Starting Pitcher for 2010

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Rockin' Doc wrote: Maybe Omar is hoping Cora has a little Desi Relaford in him.

He'd better hope so. He's paying the guy three Desis worth of dinars.

[ashie62]

Nymr83 wrote: Centerfield wrote: Bedard to the M's. $1.5 million, reportedly. Yes, that's $500,000.00 less than Alex Cora for those keeping score at home. (Yes, I'm sure that there are incentives and the deal is not official yet, I'm just saying...) now theres a guy i feel the Mets let slip at that price tag because i wouldn't have blinked if Wilpon paid double

It's the Wilpon's...a little tight with a buck

[Benjamin Grimm]

I have to wonder, would a team with a $140 million payroll get all these accusations of "cheapness" if the owners weren't Jewish?

Just asking.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I used to wonder that also.

Of course, Jews seem to throw the "tight" and "cheap" label at the Wilpons just as much.

[Frayed Knot]

My personal view is that the Wilpon cheapness angle generally comes both as a result of comparison to the Steinbrenner Yanquis and with the notion that spending should be linked to personal wealth regardless of revenue streams rather than being connected to religious stereotype/slander.

[MFS62]

The Madoff scandal was widely publicized. He, as well as many of his victims, were Jewish. Nobody really knows how much money they lost. (although current court settlement lawsuits may reveal much of that information) But nobody also knows how much money Fred also may have lost with the decline of the real estate market the past few years.

Yes, there have been stories this off season about a "limit" on team spending. He has been called "Freddie coupon" as in looking for bargains. I don't think any of those stories have said, or even intimated, it is because he is Jewish. As you've probably figured out by now, I would have been very sensitive to those kinds of things, and haven't picked up on that. Of course, it might depend on the paradigm through which you read them.

But there also have been stories in which Omar and Fred have claimed there is no limit. Nobody knows which is correct. Nor do we know why they haven't spent as much as some fans would have liked. (FK nailed the Steinbrenner comparison angle) As has been written here at the CPF, they have spent. And since there weren't any other of the "name" players they felt were substantially better than what they already have, why spend? Especially since there is a crop of players coming up through the system who will be filling some of those perceived holes shortly.

Later

[Willets Point]

I think "penny wise, pound foolish" may more accurately describe the Wilpons.

[ashie62]

Willets Point wrote: I think "penny wise, pound foolish" may more accurately describe the Wilpons.

I like that..I never thought of it as Jewish "issue" or not, I just think it's baseball in NY

I like your avatar also..He looks so happy!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

So it seems our FO has reached the "beer goggles" stage of the offseason.

Pitcher Todd Wellemeyer reportedly told a St. Louis radio station that the Mets are one of three teams interested in signing him. Wellemeyer appeared on Team 1380 to say it's doubtful he would return to the Cardinals, with the Mets, Rockies or Giants his likely landing spot, perhaps in the next three days. Wellemeyer, a 31-year-old right-hander, started 21 games for the Cardinals last season, He was 7-10 with a 5.89 ERA. Opponents batted .328 against him.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Nothing new on Wellemeyer.

On Wang, the boat appears to be leaving the dock. It seems the Mets are contemplating stopping by the travel agent on the way home to express their interest in buying a ticket for this boat.

Wang sweepstakes heat up -- 3:09 p.m. If the Dodgers or Mets intend to sign free-agent right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, they will need to accelerate their pursuits. Wang, 30, has received offers from two other, unidentified clubs, according to a major-league source. He likely will make a decision within 7 to 10 days, the source said. Various teams are at different points in the process with Wang. The Dodgers are lagging, the source said, and the Mets are further behind... ...Several clubs have sent their trainers and/or pitching coaches to watch Wang, who is throwing three times a week. Some teams already have given Wang physicals; once he agrees to a deal, that part of the process will be complete.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Big whoop.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Oh yeah?

Well, I answer your lack of genuine whoop with an utterly vague report of offers from the Nats, who seem to be shopping from the same list as our Metsies, with a good deal more success.

The scuttlebutt from a veritable nation of Tweeters is that it's 2 million guaranteed, with a chance to double that with incentives. The Dodgers are apparently out. The Mets, Phils, and Cards-- all rumored to have reached out to him earlier-- have nothing confirmed on the offer board.

Todd Wellemeyer, meanwhile, inks a minor-league deal, according to the future XfinitySportsNet-Bay Area.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Good for the Nats. They need these guys more.

Seriously, it's not that I think the Mets have an excellent thing going, because I don't.

And it's not that I think they aren't operating from a reduced budget, because I suspect they may be. I suspect most teams may be.

But I just don't think fishing in shallow pools is the answer. If this season is to be undone, it's not because last year indicated the players we see this year. If it's to be undone, it's because one or more of the guys taken down by injury will get hurt again. Injuries tend beget injuries, and they tend to portend downturns, that's life.

The reason I more or less approve of what they're doing anyhow is that

(1) they haven't saboutaged their development pipeline in desperately trying to save last season or this (Stevie says they're barren, I say they ain't, and they're getting less barren every day; and

(2) if they indeed have money left, they might as well save it until they know what they're actual need is and aquire some help mid-season, if necessary.

They had more or less a complete team on opening day last season (give or take a fifth starter). That team didn't fail to succeed, so much as fail to stay healthy. Returning the whole team (replacing Delgado with Bay and swapping catchers and relievers) means they have more or less a full team again, if more unstable.

Somewhere, they will blow a gasket again, but I don't know where. And I'm not sure they should blow their money on Sheets or Garland or Wang in fear that Ollie will blow, when two months from now it'll be Beltran. Or why fill the big-league roster with a costly replacement for Beltran when he might be fine, or Martinez may be suddenly ready to step in? Or it might be Reyes who gets hurt again! Goodness gracious, Reyes! Why did we blow our last dollar landing some Chin-Ming Wang when we need a shortstop?

They probably won't win the big thingie, but they have ripening talent, chose not to screw with it, have guys returning from injury, and landed one of the top two hitters on the market to fill a very specific need.

The rest of these guys, well, they ain't Mets, and that's that. I don't think the Nats have been more successful. I don't think the Mets are really fishing in their pond at all. And really, do we actually want more Tim Reddings? Isn't it obvious that we'd have been better off if his starts went to Nieve or Figueroa or even Stokes?

High-end guys on minor league contracts give you the flexibility that low-end guys and major league dealios deny you.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Fair points, all. And yeah, I'm making my peace with the roster we'll likely be watching, and the moves-- or lack thereof-- that got us there. And I'm okay with it, mostly. (And mostly for points 1 and 2.)

I mean, we'd have no way of knowing, really, whether the Mets have at some point this offseason offered Fernando Martinez, Jenrry Mejia, and Ike Davis for Brandon Arroyo and a bowl of Skyline and been turned down. But the end result-- a marked lack of panic moves from a GM who's been very publicly on the hot seat-- is something (presuming it sticks) for which I'll be eternally thankful to O, regardless of his fate.

Really, the one reason I'm not happier is that the one big move they made doesn't quite fit with these successes. In Bay, they've made what looks to be something of a Pedro contract-- 4 years guaranteed to assure 1-2 good ones, with decline likely in the latter portion of the shebang. If he's performing now at the latter portion of his peak, and there are plenty of one-to-two-year upgrades available, then why waste that performance (and one last 1-2 year stretch of an under-market Reyes and Wright)? Why not go crazy with one-year, high-reward deals? [Or, conversely... if you want to use this as more of an evaluation/lick-the-wounds year... then why sign Bay at all?]

I will, however, allow that $2 million is a lot to pay for Wang. I don't know if I could ever shell out that much money for any Wang, much less a possibly-broken Wang with performance-sustenance issues.

[duan]

i said it somewhere else, but 2011's a year when a whale load of contracts & tendering rights end.
in 2011 we're already committed to
$108.613, 11 milion to Reyes
and SEVEN players in arbitration which i reckon will get around 16-20 million. That's almost $140 already.

but for 2012 we're commited to
$60.875
in order of probably '11 salary
beltran (20), perez (12), reyes (11), castillo(6), francoeur (6), Maine (5) are all free agents, plus francico rodriguez if option isn't triggered.

***
way i read it, they are tight for money this year especially and that next year's the one where they can take the risks and especially deferred salary style FA deals.

You're right in that Bay jars with that, and that if they weren't going to sign another big FA they'd have been better filling all the slots that they think might be below Major League average BP.com suggested - "Gregg Zaun, Adam LaRoche, and Johnny Damon to fill their lineup more evenly, adding about one win at catcher, another 1-2 wins at first base, and another two wins with Damon. The cost of Zaun was $2.15 million, LaRoche got $5.5 million, and Damon could probably be had for about $7 "

and they'd have some flexibilty next year and even more in 2012.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

That aching Takahashi void, gnawing at the back of our minds from the back of the roster since Ken's contract expired in October? Consider it sated.

Since 1997, when they signed an obscure reliever out of the Japanese minor leagues, the Mets have had more players from Japan than any other major league team. That international connection remains strong to this day and now the Mets are close to adding their second Japanese pitcher of the off-season. With only days to go before spring training, the Mets were on the verge of agreeing to terms Thursday with the veteran left-handed pitcher Hisanori Takahashi on a minor league contract, according to a person in baseball with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be identified because no one was authorized to speak publicly on the matter. (LWFS: Someone's losing a finger because of this dishonor, isn't he?) Takahashi, who spent the last 10 years with Tokyo�s Yomiuri Giants, chose the Mets over the Dodgers, the Orioles, the Red Sox and the Padres, all of whom offered minor league contracts as well. But the Mets made the strongest offer, believed to be worth about $1 million if Takahashi makes the major league team, with a chance to make roughly an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses. Adding Takahashi, who turns 35 on April 2, indicates the Mets do not expect to sign John Smoltz, who is said to be seeking at least $3 million. With an inconsistent career in Japan, his relatively small size and the low velocity of his fastball, Takahashi did not generate a groundswell of interest in the United States since declaring he would leave Japan after last season. But he will be given a chance to compete for the Mets� fifth starter�s job, and could also be used out of the bullpen. Unless the Mets sign or trade for another pitcher, Takahashi will compete with Fernando Nieve and Jon Niese for the final spot in the rotation, although with his experience there is a chance he could move to a higher position in the rotation before long. Takahashi played his entire career in Japan for the Giants in the Central League, where designated hitters and small ballparks make life a challenge for pitchers. After being drafted first by the Giants in 1999, he has had some outstanding seasons, and some relatively unimpressive ones as well. He has also pitched some big games in the postseason for the Giants with mixed results. He is listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 172 pounds and is said to throw 86 to 90 miles an hour. He has five pitches, all of which he uses at various points in the count to keep hitters off balance, and he does not shy away from challenging hitters. Last season he was 10-6 with a 2.94 earned run average and struck out 126 batters and walked 36 in 144 innings. His best season was 2007, when he went 14-4 with a 2.75 E.R.A., made the Central League All-Star team and was named to the Best Nine, meaning he was considered the best pitcher in that league. If he makes the Mets, Takahashi, along with reliever Ryota Igarashi, who was signed in December, will become the 10th and 11th Japanese players to play for the Mets. The first was Takashi Kashiwada, a minor leaguer in the Giants system who appeared in 32 games for the Mets in 1997.

[batmagadanleadoff]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Takahashi, who spent the last 10 years with Tokyo�s Yomiuri Giants, chose the Mets over the Dodgers, the Orioles, the Red Sox and the Padres....

I like this pick-up, but only because the Red Sox were also interested in Takahashi. That's gotta be a good thing ... right?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

If Beruit were in the running, no way would he have chosen the Mets.

[Centerfield]

I get nervous when I hear a guy has 5 pitches. Usually that means none of them are good. Maybe a LOOGY?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Minor league deal, so he's eminently stashable if he doesn't dazzle (and Nieve, Niese or Nelly does).

Also... maybe he throws a gyroball!

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Right you are, Hisanori.

[metirish]

Five fucking pitches and all of them right down the middle....fuck

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

More on our man Hisanori from NPB Tracker. No gyroball... but there's a screwball! Welcome to Hisamania, naysayers!

Is coming off a solid 2009 campaign: 10-6, 2.94 ERA, 121/36 K/BB in 144 IP Isn�t going to overwhelm anyone with an 85-90 mph fastball Has an excellent screwball, which he induces grounders and misses bats with; should be a plus pitch at the MLB level as well Also has a two-seam fastball, slider and curve; the two-seamer is a pretty good pitch Has never been a huge innings eater in Japan: career high is 186.2 IP (2007), has twice thrown 163 (2002, 2005), next highest total is 144 (2009) Was not a lefty killer in 2009: lefties hit .300 against him (48/160), while holding righties to .250 (99/396) Did keep lefties in the park in 2009: only three of his 16 home runs allowed came against lefties

[smg58]

Screwball pitchers do tend to have reverse platoon splits.

He's probably not a difference maker, but cheap redundancy never hurts.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Nationals, after completely opting out of the starting pitcher market the last two offseasons, are feasting this winter, gobbling up Chien-Ming Wang and his 9.64 ERA.

[TransMonk]

The Nationals may not finish last this season. The NL East is going to be fun/nerve-racking.

[metirish]

Coming for the all powerful AL East Wang should eat up the weak NL East , something like that anyway...

[ashie62]

Non of the players in the poll made it to the Mets-yet

I'd like Papier Meche in July

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ben Sheets' line today against Cincinnati:

IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	Salary	Appearance
0.0	8	10	9	1	0	1	31.15	$10,000,000	Overweight

[seawolf17]

metirish wrote: Coming for the all powerful AL East Wang should eat up the weak NL East , something like that anyway...

How on earth did someone include the words "eat" and "Wang" in the same post, and yet draw nary a comment from fman, even two months later? His radar is off.