12/23/09

Kaz Matsui, R.A. Dickey, The 1994 Mets, Heals... and Omar


Kaz Matsui:

Unfortunately one of the most hated Mets in history. He came here with promises of being a mini Ichiro, but frustrated fans with his poor defense and inconsistent hitting. It didn’t help the Yankees had their own Matsui, Hideki, tearing up the American League. Why the Mets moved Jose Reyes from shortstop for this guy I will never know. The Mets were lucky in 2006 because Matsui was slated to be their second baseman and started the year off terrible. If not for Jose Valentin’s comeback they would have had a huge hole up the middle. Ironically Matsui wasn’t a terrible second baseman defensively, but his bat was too weak to carry. Since leaving the Mets he owns a couple of productive seasons in Colorado and Houston, continuously burns his former team, and hit a grand slam against the Phillies in the 07′ playoffs. That sounds about right.-
nybaseballdigest



R.A. Dickey:

R.A. Dickey, rumored to be the newest Met, is a knuckleballer. Which means that the pitch he's holding in this picture will probably be hit 500 miles if he ever throws it in a game. With our luck, he'll probably swear off the knuckleball as some sort of religious cleansing, and will learn how to throw the pitch pictured above from his new pitching and lifestyle guru, Matt Wise. - metstradamus











The 1994 Mets:

In 1994 MLB decided to expand the playoff format. They broke each league down into three divisions and added a wildcard team along with the three division winners. I liked the idea then. I still like it, although I don't want to see MLB add anymore teams to the playoffs. That would not be good for the game.

I thought increasing the playoff format would help the Mets. First off, they would be competing with 4 teams for the division title, as opposed to the six teams they shared the old east division with. If they couldn't get in by winning the division they could get in by winning the wildcard. I liked those odds. Plus, I expected this format would help the big market teams. The teams that spent money and would put a competitive team on the field every year would have a real shot at being in the playoffs often. The Mets were one of those teams, so I thought. Also, teams that had solid foundations, meaning good scouts and excellent teachers and a savvy GM, would be a playoff team on a regular basis. The Mets are not one of those teams. -
metsiesandothermusings.



Mike Healey:

So let me get this straight; Mets go all in on Ollie Perez, but don't even make an offer to Jason Marquis? They let Chad Bradford go because of Joe Smith, then deal Joe Smith in the JJ Putz deal, now they don't have anything to show for it but Sean Green? A pitcher's ballpark, which is what Neutral Field is, doesn't... - healslink






Omar Minaya:

I see the shelves at the “Player-Mart” emptying just as everyone does. I see The Yankees acquiring a starter who just had a great year and finished in the Top 5 in the NL Cy Young voting and would love to see my team do the same. In the information age with tweeting and the internet and sports available 24/7 we all seem to know everything instantaneously, we want everything to happen RIGHT NOW! Sometimes exhibiting the virtues of patience and prudence pays off. With our beloved Metsies, it’s all we can hope for right now.
Perhaps this week we’ll finally see a flurry of activity. Maybe I’m the drunken sailor if I believe that.
 As for Mr. Omar Minaya. He’s no drunken sailor. Not this winter. But if he gives into Molina and Bay and their agents I will be convinced he needs 30 days at Betty Ford - link

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