Mets May Set Record
If things go as planned, the Mets could set a new Major League record on Opening Day:
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John Franco is a Mets Hall-of-Famer
Franco as Team Captain
Today, the Mets announced that John Franco will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame this season.
The long-time Mets closer compiled 424 saves in his career, good for fourth all-time. 276 of those came as a New York Met. Unlike the man for whom he was traded, Randy Myers, Franco didn’t fit the power-pitcher mold. He instead relied on a changeup that moved away from a right-handed hitter, much like a screwball. Most batters found it too tempting to lay off, especially when they were behind in the count. Because of this pitch, and his lack of a notable slider or curve, he was often more effective against righties than lefties.
During his career in Queens (which lasted from 1990 to 2004), Franco was generally a solid closer, despite his disturbing penchant for loading the bases before recording the third out of the ninth inning.
In 1999, Franco abdicated the closer’s role to Armando Benitez after a trip to the DL. From then on, Franco transformed himself into reliable setup man.
The defining Mets moment for the St. John’s graduate came during the 2000 NLDS versus the San Francisco Giants.
In Game 2 in San Francisco, The Mets went into the bottom of the ninth with a 4-1 lead. However, Benitez allowed 3 runs to blow the save and send the game into extra innings. The Mets answered, scoring a run in the top of the tenth to take a 5-4 lead.
After allowing a leadoff single, manager Bobby Valentine brought Franco in to relieve Benitez. Two outs later, Barry Bonds stepped to the plate with a chance to win the game with a long ball. Franco and Bonds battled, and the count reached 3-and-2. On the payoff pitch, Franco grazed the inside corner with a changeup to strike Bonds out, and end the game. Bonds couldn’t believe it, and the momentum of the series had swung the Mets way.
Now, 12 years later, Franco will attain Mets immortality on June 3. He wasn’t always perfect, but he was better than you remember. He was a team leader and a true Met.
Jeff Francis Also Forsakes Flushing
You just can’t make this stuff up — yet another high-profile free-agent has refused to take the Mets’ money. The latest is former 17-game winner and 16-game loser Jeff Francis, who opted instead to accept an invitation to spring training and minor league dealoffered by the Cincinnati Reds. It was a wild, wheel-and-deal day for the Reds, who also picked up former Met Wilson Valdez in a trade with the Phillies.
As reported in various outlets, the Mets had been keeping a close eye on Francis, perhaps fearing he might pickpocket an employee. In any case, I’m a little sad they weren’t able to bring him into the fold — anyone with the guts to wear a Vancouver Canucks hat around Denver has to have some moxie and would add interest to the team.
OK in all seriousness … with Francis off the table, there aren’t many starting pitchers left on the market who the Mets can consider for depth. They do have to sign at least one more arm, don’t they? Here’s who I believe is still available, likely fits into the Mets’ financial plan, and might be willing to sign a minor-league deal with the club, in no particular order whatsoever:
Kyle Davies
Zach Duke
Ross Ohlendorf
Clay Hensley
Scott Kazmir
Sergio Mitre
Micah Owings
I’m sure I’ve missed someone, just as I’m sure one or more of the above have already been signed and I wasn’t sent the press release. Either way it’s not an inspiring group.
No, Jon Garland, Roy Oswalt, nor Edwin Jackson are on the list, as I just don’t see the Mets affording any of them. Livan Hernandez is not there, either, since he seems to be considering retirement; also, he might still be ticked about being released by the Wilpons in 2009 just prior to his performance bonus kicking in. If you want to consider Rich Harden, Chris Young, Brandon Webb, Ben Sheets, Mark Prior, Wayne Garland, Steve Busby, David Clyde, or some other guy who was a great pitcher for a brief period and then blew his arm out go right ahead — but, to me it doesn’t make much sense to go down that road again, when what the Mets need right now is someone with the potential to remain healthy in the event one of their projected five starters breaks down. I just don’t see the point in signing a disaster as your disaster plan. In fact, Kazmir and Mitre are teetering on the edge in terms of potential reliability.
Tim Wakefield is still a free agent, and it would be really cool to have two knuckleballers on the staff, but I’m just not seeing it become reality. Word on the street is Wake will retire if Boston doesn’t re-sign him.
Owings is intriguing, both as an arm and as a fourth outfielder. But is he still available after going 8-0 with a 3.57 ERA last year? I haven’t heard anything about him this winter.
I keep looking at these seven names and thinking I must be missing someone, because it seemed to be only a few days ago that there were two dozen healthy starting pitchers looking for work. Help me out — who am I missing? Who would you consider? Do you think the Mets still need to sign a starter for depth or am I all wrong on this? Answer in the comments.
Fielder Follows Father’s Footsteps, Foregoes Flushing
For the second consecutive day, the Mets are left holding the bag.
Still smarting from being spurned by Cody Ross the Mets received another blow when , Prince Fielder passed on the Mets’ flirtations and instead signed a 9-year deal with Detroit — the city where his father Cecil enjoyed 6 1/2 standout seasons after a stint in Japan.
The good news, however, is that now Ike Davis doesn’t have to worry about re-learning left field, a position he played frequently during his college career.
The Mets were seen as a frontrunner if Prince Fielder limited his marketplace to baseball teams in Flushing. Further, the Mets made clear that Prince would be welcomed with open arms if he were willing to sign on their terms (rumor had it that the Mets’ offer consisted of a one-year, non-guaranteed, $550K contract with the option to go straight to the front of the line at the Shake Shack between innings).
In all seriousness, this surprising signing by the Tigers changes things beyond Detroit. For one, the NL has now lost arguably its top three sluggers over the last year — Fielder, Albert Pujols, and Adrian Gonzalez — in turn collectively lowering the danger quotient of NL hitters. I would be curious to see a stathead figure out if there is any kind of impact on NL pitching performance as a result of these exits — has anyone done this kind of study? For example, will NL pitchers’ WHIPs and ERAs in general go down because they no longer have to deal with these other-worldly sluggers — and, can pitch around the dangerous hitters who remain?
In regard to the latter part of that sentence, here’s an interesting comparison: in 2011, Ryan Braun was intentionally walked TWICE, and has been given a free pass only 9 times in the five years he’s hit behind Prince Fielder. It’s presumed that Fielder will now hit behind Miguel Cabrera, who was intentionally walked 22 times in 2011 and 32 times in 2010. Go ahead — let your head spin considering what Cabrera might do in 2012, with hurlers having to pitch to him.
Random thought: it’s a bizarre winter when two of the top 5 sluggers in all of MLB are free agents, and the biggest of the big markets — New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco — are not in the bidding. OK, there was some noise from the Cubs but was there really any substance to that?
Perhaps the best thing about Prince Fielder going to Detroit is that he didn’t go to another team in the NL East. Though, it depends upon your perspective — as a pure baseball fan, I’ll miss not seeing him play against the Mets and performing like a man among boys.
What’s your thought? Did the Mets mess up their rebuilding plan by not going harder after Prince? Are you happy to see him out of the NL? Does this mean Mike Pelfrey‘s ERA will go down? (Fielder hit .455 with a 1.318 OPS vs. Big Pelf in his career.) Post your reaction in the comments.
Red Sox Steal Cody Ross
The New York Mets received crushing news when Cody Ross announced he came to an agreement to play for the big bad Boston Red Sox in 2012.
According to various rumor mills, the Mets were hot on the trail of Ross, who can play all three outfield positions and occasionally hits the ball over the fence. However, those freewheeling, big-spending Red Sox swept in and stole Ross from right under the Mets noses.
What do you think? Do you see this news as some kind of omen — a sign that the Mets are in for a difficult 2012 season? Can the Mets switch gears quickly enough to find another fourth outfielder? If so, who is left on the market that they might pursue — and can afford? Answer in the comments.
Should Mets Trade Jason Bay for A.J. Burnett?
This rumor just won’t go away, and there isn’t much else news to report from Flushing, so we may as well mull it over.
The theory goes like this: the Yankees are looking for a righthanded power bat for a corner outfield spot / DH. Why? Because everyone seems to have forgotten that Andruw Jones was re-signed earlier this winter. Additionally, the Yankees are looking to unload A.J. Burnett, who has been — put lightly — a disappointment. Further, the Yankees suddenly have a surplus of pitching, after signing Hiroki Kuroda and acquiring Michael Pineda. Burnett is excess baggage they are motivated to move for a power bat.
From the Mets’ perspective, Bay has also been a disappointment, and he’s an expensive contract to bear for a business going bankrupt. Though they’re not exactly flush with outfielders, the Mets are desperate to rid themselves of any and every multi-year, multi-million dollar contract. The immediate future is looking bleak, and even if Jason Bay returns to his monster form, it’s unlikely to make much difference in the Mets’ fortunes. Additionally, the Mets have very little depth behind their projected 5-man starting rotation — and a few of those projected starters have question marks. Getting another MLB starter is a distinct need, and there are worse options than Burnett — who might benefit from a return to the National League.
Now the reality: does it make sense for the clubs to do such a deal?
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Blog Roundup: Friday Edition
It was a difficult day in Metsville, as the Daily News reported that Gary Carter’s condition has deteriorated. The beloved former Mets catcher has been battling cancer since being diagnosed with brain tumors in May, 2011.
In other news, Oliver Perez has a new home, David Wright has new walls, and Spring Training has new invitees.
To the Blogs:
- Bats blogger Tyler Kepner of the NY Times recalls Carter’s faith as a player.
- Metsblog took a Twitter survey to find out if fans want Gary’s number retired.
- 7 Train to Shea says R.A. Dickey and Daniel Murphy will receive Munson awards.
- Amazin’ Avenue has Dickey’s appearance on CNN, where he talks about his climb of Kilimanjaro.
- Metsmerized has pictures of David Wright apparently showing Jeff Wilpon where he couldn’t hit home runs in Citi Field.
- The Mostly Mets podcast breaks a story about Cole Hamels and his…er…friend.
- Andrew Marchand lays out the welcome Matt for two new Spring Training invitees.
Stay tuned to Mets Today…the season is right around the corner.
Link: Gary Carter Takes a Turn for the Worse
The New York Daily News reports that the condition of former Mets Catcher Gary Carter has taken a turn for the worse. Keep Gary and the Carter family in your thoughts and prayers.
On Thursday, Carter’s family received a phone call from the doctors at Duke University who have been treating the Mets Hall of Fame catcher informing them that the most recent MRI revealed “several new spots/tumors on his brain,” Carter’s daughter, Kimmy Bloomers, wrote on the family website.
It’s Official: Mets Are Irrelevant
ESPN has released their Sunday Night Baseball Schedule for 2012 — and not one game features the Mets.
Do you know why? Because the Mets are irrelevant.
Go ahead and check the ESPN schedule yourself — do you see the Royals, the Pirates, the Orioles, the Astros, or the Padres? No. Why? Because those teams are irrelevant. No one outside of their respective home cities is interested in watching them play.
And now, it’s clear that the Mets have joined that elite club.
Of course, the Mets have been irrelevant for some time now — being shunned by ESPN’s programming schedule merely makes it official. But when, exactly, did the Mets become irrelevant? When did the snowball of irrelevancy begin rolling down the mountain? Was it when Carlos Beltran‘s knee buckled in October 2006? When Tom Glavine wasn’t devastated a year later? When J.J. Putz blew out his elbow in 2009? When Jose Reyes blew out his hamstring around the same time? Perhaps some time before, or at some point after, those events?
This much we know: the Mets became relevant when they signed Pedro Martinez on December 17, 2004; we know this because everyone said so. At some point between then and today, the Mets became irrelevant. When? Can you pinpoint the date?
Answer in the comments.
Where Did K-Rod Go Wrong?
MetsToday reader “Andy” sent me this email:
Joe,
I’d love to see your take on the millions of dollars K-Rod lost so that Scott Boras could have his cut on his next contract. Looks like $5.5M less for K-Rod and $800,000 more for Boras, right?
Funny, Francisco Rodriguez became
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Arbitration Recap
The Mets avoided arbitration with all four of their arbitration-eligible players today, signing each to a 1-year contract.
- RHP Manny Acosta signed for $875,000. He figures to be in the Mets bullpen when Opening Day comes around.
- RHP Mike Pelfrey signed for $5.675MM, roughly the amount most experts expected he would win in arbitration. For better or worse, Pelfrey will be in the starting rotation because he can rack up innings.
- RHP Ramon Ramirez signed a 2.65MM deal. The key piece of the Angel Pagan trade will be the Mets’ seventh or eighth inning arm.
- OF Andres Torres, the other part of the Pagan deal, agrees to a $2.7MM contract. Will he be 2010 Torres or 2011 Torres? Either way, to paraphrase Casey Stengel, you need a center fielder, because without one, there would be a lot of inside-the-park home runs.
The Mets haven’t gone to arbitration with any player since Oliver Perez (*shudder*) was awarded $6.5MM in 2008. Before then, they hadn’t gone to arbitration since 1992, when David Cone was awarded $4.25MM. He was traded that season to the Blue Jays for Jeff Kent and Ryan Thompson.
Blog Roundup: Now with 40% More Title
Pitchers and catchers will begin to seep into Port St. Lucie in about a month, and with not much hope left in an already gloomy offseason, perhaps getting around to the business of playing ball is just what the psychiatrist ordered.
The Blogs begin to look ahead:
- Always Amazin’ thinks the lower payroll in 2012 could turn out to be the trend.
- Real Dirty Mets asks: which Mets alumnus or alumni would you like to see at Citi Field during the team’s 50th anniversary celebrations? (Sorry, this is for retired players – Jose Reyes doesn’t count)
- Optimistic Mets Fan wonders what smaller changes may be in store for Citi Field in 2012.
- Daily Stache looks at what must go right for this season to be a success. Hint: It’s a lot.
- Metsmerized says former highly-ranked-prospect-for-some-reason Wilmer Flores is being phased out of shortstop.
- Mets Fever wonders if the Mets will grock another LOOGY.
Keep checking out Mets today for the latest news, player evaluations, opinion, and more!
Should Mets Sign Manny Ramirez?
C’mon, you knew this post was coming … an offseason of blogging simply isn’t complete until there is a “Manny to the Mets” rumor — right?
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2011 Analysis: Jason Bay
Last year, I almost forgot to analyze Jason Bay during my annual evaluation series — perhaps because Bay had slogged through such a forgettable season in 2010.
After all, Bay appeared in only 95 games in his initial season as a Met, hitting a paltry 6 homeruns, before missing the final two months of the season with a concussion. To say he was a disappointment would have been an understatement.
But it’s not unsurprising for a big-time free agent to have a difficult first year in NYC, and then rebound with a positive follow-up campaign. Unfortunately for Bay, that’s not the way the story went in 2011.
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F-Mart Ironic Untouchable Exercise
On the heels of Fernando Martinez‘s exile to Houston, let’s play a little game inspired by F-Mart’s “untouchable” status of the past few years:
1. Instead of releasing F-Mart, would you have traded him for Manny Ramirez?
2. Instead of releasing F-Mart, would you have traded him for Johan Santana?
3. Instead of releasing F-Mart, would you have traded him for Jason Bay?
Mind you, in participating in this exercise, you must assume you are operating in the moment — i.e., TODAY. This is not an exercise in “what might have been”, etc. Rather, pretend you had the power to trade Fernando Martinez as he is today for one of those three players as they are right now.
Game on …
