Category: General

Baseball Bloggers Alliance Day 2010

I don’t want to harp on this but a quick mention that I’m a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance. Although this may not be significant for most of you, there are some tangible benefits from joining a group of like-minded individuals. You’re probably already aware of that concept because you’re reading this blog. We’re all Mets fans. That allows us to virtually “gather” here and on other sites to hang our heads at the state of this franchise.

The alliance has exposed me to some incredible work that writers are doing on the Mets and other teams. There is a lot of talent out there and some opinions and research that you would never find in the mainstream media. I’ve participated in podcasts and worked with Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation and Pitch In For Baseball to discuss our members supporting their events.  It’s been a great experience in my first season of participation and I’m looking forward to a future of growth and exposure to new opportunities with the group.

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Mets 2010 Scorecard – Part 1 Offense

Businessman covered in sticky notes while pointing his finger to his head

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsIn the world of corporate finance there are some important tools that are used to run a business. Stockholders might expect the CEO of the company to know every detail about every job in the company, but the board members know better. They expect the CEO, CFO, COO and others to look at specific numbers and trends to identify problems and or opportunities. Hence, the tool known as the Scorecard.

This is a tool that many people have seen or have some experience with. In baseball a Scorecard keeps track of balls, strikes, outs, hits, etc. In business the Scorecard often tracks productivity, labor costs, expenses, and benchmark data. It is a one page summary of the important numbers and trends the team/company should be tracking.

So in using my background in finance and business I have designed a Scorecard for the New York Mets. In this we will track weekly, monthly and yearly statistics. I will identify certain baseball stats that the General Manager should be tracking as well as some financial stats that the President and CEO should be tracking.

As an introduction I will slowly build the Scorecard with you over the next few weeks/months. I want to be able to explain the need for each of the items we will be evaluating as well as the context we will be placing them. I will be evaluating the Mets versus the top five teams in the National League in each of the respective categories. I choose this metric because the goal for the Mets is to first make the playoffs, then progress to the World Series. After looking at a few different ways of evaluating the team, I settled on the top five teams in the NL. Success in those categories will most likely breed success in the standings and hopefully the progression into the playoffs. Continue reading “Mets 2010 Scorecard – Part 1 Offense”

Mets Should Make An Offer For Derek Jeter

NEW YORK - APRIL 03: David Wright of the New York Mets and Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees attend Delta's Jeter/Wright batting challenge at the Stone Rose Lounge on April 3, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

There! I said it. Something no one else would dare say. “Go get Derek Jeter”.

The Mets have a leadership problem and a hole at second base. Both holes can be filled immediately and at the same time some bragging rights can be taken for the City of NY.

WE JUST STOLE YOUR CAPTAIN! Take that Yankee fans! Welcome to NY Sandy Alderson. You’re the Man!

Yes, my crazy, zany, wacky, ridiculous idea for the Mets to sign Jeter is not exactly “Saberliscous” but who cares. Think about what would happen if the Mets stole the future Hall of Famer from the Yankees. Think of the ticket sales! Think of all the crying Yankee fans. Think of all the Met #2 Jerseys that would be floating around the Tri-state area with Jeter’s name on it. Oh the pain!

Jeter can obviously handle the NY media, give hands on training to David Wright on how to be a captain and bring some professionalism to that clubhouse.

Of course, the Yankees would never allow themselves to lose a bidding war for Jeter to the Mets. At the very least drive up Jeter’s offer. Force the Yankee’s to overpay him considerably, thereby ensuring the Yankees will have less payroll flexibility in the future. Knock out the Yankees this year from next years free agent market.

It’s a win – win! Just sayin…

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Nolan Ryan and Saber-Metrics Go To The World Series

Texas Rangers owner Nolan Ryan holds up the ALCS trophy as the Rangers beat the New York Yankees 6-1 to take game six of the ALCS at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas on October 22, 2010. It will be the Rangers first trip to the World Series. UPI/Ian Halperin Photo via Newscom

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsWhat happens when you take a bankrupt baseball franchise, a part owner who was arguably the most successful pitcher of the 60’s and 70’s and team him up with the youngest General Manager in history who is a self proclaimed Saber-metrics Geek?

You get a team with a $50 million payroll heading to the World Series.

You have to admire the fusion of ideas from the 60’s, 70’s and today. Nolan Ryan, arguably one of the best pitchers ever to play the game, current part owner and president of the Texas Rangers, brings a belief that pitchers should not be subject to pitch counts and should pitch deep into games as in decades past.

Jon Daniels, youngest GM in the majors, brings the saber-metrics revolution to the Texas Rangers. Sabermetrics, the statistical analysis of a players future potential, enables many small market teams to identify potential low cost talent and explains why small markets teams who implement saber-metrics are able to compete with teams in larger markets.

It’s an interesting combination and although Nolan Ryan has taken some credit for turning the Texas Rangers around due to the emphasis on pitchers going deeper in games, Jon Daniels, super sabermetrics geek, is now a hot commodity and a highly sought after GM.

Teams that are able to blend the traditional game of baseball with a true understanding of saber-metrics will be the most successful teams in the game. Hence, why the search for the Mets next GM is so important.

I’m still dabbling in the world of Saber-Metrics myself but wonder if a GM with a true understanding of Saber-Metrics would have signed the likes of Gary Sheffield, Oliver Perez, John Maine, Pedro Martinez, Luis Castillo, J.J. Putz, and the many other players who didn’t pan out as planned.

In a day and age where you can easily calculate a player’s “VORP” or “Value Over Replacement Player” the decision to sign or drop a player should be a lot easier for any GM to make and, thankfully, the Mets have narrowed down the field of potential GM’s to two people who both understand sabermetrics. Sandy Alderson and Josh Byrnes.

But in the end, it still feels like it’s down to only one person, Sandy Alderson, and that decision felt like it had been made three weeks ago. Sandy Alderson is the only candidate who brings that blend of old school & new school baseball mentalities that has catapulted the Texas Rangers to the World Series. So the question remains and seems an easy one to answer…

Will the Mets follow the Texas Rangers game plan?

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Mets Report Mailbag- Oct. 27, 2010

New York Mets pitcher Francisco Rodriguez is escorted by police for his arraignment on a third-degree assault charge at Queens Criminal Court in New York August 12, 2010. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL CRIME LAW)

What should the Mets do with the bullpen?  K-Rod is a mess and Takahashi is a free agent. Do you think any young players could help?

-Rich – Astoria, Queens

K-Rod

The Mets are stuck with anger management 101’s newest enrolled member for one more year. His velocity has been decreasing since he arrived in Queens and his control issues make fans climb walls. Most elite closers can manage with decent control because of a 95-98mph heater. K-Rod has been throwing a 92 mph fastball, and he’s been hurt when he falls behind in counts. Nevertheless, it should be K-Rod’s job to lose come spring training. With that said, The Mets should have the flexibility San Francisco has had with their under performing stars. K-Rod is still the best option on the club due to his track record, but his rope should be tighter than in years past.

Hisanori Takahashi

The Mets should only bring Takahashi back if it’s a one year deal. I don’t like the idea of signing an aging relief pitcher with one year of big league experience to a multi-year deal. He was solid in many different roles for the Mets and succeeded in some very tough situations. They should look to get him at a reasonable price and not over spend. Middle relief is often tricky and unpredictable. You don’t want to pay too much and get tied up in big deals.

Jenrry Mejia and  Bobby Parnell

In my opinion Mejia and Parnell need to start the year in the bullpen and be left there. I look at a Neftali Feliz and see a 22 year old top prospect flamethrower with 40 saves. Mejia has the stuff you want from a closer with an A fastball that cuts and a nasty slider. Putting a big prospect arm in the pen for the long haul is not a punishment or an over aggressive move if he shortens the game. Mejia has the stuff of a dominant closer. Parnell’s development depends on his ability to throw his secondary stuff consistently for strikes. His fastball runs triple digits and he’s a power arm you’d love to give every chance come 2011. Continue reading “Mets Report Mailbag- Oct. 27, 2010”

Pepsi Refresh Project- Joe Torre Safe At Home

The month of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, brings with it an exciting opportunity for our Foundation and the children whose lives we affect.  The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation has been selected by Pepsi to compete for a $250,000 grant and the only way to ensure our success is through the support of our friends and their commitment to voting!  This grant will go to our signature programming initiative, Margaret’s Place, a safe room in schools that works to promote awareness, prevent violence, and intervene in high-risk situations.

Please take a moment to VOTE EVERY DAY in the month of OCTOBER – We are asking you to reach out to your contacts and embark on a recruiting campaign as an official teammate of the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation!  We truly believe in our chance to win this grant and change the lives of countless children who are affected by abuse, but we know we cannot do it alone.  We need your support and the support of your friends and families!  Please click the link below, sign up for Pepsi Refresh and vote EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

Each person is allowed to vote once a day online and via text and you’ll need a simple sign up to get started on the Pepsi website.  You can even sign in using your Facebook account!

1.       Go to the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation‘s page

2.       Click on the “Vote for this idea” button

3.       If you haven’t registered or signed in, you will be prompted to do so

4.       After you have signed in, make sure you click the “Vote for this idea” button

(The button will disappear once you have voted for us)

  1. After you vote, you can easily promote our idea on Facebook and Twitter!
  2. Let us know if you have any questions!  It will be posted on the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation website and Facebook page every day for easy access to the website!

We also encourage you to vote via text every day!

Text 103254 to the number 73774 (Pepsi).

Put it on your calendar!  Set an alarm!  Keep those votes coming!

THANK YOU!

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Mets Fire Manuel, Minaya – New Era Dawns

New York Mets newly appointed Manager Jerry Manuel (R) is introduced to reporters by Mets General manager Omar Minaya during a news conference in Anaheim, California, in this June 17, 2008 file photograph. The New York Mets fired Manuel and Minaya on October 4, 2010, just one day after the Major League Baseball regular season ended. Manuel and Minaya paid the price after the Mets stumbled to a second consecutive losing season (79-83) and failed to make the playoffs for the fourth straight year, despite having one of the league's biggest payrolls. REUTERS/Hector Mata (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsAs expected, the Mets fired Omar Minaya and declined to pick up the option on Jerry Manuel’s contract for next season. It was a decisive move, only one day after the end of another disappointing season.

Apparently, Minaya was offered another job with the Mets but declined. It was a reign of mostly unsuccessful seasons. He had six years at the helm of one of the monster payrolls of Major League Baseball with only one playoff appearance to show for it. Declining attendance and fan interest have been rampant since the end of the 2007 “Collapse”.

Manuel didn’t do a poor job but he didn’t do a great job either. He just didn’t inspire the players to do more than we thought they were capable of. I don’t blame the decline of the team on him but it wouldn’t be fair to saddle a new GM with a manager that he doesn’t want.

There’s been a lot of talk about the Wilpons trying to run the baseball operations of the team. Of course, it’s tough to get an accurate gauge on that without being in a room with them. Usually, when there’s smoke there’s fire though.

A new era begins for the Mets and I think we’re all ready to move on from the last few painful seasons. No matter which direction the Wilpons go, we should have some optimism for the future of the team.

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