Healthy Scratches

[HahnSolo]

Sny reporting that FMart and Tejada were removed from the lineup at Buffalo minutes before game time.
Minaya was asked about it and said something like "we'll see".

[HahnSolo]

Tracksuit:

Infielder Ruben Tejada and outfielder Fernando Martinez were scratched from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons lineup about five minutes prior to game time tonight. It is not immediately clear if either player is set for a callup to the Mets or is involved in any other transaction. Indications are that neither has suffered an injury, but nothing could be confirmed. Both players remained in the Bisons dugout through the early innings.

[Guest Edgy DC]

This will keep me up.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5444427

Two sources -- one with ties to the organization, one formerly with the organization -- indicated the Seattle Mariners are the team involved in dialogue with the Mets. One of the sources indicated that 21-year-old outfielder Fernando Martinez, who was one of the two players scratched from the Bisons' lineup, could be headed to Seattle if a deal materializes. Infielder Ruben Tejada also was scratched from the Triple-A game. However, the 20-year-old prospect could be a call-up to the Mets if a major league infielder is traded, and may not be involved in any trade. The Mets have repeatedly tried to trade second baseman Luis Castillo, who is in the third season of a four-year, $25 million deal.

I mean, if they insist on us taking Felix Hernandez for Fartinez and Castillo, I guess we may as well let it happen.
/delusions

[Benjamin Grimm]

I guess it could mean Martinez and Castillo are being dealt.

I suppose it might also mean that Francoeur and Tejada are being dealt.

[Frayed Knot]

Trying to figure out what Seattle has that we'd want while hoping it's not the bloated contract of Chone Figgins.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

This is the most interesting part of my Mets week.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Frayed Knot wrote: Trying to figure out what Seattle has that we'd want while hoping it's not the bloated contract of Chone Figgins.

Now, there's an unhappy thought.

[Frayed Knot]

And the reason I fear it is that it has 'PR move' written all over it.

There were a ton of media folks this past winter tripping over themselves to say what a great FA signing this was for Seattle. Figgins is "scrappy", he steals bases, he's "a winner", he's a "good clubhouse guy", etc. Hell, he probably recycles too.
He was one of the reasons why the Mariners were a sexy pre-season pick in a lot of quarters instead of ... hey looky here - they've got the 3rd worst record in the majors!!

He turns 33 this winter an is signed thru 2013 at Castillo money x1.5 with - wait for it - [u:83nvh8bm]A Vesting Option[/u:83nvh8bm] for '14 based on nothing but PAs in that final year.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

If that's the guy, and they're getting anything like Martinez, and O isn't an idiot (he isn't... really), then there's no way Seattle isn't eating a huge portion of the contract, is there? (See: every in-season deal this year.)

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's really just hitting reset on the Castillo contract. Same age-ish Luis was then, more money, but you've got to adjust that. Same skillz and limitationz.

Let's just not.

[smg58]

Wouldn't Martinez and Tejada have to clear waivers?

[Mex17]

Bringing in Figgins and keeping Tejada sets up a scenario where Reyes can be dealt. I am not advocating this personally but others have suggested that a move of that type of magnitude, in addition to making changes at manager and GM, is what is needed in order to shake up the culture around the team.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, making the team older and less... well... good is a way of getting the "F*ck You" back, only it's not opposing clubs which they'd be insulting/to which they'd be condescending.

[Mex17]

Edgy DC wrote: It's really just hitting reset on the Castillo contract. Same age-ish Luis was then, more money, but you've got to adjust that. Same skillz and limitationz. Let's just not.

And what was it that started the Knicks down the road to oblivion?

You guessed it, not simply waiting one year and letting Ewing's contract expire but instead trading it for Glenn Rice's longer contract.

Constantly churning aging mediocrity instead of gutting the thing and starting over from scratch is the biggest mistake that big market sports franchises make (and what prevents potential dynastys from forming). Small market teams (like the Rays for instance) do this but then can never afford to keep it once it starts getting good.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Mex17 wrote: Bringing in Figgins and keeping Tejada sets up a scenario where Reyes can be dealt. I am not advocating this personally but others have suggested that a move of that type of magnitude, in addition to making changes at manager and GM, is what is needed in order to shake up the culture around the team.

Sheesh, anybody who advocates getting rid of the GM but first have him start dealing off All-Stars is somebody I'm lining up to get away from.

[Mex17]

Bringing in Figgins and keeping Tejada sets up a scenario where Reyes can be dealt. I am not advocating this personally but others have suggested that a move of that type of magnitude, in addition to making changes at manager and GM, is what is needed in order to shake up the culture around the team. Sheesh, anybody who advocates getting rid of the GM but first have him start dealing off All-Stars is somebody I'm lining up to get away from.

Would you put it past Jeff Wilpon? I wouldn't.

He and Daddy are probably thinking that they need to salvage attendance for August and September (re: making the splashy move for Figgins now) and then, after the season ends, they will "re-evaluate" the baseball operations.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, you're not saying it's some worst-case scenario of clear-cutting owner, but what some non-specific "others" are advocating for the team's best interest. I don't know who these folks are, but booooo! to them.

What sort of Figgins-inspired attendance spike (really?) would it take to justify taking on the remainder of his contract?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Cooler heads, gents and ladies.

The Beat Writer From Whom I Wish I Heard More wrote: PHILADELPHIA � The minor leaguers Ruben Tejada and Fernando Martinez are about to be called up to the Mets, not traded. Some had speculated that they might be involved in a trade because they were scratched Friday from the lineup of their Class AAA Buffalo game, which is often a precursor to a trade. The Mets didn�t explain the reason Friday night because they had neither completed their plans nor told the other two players who will have to go to make room on the 25-man roster for Tejada and Martinez. It was not known which players are going to be sent down, or whether one would be released or traded, but an announcement should be coming later today.

[Frayed Knot]

Mex17 wrote: Bringing in Figgins and keeping Tejada sets up a scenario where Reyes can be dealt. I am not advocating this personally but others have suggested that a move of that type of magnitude, in addition to making changes at manager and GM, is what is needed in order to shake up the culture around the team.

Fuck "shaking up the culture".
Moves should be made depending on whether they're judged to be an improvement for the team or not.
Tossing aside players for some sort of hoped-for and vague chemistry/pr value is as bad an idea as taking on new ones for the same reasons.

[metirish]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Cooler heads, gents and ladies. The Beat Writer From Whom I Wish I Heard More wrote: PHILADELPHIA � The minor leaguers Ruben Tejada and Fernando Martinez are about to be called up to the Mets, not traded. Some had speculated that they might be involved in a trade because they were scratched Friday from the lineup of their Class AAA Buffalo game, which is often a precursor to a trade. The Mets didn�t explain the reason Friday night because they had neither completed their plans nor told the other two players who will have to go to make room on the 25-man roster for Tejada and Martinez. It was not known which players are going to be sent down, or whether one would be released or traded, but an announcement should be coming later today.

Good

[metirish]

So who gets DFA'd here...Francoeur?....Carter?....Louie....or are we looking at trades involving those players but not the two called up?

[Guest OlerudOwned]

metirish wrote: So who gets DFA'd here...Francoeur?....Carter?....Louie....or are we looking at trades involving those players but not the two called up?

Rosenthal sez that Francoeur has already cleared waivers. Doesn't necessarily mean anything. Could just be Jesus getting sent down again.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Release Cora and Francouer!

[metsmarathon]

release ollie first, damnit!

y'know, the more i think about it... and i hate to admit it... i like frenchy, and think the mets might make a mistake to get rid of him. i do find that there is some value to having a "chemistry guy" on the roster, and i think that frenchy is that guy. i think that he's overexposed as an every day player, but i like him as a bench guy. i'm not advocating resigning him to a long term contract, or even bringing him back for the same dollars, but i think he has value to the team, based primarily on the reaction in the dugout after his game winner against atlanta.

is frenchy the preferred chemist over cora? well, ok. i guess frenchy could be more in the way of bringing up eligible young'uns than cora is, as we seem to have more outfield-eligible depth than infield eligible depth. but all else being equal, i'd rather hang onto him and dump cora instead of the other way around.

[metirish]

Heyman speculating and that's all it is.....

Manuel loves Carter so Francoeur could be on the outs...."mets just tryin gto shake things up"...no trades

he loves him really?....is that why he keeps him on the bench all the time....so he's close to Jerry?.....

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm calling my new band The Healthy Scratches.

[bmfc1]

Adam Rubin AdamRubinESPN

Source: Alex Cora released, Jesus Feliciano demoted.

[metirish]

bmfc1 wrote: Adam Rubin AdamRubinESPN Source: Alex Cora released, Jesus Feliciano demoted.

No fucking way..they finally demoted Jesus Feliciano?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

metirish wrote: Adam Rubin AdamRubinESPN Source: Alex Cora released, Jesus Feliciano demoted. No fucking way..they finally demoted Jesus Feliciano?

Heh.

Just as the team on the field is completely squandering the equity they'd built up early in the season, here comes the front office, making (belatedly) rational moves.

Fernwood can't be coming up to ride the bench, right? So does this mean a Francoeur platoon/permanent benching?