Category: Latest News

Jon Heyman on Jerry Manuel Extension

May 28, 2010- Milwaukee, WI. Miller Park..New York Mets Manager Jerry Manuel . .Milwaukee Brewers won over the New York Mets 2-0, taking the first game of the 3 game series against the Mets...Mike McGinnis / CSM.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js“Time to give Jerry Manuel an extension. He has fostered a positive vibe around the Mets.” -From Sports Illustrated writer Jon Heyman’s twitter earlier today.

Keep in mind readers, this is the opinion of a sports journalist who believes Andy Pettitte is Hall of Fame worthy. I really had to see this on Jon Heyman’s Twitter with my own eyes when I heard Evan Roberts talking about this on WFAN on Tuesday. So far with the Mets, Jerry Manuel’s tenure has been highlighted by an agonizing collapse in 2008, and a completely lost season in 2009. For 2009, we could of course look at the injuries as an excuse, but the way the product that was on the field performed at times was certainly inexcusable.

To be frank, firing Jerry Manuel would have been a move the team ultimately would have been disaffected by. It wouldn’t have addressed the main problems the team was facing. I can’t say I dislike Jerry Manuel. Sure, he seems to talk in circles during some post-game interviews and some of his in-game strategy is questionable at times. However, I do genuinely believe that he is a players manager, and this season so far, the team is performing at a competitive level. Manuel’s head has been raised from the chopping block, and the fascination with Bob Melvin among Mets faithful is no longer visible in the rear-view mirror. Continue reading “Jon Heyman on Jerry Manuel Extension”

Video: Mets 2010 Potential Trade Deadline Moves

New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran (15) warms up 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

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsFox Sports is doing a virtual GM piece with Jim Bowden in the video below. If you can get past his odd looking hair, he actually does a pretty good job of assessing the Mets situation coming up to next month’s non-waiver trade deadline.

Bowden says that the Mets will be looking at starting pitching, Carlos Beltran’s health, and a potential upgrade at second base. Of course, all of those are easier said than done. But the national media aren’t always on when it comes to analyzing team needs. In this video, Bowden is pretty much dead on.

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Video: Virtual GM: Mets

John Maine Suffers Setback In Rehab Start

New York Mets starting pitcher John Maine delivers a pitch to the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of play in their MLB National League baseball game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 4, 2010. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe road to recovery for John Maine just hit another speed bump. John Maine pitched Friday night for Buffalo and only went 4.1 IP while throwing 88 pitches without being able to increase velocity. Jerry Manuel told reporters before Sunday’s game that Maine didn’t feel well after the start and needs to be re-evaluated by team doctors.

It’s too bad for Maine for this to happen in his walk year. He looked like a rising start in 2007 only to have three injury plagued seasons to follow. Manuel also told reporters that he wasn’t considering removing Hisanori Takahashi from the rotation at this point. And Omar Minaya told reporters that he didn’t see Maine as a fit in the Mets bullpen.

The message is pretty clear from those statements. There isn’t a spot on the big league roster for Maine. If he gets healthy and they can’t put him on the roster, most likely he’ll be designated for assignment. I really do think Maine’s days with the Mets are numbered.

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Mets Option Jenrry Mejia To Binghamton

April 22 2010: Mets' relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia (32) delivers a pitch in the 9th inning during MLB action between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field in Flushing, New York. Mets defeated the Cubs 5-2.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets have finally given up on the idea of Jenrry Mejia relieving at the big league level this season. According to multiple media reports he’s been optioned to Double-A Binghamton to stretch out and start again.

Bobby Parnell will replace Mejia in the bullpen. He’s been pitching fairly well at Triple-A Buffalo where he’s 1-1 with a 4.14 ERA in 41.1 IP. He pitched in 68 games including 8 starts for the awful 2009 Mets to a 5.30 ERA.

I’m still not sure that I see Mejia as a starter. He’s clearly still a “thrower” not a pitcher. But the velocity that he generates and the lack of secondary pitches seems to me would be more of a fit in the bullpen than the rotation. Either way, he’s not developed enough to succeed in the majors in either capacity right now.

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The Long Lost Yankees Mascot

Apr. 16, 2010 - Bronx, United States - epa02120470 Fans stand in the rain during a weather delay of the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, USA, 16 April 2010.

Time for an interesting Yankees fact before the second and final Subway Series of 2010.

Very interesting information I found on “Big League Stew” a Yahoo sports blog, and also tweeted by George Steinbrenner on twitter, conveniently before Part 2 of the Subway Series. The Yankees did have a mascot! Blasphemy! Check out the Video.

http://online.wsj.com/media/swf/VideoPlayerMain.swf

How many of you know Yankees Fans? I know quite a few and Yankees fans will all state that the Yankees don’t need a mascot. That’s beneath them. Continue reading “The Long Lost Yankees Mascot”

What to do with Angel Pagan?

New York Mets center fielder Angel Pagan reacts after he dove to catch a drive by Philadelphia Phillies batter Carlos Ruiz in the seventh inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York, May 27, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsMets fans have seen the best of Angel Pagan this season. After 65 games this season Pagan has been the most clutch and consistent Mets player this season.

This begs the question, what do the Mets do with him when Carlos Beltran comes off the disabled list?

Beltran has yet to start his rehab assignment on June 16th, but the Mets are hoping to have Beltran back by mid- July and when he does come back manager Jerry Manuel has a tough decision to make.

Right now the Mets have a good problem. Does Manuel move Pagan to right field and bench Jeff Francoeur? Does he bench Angel Pagan and get some late game spark off the bench? Does he use Francoeur and Pagan in a platoon? Continue reading “What to do with Angel Pagan?”

Mets’ Angel Pagan: A Refined Talent

Angel Pagan
Image by slgckgc via Flickr

Entering the 2010 campaign, the ceiling of Angel Pagan was seemingly an enigma. A talented outfielder plagued by injuries and bone-headed on the field mishaps, all we could really be confident about was that Pagan was a better alternative in center field than the great Gary Matthews Jr. Up to this point though, hitting in a line-up that lacks a true identity, Pagan has been an offensive propeller for the Mets.

So far this season, Pagan has proved all of his critics wrong. Boasting a solid .283 BA, he’s hit in all different slots of the Mets lineup and is well on his way to scoring 100 runs on the season. Pagan has also proved that he’s more of a threat on the bases this year with 12 swipes in 15 chances. He was gunned down a third of the time last season by opposing catchers. Continue reading “Mets’ Angel Pagan: A Refined Talent”