Rod Barajas Applesauce - Mets close to terms with catcher, Cole hung jury, Jurrjens MRI

by Joe Budd on Feb 17, 2010 8:42 AM EST in Applesauce

Meet the Mets

I must say that I am happier with a Barajas/Blanco combination than any combination involving Omir Santos. Speaking of catchers, check out this gem of a headline from the Daily News. I never really envisioned Josh Thole as an adverb.

Also, while we're talking about Thole, Ted Berg, assuming that Barajas was not Citi-bound, argues that the Mets should still consider giving him the starting position. I'd be interested to see what he thinks post-Barajas.

The Brian Cole trial ended in a hung jury yesterday.

Rob Neyer addresses his Fernando Tatis lapse while not explaining what exactly happened.

Howard Megdal reminds us that we still have 162 games of baseball to look forward to this year, no matter how they end up.

Brian Mangan brings Jordany Valdespin, the Met minor leagues' best pure athlete, to our attention.

Around the NL East

Cody Ross won his arbitration case and will earn $4.45 million.

We should expect Jair Jurrjens' MRI results sometime today. Could the Braves medical staff be as bad as the Mets'?

The Nationals will probably get 10 minor league starts from Stephen Strasburg before calling him up in June to add one additional year before allowing him to reach free agency.

Around MLB

Some good Jim Leyland stuff to pass along. Randy Marsh apologized to him for the terrible call that could have cost the Tigers a postseason berth. But, even better, Leyland is worried about the new public smoking ban in Detroit.

John Sickels is going through a midlife crisis of sorts with statistics.

The White Sox are not out of the Johnny Damon pursuit.

Beyond the Box Score presents some really interesting player comparisons. It's amazing the amount of hype that Damon gets compared to Mike Cameron.

Here's some incredible historical work on why the Boston Braves were wearing swastikas.

Eri Yoshida, a female knuckleballer, earned herself a win in the Arizona winter league.

The Orioles' Brad Bergesen managed to hurt his arm while filming an Oriole commercial. That's not exactly a good omen for your season, is it?

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"New York Mets rookie catcher trying to Josh Thole earn starting job"

Adam Rubin lobby for new copywriter.

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

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Feb 17, 2010 8:55 AM EST reply actions

It's our new German syntax coverage

“You look different somehow.”
“I am a new tie wearing.”

phliadelphoe ite domum!

by Doc Manhattan on Feb 17, 2010 9:53 AM EST up reply actions

Haha yes.

It’s also fun to read that headline with a non-specific European accent. I’m not sure I can type the way it sounds tho.

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

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Feb 17, 2010 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

Actually, they need to start a new proofreader position.

The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL

The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back

The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Allergic to second periods

by R_Adragna on Feb 17, 2010 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

Super Two stuff is stupid

by Dan Lewis on Feb 17, 2010 9:26 AM EST reply actions

Applesauce

Oh, Adam Rubin and your lobbying…

Can we sign Eri Yoshida somehow?

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Feb 17, 2010 10:10 AM EST reply actions

she can't be any worse than Perez

"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 Feb 17, 2010 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

Have faith, Ollie's gonna make a comeback...

A woman sidearm knuckleballer would get asses in the seats, though.

by hotspur on Feb 17, 2010 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

If she were a cyclops

we’d have a HOF lock.

by theflicker on Feb 17, 2010 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

Conjecture

by the Milwaukee beat writer is that Ross used Hart’s salary as one of his comps. Hart’s agent used Frenchy as one of his comps. I’m not sure what to call that and Hart had a pretty mediocre year, but hey, there’s a Mets reference.

by ol Pete on Feb 17, 2010 12:01 PM EST reply actions

Also today

Ted Berg linked to a great interview a Yankee blog did with Brian Cashman. As I said in the comments on his posting, it sure would be nice to have a GM who had a logical thought process about things.

by JoshNY on Feb 17, 2010 12:10 PM EST reply actions

At this point I don't even care if it's logical

it’d be nice if they seemed to have some sort of process/plan approach to things, rather than just flying by the seats of their pants.

"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 Feb 17, 2010 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

The GM position is probably the only place I know where spontaneity just doesn't work.

The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL

The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back

The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Allergic to second periods

by R_Adragna on Feb 17, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

What you don't like Omar's plan? Omar lobby you like plan. His plan, he likes his plan.

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Feb 17, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

That Neyer article is bad.

He doesn’t know what the Braves did wrong, but he’d have done it differently.

"We're just as bad as the old Mets, but this time nobody's laughing"
-Dallas Green

by Stephen Schmidt on Feb 17, 2010 12:11 PM EST reply actions

Well he also said 90% of him thinks nothing could be done

he’s just saying that arguably they could have replaced Jurrjens in a few of those starts, knowing the injury risks with young pitchers. I don’t really think there’s anything that bad about that, though it doesn’t seem to really be an article, more just thinking outloud.

"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 Feb 17, 2010 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

Boston Braves article

I found that to be a very interesting read, especially the fact that the swastika was considered a symbol of strength and a good luck charm before World War 2.

The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL

The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back

The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Allergic to second periods

by R_Adragna on Feb 17, 2010 1:28 PM EST reply actions

It still is in Asia.

In Hinduism, is commonly is used to represent The Brahman the creator energy of the universe. In Buddhism, which grew syncretically out of Hinduism, it represents eternity, which is a very similar concept to the Vedic Brahman. In Jainism, the swastika is akin to their version of the Star of David/Crucifix/Crescent Star.

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Feb 17, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

yes

except the Nazi’s perverted the swastika in Hinduism and Buddism by reversing its orientation.

by secret defense on Feb 17, 2010 10:07 PM EST up reply actions

The Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains use swasticas that go clockwise and/or counterclockwise.

The Nazi swastika goes only clockwise. I don’t know where the above “claim” came from, that they reversed the ‘traditional’ swastika, but that is not the case.

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Feb 18, 2010 12:06 AM EST up reply actions

The Nazi swastika is tilted

almost every other time it’s not.

by Evan_S on Feb 18, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Somewhere along the way

I picked up a small leather pre-WWII book that has a swastika and an elephant embossed on the cover.

by ol Pete on Feb 18, 2010 8:15 AM EST up reply actions

It had about 2000 years of being a positive symbol

…and then the Nazis got hold of it.

by erich10031 on Feb 17, 2010 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

The swastika was symbolic of lots of things

and it’s a lot older than the Nazi Party. It’s a geometric shape that arose naturally in lots of societies as soon as basket weaving was discovered. The history of the swastika was one of the more interesting things I’ve learned on wikipedia.

by djg2111 on Feb 17, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

Wow. i came here Mets news now I have the complete history of the swastika.

And because of you guys and the crack like addictive properties of Wikipedia i managed to waste an entire 3 hour lecture. Thank You.

"Wait till Biggus Dickus hears about this!"

by scott from peekskill on Feb 17, 2010 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

You know what's really cool, that I discovered on Wikipedia?

The Golden Spiral. Crazy stuff.

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

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Feb 18, 2010 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah its really cool

If you look at the seeds of a sunflower each center seed starts one of these spirals. There is a link with the prime number series somehow too but i cant remember.

"Wait till Biggus Dickus hears about this!"

by scott from peekskill on Feb 18, 2010 1:33 AM EST up reply actions

the fibonacci series?

its not all primes, but generates these spirals

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 18, 2010 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

The comments are really interesting

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

by dcrockett17 on Feb 17, 2010 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Hey!

Why is Rabbit Maranville wearing a Yankee hat?

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

by CharlieH on Feb 17, 2010 3:01 PM EST reply actions

Haha

That’s an awesome article, though.

by Prince on Feb 17, 2010 4:53 PM EST up reply actions

Thole and Strasburg

In both cases the teams would be better in the long run to let them play a full season in the minors.
Thole is ready to hit, but it is so important to have someone who knows how to catch also. We are not going to win a pennant this year so let him stay in AAA until theur season is over, and then call him up at the end of the season.
Strasburg- the Nats have signed a lot of pitching, I would go withthat all season and let Strasburg pitch a full season, maybe even down at AA, get confidence and let his arm feel a full season. Do not let him pitch at the majors even in Septemeber, instead let his arm rest and come in 2011 for aspot in their rotation

by Rickfansince76 on Feb 17, 2010 4:54 PM EST reply actions

Could not agree with you more.

Give the kid a chance to learn to catch properly, in a non-pressure type atmosphere…like Citifield in September.

"Wait till Biggus Dickus hears about this!"

by scott from peekskill on Feb 17, 2010 9:55 PM EST up reply actions

good signing if it happens ?

barrajas has some pop in his bat i like him over santos and blanco would be the backup . but i think thole will be called up at some point this season . its great that the mets are going to give some of the young guys a chance.

by lohaus#54 on Feb 17, 2010 7:37 PM EST reply actions

I think/hope you are correct.

What’s he like behind the plate and handling the pitching staff? Anybody?

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

by The Glider on Feb 19, 2010 12:40 AM EST up reply actions

Since letting Piazza go

Omar/Jeff have given us 1 stop gap after another. In 2007 there were 5 catchers selected after our pick (#29) in the 1st and supplemental rounds including Travis D’arnaud who was recently included in the Halliday/Lee deal. Knowing we had no one coming up at that position why wasn’t Catcher for 2010 – 2012 addressed in any meaningful way? What did we do with our draft pick that year? We gave it to the Giants for Moises BEFORE the Giants even had to decide if they were going to offer Alou arbitration. Why, If we wanted Alou that bad couldn’t we have just waited and at least attempted to save our pick? The Giants very likely WOULDN’T have offered Alou arbitration and we could have had a potential starter down the road. Granted prospects frequently don’t pan out but if your just throwing your draft choices away (especially #1’s) you have no chance at all to develop any of your own players. What you are then left with is the type of slop we have now (and quite possibly 40 man roster problems) I would be willing to bet that when Omar approached Jeff about signing Moises he told him “and we can pay part of his salary by not having to pay a first round pick this June.” Other wise why would a GM just give away the chance to draft the 29th best amateur in the Country?

by t agee on Feb 18, 2010 10:23 AM EST reply actions