NL East Notes: Phillies Sign Chad Qualls, Johnson Wants Bryce Harper In RF Opening Day

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• jessep February 1, 2012 at 3:03 pm

  Thanks for the update 72.

  I like Qualls, but a few things stood out to me in your post:

  “Qualls, 33, has made 512 appearances over the last seven years – the most in the majors”
  —Pedro Feliciano syndrome? Which by the way, is Feliciano pitching in 2012?

  “Qualls was 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA in 77 games for the Padres last year, but had a 1.96 ERA in his final 19 appearances.”

  — 8 losses out of the pen is a lot. Qualls was downright terrible in Arizona in 2010 also.

  I’m not sure the final 19 appearances sells me either to be honest because if you go by his last *20* appearances, that ERA jumps to 3.48.

  He’s alright, I’m not gonna get upset about not signing a reliever that puts runners on base and loses games. Others may, I will not.
  • Vinny B February 1, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    As I pointed out yesterday, Qualls and Rauch are very similar.

    Qualls: 33Yrs old, 51 career saves, 3.78 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 543IP, 426 K’s, 150 BB’s

    Rauch: 33Yrs old, 58 career saves, 3.82 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 520 IP, 418 K’s, 160 BB’s

    And as for Qualls having the most appearances over the last 7 years, since 06, BOTH Rauch and Qualls pitched the same amount of innings(Rauch had the 2nd most appearances over the last 6 seasons – one appearance behind Rauch) – So if your worried about Qualls getting hurt, you should be equally worried about Rauch getting hurt…….And I think Qualls having the most appearances over the last 7 years is a good thing, it shows that he’s a dependable and reliable pitcher.
    • jessep February 1, 2012 at 7:58 pm

      Vinny & Joe:

      I guess I’m just not sure why it’s a big deal?

      I said I didn’t mind Qualls and I don’t mind Rauch. Are you upset Rauch got more $? Why? It’s not like they gave him some ridiculous deal that handcuffed them from Reyes (for example).

      All your example (from baseball reference) tells me is Rauch’s agent is better than Qualls’…

      You like Qualls more? Why? You just showed me that there’s almost no difference… was there another place you wanted to spend $2mil?

      You’re right on the surface they look similar but what about these numbers:

      What about

      Qualls
      Righty Hitter .256 avg, .313 OBP, .391 Slg .704 OPS
      Lefty Hitter .272 avg, .326 OBP, .389 Slg, .714 OPS
      RISP .275 avg, .344 OBP, .418 SLG, .762 OPS
      Men On .277 avg, .333 obp, .411 slg, .744 OPS
      Atlanta 5+ ERA
      Phillies 6+ ERA
      Miami 2+ ERA
      Washington 4+ ERA
      (All division opponents were 20+ appearances)

      Rauch
      Righty Hitter .242 avg, .280 OBP, .390 Slg, .670 OPS
      Lefty Hitter .256 avg, .330 OBP, .416 Slg, .747 OPS
      RISP .241 avg, .310 OBP, .365 Slg, .675 OPS
      Men On .257 avg, .317 OBP, .395 Slg, .712 OPS
      Atlanta 3+ Era
      Phillies 2+ ERA
      Miami 3+ ERA
      Washington (only 2 games 0 era)

      Maybe the Mets liked those numbers more? Maybe the Mets saw more in a setup guy in Rauch?

      I appreciate the research Vinny, but there’s always more. Your points are valid, but you can’t tell me mine are invalid right?
      • Joe D February 1, 2012 at 8:20 pm

        It’s not a big deal to me at all. After we traded for Ramon Ramirez and signed Francisco, I thought Rauch was a questionable signing that made little sense.

        What we really needed was a second lefty to pair with Byrdak.

        I was very content with righties Acosta and Parnell and didn’t think we needed to spend $3.5M on a 6th righthander in the bullpen especially if you were already deciding to keep Carrasco at $1.5M.
        • Fonzie13 February 1, 2012 at 9:39 pm

          He definitely overpaid for Rauch.He’s been a solid guy for years but he didn’t have to give him 3.5. As JoeD said,we needed another Loogy.
    • Joe D February 1, 2012 at 7:04 pm

      That’s a good job Vinny. The similarity couldn’t get any closer if you tried.
• Alex68 February 1, 2012 at 2:28 pm

  hey, 72, NL East notes, aren’t the mets on the NL East?? or is it that with this front office there’s never any type of news???
  pathetic and embarrassing!
  • Greg Pomes February 1, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    Unfortunately this front office doesn’t do much. It’s like I’ve been saying for the Hot Stove show on SNY it’s really the MLB Hot Stove show, not the Mets Hot Stove show. It’s a shame what they’re doing to a big market franchise.
    • Bayonne Mets Fan February 1, 2012 at 2:41 pm

      ..and Kevin Burkhard interviewing Nationals players on Hot Stove too.

      This Front Office is HORRENDOUS but don’t dare question Sandy, he has no money and these are the only possible moves.

      Pathetic.
      • Greg Pomes February 1, 2012 at 2:50 pm

        It’s an embarrassment what this front office has done to this organization Bayonne. Unfortunately people will continue to make excuses for them.
        • kingman 26 February 1, 2012 at 7:03 pm

          You guys really don’t realize the humor you provide to educated, rational, sane adults, do you?

          “What this front office has done….”

          What they have done thus far is try to resurrect the team from the depth of overextended outrageously overpriced garbage the LAST front office left, while being in the midst of possibly the highest one-year budget shrinkage EVER in the game’s history.

          And Bayonne on the Murphy thread–why walk more?

          LOL!

          Seriously, this is the Romper Room of Met sites. Actually, that is insulting to preschoolers.
          • Chris February 2, 2012 at 3:05 am

            Bingo.
  • Heybatter February 1, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    I didn’t see anything about the Braves and the Marlins either. I guess their FO’s are also pathetic and embarrassing.
• kevin February 1, 2012 at 2:39 pm

  I would have rather have Qualls than Rauch and save the $2 mil.
  • Greg Pomes February 1, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    I was just going to say the same thing! Qualls will do an excellent job setting up Papelbon and for a lot cheaper than Rauch. I thought this genius front office we have were supposed to be good at things like this?
  • jerseymet February 1, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    Yes, for a rebuilding year we spent alot on the bullpen.
• Greg Pomes February 1, 2012 at 2:42 pm

  Good signing. I also like Johnson moving up Harper to the majors. I wish our gm/front office was doing that with Matt Harvey. Instead they will let him play in the minors for most of the season. The same for Familia.
  • Alex68 February 1, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    Pomes, i rather familia and harvey stay in the minors, keep them as far away from the majors, that way they don’t do to them what billy beane did to trevor cahill and gio.. trade them for more single A prospects…
    • Greg Pomes February 1, 2012 at 2:52 pm

      You make a decent point Alex. As soon as a player shows any promise they get traded. It is the moneyball way after all.
    • Alex68 February 1, 2012 at 2:56 pm

      yeah, but people here STILL think what’s going on with this club is good for the fans and the future.. last year was omar’s fault he had a horrible offseason, this year it’s the owners. i wondered what the excuse willl be for next year’s offseason.. sandy alderson is the worst GM in the history of this franchise…
  • Joe D February 1, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    Greg, Harvey just barely got his feet wet in Bingo. Lets get serious here.
    • Donal February 2, 2012 at 9:55 am

      Hey, rushing to the majors did wonders for Paul Wilson and Mike Pelfrey.
    • Greg Pomes February 2, 2012 at 4:51 pm

      Backman, Harvey’s manager in Bing felt last year he was ready for a September call up. And many said Single A was too easy for Harvey. If we’re going to lose I rather see what the kids are capable of doing now for some hope in the future.
• Bayonne Mets Fan February 1, 2012 at 2:49 pm

  …and Sandy Alderson’s use of advanced metrics/sabermetrics was supposed to find this “value” for low cost and help keep the Mets competitive.

  What happened to that HUH? Now it’s because he has no money? A complete 180 huh?

  And make no bones about it that if Sandy DID sign good players like OTHER teams have been doing for the same price as the Mets then all the saber geeks would be bragging and gloating here how using sabermetrics is the reason for the Mets success.

  I have no doubt in my mind that is EXACTLY what they would be doing around here. But it seems the use of sabermetrics has RUINED this team, not helped it.
  • XtreemIcon February 1, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    So you think Qualls is a good signing? Why?
  • t agee February 1, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    Actually the Mets have been making bad signings for years, out of neccesity even in the times where spending “a little extra” was never considered a problem.

    Alderson’s predocesser acquired 65 guys who’s last days in the majors were in a Met uniform. They either couldn’t play anymore or no one wanted them. Guys so injured or over the hill we couldn’t even recycle them into a fungo bat, a batting glove or a pile of sunflower seeds.

    The only solution to this constant importation of Bill Pecota type players is to concentrate on drafting, signing and developing our own good players so we have a constant stream of guys who can step in and step up or be traded for the right guy in someone else’s farm system or Major League roster.

    Really all the Frank Catolonotto’s, GMJ’s, Tony Tarasco’s and Trot Nixon’s only get a shot here for one reason, we have no one else. Fix that and you won’t have to worry about it anymore.

    Just understand that there will be a lot of yelling and screaming about the GM “not trying to win” “being cheap” “saving the owners money” and all kinds of other assorted nonsense while it’s being done because that work can’t be done without 1st and 2nd round draft choices and it will definitely have to include being sellers for once instead of just buyers all the time so if your too squemish to watch a team transition from bloated underachiever and perpetual con job victim to one with numerous weapons at it’s disposal in the somewhat near future than take up another hobby, you don’t seem to be enjoying this one very much.
• trs86 February 1, 2012 at 3:00 pm

  I think the Qualls signing is a good move as well and wish Sandy had waited on the 2nd guy. My guess is he paid Rauch that amount to make sure he had another guy with closing experience. Most likely for when they trade the other one…
  • any February 1, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    the waiting game is a crapshoot. You are playing the odds. Sometimes a guy like Qualls falls to you, other times all the decent guys get snapped up and you have no one left.

    Teams really do need to rank the guys they want and assign values, then see who they can get for what they are willing to pay, and pull the trigger.
    • NJstuckinTX February 1, 2012 at 9:54 pm

      I think that is certainly part of it. In hindsight, yes he overpaid for Rauch in comparison to Qualls. But it is not like he Ollie Perez overpaid and this thought keeps ringing in my ears. Not one player in MLB is taking market value to come to the Mets at this point. The team is a shambles, finances look bleak, potential sale on the horizon and all that… Maybe Qualls would have needed another million or so to sign with the Mets vs signin with the Phillies. Either way, coming back with hindsight, it’s easy to bash the signing and I’ll concur with anyone that’d I’d rather have Qualls and 2 mil in flexibility vs just Rauch, but it is what it is, no tears over spilt milk and here is to hoping Rauch pitches up this salary.
• Alex68 February 1, 2012 at 3:11 pm

  Funny how people use # to defend how sandy alderson does everything right, rauch had a 5-4 record with 4.54 ERA. also, in saves situation the man had a 5. 89 ERA, now as donal would say “that’s terrible” also, the man faded in the second half and posted a 6.87 ERA, hiw WHIP is 1.35 and btw, he also made app in arizona, where he amassad a 2-8 record in 77 IP with a 4.54 ERA… please spare me the crap, rauch was brought in hear because sandy needed to make moves to make people stop talking about the batching of the reyes contract as soon as possible. why else he brought up the “we lost $70 million last year” as soon as reyes was signed and not before? but hey, some idi-ots here claim he had a good day and that’s all it matter, they will not dare to question his moves..
  • kevin February 1, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    wow, had no idea Rauch was that bad.
    • XtreemIcon February 1, 2012 at 3:28 pm

      He’s not. Don’t let this guy cherry pick you into his wrong opinion. He cited Qualls only two bad years. He’s been playing for eight. He picked the one year he was in the AL East and had trouble with the long ball. Go figure. And the one year he was in Arizona, pitching in the desert. He neglected to mention that even with those two years, Rauch is still 39-31 with a 3.82 ERA. If he can cherry pick those two years as bad, I’ll cherry pick the years he played for Washington, in the same NL East, and went 21-15 with a 3.24 ERA.

      Doesn’t sound so bad now, doesn’t he?
  • Alex68 February 1, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    Kevin, as some people here say.. “numbers don’t lie”.. the man is terrible and paying $3.5 million for him was a huge mistake, but, as i said, some people actually believed this signing by alderson proved he had a good day… then now we see better reliever and closer get way less money, or a litte bit more..
  • Met Maniac February 1, 2012 at 3:34 pm

    Fighting fire with fire! Hey Alex, the CORE salutes you!
    • XtreemIcon February 1, 2012 at 3:35 pm

      He can’t fight an inferno with those matchsticks he’s bringing.
    • Alex68 February 2, 2012 at 8:23 am

      Maniac, the CORE is here you know….
• larman February 1, 2012 at 9:33 pm

  The mets front office is full of jerks, we could have sign him too. Why let the phillies have the upper hand and the marlins to threw in too. What’s wrong with the mets front office, like i said a bunch of jerks..
• Ian February 2, 2012 at 11:11 am

  Qualls has dramatic home away splits.
  Away:
  BA: .303
  OBP:.359
  SLG:.458
  OPS:.817
  WHIP:1.57
  Home
  BA:.221
  OBP:.225
  SLG:.294
  OPS:.537
  WHIP:.957
  I think someone benefited from Petco
  • jessep February 2, 2012 at 11:20 am

    Nice job Ian.

    I think re: Qualls v. Rauch people would do the exact same complaining if they signed Qualls and then Rauch signed elsewhere. I think there is a “whatever we have we don’t like” mindset with some.

    Look Qualls/Rauch, I don’t really care. I don’t know who else the extra Rauch $ could have been used on. I do know there are several things that separate the two pitchers, and so looking at their ERA is nice, but it shockingly doesn’t tell the whole story.

    Maybe you’re right, maybe the Mets felt Qualls benefitted too much from his park. Maybe the Mets like that in their park a flyball pitcher can succeed like Rauch (Qualls is more of a ground ball pitcher), maybe they liked that Rauch during his career has performed better against NL East opponents than Qualls?

    Maybe they like that Rauch performs better against righty’s than Qualls? Maybe they liked that Rauch performed better than Qualls with Runners in Scoring position?

    I think there are those who rush to complain and tomorrow another guy will be signed by another team, and there will be a small army of folks who get angry and scream “why not us!”

    For me, if you tell me Rauch and Qualls are equal on the surface and both are rightys and 1 guy is better against rightys, better against nl east teams, better with runners in scoring position, and better just with men on base. I want that guy more.
    • trs86 February 2, 2012 at 1:46 pm

      I think closing experience has a lot to do with it. I think they plan on trading one if not both of the new guys so it is nice to have another closer in waiting when you trade the first one…. unlike last year.
  • Vinny B February 2, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Qualls has played the majority of his career in hitters parks, and his best seasons have come in hitters parks, so I wouldn’t be worried about that.

    And as for Jessep’s splits, I don’t think they change much, it’s not like there’s a BIG difference between those splits. And about how they play against the NL East teams, Jon Rauch pitched in the NL East I think from 05-08, so, it’s very possible that the majority of hitters he faced then aren’t in the division anymore – Like the Braves now have Bourn, Freeman, and Heyward now, who weren’t there when Rauch was pitching for the Nats – The same for the Marlins who now have Stanton, Sanchez, LoMo, and Reyes – So that doesn’t bother me either because those teams have changed so much since Rauch was pitching in our division.
• Ian February 2, 2012 at 1:39 pm

  It has become an age where people are hating moves because of the general manager. People need to realized it is not the GM but, rather the team and more to do with the condition of the current monetary situation. The Wilpons do not want to spend so, Sandy isn’t getting Albert Pujols or CJ Wilson. People mistake that as him not wanting to win. Who in this world doesn’t want to succeed at their job?! I know I don’t.
  Qualls is in line for a regression because he is leaving a park that knocks balls down. He is also going to park that, over his whole career, has never done well.
  • srt February 2, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    ‘People need to realized it is not the GM but, rather the team and more to do with the condition of the current monetary situation. The Wilpons do not want to spend so…’

    This. Although I’ll go so far as to say the Wilpons cannot spend. Not if they want to hold onto this team for the ‘Wilpon legacy’, as they’ve so often stated.

    No money = slashing payroll

    This nonsense of ‘Omar did/would have done a better job than SA’, is just that – nonsense.
    Any and all GMs currently in charge of the NY Mets was going to be hamstrung by the Wilpons finances. Through in there the state of the farm a couple of years ago and here we are.
    • Bayonne Mets Fan February 2, 2012 at 1:46 pm

      Okay, it’s nonsense that Omar or any other GM could have done a better job than Sandy with the same money. Sure. No other approach was possible, Sandy’s was the ONLY possible way.

      Yeah right. Real smart.
      • srt February 2, 2012 at 2:41 pm

        *Yawn*
  • Vinny B February 2, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    If Qualls signed here, he would be playing in a pitchers park just like he did in SD…..And as I already pointed out, he’s had his best seasons pitching in hitters parks.
  • Bayonne Mets Fan February 2, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Ahhhh, don’t make the move because of the park, spoken like true saber. Forget that Lee & Halladay had success in that ban box and CC is doing well in that mini-stadium over in the Bronx
    • XtreemIcon February 2, 2012 at 1:56 pm

      Did you really just compare Chad Qualls to CC, Lee and Halladay?
      • Bayonne Mets Fan February 2, 2012 at 2:04 pm

        sane people know that I’m talking about good pitchers being able to pitch in small parks

        Insane or STUPID people or people who want to waste the readership’s time with baiting tactics will think I’m comparing Qualls to Halladay and Lee
        • Donal February 2, 2012 at 2:07 pm

          You did compare them. You could have just said a good pitcher will perform no matter where he is, or, better yet, use relief pitchers similar to Qualls as examples. Instead, you decided to name the best pitchers of their generation.
          • XtreemIcon February 2, 2012 at 2:26 pm

            Complete spin job at its finest. Qualls should have no troubles…….I mean, Hall of Famers are doing well, why can’t a journeyman reliever?
        • Des February 2, 2012 at 2:11 pm

          When I read one of your posts, I immediately think of an insane person. You self-identify so readily.
        • Ian February 2, 2012 at 2:20 pm

          Halladay
          Home Away
          BA: .235 BA:.243
          OBP:.256 OBP:.282
          SLG:.301 SLG:.324
          OPS:.557 OPS:.606
          WHIP:.994 WHIP:1.083
    • Ian February 2, 2012 at 2:09 pm

      Jesus man….
      Qualls’s numbers last year were padded by his great home numbers. If he wasn’t were he was, he would probably signed later in the off season on a minor league deal.
      I haven’t looked up Lee, C.C., or Halladay but, I bet their home away splits were much much much better than what Qualls’s splits last year.
• Vinny B February 2, 2012 at 1:42 pm

  http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/nationals-to-sign-edwin-jackson.html
  • trs86 February 2, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    Nice signing by them assuming it’s not the 3 years 30M he was looking for.
    • srt February 2, 2012 at 1:52 pm

      I won’t be surprised if it’s close to that, considering he’s a Boras client.
      • trs86 February 2, 2012 at 2:14 pm

        I am not sure if some of Boras’ luster is not wearing off. Remember he tanked the Madson deal too.
        • Donal February 2, 2012 at 2:26 pm

          It’ll come back. His main competition, Dan Lozano, has some big names, but he’s getting busted for some unethical going on illegal stuff. Plus, Boras still has Harper and Strasburg. Maybe this was just a package deal he’s worked out with the Nats.
          • XtreemIcon February 2, 2012 at 2:28 pm

            It was in the news recently that the market is not where Boras thought it would be for Jackson and they have to try to build more value with a one-year deal and try it again next season.
  • XtreemIcon February 2, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    If they got him for that one-year deal, that’s a great job.
    • Vinny B February 2, 2012 at 2:08 pm

      They are saying it’s one year 8-12M.
      • XtreemIcon February 2, 2012 at 2:10 pm

        Getting him for that deal is good for anyone.