FromFlushing.com

The Mets have recently signed Jason Bay to a 4 year 66 million dollar contract. Personally I think this is great a signing because the reward of a healthy Jason Bay is a lot greater than the risk.

Maine will likely return next week, Beltran could return tomorrow, and Sheffield will likely be shut down for the rest of the 2009.

Josh Thole has started two MLB games and is hitting 500. However, Jerry has stated that Thole will only start against RHP, even though Thole hit LHP .328 in the minors. There are pros and cons to this strategy. The pro is that it will keep Thole’s confidence up. The con is that Jerry will not be able to see how Thole hits LHP until spring training, which is a totally different atmosphere. Therefor Jerry will not know how mentally strong Thole is. I think Jerry is correct in not starting Thole against LHP but I would like to see Thole in pinch hitting assignments against LHP. That way Jerry can see how he hits Major League left handed pitching without putting Thole in danger of losing his confidence. This way Jerry gets a small glimpse into the future.
Speaking of the future, will Josh Thole be the Mets’ starting catcher in 2010? I say yes because it is unlikely that the Mets will make any moves catcher wise because the Mets have other priorities.

Today the Mets lost when their starter lasted a stark a six run filled two-thirds of an inning. Yet the Mets scored seven runs and had men at 1st and 2nd with nobody out and Francoeur lined into a unassisted triple play. There has been no slack cut for this team. They are currently 15.5 games back in the division. The only chance the Mets have if they win the next 30 of the their 38 remaining games. The chance are bleak. But there is good news. The Mets have to make their team younger and more athletic. They have already started the process by placing Wagner, 38, on waivers, Wagner was claimed by the Red Sox and according to Ken Rosenthal the Red Sox will be motivated to give up ‘real prospects’ if a deal for Wagner actually does take place. That said, the Wagner deal would be a move in the right direction. Hopefully the Mets will do that and build a team around K-Rod, Wright, Santana, and Reyes.

Billy Wagner will be a type A free agent this off season. That means that the Mets will net a first round draft pick if Wagner declines arbitration. But what makes me think that Wagner will decline arbitration to a team, when healthy, is the team to beat. Well I am guessing he wants to be a closer and J.J Putz, when healthy, is better than Wagner and is also a lot cheaper. If Wagner does decline, it will help the Mets continue their progression to a younger and more athletic team.

Last night the Mets held a 2-1 lead until the ninth. For the ninth inning Jerry handed the ball over the the Mets’ all-star closer, K-Rod. He blew the save (blown call by the umpire), his second consecutive blown save. The Mets were all over the Padres pitcher, who had thrown 78 pitches before he was out of the thirsd inning. But Kevin Correia went six innings and was practically untouchable after the third. Ollie pitched 6 1/3 1 run baseball while only allowing two walks, which is a rarity in itself. On Tuesday the Mets played Cardinals and Santana went 8 inning and was given 7 runs, yet the Mets still lost that game. Maybe this is not the Mets year and should start thinking and planning for the future.

The Mets have designated Angel Berroa for assignment and have called the recently re-acquired Anderson Hernandez. The Mets traded a prospect to the Nationals in return for Hernandez.

Jose Reyes has been sent back to New York for physical therapy and is most likely done for the season. Jon Niese is definitely done for the season and will need surgery to repair a torn hamstring.

Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco were trade to the Phillies for four minor league prospects.