MLB – NY Mets:
Single-game tickets for Met spring training games in Port St. Lucie, Fla., go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at Mets.com
Here is a retrospective look at the Top 50 Pitching Prospects list from 2004.
5) Scott Kazmir, LHP, New York Mets, Grade A-: Excellent when healthy.
18) John Maine, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B+: Effective when healthy.
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2009/1/16/725034/top-50-pitching-prospects
The Mets' most recent design has not been as warmly embraced. The uniform patch that commemorates the opening of Citi Field has caused a stir on the Internet, Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business operations, said the Mets signed off on the design presented to them by Citigroup, which is paying the team $400 million over the next 20 years for naming rights to the stadium. "Everyone has their own point of view," Howard said. "Taste is very subjective, and we understand that and appreciate the passion of Mets fans." The sleeve patch is a variation of the official Citi Field logo introduced last year, with the words Inaugural Season in white letters on a blue square. Below is an orange square that says 2009, also in white. -- NY Times
AAA – Buffalo:
The New York Mets today announced they have signed long-time Bisons outfielder and fan favorite Jason Cooper to a minor league deal. Mets’ Director of Minor League Operations Adam Wogan announced the signing to an appreciative crowd at the team’s annual Hot Stove Luncheon at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Cooper, 28, holds the Bisons Modern Era record for games played with 410, a mark he set last season with the team. He ranks in the Top-10 in virtual every offensive category in the Bisons Modern Era, including at-bats (1,359 -2nd), hits (331, 5th), doubles (81, 2nd), triples (19, T2nd), home runs (49 6th), RBI (212, 2nd), walks (170, 3rd), runs scored (203, T3rd) and total bases (597, 3rd). In 2008, Cooper hit .247 with nine home runs and 45RBI in 102 games with the club. He finished 2nd on the team in triples (4), 3rd in games, T3rd in home runs and 4th in RBI and doubles (19).
The Buffalo Bisons will have an exciting and dynamic new look when they take the field to start a new era in team history on Opening Day, Thursday, April 9 at Coca-Cola Field. Today, the team unveiled their new home, road and alternative uniforms and caps to Bisons fans at their annual Hot Stove Luncheon at the Adam’s Mark Hotel Grand Ballroom. All three styles connect the Bisons to their new parent club, the New York Mets, while each design features a level of uniqueness that is unmatched in minor league baseball. All three designs are complimented by a cap from New Era Cap Company, the official cap provider of Major League Baseball and the Buffalo Bisons.
A+ - Lucy:
The Mets' Junior Guerra, a pitcher on the Triple-A Buffalo roster, received a 50-game suspension Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, according to the commissioner's office. Guerra, who turned 24 Friday, is the seventh member of the Mets' organization to test positive since 2006. Guerra tested positive for a metabolite of nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. He went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA in 18 relief appearances at four different minor-league stops last season, none higher than Class A St. Lucie.
A – Gnats:
For those looking for a twist on a typical box of chocolates or dozen roses for Valentine’s Day, look no further than Gnate. T. Gnat. The Love Bug will once again be available to deliver a dozen roses on either Friday, February 13 or on Saturday, February 14. A bouquet of one-dozen roses and a personalized message will be delivered by Gnate himself from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on either Friday, February 13 or Saturday, February 14. Gnate will also deliver any additional gifts you would like to give that special someone along with the roses as long as arrangements are made in advance. For more information on ordering and pricing, please contact Tara Vaglica with the Savannah Sand Gnats at 912.351.9150.
Fantasy:
There are a few techniques you can use to ensure you’re getting the maximizing the innings you get from your closers.
1. Always put relievers in your reliever slots. - This seems pretty obvious, but last season there were plenty of people using starters with reliever eligibility (guys like Johnny Cueto and Zach Greinke) in their reliever roster slots. Don’t do this. It may be tempting when a good starting pitcher has a favorable match-up, but there are no circumstances where this is a good move.
2. Use closers with starter eligibility. - This was more of a factor in 2007, when there were often four closers available with starter eligibility: Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Gregg, Brett Myers, and Brad Hennessey. The top teams all made extensive use of these players, generally having at least one, and often two in their lineups. There was a lot of complaining from players about the fact that position eligibility for these pitchers wasn’t updated by Rotohog during the season, and they promised to do so in 2008. This was never really put to the test, as the only potential closers with starter eligibility (John Smoltz and Chris Carpenter) were quickly shut down with injuries before it became an issue. That said, position eligibility for hitters was adjusted very slowly, so there may still be opportunities in this area.
3. Use relievers who have doubleheaders. - Unless a closer is extremely bad and there is another reliever with a very favorable match-up, relievers with doubleheaders are going to be worth using. When there’s a doubleheader on the schedule, I almost always use the closers for both teams. Even if you think the manager wouldn’t use their closer in both games, the added chance of them using them in a save opportunity in at least one game makes this a good move. And closers get the save in both ends of a doubleheader surprisingly often.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/fantasy/article/maximizing-closer-innings-in-rotohog
International:
One fact was certain about the 2008 European baseball season: No one club dominated. This year featured a handful of different teams taking home each of the continent’s biggest trophies and league championships. Those mixed results had a major impact on the second annual Mister-Baseball European Top 50. As evidence of the closeness at the top, only one-half a point separated the four highest ranking clubs. This year’s top ranking squad, L&D Amsterdam, narrowly secured the Mister-Baseball title following its national championship run in the Netherlands. Just behind the hoofdklasse winners were two Italian clubs: T&A San Marino and Danesi Caffe Nettuno. San Marino won Italy’s national title but fell to Nettuno in the finals at CEB’s Final 4 competition. Hoofdklasse runners-up Corendon Kinheim would have likely placed first in the rankings for a second-straight year if the club had attended and performed well at the CEB Final 4. Although Kinheim lost in the Dutch finals to Amsterdam, the team did win a European Cup title. Completing the top five was FC Barcelona, which placed just ahead of Spanish national title winner Marlins Puerto Cruz. FC Barcelona finished second in Spain’s title race, but won CEB’s other European Cup trophy.
http://www.mister-baseball.com/2008-misterbaseball-final-european-top-50
Alumni:
Scott Kazmir will pitch for the USA in the WBC.
Because Florida doesn't have any strong alternative to take over as closer, many experts consider Matt Lindstrom a good value in the late rounds of drafts. Certainly a closer who is going around the 19th round of drafts can't be too terrible a pick, but there is definitely reason for some concern. In 2007, Lindstrom was excellent, striking out 8.5 batters per nine innings and walking 2.9 to go along with a good groundball rate (47.4%). Unfortunately, Lindstrom took a major step backward in 2008, striking out only 6.8 per nine innings and walking 4.1. In a starting pitcher, that kind of change would likely indicate arm trouble. Because of the limited number of innings they pitch, reliever statistics are generally going to have more variance, and we can't really draw any conclusions from Lindstrom's decline. Maybe he was hurt. Maybe he just wasn't as good as his 2007 season suggested. Either way, I think there's a good reason that he's going as low as he is in 2008 drafts.
http://waiverwire.blogspot.com/2009/01/matt-lindstrom-2009.html
Rays left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir has added close to 20 pounds of muscle since the end of last season due to an increased off-season training regimen designed to improve his strength and balance. -- St. Petersburg Times
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