Tag: Francisco Rodriguez

Video: Ryota Igarashi at Mets Spring Training

Here’s some video from Newsday. Yes, Newsday! That’s the media outlet that many of you don’t get to see anymore because they redesigned their site and put it behind a pay wall. I still get the site because I’m a Cablevision subscriber. Thanks to the Dolan’s, you’ll get to see the video that I have access to from their Mets blog. By the way, Newsday’s $4 million site redesign and pay wall has been a huge success. They already have 35 paying subscribers. That nets the company about $700/month.

I won’t link to Newsday’s Mets blog because so many of you can’t see it without paying for it. But here’s some video that I hope you can see. If you can’t, please comment below and I’ll remove it.

Ryota Igarashi is getting some good early spring press. He knows a little English but has an interpreter with him. It sounds like his first friend on the team is K-Rod.

http://www.newsday.com/swf/newsday/newsdayVP.v.2.08.swf?videoId=14201

Mets 2010 Stars Already Aligned

Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets at Citi Field in New York

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I’ve been disappointed that the Mets didn’t do more to shore up the pitching rotation this offseason. I’m also surprised that they didn’t attempt an upgrade, even incremental, at first base. The more that I thought about it, after John Lackey, Matt Holliday, and Jason Bay signed their free agent deals there wasn’t anybody left on the market that I’d consider a “difference maker”. Sure, there were, and still are, some players that would be solid peripheral players for the Mets. But the 2010 season doesn’t hinge on any free agent that’s been available since Holliday signed with the Cardinals.

The 2010 season does depend on Johan Santana, Francisco Rodriguez, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Bay. They’re the ones that are going to carry this team. I know it’s a long season and everyone needs to make a contribution at some point. But there’s a big difference between making an impact and making a contribution.

Continue reading “Mets 2010 Stars Already Aligned”

Mets 2010- Five Positive Story Lines

Colorado Rockies vs New York Mets at Citi Field in New York

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After writing this site for a few years now and reading a lot of mainstream media and blogs about the Mets, I find that it’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of the team. It’s especially easy coming off a disastrous 2009 season opening Citi Field with a “thud”. As a matter of fact, the whole organization was dismal. So much so, that Jeff Wilpon had to tour the minor league cities apologizing for the ugly teams they fielded.

With that being said, I’d like to focus on some positive stories going into 2010. It’s not all bad when you have the highest payroll in the league. You always have a chance even if the people running the organization are subpar, as is the case with the Mets. Money can overcome a lot of obstacles. I feel really bad for the Pirates and Royals fans that know they have no shot before the season even starts. Although things don’t look great for the Mets yet, we do have a shot.

Here are my five positive story lines for the season.

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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.

Continue reading “Kelvim Escobar Signs With Mets”

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.

Continue reading “Voice of the Fan: Mets 2009 Offseason Inactivity”

Piling On Omar Minaya; Mets Won’t Fire Him

New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya befo...
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As the 2009 season slips away, it seems that more fingers are pointing in Omar Minaya‘s direction when we try to determine who’s to blame. Although Minaya didn’t cause the severity and depth or the Mets injuries this season, he didn’t have a good backup plan either. As I’ve said all along, I can’t see the Wilpons firing Minaya with three years left on his contract.

Sure, Minaya has his share of bad deals. Oliver Perez certainly comes to mind. But don’t forget that he’s also the one that brought Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets with very fair contracts. And he didn’t give up much of anything to the Twins to get Santana.

Certainly, I don’t defend Minaya’s meltdown/attack of Adam Rubin. Those were the actions of a person that isn’t prepared to be in front of the public. I’m sure that incident put him on extremely thin ice. It had to. I don’t think it was a fire-able offense, but I’m sure it means that Minaya needs to watch his step over the next year or so. Continue reading “Piling On Omar Minaya; Mets Won’t Fire Him”

Video: Molina On Mets-Giants Aug. 15, 2009

Bengie Molina hit the game-winning homer off Francisco Rodriguez and talked to Chris Rose of Fox after the game. He talks about looking for a fastball off K-Rod, and he addresses the David Wright beaning and subsequent retaliation.

http://images.video.msn.com/flash/customplayer/1_0/customplayer.swf

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