2/2/10

More J.J.:. Bobby V, Octavio Dotel, Junior Gilliam... and Ike Davis

More J.J.:

Putz called the entire situation "a mess from the beginning," saying that the Mets forbade him from talking about his injury situation with the media. "I knew that I wasn't right," Putz told CSN. "I wasn't healthy. The toughest part was having to face the media and tell them that you feel fine, even though you know there's something wrong and they don't want you telling them that you're banged up." Now with the White Sox after the Mets declined his option, Putz is attempting to resurrect his career in Chicago. Needless to say, the Mets will be interested observers - link

Bobby V:

Bobby Valentine was at an event at the Japan Society in Manhattan last week and as always with Bobby V, gave some provocative answers during a Q & A session. When asked about a return to manage the Mets BV had this to say: Valentine fielded questions about managing the Metsagain (“It’s not as though you don’t go back to the girl that dumped you, but it takes a little while, it takes a little convincing . . .”) and what the Mets need to do to be successful in the 2010 season (“They need to stay healthy, but I like their talent.”) - link

Octavio Dotel:

Octavio Dotel pitched in relief for the Chicago White Sox in 2009. He recently signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dotel is a strikeout machine, with a career rate of 10.98. Since he entered the league in 1999, that’s the highest K rate among pitchers with at least 700 innings. Not surprisingly, he allows a low batting average, .218, but not as low as you might expect for a pitcher with that many strikeouts. Dotel’s problem is that he balances the strikeouts with too many walks and too many extra base hits. His OBP allowed is 91 points higher than his BA allowed, and he gives up a .166 isolated power. Note that his .309 OBP and .384 slugging allowed are still very good, but the free passes and power lead to a good but not great 3.77 ERA. - link

Junior Gilliam:

Gilliam, playing for the Baltimore Elite Giants under George Scales, developed into an undeniable talent. By the time he finished his third straight All-Star season for Baltimore in 1950, Major League Baseball had been officially integrated for four seasons. The 23-year-old signed with the Dodgers before the 1951 season and that spring began working through the organization that featured Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe. With all those black stars, though, Brooklyn wasn't necessarily an easier system than any other for an African-American to get through. "On the one hand, the Dodgers as a team were more integrated," said Puerzer. "On the other hand... [Gilliam] was almost certainly Major League-ready as far back as 1951. They didn't make it easy for him." Gilliam was a veteran of five professional seasons with the Elite Giants and one with the Nashville Black Vols before that, but he was assigned to the International League's Montreal Royals for his first campaign in integrated ball.  - Gilliam, playing for the Baltimore Elite Giants under George Scales, developed into an undeniable talent. By the time he finished his third straight All-Star season for Baltimore in 1950, Major League Baseball had been officially integrated for four seasons.  - link

-was Omar part of the Montreal Royals too?

Ike Davis:

Ike is a legitimate threat to hit 40 homers in the big leagues, and the Mets are one of the best places for a young first baseman to be right now. His refined college approach to the strike zone means he should do it without Howardesque strikeout numbers. too. One of the 2008 draft's most polished picks, Davis should be ready for MLB action in 2010. - link

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