Over the Next 11 Days I will be alway from the Computer and unable to update this site. There is a chance I might be able to update this site before the 25th, but its unlikely. Anyway, when I return on the 25th, regular posting will begin as we count down to Spring Training (and to the 2 year Anniversary of the Site!)
29 Days Till Pitchers and Catchers Report!
When the MLB Network launched, the only games they were set to air for the upcoming season was 16 World Baseball Classic Games and then 26 Major League Games during the season. However, they decided to add some more games to the list and its a good thing. They will now be airing the Caribbean Series that will be played in February. This is great news because many fans, my self included, didn't understand why the MLBN was not showing winter games right now because it just made sense. They are a 24 hour baseball channel, we are baseball fans wanting to see more baseball.
Also, the Carribean Series is a great way to see current Major Leaguers play with players of the past and players of the future for country pride. Everyday for the last week or so I have been updating Mets fans here about current, former, and future Mets in the Winter Leagues. If the MLBN keeps up these games, and adds more games into their schedule, I might never watch another channel.
For a second straight day, Mets pitching takes the spotlight in the Winter League Action report and this time it is because of minor league starter Tobi Stoner. Besides that, there wasn't much to write home about last night as the pretty much all but one of the hitters had bad nights at the plate. Here are the stats with the team name first followed by the players name and then the stat line:
Lara- Alfonzo 1-4
Arecibo- J Feliciano 1-5, BB
Arecibo- Casanova 2-4, R, RBI, BB
Santurce- Valentine 1-4, RBI, BB
Ponce- Feliciano .1 IP, K
Mayaquez- Stoner 7.0 IP, 5 H, BB, 4 K
Aguilas- F Pena 0-3
Aguilas- Diaz 0-3
Licey- A Hernandez 1-5, R
How good was Stoner? So far in the playoffs he has allowed no earned runs and is pitching very well. His WHIP was under one in this outing! Stoner should have picked up the win, but the bullpen blew the game behind him. Feliciano had a perfect outing as well, he saw one batter, and struck him out. Thats pretty efficient. On the hitters side, only Casanova had a good night with another multiple hit and RBI night. Valetine's night wasn't bad either. Looking back on the list though, for the hitters, only J Feliciano and F Pena are actually in the Mets system right now, so their nights are the only ones that matter (outside of both Pitchers who are both in the Mets System of teams).
The Brooklyn Cyclones have done it again, they announced today that on June 23rd, they will be changing their name for the day to the Baracklyn Cyclones and its just the beginning of a ton of events on that day. First off, ticket prices will go back to the 2001 season for that game (and the first series of the season). They will be giving away an Obama bobble head and the team will be wearing their new jerseys with their new name on them:
In addition, they will have universal health care that night with the first 1000 fans getting band-aids. If your name is Barack, you will get in for free. If you are a plumber named Joe, then you get a free ticket for yourself and one for your friend so you can spread the wealth. If you are a McCain or Palin, you can a free ticket to the bleacher seats. They are also advertising their clear cut exit strategy which is American Flags and Coupons on your way out of the ballpark.
Last year was the first year in 5 years that I didn't make it to a game in Brooklyn, and I know I will miss this game, which makes me sad. If you can go to this game, just do it. Games in Brooklyn are amazing and this sounds like one of the most involved promotions I have seen in a long time. I love how the minors can do this and I really look foward to photographs of the night. Please visit the official site of the Baracklyn Cyclones to see a great youtube video to promote this event, it is very funny and very Brooklyn Cyclones.
We have all seen the terrible patch that the Mets front office produced for Citi Field. The Yankees have released their new stadium patch, which looks nice. The Padres have a patch out because it is their 40th anniversary of the creation of the team. When it comes to the Yankee patch, it just looks classy, once again the Yankees did a nice job, which tends to boil my blood at bit. The Padres patch is nice because its simple, but not simple like the Citi patch which makes it look terrible. Both images are from Patch Collectibles, a great online shop to get you baseball patches (or at least look at them).
The New Yankee Stadium Patch
Padres 40th Anniversary Patch
Last night was another great night for Mets Relievers Rincon and Krod as they both had good outings again. I also found another Mets prospect who has been struggling in the minors, and struggling in the winter league playoffs. I am talking of course about Francisco Pena, the young catcher the Mets signed when he was barely 16. Here are the stats from last night with the team name first, then player name, followed by the stats line:
Licey- Anderson Hernandez 2-5, 2 R, 2B
Aguilas- F Pena 0-4
Aguilas- V Diaz 0-2, BB
Caracas- Fmart 0-3, BB
Lara- Alfonzo 3-4, 2B
Lara- Rincon .1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, Win
La Guaira- Chavez 1-2, R, 2 BB
La Guaira- Krod 1.1 IP, 0 ER, H, BB, 3 K, Save (3)
Mochis- Carillo Jr. .2 IP, H, K, 0 ER
First off, I introduced another Mets farm pitcher into this segment, Carillo Jr. who also had a good night last night allowing one hit in two thirds of an inning and no runs. The Best performance of the night though goes to Krod who once again had a four out save where he struck out three batters this time. I can't wait to watch him do that in a Mets uniform. Great hitting performances goes to Alfonzo who went 3-4 with a double. Too bad he is not playing again the majors.
Yesterday, Henderson and Rice got elected to the hall of fame. Henderson got 95% of the vote and it was his first time on the ballot. Rice got in by 7 votes and it was his final time on the ballot. Henderson completley deserves to get into the hall. His record for stolen bases will probably never fall and his record for runs will take a long time to fall, if it ever does. Rice is not so clear. The reason he should be in the hall is he really was a feared hitter in his time. What was holding him back? He only had 385 HR, which some say the Green Monster probably prevented him from 50 more homers, but probably added a lot of points to his BA, so its a give and take situation. I personally feel Rice should be in the hall, however, according to my next statement, he shouldn't be in the hall.
What makes the Baseball Hall of Fame better than other sports is that it only puts in worthy players. All other Halls have to have a minimum amount of players going in. For Baseball, there was a year when no one got in because no one deserved to get into the hall of fame. That being said, I think they should get a bit more selective. There is already a 5 year waiting period to get into the hall, so that means, besides the Veteran Committee, voters have 20 years to think if someone should go in or not. I really think that a player should only be able to stay on the ballot for 5 years. That is 10 years to decide whether a player should go in or not, and that is more than enough. Furthermore, with the creation of the Veteran Committee, if a player should have gone in that period and didn't, that player gets a second chance (that would also give more use to the Veteran Committee).
The Last several days in the Winter League Action articles, I have been reporting the boxscores of Victor Mendez, and outfielder in the Mets system. Who is Victor Mendez? Mendez will be 29 years old next year and he has been bouncing around the Minors since 2002 (seven seasons). He was signed by Detroit and then the Mets got him in 2007. Since 2007, Mendez has been playing in three levels for the Mets. They started him off in the Rookie League (Gulf Coast Mets), then moved him to low A with the St. Lucie Mets, and for the last chunck of last season, moved him to AAA. Its unsual that when the Mets got him, the put him in the Gulf Coast League, because he was in the minors for a while to that point. He does well in the lower levels, but then struggles at higher levels, which will cause problems if he ever wants to move up to the majors. Here are some stat lines:
MiLB Carear- 601 Games, 2025 AB, 509 H, .251 BA, 97 2B, 32 3B, 51 HR, 270 RBI
2008-St Lucie- 34 G, 113 AB, 19 R, 32 H, .283 BA, 9 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI
2008- N.O.- 51 G, 105 AB, 10 R, 25 H, .238 BA, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI
With Mendez, there isn't that much to write home about. If his contact was up, then his power numbers would look better, and there would be talk about Mendez being a utility man. The problem is his contact isn't up. According The Baseball Cube, they give him a 71 for Power, 71 for Speed, 31 for Contact, and 54 for Patience (all scores out of 100). As much as I want to like Mendez, I just don't see him moving up unless he really starts to hit AAA pitching well this year, then he could be moved up for bench injuries. If he continues to hit Winter pitching well, then there could be hope. I will continue to include him in the Winter League Action reports and to see how he does.
All four leagues were in action last night and many Mets were playing. Two Feliciano's for the Mets had good games as Pedro pitched another great inning and Jesus, and outfielder in the Mets farm system, went 1-5, but that 1 hit was a huge double that brought in three runs and brought Arecibo back in the game. Here are stats from last night, first word is the team name, followed by the player name and then the stats from last night:
Gigantes- Diaz 1-3, R
Gigantes- Mendez 2-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Licey- A Hernandez 1-3, BB
Lara- Alfonzo 0-2, BB
Caracas- Fmart 1-4
Ponce- P Feliciano 1.0 IP, H, BB, 2 K, Win
Arecibo- J Feliciano 1-5, 2B, 3 RBI
Arecibo- Casanova 1-3, R, HR, RBI, 2 BB
Casanova had another good game following yesterday, which supports his streaky nature. I have been very impressed with Feliciano this witner, he is really doing a good job out of the pen. Mendez in another farm player who has been putting together a nice winter season so far, maybe later this week I will take a look into Mendez and his skill sets. I can tell you right now he is a centerfielder.
Over at Metsblog, Matt Cerrone reveals the Mets Citi Field patch, which can be found at Patch Collectibles. As
I am sure many of you will feel once seeing the logo, it is not very
impressive. It says nothing about Citi, and nothing about the Mets.
Here you go:If you go the Mets shop and look at the authentic jerseys
for the 2009 season, the logo is tilted in a way that the words
“Inaugural Season” appear straight. It should seem familiar because
this tilted style logo was plastered all around the fence surronding
Citi last year. Patch Collectibles also has patches for other teams
this year, including the Yankees new patch, which, well, looks nice.
The Patch is pictured Below: