No Ike, but Justin Turner Applesauce - Beltran is my hero, Mets get Bubba

by Joe Budd on May 16, 2011 10:19 AM EDT in Applesauce

Meet the Mets

Three pitch walks, the third different everyday second baseman knocking in five runs, and a 4-2 road trip to boot. A pretty nice way to end the weekend. I am still pretty worried, though, about RA Dickey continuing to struggle, even though he insists that he can get better all on his own. We shall see.

Carlos Beltran was the star of the week for me. At the rate that he is going, he is helping the Mets on the field while also sending his stock soaring for potential suitors. We really do need to savor all the at bats he has left with this team. His performance this year has been a tremendous and inspiring story so much so that, for me, I almost wouldn't mind him going to the Yankees so that he has a shot at a World Series (that he deserves) AND I will get to see more of him play.

The Mets have acquired a guy named Bubba Bell. That is pretty cool.

1962 was not a good year and the members of that team would like you to stop reminding them about it.

Finally, the story behind how the Mets started wearing those black uniforms.

The Apple may have figured out why Terry Collins continues to insist on batting the second baseman second in the order.

Doc Gooden joined Twitter.

Around MLB

Philadelphia dropped a series against Atlanta, but the Braves have lost Chipper Jones for a while to a torn knee meniscus.

Bryce Harper has already hit nine home runs and is in the middle of an 18 game hitting streak.

So, Jorge Posada made some waves for one of the few times in his career over the weekend. David Ortiz came to his Yankee rival's defense.

Mike Carp alert! Three home runs for AAA Tacoma.

Pete Rose would like to manage again. Ha.

And, finally, sad news over the weekend as Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew has entered the final stage of his battle with cancer.

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Comments

I'd much rather see Beltran get traded to the Rays than the Yankees

it would suck to see another Met great win with the Yankees. I rather he help the Rays win the division and possibly World Series.

by graves9 on May 16, 2011 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs

I would be indifferent to where he went

more important is what he brings back. If the Yanks would trade a true pitching prospect, I would be happy to watch Beltran carry them to the playoffs.

If the season looks like it does now at the deadline, he may very well me the missing piece, and the Yankees would be the team that he would represent the biggest upgrade to. Replacing Posada’s hitting and Swishers fielding with Beltran so far this season would have had the Yanks in first place…

by djg2111 on May 16, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

This

If the Mets traded Beltran for Swisher, I’d be really livid. If, on the other hand, the Mets traded Beltran for Austin Romine, I’d be good with that.

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

by Russ on May 16, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Make that Romine and another decent prospect.

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

by Russ on May 16, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Cincy might be another team interested

Gomes has been terrible , and they have good catching prospects.

by graves9 on May 16, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

That would be a true rental,

though I confess that, given Beltran’s age, I don’t know what his next contract will look like. I’m pretty confident it will come from an AL team, though. Someone like the Orioles would be perfect — short right field and he can DH.

by tmu on May 16, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

don't know if you guys noticed, but....

the Yankees have Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, and Ivan Nova in their rotation. What makes you think they would give up a pitching prospect ?.

Also, if the Yanks took Beltran and his remaining salary, and we got back Swisher and his remaining salary, I’d be “not livid”, but rather more “meh”

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 16, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I would also be pretty meh if they got swisher

the only reason this would make sense for the Yankees is if Beltran was the difference between the playoffs, and possibly the world series, and going home early.

In that case, the Yankees may part with a mid to high end prospect as a pure win now move. If thats not the case, there is no reason to make a deal with them. My point was just that I don’t care who he goes to – more important is the prospect haul. The Yankees seem to have a huge need for him for this year.

by djg2111 on May 16, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree that the Yankees could use his bat

and I would love to have Swisher with the Mets, but I don’t know what his contract status is…..if he is to be a FA at the end of the year, he would probably go elsewhere, so in the case (FA), I would want prospect(s), but I wouldn’t expect that the Yankees would give us anything worth writing home about.

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 16, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I really don't want Swisher

I’d rather fill some glaring holes like catching and pitching depth, and cobble something together for right field in 2012. F! might be at the point where he’ll be just as productive as Swisher. If not F!, then Duda or Kirk. We have options for 2012 in right field.

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

by Russ on May 16, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

would Swish be a type A?

if so, we can swap Beltran for the prospects he can’t get us to the Gift of Omar. That may be worth something.

by djg2111 on May 16, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

There's something to be said for getting a prospect like Austin Romine

He’s in AA, and seasoned enough to make the jump to the majors. That gives the Mets needed depth. What happens now if Thole gets injured, or doesn’t rebound? We need options.

The draft picks for Swisher are nice, but that provides prospects who are likely 3+ years away. With the money not spent on Nick Swisher’s remaining salary, which is $10 million for this year, the Mets could easily pick up two more elite prospects late in the draft, and still have money left over.

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

by Russ on May 16, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Correction: his salary is $9 million this year

but there is a $1 million buyout for the 2012 season.

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

by Russ on May 16, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree that prospects would be better

I’m just curious if Swisher has any real value to the Mets, since they won’t be competing this year. (Note that if they are competing, they aren’t trading Beltran).

by djg2111 on May 16, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

What do you think the Mets could actually get in terms of prospects?

Is a Romine+ package a legitimate option? What about the pitching prospects?

I would think the Mets would be willing to cover much of Beltran’s contract in exchange for prospects – Alderson probably has a good feel for how much surplus value the individual prospects provide.

by djg2111 on May 16, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

If Beltran is going to the Yankees, they can pick up the contract

I’m really not sure what Beltran would bring back. If Hank Steinbrenner went to Brian Cashman and said, “get me Beltran and I don’t care what it costs!,” we could get quite a haul.

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

by Russ on May 16, 2011 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Montero and Banuelos for Voltron would be nice.

Even nicer if the Yanks lost in the playoffs and the team that Voltron signed with got him a ring in 2012.

by Shevshevy on May 16, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

no chance in hell we get montero and banuelos...

you were sarcastic right?

Yogi on the 1969 NY Mets....." overwhelming underdogs "

by SuperSantana on May 16, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

With Romine,

I’m not really seeing what the hype is about, personally. I mean I haven’t read a scouting report on him but the sheer numbers in the minors are sort of pedestrian. I’m assuming he’s a really good defensive catcher and maybe some more offense is supposed to come down the line? Because the numbers show that he’s a guy with some doubles power, a touch of speed perhaps and decent contact ability who doesn’t walk much and strikes out a little too much for my liking.

I mean, if people think he’ll develop some more power or improve his contact skills, then okay…that’s something to be interested in. If not, I’d look for some starting pitching instead or look elsewhere.

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

by Steve Schreiber on May 16, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

It doesn't have to be Romine

I named him because the Yankees have three top catching prospects, so one should be expendable. Romine is the one who is closest to the majors with a chance at staying behind the plate. The Mets desperately need catching depth. It seems like a good fit.

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

by Russ on May 16, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

All these people who will weigh the outcome in determining the pain of seeing Beltran as a Yankee

have colder hearts than mine. It would be PAINful. I’m more persuaded by the argument that it gets him a good shot at a championship, but seeing him in that uniform would kill me. Just kill me.

by SuperT on May 16, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

To me,

I don’t think it would kill me. It would hurt maybe seeing him a few times in highlights, but to be honest, I can just not watch Yankee games if I have to and not even have to deal with it. Now if it were Reyes or Wright, that’d be much tougher. As much as I love Beltran, I watched Reyes and Wright develop in front of my eyes. That’d be even worse.

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

by Steve Schreiber on May 16, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not too worried about Dickey

I don’t think he’ll replicate his results of last year in terms of ERA, but his performance this year is likely to improve.

It seems as if it is partly due to Dickey struggling in a couple ways and getting a bit unlucky at the same time. His BABIP is at .328 right now, despite not increasing his LD rate this year and his GB rate staying very close to what it was last year. That in itself is likely to improve as the year goes on.

by Balagast on May 16, 2011 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

GKR were obsessing about the spin on his knuckler

You could clearly see the ball spinning horizontally, which stops it from breaking. I actually find this encouraging because the issue seems to be mechanical rather than physical or luck-based. I have hope that he can fine-tune his release and get comfortable once again, making his repertoire unhittable once again.

by TheBigStapler on May 16, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Ya I didn't really get my point accross completely

What I was trying to say is that it is partly his mechanic issues with the KB and getting unlucky at the same time. Point being even IF he doesn’t 100% correct his mechanical issues his numbers are likely to improve.

by Balagast on May 16, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

The scariest part of the uniform article

is the bit about how “powerful” Charlie Samuels was. (Not saying he was weighing in on trades or anything — it’s all equipment-related — but still. . . )

Also, I’m not sure how the guy who designed the black uniforms sleeps at night.

by tmu on May 16, 2011 11:15 AM EDT reply actions

How does he sleep? On his side, of course.

Otherwise the devil’s horns and tail are too uncomfortable.

by madisonmetsfan on May 16, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I actually sleep on my stomach

to avoid getting “tail lines” on my back or torso, but point taken.

by tmu on May 16, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

nice

The black unis must be purged to cleanse the organization

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on May 16, 2011 1:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Random

But does anyone else have this bad feeling inside of you that Izzy is going to come in one of these games and completely implode, like give up 5 runs without recording an out?

Raghav Ahuja

by raghavahuja on May 16, 2011 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

that could happen to any reliever.

my bad feeling has more to do with his arm falling off, and him running off the field like the Zambrano did years back.

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 16, 2011 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

He's one of the people I feel have an unquantifiable ability

Not unquantifiable in results, I hasten to add – my go-to argument with anti-stat people is that intangibles all go into the guy’s record, it’s all there, his intangibles against all the other guys’ intangibles – but in sussing out what he will do, tools and ability, his pitching smarts are an important thing, I think.

Which is not to say his age won’t win out. It will out, just hopefully not this season.

by SuperT on May 16, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely

His stuff is very mediocre at this point, as is his control

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ

The 2011 Mets- Rock bottom: We haven't reached it yet

by Syler on May 16, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

When I saw "Mets get Bubba"

I thought that the Mets had found some way to secure Bubba Starling for themselves. I was really excited for like a second before reality set in.

by Shevshevy on May 16, 2011 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

They kidnapped him and are holding him ransom for......

ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!!

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

by Steve Schreiber on May 16, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Thought the same thing

But, I really want him to go to the Huskers first.

by CCE718 on May 16, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

oh he must not have LOLie's agent...

Beltran for prospects is just fine with me.

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on May 16, 2011 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

We need to get Doug Fister and Chien Mien Wang.

Combining them with Dickey would create a rotation which would make the Phillies look like Ollie x 4

by Shevshevy on May 16, 2011 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

Then fire Warthen

and hire Dick Pole to be our pitching coach

by ZZPops on May 16, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

How nice was it

Seeing the young guys producing over the weekend. F!, Turner, Pridie, I liked it.

by CCE718 on May 16, 2011 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

beltran for Harper?

That’s doable right?

by Mike Clemente on May 16, 2011 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

Charlie Harper is an unemployed FA.

In lobby for: Jaime Cevallos, Zack Lutz, orange unis and Rickroll as the 7th inning song.
The Unwritten Rules of AA

by Michkin on May 16, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Ike Update

Still feeling discomfort in his ankle. Meeting with team officials today then will fly down to Florida to start rehab later this week. Somehow from this tidbit (lifted from Star-Ledger), rotoworld is reporting he won’t be ready when his DL stint is up. Hmm. maybe. But he got hurt May 10. His DL stint is up when, May 25? That’s 9 days from now. hardly unusual for a sprain and bone-bruise to still be uncomfortable 6 days later. hardly means in 9 days he won’t be ready. Ricco said he might only need 2 weeks. That doesn’t seem to be off. It still sounds like he may be ready then, may need some more time, but a huge change in the timetable doesn’t sound necessary yet.

I sprained an ankle playing basketball when I was 22. I needed physical therapy for it when I was 40. I ws a little surprised when the therapist asked if I’d sprained it when younger and then told me I had a chronic sprain. But this doesn’t mean much. I felt it but I within a couple weeks I was back to my standard 12 inch vertical. :)

by wobatus on May 16, 2011 2:07 PM EDT reply actions