11/28/09

Early Breakfast Links - Park, Wags, Jerry, uniforms, Sheets, and Dessens survey


Jerry Manuel:


In just the last two weeks, the volatile Wally Backman was hired at Class-A Brooklyn. The more cerebral Tim Teufel was promoted to Class-AA and Terry Collins, who managed the Astros and Angels a decade ago and interviewed for the Mets' job in 2004, is now the organization's minor league field coordinator. All three represent a clear and present danger to Manuel's job security. Obviously, the Mets' hierarchy isn't holding Manuel solely responsible for a 92-loss season that was sabotaged by injuries. But the apathy and lack of hustle displayed by the players who finished out the year stands as a nagging indictment of Manuel's leadership.
- Fox Sports



Chan Ho Park:

Park’s numbers won’t be eye-popping, but he’s something of a Swiss Army Knife in any bullpen. Last season with the Phillies he started, pitched in the middle of games, and in some late inning situations. Park has never returned to the near-Cy-Young form he had in Los Angeles, but he’s throwing his fastball less, and mixing up his off-speed pitches well, and is a valuable, and likely inexpensive arm for a team to put in their bullpen - .link



Billy Wagner:

Wagner is definitely no longer the pitcher who can reach triple-digits with his fastball, but he still averages over 94 miles-per-hour. Coming off of Tommy John surgery, Wagner pitched in limited time and was very successful (1.72 ERA, 26 SOs, and a 1.021 WHIP in 15.2 innings pitched). Wagner’s age and injury history place him lower on the list. He was an all-but-missing piece in a bad Mets bullpen in 2008, and it isn’t often that players recover from Tommy John surgery so well in their late-30s. However, if Wagner’s arm holds up, and his numbers stay somewhere near the small 2009 sample, he’s a high-quality bullpen arm. - link



New Uniform:

My hope is that Mets fully embrace this look and wear the uniforms more than occasionally. We'll definitely see them Opening Day, but the organization shouldn't limit them to a "Sunday" uniform like the Braves do with their red jerseys. Wear the jersey against old rivals like the Cubs and Cardinals. Don it when the Dodgers and Giants come to town. And have them on hand against the Yankees. The uniform change gives the Mets a chance to form a new identity in a new ballpark. Hopefully, it will be a winning one.- Metsfansforever



Ben Sheets:

First, I have to believe a one or two year deal would get it done. I think he will look to re-establish himself with a healthy season and hit the open market again for a big payday. The idea of this was discussed by sources last winter before he was shut down and had surgery. He probably looks for around $7-$9 million per and the market of teams involved will dictate how close he will get to that. I am completely in on Ben Sheets for a year at $6-$8 million



Question from comprehensive pie-chart :  Do you want Elmer Dessens resigned?

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