On the Mets beat

RSS

Mets beat writer David Lennon offers breaking news, commentary, and musings from his perch at Citi Field.

search this blog
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  • 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
     

  • 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

  • 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

  • Francoeur has successful thumb surgery

    Looks like Jeff Francoeur should be as good as new for 2010. Here's the pertinent info from the Mets:

    New York Mets rightfielder Jeff Francoeur today underwent successful surgery to repair a tear of the collateral ligament in his left thumb.  The surgery was performed in Atlanta by Dr. Gary Lourie.  Following the surgery, Dr. Lourie and Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York discussed that the surgery went according to their plan.  Francoeur is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

    Francoeur, who was acquired July 10 by the Mets from the Atlanta Braves, suffered the injury August 23 while making a diving catch against Philadelphia.  He hit .311 with 20 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 41 RBI in 75 games with the Mets.  He batted .280 with 32 doubles, 15 home runs, and 76 RBI in 157 games during the 2009 season.
  • Mets now likely to meet with Chapman, agent

    The Mets now expect to meet with Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman and his agent later this week after initially saying they had no plans to do so, according to a person familiar with the situation. Chapman already is in New York, and has set up meetings with the Yankees, as well as a sitdown with Red Sox officials in Boston.

    Chapman, a 21-year-old lefthander that throws in the high 90s, could be be one of the most coveted free agents this winter. But teams are uncertain just how ready he will be for the major leagues and that should affect his asking price.

     

     

     

     

  • Takahashi owned Howard; now he's gone

    As you wait for the Phillies to wrap up their second straight World Series berth, the Mets have announced that Ken Takahashi -- their secret weapon against Ryan Howard -- has been released. Actually, I'm not joking about the Howard thing. Takahashi struck out Howard four times in five at-bats against him.

    Anyway, here's the team's official release on the, um, release:

    The New York Mets today announced that they released lefthanded pitcher Ken Takahashi. In 28 games out of the bullpen this season, Takahashi was 0-1 with a 2.96 ERA.

    The 40-year-old also appeared in 18 games for Buffalo (AAA) of the International League. He made seven starts and finished 1-3 with a 2.38 ERA for the Bisons.

     

  • Howling about Wolf and the Mets

    Listening to Randy Wolf recall his Philly days and talk about tonight's Game 4 start made me think how different things might be if the Mets had just signed him rather than Oliver Perez last winter. I guess we can put an asterisk next to Perez's lousy 2009 season because of his recurring knee issues, which now supposedly have been fixed by surgery.

    But In Wolf's case, there's something to be said for spending $5 million for a guy motivated by his next contract. That obviously wasn't the case for Perez, who got fat and happy before the ink was dry on his three-year, $36 million deal and turned  out to be an unqualified disaster in 2009. Anyway, here's today's story on Wolf as you eagerly count the minutes until Perez's first spring training start in 2010. 

  • Reyes' hamstring tendon surgery goes as planned

    Here's the latest medical update from the Mets on Jose Reyes:

    Mets shortstop Jose Reyes this morning underwent successful surgery to clean up scar tissue remaining from his torn accessory hamstring tendon behind the right knee (semi tendinosis tendon). The operation was performed by Dr. Daniel E. Cooper at North Central Surgical Center in Dallas. 

    Following the surgery, Dr. Cooper and Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York discussed that the surgery went well and according to their plan.

    Reyes will begin his rehab shortly and resume baseball activities soon after the New Year. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for 2010 Spring Training.

    Tags: Jose Reyes

  • My predictions: Three-out-of-four ain't bad.

    Got burned by the Cards, but otherwise not a bad first round. Even got the games right for Yankees and Phillies. A good tuneup for the NCAA tourney. And my Final Two are still alive. That's big.
     
    ALDS: Yankees over Twins in 3

    ALDS: Angels over Red Sox in 4

    ALCS: Yankees over Angels in 7

    NLDS: Cardinals over Dodgers in 5

    NLDS: Phillies over Rockies in 4

    NLCS: Phillies over Cardinals in 7

    World Series: Yankees over Phillies in 6
     

     

  • The House That Holliday Built?

    The Mets already have said publicly -- both Jeff Wilpon and manager Jerry Manuel -- that the dimensions of Citi Field would not be altered for the 2010 season. I'm betting those statements, however, are not written in concrete, especially if the Mets are seriously considering Matt Holliday for leftfield next year, as SI's Jon Heyman mentions here.

    For one, I spoke to a few team officials about the ballpark dimensions toward the end of this season, and while they said the fences would likely remain the same for 2010, they also reserved the right to change their mind -- depending on the how the Mets are assembled this winter. One hypothetical name they mentioned was Holliday, who not only could be enticed to sign with closer walls, but it would also cut down the amount of space he would need to cover in left. Makes sense.

    As much as the Mets insist they want to build a team on pitching, speed and defense, adding Holliday would provide a much-needed threat in the middle of a suspect lineup. It also is an easy fix because it won't involve giving up young talent to get him.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Vote

What is the first thing the Mets should do in the off-season?

  • Get a big bat in the lineup
  • Starting pitcher
  • Bullpen help
  • Fire Omar Minaya
  • Fire Jerry Manuel
  • Fire both Minaya and Manuel