3/4/10

Jose Scratched, Bobby V, Adrian Gonzales, Manny Acta, Kai Gronauer... and Mejia

Jose Reyes:

This just in...  Reyes scratched fro today's lineup.



Bobby V:

Bobby Valentine stood on the top step of the Mets’ dugout at Champion Stadium, just as he had done many times before. But this time he was wearing a black track suit instead of a uniform, and he was chatting amiably with Manager Jerry Manuel.

That was obviously a tantalizing image for the dozens of Mets fans sitting in the stands behind the dugout, many of whom yelled to Valentine to please return to the Mets for a second term in office. Valentine ignored those entreaties, or never heard them, and kept talking to Manuel, the third man to hold his old job since he was fired eight years ago. - link

Adrian Gonzales:

With both Padres CEO Jeff Moorad and agent John Boggs expressing pessimism about negotiating a contract extension, the over/under on Adrian Gonzalez’s departure date would seem to be on or about July 31. Boggs said his preliminary discussion with Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer was so superficial that “you couldn’t characterize it as a negotiation.” Boggs said Hoyer inquired as to Gonzalez’s expectations; that Boggs cited the eight-year, $180 million deal of New York Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira, and that that comment effectively ended Hoyer’s exploration. -  link






 Manny Acta:

General Manager Mark Shapiro says the organization didn’t look at Manny Acta as “the anti-Eric” personality-wise. “He got the job because of his strong foundation as a baseball man,” Shapiro said. “He managed at every level. He coached at every level. He spent 10 years learning to be a manager.” Acta researched the Indians as completely as they checked up on him. When the Nationals fired him at the All-Star break, he started doing his homework. The rumors were out there on Wedge. So he put the Indians on his must-see TV list along with some other teams expected to make managerial changes. Decisions big and small have already followed. A suggestion for Fausto Carmona to move to the left side of the rubber gave the right-hander a chance to try it out in winter ball. We’ll see how that goes. The Indians’ regulars will play together the final 10 days of spring training in hopes of triggering a quick start. That can’t hurt after the April snail crawl under Wedge. Years of organizational conversation about moving Grady Sizemore out of the leadoff role never swayed Wedge, who thought it would be unfair to Sizemore. Acta needed less than a week of spring training before making the announcement that Sizemore would hit second - link

Kai Gronauer:

The great Baseball Over Here blog had this nearly two weeks ago, but that's exactly the length of time I was in the States so I've just read this post about the Mets inviting a German catcher, Kai Gronauer, to Spring Training as a non-roster intivee.


There might not be much (any!) chance of him making the team, especially with Barajas signed, but it's a big step forward for Europeans. And if Riggans was able to get an at-bat in the first game against the Braves, maybe Gronauer can get a few opportunities to show his worth. Mister Baseball, another good European blog, had the story first, and has a picture of Gronauer in action.

Mejia:

Mejia might one day be a great pitcher but it’s too soon to be comparing him to the best closer in the history of baseball. Mejia is a prospect for a New York team, does he really needed the extra added pressure of being compared to Rivera at 20 years of age before he plays in the major leagues? Let’s let him develop his arm and his skill as a pitcher and earn a spot on the roster before we start comparing him to some other player. In fact I’ll give you one better idea: let’s let Mejia be Jennry Mejia - link

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