Edgy MD

Well, keeping in mind that I was tongue-in-cheek speculating there, as I was throughout the post, I'm thinking three years, $39 million. Throw in a few incentives that could bring the total to $45 million (but never will) and NOTARIZE THAT SHIT.

The Kirk triple-boom and the Duda triple-boom certainly were pretty classick. I'd also have to add the Matz debut and the dancing grandpa. OE: I also want to give an honorable mention to this game: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_04_04_nynmlb_texmlb_1&c_id=tex#game=2015_04_04_nynmlb_texmlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=play-by-play Last exhibition game of the spring. Mets are down 4-0 in the ninth, playing Texas at TBA. They've had four hits the whole game and you get the idea that they just want to get this game out of the way. But they are the Mets, and that means they are not. To be. Fucked with. Bases empty and two outs. Monell walks. Mayberry singles. Reynolds walks. And BOOM! A grand slam by Anthony Recker ties it. The game is called a tie and both teams are sent off to start the regular season, but a win has been stolen, by four guys who among them will provide about 25 cents of contributions the rest of the way. But the message is clear. The Mets are not. To be. Fucked with. Video: http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/04/04/video-anthony-recker-hits-a-game-tying-grand-slam-in-the-ninth-inning/

Ventura is signed through 2016. Gibbons has had his option picked up also. Yost signed and extension through 2016 before the season � maybe a bad move in retrospect. So I got vacancies in Los Angeles and San Diego with Fredi Gonzalez possibly still twisting in the wind in Atlanta(?).

Frayed Knot wrote: Gutsy move re: Murph -- Gamble that this increased power/reduced strikeouts is real (and spectacular) and will continue // install him at 1B where his glove will do less damage and trade Duda (2 years from FA) to fill other holes. This isn't ideal, but isn't crazy. Depending on how long you are committing to Morph and how much you can get for Duda, it just. might. work. It also dovetails with the Mets' inability to sign Duda long-term last season.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: But fielding ... everybody's gotta field. The Mets have big problems on the field. Well, it follows that when you're whiffing more batters than most everybody else, and walking fewer, you don't have to field as much. That, I think, is part of the philosophy (if a tertiary part). The Mets got away with that for much of the year. It just didn't work against the Royals.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: As always we need to look at Muffy and all players in context of the other moves. Right now I'm imagining the Mets introduce Nimmo as a doubles-hitting, lefthanded support bat in 2016, and Hererra at 2B. I get the idea that Nimmo's stock is falling. He probably has to prove a bit in AAA. He could appear in 2016, but I'm not counting on him for anything.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ... but he might have morphed into a 20+ HR a year guy... . Murph has morphed! Morphy is the new Muffy! Sign Morphy NOW!!!!

It happens sometimes. Weird, isn't it?

I've been thinking about this, and I've got a bunch of perfectly reasonable arguments bouncing around my fool head. You want to win the World Series? You're going to have to win the National League Championship Series. Who's most proven at getting you through that stage? Daniel Murphy, that's who. And speaking of the NLCS, you just know if the Mets don't sign him, the Cubs will, and he'll end up hitting a hundred homers. Isn't the new Royal-centric baseball economy moving away from the walk-and-homer-model hitter and declaring a premium on high-contact guys who challenge the defensive loads put out there by walk-and-homer-minded GMs and managers? You know who's a Royals-type hitter? Daniel F. Murphy is Royal-type hitter, kids. And he's right there in front of us. If he leaves town, Foley's is going to have to wait until he retires to put him in their stupid Irish Baseball Hall of Fame. Yeah, he's a flawed player. Grow up. Everybody's flawed. What makes Murphy different is that his flaws are known. Dilson Hererra, by comparison, is freakin' MYSTERY! Doubles. He hits 'em. Lots. They're not homers, but they're, like, doubles. We're not just talking about a defensively sub-standard starting second baseman. We're talking about a defensively perfectly decent backup third baseman and first baseman. Somebody's getting hurt next year, and Daniel has stepped into many a breach. And THAT'S when you want the real second baseman. GUH. He fits into any team. Why not have him keep fitting into the Mets and their wild-assed improvisations? Did you like Tejada at third? Well, did you?! Jerk. Two Words: Home-town discount. Yeah, I know one of them is a hyphenated compound word and the phrase can arguably said to consist of three words. Present a paper at the next MLA convention, hotshot. What's relevant is that I'm sure The Murph is jonesing to give the Mets one of those HTDs so he can keep living in Astoria or Montclair or Mamaroneck or wherever the deuce he lives. Vicki and the kids have settled into a routine, you know? And he likes waking up to The Daily News, God help him. How desirable is that mediocre and familiar Muffiness to you? Think about it. Think hard. Now think about how desirable it is to you at BELOW-MARKET RATES? Got your heart pumping a little there, didn't I? You can't let the Gay Mafia WIN!!!! And hey, maybe he can find redemption on the tolerance front. There's plenty of room for personal growth here. We'd hate to miss out on that! Who's your 28? Well fangraphs credits Murphy with 12.5 WAR, but there they have John Milner with 10.0 and Bobby Jones with 9.8. That's a win for Murphy, but is it a decisive win? Not quite. No, not quite. Unsettlingly ambiguous, I'd say. Thirty-three hits short of a thousand. Think of the sellout crowds anticipating THAT milestone. Nobody THINKS about that. Back of the baseball card, baby. Who is more reliable with regard to being the same dude, year in and year out? Nobody. Nobods at all. The same dude. The same modestly productive, defensively adventurous, brilliant, brain-farting dude. Resign Murphy NOW!!!

Does anybody feel the same?

I wondered that too. But it comes down to execution, and his throw was well off-line. Would the few split seconds have allowed him to gather himself and make a less panicky throw? I dunno. Maybe more time to think doesn't help. Whatever the Royals say about their scouting, most of our more-generous observations of Duda's impressive defense regard his fielding and this footwork. It's rare that he's had to make throws under pressure, and I'd've pleaded ignorance with regard to his aptitude in that department.

I went for Colossal Granderson.

Blevins is an agent characterized by his freedom.

Slugging .632.

I'd certainly be surprised. His value is an unknown. Maybe winter ball could change that. I don't think he should be considered a headache. Injured players happen.

Ah, double posting on poor Ah-seop. I don't know what this guy has, but staying out of the Korean market because you're disappointed with two Japanese recruits doesn't strike me as very scientific.

Montero missed the most of the season with shoulder soreness, but the Mets were never able to diagnose anything. He kept trying to return and coming up short. Latest report say that he's feeling great and that he may pitch winter ball to do some catching up.

Mets control Niese for one more year, so he's likely your fifth starter. Montero, Verrett, and Gilmartin are available (SIR, YES, SIR!) for any emergencies that crop up before then, but I think we have some questions to work out with regard to Montero.

HahnSolo wrote: I loved Robles in Aug/Sep, and hope he gets the opportunity to pitch more important innings next year. And not ignored like he was in October. I love Robles in the springtime I love Robles in the fall I love Robles in the summer, throwing cutters I love Robles in the winter, choosing putters I love Robles each appearance! EACH APPEARANCE OF THE YEAR! I love Robles, why, oh why do I love Robles?! Because Tyler Clippard isn't there!

I think Harvey deserves credit for adapting. Our starters pound the strike zone, and they were facing a lineup that makes good contact, but doesn't walk. The adaptation was to make them chase. I think all the starters were adapting and would have continued, but they ran out of time. The offense and defense didn't buy them enough time. I'm not particularly disappointed in the starting pitching. They kept us in every game. But, you know, we could have made that pivot before game one.

Ah-Seop Son: http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=son---000ah-

Any announcements with regard to the staff? I tend to think Geren is gone. Go ahead. Make Wally bench coach. I dare you.

And the promotion of Conforto. And the acquisition of Uribe. And the acquisition of Johnson. And heck, the healthy return of an unhealthy Cuddyer. It's like seven good or better major league hitters showing up at once. That suddenly knocked some regulars or semi-regulars down to second or third string to clear off the team in some cases. It was, in retrospect, awesome. And it pleases me to think back on it.

d'Kong76 wrote: [fimg=400]http://www.kcmets.com/CPF/rasmus.jpg[/fimg] <>

Rasmus disturbs me. He always looks like some guy who stole my bike when I was 11. [fimg=400:tp4jnttc]http://www.joesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/colby-rasmus-2013.jpg[/fimg:tp4jnttc]