Yardbarker: New York Mets

Could Calero set-up

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:56:00 -0500

Of all the areas that the Mets need to address, the most stable is the pen, if the Mets are confident that one of Bobby Parnell, Brain Stokes and Sean Green can step up to be the set-up man, then they may only need a left handed specialist.However, if they look outside of the organization for a set-up man a player they've been interested in before who has served as a set-up man maybe available at less then what most set-up men would cost. In 2007 when the Mets were trying to put together ...

Judge Creates Future Hassles The Next Time Omir Santos Needs A New Windshield

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:46:32 -0500

“Great views of Flushing and the surrounding areas from the stadium- it faces west so you can see beautiful sunsets. Plus all around the stadium you get to see the chop shops and the train yards and the bay. You would think the Mets would try to visually temper these sights but surprisingly not.” So [...]

Former Indians coach Luis Rivera will manage Toronto's Class AA team

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:48:17 -0500

Toronto has named former Tribe coach Luis Rivera as its Class AA manager.

The Fundamentalist Movement

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:22:00 -0500

If I've learned anything from the returning Keith Hernandez these past few years that he has analyzed Mets games. it's that ballplayers like to come up with new names for old things, particularly if they save the players some syllables. Thus, it was no surprise to me when I started hearing Keith make occasional reference to "fundies"...as in fundamentals. Fundamentals: four syllables. Fundies: two syllables. Look how much effort a ballplayer saves in the shortening. Ke...

A UNIFORM SIGHTING

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:33:25 -0500

Not much to say today other than to thank the New York Football Giants for ending the NFL season for us Giants fans last night with that embarrassing display. For the first time in his Giants Head Coaching tenure, Tom Coughlin looked lost on the sidelines as he teams playoff hopes went down the drain. Not to worry Giants fans help on the offensive side is on the way as Charlie Weiss will be back in E. Rutherford as the OC. Big tip of the Blue Mets Cap to Shannon Shark at Met Police for the fi...

All Eyes on Florida's Brandon Knight

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500

by Jim HenryFiled under: RecruitingCollege basketball coaches will be watching Brandon Knight's every move the next four months. Knight, a senior at Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest High, is widely considered the top point guard and top overall player in the Class of 2010 by recruiting services. Knight has visited Connecticut, Kentucky, Kansas and, most recently, Florida; he also has Syracuse and Miami on his list of favorites. Since Knight's not expected to make a final decision concerning...

Re-Signing Alex Cora

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:46:30 -0500

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP 3 months ago: New York Mets' Alex Cora, right, follows through on a single as San Diego Padres catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, left, looks on during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) Browse more photos » Last season, Alex Cora was a replacement level player (literally 0 WAR), but earned $2 million. Many fans,...

Mets close to deal with reliever Elmer Dessens

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:52:44 -0500

According to Rosenthal and Morosi at FoxSports, the Mets are near a deal to bring back the 38 year old right handed reliever Elmer Dessens. Dessens actually ended up pitching o.k. for the Mets. After starting out with mop up...

Replacement Level Mets Update: Elmer Dessens and Wilson Valdez

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:33:51 -0500

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP Browse more photos » According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi at Fox Sports (via MLBTR), the Mets are close to re-signing 38 year-old right-handed pitcher Elmer Dessens. Next logical question: why? Dessens posted a 3.31 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 32.2 extremely low-leverage innings in 2009. Fortunately, we know not to look at ERA and WHIP as useful statistics for pitch...

Is Fernando Martinez on the block or not...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:57:00 -0500

It would have to be an awfully big trade for the Mets to include top prospect Fernando Martinez. It was just three years ago that farm fans dreamed of an all home grown outfield, by 2010 they had hoped for a Milledge, Gomez, Martinez ( one of them coming off the bench with Beltran here) outfield roster. Things haven't worked out as planned, Gomez and Milledge have been traded and both are onto their third team. Martinez was the prize of the group but his progress has been stunted by injur...

Wilson Valdez becomes a Philly...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:28:00 -0500

I have to admit I was a big supporter of Wilson Valdez, he was a solid defensive back-up at 2B/SS and had a great arm. Valdez was an all glove no bat but I believe you need a defensive infielder like that in case of injuries or if you have a poor fielder, you can bring them in late in a game to hold the lead. Valdez was a defensive up grade over Argenis Reyes and Ramon Martinez and much cheaper then Alex Cora. Matt Eddy reports that Valdez has signed a minor league deal with the Phillies ( Ba...

Mets interested in Dessens returning...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:01:00 -0500

Elmer Dessens is a 38 y/o right handed relief pitcher, who would best be described as a journeyman. In 2009 the Mets signed Dessens to a minor league contract, it marked his 11th team in 13 seasons to include a stint with the Yomiuri Giants. He began his career as a starter, making double digit starts for five straight seasons (2000-2004) but then began to make spot starts as a longman. He's been used exclusively out of the pen since signing with the Mets and they began to use him as a...

Blue & Orange Thursday

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:02:55 -0500

The Mets used to regularly play Memorial Day doubleheaders, Independence Day doubleheaders and Labor Day doubleheaders, yet the holiday that launched them into the public consciousness was the one we celebrate tomorrow. That's right: the Mets are as much a part of Thanksgiving as stuffing, pumpkin pie and forced conversation you could do without. Two months before they started limbering up in St. Petersburg and nearly four months before they began losing in earnest, the New York Met...

Giving Thanks for the Mets

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:07:01 -0500

Yeah, it’s been difficult being a Mets fan these last few seasons. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love our team. Here are a few things I am thankful for as we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow: David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana. Yes, Wright forgot how to hit home runs, and the other two [...]

Omir Santos Named Topps All Star Rookie Catcher

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:37:52 -0500

It looks like the Mets didn’t get completely shutout as far as awards go for the 2009 season. After missing out on any off season hardware including any Gold Glove or Silver Slugger awards, the Mets manged to pull one out of the hat when catcher Omir Santos was named to the Topps All Star Rookie [...]

2010 Mets Coaching Staff

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:51:59 -0500

The New York Mets have completed their 2010 Major League coaching staff this week. New additions include Dave Jauss as bench coach and Chip Hale as third base coach. Among the incumbents, Razor Shines, the third base coach in 2009, moves to first base, while Howard Johnson (hitting coach), Dan Warthen (pitching coach) and Randy Niemann [...]

Jose Guillen would accept a trade...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:45:00 -0500

Even Adam Rubin concedes that it's a far fetched idea for the Mets to trade Jose Guillen for Angel Pagan but someone got a hold of Guillen and ask for his thoughts.Basically the Royals want to move Guillen and they've identified the Mets as a team they maybe willing to take him, reportedly they like Angel Pagan in return. Guillen has a limited no trade clause but told Diario Libre he would waive his no trade clause for a trade to NY.Here's Rubin's translation of Guillen speaki...

GARY SHEFFIELD IS DELUSIONAL

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:30:52 -0500

Gary Sheffield wants to keep playing so that he can reach 3,000 hits for his career. Nothing like individual goals to get yourself motivated, but whatever. Maybe Sheffield can help a team a little bit with depth, but Sheff may have a different idea of how valuable he is: Sheffield would have to average 155.5 hits [...]

Fernando Martinez Is Back

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:28:05 -0500

Mets top prospect, 21 year old Fernando Martinez, is back on the field playing for Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League. On Friday night he played the entire game in left field, going 0 for 4. On Saturday, Fernando was the DH and went 1 for 4 with a single and RBI. Fernando had surgery [...]

Omar to see Delgado...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:37:00 -0500

As I see it there are four issues in play with Carlos Delgado, which makes it understandable that their torn over what direction to take.1) They are going to be hard pressed to replace a healthy Delgado's production in the middle of the line-up.2) At 37 y/o his first two seasons with the Mets were plagued with nagging injuries and last year he lost the entire season, can Carlos remain healthy enough to be a productive player.3) Since 2006 Delgado has been the unofficial captain of this te...