Jan
10
2011

Morning Grind: Capuano, Buchholz, Alomar, Alderson

An article by Clayton Collier

Hey Everybody,

Here are a few newsworthy stories from last week for today’s Morning Grind:

Mets Ink Capuano and Buchholz

Sandy Alderson has continued his genius signings and has inked RHP Taylor Buchholz and LHP Chris Capuano, both to one year, incentive laden deals. Capuano will receive a base salary of $1.5 million and Buchholz $600,000. I love the signing of Capuano because he is capable of being a successful starter and reliever. He is a 1st half pitcher, lifetime 29-24 with a 3.81 ERA in the first half, which is just what the Mets need. The former all-star could fill the empty rotation spot left by the ailing Santana until he returns around the All-Star break. Capuano returned to baseball in 2010 following two Tommy John surgeries that have left him out of baseball since 2007. His 4-4 record and 3.95 ERA in 2010 shows that Capuano can still pitch despite the major procedures he has endured in the past few seasons.

As for Taylor Buchholz, he is 28 and still a lot of upside. Before his elbow injury that sidelined him for 2009 and most of 2010, Buchholz enjoyed a dominant year out of the bullpen in 2008 with the Rockies. Buchholz went 6-6 with a 2.17 ERA in 66.1 innings. Buchholz could be a dominant and reliable arm that could pick up a great deal of the workload left behind by Pedro Feliciano. Given the fact that Buchholz is signed to a $600,000 base salary, this is practically the definition of a low risk, high reward player.

Roberto Alomar Elected To Cooperstown

Former Mets 2nd Baseman Roberto Alomar was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with RHP Bert Blyleven. Alomar received 90% of the balloting in his second year of eligibility. Blyleven received 79.7%, entering after his 14th year of eligibility. Despite Alomar’s two seasons of mediocrity with the Mets, he should have been a first ballot hall of famer. The 12-time all-star only had one thing besides his years as a Met against him: the spitting incident. In a heated argument, as some of you may know, Alomar spat on umpire John Hirschbeck’s face. The matter was resolved when Hirschbeck and Alomar publicly reconciled with each other the following season. This shouldn’t have even been a factor into the balloting. Alomar and Hirschbeck solved their own personal matters. If both parties involved are over it, why weren’t the writers in last year’s balloting? Anyway, a well deserved feat for both Alomar and Blyleven.

Alderson Sends Out Update Email

Alderson has sent another one of his emails out to the Mets fan base giving us an update on what is new with the Mets. The email refers to his thoughts on spring training, the upcoming season and the recent signings of Taylor Buchholz and Chris Capuano. I personally love the emails because they give the Mets transparency to the fan base on what is going on and the direction Alderson is looking to bring the Mets. Alderson’s updates have the feel to them to a lesser extent of FDR’s fireside chats. It is very refreshing to have a GM that knows both what he is doing and how to communicate with the press and fans. It is also good that Alderson can admit that we are not in a “win now” scenario and can promptly say what needs to be done in order to be in that situation. This is unlike Minaya who just told the fans what they wanted to hear instead of the reality. This is another way of expressing to the fans that we will have many of the same faces on the field this season, but also that this is a new regime and is a different ball club. The Mets are in good hands under Alderson’s regime.

Happy Commenting Everybody!

About the Author: Clayton Collier

Clayton, a Long Island native and die-hard Mets fan, started writing online about three years ago. He is currently a Journalism major with a minor in Broadcasting at Seton Hall University. Although very disappointed with the current state of the team, Clayton remains hopeful that the young prospects in the farm system will bring the Mets back to a respected franchise in baseball once again. Besides writing for MMO, Clayton is also a staff member at 89.5 WSOU, Seton Hall's modern active rock radio station. You can contact Clayton by following him on Twitter: @Clayton_Collier or E-mailing him at MaybeNextYearMets@yahoo.com

8 Comments + Add Comment

mike January 10, 2011 at 9:42 am

Love the Mets.
K Maxx January 10, 2011 at 10:15 am

I didnt even finish reading beyond the first line, but “genius signings”??? Says who??? So scraping the bottom of the barrell is now considered a genius signing? So targeting pitchers with no elbow ligaments and double tommy john surgeries is now considered genius? Was last year’s Kelvim Escobar signing genius too? The fact that these two players were not even pursued by any other team doesnt worry you? So if Capuano and Buchholz are genius signings than I guess Carl Crawford, Cliff Lee, Adrian Beltre are dumb signings? Gimme a break.
- Da Madd Genius January 10, 2011 at 5:28 pm
  
  glad someone else wrote that so I don’t have to. I get that a majority of people writing and reading this blog are pro the current administration, but lets not be absurd here. Thats just Pollyannaish
  - t agee January 10, 2011 at 6:15 pm
    
    I’m pro the new administration because of all the bufoonery that went on here over the last 6 years, and really 20 of the last 25 years if you want to be real but “genius signing?” I would be more apt to describe Piazza as a genius sign, Seaver, Koosman, Ryan. Capuano? May become down the road a good signing. (may and someday) I’m along with it. Buchholtz, Carraso, and Paulino too. Paulino I can see the thought process behind (good OB% where our current catcher is poor – vs. LHP) Willing to give the the wait and see? Of course. I gave it to Omar for 4 years why not? But Genius?
    
    I think this is where the wary fan starts to get anxious. When the new administration gets hailed as genius’ for signing guys who previously we wouldn’t have handed over a dried out ligament for. Speaking of which…..
    
    I think we’re all better off if we contain our unabashed exultation and superlatives for slightly bigger type moves rather than merely good candidates for re establishing themselves after potential career ending surgeries.
    
    One thing about these guys that I like is that they have 4 years service time. I am really sick and ‘effin tired of the word if, but IF they did pan out really well in 2 years they could leave behind as many as four extra 1st round and four extra supplemantary round picks. In other words they could be able to help us now and help us even more later. Now that would be genius, but lets see it before we say it.
Clayton Collier January 10, 2011 at 6:35 pm

I say “Genius” in light of the fact that while most clubs go for the “big signing” Alderson looks at all the stats to determine what the team needs specifically. Buchholz and Capuano returned from their injures and both had ERA’s south of 4.0. Alderson is known for signing the undervalued. He is an expert at catching lightning in a bottle. That is why i say a genius signing.

For example, The signing of Ronny Paulino as the backup catcher. On the surface it looks like a mediocre move, but, the 2010 Mets catchers batted a combined .196 against LHP. Paulino is 6th in the NL in career batting avg vs. LHP, David Wright is 2nd on that list.

Escobar had not returned from his injury, Capuano and Buchholz have. Escobar was Minaya’s signing, not Alderson’s. Sometimes the top tier free agents aren’t always best. Look at last year, Bay, Lackey, Pinero, Wolf, Marquis. The only major signing from last year that worked out well was Matt Holliday. Some of the better ’09 free agent signings were the like of R.A. Dickey, Hisanori Takahashi, Vladamir Guerrero, Troy Glaus, Etc. Thes were under the radar guys who made an impact of their respective clubs and I think Capuano and Buchholz are those kind of guys.

Capuano will hold down the back of the rotation until the return of Santana. Buchholz will pick up the clutch innings that are left by Takahashi and Feliciano. They could end up being bum signings, but in a year of low expectations, these two could be quite a bright spot.

This is the genius I am refering to. We signed 2 pitchers capable of being starters or relievers with ERAs under 4.0 for roughly $2 million combined.
- t agee January 10, 2011 at 6:55 pm
  
  I understand Clayton. I think they were well thought out and a good usage of limited resources. That’s the way I would describe them right now. Come September, October! I hope I’m hailing them as genius too.
- Craig Lerner January 10, 2011 at 6:57 pm
  
  Hey Clayton, welcome to the site. I just learned a whole lot about you just from your spot on reply. Nice to have you on board!
  - Clayton Collier January 10, 2011 at 7:04 pm
    
    Thank you very much! Glad to be on board!

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