Finally Jason Bay Applesauce - Mets finally sign Boston left fielder, Molina may be next, Bruntlett to DC

by Joe Budd on Dec 30, 2009 8:14 AM EST in Applesauce

Got a chance to listen to WFAN yesterday evening for the first time in awhile, apparently after Mike Francesa's big update. Yet, all I heard was him splashing water on Jet fans' excitement. I guess that's for the best, because I probably couldn't listen to callers' evaluations of Jason Bay for three hours.

Meet the Mets

So, Jason Bay is apparently a Met. Let's get some quick reactions:

Jack Moore considers this to be one of the more significant overpays of the offseason (although, the Cardinals are apparently about to offer Matt Holliday an 8 year contract, so there's plenty of time to compete for this honor.)
Bob Klapisch says that the Mets would've been better off saving their money and going for a starter or one of next year's free agents.
Kevin Kernan talked to three scouts, one of whom said that Bay is better than Holliday defensively, so take all this with a grain of salt.
Toby Hyde compares Bay's and Holliday's UZR and WAR numbers. He also asks the burning question of how did Francesa pull this off?
Rob Neyer thinks pride has something to do with Bay's decision.
BlueandOrange is quite happy to be getting the AL's sixth best hitter.
Beerleaguer and their commenters are still quite sure that the Mets won't be healthy.
Ed Leyro compares Jason Bay to Kevin McReynolds, in a good way.
John Harper says that the move is fine, but where is the pitching?

There was also some non-Jason Bay news as well.

FanGraphs compiled a nice list of the top-10 Met prospects.

There are some reports that the Mets have also signed Bengie Molina. We don't have Francesa's confirmation on this, but Fire Jerry Manuel still can give us the perfect reaction for when the inevitable finally does happen.

What is one way to stop the Yankees and Mets from dominating the MLB salary system? Bring a third team to New York.

Around the NL East

Frank Wren is taking a lot of risks lately.

The Nationals have poached Eric Bruntlett from the Phillies.

Around MLB

Rob Neyer discusses Dave Cameron's thoughts that the "fat scouts" were right about defense.

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Comments

you missed my epic

bengie molina take down.

please rectify with link surrounded by stars

thank you.

by firejerrymanuel on Dec 30, 2009 8:24 AM EST reply actions

the poop sandwich

picture was hilarious

by MetsKnicksRutgers on Dec 30, 2009 9:04 AM EST up reply actions

Clap, clap.

Your next Poopy Joe is on me.

by LeiterMilnerFasterStronger on Dec 30, 2009 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

Anyone else find the use of the word 'rectify' comical, in relation to talking about poop?

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Dec 30, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

How Francesa got the scoop exclusively

I’ve worked in media relations and my guess is the Mets made a deliberate, high-level decision to exclusively leak the news to Francesa (as opposed to Francesa using reporter shoe-leather, working sources, etc).

Mets knew the deal couldn’t be finalized or officially announced until the physical was complete next week, which happens to be days after the deadline to renew season ticket plans (tomorrow). So there was an incentive to get an “unofficial” announcement out there.

They also knew that Francesa has a huge megaphone and that he could instantly create a splash, deliver it with relish, get everyone in the media to follow the story, and that he would tease the story a day in advance and build suspense.

Given that Francesa also had been criticizing them, going to him had the added value of silencing a critic and possibly building good will with him so that his future rants might be less over the top (keep in mind he is one of the most influential sports voices in the market).

Just a theory, but I’ve seen this kind of move before.

by saberkeith on Dec 30, 2009 8:32 AM EST reply actions

I think this was more like....

" you can interview Reyes in studio, and if you’re nice to him, we’ll give you the scoop "

you know what I'm sayin' ?

by fxcarden on Dec 30, 2009 9:30 AM EST up reply actions

The crazy thing about Francesa

is that he teased the news at the end of his Monday show and was so confident he wouldn’t get scooped that he didn’t announce it until 2:00 on Tuesday.

And I’m sure the Mets said, “We’ll give you this scoop, but could you also do us a favor and keep pushing the idea that Molina is holding firm to his desire for 3 years. So when we give him a stupid two-year deal, we’ll get credit for not caving in to his demands.”

by Bieser's Balk on Dec 30, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

Sounds about right.

you know what I'm sayin' ?

by fxcarden on Dec 30, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with Harper, and also....

memo to self: stop reaing Klapisch in the morning. it ruins breakfast every time.

memo to Klapisch: I wonder if you would do any better as a GM. you hide behind your pen, and contribute nothing to improving the Mets. every single move they make you have a problem with. just once, I want to see you be at least neutral on a player signing.

you know what I'm sayin' ?

by fxcarden on Dec 30, 2009 9:33 AM EST reply actions

Harper misses a lot of things though

He makes no mention of the vesting option for the fifth year. So it’s not like the Mets are really “holding firm” as he said. If the early reports are accurate, this is really a 5 year, 80 million dollar deal.

by Bieser's Balk on Dec 30, 2009 10:20 AM EST up reply actions

Applesauce

I really don’t see Jason Bay as horribly, massively overpaid. Overpaid, yes, definitely. Compare his projected WAR in 2010, and the salary that converts to with what we’re giving him, and he’s making a few million too much. Perhaps this season it’s significant, but there are definitely worse deals out there.

Bob Klapisch, I can’t agree with him. If the stars align, and the cards all fall right, the Mets have a chance at contending in 2010. I don’t know if they will, but that we’re not the clear front runners is no reason to take a complete pass this off-season. There’s a bunch of pick-ups who are available now, that next year’s class won’t have- next year’s outfield class, for example, isn’t that great. I’d rather pick-up someone this year than no one decent next year, you know?

Fire Jerry’s essay is too funny, but, sadly, true.

Bringing a third team into New York ain’t never gonna happen. Why would the Wilpons and the Steinbrenners vote in favor of that? And, where would they play? Unless it’s bringing the Dodgers back to Brooklyn, that’s silly.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Dec 30, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions

Kevin McReynolds' first name was Walter?

I had no idea.

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Dec 30, 2009 11:31 AM EST reply actions

Ugh, I hate when people do that.

Though, Tom Seaver has a much nicer ring than George Seaver, so…

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Dec 30, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah but

That’s probably because we’ve heard Tom Seaver for the past 45 years. If he went by George and then we found out his real name was Tom, you’d probably say the same thing.

"You know I am only teasing. I love you gals out there -- always have." - Keith Hernandez

by OSUmets on Dec 30, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions