Cutnpaste: - Jose Reyes, Robert Carson, Cone on Jose, Wright in 2013, Ottawa Mets Owner

According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, “Sources familiar with the team’s thinking have maintained that the Mets are unwilling to offer six or seven years (to Jose Reyes), and might be uncomfortable with five.” In regards to the team’s parameters for re-signing Reyes, Martino quotes Sandy Alderson as saying, “We have a sense of where we would be comfortable or slightly less comfortable (or) totally uncomfortable.” http://www.metsblog.com/2011/11/01/mets-unwillingly-to-offer-six-or-more-years-to-reyes

11-1-11: - http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=228&f=1381&t=8181112  - Interesting, pretty positive scouting report on Robert Carson; sits at 92-95 and touches 96 fairly often, with good hop on the ball.  Overall upshot is pretty much what IPA has been saying for some time now, that scouts like him better than his numbers would suggest, and he can become an above-average major league starter IF he can learn to command his pitches better, which mainly will come from learning to repeat his proper arm slot.

“There are better fits, places that give him a better chance to win, probably. If he really loves playing for the Mets, maybe he’ll give them a discount, so to speak, or work with them. Bit it’s his first go-round. It’s gonna be hard for him to take less money.”  ~  David Cone  http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/cone-leiter-gooden-weigh-in-on-reyes.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

Several issues would complicate this. As the Daily News reported last summer, Wright can void his $16 million club option for 2013 if he is traded. That will limit what the Mets can receive in return, because an acquiring team in July would be guaranteed only half a season from Wright. He could agree to an extension with the new club, but that would present a further wrinkle in trade negotiations. It is also worth remembering Wright's loyalty close friends say, affectionately, that he is loyal to a fault and his genuine desire is to lead the Mets out of this latest wilderness. In an age of cold capitalism in sports, those qualities are rare. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/expect-david-wright-remain-ny-mets-article-1.970967

Binghamton Mets President Michael Urda refuted a report that a group of investors was in negotiations to buy the franchise and move it to Ottawa. Contrary to the report, Urda -- who is part of the franchise's ownership group -- said he plans to seek an extension of the club's lease for NYSEG Stadium with the city. BallParkDigest.com reported on Monday night that a group called Beacon Sports Capital Partners had begun working on a lease for Ottawa Stadium with city officials there. The report asserted "there have been serious negotiations to buy the Binghamton Mets and move the team to Ottawa as soon as 2013, should a new lease be arranged." http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20111101/SPORTS/111010395/B-Mets-president-Team-intend-extend-lease-not-move?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

Cutnpaste: - Bobby Parnell, Frank Cashen, Duda/Davis Status, Jeff Wilpon, Sandy and Jose

Bobby Parnell: Young and a power arm is always attractive. Not so much is his command and thought process on the mound. There are no assurances the Mets will make him their closer as there are numerous reports saying that is their greatest need. If Parnell can’t convince the Mets he’s closer worthy, then what must other teams be thinking? Right, he’s a bullpen piece who needs a lot of work. Not a long line here. http://www.newyorkmetsreport.com/2011/10/25/mets-have-precious-few-pieces-to-trade

Frank Cashen took over as general managerin 1980. At that time, the Mets were consistently scoring below the NL average per game and were a dismal 40% below the league average in terms of home runs. Through the draft, trades, and free agent acquisitions, Cashen built an offense that was better than any in Mets' history at clearing the bases. You can also see the impact of the home run on the Mets ability to score runs. Only three times have the Mets have finished above the league average in runs per game without also finishing above league average in home runs, last year being one of them with by far the largest gap between the two statistics. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/10/31/2523345/visualizing-the-mets-offense-through-time?ref=fangraphs

The concussion symptoms that sidelined Lucas Duda for the season's final seven games, after a collision with the right-field wall in St. Louis, have cleared and Duda is no longer experiencing headaches or other troubles, assistant GM John Ricco said. Ike Davis, who opted not to have surgery on his troublesome left ankle, similarly is doing OK, according to GM Sandy Alderson. Davis is at home in Arizona and just doing conditioning work at this point, according to Alderson. http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/36290/mets-confident-in-duda-ike-health

Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said Monday that the sale of small blocks of the team to minority investors is “going very well,” but he declined to offer any specifics about the progress. The Wilpons are seeking multiple small shareholders to offset the loss of the planned $200 million minority investment from David Einhorn, which fell through Sept. 1. Team sources previously told ESPNNewYork.com the Mets were looking to sell shares in varying amounts in the neighborhood of $15 million to $20 million apiece with the hope of raising in the vicinity of what Einhorn planned to invest. Wilpon declined to identify anybody who has followed through and invested at that level. http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/36292/jeff-wilpon-sale-not-fans-business?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Sandy Alderson and Co. are doing things their way. This ballpark was built big. That’s the way ownership wanted it, but that has changed, and to Jeff Wilpon’s credit, he has blessed the new dimensions. If Alderson thinks the financially-troubled Mets can survive without a $100 million shortstop, he will make that move as well: Fences in, Reyes out. Hello, Ruben Tejada. Alderson is not going to cancel the 2012 season if Reyes is not a Met. Reyes seems destined to land with a team like the Nationals or Tigers. The Giants or Angels would be an interesting fit, too.  http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/there_no_place_like_homer_2GG2MluoVhPWI85rXJg65I#ixzz1cS9iFcje

Cutnpaste: - Mike Pelfrey, Tim Byrdak, Nelson Doubleday, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran

Mike Pelfrey: Has a manageable contract and is young. He regressed this season, but there’s still potential for the right pitching coach. But, if they trade him, he would thin out an already spotty rotation. The Mets will keep him and hope he improves. If not, then it might be time to cut him loose. There could be takers at the trade deadline.  http://www.newyorkmetsreport.com/2011/10/25/mets-have-precious-few-pieces-to-trade

Am I nitpicking by pointing out Tim Byrdak’s propensity to walk hitters and his inadequacy vs. RH hitters? Maybe. But the reason I’m not as high on him as others has more to do with inconsistency through the season. Byrdak had a really, really good run in June and July — ironically, the two months when his strikeout rate was at its lowest. He began the season poorly and finished uneven. Don’t get me wrong — I don’t think Byrdak was awful, I just don’t believe he was anything special. But, part of that has to do with my old-school mentality of being opposed to one-out specialists. I believe a team is better served using a precious roster spot with a pitcher who is effective against batters of both sides — particularly on a team that is in rebuilding mode… In September, Byrdak’s contract was extended through 2012, so there’s at least one of the 25 spots on the roster locked up. I don’t know why a team destined for another non-contending, rebuilding season and in financial straits needs to spend money on a LOOGY, but again, the masses found this to be a “smart” move so I’ll step back and let them enjoy the moment. http://www.metstoday.com/7129/2011-mets-evaluations/2011-analysis-tim-byrdak

There are still a lot of National League fans in this town.  If you can show them a clean stadium where they can get a beer and a hot dog and have a good time, you’ve got a good thing going.” – Nelson Doubleday. The year is 1979.  The cheers from the magical summer of a decade ago have long grown silent.  The New York Mets have the worst record in the National League. A stadium, that just 15 years ago hosted the All-Star Game and was a major attraction at the World’s Fair, is filthy, neglected and on most days, empty.  With the exception of homegrown matinee idol and All-Star center fielder Lee Mazzilli; the once-Amazin’ Mets are an embarrassment. http://networkedblogs.com/p5NS6

If you thought the Mets’ process to re-sign Jose Reyes would move as quickly as one of the All-Star’s trademark triples, think again. According to the New York Daily News, New York won’t ink Reyes during their exclusive five-day negotiating window after the World Series ends. Instead, they’ll likely make “a modest offer,” step aside and see what other teams are willing to spend. - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/28/report-mets-likely-to-take-wait-and-see-approach-on-jose-reyes

Carlos Beltran has spent the last seven seasons in the Big Apple with the New York Mets before heading out West at the trading deadline to spend the last few months with the San Francisco Giants. But the word from ESPN New York is that he may be moving back to the City That Never Sleeps. This time, though, it would be with the New York Yankees. The site reports that Beltran's name is on the list as a possible replacement to a fellow switch hitter, right fielder Nick Swisher, who has a $10.25 million option that the team has till Nov. 1 to pick up. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Yankees-interested-in-Beltran?urn=mlb-411439

Top Three Scariest Moments for the 2011 Mets

The New York Mets have had a season filled with their share of tricks and treats. From the Saturday afternoon comeback against the Yankees and Mariano Rivera to the several Bobby Parnell blown saves, this team has had a wild ride.

On this Halloween day, and in the theme of the the season, I thought it would be interesting to look at the moments that scared us the most from the 2011 season.

Number Three: A 5-13 start

The Mets began the season with decent expectations. They were starting without ace Johan Santana, but were hopeful he would be back by the All-Star break. With a new manager in the fold, they were looking to make a statement. The statement they ended up making was that they were not going to compete. Fans saw the 5-13 start as the end of the season. Only real fans continued to follow them into May and June.

The team started the first series in a promising way by taking two of three from Florida. It went downhill there, though. They lost two of three in Philly and in Washington. If that wasn't bad enough, they were swept in a four game series by the Colorado Rockies at home. That series included a double header sweep.

Two days later, they were swept again in a double header by Atlanta. They even lost two of three to the Houston Astros. That start kept this team out of contention. Even a .500 record in this initial stretch would have been sufficient. They went the rest of the season trying to get even.

Number Two: Two for one special

On August 7th, the Mets were finishing a series with the Atlanta Braves. Jose Reyes suffered a re-strain of his left hamstring. The first injury kept him out from June through the All-Star break. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, they lost Daniel Murphy. Murphy tore the MCL in his left knee.

Prior to this, he was carrying the team in the absence of Ike Davis and David Wright. This killed the Mets already slim hopes of putting together any kind of postseason run. Reyes came back to win the batting title (though not without controversy) for the first time in Mets history. Murphy is still uncertain for next season.

Number One: Goodbye Carlos

On July 28th, the Mets came to a big decision at the time. They traded their leading power hitter, Carlos Beltran to the San Francisco Giants. The Giants gave up minor league pitching sensation Zack Wheeler. With this trade, the Mets were not only announcing their best hitter this season was no longer a Met, they were saying they were changing direction and had given up on the season to an extent.

It was a scary time for fans because it meant change. As much as Beltran had been scrutinized in Queens, he was also one of the Mets all-time top 15 stat leaders in several categories. They were losing a solid hitter in their history in exchange for an unproven pitcher. For the team, it was scary because the clubhouse dynamic had changed. They had to change with it. The players had to agree that they were not going to throw in the towel.

In hindsight, it may be for the best. Beltran struggled with the Giants and eventually finished the season injured, while Wheeler may turn out to be a top tier pitcher in the rotation. Time will tell just how much the Mets won this trade by, but for now, Sandy Alderson still looks like a genius. At the time, though, Mets fans were being scared out of their seats.

Happy Halloween!

Moving On Without Reyes and Wright - PART 1

*I began this as one post encompassing the next 18 months, however it proved to be too long and I felt it would be better split into three parts. This is Part 1, dealing with the groundwork moves this winter that can take the Mets through the 2012 season and put them in a position to finish constructing a playoff-contending team in 2013, one with the potential for sustained success going forward.

With the World Series ending soon, baseball’s third season is about to begin. The excitement of the hot stove doesn’t replace the excitement and hope that comes with watching an actual pennant race, but it does offer some distraction in the months between seasons as well as fuel fans’ hopes for the next year to come.

This offseason is the first real one for the Mets’ vaunted front office. Last year was as much about evaluating the talent in-house and cutting whatever dead weight they could. This winter is the first true test to see what the long-term plan for the franchise is. The deadline deals gave us a preview of Sandy Alderson’s thinking. It seems to be that he’ll look to maximize his tradable assets (Beltran for Wheeler) and remove whatever contracts he feels are weighing the team down (K Rod for nothing).

Alderson’s biggest questions surround homegrown stars Jose Reyes and David Wright. With payroll concerns, Reyes possibly pricing himself out of range, a lack of free agent options and little depth to trade from, the prospects for making a dramatic improvement over last year are slim. Because of this, the Mets might be thinking on cutting bait on the last era and starting over from scratch – letting someone else pay Jose his dream contract, collect the compensatory draft picks, and move Wright while the team still can, increasing their base of minor league talent. I’m in no way advocating letting Reyes walk or trading Wright.

What I’m aiming to do is present at least one path the team can take in the event that both of those things happen. I talk to fans and read posts and the consensus (read:fear) seems to be that if both leave the team this offseason, the Mets will be set back indefinitely, not to compete for the playoffs for years to come. I’m arguing that if they both leave the Mets, the team will have added flexibility and can find a way to win sooner rather than later, competing for a playoff spot in 2013. That’s with only 1 more year of ‘suffering’ to go through.

With that in mind, I would expect any moves made this offseason to either strengthen the team for the long run OR not hinder their flexibility in making future moves. The 2011-12 offseason could unfold like this:

- Jose Reyes leaves as a FA.

This move allows the Mets more room in their budget and nets the team 2 high draft picks. Ruben Tejada takes over as the starting SS and hits leadoff for the time being.

- David Wright is traded to Colorado for Drew Pomeranz, Nolan Arenado, and Rex Brothers.

I’ve analyzed this hypothetical deal here - http://tinyurl.com/roxwright. Pomeranz starts 2012 at Buffalo, Arenado begins at Binghamton, and Brothers begins the year in the ML bullpen.

- Trade Wilmer Flores, Cesar Puello, Jefry Marte, Robert Carson for Yasmani Grandal and Bronson Arroyo

With apologies to Josh Thole, the Mets do not have a catcher in their organization who profiles as a long-term major league catcher. While I think a tandem of Thole and a veteran can hold down the fort in 2012, the Mets need a catcher who can be relied on to be part of the core going forward. The options on the free agent market are disappointing and I don’t think the Mets have the firepower to trade for an established franchise catcher. The team’s best bet would be to trade for a backstop with significant upside who is only a year or so away from the majors. The two players I would target are Travis d’Arnaud of Toronto and Yasmani Grandal of Cincinnati. Both players are highly regarded and both are currently playing in organizations with catching depth. Grandal figures to start 2012 in AAA after playing a few games there this past year. While he is a top prospect, he is currently behind Devin Mesoraco, a top 50 overall prospect in all of baseball who will likely begin next year as Cincy’s #1 catcher. d’Arnaud is similarly behind Arencibia in Toronto and also has pressure coming up from the lower levels in Carlos Perez and AJ Jimenez. Both profile as plus-defensive catchers who can hit for power. Of the two, d’Arnaud is already drawing rave reviews for his work behind the plate and for his handling of Toronto’s minor league pitchers. However, I think that Grandal will be the easier of the two to acquire. There have already been rumblings about his availability. The Reds have a limited window to compete with Joey Votto as the centerpiece of the team and might be more willing to deal while the Blue Jays are still putting their plan together and might see d’Arnaud as the true catcher of the future with Arencibia more of a DH. Given Cincy’s status as a small market team, I could see them moving Grandal for multiple pieces as well as looking to get salary relied from Arroyo’s contract, freeing them up to be more active this winter. Flores seems to be a man without a position whose bat still seems special. Puello has all the tools to become a starting ML OF with speed and pop. Marte continues his development and has been performing well in the AFL. He’d quickly become the heir apparent to Rolen in Cincy. Carson profiles as a solid LH relief pitcher. The Reds get out from under Arroyo’s contract, one that could hinder them as a small market team and one that the Mets can afford to take on for a year or two. The Reds also get 4 young players that can supplement the young talent they already have and given them a broader base to build from in the coming years. They won’t miss Grandal if Mesoraco fulfills his potential.

- Trade Bobby Parnell for Ryan Kalish

With the departure of Reyes, his presence is only half-accounted for, meaning that Ruben Tejada can hold down SS, however they will need someone who can hit leadoff. Tejada looks like he can be a productive #2 hitter, however I don’t think he has true leadoff hitter ability. Given the depth the Mets have at their infield positions, it seems that a leadoff solution will have to come from the OF. One team I would look to as a potential trade partner is the Boston Red Sox. The Sox have a glut of OF’ers and not a lot of places to play them. Ellsbury has secured CF for the foreseeable future and it doesn’t look like LF Carl Crawford will be traded anytime soon. If the Red Sox are entertaining any ideas about dealing him, he’ll need at least a year to bounce back and build up his value. Even at that, his contract is prohibitive to any potential deal. That leaves only RF open. Josh Reddick came up last year and performed well for a couple of months. 2010’s surprise prospect Ryan Kalish also performed well in his cup of coffee. He likely would have gotten playing time this year if he hadn’t been injured. Although he recently underwent surgery, reports have him coming back and ready for spring training. Additionally, the Sox have their minor league POY Bryce Brentz not too far from the majors and are discussing OF prospects with the Cubs as compensation for Theo Epstein. With this many OF (potentially 4) prospects and 1 open OF spot, the Sox will be in position to shop them to see what kind of return can be had. I don’t know exactly what they might want in return, but the player I would target is Kalish. He has speed, plays hard, gets on base, hits leadoff, and can play CF. After Reddick’s performance and Kalish’s injury, he’s likely behind in the depth chart. As Parnell is the talent that is asked about the most by other teams, I think the Red Sox would be happy to add a pitcher who can hit 100mph on the gun. I don’t believe Parnell will be the closer here in NY, so the Mets should get what they can for him while his is in demand. This type of trade might have to happen in ST or even April or May to see how quickly Kalish recovers, however he can fill a number of holes for the Mets and would be a great fit going forward. I would expect him to begin 2012 at AAA.

Whether Grandal and Kalish are the specific acquisitions or not, the Mets have holes at OF/leadoff and Ca that need to be addressed. It would be prudent to look for long-term options now rather than wait until the team is ready to contend and wind up overpaying for whatever is available when they are in need. I would like to see the team proactively fill these positions now for the future.

- Retain Angel Pagan.

There aren’t a lot of options out there that can play CF and if 2012 is a ‘sit tight’ season, I don’t see any reason to get rid of Pagan IF Reyes and Wright aren’t around. With all of the savings in payroll, the Mets might as well go with what they know for now until a long-term replacement is found. If the Mets trade for Kalish (or another leadoff prospect), Pagan can hold down CF until the rookie is ready.

- Trade Mike Pelfrey

I think it’s time to move on here. Pelfrey is what he is, and while that’s not terrible, it’s not great. Every year the Mets wait to trade him his value seems to go lower. With Pomeranz acquired in trade and Niese, Gee, and Arroyo on the roster, there is no need to keep Pelfrey. The Mets can sign a risky vet to a much lower contract and expect the same production. As has been repeated, Pelf can throw 200 innings and there are likely to be teams that value that production. Moving him for whatever young talent can be had is the way to go.

That leaves the main 13 of the lineup as:

1. Tejada SS (0.5)

2. Murphy 3B (0.5)

3. Duda RF (0.5)

4. Bay LF (16)

5. Davis 1B (0.5)

6. Pagan CF (5)

7. Thole Ca (0.5)

8. Turner 2B (0.5)

SP1 Santana (25)

SP2 Dickey (4.25)

SP3 Niese (0.5)

SP4 Arroyo (7)

SP5 Gee (0.5)

This would put the budget at roughly $62M, leaving a lot of room to add a closer and other complimentary bench/bullpen pieces as the FO sees fit. This team would likely not make the playoffs, however there is talent on the roster that can play competitive baseball and could surprise people. Also, keep in mind that this is how the team would look on opening day. With the young talent in the minors on its way up, there could be a much different look to the team once August rolls around and the trade deadline passes.

In Part 2, I’ll go over how I would expect the team to handle the roster during the 2012 season, developing the young talent in-house and in preparation for the next offseason.

Cutnpaste: - Scott Kazmir, Jose Reyes, Nelson Cruz, Omar Minaya, David Wright

I am fully aware that I’m standing alone with this proposition.  We have all had that guy/girl situation in high school or college that we would love to do over again.  Admittedly, this is my baseball version of that “situation”.  The New York Mets’ trade of Scott Kazmir was probably my first taste of prospect heartbreak.  I had always been well aware of rookies and young players in the Major Leagues, but Kazmir was one of the very first prospects that I followed throughout the minors as he climbed his way up the ladder.  Luckily my prospect hugging was still in its infancy stages  – nor did I even know what a blog was, let alone know how to post on one – so the emotion that would have been uncontrollable rage today was simply significant disappointment back in the summer of 2004.  Again, I’m very aware that nostalgia could be clouding my judgment here, but let’s discuss a New York Mets – Scott Kazmir reunion anyway. http://www.rantsports.com/new-york-mets/2011/10/21/should-the-new-york-mets-look-into-scott-kazmir

Major League Baseball's players have named Mets shortstop Jose Reyes a finalist for the National League Comeback Player of the Year award in the 2011 Players Choice Awards.  Reyes, an impending free agent, hit .337 with 39 stolen bases and 101 runs scored this season, after missing time last season with a thyroid imbalance and oblique issues. He increased his on-base percentage by 63 points this season and his slugging percentage by 65 points. Until straining his left hamstring in July, Reyes ranked among the National League's MVP candidates, threatening to finish with more triples than any player since the dead-ball era. But to win the Players Choice Comeback Player of the Year award, Reyes will need to best Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman, who already won MLB's in-house award as voted on by MLB.com writers. The other finalist for the Players Choice version of the award is pitcher Ryan Vogelsong, who posted a 2.71 ERA for the Giants following four seasons away from the league.  http://wap.mlb.com/nym/news/article/2011102125744520

This is a trick question.  With Nelson Cruz going off during this year’s postseason, lots of teams (more specifically, the people that cover and follow those teams) either look at the chance they passed up to acquire Nelson Cruz.  In the New York Mets’ case, they traded him.  This was 11 years ago though when he was still in the Dominican Summer League – in baseball time, that’s light years away from the Major Leagues.  I don’t mind playing the “what if” game here and there, but to do so now is just a waste of time.  To be fair, I haven’t heard any fans or read any articles spending too much time speculating on what could have been.  I’m hoping it stays that way. http://www.rantsports.com/new-york-mets/2011/10/22/what-if-the-new-york-mets-kept-nelson-cruz

According to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times, the Angels will interview former Expos and Mets GM Omar Minaya for their opening at general manager. Minaya, 52, served as the Expos' general manager from 2002-2004 and the Mets' general manager from 2005-2010. He's a widely respected "baseball man," but his track record as a front-office executive isn't exactly spotless. The Angels have a host of other candidates who would seem to better fit the role, including White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, former Dodgers GM Dan Evans and Rays vice president Andrew Friedman.  http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/344453/baseball-headlines?r=1

Wright, 28, hit a career-low .254 with 14 homers and 61 RBIs in 102 games this past season. His stats have dropped precipitously since 2008, when he hit .302 with 33 homers and 124 RBIs. Two factors in the decline: injuries and spacious Citi Field. "Here is the problem," an AL personnel man told the New York Post. "The industry values David Wright as a good to very good player who might already be trending the wrong way and is about to get very expensive. A lot of teams like the Rockies and Angels need a third baseman. But still the return package will be good, not great, and can the Mets sell a good, not great return to a fan base that still thinks Wright is a superstar?" - http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2011-10-22/mets-could-dangle-david-wright-as-trade-bait-this-offseason#ixzz1bYmtarxT

Cutnpaste: - Sam Honeck, Jose Reyes, Harry Minor, Deolis Guerra, Robbie Shields

10-10-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/132edccbf718965f - Sam Honeck began the season as the Gnats’ everyday first baseman, but side effects of a concussion ended his season in early July when he was hitting just .227/.306/.346. I feel for the 24-year old Honeck, who has had two straight seasons marred by injury after playing in just a handful of games in 2010 with a compound fracture in his leg.

The Jose Reyes free agency frenzy is going to potentially affect many teams and their fans around the league. The team with the best shot at signing Reyes is, of course, the New York Mets . The Mets know his value, but if Reyes finds a better offer on the open market, then things are going to get interesting. The Washington Nationals suddenly seem like a viable candidate to sign Reyes, but that won't be the only team interested. Other teams that could use an upgrade in offense at shortstop (and have the money to spend) include the San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Even the Los Angeles Angels or Boston Red Sox could use the added offense, and that could lead to a bidding war if Reyes does hit the open market. - http://www.caribsso.com/MLB/New-York-Mets/1/Jose%20Reyes%20Auction%20Could%20Deflate%20New%20York%20Mets%20Fans%20(Yahoo!%20Contributor%20Network

Harry Minor, a longtime scout who spent 44 of his 65 years in professional baseball with the Mets, announced his retirement Wednesday. His retirement will be effective Oct. 31. Minor, who began his professional baseball career as a catcher in 1947 in Pittsburgh's Minor League system, joined the Mets as an area scout in 1967. He also served as a national cross-checker during his time with the club and was a key part of the team's '69 and '86 World Series titles.  "I'll always remember the championships," Minor said in a statement. "We had some great fun building up the organization, and those World Series teams were built on a foundation of talent the Mets developed." - http://www.caribsso.com/MLB/New-York-Mets/2/Longtime%20Mets%20scout%20Minor%20retires

Deolis Guerra RHP MIN (22) – For years now, Guerra has been trying to outrun the “bust” label being thrown at him by many baseball people. As a 17-year-old in the Mets organization, Guerra’s mid 90s fastball and advanced change-up prompted the powers-that-be to move him aggressively through their minor league system. He was an 18-year-old at Advanced-A St. Lucie. Soon after, he was traded to Minnesota in the deal that sent Johann Santana to the Mets. But then, his fastball velocity mysteriously dropped from 95 mph down to the high 80s. This season, Deolis has spent his third season in New Britain (still young for the level) and the Twins moved him to the bullpen where he’s worked his velocity into the 91-93 range. In 95 innings, he’s struck out 95 batters, posting the best K rate of his career at 22.9%. His walk rate sits at a terrific 6.8%. The ugliness of his 5.59 ERA is put into perspective by his 3.94 FIP and was even better as a RP. Another season like this one and Guerra could salvage his prospect status. Look for Minnesota to start him out at Rochester to start 2012. - http://baseballinstinct.com/2011/10/19/touchem-all-eastern-league-top-mlb-prospects-pitchers

10-20-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/second-base-review-a-ball  - Robbie Shields played 17 games for St. Lucie at second after he was promoted from Savannah immediately after the Gnats clinched the first half title in June.  However, his season was cut short by persistent back problems.  Shields, a college shortstop began the transition to second in Savannah, where he played nine games at the position.  He seemed to handle the move with relative ease, but noted the change in footwork around the bag.  He showed much improved plate discipline over the 2010 season which helped produce a .274/.354/.425 line in Savannah and a .269/.338/.388 line in 20 games in St. Lucie.  Shields, the Mets’ 3rd round pick in 2009, will turn 24 in December, so time is becoming scarce.  Put another way, he’s a year younger than Havens, but the same age as Jordany Valdespin

Cutnpaste: - Eric Campbell, Johnny Lowe, 2012 Catchers, 2012 Pitching, Jose

10-10-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/132edccbf718965f - Eric Campbell backed up at first on his tour all over the diamond. He played 43 games at first, 56 at third and 25 in the outfield, while committing 20 errors. Few players in the system could match Campbell for a disappointing first half (.210/.334/.272 in 257 AB), but the 24-year old turned it on after the all-star brea (.311/.364/.466). As someone who can play either infield corner or left field, he has organizational value.

There was Mike, and Deb, and Gary G, and Dingo (whom I called Dingbat, all in affectionate terms), and there was Johnny. At the time, there was a song by The Killers called “Uncle Jonny,” and in our email exchanges I called him, “Uncle Johnny” or “Uncle J.” We were bonded by our love for the Mets. We also had some other things in common, like our political and social beliefs, and even music. I usually don’t preclude anyone who doesn’t share my political or social beliefs from being a good person, but that of course just gave him favorable points in my eyes. He disliked living in Florida, which kept him away from seeing the Mets, but he loved his family, wife Stacey and their son Asher. I could poke fun at him. There was one instance when A-Rod opted out of his contract during the 2007 World Series, and he thought the Mets should go after him. I disagreed. He told me that A-Rod won a Gold Glove, which made him a good defensive player…I told him that I called him “E-Rod,” that only the Yankees would put someone at 3B who was the best SS in the league, and that Gold Gloves meant nothing since Bobby Abreu once won one. He said Bobby Abreu was a fine caliber outfielder who deserved it. My response was to use an emoticon that showed a smiley face being pulled up to the spaceship. I told him to “Say ‘HI’ to Elvis for me!” It was all in good fun. Johnny was one of those guys who always had a great attitude, even if you disagreed with him. - http://galforallseasons.com/2011/10/13/this-one-is-for-uncle-johnny

With the World Series set to begin in a couple days, the offseason is right around the corner. The offseason is a long, grueling process, but it can certainly be exciting. The New York Mets' front office is currently in offseason mode and they have been ready for this season to end for a while now. Once the World Series comes to an end, Sandy Alderson can really start to get his hands dirty.  Catcher was a rough position for the Mets this season. The Mets went into the season with a lot of confidence in their young backstop, Josh Thole. Thole was coming off an impressive spring training and expectations were high.  It turned out that the expectations were unrealistic ones and Thole struggled to get in a groove this season. Thole showed a lot of pop in his bat in spring training, but he only managed to hit a mere three home runs this season. His low home run output coupled with his .268 average left little to be desired. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/898669-new-york-mets-offseason-outlook-catcher

In addition to Santana, the Mets' starting rotation next year will likely be comprised of returning starters R.A Dickey, Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee. The four had a combined 4.21 ERA last year. While the starting rotation looks rather pedestrian, there is hope for the future. Four prospects — Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia — are all 22 or younger and have the potential to be solid starting pitchers. But Mejia will likely be the only pitcher of the bunch to start the season with the big league club, as the other young arms still need a season or two to develop in the minors. One of the most urgent needs for the Mets is a closer. After trading away Rodriguez last season, the Mets were left without anyone in the bullpen who could reliably fill his spot. Luckily for the Mets, there will be several big name closers on the market this winter, including Heath Bell and Jonathon Papelbon. Because the market will be flooded with competent relievers, the Mets should try to sign a big name closer at a bargain. http://www.nyunews.com/sports/2011/10/18/18mets

After another disappointing season for the New York Mets, it is time to continue the rebuilding process in an effort to get better. In order to do so, I believe that the Mets must make these moves during the offseason.  Priority #1: Re-sign Jose Reyes - Coming off a season in which he had the best year of his career (.337 average, .384 on base %, .493 slugging) including the first batting title ever for the Mets, this task will prove difficult but the injury risk will likely scare some teams away from signing him to what has been deemed "Carl Crawford money". I personally believe that there are really only three teams that will truly be in the Reyes hunt. Those teams will be the Mets, Milwaukee, and to a lesser extent the Angels. I think an offer of 5 years 85 million (averages to about 17 per year) is the max contract that should be offered to him. Anything over that I am willing to part ways. http://globalnym.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-mets-2011-2012-offseason-wishlist.html

Cutnpaste: - Cam Maron, Wilmer Flores, Cost of Reyes, Cory Lidle, Jefry Marte

10-7-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-short-season-catchers  -   Cam Maron earned the K-Mets Sterling Award as a 20-year old when he hit .318/.434/.413 in 58 games. Maron grew up in Huntington in a family of Mets fans, and called getting drafted by the team a “dream come true.” The Mets promoted Maron to Savannah for the final week of the regular season and then the Gnats’ playoff run. He only played in one game for the Gnats, and it was on the road, so I didn’t see it. In terms of offensive profile, Maron reminds me of Josh Thole-lite – with walks, contact and little power. At Kingsport, he drew 38 walks and fanned 34 times. In BP, he sprayed line drives gap-to-gap. The guess here is that Maron and Carillo will split time in Savannah to begin 2012.

10-10-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/132edccbf718965f  - Top five Met prospects -  Sunday, October 9, 2011 - The Record - 3. Wilmer Flores, SS, 20 (.269, nine homers, 81 RBI for St. Lucie): Not an eye-catching year in 2011, but his bat has drawn raves not only from scouts, but from the likes of Carlos Beltran, who said, "He does things I couldn’t at that age." No one sees him sticking as a shortstop.

10-16-11: - www.therecord.com - The comparisons for Reyes are tough to find because of his unique skill set – speed, defense and explosive offensive capabilities — which may help set a price tag. Some refer to Troy Tulowitzki, who without reaching the free agent market, got a 10-year, $157.75 million extension from Colorado. Derek Jeter recently completed a 10-year, $189 million deal he signed in 2001. And while he's a historic hitter, Alex Rodriguez got a 10-year, $252 million deal from Texas that same year.  Perhaps the best comparison is a player who also is entering the free agent market – Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins. Rollins signed his last deal, a five-year, $40 million contract extension (really six for $48.5, because the Phillies picked up the option last year) coming off a season in which he finished 10th in the Most Valuable Player voting.

The Mets acquired right-handed pitcher Cory Lidle from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Kelly Stinnett on January 17, 1996. At the time of the trade Lidle had yet to appear in the majors having spent five seasons in the minors for both the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers. He would spend his first season in the Mets organization pitching for the Binghamton Mets, their double A affiliate, where he posted a 14-10 record. He started the 1997 season with the Norfolk Tides before finally getting the call to the majors. Lidle made his major league debut for the Mets on May 8, 1997. He pitched two innings of scoreless relief in the Mets 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Houston Astros. Three days later Lidle would earn his first victory against the St Louis Cardinals, he pitched a scoreless 8th inning striking out two. - http://www.newyorkmetshistoryonline.com/all-time-mets/cory-lidle-his-mets-career-1997

Jefry Marte was off to a slow start in the Arizona Fall League, but that could be starting to change.  The Mets' No. 10 prospect slugged his first fall homer Saturday afternoon as the Peoria Javelinas held on for an 8-7 victory over the Scottsdale Scorpions.  Serving as the Javelinas' designated hitter, Marte snapped an eighth-inning tie with a two-run blast -- his second extra-base hit in seven AFL games. Peoria hitting coach Alonzo Powell said it's only a matter of time before the 20-year-old gets back on track. - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111015&content_id=25669418&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym

Cutnpaste: - Jose Reyes, Darren Oliver, Kai Gronauer, Darryl Strawberry, 1986 NLCS

Jose Reyes  — Aside from carrying the team this year for stretches at a time, the spark-plug shortstop won the first batting title in franchise history with an average of .337. Furthermore, the pending free agent scored at least 100 runs (101) for the fourth time in his career and stole 39 bases; he is the franchise leader in both categories. If this was goodbye, thanks for the memories, Jose! - http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-9174449

Darren Oliver, Texas Rangers -- Yes, Darren Oliver is still in the league. Yes, Oliver is still effective with a 7.6 bWAR since departing the Mets for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim following the 2006 season. He was an afterthought in 2006 following a year where was released from two different minor league organizations, but the Minaya touch unearthed another gem that added gusto to the southpaw's second wind in the Majors. Oliver was on the roster for the last Mets playoff appearance, which should make it even easier for you to root him on. He'll also be joined by fellow 2006 teammate Endy Chavez, another player who needs no introduction to Mets fans. And Oliver will be cheered on by a few ex-Mets alumni in Rangers co-owner Nolan Ryan and pitching coach Mike Maddux. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs

10-3-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/season-review-the-full-season-catchers  - Kai Gronauer led the B-Mets in games caught with 51, hitting .253/.326/.373 at age 24. His season was interrupted by a hamstring injury. Gronauer is a good communicator and a good interview, but threw out 29% of opposing base stealers (17 of 58). That’s not enough to even be Nickeas.

Darryl Strawberry (1990): Until recently the best offensive player the Mets have ever produced, Straw’s contract expired at the end of the 1990 season. At the time he was at the pinnacle of his career: at age 29 he was on pace the break the all time home run record and was coming off a 37-home run season. Darryl spurned the Mets, instead inking a lucrative five-year $22.25 million contract with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers. He proved to be a bust in LA, hitting only only 38 home runs in three years there before being released. He drifted to San Francisco and then later to the Yankees where he enjoyed a revival of sorts, but his sure-fire Hall of Fame career when he left the Mets was lost in a haze of injuries and drug abuse. He has since reconcilled with the Mets and recently surfaced, warning Reyes to stay in New York. Hard to envision what could have happened had he stayed (many blame the influence of hometown friends on his demise in LA) but the cost of replacing him—first Vince Coleman and then Bobby Bonilla—ushered in a Mets Dark Age that lasted from 1991 to 1998 and the arrival of Mike Piazza. - http://www.metstoday.com/7084/11-12-offseason/adios-jose-five-free-agents-who-left-the-mets

Bob Knepper and the Astros led 3-0 in the ninth inning. A New York loss would tie the series and put the Mets at Mike Scott's mercy in Game 7. Scott already had two complete game victories, suffocating New York on eight hits. The Mets were 108-54 during the season, running away with the NL East by a staggering 21½ games. Suddenly, everything was in peril. Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson: "The team was arrogant enough to deny defeat. They didn't think that was possible. But once the series started, I sensed fear for the first time. … I think of all the things we feared the most was facing Scott in Game 7. We knew what was at stake. We knew that if we lost Game 6, Game 7 was pretty much a write-off. Mentally, most of the guys on that team didn't think that we could beat Scott.'' - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/story/2011-10-03/1986-playoffs-bill-buckner-mets-red-sox/50646152/1

Still Yet Another Approach

Since Carlos Beltran froze up against that fabled Wainwright curveball, Mike Francessa has been calling for the Mets to "Break Up The Core." Now... I'll note that he did it in an egotistical, I'm a Yankee fan and therefore the light shine out of my arse, way but he's been saying it for a while. Perhaps instead of trying to find a way to win NOW... we should be looking for a way to sell EVERYONE.

Step 1: Allow Jose Reyes to go. The Mets net two draft picks and move on from their all star short stop. This means that Ruben Tejada is moved across the diamond to short and that Jordany Valdespin is promoted to starting at 2nd.

Step 2: Trade David Wright. I went over the options in this previous post. The Mets can trade Wright for a bevy of prospects without worrying TOO much over WHERE they play because we're ready to move in a new YOUNGER direction.

Step 3: Ship off Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey and anyone else that might be worth even a middling prospect. Shed the payroll and stock the farm with every available person. You are going to have to potentially eat some contract but isn't it going to be worth it?

Step 4: Sign mediocre guys looking for a rebound. Sign them to one-year deals and no more.

Conclusion: The Mets would be worthless in 2012, would begin to build in 2013 and might make a run in 2014. If they stumbled at all... Mike Francessa would again call for the team to be broken up.

2012

Lineup:
1. Jordany Valdespin, 2B (L)
2. Ruben Tejada, SS (R)
3. Lucas Duda, RF (L)
4. Ike Davis, 1B (L)
5. Yasmani Grandal, C (S)
6. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF (L)
7. Zach Lutz, 3B (R)
8. Jason Bay, LF (R) [HE CAN'T BE TRADED]

Bench:
Josh Thole, C (L)
Nick Evans, Util (R)
Fernando Martinez, OF (L)
Josh Satin, IF (R)
Jason Pridie, OF (L)

Rotation:
1. Jon Niese, LHSP
2. Chris Young, RHSP
3. Dillon Gee, RHSP
4. Javier Vazquez, RHSP
5. Chris Schwinden, RHSP

Bullpen:
Bobby Parnell, RHRP
Pedro Beato, RHRP
Manny Acosta, RHRP
Tim Brydak, LHRP
D.J. Carrasco, RHRP
Daniel Herrera, LHRP
Josh Stinson, RHRP

2013

Lineup:
1. Matt Den Dekker, CF (L)
2. Reese Havens, 2B (L)
3. Yasmani Grandal, C (S)
4. Ike Davis, 1B (L)
5. Lucas Duda, RF (L)
6. Zach Lutz, 3B (R)
7. Stephen Drew, SS (L)
8. Jason Bay, LF (R)

Bench:
Josh Thole, C (L)
Nick Evans, Util (R)
Fernando Martinez, OF (L)
Jordany Valdespin, IF (R)
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF (L)

Rotation:
1. Matt Harvey, RHSP
2. Jon Niese, LHSP
3. Cole Hamels, LHSP
4. Jenrry Mejia, RHSP
5. Colin McHugh, RHSP

Bullpen:
Jeurys Familia, RHRP
Bobby Parnell, RHRP
Pedro Beato, RHRP
Manny Acosta, RHRP
Daniel Herrera, LHRP
Josh Stinson, RHRP
Robert Carson, LHRP

Cutnpaste: - Mike Pelfrey, Pedro Feliciano, Rollins on Reyes, Fake GM, Mets 1st Pennant

Mike Pelfrey — Pelfrey frustrated Mets fans this season on the field, but he was an All-Star in the community. Pelfrey has been nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award, which is given each year to the player "who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team." Cast your vote for Pelfrey up until Oct. 9. - http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-9174449

Pedro Feliciano, New York Yankees -- I have this longstanding policy that the easiest Yankees to root for are the ones who aren't playing. For Perpetual Pedro, it's doubly enjoyable considering the frustration he inflicted on the Yankees' bullpen shortly after concluding his long Mets tenure. Sure, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman likes to blame the Mets for abusing Feliciano over the years. And a quick glance at the back of Feliciano's baseball card would also reflect the reliever's heavy workload in his years at Shea and Citi Field. And a brief review of Mets blogs and chatter would've reflected a concern that Feliciano's magic carpet ride had to end one of these years. It's just great that it hurt the Yankees, even if it might also hurt the playoff shares of ex-Met relievers Raul Valdes and Luis Ayala. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs

Rollins did not condemn Reyes for exiting Wednesday's game after raising his average to .337 -- leaving Milwaukee's Ryan Braun needing a 3-for-4 performance to overtake him -- but made it clear he's not a fan of the tactic. Reyes beat Braun .337 to .332. "I would have played the whole game," Rollins said. "I'm like, 'Hey, I fought this hard to be in this position and I'm going to see it through to the end.' My personality, I'm going to ride it out. I worked this hard to be this good and put up these numbers, I would like to see it all the way to the end. http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/rollins_rant_Ap9KSTC38AW005vQrS6xAI#ixzz1ZXDv37Aw

Of course, if you add in this: Jose Reyes – $20 million - Now you’ve got an (optimistic) 85-win team with $8 million left to spend. Considering injuries and the tough NL East, it’s probably closer to a .500 team, maybe a tick below. It’s basically this season’s team, assuming better health and luck, but without half-seasons from Carlos Beltran and Frankie Rodriguez, and Johan Santana replaces Chris Capuano. And you still need to fix the bullpen, improve the defense, add middle infield depth, outfield depth and depth in the rotation. I’m stumped already. Being a fake GM is hard. - http://www.patrickfloodblog.com/2011/09/30/your-pretend-gm-worksheet

The New York Metropolitans – often called the Mets – defeat Columbus, 4-1, at the Polo Grounds today to clinch the American Association pennant, and the chance to face the Providence Grays in baseball’s first World Series. The Mets win the flag behind the solid pitching of Jack Lynch (37-15, 2.67 earned run average) and Tim Keefe (37-17, 2.25) and the hard hitting of first baseman Dave Orr (American Association batting champion, at .354), third baseman Dude Esterbrook (.314) and center fielder Chief Roseman (.298). The American Association has expanded from eight teams in 1883 to an unwieldy twelve in 1884, and for most of the season the Mets have battled six other teams for the flag —- Columbus, Louisville, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Baltimore and the Philadelphia Athletics. - http://www.edwardachorn.com/diary/173/radbourn-s-immortal-season-october-1-mets-win-first-pennant

Cutnpaste: - Jose Reyes, Mike Baxter, Angel Pagan, Chris Schwinden, J.J. Putz

Here's why I have no problem with what (Jose) Reyes did: SNY, for a little over a month, gave us Jose Reyes Batting Race Updates before and after every single game. Met fans wanted this. It was the only thing to look forward to at the end of another disaster of a season. Everybody who has a personal/professional stake in the Mets wanted this to happen. So when Reyes does something to ensure this happens, he gets killed for it? Met fans turn on him and root for Ryan Braun? Is this serious? I get that people were upset that they couldn't say good-bye to Jose Reyes one final time, but we knew his departure was possible for months now and had plenty of time to cheer for him. And if this was such a big deal, then were was the giant walk-up crowd for tickets? Tell me. - http://www.metstradamusblog.com/2011-articles/september/the-jose-reyes-manifesto.html

Mike Baxter — Baxter slammed his first major league home run in the team's final game of 2011, but that's not what makes his story special. He's a local kid, who grew up in Whitestone and attended Archbishop Molly High School in Queens. He even helped the Stanners win the Catholic High School Athletic Association city title in 2002 at Shea Stadium. Baxter is living proof that dreams do come true. -  http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-9174449

Alderson did not offer a ringing endorsement of outfielder Angel Pagan, who is a candidate to be non-tendered. After two strong campaigns, Pagan floundered in 2011. His .694 on-base plus slugging percentage was nearly 100 points below his average from 2009-2010. His defense regressed, according to advanced metrics such as Ultimate Zone Rating.  Plus, Pagan’s injury woes resurfaced. After completing his first full big-league season in 2010, he played in just in 123 games this year. In all, he left the front office unimpressed. - http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2011/09/mets_constant_rash_of_injuries.html

9-30-11: - With the season over for the Mets, (Chris) Schwinden's offseason began Thursday as he flew back home to Visalia. He's been instructed by the New York Mets organization to not play winter ball and was told to rest during the offseason. He said he'll be in contact with the Mets' brass throughout the offseason and will follow the workout plan that he was given by the team's strength coach. "I reached and went over my innings pitched, so they're just going to have me relax and have me prepare for the offseason," he said. "The big thing, though, during the offseason is fine tuning my mechanics and getting my body in shape.  - http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110930/SPORTS/109300333

J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks -- The D'backs meteoric rise to the MLB Posteason resulted in a thorn in Mets' fans sides finally being dislodged. With Arizona KOing any chance for the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants to repeat, it means this 2011 postseason will be the first since the Collapse of 2007 in which Guillermo Mota will have nothing to do over the next few weeks. Putz didn't exactly win the hearts and minds of the Shea Faithful with an injury-plagued and sub-par tenure, but it was the comments following his departure about his handling by the team's medical staff that finally made the media focus in on what Mets fans knew what a glaring problem under Minaya. That's more than current teammates and Mets expats Xavier Nady and Henry Blanco as well as current D'Backs hitting coach and former Mets bench coach Don Baylor ever contributed, and for that, we thank him. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/30/2459916/a-mets-fans-guide-to-recognizing-your-saints-in-the-2011-mlb-playoffs