Roster/Lineup for Tonight...Ouch

Ramon Martinez is still on the roster...ouch.

Now the lineup...double ouch.

Jose Reyes is out for the opener of the weekend series against the Red Sox.

Murph leading off is interesting and worth a shot....I love seeing Church back to the 2 hole, though I wish Sheff was batting 5th and DW 4th.

Fernando Tatis really should start tonight at shortstop, especially given the fact that Johan is primarily a flyball and strikeout pitcher.

Ramon Martinez....oh boy. In fact the lower third of that lineup is weak by International League standards.

1) Murphy, 1B
2) Church, RF
3) Beltran, CF
4) Sheffield, DH
5) Wright, 3B
6) Reed, LF
7) Santos, C
8) Martinez, SS
9) Castillo, 2B

Santana, P

Time for Mark DeRosa and Argenis Reyes

The Mets are already 4 days late in making two moves that would solidify the bench for the rest of the season.

The first is a no-brainer. Demote Ramon Martinez and promote Argenis Reyes from Buffalo.

At AAA:

Ramon Martinez 11 | 2B Buffalo Bisons Triple-A International League

Stats AVG: .290 HR: 0 RBI: 1 SB: 0

Full Name: Ramon E. Martinez Born: 10/10/1972 Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA College: Vernon Regional JC, TX Height: 6' 0" Weight: 190 Bats: R Throws: R

2009 Season
Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
BUF	INT	.290	9	31	5	9	1	0	0	1	10	4	5	0	1	.371	.323	.694

Argenis Reyes 4 | 2B Buffalo Bisons Triple-A International League

Stats AVG: .271 HR: 1 RBI: 5 SB: 5

Full Name: Argenis N. Reyes Born: 09/25/1982 Birthplace: Santiago, Dominican Republic Height: 5' 10" Weight: 165 Bats: S Throws: R

2009 Season
Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
BUF	INT	.271	31	96	12	26	4	1	1	5	35	17	15	5	0	.381	.365	.745

Reyes has a higher OBP, Slg and Ops, and he runs a heck of a lot better than Martinez (5 SB vs zero). Moreover, Argenis can actually play shortstop pretty well.

This is really a no-brainer, and it's pretty obvious Ramon Martinez is done at this point in his career.

Argenis is a nice fill-in until Cora comes back healthy.

Now to the question of Mark DeRosa. More specifically, what would it cost to get him from Cleveland?

DeRosa, just one season removed from a 118 OPS+ year, is 34 years old. He is also extremely versatile and can play 3B, 2B, SS, 1B and corner OF.

Cleveland is desperate for pitching, so the conversation starts there.

Would they take Jon Niese alone? Probably not.

I would offer Niese, Kunz, and Santos for DeRosa and Kelly Shoppach.

Three low cost players to a Cleveland team that wants to shed payroll.

And before anyone gets too upset, take a realistic look at those three players.

Kunz has upside but he is still very much a project and a longshot to be a major league reliever (he has 12 walks and 13 Ks in AAA this year, and his WHIP is 1.75). Niese has a ceiling of a 4th or 5th starter. Santos is a nice little player that has never hit anywhere. He has a career OBP of .333 in the minors, with a .650 OPS, and he's 28 years old.

It's time to pull the trigger on some major league ready talent that can help now.

Mark DeRosa Stats

Career: Batting
SEASON	TEAM	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
1998	Atl	5	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.666
1999	Atl	7	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
2000	Atl	22	13	9	4	1	0	0	3	2	1	0	0	.308	.400	.385	.785
2001	Atl	66	164	27	47	8	0	3	20	12	19	2	1	.287	.350	.390	.740
2002	Atl	72	212	24	63	9	2	5	23	12	24	2	3	.297	.339	.429	.768
2003	Atl	103	266	40	70	14	0	6	22	16	49	1	0	.263	.316	.383	.699
2004	Atl	118	309	33	74	16	0	3	31	23	53	1	3	.239	.293	.320	.613
2005	Tex	66	148	26	36	5	0	8	20	16	35	1	0	.243	.325	.439	.764
2006	Tex	136	520	78	154	40	2	13	74	44	102	4	4	.296	.357	.456	.813
2007	ChC	149	502	64	147	28	3	10	72	58	93	1	2	.293	.371	.420	.791
2008	ChC	149	505	103	144	30	3	21	87	69	106	6	0	.285	.376	.481	.857
2009	Cle	38	157	25	40	9	0	6	26	14	36	0	1	.255	.322	.427	.749
Total	--	931	2807	431	780	160	10	75	378	266	521	18	14	.278	.346	.422	.768

Kelly Shoppach Stats

Career: Batting
SEASON	TEAM	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2005	Bos	9	15	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	0	.000	.063	.000	.063
2006	Cle	41	110	7	27	6	0	3	16	8	45	0	0	.245	.297	.382	.679
2007	Cle	59	161	26	42	13	0	7	30	11	56	0	0	.261	.310	.472	.782
2008	Cle	112	352	67	92	27	0	21	55	36	133	0	0	.261	.348	.517	.865
2009	Cle	24	71	11	16	2	0	3	9	7	29	0	0	.225	.360	.380	.740
Total	--	245	709	112	177	48	0	34	110	62	270	0	0	.250	.327	.461	.788

Hypochondriacal

Noun (plural hy·po·chon·dri·acs [ hypəkən dri ək'l ])

Definition:

somebody with imaginary illness: somebody who is unduly preoccupied with personal health and believes that illness is nearly always present or imminent

adjective
Definition:

1. believing in nonexistent illness: excessively preoccupied with health and persistently believing in a nonexistent illness, or relating to the attitudes or state of mind of somebody with this condition

2. anatomy of hypochondrium: relating to, involving, or typical of the hypochondrium

I was just glancing through MetsBlog and read about the latest installment of "What in the world, is wrong with JJ".

Matt Cerrone writes:

Last week, on WFAN, Putz said he is having a difficult time finding adrenaline pitching in the eighth inning, instead of the ninth, then missed two games with a bone spur in his right elbow, which he told reporters has not been issue since receiving an anti-inflammatory shot.

Last night, Putz told reporters he is now dealing with a stiff neck, which he described as a ‘nagging thing,’ according at the Daily News.

…whatever it is, whether adrenaline, his elbow, his neck, whatever, something is off, and has not been right for a while…

In his last seven outings, Putz has allowed 10 hits and walked six batters in seven innings pitched, during which four runs scored.

It just keep getting better.

Thank God for off days.

Jerry "The Joke" Manuel Strikes Again

I've really had it.

9th inning, down one, two outs, man on first....

And he lets Ramon Martinez bat against Jonathan Broxton while Gary Sheffield sits on the bench.

The same Ramon Martinez that hit .194 in 129 at bats in 2007.

The same Ramon Martinez that had 16 big league at bats in 2008 and has no business being on a major league club now.

The same Ramon Martinez that was 0h for 11 in the series when he stepped to the plate.

Now, after hitting a little dribbler to end the game, he's oh for 12.

Fire Jerry Manuel....seriously.

Wife of Former Met Scott Schoeneweis Found Dead

From the East Valley Tribune:

The wife of an Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher was found dead today in the couple's Fountain Hills home, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said.

Thirty-nine year old Gabrielle Dawn Schoeneweis, wife of relief pitcher Scott Schoenweis, was unresponsive when deputies came to the home on Kern Court at about 12:11 this afternoon, said Lindsey Smith, sheriff's office spokeswoman. A call to the sheriff’s office was made by one of the couple’s children.

The 14-year-old girl told deputies she found the mother of four on the floor of the master bedroom. Schoeneweis was dead at scene, Smith said.

The Search For 1B v3.0

Okay...

so far we have targeted:

Victor Martinez - Cleveland Indiams

Nick Johnson - Washington Nationals

Next up:

Baltimore - 16 wins - 67mil payroll -

Aubrey Huff - 32 yrs. old - .273/7 HRs/34 RBIs - 2009: 8mil

Ty Wigginton - 31 yrs. old - .210 - 2009: 2.5mil, 2010: 3.5mil

Chicago White Sox - 16 wins - 96mil payroll -

We can move on here... yes, the White Sox may shed payroll at some point in the season, but the chance of that this early in the year is slight at best.


Houston - 16 wins - 67mil team payroll -

Lance Berkman - 33 yrs. old - .224 - 2009 & 2010: 14.5mil

Darin Erstad - turning 35 in June - .163 - 2009: 1.75mil

I don't see a viable option here...

Mack

Just Move on From Last Night

There was a solid outing by Redding, a fair amount of hitting, DW remains unstoppable, and the bullpen did enough to win.

And really, do we need more written about the mistakes?

It was a bad loss sure, but it's already time to move on and not spend the next 12 hours writing about the end of the baseball season as we know it.

Next!

1B Search - Team 2-5

Oakland - 13 wins

Jason Giambi - 38 yrs. old - .204 - 1 yr./5.25mil

Bobby Crosby - 29 yrs. old - .236 - 5 yrs/12.75mil - 2009: 5.25mil

Arizona - 14 wins

Chad Tracy - 29 yrs. old - .193 - 3 yrs./13.25mil - 2007-2009 (4.75mil)

Colorado - 14 wins

Todd Helton - 35 yrs. old - .347/.401//521/.922 - 9 yrs./141.5mil - 2003-2011 - 16.6mil 2009, 2010... 19.1mil 2011

Cleveland - 14 wins

Ryan Garko - 28 yrs. old - .258 - 1 yr./446K

Victor Martinez - 30 yrs. old - .401/.478/.632/1.109 - 7 HRs - 5 yrs./15.5mil - 2005-2009 - 5.7mil 2009


Well... forget Oakland... Tracy isn't good enough... Helton is having a great year but forget the contract... it comes down to one guy...

add Victor Martinez to the list.

Same Procedure as SP - Looking For 1Bman

Okay, you know the drill...

shitty team... small market... dump salary... trade for prospects...

first team up...

Washington: 11 wins

1st basemen: Nick Johnson - 30 yrs old - 3 yrs/16.5mil 2007-09, 5.5mil 2009

Josh Willingham - 30 years old - 1 yr./2.95mil

Johnson's the guy, and we all know how much Manny Acta loves Mets kiddies...

Another reason Washington may do this:

they have the 60th top prospect in A+ who is a 1Bman:


Chris Marrero
Born 7/2/1988 (20 years old)
1B, WAS

Marrero was Washington's top pick in the 2006 draft, and rated a perfect 80 on the scouting power scale, which is tremendous in someone so young. He has a knack for missing some breaking balls by a mile, but he's still very young, so give him some time to learn a little discipline. To make up for his lack of speed, the Nats have converted the onetime OF to full time first-base status, which should also let him concentrate on hitting.

Mets Could Target Micah Hoffpauir

Hoffpauir could be had, but it would most likely cost the Mets more than they want to give up--specifically, Bobby Parnell.

The Mets are rumored to be dangling Jon Niese in current "feeler talks" around the league.

The Cubs, who need another bullpen arm (they are 26th in bullpen ERA), would be excellent trade partners if the Mets are willing to deal Parnell and receive a low level minor leaguer in addition to Hoffpauir in return.

Personally, I believe the Mets should stay the course until true necessity dictates otherwise.

2009 Season Stats
SPLITS	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Season	26	68	9	21	5	0	4	13	7	12	0	0	.309	.368	.559	.927
Career	59	141	23	46	13	0	6	21	13	36	1	0	.326	.385	.546	.931
Last 7 days	3	7	4	3	0	0	1	2	2	1	0	0	.429	.556	.857	1.413
Projected	152	398	53	123	29	0	23	76	41	70	0	0	.309	.368	.559	.927

The World's Best Illusion: The Secret of the Curve Ball

I found this article, and the visual (below) from the American Institute of physics, fascinating.

Devin Powell
Inside Science News Service
May 13, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ISNS) -- The three best visual illusions in the world were chosen at a gathering last weekend of neuroscientists and psychologists at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Florida.

The winning entry, from a Bucknell University professor, may help explain why curve balls in baseball are so tricky to hit.

A properly thrown curve ball spins in a way that makes the air on one side move faster than on the other. This causes the ball to move along a gradual curve. From the point of view of a batter standing on home plate, though, curve balls seem to "break," or move suddenly in a new direction.

This year's winning illusion, created by Arthur Shapiro of Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, may explain this phenomena. His animation shows a spinning ball that, when watched directly, moves in a straight line. When seen out of the corner of the eye, however, the spin of the ball fools the brain into thinking that the ball is curving.

So as a baseball flies towards home plate, the moment when it passes from central to peripheral vision could exaggerate the movement of the ball, causing its gradual curve to be seen as a sudden jerk.

Click here to see the illusion in action

I hope the Mets know it's only an illusion!

Jerry Manuel Blows it Again

In yet another decision that just boggles the mind, Mets manager Jerry Manuel played one of his hunches yesterday, and it missed badly.

The situation:

Mets down 2-0, 8th inning, bases loaded, 1 out, lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt on the mound, Daniel Murphy due up.

Mets fans on the edge of their seats.

In 2009 Daniel Murphy is hitting .357 with an OPS of 1.018 against lefty's.

For his career, Murphy has a .371 BA with a 1.080 against lefty's.

But wait, who is that striding to the plate? Oh it's Angel Pagan.

The Angel Pagan who is here only because Carlos Delgado was placed on the DL.

The Angel Pagan who has a lifetime BA of .225 against lefty's.

The Angel Pagan who was out with injury for the better part of the last 2 years and has only 14 minor league at-bats in 2009.

Yes, this is who Jerry pinch hits for Daniel Murphy.

This guy, who is so full of rust he should only be a pinch runner or substitute fielder now is the man Jerry turns to in the biggest situation of the game.

Maybe it's the pitching matchup? Let's look at Jeremy Affeldt's stats:

Affeldt Career:
vs L .255/.341/.419 (.760)
vs R .273/.346/.409 (.754)

Affeldt 2009:
vs L .391/.500/.652 (1.152)
vs R .184/.220/.184 (.404)

OK, so we have a hitter who kills lefty's in Murphy, against a pitcher who is far worse against lefty's than righty's in Affeldt.

Again, every number in the book screams to let Murphy hit.

Shouldn't a manager know these little facts? Is there not a number's guy in the dugout whispering these things to Jerry as the situations arise?

But Jerry goes with his gut, Jerry has a hunch, Jerry watches as Pagan, with his lifetime .225 BA against lefty's, grounds into an inning-ending double play against the pitcher who is better, far better, against righty's.

Jerry supporters will scream that Murphy was no guarantee there...these are the same people that had difficulty with math in school.

Fact: math says you let Murphy hit there. Math, the great equalizer, the objective God of baseball, the one thing every manager must be good at. Math.

Mets fan shake their head and wonder how many more games he's going to blow before serious consideration is given for a change.

Jerry, it's time to go buy a calculator.