Archive for the ‘Freddy Garcia’ Category

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Soon, we are going to have a sad time in Queens. The Mets have apparently decided that Freddy Garcia is not the answer to their fifth starter dilemma. And I am here to ask why! What is there not to like about the guy. If you look at his numbers this spring, there is nothing bad about them. So what if he has let up more hits than batters retired. So what if he looks like he is throwing batting practice. I think the Mets should be thankful for the things that Freddy Garcia has provided, and I am going to provide a list of the things I am thankful for.

1) A Former Phillies player we could laugh at.

2) The ridiculous hairdue that looks like the second coming of Michael Jackson in thriller.

3) The control that has been reminiscent of Rick Ankiel in his pitching days.

4) A fastball that seems to travel at the same speed as Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball.

5) A reason for us to appreciate Tim Redding even more than someone else.

6) A replacement in our hearts for Aaron Heilman.

7) An attitude that is reminiscent of my ex-girlfriend (I’m here or I will pitch for another team)

8) An injury-risk that is similar to Pedro Martinez when he was on the mound in Queens.

9) The ability to make Livan Hernandez look like CY Young.

10) The Fact that he will never pitch an official game for the New York Mets.

Thank you Freddy Garcia, because to you…I am eternally grateful.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

According to Adam Rubin, Mets general manager Omar Minaya is making a last minute play to bring former Expos/Nationals starting pitcher Shawn Hill to the Mets, and he is using Hill’s former teammates to try to convince the pitcher to come to Queens. Hill has spent the first four years of his playing career in Washington, where he compiled a 7-15 record in only 205 innings pitched. This is a guy who has been through Tommy John Surgery and has battled elbow soreness more recently, and this would be another injury risk, similar to Freddy Garcia and Tim Redding.

The difference between hill and the other guys I have mentioned is that this would be little to no risk whatsoever. Hill is looking for nothing more than a minor league contract, so the Mets would be able to handle him financially if he were ever able to make the big league team. Also, the MEts are about to have some serious financial relief, considering the fact that Freddy Garcia is soon to join the unemployment line.

Hill is known for getting outs by contact, and he induces a lot of ground balls, which would be a nice fit for Citifield. In fact, Hill has only allowed 17 homers in his brief career, and his walk numbers are down as well. If hitters are going to beat him, Hill makes them earn it. Shawn Hill is just 28-years old and I wouldn’t mind this low-risk signing. The Mets need depth and he would probably be good to fit the role. right now, Livan Hernandez will probably be the guy who gets the nod as the number five starter, but who knows whether he will be dependable for the whole season? It’s always nice to have an insurance policy.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

The Mets went through a busy off-season in terms of potential people they were going to land, and they made some moves that nobody expected. We went through the whole Manny Ramirez fiasco, and there were some tough critics who had some harsh words to say about Omar Minaya. In this evaluation, I intend to set the record straight.

1) Mets Sign Francisco Rodriguez
The decision that Omar Minaya made to sign Francisco Rodriguez was a no brainer. K-Rod, coming off of a career year, was the best closer on the market; just a year after the Mets blew more than 20 save chances. Having K-Rod in the ninth inning essentially makes it an eight-inning game, which would’ve made one heck of a difference last season.

2) Mets Trade For J.J. Putz and Sean Green
This was a move that nobody saw coming. Putz has been one of the most underappreciated closers in baseball for the last few seasons, and he serves as some nice protection should anything happen to Francisco Rodriguez. Putz looks at it as if he is closing the eighth inning, which is a nice way to put it. I don’t expect him to be jealous of Rodriguez, and his positive attitude should reflect well on the youngsters in the clubhouse.

3) Mets do not make an offer to Manny Ramirez
As much as the idea of having one of the best hitters in the game in our lineup was intriguing, I truly believe Minaya made the right decision by not pursuing Manny. We watched what he did in Boston. He single-handedly ruined the continuity of that team, and the only reason that he really behaved in Los Angeles is because he was showcasing himself for his next contract. I think Manny is selfish, and his impact on a guy like Jose Reyes may have been catastrophic.

4) Mets Sign Tim Redding and Freddy Garcia
I disliked these signings from the very beginning. I am not at all surprised to see that both of these guys look like they are pitching batting practice in the spring. Redding has been shut down indefinitely, and the Mets are probably close to cutting Garcia to avoid the potential incentives he could earn if he ever made it up to the big club. This was a low-risk, high-reward potential signing by Minaya, but I think the Mets would have been better off by investing some confidence in the youngster Jon Niese, who will probably be the team’s number five starter come July.

5) Mets Trade Scott Schoenweis for Connor Robertson
Honestly, there weren’t many people who were disliked more in New York last season than Scott Schoenweis. He wasn’t terrible as a Met, but he was certainly prone to giving up the big hit in the crucial time. The Mets could have dealt him for a bag of baseballs. This was a move that was clearly an example of addition by subtraction, although the Mets do find themselves looking for a second lefty out of the bullpen.

6) Mets Do Not Attempt to Re-Sign Pedro Martinez
This is definitely the right decision. Pedro is seeking an insane amount of money after he was a complete snub during his first tenure with the Mets. He was injured more than he played, but his value with the Mets wasn’t in his performance. Big name free agents came to the Mets after Pedro led the way. Beltran and Delgado were examples, and eventually, Santana ended up in Queens as well. The Pedro Martinez era in New York is finished, and the Mets are better off moving on.

7) Mets Do Not Sign Orlando Hudson
This is one move in which I strongly disagreed with. I don’t like the rationale. First of all, Luis Castillo has something to prove. He showed up in shape and wants to prove everyone wrong. Where the heck was he last season? Did he take the year off? The Mets would’ve been better off with putting Ramon Castro at second base with the way Castillo swung the bat. Orlando Hudson is a proven leader and .300 hitter. He also has pop and is someone who is a great influence in the clubhouse. The deal that the Dodgers signed him to may have been the steal of the off-season.

8) Mets do not sign Ivan Rodriguez
I definitely wanted Pudge. There is no secret there. But, I think he was playing the Mets the whole time to use them as leverage against Houston and it worked. Rodriguez looked like a shell of his former self after the Yankees acquired him for Kyle Farnsworth last summer. Initially, I was upset that he signed for so cheap, but he wouldn’t have been any better than Castro. This was a good no-move by Minaya.

9) Mets Release Duaner Sanchez
I was a little upset by this move, because it was more about saving the money than it was about giving Duaner a fair chance. My prediction is as follows. Duaner Sanchez will be a very good setup man in San Diego. Doesn’t that happen with all of the guys that the Mets have given up on? Remember Heath Bell? Remember Matt Lindstrom? I would love to have Lindstrom and his fireball on our team, but instead, he is pitching for the division rival Marlins. This was a bad move by Minaya and company.

10) Mets Retain Jerry Manuel
This was key to let all the dominos fall into place. Manuel took over the reins last season and immediately, this team responded. Jose Reyes was one example of a guy who had to be taught a lesson, and Manuel did it in “gangsta” fashion. Carlos Delgado was also a different player for Manuel, and he even became a potential MVP candidate with the second half numbers that he put up. The key to a team’s success is being comfortable with their manager, and that is definitely something that this team has with Jerry Manuel. We will have to wait and see how the other moves pan out in 2009.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

The following is a letter (hypothetical) I received from Johan Santana telling the Daily Stache about 13 things he would like for his 30th birthday. Check the list below.

Dear Mets,

Last year, I started my Mets’ career in style. Now, since it is my birthday, I was hoping that I could get some gifts during the season. Here’s what they are.

1) David Wright, start hitting the ball the other way again. Remember that player you were just a couple of years ago? Bringing back this quality could make you a top-5 hitter in the game.

2) Jose Reyes, please run the bases smartly. Don’t get caught between second and third on a grounder to the left side. Be smart, and your numbers will be better than ever.

3) Francisco Rodriguez, please make sure you don’t blow as many saves that the bullpen did for me last season. Who knows? If we would’ve had you last season, we may have won the division and the whole freaking thing.

4) Luis Castillo, prove the critics wrong. Show them that there is still some value left in those gimpy knees.

5) Daniel Murphy, please contrinue your patience. With a lineup that is filled with guys that like to swing at the first pitch, you could be a guy that gives pitchers plenty of frustrations in the future.

6) Pedro Feliciano, please be on top of your game. The Phillies are a very left-handed heavy hitting team, and we are going to need you to be top-notch against the likes of Howard, Utley and Rollins.

7) Ramon Castro, stay healthy. We all know you have the ability to be a good hitter, but you are never healthy enough to display what you can do in a full season. Stay in shape, and maybe you willbe a wild card for this team.

8) Ryan Church, keep on playing with grit, but know your limits. If you get hurt again, I am not so sure that Fernando Tatis will be able to do what he did last season.

9) Omar Minaya, please get rid of Freddy Garcia and Tim Redding. They both look like garbage. Livan will fill the fifth starter’s role fine, and Jonathan Niese will be ready when his time comes.

10) Fred Wilpon, please be honest with the players and the fans. Stop acting like the Madoff scandal didn’t hurt you that much. We all know it did, and that also played a small role in why you cut ties with Duaner Sanchez so soon.

11) Mr. Met, why are you always smiling? We need you to get angry to give the Mets a boost when they really need it. You should have an alternate angry head, although that might scare the children.

12) Fernando Martinez, please stay healthy. You are the bluechip prospect of this system, and left field will look nice with you in it next season. We all know you can hit, but can you avoid the shelf for once?

13) Jerry Manuel, don’t over analyze things. Have faith in your players, and trust me in key situations.

Sincerely,

Johan Santana

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

There has been some good news out of Mets camp. Tim Redding threw yesterday and reported no discomfort, so it looks like his name has officially been tossed in the ring to be the Mets number five starter once the season begins.

Redding, who was plucked away from the Nationals in the off season, thinks he is the front runner for the position, except he has displayed his confidence in a different way than Freddy Garcia did. He was positive and confident, something Mets’ fans will love to see on a day to day basis.

Right now, Garcia isn’t putting up much of a fight. Garcia’s last outing resembled batting practice, and the man who has really impressed so far would be the former Marlin, Diamondback, Rockie and Twin, Livan Hernandez. He has yet to be scored upon in the exhibition season, and he could be second in the running to Redding to be the Mets fifth starter.

I think Livan would fit better in another fashion. With his durability and ability to throw a ton, I think he would be an excellent fit for the long-reliever role. That way, he could throw a couple of innings here and there, and he would still be valuable to the team. I can’t wait to see how this plays out, and nothing tests the integrity of a man better than some good old competition.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

When people have been talking about the race to see who will claim the fifth starter’s role in the Mets’ rotation, three names usually are discussed. Those are the three veterans that the Mets brought to camp. Tim Redding, Freddy Garcia, and most recently, Livan Hernandez. But, there could be a fourth guy who competes for the spot. That is the young lefty on the Mets who goes by the name Jonathon Niese.

Now, Niese did not get much of a chance in 2008, and when he did, his stuff was predictable. His best start of the season came on September 13, which is when he went eight strong innings, allowing six hits while striking out seven. That game showed the fans that this kid has the chance to develop into a solid back of the rotation pitcher in due time.

Now, you might be asking yourself, why would Mike think that Niese has a chance to compete for a rotation spot this season? That’s pretty simple. There are concerns with injuries in this group. Right now, the usually-durable Redding is out with an undisclosed injury, although it is considered to be minor. Freddy Garcia pitched two scoreless innings yesterday, but his fastball didn’t seem to be up to par. Livan Hernandez is coming off of an injury as well, and if you add that together with his age, he is no sure thing. If these scenarios play out in such a way, Niese may come out smelling like a rose.

The kid has talent. Nobody is saying otherwise, but whether or not he is this team’s starter at the beginning of the season, Jonathan Niese will be in Citifield at some point, and you can bet the farm on that.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Freddy Garcia is worrying people at Mets camp, and it seems justified based on what I have been hearing. According to various sources, Garcia’s fastball has been sub par to say the least. His changeup has been good, but you need an effective fastball to be a success at the major league level. Right now, I would have to say Tim Redding most likely is going to be the fifth starter when the season starts.

I was rooting for Garcia, but his comment which pretty much insinuated a “my way or the highway” philosophy made me think otherwise. Garcia should be acting like he is a man on a mission to prove his worth, but instead, he has let his ego take over. He can run his mouth all that he wants, but the real test is when he steps on the mound and faces live batters.

Redding, on the other hand, has done nothing but stay healthy during his major league career. The Mets need people that will be stable, and Redding has the making to be that guy. The concern with him has always been the home run ball, but Citifield’s large dimensions may play in his favor.

It should be an interesting battle to watch, but my money is definitely on Redding. Can Garcia prove me wrong? We will just have to wait and find out.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Jerry Manuel announced today that veteran Livan Hernandez has been brought aboard on a minor league contract. Hernandez has a chance to earn up to $1 million if he is added to the major league roster at any point. Hernandez is coming off of an interesting 2008 campaign. He went 13-10 with a 6.05 ERA.

This isn’t exactly a monumental signing, and I hope Hernandez never gets the chance to take the hill for the Mets. I know that the Mets think Jonathon Niese needs seasoning, so it looks like Hernandez will be the third option for the fifth starters role. Could this be the beginning of a controversy? I sure hope not.

Freddy Garcia and Tim Redding both came out and said that they expect to be the team’s number five starter. Garcia even went as far as to say that if the Mets don’t want him to start, he’d start somewhere else. Redding was persistent with making his point as well, and Hernandez’s addition doesn’t help things any.

I like the concept of competition, but I hope the situation doesn’t get ugly. No matter who wins the fifth starter competition, two men are going to be unhappy. My money’s on Garcia. We’ll see.

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.

BY MIKE BARRETT
STACHE WRITER

Now that Omar has landed his prize free agent pitcher in Oliver Perez, he should by no means be content with what he has done this off season. There is still work to be done. The following two moves easily put the Mets as the favorite to be the top contender in the National League this year.

1. Sign Ben Sheets for 2 year contract

This move makes a tone of sense for the Mets. Yes you can say that Sheets is injury prone and there are questions surrounding his shoulder and elbow this off season, but his upside is totally worth it. If Sheets is what he was last year, the Mets will have one of, if not the, best 1-2 punches in the National League with the Diamondbacks duo of Haren/Webb and the Cubs Zambrano/Harden as their main competition. And what if Sheets does need to miss time with an injury? That is why Mets have Tim Redding, Freddy Garcia, and John Neise. Depth in pitching is a sure fired way to win ballgames and by signing Sheets, the Mets would have that luxury.

2. Sign Manny Ramirez to a 2 year contract with a club option for a third year.

This is the move that needs to happen. Manny Ramirez is the best hitter on the market and what the Mets need the most. It gives protection in the lineup, a clutch hitter, and a club house presence that takes the pressure of David Wright and Jose Reyes. And perhaps what Manny does bring is insurance. The Mets best power hitter is currently Carlos Delgado and there is no guarantee that he will be the Delgado of last season. Also it is Delgado’s last year under contract and presumably the Mets are planning n moving Daniel Murphy to first base. How does that affect Manny and the Mets? Well next years best free agent hitter is Matt Holliday who will be looking for a long term deal. This doesn’t fit the Mets because Holliday is a left fielder and in 3 years, that sport will likely belong to the Mets crown jewel, Fernando Martinez. So what Manny does give is the power hitter to hold down left field until F-Mart is ready, insurance for when Delgado likely leaves, and having the best right handed hitter in baseball isn’t a bad ting either.

So there you have it. Two moves that make the most sense for the Mets and make them arguably the top team in the NL. Hopefully, they come true because I sure can’t take another collapse in September due to lack of pitching and hitters that freeze when the pressure is on.