Wish You Were Here: Continuing Careers of Ex Mets - 2013

[smg58]

Fernando Martinez got DFA'd by the Astros. A .501 OPS and 12 to 1 K/BB ratio in 33 ABs aren't going to keep him employed, talent or not.

[seawolf17]

smg58 wrote: Fernando Martinez got DFA'd by the Astros. A .501 OPS and 12 to 1 K/BB ratio in 33 ABs aren't going to keep him employed, talent or not.

And so joins Lastings Milledge on the long list of Prospects We Can't Trade Because They're Going To Be Franchise Cornerstones.

[Edgy MD]

Well, Milledge we did trade. And managed to do it while he still had value, too.

[seawolf17]

STOP CONFUSING MY MEMORIES WITH ACTUAL HISTORY

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Carlos Gomez, on the other hand, is playing eight miles over his head and is currently the MLB leader for WAR among position players.

Milledge for Church and Schneider is among the most depressing trades in recent memory. Failed prospect for anti-Semitic head case and sub-mediocre backup catcher. Ugh.

[MFS62]

seawolf17 wrote: STOP CONFUSING MY MEMORIES WITH ACTUAL HISTORY

Wolf, the older you get, the more people will do that to you.
But it doesn't mean you can't enjoy those memories.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Swan Swan H wrote: Milledge for Church and Schneider is among the most depressing trades in recent memory. Failed prospect for anti-Semitic head case and sub-mediocre backup catcher. Ugh.

Well, sub-mediocre starting catcher. At least for the first half of his sub-mediocre Mets tenure.

But we did somehow manage to win that trade.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

That may be the saddest fact of all.

[Edgy MD]

Doing some comparisons:

Ryan Church gave the Mets 2.0 WAR, worth, according to FanGraphs, $9.3 million, while being paid about $3.4 million. Yay!

The Schneid gave us 1.1 WAR, worth $5.9 mills, while collecting $9.8 million. Boo!

So, between those twos, the Mets got $15.2 million worth of baseballin' for $13.2. A modest bargain. Nothing to brag about.

If you count Churchie's subsequent struggles after being moved to the Braves and Pirates, the trade certainly looks worse. It's a philosophical puzzle whether that should count or Francouer's solid 2009 or terrible 2010 should be included or none of that.

Milledge gave the Nats 0.0 WAR over a season and a half (similar tenure to Churchie) and accrued about 0.0 WAR, worth about $0. The Nationals paid about $625,000 in salary for the privilege. He achieved some modest redemption with the (again) Pirates, so following the players of this deal to the end of their contracts, rather than their tenures with the teams involved, would probably make it look close to even. But then the Church-for-Francouer trade would be the real steal for the Mets, though I imagine few of us celebrate that day.

[Ceetar]

Church might have contributed more (anti-semite? where was this?) if he hadn't gotten concussed.

[Edgy MD]

I'm virtually certain (regarding the concussion).

Church was a Christian (an appropriately named one) who (for a time, anyhow) gave voice to the Jesus-is-the-only-way-to-salvation perspective. Not exactly an attack on the Semitic race, but certainly a rankling (or worse) comment to some.

I think he apologized or something.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Ceetar wrote: Church might have contributed more (anti-semite? where was this?) if he hadn't gotten concussed.

Here's the quote:

An article in Sunday's paper about Baseball Chapel quoted Church as saying that he had turned to Moeller for advice about his former girlfriend, who was Jewish. "I said, like, Jewish people, they don't believe in Jesus. Does that mean they're doomed? Jon nodded, like, that's what it meant. My ex-girlfriend! I was like, man, if they only knew. Other religions don't know any better. It's up to us to spread the word," Church said.

[Ceetar]

That sounds vaguely 'tickle the back of my mind' familiar.


Anyway, This is from last years thread really, but Joe McEwing and Robin Venture back* at Citi Field today.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Dan Wheeler released from the Royals AAA club, according to one of their beat writers. He had a 9.00 ERA and a 2.20 WHIP in 15 innings this season.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Philip Humber DFA'ed by Houston.

[Frayed Knot]

Swan Swan H wrote: Philip Humber DFA'ed by Houston.

When you're the worst pitcher on the worst staff in the majors (this year and in a good many years) it would be tough to not see that one coming.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

R.A. Dickey had put together three decent starts earlier in the month, but has been touched for six earned runs in each of his past two starts, including a drubbing by the Braves tonight. His line for the season is 4-7, 5.18 with a 1.41 WHIP. The coach may be turning back into a pumpkin.

Meanwhile, Scott Kazmir is having an up-and-down season, but last night he held the very tough Reds to one earned run over seven innings.

[Guest themetfairy]

Paul LoDuca is calling the Columbia vs University of California Fullerton baseball game on ESPNU right now.

[MFS62]

Bud Harrelson is an executive, and coach, of the Long Isand Ducks.
If you'd like to follow their fortunes, their games are carried on 103.9 on your FM dial.

Later

[batmagadanleadoff]

Carlos Beltran's former NY home for sale.

Carlos Beltran's House Now an Affordable $5 Million After Price Slash
By Gabe Zaldivar (Pop Culture Lead Writer) on June 13, 2013

St. Louis Cardinals fans moving to the New York area are in luck, because I hear Carlos Beltran's house is on sale for the rock-bottom price of $5 million. Busted Coverage spotted the recent listing over at Zillow that has some amazing photos of Beltran's former home in Sands Point, N.Y. Zillow has a bunch of information that should have a great deal of you house hunters breaking your piggy banks this weekend. It was originally listed for sale back in February of 2012 for $5,800,000, but was recently reduced in price to $4,995,000, giving Beltran two steals on the season. Here is a brief breakdown of some of the images. Mets fans will either rejoice or run at the sight of Beltran back in a Mets uniform. Either way, we are assuming the house comes with the painting. At least, that's how we might roll if we are negotiating. I am just happy with my regular couch and TV, so what do I know? Zillow provides more on the seven-bedroom house that also features eight bathrooms: This One Of A Kind South Hampton Colonial Style Home Consists Of The Finest Quality Craftsmanship And Design.Gourmet Eik With Custom Cabinetry,Bright And Spacious Great Room,Formal Lr/Dr,Study/Office,Pool,Privategated Courtyard,Huge Property. Beltran is off to a great start to the season, so he is feeling generous. Get in while the getting is good with a great price on a massive property. Well, just make sure he throws in that painting.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1672594-carlos-beltrans-house-now-an-affordable-5-million-after-price-slash

[Edgy MD]

Mariners sign Henry Blanco, DFA Kelly Shoppach. Mets in, Mets out.

[Frayed Knot]

Ramon Ramirez and his 11.12 ERA over 6 appearances gets DFA'd by the Giants.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Fernando Martinez headed to the Bronx - or at least to a minor league satellite of the evil empire.

[MFS62]

Swan Swan H wrote: Fernando Martinez headed to the Bronx - or at least to a minor league satellite of the evil empire.

In that bandbox in the Bronx, he could become the second coming of Reggie Jackson.
Or maybe not.

Later

[MFS62]

Frank Rodriguez became the 25th Major leaguer to record 300 saves.

Later

[G-Fafif]

Josh Thole: now a major league first baseman, just not a very good one.

Boston�s turnaround rolled on with a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. There were smiles in the clubhouse but hardly a sense of satisfaction. �With 50 wins, people are going to keep talking about that. It�s not enough,� Shane Victorino said. �We�ve got to keep going.� His hard grounder eluded first baseman Josh Thole for an error as Jonathan Diaz raced home with the winning run in the ninth inning. Thole entered in the bottom of the third when Adam Lind left with mid-back tightness and Thole was playing first base for just the second time in 316 major league games. �You�ve just got to know who to hit it to, I guess,� Victorino said with a smile. �I played against Josh all those years in New York and he was a catcher.� Thole, acquired from the New York Mets along with pitcher R.A. Dickey in December, had played first at Triple-A Buffalo before he was called up on June 7. �I�ve played first base. That�s what I�m here for,� he said. �I�ve got to catch the ball and make an out.� Jose Bautista tied the game in the ninth against Koji Uehara (1-0) with a solo homer, his 19th of the season and third in two games. On the previous at-bat, Victorino made a sliding catch near the right-field line on Jose Reyes� fly ball.

As you may have inferrred from the above, Victorino is still an a-hole.

Reyes homered in the Jays' loss.

[G-Fafif]

All kinds of ex-Met intrigue on tap as Twins face Jays today. Pelfrey vs. Dickey, featuring Thole and Reyes at Rogers Centre.

[Frayed Knot]

Ty Wigginton DFA'd by StL

I could see the Yanx picking him up as a RHH 1B/DH and him hitting about 15 HRs in his first 100 or so ABs.

[Vic Sage]

shut. up.

[G-Fafif]

Brandon Lyon, signed by the Red Sox, assigned to Double-A.