10/10/09

Minors Stuff




New York Mets


With Hideki Matsui telling friends he’d like to remain in New York above all else, as well as return to leftfield, it would be logical for the free agent to appear on the Mets’ radar this offseason.


In fact, Matsui is so eager to play the field again after a full year as the Yankees’ designated hitter that he’s also told people he would consider trying first base - a position he hasn’t played since high school.


That’s quite a coincidence, with the Mets looking to fill holes at both those spots this offseason. For a team with a gaping power void, Matsui is an enticing option after drilling 28 homers, more than double the total of anyone on the Mets.
It also wouldn’t hurt to add a marquee name like Matsui to a demoralized club that is in desperate need of a PR boost. And if he wants to stay in New York that badly, maybe the Mets could pick up a “hometown” discount with Matsui, who is wrapping up a four-year, $52-million contract in the Bronx.

Of course, there’s a catch. Matsui, 35, is playing on two surgically repaired knees - the left one was drained twice this season - and the Yankees were so concerned about keeping him healthy that he did not make a single appearance in leftfield in 142 games.

Francisco Rodriguez, RHP, Mets: Yes, it's K-Rod, and yes, he's on the roster of the Tiburones de La Guaira. That being said, don't expect to see the Mets' closer at the start of the season. The same likely holds true for other big leaguers like Miguel Cabrera (Tigres de Aragua) and particularly for those in the postseason, like Bobby Abreu (Leones del Caracas), Franklin Morales (Leonoes del Caracas) and Carlos Gonzalez (Aguilas del Zulia). Rather, Rodriguez's roster spot is a place holder of sorts, with any K-Rod appearance likely to come late in the year and in the playoffs.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091009&content_id=7411816&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Venezuela: Josh Thole/Caracas – 1-5… s 1-5 for Caracas.
Jose Coronado/Caribes: 0-1
Adam Bostick: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 Ks, 0.00 era, W (1-0),


Mets Alumni:

Rick Peterson honored the code of silence imposed by Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and declined to say whether he had interviewed to be Milwaukee's next pitching coach. But Peterson didn't hide his strong interest in the job.
"After taking this year off to recharge my batteries a little bit, my passion to get back on the field is unbelievable," Peterson said via telephone Friday from outside Yankee Stadium, where he was part of the broadcast of Game 2 of the American League Division Series between the Yankees and Twins.
"It's what I've done my whole life, and Milwaukee is at the very top of my list," he said. "It's a very intriguing place to be because I think Milwaukee could win if the pitching gets turned around. That's pretty much what I do best. I think it's a place that would be a mutual fit."
Peterson, 54, is the only candidate so far linked to the Brewers in published reports, including one on FoxSports.com early Friday that said he had already formally interviewed. Melvin has already spoken to at least two candidates but declined this week to name them.

Despite his age, Scott Kazmir has already had a career full of ups and downs. At just 25 years old, the former Tampa Bay Rays ace has an uncertain future ahead of him, as he could go in one of two directions: he could bounce back from a disappointing 2009 season to become the pitcher many envisioned him turning into, or he could continue to slip further from top-of-the-rotation relevancy with each passing year. The Angels dealt for him this summer, hoping that he can be more the former than the latter, especially over the next month, as they try to do something they have never done before—beat the Red Sox to advance in the playoffs. Scott Edward Kazmir was a first-round pick of the New York Mets in the 2002 amateur entry draft, selected out of Cypress Falls High School in Houston, Texas. The 15th overall pick signed and was brought in to play for nearby Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League to close out the year, where he racked up 18 innings and struck out—wait for it—34 hitters. It's not surprising that he dominated like that, as he was arguably the best arm in the draft at the time—he had big bonus expectations that scared some of the first few teams off, which allowed the Mets to open their wallets for him.

Three Florida Marlins coaches have agreed to 2010 contracts, including bench coach Carlos Tosca. Hitting coach Jim Presley and bullpen coordinator Pierre Arsenault will also be back next season. Third base-outfield coach Bo Porter and bullpen coach Steve Foster declined offers to return, the Marlins said Friday. The Marlins released right-handed pitcher Scott Proctor and left-hander Dave Davidson. Proctor underwent reconstructive elbow surgery and missed the entire season.

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