Mike's Mets: December 2006 Archives

All in All, Not a Bad Year

With just a few hours left in the year 2006, I think most of us Mets fans will look back on it with a mixture of pride and regret. Although the Mets ultimately came up short, you can't overlook the progress that was made. If 2005 was the year the...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 3:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Just Checking In

Hey, everyone. I've been fighting a bad flu for a while and I think I got somewhat burned typing "Zito" day after day after day after day after day... I took it easy for most of the day, but I felt a little better and have spent some time checking...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

A Quiet Nod to Omar

Two years ago, Omar Minaya seemed to attract equal parts kudos and criticism in an offseason that brought Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran to Shea Stadium. While he received credit in some quarters for landing the two top free agents of the winter when none of the experts gave the...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Faulty Intelligence

I've got a friend who's a good friend of the brother of a member of the New York Yankees. Lest you think I'm about to spin one of those urban legends, be assured: this friend has shown us videotape of him cruising along Lake Michigan's shores in a party boat...

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By NostraDennis, posted at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Bye, Bye Barry

According to ESPN: Barry Zito is staying in the Bay Area with the San Francisco Giants. Sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons that Zito will receive a seven-year contract from the Giants, with the deal averaging approximately $18 million per season. Zito will be formally introduced by the Giants this afternoon....

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Scott Boras Is Satan - Part 2

I heard today on WFAN radio that the Texas Rangers have given Barry Zito until tomorrow to make up his mind. I can't even believe that Zito and Boras are still considering going with Texas. Boras is the Satan of baseball. I entitled this post "Part 2" because I'm sure...

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By Shari Forst, posted at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Baked on Zito?

All along I have kind of expected Omar to land Zito. Or at least hoped. And I totally agree with Mike; it would be nice, but we'll manage with or without. I would note though there is huge incentive for many parties to strike up the Yankee rumors. Scott Boras...

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By Adam Warner, posted at 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Life Without Barry

As expected, there's plenty of talk today about a possible Randy Johnson deal and how that might free the Yankees to enter the Zito sweepstakes at a time when some of the more serious players seem to be dropping out. The Rangers seem to be tiring of the impression that...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

The Yankees Are Coming

The new that the Yankees are exploring trading Randy Johnson and possibly entering the Barry Zito sweepstakes seems to be putting a chill into the hearts of some Mets fans. I've read speculation by Ben Shpigel in the New York Times and Jon Heyman at SI.com that clearing the Big...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

No Suppan Under the Tree is Fine with Me

Merry Christmas The Mets lost a fallback option on the night before Christmas when Jeff Suppan signed with the Brewers. Although this hurts a little from a leverage standpoint in the Barry Zito negotiations, I can't help but feel a sense of relief that Jeff Suppan won't be a New...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Are the Rangers Giving Up On Barry Zito?

In today's Daily News, John Harper speculates that yesterday's trade where the Rangers picked up Brandon McCarthy from the White Sox signals that Texas has become discouraged over their chances of signing Barry Zito. Harper quotes Texas GM Jon Daniels on the Rangers growing feeling that Zito will not pitch...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Holiday Weekend Ramblings

I'm sure that the team had a reason for doing it, but announcing that they are raising the prices of game tickets right before Christmas seems a little Grinch-like on the Mets part. There's nothing really shocking about it, however, and I won't argue against the team's right to charge...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Happy Holidays

I'm giving myself the day off from thinking about Barry Zito. Even the Post's Michael Morrissey, who has entertained us all week by finding fun ways to put a dire pessimistic spin on just about everything that has happened, seems to have become bored with the story. I don't blame...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Take a Breath

Things are fairly quiet on the Zito watch and other Mets news. I have some business to take care of that will eat up most of my day. I'll just share a few thoughts with you quickly before I go.. We can't let a day go by without checking in...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Why Is Scott Boras So Evil?

If you've been following the Barry Zito situation, you know that the only thing that might keep Barry from signing with the Mets is the supreme avarice of one of the most hated men in sports. Zito desperately wants to pitch in Shea Stadium next year, but Boras' Svengali-like influence...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Happy Zito Day

Omar Minaya, Jeff Wilpon and a contingent from the team's front office are winging their way out to the left coast to have a long-awaited sit-down with Barry Zito and Scott Boras. For all of the speculation on just how much interest the Mets have in the 28-year-old southpaw, the...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Analysis: The Bullpen So Far

Given the recent losses of Chad Bradford and Darren Oliver, there is certainly some concern among Mets fans that what was the strength of the team in 2006 may well be weaker heading into 2007. Here's a look at the candidates for the bullpen so far. For the purposes of...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

A Proposed Move That Makes No Sense

On his ESPN blog today, Buster Olney discusses how Toronto is shopping young outfielder Alex Rios in an attempt to land a number 4 starter for their rotation. Rios certainly could be a rising star, although this is based on part of one season of performance: Rios, 25, batted .302...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 4:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Wooing Barry

Michael Morrissey had a good article in the Post today about how the Mets plan to use David Wright, Tom Glavine and Billy Wagner to attempt to persuade Barry Zito to come to New York for what will probably be somewhat less than the last dollar he could receive if...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Anticipation

We as Met fans and as baseball fans in general sit each off season with great expectations and great anticipation as to the make up of our team. The drama usually last only about two months but seems like years. Will we make the blockbuster trade, will we sign the...

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By Fred Pirelli, posted at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My Favorite Met

Each of us has his or her own personal history with the Mets. First memory of the team...first game watched on TV...first game seen in person...first souvenir (mine were those flimsy plastic "batting helmets", which I never noticed until too late came with a warning not to use them in...

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By NostraDennis, posted at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)

To Sign or Not To Sign Him...

The debate is raging on sports talk radio, in newspapers and blogs. It is raging in my mind and in my heart. Do we cave in and give in to the market and in this case to Scott Boras or do we sit tight and hold fast to what we...

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By Joyce Mandelkern, posted at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Zito, Giles and the Future

The Zito Sweepstakes Now that the Matsuzaka saga has a reached a conclusion, the conventional wisdom is that things will pick up for Barry Zito's search for a new place to call home. Then again, most experts still expect the calendar to turn over to 2007 before Zito signs his...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Zito for Christmas?

It has been very quiet on the Mets hot stove as you know. Oh yeah there have been a few minor deals here and there, but as of now the biggest things happening in Mets-land have been the return of Glavine and signing Moises Alou (a signing I HATE). All...

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By Shari Forst, posted at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Williams Gets a Contract, Zambrano Doesn't

The Mets had some decisions to make last night. They had to decide by midnight which of their arbitration-eligible players (3-6 years of MLB service) would receive contracts. Any player offered a contract had to make at least 80% of what he made last season. As expected, Endy Chavez, Duaner...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 1:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Sharing a Non-Tender Moment with Someone You Love

Midnight tonight is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to their players that are eligible for arbitration but not yet eligible for free agency. If teams chose not to offer these players contracts for at least 80% of their 2006 salaries, then they become free agents and any team...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Those Crazy Contracts

I wrote yesterday that I've come to see the stunning market for starting pitching this offseason as something more than just a temporary phenomenon. I'm just acknowledging reality here; I'm not endorsing giving staggering long-term contracts to pitchers who haven't even really proven themselves. If there is one thing that...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Maybe It's Time to Stop Grumbling Over the Price of Pitching

The hot topic of discussion this offseason is the out of control market for players, particularly pitching. Two years ago the Mets got a lot of heat for signing Kris Benson for just over $7 million per year for 3 years. Today, Vincente Padilla has officially signed his 3 year,...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Book Review: The Best New York Sports Arguments

The Best New York Sports Arguments: The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard New York Fans Author: Peter Handrinos Paperback, 272 pages, Sourcebooks, Inc. I've always loved books, so it was a natural for me to start reviewing them on this blog. At first it was fairly straightforward, I...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 1:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Waiting For the Next Shoe to Drop

It will probably be a while before Barry Zito's final destination becomes apparent, and those possible trades will probably have to wait at least until Omar returns from the Dominican Republic. As we all suffer post-winter meetings Mets news withdrawal, here are a few minor thoughts to keep you going:...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Omar For President

Editor's Note: This is Adam Warner's first submission to this blog. - M.S. The Mets have had a terrific offseason in my humble opinion. Why dat? Because it is much about what you don't do as what you do. And in this December of Salary Madness, any long term signing...

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By Adam Warner, posted at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Winter Meetings Wrap-Up

Baseball's winter meeting wrapped up today in Orlando with the rule 5 draft. If you are not familiar with the rule 5 draft, here is a nice explanation from Baseball America. The Mets lost one of their better prospects in the major league phase, catcher Jesus Flores. Here is what...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Winter Meetings Quick Hits

Burgos Baseball America's Matt Meyers weighs in on the Mets-Royals trade. Here's his take on Ambiorix Burgos: Signed as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2000, Burgos has dazzled the [Royals] organization with a fastball that sniffs triple digits, though he never dominated at any level because of...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 7:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Mets Make Deal, Others Possible

The Mets pulled the trigger on a deal that made sense, trading Brian Bannister to the Royals for hard-throwing right-handed reliever Ambiorix Burgos. Bannister would seem to be somewhat lost in a numbers game of young starting pitching (what a difference a year makes), while Burgos is a 22-year-old kid...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Next Stop: New York or Siberia

Omar Minaya is setting up shop at the winter meetings and making it clear that pitching is his number one priority. He is set to meet with Scott Boras, Barry Zito's agent - or as I like to call him the Satan of Baseball. There is talk that along with...

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By Shari Forst, posted at 1:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The Mets Really Don't Need To Do Anything Crazy

I keep reading how the Mets need to open the vault and give Scott Boras everything he asks for in order to bring Barry Zito to New York. Failing that, there are some who advocate trading prospects who are close to major-league ready, such as Mike Pelfrey or Phil Humber,...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

A Minute Passed

Editor's Note: Our own NostraDennis, on the scene in Orlando, gives us a brief glimpse into the enchanted world of MLB's winter meetings. - M.S. She stood in the pale, translucent light on the Persian carpet. A minute passed. Then another. Then, another minute. Then ... another minute passed. Then...

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By NostraDennis, posted at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Live! From Worst Sportwriting Awards!

"... And welcome back. It's coming to the moment we've all been waiting for, the 2006 Worst Single Sports Column category. It's been a very interesting race, hasn't it, Stan?" "Sure thing, Mel. Up until Sunday, it looked like a simple race: Wallace Matthews's "I Lust for Alfonso Soriano" column...

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By Chuck Rothman, posted at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

I Wonder If Omar Is Wearing the Mouse Ears

The winter meetings have now begun. Even as you read these words Minaya and company are in a hotel room somewhere in Orlando, engaged in discussions that very likely will culminate in deals -- or lack thereof -- which will impact the Mets chances in 2007. Over the next few...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Mets Dumb-Stove

The Mets have offered arbitration to Roberto Hernandez which I can kind of understand. Especially in light of letting Chad Bradford leave without so much as a "Thank you." However instead of offering a deal to Bradford they decide to offer arbitration to Guillermo Mota. Mota, as you all remember,...

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By Shari Forst, posted at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)

Wax On, Wax Off

All I knew about Rick Peterson three months ago was this: he was a real good pitching coach who squeezed a lot out of his staff. He was good at taking players from the scrap heap and reinventing them somehow, making chicken salad out of, you know, other parts of...

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By NostraDennis, posted at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Decision Time: Will McGwire get in?

The 2007 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot arrived on the desks of Baseball Writers Association of America members this week. The nominees include Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, major league players with storied careers, a laundry list of achievements, respect and character. Then there's Mark McGwire, a character of...

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By John Strubel, posted at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Glavine's Return Changes Everything

I've heard all of the jokes to the effect of "that loud sigh of relief you hear is coming from Omar Minaya", but I'm thinking that the news of Tom Glavine's return more likely brought a confident smile to our GM's lips. If Glavine had delayed his decision further or...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Glavine, Fans Speak

Tom Glavine shared more details about his decision to sign with the New York Mets instead of the Atlanta Braves. In an interview with Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Dave O'Brien, Glavine admitted, "I obviously would have taken less to be [in Atlanta]. I knew the Braves couldn't afford to pay me...

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By John Strubel, posted at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Waiting for Glavine

Editor's Note: This is Chuck Rothman's first submission to this blog. He's left many terrific comments here under the screen name "RealityChuck". - M.S. Author's note: "This piece was written before Glavine re-signed. He obviously did so in order to make my comments out-of-date, and as such I take full...

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By Chuck Rothman, posted at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Glavine Returns to the Mets After All

Multiple sources are reporting that southpaw Tom Glavine has agreed to return to the Mets for a 1-year deal worth $11 million. There is also a player option for 2008. The AP quotes Glavine on his gratitude towards the way the Mets treated him: They gave me as much time...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Nothing but an Arms Race Left

Funny, it is only December 1, the Winter Meetings have yet to begin, but it appears that Omar's roster of non-pitchers is about as set as its ever been this far prior to Spring Training. If I was a betting man, I would wager that ALL the remaining tinkering will...

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By Dave Mills, posted at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Of Mercenaries and Scapegoats

Mercenaries To some extent, the saga of where Tom Glavine plies his trade in 2006 has become somewhat of a farce. The Mets want Glavine back, but he seems to be hoping that Atlanta might offer him the contract that will enable him to chase 300 wins in the city...

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By Mike Steffanos, posted at 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Say It Ain't So

Bradford is gone but the Mets may still sign Mota. What's wrong with this picture? The Mets should have walked away from Mota, who has yet to begin his 50 day substance abuse holiday, then signed Bradford. I understand that the Mets have no leverage with Glavine, but they did...

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By Alan Vogel, posted at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Mike's Mets

New York Mets discussion, news and historical perspective -- now getting by with a little help from my friends.

December 31, 2006

All in All, Not a Bad Year

December 30, 2006

Just Checking In

December 29, 2006

A Quiet Nod to Omar

December 28, 2006

Faulty Intelligence

Bye, Bye Barry

Scott Boras Is Satan - Part 2

December 27, 2006

Baked on Zito?

Life Without Barry

December 26, 2006

The Yankees Are Coming

December 25, 2006

No Suppan Under the Tree is Fine with Me

December 24, 2006

Are the Rangers Giving Up On Barry Zito?

December 23, 2006

Holiday Weekend Ramblings

December 22, 2006

Happy Holidays

December 21, 2006

Take a Breath

December 20, 2006

Why Is Scott Boras So Evil?

December 19, 2006

Happy Zito Day

December 18, 2006

Analysis: The Bullpen So Far

December 17, 2006

A Proposed Move That Makes No Sense

December 16, 2006

Wooing Barry

December 15, 2006

Anticipation

My Favorite Met

December 14, 2006

To Sign or Not To Sign Him...

Zito, Giles and the Future

Zito for Christmas?

December 13, 2006

Williams Gets a Contract, Zambrano Doesn't

December 12, 2006

Sharing a Non-Tender Moment with Someone You Love

December 11, 2006

Those Crazy Contracts

December 10, 2006

Maybe It's Time to Stop Grumbling Over the Price of Pitching

December 9, 2006