Comments on: Mets Matters: Gee Sparkles, Cowgill Impresses Me, Who’s Running The Show?

By: TJ

TJ — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:21:39 +0000

There should not be an assumption that Santana will not, or cannot be traded this season. His marketability will be dependent upon his performance and his innings safely projecting to under 215 (so the 2014 crazy money option does not kick in). By July, if his innings safely project to under 200 and he is pitching well, the absolutely will be a market for his services, it will simply be a function of how much money the Mets will eat and what type of return they get. They may even settle for eating a lot of money and not getting a big prospect if it just means clearing a spot for Wheeler or another kid.

By: Matt Balasis

Matt Balasis — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:40:54 +0000

One very interesting theory about Dickey in 2009 with the Twins was the effect the Metrodome had on him. Beyond the fact that there is absolutely no wind in the Metrodome, there were also these weird currents that were present due to the ventilation system that opened up directly behind home plate. The Twins would turn the vents on when the home team was at bat the idea being the air coming from behind home plate would help the hitters. The vents would turn off when the Twins would pitch, and as we know Dickey does well when there is some wind because the knuckleball flutters and breaks more. I don’t know, he did pitch somewhat better on the road in 2009,

By: taskmaster4450

taskmaster4450 — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:14:02 +0000

Hell, the main focus of the article, Johan Santana, was a Rule 5 pick at one time. And then traded by Florida to the Twins for a nobody.

By: Bayonne Mets Fan

Bayonne Mets Fan — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:07:04 +0000

Boston, Oakland, Toronto, & Colorado let Scutaro go too

And how much were you screaming at the Mets for letting Marco Scutaro go back in 2002? And how convenient, how insightful for you to point that out 11 years later only AFTER Scutaro has a tremendous post season for the Giants.

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!

By: MDonaldWilpon

MDonaldWilpon — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:02:44 +0000

Johan Santana is not a stupid man. He will be 34 and going to be looking for one more payday. He is not going to rev himself up to be ready in April so that he will break down in July and ber worth nothing in the offseason? At the cost of the Mets season, he wants to be stronger later in the year for himself and it will help the Mets if they can trade a strong Santana in July or August.

By: jessep

jessep — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:01:24 +0000

In July of 2011 I would bet the popular thing to say was “Baxter is the Padres garbage.”

Or during 2010 season “Dickey couldn’t hack it with the Twins”

By: jmsPa

jmsPa — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:49:36 +0000

Once upon a time the Mets had a 27 year old middle infielder with a .290Ba/.370Obp slash line in the minors named Marco Scutaro whom they lost on waivers to the A’s in 2002.
They decided to keep Jorge Valendia and Daniel Garcia instead to backup Reyes and Alomar.

How did that work out?

By: TX

TX — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:24:07 +0000

As seen on TV, so you know it’s good!

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:22:25 +0000

Hmm I don’t know.
http://www.dreamtimecreations.com/content/product/small/BEDAZZLER.JPG

By: TX

TX — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:21:06 +0000

Maybe “Gee Bedazzles”?

By: van

van — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:16:09 +0000

I have been saying all off season that the OF (barring bringing in someone new, which could still happen) would certainly be 2 platoons, and even a 5 man rotation of sorts.

so those 4 guys mixing and matching is probably best case, given the players on hand right now.

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:15:38 +0000

I wonder if Dillon Gee’s reaction if he saw a back page with the headline “Gee Sparkles” would be to say, “Sparkles? I sparkled? Couldn’t I have dominated instead?

By: Metro12

Metro12 — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:15:34 +0000

When a team puts it in the hands of the athlete to make medical decision, there is a likely chance of failure. Just think of Ryan Church, Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes and others.

This isn’t a medical issue. It’s a training issue, and many fans and even writers who cover the team seem to get the two confused often. Santana has likely already been cleared for baseball activities. Long time ago. That’s a medical decision. But how and when he trains to get ready for games is up to him, the coaches, and the training staff, not the doctors. So at this point it’s about TC, Warthen and Ramirez, not the doctors.

I agree with those who think too much is being made of Johan’s condition. Mariano Rivera for years has taken his sweet time getting into real spring training games. I suspect Johan knows his gas tank has a limited capacity at this point in his career, so he’s conserving gas right now. And why not? I’d rather he take it slow it now and ramp it up right before the season starts.

By: van

van — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:14:34 +0000

look at the Phillies, who had a pretty good run starting in 2007.

and their “sparkplug” CF was so bad, he was a rule 5 pickup. 2 years in a row (he was given back, then exposed again the next year).

He managed to do OK for himself once he finally got a shot at a job.

so yeah, it does happen that guys are overlooked or under appreciated. And you can’t discount the drive a player has to get everything possible out of their talent once they get the shot.

By: Russell Zanca

Russell Zanca — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:02:49 +0000

MM, nothing like your Debbie Downer attitude in ST. Why not just be in the moment once in a while? So the A’s passed on him. No one’s claiming he’s a superstar, just a kid bringing the right attitude to a new team.

Is it unfathomable to think he may be honing his talents and abilities as he develops as an MLBer? Maybe he’ll be a complete bum and washout by May, but maybe he’s a diamond-in-the- rough.

By: Old School Mets Fan

Old School Mets Fan — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:02:41 +0000

Mets medical/training miscues span at least three GM’s. Under Phillips/Duquette they tried to change Reyes’ entire way of running to “help” his hamstrings with disastrous results. Beltran’s knees dragged on, Pagan’s disclocated shoulder,Reyes’ 2009 hamstring issues, the Church concussion, the Davis season ending sprained ankle (with a boot that cut off his circulation and made it worse), Wright playing for weeks with a broken back. At some point you have to think the problem is the medical staff. All teams have injuries. Few teams have the spate of misdiagnoses the Mets have,

By: Alan from AZ

Alan from AZ — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:01:24 +0000

John……it’s not that often that I criticize your opinions but today is another story! Where in heaven does it say that players have to talk to reporters or answer their questions? When Sandy Alderson made his “analysis” of what happened with Santana not being ready to pitch there was no bashing of Santana at all. But the media and fans in all of their glorious savagery jumped all over this and will probably beat it to death as they do most things.

Your comment that Santana should answer the damn questions because he is getting paid regardless is way out of line man. I would think that if you said that to his face…that he would refrain from ever speaking to you again!

I would!

By: Metro12

Metro12 — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:50:11 +0000

Heard an interview with Cowgill on the FAN and I like his attitude. He’s not just there to try to win a job, but to also compete and win. He will be a welcome addition to the team.

As for Olney, he can go suck it. He should stick to worrying about his favorite team whose highest paid player not only won’t make it to opening day, but may miss most of the season and may get busted for PEDs this year too. .

By: TX

TX — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:49:43 +0000

Bet Santana is in fantastic golf and tennis shape…

The dream of being able to flip Johan for a prospect at the deadline is looking like an even larger long shot at this point. One would think, with this being an essential walk year for him, he’d be in the best shape of his life, etc. etc.

By: Mets Mayhem

Mets Mayhem — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:45:28 +0000

taskmasterwww4450 — As Chicken LIttle said, “The sky is falling.”

The Mets have used two world class hospitals so it’s a stretch to imply that the Mets medical staff is overriding the hospitals’ advice. It ain’t the Wild West out there anymore. It’s a big bucks situation so the Mets will be careful. Regarding Warthen, you say a manager (maybe three different managers) can override his advice. Yet you still want to get rid of him. Once again the sky is falling.