Hot Foot Blog - Latest Comments

Re: An Outside The (X)Box Offseason Plan

jraw12 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:09:37 -0000

IF Delgado is willing to sign a base salary of 4-5 million with a ton of incentives then I am all for bringing him in for one more season. It's worth a gamble and it lets Murphy learn more.

Catching wise, why not sign a guy like Greg Zaun... a switch hitter who has always been a solid major leaguer? He'd be inexpensive. Probably 2-3 million for the year. Pudge probably would not cost more if at all.

So that's say, 8 million out of a 40 million dollar budget we'd have to spend.

Trade Castillo for two mid level minor leaguers and sign Figgins for 2B at around the 10 he's looking for. So now we've spent 18 of 40. Keeping up with where I'm going still?

Make a trade for the now unhappy Carl Crawford AND SIGN HIM TO AN EXTENSION. We'd have him for 10 million this season so we'd have spent 28 out of 40. My propsed trade for Crawford would be Niese, Fernando Martinez, Ruben Tejada and two mid-low level propects.

Sign either Harden/Wolf as well as either Garland/Piniero/Marquis. Between the two pitchers you sign, you're looking at 18 million about. That brings you to 46. 6 million over what you intended to spend.

HOWEVER... since you have traded Castillo, you save a few, so that knocks your number down. If you can manage to trade Oliver Perez (maybe package in Pagan to make it interesting) for two low level prospects, then you save a few more million which would in the end bring you UNDER the 40 million we lost off the books from last season.

Now the only thing left to do is sign two relief pitchers (which will cost you between 5-10 million for the two depending on who you sign) and one or two bench players and then you really have a set roster.

The options of the two spots to spend on you can throw between Chad Bradford, Darren Oliver, Octavio Dotel, Joe Beimel, Kiko Calero. 5 very talented and very helpful relievers for our needs.

For the bench, after trading Pagan, we need a true 4th outfielder and a super sub type of player. For the 4th OF, I suggest bringing back Endy Chavez. He is familiar with us, we love him and he works. As for the super sub goes, I'm really not sure.

So my entire 25 man roster for opening day would be this...

C- Zaun or Pudge
1B- Delgado
2B- Figgins
SS- Reyes
3B- Wright
RF- Francoeur
CF- Beltran
LF- Crawford
BN- Santos (C)
BN- Murphy (1B)
BN- AHern (2B/SS)
BN- Endy Chavez (OF)
BN- Super Sub (can play almost anywhere obviously)

SP- Santana
SP- Harden/Wolf
SP- Pelfrey
SP- Garland/Piniero/Marquis
SP- Maine
RP- One of the names I mentioned
RP- One of the names I mentioned
RP- Stokes
RP- Feliciano
RP- Green
SU- Parnell
CL- KRod

My untouchable propects that I would not trade for anything- Ike Davis, Wilmer Flores, Brad Holt, Jenrry Mejia. That's it. Everyone else, I'd consider in the right trade.

So yes, you do add a little bit of payroll from last year, but you're talking about no more than maybe a 10 million dollar increase while filling EVERY single hole we have. The team above is a complete renovation while keeping the core together, and playing to the strengths of our ballpark as well as making the team very versatile and fortifying our pitching.

I'd love to hear the opinions of anyone else about the team I listed and the moves I proposed to make in order for this team to be put together. I feel it's all very realistic and doable if we get creative.

Re: An Outside The (X)Box Offseason Plan

philnyc — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:32:24 -0000

Here’s my 2010 Plan
Trade Fernando Martinez, Pelfrey And Jonathon Niese for Ryan Braun.
Trade Daniel Murphy (to play 3rd his natural position, Tejada, Meiji and Holt for Roy Halladay
Trade Luis Castillo and $$ for Kelly Shppoach
Sign Marquis or Erik Bedard
Sign Figgins or Orlando Hudon (which ever is cheaper)
Sign Delgado as a 1 year bridge to Ike Davis
2010 li e up:
ss Reyes
2b Figgins
3b Wright
CF Beltran
LF Braun
!b Delgado (Ike Davis in 2011)
RF Franceour
C Shoppach

Rotation
Sanatan
Halladay
Marquis / Bedard
Maine
Perez

Bench
Santos
Pagan
Tatis
Cora
A. Hernandez

Bullpen
K Rod
Parnell
Misch
Feliciano
Figueroa
Sign Chad Bradford

This locks up every postion for at least 2 years, Spend that time rebuilding the minors
You still have Flores, Davis, Thole, Evans in minors

Re: Please, No Cameron Redux

same23 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:41:05 -0000

The NY Mets will come back next season, once they recruit some decent players.

Re: My Very Worst Nightmare Has Come True

facebook-1017193285 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:12:46 -0000

Gotta go with the Phillies. They're my league, my division, hell, I can get to Citizen's Bank (and park!) easier than the Bronx, and the food's MUCH better. Plus they play real, nine-man baseball. The only Yankee I ever rooted for was Roger Maris, because I knew it would piss off Babe Ruth fans!

Re: Top Ten Worst MLB Announcers Today

Greg — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:04:31 -0000

This is the most retarded list of MLB announcers I've ever seen.

Re: My Very Worst Nightmare Has Come True

Eddie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:08:40 -0000

I am with you...I root for the skankees. Braves fans here in the ATL cannot believe I am rooting for the Yankees over the phaggies. I tell them the Yankees are the lesser baseball evil and we do not compete with them. We do not need these phaggies holding another WS title over our heads again. Plus I have always been NY sports fan. So Go Yanks Skanks!

Re: My Very Worst Nightmare Has Come True

originalmet — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:26:35 -0000

Easy call. The Yankees are a fact of life, a team that will continue to win WS as far as the eye can see. I have lived with this, and will continue to. After all, what is the difference, really between 26 and 27 WS titles? But the spectre of the Phillies winning back-to-back WS borders on the unbearable. I'm so committed to them losing that I'm even willing to do the unthinkable and wear a Yankees cap this week.

Re: My Very Worst Nightmare Has Come True

danthemanmurphy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:09:02 -0000

I have to agree. I absolutely do not want to see the Phillies win again. I would rather endure Yankee fan celebrations now than have to hear "consecutive World Series champion Phillies" all next season... even though it means I will have to read 100's of facebook status updates that read YANKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESS!!!!!! or AROOOODDDDDDDDD!!!!!! which seem to be the only things Yankee fans know how to type. That being said, I don't think I can handle watching any of these games, or being in areas with high concentrations of Yankee fans during the games. Bars during the ALCS Yankee wins were obnoxious enough for me. How many days until next season?

Re: My Very Worst Nightmare Has Come True

srt — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:47:37 -0000

I agree with your mindset completely. Can't root for either team so I'll be rooting against the Phils.
Yankees in 4 with Philly play in all 4 games looking like the Angels just did. No offense, poor pitching, errors, mental mistakes.
Phils think they've got a dynasty in the making. Let the Yankees show them how wrong they are.

Re: Lo Duca’s Stationary

swingtrading2 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:42:40 -0000

Interesting post. I have stumbled and twittered this for my friends. Hope others find it as interesting as I did.

Re: Go for Aroldis

fromero715 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:03:41 -0000

If you are looking for immediate help in 2010, Chapman isnt it. I dont have them in front of me, but take a look at his WBC stats. 102MPH fastball is meaning less if a) you cant command it and b)you dont have decent secondary pitches which you can also command. This kid definitely needs a year or two in the minors. I mean, HOW many pitchers/prospects do the Mets have currently who can throw a fastball in the mid 90s, but have terrible command of secondary pitches? (See Mejia, Pelfrey, Parnell, etc.)

Re: Go for Aroldis

Name — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:23:29 -0000

Chapman doesn't have stuff to be a #2 starter right now. Hes going to need development time in the minors.

Re: Somewhere Eric Valent is Bumming

facebook-100000227367371 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:47:39 -0000

hey i no your bro he's my teacher

Re: Don’t Move Home!

Joe — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:34:49 -0000

Their lack of run production on the road could still be cause by Citi Field indirectly. The way I come to this conclusion is looking at what type of team the mets were in 2009. No power, but lots of extra base hits. Extra base hits came from hitting in the gaps, which are large in Citi, and smaller in other parks. So where in Citi a less than well hit ball into the gap would be a double or triple, in a park like Citizens Bank Park the same ball has a higher chance of being caught for an out.

I'm not sure bringing the plates in will yield a better result on the road, but perhaps a different game plan as far as hitting is concerned? For example, what I liked about Francouer when he came to New York is that when a pitcher made a mistake, like hanging a breaking ball, he would make the pitcher pay for it. In the same situation, David Wright would swing and foul it off.

Re: Don’t Move Home!

cuborican — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:30:35 -0000

I would not mind seeing the fences lower to where there is the potential to steal a homerun. If we are going to build a team on speed, then give Beltran, Francour, Pagan, and any future OF a chance to take a homerun away.

Re: Don’t Move Home!

Jeff — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:25:35 -0000

I would love to move the visitors bullpen into the well in front of the Mo Zone, with a low Fenway like bullpen wall. It would add a few more homeruns, and the possibility of some great catches in friont of the fence. It would put the visitors in a more visible location and give the possibility of adding a few more seats over the existing visitor bullpen location.

Re: Mets To Do List

Ceetar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:33:54 -0000

I think I like Holliday over Bay, but I agree that that position, and type of player, has to be the priority.

Wright and Beltran each hit 25 home runs, Murphy probably 20. That's 70. Reyes will probably (Assuming healthy) hit 10. Francoeur/Pagan/RF can get 15 or so. That's almost 100. Add in 30 from LF and suddenly you've got plenty of power.

I don't like Lackey. I think he will require too much commitment, and isn't quite that good. He also _has_ had injury issues. There are other guys other there, guys like Wolf maybe, Justin Duchscherer maybe, Josh Fogg? Pineiro? Kris Benson? (joking) This is a judgement call on how much they think Pelfrey will improve. See who is a better fit with Warthen maybe.

They also do need to get two catchers. None of them are very good. I don't want Bengie on the same team as Francoeur. Jose Molina might make a good backup.

I don't know that you can trust Francoeur not to revert to sucking next year.

Re: Uni Watch!

facebook-503357744 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:46:44 -0000

Mets should wear the retro 86 pinstripe uniforms at every home game and the NEW YORK grays at every road game. They should have two uniforms, and that is all. They should also remove names from the back of the uniform.

I'm a big believer in tradition and the Mets need to start one when it comes to their uniform.

Re: Pinching Pennies: Bench

stillafan — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:26:39 -0000

$1.5 million may not be the difference on an entire contract for Holliday, Bay, Lackey, whoever, but $1.5 million annually might be.

Re: Uni Watch!

brasky — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:15:30 -0000

The pinstripes are the best look they have. Terrible decision to get rid of them. Cream color? No thanks. I too wish they'd get rid of the black. Luckily next year that patch can return to Dominos.

I'm also a fan of no names on the back of jerseys. It's a classic look and if anything, this team needs to be only focused on the name on the front of the jersey next year. They've got a lot of ground to make up.

Re: Pinching Pennies: Bench

Ceetar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:11:49 -0000

The 1.5 (or less) million that they give to Cora is hardly the difference between being able to sign Holliday/Bay.

Cora is a better player than Valdez and Anderson Hernandez, and he's got a better attitude. Valdez isn't much younger, hits less, and may be a bit better at SS. Hernandez has been pretty bad defensively (although everyone is under Manuel) and while he hits more than Valdez, not much.
And those guys are playing healthy, Cora was't.
And we're talking about ~15 games, max.
Cora seems a good guy, and I wouldn't even hesitate at taking him over those two. However, there is probably a better option out there as well. Bench depth (again, with a better manager because Manuel is clueless and loses guys in the bench anyway), is something the Mets have failed at the last couple of years.

Santos is bad. but if he's serious about working hard in the offseason on defense and everything, maybe he's a worthwhile backup. Seems to silly to buy high off his career year (which wasn't even very good). Same goes for Francoeur. Let's not assume that the 2 months with the Mets is the norm, and his entire career is the aberration. I'd be bad to assume he's not going to revert to the below average major leaguer that he is.

Re: Friends of the Foot: Counting Down to Next Season Edition

balderooski — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:35:44 -0000

You losers never had a chance! Go Phillies!!!

Re: Friends of the Foot: West Coast Edition

JoseRKnorn — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:02:48 -0000

A piece of clothing with a flimsy zipper and snaps that easily come carhartt coats undone is useless regardless of how well the garment is stitched or how strong the fabric is.

Re: Hot Foot Facebook Group

swingtrading — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:27:32 -0000

Interesting post. I have made a twitter post about this. My friends will enjoy reading it also.

Re: Friends of the Foot: Counting Down to Next Season Edition

danthemanmurphy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:43:39 -0000

There is not enough booze in the world to make this team watchable anymore.