Archive for the ‘Adrian Gonzalez’ Category

Do You Aso Like Ike?

BY MATTHEW FALKENBURY
ASSISTANT EDITOR

It was nothing more then a grand slam in the eighth inning of a spring training game in early March. The wind was blowing out and as the legendary Lou Brown once said “It was against a guy who will be bagging groceries in a week.” The fact is that I couldn’t have cared less. I like Ike Davis and if the first few spring training games can be considered an example of whats to come, then you will all like him too.

Ike Davis, the son of former Major League pitcher Ron Davis, was the Mets first round pick in 2008 out of Arizona State. He struggled for power in his first pro season with Brooklyn as he failed to hit a home run in the short season A NY-Penn League. Moving up to Port St. Lucie and then eventually Double-A Binghamton, he found his power and continued to impress both the Mets brass and fans alike. He would hit 20 homers, 71 RBI and hit .298 and would make a name for himself, earning a spot on the US World Cup of Baseball team that won the Gold Medal and as one to Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects.

Ike Davis has a quick powerful swing, good feet around first base and a confidence that is more about his own ability then it is about working harder then the next guy. He is a left handed thrower at first, which is also a big bonus, a bonus that the last two great Mets first basemen, Keith Hernandez and John Olerud had.

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Is there anyone you wouldn't give up for Adrian Gonzalez? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY FRANK GRAY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The biggest news coming out of New York Mets camp today isn’t the game against the Atlanta Braves or the triple by Jose Reyes. According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Mets have reached out to the San Diego Padres for a possible trade involving all star slugger Adrian Gonzalez.

This is an aggressive move. Besides not really having the players in the system that would move a player of that magnitude, it also tells a bigger story. The Mets have proclaimed all off season that they were comfortable with Daniel Murphy, even after traveling to scout Carlos Delgado and signing Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis.

They have Ike Davis in the wings. Perhaps they are discussing moving him and one of their younger pitchers not named Mejia. It is a good sign that they are on the offensive, for a change, however they are asking for the impossible. They do not have the type of talent in the minors for this. They do not have the type of talent in the majors for this, short of the core group.
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Wishing on a star.

BY ANTHONY LAFAMAN
STACHE WRITER

Man I wish we had the guns to get Adrian Gonzalez but how can you top Ellsbury/Bucholz? Murphy/Davis/Mejia? They would laugh. Plus they have a sweet hitting first baseman in the minors themselves so Davis does nothing for them. Do any of you guys get the feeling that outside of Bay and maybe a few non-tender signings the Mets are really banking on the health of Beltran/Reyes? It’s like they are counting them as new acquisitions. Am I alone?

As long as Luis Castillo is in town, Orlando Hudson will not be. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

In the world of the Hot Stove, there are going to be those that are calling for the Mets to pick up every top player available, but we all know that is not going to happen. There are several myths going around the internet as to moves the Mets might be considering, and I felt like it was time to bring a little bit of reality into the picture. Now, I am not intending to crush people’s hopes and dreams, but we need to have a realistic approach on this off season.

First of all, I would be shocked to see John Lackey wearing the orange and blue next season. He hasn’t been private in terms of his desire to play for a team that has a favorable weather situation. He really wants to go to his home town Rangers, but he probably is going to be best fit for a West Coast team. The Dodgers could make a strong push to sign him, and I wouldn’t rule out a return to the Angels. Texas claims to not have the money, but let’s see what happens when push really comes to shove.
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Adrian Gonzalez would add a new element to the Mets' lineup. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

Everyone is looking for the Mets to make a move for a slugger this off-season. Besides free agents like Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is a player who sources such as SI’s John Heyman say the Mets could be targeting. The good thing is that Gonzalez would have a huge impact on the Mets offense if they acquire him. Gonzalez is having a career year in 2009 with 39 home runs and a .276/.401/.559 line featuring on-base and slugging percentages that are well above his previous bests. Plus Gonzalez is only 27 years old still has a few prime years left in him.

The bad news for the Mets is that a slugger such as Gonzalez would be very costly to acquire even if he didn’t have two years left on his bargain of a contract. San Diego only owes him $4.75 million next year with an affordable $5.6 million club option in 2011. That means that San Diego can very likely afford to hold onto Gonzalez even while they are rebuilding. For the Mets to take Gonzalez off of the Padres’ hands would require a package similar to that demanded by the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay this season. I’m guessing that means a pair of top prospects and two more useful guys. According to Jon Heyman, the Red Sox tried trading for Gonzalez at the deadline and were shot down after offering Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Jed Lowrie. The only good news about that is that with Masterson gone in the Victor Martinez deal, the Red Sox are now less likely to compete with the Mets for Gonzalez’s services.
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