‘Spin Watch 2013 rolls on with another multi-hit game against the Houston Astros. I don’t know how many different ways I can say “Jordany Valdespin’s numbers have been impressive this spring.” He’s now batting .348/.388/.996. He also leads the team in hits (16), home runs (4), RBIs (9) and runs scored (8). He’s been so impressive, in fact, that Terry Collins’ latest comments about the young out-second-field-baseman have been nothing but complimentary. Joe D made [...]

Updated on 3/10 at 11:00 PM Jordany Valdespin went 1-for-1 with an RBI after he replaced Marlon Byrd who went hitless in three at-bats today. Spin (.360) pulled ahead of Byrd (.348) in the batting race this Spring. Meanwhile, Collin Cowgill went 0-for-3, but is still batting .375 to lead the pack. It’s shaping up to be a nice race and one of the more interesting Spring battles. Originally posted on 3/9 After following the [...]

Updated by Joe D. on 2/28 I bet this will get some of you excited about the outfield situation… Jordany Valdespin, who is now batting .455 in Grapefruit League play, after two more singles tonight, is suddenly back in the spotlight thanks to his sizzling start. Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reported that the talented, but often misunderstood utility player “could get a look in the outfield” according to manager Terry Collins. So far, ‘Spin has [...]

Tucked away in the mountains of Tehachapi, Calif. rests a modest cottage. Living in that cottage are John and Jill Nelson. These are my parents. In any given room, you can find the typical conventions of any old west-style household. There are paintings of horses on every wall, candle holders made from welded horseshoes on the dining room table and small pieces from alfalfa-hay flakes scattered across the 70s-style brown carpet. If you look deep [...]

As promised, here’s my second installment of economically building the Mets’ bullpen. You can read my first part here if you need to brush up or simply missed it. Last week, I showed how opportunity cost could help identify the best relief candidates for a particular inning. I concluded by saying that Scott Atchison should pitch in the 8th inning. He cannot be used as the next best alternative to compare to now. Additionally, the [...]

Opportunity cost is an economic term that means the highest valued alternative foregone to pursue an activity. It’s like if you worked at a bakery baking cakes and pies. Your shift is five hours long. In one hour, you’re able to bake one cake or two pies. If you spent zero hours on cakes and five hours on pies, you would have zero cakes and 10 pies at the end of your shift. If you [...]

The Mets community is having a field day with Michael Bourn these days. I figured I might as well chime in too. First, let’s establish the basics: The Mets will (most likely) lose the 11th pick in the 2013 first-year player draft if they sign Bourn. Michael Bourn is a Scott Boras client. If the Mets were to sign Bourn, he’s probably going to get a deal in the five-year range. Justin Upton being off [...]

Sports Illustrated released a list on Tuesday about a baseball phenomenon called the “Year-After Effect.” It’s been also referred to by the more widely known “Verducci Effect”, named after the SI journalist. But it was actually based on principles and protocols established by Rick Peterson, the former pitching coach, who was at Oakland at the time along with GM Sandy Alderson. Peterson believed pitchers 25 and under should not exceed an innings increase of more [...]

The Mets have had two things on their agenda this offseason. One of them is acquiring one more rotation arm on a one-year contract. Right now, the Mets starting rotation looks something like this: Johan Santana, Jonathon Niese, Matt Harvey, and Dillon Gee. The Mets’ goal is to get one more short-term pitcher until they can bring up pitching prospect Zack Wheeler. Two names that have been thrown around to fulfill that role are Derek [...]

Here I am—counting down the days until the regular season begins. Then I thought about the Mets starting lineup and cringed. I’m not a big believer in looking forward to the future because I’m not Nostradamus. I’ve watched too many seasons where the Mets looked good and then had a Fukushima-like meltdown. I don’t know what the Mets have in Noah Syndergaard, I don’t know if Johan Santana will ever be a fraction of what [...]