Tag: Omar Minaya

Minaya In Denver

New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya before a Mets/Devil Rays spring training game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Image via Wikipedia

Adam Rubin of the Daily News is reporting that Omar Minaya is making an unscheduled trip to Denver for the Rockies series this weekend. Willie Randolph can’t be happy about that. Minaya wouldn’t do that unless it was an emergency situation, which it is.

I’d be shocked if they fired Randolph while the team is on the road. So Minaya must be there to gauge what’s going on in the locker room. He’ll probably have to file a report with the Wilpons on Monday, when they’re back in town, on the state of the team.

Mets News Today: Wilpon, Alou, and Martinez

ESPN reports that Mets COO Jeff Wilpon didn’t return Willie Randolph’s voicemail before he made his public apology for the SNY and race comments. Jay Horowitz said that Omar Minaya returned the call on behalf of Mets ownership. I think that says it all. Randolph is done, put that in the books!

Moises Alou left yesterday’s game against the Braves in the middle of the third inning because of tightness in his left calf. He’s back in New York today for an MRI. Early reports are that it’s a muscle strain and he may miss some time.

Pedro Martinez is now saying that he isn’t thinking about retiring that he wants to play for two or three more season.

On Deck: Saturday May 17, 2008 Mets-Yankees

New York Mets (20-19) at New York Yankees (20-22)   1:05pm

Johan Santana (4-2) vs. Andy Pettite (3-4)

TV: SNY Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Supposedly the Mets cleared the air in the clubhouse. We’ll see if that lasts. The fans and blogs are calling for Willie Randolph to be fired but Omar Minaya gave him a vote of confidence before the rainout yesterday. Oh… by the way two of the biggest names in pitching over the last ten years are on the mound in this game.

Flurry Of Roster Moves Shakes Up Mets

WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog just discussed several roster moves for the Mets today:

  • Mets purchase the contract of Claudio Vargas
  • Mets purchase the contract of Fernando Tatis
  • Mets activate Matt Wise from the disabled list
  • Angel Pagan was placed on the 15 day disabled list
  • Nelson Figueroa was designated for assignment
  • Jorge Sosa was designated for assignment

The purchase of Fernando Tatis’ contract is a bit of a surprise. Luis Castillo must be hurt enough so that the Mets feel like they need some infield insurance. Tatis can provide that if Castillo is out for a week or more.

Claudio Vargas will pitch Wednesday against the Nationals. Who knows what we’ll get from him? He was released by the Brewers for a reason, so don’t expect miracles from him. We should be thrilled to get five innings out of him. He was on the street a month ago.

The Nelson Figueroa dream comes to an end for now. He was a great story but just couldn’t get major league hitters out consistently. He was fantastic the first time through the order and may have been more suited for a relief role.

I’m ecstatic that Omar Minaya designated Sosa. This is best for the team despite the fact that they may have to eat $1.5 million of his salary if he doesn’t accept a minor league assignment. Joe Smith earned the right to stay on the team. I would’ve been livid if Minaya kept Sosa instead of Smith. It would have displayed a lack of concern for winning now. Not to mention the fact that it may have adversely affected Willie Randolph’s ability to keep his job. Good job Omar!

Overachiever Ryan Church Carrying Mets

I have to admit that when the New York Mets traded top prospect Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider I was unhappy. I thought this was another one of Omar Minaya’s misguided trades like Heath Bell to the Padres for nothing, or Brian Bannister to the Royals for Ambiorix Burgos. Wow… Have I been wrong!

Ryan Church, and to a lesser degree Brian Schneider, has been much more than the nondescript outfielder that I was expecting. Schneider has been hitting pretty well but without any semblance of power, and he does seem to provide some sense of comfort to the pitching staff. However, the catcher’s influence on a pitching staff is vastly overrated in my opinion.

Church has been a revelation, both in the field and at the plate, for the Mets. He’s currently hitting 34 points above his highest season average in 2005. His OBP is 18 points higher than his career high in 2006. His OPS is 13 points higher than his career high in 2006 as well. Without a doubt, he’s been the most consistent offensive performer for the Mets this season. He’s hit well in every spot in the order that Willie Randolph has put him in. He’s seemingly unaffected by changes that Randolph makes to the lineup. Continue reading “Overachiever Ryan Church Carrying Mets”

New Reader Poll- Carlos Delgado

There’s been so much talk about what to do with Carlos Delgado. As I’ve talked about here several times, there aren’t any obvious options right now.

I decided to see if The Mets Report readers think that Carlos Delgado will be on the Mets roster for this whole season. Maybe he’ll be traded or released. Maybe he’ll be at first base all season. We’ll have to see how things play out with Omar Minaya’s patience level.

What do you think? Take the poll on the right side of the page.

Delgado Is Dead Weight And I’m Mad!

New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado before a Mets/Devil Rays spring training game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.Image via Wikipedia

Question: How do you get rid of $16 million worth of dead weight?

Answer: I have no idea.

I’m exasperated watching Carlos Delgado. He’s completely lost it. If he had any respect for himself he would return most of the money the Mets have paid him last season and so far this season and retire. He’s hurting the team. That’s what it comes down to.

The problem for the Mets is that there’s no solution to this problem. There isn’t another player on the team or in the minors that can play first base every day. I know about Mike Carp. He’s not going to play every day for this team. So, forget it.

There’s no way to get rid of Delgado without releasing him and paying him. It’s been done before. Damion Easley got released by the Tigers and they owed him $14 million. So that’s a possibility.

Delgado can’t be traded… Nobody would take him. I can’t even blame Omar Minaya for bringing him here. I went back and looked at his numbers. His last year with the Marlins was excellent. He was a .300 hitter. Since the 2006 season his skills seem to have just dropped off a cliff. He’s barely a .200 hitter now.

It’s also really bothering me that Willie won’t move him down from fifth in the lineup out of respect for Delgado. Forget respect, Willie! We’re trying to win games here. Delgado should be hitting sixth or seventh. Based on his performance, there’s no denying that.

The mainstream media is all over the topic too with columns here, here, and here.

What would you do with Delgado and first base after he’s gone?