Amazin' Avenue: FanShots

From Joe D. with a note: To all of my Sabermetric Mets friends... Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-21T06:16:40Z

From Joe D. with a note: To all of my Sabermetric Mets friends... Happy Thanksgiving!

No Matt Holliday or Jason Bay apparently means Adrian Gonzalez

2009-11-20T18:13:00Z

No Matt Holliday or Jason Bay apparently means Adrian Gonzalez

Mike Pelfrey, Ike Davis, Fernando Martinez, and Bobby Parnell or Brad Holt for Adrian Gonzalez? Not only do I see it taking more to get San Diego to hand him over, but what exactly is the point? In Davis, we seem to be getting a guy very much fitting the slugging first baseman mold, and we'll still be without power in the outfield.

Mets roundtable discussion, part five: Second-tier pitchers on the free-agent market - - NJ.com

2009-11-20T18:08:09Z

Mets roundtable discussion, part five: Second-tier pitchers on the free-agent market - - NJ.com

And the exciting conclusion of our five-day blogger roundtable at NJ.com. Today's question:

If the Mets do not sign John Lackey, which other free-agent pitcher do you think would be the best fit for them?

Hot Stove Tracker - MLB.com

2009-11-20T14:18:10Z

Hot Stove Tracker - MLB.com

Sortable list of all free agents, including major and minor leagues. Type A/B status is indicated as well. Luis Ayala is still available.

Wallace Matthews says Mets should look to 2011

2009-11-20T04:53:08Z

Wallace Matthews says Mets should look to 2011

I really, really, really hate Wallace Matthews

This idea looks familar

2009-11-20T01:42:33Z

This idea looks familar

As much as I hate to link to a Jayson Stark page, I thought it was interesting that this idea he presents on a salary "basement" where teams have to spend a certain minimum amount is pretty much identical to a conversation we had here a while back. Wonder if he read it.

LoDuca seeking work

2009-11-19T23:48:16Z

LoDuca seeking work

Via Baseball Think Factory.

No thanks, Paul!

AFL: Havens continues to rake

2009-11-19T22:50:26Z

AFL: Havens continues to rake

3-4 with a homer and a walk. Nicely done. Ike Davis was 2-4 and also had a BB.

TONIGHT AT 9PM ET IT’S PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL: METS HOT STOVE EDITION

2009-11-19T22:21:46Z

TONIGHT AT 9PM ET IT’S PRO BASEBALL CENTRAL: METS HOT STOVE EDITION

I'll be on 'Pro Baseball Central' tonight at 9:30pm EST to chat about the Mets' long offseason. I'll mostly be talking about my spreadsheets, why I don't watch any games, and the myriad ways baseball could be improved by switching from human players to robots.

You should be able to listen via the internets at Pro Baseball Central or at The Eddie Kranepool Society.

Nick Evans catching in the bullpen plus a little bit of BP. I think I am a bit generous about his...

2009-11-19T21:10:49Z

Nick Evans catching in the bullpen plus a little bit of BP. I think I am a bit generous about his catching abilities!

Something weird happened with this video as it has 125 views after only 6 minutes. Odd.

Mets roundtable discussion, part four: Should Daniel Murphy start at first base in 2010? - - NJ.com

2009-11-19T18:39:33Z

Mets roundtable discussion, part four: Should Daniel Murphy start at first base in 2010? - - NJ.com

Part four of the blogger Q&A from NJ.com. Nothing new from sizzlechest5. Here's today's question:

Could you live with Daniel Murphy starting at first base if the Mets sign Matt Holliday or Jason Bay to play left field? If not, what should the Mets do at first base?

2/5=40%

2009-11-19T07:25:45Z

2/5=40%

Brilliant[ly stupid].

Marty Noble has no idea what Sabermetrics are.

2009-11-19T03:28:55Z

Marty Noble has no idea what Sabermetrics are.

I sent the second question in. Yes, I was trying to set him up, but I was expecting him to at least bash actual Sabermetrics in his grumpy old man ways, and not just WHIP and OPS. Gotta love Marty anyway.

Kottaras Waived, Claimed

2009-11-19T02:34:28Z

Kottaras Waived, Claimed

No reason why Omar shouldn't have made this move considering we have waiver priority over MIL based on record. You can never have too many young/cheap/talented catchers in an organization, especially one that hasn't produced a ~~good~~ serviceable catcher in what seems like decades.

While his defense needs work, Kottaras hit 22hrs in AAA as recently as '08. Limited ab's due to injuries/knuckleball catcher status hurt his #'s this season but make no mistake, Kottaras is worth the $400k he's owed and then some.

Is it really that tough to play in New York?

2009-11-19T01:46:14Z

Is it really that tough to play in New York?

Jim B. from metsmerized thinks so. I was looking through their side chat and saw this insightful comment from the aforementioned commenter. "Joey Votto had a break down last yr after the death of his father, idk if he could handle NY" Apparently playing in New York is as hard on a player mentally as losing a person who loved and raised you from when you were born. Do these people actually understand some of the stuff they say?

Scott Moviel AFL video

2009-11-18T21:56:56Z

Scott Moviel AFL video

I saw this on minorleagueball from poster slacker george. I didn't watch the entire thing, it's twenty minutes, but it's good stuff for anyone interest. He also has video of Evans, Stinson and a bunch of other AFL players, though those are the only two Mets I saw. Here's the link to the whole list.

Also, the videos are in HD!!!

If you think Greinke is our saber savior... check out Royals prospect Disco Hayes

2009-11-18T18:50:51Z

If you think Greinke is our saber savior... check out Royals prospect Disco Hayes

"Disco" because this submariner's fastball is in the 70s. Oh my god this is the best blog in the world. OOPS, my BABIP!

Marty Noble: Glavine Claims Young Mets Weren't Offended By Losing

2009-11-18T17:12:58Z

Marty Noble: Glavine Claims Young Mets Weren't Offended By Losing

From Marty Noble's profile of Wally Backman:

And it's what Tom Glavine saw as far back as June 2007 -- losing was acceptable to some of the young players, they weren't suitably offended by it.

Let's take a trip down nightmare lane, to Sept. 30, 2007 and Mr. Glavine's postgame comments following 1/3 IP, 5 H, 7 ER:

"I'm not devastated, but I am disappointed," Glavine said. "Devastated is a word used for greater things in life than a game."

Contrast Glavine's "whatever" reaction with Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Jose Reyes's responses to losing game 162 on Sept. 28, 2008:

Beltran sunk his head into Martinez's shoulder, tears welling in his eyes.

"It's something that burns. It's a bad feeling," said third baseman David Wright.

Jose Reyes sat at his locker with his head in his hands. [He] was sitting on his chair in front of his locker when a few people came over and consoled him. He then exhaled a few times and put his head back in his hands before finally going into the back of the trainer's room.

Tell me again who wasn't offended by losing?

Mets roundtable discussion, part three: Matt Holliday, Jason Bay or John Lackey? - - NJ.com

2009-11-18T15:06:37Z

Mets roundtable discussion, part three: Matt Holliday, Jason Bay or John Lackey? - - NJ.com

Part three. Still anxiously awaiting the return of sizzlechest5.

If the Mets spend big on one free agent this winter -- and, obviously, there are only three high-priced options here: Matt Holliday, John Lackey or Jason Bay -- who do you think it should be and why?

Mets Hire Jauss as Bench Coach

2009-11-18T04:47:55Z

Mets Hire Jauss as Bench Coach

No Melvin or Wedge. Maybe the Mets didn't want to threaten Jerry too much.