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10/9/09

Minors Stuff




New York Mets


I wonder if the Mets organization, as currently constituted, will ever learn from its mistakes. Though the Mets just completed a dreadful season 22 games under .500 and nowhere near contention in the National League East, they are acting as if the entire campaign can be written off as injury-riddled fluke. That seems to be the misguided attitude of ownership, which first gave a vote of confidence to GM Omar Minaya, who in turn offered his own vote of support to manager Jerry Manuel. So those two are off the hook for the disaster of 2009, at least until next spring. Then, earlier this week, the Mets announced that most of their coaching staff would return in 2010, with the exception of bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr. (a good baseball man) and first base coach Luis Alicea. Somehow the Mets spared pitching coach Dan Warthen, who clashed with staff ace Johan Santana during the spring and then watched his pitchers dole out 616 walks, the second highest total in the major leagues. Perhaps even more incredulously, the Mets also spared embattled third base coach Razor Shines, who should have taken some of the blame for the Mets having 18 baserunners thrown out at the plate, one of the highest totals in the major leagues. Shines showed a propensity for sending runners against strong outfield arms, perhaps revealing a lack of preparation. Shines also produced shaky results in his other role, as the Mets’ outfield instructor. Daniel Murphy, who was Shines’ main project, played so badly in left field during the first quarter of the season that the Mets had to move him to first base after Carlos Delgado’s season-ending hip injury. In spite of these failures, Shines will return to coach in 2010, though he will be moved, mercifully, from the third base coaching box to a new role on Manuel’s staff.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/cooperstown-confidential-met-madness-playoff-rosters-and-marichal-roseboro


And while he pitched like an ace last night, Lackey is truly more of a No. 2 starter, durable and fiercely competitive, and capable of gems like this one when he is at the top of his game. In other words, he'd be perfect riding shotgun for someone like Johan Santana.
Hey, the Mets made a show this week of saying they're willing to make whatever moves it takes to become, in Jeff Wilpon's words, "a championship-caliber" ballclub, and while they have significant holes in the lineup to fill, they're kidding themselves if they think they don't need another top-flight starter.
We'll find out how serious they are by whether they make any kind of serious play for Lackey. He won't come cheap, especially with little else to choose from among quality starters, but at least the Mets can take comfort in knowing the Yankees won't be out there looking for high-priced pitching this winter.
People around the Angels believe Lackey is likely to go elsewhere, mainly because the Angels won't be willing to pay his asking price. In fact, some are convinced their deal for lefthander Scott Kazmir in August made Lackey's return all the more unlikely, with Kazmir due some $20 million over the next two years.

EASTERN LEAGUE TOP 20 PROSPECTS
1. Pedro Alvarez, 3b, Altoona (Pirates)
2. Madison Bumgarner, lhp, Connecticut (Giants)
3. Kyle Drabek, rhp, Reading (Phillies)
4. Carlos Santana, c, Akron (Indians)
5. Jesus Montero, c, Trenton (Yankees)
6. Domonic Brown, of, Reading (Phillies)
7. Junichi Tazawa, rhp, Portland (Red Sox)
8. Wilson Ramos, c, New Britain (Twins)
9. Michael Taylor, of, Reading (Phillies)
10. Brad Lincoln, rhp, Altoona (Pirates)
11. Hector Rondon, rhp, Akron (Indians)
12. Josh Reddick, of, Portland (Red Sox)
13. Ike Davis, 1b, Binghamton (Mets)
14. Marc Rzepczynski, lhp, New Hampshire (Blue Jays)
15. Jose Tabata, of, Altoona (Pirates)
16. Scott Sizemore, 2b, Erie (Tigers)
17. Jake Arrieta, rhp, Bowie (Orioles)
18. Nick Weglarz, of, Akron (Indians)
19. Zach McAllister, rhp, Trenton (Yankees)
20. Brandon Snyder, 1b, Bowie (Orioles

2010 Baseball Free Agents: Shortstops

Orlando Cabrera, 35, Twins - 09:$4M
Alex Cora, 34, Mets - 09:$2M
Bobby Crosby, 30, Athletics - 05:$0.5M, 06:$0.75M, 07:$2.5M, 08:$3.5M, 09:$5.25M
Adam Everett, 33, Tigers - 09:$1M
Chris Gomez, 39, Orioles - 09: minor league contract
Alex Gonzalez, 32, Red Sox - 07:$3.5M, 08:$4.625M, 09:$5.375M, 10:$6M club option ($0.5M buyout)
Khalil Greene, 30, Cardinals - 08:$4.5M, 09:$6.5M
Jerry Hairston Jr., 34, Yankees - 09:$2M
John McDonald, 35, Blue Jays - 08:$1.9M, 09:$1.9M
Marco Scutaro, 34, Blue Jays - 08:$1.55M, 09:$1.1M
Miguel Tejada, 36, Astros - 04:$3M, 05:$9M, 06:$10M, 07:$12M, 08:$13M, 09:$13M
Jack Wilson, 32, Mariners - 07:$5.25M, 08:$6.5M, 09:$7.25M, 10:$8.4M club option ($0.6M buyout)
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