Category: Latest News

Carlos Beltran’s Future with the Mets

July 23, 2010 Los Angeles, CA..Mets Carlos Beltran in action during the Major League Baseball game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Mets defeated the Dodgers, 6-1..Josh Thompson/CSM.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsIt’s been over two weeks since Carlos Beltran’s return from his knee injury and you can just about stick a fork in the Mets. Prior to his return, I was cautiously optimistic that Beltran would be capable of igniting a power surge in the middle of the lineup. This has not been the case. Instead, we’ve seen him not be able to bat his weight and not be able to display his graceful mobility in center field, suggesting that he is better suited for a corner outfield position at this stage in his career. With another month and half left of what just about promises to be meaningless baseball, Carlos Beltran’s future can be a topic of discussion.

Should the Mets shop him around to other teams this off-season or no? He is Carlos Beltran, and when healthy, he undoubtedly provides a game changing presence. My answer to that question is ‘no’ based on the fact that he will be playing for a new contract in 2011 with his biggest fan Scott Boras by his side. Beltran also has a full no-trade clause and would likely request a contract extension and only accept a trade to a few teams to waive that clause. Continue reading “Carlos Beltran’s Future with the Mets”

Video: Minaya on K-Rod Return

Francisco Rodriguez is scheduled to return from his two game suspension today for beating his girlfriend’s father at Citi Field. He’ll address the media today and, presumably, apologize for his actions.

Here’s video of Omar Minaya talking about the incident and Rodriguez’ return.

http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf

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John Fitzgerald on “Playing For Peanuts”, Wally Backman, and the Mets

Manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones Wally Backman gets vocal during a game on July 31, 2010 in Brooklyn, NY (Photo by Jack Shea / Meet The Famous) Photo via Newscom

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsWally Backman has become a hot name amongst the fans and the media. As the 2010 Mets ship continues to sink, fans are scrambling looking for something to hold on to. The life raft for some has become the former second baseman of the 1986 club. Wally Backman has been linked as a potential candidate for the 2011 Mets. He is currently at the helm of the Brooklyn Cyclones who are winning and playing exciting baseball.

Wally has not been a stranger to the press, but much about the man is told in anecdote. To get a closer look at Wally, I spoke with John Fitzgerald, the man behind the much talked about  “Playing for Peanuts” series. Before he began his project on the South Georgia Peanuts, John was a production assistant for several motion pictures. He then took on a project in Ireland about the Irish National Baseball team. There he filmed and worked amongst players who were sacrificing for the love of the game. In continuing with this theme, John approached the South Coast Independent League about doing a potential project. They gave him a list of teams that he could potentially cover. Amongst them, John saw a familiar name listed as manager of the Peanuts.

John Fitzgerald grew up a Mets fan in the eighties. In 1983, at six years old, John can remember his father’s typical Met fan jargon “They lost to the Cubs again!”. Nevertheless, the Mets began an upward trend and John can remember people wanting to mimic the Mets’ aggressive brand of baseball. The name on the list of teams and managers was Wally Backman. John took the opportunity to connect these interests. I had the pleasure to talk to John about “Playing for Peanuts”, the Mets, and “Uncle Wally”. Continue reading “John Fitzgerald on “Playing For Peanuts”, Wally Backman, and the Mets”

Mets’ K-Rod Arrested for Assault at Citi Field

New York Mets relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez blows a kiss to the stands after they beat the Atlanta Braves in their MLB National League baseball game in New York, July 11, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsFrancisco Rodriguez was arrested after last night’s loss to the Rockies at Citi Field. He was involved in a physical altercation with his father-in-law, who was injured. According to multiple media reports, K-Rod was arrested and being held at Citi Field.

This isn’t the first dust up for K-Rod since he joined the Mets last season. But it is the first time it’s gotten physical. In May, he and bullpen coach Randy Niemann had some sort of disagreement in the bullpen. My take on it was that K-Rod was complaining about having to warm and never enter games and Niemann told him to pipe down.

It’s just another situation making this disappointing season worse and worse. Johan Santana was accused by a woman in Florida of raping her. He wasn’t charged by the police but she’s suing him now in civil court.

The only thing I will say is that sometimes the best players have an edge to them that you don’t always like. The Mets of the ’80’s weren’t choir boys. We all know that. Not that K-Rod has been a great player, but sometimes you have to live with edgy behavior from players.

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Mets Release Alex Cora, Demote Jesus Feliciano

Alex Cora
Image via Wikipedia

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN, the Mets have released Alex Cora and demoted Jesus Feliciano to Triple-A Buffalo. In corresponding moves, Fernando Martinez and Ruben Tejada are being called up and will be with the team tonight in Philadelphia.

Cora is in his second season with the Mets but hitting only .207 this year in 62 games. The problem with Cora is that his $2 million option for 2011 would vest when he played 80 games in 2010 which he would certainly reach. Management decided to nip that in the bud and release him.

Cora is a popular figure in the Mets clubhouse and a leader on the team. It’ll be interesting to see how the players respond to this adversity. Clearly, the message is that nobody is immune from being shipped out if they don’t perform.

Martinez and Tejada wouldn’t be joining the Mets if they weren’t going to get significant playing time. They’re both young, rising stars in the Mets organization. There’s no point in planting them on the bench. So you would expect other moves to be made to clear out more playing time for them. Specifically, Luis Castillo and Jeff Francoeur will probably be the next Mets players to go.

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Omar Minaya Fails Chemistry 101

New York Mets General Manager Omar Minaya watches batting practice prior to the game against the Washington Nationals on September 18, 2008 at Nationals Park in Washington. (UPI Photo/Mark Goldman) Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom

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I’ve been silent for almost two weeks because what I have been watching has left me speechless.

I could definitely say I told you so when, before the season started, I predicting this team was not much better than a 4th place team. I also continue to believe that the GM, Omar Minaya,  is the root cause of this teams problems.The Mets inspired play of May and June left me hoping that things were finally going to change. Wrong on that count. Omar’s high priced players are back and with it came the downfall of a lovable team that played above it’s talent level for at least 6 weeks.

 

Why is Omar the root cause of this teams problem?

Any business student could tell you the reason why and they wouldn’t even need to now anything about baseball. Anyone in the military could tell you the same thing. Anytime you have a breakdown in the chain of command your team will know it and respond accordingly. It always gets ugly!The only explanation for a team-wide collapse is that someone just above the manager (cough, cough, ahem… the GM) is cutting the managers feet out from under him by making some decisions that only the manager should be making. A GM should not be making out the lineup card and deciding who plays.

 

When this happens the whole team team chemistry gets screwed up. Players who earned playing time are no longer playing. Players who were leaders are now asked to sit the bench. Playing your butt off no longer earns you playing time, the size of your contract now determines your playing time. There is no incentive to perform.

This bad chemistry keeps breeding and growing turning player against player until even the good players, who play their hearts out, start to screw up. Continue reading “Omar Minaya Fails Chemistry 101”