Month: December 2009

Video: Jason Bay Signs With Mets

Jason Bay at a game between Orioles and the Re...
Image via Wikipedia

The Mets finally bagged Jason Bay for 4-years/$65 million with a vesting option that could take it to 5-years/$80 million. That’s a fair deal in my mind. Surprisingly, the Mets didn’t bid against themselves to overpay for Bay. I would guess that the impetus for Bay signing now is that Mark DeRosa signed with the Giants already. So there was one less suitor for Bay.

If you’ve been reading this site for a while now, you know that Bay or Matt Holliday in left field was my priority for the team. So… “mission accomplished” to quote George Bush. Now it’s time that the Mets move on to resolving the starting catcher and a middle/back of rotation starting pitcher. If they could trade Luis Castillo away for a bag of balls I’d be thrilled too.

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Video: Jason Bay To Red Sox Still Possible

Cesar Izturis and Jason Bay

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

I’ve included some ESPN video with Jerry Crasnick after the break for you on the slight possibility that Jason Bay winds up back in Boston. Although I seriously doubt that’ll happen, mostly because the Sox already got Jeremy Hermida and signed Mike Cameron. The Red Sox are just under the luxury tax for 2010 and they’d be paying a 22.5% premium if they went over. I can’t figure out how Bay makes sense for them unless they unload Hermida and Cameron.

Crasnick goes on to say that the Giants and Angels are still in the mix for Bay but I think the Mets are his best option financially. Speaking of financially, the video includes some info about Matt Holliday and the Cardinals. How can they open the vault for Holliday when Albert Pujols is a free agent next year? They can’t. Don’t be surprised if Holliday/Scott Boras come back to talk to the Mets before all of this is said and done.

Video is below the break.

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Kelvim Escobar Signs With Mets

BOSTON - OCTOBER 5: Kelvim Escobar #45 of the ...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Mets signed Kelvim Escobar off the scrap heap but the real surprise is that they gave him a Major League contract. Escobar has only pitched in one game in the last two seasons due to shoulder problems. But he has had a nice career in the American League. He’ll be this spring’s version of Freddy Garcia or Livan Hernandez. That is, seeing if he still has enough to pitch in the big’s at 33 years-old.

Escobar spent his first seven seasons in Toronto, coming up in 1997. He’s a Venezuelan that most recently pitched with the Angels. So I would assume that the Mets got some feedback from Francisco Rodriguez about him before the signing. Who would know him better than K-Rod?

If you look at Escobar’s split stats, he’s very consistent versus lefties and righties. He’s also pitched five games in his career against the Phillies going 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA. He also seems to have the most trouble from pitches 1-30 in his career, once he gets past that point in the game he’s pretty formidable. Maybe he can rekindle some of that old magic.

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Happy Holidays Mets Fans

Baseball Hall of Fame Ornament

Image by aliwest44 via Flickr

I wanted to post a quick Happy Holidays message to all of you that have read and supported The Mets Report this year. It’s been my best year ever for the site and it keeps getting better and better, unlike the Mets. I hope you enjoy the holidays with your friends and family.

If you find yourself with a couple of extra bucks in your pocket this year, you can help some good causes:

Boys and Girls Clubs of America– Official charity of Major League Baseball

The New York Mets Foundation– Official charity of the Mets

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Mets Fan Social Network From MetsReport.com

Image representing Ning as depicted in CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

I started up a social network, or community, for Mets fan on Ning in 2008. For some unknown reason, I let it slip away. But I’ve been inspired over the last few months to start it up again. And I think that’s because I’ve heard from so many Mets fans with opinions that they want to express. Sure, you can go the millions of pages on Facebook but there isn’t much functionality for you to express yourself. Those pages are all about the moderator.

You’re welcome to join for free. And you can create your own customized page there including the color scheme. The key features are:

  • Blog– You can add your own blog posts including saving drafts of posts. Make your opinions known without the hassle of having to set up and maintain a blog server
  • Forum– The message board for Mets fan to communicate with each other
  • Chat– Live chat with other Mets fans. It’s great to chat during games.
  • Photos– Add your photos to the site for other Mets fans to see, rate, and comment on
  • Videos– Add your own videos or link to videos from your site or YouTube
  • Groups– Create your own group within the network. I’m already thinking about creating the “Trade or demote Murphy” group
  • Events– Add new events that Mets fan would be interested in knowing about

Join up today and let your voice be heard to the Mets fan community.I’ve also added some links on the site on the Social Network page and the Live Game Chat page.

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Voice of the Fan: Mets 2009 Offseason Inactivity

Epitome of a Met Fan

Image by Michael Mase via Flickr

I haven’t been worried about the Mets lack of making a splashy free agent signing or trade until now. But if they can’t get something done within the next week or so, we do need to be concerned. I’ve talked to a lot of Mets fans that are starting to freak out that John Lackey is off the board and the Mets seem to be bargain hunting for free agent pitching and outfielders, not to mention the lack of depth in the organization.

In this continuation of my voice of the fan series you can read what frequent commenter Mark Jones, aka MetStatHead, has to say about the Mets offseason so far. If you’re interested in having your voice heard here at The Mets Report get in touch with me on my Contact page. Read on for Mark’s thoughts.

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Non-tendered List Includes Wang, Atkins, And Cust

{{w|Chien-Ming Wang}}, Taiwanese pitcher for t...

Image via Wikipedia

The list of players not offered contracts for 2010 became clear today after last night’s deadline. The list is highlighted by Chien-Ming Wang, Garrett Atkins, and Jack Cust. Also closers Mike MacDougal and Matt Capps were let go. Ryan Garko was let go by the Giants as well after not fulfilling his potential in both Cleveland and San Francisco.

I wrote about the list of players that the Mets non-tendered today as well. There weren’t any major surprises there. But I do think that the Mets will be talking to some of the players that the other MLB teams cut loose.

Wang has a huge upside. He won 19 games in both 2006 and 2007 but has been beset by injuries for the last two seasons. So has John Maine and the Mets are holding onto him. And he has nowhere near the potential that Wang has.

Cust is a low-average, power-hitting RF/DH. I’m not sure where he would fit in with the Mets considering he’s an adventure in the outfield. But we all know that the Mets are in desperate need of some power. He could be a Matt Stairs-type of player for the Mets.

Continue reading “Non-tendered List Includes Wang, Atkins, And Cust”