Puma Sticking To It Applesauce - Collins doesn't deny story, Mets look to Izzy to set-up, Mookie blogs

by Joe Budd on Mar 16, 2011 8:23 AM EDT in Applesauce

Meet the Mets

Mike Puma's anonymous source surprised everyone yesterday when he encouraged Puma to write that Collins was set to name Luis Hernandez as the starting second baseman. Despite all the reasons that this is both untrue and unsmart, Puma doesn't want to back away from his scoop and, based on some of the on the record quotes he's gotten, I can's say I blame him. Money quote: "I don't think there's any need right now for me to play [Hernandez] at second base, because we all know he can play there." At this point, he has to be playing coy to motivate the other guys, right?

As if Luis Hernandez as your starting second baseman wasn't depressing enough, here's an apocalyptic Kevin Kernan column about Jose Reyes final half season with the Mets.

Jason Isringhausen has done enough this spring to jump him into contention for a set-up role.

This video makes me actually want to watch Met games. Definitely a different direction than the classic Mr. Met spots, but still awesome.

Welcome to the blogosphere, Mookie.

Patrick Flood caught up with David Wright and asked him about his streakiness and some statistical stuff.

R.A. Dickey's scream is garnering some national attention.

New York City is turning into a Batman and Robin kind of town.

Around MLB

Another one bites the dust for Philadelphia, this time it's Placido Polanco and his elbow.

How about all those rumors about Felix Hernandez getting traded to the Yankees? It would be a shame for the Mariners to have produced these sweet promotional spots and then go ahead and trade the guy.

Brian Sabean whines that the baseball world has an east coast bias.

As Derek Jeter approaches his 3,000th hit, a significant portion of New York fans apparently have decided to totally ignore Babe Ruth, Joe Dimaggio, Tom Seaver, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and recognize Jeter as the city's greatest athlete.

What does it mean for the sports world as teams are starting to take over the sports journalism world?

And, finally, clearly the biggest reason for the Giants to have won the World Series last year wasn't their pitching, but rather not having a Hall of Fame left fielder getting on base 50% of the time.

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Is it me

or is it getting old constantly hearing about Reyes not having a future with the Mets past 2011 or possibly not even all of 2011? Maybe it’s because I love the guy and want the Mets to re-sign him, but the media really doesn’t need to remind us every other fucking day about the possiblity of the Mets being Reyes-less in 2012.

And just because Tejada’s playing SS in AAA doesn’t the man the Mets are “clearly grooming him to replace Reyes”. Maybe Kernan should have cited an anonymous team source on that one.

Honestly, I do fear that Jose will be a casualty of this Madoff mess.

by ritzdeez on Mar 16, 2011 8:39 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Sports writers need something to write about

Once the season starts, my guess is that we’ll hear less about Reyes’ future with the Mets for a while. Once we approach the trade deadline, my guess is that we’ll be reading about possible Reyes trades on a daily basis.

As far as Tejada goes, I think that the organization wants him ready to be the 2012 starting shortstop just in case.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 16, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

"Nothing Changed Today"

does not move inventory.

by Kepler on Mar 16, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I think it's partly that but

it’s also a good move for Tejada’s value as trade bait. Tejada playing a full season at shortstop and showing that he can be good there allows other teams to see that he can do it and his value is likely higher at shortstop. And if he can show some improvement at the plate, that’d be even better for his value.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 16, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Not that I'd want to see Reyes gone

but if the Reds are in the mix come trading deadline, Jose would be a great fit for them. Plus, they have some nice pieces that could come back our way. Mike Leake and either catchers Devin Mesoraco or Yasmani Grandel would be a nice haul back. Thole and one of those prospects would set up our catching for the next 10 years. And a future rotation of Mejia, Leake, Niese, Harvey and RAD (who’s going to rule for the next 10 years) would be sweet.

by CatchDog on Mar 16, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

The Reds have a lot of pitching prospects and don’t get me wrong…I want Reyes to finish his career here. But at the same time, it’s certainly tempting to see if we can get a big haul for him. Maybe they could deal him at the deadline to the Reds and then he could resign with us in the offseason as a free agent? Best of both worlds, potentially…we get Reyes back and the prospects.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 16, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Have to believe the

Twins will emerge as the leading candidate to pursue Reyes in mid-season. They’ve also got some attractive prospects that could make it a good fit.

Otherwise, Giants, Rangers, maybe Brewers.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 16, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd trade Reyes for Yasmani Grandal in a heartbeat

and if we could get another premium prospect or two, it becomes a no-brainer.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 16, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Yasmani Grandal and Billy Hamilton for Reyes

Sandy, make it so!

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 16, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I have been wondering if the Brewers would want Reyes or even Beltran

because they have wholes in center and short. The problem of course is that they already traded their entire farm system away

by Shevshevy on Mar 16, 2011 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Kernan's a dufus

Tejada has always been a shortstop. He was moved to 2b because that’s where the Mets had a need last year. He’s not being moved to shorstop to groom him to replace Reyes necessarily. If he can play ss, that’s where he has the most value anyway. Sure, if Reyes is gone, he’s in the mix, but him playing shortstop at Buffalo is not a signal that reyes is a goner for sure. One has nothing to do with the other.

by wobatus on Mar 16, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Honestly

I thought MTC had started blogging when I saw the headline; it’s finals time, I’m a little tired.

You cannot stop Jeremy Colliton. You can only hope to recall him. --Dom, LHH

by isles732 on Mar 16, 2011 8:53 AM EDT reply actions

Babe Ruth

didn’t have an edge.

by CTRefJay on Mar 16, 2011 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

I imagine he did have strippers feeding him popcorn.

But 5 at a time.

by Kepler on Mar 16, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Izzy cannot make the team

especially if Heyman thinks he will…

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 16, 2011 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

It has to be a ploy

If you think about it, how many confidants do you think Terry Collins has in the organization? You’d think he could probably narrow down this “source” to one or two guys, right? And he probably wouldn’t be too happy about it and would have told the guy to shut up as soon as the story came out. But the next day the same source is sticking to his guns. Also curious that it’s really only the Post that has gone out on a limb with this story. It’s now been widely reported, but I’m not hearing that other outlets have their own sources providing similar info.

by xnumberoneson on Mar 16, 2011 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

I don't see the need for a ploy

when Castillo already has 3 other guys who want the job, all 3 of whom should be hungry as hell for it. Did Turner and Emaus show up and say, “well, they have a vet with a huge contract and a kid who has shown a decent major league stick, guess I’ll rest on my minor league laurels and coast into the job.”?

by wobatus on Mar 16, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Collins is practicing manipulating the NY media.

It’s Spring Training for him, too.

by Kepler on Mar 16, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

That's what I'm going with

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 16, 2011 2:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

All Terry has to do is make 'em laugh!

Then the media will just eat out of the palm of his hand.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 16, 2011 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Luis Hernandez

F’ing Terry Collins. I knew it.

No need to play him at second in Spring Training because we all know he sucks and would be a complete black hole on offense, a la GMJ, Jacobs, Cora, Barajas…Actually, those guys are better than Luis Hernandez.

Letting Collins make this decision will be akin to letting Manuel dictate that Mejia be the mop-up man in the majors last year. Worse, in my opinion, as far as whether it might actually improve the team, as opposed to long-term ramifications (Mejia actually had some slim possibility of being a decent reliever last year, and who starts at 2b in April for the 2011 Mets doesn’t matter much at all).

Another sad quotation: "There’s no reason to think Hernandez wouldn’t be the guy, if that’s who we think is going to be best for us [duh]. I like his enthusiasm [let’s hope a scrub is at leat enthusiastic]. I love his defense [fair enough]. I like the fact he switch-hits [badly from both sides] and he’s a baseball player [a pretty mediocre one; Ollie Perez is a baseball player, too].

I am just glad this decision is pretty unimportatnt as far as the intermediate term trajectory of the Mets. Sandy could let Collins have this one, although it seems to me like par for the course with punting on this year.

by wobatus on Mar 16, 2011 10:04 AM EDT reply actions

Before we all jump off a cliff

I highly doubt that management will allow Collins to make decisions about who’s on the roster. He can lobby, certainly, but that decision belongs to Sandy et all. So they’re perfectly capable of protecting Collins from himself by sticking Hernandez in the minors, and they’re intelligent people who clearly must recognize that Hernandez is an inadequate offensive player.

by dontstopbelieving on Mar 16, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Collins

seems to think he does have a big say. “Sandy has never put any restrictions on what we’re doing here [good lord, dude, it’s March 16th, heard of a honeymoon period?]…I know where he is on every player and he knows where I am [I think he’s gettinga clue that your opinion sucks]”

Yes, though, I am gettuing carried away and having fun with this. It really doesn’t matter anyway. Reese Havens it is hoped will OPS .900 in the minors this year and be the 2012 second baseman. Luis Hernandez will get off to a hot start and dealt to the Royals for Alex Gordon.

by wobatus on Mar 16, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

OT,

but Nate Dogg passed away

What's that about?

by Brian. on Mar 16, 2011 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

Memo From Turner

Gimme At-bats!

by wobatus on Mar 16, 2011 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

oops

Having trouble with the linkage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TLpvUg3a68&feature=related

A little Stones in support of Turner.

by wobatus on Mar 16, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

"I like his enthusiasm. I love his defense. I like the fact that he switch-hits and he's a baseball player."

Tough words for all of the locked out football players in camp.

by theflicker on Mar 16, 2011 10:17 AM EDT reply actions

That's what this team needs - baseball players

at least 25 of them

www.haikuboy.com

by murdertron3000 on Mar 16, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

24.

Plus one Force of Nature on the mound.

by Kepler on Mar 16, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Quotes like that

from Collins are starting to worry me. That’s Jerry-esque. If he really thinks Hernandez is now a legit candidate, what other evaluation mistakes will he make? Has anyone mentioned to Collins that Hernandez has a .633 OPS in 9 minor league seasons?

by David G on Mar 16, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

but Terry likes his energy!

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 16, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Terry/Jerry

Cue scary music.

by wobatus on Mar 16, 2011 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

This quote could easily be from Jerry or Omar talking about Alex Cora

circa 2008.

by David G on Mar 16, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

This.

I don’t think I could survive another Jerry Manuel-esque reign of error.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 16, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Indeed

And I for one am fairly old-school and certainly don’t mind Hernandez all that much in comparison to Castillo’s burining fuel rods in the belly (too soon?). Still, at least castillo knows how to get on base once ina blue moon. Castillo isn’t the alternative anyway. Murph, Emaus, Turner, Satin for goodness sake. Collins other quote: that double-play with the bases loaded in the 8th is pretty important. Yes Terry, it is. But your collection of 2bs is gonna have about maybe 700 PAs this year too and you wan’t have many meaningful late innings without making every out count. Maybe Hu, or Hernandez if need be, can be brought in for late d. But Luis hernandez’s career minor league OBA is .302. Marcel generously projects him at .310 for this year (he has been semi-decent in the minors last 2 years). He screams back-up at best.

Sorry for the rant. trust in the Alderson process. :)

by wobatus on Mar 16, 2011 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

that trust is fading

as this train wreck quotient increases with each passing day.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 16, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

we haven't really trainwrecked yet

we’re all just gunshy about roster decisions. lets let them make the choice before we panic or praise them.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 16, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

add the continuation of the

Ollie Follies…. so much fodder for abuse…

jeez, a freakin’ 5 headed monster competing for 2B… unreal.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 16, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

having a depth of potential options for 2b seems more like a good thing than a bad one to me

especially since we’re usually really really shallow in the 2b field. Also, I’d bet real money that Ollie is gone by the end of spring training.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 16, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

no it's time they

separate the real candidates from the others and narrow the field… there are at least 2 of the 5 that have no business in the competition and as noted from the beginning the glut has limited the amount of real game PT to go around to the candidates they should be focusing on. Turner can’t even get into a freakin game… this whole thing was/is being handled pretty amateurishly.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 16, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

who would you have removed from the field right now?

none of them have been bad enough to cut, or good enough to separate from the pack.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 16, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

it's not obvious?

Luis Luis

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 16, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

the problem is neither Luis been any worse than anybody else this spring

nobody is grabbing the field and when they’re all interchangeable, you have to wait until someone rises to the top or sinks to the bottom. I don’t want Slappy to be the best option, but if he is, then we don’t have much choice but to use him. For all of our sake I hope someone steps up soon.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 16, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

making this about

who “performs better” in a handful of ST ABs is insane. they had to know who they’d prefer to invest the season in even before ST began…

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 16, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

problem is if we go on past performance alone

Castillo is the only one who has held down a 2b position at the major league level. Most of these guys are young and untested against major league pitching. This is their proving ground. If they can’t hit major league pitching in spring training, then we can’t assume they’ll suddenly figure it out in season. Same goes for fielding the position. Somebody has to prove they can handle the job to win it, and so far nobody has proven that. This is why Slappy is still in the running. He should probably be getting far fewer starts than he is given how many players we need to try out, but unfortunately he’s not at the bottom of the cut list right now (i’d say Emaus is personally)

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 16, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Maybe they haven't given Turner any PA's because they now he's not better than Emaus or Murphy?

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 16, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I feel like if defense is really what they want

then they should just go all out and make the Hu the second baseman. He’s likely the better defender anyway and even with his big league struggles, he has a minor league track record of being somewhat useful at the plate, whereas Hernandez has only been bad in the minors and majors.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 16, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, too soon.

Jesus, I am going to tire of this meme over the next few weeks.

The whole brouhaha is absurd. It would be good to wait until something actually happens to get all exercised, but I guess since we all just sit at our computers looking for something to get exercised about, that’s a futile hope.

by SuperT on Mar 16, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions