Bautista is under contract for two more years at $14 million each, with a team option for $14 million in 2016. He mashed 28 home runs for Toronto in 2013 with a .259 average.

The Phillies are struggling to fend off the curse of old age — and although Bautista won’t turn the clock back any, he will serve as a force in a line-up that just added Marlon Byrd this morning.

I’m not sure if I’d agree with giving up Domonic Brown here, but the Phillies could be capitalizing on the hype off his 2013 season, where he batted .272/.324/.494 over 496 at-bats with 27 home runs and 83 RBI.

We’ll see how this plays out…

The post Phillies Could Be On The Verge Of Landing Jose Bautista appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Phillies torched Jeremy Hefner and racked up 11 runs in the first three innings on their way to a 13-8 win over the Mets tonight at Citi Field.

Hefner was rocked for eight runs in two-plus innings before being pulled in the third before registering an out. he allowed 10 hits including a home run to Domonic Brown. The Phillies have toasted Hefner throughout his career.

Greg Burke and Josh Edgin provided no relief and combined to allow another 5 Philly runs.

The Mets showed some fight and did score 8 runs, including home runs from Marlon Byrd and Davis Wright, but they never really had a chance in this one.

Defensively, the Mets were awful tonight Omar Quintanilla committed two errors, Byrd added a third, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis misplayed three fly balls that could have been outs rather than hits.

Considering how dominant Hefner has been with Anthony Recker behind the plate, I was shocked to see John Buck get the nod.

The Mets continue their three game series tomorrow at 1:10 PM, with Zack Wheeler (3-1, 3.54 ERA) opposing Cole Hamels (4-11, 4.05 ERA) for the Phillies.

The post Hefner Rocked As Phillies Defeat The Mets In 13-8 Drubbing appeared first on Metsmerized.

After David Wright and Robinson Cano announced their Home Run Derby teams last night, I was about to post on it, but held off. I was hoping that Wright would explain his rationale in selecting his team and was happy to see that he did.

The more I looked at Wright’s choices, the more I wondered what he possibly was thinking about his decision to go with Bryce Harper and Michael Cuddyer over some other more worthy candidates that included Domonic Brown, Paul Goldschmidt, Pedro Alvarez and Carlos Beltran.

Here are the top five home run leaders in the National League:

Harper has 13 home runs this season and Cuddyer has 15 longballs. Cuddyer has averaged 16 home runs over the three year period entering this season. Nine of his home runs in 2013 have come at Coors Field where he has a 1.069 OPS compared to .885 on the road.

As one of the designated captains, Wright was free to choose whomever he wanted and here is what he had to say to reporters on his selections before the game.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of people that are disappointed,” Wright said. “I did it as easy as I knew possible.”

“I took the National League home run leader. I took the guy that won the fan poll — the guy who the fans really wanted to see in the Home Run Derby. So you have CarGo and Bryce Harper. And that left me with the the friend I grew up with Michael. I think that he’s one of the more underrated players in the game. And, obviously, the friendship had something to do with it”

“I really am sorry. Carlos Beltran, Domonic Brown, Goldschmidt, Votto, and Alvarez were all in the original list that I had, I had all of those guys. It’s a lot tougher than you would think it is. And you don’t want to leave anybody out. And there’s obviously guys that I left out. I apologize for that. Some people had to get left out.”

Honestly, I’ve never been a big Home Run Derby guy. I think the last time I watched the entire event was in 2006. Usually, I just watch the first round before I get bored and pick up the remote. I mean how many times can you hear Chris Berman say, “Back, back, back, back, back, back, GONE!”

This year, I plan to tune in and catch as much as I can for as far as David Wight goes…

NL Home Run Derby Team

1. 13 HR – David Wright, Mets
2. 24 HR – Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
3. 15 HR – Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
4. 13 HR – Bryce Harper, Nationals

AL Home Run Derby Team

1. 20 HR – Robinson Cano, Yankees
2. 15 HR – Prince Fielder, Tigers
3. 33 HR – Chris Davis, Orioles
4. To Be Determined (As usual, a Yankee creating drama)

Even without the fourth player named as of yet, the American League has a 68 to 65 home run advantage.

The Home Run Derby will take place on July 15 at Citi Field as part of the 2013 All Star Game festivities.

The post Wright Apologizes To HR Derby Snubs, Explains His Rationale appeared first on Metsmerized.

Phillies 5, Mets 0 before we even blinked.

But then I realized that Citizens Bank Park is band box, and one or two big swings would get the Mets right back in the game.

Sure enough, homers from the red-hot John Buck and Lucas Duda made it a 5-2 game heading into the fifth.

With one out and runners on second and third in the fifth, Ike Davis lifted a ball to shallow center that it looked like Ben Revere might not get to. Revere made the catch on the run, but there was no way he’d be able to set himself and throw out Jordany Valdespin trying to tag up from third.

OK, we got ourselves a 5-3 game. We’re right back in this.

Hold on just a second.

I again cringed as I saw Daniel Murphy had been doubled off second base on a play that was right in front of him. That’s inexcusable.

Unfortunately, the Mets are not a talented enough team to have mental mistakes. Physical errors of course are part of the game, but the mental mistakes are the ones that can cost games.

Now, even if that run counted and the game was 5-3, that does not automatically mean the Mets would have come all the way back to tie the game or even take the lead. But again, in that type of ballpark, anything can happen.

It’s impossible to think that any team – even the best teams in the league – will play perfect all-around baseball. It just doesn’t happen. But the teams that limit the mental mistakes always put themselves in a better position to win games.

Had the Mets lost the game on a Murphy error at second base in the bottom of the ninth inning, it would still leave Mets fans with a bad feeling, but at least we could say that errors happen and it was just terrible timing.

But the mental mistake in the fifth inning was a huge rally killer for a team that struggled putting together any sort of rally in the final two games of the Philadelphia series.

If the Mets goes out there each night and makes a bunch of errors and loses, so be it. But the losses will sting even more if the team beats itself by making mental mistakes.

Murphy at least seems like the type of player that will learn from that mistake to ensure it never happens again.

The post This Mets Team Can’t Afford Mental Mistakes appeared first on Metsmerized.

Once upon a time, in a land where Oreo Cookies grow on trees, and it always rained Skittles upon the land, the Mets acquired uber-prospect Domonic Brown from the Phillies from whence the Hershey River flowed. In return for their wonderful haul, the Mets happily exchanged their 34-year old right fielder with two bad knees, who adoring fans lovingly referred to as Tron.

Mets general manager, Sandy Alderson, was so overjoyed at completing such a fantastical deal for one of the top four prospects in the entire country, that he couldn’t contain his exuberance. He immediately thanked his good friends from the City of Brotherly Love and after they hugged and shook hands on the deal, the two GMs danced and frolicked together. Then hand in hand, they went down to the village square where they delighted in a delicious lunch of fine English tea and homemade raspberry crumpets with gooseberry jam.

It’s hard to believe that some Mets fans are actually buying into that hogwash…

I thought we were supposed to be the smartest baseball fans in the game? Did some of us loose a few screws in the last 24 hours?

Who in their right mind would actually believe that the Philadelphia Phillies would give up their number one prospect and 4th best prospect in baseball, Domonic Brown, in exchange for a two month rental with bad knees? Have you literally gone insane?

I’ve heard of speculation and hypothetical trades before, but this is worse than anything I have ever heard from the wacky callers on WFAN.

Why in the world would Philadelphia even consider such a preposterous idea???

Especially when they know that that they wont get ANY compensation draft picks after the season when Beltran becomes a free agent!

Now come on people, let’s get real here…

The fact that so many Met fans jumped all over this simply because Jon Heyman wondered if Sandy Alderson would bring up Domonic Brown’s name, is very laughable to me. But it wouldn’t be the first time a sports journalist would send Mets fans into a frenzy.

Just because the Mets might be dumb enough to trade Beltran to a division rival, don’t assume the Phillies are just as dumb or actually dumber to give the Mets a young, core/franchise-type player for the next decade in return! Just get that notion out of your heads.

And by the way, the Mets are in no position to make demands. All they want is something… anything… for Beltran.

Oh, and I’m not buying the reports that the Wilpons are going to eat all 100% of the remaining salary on Beltran’s contract to get a better return. No way, no how, that happens. Give me a quote from Fred.

One thing is true and it has been even before the season started…

Beltran will get traded, and you can take that to the bank.

But if you think you’re getting any player featured among Baseball America Top 5 Prospects or Top 50 Prospects, I got a bridge to sell you in Citi Field.

The post Stop The Insanity! Domonic Brown For Beltran Is Pure Fantasy! appeared first on Metsmerized.

Over the last month or so, the Carlos Beltran rumors have heated up to the max. It has quickly became a “when” Mets deal Carlos Beltran instead of “if”.

Ken Rosenthal reports the Red Sox and Phillies have been the most persistent thus far. That may be true and I’m not discounting that, however I don’t believe Carlos Beltran will be in either uniform come August 31st.

The Red Sox lack that true “blue chip” prospect that Sandy Alderson is apparently coveting. They traded away top prospects such as Casey Kelly (currently tearing it up for the Padres in minors), Reymond Fuentes (Beltran’s cousin), and Anthony Rizzo (recently made MLB debut).

The Phillies have one or two stud prospects. One happens to be a slick hitting RF named Domonic Brown. Brown draws a lot of loose comparisons to Darryl Strawberry due to his long swing and power ability. While I would take Domonic Brown in a heartbeat, I highly doubt the Phillies are willing to deal potential future star in division just to possibly guarantee another championship. But hey you never know…

Since early March I’ve pegged the San Francisco Giants as a perfect fit for Carlos Beltran come the deadline. And this is before Buster Posey got injured. Now with Posey out the Giants lack a big bat to glue together their lineup. Not to mention the gaping hole in RF>

Early this season MMO did a poll to see everyones guesses for 2011 NLCS. I picked Giants and Phillies (mainly because of their pitching). A rematch of 2010 all over again in 2011.

Now imagine this? Start a bidding war for Carlos Beltran between the Giants and Phillies. Both teams know he could put their team over the edge come the playoffs. Now were talking about huge prospect packages in return. Especially if the Mets are willing to eat Beltran’s salary like predicted.

What prospects can we expect from the Giants? Gary Brown (top OF prospect, batting .313/7 HR/56 RBI in Single-A at age 22.) (*also has 39 SB!)…Zack Wheeler? (Top pitching prospect) Both? I doubt we could get both, but one is certainly going to happen if Giants want Beltran.

Oh and as for the Phillies? If they want Beltran, Dom Brown’s name better the first thing out of Ruben Amaro’s mouth when he calls Sandy.

The post Carlos Beltran To Giants? appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Philadelphia Phillies have called up Domonic Brown, one of the best prospects in the minors, to replace Shane Victorino who was placed on the DL today.

Brown is one of the premier prospects in all of baseball and was recently ranked #15 by Baseball America and #12 by MLB. To put that in perspective, Ike Davis was ranked #62 on those same lists.

The 22 year old phenom, was tearing it up in AA before he was promoted to AAA where he hit even better.

Between the two levels, Brown is batting .327 with a .395 on-base, .589 slugging pct., and a .916 OPS. In 343 at-bats, Brown has slugged 20 home runs and driven in 68 runs, while amassing 212 total bases. He has 17 stolen bases and 65 runs scored.

A National League scout recently said on Tuesday, that Brown was more than ready to play in the major leagues. 

The Phillies were hoping to unload Jayson Werth at the trade deadline because they had Brown waiting in the wings, but with Victorino on the shelf, I expect that they’ll hang on to Werth while giving Brown a test drive.

Victorino is only expected to be out 15 days with an abdominal strain, so it will be interesting to see what the Phillies do with Brown when Victorino is activated, especially if he is raking.

Either way, it won’t be long until we start putting Brown up there with Utley, Howard, Victorino and Rollins as players we love to hate.

The post Phillies Promote Top Prospect, Domonic Brown appeared first on Metsmerized.