Cowher = Jets

Cowher is looking like a strong possibility for next Jets coach. He wants to coach in NY area, be near his daughter (Princeton), and Jets are willing to shift Tannenbaum to accommodate his request to have his own personnel manager.

Good move I say.

And DC, we could end up taking Parcells as well...

Andruw to the Mets?

According to this report, it's a possibility. He's an awesome fielder, but I find him to be a bit of a d-bag. Also, not sure whether his bat has fallen off a cliff or he just sucked in LA for some reason.

The Brett is Dead

Long live the Chad!!!

Whoo-hoo!!!

Go Fins!!!

That's about right

Season on the line, destiny in their own hands, a game against a far inferior opponent, and... a loss. Of course. Except it wasn't the Mets stinking it up yesterday, it was the Jests.

For a team that has the most pro-bowl players in the NFL they surely are making a mockery of that accolade.

My thoughts. First, Matt Cassell better be a NYJ next year. The Jets will not be able to draft or trade for a better QB, so grab the free agent. He will not want to be a backup to Brady, he is EASY pickins'. Second, Jets better draft a good linebacker and receiver with speed. Third, offensive coordinator Schottenheimer better be gone by the Jets tee time next Monday the 29th. This guy's play calls have baffled me for two straight years. Fourth, if the Jets make the playoffs I'd say give Mangini another year to prove himself. If they don't, he's out.

Rotation, Schmotation

Courtesy of mlbtraderumors.com:

"Ken Davidoff of Newsday lays out the Mets' plans for their starting rotation. For Oliver Perez's slot, the Mets want to either re-sign Perez or sign Derek Lowe.  Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and possibly Tim Redding are the backup plans to these two.

The fifth starter job has sparked an internal debate - it could be given to Jon Niese, or the Mets could bring in competition with pitchers like Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, or Eric Milton.  This decision will not be made this month."

Personally, I'd like to see Ollie or Lowe (I doubt we've got the cash for both--that would be 1st choice) and Redding. I've seen him pitch a few times and he's got some good stuff. I'm not crazy about Wolf and I think we'd have to trade to get Garland.

Colon, Garcia, and Milton are trash-heap guys and we all witnessed how well that's worked the last few seasons. Niese should get a shot but I'd rather have a bit more experience there this year...

The Dream of Many a Met Fan Has Finally Come True

The Scho has been traded for a Dunkin Donuts #3 combo.

I guess Omar finally owned up to a bad signing--he obviously views this trade as addition by subtraction.

Mets are "choke artists"

So says Cole Hamels.

Dude is dead nuts on, can't disagree.

And the Moves Just Keep on Comin'

This is why I looooove the Hot Stove League (and especially the Winter Meetings)!!!

3 teams--12 players

Basically, the Mets get JJ Putz (our new set-up man), OF Jeremy Reed, and RHP Sean Green (no, not that one..).

We gave up Heilman, Endy, Joe Smith, and Mike Carp.

I like this deal--I love Endy but you can't hold up a deal over a 4th or 5th outfielder, we get rid of Heilman, Smith became a wreck down the stretch, and as good as he did last year, Carp is pretty easily replaceable. We got Delgado for another year and you can always find a bat for 1B.

I think there's more on the horizon--Omar's been looking at Juan Pierre and I've seen talk about Michael Young. Could we be sending Reyes to Texas? Young can play 2B or SS, Pierre would step into the leadoff spot, and we'd have a full-time LF...
I guess Murph would then go to 2B unless he was part of the package.

I'd like to see us get Lowe and it sounds like Ollie may be back for 5/$70, or there about.

That would give us a rotation of Johan, Pelf, Maine, Lowe, and Ollie. Sounds good to me...

Bullpen has gone from an Achilles heel to a dominant strength (I guess we'll fill out w/Feliciano, Stokes, Schoenwies, and Knight?).

Only real questions left would be a finalization of 2B and LF and those may be addressed as above--stay tuned...

DC out

Mets sign K Rod

At a reasonable 3 yr, $12M per rate. Way down from his initial asking price.

Yet again, Omar targets a high profile FA, and manages to land him.

I know there is some mixed opinion as to his strategy, but his execution continues to be solid.

Breaking news

The Jets are driving me crazy.

The Pats blow, they have 8 or so starters injured, we should be 2 games up on them, and yet...

How's this, DC?

Looks like something is happening:

The New York Mets are reportedly closing in on a three-year deal for free-agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez.

Sports Illustrated, the New York Post and Newsday reported that the team has offered K-Rod a three-year deal. It is a one-year increase over the two years and $24 million the team is said to have initially offered Rodriguez, who broke the major league single-season saves record last season with 62.

Sports Illustrated and Newsday reported that the deal is worth about $37 million. "It's going to get done,'' a person familiar with the talks said, according to SI.com.

Rodriguez's agent, Paul Kinzer, said, "I am more optimistic than I have ever been" about finalizing a deal between K-Rod and the Mets, according to the Post. "We will know more in the next 24 hours, but so far everything has been positive."

Winter Meetings Round-Up--Day 1

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

BORING!!!

DO SOMETHING!!!

SOMEBODY!!!

So close, yet so far...

Apparently, we had a chance to unload Heilman on the Cubbies.

Omar was approached with an offer to send Heilman to Chicago and in return the Mets would get Jason Marquis, with the Cubs picking up about $4 mil of the $9.675m or so he's owed for next season.

I really don't understand this--turning down a chance to get rid of dead wood and pick up a solid back-of-the-rotation arm? Marquis is one of only 6 pitchers or so to record 10 or more wins in each of the last 6 seasons (or so they said on the FAN during the game he tripled and killed the Mets--didn't seem right to me, but what do I know?).

Anyways, I'm hearing noise that Omar may be packaging Heilman and Feliciano to the Rockies for Huston Street, who will either serve as a set-up man to K-Rod or Fuentes, or split closer responsibilities with Trevor Hoffman (a move that seems to be picking up steam).

Heilman

So Heilman's agent says he either wants to be a starter or be traded.

I have only one thing to say to that: don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

Arizona Fall League stats

Here are our boys with the Peoria Saguaros:

Daniel Murphy (2B) .397 avg, .487 OBP, .619 SLG
Eddie Kunz (RP) 1-2, 10.95 ERA, .368 BAA, 12.1 IP, 9 BB, 11 K
Bobby Parnell (SP) 3-1, 2.81 ERA, .246 BAA, 16 IP, 8 BB, 17 K

Did Jerry & Omar absolutely kill Kunz' confidence this past year or what? Dump him into a failing bullpen, right in the middle of the pennant race, name him the closer and then refuse to pitch him in closing situations, and bail on the kid after his first 2 or 3 rocky appearances (total garbage time for him after that) in favor of Luis friggin' Ayala.

I'm Hearin' Tings...

1) According to Minaya, Luis Castillo will be our starting 2B next season. Hoo-f'ing-ray...
Hopefully this is just talk to help distract other suitors from knowing we're seriously in the hunt for Orlando Hudson.

2) Apparently the Mets are willing to go as high as 12M to bring back Ollie but Boras wants more. The word "high" here holds specific importance with regards to both parties...

3) An angle that I had forgotten about: the Mets are super-focused on Lowe because of his experience as a closer. Hmmm, interesting...

4) We may have found 2 potential suckers, I mean suitors. Seems that both the D-backs and Rays have interest in Heilman. Tampa has parts we're targeting (Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnenstine) but are not as high on Aaron as Zona is. Looks like we'll be building a package...

Delgado's option exercised by Mets

Or so it says here.

2 Free Agent targets

According to this article, the Mets are planning on pursuing Derek Lowe (who has been reliable but is 35) and closer Brian Fuentes.

Hey, SHK--

Have you come in from your ledge yet?

Gues you can finally get some sleep--Sox are done, Brady's on the shelf, J-E-T-S S-U-C-K...oops, looks like you've still got issues to gripe about.

Oh, well.

Next time I'll be paying attention to baseball will be once the Hot Stove League starts (the best time of year for baseball--the anticipation of what could be always trumps what actually happens...).

You have got to be kidding me

GRRRRRR...

I had figured the Rays would be immune to this type of stupidity, but apparently not. How do you blow a 7-0 lead in the 7th, up 3 games to 1, about to close out the series? By giving up the greatest comeback since 1929 apparently.

Great.

I'm just saying

If the BlowSox come back down 3-1 to win the ALCS, like they did against Cleveland last year, and like they did down 3-0 to Yanks in '04, I am going to lose it. I'm just saying.

Why the Rays might win the ALCS

No, the reasons aren't Kazmir, Garza, and Sonnestine. The Angels had Lackey, Santana, and Saunders, and that didn't matter. The reason the Rays might beat the Sox is because they are too young to know that when they play the almighty Red Sox they are apparently supposed to completely forget all baseball fundamentals they performed perfectly in the regular season, and instead fold meekly in the playoffs.

Hey Fredo

I'd like to go ahead and go in on those playoff tickets you won.

I only know one thing

Every year I hear about how THIS is the year that the angels or indians are for real. This is the year they are going to move ahead in the playoffs and beat the Sox.

And it never happens.

Bring back Bobby V?

Hmmm....

Would you make this trade?

Jose Reyes for Scott Kazmir, straight up. Reyes is our lowest-paid, high-impact player, so his salary would probably be tolerable to the Rays. Also, they are very weak at SS, so it's a great fit for them. Can you imagine a 1-2-3 of Santana - Kazmir - Pelfrey?

What Are Our Options?

Found a site that lists all upcoming free agents by position and includes their current ages:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/2009-mlb-free-a.html

So far, I'm hearing a lot of interesting rumors.
The Mets will not pursue Sheets, Sabathia, Burnett, Perez, or Martinez.
They are leery of offering big money to K-Rod after the Wagner debacle: $44 mil+ for 96 IP.
Despite sending Murphy to winter ball to learn 2B, they will pursue Orlando Hudson.
Schoenweis, Heilman, and Castillo will be traded with the Mets eating most of his remaining contract.
They will pursue back-end starters, specifically Derek Lowe and Jason Marquis.
Delgado's option will be picked up (cost to cut ties is $4 mil, cost to pick up is $12 mil so it only really costs $8 mil...). If they trade him from there is anyone's guess.

As per SHK's request for gritty, gutty players I perused the FA list and saw a few guys that fit the bill.
Mark Millar--OK glove, decent bat, huge fire. One of the real soul guys for the Sox in their comeback.
David Eckstein--doesn't fit a position as of now unless we move Reyes, leave Murph in LF, and abandon further 2B pursuits.
Ryan Dempster--probably high cost after this season but is reknowned for being one of the funniest men in baseball and a clubhouse leader.
Sean Casey--to paraphrase TR, "speak constantly and carry a small stick." Called the Mayor for a reason. Beloved by everyone, great defender, minimal O. Would need to get a thumper in LF to compensate.
OF prospects are pretty similar--no outstanding character guys. Quite a few quiet producers though...
Tons of middle men but who knows what you ever get there.
Closers are kinda sparse but I think they're overrated as big names. Find someone with good stuff and give him a chance rather than overpay on what amounts to a gamble.

Anyone see anything real attractive here? I'm typing this on my Blackberry so it's kinda tough to do major analysis right now.

And what are our REALISTIC trade moves? I heard Reyes+ for Doc Halladay but I think you need a ton more to land him.

There's only one question left to answer

Which is a bigger meltdown: the financial markets today, or the Metties?

Well, there is one thing we do know

Today's action was a sweet catharsis, and vindication, for Willie. At least he won't have to go through any of these press conferences any more, and can just laugh at his back-stabbing replacement.

That's about right

Same team. Same season. Same meltdown. Same inability to hold a lead, score runs when needed, or come from behind. Different year.

On the plus side, I'll have more free time this week.