Friday Morning Applesauce: Is It Time For Spring Training Yet?

by Stephen Schmidt on Sep 30, 2011 9:23 AM EDT in Applesauce

There wasn't a whole lot in the way of Mets news yesterday, and I guess it will probably be that way for the majority of the winter. The biggest story around here will probably be Jose Reyes and how we deal with that, and the Wall Street Journal seems to agree.

On that front, the news recently that the Mets may be on the hook for far less than they originally thought for the Bernie Madoff case seems to be good news. Picard already had some initial payouts scheduled for the plaintiffs in the case, but those have been delayed while the trustees try to re-organize after the decision that went against them.

Sandy Alderson had nothing but good things to say about Daniel Murphy this season. It's good to see that Murph factors into the teams thinking for next season already. Exactly how he fits will also be a story to follow this winter. If nothing else, both he and Ruben Tejada have been good enough that Reese Havens shouldn't be rushed.

Around MLB

FanGraphs did a nice job putting the final day in the AL into graph form. According to the odds found at Beyond the Boxscore, seeing it happen in both leagues at the same time is something none of us are likely to ever see again (so enjoy it while you can). The Wall Street Journal also compares the Red Sox collapse to the 2007 Mets'. It does make you wonder how we'll be looking at these historically in 20 years.

Talking Chop is trying to talk Braves fans down off the ledge. It's funny how diffferent reactions tend to be when it's your team doing the collapsing.

The Red Sox may end up hunting for a new manager after this whole debacle. While the end to the season may not be laid at the feet of Francona, it does appear that both he and the Red Sox are ready to part ways.

Javier Vazquez appears to be fairly set in his decision to retire. I had always wanted him to be a Met for a season or two, as I really enjoyed watching him pitch (Yankees stints not included).

John Sickels did a look back at the top 50 hitting prospects from 2007.

Baseball had a good year with attendance on the whole. Hopefully the Mets will start to see a rebound in that department next year so that we're not looking at a $110 million payroll limit again.

And finally, Joe Posnanski again does some excellent work over at his blog. It's definitely worth checking out.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

What was our take on Reyes?

To be more specific, his decision to yank himself from the game in an anti-Ted Williams moment. I thought it was bullschmitz and selfish, but don’t really give a crap, ultimately. I’d be a liar if I said that won’t soften the blow (at least minutely) if/when he jumps ship, however.

I’m too lazy to look for what the AA “consensus” was.

by tmu on Sep 30, 2011 10:42 AM EDT reply actions

Jose rules

h8rs drool.

Couple of dissenters, but that was the vast majority.

The artful muppet formerly known as KrmtDfrog.
Please read my sardonic wit and over-blown sense of self over at headkicklegend.com

by Cory Braiterman on Sep 30, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I had a similar take

I am disappointed he did it, and wished he stayed in the game, but I’m not going to hold a grudge against him. NBD.

by James Kannengieser on Sep 30, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Personally I'm glad he did it

We’ve had many years to watch Jose do his thing, what’s 2 or 3 more at bats? He even went out with one of his patented bunt hits. This was what Jose wanted, and after all he’s given us, I think letting him end the season on such a high note is the least we can do for him. If that was the last we see of him as a Met (and I realy hope it’s not), at least he goes out leaving us the gift of the first Mets batting title. Of course I hope this isn’t even close to the last we see of Jose in a Mets uniform. I can see ticket holders to that game being mildly upset, but thats about it.

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

by KeithsMoustache on Sep 30, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn't like it at all

Something just felt a little cowardly about it, but it’s not the end of the world. It’s the reluctance to compete that is a bit disappointing. And just because other players have done it, doesn’t make it right. And the AA pole did reveal that the majority didn’t like the move, despite what Cory B. said.

by David G on Sep 30, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

It could be said to be strategically competitive, though

In plenty of areas, thinking through the outcomes and choosing the one that allows your opponent the least chance of winning IS being competitive.

I don’t have a fierce opinion. I was sad when I tuned in that I would see no Jose that day – and possibly as a met forever – so I wish that he’d at least maybe played half the game. Can’t fault the thinking, though.

by SuperT on Sep 30, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

This notion the he "didn't compete" confuses me.

What was the rest of the season? 125 practice rounds?

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Sep 30, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

If that really needs to be explained

it sounds like you haven’t played sports very much. Obviously, by the letter of the law, he qualified for the title and won. Put it this way, say Reyes was my son, I’d be disappointed he didn’t feel compelled to finish it, or at least take 3 at bats. It’s like, you are almost at the finish and you cop out? It’s like running a marathon and stopping at mile 25.5 with the lead. It should have been a game that he relished playing, just the challenge and excitement behind each at bat. I don’t question his love of the game, or his dedication to it at all. I think he just made a poor choice here, and it’s a singular event.

by David G on Oct 1, 2011 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I love it when people try to pull the "you must not have played sports" card.

Even though it doesn’t really matter, yes, I played sports. I played little league when I was 10 like everyone else. I also played hockey through high school and college. And using a race as a metaphor is flawed because it assumes that there is a defined end-point to the batting average title (you could say it’s the end of the regular season but that would come whether of not a player gets any PA’s let alone 3 more than he already had). Reyes “finished it” by hitting .005 points higher than Braun, not by reaching 589 PA’s instead of 586.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Oct 1, 2011 5:47 AM EDT up reply actions

"It’s like running a marathon and stopping at mile 25.5 with the lead."

Except that that would be idiotically stupid on Reyes’ part because he would be guaranteed to lose, since you can’t win a marathon without crossing the finish line. I don’t see how that has any relation to this situation.

He met all of the requirements, he took his lead and extended it to the point where he was comfortable and then he came out of a game at the end of the year that meant nothing, a day game after night game that he obviously wouldn’t have been playing in anyway if it weren’t for the batting race. Imagine if he weren’t in the batting race, he likely wouldn’t have even been in the lineup on the last day of the season. Then how would the fans at the stadium who spent money to see him have felt?

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!
You might know me as mistermet.

by Steve Schreiber on Oct 1, 2011 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Now if the analogy was a race on a moving sidewalk

that might work since the participants would still be moving towards the end-point whether or not they actively moved (the regular season ends whether or not a player actually plays). In that scenario it would be like the tortoise and the hare except the hare wins.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Oct 1, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I know Havens hasn't played a ton

but it wouldn’t be rushing him to have him at AAA next year, or even to give him a legit shot in spring training. He is 25 now and did play 3 or 4 years in the SEC. A lot of players have skipped AAA and gone straight to the pros.

by David G on Sep 30, 2011 2:53 PM EDT reply actions