First Base, 2014

[batmagadanleadoff]

Vic Sage wrote: It seems to me that cutting Ike for nothing to anoint Duda and save $3m would be an indicator of a larger systemic problem.

It really is, if there's any semblance of truth to the other teams' supposed thinking.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Maybe the idea is to release him and save the money, which then can be spent on Drew.

bleh. I'd sooner trade him for a "lesser" shortstop.

[Vic Sage]

whatever value we may or may not ascribe to Drew, the notion that the $3.8m (edit: $3.2m; $600K guaranteed) the Mets would save by releasing Ike would be necessary in order to make that acquisition, is truly galling. When Milwaukee and Pitt are the "rich teams" looking to exploit our poverty-stricken franchise by waiting for us to give up on $4m players because they're too "expensive", we're looking at systemic problems.

[Edgy MD]

I don't see where it makes much difference which teams are hoping to get him on the cheap, if that's in fact what's going on, which is pretty much a point of speculation at this juncture, so you may have been prematurely galled.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: I don't see where it makes much difference which teams are hoping to get him on the cheap, if that's in fact what's going on, which is pretty much a point of speculation at this juncture, so you may have been prematurely galled.

It doesn't. But that small market teams like the Pirates and the Brewers might be preying on the Mets financial condition is yet another marker of just how far the Mets have fallen, and also indicates that contrary to what the Mets claim, they ain't anywhere near out of this mess yet.

[Vic Sage]

Edgy MD wrote: I don't see where it makes much difference which teams are hoping to get him on the cheap, if that's in fact what's going on, which is pretty much a point of speculation at this juncture, so you may have been prematurely galled.

there is no difference; it is simply ironic and points out the role reversal our team may be involved in thanks to changing fortunes of the Wilpons. As for my premature galling, i'm taking medication for that. at any rate, i said the notion was galling, speculative or not... and it is. Whether the Mets actually behave this way obviously remains to be seen, and there will be plenty more gall to go around at that point, should it occur.

[Edgy MD]

Well, it's not like the teams would be paying full freight for Davis, so wouldn't be exploiting any superior budget. They'd simply be hoping to grab a castoff. And it's all speculative.

This isn't predatory. Predatory would be teams signing away high-end Mets free agents the Mets like but cannot afford. This scenario, if it indeed comes to pass (and I'm dubious), involves teams not signing or acquiring a starting firstbaseman, but instead waiting until the dawn of the season, hoping for the Mets toss a highly questionable one aside.

They are welcome to run their teams that way.

[Ceetar]

This is code.

It means

The expected value for Davis now coupled with his price is less than the expected value teams think they get can from what's available in other ways before the season starts, including the possibility that the Mets choose to save Ike's salary by releasing him.

There's a whole lot of difference between being willing to give a guy a shot and willing to part with something to give a guy a shot.

It's just one end of the game of chicken Sandy's playing. Sandy says they might play him, other teams say they don't need him. They claim they'll get him later, Sandy claims he'll hit 40 HR. Your guy sucks, but I'll give him a try for (peanuts). Are you kidding? This guy's going to bounce-back like crazy, you should've seen his swings in the cage earlier last week. Better get him before someone else does.

[Zvon]

Vic Sage wrote: whatever value we may or may not ascribe to Drew, the notion that the $3.8m (edit: $3.2m; $600K guaranteed) the Mets would save by releasing Ike would be necessary in order to make that acquisition, is truly galling. When Milwaukee and Pitt are the "rich teams" looking to exploit our poverty-stricken franchise by waiting for us to give up on $4m players because they're too "expensive", we're looking at systemic problems.

Vic Sage wrote: why on earth would they just release him? It's not like production by Duda and Satin have made Ike irrelevant... those guys haven't produced much either, and neither has shown the ability to date to hit 32 HRs and drive in 90r in the majors. And its not like we'd lose Duda if we just sent him down; he has options. I don't know what the baseball rationale is for a move like this. It seems to me that cutting Ike for nothing to anoint Duda and save $3m would be an indicator of a larger systemic problem.

I also suffer from this systematic problem, premature galling. ^ That says it all.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

I think the real issue is not the Wilpon's finances, but the challenge of trying to get something of value for an under-performing firstbaseman, of which there are many in the league.

[ashie62]

It may be as simple as other team assigning very little value to Ike Davis...

I was hoping the off season would go a little better where Ike and Duda were not involved in discussions about their roles as 2014 Mets at this point.

[Vic Sage]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think the real issue is not the Wilpon's finances, but the challenge of trying to get something of value for an under-performing firstbaseman, of which there are many in the league.

But trying to get something for him wouldn't be an issue if not for the Wilpon financial woes.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Vic Sage wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think the real issue is not the Wilpon's finances, but the challenge of trying to get something of value for an under-performing firstbaseman, of which there are many in the league. But trying to get something for him wouldn't be an issue if not for the Wilpon financial woes.

How so? We'd still have three first basemen who kinda sorta do -- or could do -- the same thing. Seems like one would be going away whether we added a new shortstop or not.

[Edgy MD]

Vic Sage wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think the real issue is not the Wilpon's finances, but the challenge of trying to get something of value for an under-performing firstbaseman, of which there are many in the league. But trying to get something for him wouldn't be an issue if not for the Wilpon financial woes.

Of course it would, and it certainly should be.

[ashie62]

Trying to get the best for Ike has nothing to do with the Wilpons financial woes..

Hell, I'm not sure there even are financial woes...

Enlighten me..

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

There are Wilpon financial woes? Why the hell didn't anyone say anything about this before?

Most organizations-- be they small-market, large-market, or chain supermarket-- don't tend to pay full freight for iffy-but-promising resources at a very low ebb. Sandy's apparently not offering clearance pricing, so it stands to reason that nobody's buying.

[Frayed Knot]

These are the sort of players the Mets have reportedly sought (and, if true, been rejected for) in exchange for Ike:

Eduardo Rodriguez -- LHP in Balt system; turns 21 in April; 10-7; 3.41 in 25 starts between High-A & AA in 2013

Nick Kingham -- RHP in Pitt system; 22 y/o; 9-6 w/2.81 ERA over 25 starts between High-A & AA

Tyler Thornburg -- RHP; 25 y/o; parts of 2 ML seasons w/Milwaukee; 26 games / 10 starts; 2.64 ERA, 1.21 WHiP

[Edgy MD]

Brewers pass on Ike Davis, go for unblushing strikeout machine Mark Reynolds, who will only cost them money and dignity.

[Vic Sage]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think the real issue is not the Wilpon's finances, but the challenge of trying to get something of value for an under-performing firstbaseman, of which there are many in the league. But trying to get something for him wouldn't be an issue if not for the Wilpon financial woes. How so? We'd still have three first basemen who kinda sorta do -- or could do -- the same thing. Seems like one would be going away whether we added a new shortstop or not.

My point was just that they wouldn't necessarily be looking to move Ike if he wasn't going to make $3.5m this year. Yes, they have other 1bmen that are similarly unproductive, but those guys have minor league options and don't have to take up space on the major league roster. Nobody is pushing Ike for the spot, and trading him now would definitely be a "sell low" proposition on a guy with 30+hr upside. The only reason Sandy might've considered trading him is either to cut the budget and give the spot to one of the other unproductive 1bmen who are making much less, or try to turn Ike around for a better prospect than he's worth. Apparently, Sandy tried the latter. He may yet try the former, depending on the Wilpons' cash flow at the time.

[Edgy MD]

Now you're stretching.

[Edgy MD]

Man, you need an article, buy Ron Davis a beer and let him talk your ear off.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

One gets the feeling Ron's been waiting a while for someone to buy him that drink.

[Zvon]

Is he right though? At first I thought yes, the Mets should not have put out that info prior to being able to actually do anything with Ike.
But then I thought that back when papa Davis played there wasn't this huge media frenzy caused by the age of instant information. I guess the Mets felt compelled to say something because people were waiting to hear something. Still, I think it an unwise decision to have, in a sense, smeared Ike all winter long.

[Frayed Knot]

The Mets could have clammed up and said nothing at all, but it wouldn't have prevented the idea that they were trying to peddle Ike from becoming public knowledge.

[ashie62]

Ron Davis is an MFY....I guess the Mets aren't doing it the Yanqui way...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Mets sign Matt Clark, 27 year old minor-league/Japan vet.

Bats L, throws R, also plays the outfield? Pretty good minor league slugger but never reached the bigs. 25 homers for the Chinuchi Dragons last season.

Here's Matt.


Here's his girl, Astros "sideline reporter" Julia Morales:

[Frayed Knot]

Oh good, a low-BA / high-K / decent walk-rate / slow / LH-hitting 1st sacker.
I was wondering when we were going to get one of those.

[ashie62]

I'm not sure if her sneakers are trendy or just shot...

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He strikes me as a guy who doesn't mind looking in the mirror while having sex.

[Benjamin Grimm]

There seems to be some buzz that the Pirates and/or Orioles may have revived their earlier interest in Ike Davis.