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November 15, 2011 11-12 Offseason Joe Janish

Capuano May Follow the Swallows

The swallows of Capistrano headed out of San Juan in late October, and similarly, it appears that Chris Capuano will be fleeing from Flushing.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN-NY:

Asked if Capuano was a goner, Alderson said: “I wouldn’t say definitely. But I know one thing that we have to be aware of here is that we sign a player for one year here under the right circumstances that we not get too carried away with the relationship going forward. There’s sort of a history here of signing a guy for a year, he does pretty well, sign him for a couple of years or what have you and things don’t go as well. That’s not with respect to Chris necessarily, but as a general rule we will take a look at these things from the perspective of today as opposed to the perspective of a year ago.”

This sounds like preemptive spin to guard against the 2-year, $8M offer Capuano may get from an intrigued suitor in need of a reliable #5 starter. Though, seeing Cappy leave would come as no surprise; I suggested as much in the 2011 Evaluation of Chris Capuano. But still, it’s difficult to hear such negative comments coming from the front office. I know, I know — Sandy is smart to think this way, and he’s better served finding another “Capuano” on the market this winter (i.e., a low-risk, low-cost pitcher, such as one coming off an injury). And I don’t doubt that it’s a smart move to let Capuano walk. What bugs me, though, is that it’s just more evidence that our Mets are operating as though their home park is closer to Manhattan, Kansas, than Manhattan, New York.

What’s your thought? Are you happy that the Mets are likely to watch Chris Capuano move on? Why or why not?

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Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. Gavin November 15, 2011 at 2:04 pm
    No issue with this. Capuano had a below league average last year in a pitcher’s park in the NL, the easier league to pitch in. His ERA was 4.55. In addition, his inability to go deep into games also hurt the bullpen. No way can the Mets waste 8 million on this guy.
  2. jonathan November 15, 2011 at 2:16 pm
    I will not be upset if Cappy walks. What I am upset with is we could have gotten a prospect/draft pick from the Red Sox for Capuano the last week of season when the Sox’s where in dire straits
  3. izzy November 15, 2011 at 2:49 pm
    All these guys that the “genius” won’t sign because he is so all knowing…Howe come the genius didn’t trade any of them away last Summer. Oh, I remember the line. We won’t get enough for them. Well, now you get nothing… Still waiting for Sandy to wake up and realize the 80’s and 90’s are not coming back because he will it.
  4. NormE November 15, 2011 at 4:11 pm
    No use complaining about what we could’ve gotten in a trade for Cappy. Don’t know enough of the details to make a judgement.
    But, at this stage Cappy is basically a 5 innings pitcher. As Gavin points out, the bullpen takes too much of a beating given that the Mets starting staff doesn’t go deep enough in
    ballgames.
    Let’s move on!
  5. Walnutz15 November 15, 2011 at 4:14 pm
    By the title, I thought he was bolting to follow his hero Lastings Milledge to Japan!
  6. MikeT November 15, 2011 at 5:07 pm
    So you agree it is a smart move, but you are also complaining that it points to more evidence that the Mets are operating as a small market team. So, if the Mets made a series of dumb moves that cost a ton of money with little positive impact on the 2012 team that would indicate that they are operating like a big market team? The worst thing about Major League Baseball is the big market vs small market strategy debate. I think if every organization only made smart moves and never gave more money to a player than he deserved people would complain that big market teams were not spending enough. I’d rather have a Mets team that is not making the playoffs spend as little as possible. And before I get killed for this comment I mean that if you knew going into a season it was literally impossible the Mets make the playoffs in 2012 there’s no way you would advocate spending money, I mean, what’s the point. And so with the benefit of hindsight if the Mets gave Capuano 8mil over two seasons you would ask yourself the point was. That money is better spent on Reyes, or reinvesting in scouting/development efforts. Heck even pocketing the money and waiting for better options next season is smarter.
    • Vance November 16, 2011 at 2:24 am
      Sage wisdom, MikeT.

      I especially like the part about not spending money until there’s something worth buying.

  7. Joe November 15, 2011 at 6:10 pm
    I find it tedious to worry about his phrasing when as you even say it is to guard against wasting money on a disposable player. I get it — some here are turned off by Sandy and how “smart” “they” say he is etc.

    He also is right — repeatedly, a player like Cappy has a good year and then is overpaid. For the right person, overpaying makes sense. It isn’t for a guy like that and it isn’t some small market mentality to say so.

  8. Paul November 15, 2011 at 8:26 pm
    Assuming Capuano came back, wouldn’t he be competing with Dillon Gee for one spot in the rotation? Why on earth would you think about giving him a multi-year deal under those circumstances?

    And didn’t we spend the last few years bashing Omar Minaya for handing out long-term contracts to his “finds” like Oliver Perez, Julio Franco and Fernando Tatis just because they worked out for a little while?