On the Mets beat
Mets beat writer David Lennon offers breaking news, commentary, and musings from his perch at Citi Field.
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Recent posts
- More on Backman's timetable, and how he helps the Mets
- Mets announce 2010 spring training schedule
- Wally Backman named as Cyclones manager
- Self-promotion alert: Mets Hot Stove tonight on SNY
- Franco, Hearn, Duquette raise awareness on kidney disease
- Beltran wants Delgado back
- Are the Mets learning from their mistakes?
- Potential free agents for your hot-stove perusal
- Shawn Bowman added to 40-man roster
- Ike Davis named to AFL's Rising Stars Game
- Francoeur has successful thumb surgery
- Mets now likely to meet with Chapman, agent
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More on Backman's timetable, and how he helps the Mets
Here’s a couple of leftover thoughts from Wally Backman’s introduction Tuesday at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn.
First off, I found it interesting that neither Jeff Wilpon nor Omar Minaya were in attendance. OK, I know it’s only the Class A short-season club, but this is Brooklyn – where winning is important to the Wilpons – and Jeff apparently did play a big role in giving Backman a second chance. Backman said so himself.
Representing the front office was Dave Howard, the Mets’ executive VP of business operations. Howard is involved in the club’s high-level decisions, so it’s not like he was plucked out of a marketing meeting for the news conference, and he had this to say when asked about how quickly Backman might be ready for the majors.
“That’s purely up to Wally and other teams in baseball,” Howard said. “But a lot of times, once they get that first break, then they re-establish themselves and I think there’s a general comfort level with the person, so we’ll see how that all plays out. We’re hoping that he has great success with us and we’ll see what the future holds.”
All indications are that Backman, who hasn’t been at the affiliate level since the Diamondbacks fired him in 2004, probably won’t get up to speed in time to take over the Mets if Jerry Manuel stumbles out of the game next season. But a more likely scenario would be if someone like Dave Jauss – the soon-to-be-announced bench coach – becomes the interim manager, then Backman may be a likely successor for 2011.
While on the subject of possible replacements for Manuel, the only way I see Bobby Valentine getting a shot at the job – and it’s very, very remote – is for the Mets to be extremely desperate after having to remove Manuel early in the season.
The team would have to be dropping fast, the clubhouse lost and the fan base ready to take torches to Citi Field. Only then could the Wilpons roll the dice with Valentine in an effort to spark the club. Plus, with the season underway, the list of candidates would be short.
One other thing on Backman: a reporter asked Howard if Backman was “appealing” because of his hard-nosed style, both as a player and manager, noting the absence of that grit at the major-league level with the Mets.
“I don’t know if that’s a factor,” Howard said. “That’s well beyond my involvement in the process. I do know that Wally’s success as a manager was an important consideration, and even in the decision as to where he would be placed, Brooklyn was a great fit because of the passion of the baseball fan here in Brooklyn is very high.
“Certainly Wally has always played and managed with passion – and he’s won. He’s a consistent winner. As much as this is player development, we also like to win in Brooklyn, so it was a good fit in that regard.”
Tags: Wally Backman, Dave Howard, Bobby Valentine, Jerry Manuel, Dave Jauss
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Mets announce 2010 spring training schedule
Getcha sunscreen ready. The Mets have released their 2010 Grapefruit League slate. And here it is:
The New York Mets will open their 2010 Spring Training schedule Tuesday, March 2 vs. Atlanta at 1:10 p.m. at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The 35-game exhibition schedule begins Tuesday, March 2 when the Mets host the Atlanta Braves, the first of 18 home games in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Tickets for Mets Spring Training games will go on sale at Tradition Field Saturday, January 23 at 10 a.m. Tickets and information are available online at mets.com or traditionfield.com or by calling 772-871-2115. Game times for all Spring Training games are subject to change.
The Mets, in conjunction with Spring Training USA, also today announced the launch of the 2010 Amazin’ Getaways spring training trip packages with three departures from New York scheduled for: Thursday, March 11; Friday, March 19, and Friday, March 26.
Each package includes a Meet and Greet with a Mets player or coach along with a custom Mets sports merchandise bag. Amazin' Getaway packages start at $594 (including tax) per person and includes hotel accommodations, rental car, and game tickets. A limited number of fans can sign up for the Mets VIP Spring Training Batting Practice Experience at Tradition Field. Trips depart from the three New York area airports. For more information about Amazin’ Getaways visit www.mets.com/amazingetaways or call (888) 419-5556.
A division of Sports Marketing USA, Spring Training USA has been in business since 1991 and currently works with 17 Major League Baseball teams to provide fans with the unique opportunity to see and meet their favorite team during Spring Training action.
The Mets will start their 2010 Major League season Monday, April 3 at 1:10 p.m. vs. the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
2010 NEW YORK METS SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE
March 2 … Atlanta Braves ……………… Port St. Lucie … 1:10 p.m.
March 3 … Atlanta Braves …………….. Disney …………… 1:05 p.m.
March 4 … St. Louis Cardinals ………. Port St. Lucie …. 1:10 p.m
March 5 … Florida Marlins ……………. Port St. Lucie …. 1:10 p.m.
… St. Louis Cardinals ………… Jupiter ………….. 1:05 p.m.
March 6 … Washington Nationals ……. Viera ……………. 1:05 p.m.
March 7 … Washington Nationals ……. Port St. Lucie …. 1:10 p.m.
March 8 … Florida Marlins ……………… Jupiter …………… 1:05 p.m.
March 9 … Houston Astros ……………… Port St. Lucie …. 1:10 p.m.
March 10 .. Atlanta Braves ……………… Disney …………….. 1:05 p.m.
March 11 … Boston Red Sox ……………. Port St. Lucie …… 1:10 p.m.
March 12 … Minnesota Twins …………. Ft. Myers …………. 1:05 p.m.
March 13 … Detroit Tigers ……………… Port St. Lucie ……. 1:10 p.m.
March 14 … Florida Marlins ……………. Jupiter …………….. 1:05 p.m.
March 15 … St. Louis Cardinals ………. Port St. Lucie …….. 1:10 p.m.
March 16 …………………… OFF ………………………………………………….
March 17 … Boston Red Sox …………… Ft. Myers ……………. 1:05 p.m.
March 18 … Florida Marlins …………… Jupiter ……………….. 7:05 p.m.
March 19 … Minnesota Twins ………… Port St. Lucie ……… 1:10 p.m.
March 20 … St. Louis Cardinals ……… Jupiter ……………….. 1:05 p.m.
March 21 … University of Michigan … Port St. Lucie ……… 11:10 a.m.
… Houston Astros …………… Kissimmee …………. 1:05 p.m.
March 22 … Washington Nationals …. Viera …………………. 1:05 p.m.
March 23 … Atlanta Braves ……………. Port St. Lucie ………. 1:10 p.m.
March 24 … Houston Astros …………… Port St. Lucie ………. 1:10 p.m.
March 25 … St. Louis Cardinals ………. Jupiter ……………….. 1:05 p.m.
March 26 … Florida Marlins ……………. Jupiter ……………….. 1:05 p.m.
March 27 … Washington Nationals ….. Port St. Lucie ………. 1:10 p.m.
March 28 … St. Louis Cardinals ………. Port St. Lucie ……….. 1:10 p.m.
March 29 … Florida Marlins ……………. Port St. Lucie ……….. 1:10 p.m.
… Washington Nationals …… Viera ………………….. 1:05 p.m.
March 30 … St. Louis Cardinals ………… Port St. Lucie ……… 1:10 p.m.
March 31 … Florida Marlins ……………… Port St. Lucie ………. 1:10 p.m.
April 1 …….. Washington Nationals ……. Port St. Lucie ………. 1:10 p.m.
April 2 …….. Tampa Bay Rays ……………. St. Petersburg ……… 6:05 p.m.
April 3 …….. Baltimore Orioles …………… Sarasota ……………… 1:05 p.m.
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Wally Backman named as Cyclones manager
It's official -- Wally Backman has been named the new manager of the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones. Here's the release from the team:
Former New York Mets star Wally Backman has been named the newest manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones, tabbed to lead the club in its tenth season of play.
Backman was a standout second baseman for the Mets in the 1980s – a gritty, hard-nosed table-setter at the top of the lineup for a team that won divisional titles in 1986 and 1988, and an iconic World Series championship in 1986.
Backman played in the major leagues for 14 seasons, including nine with the Mets (1980-1988), and five with the Minnesota Twins (1989), Pittsburgh Pirates (1990), Philadelphia Phillies (1991, 1992), and Seattle Mariners (1993). He finished his career with a .980 fielding percentage, and is one of only 66 MLB players ever to notch six hits in a single game (4/27/90). Backman’s 106 stolen bases with the Mets ranks eighth on the franchise’s all-time list and his .283 career batting average for New York ranks ninth. Backman hit .333 in six games against the Boston Red Sox in the Mets’ 1986 World Series win.
“I am thrilled and grateful to be coming back to the Mets’ organization,” said Backman. “The greatest days of my professional career were spent here in New York, and I have always felt a special connection to the city. I am especially excited to be joining the Cyclones. Brooklyn is a major minor-league team, and I know the borough’s fans are – like me – intensely passionate about baseball and about winning.”
Backman’s appointment as the Cyclones’ manager also marks a return to the New York-Penn League for the fifty-year-old Oregon native. Originally selected by the Mets in the first round (16th overall) of the 1977 draft out of Aloha High School (OR), an 18-year-old Backman made his professional debut with the then-affiliate Little Falls club in the NYPL, and hit .325 in 69 games.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Wally to Brooklyn, “said Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen. “He has always been a fan favorite in New York, symbolizing the blue-collar work ethic and unbridled dedication to winning that this city – and particularly this borough – values above all else in its sports stars. Brooklyn and Backman were made for each other.”
After retiring as a player, Backman began a managerial career in 1997. In 2001, he was hired by the Chicago White Sox, and helmed their Winston-Salem (A) club. In 2002, he led the Birmingham Barons (AA) to a 79-61 record, and a Southern League title. In 2004, he was hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and led their Lancaster (A) club to an 86-54 record, earning him honors as the Sporting News “Minor League Manager of the Year.” He was named the Diamondbacks’ manager in November of that year, but was relieved of that position four days later. Backman returned to managing in 2007, guiding the independent South Georgia Peanuts to the South Coast League’s inaugural title. In 2008, he managed the Northern League’s Joliet Jackhammers.
Tags: Wally Backman, Brooklyn Cyclones
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Self-promotion alert: Mets Hot Stove tonight on SNY
I'll be part of tonight's premiere of SNY's Mets Hot Stove, airing at 7 p.m. Here's all you need to know about the show and it's upcoming season.
SNY, the television home of the New York Mets, Jets and BIG EAST Conference, will turn up the heat again on Mets Hot Stove on Thursday, November 12 at 7:00pm. Mets Hot Stove is a weekly show covering all the news, notes and rumors surrounding the New York Mets throughout the off-season. Hosted by Mets field reporter Kevin Burkhardt, Mets Hot Stove will feature live commentary from a number of panelists, including SNY’s MLB Insider Jon Heyman. New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran, Newsday’s David Lennon and WFAN’s Ed Coleman will participate on the first show.
Mets Hot Stove will focus primarily on the Mets, but it will also cover the top news stories affecting the Mets National League rivals, as well as all other MLB teams. Each week, Kevin Burkhardt will be joined by a revolving panel of experts, players and management personnel. Mets Hot Stove will air every Thursday during the off-season from 7:00pm-7:30pm.
Tags: David Lennon, Kevin Burkhardt, Carlos Beltran, Jon Heyman, Ed Coleman
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Franco, Hearn, Duquette raise awareness on kidney disease
Former Mets John Franco (1990-2004) and Ed Hearn (1986) along with former General Manager Jim Duquette will join forces tonight in the Caesars Club at Citi Field to raise awareness and money to fight two potentially devastating kidney diseases, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome (NS).
The trio will be appearing for the NephCure Foundation’s annual Countdown to a Cure. Duquette’s daughter, Lindsay, suffers from kidney disease. He currently serves on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Hearn, who has had three kidney transplants, is an Ambassador for the NephCure Foundation. Franco is lending is support to the event.
For further information on the NephCure Foundation visit www.nephcure.org. Tickets are still available by calling 631-205-4306 or by visiting www.countdowntoacure.org.
Tags: John Franco, Ed Hearn, Jim Duquette
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Beltran wants Delgado back
Carlos Beltran, who stopped off at field at 100th Street this morning to promote the Harlem RBI program, said he visited with Carlos Delgado before coming to New York. Delgado told him he plans to play winter ball in Puerto Rico to "show everyone that he's going to be back, that he's ready."
When asked if he'd like Delgado back on the Mets, Beltran nodded yes.
"Honestly, i would love to," Beltran said. "But at the same time that depends on the team, what kind of direction they're going to take, what kind of player they're planning to play at first base.
"But Delgado is a guy, that if he's healthy, you're going to get a lot of contribution from him. He's a guy that hits 30 home runs, with 100 RBI. You're going to get that from Delgado. And at the same time, he's one of the guys that I feel he's safe to invest money in because he takes care of himself."
Tags: Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado
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Are the Mets learning from their mistakes?
Sure looks that way.
As my colleague Ken Davidoff reports here, the Mets are sending pitching coach Dan Warthen and trainer Ray Ramirez to visit Oliver Perez in Arizona, where he is working out at the Athletes Performance Institute. Good to see that Perez has finally decided to get in shape midway through his three-year, $36-million contract.
But this just reminds me of the colossal blunder the Mets made last March when they allowed Perez, who needs more supervision than a 3-year-old, to join Team Mexico for the World Baseball Classic. The Mets know Perez better than anyone, and to send him 3,000 miles away for three weeks, essentially on spring break, was asking for trouble -- and that's exactly what they got when Perez returned as 2009 was a $12-million train wreck.
While on the subject of the WBC, maybe the best news for the Mets as they look ahead to 2010 is that it's an off-year for the international tournament. Let's take a quick look at the fallout from that:
Carlos Delgado -- season-ending hip surgery
Carlos Beltran -- missed two months with right knee bone bruise
Jose Reyes -- season-ending hamstring injury, surgery after season
J.J. Putz -- elbow surgery to remove bone chips, followed by forearm ligament tear
David Wright -- power outage linked to Manuel's suggestion of lingering knee injury
Coincidence? Not so sure about that.
Tags: Oliver Perez, Athletes Performance Institute, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, David Wright, Ray Ramirez, Dan Warthen, Ken Davidoff
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Potential free agents for your hot-stove perusal
Here's the list of potential free agents, fresh from the MLBPA offices in New York. Today is the first day of the 15-day period when players may file for free agency. Sorry it's in no particular order. You'll just have to poke around, kind of like the sales bins at Bloomingdales.
Anderson, Garret
Gonzalez, Mike
Hudson, Tim **
LaRoche, Adam
Norton, Greg
Soriano, Rafael
Davis, Doug
Schoeneweis, Scott D.
Tracy, Chad
Webb, Brandon **
Baez, Danys
Hendrickson, Mark
Moeller, Chad E.
Mora, Melvin
Baldelli, Rocco
Bay, Jay
Byrd, Paul
Gonzalez, Alex **
Martinez, Victor **
Varitek, Jason A. **
Wagner, Billy
Wakefield, Tim
Woodward, Chris
Fox, Chad D.
Grabow, John
Gregg, Kevin
Harden, Rich
Johnson, Reed
Hernandez, Ramon J. **
Wells, Kip
Carroll, Jamey
Ohka, Tomokazu
Beimel, Joe
Betancourt, Rafael **
Contreras, Jose
Embree, Alan
Fogg, Josh
Giambi, Jason
Herges, Matt
Marquis, Jason
Rincon, Juan
Torrealba, Yorvit **
Castro, Ramon Abraham
Dotel, Octavio E.
Dye, Jermaine **
Podsednik, Scott
Everett, Adam
Huff, Aubrey
Lyon, Brandon
Polanco, Placido
Rodney, Fernando
Washburn, Jarrod
Calero, Kiko
Donnelly, Brendan
Gload, Ross
Johnson, Nick
Boone, Aaron J.
Brocail, Doug **
Erstad, Darin
Hampton, Mike
Hawkins, LaTroy
Michaels, Jason
Tejada, Miguel O.
Valverde, Jose
Chen, Bruce
Crisp, Coco **
Olivo, Miguel **
Wright, Jamey
Abreu, Bob
Escobar, Kelvim J.
Figgins, Chone
Guerrero, Vladimir
Lackey, John
Oliver, Darren
Quinlan, Robb
Ausmus, Brad
Belliard, Ron
Castro, Juan G.
Garland, Jon
Hudson, Orlando
Loretta, Mark D.
Mientkiewicz, Doug A.
Milton, Eric R.
Mota, Guillermo
Ohman, Will **
Padilla, Vicente
Ramirez, Manny **
Schmidt, Jason
Thome, Jim
Weaver, Jeff C.
Wolf, Randy
Cameron, Michael
Catalanotto, Frank
Counsell, Craig J.
Kendall, Jason
Looper, Braden L. **
Lopez, Felipe
Patterson, Corey
Vargas, Claudio
Weathers, Dave **
Cabrera, Orlando L.
Crede, Joe
Mahay, Ron
Pavano, Carl
Redmond, Mike P.
Cora, Alex
Delgado, Carlos
Dessens, Elmer
Martinez, Ramon E.
Putz, J.J. **
Schneider, Brian
Sheffield, Gary
Tatis, Fernando
Damon, Johnny
Hairston Jr, Jerry
Hinske, Eric
Matsui, Hideki
Molina, Jose
Nady, Xavier
Pettitte, Andy
Crosby, Bobby
Duchscherer, Justin
Garciaparra, Nomar
Kennedy, Adam
Tomko, Brett D.
Bako, Paul
Cairo, Miguel J.
Eyre, Scott
Feliz, Pedro **
Lee, Cliff **
Martinez, Pedro
Myers, Brett
Park, Chan Ho
Stairs, Matt
Blanco, Henry
Giles, Brian S.
Batista, Miguel
Bedard, Erik
Beltre, Adrian
Branyan, Russ
Chavez, Endy
Griffey Jr, Ken
Sweeney, Mike
Wilson, Jack **
Aurilia, Rich
Howry, Bob
Johnson, Randy
Molina, Bengie
Penny, Brad
Uribe, Juan
Winn, Randy
Ankiel, Rick
De Rosa, Mark
Glaus, Troy
Greene, Khalil
Holliday, Matt
LaRue, Jason
Pineiro, Joel
Smoltz, John
Wellemeyer, Todd
Bradford, Chad
Crawford, Carl **
Isringhausen, Jason
Percival, Troy
Shouse, Brian **
Springer, Russ
Zaun, Gregg **
Benoit, Joaquin
Blalock, Hank
Byrd, Marlon
Guardado, Eddie A.
Jones, Andruw
Rodriguez, Ivan T.
Vizquel, Omar
Barajas, Rod
McDonald, John
Millar, Kevin
Scutaro, Marco
Bard, Josh
Hernandez, Livan
Kearns, Austin **
Villone, Ron
Young, Dmitri
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Shawn Bowman added to 40-man roster
Here's the announcement:
The New York Mets today announced Shawn Bowman, a 24-year-old third baseman who hit .294 with Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League this year, was added to the team’s 40-man roster, which now stands at 36.
Bowman, who was the Mets’ 12th selection in the June, 2002 First Year Player Draft, had 24 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 44 RBI in 91 games.
Bowman, a native of New Westminster, BC, Canada, compiled a .275 batting average with three home runs and 15 RBI to help Canada win a Bronze Medal at last September’s World Cup. He also was named the third baseman on the All-World Cup squad.
Tags: Shawn Bowman
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Ike Davis named to AFL's Rising Stars Game
First baseman Ike Davis was named to the 2009 Arizona Fall League Rising Star Game. Davis is batting .340 (17-50) with six doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI with a .370 on-base percentage and a .640 slugging percentage in 12 games with the Surprise Rafters. The Rising Stars Game will be Saturday, November 7.
Tags: Ike Davis
