30
2012
Mets Notes: Bucholz To Skip 2012, Ankiel Still On Mets Radar, Oberkfell To Bears
An article by Hojo's Mojo
Reliever Taylor Buchholz, who has dealt with anxiety and depression issues throughout his career, plans to skip the 2012 season, agent David Pasti told ESPN New York.
Buchholz signed with Mets last offseason and went on the DL on June 2 with what was announced as shoulder fatigue. But a month later both Buchholz and the Mets jointly announced that he was dealing with the emotional issues. He would miss the rest of the 2011 season.
The Mets granted him free agency even though he was still under team control after the season. Pasti said that if he does decide to play baseball again, it would be with the Mets because of how they handled the situation. “The Mets really cared about him”, the agent said.
Long-time Mets coach Ken Oberkfell, who was let go after spending 2011 as the team’s bench coach, has signed with the Newark Bears. Oberkfell will join the team’s coaching staff, the Can-Am team announced today.
Oberkfell spent a decade with the Mets organization, working his way up through several minor-league levels as a manager until he was named Terry Collins’ bench coach last season.
Andy Martino of the Daily News spoke to two team insiders who told him that the club is looking for a veteran lefthanded bat for the bench, and have Rick Ankiel, Kosuke Fukudome, Raul Ibanez and Johnny Damon in thier sights.
But Martino also adds that Ibanez and Damon are less likely options because they might not be able to get the playing time they are looking for with the Mets.
MLB Network’s Peter Gammons said via twitter that Ankiel would be a good match with the Mets.
About the Author: Rob Johnson
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | 26 | 17 | .605 | - |
| Braves | 26 | 18 | .591 | 0.5 |
| Marlins | 24 | 19 | .558 | 2.0 |
| Mets | 23 | 20 | .535 | 3.0 |
| Phillies | 21 | 23 | .477 | 5.5 |
Last updated: 05/23/2012
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What happened to Oberkfell? Wasn’t he going to be the next manager for half the teams in the league? How did he fall so far?
Maybe the fringe benefits were too good to pass up?
Best of luck to Taylor. Poor Obie the ownership drama of the Bears may exceed the Wilpons!
Off Topic: Paulino signs with the Orioles.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/37673/os-sign-paulino
Best of luck to T-Buch. He’s a really good reliever, but he needs to take care of things more important that baseball. I’m excited about the fact that when he returns, it’ll be with the Mets, but I hope he conquers his issues above all.
My thoughts and prayers go to Taylor Buchholz. Take good care of yourself, Taylor!!!
Very sad, but glad he’s taking care of himself first, very important. God Bless and best wishes.
Agreed and let me add that the Mets don’t get credit for much lately but based on all accounts they at least have handled this well.
Off Topic: espedes has established residency in DominicanRepublic, has been declared Free Agent by MLB and now waits for visitors visa to travel to US
http://twitter.com/#!/JimBowdenESPNxm/statuses/164141289854603264
You would think he would most like to play for Miami considering the large Cuban population there and all.
*Cespedes
after all he did to get this far, it will be all about the money.
True but money being equal you would think he would want to play close to home, no?
I really liked Buchholz, and hope he gets things straightened out.
Also was an Obie fan sad to see all that time in the system lead to independent baseball… hopefully he finds his way back soon
So far in one full season and 2 off seasons we already lose Bucholz, Young, Bonser to injuries and add quite a few others that aren’t on the team anymore mainly because they STUNK but Sandy gets a pat on the head and a collective “there, there”
That’s not being a Mets fan, that’s being a Sandy/moneyball/saber fan FIRST.
I can think of another Mets GM who suffered some injuries but gets blamed for it. The hypocrisy makes me sick
Perhaps you can contact the Mets and seek the doctors number that is treating Bucholtz, clearly you are on the same path, at least he is strong enough to seek help.
How you can pin something like what Bucholtz is going through on Alderson is an all time low, but I’m sure there will be even lower points…………..
Oberkefell became the champion again in the DWL. Congrats to him..
It’s good to see that at least in Buch’s case there is someone who thinks well of the Mets organization. On the other hand, why was Oberkfell dumped after so many years in the organization and doing a credible job? Oberkfell is gone but Warthen is still around – why?
Why not ask the other 29 orgs why they had nowhere for him?
If you know, tell me.
Maybe he wasn’t doing such a credible job.
Maybe he decided he didn’t want to deal with the schedule of a big league club.
Maybe there is a personal demon that has been kept out of the public but has scared off teams.
Who knows? But there is some reason the Mets are 1 of 30 orgs that are not currently employing him.
Sounds like a lot of conjecture on your part. How about the one that did employ him? Are they unaware of all that mysterious stuff? Sounds like you’re just barking up a tree to me at demons of you’re own creation.