Benjamin Grimm

Lenny Dykstra, Grifter?

Here's his paragraph on the Mets: The Mets could boast one of baseball's best rotations next year. R.A. Dickey might start the season as the defending Cy Young winner. Jon Niese is quietly becoming one of the most reliable lefty starters in the league. And Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler offer top-of-the-rotation upside. The offense is much thinner, but the Swiss cheese outfield could get a lot better in a hurry, given the depth of the free-agent market at that position (Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn, B.J. Upton, Nick Swisher, etc.). A bunch of things have to go right, but the Mets have a bit of a sleeper scent to them. I agree about the pitching; it seems to have a high upside and could, if things go well, be real good real soon. I hope (but don't expect) that the Mets will be willing to take a one-year spike in their payroll; knowing that there's going to be a big dropoff in 2014 when Santana and Bay drop off the books. If that happens, then maybe they can add a hitter or two who will make them a bit more respectable in the short term.

I can't imagine keeping Duda over Davis. Just... can't... imagine... Sandy said something the other day about how the Mets were starved for power in 2012, and it doesn't make sense to trade the guy who has 31 homers. I hope that that really reflects what the Mets are thinking here.

I think that's a reasonable number, and if the Mets do sign Wright that's about where I expect the numbers to be. I also think that the Met will be willing to offer that much. The only thing is, how much does David want to stay? Or will he be tempted by greener grass?

Voting for all three of the games played in Atlanta this past weekend will close on Wednesday morning. This will close out the month of September. Schaefer POTG 9/28/12 - Mets 3, Braves 1 Schaefer POTG 9/29/12 - Braves 2, Mets 0 Schaefer POTG 9/30/12 - Braves 6, Mets 2

Baxter 1 Bay 0.75 ERamirez 1 Familia 1 Murphy 0.75 Shoppach 1 Wright 1

I'll be more upset if too many of the same players come back next year.

Voting for the remaining two games from last week's series against the Pirates will close on Tuesday morning, not before 11 a.m.. Schaefer POTG 9/26/12 - Mets 6, Pirates 0 Schaefer POTG 09/27/2012, Mets 6, Pittsburgh 5 (Dickey 20-6)

Mike Fitzgerald?

Edgy DC wrote: The Marlins didn't have so bleak a short-term future as the Mets did when Reyes jumped. Except it was. Of course nothing is absolutely certain. But some situations appear to be better than others, and it's not hard to imagine that there are other teams whose situation looks better than the Mets does. If you don't make any decisions unless you know 100% what the future holds, then you can't make any decisions at all. Edgy DC wrote: It's real easy for rich men to bullshit about the future they are building. Yes, it is. And if Wright is as gullible as we have to hope he is, then they'll sign him.

They're not gonna offer him $240 million over eight years. Maybe $120 over six. And whatever they offer him, he can reasonably expect that someone else may come relatively close. And that somebody else may not have as bleak a short-term future as the Mets do. Sure, the Mets have Harvey and Wheeler and whoever else we may want to get excited about, but David Wright is 30, and the biological clock on his World Series hopes is ticking.

The other factor here, of course, is that they may not want to stay. The Mets will need to convince David that there are better days ahead, and that's certainly not an easy sell.

I'd say there has to be a flaw somewhere, because nobody is going to pay $35 million per year to David Wright.

The players union would never permit him to do this. I'm pretty sure that players are allowed to retire before their contract runs out. I remember Ryne Sandberg did it. Wikipedia says it was in 1994, even though he was signed for 1995. Wiki also has this quote from Sandberg's book: The reason I retired is simple: I lost the desire that got me ready to play on an everyday basis for so many years. Without it, I didn't think I could perform at the same level I had in the past, and I didn't want to play at a level less than what was expected of me by my teammates, coaches, ownership, and most of all, myself. (Emphasis added.)

Tejada 1

The Mets would have won this game if not for that Medlen kid.

I'd love to see the Yankees, Orioles, A's, and Angels all finish with the same record. What a mess that would make!

I agree that Bay should feel no obligation to do something like this, but if I were him I would be thinking about it. I really would. I've been paid $48 million or so and have been an absolute disaster. I have enough money to last me for several lifetimes. I'm now three years removed from any sustained success. I don't need the money, and I don't need the embarrassment of being a shadow of my former self. Wouldn't I rather call it quits and spend more time with the wife and kids? Again, I'm not about to get on him for not doing this, but really, why wouldn't he at least consider it?

Somebody print this out and Scotch tape it to Jason Bay's forehead. Associated Press wrote: MINNEAPOLIS � The Minnesota Twins released Tsuyoshi Nishioka on Friday, ending their experiment with the Japanese middle infielder after two rough seasons. The move, which the Twins said came at Nishioka�s request and was supported by the club, wasn�t a surprise. But the way he went out was unique. Accepting blame for his failure to produce at the plate or play capable defense at shortstop and second base, Nishioka waived his right to his $3 million salary for the 2013 season and a $250,000 buyout. So they don�t owe him any more money, and Nishioka is now a free agent. With guaranteed contracts, major league teams rarely are able to get off the payroll hook like this for players no longer in their plans. But Nishioka, in a statement released by the Twins, was nothing but graceful. �I would like to thank the Twins organization for helping me fulfill my dream of playing in Major League Baseball,� Nishioka said. �I take full responsibility for my performance which was below my own expectations. At this time, I have made the decision that it is time to part ways. I have no regrets and know that only through struggle can a person grow stronger. I appreciate all the support the team and the fans in Minnesota and Rochester have shown me.�

Duda 4.5 Niese 4.5 Parnell 1

ERA: Kershaw 2.68, Dickey 2.69, Cain 2.77, Lohse 2.77, Cueto 2.83. Strikeouts: Dickey 222, Kershaw 211, Hamels 208, Gonzalez 207. Wins: Gonzalez 21, Dickey 20, Cueto 19. Doesn't look like Dickey (unless he does some kind of relief appearance thing) will be able to win Wins outright, but a tie for the lead is very possible. ERA is oh-so-close. Strikeouts looks most promising. (How many more starts does Kershaw have?)

The man behind the voice I received an e-mail from the author of this piece. It's an interview with Howie Rose that appeared recently in The Jerusalem Post.

The 0.03 points awarded to Andres Torres averaged down to zero, so he does not appear in the results.