Not to toot my own horn here but the latest JJ Putz flap only goes to support the idea expressed way back when that the Mets cared not about the results when they committed five guys and $10 million to get Putz, only the illusion that they’d boldly gone out and created some kind of impenetrable bullpen.
That said, I think there’s more room for debating whether the team treated JJ Putz’s injuries properly than whether an impenetrable bullpen really exists. In other words, the Mets screwed up no matter how Putz’s health turned out.
A look at the Mets roster will tell you how unspectacular this offseason’s been by contrast. A little more than two weeks before pitchers and catchers report, and 11 men on the 40-man roster have yet to be officially assigned numbers, and a couple of them (Eddie Kunz, Tobi Stoner) are no locks to return in what we saw them wear last (40 and 29, respectively).
Behold the unassigned:
Jack Egbert, P
Kelvim Escobar, P (probably 45)
Clint Everts, P
Ryota Igarashi, P (probably 18)
Arturo Lopez, P
Jay Marshall, P
Henry Blanco, C
Chris Coste, C
Shawn Bowman, INF
Chris Carter, INF-OF
Gary Matthews, OF
Also invited to camp on minor-league deals:
R.A. Dickey, P
Elmer Dessens, P (wore 64 last year)
Bobby Livingston, P
Russ Adams, INF
Jolbert Cabrera, INF-OF
Mike Cervenak, INF
Andy Green, INF (wore 10 29 last year)
Mike Hessman, OF
Jesus Feliciano,OF
Frank (Smithtown’s Own) Catalonotto, INF-OF
Wed, 02/03/2010 – 11:00am — Marc from Brooklyn (not verified)
To silence the relentless
To silence the relentless complaints from fans and columnists, I think the only thing the Mets cared about in the Putz trade was getting rid of old number 48. How dealt with Putz’s injury is another, sadder story.
Wed, 02/03/2010 – 4:58pm — Matt B (not verified)
Andy Green
I think Green wore 10 in Spring Training, but then it was assigned to Sheffield. I think Green ended up wearing #29 for a couple of weeks in August before Stoner came up.
Wed, 02/03/2010 – 5:23pm — gored82
Green???
Why does Andy Green even matter? That his uni number is even discussed on here is not a good sign for the upcoming season, LOL!
Wed, 02/03/2010 – 6:02pm — mbtn01
What they deserved
Marc I totally agree. Seems like the wheels got in motion for this immediately after the season when Jeff Wilpon met with Omar and instead of firing him (like he probably should have) decided instead to engage in “addition by subtraction” as a means of repentance for the ’08 collapse. He actually said that.
Right then, you knew that they’d go out and throw the most money at the guy with the most saves (a mistake they’d already made with Wagner) and basically give away everyone else. It was dumb, and you know what? I’m afraid Rodriguez has yet to show us his worst.
Matt, you are obviously correct with Green. He’s one of those guys I’m already forgetting were on the club last year.
Wed, 02/03/2010 – 8:58pm — 9th string catcher (not verified)
chemistry
Sort of reminds me of the Jets of the past few years. Since the front office works collaboratively, they need to have the right balance of personalitites. Omar and the Wilpons don’t work well together which is obviously why no coherent strategy is set or followed, which is why mistakes like trading for the wrong person or not checking for injuries happen.
The Wilpons are the bosses. Omar thinks he’s more astute on baseball matters than he is. They need their own Gene Michael or Terry Bradway – a guy with outstanding consulting skills who can guide both parties without taking too much credit or blame. Until then, the Mets will continue their Knicks-like way.
Thu, 02/04/2010 – 8:20am — scott (not verified)
im feeling that carter gets
im feeling that carter gets 21. bowman gets 23 and clint gets 22. gm jr. could get 24. blanco will get 36. coste will get 47. and catalonotto will get 10.
those are some of my predictions
Thu, 02/04/2010 – 5:53pm — Ranjrz5
Don’t see the Mets reissuing
Don’t see the Mets reissuing #24 to anyone not named Rickey Henderson… would not be surprised to see Matthews Jr. in #23.
Fri, 02/05/2010 – 2:39am — gored82
Bowman?
Why would guys like Bowman and Everts get numbers lower than 60? Do they even have a chance to make the big club?
Fri, 02/05/2010 – 6:08am — Anonymous (not verified)
bowman and everts
i think everts has a real good chance of making the team. and bowman can make it if he can play something other than first (maybe 2nd or OF). hed also have to beat out carter, catalonotto and the other guys who are invited
Fri, 02/05/2010 – 7:07am — mbtn01
destiny
Bowman is destined for No. 71, I can feel it. It’d be surprised to see Everts in 22. 65 for him?
Sat, 02/06/2010 – 4:38am — gored82
71 and 65…
Now THOSE are the kind of numbers I’m talking about for the likes of Bowman and Everts, LOL!
Tue, 02/09/2010 – 6:03am — mets4life (not verified)
high numbers
that guy who said theyd get low numbers must not know about them.
i like when they put the no names in the random high numbers.
Tue, 02/09/2010 – 4:15pm — Chris C. (not verified)
I, for one, would like to
I, for one, would like to see who gets #99 this year.
Tue, 02/09/2010 – 6:54pm — Dave Mackey (not verified)
Numbers of the missing!
Per the Mets website… Egbert 35, Escobar 45, Everts 61, Igarashi 18, Lopez 32, Marshall 47.
Blanco 4, Coste 3.
Bowman 63.
Carter 23, Matthews 19.
Tue, 02/09/2010 – 8:59pm — Jon (not verified)
Thanks Dave
Thanks Dave