10-22-12 – Corey Ray, The Manager, BoSox, Mike Pelfrey

Simeon Career Academy senior (2013) OF Corey Ray has joined Mack’s Mets as a writer. He will take us through his senior season up to the June draft on his own schedule. PG wrote about Corey: “Corey Ray is a 2013 OF with a 6-0,180 lb. frame from Chicago, IL who attends Simeon Career Academy. Medium athletic build, good present strength. 6.76 runner, plays faster than 60 time, good outfield actions, quick loose arm action, arm strength projects with better mechanics. Left handed hitter, deep load, strong line drive swing, quick hands, fluid swing, shows gap power, middle of the field hitter, occasionally late getting hands started, good feel for hitting. Good student, verbal commitment to Louisville. PG Grade:  10.0”  XMLBScout wrote this August: “CF, Corey Ray (RBI), 6' 175, L/L, one of many kids to come from a great school, Simeon Career in Chi-Town, Illy, gamer, with tools, runs well on the bases, fearless, loves the game, 2013.” Welcome, Corey.

Someone wrote into Dave Gershman‏ (@Dave_Gershman) on Twitter and said: “I don’t really care who manages the Blue Jays. I’m more concerned with who’s on the field. They make the manager.” I don’t sort of agree. I consider the players, coaches, and manager all part of the recipe that makes the cake. Is Terry Collins the manager that can lead this rag-tag crew into the playoffs? Well, it looked that way before the all-star break, but I watched all those post-game interviews during that horrible dive and I have to tell you, his eyes spoke volumes about him not having an answer on how to turn it around. In his defense, he didn’t have much to work with. You wake up workers only one way. You fire one of them. That was the time to DFA either Jason Bay or Frank Francisco or trade someone like Andres Torres for a prospect bat. It has to be a viable trade, meaning, you have to lose someone important too. You have to send the sign down the clubhouse that no one is safe if you don’t produce.

There’s going to be a lot more changes in Boston. The manager is gone, there’s a new General Manager, and a lot of the players on the 2012 25-man will not be around. They had a $175mil payroll and didn’t make the playoffs. Surprisingly, there are not that many long term contracts there. 2013 free agents are DH David Ortiz, P Daisuke Matsuzaka, 1B James Loney, RF Cody Ross, P Aaron Cook, P Vincente Padillia, and P Scott Podsednik. The most movable contract looks to be LHP Jon Lester, who is due $11.625mil in 2013. My guess is Boston will eat a lot of that deal to move him. Stay tuned.

Wilmer Flores went 3-6, 2B, Saturday night in the VWL.

John Delcos wrote a player profile on Mike Pelfrey over at Metsmerized  His summation: “The cost conscious Mets, despite holes in their rotation, aren’t expected to tender Pelfrey a contract this December, even if they were to offer the maximum 20 percent cut from his $5.687 million contract. Many pitchers have rebounded from Tommy John surgery, so even if the Mets don’t bring him back there will be interest as there is no shortage of teams with pitching needs. If the Mets think they can cut him loose and bring him back at a discount, they should think again because at 28, he’s young enough to where his career isn’t over. Pelfrey is a career 50-54 with a 4.36 ERA and .284 batting average against him. Of all the statistics on his resume, his age is the one most likely to cause the Mets to take a flier on him again. Considering the potential holes in the Mets’ rotation and bullpen and inevitable need for pitching, he might be worth the gamble. If healthy, he could give the Mets close to 200 innings. With Johan Santana gone after 2013, the Mets will need a starter and there are no guarantees from Matt Harvey, Zach Wheeler or Jenrry Mejia. The idea has also been floated of putting Pelfrey in the bullpen with potential of eventually becoming the closer.” My observation: Somebody always goes down and, on paper, Wheeler would replace that person after the all-star break, but I still believe in Pelf and would love him back as my SP5. No disrespect to Dillon Gee. I just think Pelfrey is a better starter