As we’ve done for the last two off seasons, we’ll try to get to your mailbag questions and comments at least once a week. Unfortunately, Christian has moved on, so until someone new decides they want to respond to site mail, you’ll have to contend with me. I may not get as analytical as my predecessor did, but I’ll try to answer your questions as best as I can.
All I keep hearing about the Mets going after a starting pitcher, a leftfielder or a first baseman. Please tell me that Omir Santos is not our starting catcher in 2010.
Although there’s not much to report in the way of rumors or comments from the Mets, I find it very hard to believe that the Mets game plan is to go with Santos as their everyday catcher. I’ve read some speculation that they may save money and go with a Santos/Thole platoon, but I find that very difficult to believe. Thole will most like spend the entire season in the minors in 2010 in the hopes that he will elevate his defensive skills which are way below average right now. For more on Thole, read this post from Eric the Rotoprofessor. Santos is nothing more than an above average backup catcher.
I expect the Mets to inquire about Bengie Molina and Rod Barajas once the free agent signing period begins. Marty Noble also adds Yorvit Torrealba to the mix to complete the trifecta, but I believe Omar burned that bridge a long time ago. Although there is not much talk about the Mets acquiring a catcher, it’s only because the other needs are more pressing, but I assure you that the Mets will find someone that will help lure a top of the rotation starter to the Mets. I read an interesting opinion about how Bengie Molina may help the Mets get some leverage in acquiring John Lackey because they were battery-mates when the Angels won the 2002 World Series.
Who are the Mets’ arbitration eligible players and will they be tendering all of them?
According to Cots Contracts, the following Mets are arbitration eligible: Pedro Feliciano, Jeff Francoeur, Sean Green, John Maine, Angel Pagan, Tim Redding, Jeremy Reed and Cory Sullivan.
Feliciano, Pagan and Francoeur are in no danger of being non tendered. However, Redding, Green and Maine are probably 50/50 with John Maine having the best shot of being tendered or working out a contract with the Mets. I don’t see either Reed or Sullivan coming back next season except with minor league contracts, especially if the Mets sign a new leftfielder which I believe they will do.There’s also a strong possibility in my opinion, that we may see outfielder/first baseman Chris Carter make the team if he has a strong spring training.
Why is your site so erratic in reporting Mets news and trade rumors?
We don’t see ourselves as reporters, but simply as a group of very passionate Mets fans who have strong opinions on various Mets news. As far as I’m concerned, we already have one great site that reports all the Mets news and never misses a beat and that’s MetsBlog. We do make a strong effort to cover all the major Mets news as it happens, but rather than reporting it, we instead enjoy analyzing it and sharing our views with our readers. As for trade rumors, we do frequently analyze some of the more serious rumors, but mostly we’ll take a pass on them unless it’s from a reliable and legitimate source and doesn’t smell like speculation.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
I think you did a great job answering these questions. Let’s hope for the best over the winter.
Good answers. I do hope that we get Molina of the catchers you mention. He would give us a solid power bat that we could use right now. I also like that Molina/Lackey theory.
I’ve come to see Maine as an integral part of the team. Why’s there even a question about him being non-tendered?
I see Maine as a setup guy.Maybe a potential closer? I dont think his shoulder can take the grind of starting full a full season.His pitch repetoire is more condusive to coming in for 1 inninng and trying to blow hitters away with fastballs.
John Maine throws five pitches and was an effective starter before the injury. No need to do something so drastic.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
STEVE, FOR THE SAME REASONS U QUESTION HIS STARTING I FEAR HIS RELIEVING, ATTEMPTING SUCCESSIVE APPEARANCES AS WELL AS REPEATED WARMUP STRAIN. IT TAKES A FEW YRS FOR A PERENNIAL SP TO BE PEN CONVERTED EFFECTIVLY AS A CAREER MOVE & NOT A TEMP POSITION. SEE STOKES DIFFICUTY IN CONVERTING FROM RAYS SP TO NYM PEN FIRST YR DIFFICULTY MANAGING REPEAT GAME EFFECTIVNESS, SECOND YR DIFFICULTY WITH INACTIVE PERIODS DEVELOPING RUST TOO QUICKLY. FEW NOTICE MAINE HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO ADJUST TO NEW PC AS HE WAS INJURED SHORTLY AFTER PETERSON DISMISSAL & MOST OF LAST YR. ONCE HE RETURNED IT SEEMED AS IF HIS ACCLAIMATION WENT WELL. MAINE IS A MID-STALWART TYPE OF SP, NEVER A 1 OR 2, TOO GOOD FOR 5; BUT CAN BE A RELIABLE 3,4 & AS SUCH HAS VALUE.
just what we need–another guy in the lineup who does not walk. those catchers are all free swingers like Francopeur and Reyes and Pagan, if he starts (eek!) And Murphy did not walk a heck of a lot either.
As for Maine…how about this? He is a five inning pitcher who is injury prone. I fail to see what is integral about that. Keep Feliciano and cut the rest. They are all easily replaced and probably improved upon. Why bring losers back?
p.s. I did not mean to cut Francoeur. But I would not be opposed to trading him if he gets off to a quick start. No three year contracts please.
Joe D,
Your responses reflect the reason why MetsMerized is the best.
JOE, I FULLY CONCUR WITH SENTIMENT FROM BAYONNE! YOUR MUSINGS CERTAINLY STIMULATE CREATIVE JUICES IN ALL OF US. RARELY NON-MOTIVATIONAL.