Mex17

http://nypost.com/2014/04/04/awfully-early-to-be-lifeless-already/ I like Collins, but this bears watching. I know that there are new rules about home plate collisions this year that are still a bit confusing, but that being said I don't think that Tejada will ever be mistaken for Pete Rose, especially when you look at a few nights ago. I even think that Ike could have beat out that force play to end yesterday's game if he was running a bit harder. Looked to me that he pulled up early anticipating the result. If a change is to be made, the answer is in Las Vegas. Keep uniform #6 at the ready.

If by "relatively small" you mean "enough to cause a huge problem on Opening Day", then you are absolutely correct. I have never heard of or seen circus tents in CitiField's parking lot during the baseball season in previous years. I noticed these a few weeks ago when driving past and figured that they would be gone by Opening Day. What if you don't want to take public transportation? I took the LIRR to a game once and had to leave early so that I could catch the train home, which caused me to miss Marlon Anderson's inside the park homerun and subsequent Mets win. Few things in life are more tedious then wanting to get the heck home only to have to endure stopping at every single point between NYC and Huntington. Fewer things in life are more infuriating to me than getting to a destination only to find that there is no place to park your freaking car!

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/1379/joel-hanrahan The good news is that this is lining up almost perfectly with Joel Hanrahan being done with his own Tommy John rehab. So guess what had damn well better happen next?

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/04/01/mets-fans-angry-over-opening-day-parking-fiasco-at-citi-field/ This is yet another example of why success eludes this organization on a regular basis. . .because of shortsighted ridiculous decisions like this which completely screw over their customers that no one else with half a brain or any common sense would ever even conceptualize. This is the parking lot for your baseball stadium. You KNOW that, starting on March 31st, there will be games on the schedule in your stadium that people are going to come to and watch. Many if not most of these people are going to drive to the stadium and will need to park their cars. So why in the name of Gil Hodges do you think that it is a good idea to allow f'n CIRQUE DU SOLEIL to take residence in your parking lot until May 18th?!?!?!?! In what universe does that make a shred of sense? Could it possibly be because that some people might not actually be wealthy enough to actually operate their multi-million dollar business venture properly or on the level, so they are desperate for any kind of alternate revenue stream possible? Why does my team have to be owned by a trio of stubborn, brain-dead, tone-deaf, broke idiots? Why does the Commissioner of Major League Baseball protect these aforementioned idiots while going out of his way to run out on a rail other owners who commit similar acts of sheer stupidity? Where is David Einhorn or Mark Cuban when you need them?

Harvey is acting like a complete diva and is the one causing this particular issue (or set of issues), not the Mets organization. All the Mets are doing here seemingly is just following established protocols with regard to players who are rehabbing. This particular rehabbing player is acting out of line and behaving unreasonably. "WAAAHHH, I don't like where my locker is!!!!!" "WAAAHHH, I wanna be in New York!!!!!!" "WAAAHHH, I wanna pitch in August of THIS year!!!!! (While oblivious to the fact that Chris Medlen basically proved the point as to why he should not be thinking about that right in front of his eyes) He is a important piece to this team going forward and that needs to be acknowledged, but the irascible man-child act also needs to stop immediately!!!

No one is really speculating on this, but what are the chances of him actually going to the Twins or Astros?

I know that sounds insane to say on February 14th, and it probably is. But, I am noticing a few things. Firstly, no press conference with him smiling and holding up his new Mets jersey next to Alderson. It's a small thing, but a bit unusual. Now, with 60+ guys already in Florida doing informal workouts, nary a picture or mention of Bartolo among them. Maybe it's because he is a veteran and he knows precisely what and when he needs to do or not do in order to pitch effectively for six months at age 40, but how would you interpret it if the first day that he shows his face is also the first day that he is contractually obligated to do so?

The guy can either accept the reality of what he is worth and sign a contract to play baseball for millions of dollars (albiet a few millions less than what he wanted or what his silver-tongued agent "promised" him) or he can not and apply for a job at the nearest Wal-Mart. It's really that simple. Clock's ticking.

I think that den Dekker and Lagares would make the 25-man ahead of Duda and Brown if the season started today

How does that affect Ike-to-Milwaukee negotiations? Does it give leverage to the Mets because there is one less first baseman on the market for Milwaukee to choose from, or does it give leverage to the Brewers because there is one less team for the Mets to trade Ike to?

Lefty Specialist wrote: Backup catcher is Recker for $400,000 or so. You mean the guy with the whopping .194 career batting average? Wouldn't you rather have Buck back?

seawolf17 wrote: The backup shortstop can be a minimum-salary/waiver pickup guy, as can the backup catcher, I suppose. I'm not so sure about that considering that we are talking about one guy who they are not that confident in and another who is a pretty raw rookie.

$30 million -$7.25 million for Chris Young -$13 million for Granderson -$10 million for Colon +$4 million (estimated) saved through non-tenders =$3.75 remaining for a) a backup shortstop, a veteran set-up guy with the ability to close in a pinch, c) possibly a veteran backup catcher, and d) (I would like) a lefthanded bat with some pop who can come off the bench and get a key pinch hit and also play the outfield (Lucas Duda is not this person as he has proven that he cannot play an effective outfield, den Dekker could be but he is an unproven rookie). This assumes that we are living with Tejada for one more year and are not finding takers for Davis or Murphy. Can we really get what we still need with what is left to spend?

You can argue that a Davis/Murphy package gets him. The O's can move Machado back to shortstop, keep Chris Davis at DH (I'm not sure how C. Davis is defensively, but I know that Ike gives you good defense), play Murphy at third, and Jonathan Schoop at second. For a player they can lose as a free agent in a year, they get two players who are still under team control (albiet arbitration eligible) for the next few years. The Mets get a clear upgrade at shortstop (while not trading any pitching) and can throw second base into a three-way competition between Eric Young, Flores, and Tejada. Hardy is due $7 million next year. Murphy and Davis combined are estimated to get $9 million between them in arbitration.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/79837/source-spin-non-tendered Now let's see who breaks down the door now that this "incredible talent" is available.

Multiple reports are indicating that the Mets are to get more aggressive in pursuing Arroyo. Could be wrong, but this tells me that there may be a deal (or multiple deals) on the table that they like involving Montero. An Arroyo signing can set the rotation up this way: Arroyo Niece Gee Wheeler Mejia -deGrom, Torres, and veteran minor league contract type serving as immediate backups -Syndergaard waiting in the wings This would free up Montero to go in the right package. I am thinking Davis/Murphy/Montero for either Cespedes/Lowrie or Markakis/Hardy? Are those too far fetched? Then, if those moves are made, my thought is. . .just maybe. . .the positive momentum from them could lead to the purse stings being opened for Cruz or Granderson? I'm crossing my fingers.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I could see Aoki as a replacement for Eric Young, not for Lagares. I'm thinking we'd need some sock at SS or 2B to really make this work though. Not sure if it's a fit... at least an easy one. Part of a suite of solutions. In this scenario Murphy stays while Young and Lagares are both on the bench. Aoki-rf Murphy-2b Wright-3b Granderson-cf/lf C. Young-lf/cf Duda-1b d'Arnaud-c Tejada-ss pitcher

Rightfielder. 32 in 2014. OBP. Stolen bases. Leadoff type. Makes $2 million next year and then a FA. Word is that he can be had for Ike Davis (although you might have to throw in a kicker of sorts in the form of a low level prospect). . .such a transaction will add an additional $2 million to the coffers. The way I see it, if we are stuck with entrusting Tejada again then we cannot afford the luxury of also having Lagares as a starter. With a little luck, we can swing this trade with Milwaukee and also lock up Granderson (we need the lefthanded power bat) for four years at somewhere in the $56-$64 million range (don't even try to tell me that is an overpay in this market). $30 million - $7.25 million for C. Young + $2 million (the rough difference between Ike and Aoki based upon arbitration estimates) - $16 million for Granderson =$8.75 million for January dumpster diving (cheap veteran starter, maybe some bullpen and bench help).

Word is that Peralta has agreed with the Cardinals. No news yet on what the terms are, but there was a rumor a few days ago that he had a four for $52 offer on the table (only $2 million more than what I said would be my celing for him). It is absolutely worth noting here that the St. Louis Cardinals organization is about the farthest you can get from what you would call reckless or undisciplined with regard to how they build their rosters or manage their payroll. This is the franchise that, just recently, let the 2nd greatest player in their history (and, at the time, still probably among the top three contemporary hitters in the sport) walk over contract demands and then promptly went out and won a World Series title and then another pennant. So this is not about saying "OMG, look at how they overpaid. . .just look at how old he is and what his WAR and BABIP is compared to other guys!!!". This is just where the market has gone overall for the entire landscape. I have more thoughts about this and how it pertains to our team, but will shelve that for now until things flesh out a little more. As far as what this means for the Mets shortstop situation, I think now that you have to look at giving Tejada another shot. I mean, if Alderson is willing to roll the dice on Chris Young bouncing back at age 30 at $7.25 million, why would he not be willing to do the same with a 24 year-old Tejada who is still making close to league minimum. I do still think that you go dumpster diving in January for at least one guy who can potentially push him in Spring Training while on a minor league contract. As I stated before, it looks like Tejada's biggest problem is self-motivation when he is handed the starting job on a platter.

Although the home/road splits should be considered, I would argue that it makes "baseball sense" to add a 28 year old lefthanded hitter with power and a good OBP who also steals bases and plays Gold Glove defense in leftfield and who is signed for the next four years to the team, particularly when there is a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup and a pretty big outfield to cover. "Cause I got news for ya. . . Chris Young isn't the answer, at least not as a centerpiece to an offseason or a lineup. As far as trades changing the tone (or "perception"), I would direct you to the past acquisitions of Messrs Hernandez, Carter, and Piazza (and take one guess who was opposed behind the scenes on that last one. . .and who insisted upon it and pushed it through). Sometimes it's "sexy" for good reason.

Perception matters a great deal, especially when you are dealing with an angry, revolted, mass of potential paying customers who currently aren't paying. Do this, and the revenue streams start pointing north again (along with number of wins hopefully). That will finance the increasing tab going forward.

Don't know if Colorado really wants to deal, but if they do, then Murphy/Davis/Syndergaard/Ynoa should be our offer. Word around the campfire is that Murphy and Davis are due about $9 million combined after arbitration. Gonzalez is owed $10.5 million for this coming year, so the deal would be a virtual wash budget-wise. This would be the blockbuster, direction changing, franchise altering, perception improving deal that we need!!!

The reason why I think that Harvey is the one with the best shot is because so much of the canvas is still blank. Yes, you can say that for anyone, but he has already displayed a few signs, IMO, that I really like (bulldog attitude, a bit of personality, monumental will). And Greg is right, we will just know it when we see it.

We all know who that is, it's Seaver. The purpose of this thread is not to debate that, but rather to discuss what it would take for anyone to knock him out of the #1 slot. The only one who is on the radar, IMO, who has a chance is Harvey, although he has a loooong way to go (I think that it is too late for Wright because he is associated with too many lean years and heartaches). Just for fun, let's try to speculate what it would take for Harvey to do it. I would say, at minimum. . . -2 World Series titles (with maybe at least one WS MVP thown in there) -3 Cy Youngs -1 no-hitter -Any number of (and by that, I mean "several") cluth performances during pennant races/postseasons What else? 300 wins? 3,000 K's? Are those numbers even possible anymore? Speculate away. I'm thinking about it because I just watched the "50 Greatest Mets" on SNY.

Well, this is certainly not encouraging. http://nypost.com/2013/11/18/tejada-mulling-grievance-vs-mets/