai Brown?

[Vic Sage]

If Alfonseca gives the fans the finger, which one will he use?

[MFS62]

And how does he throw the splitter? He has so many choices.

Later

[Guest sharpie]

Tavarez is a punk. Made anti-gay comments while in San Francisco and generally has acted like an idiot. I vote for neither Tavarez or Alfonseca.

[Frayed Knot]

Rotblatt wrote: We're apparently also interesed in Tavarez. A good idea, I think, but he's reportedly asking for four years, which is way too much.

2 years is too many.
I don't like that guy -- I think he's a whack-job and he's not good enough to survive being a whack-job.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Nice highlight film material.

[Valadius]

On Tavarez:

Julian Tavarez: To the Mets?
RotoWire.com Staff - RotoWire.com
Thursday, December 15, 2005

Update: Tavarez may want a four-year contract, and industry scuttlebutt is the Mets won't hesitate to make that commitment, the NY Daily News reports.

Recommendation: A Mets insider said the team, whose main need now is the bullpen, has not yet made a four-year offer. One has to wonder why they would give Tavarez, who made $2.6 million in 2005 and is looking for a significant raise, four years but were unwilling to go two years on Roberto Hernandez, who was extremely productive last season.

[Elster88]

]One has to wonder why they would give Tavarez, who made $2.6 million in 2005 and is looking for a significant raise, four years but were unwilling to go two years on Roberto Hernandez, who was extremely productive last season.

One doesn't. Bert is 41 years old. How dumb are some writers? If they write lines like that how can I possibly take their rumors seriously? Note to self: Never read anything on Rotowire.com.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

The Mets might have shown restraint with Roberto Hernandez, but overall they're giving out years like candy.

A fourth year to get Pedro or Wagner? Done. A second year to get Julio Franco? Done.

It's a Scarlett O'Hara approach: Fiddle-dee-dee. We'll worry about 2009 when it comes.

But don't think that I'm necessarily objecting to that approach. The Mets are a wealthy team and they're one of the relatively few who can take such risks. If they have to absorb a bad salary or two in 2009 or 2010, they should be able to.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

One of the rags (Newsday?) today said the chances of Tavarez signing a 4-year deal are slim.

My guess is the News, or whoever reported that item initially (rottowire is not a source, just a gatheerer) leapt from the idea that if the MFYs would offer 3 years, the Mets would need to offer 4.

Whatever. Tavarez is a freak who like Farnsworth, might be retarded, IMO. He pronounces his name with the J: Joolian.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Joolian displays his mad skillz:

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Looks like Ron's gone missing.

[Frayed Knot]

Tavarez also had that deal a year or so back where he went headhunting against Piazza for no apparent reason. 'Joolian' was then cornered by Pujols in the dugout who said something along the lines of; "Knock it off you fuckin' idjit, you're gonna get me killed!"

Multi-year deals for middle relievers are usually really bad ideas. Even among the guys who were somewhat good: Turk, Franco, Weathers, Karsay, etc., they wound up backfiring ... and Tavarez isn't all that good.

[metirish]

Tavarez is a bit of a wanker, especially after he plunked Piazza when he got back from injury this season, and no way on a four year deal, Boras is full of BS.

You can expect to see lots of this if the Mets sign him....hey and look, it Roger Cedano..

[Frayed Knot]

The Hardball Times is optimistic about the future of Heath Bell (2nd half of the article)
They don't address it specifically, but I bet they'd take him over an expensive long-term committment to the Julian Taverez's of the world ... I know I would!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Looks like the Orb has been signed to a minor league deal by Bal'mer.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

You just knew Duquette would start gathering in some of those guys of his. He liked Tyler Yates an awful lot too.

[Guest Matt Murdock, Esq.]

With Dotel signing with the MFYs and Tyler Yates non-tendered, right now, it's looking like:

1) Wagner (CL)
2) Heilmann (Set-up)
3) Bell (Set-up / MI)
4) Zambrano (Spot starter / Long)

with 1 of the following RHPs:
5) Padilla / Fortunato / Wylie / Parra* (MI / Long)

and 1 of the following LHPs:
6) Hamulack / Perisho* / Ring / Oliver* / Feliciano* (LOOGY)

* = not on the 40

This assumes an 11-man staff.

I don't think they can carry 12 pitchers again, because their bench will likely need to include Tike Redman (the only legit CFer on the bench and a LH bat).

[Guest abogdan]

Danny Kolb was non-tendered by Milwaukee. Yes, he was awful for Atlanta last year, but depending on who the Mets put at 2B, he might be a nice fit as a one or two batter righty who can come in and get a ground ball for a double play.

[Frayed Knot]

Kolb had a good year for Milwaukee 2 years back before his disaster w/Los Bravos last season -- although many figured that with his virtually non-existant K-rates (57 IPs, 39 saves, 21 Ks !!) it was a long-shot that he'd repeat it.
Milwaukee then trades to get him back ... and then immediately non-tenders him!?!
Wes Obenmueller - the guy they dealt for him - has to be scratching his head right about now too. 'Hmmm, they thought so little of me that they traded me for some guy they didn't even want! Why didn't they just release ME and I coulda struck my own damn deal?'

[Guest Edgy DC]

I get the idea that Willie thinks middle infielders can do anything, and he's possibly cool with Woodward and Nady as backups to Beltran, who he doesn't envision giving too many days off.

[metsmarathon]

wade miller, according to ESPN's rumor central, may be getting a non-tender from the red sox. would we be interested in him for any part of our pitching staff?

[seawolf17]

I'd give Wade Miller a shot. He's youngish (30 in September), can strike guys out, won 45 games in three years from 01-03, and his bbr page is sponsored by a Pooler.

[Frayed Knot]

Except that Houston released him following his arm surgery after they decided he didn't have it anymore.
Boston then took a flyer on him hoping they'd strike lightning in a bottle .. and then released him after deciding he didn't have it anymore.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

sounds completely qualified for Mets middle relief to me.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Snooze:

The Mets and the agent for Chad Bradford (2-1, 3.86 ERA in 2005) spoke yesterday after he was let go by Boston. However, one team insider said there didn't appear to be too many newly available relievers who could help the Mets. Tampa Bay's Trever Miller is among the few southpaw relievers who came on the market.

"It certainly is an attractive team for Chad," agent Rex Gary said about the Mets. "Rick Peterson was his pitching coach at Oakland when he had good years, and Chad is accustomed to pitching for winning teams. I think he's been in the playoffs five years of his career, which hasn't been much more than that."