Chan Ho Park?

[Guest attgig]

apparently, the pads were offering him a contract too

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/02/08/sports/professional/padres/22_38_462_7_07.txt


and has a new agent who negotiated this contract:
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/200701/kt2007012817252811640.htm

[Guest Rotblatt]

Apparently, he's only guaranteed $600K, with an additional $2.4M in incentives, based largely on playing time. (From www.rotoworld.com).

That makes me like this move a lot more.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Me too, not that I trust rotoworld scoops.

Wait a minute. Does rotoworld know about any clauses in Scott Schoeneweis' contract?

[Guest vtmet]

According to the NY Post, Park's Pay is a base salary of under $1 Mil...

[Gwreck]

ESPN sez. 600 K with up to 2.4 Mil in performance bonuses based on IP.

[metirish]

Ok,would it be a good thing or a bad thing if Park achieves the IP to get the performance bonuses to kick in?

I suppose there are several ways to look at that.

[nymr83]

Edgy DC wrote: I don't think he's handed anything, but I think he reports to camp as a favorite for the fifth slot. In fact, it's possible that rotation that leaves camp is Glavine-Hernandez-Perez-Park-Sosa, Maine having options.

i think thats what we're all afraid of...Maine getting treated the way Seo was treated after his good year

[smg58]

Seo took too many things for granted and wound up pitching his way out of the rotation that spring. I didn't agree with it, but Seo didn't help his case any. He also didn't have more quality playoff starts than his competition combined. I'm assuming that Maine will have to be spectaculaly awful or hurt to lose his spot.

We outbid other teams for Park and Sosa, so anybody who claims them on waivers if they get DFA'd will pay them more than they were willing to offer them in free agency. It's probably not that likely, and even if it does happen we'd get back money they wouldn't be earning while pitching in New Orleans. So I don't see any reason to factor in options when making the rotation; just get the best five out there.

I think it's safe to assume, given the multitude of options, that Park would have to pitch well for the incentives to kick in.

[smg58]

Keep in mind also that Park closed for Korea in the WBC, so he is a viable bullpen option as well.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Dong-A Libo seems to think the $3 million is guaranteed and he's our number-three.

[nymr83]

I'd suggest that they aren't the most objective in these matters and that their Dollars-to-korean currency calculations must be off or something.
i'll trust ESPN's report until given a good reason (words out of the mets mouths) not to.

[seawolf17]

="Mets Blog"]For his career, Chan Ho Park has posted a 4.19 ERA against teams from the National League East, other than the Mets. Park has had the most success against the Phillies, compiling a 3.09 ERA in 70 innings pitched, and has had the most trouble facing the Braves, sporting a 5.67 ERA in 79 and two-thirds innings. Additionally, the 33-year-old right-hander has posted a 2.92 ERA and allowed no home runs in six career appearances at Shea Stadium.

Interesting.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I 'spect, though that that's pretty readily attributable to Park doing most of his pitching against the Phils back in the nineties when he was a better pitcher.

[Guest Edgy DC]

One thing that makes Chan Ho Metly is that he once went karate kicking on Tim Belcher, who went 2-0 against the Mets in the 1988 LCS.

[Frayed Knot]

btw, NYDN reporter Adam Rubin was on the SNY program today 'Daily News Live' saying that the Mets, rather than seeing CH Park as the favorite for the 5th starter position, view him as nothing more than an insurance policy and that the contract - initially reported at $3mil - guarantees him no more than 100-200K if he's cut during ST.

IOW, they're not nearly as committed to him as many of us first suspected.

[Gwreck]

It's good to know they made a sound financial investment, but I wonder who exactly Adam Rubin is thinking is in the lead for that 5th spot -- Pelfrey?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Maybe we can get Rubin to visit us again. Wasn't it during spring training when he visited us last year?

[Frayed Knot]

Gwreck wrote: It's good to know they made a sound financial investment, but I wonder who exactly Adam Rubin is thinking is in the lead for that 5th spot -- Pelfrey?

I just think his point was that it's very much an open competition for #5 and that Park doesn't have a leg up simply due to a contract situation as many initially assumed.
The Mets are certainly hoping that Pelfrey and/or Humber step up and grab it during ST but that Park & Sele & Vargas, etc are there in case they don't.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It is a major league deal, though, right? I'd say that makes him a nominal favorite, anyhow.

[Frayed Knot]

ML yes (at least I assume so) but even the low 600K base salary only kicks in if he actually makes the squad.
They can cut him before opening day and not be on the hook for much more than what amounts to meal money these days.

[Diamond Dad]

I hate Park. He's worthless. Even for $600K, he'll get to spring training and take innings away from Pelfry and Humber and any number of other kids who have so much more upside and who I'd rather see pitch. If Park is the #5 starter, he'll suck and it will inhibit the development of whatever young future star who ends up at AAA as a result. Park will have one or two good starts early and we'll wonder whether Oman caught lightning in a bottle, but by June we'll be wishing we had Ishii back. Tell me that Humber couldn't put up a 4.81 ERA and lose as many as he wins -- that's what Park did last year -- giving up 1.4 baserunners per inning pitched.

H.A.T.E. him.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Well, at least Park's signing did have one up side...it briefly brought Diamond Dad out of semi-retirement on the forum.

I whole heartedly agree with DD's assessment.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

And I think you two need to share a joint and mellow out.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The real question is whether the theoretical time at AAA will by definition inhibit development. If that's true, then the issue isn't Park, but the Mets.

Humber threw 73 innings last year. By his own admission, he's still rebuilding arm strength. I have no problem with Park parking him at AAA until he does.

Pelfrey is another issue. But I think it's an open question of whether a top pitching prospect is better served pitching substandardly in the bigs or being held back until it appears he's ready to perform well consistently.

I agree the 2007 Mets are likely not better served breaking camp with Park or Pelfrey. I still don't think the hate is worth it. There'll be retreads every year in every camp for every team. Some are Darren Oliver. Most ain't.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

I like the Park signing simply because it blocks Pelfrey from joining the ML rotation.

The Tounged One has a nasty fastball, and the fact that he's been able to dominate lower competition with just that bodes well for his future, but I don't want him in the Big Boy rotation until he's got a secondary pitch he can rely on.

Not to mention that Ballmer just paid $3 million+ for Trachsel, making the Park deal glow in comparison.

[Frayed Knot]

"Humber threw 73 innings last year"

Which makes it about 150 or so professional innings since his drafting approx 32 months ago!! Oh yeah, and there was that surgery thing.
Just how badly do we want this guy to go wire to wire while throwing 200+ IPs this season?

And the 'take time away from kids' in ST reasoning is silly.

[nymr83]

i don't think we necessarily want Humber to start the year in the majors...but we want Humber OR Pelfrey to be able to earn a spot in the spring and not be locked out automatically by a pitcher we already know isn't very good.

[Frayed Knot]

And what makes you think that they'll be "automatically locked out"?

[nymr83]

i dont necessarily think that, but if they are, or if its a bullshit "competition" (like the "competition" the Jets said they were having at QB in the preseason) then i'd be pissed off.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Bring Park the hate until the Jets get their act together!