Would you like to write for MetsToday?

Benefits include exposing your talents to the teeming millions (apologies to Cecil Adams) for no charge with the added potential of developing firm callouses on your fingertips and soul.

Writers for the following roles will be considered; please throw in your hat ONLY if you are truly interested in the role and can meet the expectations.

Daily News
Writing short, concise, accurate news pertaining directly to the Mets, that day’s Mets’ opponent, or significant news involving an NL East team (i.e., player injury or transaction). Writers are NOT expected to “scoop” news nor be the first to report news — this role is for re-hashing information from other sources, and the main goal is accuracy / ensuring the news is legitimate (no rumors). If you are interested in this role, please provide:
1. Days of the week and time(s) of day you are available to write (i.e., morning, afternoon, evening).
2. Links to any writing you’ve published online. If you don’t have any links to provide, please write a sample in the body of the form.

Game Recaps
Writing coherent, accurate game recaps based on your personal viewing of the game (not a re-hash based on the boxscore or others’ recaps). Stronger consideration given to applicants with baseball playing or coaching experience at any level. Please provide:
1. Days of the week you are able to watch entire Mets games and write the recap afterward.
2. Links to any writing you’ve published online.
3. Brief description of any baseball playing/coaching experience you have.
4. Any other information that makes you an ideal candidate for this role.

Series Previews
Writing coherent previews prior to every Mets series. This will include researching upcoming opponents’ news, such as injury updates, player streaks, pitching matchups, etc. Additionally, you are welcome and encouraged to do Q&As with bloggers and/or beat writers for opposing teams. Please provide:
1. Links to any writing you’ve published online.
2. Assertion that you are available to fill this role on a consistent basis.
3. Any information that makes you an ideal candidate for this role.

Stats
Writing, at least once per week, statistic-based articles and analysis pertaining to the Mets. We would love to see a mix of explanatory pieces (i.e., “WAR and VORP explained”) for the neophyte and advanced articles that appeal to the SABR crowd. Please provide:
1. Links to any stat-based research articles you’ve published online.
2. Any degrees, memberships, or accreditation that prove you are pretty good with numbers and research.
3. Any other information that makes you an ideal candidate for this role.

Please understand that, depending on how many applications are sent in, you may not receive a response — don’t take it personally. Also, you’re urged to apply for the role that best suits your availability, interest, and experience. Those who apply for multiple roles are likely to go to the trash bin.

Thanks very much for applying!

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Despite already going into Port St. Lucie with at least a half-dozen LOOGY candidates, the Mets added another lefthanded reliever to the organization by signing Duane Below to a minor league contract.

However, Below was NOT invited to big-league spring training, so he’ll most likely start the 2015 season in AAA.

This news may not seem important, but there have been so few moves made by the Mets this winter that ANY transaction makes waves.

By the way I have no recollection of seeing Duane Below. According to the stats, he’s pitched in 43 big-league games — 41 with the Detroit Tigers. The other two appearances came in a Marlins uniform in 2013. Below has spent most of minor-league career as a starter, with mixed success. In 2007 he was the Tigers’ minor league pitcher of the year, and was something of a strikeout artist (369 strikeouts in 361 innings from 2006 to 2009) but had Tommy John surgery in 2009. After returning from surgery, his K rate dropped significantly but his walk rate dropped as well. He’s considered to be a strike-thrower with average stuff and “a good feel for pitching” (which generally means changing location and speed to keep batters off-balance); his fastball is in the upper 80s / low 90s. It sounds like he’s kind of like Pat Misch. In other words, Below is a good fit for filling out the rotation in Las Vegas and providing depth.

Loyal MetsToday reader and commenter “David” posed this question in the comments recently:

Ok Joe, Super Bowl is over and Spring Training is on the horizon so I was wondering what your views are about Dillon Gee going to the bullpen. A lot has been written about Sandy not dealing him.

Could it be Sandy believes Gee will either start while Harvey rehabs April / May in Fla. or, alternatively, Gee can be an asset in the �pen?

I reckon he could be as asset in the pen, although the Mets don�t pay $5m to middle relievers / swing men. Still, why not do it with Gee as he is a good pitcher. Not great, but sound and a heady ballplayer as well. I would be confident seeing him come in with a crisis and having him defuse it. At least until they can deal him mid-season or next offseason.

Finally, if they dump him for nothing then it is another sign of a poorly managed team interested only in saving pennies at the cost of wins and fan support.

Continue reading →

Great news, Mets fans: not only do the Mets have someone better than Willie Mays in center field, they also have the next Cal Ripken, Jr. playing shortstop in 2015! Continue reading →

Cross another reliever off the free-agent list, as the Nationals have signed Casey Janssen to a one-year, $5M contract.

Interesting pickup by the Nats; my guess is that they see Janssen as the replacement for Tyler Clippard, who was traded earlier this month to the Athletics. If Janssen can return to his pre-2014 form, the Nats won’t miss Clippard. However, Janssen had a rough go of it last season, sporting his highest ERA since 2009 and lowest K/9 rate of his career. The former can be, in part, blamed on a mid-season food-poisoning episode. The bloated ERA aside, what is more stomach-turning (pardon the puns) was Janssen’s sudden inability to miss bats. That had nothing to do with eating a bad clam, but rather, the fact that he’s lost nearly 3 MPH from his fastball since 2012. Why has he lost velocity? Perhaps the issue is related to a sore shoulder and back problems that have been suffered over the past year or so. Janssen was never a flamethrower, and always relied on pinpoint command combined with keeping batters off-balance, so he’s a good bet to get back to something near his previous form. Additionally, it won’t hurt to be pitching in the NL for the first time. All in all, a pretty good, safe, low-risk, high-return signing by Washington.

In less significant news, veteran backstop John Baker has agreed with the Mariners to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to Spring Training.

Not much else happening on the hot stove.

Not much happening on the hot stove lately, though there were a few moves over the past week.

Most notably, the Brewers traded Yovani Gallardo to the Rangers for three prospects: infielder Luis Sardinas and RHPs Corey Knebel and Marcos Diplan. Additionally, Milwaukee kicks in $4MM of Gallardo’s $13M salary in 2015 — which is the final year of his contract. Good move for both clubs, in that the Rangers get rotation depth and the Brewers get pieces for the present and future. Knebel is a former first-rounder who can reach the upper 90s and appears to be on track to be a MLB closer some day. Sardinas is a young, good-field, no-hit shortstop whose development has been jarred by injury issues. Diplan is a raw 18-year-old with high upside; he was hitting 94 MPH as a 16-year-old and was one of the most sought-after international players when the Rangers signed him for a $1.3M bonus in 2013.

In NL East news, the Braves have signed Jonny Gomes to a one-year, $4M contract that includes incentives and vesting options. With a little luck, he could replace a decent portion of the production lost by the departed Evan Gattis. Without a little luck, Gomes could be released before the All Star Exhibition.

In other NL East news, the Marlins have agreed to terms with Ichiro Suzuki on a one-year, $2M pact. With a starting threesome of Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, and Christian Yelich, Ichiro makes a good fourth outfielder / pinch-hitter.

Elsewhere in the NL, the Giants have signed Ryan Vogelsong to a one-year, $4M deal.

In Adulterated League news, former NL club the Houston Astros have signed Colby Rasmus to a one-year, $8M contract. Rasmus steps into the spot left by recently traded Dexter Fowler.

That’s it for the moment. Let me know if I missed anything significant.