As the 2018 ST season gets underway, there is some uncertainty about who will be the Mets’ leadoff batter this year. Recently, in the New York Post, sports writer Mike Puma suggested that the club could consider third baseman Todd Frazier to fill that spot in the lineup. Frazier is a power hitter (27 HR [...]
Roessler may not be as visible as Kevin Long but hopefully he can replicate some of Long's work with transforming swings.
Top prospect lists are not an easy thing to compile and they are an even harder thing to get right. I've done these for the past few years and while they provide interesting discourse, they are more often breeding grounds for second guessing oneself. Should I have ranked so-and-so higher? Should I have ranked you-know-who [...]
When the Mets signed Jay Bruce this offseason to a 3/$39 deal, the reaction was very positive. Everyone was glad to see the Mets sign a name free agent and most thought the terms were either fair or a win for the club. Certainly, I was aligned with the majority. But given how the rest [...]
Late last night, the Padres signed Eric Hosmer to an 8/$144 contract, which only makes the 2/$17 deal the Mets inked Todd Frazier to look even better. And it looked pretty good the day that it was signed, too. Frazier brings the power that GM Sandy Alderson likes, the OBP that he allegedly likes and [...]
This is a well-written article that doesn't always hit the mark for me but one that I think many of you will endorse completely. But there is, in all this, the sense that no one involved is quite telling the entire truth. General Manager Sandy Alderson often seems to be sending coded messages of despair [...]
You can call him thrifty. You can call him a bargain hunter. You can call him every mean name under the sun, if you choose to do so. But one thing you absolutely can’t call Sandy Alderson is trigger shy. Several times this offseason, Alderson has pulled the trigger on several free agent signings. Were [...]
Headlined by the best player of a generation, the 2009 draft has emerged as one of the best draft classes in the 21st century. One of the most recognized faces in baseball today, Mike Trout already is a two-time MVP and five-time Silver Slugger. In six full seasons in the majors, Trout has finished no [...]
John Sickels' list of prospects
The Mets continued to be one of the most active teams in free agency, signing pitcher Jason Vargas to a two-year, $16 million deal. The signing reunites Vargas with Dave Eiland, who was his pitching coach last year with the Royals. In 2017, Vargas threw 179.2 IP and had a 4.16 ERA and a 1.330 [...]
Two years ago, every Mets fan, including this one, okay, especially this one, was geeked up about the notion of a superstar, superhero rotation that could rival the 70s Orioles, the 80s Mets, the 90s Braves and quite possibly the X-Men and the Avengers too. Two years ago we rode four electric young arms all [...]
It’s finally here. Spring training is officially on, as pitchers and catchers had all reported by Monday’s mandatory date. Coincidentally, maybe, the New York area has emerged from its winter-long deep freeze to have a relatively warm week. So spring – actual spring -- is definitely visible on the horizon, even without squinting. And not [...]