Frayed Knot

Just a few warning signs via the Ft Worth Star-Telegram: Lingering concerns over the status of Ben Sheets� right elbow could ultimately prevent the Texas Rangers from signing the free-agent All-Star pitcher to an incentive-laden contract. The Rangers have examined Sheets� medical reports, but sources said the club wants the most recent information on his torn flexor tendon. It�s an injury the Rangers know too well. Jason Jennings lasted only six starts last season before suffering a second torn flexor tendon in nine months. In both instances � August 2007 and May 2008 � Jennings had surgery. Sheets� tear did not require surgery, and he has resumed his normal preseason throwing program. He threw twice last week at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. However, the Highland Park resident has not undergone a physical and would have to pass one performed by Rangers doctors before a deal could be completed. The likelihood that an agreement will be reached by Monday, if at all this week, is waning.

Ramdowski, btw, claims in his forthcoming book that Dykstra was one of the first players to use him as a steroid supplier (big shock right?) and that he once peed for Gooden so he'd pass a drug test.

Between this and the Kirk Ramdowski book due out soon there's gonna be a lot of dirty laundry being hung out in the near future. Plus now we know why Jay McGwire is having trouble finding a publisher. Revealing brother Mark to be a 'roids taker doesn't even make the cut these days in a ranking of gossipy tell-alls.

I had either forgotten - or never knew - that he's played a bunch of infield positions in the past as well. Not too much recently - but the fact that he can may be worth a tie-breaker in his favor. If your name is Marlon Anderson all these recent signings can't make you too secure. ML Games played by position: OF - 541 RF - 278 CF - 174 3B - 174 LF - 151 2B - 59 1B - 10 Not sure what, if any, injuries have reduced his playing opps over the last year or two.

The ends of the horseshoe are starting to disappear http://www.wfan.com/pages/3706726.php?imageGalleryXRefId=907755#imgXR http://www.wfan.com/pages/3706726.php?imageGalleryXRefId=907756#imgXR

Sheets lives in Texas which may give them the inside track there. Be nice if Omar were to match that offer and convince Big Ben that staying in the NL and staying out of that hitters' haven with the daily 90+ degree heat will be better for him in the long run. Then tell Boras that he can review that offer plus this newest one we supposedly made to Ollie and tell him first one to say yes gets the job.

Kent & Alomar had almost opposite careers Alomar was the phenom who was so consistently good so early that by age 32 there was no way he could play his way out of it - and yet he almost managed to do exactly that. Kent, a little older coming in to begin with after going the college route, was fairly pedestrian through about age 29 before exploding with an MVP season and a string of 100+ RBI years to the point where it took folks almost until he retired before they realized that the guy put together a 17-year career with HoF-type numbers. I still Alomar is more a lock than Kent. Both will eventually get in IMO and, with time, I think Kent's anti-jock image might cancel out his otherwise prickly self and could even work in his favor over time. I found it surprising that Kent even had a press conference much less an emotional and thoughtful one. Not that I think he's a rock-head, just thought he'd ride off into the Texas sunset barely taking the time to even wave.

He wouldn't start there - but he'd be a potentially good RH bat off the bench for a predominately lefty hitting squad.

Freddy get ready, and rock steady! Just a minor league deal, so there's still some 'prove it' time left in ST and possibly beyond that in Buffalo. Wouldn't surprise me if there's some cut off date at which point they either have to bring him up or allow him the option to walk away and try to find another deal. Up to $9mil with incentives so if he winds up making that much it'll probably be a good thing for the team.

On the other hand, it's nice to see Fartinez as high as #16 following an injury filled season. True he dropped from #10 the year before but I would have guessed at a larger fall. Law did include a bunch of untested/high-ceiling guys (5 from last year's draft!) so maybe he's more into judging on the potential scale even if there's not much on the proven side.

And, likewise, I suspect there's some negotiating to be done for the stuff that originally aired under the Cablevision banner.

="batmagadanleadoff":mqoaopu1]I'm exaggerating a little just to make a point here, but watching these Mets Classics reruns, you'd think that the Mets history consists of once beating the Yankees on a Matt Franco pinch hit, a hiatus, and then coming into full-time existence during --ugh!-- the Willie Randolph era.[/quote:mqoaopu1] It's not that the Willie Randolph era fascinates them so much it's that running games they already own the rights to is so much easier ... and profitable. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 02:19 PM ="batmagadanleadoff":1070xs1a]I'm impressed. Do you keep a list? And didn't they once show Opening Day '83 (Seaver's return)?[/quote:1070xs1a] Working from memory. I'd plotz if they ever showed Seaver's return. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to join Carrie Fisher. themetfairy Jan 22 2009 02:21 PM ="G-Fafif":3zka4awh]="batmagadanleadoff":3zka4awh]I'm impressed. Do you keep a list? And didn't they once show Opening Day '83 (Seaver's return)?[/quote:3zka4awh] Working from memory. I'd plotz if they ever showed Seaver's return. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to join Carrie Fisher.[/quote:3zka4awh] SNY didn't show Seaver's return. A poster on YouTube named JPhillips41 had footage from Seaver's return until MLB made him take it down (bastages!). Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 02:22 PM More on the trade here. Around 1:30 Douglas presciently points out that Rose will attempt to play into his fifties. Gay innuendo between Seaver and Rose at 5:00. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 02:24 PM That Pete Rose, he was quite the "free agent". You ladies know what I'm talking about. Maybe you don't. Tom, could you explain it to Carrie? Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 02:26 PM I got the idea that JPhillips41 taped the Seaver return 25 years ago. metirish Jan 22 2009 02:26 PM Video constraints here at work mean that I can't partake in the Seaver crotch viewing , describe please what I am missing? batmagadanleadoff Jan 22 2009 02:29 PM Re: Mets Classics ="Frayed Knot":2ivynf2i]="batmagadanleadoff":2ivynf2i]I'm exaggerating a little just to make a point here, but watching these Mets Classics reruns, you'd think that the Mets history consists of once beating the Yankees on a Matt Franco pinch hit, a hiatus, and then coming into full-time existence during --ugh!-- the Willie Randolph era.[/quote:2ivynf2i] It's not that the Willie Randolph era fascinates them so much it's that running games they already own the rights to is so much easier ... and profitable.[/quote:2ivynf2i] I could be wrong, but I would imagine that the team owns the audio and video rights to every single Met game ever played, no matter how it was broadcast. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 02:35 PM I noticed that when Mets Weekly did wrapup stuff in '06 for best games of the year they didn't use anything that aired on Fox or ESPN; for example, the eleven-run inning game against the Cubs, which was a Sunday nighter, went unmentioned. Later, there was a show (under the UltiMET umbrella) devoted to great home runs of 2006 and they entirely skipped the three-HR inning at Wrigley with the two grand slams -- ESPN. Must be a rights fee issue, though you'd figure it's all part of the same consortium. metirish Jan 22 2009 02:36 PM Wasn't there an issue a few years ago regarding SNY and WPIX , something about SNY trying to buy the WPIX Mets games or a question about ownership. Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 02:38 PM ="metirish":23uzvoxc]Video constraints here at work mean that I can't partake in the Seaver crotch viewing , describe please what I am missing?[/quote:23uzvoxc] It's real, and it's spectacular. Frayed Knot Jan 22 2009 02:38 PM And, likewise, I suspect there's some negotiating to be done for the stuff that originally aired under the Cablevision banner. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 22 2009 02:39 PM Re: Mets Classics ="batmagadanleadoff":37dsjy4t] I could be wrong, but I would imagine that the team owns the audio and video rights to every single Met game ever played, no matter how it was broadcast.[/quote:37dsjy4t] I asked a SNY guy about this and he said MLB owns the whole shebang these days -- or at least what of that shebang still exists. My brilliant idea of replaying Random Crappy Met Games from the past as cheap SNY programming seems like a pipe dream. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 02:40 PM The '86 San Diego game is Channel 9; '88 Clincher is SportsChannel; several of the later Bobby V games are FSNY; a little Fox network is thrown in. Very much a hodgepodge. Seems to me they can get done what they want to get done. Maybe a new year brings a new slate. Gwreck Jan 22 2009 02:44 PM ="G-Fafif":2hielg5a]The '86 San Diego game is Channel 9; '88 Clincher is SportsChannel; several of the later Bobby V games are FSNY; a little Fox network is thrown in. Very much a hodgepodge. Seems to me they can get done what they want to get done. Maybe a new year brings a new slate.[/quote:2hielg5a] I'm sure it's a money thing. And with MLB network starting now, I bet they're going to keep the first right to games they want rather than allowing SNY to air them. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 04:19 PM There are certain SNY shows that use almost no postseason footage even when it is called for. Instead you see still photos as if video has yet to be invented. That is most definitely rights fees-related. batmagadanleadoff Jan 22 2009 06:10 PM Another "classic" tonight on SNY from the Wee Willie years -- the 2006 Mets come back from a 4-0 1st inning deficit to defeat Randy Johnson and the MFY's. You knew the Mets were in it as soon as the MFY's plated their fourth run of the first inning. This effectively took away Willie's cherished though moronic let's sac bunt in the first inning strategy and forced Lo Duca to hit away after Reyes led off the home first with a walk. Lo Duca singled and came around to score on Beltran's homer. I always rooted for a big first inning from Met opponents during the Randolph era. metirish Jan 22 2009 06:17 PM 4 to 3 now in the second.....come on you Mets.... Edgy DC Jan 23 2009 07:01 AM I don't want to defend Willie too much, but I went back and checked Lo Duca's record. He had 10 sacrifice hits. All but one of them was to advance a runner from second with no outs --- not to advance a guy from first. I think three of them were in the first, and the rest were in late and close situations. Fman99 Jan 23 2009 07:56 AM Re: Mets Classics ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2vnfd2jw]="batmagadanleadoff":2vnfd2jw] I could be wrong, but I would imagine that the team owns the audio and video rights to every single Met game ever played, no matter how it was broadcast.[/quote:2vnfd2jw] I asked a SNY guy about this and he said MLB owns the whole shebang these days -- or at least what of that shebang still exists. My brilliant idea of replaying Random Crappy Met Games from the past as cheap SNY programming seems like a pipe dream.[/quote:2vnfd2jw] I would love that. Monday-Thursday, 7 PM, put on random Mets games from last year. Did they win or lose? I don't remember, let's watch! Their original content is still just a lot of blather meant to distract from the fact that, yes, it is still winter outside and no, you are not watching baseball right now. Benjamin Grimm Jan 23 2009 08:24 AM I'd rather see a random game from 20 or 30 years ago than one from last season, but maybe that's just me. metirish Jan 23 2009 08:33 AM I like the random recent game idea , I don't tune into SNY much these days as I get my baseball information from MLB Network. G-Fafif Feb 09 2009 12:02 PM The 1969 World Series returns to SNY tonight through Thursday night at 7:30, Games Two through Five. Mets in four...those four. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 09 2009 12:22 PM Longest. Offseason. Ever. Gwreck Feb 16 2009 10:39 PM MLB Network is showing a game that SNY hasn't aired: Opening Day '85. This Saturday at 11:00 AM. batmagadanleadoff Mar 02 2009 03:31 PM Grab some popcorn and fire up the ol� DeLorean Time Machine because tonight, SNY and the Mets dig deep into yesteryear�s archives to shake the cobwebs from your memories. Does anyone still remember the iPhone? How about the Iraqi war? Tonight, it�s another Mets Classic from 2007 -way way back when the uniforms were black and the President was white. It�s the Mets vs. the Rockies tonight, all over again. Don�t bother looking for Jane Jarvis. Also starring Willie �I Will Sac Bunt for Food� Randolph as the manager and Burt Mustin as the batboy Gwreck Mar 02 2009 04:35 PM I believe that game was won on a bunt, actually. batmagadanleadoff Mar 02 2009 04:45 PM ="Gwreck":2ktjqog1]I believe that game was won on a bunt, actually.[/quote:2ktjqog1] But was it a base-hit bunt, or the out-making kind of bunt that Willie loved? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 02 2009 05:47 PM Walk-off bunt single. Endy's second finest moment in blue y orange. batmagadanleadoff Mar 02 2009 06:09 PM I knew that. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 02 2009 06:10 PM I was at this game. I have to say, Easley's HR was a much bigger thrill. It was the absolute last thing I expected. Guy on 3rd, tie game in the home 12th, you're gonna win somehow. Edgy DC Mar 02 2009 06:42 PM Damion Easley, still jobless. Gwreck Mar 02 2009 07:13 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":3g7r2yy9]I was at this game. I have to say, Easley's HR was a much bigger thrill. It was the absolute last thing I expected.[/quote:3g7r2yy9] So was I. My recollection was that Easley was down to his final strike with 2 outs as well, with Fuentes pitching. We were packing up to go home when he hit it out. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 02 2009 07:50 PM Just turned this on only to find they're showing Game 1 of the 06 NLCS instead. Gwreck Mar 02 2009 08:51 PM I can't remember them ever showing that before. One of Glavine's finest pitching performances as a Met. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 02 2009 09:34 PM Oh, sorry. I meant the Dodgers series. I think that's the one where John Maine gets his butt saved by the Dodgers' 3rd base coach. themetfairy Mar 02 2009 09:42 PM Yes - the double play at home plate was a thing of beauty. batmagadanleadoff Mar 03 2009 01:15 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":38thmw2y]Just turned this on only to find they're showing Game 1 of the 06 NL[D]S instead.[/quote:38thmw2y] It's obvious that SNY read my post and decided to get with it and show some older games.

As long as Freddie is in addition to a more top-line starter like Ollie or Sheets rather than instead of I have no problem with it. Pretty good pitcher when he's on -- that just hasn't been recently. Re: Sheets; I still can't find definitive word on whether the Yanx are at the legal limit on signing Type-A players, although one would suspect that if the answer were 'No' one of these pundits would point that out rather than continue to link them to the likes of Manny & Sheets.

Fortunately for me I've always been able to make it through a 3-hour baseball game without starving to death so I can still attend a game without paying for high-priced meals in up-scale restaurants that are restricted to only those with upper-priced seats.

Kent was always a bit of an odd duck in MLB in that he admittedly was never a big fan of the sport of baseball. He played it because he was good at it and could make a lot of money doing so, but otherwise it wasn't a big priority in his life and his friends and interests remained outside the game. Now I've never had a problem with those who admit that they're in it for the money and there's certainly nothing wrong with refusing to let being a pro athlete define everything you are. Plus hunting, ranching, and declaring your wife to be your best friend beats the hell out of what a lot of athletes do in their down-time. But it does tend to keep you from being one of the guys and I'm sure his sometimes prickly personality didn't help there either.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3849334

="Centerfield":1qchhe2v]First 15 picks are protected.[/quote:1qchhe2v] Plus there's the Yanqui pick which has already been given away (they've ceded their first 3 actually) just like the Philly & Angel picks have. Only difference there is that I'm sure Ollie doesn't rank ahead of Teixeira & Sabathia. There are also, in addition to Sheets & Perez, 5 other Type-A FAs still on the market who could eat up 1st round picks if/when signed: Juan Cruz, Orlando Hudson, Jason Varitek, Orlando Cabrera, Manny Ramirez

The remaining two arbi cases have been filed and neither seems like it'll be a gap too big to bridge via negotiation. * Maine is asking for $3 million. The Mets offered $2.2 million. * Feliciano filed for $1.95 million. The Mets offered $1.35 million.

Signing a major league deal means Sullivan would probably be subject to being lost via waivers if they eventually wanted to shuffle him off to Buffalo* ... but, if so, big deal. * I believe that's the first official use of this rather obvious joke

And speaking of Jeremy Reed (which we sort of are): I found his name floating around the internet a couple times in the last week or so as several sites are reviewing their 2004 'Best Prospects' lists to see where the hits and misses were. Reed definitely represents one of the biggest examples of the latter category. A guy at Rotoworld had him listed as his 4th best prospect 5 years ago. BP had him at #2 overall!!, BA at 25th. John Sickels listed him 10th among position players - sandwiched right between D. Wright and Grady Sizemore What was said then: Jeremy Reed - OF White Sox - Age 22 - ETA: July 2004 .333/.431/.477, 4 HR, 52 RBI, 17/41 K/BB, 27 SB in 222 AB for Single-A Winston-Salem .409/.474/.591, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 19/29 K/BB, 18 SB in 242 AB for Double-A Birmingham A left-handed line-drive hitter with 15-homer power and an outstanding eye at the plate, Reed looks like he could become baseball's best leadoff man someday. And now: RW: We were all fooled by the outstanding .373 (combined 2003 minor league) batting average. Baseball America had the best read on him, yet still rated him as the best prospect in the White Sox system. It's incredible that a player this good in the minors hasn't at least become a quality fourth outfielder in the majors. Still only 27 (28 in June) he's had some decent minor league numbers the last few years in AAA Tacoma but little success during his stints in the majors. So while it's real unlikely that he'd suddenly "find himself" at this age and become the star that some predicted 5 years ago, it wouldn't be out of the question for the light to go on a bit to where he can thrive in a 4th/5th OFer role better than the likes of Endy, Pagan or whoever else is fighting for that spot. Can play CF too from what I hear.

="attgig":355pp1z0]... But still, the Mets were relying on him heavily. asking him to go further than expected in games, where he would usually go out. then short rest come down the stretch.[/quote:355pp1z0] See I don't think it was "further than expected". Certainly wasn't further than what he was used to and has already proven he could handle. There were even some questions early on (stupid ones perhaps) about why he wasn't going further more often. And the short rest games were what, like twice at the very end? MFS62 Jan 20 2009 01:17 PM Overworking a pitcher can also be defined as one more pitch than his arm can stand. Arms are fragile and, you never know what will happen on the next pitch. Its something you can't mathematically predict with any degree of certainty. Later attgig Jan 20 2009 03:01 PM http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=204015 this is ranking of "pitcher abuse points" the rankings are about what i would expect. the explanation of how they come up with the number: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=148 i haven't had time to read it yet though.. And I'm convinced the brewers have no clue how to handle sheets

The fact that arbitration - or even just the threat of it - relies heavily on service time means that one more season under a player's belt almost automatically triggers a sizable jump in pay.

So if Ollie signs elsewhere what kind of pick do we get? Well, it depends on who signs him. * If one of the following teams sign him it'll be a 1st rounder, somewhere between #17 and #33 Dodgers - certainly a prime candidate Marlins - doubt it Cardinals - decent chance unless LaRussa/Duncan think he's unworkable Blue Jays - they're pretty strong on pitching Astros - always tough to read whether they're in a signing or saving mood Twins - probably not White Sox - certainly possible Brewers - they have both several pitching holes to fill and extra picks (via CC & Sheets) to cushion the blow Red Sox - normally yes, but I think they're pretty much set on the mound right now Rays - highly doubtful Cubs - maybe, although already re-inked Dempster * Could be 1st, could be 2nd: Phillies - if Ollie ranks ahead of Raul Ibanez on the Elias formula than we'd snag the Phils' first pick instead of the Mariners. Other way around if not. Angels - same deal as above only with Ollie compared to Brian Fuentes * Any other team signing him would mean being awarded a supplemental pick plus that team's 2nd rounder

The other thing about Santana is that the IP this past year wasn't inconsistent to what he had been doing: (including post-season): 2004 = 240; 2005 = 232; 2006 = 242; 2007 = 219 so his 234 didn't represent a large jump in the workload which is the thing many look to as a warning sign. Also, due to his status as a Rule 5 player, his workload as a young pitcher was lighter than most (certainly Sabathia) and that's usually a good sign as well.