Squawker Lisa, this item from metsblog might make YOU overturn the buffet table:
Free-agent LHP Andy Pettitte has a three-year, $36 million offer from an ‘unnamed team,’ reports Jon Heyman at SI.com...
...umm, crazy thought…but, is there any chance that the Mets are the ‘unnamed team,’ since they are supposedly seeking a front-end, left-handed starting pitcher…
My first complaint is having Andy Pettitte described as front-end pitcher. The Yankees are looking at him as their fifth starter on a one-year deal.
But my main complaint is that if Pettitte is only worth $10 million to the Yankees, the Mets (or anyone else) shouldn't be offering practically what they gave K-Rod. Overbidding is the Yankees' domain.
So while I won't overreact to Hamels, I might overreact to Pettitte. Stay in pinstripes, Andy. Don't try to find out what comes after being dead to Lisa.
Speaking of overreacting, I wonder if Omar Minaya was a little too eager to get rid of Scott Schoeneweis. The idea that the relievers were forced into unsuitable roles may have actually applied to Schoeneweis, who was one of the top relievers in the league last year against lefties, but floundered when asked to be more than a lefty specialist.
Now the Mets are down to just Pedro Feliciano on the left side in the pen, just when the Phillies have gotten even more left-handed by signing Raul Ibanez.
In return for Schoeneweis, all the Mets got was Connor Robertson. Here's what ESPN analyst Keith Law said about Robertson a year ago when he came over to Arizona in the deal for Dan Haren:
Arizona also got a fringe bullpen arm in Connor Robertson, whom it could have had for free in October when Oakland placed him on outright waivers.
Great - another fringe bullpen arm. Maybe his entrance music can be the theme from the TV show "Fringe."
(Speaking of entrance music, I did think Aaron Heilman had the best music of all - "London Calling" by the Clash.)
The most notable thing about Connor Robertson might be that his brother David pitched for the Yankees part of last year.
It's not clear if either Robertson will make the major-league squad next year, but if both do, it might be the first time the Mets and Yankees have had brothers playing for both teams at the same time.
Jesus Alou played for the Mets in 1975, while brother Felipe played for the Yankees between 1971 and 1973 and brother Matty also played for the Yankees in 1973.
Al Leiter's brother Mark played one game for the Yankees in 1990.
Bret Boone, brother of Aaron F. Boone, signed a minor-league contract with the Mets in January of 2006, but quit shortly into spring training.
The Mets and Yankees do have at least one father-son combination, since Felipe's son Moises recently played for the Mets between DL stints.
And they could have another before too long if Mets' 2008 first-round draft choice Ike Davis pans out - he's the son of of former Yankee reliever Ron Davis.
Can you think of any other Met-Yankee player family combinations?
Did you forget the Alomars - Sandy (Yankees) amd Roberto (Mets)? Also the Berras - Yogi - (did play a few games for the Mets) and Dale (Yankees).
ReplyDeleteJon: Formerly successful Mets have been known to become Yankees and find even more success. But a formerly successful Yankee going to the Mets? How often does that happen? It didn't work when David Cone tried to go back, nor did it work for Orlando Hernandez, although they had the legitimate excuses of injury and age. Pettitte is 36, getting on but not "old." He could probably still help somebody. But him going to the Mets wouldn't help anybody. Except the Phillies, the Marlins, the Braves, the Nationals...
ReplyDeleteForget Schoenweiss. He was a good pitcher once, but that day is long passed.
"London Calling" is not a good entrance song by a pitcher. You want something that will rev up the fans and intimidate the opposition. "Enter Sandman" works. "Welcome to the Jungle" works. "Hell's Bells" works. (Unless you're about to face the mighty Scott Brosius in the World Series.) "London Calling" is not that kind of song.
Bret Boone quitting on the Mets in March was probably smart. Certainly, it beats David Wright quitting on them every September. (Or, in the case of 2006, in October.)
Like Jonmouk, I remembered the Berras, but unlike him I had forgotten the Alomars. It's probably understandable: By the time I was old enough to watch baseball, Sandy Alomar Sr. was already gone from The Bronx. But I'll never forget Roberto Alomar as a Met. He's the only player I can think of who played his way out of the Hall of Fame. He didn't go from "sure Hall-of-Famer" to "borderline Hall candidate at best" due to injury or substance abuse, but due to poor performance.