Author Archives: Joe Janish

About Joe Janish

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.

Fernando Nieve Signed By Pirates

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Joe Janish

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting that the Pirates have signed former Mets pitcher Fernando Nieve to a minor-league deal. Personally, I’m a bit sad to see him go as I believe he has potential as either a middle reliever or … Continue reading →

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2010 Analysis: Jason Bay

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Joe Janish

So I thought I was finished with the evaluations, then realized that I somehow missed Jason Bay. Most likely it was because he didn’t appear on the official 40-man roster when I put together my list of players to write … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Mets Evaluations | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Free Agent Focus: Second Base

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Joe Janish

Is there a Mets fan alive who wants to see Luis Castillo at second base on Opening Day 2011? Unfortunately, it will take a minor miracle by Sandy Alderson to move him this winter — without swallowing some or all … Continue reading →

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2010 Analysis: Angel Pagan

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Joe Janish

If not for R.A. Dickey, Angel Pagan would be the Mets’ runaway team MVP. Miraculously, Gary Matthews Jr. and not Angel Pagan was the 2010 Opening Day centerfielder. Think about that for a moment. Now that you’ve thought about it, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Mets Evaluations | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Mets Get a D for Terry Collins

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Joe Janish

Jon Heyman of SI.com recently posted a “report card” of the managerial hirings this winter. In the article, he gave the Mets a “D+” for the hiring of Terry Collins, rating it #10 of 10 hirings — in other words, … Continue reading →

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2010 Analysis: Jesus Feliciano

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Joe Janish

Through 13 minor league seasons, all Jesus Feliciano did was hit, hit, and hit some more, posting a career .285 batting average while playing solid outfield defense. However, he didn’t do much else. For example, he didn’t get on base … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Mets Evaluations | Tagged , | 1 Comment

2010 Analysis: Nick Evans

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Joe Janish

How do we evaluate a player who had only 37 plate appearances at the Major League level? A difficult, if not impossible task. Evans fought his way back to the bigs after a terrible slump that pushed him down to … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Mets Evaluations | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Free Agent Focus: Catchers

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Joe Janish

A few weeks ago, Sandy Alderson said the Mets will seek a veteran backstop, as he is not convinced that Josh Thole can be an everyday catcher: “We’re looking for more catching,” Alderson said. “I think it would be a … Continue reading →

Posted in 10-11 Offseason | Tagged , , | 16 Comments