2/15/10

Gene Monahan, Murph vs. Mike v2.0, Eric Niesen, Bay's Fantasy Value, Pedro Update... and Turk Wendell

Gene Monahan:


The New York Yankees announced today that Head Athletic Trainer Gene Monahan has developed a significant illness and is taking a medical leave of absence effective immediately, which will cause him to miss 2010 spring training in Tampa, Florida, and possibly the first portion of the 2010 regular season. Prior to this season, Mr. Monahan had worked 47 consecutive spring trainings for the Yankees organization from 1963 through 2009. Mr. Monahan will remain in New York to receive extensive treatment, which will take place over the next several weeks. - link

Murph vs. Mike v2.0:

Three days before Mets pitchers and catchers report to camp, Omar Minaya is already settled into his office in Port St. Lucie, Fla. And the GM is looking forward to several position battles this spring, including one that seemed unlikely just a week ago: first base. Minaya told me first base will be “an open competition” between Daniel Murphy and Mike Jacobs, who signed a minor-league deal with the Mets last week. Murphy is still the pre-camp favorite to win the job, but if he struggles over the next seven weeks and Jacobs impresses, the Mets could alter their thinking. “He’ll compete for the job,” Minaya said of Jacobs. “I think it’s fair to say that Murphy has proven himself worthy of being considered, but he’s going to have to continue. It’s an open competition.” — Newark Star-Ledger - link

-I still have no idea what the Mets are doing with this position... first, they lose a first round draft pick for Chris Carter, then sign two more AAA first baseman, and now Jacobs. Don't they remember that the 2011 job goes to Ike Davis?

Eric Niesen:

LHP, Wake Forest, #99 Overall: Niesen was another college reliever, and he had similar command struggles that Rustich had at UCLA. However, Niesen did have plus stuff from the left side, and he was expected to go in the fifth to ninth round, but the Mets preferred him earlier on. Following players selected: Steven Souza, Jonathon Lucroy, Lars Davis. Signing bonus: $351,000. - link

Bay's Fantasy Value:

It’s been a roller coaster ride for Jason Bay and fantasy owners over the past few years. In 2007, it seemed like his days as a stud fantasy outfielder were over (.247, 21 HR, 84 RBI), but a year and a half spent in Boston has clearly reinvigorated his value. - You don’t have to look further than his 2009 campaign for proof... - link






Pedro Update:

Pedro Martinez (5-1, 3.63 ERA for Philadelphia in 2009) had his agent call the Marlins to express an interest in signing here, but Florida balked at his multimillion-dollar asking price. The Marlins have considered John Smoltz, but haven’t pursued it. Both might wait until during the season to sign. — Miami Herald - link

Turk Wendell:

Former Mets pitcher Bobby Jones pitched for the Mets for eight seasons. He also cooked. “Me and Turk Wendell used to eat fried turkey in the bullpen a lot during batting practice,” Jones said with a laugh. “We didn’t really have a kitchen at Shea, but when I went to San Diego I cooked a lot.” - link

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