The Mack Attack - 1-9-9

MLB – NY Mets: From Rotoworld:


- Mets GM Omar Minaya plans to meet with Pedro Martinez and his agent, Fern Cuza, sometime next week. According to the New York Post, Martinez could be open to an incentive-leaden, one-year deal. It'd be a shock to see any team extend a multi-year offer. Pedro went 5-6 in 20 starts for the Mets last season with a 5.61 ERA and 1.57 WHIP. Source: New York Post


From Ed Ryan: - It was reported last night on MLB network during the Hot Stove show that Pedro Martinez had turned down an offer from an American league team which would have been worth 7-8M for the year. Apparently Pedro prefers to remain in the National league and there is believed to be interest from two teams. It's been said that Pedro was disappointed with his performance over the last two years and was willing to take a discount in a return to the Mets for a chance to vindicate himself. The NY Post is reporting that the Mets will discuss such a contract with Pedro's agent next week. Meanwhile, Martinez's agent, Fern Cuza, is expected to speak with Minaya next week. The right-hander could be open to an incentive-heavy, one-year contract to return to the Mets. source NY Post


From Mike Silva: - Since Scott Boras’s meeting with Omar Minaya earlier this week, the speculation is for how long/how much Derek Lowe will cost. All signs point to a Lowe/Mets union in the near future. However, the dreamer could speculate about their meeting leading to something greater: Signing of Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez, and Manny Ramirez. As of today the Mets could compete with anyone and win the NL East. Signing all three of the aforementioned would make them a runaway favorite in the National League. Each day the market shrinks for these players, lowering their average annual salary. With some creativity the Mets could potentially nab all three for $45 million next year, or twenty million less than the Yankees will pay Burnett, Sabathia, and Teixeira. I also guarantee none of them will get as many years as AJ Burnett, much less Mark Teixeira.


AAA – Buffalo:


Puerto Rican Winter League - Mayaguez 6, Caguas 0 - Mets prospect Tobi Stoner struck out three over six innings and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter as the Indios blanked the Criollos to claim a playoff berth. The 24-year-old right-hander has a 1.50 ERA in five games with Mayaguez after a stint in the Arizona Fall League.


AA – B-Mets:


The rehabilitation of SP Jake Ruckle had no complications and he will report to ST early, as usual. Travel buddy is 1B Nick Evans, so keep a look out for them on Interstate 10 around mid-February. Jake should repeat AA ball and slot right into a killer rotation that includes Dillon Gee, Mike Antonini, Dylan Owen, and Eric Neisien

The Buffalo Bisons announced today that former New York Mets All-Star and World Series Champion Ed Kranepool and New York Mets Director of Minor League Operations Adam Wogan will both speak at the team’s Hot Stove Luncheon, Friday, January 16 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Kranepool, who also played two seasons with the Buffalo Bisons, is a member of the New York Mets Hall of Fame and the only person to play in each of the club’s first 18 seasons. “Steady Eddie” holds the club mark for games played (1,853), at-bats (5,436), total bases (2,047), hits (1,418) and doubles (225). He also hit 118 home runs with New York from 1962-1979 and was a National League All-Star in 1965. Kranepool played 112 games for the 1969 Mets team that won a World Series Championship over the Baltimore Orioles. Prior to his time in New York, Kranepool played two seasons with the Bisons in 1963 and 1964. He hit .310 with five home runs and 33RBI in 53 games in his first season in Buffalo. The following season, Kranepool hit .352 with three home runs and seven RBI in 15 games before getting a permanent promotion to the Mets. Wogan has been the Mets Director of Minor League Operations for the past three seasons and oversees all of New York’s minor league teams. Prior to joining the Mets, Wogan spent four seasons as the Director of Player Development for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.


Saber:


The Waiver Wire: - Tim Redding 2009 - The Mets reportedly made an offer to Tim Redding yesterday. As a Mets fan, the prospect of Redding in the rotation in 2009 doesn't exactly have me jumping for joy. Last season he had a K/9 of 5.9 and a BB/9 of 3.2, while maintaining a 39.8% groundball rate. Very mediocre. And that was his best season since 2003. At 30 years old, it seems more likely to be an outlier than a true new talent level. Although in fairness to Redding, it was also his first full season as a starter in the majors since 2003. If he can repeat his 2008 performance, Redding is an adequate fifth starter. If he regresses to his 2004-2007 level, then he's the type of player you should be targeting when selecting hitters in daily formats. Especially when he goes on the road to some of the better hitters' parks.


Fantasy:


From Razzball: - I decided to take a peeksie at Mock Draft Central’s Average Draft Pick board and grab nine players that I thought were overrated from their top 75. If MDC could talk, I think even it would agree that some of these draft picks make no sense. I tried to grab at least one overrated player from every round if you were doing a ten team 2009 fantasy draft. There were more than nine overrated players by my calculations, but I didn’t want to spoil the top 20 lists that are on their way this coming Monday. Muahahahaha… Anyway, here’s some overrated players for 2009 fantasy baseball: 9) Josh Hamilton - Why is he in the 1st round? Cause he kicked crack? You people need to chillax. 17) B.J. Upton - I like a BJ as much as the next guy, but a low-priced one is even nicer. Upton’s a third round pick. 27) Dustin Pedroia - Is spunkiness now a category? 34) Jason Bay - I think this pick means people aren’t sure what to make of a lot of other guys. Your inner monologue, “Oh, shoot, I don’t know if this Carlos Quentin guy is for real… Screw it, I’m grabbing J-Bay.” 43) Russell Martin - Position scarcity-schmarcity. Last year, Martin was outdone by Lastings Milledge and Garrett Atkins in a terrible year. 53) Magglio Ordonez - This is another J-Bay type pick. People are scared of Nate McLouth so they’re going with the reliable and yawnstipating Mags. 65) Cliff Lee - Buh-buh-buh– But he won the Cy Young! - 68) Garrett Atkins - If you follow his home run regression from year to year, he’s due for 17 in 2009. And he lost Holliday. Yay. - 75) Chone Figgins - This pick will shore up your sixth place finish. Congratulations.


Alumni:


Though the Nats had interest in trading for Xavier Nady last summer when he was with Pittsburgh, they don't intend to make a play for him now. Nady is a right-handed hitter, and Washington's lineup already has a surplus from that side. Washington also believes it does not have a legitimate shot of trading for Yanks slugger Nick Swisher. -- Washington Post


Chan Ho Park made it clear that he signed with the Phillies for one reason: to be a starter. The 35-year-old righthander, who agreed to terms last month but did not officially sign until yesterday, said he expects to compete for the No. 5 spot in the rotation in spring training. "My goal is to be a starter," Park said. "That's how I am going to compete. Hopefully, I can make it." -- Philadelphia Daily News


Caracas 4, La Guaira 1 - Athletics infielder Gregorio Petit went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning and former Major Leaguer Alex Cabrera collected four hits and scored a run as the Leones improved to 3-2 in round-robin play. Blue Jays infielder Marco Scutaro had two hits, two walks, an RBI and a run scored for Caracas. Rockies catcher Edwin Bellorin contributed two hits and Mariners outfielder Endy Chavez singled, walked three times and scored once for the Tiburones (2-3).


From Mike Silva: - Earlier this year, my radio co-host Howard Megdal (author of The Baseball Talmud) and I replayed the 1969 Mets vs. the 1978 Yankees using the popular simulation Strat-O-Matic baseball. The Miracle Mets won that series in six games, thanks in large part to some questionable bullpen management by Bob Lemon. Although this series spurred great discussion, we noticed our contemporary fan base was disconnected from some of the names of the past. Instead of embracing Tommie Agee, Reggie Jackson, and Thurman Munson, they yearned for an ‘86 Mets vs. 90s Yankee dynasty matchup. In January, we will oblige by playing the 1986 Mets vs. 1996 Yankees


General Baseball News:


The Orioles are still looking for at least one more starter and will continue to monitor the market and pursue free agents Braden Looper, Tim Redding and another Japanese player, Kenshin Kawakami.

-- Baltimore Sun Tourism officials want to bring a Japanese club to play up to 15 spring training games in Tucson by 2010 to replace the Chicago White Sox, who have moved their spring-training base to the Phoenix area. Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority chairman Tom Tracy said Wednesday the Baseline Group also has proposed using the Tucson Electric Park facility as a year-round international player…