Category: General

Mets Start 2011 with More Questions than Answers

Carlos Beltran
Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

As the Mets and Marlins get ready to begin the 2011 season tonight, I can’t help but think that the Mets team is going to look very different when this season ends. The financially struggling Wilpons didn’t bring in Sandy Alderson, J.P. Ricciardi, and Paul DePodesta to stand pat like they did all winter. There are going to be moves this season and probably some big ones.

The Infield

Ike Davis looks like he’s on his way to becoming a solid, if not spectacular everyday player. David Wright is the face of the franchise and locked up in a contract until 2012 with an option for 2013. After that, things are much more in question. Is Josh Thole an everyday catcher? Will Jose Reyes sign an extension, get traded, or just play out his contract with the Mets? Are Brad Emaus or Daniel Murphy going to solidify second base?

The Outfield

Angel Pagan looks like a solid center fielder on the rise in his career. Scott Hairston and Willie Harris look like capable fourth and fifth outfielders. The other two-thirds of the outfield are question marks. Does Carlos Beltran have anything left that could justify all (or even a small portion) of his $18.5 million salary for this season? Will Beltran waive his no-trade clause at some point during the season? Will Jason Bay do anything productive for the Mets or is he another big free agent bust? Continue reading “Mets Start 2011 with More Questions than Answers”

MLB 2011 Season Predictions

This is a guest post by Jim Brakewood. Jim is a Mets fan and dedicated fantasy baseball aficionado. He told me about his predictions for the 2011 MLB season and I offered him an opportunity to post his thoughts for The Mets Report readers. Comment at the bottom of the page with your thoughts on Jim’s predictions.

American League                              National League

AL East: Red Sox                                    NL East: Mets (pfft kidding, Braves)

AL Central: White Sox                          NL Central: Brewers

AL West: Rangers                                   NL West: Rockies

AL Wild Card: Yankees                        NL Wild Card: Phillies

AL Champion: Yankees                        NL Champion: Braves

World Series: Yankees over Braves

Sorry Mets fans, I couldn’t help the Mets winning the East… joke.  Red Sox from the beginning of the season to the end may very well have the best record in baseball. Top to bottom, with a few question marks in Dice-K, Lackey, and Beckett, has the best team. So why don’t I have them in the World Series? I really believe the New York Yankees are going to trade Jesus Montero and whomever else they need to in order to grab another stud pitcher, whether it’s Liriano from Minnesota (some rumors have King Felix being available) or Wandy Rodriguez from Houston. I’ve heard rave reviews about Burnett and Ivan Nova. A-Rod also claims to be in the best shape of his life and from what I’ve seen and heard…..I believe him. He is going to have a monster year.

I know the popular pick is Minnesota right now. I just don’t trust Mauer and Morneau to be healthy all season and I can’t say I am a fan of the pitching staff beyond Liriano and perhaps Pavano. The Tigers will be the biggest challengers to Chicago: between Verlander, Scherzer and Porcello and the bats of Migs, V-Mart, Guillen, Ordonez and Inge they should be able to capture the Central. Verlander has been amazing this spring and I don’t see any reason it will stop. I just love the White Sox this year; they have athleticism, power, great depth at starting pitching, and an upper tier closer. Beckham is poised to have a break out year, Ramirez and Pierre add to the speed and athleticism with Dunn, Quentin, Konerko always a threat to go yard. Continue reading “MLB 2011 Season Predictions”

Lost My Mets Hope Springs Eternal – Spring Training Magic

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: Sandy Alderson poses f...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

I was incredibly impressed with the response to my last posting. The traffic was tremendous and I can only assume, especially since there were only five comments, it was because there is a silent majority of Mets fans out there who are thinking the same thing. This is the first Spring Training in history (at least in my history) where hope is not Springing eternal and here’s why…

For me, this Spring Training started out as any other. The players showed up, most in great shape, Terry Collins proved pretty quickly that he runs a tight ship and I am a huge fan of Sandy Alderson. He’s the only person qualified to handle this unique mess.

One thing bothers me though…. The current ownership group was exposed for flat out lying to the fans by stating their Madoff losses would have no effect on the team. At the same time we are finding out the exact opposite from the traditional media.

The NYTimes reports the Mets lost $50 million last year. They stand to lose an additional $50 million this year. Forbes has shaved off $100 million in worth from the Mets in 1 year. The Mets, now valued at $700 million, minus $500 million of which is debt, means the Wilpon’s have a team worth $200 million to them. Continue to lose $50 million a year and the team is worthless in 4 years.

As Mets fans do you accept that? Do you accept being a worthless, potentially last place team in the largest media market in the world?  Oh yeah, you also compete with the NY Yankees so many of those paying fans are never coming back.

We all think that payroll is being freed up for major acquisition’s but it really looks like payroll is being freed up to cover losses. When you lose $50 million a year you’re not going out and signing any big free agents. The Mets just don’t have the money and since they’re already awash in debt they can’t borrow and spend their way out of this predicament. Continue reading “Lost My Mets Hope Springs Eternal – Spring Training Magic”

Video: MLB At Bat 2011 iPhone App Review

iPad and the MLB At Bat 2010 app at Dodger Stadium
Image by stevelyon via Flickr

Kerel Cooper of On The Black and our own David Daniels talk about the 2011 version of the MLB At Bat app for the iPhone. Now is the perfect time to invest in the app before the season starts next week. I have the Android version and love it. I’ve been listening to the Mets spring training games, even when they’re not broadcast on WFAN by tuning into the opposing team’s broadcast.

The app has real-time game tracking, a scoreboard, MLB news, and let’s you pick your favorite team. It’ll customize the experience to your team as well. MLB Advanced Media really did a nice job with this version. It’s worth the $15 if you’re a big fan.

 

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Mets Forbes Value Down, Ticket Sales Awful

Gulf Coast League Mets
Image via Wikipedia

It’s a bad time to be trying to sell a piece of the Mets. The 2011 Forbes MLB valuations are out and the Mets are down 13% from 2010, the biggest drop of any team. On average, team values increased by 7%. So the Mets are down 20% from the average team. Forbes noted a $6 million operating loss by the Mets last year and a 25% reduction in gate receipts in their valuation.

Throwing dirt on the Wilpon’s grave, Forbes also noted today that the Mets 2011 ticket sales are frighteningly dismal. They cite a report at MLB offices noting that the Mets have only sold 600,000 tickets so far and are projecting 3 million for potential buyers. The author writes that this translates to only 7,000 season tickets sold to date. That’s hideous!

I have to think the Forbes report will impact the sale of the a minority stake in the Mets. It’s been well reported that the debt against the team is heavy and a lower valuation of the asset is just what the Wilpons don’t need right now. I still think that they’ll have to relinquish their majority ownership at some point in the future.

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Do the 2011 Mets have Any Shot At all of Making the Playoffs?

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Owner Fred W...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Let’s see… Johan Santana may be out for the year, Carlos Beltran is one slide away form blowing out both knees, Jose Reyes is one hard run from blowing out a hammy, and Krod is one fight away from prison. We have a rookie catcher, two pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery, Mike Pelfrey’s Psychiatrist passed away so the yips may be back, the franchise 3rd baseman has yet to step up and be a leader, an ongoing hole at 2nd base and the team can’t/won’t be spending any money anytime soon. Did I miss something?

And let’s not forget the team is owned by the Three Stooges of Real Estate investing (Katz, Wilpon, Wilpon Jr.) who admit knowing nothing about investing and obviously even less about running a baseball franchise. I fully expect MLB to have to step in and take over the day to day operations of the team while it’s owners go through bankruptcy. You think it’s hard to take down a middle eastern dictator? Wait till you see the fight the Wilpons put up to keep the Mets. It’s gonna get ugly!

Don’t expect any help from the free agent market either. No free agent hitter in their right mind would want to play at cavernous Citi Field even if we had the money to spend. Pitcher’s looking to prolong their careers may consider Citi Field but are you, the fans, really going to spend your hard earned money to watch a bunch of retreads prolong their careers? Hit up Stubhub starting in June for $1 seats that season ticket holders will be trying to get rid of.

So with opening day upon us I proclaim the Mets will finish dead last and the current owners will be fighting well into 2012 to try and hold onto this team. I see little hope for this year and certainly see no hope for 2012 if the Wilpons are still the owners.

Although I am seeing a lot of positives coming from the current management team of Collins and Alderson, there are still an awful lot of flaws on this team and something current management can’t control… What happens in the owners box.

So do the Mets have a shot at the Playoffs this year? Do you really have to ask that question? Really?!?
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Where Is the MLB At Bat 2011 iPhone App?

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: In this photo i...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Spring training is finally here with pitchers & catchers reporting this week and the Mets blogosphere is now starting to come alive. It’s my favorite time of year…

But over at my personal blog, where I track iPhone apps and other various tech tool and plugins, I’m anxiously awaiting the release of MLB.com’s At Bat 2011 iPhone App. Where is it? No one knows. I received a teaser notification from the 2010 version of the app informing me the 2011 version is on it’s way. No date was announced though.

I have a small discussion going on at my blog as well as a promo. The most interesting comment will be gifted the MLB At Bat 2011 iPhone App. The comments are going to be judged by a 3 member panel. Dave Doyle as well as Kerel Cooper from On The Black have offered to judge comments with me. It’s open to all iPhone users.

I’m just not sure what’s holding this app up. I do know there is a huge update to the Android edition of the app that will include streaming video of every MLB game. Of course, blackout restrictions apply which means you will not be able to watch your home teams play. No one knows how much the new app will cost. Last year the app was $14.99. This year I’ve heard numbers anywhere from $20 to free. All this is just speculation though.

So leave your comments, when do you think the app is coming out, what new features do you think will be available, what’s the difference between the Android and iPhone editions of the app?

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