Comments on: Mets Step Up Efforts To Land John Smoltz?

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:39:14 +0000

JDON, I UNDERSTAND WHAT U R SAying; but :I’m certain there are plenty of baseball people advising the team who also read newspapers & stat sheets just like u & me. So, I was trying to figure out what a team loathe to spend this offseason might accomplish sighning this old hack?
here’s the only 2 possibilities i could discern 1) a year removed from last sugery may make last yrs’s stats irrelavant. 2) Smoltz, when younger, during his first playoff series Vs Pitt(’91?) needed help focusing on his job. he underwent treatment by a hypnotist who’d planted a post-hypnotic suggestion that enabled him to disregard his surroundings &A pitch well. Since, I believe he’s learned to dicard that crutch & succeed totally on his own. I immediately thought of “Pelfrey!

By: jdon

jdon — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:21:15 +0000

This is a joke. He could not pitch in Boston last year. He was a punching bag. If the mets sign him they will further embarass themselves.

By: theonlymaskman

theonlymaskman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:11:46 +0000

On the other hand, if they want to line him up to be the pitching coach, that’s fine!

By: theonlymaskman

theonlymaskman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:11:02 +0000

Why would the mets even condier Smoltz when you consider the quality organizations that have given up on him recently? Why would they even dream they can do better with him? This is fool’s gold that they are looking at.

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:05:28 +0000

Carol, your post hasn’t hit here yet; but hit my mail so I’m hoping this follows directly. Sheets was a BAD INVESTMENT at any price. if you believe Perez’ 12M a bad investment than 2 wrongs are 2 wrongs and never right. Sheets in 8 yrs has had 5 marred by injury, his career record of 86-83 with a winningest season of 13 Ws is 2 less than Perez’
I believe the sole purpose behind ‘A’s deal was not to pay him 10M; but to only invest half that until 7/31 then deal him & his contract for prospects to build on. That’s the Oakland success formula! Slight of hand.
I’ve always thought the concept of “MONEYBALL” was self serving all those qualities of spped, base stealing, Power that Beane did not posess as a player are suddenly qualities without much value. Wonder why? It was as if Ed Lynch suddenly wrote that high strikeout totals & 20W seasons weren’t very important. Suspicous?

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:47:31 +0000

Andy, I think we can all, hopfully, agree that in all of Omar Minaya’s tenure as NYM GM, this year has been his most lackluster of offseasons. Amazing since it’s reported to be soooo important. No one seems too intereasted as to why, he’d suddenly revert to his former Expos style when he was controlled by ownership disinterested in team competitivness. I certainly hope we aren’t witnessing Jeff’s deliberate attempt at sabotaging the team in order to get public outcry for Omar’s head so loud his father can’t stand it. If, as I fear, that is the case, my fervent hope is for our entire rotation to pitch up to their talent/ability & not their history. If u look at our projected rotation: Santana,Pelfrey,Perez,Maine,Niese/Nieve aren’t they each capable of mid-high 90s + adequate secondaries? They are all relatively young, they are only lacking in consistantly doing it at the MLB level. I truly hope that if these Smoltz rumors are true, he’s given an opportunity to compete with Escobar to see who sets up & who starts. Smoltz will be 1 yr removed from surgery, perhaps a good thing, better hope because if he’s anything like last yr he’ll be disastrous both on the field & as perceived by the press. As I see it, we’ve only ONE HOPE, total overall HEALTH. Forget the details of who’s manning what position, that’s for fans of a team destined to compete. We are fans of a team hoping to compete. While the team has it’s new slogan, “WE BELIEVE IN COMEBACKS” we fans should adopt; WE HAVE MET OUR ENEMY, & HIS NAME IS JEFFREY WILPON” and make his Daddy put him aside, stripping all team related power! No matter how u perasonally feel, ask youirselves this, over the past 20 years has there ever been a better offseason or season to be a Met Fan than 2005/2006? When Omar ruled Supreme? After 2007, Jeff vowed “HEADS SHOULD ROLL” He nailed Willie’s over Omar’s objections. Think for yourselves. who’s been the primary target of Tierney,Shein,Carlin,Beningo, Harper, Madden,Rubin and what else do they all have in common? they all cash SNY appearance checks signed by Jeff Wilpon! Voila!
Do I have an axe to grind re. Jeff? DAMNED STRAIGHT! He has been the sole constant since 2002!!! He, not Fred has been the most active owner re. Team & Stadium design. He hides behind the scenes pulling all the strings!

By: andy

andy — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:12:41 +0000

I agree that smoltz can add a lot to the pen but I see john neise is my sleeper pick to make the rotation. I believe he wants it this could be his time. He has a lot to prove and if he’s healthy he can be like barry zito (when he was good lol) I also see dan murphy proving he could hold his own because his second half last season was something u can’t over look.

By: Bob L

Bob L — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:26:15 +0000

Watch: the Mets will sign Smoltz in a ludicrous attempt to mollify the fans. As much as i admire Smoltz and think he’d add value in the bullpen, he is no longer a guy that can notch 25 – 30 starts /year.

By: DelUner

DelUner — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:54:14 +0000

Do you think he reads Metsmerizedonline?

By: oldtimer

oldtimer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:46:46 +0000

and an infield wih Castillo and Murphy would really help Wang if he does pitch this year!

By: oldtimer

oldtimer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:44:12 +0000

and an infield wih Castillo and Murphy would really help him if he does pitch this year!

By: TommyJ

TommyJ — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:29:53 +0000

But they did get “more pitching”. Two guys who haven’t pitched in what, a year, and the Japanese guy.

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:23:06 +0000

The Mets signed Perez for 12 million a year and would not even talk to Sheets after seeing him work out for 10 million. Did the Mets even talk to him and give him an offer are is this like Marquis situation and the guy was never even seriously contacted?
I did not renew my Sunday plan because all I see is the Mets letting the other teams make an offers and we only signed Bay(I am happy about that) and some minor leaguers.
The Mets need to look at themselves and see a big city team and try to sign “big name players”
The Wilpons promised “more pitching” and it seems like they are happy with what they have. No guaranteed pitchers behind Santana.
With a season like 2009, one would think that the Mets would be aggressive this off season. I guess not.

Carol

By: CO Mets fan

CO Mets fan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:38:30 +0000

I agree, Wang seems like the better gamble to me, plus hes use to playing in NY and hes a sinker ball pitcher.

By: aye`

aye` — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:10:24 +0000

Mets management is 10 years too late…

I heard curt schilling was trying to get back in shape.

By: Mike B.

Mike B. — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:28:04 +0000

I love the Mets. They are a fourth place team this year and they have no leadership or direction from the front office. Their “Plan” is to get younger and more athletic but they’ve shown no evidence of following it.
Please don’t sign Smoltz. It was bad enough to have Glavine here. I guess I could live with a former Brave being on the team, but does it have to be a washed-up 40+ year old with a 4+ era?

By: sarge

sarge — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:22:27 +0000

Glad Sheets is not with us. I know A’s will make him available, if he lasts plus other pitchers will be available to Mets this summer for 2-3 month rentals w/o big contract.
Why not wait at least until spring training is under way to judge progress of Ollie, Maine, Pelf, and Niese. Why are Mets fans always in a rush to sign a pitcher just to sign one when you know that cheap arms will be available this summer by then which we will know status of current pitchers.
Great stats 62fan that just makes my point that in his career Smoltz has not done noting last few years. How many innings has he pitched last 3 years? How many wins does he have? He is just a old pitcher with a great past trying to hang on and make money from a team dumb enough to sign him thinking they are getting the Smoltz from the 90′s, if so Boston, Atlanta and St. Louis would have kept him. He is not reliable and I hope Mets don’t offer him a lot of money just for his name. If he is in BP then maybe but with Niese coming back I think Mets have the arms w/o spending money on old washed up pitchers. Please Omar, NO on Smoltz.

By: Danny

Danny — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:17:23 +0000

Forget about Sheets the A’s over paid for him and so what if he passed his physical he’ll probably get hurt no matter what. Forget Smoltz to he’s garbage. They should just go out there and sign Garland,Wang and /or Bedard. If that doesn’t work make a deal with the Reds to get Arroyo or Harang and then sign Hudson.

By: AtlantaMetFan

AtlantaMetFan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:28 +0000

WTF is going on with this team, there is now clear cut path to anything. Can tehy make some moves to better the club instead of siiting on their hands and not signing anyone.

So many what if’s for this team in the off season and it is going to be the same during the season.

If the team struggles during the first couple of months, fire Minaya and everyone in the front office, they do not know what they are doing!!!!!!!

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:29:33 +0000

Maybe they can convince Maddux to un-retire, too.