Tuesday Applesauce

by Joe Budd on Mar 10, 2009 9:54 AM EDT

I knew that the comparison article was going to inspire some debate in the comments. Good times. Not nearly as many stories today as yesterday, so don't look to me to fill your day today. Maybe it's time we all do some work around here...

Around Port St. Lucie

BREAKING NEWS: Duaner Sanchez was just cut.

A pair of late bombs by Nick Evans and Rene Rivera saved the Mets in yesterday's 9-8 victory over the Orioles. Evans' was a pinch hit grand slam in the eighth that was pulled to deep left, while Rivera's was a walk-off 460 foot solo shot to deep center. Met pitching continued to struggle, however, with Duaner Sanchez unable to get a fastball much over 85 mph (he gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in 1 IP). Brian Stokes continued his strong spring and earned the victory pitching in the ninth.

The Mets travel to Viera today to play against the Nationals. John Maine will get the start, which you can hear on MLB Gameday audio.

I doubt that he will inspire Sign Pedro rallies outside of SNY, but Met blogosphere is encouraging Omar to sign the sure-to-be Hall of Famer (including our own Eric Simon). More examples are here, here, and while not a blog, here. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your opinion), Manuel seems perfectly happy with the players competing for the spot now.

Bad news regarding Angel Pagan. The MRI found bone spurs in his elbow which may require surgery.

Here's the good news, however, Johan Santana will make the start Thursday against the Marlins.

Mike Silva is pushing to give a bullpen spot to Matt DeSalvo. They probably could use that other lefty and he would cost a lot less than Will Ohman.

Here's a useful update on Mets playing in the WBC. Yikes, Ollie.

This is sad news. SNY will no longer be playing the ProCede ads during Met broadcasts.

Around the NL East

The Marlins are also interested in Pudge. Also, Scott Proctor looks to be on the mend.

Chipper Jones is expected to make his return this weekend in the WBC from an oblique strain. Meanwhile, in Braves camp, Kenshin Kawakami got knocked around in an intrasquad game.

Philadelphia is hoping that Gary Majewski is able to solidify their bullpen.

Could the Marlins' new stadium be the recession's latest casualty?

Around the MLB

Buster Olney writes about the "best prospect ever."

This article about Kazmir is awfully picky.

Andruw Jones feels bad for stealing all that money from the Dodgers.

More evidence builds against my least favorite player of all time, Roger Clemens.

Also from the Times, 3D baseball cards are AWESOME.

Way to be Mikey! Italy is still alive in the WBC as they defeated Canada yesterday, 6-2.

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Comments

Notes.

Dirty was cut? Hmm. Maybe it’s a pipe dream, but do you think he’ll rejoin spring training on an incentive deal?
I’m rooting for Nick Evans to really improve.
I’m open to signing Pedro, but I don’t want to guarantee a roster spot or more than $3 million.
Well, I guess Jeremy Reed will be making the roster then, instead of Pagan.
I don’t even know what to say about Santana. I really, really hope the Mets trainers know what they’re doing.
I like DeSalvo. If he earns a spot, I say give it to him.
That’s bad Ollie for you.
I need more Giuseppe in my life.
We’ve been hearing these Pudge to the Mets rumors for months now. I feel like Castro is still the best catcher on our roster.
At least we’re not the only team with pitching problems.
I can’t load the Olney article. Who’s the “best prospect ever”?
I’m sorry, that Kazmir article is awful. I don’t doubt him at all, and I’m not even a Rays fan.
Every time evidence is found against Clemens, a puppy is born.
Besides the U.S. (obviously) and the Netherlands (my family is Dutch), I’m rooting for Italy.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Mar 10, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Steven Strasborg

Is the “best prospect ever,” according to one scout.

by Joe Budd on Mar 10, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

But, how is that possible?

Is that scout not familiar with TINSTAAPP?

'Oh yes, I know all about that duty-of-a-citizen stuff. It doesn't go. There are exceptions to every rule, and this was one of them. When a man risks his liberty to come and root at a ball-game, you've got to hand it to him. He isn't a crook. He's a fan.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Mar 10, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow, that was fast.

The way Matt Wieters has been hyped this preseason, I would have thought he was the best prospect ever.

by SQUAD on Mar 10, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Wieters

is the theoretical love child of Joe Mauer and Mike Piazza, sans the bacne. I love him.

Besides, JOBA is/was/always will be the best prospect ever.

by jasondg on Mar 10, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Me want.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Mar 10, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Strasborg

I’m skeptical that he could be a number 2 starter right now, and I’m skeptical that he could be so much better than Mark Prior that “it’s not even close” (people seem to forget how incredible Prior was, prior to his injuries no pun intended). That said, I hope the Nats draft him and I hope Boras isn’t his usual satanic self and lets the kid sign and get promoted quickly. Even though they’re in our division and it could be a detriment to us, the Nats need a good PR move like that would be.

by cjmulrain on Mar 10, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

idk

i’m with you on prior but i heard on the radio that through strasburg’s first 25 or so IP his k/bb was like 48/4. thats nuts.

by Rob Castellano on Mar 10, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

just for comparison

48/4 works out to a 12/1 K/BB ratio. Prior had a 11.2 K/BB (202 K’s, 18 BBs)ratio his junior year at USC. I don’t know much about college baseball, but I’d imagine that a) USC plays a tougher schedule than SDSU (or at least equally as tough), and b) like in all other college sports, you start the year against patsies and then start playing better competition as the year goes on. So I’d say Prior’s 11.2 K/BB is just as impressive if not more than Strasburgs 12/1 so far.

by cjmulrain on Mar 10, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

desalvo

pretty sure desalvo is a righty. as far as him making the pen, tough because there is a lot of other pretty decent competition this year (as duaner found out). it would help him if he were a lefty but basically there are like 4-5 decent righties all jockeying for 1 maybe 2 spots and hes nothing special though hes looked ok this spring. i’ve mentioned before that while hes pretty average desalvo does have good gb trends and seems to figure a league out the second time around. however personally i like cherry, o’day and especially robertson all better than him.

by Rob Castellano on Mar 10, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions

You're right

DeSalvo is a righty. My bad.

by Joe Budd on Mar 10, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I still think he deserves a look.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Mar 10, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Well jeez

Andruw should be sorry, shouldn’t he?

by JoshNY on Mar 10, 2009 11:35 AM EDT reply actions

Well, so should Bernie Madoff and that Stanford guy.

But they sure as hell don’t. At least Andruw showed up for the games.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Mar 11, 2009 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions

And subsequently apologized for how shitty he was last year.

But yes, it’s true that he showed up.

by JoshNY on Mar 11, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

More notes

Duaner Sanchez. Meh. I think they’re right that he had shown little sign of recovering his form.

Signing Pedro looks better and better the more all the other potential 5th starters pitch.

Oliver Perez is the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde of pitchers. What else is new?

Why do we want Pudge? Doesn’t he appear to be done based on recent stats?

The article on Kazmir is harsh. We would be so much better off now if we had not traded him for two sheep and a bag of kibble.

by erich10031 on Mar 10, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

Pudge looks done compared to what he was

But I think he’s still probably above average compared to most catchers. He’d probably be an upgrade over Schneider.

Also he’s a winner or something like that.

by Gina on Mar 10, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

He's still pretty good defensively too.

Probably better than Schneider.

by SQUAD on Mar 10, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I'd have no problem with Pudge depending on the money

Though I wonder if they were to sign him how they’d plan on using him. As a back up player? Or in a platoon? Really I would want him to get a significant number of innings if he was on the team.

by Gina on Mar 10, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm can't get worked up over Perez pitching poorly in an exhibition.

by SQUAD on Mar 10, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

As eager as I get for baseball this time of year, I always have to remind myself to read the boxscores with a massive grain of salt until the season actually begins.

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Mar 10, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Mo Vaughn's Lunchbos 3/10/09

Hey, back off Andruw Jones, allright. Us fatties have to stick together. All you haters are racist against fat people, and I’m sick of it. Andruw Jones, Livan Hernandez, Mike Francesa… so we’re all carrying a few extra LBs around. BIG DEAL. Speaking of racism, my favorite racist foods are Ku Klux Klams. I eat ‘em with ’I can’t believe it’s prejudiced butter.’ Mmm… delicious hateful bivalve mollusks.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Mar 10, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs