Well, the hot stove is starting to heat up. Today, the Post mentions Mike Mussina would be interested in signing with the Mets. Wow, there's a shock, a Free Agent stating he would sign with the Mets. You think maybe he said this to get the Yanks to work a little more quickly?
Beyond that, we have D-Mat, (the "American Nickname" given to Daisuke Matsuzaka by agent Scott (money money money) Boras). Bidding started yesterday, and goes until the middle of next week. Then, the high bid is given to the Japanese league. Four days later, they can accept or decline the bid. If accepted, the winning team will be announced, and they have 30 days to negotiate. If that fails, he goes back to Japan. It will be interesting to see who bids and who wins.
Of course, the Mota issue is looming. Odds are, the Mets would have liked him back, thereby allowing them to deal Heilman. Now, they need to find a replacement for Mota. Oh, they could sign him, but he will mis 50 games once under contract, so someone would have to fill that role.
The thing that is concerning me about the media and fellow Mets fans is the trade proposals I am reading and hearing. Seems many deals are including the young pitchers, Pelfrey and Humber, with some mentioning Maine and Perez. Now, I would not be all that upset if Perez were traded, assuming good value comes back. It is the naming of Pelfrey and Humber as trade bait that concerns me.
Some of us seem to have forgotten about deals from the past. Lets put on the wayback glasses and look back to 2004. At that time, GM Jim Duquette traded a highly touted pitcher for another young arm. That trade has not worked out too well. And fans were, and remain quite pissed about it. So someone please explain to me why the Mets should now trade Pelfrey or Humber? Have we forgotten what happens when we trade young pitchers?
The ONLY way one of those two should be traded is for a #1 starter. No outfielders, no 2nd baseman, no relievers. Even then, I would not be pleased. You see, there is a bit of age in the rotation, next season and in 2008. We are going to need young guys to step in. Plus, they come cheap, allowing Omar to spend money elsewhere, like on a bat for 2nd or left (or even right, considering Green only has 1 year left). Omar should take care to not trade the young arms in the hope of a quick WS win next year. I would think that Mets fans, while they would enjoy 1 win, would enjoy multiple wins even more. Going to age heavy, and not having young guys able to step in, is a recipe for one and done. There is enough youth on the team where multiple wins are possible, so long as the recipe is followed. Take a look at the Braves, one of the reasons they did so well for so long was the ability to sprinkle in youth. Same goes for the Yankees of the 90's, they had good veterans, and brought in young guys to complement them. The Mets need to follow a similar formula. Build from within, and use trades and key FA signings to fill the gaps. But by all means, be careful what chips you choose to trade.
In a couple of weeks, the FA negotiating period will start. Then the fun begins.
Hey, look who's in first place (albiet a 3 way tie). Who woulda thunk it?
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15 comments:
denizen - always happy to see you here. With the price of coffee beans going up so much, I've had to cut back.
I think Heilman will go in the right deal. There are some FA options and trade options out there. Sanchez is apparently throwing in the DR based on what I read this AM. That is encouraging. I think if any deal goes down, it is not going to be until January, to see how Filthy's rehab is going.
Hi, Shea. Cool to see you at the cafe.
Ed-
Couple thoughts. First off, why is everyone so desparate to trade Heilman? I don't get it. He's been a helluva releiver, and with his ability to start, he represents a real asset for a team that lacks middle-of-the-rotation depth.
This one's a head-scratcher to me, as is the desire to move Milledge.
Moving to Humber & Pelfrey, remember that young pitchers are a crap-shoot. If you can move one for a real player (read: Crawford), then you must do so, without hesitation.
The problem with the Kazmir deal wasn't that the Mets moved their pitching prospect, or that Zambrano "didn't work out." The problem was that Zambrano's career stats told you he wasn't good, and was unlikely to become good.
Pelfrey or Humber as part of a deal to get a young, talented everyday player like Crawford is a good deal.
Just one word of advice, Omar....please, no Moises Alou!
From your keyboard to Omar's eyes denizen. I trust him as well, but I am loathe to trade young arms.
Mike - as to Heilman (briancuster would be so happy with you right now), hey, my preference would be to keep him, but it appears the Mets are against him in the rotation (which I disagree with). He might bring back some good value in a trade, since other teams view him as a starter, and even a closer.
I do not want Milledge traded unless he brings back an ace. Otherwise, let him play left. Then sign a good 2nd baseman.
I know Pelfrey and Humber could fail (I remember Generation K all too well), but the parallels with Kazmir are there. I would hate to give up on them so early. As for Crawford, I see him as a "me" guy. Could that change in NY, maybe, but then again, where would he hit? Not a good fit for 2nd, he strikes out too much. He could not protect Wright enough, so 6th is out. How happy would he be 7th?
Now, if they use one to get a top starter, I could be persuaded, but that could be a long shot. Florida has an abundance of oung arms, so there goes Willis.
Hey Mike - I think the reason everyone throws Heilman in a "fantasy" trade is that the mass perception is that he's disgruntled. he's always made it known that he wants to start, and the Mets routinely gave him the Vaseline special last season by bringing in the likes of LimaTime, Jeremi Gonzales and Alay Soler. Personally, I think if Omar gets an offer he "can't refuse," Heilman would go in a NY minute to start someplace else or be a lights out middle reliever. Why? his trade value isn't going to get higher than it is now.
Ed, I'm with ya - no way to trading Humber or Pelf unless it's for a deal for a Peavy, Oswalt or Willis type. Otherwise, hold on to the young uns. Mike from The Metropolitans had a good piece on slowly introducing Humber as a reliever, kind of like a Wainwright or Papelbon deal. Get him used to ML pitching and stretch out his arm. I don't see anything wrong with that. Pelf has also shown he can handle ML hitting. Let's give the kid a chance in the rotation.
As far as trading anybody, I say - I'll probably get flamed for this so I'll put on my asbestos suit first - John Maine. Yes, I know he was killer in the playoffs, but...his trade value is very high. Look at Jae Seo and Kris Benson last year. Well not so much Benson but Seo was seen as the second coming of Don Drysdale, and Omar got flamed for it. Duaner Sanchez was the return for that and he paid so many dividends till he was injured it wasn't even funny. (In fact, I say that the demise of the Mets wasn't the hitting in the playoffs...they weren't the same team after he was injured and the shotgun trades were made to Pitt...just sayin')...
So my point here (was there one???), is...trust Omar. he brings it. I had the opportunity to meet him last summer and told him face to face I would never doubt him.
And...Eddie...are you crazy for suggesting Oh-pea be in a trade? I have him pegged for being our #2 starter next year...and a CY candidate. I also have him pitching the first no-no, so he should not be traded. Thank you. ;-)
With all due respect Ed, I don't buy into any of this stuff: As for Crawford, I see him as a "me" guy. Could that change in NY, maybe, but then again, where would he hit? Not a good fit for 2nd, he strikes out too much. He could not protect Wright enough, so 6th is out. How happy would he be 7th?
A good player on a bad team is alwasy labeled a "me" player. What's he supposed to do, put up shitty nunmers so he fits in with his teammates?
And as to the Ks in the two hole, I don't see what that has to do with anything. At the least, it takes at least 3 pitches to K, so that gives time for Reyes to steal.
And, as I'm sure you've read/heard, there's no evidence whatsoever that the whole "protection" thing means jack. Bill James debunked that 20 years ago, and writers from Neyer to thr Hardball Times guys have extended on it.
He'll like hitting 7th if he's behind Wight and Soriano and Green, thus getting a motherload of RBO opportunities. 100 RBI seasons for career leadoff men have a way of making them happy.
YASHIN!
YASHIN!
YASHIN!
finally we get to see this guy be the star he is.
I'll save my Yashin bashin' for springtime when he proves to be the bum we've always known him to be.
Excited hockey fans in November rarely feel the same come May.
The Dep is here!
Can you feel it Dep? The good vibes, rebounding in the empty echo chamber that is the Coliseum?
Coop - My Perez trade matches your Maine trade.
Mike - Crawford did some yaking about how he was better than Reyes. I saw a few other stories about him as well. Then again, I bash people getting on Milledge, so maybe I'm just an idiot. No comments people ;)
As for the K's, yeah, three strikes is 3 pitches, but Jose is not going to be able to run as much if the guy isn't gettin good wood on the ball. I could be persuaded to get him, if not giving up too much.
As for protection, after seeing Delgado's impact on Beltran, and the lack of Floyd behind Wright, I think there is something too it. I know a little about James, and am not going to say he is wrong, but there are exceptions to any rule.
Excited hockey fans in November rarely feel the same come May.
wait for it
wait for it
here it comes
Like Rangers fans last year after being swept by the Devils right Mike?
Here's the beautiful thing. The Rangers are favorites this year. The Isles are not (and were not last year either). So it is all gravy at this point.
Yes, exactly as Ranger fans felt. If any Ranger fan says he was confident before that series, he's LYING!
Henrik looked like crap after the Olympics, and it was clear troublw was coming, via injury or slump.
And by the way, Beltran was great in '04 without Delgado behind him. He was also at his best in June when Delado was slumping. And Wright was great in the first half with a combo of .212-hitting Cliffy or an unproven Stache behind him. And he slumped badly in the second half with a hot, and now re-established Stache behind him.
Ed, it's a myth.
mike - It may be a myth, but each myth has roots in reality.
Here's my point - Some guys might feel more comfortable at the plate knowing the guy behind them can pick them up. If they do not have that faith, they may press, try to do too much, and slump. I give you, David Wright w/o Cliff.
I may be wrong, and probably am, it's the way I feel. Then again, I'm no expert, and don't pretend to be.
In any event, it is a whole lot better having good bats in each spot than in only a couple of spots.
I'm gonna go rent Capricorn One now :)
In any event, it is a whole lot better having good bats in each spot than in only a couple of spots.
Indeed. And Carl Crawford's good.
I'm gonna go rent Capricorn One now :)
I fear you may regret that. Give me your report, since I haven't seen it in 28 years.
Yea Ed, I'm back baby. I've been reading your blog, just not commenting much I'll try to more now :)
Beltran has said himself that having delgado behind has helped him cuz he knows if he takes a walk that Delgado will drive him and others in. that in turn has made him more comfortable.
All these guys that watch (and dont play) baseball can say whatever they want and disprove it with #'s. I'll take mine from guys that play the game.
I'll take mine from guys that play the game.
You're right. Joe Morgan has proven that great players are the best guys to explain how the game works.
All snark aside, Morgan was a great player. Maybe the best 2nd baseman ever. And he was clearly a smart player: drew a ton of walks, stole bases at a high percentage, improved throughout his career.
And to listen to him, it's obvious that it was pure instinct, as he has NO fucking idea how the game really works. Incredible but true.
Hi Ed! Long time reader, first time poster. I played baseball with Tony Perez so I know what I am talking about and I think you hit it square on the head with this blog. I don't know enough about the Mets since I don't watch any baseball, even the games I do TV for, but you got me wanting to watch at least a half of a game. You should visit my new blog. I have a juicy met rumor up
"Hall of Famer"
Joe
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