Mets Central, Only Worse

• Mirror images:

In watching the Cleveland Indians and how atrocious they are, I've been speculating that they would be willing to listen to offers for would-be superstar and object of stat zombie lust, Grady Sizemore. But I made the speculation blissfully unaware of how serious Sizemore's knee problems are.

According to the following clip from Hardball Talk, it ain't sounding good:

We haven't heard much about Grady Sizemore since he was placed on the disabled list last week and Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com wonders out loud where this situation is headed.

I'm not a doctor and don't play one on TV. I am not medically qualified to know about treatment options for a "deep knee bone bruise." But I do know that Grady Sizemore is seeing not one but two specialists this week (in Vail, Colo., and New York City) for second and third opinions on how to treat his condition. Clearly, this is not your standard bruise. Surgery remains a possibility. We should know more later in the week.

Similar to Castrovince, I do not claim to be a doctor, but as a Mets fan, this sounds all too familiar to the Carlos Beltran situation. Just sayin.

Unlike many of the remaining big contracts on the Indians roster (Travis Hafner and Kerry Wood), Sizemore was very, very movable and would've brought back a lot in terms of young talent. Personally, I've always thought Sizemore was a bit overrated because he was adored in stat zombie circles as one of the "best" players in baseball; I can't put Grady Sizemore into a category with Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer; but he did put up big extra base numbers; very good defense; speed; and pop all in a marketable package of humility; plus he signed a team-friendly contract extension that pays him $5.6 million for 2010; $7.5 million in 2011; and an $8.5 million club option for 2012 with a $500,000 buyout.

He was a high-ceiling, inexpensive player who put up big numbers from 2006-2008 until the injuries hit him last year in the Indians disastrous 2009 campaign. Now, it's not sounding as if he's even going to be on the field anytime soon making the burgeoning horror of the Indians 2010 season reach critical mass.

I don't know who in their right mind could've looked at this Indians roster and thought they'd contend. The one thing that shouldn't have been the issue though was the lineup if they were healthy; they should've scored enough runs to be reasonably competitive; it's the pitching that was the clear preseason problem...which is only leading into my point.

The Indians pitching over the first two months of the season has been quite respectable and they're still 16-27 and sinking like an anchor. So, what's going to happen when a team that can't score; has former star bats inhabiting the disabled list because of recurring and none-too-treatable, short-term injuries; and a suspect pitching staff that's bound the fall back to earth?

It's not good.

Let's just say that Fausto Carmona continues his resurgence; then what? Is pleasant surprise Mitch Talbot going to keep pitching as well as he has? Jake Westbrook has been serviceable in his return from Tommy John surgery and could bring back a moderate prospect or two via trade for the impending free agent. (Westbrook to the Mets or Phillies isn't a bad idea.)

Then what? The rest of the rotation is struggling; Justin Masterson belongs in the bullpen; Kerry Wood is a train wreck as the closer; and Rafael Perez is routinely getting hammered. Where's the contender that some saw before the season?

Here's the gist: because the Indians have a GM in Mark Shapiro who's well-versed in numbers and has the courage to make aggressive trades and has to deal with payroll constraints, he's given a pass for the awful team he's put together.

I'm no Mets apologist, but is why Mets GM Omar Minaya the regular subject of roasting? How is overt disrespect doled out on the organization by "experts" with impunity? (Most recently by Tim McCarver and Joe Buck on Saturday night----I'm wondering if anyone let them know that they're being watched for said breach of etiquette for broadcasters.)

Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes is under similar attacks for the way his club has struggled and that his moves have failed.

Why does Shapiro get a pass?

The Indians are awful; poorly constructed and dismal, but no one pays any attention to them or savages Shapiro because he's one of "them" and had a viable statistical reason and monetary excuse for the collapse of the club from being one game away from a World Series in 2007 to the monstrosity they currently are.

With Sizemore's injury sounding like a mirror image of Carlos Beltran's, and the Indians in far worse shape than the Mets, where's the criticism for Shapiro?

Where?

• To me, infighting isn't a bad thing:

Passion is imperative to a successful team and if that leads to confrontations between players, coaches and whoever, it's okay with me.

Such is the case with the Mets as Francisco Rodriguez having a near fistfight with bullpen coach Randy Niemann----NY Times Story.

K-Rod's got a bit of a temper as he's shown during his Mets career. Last season, he had a near brawl with then-Yankees reliever Brian Bruney after Bruney condemned K-Rod's post-save histrionics; then there was the confrontation with former Mets executive Tony Bernazard; and this year, he almost got into it with Nationals utilityman Willie Harris after hitting him with a pitch.

I have no issue with this; nor a problem with the way manager Jerry Manuel and pitching coach Dan Warthen called out pitcher John Maine for his now acknowledged dishonesty of shoulder pain. In fact, they were too nice to Maine----he hurt the team with his attempts to be a warrior and pitch through pain when he knew he wasn't able to perform well enough to compete effectively.

It's the teams that get along and never have any inside fighting that are generally big time losers. They show up; play the games; collect their paychecks; and go home. There's no excitement; not feistiness; nothing to exhibit that they care enough to confront a member of the "family" if necessary. The Yankees championship teams of the 70s and from the late 90s always had their share of inner turmoil ; the Oakland Athletics of the early 70s were always brawling----literally and figuratively----with one another; the manager; and the owner.

But on the field? You went after one of them, you went after all of them.

I like it.

It means they care; and sometimes all that energy creates something good.

It's far better than the alternative of everyone being buddies because misery loves company and all they do is lose.

• Trading Strasburg?

I'm not spending too much time on this, but there's been a lot of play over Steve Phillips's suggestion that he'd trade Stephen Strasburg for Roy Oswalt if he were running the Nationals. You can listen to Phillips's entire appearance on Mike'd Up with Mike Francesa here----Link.

On the surface, the suggestion was laughed at as the ravings of a lunatic, but Rob Neyer makes a viable case for the idea in practice with the following (the entire posting can be read here):

But what if you're a contender, and the money's not all that important? Who's more likely to get you into the playoffs this season, and help you win the World Series?

Oswalt, clearly. Strasburg's going to pitch maybe 110 innings in the majors this season, and he'll burn those up before October (if not September). If you were really trying to win, you might remove him from the rotation in July or August and deploy him for the rest of the season as your not-so-secret bullpen weapon, like the Rays used David Price in 2008. But if you'd given the Rays a choice between Price and Oswalt that summer, wouldn't they have chosen Oswalt?

And what about 2009? Oswalt missed a few starts last year and was bizarrely unlucky, going just 8-6 in 30 starts. But Price spent part of the season in the minors and wasn't terribly impressive during his time in the majors. Obviously, the Rays wouldn't trade Price for Oswalt today ... but it's worth mentioning that Price is now in his third major league season, and he's still not the pitcher we once thought he would become.

He might still. But you always wonder. With Roy Oswalt, there's very little wondering. Take the money out of it, and if I'm trying to win right now, I would rather have Roy Oswalt than Stephen Strasburg in 2010 and '11, because I think Oswalt is going to win more games in these two seasons. I'm not worried about babying his tender right arm, and I'm not worried about adjusting to pitching against the best hitters in the world.

I wouldn't even consider trading Strasburg for Oswalt and not just because of the obvious reasons that the entire future (on and off the field) for the Nationals is tied in with Strasburg; but because I don't trust Oswalt to stay healthy; and the short-term reward is such a minuscule possibility----The Nationals winning the World Series in the next two years? Really?----that it's not going to happen with Oswalt or Strasburg.

The argument could be made that even if Oswalt showed up healthy and was able to lead the Nationals into the playoffs and pulled an Orel Hershiser and carried them almost singlehandedly to the World Series, it wouldn't be worth the fan interest, buzz around the ballpark and "stuff" they'll be able to sell with Strasburg as the young über pitcher upon whom the franchise hopes are centered.

Phillips sometimes says things to get attention and play the devil's advocate; I doubt he'd even consider moving Strasburg for anything less than a Joe Mauer-type, guaranteed long-term star.

It's not happening anyway, so it's a wasted argument at the outset.

• Hmmmm.....

This looks familiar. Here's Joel Sherman's Hardball Blog regarding Roy Oswalt, published today----Link.

Here are the clips I found strikingly familiar to...to....something I may have read somewhere before....hmmmmm:

Here could be one key to getting this trade done: Would the Astros take Kazmir back? On the surface, they should not. The idea of dealing Oswalt would be about the Astros finally accepting that it is time to rebuild, and rebuilding teams should not accept back overpaid, under-performing players whose name recognition is far better than their actual performance.

But there is a Drayton McLane factor. The owner of the Astros has refused over the years to trade established players such as Oswalt. A former Astro employee said McLane’s “overriding thing is always to give fans hope so they stay fans and buy tickets. … Giving up a brand name for him is a hard to do.”

I doubt the Astros players op department would actually want Kazmir. But he is a Houston native with a level of renown, the kind of combo McLane would probably think is saleable to the fan base. Also, if he pitched in the NL, maybe his performance would improve and give the Astros a worthy starter to keep trying to win this year.

The key thing is that he makes $8 million this year, $12 million next year and has a $13.5 million option in 2012 with a $2.5 million buyout which would offset, to some degree, the $15 million Oswalt is making this year, and the $16 million he is due in 2011 plus a $2 million buyout.

The Phillies could use Oswalt, but wouldn’t it look silly to trade Cliff Lee in the offseason because you say you need to restock your prospect base and then trade prospects for Oswalt, who is inferior to Lee?

Where have I seen this before...um...where, oh where?

AHA!!!!!

I know where I saw it.

It emanated from the brilliant head and lightning shooting fingertips of yours truly...ON SATURDAY!!!!!

Here's the full link and following are the relevant clips:

Oswalt will be 33 in August. He's receiving $15 million this season; $16 million next season; and has a 2012 option worth $16 million with a $2 million buyout. With a full no-trade clause, he has the right to block any deal or demand that the option be exercised to okay the trade; since he desperately wants out of Houston and has often spoken of early retirement, it's quite possible (even likely) that he won't demand the option be automatically picked up if he agrees to be traded.

Los Angeles Angels

Without question, the Angels would love to be rid of Scott Kazmir. Kazmir is from Houston; is making $8 million this year; $12.5 next year; and has a $13.5 million option for 2012, with a $2.5 million buyout. McLane likes bringing in players from Houston as well.

Philadelphia Phillies

They need pitching, but do they have the money? Do they have the remaining prospects? It could mean the difference between getting whacked in the playoffs or another World Series.

Will Ruben Amaro Jr. be willing to absorb the obvious question of why they traded The Stone Cold Killer, Cliff Lee if they were going to turn around and trade for Roy Oswalt at mid-season?

And what of Astros GM Ed Wade?

Unless the Phillies offer is too good to pass up, it's hard to see him willingly helping the team that fired him as their GM.

It's not out of the realm of possibility especially if McLane is heavily in on the deal.

That voice in my head sometimes sends me veering off in strange directions, but right now it's telling me to watch the Angels.

And I believe it.

Um. Yah.

You steal from me, you answer to me.

• Paul Lebowitz's 2010 Baseball Guide:

My book is still available on Amazon, I-Universe and Barnes and Noble.com. It's available for download as an E-book here. You can also now get it for less that five bucks on BN via download here.

Give yourself to the Dark Side.

I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve. Way ahead.

Scrimpin' And Savin'

• Accounting for the "what if?":

When you build a team around veterans and try to save a dollar here and there and leave the bench in the hands of less expensive players who are, as a matter of course, unable to fill the veterans' shoes for any amount of time because of a decline or overt lack of ability, the risk is run that a spate of injuries will leave a team scrambling and cost them games.

Such has been the case with the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies. There are injuries that can't be overcome; the Mets of 2009 proved that point, but if a team has a viable bench player who can do the job over a short period, they won't have to worry about the issues that are hindering the three aforementioned favorites for a World Series in 2010.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman had it in mind to sign cheap and useful (so he thought) moving parts like Nick Johnson; Marcus Thames; and Randy Winn. Johnson's problem has always been staying on the field; and while it was a good idea as a low-cost/high-reward signing to fill the DH spot, since he got hurt it can only be seen as a mistake. Because Jorge Posada is also hurt; as is Curtis Granderson, the idea that a rotating band of veterans could fill the DH spot more cheaply is also sabotaged.

The Yankees loaded up with flawed or young bench players----Winn; Thames; Francisco Cervelli; along with youngsters Kevin Russo; and Juan Miranda----who've been hit-or-miss; and now that both Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter have gotten off to slow starts and Posada's hurt, there's little margin for error with the ancillary cogs.

If you look at the Yankees from 1998, you'll see that they had a bench of Darryl Strawberry; Tim Raines; Girardi; and Luis Sojo----players who would perform during crunch time and handle the spotlight if a veteran went down. They were also more expensive than the players that formulate the benches nowadays. It's as if teams are trying to save a few pennies and bluff their way through basing said decisions on numbers and evaluations of "worth".

I'd rather have a Darryl Strawberry coming off the bench than Juan Miranda, stats or no stats; money or no money.

The same phenomenon has proven true with the Red Sox, who have tried to account for the losses of Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury with journeymen Bill Hall; Jonathan Van Every; and Darnell McDonald, and it's cost them greatly.

It's the same deal with the Phillies; although their problems have been largely masked by a horrible National League and timely hitting, how long before Jimmy Rollins's recurrent leg problems start to cost them as they're trotting Wilson Valdez and Juan Castro out to shortstop on a daily basis? Brian Schneider's hurt; Ross Gload has barely gotten his behind off the bench (I doubt he had 29 plate appearances by the end of May in mind when he signed with the Phillies); and they have age against them with Raul Ibanez and Jamie Moyer.

This is all before getting to the Phillies patched together bullpen.

Would the Yankees have been better off shelling out a few extra dollars to keep Eric Hinske? Hideki Matsui? Asking Cashman is a fruitless endeavor because he's gotten so deeply immersed in numbers that his vision has been clouded beyond all repair. The threatening bat lurking has been eliminated by the numbers and delusions of credit that Cashman craves.

But what of Girardi? Is he wishing silently that he had a better option than Juan Miranda? A veteran presence that could fill the shoes of the injured?

We know the answer, don't we?

There are injuries to key players that literally cannot be overcome, as happened to the Mets last year; but the injuries that have hampered the Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox could've been mitigated by a better accounting for the "what if?"; and they weren't. They've all been lucky that they're still in contention and more; but the bench cannot be discounted----financially or analytically.

Do so at your own risk.

• The Nationals are after Roy Oswalt:

I'm getting the idea that Nationals President Stan Kasten has visions of the 1991 Braves dancing in his head in a "worst-to-first" scenario of riding young pitching and a little magic to a playoff spot and World Series for a team that had been written off in the pre-season.

Kasten was the Braves president from 1986 through 2003.

There are similarities between those Braves and these Nationals.

The Braves were aggressive in the winter of 1990-1991 and made some head-scratching signings of veteran players the type where questions akin to "what are you gonna do with him?" abounded. Otis Nixon? Rafael Belliard? Terry Pendleton? Mike Heath? Going with a rookie catcher in Greg Olson?

But the combination of young and old; a ridiculous turnaround from banishment to MVP by Pendleton; and that young pitching----John Smoltz; Tom Glavine and Steve Avery----combined to vault the Braves to the top of the National League West.

The Nationals made some signings this past winter that looked bizarre. Adam Kennedy? Ivan Rodriguez? Jason Marquis? Miguel Batista? But they're over .500 and playing solid fundamental baseball; they appear to be a close-knit, learning-on-the-fly group. With Stephen Strasburg's arrival imminent, there's reason for optimism; and reason to at least consider pursuing Oswalt.

The National League is wide open and laden with parity; just as the Braves of 1991 seemed to say, "why not us?" once they realized they were in contention at mid-season when few thought they would be, if the Nationals hover around .500 as the Oswalt trade talks heat up, I can see the front office, veterans and rookies coming together and screaming, "We're in this thing!!!!" and going for it.

Stranger things have happened. Why not explore it and see what the Astros want?

Why not?

• Viewer Mail 5.24.2010:

Jane Heller at Confessions of a She-Fan writes RE Joe Buck and Tim McCarver:

You can't take anything seriously that comes out of the mouths of Buck and McCarver. I was in heaven watching the game on Fox's Spanish channel because I was blacked out of the regular broadcast. I don't understand a word of Spanish and it was bliss.

I don't take them seriously----they're ludicrous; but Fox is still clinging to this Joe Buck fantasy of a broadcasting star; and McCarver as this know-all expert, and forcing them down our collective throats.

I don't see how they can ignore that even Yankees fans were offended by the Mets bashing!!!! Think about that.

Jennifer at The Simple Dish writes RE Buck and McCarver:

I really want to know how those two still have jobs. I have never met anyone that likes Buck and McCarver. They spend so much time blathering on about nothing or taking cheap shots at any team that is not the Yankees that you miss the finer points of the game.

If they had a strong opinion and a case to back it up, then fine, no harm no foul; but they parachute in with half-truths and quarter-knowledge and affect this authoritative tone of expertise.

Buck is a smarmy self-promoter; McCarver is a grumpy old man whose gotten lazy. This is not to sound age discriminative because Vin Scully is still a pleasure to listen to and completely together mentally. There's a difference between an old man clinging to his past rep as McCarver is, and someone like Scully.

Scully's still productive and doing good work; McCarver needs to be put out to pasture.

The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger writes RE broadcasters and would-be experts:

I used to go at it with BT-(1050) through e-mails about never having to admit they're wrong or ever having to revisit some of their worst offerings. That's the beauty of having your own outlet I guess. I'll catch up to Twitter one of these days, but in the mean time keep giving em hell.

Is "BT" Brandon Tierney?

My issue with these people is that they: A) have no accountability; and B) cause people to lose their jobs.

The reason many of them hate me to the degree that they do is that I say things they wish they could say and can't approach the way I express it neatly and with laser-precision. They should look elsewhere for mercy; anyone who deserves said mercy would never ask for it.

This was my Joe Buck moment of self-aggrandizement. I do not apologize.

Jeff (Street Boss) at Red State Blue State writes RE Joe Buck:

I really hate to be so crude but...

Joe Buck = Shit Fuck.

Sometimes the truth calls.

Concise, clear and exclamatory. Nothing more need be said.

• Paul Lebowitz's 2010 Baseball Guide:

My book is still available on Amazon, I-Universe and Barnes and Noble.com. It's available for download as an E-book here.

I'm the guy that does his job.

You must be the other guy.

Sunday Lightning 5.23.2010

• Give 'em a team to run, let's watch the carnage:

I would love----love, love, LOVE to see some combination of the clownish radio hosts; expert second guessers in the media; stat zombies; idiotic broadcasters; and fans all banded together in some evil conglomeration of self-anointed baseball savvy to craft what would undoubtedly be a disaster of epic proportions.

They know everything, but are gifted with the power of second sight and ability to outright ignore that which they said five seconds previously to somehow "prove" their points, which were never based on the breadth of considerations that go into running a major league organization from top-to-bottom to begin with.

Let's take a look at the messiness.

The beauty of Twitter is that it's always there; always on recall:

Mets manager Jerry Manuel can't win no matter what he does. Regardless of whether a decision makes sense----and even if it works----he has to endure the endless ridicule that comes with the job of being a manager in New York.

Last night, he made the right move in pinch-hitting for Mike Pelfrey, but still had to face the likes of David Lennon of Newsday, who had a great deal to say while things were going poorly (or looked like they were going to explode) but found the mute button on his keyboard when Manuel's calls worked.

Here's my brief exchange with Lennon on Twitter:

lenno212 Big hit by Cora, but I think I would have stayed with Big Pelf for another inning. Had 108 pitches and bullpen is tired. #mets

Prince_of_NY You'd leave him in with that number of pitches and a runner on third? You'd be ripped more than Jerry. And it'd be accurate. #mets

lenno212 It was a miracle that Cora came through there. Now let's see how bullpen does. #mets

lenno212 Still like pulling Pelfrey? How's that looking now?

I'd logged off, but you can pretty much guess what my response would've been especially since Jenrry Mejia matured right before our eyes and made what possibly were a career-making set of pitches to retire Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez with two runners on base.

But that Mejia and Francisco Rodriguez came through isn't the point and never was. The results have little to do with whether or not a manager or general manager have done the "right" thing. If a manager takes everything into account and takes the correct action----even if it fails----those that criticize it before and after the fact are simply trying to convenience their own agenda for a firing; or a trade; or whatever.

Let me break it down.

Slowly.

With Mike Pelfrey having thrown 108 pitches and struggled through the top of the sixth inning, yanking him the correct move before the Mets batted. When his time at bat came around with a runner at third base and a 2-run lead, who in their right mind could argue for leaving him in? Whether or not Alex Cora came through, there was no way, no how you let Pelfrey bat there. None. And I don't care if Mejia, Feliciano, Nieve or anyone entered the game and allowed ten runs. It was the right thing to do.

Pelfrey, irreplaceable and finally coming into his own and having had a slight shoulder issue earlier in the year, had to come out of the game. Period. The confluence of events from the start of the season; to the way Pelfrey has pitched; to the Mets shortness of pitching in their current state; and that they needed to try and score an extra run in the bottom of the inning required----not suggested----inarguably required that Pelfrey be pulled there.

Had Manuel left Pelfrey in that game, regardless of whether Pelfrey blew through the seventh inning, that would've been a fireable offense; that woud've been a selfish maneuver; that would've been a drastic mistake based on little more than Manuel's tenuous job status than doing what he did, doing the right thing. It's that kind of non-organizational thinking that is worthy of getting rid of a manager.

You cannot have a manager who is running a game in Billy Martin-style as if there's no tomorrow in MAY!!!!! What would the writers have said had Manuel left Pelfrey in the game; let him hit and watched him strike out; seen him start the seventh inning and get blasted and gotten injured on pitch number 125?

What?

Considering the way they change their tune based on the last pitch's success or failure, we know what would've been said and written. And it would've been wrong.

Dead wrong.

I also had a back-and forth with Will Moller (who I happen to think is a reasonable guy) from It's About The Money about, well, about me.

WillMoller what's going on with should-hve-been-mets-savior Joel pineiro of late?

WillMoller Paul--I was just poking fun at you. That said, you're sure bad at ever admitting anything's going wrong.

WillMoller You're very good at taking credit, though, as you were on Pineiro's early April performance.

Will was kidding around and I didn't exactly detonate, but I had a little explosion pointing out that I had written a posting on Thursday relating that which I've already clearly gotten wrong----the Rays; the Mariners; and Ian Kennedy.

Regarding Joel Pineiro, which starts are we examining? The one on Friday in which he got rocked in a game that was being played in front of the man in the other dugout----Dave Duncan----who saved his career? Pineiro was definitely affected by that fact; and was coming off a complete game 4-hit shutout over the Athletics; and pitched into the seventh inning having given up no runs against the Rays. If you look at his bottom-line numbers, they're not good; if you look at his Gamelogs, he's been very good and exactly what the Angels expected.

If you calculate his salary and years (2-years, $16 million) and his likely ending stats (say 15-10, 200 innings pitched), the Angels are getting great bang for their buck. Then if you look at a pitcher like John Lackey, who's been borderline atrocious for the Red Sox----Gamelogs----and his salary (5-years, $82.5 million) and there's no doubt who's the better choice.

The Red Sox can make the argument that Lackey was signed more for his post-season credentials as the Blue Jays did in 1993 with Dave Stewart, but that doesn't do much good if the Red Sox miss the playoffs because Lackey was part of their faulty pitching in the regular season.

Here's the overwhelming issue between me and most stat zombies: my analysis is not based on numbers crunching and an absence of analysis; and I have no problem admitting I'm wrong----an activity in which many of them partake if not by openly denying errors, but with pure omission of fact.

I don't want to be right about everything. It's no great achievement to go through life without making a mistake and to imply that I don't admit missteps is patently inaccurate.

Joe Buck and Tim McCarver have entered the territory of disrespect

It can't be lost on Fox how reviled Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are and they clearly don't care. Again, Buck and McCarver were using the Mets as a piñata. Apparently the Mets (at 21-23 after last night's game----not all that bad considering the doom and gloom that surrounded them prior to the season) are the epitome of evil amongst baseball organizations.

Everything they did was wrong from the top of the organization to the bottom and this type of vitriol went on throughout the broadcast; but that's neither here nor there. Neither Buck nor McCarver have any credibility with anyone who knows anything about baseball. McCarver's was gone 10 years ago; Buck never had any to begin with; but they entered despicable territory with their open disrespect to the Mets while interviewing backup infielder Alex Cora mid-game.

Buck, in full smug obnoxiousness, mentioned to Cora that he might have to play soon because Mets second baseman Luis Castillo was in distress due to a bruised foot and limping around; Cora responded that Castillo was okay; Buck's snide retort (I'm paraphrasing) was something to the tune of: "Yeah, he looks great."

It was so far beyond the line of his realm as even the broadcasting clown that he is, it can't be lost on Fox that he is the worst possible combination of nepotism; lack of sports knowledge; arrogance; and self-importance.

Are they going to continue pushing him as this would-be media personality?

Are they?

I'd complain if I were the Mets. And complain loudly to baseball's front office. Maybe then Fox would listen.

• Now John Maine's admitting shoulder woes?!?!

If I were the Mets, I'd be ready to strangle John Maine.

So now, after denying that there was any issue with his shoulder, he's admitting that he's feeling similar pain as last year when he spent a substantial amount of time on the disabled list----ESPN Story?

I would literally be enraged at Maine for his subterfuge in the interests of being "tough" and "pitching through pain"; and then to compound the selfishness of going to the mound aching, he puts forth the idea that there's absolutely nothing wrong with him and the organization is making him look bad by making him go to the doctor and protecting him in a parental way?

It's inexplicable and, as far as I'm concerned, you can't believe anything Maine says from now on.

As for the Mets, manager Jerry Manuel and pitching coach Dan Warthen, are they still worthy of being savaged for their cautious and analytical approach with Maine when he was insisting he was healthy to pitch, but obviously wasn't? What are the manager/pitching coach supposed to do? Believe the player or let him damage himself and the team when they know something's wrong?

Oh, and Buck and McCarver were using this as another battering ram for the Mets even though they only knew a portion of the story. Typical.

• Viewer Mail 5.23.2010:

Jennifer at The Simple Dish writes RE the Red Sox, Roy Oswalt and David Wright:

I would love to see Oswalt come to Boston (pitching...and...defense) but we're stuck with Dice-K and Theo, Boras and Dice-K knows it. I don't even see where Theo can get creative with prospects to make this trade happen.

Watching David Wright at the plate last night was the most frustrating experience (besides the Red Sox). Let the home runs come to you, David. Don't try to make them happen at every at bat.

It's hard to riff on Matsuzaka after he almost no-hit the Phillies, but it pretty much exemplified him. He'll be awful for five starts and pitch great once or twice making people believe there's more there than there actually is.

Wright cares too much and is one of those guys who wants to please everyone. I couldn't care less if he hits 18 homers or 30 as long as he has good productive at bats. Strikeouts are not good, productive at bats.

The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger writes RE John Maine and the Mets:

Yea...I'm behind the club with the John Maine move too. But something went very very wrong between Maine and Warthen that even allowed Maine to take the mound in the first place. Oswalt has been taking cortisone injections and I think he's going to be a big disappointment for any team that picks him up. I would rather the Mets didn't make a move for him.

I'm not sure what Warthen and Manuel were supposed to do if the pitcher was insisting he's healthy. There has to be honesty; and there has to be an understanding of the difference between non-damaging pain that can and should be pushed through and a pain that is simultaneously going to cause long-term injury to the player and hurt the team.

With Oswalt, he's been injury-prone and I'd hesitate before giving up a lot to take him and his contract.

Jane Heller at Confessions of a She-Fan writes RE Keith Hernandez and Javier Vazquez:

I got really annoyed last night when Hernandez kept pronouncing Vazquez "Vazkwez." What's up with that?

Keith's a quirky guy, Jane. Very, very quirky.

Jeff (Acting Boss) at Red State Blue State writes RE Oswalt:

Why I certainly don't blame Oswalt, I'm definitely not a fan of his demands. Man up, dude. Pitch. Do your job.

If you wanna get traded, quietly knock on Ed's door or give him a ring... why they put all this stuff out in the open I do not know.

I have lost respect for Oswalt, whom I once revered as yet another stone-cold killer.

Stone-cold killers don't whine and cry about shit.

I can't give Oswalt a hard time about wanting out of Houston. He's been a loyal soldier and was almost pleading for them to get some help (notably Jake Peavy) in the starting rotation, but was ignored.

My guess is that he did quietly tell Ed Wade and Drayton McLane that he wanted out, but it was kept private and they either ignored him or didn't really try to make it happen. If it takes him going public to get the end result, I have no problem with that. He's getting traded this year and it's the best thing for him and the Astros if they get enough for him to build the foundation for a rebuild.

• Paul Lebowitz's 2010 Baseball Guide:

My book is still available on Amazon, I-Universe and Barnes and Noble.com. It's available for download as an E-book here.

I've been right about stuff; I've been wrong about stuff. But one thing you can never say about me is that I'm boring.

Earth Below Us, Drifting...Falling

• Roy Oswalt opts to eject from the plummeting rocketship:

Through his agent, Houston Astros righty Roy Oswalt has asked to be traded----ESPN Story.

General Manager Ed Wade was cryptic about whether or not Oswalt would be traded, but owner Drayton McLane is hands-on and if Oswalt's request went straight to the owner, it's hard to see the pitcher being an Astro past the All Star break.

Oswalt will be 33 in August. He's receiving $15 million this season; $16 million next season; and has a 2012 option worth $16 million with a $2 million buyout. With a full no-trade clause, he has the right to block any deal or demand that the option be exercised to okay the trade; since he desperately wants out of Houston and has often spoken of early retirement, it's quite possible (even likely) that he won't demand the option be automatically picked up if he agrees to be traded.

My mind doesn't work in legalities much of the time----just right and wrong. To my addled brain, because he's asked to be traded, it should negate the no-trade. It's only fair and it opens him up to any and all teams without preconditions from the player.

Let's take a look at the possible suitors for Oswalt, his gifted right arm and big contract.

New York Yankees

Would the Brian Cashman-led, penny-counting Yankees take on the contract of Roy Oswalt if it meant the difference between another championship or not? They'd have to give up something like Francisco Cervelli; a minor league pitcher; and probably would tell the Astros to take Javier Vazquez with the promise of the draft picks when he leaves as a free agent.

The Yankees aren't taking that contract.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox tried to get Oswalt a couple of years ago and I could absolutely see them telling the Astros that they'd take the contract and give up a decent hitting prospect like Lars Anderson; but the Astros would have to take the contract of...Daisuke Matsuzaka, whom the Red Sox would undoubtedly love to have out of their sight forever; but Matsuzaka has a full no-trade clause, is represented by Scott Boras and is going nowhere.

Forget it unless Theo Epstein gets creative. Don't put it past him.

Chicago White Sox

GM Kenny Williams wants to throw a stick of dynamite into that clubhouse; Oswalt is close with Jake Peavy; and maybe the Astros would take Gavin Floyd for Oswalt.

Maybe.

Texas Rangers

They've got the prospects; they need a starting pitcher; Oswalt's in Texas already; Nolan Ryan loves guys like Oswalt----he's mean and throws hard; but the money could be an issue.

It's possible.

Oakland Athletics

The AL West is wide open and Billy Beane had cash to burn this past winter that he didn't spend when he was rejected by Marco Scutaro and Adrian Beltre; they could use Oswalt, have the prospects to send to the Astros and could insist that Eric Chavez be part of the deal to clear some of the money.

Don't discount the idea.

Los Angeles Angels

Without question, the Angels would love to be rid of Scott Kazmir. Kazmir is from Houston; is making $8 million this year; $12.5 next year; and has a $13.5 million option for 2012, with a $2.5 million buyout. McLane likes bringing in players from Houston as well.

Hmmmm....

Philadelphia Phillies

They need pitching, but do they have the money? Do they have the remaining prospects? It could mean the difference between getting whacked in the playoffs or another World Series.

Will Ruben Amaro Jr. be willing to absorb the obvious question of why they traded The Stone Cold Killer, Cliff Lee if they were going to turn around and trade for Roy Oswalt at mid-season?

And what of Astros GM Ed Wade?

Unless the Phillies offer is too good to pass up, it's hard to see him willingly helping the team that fired him as their GM.

It's not out of the realm of possibility especially if McLane is heavily in on the deal.

Florida Marlins

If Oswalt was in the last year of his deal, the Marlins would positively and without fear explore it as they did with Roy Halladay last year; but they're not taking that contract.

New York Mets

Omar Minaya tried to get Oswalt (and came within an inch of succeeding) multiple times; but this is the last thing the Mets should do now if it's going to cost them Jenrry Mejia and Fernando Martinez.

Now, if the Astros were willing to take Luis Castillo or Oliver Perez along with Martinez? Then we can talk. But they shouldn't give up prospects when the aforementioned Stone Cold Killer is going to be a free agent at the end of the year and won't cost anything more than dollar signs.

Check in and see what the Astros want, but Mejia and Jon Niese are off the table.

Los Angeles Dodgers

This would be the litmus test of how badly the McCourts' divorce is hindering what GM Ned Colletti and manager Joe Torre want to do. The Dodgers have righted the ship (like I said they would) and the National League pennant is there for the taking; with Clayton Kershaw; Chad Billingsley; Hiroki Kuroda; and Oswalt, the Dodgers might win the World Series.

Follow the money.

Colorado Rockies

They have the prospects and they need the arm. Could they take the money? Hard to say. They'll have a look at it and see.

Arizona Diamondbacks

It's hard to see them taking that contract, but they desperately need pitching; and Oswalt would be a neat replacement next season for Brandon Webb at the top of the rotation with Dan Haren. It's not a bad idea in the wide open NL.

That voice in my head sometimes sends me veering off in strange directions, but right now it's telling me to watch the Angels.

And I believe it.

• If Keith sees it, why doesn't HoJo?
  

During last night's Mets game, broadcaster Keith Hernandez (who knows more about hitting than 99% of people on the planet) could see that David Wright was uppercutting and behind the fastball.

So, if Hernandez diagnosed the problem and knows what to do to fix it, why can't Mets' hitting coach Howard Johnson?

I don't think it's a secret what Wright's doing. He's trying to hit for more power in Citi Field and was willing to sacrifice the increased strikeouts to do it. It hasn't worked because he's got one homer (from opening day and to the opposite field) at home; and his strikeouts haven't been worth the loss of contact. Hernandez played with HoJo and the Mets are at the point where stepping in the toes of coaches is the least of their problems.

As I said a week ago with the suggestion of having Tom Seaver work with Oliver Perez, it's all about the team; and if HoJo doesn't like Hernandez trying to help, he can leave.

On another note with the Mets, the John Maine contretemps have only just begun as the pitcher was placed on the disabled list against his will with shoulder weakness.

Frankly, I've seen and heard enough from Maine as well and am firmly behind manager Jerry Manuel, coach Dan Warthen and the club. He's been pitching horribly and enough's enough. If he's not part of the solution, he's part of the problem and if Maine doesn't like it, he can leave right along with HoJo.

• Paul Lebowitz's 2010 Baseball Guide:

My book is still available on Amazon, I-Universe and Barnes and Noble.com. It's available for download as an E-book here.

I am altering the deal.

Pray I don't alter it any further.

The Doghouse Is This Way

• "We don't need any (bleeping) heroes":

The above-quote is taken from the underrated (and under-read) book by Dave Rosenbaum about the Florida Marlins first championship in 1997, If They Don't Win It's A Shame: The Year the Marlins Bought the World Series.

In one incident at mid-season, manager Jim Leyland was livid at pitcher Al Leiter for hiding a groin injury; Leiter got rocked, allowing seven runs. Leyland's comment regarding Leiter was: "We don't need any fucking heroes". It should also be added that in reading between the lines of the entire text, it's clear that Leyland and Leiter didn't exactly get along, so Leyland was probably already a little irritated at Leiter about something large or small.

I couldn't help but think of the Leyland/Leiter dustup in which Leiter was placed on the disabled list against his will----and said "my groin has no comment"----during last night's Mets-Nationals game in which starting pitcher John Maine was yanked because he didn't look right and had no velocity in the bullpen or after walking Nats' leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan on five pitches.

Maine didn't want to come out of the game, protested that he was fine and had a public back-and-forth with a clearly irked Mets manager Jerry Manuel in the dugout after he was pulled----NY Times Story. Maine's going to see a doctor today and his comments have a "methinks he doth protest too much" aspect to them:

“I guess they didn’t see 95,” he said, referring to the velocity on his pitches, then added, “It was a little slow, but it was the first batter of the game, cut me a little bit of slack.”

“No, I didn’t get a chance, and I think that’s what I’m most upset about,” he said. “They said they saw something, so they’re taking me out. I’m a little hurt by that. It wasn’t 100 m.p.h. the first pitch. I never got asked to really see how I was or anything like that. They just said I was out. That’s what upset me the most.”

All due respect to John Maine----I've long been an admirer of his abilities----but he's not in a position to be given "a little bit of slack". Johan Santana gets some slack; John Maine doesn't get some slack. How much rope did he want? Did he want to put the team in a hole like he did against the Marlins by walking everyone and showing no ability whatsoever to put the ball anywhere close to where he wanted?

There's being gutty and there's being selfish. I don't think Maine intentionally wanted to put his team in a precarious position, but it's like Leyland said: "We don't need any fucking heroes". Things are shaky enough for the Mets; this only makes things worse.

An interesting side note about that Leyland story? His bench coach that year with the Marlins was...Jerry Manuel.

So now what do the Mets do about a starting pitcher in place of Maine? They can't just shove Jenrry Mejia into the starting rotation now. There's been talk that Mejia is going to the minors to start and will be back in the big leagues once his arm is acclimated to starting again, so that lets him out. Nor are they going to put Oliver Perez back into the rotation by default. (I'm thinking that Perez might find some use as a reliever.)

They don't have many choices----some are advocating the re-signing of Pedro Martinez, but I wouldn't go there. Dillon Gee is pitching well enough in Triple A and acquitted himself admirably in spring training; at least he throws strikes. With Hisanori Takahashi starting tonight against the Yankees, the Mets are losing a bullpen weapon who----along with Raul Valdes----has been extremely useful in quieting down games in which the starter had been blasted out early; they can't keep going to the long relievers and expect them to stay fresh. If Maine can't pitch, I'd have a look at Gee.

On another ancillary note with the Mets, yesterday I was listening the Mike Francesa for the first time in months and while he insists that he has no bias against the Mets, it's clear that Francesa----an avowed Yankee fan who takes pride in tweaking the Mets and tries to hide behind the cloak of impartiality and the premise that "the Mets are more interesting when they're good"----makes savaging them a cottage industry and bolsters his own bloated self-image as a power player in sports by trying to not-so-subtly influence club machinations.

He relentlessly attacks David Wright whether he admits it or not----many times unfairly----and his credibility in these matters has declined exponentially as his ego has grown even more insufferable. Obviously, he wants a managerial change and has speculated on the status of GM Omar Minaya.

It has to be noted, however, that it was Francesa who gave an annual epitaph on Joe Torre after each playoff loss only to be proven wrong when Torre survived through 2007. This is the same man who defended one of his then-closest friends, Jets coach Bill Parcells, for a series of ridiculous play calls in a 1997 season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions that deprived the Jets a playoff spot. Paraphrasing from memory, Francesa's lament regarding Parcells was: "He tried something and it didn't work." It's a shaky foundation especially since, had it been any other coach, Francesa would've been calling for his head.

So he wants Manuel out? And he thinks Minaya may be on the way down as well?

Okay. Fair enough.

Who does he want to replace them?

I've asked and asked and asked the advocates of managerial and front office change for a series of solutions to the Mets problems with new people at the top and no one has an answer. Bob Melvin and Bobby Valentine are the main candidates to take over for Manuel (and every time I hear Chip Hale speak, I see a man who's going to be an excellent manager on and off the field).

Fine.

What about the GM?

The stat zombies mention Sandy Alderson. Those still worshipping at the altar of Moneyball suggest Billy Beane. Thanks, but no thanks.

Who do they want?

I've said this again and again, for better or worse, the Mets don't function that way.

If you look at their history going back to the 80s, they hired Frank Cashen to run the club; Cashen was replaced by Al Harazin who had been the financial guy during the 80s and was a disaster; Harazin was replaced by Joe McIlvaine (the scouting guru from the 80s who'd left to take over the Padres as Cashen refused to retire); McIlvaine was succeeded by his assistant Steve Phillips after losing a power struggle with manager Bobby Valentine; Phillips was replaced by his assistant Jim Duquette; Duquette by Minaya, who'd been one of Phillips's lieutenants.

Sensing a trend?

You know who'd replace Minaya? Assistant GM John Ricco. That's it. No one else is getting the Mets GM job. Period.

It's a fun thing to attack the Mets, but if you look at their track record over that time, they've had highs and lows and some devastating heartbreaks, but they've been mostly good enough to compete. You can argue that the closed atmosphere of the way they do business is a mistake, but we've seen outsiders hired by other organizations to hellish results----Paul DePodesta with the Dodgers; Neal Huntington with the Pirates----it doesn't always work to bring in people who do things differently.

The Mets don't do it that way, so to suggest anything else----that someone's going to waltz in and say, "we're doing this, this and that" and expect it to: A) work; and B) be blindly allowed by the Mets ownership, is a fantasy. Minaya's not going anywhere.

Oh, and one more thing: the Mets aren't that bad!!!! They're right in the middle of the Wild Card race and they're not that far behind a wounded Phillies team to justify a wholesale housecleaning from top-to-bottom!! Considering the expectations and punching bag status of the team this past winter, is 20-22 worthy of the self-serving Francesa attacks?

No.

One final thing about Francesa: no one wants to hear about horseracing!!!

Nor do they want to hear his bloviating about the subject in a manner that's more "this is what I know; bask in my greatness and knowledge" condescending Bill O'Reilly style of educating the masses. Nobody wants to hear it. His baseball ineptitude is more than enough.

• This don't sound good:

Brandon Webb changing his arm slot----ESPN Story----and it could mean a few things. Most aren't good.

One, he could legitimately have been throwing from the incorrect angle as a result of pain prior to surgery and having lost his arm angle post-surgery. If that's the case, then he might start feeling better (if he's healthy, that is) and be able to return in the not-so-distant future to pitch.

Two, he could still be feeling pain and looking for a way to pitch (and bolster his free agent credentials at the end of the season) to provide something upon which to base a guaranteed contract for 2011.

I have no idea which of the two options is accurate. Both are viable. One great pitcher keeps returning to the vast expanse of my head----John Smoltz.

Smoltz has a notable threshold of pain and for awhile, he altered his classic motion to account for the agony he was in with his shoulder; pitching at a three-quarter angle before one of his surgeries, he was effective and created all sorts of movement with similar velocity as when he was at the top of his game. After he had shoulder surgery, he returned to the Braves starting rotation and pitched well with his original arm angle.

Is Webb still hurting and trying to find a way to pitch?

Or has a disparity in his arm slot truly been discovered?

Either way, the Diamondbacks can't possibly expect Webb back before the All Star break; and by then, it'll be just for Webb to show what he's got left for the team to trade him and for Webb to get a guaranteed contract for next year. The Diamondbacks are one hot mess. Even if they're not in a playoff race, there can be mutual benefit for the two parties to get Webb out on the mound.

That said, it's hard to see anyone getting anything from him this year; in fact, from the outside, it's taking a Ben Sheets/Carlos Delgado tone of, "oh yeah, he needs more surgery".

But who knows? Maybe Webb's new arm angle will work and he'll be able to pitch.

I'm dubious. Highly dubious.

• Viewer Mail 5.21.2010:

Gabriel (Capo) writes RE Hanley Ramirez and the Blue Jays:

I like Hanley, but he's a teenager. I hope Dan Uggla put him in his place so the Marlins can keep on playing good ball. I like Uggla, and I cracked up with the Popeye reference.

There's speculation of the Blue Jays becoming buyers at the deadline rather than sellers. What's your take on that?

The truth is coming out now about Ramirez and it can be found here in the Palm Beach Post.

Apparently, Ramirez's apology came from the firestorm coming down on him for his diva-like behaviors; that the entire team was letting him have it....and that he was threatened by Andre Dawson.

You don't want to be threatened by Andre Dawson, whose nickname was "The Hawk" for a reason.

The classic quote from the article pretty much sums up what Dawson was telling Ramirez:

"I'm not going to say a lot, because if you say the wrong the thing to me, then you might wind up on the floor on your rear end..."

This is exactly what Ramirez needed coming from a man with the reputation and look on his face that told him that it was going to happen if he did indeed say the wrong thing.

Tony Perez was there to offer counsel as well, but I think he was probably there because he knew what Dawson was capable of and he needed to keep him from strangling Ramirez if he did "say the wrong thing".

Ramirez got the message and apologized. He's going to play like an MVP for the rest of the season and he's going to hustle. Bank on it.

Regarding the Blue Jays, they're in a pretty good spot in that they're hovering around contention; but the odds of them hanging around the playoff race----especially with the Rays and Yankees in their division----are not good. With their wealth of young pitching, teams will be coming to them for deals and GM Alex Anthopoulos has been a savvy trader. They may be willing to listen on acquiring veterans to improve their current state, but they'll be selling their own veterans avidly.

Jane Heller at Confessions of a She-Fan writes RE Theo Epstein:

Did I read that right? There were complaints because Theo Epstein went to a concert? He's not exactly Obama. I don't think there would be a national emergency if he took a few hours off. Jeez!

It's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. At least today. Give the guy a break. If that's what he has to endure in Boston, I'm beginning to understand the gorilla suit escape during his resignation snit in 2005.

Jeff (Acting Boss) at Red State Blue State writes RE Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer; the Rays; and Kerry Wood:

Ah yes! The Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer! One of my all-time favs!

I really love watching the Rays. Anyone who knows me knows that -- above all -- I would rather watch good pitching than good hitting, that GREAT pitching can even get me... er... aroused?

Perhaps I've said too much.

And yes, watching Kerry Wood has the opposite effect.

The world frightens and confuses the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. He's just a caveman.

Joe Maddon's new age managerial style still annoys me; but the team is winning, so one can't argue with success.

I don't think you've said to much. Everyone has their predilections; just imagine what's going on with Michael Kay.

Um. Know what? Don't. We don't want you throwing up all over your keyboard. And that goes for everyone.

Jennifer at The Simple Dish writes RE the Rays:

If only the rest of the AL East would wake the hell up and realize that the Rays are serious contenders this year. Nice to see a team that's not the Red Sox or Yankees at the top of the standings so far.

It's such an advantage to get off to a hot start and the Rays are back to playing the way they did in 2008----and that's with the issues I discussed yesterday. Their pitching will hit a speed bump eventually, but the bullpen will be well-rested and the offense is bound to pick up. They're going to be tough to catch.

The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger writes RE my predictions:

In baseball speak, if you get 7 out of 10 projections wrong...you're doin good Kid! Right or wrong it's a damn good read.

I'm resisting the urge to gloat about certain things (the Diamondbacks; Clayton Kershaw; Ubaldo Jimenez). Must....resist....temptation....

• Paul Lebowitz's 2010 Baseball Guide:

My book is still available on Amazon, I-Universe and Barnes and Noble.com. It's available for download as an E-book here.

Do what must be done.

Do not hesitate; show no mercy.