The Future is Like the Present Only Longer Applesauce: The Mets Might Be Good Someday, The Astros Will Still Be the Astros, Tools Will Always Play

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jan 31, 2012 9:09 AM EST in Applesauce

Meet the Mets

Taylor Buchholz will take 2012 off after battling anxiety and depression throughout the 2011 season. He has nothing but good things to say about the Mets and I wish him nothing but the best.

Goddamn Pat Burrell (his name in the Paternostro household) has finally decided to retire. He ended up with a nice little career, posting 21.9 fWAR over his twelve year career, at least 15 of which came against the Metropolitans. He did lose almost ten wins over his career to defense and baserunning, which...well, passes the smell test certainly. Boy, could he rake, though.

Ted Berg leaned hard on the internet to generate content for his sandwich blog yesterday, conducting one of his Twitter Q+As. Here's parts one and two covering MLB ready Mets prospects, candy bars, and the almost NYC Olympics.

More prospect talk over at Mets Minor League Blog (but of course) as Toby Hyde continues to unveil his Top 41 prospect list.

#40 Travis Taijeron

#39 Camden Maron

I like both these guys as potential sleeper/breakout candidates in 2012, though I could see full season ball being a test for each. Incidentally, Camden Maron is on twitter now.(@cam_maron)

Patrick Flood takes a look ahead at the 2014 Mets, and has a poll covering who the most important contributors will be. And no, none of the votes for Josh Satin are me. And yes, I am as surprised as you are.

Around the Majors

The Phillies hope to have Ryan Howard back by May. I imagine they will start Mayberry there until he's back, but then who will they stupidly start over Dominic Brown in the outfield?

The Astros will be the Astros for the forseeable future. Does anyone think this whole thing was a smokescreen. Hey, the team is terrible and it's moving to a tougher division, but at least the name will be the same. Aren't I'm the best owner ever? Seriously, their best offseason move was hiring Mike Fast from Baseball Prospectus.

The Rangers extended Ron Washington for another two seasons. Whatever you think of him as an in-game manager, the team just wins, so no surprise here. Lone Star Ball is down with the move.

AA's Bill Petti continues his series on Park Factors over at Beyond the Box Score.

You can always find someone to take a bet on tools, as somehow Corey Patterson has found another job, inking a minor league deal with the Brewers. I assume he will be a NRI this Spring as well.

And Now the Mets Highlight of the Day to Tide You Over Until Spring Training: Daniel Murphy Means Business

Yes, he was safe. No, I don't care.

And Your Non-Baseball Link of the Day: Matthew Artus stole one of my dream jobs

Writing for WWE.com as well. Congrats Matt!

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Comments

Wishing a speedy recovery to Mr. Bucholz

by aronofsky40 on Jan 31, 2012 9:13 AM EST reply actions

I love Flood's power rankings

I voted Harvey, Wheeler, Niese, Davis and Duda. Though there’s a significant chance Niese and maybe Davis (I only say this to support my WFAN-fueled pipe dream of dealing him for prospects and signing Joey Votto) are off the team by then.

"F***ing shocker." -Billy Wagner

by nymgb44 on Jan 31, 2012 9:28 AM EST reply actions

Patrick Flood's article:

great idea.
As far as 2014, how often does it work out that a team is going into a new season with not one player committed on the payroll (outside of the 2 buyouts he mentions)?

I know, of course – between now and 2014 there may very well be contracts awarded that include going into 2014.

by MetsFan4Decades on Jan 31, 2012 10:28 AM EST reply actions

I find that very doubtful

Barring a sale, in which case signing Votto or a big pitcher becomes a possibility. But even then I doubt they make any major moves.

"F***ing shocker." -Billy Wagner

by nymgb44 on Jan 31, 2012 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Well,

I was going along the lines of say a 2 year signing for a BP arm in 2013. Which would then equal a contract going into the 2014 season.

Wasn’t thinking so much a high priced FA – as I agree with your thinking on that.

And just to comment on your first post…..I don’t see Ike gone by 2014 unless the Wilpons still have ownership and they’re still losing revenues and they’re still in debt and they still refuse to sell. Otherwise, what’s the point of trading what hopefully will be a very good first baseman under team control until 2016?

by MetsFan4Decades on Jan 31, 2012 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

They'll have a bunch of arb eligible players, if they don't sign extensions to any of the young players.

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

by Michkin on Jan 31, 2012 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

Correct

Though if Davis plays well this year, I can absolutely see Sandy signing him to a long-term extension that buys out his four arb years (I belive he’s a Super Two) and a couple FA years to boot. I honestly don’t think he’ll be traded, but we did hear whispers. That’s the only reason I wrote him down. The only real trade candidates I see are Murphy, Wright, Niese, and Francisco.

"F***ing shocker." -Billy Wagner

by nymgb44 on Jan 31, 2012 12:26 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

I don't know about that

Well see how the wilkins get their act together but a ton of money is coming off the books

37 - 14 - 41 - 31 - 17 - 42 - SHEA

by piazza62 on Jan 31, 2012 12:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

HoJo sez..."TWENTY DAYS!! YEEEEHAAAA!!"

The 2011 New York Mets: Assume crash position

by CTRefJay on Jan 31, 2012 11:04 AM EST reply actions 5 recs

I miss when the Mets were good.

by FrancoTAU on Jan 31, 2012 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

Very nice.

by MetsFan4Decades on Jan 31, 2012 2:56 PM EST up reply actions

Howard Johnson is right!

Ralph Kiner: You've gotta change the script, I don't like the script.
Gary Cohen: What's wrong with the script?
Ralph Kiner: Well the script should be the Mets win every day.

by StorkFan on Feb 1, 2012 10:52 PM EST up reply actions