New Orleans Applesauce - Fernando takes home MVP honors, Takahashi rejection, Kielty pitches

by Joe Budd on Feb 8, 2010 8:26 AM EST in Applesauce Comment 43 comments

If the Saints can win the Super Bowl, there is hope for all of us.

Meet the Mets

I'll start today's Applesauce with some Fernando Martinez news. The Mets top outfield prospect won the MVP award for the Caribbean Series as his Leones del Escogido squad finished with the league's top record (5-1). This can only help Martinez's prospect status. Also, while we're talking about Los Leones del Escogido, MLB caught up with their GM, Moises Alou.

Dave Singer throws some cold water on all the Val Pascucci enthusiasm.

Keith Hernandez will be Yoda to Daniel Murphy's Luke.

Japanese starting pitcher Hisanori Takahashi has turned down the Mets' offer.

Bobby Kielty hit like a pitcher in the minors, so now he's going to give that a go too.

Around MLB

Federal Baseball has some good Bryce Harper video. Expect this to continue until the guy is actually catching in DC. Maybe he'll be catching Shawn Estes at some point along the way.

The Good Phight points out how Amaro has upgraded the Phillies.

Buster Posey could pull a Craig Biggio.

Yorvit Torrealba tried to get the Mets involved in a bidding war, but they didn't bite because they didn't have the financial resources. It's pretty remarkable how those little moves come back to hurt.

Now for the former Met news and there's a fair amount of it. Alex Escobar (yes, the first version of Fernando Martinez) has signed a minor league deal with Colorado. Seattle has DFA'd Yusmeiro Petit. And, finally, Mike Piazza participated in this year's Faith Bowl.

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F?

by letsgocyclones on Feb 8, 2010 8:52 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

It's nice to see Martinez getted lauded and whatever, because most of the rest of that is depressing...

"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 8, 2010 9:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

"pulling a Biggio"

I assumed that meant getting beaned hundreds of times over the next 20 years.

Speaking of beanings, if Chase effing Utley keeps up his torrid pace, he has a good shot at breaking the career record. I think that’s fantastic news.

by hotspur on Feb 8, 2010 9:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

wheres john lannan when you need him?

by robcast23 on Feb 8, 2010 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just wish

the umpires would call some of those hbps strikes, which some of them are. Or at least call him for not attempting to get out of the way.

by blains2000 on Feb 8, 2010 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That annoys me, the not getting out of the way part.

Not just Utley, but anyone. I want to see an umpire with some balls, who sees that some of these guys don’t make any attempts to get out of the way, and call them out on it.

"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 8, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Watch

First one they call it on will be Reyes.

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

by CharlieH on Feb 8, 2010 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A question for the people who follow prospects

with Mets sitting at 7 (last I looked) who would be the player(s) you would like the Mets to draft? I will assume Harper, Taillon and maybe Ranaudo will be gone. Thanks.

by Nystrom on Feb 8, 2010 10:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's way to early to make any sort of judgement.

None of these guys are even into their season yet, and bonus demands won’t start leaking for a while.

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

by Schmidtxc on Feb 8, 2010 10:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

I figured it was a little early, but with not much to look forward to I’d figured I ask just the same.

by Nystrom on Feb 8, 2010 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I read a few mock lists going around.

Like this one.

by Michkin on Feb 8, 2010 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Now if we can just get the Phillies to sign Peyton Manning...

by Jamesir Bensonmum on Feb 8, 2010 10:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We'd just sign Donovan McNabb, so we'd be right back to square one, or worse

by Syler on Feb 8, 2010 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Except

You’re not allowed to run back a fly ball for a HR.

by letsgocyclones on Feb 8, 2010 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From the David Lennon post via metsblog re:Hernandez/ Murhpy

“But their other trouble spot – catcher – has no such silver lining.”

Is Thole really that bad defensively? He seems like he can hit at least as well as the guys they have now and most likely much better.

by blains2000 on Feb 8, 2010 12:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

he was pretty rough around the edges in his limited time with the Mets

but I think its something a bit more work at AAA will fix, he just needs time to finish developing instead of being rushed.

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's a mix of his defense being a pretty big question

and his bat also being a question at the next level being a question because of his lack of power, his obp was avg heavy and I think he had a sub .100 ISO and and a groundball rate above 52%.

"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 8, 2010 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he'll be a Lo Duca-esque hitter at the big league level

good contact, low power. I’m ok with that as long as he can sharpen his defense a bit.

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I sort of see LoDuca as well. I would be fine with that considering we will be paying him next to nothing for a good while. Lets all hope he improve defensively.

by Coolpapabell on Feb 8, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think a bit more time at AA

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

reply fail

I think a bit more time at AAA will help a lot

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mwahaha.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Feb 8, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Thole were to spend more time at AA, he would: develop a drinking problem, appreciate Socks! more and learn how to MS Paintz.

by Michkin on Feb 8, 2010 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

We do have a certain set of skills here

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Anything in the "AA-utility-belt" is baseball related or can help the Mets players improve?

by Michkin on Feb 8, 2010 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe he can MS paint compromising photos of the FO and training staff

thus getting them fired and replaced?

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Except not a raging douche like Lo Duca

by JoshNY on Feb 8, 2010 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah with any luck thats the case.

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair, I don't know for a fact that Thole isn't a raging douche

But I assume that he is not, because people named Josh are all intelligent, personable and charismatic individuals who are a pleasure to interact with.

by JoshNY on Feb 8, 2010 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and modest too

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 5:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

thats great

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON... BUY THAT MANSION. WE DONT NEED A CONDO.

by kendynamo on Feb 8, 2010 12:56 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

the leones del escogido are my favorite team!

and yes, i did hit the reply button prematurely. derp de der!

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON... BUY THAT MANSION. WE DONT NEED A CONDO.

by kendynamo on Feb 8, 2010 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Congrats

The Leones are my Mom’s favorite team, so I was happy with the outcome. I am a Liceyista myself.

by Coolpapabell on Feb 8, 2010 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also random baseball news

fangraphs continued their total domination of the baseball world by adding splits. Really it’s just silly.

"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 8, 2010 2:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

thats awesome

although that site is going to slowly consume my life as they provide more and more information

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Now, you just need to learn to use your eyes when you watch baseball, instead of stats, and you'll be all set.

"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 8, 2010 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but i have to read stats with my eyes

so really i’m already using them.

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not when you watch baseball, though.

If you actually used your eyes when the game was on, instead of using your vomeronasal organ, or whatever it is that you use, you’d see that Jeff Francoeur clearly is an amazing player, you’d be able to see the lines of grission- they’re a lot like stink lines- wafting off of Alex Cora, making it obvious why we have him $2 million dollars, you’d be able to see that this team is going nowhere without Bengie Molina, and you’d be able to see that OBP is not on the scoreboard.

"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 8, 2010 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

OHHH!

and all this time I thought those lines just meant he stunk at baseball. I’ll have to incorporate length of grission lines into my spreadsheets for future game simulations. Thank you for increasing the precision of my baseball modeling. I am also glad that you acknowledge that I have evolved to have a vomeronasal organ which helps me detect even the most subtle of changes in team chemistry and thus quantify it for further analysis.

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 8, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs