10-23-12 – Old Writers, Zac Ryan, Jon Niese, JP Ricciardi, Tim Lincecum, Jordany Valdespin, Danny Muno

Christopher Soto, Anthony Camacchio,  and Reese Kaplan have both returned to Mack’s Mets as writers. ‘Soto’ is infamous for his ‘breaking news’ pieces and Kaplan always tells an intelligent tale. Anthony played Division I ball and brings his own spin to the mmix. I’m honored to have all three back.

Andrean H.S. (IN) 3B-MIF-OF Zac Ryan has joined Mack’s Mets as a writer. Prep Baseball Report wrote: “Last year for Andrean, Ryan was 9-2 on the mound with an ERA of 1.80 to go along with 80 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched.  At the plate he hit .400, had 48 RBI and hit seven home runs.” He is an early round projected pick in the 2013 draft. Ryan joins Corey Ray as part of our growing list of draft eligible players that will keep a journal here at Mack’s Mets throughout the 2013 season.

Eno Sarris - ‏@enosarris -  “Jon Niese for Justin Upton? Yes please. I don't see a ton more projection in Niese's stuff, and the Mets need offense. I'd buy low. Rosenthal said a pitcher could get Upton... Which seems strange, I agree, but he said it. Mets have a pretty good one, hope they call.”… You all know how much I hate all this trade speculation shit. I’d just rather sit back, let the experts do the trading, and then let you and I do the commenting on that trade. There does seem to be an awful lot of people out there that keep trying to tie up Upton with the Mets. I know they don’t have a decent outfield, but breaking up a superior rotation just isn’t the way to go. Once again, play what you got in 2013 (Bay, Nieuwehuis, Duda, Baxter, Valdespin), sign someone in the $1-2mil range before the season starts, and go big next off-season when the Santana-Bay contracts clear. You’ll have the best rotation in the National League (Harvey, Wheeler, Dickey, Niese, Gee, possibly Pelfrey, possibly Montero), maybe the best in baseball.

Zack Links from MLBTR – said: “JP Ricciardi's deal with the Mets is up but he expects to return.  So far, no one has inquired on him as a GM candidate or something close, though he says he would like to return to the front office.”  I’m sorry, but I might have missed something here. Has anyone heard of Ricciardi doing one thing during his reign here in New York? I don’t give him any credit for the Zack Wheeler deal and, if he was the person that orchestrated the past two draft, well, you know what I mean… there are still two ‘VP’s’ around from the old regime (never could remember their names) and just how many of them does one team need to come in fourth place every season? 

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that Tim Lincecum will be available via trade this winter. I get caught up in all this Mets stuff and have tunnel vision sometimes about what else is going on in baseball. Wow… Lincecum went 5.18 in 33 starts this past season, and, he has $22mil left in his final year on his contract. Now, you know this has Yankees written all over it.

Rob Castellano, over at Amazin Avenue, asked if IF-OF head case Jordany Valdespin should be an every day player. He said: Now I'm not trying to say that Jordany Valdespin is going to be a breakout superstar with regular playing time in 2013 (not that he'd have to be to surpass Murph's pedestrian 1.8 WAR at second base in 2012) . Hell, I'm not even sure I'd give him a regular starting spot -- I sort of like the prevailing idea of a super-sub, though one that still compiles upwards of 400-500 plate appearances. What I am saying is that it’s way too early for us to begin making up our mind on Valdespin, especially if we're doing so based on faulty information.” He also spent a considerable amount of time commenting on Spin’s lack of plate discipline. Look, I’ve never liked his approach to the game, but I’ve never questioned his talent, but his free approach to swinging is because HE WILL NOT LISTEN TO ANYONE. You are never going to be able to manage this guy and maximize his value to a team approach. It simply isn’t going to happen, folks.

2B Danny Muno has been added to the AFL Surprise team as a taxi player, which will allow him to play up to two times a week. Muno was a 4-yr senior pick in 2011 who wound up leading the league in hitting (.355) for Brooklyn. Many critics, including me, were concerned with his age at that level, but he went on in last year to impress with St.Lucie (.280/.387/.412/.799, 6-HR, 39-RBI). He’ll play Binghamton in 2013 and will be reading what Reese Havens does each night in Vegas.