Cleveland signs P Scott Atchison to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training
From Erik – Hey Mack,
is there anything we should look for on spring training that could change the
25-man squad on opening day?
Mack – Hey Erik.
There are…
Obviously, first base is still a mess. It looks
like both Lucas Duda and Ike Davis will be coming to camp and this battle will probably be
solved in spring training. I think the eventual winner will occasionally be
platooned with Josh Satin, but whoever wins will get the lion share of reps here.
The Mets still need to determine who their
utility infielder is going to be. Right now, on paper, it’s Wilfredo Tovar, but another Omar Quintanilla could surface before
spring training ends. Or, it could be Ruben Tejada if the Mets ever close a deal with Scott Boras for the services of Stephen Drew. Either way, this
‘double’ issue needs to be addressed.
Lastly, the Mets need to both finalize their
bullpen and determine how many players will be in it. The first thing needed is
to openly define the health of Bobby Parnell. Things get a lot easier if he’s ready on
opening day. Things get even easier if Jeurys Familia continues to pitch as well as he did in winter
ball last month. There is a chance that some of the minor leaguers, like Jeff Walters, Jake de Grom, and Cory Mazzoni could make their way to
Queens out of camp, but I think the chances are slight.
Matt
Sullivan –
There a few reasons to believe that the projections might be
a little too down on Drew's bat, but the issue for teams is almost certainly
more about cost than production. Drew rejected the Red Sox qualifying offer of
$14.4 million and as we just saw, multiple projections say that would have been
an overpay of at least $3 million. Drew is represented by Scott Boras, who struggled last season finding homes
for his clients who came with draft compensation attached to their price. If
Boras and Drew are eyeing a payday comparable to Jhonny
Peralta's four year, $53 million deal, the draft pick and the overall
cost simply leaves too few suitors to make that happen. At this point, the most
likely destination appears to be the Red Sox, though Boston hardly needs to go
hard after him with Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts and Garin
Cecchini all emerging as options for the left side of the infield in
2014 or beyond. http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2014/1/5/5276558/stephen-drew-free-agency-scott-boras-contract-mets-red-sox
Mack – This might be the last time I write
anything about Stephen Drew. It’s sort of like that article I wrote once
named ‘The Last Fernando Martinez Post”, not to be confused with the other one
named ‘The Last Lastings Milledge Post’. There simply comes a time…
David Roth -
Paul Lo Duca was also great copy, happy to pop off about how bullshit
various bullshit things were and—less intentionally and just by being his
exuberantly dirtbaggy self—happy to give the New York Post opportunities to
write some very New York Post sentences, e.g. "'I didn't know he was
married. If I knew he was married, I wouldn't have dated him,' insisted the
leggy teen, who lives with her parents."
There was some dreary, reality televisionian contemporaneity
to Lo Duca's performed persona. Much of what got his apoplexy up during his
quote-generating peak in New York had to do with Things Staying In The
Clubhouse and other grim, coppish concerns; he feuded through a public divorce
with a Playboy model and cruised Leggy Teens in Long Island bars with names
like The Coyote (really) and O'Peen's (I don't know for sure, but probably). http://deadspin.com/the-grim-coppish-concerns-and-macho-sketchiness-of-pau-1495424267?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
Mack – We all knew these things about Lo Duca
back in the day but I was warned not to ‘go there’. I was just a blogger and
who would believe me anyway. The fact was (now that it’s out) was that Lo Duca
would get his limo driver to go inside the teen bars and find young girls to
join him in the back of the limo for servicing. All the Mets knew it and all
the Mets officials knew it, but no one did anything about it as long as he kept
hitting.
Folks, there still is a lot we don’t write
about.
Word from
Mike Puma that the Mets are happy
with the progress of SS Ruben Tejada this off-season and have given the stamp of
approval for him to head back to Michigan this month for his next phase of
offseason conditioning. A lot of what I write here is just opinion and I think
we have seen the last ‘bad days’ of Tejada. No, I don’t expect him to win the
batting title someday, or win a Golden Glove, but, in my opinion, he has the
talent to be a capable starting shortstop for the Mets… and gives them a much
needed option for another leadoff hitter.
I like
the Taylor
Teagarden signing. The Mets are a little thin in catching at the
MLB-AAA level and an experienced backup like Teagarden can’t hurt. Also, it’s
pre-pitcher and catchers and this is the time of the year you stock up on guys
that can get behind the mask in spring training.
I don’t
have anything against Anthony Recker, but I also have nothing special to say about
him either. Teagarden was a pretty big hot-shit prospect back in 1999 and he
was the backup last year in Baltimore. His career has been hampered by lower
back injuries.
My guess
is this will be a wakeup call for Recker plus gives the Mets an insurance
policy if something was to happen to Travis d’Arnaud. My
guess is this doesn’t speak well for either Blake Forsythe or Kai Gronauer.
Just a
wild guess… d’Arnaud and Teagarden in NYC… Centero and Recker at AAA.
11 comments:
Mack,
What surprises me more is that there aren't more "LoDucas". Maybe there are but we just don't hear about them. Young guys, money, fame, NYC, it is a recipe for a fast lane lifestyle.
I am all for Mets upgrading at SS, but I still think Tejada has a role. Let's say they bring in Drew (like you, the last time I will mention him until he signs somewhere), he usually misses a lot of games and doesn't hit lefties well, so Tejada would be a fine backup at both SS and 2B, and could find himself playing quite a bit even if he isn't the starter. One thing he is not or every will be, from my perspective, is a leadoff hitter. Ditto with Lagares. If these guys play, the need to hit at the bottom of the lineup.
Mack,
Just wondering, given Ike's problems with his swing, why isn't he playing winter ball somewhere?
thanks
A Tea Garden for our British Met fans, and hopefully a Beer Garden for the rest of us.
@Bob
The problem earlier in the season with Ike's swing was that he kept tinkering with it over and over and over again.
It wouldn't make sense for him to play winter ball and possibly tinker with it some more. Especially since after his stint in AAA he hit .286.
I think it was best to just let him take the winter off, relax and stay away from baseball. Hopefully he comes into spring training relaxed and just goes out and plays rather then pressing.
Chris,
What you say does make some sense,
but
it has been at the beginning of the season, for the past 2 years that Ike has started the year dreadful.
the second half of each of the past 2 years showed some improvement.
Perhaps, getting him started hitting earlier could get him through his early season hitting problems before the All-Star break.
And, perhaps hitting against the winter league pitching will build his confidence going into spring training.
Unless the Mets plan to carry three catchers (unlikely) then the backup is just that -- someone to don the tools of ignorance 1-2 times per week.
In the case of a TdA injury, that's another matter entirely. Then I would hand the ball to single hitting Juan Centeño who will not embarrass you at the plate and seems major league ready as a receiver. However, it does nothing for his development to have him sit on the bench 5+ days per week.
Recker or Teagarden, Teagarden or Recker -- either one is fine as a backup.
The didn't steal a gem when they signed Teagarden. He will help out during pitchers/catchers and make Recker work for his backup role come spring training.
I too like Centeno... top grade defensive catcher with a rocket arm that would only have to hit .250 to be an effective MLB catcher.
IMO, the best thing could have done with Ike Davis this off-season was to take the bat away from him and don't allow him to put on a Mets uniform.
The saddest part of all this was his lack of promotional presence during this off-season.
Agree with Reese that Centeno will be the FT back-up if necessary, but will be getting the reps in LV. Recker will probably be in Queens if just for the reason that T-garden, on a MinL contract, doesn't have to be on the 40-man.
Too bad about Kai, but I think they will (& should) hang on to Xeorge Carillo.
I thought that Recker was underrated, and way, way underutilized last season. His defense was actually a bit of a pleasant surprise, and he flashed serious power. I didn't think he looked lost at the plate at all. Instead, I kept wondering what the guy could do if he got an at-bat or two more than once every couple of weeks.
I'd be more than happy to see him back as the #2 catcher. I just hope Collins doesn't wear out d'Arnoud the way he did Buck. I'm of the strong belief that your catcher should get about a day off per week for maximum effectiveness.
Hery Mack-
I'm glad you said "this MIGHT be the last time you write anything about Stephen Drew," and not the more definitive "this WILL be the last time . . . " As Drew's status remains uncertain, and we hear of Ruben's progress in Michigan, rumors will continue to bubble up, and we will likely be drawn into futher discussion of Mr. D. vs. young Ruben. I do agree with you that Tejada has the talent to be a capable starting shortstop, although I have my doubts about him being a viable option to lead off.
You are absolutely right about Ike's lack of public relations this off season. Duda has gotten all the positive press, including all the comments about the FO liking his potential for development better, and how he has gotten faster at fitness camp. Maybe they thought it would be awkward to talk Ike up too, while making such an obvious efort to trade him. I would have thought that expressing support for Ike and expressing confidence that his strong 2nd half in 2012 and his comeback after his minor league stint last year, would have only enhanced his trade value.
I initially reacted unfavorably to the Teagarden signing. Looking at TT's history and his 3 of the last 4 seasons below the Mendoza line, I had thought that there were a few experienced catshers out there who could give us a bit more offense, and maybe give Recker a run for his money as backup C in ST. Perhaps it was because I like Recker and feel good about him being the backup this year, while Centeno continues to grow into the longer term backup role in Las Vegas. But then I compared him with Recker's stats, and realized that prior to last season, Recker had 3 of the last 3 seasons below the Mendoza line. So now I am feeling there is hope for Teagarden. Let them duke it out in Port St. Lucie.
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