Frayed Knot

Spring stats to date for likely or possible relievers [table:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]PITCHER[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]INNINGS[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]HITS[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]WALKS[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]K�s[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]WHIP[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JOHN LANNON **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]11.33[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]15[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]10[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.68[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]CARLOS TORRES[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]9.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]9[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]8[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.11[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JACOB DEGROM[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7.33[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.95[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JOSE VALVERDE[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]6[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.71[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]GONZALEZ GERMEN[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.43[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]KYLE FARNSWORTH[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]6.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]8[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.65[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]RYAN REID[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]6.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]12[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2.67[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]VIC BLACK[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]6.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]10[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]8[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.00[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]SCOTT RICE **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]7[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.06[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JEURYS FAMILIA[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.20[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JEFF WALTERS[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.82[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]BOBBY PARNELL[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.67[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JOSH EDGIN **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.00[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]8[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.67[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]ERIK GOEDDEL[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]5[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.87[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]DANA EVELAND **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2.33[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]0.43[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][tr:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]JACK LEATHERSICH **[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1.67[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]4[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]2[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]1[/td:t4uum9g7][td:t4uum9g7]3.59[/td:t4uum9g7][/tr:t4uum9g7][/table:t4uum9g7] Valverde certainly looking better than his most comparable competition Farnsworth

Now catcher is a position where I believe mgmt is pretty committed to the young incumbent and a place where they're going to be willing to endure the slumps and hiccups of the inevitable learning curve before looking to change course at the next opportunity. Much more so there certainly than at SS even though d'Arnaud is a bit older than Tejada, he's also yet to fumble a shot plus offers up the much higher ceiling.

Ashie62 wrote: The Mets seem pretty committed to Tejada... I don't think that they're committed at all, or that to what degree it does exist extends any further out than maybe month to month. I think it's probably as simple as they don't like the price--in dollars or in bodies--of the immediately available alternatives and are willing to stick with him for now to see whether: a) he bounces back to something close to 2012 form the price of replacements drops c) other alternatives become known Again, not all problems need to be solved by April 1st

Well I'm going to refrain from playing Web-MD about conditions and treatments I know little about; you're free to continue all you want. What I do know, however, is that taking cortisone for a year or for months on end is neither good for you nor is it some kind of magical injury preventer, so acting as if this past weekend's results were preventable by some easily followed routine is just silly.

Ceetar wrote: I don't understand why he _stopped_ taking the anti-inflammatories? I mean, he's got that partially torn rotator cuff.. That stuff is for temporary relief, not continual usage. You can't just simply take it forever.

On the whole SS/pitcher health topic, Arizona LHP Patrick Corbin (24 y/o; 14-8; 3.41 last year) is looking at probable TJ surgery making them possibly more anxious to dangle one of their young SS's to troll for mound help. On the same subject, one of the columns this morning floated the idea where, if Tejada flounders through mid-season and the Mets are out of it, then Bartolo Colon makes for good trade bait to a team, again maybe the DBacks, that's in it and needs pitching. Just because we need a SS doesn't mean it all has to be done by opening day.

Rubin: Niese will fly to New York on Sunday night and undergo an MRI with team doctor David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan on Monday. Jonathon Niese doesn't believe the elbow discomfort he suffered Sunday is significant [he] indicated he initially injured it 10 days ago in an intrasquad game. He said the discomfort is in the back of the elbow, not in the vicinity of the forearm ligaments that can lead to Tommy John surgery. He had been taking anti-inflammatory medication for 10 days, and added that the elbow did not pose a problem during his 2014 Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday. It began posing a problem in the second inning Sunday when he hyperextended it on a pitch. "It's the back of the elbow, which is good," Niese said. "I'm almost 100 percent sure it's nothing serious like Tommy John or anything. It's just a little discomfort. I wanted to go back out there. It's something that I could definitely pitch through. I don't know about you, but it's always comforting to me when the patient pronounces it not serious, especially so when he does it before the examination takes place.

He was originally a 1st round/13th overall draft pick (OMAR!!) by the Expos in 2004 (one fewer of those around now) although I remember him mostly as being big bait in part of a multi-player* trade. ** July 13, 2006: Traded by the Washington Nationals with Royce Clayton, Brendan Harris, Gary Majewski and Daryl Thompson to the Cincinnati Reds for Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez and Ryan Wagner.

Edgy MD wrote: Rendon to me (and maybe me alone) still feels like a thirdbaseman faking it in the middle of the diamond (and that's coming from a Murphy endorser). They may want to keep their plan B around a little longer. Oh I think he is too, but they'll live with whatever he gives them on defense for the offense gap and then move him to 3B in 2015 when LaRoche's contract is done and bump Zimmerman across the diamond. In the meantime, Espinosa, because he can play all over the infield, serves as Plan B at several positions, plus he hits from both sides of the plate with power. On the other hand if he's going to hit .150 doing all that while striking out one time in three he'll wind up being released no matter who's he's playing for. I guess the bottom line compared to Rollins is that Espinosa has the higher ceiling if he suddenly finds 'it' again but also the lower floor.

Ashie62 wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Presumably, it would take a LOT to pry him loose; Espinosa's a young guy who'd rather be starting, but fills a need on their presumably-contending team (a bench need at present, but still). He's also under team control, JUST entering arbitration years next offseason. Rollins, however? Well, he's in a different place... and in a place run by a GM/braintrust who are... um... not UNfleeceable. Don't know if I agree on Espinosa... Anthony Rendon may be the starting 2b there... Rendon almost certainly WILL be starting at 2B for the Nats. But that doesn't mean Espinosa is worthless and LWFS's point (and mine) is that the same things that makes Rollins more likely to be dealt by his current team than Espinosa (age, control, contract) are the same reasons that might make the Mets (and the folks here) want Espinosa more.

Now that we're imagining intra-division trades for switch-hitting short stops, I'm going to throw Danny Espinosa into the mix. After declaring a few years back that I thought he was the better Washington middle-infield youngster over Ian Desmond, Espinosa made me look stupid by absolutely crashing and burning since eventually leading to his demotion to AAA and not hitting much there either and he's almost certainly lost his job to Anthony Rendon. On the other hand: he's 26 to Rollins' 35; is a great glove man wherever he plays including SS even though he was mostly used a 2B, takes his walks, and has at least as much XBH pop as Rollins and maybe more once the home-stadium is factored in. Rollins last five seasons: .253/.317/.397 Espinosa in 2012 -- .247/.315/.402 In 2013 there was talk of a wrist injury so maybe there'll be a bounce back at some point. If not his career is likely over based on his .216/.280/.286 at Syracuse in 313 ABs I suspect the Nats want to keep him as an all-around utility player/all-around 2B/SS/3B insurance policy after their pathetic bench absolutely kill't them last year so it might take some doing to pry him loose, but I'd thought I'd throw him into the mix as long as we're speculating.

Rollins contract just to add a factor to your decision - due $11 this year - 2015 option for $11 mil vests automatically with: 600 PAs in 2014 or 1,100 PAs in 2013 + 2014 [had 666 in 2013 so needs just 434 this season] - AND is not on disabled list at end of 2014 season (or if he is on the DL, a mutually agreed upon doctor deems him available for 2015 Opening Day roster) - if option does not vest, [team] holds $8M club option for 2015 and Rollins holds $5M player option - salary increases $1M with MVP in preceding season [OK, that ain't happenin'] - award bonuses: $1M for MVP ($0.5M for second or third, $0.25M for fourth or fifth). $0.1M for WS MVP. $50,000 each for LCS MVP, All-Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger

He's going to lead the team in hair. Whenever he comes up that is; prior to that he'll spend a bunch of the year closing in Vegas.

Yeah, you gotta remember that the whole idea of MLB's 'Advanced Media' stuff (MLB.com, MLB.tv, Extra-Innings' etc.) is that to protect the local teams and their TV contracts, the alternatives are there to be a supplement to, but never a replacement for, local programming. So if you're in the NYC area and you want to watch the Mets & Yanx you're going to do it through SNY & YES or you're not going to watch them at all.

FIGHT! FIGHT!! After having good ol' Charlie there for so long the swap to a first-time, gung-ho-type manager has to be a real change for the Phils (even though I never really saw Sandberg as the real gung-ho type of player). Especially so seeing as how they're such a veteran squad -- and by 'veteran' I mean 'really old'.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Oliver Perez, Diamondback. For two years no less.

Ron Locke was a key Met in 1964

Edgy MD wrote: Benson Bunch-quality pitcher. Better than that at his best (of course I guess you could say the same about most of the Benson bunch ... including Benson) but now there are questions about how healthy HE is even though he's made 30-plus starts virtually every season. I know the Rangers were kicking the tires for a while but never pulled the trigger

John Harper: Mets still monitoring SS market - although he talks more about them keeping an eye on possible shakeouts in Seattle [Miller vs Franklin] and/or Arizona [Owings vs Gregorius] than about Drew who still seems to want what the Mets won't give and vice versa.

Ha! Apologies for not RingM&PingL and stealing your joke. All it shows is when two different people, three months apart, independently reach the exact same joke/conclusion then the scenario must be pretty likely.

One hopes the weight of his mountain-man beard doesn't aggravate his healing neck.

The Braves, after intense research into the demographics of the state of Georgia, reached the stunning conclusion that the current location is in a bad neighborhood, has sucky traffic, and that the area outside the city in Cobb County is whiter and richer than inner-city Atlanta.

seawolf17 wrote: Thankfully, they have a 38th-round draft pick out of suburban Atlanta who went 2-15, 6.88 in AA last season; he's going to win 14 games and beat us five times this season. See the tail end of the very first post in this thread for a similar sentiment.

Braves rotation already in loads of potential trouble. - Kris Medlen, who left the game v the Mets last week, now has confirmed "ligament damage" in his pitching elbow, although they've yet to determine (or talk about) the extent of the problem. - Brandon Beachy is going to be missing at least one spring start with "arm tightness around the elbow and bicep soreness". He's already a veteran of two elbow surgeries (including TJ) is a candidate for starting the season on the DL - Mike Minor has also been dealing with injuries and could start the year on the DL

The first round of players banished to minor league camps came yesterday. Not that some of them still can't appear in ST games. Erik Goeddel Steven Matz Josh Edgin Wilfredo Tovar Cesar Puello Logan Verrett Adam Kolarek Jack Leathersich John Church Chasen Bradford Dustin Lawley Brandon Nimmo Cory Vaughn Danny Muno Kevin Plawecki Edgin this early seems like the only real surprise.