GaryMrMets
01-29-2006, 10:03 PM
http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_news.jsp?articleID=v0000msgn20060127T16294 7850&newsgroup=ap.sportsml.columnist.article&sports=baseball&team=Mets&league=mlb
http://www.msgnetwork.com/mediaStore/p/person_jsherman.jpg
Joel Sherman
NL East no longer a beast, plus other pre-Spring notes
Jan 27, 2006
The Mets are better. No doubt. But there is a reason for optimism that has nothing to do with the construction of the Met roster.
The rest of the NL East is worse.
The Marlins, who finished with the same record as the Mets last season, retreated into full surrender, trading away everyone of veteran quality on their roster except for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. Florida will have a rookie manager in Joe Girardi and untested players throughout the roster. Avoiding 100 losses would be a tribute to Girardi.
The Phillies finished five games ahead of the Mets and in second place in the NL East. Were those five games made up in the simple swap of Billy Wagner from Philadelphia to New York? The Phillies replaced Wagner with Tom Gordon, who is very good, but also very fragile and very susceptible to home runs as he goes to a homer haven in Philadelphia. The Phillies' rotation is unsettled. Even Philadelphia GM Pat Gillick said recently his team is not ready to win as it is presently constructed.
The Nationals finished last in the NL East, but just two games behind the Mets, a symbol of just how tightly contested and congested the division was last year. But Washington made a bad trade in dealing three players -- notably Brad Wilkerson -- to Texas for Alfonso Soriano. Soriano's power is going to be negated a great deal in the large RFK Stadium. And he arrives unhappy, with the possibility he will be shifted to the outfield against his will.
Which brings us to Atlanta, the NL East champion for a 14th straight time. Based on roster composition, the Mets should probably be the division favorites. But if the past decade and a half has taught us nothing else, it has taught us not to underestimate the Braves. They always seem to find an answer. Right now, they have no closer, losing Kyle Farnsworth to the Yankees. But they found Farnsworth and that means they will find someone else.
What ultimately could prove more dramatic to the NL East race is that for the first time in this all-time run, the Braves will try to win without pitching coach Leo Mazzone, who has moved on to Baltimore. In the past, Atlanta could always count on Mazzone and manager Bobby Cox shepherding a pitching staff through a season. Now former Met Roger McDowell is being entrusted with those arms. And you have to wonder if it will be the same.
LINE DRIVES
If the Indian-Red Sox trade falls apart that would be another big break for the Yankees. Boston would have received Coco Crisp in that deal, who would have been an ideal replacement for Johnny Damon. Crisp is a switch-hitter with speed, and it would have been no surprise if he produced numbers similar or better than Damon. The questions were going to be if Crisp could handle the sweltering pressure of playing in a baseball hotbed such as Boston and if he could handle the move from left field to center.
The Yanks enter spring training with way more pitching depth than they had last year, when they were forced to turn to folks such as Sean Henn, Tim Redding and Darrell May because of their poor forethought in gathering reserve arms.
The Yanks will begin spring with seven rotation possibilities. If health is not an issue, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano are certainties. Shawn Chacon and Chien-Ming Wang are the favorites to land the other two rotation spots. That would mean Jaret Wright and Aaron Small would go to the bullpen and -- barring trades -- be available when the certain injuries come along.
In the bullpen, the Yanks also will have Tanyon Sturtze and Ron Villone, who can be stretched to start in an emergency. At Columbus, the Yanks are moving Scott Proctor into the rotation to be joined by Henn and Jorge DePaula. They also have invited Al Leiter to spring training.The skill level is not overwhelming, but it is better than Redding and May.
With all of that said, the most interesting player scheduled to be at Yankee camp -- at least briefly -- is Phillip Hughes. He is the Yanks' top pitching prospect. But he is more than that. He is a pitcher that other teams think has a chance to work at the top of a rotation. His ability to stay healthy and thrive at Double-A or higher this year is vital to the Yankees' future.
On the flip side, the Mets have invited Lastings Milledge to camp -- and that should be interesting, as well. It is not inconceivable that with the right combinations the Mets could promote Milledge in July and use Cliff Floyd as trade bait to get what they need for the stretch run.
The Mets made the Jae Seo trade to the Dodgers because they were hungry to add Duaner Sanchez's power arm to their late-game bullpen mix. But don't diminish how much they wanted Steve Schmoll in the deal, as well. The Mets think Schmoll is intriguing. He throws right-handed and submarine style like Chad Bradford. But unlike Bradford, who deceives hitters by throwing slower than normal, Schmoll works at 90-92 mph.
--The Mets are very excited because second base prospect Anderson Hernandez was not only the Dominican Winter League Rookie of the Year, but then starred in the league?s World Series.
http://www.msgnetwork.com/mediaStore/r/randolph_031605bs.jpg
On paper, Willie Randolph has the tools to get his Mets over the top in the NL East. (AP)
http://www.msgnetwork.com/mediaStore/p/person_jsherman.jpg
Joel Sherman
NL East no longer a beast, plus other pre-Spring notes
Jan 27, 2006
The Mets are better. No doubt. But there is a reason for optimism that has nothing to do with the construction of the Met roster.
The rest of the NL East is worse.
The Marlins, who finished with the same record as the Mets last season, retreated into full surrender, trading away everyone of veteran quality on their roster except for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. Florida will have a rookie manager in Joe Girardi and untested players throughout the roster. Avoiding 100 losses would be a tribute to Girardi.
The Phillies finished five games ahead of the Mets and in second place in the NL East. Were those five games made up in the simple swap of Billy Wagner from Philadelphia to New York? The Phillies replaced Wagner with Tom Gordon, who is very good, but also very fragile and very susceptible to home runs as he goes to a homer haven in Philadelphia. The Phillies' rotation is unsettled. Even Philadelphia GM Pat Gillick said recently his team is not ready to win as it is presently constructed.
The Nationals finished last in the NL East, but just two games behind the Mets, a symbol of just how tightly contested and congested the division was last year. But Washington made a bad trade in dealing three players -- notably Brad Wilkerson -- to Texas for Alfonso Soriano. Soriano's power is going to be negated a great deal in the large RFK Stadium. And he arrives unhappy, with the possibility he will be shifted to the outfield against his will.
Which brings us to Atlanta, the NL East champion for a 14th straight time. Based on roster composition, the Mets should probably be the division favorites. But if the past decade and a half has taught us nothing else, it has taught us not to underestimate the Braves. They always seem to find an answer. Right now, they have no closer, losing Kyle Farnsworth to the Yankees. But they found Farnsworth and that means they will find someone else.
What ultimately could prove more dramatic to the NL East race is that for the first time in this all-time run, the Braves will try to win without pitching coach Leo Mazzone, who has moved on to Baltimore. In the past, Atlanta could always count on Mazzone and manager Bobby Cox shepherding a pitching staff through a season. Now former Met Roger McDowell is being entrusted with those arms. And you have to wonder if it will be the same.
LINE DRIVES
If the Indian-Red Sox trade falls apart that would be another big break for the Yankees. Boston would have received Coco Crisp in that deal, who would have been an ideal replacement for Johnny Damon. Crisp is a switch-hitter with speed, and it would have been no surprise if he produced numbers similar or better than Damon. The questions were going to be if Crisp could handle the sweltering pressure of playing in a baseball hotbed such as Boston and if he could handle the move from left field to center.
The Yanks enter spring training with way more pitching depth than they had last year, when they were forced to turn to folks such as Sean Henn, Tim Redding and Darrell May because of their poor forethought in gathering reserve arms.
The Yanks will begin spring with seven rotation possibilities. If health is not an issue, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano are certainties. Shawn Chacon and Chien-Ming Wang are the favorites to land the other two rotation spots. That would mean Jaret Wright and Aaron Small would go to the bullpen and -- barring trades -- be available when the certain injuries come along.
In the bullpen, the Yanks also will have Tanyon Sturtze and Ron Villone, who can be stretched to start in an emergency. At Columbus, the Yanks are moving Scott Proctor into the rotation to be joined by Henn and Jorge DePaula. They also have invited Al Leiter to spring training.The skill level is not overwhelming, but it is better than Redding and May.
With all of that said, the most interesting player scheduled to be at Yankee camp -- at least briefly -- is Phillip Hughes. He is the Yanks' top pitching prospect. But he is more than that. He is a pitcher that other teams think has a chance to work at the top of a rotation. His ability to stay healthy and thrive at Double-A or higher this year is vital to the Yankees' future.
On the flip side, the Mets have invited Lastings Milledge to camp -- and that should be interesting, as well. It is not inconceivable that with the right combinations the Mets could promote Milledge in July and use Cliff Floyd as trade bait to get what they need for the stretch run.
The Mets made the Jae Seo trade to the Dodgers because they were hungry to add Duaner Sanchez's power arm to their late-game bullpen mix. But don't diminish how much they wanted Steve Schmoll in the deal, as well. The Mets think Schmoll is intriguing. He throws right-handed and submarine style like Chad Bradford. But unlike Bradford, who deceives hitters by throwing slower than normal, Schmoll works at 90-92 mph.
--The Mets are very excited because second base prospect Anderson Hernandez was not only the Dominican Winter League Rookie of the Year, but then starred in the league?s World Series.
http://www.msgnetwork.com/mediaStore/r/randolph_031605bs.jpg
On paper, Willie Randolph has the tools to get his Mets over the top in the NL East. (AP)