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| Mack Ade |
When Omar Minaya became Mets GM after the 2004 season, his first major move was signing a future Hall of Famer one year removed from a great season. The superstar was available because his team thought his best years were behind him and they did not want to give him a contract based on past glory. But Minaya felt that Pedro Martinez would bring the mediocre Mets instant respectability. And he was right. After the 2007 season, Jorge Posada’s contract was up. The Mets needed a catcher and Minaya reportedly targeted Posada, who stayed with the Yankees but may have gotten a four-year deal instead of three thanks to his testing the market. So if Minaya were still running the Mets, you can bet he’d want free agent Derek Jeter.
BTF
Mays' infamous catch during the 1954 World Series was not his greatest catch, even according to Mays himself. I saw two of his better plays live, the other was seen on a 10-inch, black-and-white TV from the Korean War era. All three were so spectacular that I have often felt my mind was playing tricks and exaggerating what I had seen years ago, but Google it and you find others talking about the same plays. One came in Candlestick Park in 1970, the latter days of Mays’ career, against the Reds team that I was covering. Mays was in center field and Bobby Bonds in right when Bobby Tolan hit a drive to the chain-link fence in right-center, so perfectly placed that neither Mays nor Bonds could be sure he could catch the ball. The two arrived at the same moment, leaping into the air and colliding, falling onto the warning track in a tangled mass, the ball somewhere among them. You could not tell who had caught the ball or if it had been caught at all. - BP
Heilman’s innings have decline every year, from 87 in 2006 to 72 in 2010. Part of that decline comes from not pitching as well. In 2006-2007, Heilman posted great walk and home run numbers, 2.5 BB per nine IP and 15.0 HR per 200 IP. Since then, however, his rates are up to 4.3 walks per nine innings and 25.4 home runs per 200 IP. Despite raising his strikeout rate in that same period, his hits allowed rate rose as well. The good news is that Aaron’s control returned in 2010. If that bounce back is real, some team should be able to get a solid innings eater in the pen for a good price. I would not be surprised, however, if the high five-year work load took it’s toll on Heilman. - musings
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| Michael G. Baron |
11-25-10 from: - MWOB - 7. Ruben Tejada SS - The Mets promoted him to shortstop after the injury to Jose Reyes. When Jose Reyes got healthy they moved him to second base. Ruben has a steady glove, but his bat didn’t produce, hitting only .213 in 216 major league at bats. He will be a player that will never hit for a lot of power so he needs to get his average up to .280 with hits into the gaps that turn to doubles and triples to continue playing as a starter. Dan Murphy is working in the winter leagues on playing second with the Mets and he has the far superior bat. Tejada will need to show that his defense saves more runs than what Murphy can drive in with his bat. He did hit .280 in an equivalent number of at bats in AAA and has a .272 career minor league average coming into 2010.
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| Michael G. Baron |
11-24-10 from: - Mets Geek - Lucas Duda. Lucas Duda had a dream 2010 season. He virtually went from non-prospect to mashing his way to a late season call up. Lucas’ primary tool is his power. He can mash the ball farther than anybody currently on the Mets 40 man roster. He’s tenth on my list because he’s older and there are still some unanswered questions. I think he can handle left field but can he handle left handed pitchers? I wonder if he’ll hit for a high average in the big leagues but his eye is good enough to compensate his lack of average with his ability to walk. Best case scenario: A solid major league slugger. Worst Case Scenario: Four A player.
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