White Flag Applesauce - Santana out for season, Wagner to Boston, DH to Mets, Livan to DC, Putz done

by Joe Budd on Aug 26, 2009 8:17 AM EDT in Applesauce

I can't say I'm actually unhappy with Santana being put on the DL. At this point, why are we wasting him and putting him out there to suffer an even worse injury? But, seriously, this needed to be examined significantly earlier. There is absolutely no reason that he should have been pitching in pain for all this time. And, finally, the Wagner reunion tour was certainly fun while it lasted.

Meet the Mets

What a busy, crappy, bittersweet day in Metsland. I get to choose between two big stories, so I'm going with the Mets best pitcher one. Johan Santana will undergo elbow surgery, miss the rest of the season, but will likely be back by Spring Training 2010. This course of events brought a lot of internet second-guessing as to the Mets injury management system. Rob Neyer. Ken Rosenthal. Umpbump. The system really makes sense, however, when you see the Mets' decision making flow chart.

While the verdict of the Johan Santana contract at the time was resounding applause, Fangraphs reminds us that the deal is looking awfully shaky from here on out.

In the second major news story of the day, the Mets, who would not have offered arbitration, sent Billy Wagner to Boston after the reliever waived his no-trade clause. The Mets will receive two players to be named later with one of those names being circulated now: Chris Carter, a 27 year old triple-A DH.

Wallace Matthews did not appreciate Wagner at all. Dave Cameron says the Red Sox got the best of both worlds.

JJ Putz, thought to be close to a return, is out for the season.

For some reason, David Wright is looking to return from the DL on Monday.

With all this free roster space now Nick Evans doesn't have to wait until September to be in the big leagues again.

Blueandorange.net has a great look back at this trying season. I completely forgot about the Darren O'Day debacle. Ugh.

Matthew Artus spends some time he will never get back looking for the act that has cursed the Mets.

Around the NL East

Mr. National Livan Hernandez has returned to Washington. The Nationals celebrated the coup by beating the Cubs 15-6.

Brad Lidge blew his ninth save of the year as the Pirates shocked the Phillies.

The Phillies weren't the only contenders losing to crappy teams: The Braves fell to David Eckstein in the 12th inning before 4,000 fans.

Atlanta welcomed back Martin Prado and Garret Anderson.

Around MLB

Zack Greinke set a Royals team record with 15 strikeouts yesterday against the Indians.

BtB gives a tutorial on how to make your own pitch f/x database.

The Rockies are now just two games behind the Dodgers after beating LA in the 10th.

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Comments

Wallace Matthews is still a douche.

He seriously has a problem with Billy wanting to be a closer? It’s his profession so why shouldn’t he do everything in his power to be in the position he wants to be in? What if someone told Matthews he was going to the New York Times, but he wasn’t gonna write anymore but was going to work in the mail room. That’s something that would benefit everyone who enjoys intelligent, well thought out writing, but he wouldn’t get to do what he wants. I wonder if he’d complain. And also, whether or not Billy was being selfish, he wasn’t hurting the Mets at all. If they kept him they still had the option to offer him arbitration, which if he really wanted to close that bad he would decline, and the Mets would have a shot at two draft picks.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Aug 26, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions

what a terrible article

it never ceases to amaze me how two normal people can look at the same situation and come up with wildly contrasting views.

by cntrlalt on Aug 26, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess the only thing left to settle is

does omar give Shef a 3 year or 4 year extension?

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Aug 26, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

he'll give him a 3 year extension

with a player option for a 4 year extension to that extension

by KeithsMoustache on Aug 26, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

i have no more comments

Self-proclaimed president of the Pat White and Brian Hartline fan club.

by samdaman on Aug 26, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

Love that injury flowchart

by James Kannengieser on Aug 26, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

omg

“saberizing a mac for free” is a slippery slope. Soon you’ll be making up your own stats and arguing about why yours is better.

If it will improve my R skills and keep my mind off the DL avalanche and trade cataclysms, I guess I will have to make the sacrifice…

I want to find out which pitch of the PA is most likely to hit a batter (weighted for PA length) and if P/PA is related to career longevity. My predictions are 3rd pitch and slightly.

"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it on the scoreboard?"

by hotspur on Aug 26, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

So if the Dodgers blow the lead will the MSM constantly make fun of them

as they did the Mets?

Hahahaha. Yeah right.

by gogomets on Aug 26, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

Than God it's almost football season

by JoshNY on Aug 26, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

Fantasy Sleeper:

David Clowney…at least I hope.

by David G on Aug 26, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Chris Carter is 38 years old

That’s what that Herald article says anyway. That may well be The Herald’s misprint, but that’s what it says—not 27.

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

by dcrockett17 on Aug 26, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Flimsy wording

I think it’s saying Wagner is 38. Took me a minute to decipher it though.

by James Kannengieser on Aug 26, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Also read the comments for some lessons in English from people I can only assume are Masshole Sawx fans

by James Kannengieser on Aug 26, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

man, i do not miss living in that place--not one bit

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

by dcrockett17 on Aug 26, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

7 years of living in Boston. Great schools + beautiful falls + lovely city + the most goddawful moronic population on earth. A place crying out for the neutron bomb.

by Kepler on Aug 26, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

+37

2004 was my first year in college at RPI (near Albany), where a large majority of the students are from New England. It was terrible having to deal with the Red Sox and the Pats winning all in one year.

Another anomaly I’ve noticed, it that if someone lives within 2 hours of Boston, they seem to think they are “From Boston”.

by Balagast on Aug 26, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

hey you're an RPI-er too?

and a recent one at that,what department were you in?

by KeithsMoustache on Aug 26, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

I was a Mechanical Engineering/STS dual major.

by Balagast on Aug 26, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

cool, chemE here

undergrad and now grad, one day i’ll escape the Troylet i swear

by KeithsMoustache on Aug 26, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey, what's wrong with the Troylet?

I do much quality boozing in Troy.

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 26, 2009 6:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Ah yes

I’ve spent many a long night at the Ruck …

by Balagast on Aug 26, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

The Ruck and O’Learys for me, mostly. Occasionally need the trip to the Ale House too if I’m jonesing for wings.

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 26, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I live in Providence

Which is much worse
crap schools+beautiful falls+somewhat nice town+the most goddawful moronic population on earth+~~people who think they are in the mafia~~

"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"

by firejerrynow on Aug 26, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

right you are

yes. that is oddly worded.

the herald is like their version of the post.

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

by dcrockett17 on Aug 26, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

i really cant believe

that omar screwed this up this bad

how do you trade wagner, who would net you 2 draft picks, for a 27 AAA DH?!?!?!?

I mean… really? We dont even play in the league that has a DH in it?!?!?!?!?

I am not even mad. I cant be mad anymore. I just… just… dont know what to say.

by gbaked on Aug 26, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

well, it's not that clear cut.

Even assuming Wagner netting 2 draft picks (not guaranteed), the decision Omar made was between “2 high draft picks” and "appx 5 million dollars (Wagner’s salary + signing bonuses) + 1B depth in AAA + PTBNL ". Assuming the Mets will use those 5 million wisely, the deal can turn out well. Not to mention that the other option was not guaranteed to net 2 high draft picks.

by alexSVK on Aug 26, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Well put. I would’ve kept and gone for the pick (although to be fair, it’s not my money) but there is a real risk in not unloading Wagner that absolutely can’t be ignored.

This isn’t a no-brain win or loss for the Mets but it could look very good or bad down the road.

by OlStubbleBeard on Aug 26, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions