This is a prevailing theme in the Port St. Lucie, Fla., clubhouse. Last season's debacle is over: a 70-92 record; a minus-86-run differential; Johan Santana going down; only 36 games from Jose Reyes, 26 from Carlos Delgado and 81 from Carlos Beltran; a 20-22 record from their Nos. 2-3-4 starters; and a Movietone reel of media fiascos that was worsened by the Yankees' glorious season.
Then, the prelude to the 2010 season was Beltran having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, Reyes being diagnosed with a thyroid condition this past week that could keep him out of the lineup for anywhere from two to eight weeks and reliever Kelvim Escobar not being able to pitch; not that Escobar was expected to be a significant factor at $1.25 million, but the Brewers were one team interested in his services and there was a glimmer of hope that he could come back from an injured shoulder. All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez was set back by a pink-eye condition. Keep this team away from fishing knives and gas grills. -
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It's the sort of thing that is much more likely to happen in fantasy baseball than in real life, but according to sources, an idea has been kicked around the Phillies' organization internally, with discussions about proposing a swap of slugger Ryan Howard for St. Louis superstar Albert Pujols.
It's not fully clear whether the Phillies actually have approached the Cardinals with the idea, and even if St. Louis were to seriously consider such an offer, executives with the Cardinals would have to swallow very hard before dealing Pujols, a player widely regarded as the best in the sport. - link
The Mets seem trapped in an endless cycle of disappointment, particularly in Reyes’ case. First, the hamstring injury, now the thyroid, both of which have come crashing down on a kid seemingly as innocent as a dove.
But is Reyes’ predicament just a case of an aggrieved baseball god? Or is there more to this story? It might take a monster not to pity Reyes, but it take an equal measure of naïveté to gloss over his association with Canadian doctor Tony Galea. - link
While seemingly everything was going the Yankees' way last season, it seemed everything was conspiring against the Mets as they went 70-92 in an injury-wracked year. Manager Jerry Manuel became the target of derision from the media and fans as the year wore on, as they felt he was, at best, blindly optimistic, or, at worst, disingenuous by remaining positive throughout the season.
"Your players and your coaching staff have to see you as that immovable object, as that person who is not going to be affected by anything," Manuel said. "The manager sets the tone of the entire clubhouse. If I'm complaining or feeling sorry about not having this guy or that guy to the media then the players are going to start complaining and feeling sorry. Once that starts happening, you're sunk." - link
Billy Wagner, LHP, Braves — On considering a return to Boston this offseason: “It was very tempting because I enjoyed it so much, but it was awful hard because I’d like to close, at least give it a shot. With Pap [Jonathan Papelbon] there, you know, he doesn’t need that distraction. He’s earned his spot there, and if he had a tough spell, it would just fuel speculation, and he doesn’t need that.” — Boston Globe - link
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