Archive for the ‘Brian Stokes’ Category

Minaya has had an interesting track record. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

With this post and the one that will follow, I decided to take what is, in my opinion, the five best and five worst trades that Omar Minaya has made to gauge my approval rating in that department of the Mets’ general manager. Because I like ending things on a high note, let’s start with the bad deals, and these are listed in no particular order. The good side of things will come in a later post.

12/10/08 Traded Aaron Heilman , Endy Chavez , Jason Vargas, Mike Carp , Ezequiel Carrera and Maikel Cleto to the Mariners for J.J. Putz , Sean Green , and Jeremy Reed.

Thoughts: On paper, this looked like it was going to be a phenomenal deal for the Mets. Putz was one of the AL’s best closers, and he was the guy that they were looking for that could be a perfect bridge to K-Rod in the Mets’ bullpen, but unfortunately, it did not work out that way. Putz’ elbow did not hold up, and he was not re-signed in the off season. Reed was a spare part that has since moved on, and Green’s presence on the DL is preferred by many fans over a spot on the roster.
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When will Beltran be back? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Rumors have been swirling that Carlos Beltran has been taking it slower and slower in recent days, and although initial estimates say he could be back by the end of the month, what happens if he needs to be out for a more extensive period of time?

Angel Pagan has done an adequate, not great, job of handling center field and the lead off spot in the order, and although Gary Matthews Jr. was brought in to share the role, he has been nothing short of dead weight. His bat is slow and he just doesn’t serve a purpose. In 42 at-bats this year, Matthews is hitting .143 and has only two extra base hits. He also has not hit a home run, and he has no RBI.

His 16 strikeouts explains to me why the Angels were so eager to dump him. It’s sure to me that he is the dead weight that will go if/when Beltran returns, but does he stay if Beltran remains out? I hope not.
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Unfortunately, Bobby Parnell doesn't seem like the long-term solution for the Mets. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY JOSEPH STONE
STACHE WRITER

This article, although written with tongue-in-cheek humor, is exactly the type of thing that ticks me off about this franchise. Granted, you can find something to rank on any team’s stadium, which by the way, Deadspin has done. But the complaints in here just burn me up. The worst part was the Fillie fan talking smack.

Is it just me, or are they an entire fanbase made up of Guido douchebags and people who fell in love with the team somewhere around October of last year? God, I hope Cliff Lee’s apocalyptic numbers from yesterday are what he is going to put up the rest of the year. If that were to happen, and they go in the toilet in the NLDS, I could just write this season off to a statistical anomoly. Please, Dark Lord, don’t let them anywhere near the Series, unless it is to get utterly raped by the other team, to the tune of 60-2 in a four game set. Oh my, would I never let that one go.
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While Brian Stokes has been good in '09, it's not clear what he role is in the Mets' future. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

Besides injuries, depression, crazy Omar and the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the mystery of Brian Stokes has been one of the enduring themes of the Mets’ 2009 campaign. At first it seemed the right handed reliever was vastly underused and fans started calling for more Stokes appearances once Sean Green proved unreliable. As frustration with the team grew, the underrated Stokes became known as something of a tragic figure: a player who was talented but not given a chance to prove himself.

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It's a mystery to me how Brian Stokes doesn't have a clear role in Jerry Manuel's bullpen. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

In a year that has been filled with injuries and disappointments, there have been a few bright spots that fans have loved to talk about. The re-emergence of Luis Castillo is a popular topic, as is the recent return of Billy Wagner. When people look at the Mets’ bullpen, they usually pick out Francisco Rodriguez and Pedro Feliciano as the lone bright spots. Well I am here to point out a new one who has certainly earned a spot for 2010. His name is Brian Stokes.
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Building a Team after this Moment has been very hard for the Mets (Courtesy of Boston.com)

BY JOSEPH STONE
STACHE WRITER

I have heard it said the the Mets mission statement over the last two years was to win Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. That they wanted to eradicate the memory of the loss and somehow change the course of history. I don’t think that’s quite true. I think that was something we the interactive fans and the professional writers inferred upon the team, that that particular game was somehow still winnable.

The Mets, in a wise move, just stuck with the core of a team over the next three years that was thisclose to the World Series in 2006, and are just now feeling the fallout from a long barren run at post-season success. After the outcome of the 2006 season, obviously the Mets, as an organization, felt that essentially standing pat with a team that was so close to the promised land was the right choice, hence the Alou signing as a stopgap to shore up RBI production and keep the train rolling.

Management felt that the veteran presence would assist, and not even a beat would be missed on the march back to October. They were absolutely correct. The 2007 season was going along according to script until…no need for specifics in rehashing at this point, we are all well versed. The team that had steamrolled along all year hit the wall and blew up. It happens. Only once in a blue moon, but strange things can happen in baseball. Ask the Cubs, or the Phillies.

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Do you think Jon Niese would become a star in a Blue Jays Uniform? (Courtesy of NY Daily News)

BY ANTHONY LAFAMAN
STACHE WRITER

I’m left somewhat confused about this proposed trade that was rejected with a “resounding” no by Omar Minaya. I’m hoping for the Jon Heyman SI.com story to be one of two things. Either it was incomplete, in regards to information or it was a lie. Because if this really happened I don’t know a person alive other than fellow Stache write Aaron who wouldn’t do this deal.

To have the opportunity to trade 4 prospects, none of which are in the Top 25 for a guy like Roy Halladay is what I would call divine intervention. It’s like God is a Met fan and is just been toying with us the past 3 years, just to test our strength. Then he delivers Halladay and they win 5 straight World Series. I mean if pitching wins championships and you have the best two pitchers in the game, does that not help your chances of winning?

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It's been a frustrating start to the season for the 6-8 Mets.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

In what was far from a shocking development, the Mets lost on Wednesday night by the score of 5-2 to St. Louis. John Maine was once again mediocre to say the least, and the offense was anemic. The Mets managed only two extra base hits, both of which were doubles by David Wright and Carlos Beltran in the ninth, and they were held at bay again.

It was another nice performance from the bullpen, who would get the game ball from me in this situation. Casey Fossum pitched scoreless baseball for his inning, and Brian Stokes did well in his inning-plus. Let’s start with Carlos Delgado, who I have a beef with.

Carlos, with the team down 5-1 and Wright on second with nobody out in the ninth, why are you swinging on 2-0? You can’t hit a grand slam with one guy on! You need to play disciplined baseball Carlos. I can’t believe I am saying this, but maybe it’s time you watched Daniel Murphy or Luis Castillo at the plate.

John Maine. All I have to say to you is BLEH. That’s the feeling I get when you trot out there right now. You know why you are struggling? Maybe it is because you walk Khalil Green-type players too much, and then you have to face the Albert Pujols of the world. That is never going to set you up to be a winning pitcher.

To be quite honest, tonight was about the Rangers for me, but the Mets better win tomorrow, and they are going to need a strong effort from Livan to get the job done. It will be a day game. You have to take at least one game when you are not even facing Adam Wainwright. Comeon guys. How about you start earning the big bucks that the people of New York pay you?

Stokes impressed many last season, but will he be wearing a Mets uniform when the season commences on April 6?

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Today, I found out something that is rather unsettling. Brian Stokes, who seems to be one of the guys who is not guaranteed a spot in the opening day bullpen, needs to be passed through waivers before being assigned to Triple A if the Mets wanted to put him there. I just don’t think that they should take the chance. Stokes has experience as both a starter and a reliever, so he could have value as a long man out of the bullpen.

Another thing to consider is the fact that Stokes has a 3.51 ERA as a member of the Mets. While his two years prior weren’t nearly as successful, this could be a sign of things to come from the right hander. Stokes is just 29-years old, so he is right in the middle of his prime years. The Mets shouldn’t expose him, because he will most definitely get plucked right off of the heap. He would be a nice find, and a guarantee a bottom tiered team like San Diego or Washington wouldn’t hesitate to claim him.

Last year, there is no doubt that the brass in Queens was impressed with Stokes, and I would much rather see him in the bullpen than Tim Redding. When push comes to shove, I think we will see Brian Stokes in the bullpen when the season starts.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

When you look at the 2009 Mets, not much glares out at you in terms of being a better team than last season. The Mets had some problems to address, and they addressed them to an extent. In this article, I plan to take a look into the Mets’ grades by position.

C Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro- D

Schneider was brought to the Mets for his defense, and while he did make some stellar picks, his caught stealing percentage was very disappointing. Pitchers succeeded much more when Ramon Castro was behind the plate, therefore defeating the purpose of his acquisition. Castro’s problem is that he can’t seem to elude the injury bug. The Mets don’t think he will last for a full season, and they have been willing to accept an offer for Shrek. I think they would be wise to either keep him or bring about Ivan Rodriguez on a minor league deal and give him a shot.

1B Carlos Delgado- B

Delgado had an MVP-like second half last season. He was the Delgado of old, and I almost wanted to put a Blue Jays helmet on him to see if he would repeat his MVP season. For a guy that people were calling for the release of in May, he certainly earned a spot on the 2009 squad, although it will most likely be his last season wearing the orange and blue.

2B Luis Castillo- D+

Like many Mets fans, I have always been a big fan of Orlando Hudson, and the idea of him hitting behind Jose Reyes in the two hole is music to my ears, but Luis Castillo is preventing that from happening. The Mets gave the old yeller a four year contract, and they are paying for it. Hudson had made it known that he would like to come to the Mets, but it looks like he is going to be making his home out West instead. Castillo is certainly going to have the microscope focused on him this season.

3B David Wright- A

There is no arguing that Wright is already one of the best third basemen in baseball. I have some issue with the fact that he has won two straight gold glove awards, but he is a stellar player none the less. The scary thing is that he hasn’t yet hit his ceiling. If he focuses more on routine ground balls and levels out his swing, David has the potential to be a .330 35 homers 125 RBI guy every season. That is the kind of guy that he is capable of being.

SS Jose Reyes- A

A lot of people give Reyes problems because he is over exuberant with his chants and escapades in the dugout. All I can say to that is wait until you see what K-Rod is like. Reyes provides decent power with extra base ability to go along with above average defense. Combine that with his stellar speed, and you have one of the most exciting players in the game. There are very few players I would trade him for. The only two I can think of off the top of my head are Hanley Ramirez or Albert Pujols.

LF Daniel Murphy/Fernando Tatis- B-

Although I found myself aboard the Manny train for a while, his antics really may not be worth it. All the time, I believed that Manny was going to either end up with the Dodgers or the Giants. He was made for California. And Dodgers fans could certainly put up with him for the six innings that they stay for. Murphy showed some real promise at the plate last season, and Tatis will be a solid compliment against lefties. Don’t forget. Nick Evans will be waiting in the wings if Tatis struggles.

CF Carlos Beltran- A

When you think bad thoughts that go along with Beltran’s name, what comes into your mind? Yeah? Me too. It’s Adam Wainwright’s curveball that froze him in game seven of the 2006 NLCS. Beltran has been one of the most consistent Mets since his arrival. Although his average won’t blow you away, he hits for power and knows how to drive in runs in the middle of the order. He also may quietly be the best center fielder in the game, and he knows how to gun it with the best of them. My nickname for Mr. Milk Dud is Mr. Consistent. He is the opposite of a box of chocolates. You always know what you are going to get.

RF Ryan Church- C+

Who knows what we are going to get out of Ryan? I don’t even think he knows. You read all of these stories about how he’s motivated and about how he is going to prove Mike Francesca wrong, but how do we know that? He plays a solid defense and is an above average hitter, but one bump in the head and it could all go downhill from there. I have a scenario in my head that has Church being injured and Tatis and Valentin splitting Right Field every day. Does that sound better than Bobby Abreu? I don’t think so. I think this position is going to come back to haunt us.

SP Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Perez, Garcia- B

The Mets addressed their issues with the rotation this off season, but they did so with some question marks. You see John Maine saying that he is pain free. But we need to wait a few weeks and see how he feels then. Will he be a guy that can throw 200 plus innings? I am just not so sure. Garcia is another one who needs to prove himself to me. If he is the Garcia of old, the Mets will have got themselves the steal of the offseason. Oliver Perez is streaky, but I trust him, and Pelfrey and Santana are the top two at the rotation. Big Pelf just needs to stay away from mouthpieces and Rick Peterson.

RP- K-Rod, Putz, Green, Sanchez, Stokes, Feliciano, Redding- A-

I think Omar exceeded expectations by nabbing both K-Rod and Putz, but he has let the Mets down by not getting that second lefty for the pen. What are the Mets going to do when they face the Phillies down the stretch? Are Howard, Jenkins, Utley, Ibanez, Rollins and Victorino going to face a right handed pitcher? I sure hope not. This bullpen is going to be a huge factor over whether or not this team is successful.

Overall- B

I think the Mets are a good team, but the Phillies are better. When push comes to shove, I think the Mets will contend for the wild card, but we may be looking at a third straight season of playoffless baseball for the New York Mets.