If you're waiting for Alex Rodriguez to don a Mets uniform - or any uniform for that matter - in the near future, just keep waiting - and don't hold your breath while you're at it. A-Rod's agent is Scott (Bring Me The Bounty) Boras, and history tells you one thing in particular about Boras and his methods - he'll wait and push the envelope until the very last minute, playing each side against the other and both sides against the middle, until he squeezes the last possible nickel out of the winning bidder. Remember - Carlos Beltran, a Boras client, did not sign with the Mets until January 11, 2005 - about a month before spring training began - and only after Boras went back to the Yankees with a last-ditch, last-minute discount offer. This should take some time and if it doesn't, it will be totally out of character for Scotty B.
The Mets wasted no time in exercising their $7.5 million option on Moises Alou and justifiably so. Although limited to just 87 games and 328 at-bats and missing in action for 2 1/2 months due to a lingering quad injury, Alou was stupendous last season. He batted .341, constructing a Mets record 30-game hitting streak down the stretch. Alou had 13 HR, 19 doubles and 49 RBI, struck out only 30 times and had a .392 OBP. Alou mirrored the team's struggles with runners in scoring position this year. Moises hit .348 with RISP and less than 2 outs - with 2 outs he dropped down to .205. The Mets as a team batted .277 with RISP - but hit almost 40 points less (.238) when there were two out. Yes he's fragile, and yes, he'll turn 42 midway through 2008 - but the dude can flat out hit and you still can't sneak a fastball by him. I'll take the 100-120 games you hope that he can stay healthy for, cross your fingers and go.
The Mets also re-upped with Damion Easley, another good sign. Easley hit .280 overall before ripping up his ankle in late August. He was very productive, smashing 10 HR with 26 RBI in 193 at-bats - half of Easley's long balls either tied the game at the time or gave the Mets the lead. Easley can play all four corner positions and made 36 starts at second base.
The Mets have holes to fill at 2B and catcher and of course are always looking for more pitching depth. They have talked with Paul LoDuca and they will talk with Luis Castillo. Here's hoping that they'll speak at some point with the Minnesota Twins to gauge the availability of one Johan Santana. Who knows what the Twins will do, but as I've said before, overwhelm them and find out. You need durable pitchers and the Mets had exactly one starter give them 200 innings last season and that was Tom Glavine who may or may not be back. Since 2004, Santana has averaged 228 innings pitched per year. He has allowed on average just 176 hits per year in those innings. In those four seasons, Santana has averaged only 49 1/2 walks while striking out an average of 246 - a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio. If there's a glitch, he does give up home runs - 33 to be exact in 2007 - and an average of 26 long balls since 2004. But an ace in his prime (28) to team with Pedro Martinez and other young starters is too enticing to overlook. Anyone notice what Josh Beckett did in this year's post-season and can mean to the Red Sox in future years?
Nothing Going Wright It was a fitting ending. Phillies closer Brad Lidge was on to mercifully put an end to the Mets after yet another double play had short-circuited an 8th inning rally. He caught David Wright looking at a called third strike, the 84th time Wright has gone down on strikes this season.
5 Questions for Johan Santana Hey Mets fans! Your questions have been answered by Johan Santana. Check out what questions were asked and what Johan's answers were to those questions from the fans.
Enough Is Enough Jerry Manuel had seen enough. He had just watched his rag-tag crew of survivors lose their fifth straight game while falling down, kicking the ball around and ultimately not executing.
Mets Medical Update Here's the latest on the Mets mash unit. Carlos Beltran is eligible to be reinstated on July 7, the day the Mets open a series with the by-then-reinstated Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
METS ADD RHP ELMER DESSENS AND LHP PAT MISCH The New York Mets today announced that they recalled lefthanded pitcher Pat Misch from Buffalo (AAA) of the International League and selected the contract of righthanded pitcher Elmer Dessens from the Bisons.
METS PLACE CARLOS BELTRAN ON THE DISABLED LIST The New York Mets today announced that they placed outfielder Carlos Beltran on the 15-Day Disabled list with a bone bruise on his right knee.
Looking For Brighter Skies How's that one taste over your morning coffee? The Mets win the first game in Baltimore on Tuesday night, then blow the next two when arguably their two most consistent relievers implode.
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The Mets wasted no time in exercising their $7.5 million option on Moises Alou and justifiably so. Although limited to just 87 games and 328 at-bats and missing in action for 2 1/2 months due to a lingering quad injury, Alou was stupendous last season. He batted .341, constructing a Mets record 30-game hitting streak down the stretch. Alou had 13 HR, 19 doubles and 49 RBI, struck out only 30 times and had a .392 OBP. Alou mirrored the team's struggles with runners in scoring position this year. Moises hit .348 with RISP and less than 2 outs - with 2 outs he dropped down to .205. The Mets as a team batted .277 with RISP - but hit almost 40 points less (.238) when there were two out. Yes he's fragile, and yes, he'll turn 42 midway through 2008 - but the dude can flat out hit and you still can't sneak a fastball by him. I'll take the 100-120 games you hope that he can stay healthy for, cross your fingers and go.
