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.

2009 Analysis: Jeff Francoeur

Posted on November 19, 2009 by Joe Janish

When Jeff Francoeur was acquired from the Braves in return for Ryan Church, the immediate reaction was mixed. On the one hand, the Mets were getting a 25-year-old, high-energy outfielder who regressed for two and a half years after being … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009 Mets Evaluations | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Jauss In, Alomar Out

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Joe Janish

Stop the presses! The Mets have hired Dave Jauss as their bench coach for 2010! I can envision people dancing in the streets upon hearing this extraordinary news. Seriously, though, it’s an interesting choice. Clearly, Jauss is

Posted in 09-10 Offseason, Latest Mets News | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Jauss In, Alomar Out

Listen To a Pro Baseball Scout

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Joe Janish

What exactly does a pro baseball scout look for when evaluating a ballplayer? What kinds of things does a scout consider, in addition to raw baseball skills? How can an amateur ballplayer attract the interest of a pro scout? Find … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball Basics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Minor League Free Agent Options

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Joe Janish

As mentioned in an earlier post, the list of minor league free agents has been released, and there are more than a few intriguing men to consider. Following are a few in particular that caught my eye, in no particular … Continue reading →

Posted in 09-10 Offseason | 7 Comments

Holliday Posturing

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Joe Janish

The latest on Matt Holliday is that the Yankees aren’t interested (per Buster Olney), the Angels aren’t either, and the Red Sox and Jason Bay appear to be on the same wavelength. That said, the Mets may have only the … Continue reading →

Posted in 09-10 Offseason, Rumors | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Another Side to Wally Backman

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Joe Janish

Everyone knows Wally Backman is a bad guy. It’s a known fact. The guy is just bad news. Right? Not so fast. Here’s a story of a bad guy doing something that you might not expect. And you certainly won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in 09-10 Offseason, Bring Wally Back Man | Tagged | 7 Comments

Halladay Shopping and More

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Joe Janish

John Delcos wonders what it will take to get Roy Halladay. Drew Costello at MetsFansForever did a complete analysis of the Mets infield (geez, it took me a month to do the same!) Andrew Vazzano at TheRopolitans offers the good … Continue reading →

Posted in 09-10 Offseason, Around the Blogs | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Halladay Shopping and More

Minor League Free Agents

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Joe Janish

Yes, you’re likely more interested in the MAJOR League free agent list, but that one is still being assembled. In the meantime, you can peruse the minor league free agents in search of bargains and diamonds in the rough. Hat … Continue reading →

Posted in 09-10 Offseason | Comments Off on Minor League Free Agents