Mets get Stokes (split from Stay/Go/Quit)

[Valadius]

]Reliever Brian Stokes acquired by New York Mets from Tampa Bay Rays November 28, 2007 NEW YORK (AP) -- Reliever Brian Stokes was acquired Wednesday by the New York Mets from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash. The 28-year-old right-hander was 2-7 with a 7.07 ERA in 59 games for Tampa Bay last season, allowing 49 runs and 90 hits in 62 1-3 innings. He is 3-3 with three saves and a 4.30 ERA in three starts and nine relief appearances for Mexicali of the Mexican Winter League.

WHY?!?!?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Dude, I'm Stoked.

[seawolf17]

Because he's only 28, and had decent minor league numbers. Who cares? It's not like they're immediately making him the #2 starter. You can't be outraged over a middle relief arm who gets picked up for probably nothing.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

As long as he's not occupying someone else's space on the 40-man roster there is no harm at all. Somone has to start for AAA next season.

His minor league stats don;t exactly suck.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, they only gave up cash. It's not a bad idea to stock up on bullpen guys, give them a bunch of innings in spring training and see who rises to the top.

If he's good, he makes the team.

If he sucks, he goes away.

And if he's somewhere in between, then he goes to New Orleans.

As seawolf said, no need for outrage.

[metirish]

I think this is a great move by Omar, Andy Freed is coming with Stokes so it fills a few spots in the organization.

[Guest Edgy DC]

seawolf17 wrote: You can't be outraged over a middle relief arm who gets picked up for probably nothing.

Val lives on the edge, brother.

[Valadius]

In my immediate reaction, I momentarily forgot about our minor league system. It makes sense if it means he pitches in New Orleans next year. And we've got buttloads of cash.

[seawolf17]

metirish wrote: I think this is a great move by Omar, Andy Freed is coming with Stokes so it fills a few spots in the organization.

He can replace Tom McCarthy! He's a legendary radio voice, he'll be perfect!

Oh, wait... that's Alan Freed. And he died in the 60s. My bad.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Marty Noble fleshes it out a little more:

Marty Noble wrote: NEW YORK -- The Mets' reshaping of their bullpen, begun last week when Guillermo Mota was dispatched to the Brewers for Johnny Estrada, continued on Wednesday, when the club purchased 28-year-old right-handed reliever Brian Stokes from the Rays. How prominently Stokes, a pitcher with a modest big league resume and apparent control issues, figures in the Mets' plan is unclear, though he was assigned to the club's 40-man roster, leaving four vacancies for the Minor League Rule 5 Draft and other possible personnel moves. Stokes produced a 2-7 record and a 7.07 ERA in 59 games for the Rays in 2007, his first full season in the big leagues. He pitched 62 1/3 innings in 59 appearances, fourth most among American League rookie pitchers, and he allowed 90 hits, including 11 home runs, and 25 walks. Stokes also hit three batters and struck out 35. Stokes is currently pitching for Mexicali in the Mexican Winter League. He has a 3-3 record with three saves and a 4.30 ERA in 12 games, while also starting three times. In 23 innings, Stokes has allowed 27 hits and 11 walks and struck out 16. Stokes pitched briefly for the Rays in 2006 -- 1-0 record, 4.88 ERA in five games (four starts) and 24 innings. He surrendered 31 hits and nine walks and struck out 15. The righty also produced a 7-7 record and 4.11 ERA in 29 games (23 starts) for the Ray's Triple A Durham affiliate in the International League in '06.

[smg58]

He appears to have been derailed by an injury a few years ago. It's possible he could regain his form, but I think it's more likely we hear nothing from him after this.

It only cost us cash, so it's not a major commitment or anything.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, he is on the 40-man, but there are still several vacancies. I imagine that if someone more deserving comes along, Stokes would be bumped.

[bmfc1]

This guy?

http://www.will-harris.com/stokes.html

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

What are you worried about?

Rick Peterson can fix this guy in 10 minutes!

[duan]

well i hope he makes the major league roster so I can get a mets jersey with my name on it. I'd like a cool number too. 17/27/75 (wedding anniversary/birthday/yearofbirth)

[Guest Edgy DC]

One big leaguer (and a good 'un) bore my surname during the Mets era. Alas, never as a Met. I hope Duan's dream comes true where mine came up empty.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I've had two surname Mets but neither was all that shizznit.

[DocTee]

The one big-leaguer in my lifetime who shared my surname was a Met, and a Broklyn-born one at that.

[Fman99]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: What are you worried about? Rick Peterson can fix this guy in 10 minutes!

:shudder:

[Benjamin Grimm]

The only Met who shared my last name was a replacement player during the 1995 spring training.

[duan]

i think we should stop talking to you and kick you out of the pool.
And you won't get any of the cranepool's image rights divvy out.

[soupcan]

I met a guy just last night who was from Boston and his last name was Leskanic.

He said that when Curt Leskanic joined the Red Sox for a few games in '04 he was psyched to get a Sox jersey with his name on it. Alas, Curt only appeared in a few games for the BoSox that year and then moved on.

How often does a guy with a last name like that get an opportunity like that? It's like hitting the lotto.

Me? The only way I'll ever get close to that is if an immediate family member makes it big. Phoenetically, my last name is common enough but its of Gaelic origin and has serious overkill when it comes to vowels.

[TransMonk]

The closest I came to a major leaguer having my surname was Kelly Stinnett...which is still a couple of letters off.

Definitely my favorite thing about him.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Diamond Dad had a Met who was one letter off.

One freaking letter!

[metsmarathon]

while no major leaguers have ever been blessed with my surname, there are currently 5 active minor leaguers, per baseballreference, with it, including one met - a sterling award winner at that!

this year's dsl mets player of the year - pedro zapata

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I just looked it up to discover 40% of all my surnamed players in MLB history were Mets. Take that, biotches.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Edgy DC wrote: Diamond Dad had a Met who was one letter off. One freaking letter!

Me too! I used to take Dale Murray baseball cards and change the L to a V.

I was pretty excited when we signed Eddie Murray. I have the "Murray's a Met" headline from the Daily News hanging in the hosue, and I had 1992 and 1993 jerseys made up with the name on the back.

There was a Dan Murray, too.

I was able to get a game-worn Murray jersey. The Braves had a Murray who was a September cup-of-coffee and was on the chubby side, so it was both affordable and my size. Has a cool patch, too. The only down side is that it's a bleeping Braves jersey.

[metsmarathon]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I just looked it up to discover 40% of all my surnamed players in MLB history were Mets. Take that, biotches.

yeah, but did they ever win a freakin' sterling award?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Viva!

[Theoldmole]

I'd love to have Alan Freed as the Mets broadcaster.