Continuing Careers of Ex-Mets, 2010

[Farmer Ted]

Pearlman takes a look at history. Good piece.


Called Jim Duquette yesterday. Left a message for him at the Sirius XM office, where he hosts a show with Kevin Kennedy. Mentioned that I'm working on a column about Scott Kazmir.

Never heard back.

I'm not upset. Duquette is someone I know a little bit, someone I like and respect as both a former baseball executive and, now, as a fellow member of the media. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he had to cook dinner, fly to Guam, buy a sofa, meet my Uncle Marty for sushi. My guess, however, is that Duquette simply doesn't want to answer the 432,532,211th question of his life about Kazmir, Victor Zambrano and the ill-conceived trade that overshadowed his brief career as general manager of the New York Mets.

I completely understand.

It has been nearly six years to the day since Duquette, in his only season as New York's GM, famously dealt his team's top prospect, the 20-year-old Kazmir, to Tampa Bay for a pitcher who, in 2003, led the American League in walks, wild pitches and hit batsmen. Not that Zambrano didn't have an upside. He threw hard, his fastball had some wicked movement and, at age 28, he was still in the prime of his career.

"The feeling is that we still have a chance (this year)," Duquette said at the time. "We're still in the mix. Let's go for it. With these guys added to the rotation [the Mets also acquired Kris Benson from Pittsburgh] we have a chance to win every night."

The trade was a disaster.

At the time, New York was seven games behind Atlanta in the NL East standings and 7 1/2 back of San Diego for the wild card. It was a listless, heartless, ill-fitted collection of players, what with an aged Mike Piazza missing 94 games, Kaz Matsui butchering balls at shortstop, a person named Eric Valent somehow accumulating 270 at-bats and the overmatched Art Howe managing. With or without two new starting pitchers, the Mets were wretched. They finished the year 71-91, a whopping 25 games behind Atlanta and 21 out of the wild card.

Unbeknownst to the Mets, Zambrano was suffering from a bum right elbow. He would last three seasons in New York, going 10-14 with a 4.42 ERA in 39 appearances. He hasn't played in a major league game since 2007.

In the ensuing years, as Kazmir emerged as Tampa Bay's ace and a two-time All-Star, Mets fans grew to place the deal among the worst in franchise history. There was Nolan Ryan (along with Leroy Stanton, Francisco Estrada and Don Rose) to the Angels for Jim Fregosi in 1971. There was Tom Seaver to the Reds for Doug Flynn, Pat Zachry, Steve Henderson and Dan Norman in 1977. There was Mike Scott to the Astros for Danny Heep in 1982. There was Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell and Tom Edens to Philadelphia for Juan Samuel in 1989.

And now there was Kazmir for Zambrano -- Duquette's personal Waterloo.

With, ahem, one problem.

While Duquette was certainly foolish to take on Zambrano, his worries about Kazmir have, by and large, proven true. At the time of the deal, Kazmir boosters were comparing the youngster to another Ron Guidry. Both were small (Kazmir is 6-feet, 175 pounds), left-handed, fluid and hard-throwing. Yet how many Ron Guidrys are there? Truth is, when the Mets brass watched Kazmir throw, they often saw another Bud Smith, a slight St. Louis left-hander who, as a rookie phenom in 2001, went 6-3 while tossing a no-hitter. Smith was briefly the talk of baseball, but after pitching terribly early in 2002, he was traded to Philadelphia and never heard from again. He was small, he was left-handed -- and he broke down.

Yes, Scott Kazmir has had a nice career. But nice is often misleading. Now in his seventh full season, Kazmir has never posted an ERA lower than 3.48, has never won more than 13 games and has only thrown one complete game -- in 2006. After beginning last season with an 8-7 record and 5.92 ERA for Tampa Bay, he was unceremoniously shipped to the Angels for Sean Rodriguez and two prospects.

Now, with his velocity down, his once-potent slider nonexistent and his ERA a major league-worst 6.92, Kazmir has been placed on the disabled list by an organization perplexed and befuddled by a should-be ace. He recently made the worst start in the 49-year history of the Angels, permitting 13 earned runs over five innings against Oakland. "Looking at video, I can't even tell if that's me out there," Kazmir recently told ESPN. "It's getting a little out of control."

In other words, the man has broken down. He will likely never be Ron Guidry or, for that matter, the Scott Kazmir of four years ago.

This doesn't mean Jim Duquette was right. The trade was unambiguously dumb and irrational and unsophisticated. But after six years of being reminded of the blunder, it's time to let him move on.

The baseball landscape is one littered with boneheaded swaps -- many worse than Kazmir for Zambrano.

Jeff Pearlman can be reached at anngold22@gmail.com


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jeff_pearlman/07/23/kazmir/index.html?eref=sihp#ixzz0uXUp30Nv

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah, "never had an ERA below 3.48" and "one complete game" is reaching.

I am reminded though of that trade now because just like in 2004 the Mets are playing like shit after the all-star break and like then if they move heaven and earth to make a trade now they have no guarantees.

[G-Fafif]

Easy to confuse lousy years, I suppose, but Piazza missed the gargantuan chunk of time in 2003, not 2004. He was a healthy first baseman in 2004...which may have been a sickly idea, but he didn't miss extended periods of time.

Not having access to the medical reports (as apparently the Mets didn't), I was for the trade. I just assumed Kazmir would turn into Pulsipher, Leary, Hank Webb, you name him.

One hindsight thing that pissed me off at the time, after Kazmir made his debut, was that some Post (I think) columnist bemoaned how awful this was for the Mets, that by all rights, had the trade not occurred, Kazmir would be making his first start "in front of 50,000 screaming Mets fans" at Shea. Kazmir could have been followed to the mound by John Lennon and they wouldn't have drawn 50,000 to Shea in September 2004. Cast doubt and express cynicism, but don't stretch idiotically to prove your points.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ty Wigginton, flips out on the field and gets suspended for three games. He appeals, and it gets dropped to two games.

Three games? Two games? What's the big deal, Ty? Prentice Redman has to sit out 100.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Chan Ho Park, claimed by the Buccos for their "staggering pen."

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Anderson Hernandez, DFAed by the Astros.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

AndyNandy had put up a .230/.260/.284 trip-slash* this year, for an OPS+ of 50. (Because I know you're all wondering: Alex Cora has put up a .207/.265/.278 for a 47 OPS+, in twice the at-bats, and at more than four times the paycheck... which is set to automatically renew for '11 with 18 more appearances.)

And speaking of middle-infielders you can sit in judgement on... At least he didn't spit. That would be, like, unseemly.

*Even more 'ficient!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Maybe, just maybe, Carlos Delgado will be the next guy to hit his 500th home run:

MLB.com wrote: Red Sox sign Delgado to Minors deal The Red Sox may have added some veteran insurance for the stretch drive on Saturday, when they signed Carlos Delgado to a Minor League contract. Delgado, a two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, will spend the next few weeks playing his way into shape at Triple-A Pawtucket before a potential promotion. Delgado, who has hit 483 career home runs, has missed all of the season due to a hip condition that required two operations. He played in just 26 games for the Mets last year, and if he manages to make it up to Boston, it would be his first appearance with an American League club since his tenure with the Blue Jays ended in 2004. The Red Sox are likely hoping that Delgado can help fill the void left by first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was lost for the season with a torn muscle in his right thumb. Delgado, an All-Star in 2000 and 2003 with Toronto, has hit at least 30 home runs in 11 different seasons, most recently with the Mets in 2008, his last full year of action.

[Fman99]

Royce Ring, closing tonight's game for the SWB Yankees here in Syracuse. Still submarining.

[Met Hunter]

(Bridgeport, Conn. � August 23, 2010) � The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced the signing of pitcher Bartolome Fortunato. The former Major Leaguer makes his way to Bridgeport for his Atlantic League debut and ninth season of professional baseball.

Fortunato began the year with St. George of the Golden League. He made one appearance for the Road Runners, tossing one inning.

The 36-year-old was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 1996 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The reliever reached Major League status at the age of 29 with Tampa. He was traded during the 2004 season to the New York Mets along with pitcher Victor Zambrano for Jose Diaz and Scott Kazmir. Fortunato has earned two victories and worked 29 innings in the Majors between the Mets and Devil Rays. The righthander has struck out 375 batters in 337 career innings in the minors

[metirish]

Mr. Koo announces his retirement in Korea.

[G-Fafif]

metirish wrote: Mr. Koo announces his retirement in Korea.

Does a Mr. Koo "announce" his retirement, or does he just stop showing up one day and after a while somebody notices?

[seawolf17]

G-Fafif wrote: metirish wrote: Mr. Koo announces his retirement in Korea. Does a Mr. Koo "announce" his retirement, or does he just stop showing up one day and after a while somebody notices?

One of my all-time favorite Mets. They should bring him back as a coach.

[G-Fafif]

seawolf17 wrote: G-Fafif wrote: metirish wrote: Mr. Koo announces his retirement in Korea. Does a Mr. Koo "announce" his retirement, or does he just stop showing up one day and after a while somebody notices? One of my all-time favorite Mets. They should bring him back as a coach.

Baserunning?

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Former Mets manager Frank Howard is appearing tonight at the West Michigan Whitecaps (A-Midwest) game.

The Caps have a Tiger Friday promotion, where they have a former Tiger on hand, give out bobbleheads and have the player sign free autographs. They've had guys like Jack Morris and Dave Rozema.

I've going to ask Frank to sign my Mets book, and ask him about managing Tom Seaver!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ask him about Craig Swan.

[MFS62]

Ask him about the brown spot of dead grass in left field in RFK stadium where he used to stand.
Then, make him feel better. Ask him about the blue painted seats in the upper deck of RFK which mark where two of his longest home runs landed. Does he remember the pitchers? The pitches?

Later

[metirish]

G-Fafif wrote: metirish wrote: Mr. Koo announces his retirement in Korea. Does a Mr. Koo "announce" his retirement, or does he just stop showing up one day and after a while somebody notices?

Jimmy Carter is over there trying to talk him out of retirement.

[MFS62]

metirish wrote: metirish wrote: Mr. Koo announces his retirement in Korea. Does a Mr. Koo "announce" his retirement, or does he just stop showing up one day and after a while somebody notices? Jimmy Carter is over there trying to talk him out of retirement.

Well played.
Both of them.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Nats, convinced they've found their own Jaimie Moyer, sign Orlando Hernandez to an extension.

He may be a Moyer, but he's not a Dickey.

Rod Barajas, psyched to come home.

Alex Cora, recharged and ready to be a Ranger.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Last year, my Dad won Freddy Garcia's jersey during spring training, which was OK for Freddy since he never needed it at Citi Field after all. I assumed he was done.

But Sunday I went to see the White Sox with a buddy, and there on the cover of the program was the near-Met Garcia. He's 11-5 with an ugly ERA -- but pitching nonetheless. I had no idea.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Speaking of near-Mets, any word on what's become of Kelvim Escobar? I thought he'd get a rehab assignment or something.

[G-Fafif]

Your 2000 National League Champion Mets are coming out of mothballs: Jay Payton is up with the Rockies, Mike Hampton is a Diamondback.

And Super Joe McEwing could easily start at second base for this club.

[ashie62]

G-Fafif wrote: Your 2000 National League Champion Mets are coming out of mothballs: Jay Payton is up with the Rockies, Mike Hampton is a Diamondback. And Super Joe McEwing could easily start at second base for this club.

This is frightening and everyone was kung-foo fighting.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Julie Alexandria, hitting the big time.

[Benjamin Grimm]

So who's hosting Mets Weekly?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I've got a thinly-veiled sexual innuendo in my thinly-veiled sexual-sounding location!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Speaking of which, I did some research on Miss Hillside Honda:

http://www.exploretalent.com/model_page.php?talentnum=1511079

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=3B&sid=l135&t=p_pbp&pid=110135

That's the man himself. He ain't playing great, but he's still playing. One for four Sunday night in the Venezuelan Winter League.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Speaking of which, I did some research on Miss Hillside Honda: http://www.exploretalent.com/model_page.php?talentnum=1511079

Just saw. Meow.

I don't know who the lovely is that they've got in there working the floor, but... well... she compares. (Not necessarily favorably, but...)