Bob Klapisch on Fox Sports makes the same mistake as our good friend Jeff Pearlman in this article: Bay is nice, but not what Mets need.
In the meantime, the Mets are getting an infusion of power that will take pressure off David Wright. The third baseman, once a 30-home run threat, hit only 10 HRs last season, and just five at Citi Field. Bay will be a welcome antidote to the power deficit, although he’s more likely to hit 25 home runs at cavernous Citi than the 36 he slugged with the Red Sox.
Did everyone in New York suffer a concussion last year and forget about Wright's condition? Again from Wikipedia:
In a season where many other Mets' players have already been injured, the injury bug finally caught up to Wright on August 15. Wright suffered a concussion when he was hit in the head with a 94 mph fastball by San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain.
On August 16, he left the hospital, diagnosed with post-concussion symptoms. He was then placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career...
How do people keep ignoring this as if Wright is just some washed up bum? I mean, any amount of research would remind the writer about this. I guess New York is so tough that even a concussion isn't an excuse for an off year.
Case Closed!
Showing posts with label Pearlman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pearlman. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Pearlman before swine
I don't know what that title means really other than to reference the author of today's featured column: Jeff Pearlman. Lets take a look at this precocious youngster's article on SI.com with his writing in italics and my obnoxious comments in regular type set.
Yes, Jason Bay is going to be big in New York -- a big bust, that is
The statement came 28 years ago.
In the winter of 1981-82, the New York Mets were Big Apple nobodies -- a star-less, charisma-less franchise coming off of a miserable 41-62 strike-shortened season. The team had drawn 704,244 fans, seventh in the National League (and not even half the total of the cross-town Yankees), and its marketing exclamation, "The magic is back!" rang hollow. Unless Joel Youngblood and Pete Falcone possessed some sort of secret, Houdini-esque abilities, the magic was not back. It was, in fact, dead.
This article is about Jason Bay
With this as a backdrop, Frank Cashen, the team's general manager, pulled off a headline-stealing deal. In exchange for three middling players, Cashen landed slugging outfielder George Foster from the Cincinnati Reds, immediately signing him to a five-year, $10 million contract.
This article is about Jason Bay.
Did Cashen think the former National League MVP was the missing piece that New York needed to turn itself into a winner? Hardly. While the Mets offense was nothing to brag about, it was the club's rotten starting rotation and lowly middle infield that required the most attention. "But signing George was a message to baseball and to our fans that we were in it to win," Cashen said. "From here on out, we would do whatever it takes."
This article is about Jason Bay.
The outcome: Foster hit 13 home runs in his first season in New York. He played an abysmal left field, was booed mercilessly, shunned in his own clubhouse and -- even as he went on to spend 3½ more decent seasons with the Mets -- labeled one of the biggest busts in the team's history. By the time the team won the 1986 World Series, he was out of baseball.
Why? Because George Foster was a bad fit.
* * *
As we approach 2010, New York Mets history is about to repeat itself. According to WFAN, the team has agreed to sign Jason Bay to a four-year contract worth nearly $66 million.
Ohhh yeah, that guy.
Like Foster 28 years back, Bay is in his early 30s.
It's a little nit-picky but when they signed Foster, he was in decline already and 33. Bay put up one of his better seasons last year and is 31. I'd say in sports there's a large difference between 31 and 33.
Like Foster 28 years back, Bay will play left field and bat in the middle of the order. Like Foster 28 years back, Bay will arrive in Queens accompanied by enough hype and hope to fill three stadiums.
Like Foster 28 years back, this will not go well.
K so outside of some coincidences that have nothing to do with actual ability I see no evidence as to why Foster's failure predicts Bay's future.
Jason Bay is a good ballplayer. A fine ballplayer. Heck, an excellent ballplayer. With Boston last year, residing in cozy Fenway Park, the 31-year-old All-Star hit 36 home runs with 119 RBIs, thus making him the pulse of an otherwise aging Red Sox lineup. He has cleared 30 home runs in four of his last five seasons. Bay also happens to be one of the game's truly good guys -- likeable, agreeable, approachable, laid-back. The complete package.
Yet for all the positives Bay brings to an organization, he lacks the one tool that the Mets truly need -- an ability to move walls.
When New York's brain-dead powers-that-be decided that Citi Field should feature spacious outfield grass and power alleys from here to Hagåtña, they unintentionally dictated the type of team that GM Omar Manaya is required to assemble. Namely, the modern-day Mets must replicate the '85 Cardinals, who were constructed around speed and pitching; around doubles and triples into the gaps; around shutouts and 2-1 wins.
Park factor: 98 slight pitcher's park. We must abandon the home run. Thanks to baseballreference.com for that number.
Sluggers? What sluggers? Playing in Shea Stadium in 2008, David Wright was a power monster, producing 33 homers and 124 RBIs. Playing in Citi Field in 2009, Wright was, well, George Foster circa 1982, with a paltry 10 homers and 72 RBIs. Or, to put it more bluntly, the Mets' leading home run hitter last season was Daniel Murphy -- with 12.
Jeff is right here. Of course he doesn't mention that Wright suffered a concussion but continued to play. Then he was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and put on the DL. And seriously, lay off George Foster, did he run over Jeff's dog or something?
If Bay has an absolutely outstanding 2010, he might hit 25 homers. He might.
I love statements that require absolutely nothing to back them up. If Bay has an absolutely outstanding 2010 he might cure cancer. He might.
Seriously, I make declarative statements like that all the time when I'm arguing...in a bar...with my friends...and we're on round 4 or 5.
In their new digs, the Mets also require arms. Lots and lots of arms. They require starters who can hold a game close -- guys like John Lackey; guys like Javier Vazquez; guys... whom the Mets completely ignored as others pounced.
Yeah pitching helps usually.
No doubt those Met fans who had been waiting for their team to make a statement will be pleased. Bay, like Foster, is a big name with big power and big skills.
He will also be a big bust.
Case Closed!
Yes, Jason Bay is going to be big in New York -- a big bust, that is
The statement came 28 years ago.
In the winter of 1981-82, the New York Mets were Big Apple nobodies -- a star-less, charisma-less franchise coming off of a miserable 41-62 strike-shortened season. The team had drawn 704,244 fans, seventh in the National League (and not even half the total of the cross-town Yankees), and its marketing exclamation, "The magic is back!" rang hollow. Unless Joel Youngblood and Pete Falcone possessed some sort of secret, Houdini-esque abilities, the magic was not back. It was, in fact, dead.
This article is about Jason Bay
With this as a backdrop, Frank Cashen, the team's general manager, pulled off a headline-stealing deal. In exchange for three middling players, Cashen landed slugging outfielder George Foster from the Cincinnati Reds, immediately signing him to a five-year, $10 million contract.
This article is about Jason Bay.
Did Cashen think the former National League MVP was the missing piece that New York needed to turn itself into a winner? Hardly. While the Mets offense was nothing to brag about, it was the club's rotten starting rotation and lowly middle infield that required the most attention. "But signing George was a message to baseball and to our fans that we were in it to win," Cashen said. "From here on out, we would do whatever it takes."
This article is about Jason Bay.
The outcome: Foster hit 13 home runs in his first season in New York. He played an abysmal left field, was booed mercilessly, shunned in his own clubhouse and -- even as he went on to spend 3½ more decent seasons with the Mets -- labeled one of the biggest busts in the team's history. By the time the team won the 1986 World Series, he was out of baseball.
Why? Because George Foster was a bad fit.
This article...well at least I've learned a lot about George Foster. Looking at his stats he displayed a gradual decline from age 33 on which is pretty normal. The Mets obviously overpaid for a player who was leaving his prime. According to Pearlman he was out of baseball by '86 because "he was a bad fit." Now Foster did actually play for the Mets in '86. According to his Wikipedia entry he was released by the Mets after accusing them of racism for benching him. I guess accusing the organization of racism does make you a "bad fit." (Heck of an MVP season in '77 though with a 165 OPS+.)
So I mean not a bad article about George Foster, we've learned something and...oh yeah...there's some other player that was supposed to be mentioned...who was that again?
* * *
As we approach 2010, New York Mets history is about to repeat itself. According to WFAN, the team has agreed to sign Jason Bay to a four-year contract worth nearly $66 million.
Ohhh yeah, that guy.
Like Foster 28 years back, Bay is in his early 30s.
It's a little nit-picky but when they signed Foster, he was in decline already and 33. Bay put up one of his better seasons last year and is 31. I'd say in sports there's a large difference between 31 and 33.
Like Foster 28 years back, Bay will play left field and bat in the middle of the order. Like Foster 28 years back, Bay will arrive in Queens accompanied by enough hype and hope to fill three stadiums.
Like Foster 28 years back, this will not go well.
K so outside of some coincidences that have nothing to do with actual ability I see no evidence as to why Foster's failure predicts Bay's future.
Jason Bay is a good ballplayer. A fine ballplayer. Heck, an excellent ballplayer. With Boston last year, residing in cozy Fenway Park, the 31-year-old All-Star hit 36 home runs with 119 RBIs, thus making him the pulse of an otherwise aging Red Sox lineup. He has cleared 30 home runs in four of his last five seasons. Bay also happens to be one of the game's truly good guys -- likeable, agreeable, approachable, laid-back. The complete package.
Wow sounds like a really good signing. I guess that proves the theme of this article that...hey wait a minute....
Yet for all the positives Bay brings to an organization, he lacks the one tool that the Mets truly need -- an ability to move walls.
Damn straight. I remember when the Cubs signed Andre Dawson and his bulldozer to a long-term deal. Or when the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez and a crane.
When New York's brain-dead powers-that-be decided that Citi Field should feature spacious outfield grass and power alleys from here to Hagåtña, they unintentionally dictated the type of team that GM Omar Manaya is required to assemble. Namely, the modern-day Mets must replicate the '85 Cardinals, who were constructed around speed and pitching; around doubles and triples into the gaps; around shutouts and 2-1 wins.
Park factor: 98 slight pitcher's park. We must abandon the home run. Thanks to baseballreference.com for that number.
Sluggers? What sluggers? Playing in Shea Stadium in 2008, David Wright was a power monster, producing 33 homers and 124 RBIs. Playing in Citi Field in 2009, Wright was, well, George Foster circa 1982, with a paltry 10 homers and 72 RBIs. Or, to put it more bluntly, the Mets' leading home run hitter last season was Daniel Murphy -- with 12.
Jeff is right here. Of course he doesn't mention that Wright suffered a concussion but continued to play. Then he was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and put on the DL. And seriously, lay off George Foster, did he run over Jeff's dog or something?
If Bay has an absolutely outstanding 2010, he might hit 25 homers. He might.
I love statements that require absolutely nothing to back them up. If Bay has an absolutely outstanding 2010 he might cure cancer. He might.
Seriously, I make declarative statements like that all the time when I'm arguing...in a bar...with my friends...and we're on round 4 or 5.
In their new digs, the Mets also require arms. Lots and lots of arms. They require starters who can hold a game close -- guys like John Lackey; guys like Javier Vazquez; guys... whom the Mets completely ignored as others pounced.
Yeah pitching helps usually.
No doubt those Met fans who had been waiting for their team to make a statement will be pleased. Bay, like Foster, is a big name with big power and big skills.
He will also be a big bust.
Case Closed!
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