Endy Chavez - The Strength to Be There.

This image isn't going anywhere, and neither will the memory. Endy Chavez was that bit of 2006 we were all holding onto. Holding onto it with hopes that our Metropolitans would mold it into something different. Unfortunately for us, the ending hasn't changed the last 2 seasons - as a matter of fact it's grown more dismal. 

Now we've sent Endy, "the catch," and all hope that came with it three thousand miles away. It had to be done in order to move away from our failures and improve upon where we have come up short. It's a move like this that is so hard for a fan to swallow - the loss of a favorite. The player that creates the moments you'll never forget

 October 19th, 2006, I was on my couch at my old apartment in the village. My friends, who were converted Mets fans for the evening, and I were clutching onto the World Series tickets that I had "won" the opportunity to buy. Hopes were high that night, and they had to be - Ollie P. was on the mound. Much unlike his 3-13 regular season record (and 6.55 ERA) had spoken, Ollie was brilliant that night (maybe brilliant is overdoing it and sufficient is more appropriate, but this is nostalgia here - overdoing it is mandatory). 

Things got dicey come the 5th, but Willie was going to "stick with his guy" and weather the storm with Ollie at the helm. Ollie got Mr. Pujols to pop out and end the tumultuos inning. 

With Scott Rolen up, one down, and a man on in the 6th, it happened (as called by Gary Cohen):

"Perez deals. Fastball, hit in the air to left field - that's deep. Back goes Chavez, back near the wall...leaping and he...MADE THE CATCH! He took a home run away from Rolen! Trying to get back to first, Edmonds; he's doubled off! And the inning is over! Endy Chavez saved the day! He reached high over the left field wall, right in front of the Mets' visitor's bullpen, and pulled back a two-run homer. He went to the apex of his leap, and caught it in the webbing of his glove - with his elbow above the fence. A miraculous play, by Endy Chavez, and then Edmonds is doubled off first, and Oliver Perez escapes the sixth inning. The play of the year, the play maybe, of the franchise's history for Endy Chavez. The inning is over."

I dropped my ticket, banged on the walls, gave high fives, and screamed out the window "double play! double play!" That moment felt like destiny. We were going to get to the World Series...I was going to go to the World Series, and scream about double plays and miraculous catches with fellow fans, and not to strangers innocently walking below my apartment window.

I'll skip the play by play of the rest of the evening, as we all know how the night ended. This isn't about the failure of the evening (which ironically enough is being sent the same distance away). 

Endy Chavez and the catch represented the team, the time. I'm glad we're moving past that year and building upon our shortcomings. More importantly, I'm glad I have my memory of October 19th, 2006. So thank you Endy and farewell...oh and what the heck - one last time:

"EN - DY  CHA - VEZ" clap - clap - clap, clap, clap "EN - DY CHA - VEZ"

On A Mets/Phillies Brawl

Today Cole Hamels said, when asked by WFAN if he thought the Mets are "Choke artists":

"Last year and this year we did believe that. I think three years ago we didn’t, because they smoked everybody and I thought that was the year they would go to the World Series - and unfortunately that didn’t happen. But, you know, that’s kind of what we believe and what we’re gonna always believe until they prove us wrong. Yeah, over the last two years they’ve been choke artists."

Darryl Strawberry responded by saying,

"That’s sad… If we had a team say that about us – oh, no – they were gonna be in trouble… I mean, it would definitely be hard if, in the days us playing, if somebody said that, I mean, we’d have stuck one right in his neck. We’d be fighting. There’s no way any one would be allowed to disrespect us like that, and that is what has happened to the Phillies."

It's reasonable to think we'll see a massive brawl between the Phillies and the Mets next season. Whether or not you think this is a good thing might say something about you as a baseball fan.

First, there's the whole "baseball is an American tradition" viewpoint, where the game of baseball symbolizes some deep, important, patriotic stuff (or so I've heard), and that the game needs to remain clean and good spirited otherwise civilization as we know it will collapse. The people in this camp -- and I think most fans can sympathize with it (the strongest sympathies likely elicited during dramatic sports montages that summarize decades of baseball, esp. those that start with black-and-white footage) -- were particularly horrified by the steroid scandal. And every time a massive brawl ensues, a little bit of the soul of baseball dies.

Then there's the camp that simply loves competition. It doesn't matter the means through which people compete; what's compelling is watching one very talented person, or group of people, dominate another talented person/group of people. Physical violence often makes the whole thing that much more fun to watch (and I think most of America can agree with this, i.e. the ratings dominance of football v. every other sport in America). This is the camp I'm in, mostly. So if two teams (let's say the Mets and Phillies) were to throw off their gloves, and bust each other up (If we are to make bets on the brawl, we might have to consider the enormous advantage the extra ear on Victorino's helmet provides the Phillies), everyone in this pro-competition camp would win. I can already foresee myself giving someone a high-five about this, should it happen. It would be a glorious release of tension. If a fight doesn't happen at this point, then these exchanges between the Mets and Phillies are just going to give everyone serious blue-balls.

I also can't help but be nostalgic about the Vet (and, by correlation, Shea). I miss when the game seemed rougher. (Maybe the roid-rage was entertaining?) I think a strong metaphor can be drawn between the NYC of old (gritty, dirty, dangerous) and the NYC of new (clean, corporate, sterile) and the old and new stadiums. Maybe the fans can start throwing batteries at players again. Foster and nurse the anger. Make it into something proud and beautiful. I'm also kind of hoping a brawl might make some of the jackasses up in the new-and-improved corporate Boxes a little uncomfortable during their business outings.

There's a New Putz in Queens

Last night the Mets completed a 3 team, 12 player swap that will bring veteran closer JJ Putz to New York. New York sent reliever Aaron Heilman, LHP Jason Vargas, fan favorite outfielder Endy Chavez, 1B/DH prospect Mike Carp, and two other minor leaguers to the Mariners for Putz, CF Jeremy Reed, and middle reliever Sean Green.

The third team in the mix, the Cleveland Indians, sent Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle, in exchange for right-handed reliever Joe Smith from the Mets, and 2B Luis Valbuena from the Mariners.

There are two positives about this "old fashion trade" as Minaya put it: First, it undoubtedly gives the Mets the best 8th & 9th inning tandem in the game with Putz setting up Francisco Rodriguez. The only tandem that would have come close would have been that of Wood & Marmol if they were still a pair.

Second, and more importantly for most Mets fans, it sends Aaron Heilman as far away from New York as possible. Aaron had a rough go of it last year with a nagging knee injury and a penchant for giving up home runs in clutch spots. The New York fans were tough on him and he never had the mental dexterity to get the job done. I hope for his sake he has a better run of it in Seattle.

This opens up 2 spots on the 40-man roster for the Mets. One spot will be occupied by Francisco Rodriguez, who took a tour of Citi Field yesterday and will wear #75 this season, and the other is to be determined.

Mets & Francisco Rodriguez Reach Agreement - Welcome to Queens

According to ESPN.com, the Mets have reached an agreement with Francisco Rodriguez. The reported 3 year, $37 million deal is pending a physical.

FA Reliever Option- Francisco Rodriguez

Last year, Francisco Rodriquez was the first closer to surpass the 60 save mark. Last year, The Mets bullpen was the first such bullpen to make me break 5 different television remote controls. Simple arithmetic would tell you to add this statistically gaudy save monster to what is currently an embarrassing bullpen looking to improve. However, life and baseball aren't that simple. K-Rod comes at a high price, and his prolific amount of appearances combined with his volatile throwing motion have to put a hesitance in this blogger's mind to sign a closer who finished 6th in AL MVP voting last year.

K-Rod has proven to be an elite closer in his 6 years with the Angels, but all closers are risky FA targets when their price tag is at an estimated 15 million per. The Mets have several needs, none greater than the bullpen, but "not one closer does a bullpen make." –Yoda. It may be wiser for the Mets to spread their budget around on several relievers, and add a lower tier yet still above average closer such as Kerry Wood or JJ Putz.

So why not go for the gold and get arguably the best closer in the game (as long as Mariano is around that will always be up for debate - plus some guy Brad Lidge on some team whose name is escaping me did OK last year)? Well, he pitches wild and has had a history of elbow and shoulder problems. He was originally a starter in the Angels organization but nagging arm injuries pushed him to the bullpen where he found his niche. Since then, he has pitched many innings with the same jarring across-the-body pitching motion that deceives hitters. Not to mention, it affects his fielding as he is off balance at the end of each pitch. Now I know the Mets aren't looking for Ozzie Smith-like fielding ability in their closer, but hey, a great fielding pitcher is a plus (see Greg Maddux).

Francisco kind of reminds me of a more powerful John Franco because of his insane slider and hard breaking curve. He gets the majority of his strikeouts from people chasing pitches out of the strike zone. As a Met fan I love John Franco, but I know he didn't obtain the longevity he did throwing it that hard and with such a forceful motion.

I'm playing devil's advocate here, because it is obvious K-Rod is an awesome immediate upgrade over what we have now - but will a long-term investment in him pay off? Maybe. Am I being too harsh on a 26 year old? Maybe. I would love for the Mets to sign K-Rod and have him make me eat my words. However if I were Omar, I would attempt to sign several more affordable relievers, because one large peg does not plug many small holes. I would also try to get Orlando Hudson and ship Luis Castillo to Siberia, but that's a story for another day.

The Mets like K-Rod more than me, but not as much as one would assume given his stats and their situation. This is evidenced by the Mets last night putting an official offer out on the table, but for only 3 years. It seems Mets executives share some doubt in his longevity and don’t want to guarantee too many years. They also don’t feel the need to overextend themselves to any one closer, as Omar Minaya was quoted as saying, “All of these agents think there is more out there, They're going to be in for a shock.” Sounds to me like a take it or leave it type of situation the Mets have offered K-Rod, and it is doubtful such an offer would be accepted after an all time record setting year. However, with meetings set-up later in the week to talk to formidable closers such as Trevor Hoffman and Brian Fuentes, and a serious interest in a possible trade to bring a closer like Bobby Jenks or Jose Valverde to the bullpen, it is doubtful the Mets will lose much sleep over K-Rod’s likely rejection of the offer.

UPDATE: ESPN is now reporting that the two sides are VERY close to a 3 year, 37 million dollar agreement. It looks like Omar was right, and there really wasn't much else out there for K-Rod. For a 26 year old closer to get 62 saves in a contract year, and only a 3 year deal, this recession must be inching closer to a full blown depression. As for my problems with K-Rod, I'm going to keep them in the very back of my mind, but root like hell for guy, welcome to the big apple K-Rod! Hope we're still cool!.

(Now I just secretly hope our technology advances to give him the same operation they gave Wolverine in the first X-Men movie, so we can bond light weight metal to his skeleton, rendering his throwing style and innings pitched a moot point, as he will become indestructible. Retractable Fighting Claws for brawls would be nice too).

FA Reliever Option - Kerry Wood

Kerry Wood doesn't beat hitters with deception, he beats them with gas. His stuff is so good, that ESPN sports pundit and former Blue Jay's special assistant GM Keith Law ranked Wood higher than both K-Rod and Brian Fuentes out of the available FA closers.

In a recent article for SI.com, Baseball Prospectus's Joe Sheehan wrote an article playing the part of Met's GM and selected Wood as his candidate for the closer role. He would come cheaper than both Francisco Rodriguez & Brian Fuentes and at a shorter term. His sheer throwing ability and experience pitching multiple innings brings tremendous upside to the bullpen. The Mets would be able to bring him in come the 8th inning should they need him in a big spot.

The downside of Wood is very apparent as he has lived on the DL for the majority of his career. However he thrived in the closer role in 2008 converting 34 saves in 40 opportunities while striking out 84 in 66+ innings with a phenomenal swing and miss ratio. He had a blip on the DL with a blister on his throwing index finger - something that shouldn't raise too many flags as he pitched more innings this past season than the prior 2 combined.

As has been written across the Mets blogosphere, it is believed that the organization will trade for a setup man with closer experience. All of the options for the closer role have risks (K-Rod's violent delivery, Wood's DL history, & Fuentes's sheer ability) and it is starting to look like Wood may have the greatest reward to whichever team takes that risk. As projected by Buster Olney, it's looking like Omar is going to offer Wood something in the range of 2 years @ $8 - 9 million per.

It's great to have someone injury prone on a short leash - however will there be a buyers market for closers again in 2 years? Should the team sign him, lets hope so - otherwise we'll all be going through this process again come 2011 hot stove season.

FA Reliever Option - Brian Fuentes

Brian Fuentes shares something in common with Billy Wagner - both have had a stretch in the last two years where they blew 3 straight saves. The difference maker here is Clint Hurdle had Manny Corpas waiting to take the reins in Colorado when he decided to shake things up at the next BS. Willie Randolph had to “believe in his guy" (as we learned later this season neither he nor Manuel had anybody to change things up with) and Billy was able to pitch another day.

The most popular comment spanning the Mets blogosphere these days regarding Fuentes is "Doesn't anyone remember that he lost his job in 2007?!" Yes, most do (especially fantasy owners). In June of 2007 Fuentes blew 4 straight saves (and not in the Coors Light air mind you — on the road) and Hurdle gave the ball to Corpas come save time for the rest of the season. To Clint's credit it worked. It turned out Fuentes had back issues that landed him on the DL and Manny delivered all the way to the World Series.

Needless to say come 2008, Fuentes rebounded in a walk year and put up 30 saves, including 17 straight to cap off the season. The last closer to end a season with close to that many straight saves still hasn't blown one yet (what team does he play for again).

So what will Fuentes bring to the table? He's a lefty with a deceitful delivery. The ball looks like it's coming out of a slow-motioned-sidearm air dancer before it's fired to the plate. He comes with over 100 career saves worth of experience, will most certainly come cheaper than K-Rod, and isn't riddled with the injury concerns of Wood.

Arguments against him - he has played primarily in a weak NL West for his career. The talent pool in the NL East is surely more impressive. Yes he has pitched in the playoffs, but his postseason resume hardly qualifies as experience for what he'd be signed for as it wasn't in the closer role. Not that the numbers are that impressive anyway.

Should the Mets be unable to sign K-Rod, it appears as though a good portion of the fan base would gladly take Fuentes for 2 - 3 years guaranteed with an incentive based contract (e.g.: 2009 base salary — $7 million and can go up from there based on seasonal conversion milestones up to $X million. 2010 base salary — $8 million, etc.). If Minaya is to ink Fuentes, it would be wise for the GM to sign a set-up man with closing experience such as Huston Street. This way should Fuentes falter as he did in 2007, the team would have someone ready to step up behind him.