Below .500 Applesauce - Beltran's career threatened, Oliver Perez coming soon? and rumored steroid list

by Joe Budd on Jun 30, 2009 10:32 AM EDT in Applesauce

We all knew this was coming. There was no way that a team with Argenis Reyes as the leadoff hitter deserves to be above .500. Granted that's more the manager's fault when you have Luis Castillo batting in the bottom of the order, but still. Let's just hope that Fernando Nieve's coach has not already turned into a pumpkin and that Johan starts striking some guys out again.

Bad, horrible, terrible news with Carlos Beltran with the Post using the phrase "possible career ending". I don't even want to imagine where the Mets will go for a replacement.

Baseball America's Matthew Eddy talks about Thole, Mejia, and Holt.

The 'Ropolitans blog publishes an unconfirmed list of the 2003 steroid list.

Congratulations on the wedding Ted and good luck in marriage. It's a blast.

Oliver Perez may be one Buffalo start away from Citi.

Today is the day the Mets put together a 10-run rally against the Braves. Still my favorite Met moment that I couldn't bear to watch.

The New York Post talks possible Met trades.

Around the NL East

Can the Marlins survive with Emilo Bonifacio as a cornerstone? More Bonifacio opinion here. They managed to do fine last night, granted it was against the Nationals.

Will the Phillies continue to be mediocre and help the Mets? Pitching prospect Antonio Bastardo has been placed on the DL, so maybe... And Brad Lidge is still not getting the job done.

Around MLB

DraysBay talks with Ray Ben Zobrist.

Roy Halladay is back pitching for the Blue Jays, for now.

Rob Neyer says the Indians are probably staying pat with Cliff Lee. Too bad. Neyer also discusses the Pierre comparison with Jacoby Ellsbury.

The Giants are looking to add some firepower to the lineup and are scouting Jermaine Dye and Victor Martinez.

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Comments

Berg is off the market

Thousands of rational female Met fans just had their hearts broken

by James Kannengieser on Jun 30, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions

If we're to believe the results of the AA survey from last week

it’s far less than that, my friend.

by Eric Simon on Jun 30, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

~~Thousands~~ 7 rational female Met fans just had their hearts broken.

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

by squid92 on Jun 30, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Quite true

At least according to the survey I’ve been conducting over the past 15 years in bars and at various social gatherings.

by TedBerg on Jun 30, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

"survey"

Is that what they’re calling it these days?

by JoshNY on Jun 30, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Better that than sexual harrassment.

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

by squid92 on Jun 30, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

let's take it with a grain of salt

It is the Post, after all. It’s “possibly career ending” because some NBA players (bouncing up and down on a hard floor isn’t good for one’s knees under any circumstances) didn’t respond to it.

I’m just about ready to concede the season. I don’t want them making some horrible trades to appear to be Doing Something About It, as that’s what gave us the Putz deal. Get everyone healthy, fire Minaya and Manuel, and get some decent support players around Wright, Reyes, Beltran, and Santana in 2010.

Somehow, a chain of events unfolded that put Steve Phillips in a professional broadcast booth Sunday night so he could rip Carlos Beltran. Try to explain that in any other terms.

by Greenpoint Ian on Jun 30, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

Agree

except they won’t fire the M&M morons.

by jasondg on Jun 30, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Post article

Manuel also continued to float the farfetched idea of Perez sharing starts with Tim Redding, with Redding starting the first five innings and Perez taking the final four frames.

Is Jerry serious?

by jasondg on Jun 30, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions

It's like Creed opening for Nickleback

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Jun 30, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs

i can take you hiiiiigherrr

"I used to be legit. I was too legit. I was too legit to quit. but now I'm not legit. I'm unlegit. And for that reason, I must quit."

by jaronson5 on Jun 30, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Somehow, a chain of events unfolded that put Steve Phillips in a professional broadcast booth Sunday night so he could rip Carlos Beltran. Try to explain that in any other terms.

by Greenpoint Ian on Jun 30, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

oh my god that is the worst concert ever don't even say something like that

by JoshNY on Jun 30, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Beltran? Career ending?

++tear++

"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden

by Blicks on Jun 30, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats on the upcoming wedding, Ted!

And thanks, once again, for talking sense in your column.

by JoshNY on Jun 30, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

man, if beltran goes down for... well forever,

it’s going to get real wacky around here.

Lets hope that when gut check time comes again the Mets will pass it with flying colors.

by kendynamo on Jun 30, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

Alex Rios

Cerroneous says that the Jays are looking to unload Rios and/or Wells to help pay for Doc. Any interest in Rios? He’s “toolsy”! But seriously, high LD rate, good defender with a cannon on the right side of thirty. Apparently he’s owed 60MM on a contract that runs through 2014. Reasonable-ish. Doesn’t walk enough, and probably hasn’t played to his potential, but an OF of Beltran, F!, and Rios seems suited for Citi.

What do you dudes think?

by njk237 on Jun 30, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Me likey...

There was an article in the Toronto Globe and Mail saying that the Jays are a bit cash-strapped and need to free up some money to re-sign Halladay.

Link

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 30, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

however

based on the numbers, it seems far more likely that they’ll try to trade Wells

by JoshNY on Jun 30, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure

It seems like the organization has soured on Rios. He had an incident with a fan earlier in the year. He’s having an off year. If this rumor is true, I hope Omar is on the horn pronto.

by njk237 on Jun 30, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

If it was pretty much just a salary dump, I might give him a whirl too.

I would love to have Rios though…he fits in with our line-up really well. Decent power, hits the gaps, has great speed and a very good defensive outfielder with a cannon.

If they are desperate to dump his salary, maybe we get him for Churchy, Niese and some parts.

Nice upgrade for now and beyond.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 30, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Possible that he could blossom here too. Seems like he needs a change of scenery. I’d give them their pick of Murph Evans or Church, plus Niese, and never look back.

by njk237 on Jun 30, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Totally

Rios is one of my favorite players…brings a lot to the table and I think the change of scenery would do him well.

He has worlds of talent and hitting in a line-up (eventually) with Dubs, Voltron, Reyes and Delgado would only help matters. I could see him slotting behind JR very comfortably.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 30, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

The baseball gods truly hate us

I knew they’d be pissed for SI’s prediction, but damn. This is just insane. I am very depressed.

Having said that, the Post could be wrong. I’ve heard that Rupert Murdoch’s news outlets aren’t always 100% reliable.

"I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually inverse in proportion to the price of the seats." - Bill Veeck

by Prince on Jun 30, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

Oh yeah, the SI prediction.

Wow, they REALLY fucked us over, didn’t they?

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

by squid92 on Jun 30, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

GOOD NEWS!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4297212

Just a bruise. WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 2009 Amazin' Avenue: SCREW K-ROD, SIGN FUENTES! Check it out, K-Rod ERA under 1.00, Fuentes over 5.00. CASTILLO MUST GO! Castillo is hitting .300!! DON'T SIGN SHEFFIELD! Sheffield has been a great signing. OMIR WHO? Omir grand slam! OMIR SUCKS! Omir takes Papelbon deep to win. CASTRO OVER OMIR! Omir drives in every Met run, wins game! EPIC FAIL.

by ZaBlanc on Jun 30, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions

Whew indeed.

I never reeeeeaaaly thought this would be “career-ending”. Come on, it’s the Post. Good news anyway.

by njk237 on Jun 30, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Career Ending if he was a 32 year old 7'1 Center...

I knew this would get out of hand…even if he ended up needing the surgery, he could have come back. Might not have been the same explosive Voltron, but still a valuable player nonetheless.

NY Post = National Inquirer

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 30, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Phew.

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

by squid92 on Jun 30, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

wait, don't you hate Beltran?

by jasondg on Jun 30, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

No...

Not at all…I just think that this whole thing was a little dramatic at the beginning, and it continued to be up to this point. I said that he can be a “diva” sometimes and I meant it.

I have my issues with him sometimes, but I’d give him my knee to have him back.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 30, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

No.

by ZaBlanc on Jun 30, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean

even if ZaBlanc isn’t the biggest Beltran fan, it’d take some real fuzzy reasoning not to recognize how much better he is than the other crap we’re rolling out there

by JoshNY on Jun 30, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Phew!

by meigs1414 on Jun 30, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

like I said above

it’s The Post. Take it with a grain of salt.

Somehow, a chain of events unfolded that put Steve Phillips in a professional broadcast booth Sunday night so he could rip Carlos Beltran. Try to explain that in any other terms.

by Greenpoint Ian on Jun 30, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Also confirmed

Doctors say Carlos’ mole is indeed a mole and not a planetary body.

by njk237 on Jun 30, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Thank goodness.

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

by squid92 on Jun 30, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

carlos' mole is so big

that his mole has a mole, and it’s mole is bigger than your mole.

Lets hope that when gut check time comes again the Mets will pass it with flying colors.

by kendynamo on Jun 30, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

the mole

constitutes such a large percentage of Beltran’s overall mass, that it is fair to attribute a good deal of Beltran’s WPA to the mole. Thus, Beltran’s mole is far more valuable to this team than your Argenis Reyes-es and Wilson Valdez-ez.

by njk237 on Jun 30, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions