Catalanotto can play multiple position without being a complete failure on offense

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

When I heard Frank Catalanotto had signed a minor league deal with the Mets, my first reaction was “So why are we wasting a roster spot on Gary Matthews Jr. again?” Not only can Catalanotto play both corner outfielder spots, but first, second and third base as well. His career .358 on-base percentage will make him welcome in the lineup no matter where he’s needed in the field. The only advantage of having Matthews Jr. on the team is his ability to play center field. That still doesn’t make his acquisition any less ridiculous since there are still other guys out there who can play center field, who don’t hit, and who also don’t cost over a million bucks and a relief pitcher to acquire. Oy.

Back to Catalanotto. Even if he doesn’t make the big league squad because the Mets are afraid to admit they screwed up with Matthews Jr., he will be part of a reloaded Buffalo squad that might actually win some games this year. At least if everyone gets hurt again, the Mets will have a AAA squad with guys like Mike Hessman, Catalanotto and Mike Cervanek, who are all better suited for major league action than last year’s replacements. Lastly, Catalanotto is a scrappy Italian local boy from Long Island. Commence fist pumping.

Josh Fogg has been brought on to join this mockery. Print your World Series tickets now! (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY ANDREW CAVAGNARO
STACHE WRITER

Don’t Fred and Jeff Wilpon get tired of being ridiculed by every walking member of the baseball world? Don’t they realize that when they make the back pages for ineffectiveness that it’s not a good thing?

The acquisitions of Josh Fogg, Fernando Tatis, and their pursuit of John Smoltz make this off season even more comical. Tatis again, give me a break! He is 35 years-old and a double-play machine. Can someone please change the roster a little bit? I don’t even really need to comment on Josh Fogg because most fans didn’t even realize he was a living human being. John Smoltz haha. Can they find an older pitcher to place on the roster?
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Would you bet on 2007 Ollie showing up?

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

I usually try to stay calm about the Mets, but the recently released PECOTA projections have me a bit flustered. PECOTA is the name of Baseball Prospectus’ super accurate projection system. It’s perhaps the best in the business at telling baseball fans what is going to happen in the future. Today I saw the PECOTA projections of the 2010 MLB standings and it was not pretty. The Mets are predicted to win 77 games this year, and I’m not sure the recent and unaccounted for acquisition of Josh Fogg is going to help very much.

Why just 77? The problem is likely the starting rotation based on PECOTA’s educated guess that the only three National League teams will allow more runs than the Mets. Perhaps Omar Minaya should have done something instead of letting free agent pitcher after pitcher sign with another club. Instead it appears that Omar is wishing for the 2008 version of Pelfrey and the 2007 version of Oliver Perez to show up and carry the Mets to the pennant. Maybe 1986 Keith Hernandez can play first base.
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Josh Fogg has signed a Minor League Contract with the Mets, thus ending the Free Agent drought in January.

Much has been said about Minaya’s lack of Free Agent signings, but he has been vocal that he does have signing authority from the Wilpons, and that they are content with who they have entering Opening Day with some minor changes.

Could Mike Pelfrey's days as a Mets starter be over?. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

Fogg will likely be  headed to the Mets bullpen, but could possibly be auditioning for a starting role should Mike Pelfrey or John Maine not be up to task.

Wang pitched like an ace before his foot and shoulder injuries

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

As we get closer and closer to spring training, the Mets continue to be stuck with the same rotation that they ended last season with. It’s no surprise that after failing to sign Joel Pineiro or Ben Sheets, two pitchers it appears the Mets could have had if they tried a little harder, things are getting a little desperate.

If they Mets do indeed decide to add a free agent to their staff, I still think Jarrod Washburn is the best option available now that my previous favorites are off the board. However, lately I’ve been reading about the Mets’ interest in John Smoltz and Chien-Ming Wang, two guys who last pitched full seasons in 2007. Since that year, when Smoltz and Wang had FIPs of 3.21 and 3.79 respectively while both pitched around 200 innings, the two have taken quite a fall from grace.
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Ryan Garko could be a nice option as Daniel Murphy's platoon partner. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

The Mets roster is starting to take form, and understandably, people are worried about first base. Daniel Murphy is young and inexperienced, and Carlos Delgado has been moving about as much as a lawn gnome does. So the question remains. Why haven’t the Mets signed Ryan Garko yet?

It’s not like there is a plethora of options on the market to be a right handed bat and platoon player for first base. Garko fits the bill perfectly. He rakes against left handed pitching, and he could be the late inning option off of the bench that we have been missing.
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We need 2007 Ollie not 2009 Ollie.

BY ANTHONY LAFAMAN
STACHE WRITER

It’s obvious the Mets 2010 plan is to make pretend 2009 didn’t happen and to hope the injured return to form. Plainly obvious in fact. The addition of Jason Bay notwithstanding the Mets did nothing to improve the 2009 roster. In fact, some would say it is slightly worse. But I’m not going to focus on that. Like coaches and managers say all the time, I am only going to worry about my guys that are here. So today, I take a extra long look at Oliver Perez.

Today’s NY TIMES article about Ollie made me start to think. I wonder if Oliver Perez will actually meet expectations this year?
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The Mets are causing people to lose their hair.

BY ANTHONY LAFAMAN
STACHE WRITER

Sheets gone. I’m not really sure why the Mets couldn’t pony up the 7-10MM for Sheets. If healthy, pitching behind Johan Santana, would have been a formidable 1-2 punch. One that would rival other great 1-2 punches within the league. But alas, Omar is more concerned with keeping tabs on a broken down Carlos Delgado and a 43 year old ex Brave who for years slaughtered the Mets. I swear to God if they sign John Smoltz I’m gonna punch myself in the face until I break something.

End Rant.

With the end of the Jets' season comes the beginning for the Mets. Are you ready?

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

That was tough. I have waited since 2000 to see a team I root for compete like the Jets did this season, and I am damn proud of what they accomplished. Although they fought as hard as they could, they were not the better team, and that’s why they lost.

You know what that means for now right? The Rangers are on a downward spiral. The Knicks are a joke. Oh no. That means it could be time to dedicate my sole attention to the New York Metropolitans.

I know it could be worse. Kevin McClure, who actually is one of my managers at work, is a dye hard Pirates’ fan. It must be hard to see your team start their season without a liver of a chance.
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Does Michael Kay have a legitimate point for once?

BY ANDREW CAVAGNARO
STACHE WRITER

Today on my ride home I was listening to a voice most Mets fans have come to despise and loathe. Yes, I was listening to Michael Kay.

I used to cringe at the mere sound of his pompous Yankee voice, however, after getting a daily dose of Mike Francessa and his garbage Kay seems like the better of two evils. This afternoon Kay brought up a few points that are very telling of the chaos that has continued to ensue in the Mets’ front office.

He discussed how Willie Randolph’s team collapsed in 2007, then was sluggish to begin 2008 the season. Then he compared it to Jerry Manuel who collapsed down the stretch to conclude 2008, only to captain a team to its demise in 2009. The point and main difference was that Randolph lost his job, while Manuel kept his.
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