Matt Himelfarb

Matt is a high school student in New Jersey and avid Mets fan. He occasionally updates his blog at: matthimelfarb.wordpress.com

Interview with Ted Berg

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Ted Berg, senior editorial producer of SNY, was nice enough to answer some questions for us at Mets Today. Ted is a modern-day renaissance man with a broad cultural interest, ranging from baseball to buffalo wings to sandwiches, which you can read all about on his blog, TedQuarters.

Matt Himelfarb: Mets fans are mindless sheeple brainwashed by Nazi-esque propagandists such as yourself and Matt Cerrone. How are you so good at hiding the truth?

Ted Berg: It’s not easy, and it requires Andy Kaufman-esque dedication to staying in character. My career would be ruined if they found out I’m a secret Phillies fan and just doing this for the paycheck. WAIT, ARE YOU PUBLISHING THIS?

MH: Take us through how you got the SNY gig

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How the Mets Might Have Landed Dan Haren

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Yesterday, the Angels acquired Dan Haren from the Diamondbacks for southpaw Joe Saunders and three pitching prospects: Patrick Corbin, Tyler Skaggs, and Rafael Rodriguez.

The consensus, in a nutshell, is that the deal is reminiscent of a cross between the Dutch’s purchase of New York City from the Native Americans and the infamous Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano mind-boggler six years ago. In other words, to put it euphemistically, the Diamondbacks got the raw end of the stick here.

What would an equivalent trade with the Mets look like?

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Ruben Tejada or Luis Castillo? Pick Your Poison.

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Two weeks ago, mostly everyone was singing the praises of Ruben Tejada. He appeared to be holding his own at the plate, while providing the best defense seen at the position in a decade.

Since than, Tejada’s come crashing back down to earth. Overall, in 101 plate appearances, he is hitting .221/.299/.267 (.566 OPS. .255 wOBA.) If Tejada qualified, he would be tied for the worst hitting regular in all of baseball with Cesar Izturis (.569 OPS. .255 wOBA).

This is hardly surprising. Here are some of Tejada’s projections coming into this year, including his MLE from AAA this year:

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Updated: Replacements for Hisanori Takahashi

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Note: This is an edited version of my post from the other day. As several readers pointed out, I calculated Takahashi’s FIP incorrectly.

The updated stats include Takahashi’s start from last night. In light of some new info, I made very slight changes in the wording, but the thesis still holds.

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In eight starts, here are Hisanori Takahashi’s numbers to date:

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Replacements for Hisanori Takahashi

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Note: this is a post written by MetsToday sabermetric guru Matt Himelfarb

In seven starts, here are Hisanori Takahashi’s numbers to date:

38.1 IP
15.85% K rate
7.32% BB rate
1.31 HR/9
8.62% HR/FB
5.16 FIP

Those numbers are unworthy of a spot in the rotation, even for a fifth starter. The long-ball has been Takahashi’s undoing, but that is what happens when you have a 38% GB rate. At the very least, I would prefer to see a back-end starter with mediocre peripherals eat some innings, but Takahashi is a five-six inning pitcher at this point.

I used to be wholeheartedly against dealing for the Kevin Millwoods and Fausto Carmonas of the world. Given Takahashi’s initial success, I thought it would be a linear move at the best.

It has now become imperative, however, that the Mets replace Takahashi.

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Minor League Look: Sand Gnats Pitching

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NOTE: This is another installment by MetsToday minor league correspondent Matt Himelfarb.

Taking stock of the Mets pitch corps throughout the system, the picture is not exactly awe-inspiring.

Jenrry Mejia is struggling in the big league pen at the expense of further development. Twenty-three year old Brad Holt, whom the Mets selected with the 33rd overall pick in the 2008 draft, looks more like Bobby Parnell than a top-flight starter in the making.

In the lower minors, “the big four” who dominated the Sally League in 2009- Jeurys Familia, Kyle Allen, Robert Carson, and Eric Beaulac- are all struggling to one degree or another in the Florida State League.

Which leaves guys in Savannah such as Brandon Moore, Darin Gorski, and James Fuller as a semblance of promise.

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Should the Mets Trade for Ty Wigginton?

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NOTE: this post is written by MetsToday sabermetrician and minor league correspondent Matt Himelfarb. Direct your comments below to Matt.

The Orioles have a plethora of trade candidates this summer, including Ty Wiggington. Mets fans have always had a soft spot for David Wright’s predecessor, who has made a nice little career for himself as a utilityman.

There does not appear to be much room for Wiggington in Flushing. The Mets will have four equally capable outfielders when Carlos Beltran returns, Wright and Ike Davis supplanted in the corner infield positions, and Fernando Tatis and Chris Carter on the bench.

He would, however, likely represent an upgrade at second base going forward. For one, Luis Castillo has

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