Mack Stuff – Pedro Feliciano, Shaun Marcum, , Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang

3B Wilmer Flores -  1-4, .282

Pedro Feliciano is back to pitching. He pitched Thursday night for Leones de Ponce of the Puerto Rico Winter League. Feliciano went 1.0-IP and gave up zero runs or hits. It’s his fourth outing of the winter season totaling 4.0 innings… stat line is 2-H, 1-ER, 4-K, 1-BB, 2.25. The lefty will go into the 2013 season as a 37-year old. Was acquired by the Mets, along with minor league outfielder Elvin Andujar and two players to be named later (outfielders Raul Gonzalez and Brady Clark), from the Cincinnati Reds for left-handed pitcher Shawn Estes and cash on Aug. 15, 2002. Who can forget those two great years… 2009: 88-G, 3.03…  2010: 92-G, 3.30.

Ken Davidoff reports that the Mets are looking at P Shaun Marcum, Chris Capuano, and Aaron Harang

Marcum was a long time Toronto pitcher who went 13-8, 3.64 in his final Blue Jay season in 2010. Since then, he has pitched two seasons with Milwaukee (2011: 13-7, 3.54… 2012: 7-4, 3.70).

Mets fans are familiar with Capuano, who pitched in Queens in  2011 (11-12, 4.55). He was signed by the Dodgers and held his own throughout the 2012 season (12-12, 3.72); however, due to the Dodgers signing every pitcher available on earth, there’s no room for him in their rotation. The 32-year old averaged around six innings per start last season. He’s owed $6mil in 2013 with a $1mil

Harang signed a two year contract with the Dodgers, of which $7mil is due in 2013, with a $2mil buyout for 2014. He went 10-10, 3.61 last season after a 14-7, 3.64 season with San Diego in 2011. He will pitch 2013 as a 35-year old.

                                                WHIP      BB/PA      BABIP    FIP

                Marcum:                              1.26        7.8%          .288      4.41

                Capuano:                             1.21        6.6%          .293      3.98

                Harang:                               1.40       10.8%         .292      4.17

Head of Surgery and Psychiatry: Sandy Alderson

By - Jarod Alley               

In a perfect world the New York Mets would be annual competitors in the playoff picture, harvesting young talent and spending their free agent dollars on the most premier talent. Reality though has held a different fate for our lovable losers. We’ve been through multiple questionable trades, reckless free agent spending, a sapped farm system, over exaggerated major league rosters, seasons filled with injuries, an ongoing financial dispute and three different coaches. All of this happened within the last 10 years.

                Yeah, it is tough being a Met fan sometimes, but it’s also tough not to like the Wilpons decision in hiring Sandy Alderson to reign in a team that was looking like it was going to take a very long downward spiral. Even if he were forced upon Fred and Jeff by Bud Selig and Major League Baseball, Sandy has been very efficient in re-structuring the seemingly fractured parts and pieces of this team. True, he did let Jose Reyes walk almost without much dialogue but how many of you would have guaranteed Jose…Jose, Jose, Jose  that kind of contract? I know I wouldn’t. Without a solid pitching staff the retention of Reyes combined with Wright, Davis, Murphy and question marks at other positions would seem like a major gamble to put together a World Series caliber team.

           

     One can hardly argue with some of the other decisions he has made too. He’s been signing guys that are very much low risk high reward guys to stitch up vacancies on the team. Last year we saw the resurgent Isringhausen and durable Capuano perform above and beyond expectations both on salaries that amounted to roughly 2.5 million, combined. Also, for the first time in as long as I can remember our Rule 5 draft pick ended up being a very serviceable arm in our bullpen. While Pedro Beato wasn’t a complete success he still proved to be a useful piece out of the bullpen and will be back with the organization since they were able to keep him on the roster all of last year.

                In regards to the minors he’s been active to shape it to his liking as well. Trading Carlos Beltran mid-year for a top pitching prospect in Zack Wheeler helped to gain favor with fans by adding a young phenom arm to go along with Matt Harvey.  In years past the Omar Minaya regime would have clung to their expiring contracts with little hope of making a push into the playoffs thus leaving the club without any return on investment. Instead last year Sandy let Reyes walk saving major cash and gaining an additional draft pick along with the midseason acquisition of Wheeler; two moves that should h elp strengthen a middling minor league system.

                While many of his decisions won’t be known to be truly successful until the next 5-10 years, he has created an environment where competence is not as easily questioned. I for one hope his disinfecting, stitching, splinting and overall medication proves to be the elixir the Mets have been looking for to make this team successful not just in the now but for the foreseeable future as well.

STUFF: - Omar Minaya, Chris Capuano, Heath Bell, Jeff Wilpon, Damien Magnifico

1. Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya has landed a new job with the San Diego Padres organization, two sources told ESPN.com.  The team planned to announce the hiring Friday afternoon, one of the sources said. Minaya, 53, became the first Hispanic general manager in baseball history when the Montreal Expos hired him in 2002. He ran the Mets from 2004 through 2010, when he was fired along with manager Jerry Manuel.  The Padres will give Minaya a position along the lines of vice president of baseball operations, The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the negotiations.  The New York Post reported that Minaya will serve as a sounding board to new Padres GM Josh Byrnes and do scouting work on amateur and professional players. - http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7307007/omar-minaya-join-san-diego-padres-organization

I’m very happy, both for Omar and the San Diego Padres. I have always found Omar to be a gentleman and he always treated me with respect. We had a lot of fun one time bullshitting in the corner of the clubhouse which was preventing all the “real reporters” from hounding him with questions. We actually were talking about the Disco days and we both had a lot of fun extending the non-conversation to the point that most of the writers moved on and Minaya could get back to his office. In case some of don’t realize, he is one of the most talented Latin American scouts in the history of baseball and I am sure he will bring to that team the same quality kids he found playing on the rocky fields for the Mets. Welcome back, amigo.  

2.   Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports that the Dodgers have signed Chris Capuano to a two-year, $10 million contract. The deal was first reported by Jim Bowden of SiriusXM Radio and has now been confirmed by Stark and others. Capuano had a pretty nice year for the Mets in 2011, posting a 4.55 ERA and 1.35 WHIP while striking out 168 over 186 innings. He also managed to make 31 starts after years of elbow issues. It's not a ton of money to commit to a guy that could slot in nicely at the back of the Dodgers rotation, but it's risky given Capuano's injury history and the fact that he had a 5.42 ERA away from pitcher-friendly Citi Field. At least he's going to another cavernous park in Dodger Stadium. Capuano's signing could signal the end of Hiroki Kuroda's tenure in LA. - http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/346053/baseball-headlines?r=1

I hope Mets fans aren’t getting upset about this one. In fact, do you realize how upset Mets fans WOULD be if Sandy Alderson cut a deal here for $10mil over 2-years? I think we are all starting to get an indication of how the money is going to go in this Hot Stove season, and it seems pretty high to me right now. The offering of arbitration to another “5.42 ERA” pitcher (Mike Pelfrey)is looking more sensible every day. 

 All-Star closer Heath Bell has agreed to a $27 million, three-year contract with the Miami Marlins, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.  The person spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced. The agreement, which is subject to a physical, is the first free-agent deal for the Marlins since they began courtships last month with several top players. The deal was first reported by ESPN. Bell had more than 40 saves each of the past three seasons for the San Diego Padres. This year he had 43 in 48 chances with a 2.44 ERA. - http://www.caribsso.com/MLB/New-York

This seems to me to be as much as come-on to other free agents as it would be a decent deal for a pitcher that is worth it. Obviously, the cost for a decent closer just went to the ten million per year range, which is far move than the Mets want to give out. My guess is they dish out around $4mil to a Grade B guy and pray for the recovery of Jenrry Mejia. 

Mike J. Silva: - Spoke to a Citi Field worker last weekend and they told me Jeff Wilpon refuses to acknowledge staff and gets angry if u say hello to him… Nick C: - my buddy is in the local 2 and said the same thing about Jeff when CitiField was being built. said he went out of his way to be an ass.

Is this supposed to surprise us? Have you ever met Jeff Wilpon? He is the perfect example of a rich man’s loser son? I will give him this… he is consistent. Tell ya what… why don’t you ask his siblings what they think of him…  err… DOH!

5. Reports out of his school that ex-Met unsigned draft pick, P Damien Magnifico, is "hitting 103.

I'm not even going here...

Jeurys Familia, Chris Capuano, November, Mets Value, Bobby Valentine

11-26-11: - http://seedlingstostars.com  - Jeurys Familia - Familia is fairly close to the majors, and he’s got two very dynamic pitches that could probably give major league hitters trouble right now (in a bullpen role, at least). Still, there are some major concerns with his consistency and durability, as he’s never thrown 140 innings in a season and has only put together one statistically excellent campaign. His upside is certainly enticing, but there are a fair amount of warts here. I can see Familia as sort of a right-handed Francisco Liriano – a pitcher who occasionally dazzles but often frustrates.

There is no doubt that Chris Capuano was a solid starting pitcher for the Mets in 2011–and more than earned his pip-squeak $1.5 million salary (was worth 1.6 fWAR or $7 million according to Fan Graphs)–but the decision to retain his services for the 2012 is a little up in the air. Aside from supposedly wanting a two-year deal, there is little statistical proof to suggest that Capuano will improve from his 2011-self, and by only averaging 5.9 innings per start–not to mention his injury history–he isn’t exactly the most durable pitcher either. Assuming the Mets are unable to find a superior replacement from outside or within, re-signing Capuano for just a modest salary increase shouldn’t incite a fan-base riot. http://risingapple.com/2011/11/26/2011-season-in-review-chris-capuano

According to a high ranking source in the MLB franchise, the New York Mets are keeping their option open and will secure only the best ones in the interest of their team and will not have any issue in disposing of those which hold no benefit for them. General Manager of the New York Mets, Sandy Alderson, also announced that dealings in relation to the team will kick off a few days before December the 5th, in which they will begin the offseason negotiations between players and the team while looking at all of their options in order to make the best possible choice on every deal. Regarding Jose Reyes, it is reported that the player has also been offered quite a surprising deal by the Miami Marlins, but has not come out on the issue thus far in announcing which franchise he is looking forward to be working with when the new season kicks off early next year. http://blogs.bettor.com/New-York-Mets-to-stay-free-until-December-MLB-Update-a114611

Query by Abstract: What do you believe of the New York Mets being the 2nd most beneficial franchise in baseball?  Appropriate behind the New York Yankees. Also, it states that the Mets are the 9th most useful sports franchise in the planet.  http://www.theoffside.com/planet-football/forbes-names-the-most-valuable-sports activities-manufacturers-teams-athletes-events-and-companies.html

On the final night of the GM meetings, word circulated that Dale Sveum was going to become the Cubs manager and, just as interesting, not the manager of the Red Sox. Suddenly it made sense why Boston officials were talking about widening their search and emphasizing previous managerial experience, a trait that was not stressed in the initial round of interviews. I sensed immediately this was going to put Bobby Valentine into play. Obviously, he has previous experience. But he also was known to be a favorite of Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, who was carrying a larger influence in this process with new general manager Ben Cherington than he probably would have with the recently departed Theo Epstein, who as the new president of the Cubs was responsible for hiring Sveum.  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/valentine_way_hRoNkF9lNMqGPFW9M8Q5zN#ixzz1euroB0Zx

Cutnpaste: - Matt Harvey, Carlos Beltran, Chris Capuano, Darin Gorski, Jason Pridie

10-25-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/10/25/2011-top-20-new-york-mets-prospects - 2011 Top 20 New York Mets Prospects -  3.Matt Harvey, RHP (High Class A, AA): Most importantly for the righty, he continued to throw strikes all year long (2.84 bb/9 IP at A+, 3.47 at AA). Harvey showed good command of a strong fastball and quality curve, with the strikeout numbers to match (10.89/9 IP at A+, 9.65 at AA). A solid ground ball rate makes him that much more valuable. It was a welcome sight to see such good command after a shaky end to his college career. He still has room for improvement in needing to stay around the strike zone a bit more, but a 2.66 FIP in 76 High A innings and 3.23 FIP through 59.2 AA innings is fantastic for a first year pro.

Carlos Beltran: .300 BA, .910 OPS, 22 HR, 84 RBI - The last time Beltran was in free agency, he was the leading man. That was in 2005 when he was still a center fielder in his prime and wound up getting a seven-year deal from the Mets. That deal ended with two injury-plagued years and with him playing right field for the Giants. Beltran is believed to desire a three-year deal, but there are teams with an opening in right field and the willingness. One of those teams is the Red Sox, but that’s if they’re willing to accept a declining defensive player. After scoring the NL’s fewest runs (570), and their worst in a full season since 1985, the Giants have the need for offense from the middle of their lineup. http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1019347--mlb-free-agency-fire-up-the-hot-stove

The word on the street is that the main reason Alderson is willing to let Chris Capuano go is because of the dire salary cap situation the Mets are facing right now. Chris' base salary for 2011 was $1.5 million and that number ballooned to $3.925 million due to incentive caps Capuano reached during the season. Apparently, Alderson doesn't want to commit two years and $8 million to the southpaw, a contract which Capuano is looking to sign. Losing Capuano from the rotation is a big blow to the Mets' pitching staff for the 2012 season. Even with oft-injured star pitcher Johan Santana returning from shoulder surgery, the starting rotation looks very shaky and, in all likeliness, some free-agents will need to be signed http://bleacherreport.com/articles/933465-new-york-mets-chris-capuano-isnt-coming-back-what-it-means-for-the-rotation

Gorski’s fastball is normally in the high 80′s, averaging 89, topping out at 90-91. He has had to rely much more heavily on his off-speed pitches and his improved change-up has been key to his recent success. There is nothing for him to prove in A ball anymore, so it’s a foregone conclusion that he will start next season in the AA Bingo rotation. Establishing himself as the top left-handed pitching prospect in the system, Gorski has come a long way in just one year, and he will be scrutinized in ST much more closely than ever before. But even if he is fast-tracked at this point, don’t expect to see him at Citifield in 2012. If he can earn a mid-season call-up to AAA, It could put him in line for a big league debut by the second half of 2013. http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-13-darin-gorski-lhp.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

The New York Mets did make a move yesterday: according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, outfielder Jason Pride has been removed from the Mets’ 40-man roster. When the 28-year-old journeyman got regular playing time, he had his moments. However, there just weren’t enough of them – in 101 games, he batted .231 with 4 home runs and 20 RBIs. Baseball Reference calculated his season was worth 0.6 wins above what a replacement level player could provide. Nothing against Pridie, but I’d rather see somebody better or somebody younger getting those at-bats next year. http://randombaseballstuff.com/2011/11/11/friday-morning-roundup-wilson-ramos-miami-marlins-jason-pridie-more

Brandon Nimmo, Chris Capuano, Gil Hodges, Jason Isringhausen, Zack Lutz

10-25-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/10/25/2011-top-20-new-york-mets-prospects - 2011 Top 20 New York Mets Prospects -  4.Brandon Nimmo, CF (Rookie League): His overall offensive upside remains a bit murky (mainly in the power department), while the quality of his tools and swing are readily apparent. I still believe that he will become a fantastic prospect once he concentrates on baseball year round, an environment that the baseball-less Wyoming high school system did not provide. Nimmo’s left-handed swing is great for his age, and he’s got the athleticism/speed to play a quality center field. He should hit for quality average and above-average power as a center fielder, possibly like a less-speedy Christian Yelich in time.

Let me begin by saying that Chris Capuano delivered one the finest pitching performances of the 2011 season when he hurled a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves on August 26. His 13 strikeouts were a career high and he faced just one batter over the minimum. Remarkable. That said, as much as I loved that one phenomenal moment, I would have to say no way to re-signing Capuano. I base my opinion on two things. First, if his 1.35 WHIP and 4.55 weren’t reason enough to pass on Cappy, what about his road splits of a 5.42 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP? I mean come on, that’s absolutely brutal and how do you think that will translate in a smaller Citi Field which was just re-designed to specifically help right-handed hitters who teed off on Capuano to the tune of an .818 OPS last season? How you like me now? http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/2011-player-review-chris-capuano.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

11-11-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/7142/mets-minors/a-look-into-the-future-top-3b-prospects  - If the Mets were to part with Wright, Zach Lutz would be the first one to fill the hole because of his experience. The 25-year-old would have been in Queens sometime this year if he didn’t get hurt midway through the Triple-A Buffalo season. Prior to the injury, Lutz was tearing up International League pitching, batting .295 with 11 homeruns and 31 RBI. Those numbers look very good for an MLB-ready talent like Lutz, however he strikes out too much, conjuring thoughts of Casey McGehee or Mark Reynolds. In 220 at-bats, Lutz whiffed 70 times, while accumulating just 27 walks.  Surprisingly, Lutz hits for average, as he’s never hit below .275 in his 5 years in the minors. At worst, he becomes a Mike Hessman kind of player, minus the hype that Hessman had as a prospect. At best, he’s a serviceable third basemen. Because of his injury, he’ll likely start off in Buffalo again and will definitely get a taste sometime during the season.

 JOE’S TAKE: Call me sentimental, but if Jason Isringhausen is healthy and wants to forgo his retirement for another season, I would bring him back. It’s not like we can’t use the help or experience in the bullpen anyway. Izzy’s 1.28 WHIP was among the best in the Mets bullpen and even topped Parnell’s 1.47 WHIP by a considerable margin. He also didn’t implode whenever he emerged from those bullpen gates in the ninth inning like Parnell did – an important fact to consider. I see nothing wrong with giving him the same kind of deal he received last season. Remember, Sandy Alderson specifically said on more than one occasion that he didn’t trade Izzy, despite some offers for him, because he was a great influence on the younger relievers. So what’s changed? He could still assume that role and at the same time be one of the more effective relievers out of the Mets bullpen once again in 2012. Jason Isringhausen… You’re the next contestant on the Price is Right… Come on down… http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/2011-player-review-jason-isringhausen.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

Whether Gil Hodges should get into the Baseball Hall of Fame for his career as a Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman is endlessly debatable. While he was an upper-80s student, he was overshadowed by his high-achieving classmates Jackie, Duke, Roy and Pee Wee. Hodges nailed the extra credit, though, and that should put him across the voters’ threshold for excellence, finally earning him a plaque alongside his fellow boys of summer. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/hodges-added-to-his-credentials-after-playing-days/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nyt%2Frss%2FSports+%28NYT+%3E+Sports%29&seid=auto&smid=tw-nytimessports

Cutnpaste: - Tyler Howe, Carlos Beltran, Lastings Milledge, Chris Capuano, Maikel Cleto

Also joining the baseball coaching staff in his first year is Tyler Howe. Coach Howe recently retired from the New York Mets and was a part of their organization for four years. Coach Howe transferred to SEC power University of Kentucky following a stellar career as a Kirkwood Eagle. Coach Howe will work with the pitchers and catchers as well as oversee the strength and conditioning program and help with recruiting. "Howe is a great addition to our staff. He is a standup guy that has a big time presence. When you first meet Tyler you can tell instantly that he is on board to help achieve greatness for our players and future recruits here at Kirkwood. As a recruit they will want the same opportunities that our staff has accomplished " http://www.kirkwoodeagles.com/article/185.php

Carlos Beltran: It shocks me that people actually still talk about Carlos Beltran. I’d rather have one of my roster spots filled by a magnet; at least magnets have a positive side. I can only imagine that the reason Beltran still gets attention is because he had some great years with the Kansas City Royals nearly ten years ago, helped lead the Houston Astros to their first ever World Series appearance, and then sucked Los Mets dry for $119 Million. The guy has been a disappointment every single year since 2004. At this point, any time Beltran does something impressive it’s like a blind rabbit finding a carrot. It will happen eventually. http://sbpress.com/2011/11/mlb-hot-stove-report

Former Mets #1 draft pick and almost-superstar Lastings Milledge will be starring in a Japanese baseball reality show based on the movie “Mr. Baseball”, according to a source close to The Situation (hat tip to loyal MetsToday reader and commenter “Walnutz”).

After failing to fulfill his potential at several stops in MLB, the slick-rapping centerfielder and hip-hop mogul is taking his show to Japan – literally. Cameras will follow Milledge 24 hours a day, documenting every detail of his adventure in Asia. http://www.metstoday.com/7156/11-12-offseason/lastings-milledge-to-star-in-japanese-baseball-reality-show

Chris Capuano received a $1.5 million base salary with incentives this past season that brought the total to $3.925 million, but has now priced himself out of returning to the team, SI.com reported. Capuano seeks a two-year deal, not something the Mets are in a position to consider, the report stated. www.espn.com

Of the 662 pitchers who threw a pitch in the major leagues during 2011, none had a higher average fastball velocity than Maikel Cleto’s 98.4 mph. He fired 96-101 mph bullets in relief, and the pitch has good run and sink even at its higher velocities. As a starter, Cleto’s more in the 93-99 mph range, but still boasts a very intimidating heater. He backs the fastball up with a solid hard curveball in the 82-86 mph range, giving him two good pitches. Ordinarily, a starter needs a more well-rounded arsenal than that, but with this sort of heat, Cleto doesn’t need a changeup as much as most guys. That said, he does throw one, which comes in (rather amusingly) in the low-90′s.  http://seedlingstostars.com/2011/10/14/the-seedlings-to-stars-2012-top-100-prospects-85-maikel-cleto

Cutnpaste: Citifield, Santana Lies, 2012, Chris Capuano, Pedro Beato

I’ve never really cared about the walls at Citi Field.  They are what they are for both teams, and the height and distance have both positives and negatives. My biggest concern is that if they were to change them, that they would do something stupid like just draw another orange line, or construct a makeshift fence in front of it and mess with the aesthetics.  Sandy Alderson’s comments on the broadcast last night seem to suggest that they’ll put a lot of thought into how to meld the chances into the structure if they do make changes.  Alderson mentioned that they’ve done a lot of research on it, and with three years worth of data to look at they’re a little more confident in the decisions they’re reaching off the data.  Opinions about home runs and wall height are one thing, but I’m happy any decision that’s made will be based off hard data. - http://www.ceetar.com/optimisticmetsfan/2011/09/21/wall-adjustments-do-not-make-mets-better

We’ve also seen the credit-seeking, faction-fomenting fascist Sandy Alderson from the Padres with the subterfuge used with Johan Santana in an attempt to drum up interest in a team that was double-digits out of a playoff spot and fading; he didn’t exactly lie, but he wasn’t truthful in the insistence that Santana might be ready to pitch a couple of innings in the big leagues before the season ended. I knew it was silly bordering on the nonsensical, but other fans don’t look for an ulterior motive when a baseball executive is saying something ludicrous; they don’t generally forget when they’ve been betrayed. - http://paullebowitz.com.previewyoursite.com/blog/?p=2422

So how excited can one get for the off-season?  I usually love the thrill of the hot-stove but for now it will just be a wait and see mode with Reyes.  If Reyes does not return lets also forgive Sandy now for not going out and investing that 20M on this talent market sans Reyes.  Moves like that are exactly what the Mets are paying him NOT to do. What is a Mets fan to do?  Wait.  We have seen a lot of good things this year and I expect to see similar things next year.  We do have pitching on the way in Harvey and Wheeler.  We do have Mejia and Familia, Havens and Kirk, and a host of others on their way.  Also as we know baseball is a funny game.  The Mets can contend next year if things break right, however it is now a luxury to have someone like Alderson that sees the big picture and is not willing to risk the Mets future on chance. - http://realdirtymets.com/2011/09/22/mets-to-go-to-the-well-one-more-time-in-2012

UPDATE (12:05 EST): Well, that didn't last long. Joe McDonald of ESPN Boston is reporting that the Red Sox did in fact make a run for Capuano this week, but according to a source those talks are "dead" as of now. For now, the Red Sox are still looking at John Lackey and possibly Alfredo Aceves as options to take the mound against New York on Sunday. ORIGINAL REPORT (12:00 PM EST): The Red Sox have been having a few issues with their starting pitching lately if you haven't heard, and apparently they've been spending the past few days working on some possible reinforcements. According to John Tomase of the Boston Herald, those efforts have led them to Mets starter Chris Capuano. - http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2011/9/22/2442363/red-sox-looking-at-chris-capuano

After receiving assurances Tuesday evening that he would not be asked to pitch, Mets reliever Pedro Beato did the improbable: he stood up, stretched his arm and began throwing a bullpen session.  Though not unusual behavior for relievers on their scheduled off-days, the episode was bizarre in that Beato has complained recently of a tired arm. Mets manager Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen have implored the rookie to cut back on his throwing, and still Beato has persisted.  "We've told him all along, 'You've got to back off the throwing,'" Collins said. "'You've only got so many bullets.' But he sees the veteran guys, Izzy [Jason Isringhausen] and all those other guys doing their daily throwing program, so he thinks he's got to do it." - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110922&content_id=25061622&notebook_id=25062330&vkey=notebook_nym&c_id=nym&partnerId=rss_nym

Cutnpaste: - Allan Dykstra, Mailkas De La Crus, Neil Allen, Ike Davis, Chris Capuano

8-21-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/prospect-pulse-left-handed-hitters.html  - Allan Dykstra - This is the player Sandy got from San Diego in exchange for “Fast” Eddie Kunz, before the season began. He came with the label a “poor man’s Lucas Duda.” The 6’5″, former 2008 1st round draft pick of San Diego, did not play much after signing in 2008, but has now logged 3 full minor league seasons, and is presently playing 1B for Bingo, in AA. For his minor league career, Dykstra’s slash line looks like: .242/.387/.424. At the same point in his minor league career, Duda’s stats compared favorably to Dykstra’s except BA, where Duda was around 20 points higher. Dykstra obviously has a lot of power, 17 HR’s and 67 RBI’s in 345 AB’s at Bingo this year attest to that, and his 66 walks show a pretty good eye at the plate. The big problem is holes in his swing, as his 116 strikeouts so far this year clearly indicate. If he can close those holes up a bit, he could become a very interesting prospect one day soon.

8-23-11: - DSL 2011 End of Season Wrap-Up - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35808&sid=e8719b8eddffd9bc033d0ab708d8aff5  - Maikis De La Cruz, 20, OF - .321/.389/.400 line for Maikis included 33 SB and 40 runs scored while usually leading off for both teams

Another closer the Mets had in a dark period in team history was Neil Allen, who ended up becoming more notable for being traded than he did as a pitcher. Allen was drafted by the Mets in 1976 and made his professional debut as a starting pitcher in 1979. He went 0-5 as a starter, though, and missed a month with a strained rib cage before returning as a reliever. He then won four consecutive decisions out of the bullpen and finished his rookie season with a 6-10 record, a 3.55 ERA and eight saves. - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/822566-new-york-mets-top-10-relievers-of-all-time#/articles/822566-new-york-mets-top-10-relievers-of-all-time/page/4  

8-31-11: - Via Twitter - News AdamRubinESPN profile - AdamRubinESPN "Obviously there are really good signs he's getting better," Terry Collins said about Davis. - AdamRubinESPN profile AdamRubinESPN Ike Davis continues to run without discomfort, so he's due to meet team in Florida to take grounders, try batting practice

So does (Chris) Capuano feel like he has reestablished himself following a second Tommy John surgery and demonstrated enough to secure a multiyear deal as a starting pitcher somewhere in the majors this offseason? “I’m not sure,” said the 33-year-old Capuano, who missed the 2008 and ’09 seasons. “I have five starts left, so my goal is to get out there and throw as many innings up as I can in those five starts and see what happens. If there’s something like that out there, that would be great. If it’s a one-year deal or something, at this point in my career I’m excited to have the opportunity to go out there as a starting pitcher. I’m not as concerned with the contracts and everything else. As long as I have an option next year to start, I’ll be happy.” - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/33524/big-deal-no-big-deal-for-capuano

I May Be Wrong, But…

1. I really got a kick out of the promotions of Brandon Nimmo and Phillip Evans to Kingsport. I really don’t care what they do in the three games left there. It’s just the fact that the Mets brass wants to send a message to everyone that talent will be recognized at all levels. So far, both look like the real deal and it will be interesting to see where they start each of them out next spring. I have them in Brooklyn, but, you never know, right?

2. I read Monday that Ike Davis was seen running on his bad ankle, still trying to rehab without surgery. I’m not sure, but I think this is a different run from a month ago, which would have been different than a run from… look, Ike… bubbala… you need to make a decision post haste so the team can count on you in April. God, this so reminds me of Omar and Company.

3. Ron Paul said that Washington just wasted money saving lives in the Northeast, and Michelle Backman made jokes about the hurricane and God. Are these people out of their fucking minds? It takes an IQ of 4 to figure out that separatism isn’t going to solve the financial crisis. Do we just tie up these pit bulls and leave them in the yard? Oh, BTW, I’m a Republican.

4. Lucas Duda has made me a believer but what do we do with Nick Evans? I’ve watched him dominate both AA and AAA in the past couple of seasons, but he always tripped when he came to Queens. In his defense, he never was given an opportunity to play every day and I know that Jerry Manuel really didn’t like him. Folks, one third of everything you do in life is confidence and, without it, you’re just an Anderson Hernandez in the system. It seems to me that a 2012 with Tejada on 2B, Reyes on SS, Duda in RF and both Evans and Murphy coming off the bench… is a good plan.

5. I can’t think of any better September waivers trade than Chris Capuano to a pennant contender. He really isn’t in the rebuilding plans of the Mets and you can’t come off a better outing than his last one. You’re not going to get much, but you could roll the dice on an A+ or A-level prospect, preferably a catcher or relief pitcher.

Cutnpaste: - Darrell Ceciliani, Elvis Sanchez, Fernando Martinez, Collin McHugh, Chris Capuano

8-21-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/prospect-pulse-left-handed-hitters.html  - Darrell Ceciliani – This 21 year-old center-fielder, who the Mets made their 4th round draft pick out of Columbia Basin Community College (Wash) in 2009, is still very raw, and if he does reach the majors, it won’t be before 2014. This year he has been the Savannah Sand Gnats everyday center-fielder. In three full seasons, (two short season, and this one) he has amassed 800 lifetime minor league AB’s, with a lifetime .283 BA. He has a .358 OBP, and a .403 SLG%, but his problem so far has also been too many K’s. His K/BB ratio reads: 173/78, and for a lead-off hitter those numbers need to improve.

8-23-11: - DSL 2011 End of Season Wrap-Up - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35808&sid=e8719b8eddffd9bc033d0ab708d8aff5  - Elvis Sanchez, 17, 3B - Disappointing year for Sanchez in his debut, hitting just .157 with 3 bombs. In 198 ABs, he walked 62 times, and struck out 73. Almost 37% of ABs, he strikes out.

8-25-11: - http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-9021595  - Fernando Martinez - I know he's not on the major league roster, but shouldn't he be by now? Is he in the witness protection program? I suppose he fits right in with the Mets organization…over-hyped, slow to develop, always injured.

(Colin McHugh) I don't pretend to know what the future holds for me and my baseball career. I don't know if I will ever have the chance to pitch at Fenway again. But for a brief moment my wife, my father and I got a glimpse of where I could go. What I could do. We came face to face with the reality of why we put in all the work. It felt good, natural even. At the very least, it was a story I shared with those closest to me, and one that I will continue to share with my kids and grandkids. I think we forget, in the day to day grind, that we are building a life's worth of memories here. This was one that I will never forget. - http://adayolderadaywiser.blogspot.com/

With everyone preparing for Hurricane Irene you might have missed a dominant pitching performance by Chris Capuano on Friday. Capuano’s complete game 13 strikeout shutout of Atlanta might appear to be another win in a season that will end short of the playoffs, but as Mark Simon noted at ESPN NY this is one of the best pitching performances in team history. It was also the best performance by any pitcher in 2011. Simon used Bill James Game Score, which rates starts, with the number usually coming between 0 and 100– higher being better. Pitchers get rewarded for finishing innings, not allowing base runners, and striking batters out. The scoring system is as follows: - http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=39121  

Stock: Chris Capuano, Julian Hilario, Angel Cuan, Josh Edgin, Brandon Nimmo

8-27-11: - Stock Up – P Chris Capuano – Didn’t I just say earlier this week that the Mets shouldn’t resign this guy? I hope Chris has video on this one because this is the tape you show your grandchildren someday. Hell of an outing from a guy that just isn’t a strikeout pitcher. Hey, pitching prospects out there… throw your fastball consistently on the inside of the zone. You too can have an outing like this.

8-27-11: - Stock Up – SP Julian Hilario – Hilarios is a 2009 international signee that pitched five scoreless innings for the GCL team last night. He’s had a decent year so far: 1-3, 2.81, 11-G, 5-St, 41.2-IP, 34-K and it looks like he has earned his way on the Kingsport roster next season.

8-27-11: - Stock Down – SP Angel Cuan – Cuan had his second bad outing in a row last night for Savannah. He’s now given up 12-ERs in his last 11 innings pitched. This is a simple case of season burn out and, hopefully, the Gnats will shut the kid down for the rest of the season.

8-27-11: - Stock Down – RP Josh Edgin – Okay, it had to happen. Josh hasn’t had a bad game since opening day and he was long overdue. Lucy brought him in after Armondo Rodriquez through six scoreless innings in a seven inning shortened game and he gave up 2-R in 1.0-IP and took the loss. Poor baby… his seasonal ERA is how 1.44.

8-27-11: - Stock Up – OF Brandon Nimmo – Nimmo decided to have some fun on the last game of the GCL Mets season today. He went 3-5, which included 2-BB, 2-R, 2nd HR, 3-RBIs. What will be interesting is to see if he gets sent to one of the playoff teams.

Waiver Trading

Pausing from the prospect frenzy of yesterday (I'm super psyched and will right something soon) I wanted to focus on some current Mets who might FURTHER fill out farm systems. The Mets have gotten five players cleared through waivers... NO, nobody snagged Jason Bay... sigh... However, the four OTHER guys that DID make it through are slightly more surprising. Some of them could have been boons to a number of contending teams and now... the Mets are once more free to negotiate deals for them. HOWEVER, Alderson is not interested in salaray relieving deals... except with Bay. We'd trade Bay for the Mets owing someone a PTBNL.

Chris Capuano: Right... so HOW?!? does Chris Capuano NOT get snagged in waivers. Is it his 2011 success as a starter? Is it his earlier success as a left-handed RP? Perhaps he's just so smart that general managers feel threatened. Fact is a team, like the Yankees, will KICK themselves for not making a bid on Chris. As it is, they should probably be on line to make a deal. He can start if they need it, he can relieve if they don't. How many other teams would need a guy like that?

Angel Pagan: Less shock over Pagan. He's had a rough year, has an injury history and makes really dumb decisions. HOWEVER... he's only 30, he's got a cheap Arb elligable contract (Not due a large increase) and would slot into almost any outfield as the #4 outfielder EASILY. A guy with this much speed and a little pop who can play all the outfield positions... WELL. He has Atlanta braves written ALL over him. Then again, perhaps Sandy doesn't want to HAVE to sign a CF for more money than Pagan will get for 2012.

D.J. Carrasco: Say what you will, but the ability to toss innings has value. He doesn't necessarily toss them so well he could be a closer, but he also doesn't kill you. You can also use him almost every day without worrying that his right arm will fall off and he'll need to learn to pitch righty. If you think the contract is a worry, remember that $1 Mil contracts mean little to the top payroll teams in the world. To them it's like they got him for only one month of Alex Rodriguez.

Willie Harris: Waiver trades were MADE for players like Willie Harris. He doesn't hit a ton, but he does come up with some clutch hits. He can play all across the field and do a pretty knock-up job of it. He also has that X-Factor of being a "Role Player" that fits with the mentality of a GM making a run at a ring. They look at Willie and say, "Gee with a slim lead in the 9th I guess I could uses a guy to slide out there instead of Lance Berkman. Someone who might even win me a game by just making a catch at the right time.

Jason Bay: Hands, who would accept a bag of baseballs? My hand is up. Sad reality check, nobody wants to trade valuable baseballs for a $36+ Mil debt. Especially to someone from Canada. If Bay has a good Spring then the Mets might get someone to pull and Alex Rios and absorb his ill-gotten pay-check. It's just not going to happen for 2011.

Wait, but you're the rose-colored glasses guy, this is all depressing. Actually, I am probably overly optimistic about getting a trade done for even the top four guys. Sandy wants prospects and teams can probably get that type of player for that bag of balls I want to trade Bay for. I'm just saying that I'd be on the phone shopping the heck out of these guys.