Every team is looking for the next breakout prospect that can join the team in the middle of the year and provide a spark to their lineup. Fantasy owners also look for these prospects who can lead their team to a championship.
Looking at this year’s prospects, there appear to be a few players who can follow in the footsteps of Buster Posey and have an immediate impact for their Major League club.
After the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Zack Greinke, it became much more unlikely that they will look to trade All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder. However, there is a chance he still could be had for the right price, since he is slated to become a free agent after this season.
Fielder could serve as a piece to bring in more players to build around for the future. If the Brewers are not in contention at the trade deadline, they could focus on acquiring players to help them in 2012 and beyond.
Many Mets fans are expecting this to be a long season. However, there is one way that Mets management can make the year a lot more interesting: Hire former Montana Tech football coach Bob Green.
Yes, Bob Green has no experience coaching baseball. However, he would be perfectly fine as a bench coach.
Most readers have no idea as to why this suggestion would even make sense. I direct you to the video below.
Green would be able to serve as comedic relief for Mets fans throughout if the team struggles this season. Also, the Mets had issues with their locker room chemistry last year, and Green can certainly help solve them. In addition, it is clear that Green has no issues talking to the media.
As a bonus, Green also hates the Yankees. I don’t know what more fans could want from a bench coach. Bob Green would make the 2011 season more tolerable for Mets fans and would completely change the teams’ attitude.
To read up on all things New York Mets, please visit Mets Gazette.
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Where Cliff Lee will end up has been one of the hottest topics talked about this off-season. Lee has even been ranked as the number one free agent on the market this year.
Most people around baseball believe that wherever Lee signs he will make that team the instant favorite to be American League Champion. Some of the rumored destinations for Lee include the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels.
The Mets have finally made a decision and named Terry Collins as their next manager.
This was a mistake, as their were much better candidates. Some got interviewed (Wally Backman and Bob Melvin) and others did not even get a shot (Bobby Valentine).
The Mets will have to live with this decision for at least the rest of the year and if the team struggles again, the fan base will once again be calling for change.
It’s finally time for free agency in Major League baseball. Fans are excited to see what major players their teams may land this year. And players are excited to see how large their contracts will be.
I have attempted to summon my inner Nostradamus and make predictions about where the Top 50 free agents will be playing next season.
It is almost time for the baseball awards to be announced. Many fans overlook the value of a good manager. You can look to teams like the Mets and the Marlins that have had turmoil with their managers and see why it is important to have someone who can take control of what is going on. There have been a few managers that have stood out this year.
The candidates include Padres manager Bud Black, Reds manager Dusty Baker, Giants manager Bruce Bochy and Braves manager Bobby Cox who will likely get some votes based on his lifetime achievements.
As if the Mets have not gone through enough controversy the past few years.
The Mets have had to deal with the Adam Rubin vs. Omar Minaya incident as well as the incident where former VP of player development Tony Bernazard ripped his shirt off and challenged a minor leaguer to a fight.
This year, the Mets have already had to deal with the K-Rod incident in which he fought his girlfriend’s father in the clubhouse. Now, it has come out that the Mets had other issues within their clubhouse.
According to a person familiar with the recent NYPD investigation, Samuels admitted on at least one occasion that he bet on baseball.
It is believed that most of Samuels’ bets were on NFL games, but it is still unnerving to know that he was part of an illegal gambling ring and that he bet on baseball.
Another source close to the investigation said that it is possible that Samuels made unauthorized withdrawals from Mets accounts and then later paid the money back.
There are also questions about Samuels relationships with the Mets players. It was revealed that Samuels received a $50,000 tip from Jeff Francoeur when he was traded to the Rangers.
While this does seem unusual, there have been examples of other players, such as Manny Ramirez, leaving generous tips for clubhouse attendants.
Samuels also reportedly received a Lexus from Mike Piazza after winning a bet with him about how much weight Piazza’s father could lose.
The last incident that has been reported that involved a player featured Francisco Rodriguez. Samuels gave K-Rod a place to stay after he was ordered to stay away from his home following the fight with his girlfriend’s father.
While this very well maybe the case of Samuels being a good friend, one must still be suspicious. Rodriguez has more than enough money to rent a house, apartment or hotel room.
If Samuels bet on the Mets, he was now with the person who had a lot of control over how a close game could end.
There are also reports that Samuels may have gave out inside information about the players to members of the mob.
Samuels, the Mets clubhouse manager and traveling secretary for 27 years, has been suspended indefinitely as a result of the investigation.
This is certainly not the way that the Mets wanted to start the Sandy Alderson era. This will be a black mark on the organization and could be a distraction during the season depending on how long the investigation lasts.
Both current and former players will be questioned and some could be involved in the gambling ring. Hopefully, no players will be indicted when all of the dust settles.
To stay up to date on this and other Mets stories go visit MetsGazette.
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This year’s free-agent class is fairly weak overall. This is true of the available outfielders as well. There is a lot of good talent at the top of the class, but from there, it declines fairly quickly.
With many teams looking to fill a hole in their outfield, you can expect a few bidding wars to occur over some of these players.
It is at this stage of the year when we see which GMs have done a great job of building a team. Unfortunately, the Mets are not one of those teams that are still in World Series contention. As a result of the fourth straight October without playoff baseball in Queens, Omar Minaya is gone and the Mets are searching for a new GM.
There was a youth movement on the field for the Mets this year and this should continue with the management. The Mets should look no further than 40-year-old Josh Byrnes. The former GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks was 29 when he was first hired as an assistant GM for the Colorado Rockies in 1999. Then, in 2001, Byrnes left the Rockies to work within the same capacity for the Red Sox under Theo Epstein. From 2005 to July 2010, Byrnes was the Diamondbacks GM.
With the size of the Mets payroll, it is not about how much money they spend. It is about what players they spend it on. Byrnes is the man who will be able to make the correct decisions.
Byrnes is known around the baseball community as a sabermetric “geek.” This is exactly what the Mets need. They need someone who can truly evaluate what players are overvalued and what players are undervalued. Byrnes most likely picked up his penchant for sabermetrics while working under Theo Epstein. Epstein even went as far as hiring famed sabermetrician Bill James to work for the Red Sox. Epstein’s deals and signings led the Red Sox to two World Series championships within five years.
Byrnes can do the same thing for the Mets. If Byrnes becomes the GM Mets fans should look forward to a few deals over the offseason and at least one big free-agent signing. Byrnes would likely be able to move Luis Castillo, Oliver Perez or John Maine.
Byrnes would also not be afraid to challenge the Wilpons to open up their checkbook for Cliff Lee. Lee’s 7.0 WAR led all pitchers this year. This is a stat that is loved by sabermetricians like Byrnes.
Carl Crawford, another potential free agent, posted a 6.8 WAR this season, ninth highest of all position players. Crawford could be a target to take over in center field if the Mets and their new GM are able to move Carlos Beltran in a deal for someone such as Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Josh Byrnes would represent the change that is so greatly needed in New York. He would once again bring the Mets back to prominence. His sabermetric approach would push the Mets back towards the top of the new age of baseball.
To read about the other possible GM candidates visit MetsGazette
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