1/12/12

Mets – Armando Rodriguez , Barry Larkin, Vance Wilson, Andres Torres, Mike Piazza



metsmerized  - 40. Armando Rodriguez (RHP) Signed as an IFA out of the Dominican Republic in 2007, Rodriguez  has good size and strength at 6’3″ and 250 lbs. He throws hard too, with his fastball sitting at 90-92 mph, sometimes hitting 94. The pitch exhibits some arm-side run, and sink, but tends to flatten out and elevate if he overthrows. He has a fringy slider thrown in the 78-81 mph range, that was pretty devastating to hitters in the South Atlantic League, but as he moves up to AA he will need to tighten the rotation, and add some sharpness to the break. His change-up is his weakest offering, thrown in the high 70′s, but with very little command. The deceleration on the pitch is not caused by his grip, but by his arm-speed which he tends to slow down when throwing the change, making it detectable to the hitter, and causing the pitch to elevate. The other factor working against Rodriguez, is that he is about to turn 24 years-old at the end of the month and he has yet to pitch above Advanced-A ball. Last year he pitched sparingly at St. Lucie, starting 16 games and hurling 75 innings. His record was 4-4 with a 3.96 ERA, 60 hits, 74 strikeouts, and 29 walks, with opponents hitting .218 off him, and a WHIP of 1.19. Although a starter since 2008, the Mets will move Rodriguez to the bullpen full time in 2012. Providing he does well, he could split the year between AA Bingo and AAA Buffalo, but the safer bet would be a big league ETA of 2014, if at all.

Barry Larkin, 47, a 12-time All-Star who retired in 2004, reminisced about his almost-football career, his near-trade to the Mets in 2000 and his pride in playing the position he considered occupied by baseball's best athletes. He recalled Michigan coach Bo Schembechler showing up at the school's baseball practice to boo Larkin after he decided to leave the football team. And how the potential New York Mets deal died with the lack of a three-year commitment "and they had some guy named Reyes coming up." http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/larkin-demurs-when-asked-how-steroids-will-affect-future-hall-votes/8348667474e325b0f64190d669ab2d09

In 2003, Vance Wilson's OPS? .666  In 1992, Howard Johnson's OPS? .666  In 1978, the entire Mets team's OPS? .666  This could only mean that Wilson, Johnson, and the entire 1978 Mets roster were sent by Satan to cause havoc on Earth. And cause havoc they did ... at least in Flushing. Those three teams ... 2003, 1992, and 1978 ... had a combined record of 204-281 (along with 66 wins in two of those seasons). This may very well mean that Satan needs to find better minions. But if you still think this is all mere "coincidence", consider that in games that he played in for the Mets, Angel Pagan ... that's Pagan ... had a record of 181-212. Now, add 204 wins, 281 losses, and 181 wins. Go ahead, I'll wait. http://www.metstradamusblog.com/2012-articles/january/manipulating-the-numbers.html

Few players — few people — are as genuine as Andres Torres. His attachment to the Giants literally flowed from him as he sobbed when manager Bruce Bochy telephoned him after the trade became official. An athlete’s attempt to express loyalty to his team can fall flat; too often, he’s actually reaffirming his bond to his paycheck, not his city or teammates. But Torres’ desire to excel for the Giants was sincere. I was agog in August of that charmed 2010 season when Torres professed his dedication to the team. It wasn’t so much what he said as how he said it, with each word dripping emotion: “I need to respect the organization for giving me this job. I want them to know I’m going to work hard, try to get better and help the team win.” http://chrishaft.mlblogs.com/2011/12/31/goodbye-2011-farewell-andres-torres/

There were lots of high-status years for Mr. Piazza, starting in 1992 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and ending 15 years later in 2007 with the Oakland A's. But arguably his greatest years (1998-2005) were spent in a Mets uniform. During that time Mr. Piazza helped his team reach the playoffs twice (1999 and 2000), broke Carlton Fisk's record for greatest number of home runs by a catcher (Mr. Piazza had 427 during his career) and made a deeply emotional two-run home run that secured a Mets victory in their first post-9/11 game. When Mr. Piazza left the team, Mets fans gave him an eight-minute standing ovation. "That's one thing that's remarkable about New York; once you get in with the fans they love you forever," he said.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203462304577138622912924912.html

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