Mets Blog says that Jon Heyman says...

[Benjamin Grimm]

Earlier today on WFAN, SI.com�s Jon Heyman said he believes the Mets would like to sign Matt Holliday to play left field next season. Heyman said he feels the Braves, Giants and Mets will compete for Holliday, though he �wouldn�t be shocked to see him go to the Yankees, Red Sox or Cardinals.� In the end, he believes Holliday will stay in National League. Earlier this week, in a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff said Holliday�s first choice is to sign with the Yankees, then the Mets. �of course, the Mets play in the National League� the Yankees do not� it�s going to be about money for holliday, as it should be� the thing i keep wondering about is will the Mets have to pay for Citi Field� i mean, if holliday is going to be forced to take a shorter-term deal, does he want to sign for his next supper with offensive stats from a pitcher�s park� in other words, if the Mets are going to dish out a huge, mega-deal for seven years, i bet he shakes off Citi Field pretty quick� but, most things being equal, will he just as soon sign in a park and with a team that might serve him better in a few years on the open market� In regards to a starting pitcher� Heyman said he doesn�t see the Mets trading to get Blue Jays RHP Roy Halladay, despite having enough, quality prospects to make a deal. Instead, Heyman believes the Mets will look at the market for free-agent starting pitchers, in an effort to sign a �solid innings-guy, who doesn�t get hurt. According to Heyman, the Mets regret not signing Randy Wolf last off season, instead choosing Oliver Perez.

I do like the idea of getting a starting pitcher who's immune to injury. (And I share the regret over Randy Wolf.)

The Mets do have enough quality prospects to deal for Roy Halladay? That contradicts what we've been hearing from most "pontificators."

As for Matt Holliday, I'm not sure what to root for here. Is he the best use of the Mets' off-season dollars? I don't know enough about him to have an opinion, but I'm sure that others here do. Holliday aside, I'd like someone to hit 30 homers for the Mets next year (Wright, Beltran, Ike Davis, a new import... somebody!) so that this Citi Field-as-an-albatross thing can get nipped in the bud before it really takes hold.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I do like the idea of getting a starting pitcher who's immune to injury. (And I share the regret over Randy Wolf.)[/quote:1ez0me5s]
Sure, and if we can get one immune to bullets, H1N1, and taxicabs, all the better.

The idea of nipping the "CitiField as albatross thing in the bud" is pretty ridiculous. Heyman is the bud.

[metirish]

Heyman said he feels the Braves, Giants and Mets will compete for Holliday, though he �wouldn�t be shocked to see him go to the Yankees, Red Sox or Cardinals.�

All bases covered.....

Heyman said he doesn�t see the Mets trading to get Blue Jays RHP Roy Halladay, despite having enough, quality prospects to make a deal. although he wouldn't be shocked if he ended up in Flushing , or for that matter in the Bronx or at Fenway

[Benjamin Grimm]

Sure, and if we can get one immune to bullets, H1N1, and taxicabs, all the better.
[/quote:3j6xca17]

I'd be down with that, too! They should add that to their list of qualifications.

The idea of nipping the "CitiField as albatross thing in the bud" is pretty ridiculous. Heyman is the bud.[/quote:3j6xca17]

Is he really the only one saying that? I don't think so. I know I've heard it before, and I don't think it was from Jon Heyman, since it's been a long time since I've seen him or read him.

[soupcan]

...I'd like someone to hit 30 homers for the Mets next year (Wright, Beltran, Ike Davis, a new import... somebody!) so that this Citi Field-as-an-albatross thing can get nipped in the bud before it really takes hold.

[ashie62]

Holliday will go to whoever offers him the most money in the Cash Cab

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Seems to me if the Mets really go for Holliday it frees up Fartinez to go in a trade (for Halladay?). It shouldn't necessarily, but it does, since I think they more or less will stick with Muffy at 1B (along with a RHH partner ... Nady? ... ) and will need to get punch from somewhere.

As for Ollie Perez, to me it's almost the same exact dealie as Castillo last season: He's a talented guy who came in a little out of shape, struggled with injuries that were minor but nagging (and probably related to being out of shape), and as a result become a whipping boy. But that is not something worth worrying over, since being that bad or that out of shape again virtually assures Perez won't be around for long (sure we'll pay him but that's not our problem). I think he'll be fine next year.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Nady would make an interesting partner, as he'll be coming off shoulder surgery and teams will be shy about signing him as an outfielder. He also has the bat to potentially steal some or all of Murphy's time against rightiies, a la Ray Knight. Another thought on my head is Paul Konerko, but it'd take a trade to bring him in, and he may be just a touch too good and two touches too pricey to bat only against lefties.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I may have to forget Konerko. He has a limited no-trade clause, and if the Mets are on the list of no-traded teams, he may well invoke his protection in order to keep from going into a platoon situation in a walk year.

[metsmarathon]

according to an analysis posted by amazin' avenue, (link), citifield does not necessarily kill home runs, especially not as much as was feared, and in fact, 5.7% more homers were hit at citi than on the road.

granted, its only one year...

[Guest Edgy DC]

Which is why I'm saying there's no bud but the bud you proffer.

It's a psychological construct, and the way to nip it is purge it from your psyche.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, that only works for rational people.

I think the bud would be more effectively nipped if somebody slugged 30+ homers for the Mets next year.

I'm not caring what the fans or the press think; I just don't want the Mets to become an unattractive destination for free agent sluggers.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

For years, we've been told that Shea was an extreme pitcher's park, yet we've still been able to lure some hitters. Can Citi be any more of a pitcher's park?

Any park where Luis Castillo can hit one into the second deck can't be too hard on batters.

[metirish]

Yeah, that only works for rational people.

I think the bud would be more effectively nipped if somebody slugged 30+ homers for the Mets next year.

I'm not caring what the fans or the press think; I just don't want the Mets to become an unattractive destination for free agent sluggers.[/quote:22x5i22b]


Totally agree, if you just dropped in from Mars you might be forgiven for thinking that the Mets built the biggest stadium ever, the teams main slugger was out most of the year....Conon Jackson showed us all what can be done...this season was like a perfect storm of events that all played into each other to make things look terrible....which it was .

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, that only works for rational people.

I think the bud would be more effectively nipped if somebody slugged 30+ homers for the Mets next year.

I'm not caring what the fans or the press think; I just don't want the Mets to become an unattractive destination for free agent sluggers.[/quote:33i6qvqz]
I want sombody to hit 30 homers for it's own sake.

Wouldn't the same logic suggest that the Mets would be a dream destination for free-agent pitchers?

I'm not ready to let the jackasses control the argument and the culture. It can only hurt the Mets.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I want sombody to hit 30 homers for it's own sake.
[/quote:34goufll]

You really do like to disagree, don't you? Of course I want that too. I'm just saying that 30 homers would also serve another cause.

Wouldn't the same logic suggest that the Mets would be a dream destination for free-agent pitchers?
[/quote:34goufll]

Yeah' date=' but I want the team to have sluggers too.

I'm not ready to let the jackasses control the argument and the culture. It can only hurt the Mets.[/quote:34goufll]

That's a problem that's far more widespread than the Mets. I'd be glad to have the jackasses control the Mets culture if they'd turn their attention away from the rest of the country.

[Guest Edgy DC]

No, I don't really like to disagree. I just think it's conterproductive to yield to that thinking. I don't like the Mets outfield walls because I don't like the arbitrarily changing heights. I really don't think there's a meaningful net gain or loss in their free-agent appeal due to the dimensions.

[metirish]

He admitted on facebook weeks ago that he disagrees with everyone....

[Guest Edgy DC]

Doesn't mean I like it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't think I'm "yielding to their thinking" as much as I'd like to see a happy event that also conclusively disproves the misconceptions.

[Frayed Knot]

He admitted on facebook weeks ago that he disagrees with everyone....[/quote:1liz53ca]

Yes, but he now disagrees with that statement.

[Frayed Knot]

btw, Holliday has hit 30+ HRs exactly twice - the same number of times as Wright and once fewer than Beltran so it's not like he's any more of a sure-fire candidate to hit 30 than are several incumbents. Plus both of his times were while calling Coors Field home which, even though it's the post-humidor era at Coors Field, is still a much better offensive park than just about anywhere else now or in MLB history.
Signing him - or anyone for that matter - as a way to break the psychological CitiField barrier (if indeed there actually is one) is, by itself, a lousy reason to get someone.

Aside from that, Holliday does have some things going for him although he's far from a complete player. He's strictly a corner OFer who's about to turn 30 and is already no better than a mediocre fielder and runner. Worth a look but I just hope they don't get it into their heads that this is a 'Have to Have!!' guy.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't think I'm "yielding to their thinking" as much as I'd like to see a happy event that also conclusively disproves the misconceptions.