The Day After Applesauce - GMJ's effect on Met farmhands, Rollins' wedding album, Dontrelle's lack of confidence

by Joe Budd on Jan 25, 2010 8:52 AM EST in Applesauce

Pretty light day as most of the news is a post-mortem on the Jets' season. Can't complain too much. They got beat by a better team. Only moment that really upset me was the hit on Mark Sanchez well after he handed the ball off.

Meet the Mets

Toby Hyde takes a look at the latest roster moves and their impact on the Met farm system. Clearly, the Mets see Fernando Martinez needing another year of polishing.

Johan Santana and John Maine highlight the list of Met players attending a voluntary 3-day minicamp.

Before the Angels shipped GMJ to New York, they were close to sending him to Boston for Mike Lowell. The fact that Boston was sort of interested makes me feel a tad bit better about this.

Congratulations to Indianapolis, but after two weeks, you get to sit and suffer through Oliver Perez pitching like the rest of us.

And we've finally figured out what Omar has been drinking all these years.

Around the NL East

Jimmy Rollins' wedding photo album is up. Is it just me or is it weird that this has become public to everyone?

Philadelphia has re-signed Carlos Ruiz to a three year, $9 million extension.

It really sounds like Washington and the Mets are competing for the same mediocre free agent talent at this point.

Around MLB

Curt Schilling has denied comeback plans. He has just decided to get his fat butt in the gym.

Dontrelle Willis has become the latest baseball player to announce that he has social anxiety issues. He had so little confidence that he was afraid to be on the mound last year.

Will the Brewers move to Orlando? I don't know where this reporter is getting her information. That is just ludicrous. Miller Park is still very new and an amazing facility. The team vigorously denied the story.

Game of Inches has compiled the Bengie Molina All-Stars. Somehow, there are no Mets on this team, but plenty of Royals.

Tweet Comment 39 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Like Toby Hyde said..

All Matthews has to do to make this a worthwhile acquisition is to be an adequate fourth or fifth outfielder. Stokes wasn’t going to keep up that ERA (although he may cure AIDS.) I’m very indifferent about the Matthews trade and it’s just ridiculous when people over react like we’re having to trade a Scott Kazmir type prospect for him.

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Jan 25, 2010 9:51 AM EST reply actions

The issue is

there’s no evidence in the last three years that says he would be an adequate 4th or 5th outfielder. Or certainly not any more adequate than other players that were, and still are available.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Jan 25, 2010 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

At the end of the day

The Angels are paying so much of his salary. If the Mets get any production out of him it may be worth it.

by metsman07 on Jan 25, 2010 9:57 AM EST up reply actions

But thats kind of the point

that there’s a good chance they won’t get any kind of production.I don’t think anyone really cares about trading Stokes, its that there’s really no evidence to suggest we’ll get any type of production from him and we very well could get negative production from him. So it makes no sense to bring him in as a 4th outfielder, regardless of cost, when there are so many options that are likely to be better still available.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Jan 25, 2010 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

All I'm saying

Is that in the grand scheme of things, this can turn out to be a total nonissue, even if the Mets don’t get any production from him.

by metsman07 on Jan 25, 2010 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

It could be a non issue

but it’s just more evidence to the poor process used by the mets front office. for small moves it’s a non issue but it becomes a big issue because they use the same talent evaluation process for big moves. Which is how you get closers being paid 17 million in the last years of their contracts, or moving 7 players for a set up man with a known elbow injury. Like all the small moves Omar made after the 06 season could be considered small moves/non issues individually, but added together and they cost us a lot of cheap production with no return.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Jan 25, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

The plan is always

to address any roster issues with other teams rejects then call it a win because other teams are paying someone to suck for us instead of sucking for them.

by t agee on Jan 25, 2010 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

the problem is our best case scenario is that this is a non-issue

theres no upside. At best we get a potentially functional below average backup outfielder. Thats the BEST case scenario unless GM Jr. has some sort of ridiculous renaissance season. Sure giving up Socks wasn’t a big hit, and yes the Angels are covering around 20 million of his salary (is this not a red flag in and of itself?) but why ship away a reliever with some trade value and blow 2 million dollars on a guy who at best will be a non-issue?

by KeithsMoustache on Jan 25, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

It's another useless piece

on a team that has more than its share of useless pieces. Cora, Frenchy, AndyHernandy, Castillo, Murphy.

David Wright will become “our” Don Mattingly: a wonderful, beloved player who will go ringless.

Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!?

by CharlieH on Jan 25, 2010 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

i hope you're wrong about Wright

And Murph isn’t necessarily a useless piece, he’s a miscast piece.

by KeithsMoustache on Jan 25, 2010 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

True.

It pained me to write that about Murphy, actually.

And I hope wrong about Wright, as well…

Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!?

by CharlieH on Jan 25, 2010 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Wright won't want to retire until he's wearing a ring.

I really believe that.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Jan 25, 2010 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

I don't want to see him getting no rings with no other clubs.

Met for life, our third Hall-of-Famer in Cooperstown (or fourth, if you want to count Jose Reyes first).

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 25, 2010 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

He wouldn't have it any other way.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Jan 25, 2010 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

Then he'll be facing quite the conundrum

if he wants a ring but doesnt want to leave the mets.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Jan 25, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

Eh, I think it's possible.

I may just be naive.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Jan 25, 2010 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, ring or no ring, whatever. As long as he's here for his career.

I don’t think I’m strong enough emotionally to ensure a modern day Midnight Massacre.

Rings are, of course, very good, though.

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 25, 2010 11:15 PM EST up reply actions

*endure, not ensure

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 25, 2010 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

As long as he's here for his career, still respected as the great player he is,

and single, I’ll be a happy camper.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Jan 26, 2010 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

Wedding ring?

by James Kannengieser on Jan 25, 2010 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

Not unless I gave it to him.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Jan 25, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

The Angels are paying most his salary, but at the end of the day, the Mets will be getting a net loss, all things combined.

Salary for Gary Matthews Jr., that the Mets will be paying: $1 million dollars
WAR projection for Gary Matthews Jr., by CHONE: -0.1

Salary for Brian Stokes, that the Mets would have been paying: < $1 million dollars, closer to Major League minimum
There are no WAR projections for Stokes, but assuming he produces as he did last season, Fangraphs says that was a -0.1 season.

So, essentially, we’re spending an extra $500,000 or so for the same amount of total production (a negative net production).

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 25, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Yes but

We need another OF.

You’re right, I agree, etc. I just think you’re looking at it wrong. We could have non-tendered Stokes and filled in with a replacement-level OF. We’d have roughly the same talent as GMJr for $500k less. But if we did that, I think it’s fair to say that had we held onto Stokes and instead signed someone liek Jeremy Reed to a minor league deal (i.e., effectively for the pro-rata league min until Beltran comes back, or $100k) we’d also have tendered Stokes a contract, or owed him $500k. And I’m sure I’m missing dollars here or there, so maybe it’s closer to net $0 than we think. It certainly is if we can move GMJr’s contract at some point, and we probably can. If, say July 31, we move GMJr for cash considerations to someone, we’ve basically done exactly that.

The real issue is that the GMJr blows, and there’s no need for the Mets to have done anything at this point. They could have made a similar deal in April or May when Angel Pagan gets hurt.

by Dan Lewis on Jan 25, 2010 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

I understand the rationale, and mathematically, it'd all work out.

I find the odds of us turning GMJ into something positive later on in the season, be it cash, or some third-string Minor Leaguer who might play some positive role in the future, or some other scenario very unlikely. Not impossible, but…

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 25, 2010 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

His over the wall catch

a couple years ago was the single greatest act of grission ever by a black man.

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Jan 25, 2010 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

Dewayne Wise would like a word with you about that

by KeithsMoustache on Jan 25, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

Jackie Robinson had more grission in his left toe.

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 25, 2010 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

haha yeah i was just thinking modern era

but im pretty sure Jackie wins the all time grission award

by KeithsMoustache on Jan 25, 2010 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

Dallas Clark is a Mets fan?

I was already gonna be rooting for the Colts, but that just makes me like them even more. That’s awesome.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Jan 25, 2010 10:10 AM EST reply actions

I know!

Pretty freaking awesome.

by Coolpapabell on Jan 25, 2010 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

Mrs. J-Roll is a bit mannish

by JoshNY on Jan 25, 2010 11:49 AM EST reply actions

Love is blind.

Ruf! Ruf! Hello. I’m Rags.

by bones_boy on Jan 26, 2010 8:38 PM EST up reply actions

Why is Jorge Cantu part of the Benjie Molina Allstars?

I feel like there’s gotta be a worse, fatter person out there that would make the squad over him.

Travis Hafner is made of gold

by Super Mario on Jan 25, 2010 12:43 PM EST reply actions

Applesauce

Looking at Toby Hyde’s analysis of the Minors, in relation to the recent moves, made me breathe a sigh of relief that things are the same as they were before the season ended- no wacky trades involving prospects- yet…

Omar drinks lightning in a bottle? Is it Omir Santos brand?

Dontrelle’s problems: Didn’t we already know this? I hope he gets his stuff in order, because I’ve always liked him. I would have loved having him on the team- he could pitch, he could hit, he had a really infectious smile, and seemed like a real cool guy.

That Brewers story moving is so bad, they took it down from their website. Might as well remove that from the Applesauce.

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 25, 2010 2:06 PM EST reply actions

Very odd indeed

that dozens of Rollins’ wedding pics are available to the public.

by Prince on Jan 25, 2010 2:25 PM EST reply actions

its kind of creepy

like usually there’s papparazzi pictures but its weird that professional wedding photos are just up on a website. I started to look through them and just felt uncomfortable.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Jan 25, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

JRoll wants to be a big star

Of what sort, I don’t know, but he’s always been working on having a bigger media presence than just baseball.

by SuperT on Jan 25, 2010 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

That Dontrelle Willis stuff was happening last year.

I thought originally it was an excuse for the Tigers to DL him, but apparently it’s for real and I wish him the best of luck.

Why would a baseball team move TO Florida? MLB in Florida hasn’t exactly been a resounding success.

by dtro on Jan 25, 2010 6:01 PM EST reply actions

seriously

Not only have the 2 existing teams not drawn well, but the state’s economy is in shambles, and look at what happened when the NFL put a 3rd team in Florida. The Jaguars, despite being a well-run franchise that appears in the playoffs all the time, can’t fill the stadium to half capacity.

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 Jan 26, 2010 12:20 AM EST up reply actions