Join Steve Keane and Joe McDonald tonight at 9PM ET for another edition of PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL. We will dissect the latest snubs by Bengi Molina and Joel Pineiro of the Mets and we will discuss which way the Mets will now turn to solidify their starting pitching and a front line catcher. We will look at which Mets prospects could rise from a spring training to make the final 25 man roster and a host of other Mets and baseball news,

 

You can join in as well with comments and question by calling in at (646) 595-4462.

 

If you can’t join us live you can download the podcast at The Eddie Kranepool Society, BlogTalkRadio or at our PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL site.

Posted under Pro Baseball Central

Camps are ready to open and we are at the gate (just like D-Wright and Dropkick Murphy) as we douse the flame of the hot stove and get our spring training talk underway. We will talk Mets (of course) Yankees (com’on Yankee fans you’re welcome at our table) and Florida Marlins as we are pleased to be joined by Craig Strain of FISH STRIPES and we want your input as well so call in at (646) 595-4462 and get in on the baseball talk at PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL.

Posted under Pro Baseball Central

LAS VEGAS – Alright, the Mets have gotten their closer and if nothing else happens during the next day at the Bellagio, the Winter Meetings have to be considered a success.That said, there’s still more work to do to make this a successful off-season. Besides their bullpen makeover, which includes an eighth inning setup man, the Mets need at least one starter.With both Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez free agents, there are obvious holes in the Mets rotation. As of right now, the team seems content to allowing Jon Niese a spot, one that Jerry Manuel said may be bestowed upon him based on his September, rather than earned in Spring Training.

«FULL STORY»

Posted under Commentary, Free Agency, Hot Stove, Nysd, Winter Meetings

Howard Johnson is back as Mets’ hitting coach, which is fine by me because I enjoy talking with him. However, I’m not so sure things will be any different next year, and I wonder whether it is because of the same hitting coach or the same players.

I’m thinking the latter.

I hitting coach can go over film and mechanics with a hitter, but once he’s in the box, that guy is on his own and he’d better know what to do.

Every situation calls for a specific fundamental approach.

-It begins with getting on base, and it doesn’t matter how. Take the damn walk. And, this includes everybody, not just Jose Reyes, who fails to work the count. When they win and the offense clicks, David Wright likes to say, “we kept the line moving.” Well …. ? Why don’t they have that approach all the time. The Mets wasted way too many at-bats last year, and that starts with the approach by the hitter, who should have learned what to do in high school.

-Runner on second, no outs, hit the ball to the right side of the infield.

-Runner on third, less than two outs, hit a fly ball.

This isn’t brain surgery, it’s baseball.

Reyes need to bunt more, increase his walks and decrease his strikeouts. He needs to hit the ball on the ground. … Carlos Delgado must discover left field more than he does. … By his own admission, Wright must learn to relax and not try to do it all when runners are in scoring position.

Johnson is there to remind the players and work with them on mechanics, but it’s up to the players to be thinking the right approach. Johnson can remind them, but it’s up to Jerry Manuel from Day One in spring training to harp on them what to do.

Posted under New York Mets

Good evening my friends out West and you night owls. Getting hungry. My favorite after midnight diner food is an omelet and rye toast. Breakfast food is always good.

We had an interesting post during the game on the issue of clutch hitting. It doesn’t always come after the seventh inning. I remember a conversation I had with Ryan Church during spring training about stats.

The topic was a “do your job stat.” Every at-bat comes with it a defined objective. Runner on third, get the run home, even with an out. The Rays did it twice in the first inning. The Mets? Well, we’ve had that conversation more than a few times this summer.

Another good game tonight. You get the feeling this one could go the distance.

As far as the Mets were concerned today, the Mets finally finalized their coaching staff. Howard Johnson stays, which was surprising to some degree considering all the finger pointing about their inability to consistently perform with runners in scoring position.

Whatever is on your mind, here’s your message board. I’ll respond in the morning.

Posted under New York Mets

Morning folks. There were some interesting comments after I logged off last night. Let’s get to some of them:

-Casey Blake is an excellent suggestion. The concept of a roving starter is unique and worthy of exploring. Why not have somebody start four or five games a week at a different position. You’d give everybody more time off. It’s out-of-the-box thinking. But, even if you don’t go that way, Blake would be good for this team.

-As far as bench players are concerned, I wouldn’t be opposed to Rich Aurilia or Mark Loretta. It’s an upgrade over what they have now.

-Rocco Baldelli is worth exploring. You might get him for less because of his injury history. But, the guy has skills. I saw him score from first on a muffed pop-up vs. Chicago. He can run. Put him in left and have Daniel Murphy at second and your line-up is set.

-Sure Pat Burrell would drive everybody crazy. He does in Philly. But, I still like him. In the end he’ll hit 30 homers and drive in close to 100 runs. What’s wrong with that? And, does it really matter if he’s a career Phillie? The guy can go deep.

-Mark Prior is probably done. However, the Yankees did this with Jon Lieber and got some production. Sign him and stick him in rehab. If it works, great. If not, you haven’t lost much because you’ll do it for a minor league deal.

-You would have to look a Cruz and Marte. With what’s in the pen, how can you not explore any option? Even Gagne’s flat fastball is worth a look in spring training.

Look for this every morning. If you’re going to post, I’ll respond.

Posted under New York Mets

When is enough going to be enough for the Mets when it comes to Ambiorix Burgos?

The Mets got a clue of his smarts when he left almost $200 thousand in jewelry lying around his hotel room in spring training. Well, being stupid isn’t a crime. However, assault on his girl friend and hit-and-run that left two women dead are crimes.

Obviously, Burgos isn’t wired properly. What investigation can the Mets do that will shed any different light then law enforcement agencies in New York and the Dominican Republic. I don’t care if Burgos can still throw 100 mph.

Why can’t the Mets just say, “we don’t want a guy with this moral fiber on our team,” and be done with it? So what if the Players Association argues? Just be done with him and move on.

Posted under New York Mets

Police in the Dominican Republic are searching for Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos tonight after he fled the scene of a traffic accident that left two women dead. Police said Burgos slammed into the women with a Hummer.

Police Col. Eulogio Taveras said: “The investigation indicates that Burgos was the driver of the [vehicle] that hit the women.”

A relative of Burgos, Edwin Silvestre Sanchez, told police investigators he was the driver.

In a statement the Mets said: “We are extremely disturbed by the reports regarding the player’s potential involvement in the hit-and-run accident that unfortunately killed two women in the Dominican Republic. We take this matter very seriously and have begun an internal investigation to ascertain the
facts. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the victims.”

Burgos spend the season on the DL following elbow ligament replacement surgery, but hasn’t had an event-free season.

During spring training, he had over $200,000 in jewelery stolen from the team hotel, which raised questions about his judgement for carrying that much jewelery. Also, last month he was arrested in New York on assault and harassment charges after being charged for throwing his girlfriend to the ground.

Prosecutors said Burgos appeared in court entered no plea. He’s due in U.S. court again Oct. 23 and faces up to a year in jail.

Posted under New York Mets

John Maine will have surgery today to shave down a bone spur that irritated muscles in his right shoulder. He said it’s not a complicated surgery and would be ready for spring training.

“It needs to get done,” Maine said. “It’s a simple surgery, nothing major. No attaching or reattaching of anything. We’ll take the rehab seriously and I’ll be good to go for spring training.”

Maine should begin his rehab program in December and is expected to long-toss by the start of the new year.

Maine was activated down the stretch and hoped to pitch out of the bullpen, but manager Jerry Manuel wisely chose not to go that route.

Posted under New York Mets

The Mets blew 29 save opportunities so far this season, and with them, perhaps a chance at the playoffs. Adding a top notch closer such as Francisco Rodriguez would improve the bullpen, but not put it over the top.

Billy Wagner blew seven save opportunities, but even worse was the bridge leading up to him. It was more than just a bad season.

Here’s how I see the pen:

-Billy Wagner: Won’t pitch for the Mets again. No brainer. However, he will get paid $11 million by them, and that will inhibit what they do this winter. I don’t see them paying both Wagner and Rodriguez.

-Aaron Heilman: They’ve resisted trading him the past two winters. They should pull the trigger if they get an offer this time. Heilman wants to start and since the Mets won’t give him that opportunity, they should try to get what they can. If they wanted to give Heilman a chance at being the fifth starter, I’d entertain it because it is clear this bullpen thing isn’t working out.

-Scott Schoeneweis: I can’t believe they gave him three years. (I mistakenly said he was done after this year. He’s signed through 2009).

-Joe Smith: Has his moments, both good and bad. Will be brought back.

-Pedro Feliciano: I’ve always been cool on him for some reason, even when he’s pitched well. I think they’ll bring him back.

-Luis Ayala: He saved a few games. Big deal. I don’t see him as the answer at closer. I do see him coming back.

-Carlos Muniz: Wouldn’t miss him.

-Ricardo Rincon: Ditto.

-Duaner Sanchez: He doesn’t have his fastball anymore. Certainly not a set-up man or closer type anymore. Not a loss if they don’t bring him back.

-Brian Stokes: More good appearances than bad. I’d like to see him back.

-Nelson Figueroa: Feel good story early this season. Very hittable.

-Brandon Knight: Pitched decently. Long man?

-Bobby Parnell: Can bring the heat. Let’s see what he can do in spring training.

Posted under New York Mets