Tag: Jason Bay

Video: Mets 2010 Outfield Preview

Mets Spring Training - Carlos Beltran

This video is the fourth installment in a series of season previews that I did with Kerel Cooper of On The Black and Joe Janish of Mets Today. You can see our offseason grades, review of the catchers/Luis Castillo/Daniel Murphy, and discussion about Jose Reyes and David Wright.

In this video we get into the outfield situation with Carlos Beltran being out until May and how that impacts the team. We get into the topic of Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews, Jr. filling in for Beltran until May. Of course, we talk about our thoughts on the big offseason acquisition, Jason Bay.

You may also notice that Joe fruits his beer.

http://blip.tv/play/guougcyGCQI%2Em4v

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Video: Mets 2010 Offseason Evaluation

NEW YORK - JANUARY 05: (L-R) General Manager ...

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This is a first in a series of videos that I did with Kerel Cooper of On The Black and Joe Janish of Mets Today. We met at McFadden’s in NYC to talk Mets, which is what we all love to do. The subject of this video is grading the offseason moves by the Mets.

As you’ll see, and I’ve written before, the Mets filled their biggest need with Jason Bay. They had a big mess in left field last year with Daniel Murphy and Gary Sheffield, not to mention they had no power. The Mets finished dead last in baseball with 95 home runs. Some may argue that you don’t need a lot of power to win, the Cardinals did it in the 80’s. But the Mets were tied for the league lead in average and led the league in steals. So they had average and speed, even without Jose Reyes, and the Mets’ offense was still awful. They need some power and someone that can play left field. Bay isn’t a great fielder, but he’s a heck of a lot more stable out there than Murphy and Sheffield were.

I’ve also talked to some fans that thought starting pitching was the Mets biggest offseason need. That may be true, but they’re pretty much locked into Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez contractually. The only flexibility they had was to non-tender John Maine and go in another direction. I wouldn’t have minded that move, but he’s still a young guy with decent potential. It’s time to show that potential in 2010 or find another team to ride the disabled list for next season.

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Video: Mets 2010 Season Preview [ESPN]

We’re going to start seeing and reading a lot of season previews over the next couple of weeks. Here’s the first from ESPN’s Buster Olney. It’s a good, in-depth video with cuts from Jason Bay and discussion of Jose Reyes and Oliver Perez.

The bottom line is that the Mets are expected to contend in 2010.
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Mets’ Jason Bay Expects Pennant Race

Here’s some video from Fox Sports with Jason Bay talking about joining the Mets. He expects to compete for the pennant and says that last year’s failings have no impact on 2010.

It seems like all of the players are saying the right things so far this spring. Everyone believes the Mets have a chance to make the playoffs, as do I. How about you? Check out the video and comment below.

Jason Bay Is Optimistic

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 Links: Matthews, Offseason Review, Wilpons

Mike Piazza

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I read a great post by Matthew Artus at Always Amazin’ about the Gary Matthews, Jr. trade. It’s become somewhat comical that the offseason hot stove activity has turned into such a frenzy for mainstream media and bloggers alike. Every team is interested in every free agent at some point if you keep reading for long enough. And every pending deal gets up prepared for a blockbuster that almost never happens. Such is the case with the Matthews deal. The Mets acquired a fifth outfielder for a middle relief pitcher. That’s it.

Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports does his offseason review of the Mets entitled “The Mets are getting little traction”. What?!? The Mets already had $100 million in payroll committed to 2010 when the offseason started, meaning they already had most of the “star” players that they needed. They got Jason Bay to fill the hole in left field and the middle of the lineup. The offseason still has five more weeks to go and there are still several capable starting pitchers without contracts. Things don’t seem that bleak to me.

Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing writes a great piece about the Mets ownership history and current situation with Jeff Wilpon at the helm. It’s a must-read post about how we got where we are today with this team. Considering the fan backlash against the owners in recent years, like the one capably written on this site, the post by Prince is very timely.

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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