Alay Soler - The Forgotten Man

[MFS62]

Sounds like a nice guy.

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051216&content_id=1283417&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

Later

[smg58]

I'm guessing that Soler winds up in the pen, which would be fine with me. And if he turns out to be too good to keep in the pen, that's OK too.

[nymr83]

with the bullshit loss of Seo does Soler get a shot?

[Frayed Knot]

As what, a starter? ... I doubt it.

Short-term: he's probably a more likely candidate for a pen guy but even then it might not happen right out of camp. Remember this is a guy who hasn't pitched competetively in over a year and a half. Word is that those who have seen him like "his stuff" but it's all been during instructional leagues in the DR since his defection and visa nightmares.

Long-term: Assuming things go well ... either he or Heilman gets designated as the 6th starter/injury fill-in this year, with one or both "graduating" to the rotation as Glavine, Trax, etc need replacing by '07.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I assume he opens in a minor league rotation (if his arm strength is up to snuff, else in a minor league bullpen), with plans to fill him in if and when a spot becomes available. I think we should look at him more for 2007.

[smg58]

I don't know where they see Soler fitting in, and how soon. If he's capable of contributing to the bullpen fairly quickly this year, the Seo deal gets that much harder to defend. It's possible that the Mets will try to fill only one of their two vacancies in the starting rotation next offseason with a free agent, but a lot can happen in the meantime.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Soler succeeding at the big league level should not reflect poorly on the Seo deal. The Seo deal should sink or swim based on the performance of the players involved in the trade.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Edgy DC wrote: Soler succeeding at the big league level should not reflect poorly on the Seo deal. The Seo deal should sink or swim based on the performance of the players involved in the trade.

Of course it should. If the Mets have adequate product in the pipeline, then they shouldn't be acquiring more product, and using up some of the revenue needed for other positions to do so.

Of course, the Mets understanding what a prospect looks like is a foreign concept altogether. As I've said before, if this squad of goofballs was runnning the team in 1967, Seaver would have been traded to the Dodgers before Spring Training for the 37-year-old Maury Wills to block Harrelson.

[seawolf17]

Edgy DC wrote: Soler succeeding at the big league level should not reflect poorly on the Seo deal. The Seo deal should sink or swim based on the performance of the players involved in the trade.

I agree with Bret. Isn't that part of the basic concept behind VORP?

Isn't that also why guys like Overbay and Thome get dealt? If you have what you perceive as a stronger replacement already, then that counts, at least a little bit.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I certainly say early and often that a team --- particularly this team ---should not be dealing quality anything to build a bullpen, and I vote nay on the Seo deal in particular. But I don't anticipate Sanchez blocking Soler Moon-Frye under any circumstances.

Bullpens have 4-8 guys in them.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And, after a year and half off, there's a decent few peeps ahead of him right now that are more likely to lose innings to Sanchez.

[Frayed Knot]

I suppose we'll have to first decide whether to define Soler as 'an expensive foreign free agent' or 'a young up-and-comer' before we know whether he's being forced onto the roster despite a lack of track record, or being kept down by the man.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yup, yup, coffee cup.

[Guest Gold Glove]

Actually, I believe I am the forgotten man... how is everyone?

By the way, here's another good article on Soler from my local paper:

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=97329&ran=102901

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Hey Glove.

For one reason or another, I recall you'd made a comment way back when about Seo that he was a bit of a clown in spring training, until 03 at least. Was that really you and if so, can you provide any more detail?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Way to represent, Glove.

[Willets Point]

Welcome home Glove!

[Guest Gold Glove]

I don't recall too much different in spring training, but he was always a bit of a clown in general. He had weird pre-game rituals... he'd binge eat before a start and fast a lot of the rest of the time... I really like the deal with LA. I don't think he's got the stamina to make it through a full season with the Dodgers with the same kind of success he had here last year. Sanchez and Schmoll are both excellent young relievers. I really think Schmoll is going to be a gem. He's a submariner with good movement.

[Guest vtmet]

]He's a submariner with good movement.

But...does he have location and velocity?

[Vic Sage]

]He's a submariner

should we call him Namor?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Imperious Rex!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Namor makes me feel bad about my own physique.

Schmoll is like Bobby Parnell in that he entered the pros with crap college numbers and quickly turned it around in the minors.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Namor should at least make you feel good about your eyebrows.

[Guest vtmet]

Edgy DC wrote: Namor makes me feel bad about my own physique. Schmoll is like Bobby Parnell in that he entered the pros with crap college numbers and quickly turned it around in the minors.

Do they use aluminum bats in college? If they do, switching to throwing against wood might help build some confidence...

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I can't find anything about it online, but today's print edition of the Daily News says that the Mets signed 31-year-old Cuban defector Michel Abreu, a first baseman who had almost signed with the Red Sox last year. The Sox pulled out when they discovered he was four years older than they had first thought. Again, according to the News, he was being considered as a possible starting firstbaseman for Boston in 2006.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Abreu defected two years ago, and has been in Costa Rica since then.

[seawolf17]

Yancy, have you learned nothing? You're supposed to post that in a separate thread, titled "Mets Get Abreu!!!!"

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think the Sox actually signed Abreu, but then got the deal voided based on his inability to establish US residency (although they were perhaps more conerned with the age issue).

The Mets have absolutely monopolized the marketplace on francophonic Cubans.

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Question:

What will Alay Soler's first bloop hit be called?

[Frayed Knot]

A: a Soler flare