Here's the latest out of Queens and the Bronx on the final Sunday before regular season baseball gets underway….
- The Yankees have no plans to pursue the recently released Carlos Silva tweets Jack Curry of the YES Network. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild was Silva's pitching coach with the Cubs last season.
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi told Chad Jennings of The Journal News that Romulo Sanchez was scratched from today's road trip "for reasons I can’t give to you at this point." The right-hander is out of options and a long shot to make the team, and Girardi gave a look that indicated a trade was in the works acording to Jennings.
- Pedro Beato will make the Mets' Opening Day roster, tweets SI.com's Jon Heyman. The Mets selected Beato from the Orioles in the Rule 5 draft.
- In another tweet, Heyman says the Mets are searching for a second left-handed reliever, in part to match up with some of the lefty sluggers in the NL East.
- In a conversation with Steve Selby of the New York Post, David Wright says he's not concerned about the possibility of a Mets fire sale.
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News argues that the Yankees took the "safe, easy" route in giving Freddy Garcia a rotation spot over Bartolo Colon.
- The Yankees hope Colon can occupy the swing-man role previously held by Alfredo Aceves, writes Feinsand.
Chad Jennings indicated that the Yankees may have a trade involving Romulo Sanchez. Have you heard anything or have any ideas as to who the other team is and what they might be offering?
Nothing of value if thats what your wondering.
Of course David Wright’s not concerned about a fire sale…’cause it means he’d get the hell off that team
Except that Wright said in that interview and on many previous occasions he’d like to be a Met for life.
The fire sale talk is mere speculation by the likes of Joel Sherman. There will be no fire sale.
as if wright could make any other statement?
Why make one at all if you don’t feel that way? You can toe a middle line, without committing, but Wright has been unequivocal that he would like to stay a Met for life. In his original contract, he even wanted more years tacked on but Omar didn’t give it to him.
Of course he’s going to say that rather than “This team is a freaking disaster and I just wish the Mets would go ahead and trade me to the Angels already”.
As I said, you don’t need to say either anything negative or anything so committed as wanting to remain a Met for life. He could toe the middle line. Saying that he wants to remain for life ONLY lowers his bargaining position. Why would anyone do that if they weren’t serious??
Didn’t he grow up a Mets fan?
Yes, he grew up around Norfolk watching the Tides, who used to be the Mets AAA team.
It’s kinda the thing to do when you’re a star player on a team you say: “I want to be a whatever for life.” It certainly keeps one popular with the fans.
Considering the Mets money worries are starting to reach epic proportions and the Wilpons seem to be dead set on keeping the team, I’d say the firesale talks will continue on for a while.
I would think if that weren’t the case, a player would simply say something like “I’d love to resign here and that’s my aim” rather than say they’d like to remain with the organization for life.
And, yeah, of course the fire sale talk will continue as long as the Madoff lawsuit exists. But there’s no real basis for it. The NY media will always try to fan the flames, to the point of making things up.
Semantics. The choice of wording is irrelevant, but pretty much 95% of star players will say something about staying with the team for the long run. As for Zimmerman, he’s quoted saying: “That’s kind of another one of the reasons I want to be here for so long,” kinda more than implies he wants to stick around Washington.
IMO, the choice of wording reflects the degree of commitment.
“So long” is nebulous and different than “for life.” Would you say on your wedding day to your spouse you want to be together for just “so long?” LOL.
I have no doubt Zimmerman has an interest in resigning with Washington. But he was more equivocal in that article than Wright has ever been about staying with the Mets.
Considering the rate of divorce in the US is something like 50%, I’d say “so long” is usually what people mean in marriages. Kinda horrible I’m even making this argument since my sister just got married.
Anyway, again, semantics. You’re reading into Wright’s statements because you want to believe he’ll be playing for your team in the future. And then you’re making another set of assumptions about Zimmerman. Neither of us know the future but all I’ve said all along is players will say whatever to the media to keep a popular reputation among fans. Wright does it, Zimmerman does it, and before his contract will expire Longoria will say it too. Ultimately they’ll go to whatever team offers them what they want, may it be winning or wads of cash. If they get traded then they’ll have a press conference where they say “I’m sorry to leave, but I’m happy to be a part of my new team.”
Sorry, but you don’t know Wright. He’s not like every other player. He’s the face of the franchise — a role he eats up — having taken on a lot responsibility for representing the Mets in a very public way. He bleeds orange and blue. Does that mean he won’t play hardball with his next contract? No. Does that mean he will definitely resign with the Mets? No. But I believe it’s not just hollow words he’s spouting off to the media the way Zimmerman in part may be doing.
And as we see all the time with players leaving money on the table to sign at a preferred place, it’s not always all about the money.
As for marriages, while many may sadly end up only being for “so long,” I think most go in thinking “for life.”
And you do know him?
No, not personally, but if “purple” isn’t a Mets fan, I probably know Wright a lot better than him from simply following Wright closely since he was drafted by the Mets.
truth is you don’t know him, yet you criticized someone else for not knowing him?
You may have been following him his whole career, but all you know is what he allows you to know, you don’t know who he really is, how he acts and how he feels.
Yeah, but anything I know of him is much more than a non-fan like “purple” knows.
And the way the NY media covers athletes, it’s hard not to get a sense of who these players are as people.
Kind of off topic.. But the days of single team players for life has pretty much ended, unless said team is ready to really overpay them like say jeter and not a knock on Jeter there. The current salary system has stopped superstars for life on a single team like Yaz, Stargell, Schmidt and unless there is some kind of miraculous drop off in salaries..Never to return.
From a fan perspective, I don’t think a lifetime tenure of a popular home-grown player is as important as retaining the services of that player for the majority of his prime productive years.
I feel like I heard this whole thing before in another sport. I’m sure that all of Cleveland knew Lebron James on a non-personal level too. They seemed a little surprised.
Did Lebron ever say he wanted to be with Cleveland “for life?” If not, then it’s not the same thing and their fans shouldn’t have been surprised when he left.
actually he did.
He did. On several occasions.
Anyone have an actual quote?
Lebron isn’t David Wright.
Your getting annoying.
Why? Because I ask for a quote?
If one makes claims they can’t prove, then THAT is very annoying.
Your getting worked up over nothing. You are carrying on something that ended a day ago. Let it go. THAT (I can capitalize words too.) is very annoying. Good day sir.
Hmmm, sounds like it’s you who are getting worked up and annoyed. I didn’t know there was a clock on discussion here at MLBTR. YOU let it go.
1.) Your just arguing for the sake of getting attencion.
2.) You really do annoy me.
3.) I SAID GOOD DAY!!
1) Sounds like you’re describing yourself.
2) I find you obnoxious too.
3) Then scram.
copycat
Also, saying you want to be a “Met for life” would tend to lower your bargaining position. So if you don’t really want it, why say it? You can still be positive about the chances of resigning (so as to stay on the good side of fans), but you don’t have to be so committed.
Has Pujols said he wants to be a Cardinal “for life?” Just wondering.
Off-topic, but hey congrats on your sister getting married.
Thanks.
Nebulous? Stop using big words that my tiny brain can’t comprehend.
dupe
Honeslty, the Wilpon’s are looking down the barrel of a $1 billion lawsuit. Whatever money they might save from a fire sale would be offset from the loss of revenue from an uninterested fanbase.
That being said, I still think a fire sale makes sense for no other reason than to kick start the rebuilding process and try to pump some young talent into the system and save some money as well. No way are the Wilpons going to spend enough to turn this team around quickly.
Uninterested? Even when the team loses, it can draw at least 2 million. Like in its sleep. When the team wins, it can draw to full capacity.
There will be no fire sale which makes no sense. As a Yankee fan, you should know that money isn’t the answer to everything, much as your team tries to make it so. So, no, the Wilpons don’t need to spend a fortune to turn the team around. The turnaround has already started. The Mets will be much more competitive THIS YEAR and improve on what they did last season.
lol
if by more competitive this year you mean every other team in the division vastly improved and the mets did not, then yes.
i-ˈra-sh(ə-)nəl
No, meaning a 5-10 improvement in the win column for the Mets.
Just throwing this out there as a possibility and in no way slamming the Mets ok? What if the Mest lose..Say 90+ games 2..Maybe even 3 years in a row in this rebuild process. Do you think that they can maintain 2 million, or even 1.25million fans by the 2nd season?
Mets lost more than 90 games in both 2003 and 2004. They drew over 2 million both years.
All teams will lose attendance if they lose over 90 games in consecutive years, but some teams like the Mets will still draw a lot.
First off, this isn’t a knock on you YFS78, but that $1B lawsuit is overblown because it seems like people automatically think the Wilpons absolutely have to pay it all. Picard can ask for $10B if he wants. It’s funny how all of the media outlets that absolutely slam the Wilpons for this lawsuit fail to report that lawyer for the Madoff victims has demanded the resignation of Picard because he “has been dishonest with the court and should step aside as trustee because nobody can trust anything he says.”
Obviously I can’t post the link here because a moderator won’t approve of it, but it’s in the NY Daily News from 3/23/11.
I believe the Wilpons will have to pay and I’m not a huge Wilpon supporter. I just think that before something huge happens like a firesale, that MLB could step in since it would be a huge indicator of how the Wilpons just can’t afford the team anymore. Lets be honest, the Mets have lost money, but they’re a cash cow for MLB. They’re in the biggest market in baseball and quite frankly losing (read: trading away) all of their players that help sell tickets and merchandise would not only be hurtful to the organization, but also MLB entirely.
“The Yankees hope Colon…” has to be in the running for Most Misplaced Hope Award, 2011. Hoping Bartolo Colon can do ANYTHING useful is not something a team with a $200M payroll should be doing. It’s something the Pirates should be doing.
There are two consistent flaws in Brian Cashman’s tenure with the Yankees: the failure to develop prospects into above-average major leaguers (with the exception of Cano and possibly Hughes), and a lack of attention to the last few spots on the roster. Once in a while the Yankees get a hot streak out of an Aaron Small, but more often they get zero production out of those #20-25 men.
That may not seem important compared to the stars in the everyday lineup, but it adds up over the course of a season. Every time you have a Miguel Cairo play first base or a Ramiro Pena subbing for A-Rod at third, or settle for Bartolo Colon as your swingman, you’re diminishing your team’s chances of winning.
Simple rule of thumb: for every 3 “can’t miss” prospects, one turns out to be a keeper. I’m not a huge Brian Cashman fan, but in addition to Hughes and Cano, the Yanks minor leagues have also put David Robertson, Brett Gardner, Ivan Nova and Joba Chamberlain on the big team over the last 4 seasons. They also produced the talent that landed Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher. Too bad the Mess can’t lay claim to that kind of minor league success. Do the Yanks go out and buy free agents? Of course. But most GM’s would kill to have 11 guys on the team directly from their minor league system and another 3 coming by trade (trades which didn’t cost any major league talent).
The Yanks seem to have hit the mark with Colon, Garcia, Chavez, Filiciano, Soriano, and Jones not to mention Nunez. These players could be some of the best bench in baseball this year.
Are you really crticizing him on a 6th man? The difference between your Yanks vs Pirates analogy is that Colon would absolutely be in the starting 5 of the Pirates w/ no questions asked. FOr the Yanks, in a very unusual year for them, Colon was fighting for the #5 spot. I think you’re too carried away with the Colon thing. Every roster has a “fringe” 5th starter/long man. Prior to this year, we had a great one in Aceves.
As for Cashman he’s done a great job since being given 100% control in ’05.
YFS78. I remember from back in 2008 that Colon’s problem was his back and it took him a LONG time to even get warmed up. Is his back still an issue at all if they plan on using him in relief? You don’t think it would be best served to try and get what good use possible at the start of the season from him before his back goes all the way out?
Just curious what you think on this.
Not sure. It hasn’t been an issue at all so far. The fact that Pena had him all summer in the Dominican makes me comfortable with the idea that he’s physically ok. I actually heard that it doesn’t take him long to warm and that, plus concerns over his stamina, were reasons why they felt he was best suited for the pen.
The Colon/Garcia deal is hardly over. If Freddy continues to pitch as poorly during the regular season as he has over the last two weeks, do you really think they won’t switch places? And do you really think either will be here come July? Somebody will become available at the deadline – they always do. And the Yanks minor league system is filled with arms that project to being solid #3 guys (Warren, Phelps, etc) who you can send for a competent 5th starter to close out the season.
Most teams would be happy to have that choice! Nova and Colon looked much better than Beckett, Lackey, and Dice-K in spring training, but it is spring training.
Dice-K pitched 3 great games in a row at the end of spring. Beckett however has pitched poorly.
The Yanks will be after a #2 starter at the deadline like Carpenter not a #5. Nova will end up being the #5.
Point taken, but I don’t think anyone of Carpenter’s ability will be available come the deadline. And that includes Carpenter. Even if the Cards are absolutrly horrendous (and in their division, that’s what it would take to be out of contention at the break), no way they trade him, especially since their hopes of re-signing Albert are dying fast. Unless, that is, they’ve taken lessons from the Madoff…er, Wilpons on how to lose friends and fans.
I’m glad that the Mets are searching for another left handed reliever for the bullpen. No way they can go into the season with just Byrdak. Best thing they can do is package Evans, Acosta and an OF prospect to the Padres for Joe Thatcher. Thatcher has been one of my favorite LHP relievers the last few years and he would be a big boost for the Mets pen.
Evans & Acosta have done well in ST but they look like they’ll be on the outside looking in as far as making the team, not to mention both of them are out of options. I always liked Evans, but there’s no way I see him getting a fair shake here with Ike being the starting 1st baseman and now Murphy being the utility man. He’d be a step up from the Cantu/Hawpe platoon they’re (San Diego) trying to run with at 1st base. Acosta would be a suitable addition in the Padres pen since he has a good track record against teams in the NL West (well, except the Rockies).
Why would the Padres want that trash?
Obviously, you probably just skimmed through what I wrote because I already explained why. First of all, Acosta and/or Evans are NOT trash. Compared to what the Padres have now at 1st and in the OF, don’t even TALK about trash. Acosta was one of the best pitchers the Mets had in the pen last season (3-2, 2.95 ERA, 1.210 WHIP) and Evans did very well in AA/AAA with a .300/.371/.536/.907 line. Evans never had a full season here (and never will for the most part), but is a good defender at 1st and a solid hitter. The Padres definitely need a potent outfielder offensively and defensively because Venable and/or Maybin won’t cut it. The Mets have plenty of outfield depth that can fill the Padres need.
Ok perhaps “trash” was a bit harsh, but the Padres are already committed to Hawpe/Cantu as a placeholder for Rizzo. They also have Blanks, so no reason to deal for a guy like Evans. They are also fine in the bullpen, so no need for Acosta, and if he’s so special anyway, seems like the Mets should keep him around. As far as the outfield, I’m pretty sure Evans isn’t an upgrade over what they already have. Maybe as a fourth OF type, but no reason to deal a solid left-handed reliever for that.
Funny how Mets fans always think their retreads and never were’s are better than everyone else’s major leaguers.
I’m not rubber stamping that trade proposal. But it’s not just Mets fans who sometimes overvalue their prospects and “trash.” Yankee fans and fans of other teams do it ALL the time.
it wright really does want to be a met for life then he has to take the heath bell route and accept less money
Wasnt Beato a top prospect at some point?
Ranked 99 in 07
17:1 K/BB ratio for Colon and the Yanks are leaning towards Garcia? He hasn’t had a decent season since 2005, in no way does he seem like a safe choice. Especially being a flyball pitcher in this new Yankees stadium.
Cashman made some great moves picking up Garcia, Colon, and Millwood. They should be able to do well in the #5 spot and long relief spot to start the season. By the all star break the Yanks will pick up another starter and the killer Bs could be ready to contibute!
I’ll agree Garcia was a good move, less so on Millwood since he’s already been slapped around in the AL East, but Colon a “great move?” Yeah, not buying that one.
These players were the best available at the time, and cost efficent which is not like the Yanks.
Spring Training
This is somewhat off topic but I was reading an article over at RAB and they were talking about the possibility of the Yanks signing HanRam once Jeter retires. It caused me to look at his numbers and I realized this…..
HanRam, by UZR standards, has been an even worse defensive SS than Jeter!!
2010-Jeter @ -4.7; HanRam @ -10.2
2009-Jeter @ +6.4; HanRam @ -0.2
2008-Jeter @ -0.3; HanRam @ +0.8
2007-Jeter @ -17.9; HanRam @ -20.5
2006-Jeter @ -7.3; HanRam @ -9.3
From a hitters perspective Jeter compares favorable as well aside from his power production. His 2010 season is the only one that’s way off.
2010-Jeter @ .270/.340/.370 w/ 18 SB; HanRam @ .300/.378/.475 w/ 32 SB
2009-Jeter @ .334/.406/.465 w/ 30 SB; HanRam @ .342/.410/.543 w/ 27 SB
2008-Jeter @ .300/.363/.408 w/ 11 SB; HanRam @ .301/.400/.540 w/ 35 SB
2007-Jeter @ .322/.388/.452 w/ 15 SB/ HanRam @ .332/.386/.562 w/ 51 SB
2006-Jeter @ .343/.417/.483 w/ 34 SB; HanRam @ .292/.353/.480 w/ 51SB
Obviously, if anyone were to ask “Which SS would I take” I would be a homer to say anything other Hanley. That would be as true in 2014 as it would be now. However, I found the numbers interesting.
Most would say that short of Tulo, Hanley is the best SS in the game. Most would also say that Jeter is a good bat but a horrible defensive SS. Well Hanley is in essence the best and the worst of what Jeter is. His glove is as bad if not worse (according to UZR) and his offense is much better. He simply has more power and speed than Hanley and they are equals over the last 6 years in terms of batting average and OBP.
What astonishes me is that his poor defensive value pretty much goes ignored.
Prior to 2010 Jeter was known as a good hitting SS but most trashed him, rightfully to an extent, because of his defense. Well if Hanley is worse and considerably younger, then why are we giving him a pass? It’s simply because of his great offensove abilities. Well, prior to 2010 Jeter wasn’t a power threat but he was a great hitter who many felt was winning GG because of his offense. Am I the only one that sees the double standard here?
As a baseball fan, if Hanley’s defense remains the same and he becomes a FA in the winter of 2014 do you sign him even though he will be a better/worse great bat/bad glove SS?
I thought people have been calling Hanley an awful defensive shortstop for a while. For a while now haven’t people been theorizing that Hanley would be better suited in the outfield or at second.
As someone that watches 3/4 of the marlins games… Ramirez has gotten better than he was, but he still is not a very good SS IMO. he no longer loses the ball in his glove as he did 1-2 years ago, nor has that annoying habit of double clutching with his throws, someone seems to have fixed that issue. His throws are still not accurate and he does not have great range. But after 2014, his bat at the age of 31? I would think the Yankees would be more than interested with what this guy could provide offensively for that team. he really isn’t THAT much worse on the “D” end that jeter the last few years and his bat is top notch and would be if the yanks could get him for “just” 4, maybe 5 years max.
I think one thing you didn’t mention is the crop of SS that Derek headlined in his prime compared to the crop now.. The SS cupboard is pretty bare, there’s essentially Tulo, Hanley and everyone else.
Well they aren’t in the elite class of shortstops but Drew made good strides last year and Alexei Ramirez is probably the top shortstop in the AL right now.
compare that to the 90’s/early 2000’s
jeter, arod, garciaparra, tejada, larkin, ripken, vizquel..
drew and ramirez are definetely good, I’d put Escobar and Andrus in there too
Eh, I wouldn’t call Andrus good yet. He saw a pretty decent drop in his power numbers and UZR last year. He’s still young and could be one of the top shortstops in a few years, but not now.
I’d still take Jeter, if only for this reason: he’s a leader and a good teammate (from what we see publicly). Ramirez’s heart and ability to do anything but post stats has been openly questioned by current and former teammates and even his most recent manager. Talent is great, but you need the intangibles to win.
lol.. so its people like you that the majority of people mock when they bring up intangibles and ‘playing the game the right way’
I like Jeter, he was a super star during his prime. but his career is now coming to an end.
Yeah just tagging onto purple, I don’t know who’s ignoring Hanley’s defensive shortcomings… people talk about it all the time.
You say Hanley “simply has more power and speed” than Jeter (well you said Hanley but I’m assuming that was a mistake), but that’s sort of the point. He has much more power, and is a better basestealer.
Are you arguing that Jeter doesn’t get enough credit? He’s been worshiped for practically his entire career. And Hanley hasn’t won a gold glove, so where exactly is this double standard?
The statement was meant to make a case for Jeter but just to point out how on one hand ppl trash Jeter because of his DEFENSIVE liability but then, in an age where we are suppose to value defense, we praise Hanley who is a worse defensive player and we do so because of his offensive abilities. Either we value defense or we don’t.
We are in an age where defense is starting to be valued more, but Hanley’s bat more than makes up for his defensive liability, just like Jeter’s did earlier in his career, except Hanley is a far superior offensive player so he gets even more slack.
Where exactly is the confusion here?