As you probably already know, the Mets affiliation with the AAA International League franchise in Buffalo came to a screeching halt at the conclusion of the 2012 season, and the Mets will be forced to play their AAA games in the Pacific Coast League for the Las Vegas 51′s beginning in 2013. The Mets were only in Buffalo for four years this time from 2009 – 2012, and during that time they never finished any higher [...]

MIKE PELFREY, RHP  PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS: After falling far short of the expectations of a No. 1 draft choice in 2005 – the ninth overall selection – Mike Pelfrey had what was thought to be a breakout year in 2010 when he went 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA and career high 204 innings. Pelfrey did not have dominating numbers, but clearly made progressions in his approach to pitching that suggested he might become the pitcher the [...]

Ok, I admit, I did my best Quagmire impersonation the other night, in spite of my better angels trying desperately to keep me in check. Not even Charlie’s Angels could keep me from succumbing to the dark side when I saw the best team money could buy get brutally swept by the best thing to come out of Detroit that wasn’t bailed out by the government. It’s one thing to get to the American League [...]

The Oakland Athletics acquired outfielder Chris Young and cash considerations from the Diamondbacks for middle infielder Cliff Pennington along with minor-league shortstop Yordy Cabrera to Arizona. Arizona then turned around and traded Cabrera to the Miami Marlins in exchange for relief pitcher Heath Bell and cash considerations. I’m assuming Miami will be paying more than half of Bell’s remaining contract. Here’s the breakdown: Miami Receives: Single-A shortstop Yordy Cabrera from Oakland and $13 million worth of salary [...]

After reading Joe D’s post on SandyBall, I remembered an interview I did with an author from Gaslamp Ball, a San Diego Padres fan site. Joe D points to the fans view of Alderson from his time with the San Diego Padres, and I couldn’t help but think about this quote from the Gaslamp author: “In most cases I felt that he was trying to do the right thing by building from within and creating [...]

You’ve heard me refer to Sandy Alderson as a dinosaur before or repeatedly saying that he seems out of his element. His moves thus far, few as they may be, have done nothing to change my perception of him. When Omar Minaya was fired, it was my hope that he would be replaced with a young and more progressive GM – with my first choice being Rangers GM Jon Daniels. Daniels was interested in the [...]

I was driving into work this morning and was listening to Richard Neer on WFAN. He was talking about the Yankees and Braves success over the past 20 years. He was saying how the Braves and Yankees have made the playoffs virtually every year, and it’s not really about getting to the post season, it’s about winning championships. The championship comment obviously applies more to the Yankees then the Braves. However, the Braves get into the postseason [...]

  CHRIS YOUNG, RHP PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS: With veteran Chris Young there was first a hope before any expectations. Signed as a stop gap starter to begin with prior to the 2011 season, Young pitched effectively at first before injuring his shoulder. In four starts he was 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA, giving the Mets six innings a start. Although an injury risk, when sound he was a veteran presence who pitched with composure and guile [...]

The Texas Rangers have dismissed hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh and hired Dave Magadan away from the Boston Red Sox. Magadan had been the Red Sox hitting coach for six years, beginning in 2007 when they won the World Series. The Red Sox, who are in the process of looking for a manager, held an option on Magadan for 2013. But with their manager’s position in a state of flux, they allowed Magadan to interview with [...]