Amazin' Avenue: FanShots

Post: Niese Unlikely to Pitch Saturday

anonymous — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:34:30 -0000

Post: Niese Unlikely to Pitch Saturday

Disappointing news for the play-the-kids crowd:

A team source said yesterday that GM Omar Minaya and interim manager Jerry Manuel would prefer to avoid a situation where Niese is called up for just one start and then returned to Triple-A New Orleans. That would leave the Mets to choose between right-handers Claudio Vargas and Brian Stokes for Saturday, with Nelson Figueroa as a long-shot possibility.

Nationals release Lo Duca

kingcritical — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:29:18 -0000

Nationals release Lo Duca

Washington releases Paul Lo Duca. He was hitting .230/.301/.281, with seven doubles and no homers in 139 at-bats. His OPS+ was 55. Can you blame them?

Hardball Times article "The remains of the season: Mets edition"

kendynamo — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:14:36 -0000

Hardball Times article "The remains of the season: Mets edition"

This'll probably end up in an 'applesauce' post but just in case Eric's preoccupied with the trade deadline. good read.

When Manuel took over as manager, he said that he would watch Pérez’s starts from the top step of...

kingcritical — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:58:54 -0000

When Manuel took over as manager, he said that he would watch Pérez’s starts from the top step of the dugout so he could, if needed, retrieve him that much quicker.

"I haven’t been on the top step in a while with Ollie," Manuel said. "Ollie told me sit down and be quiet over there, so that’s what I’ve been doing."

From today's New York Times

Top 20 New York Mets Prospects In Review - Minor League Ball

Eric Simon — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:30:27 -0000

Top 20 New York Mets Prospects In Review - Minor League Ball

John Sickels revisits his Mets Top-20 prospect list from last November. Pretty much everyone falls into one of the following categories:

1) Not bad, better than expected
2) Not good, but what else is new?
3) Currently with the Twins and not doing well

Beltran the Thief scales the wall, via the New York Times.

kingcritical — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:29:46 -0000

Beltran the Thief scales the wall, via the New York Times.

Dodgers dealing for Blake - Let's Go Tribe!

Eric Simon — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:27:46 -0000

Dodgers dealing for Blake - Let's Go Tribe!

Indians fans react to another solid trade by GM Mark Shapiro.

Yankees acquire Xavier Nady, Damaso Marte from Pirates-Update

Reg Dunlop — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:49:33 -0000

Yankees acquire Xavier Nady, Damaso Marte from Pirates-Update

The trade has changed. It seems like even more of a steal now.

via assets.espn.go.com Big Pelf gettin' it done.

Eric Simon — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:15:32 -0000

via assets.espn.go.com

Big Pelf gettin' it done.

THE NEW FACE OF THE METS...ENTHUSIASM!! I don't have too much to add gang. I think the picture...

LOUtheMETfan — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:55:23 -0000

THE NEW FACE OF THE METS...ENTHUSIASM!!

I don't have too much to add gang. I think the picture speaks for itself. I'm not too much of a stats geek, I just go off of what I see from the players and the Win / Loss column. This pic was taken from Thursday's phenomenal game against the hated Phillies! I can't remember the last time David Wright got this excited about scoring a run or making a play. It really feels good to see the entire team enjoying a win. The team desperately needed this. I NEEDED THIS from David Wright. It just gives me goose bumps.

My 9-year-old son with the SWAG prize.

Sesmus — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:43:30 -0000

My 9-year-old son with the SWAG prize.

Johan Santana - A July Gut Check?

SQUAD — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:39:24 -0000

Johan Santana - A July Gut Check?

Baseball Prospectus is free this week!

Mets' Wagner to have tightness in shoulder examined - MLB

ams258 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:32:34 -0000

Mets' Wagner to have tightness in shoulder examined - MLB

Oh crap.

Yankees have tentative deal with first baseman Sexson - MLB

ams258 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:24:06 -0000

Yankees have tentative deal with first baseman Sexson - MLB

Doh.

An open letter to ESPN The Magazine

Eric Simon — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:05:58 -0000

An open letter to ESPN The Magazine

This is terrific. Hat tip: BBTF.

Baseball Prospectus Postseason Odds

Greenpoint Ian — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:43:33 -0000

Baseball Prospectus Postseason Odds

BP is bullish about the Mets chances. Lets hope they're right.

Also, Go Rays!

Mike Hampton injured again

kendynamo — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:39:50 -0000

Mike Hampton injured again

It's just getting ridiculous at this point. Even I'm having trouble finding the shadenfraude in it this time.

Wright was going to pitch in the ASG?

sireric — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:11:10 -0000

Wright was going to pitch in the ASG?

If he had done this and gotten hurt, there would have been a bounty on Clint Hurdle's head.

Randolph to Be Steinbrenner’s All-Star Guest

Shomov — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:23:00 -0000

Randolph to Be Steinbrenner’s All-Star Guest

I find it very hard to believe that embarassing the Mets is not a motivating factor behind this.

MINAYA MAY SKIP DEALS, PROMOTE FROM MINORS TO HELP CLUB - New York Post

Eric Simon — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:47:32 -0000

MINAYA MAY SKIP DEALS, PROMOTE FROM MINORS TO HELP CLUB - New York Post

Per Joel Sherman:

1) The organization is cautiously optimistic Ryan Church will soon return, making a righty-hitting left fielder to replace out-for-the-season Moises Alou the main priority. Minaya has been unable to identify a player significantly better than a Fernando Tatis/Endy Chavez platoon to make it worthwhile to sacrifice prospect chips.

2) The Mets are finding the asking prices for relievers they have interest in, such as Colorado's Brian Fuentes, to be too steep.

3) To reach the level of contender, the Mets have expended a lot of prospect artillery the past three years, and Minaya recognizes he must protect the farm system and let it rebuild.

"We can't keep doing four-for-one deals," Minaya said.