In a somewhat underwhelming trade today the Mets sent perennial media scapegoat young outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Nationals today for two spares players; Jon Baker* impersonator Brian Schneider and Ryan Church who is completely overrated gritty. The Mets organization had been sending signals that they aren’t quite in love with Ponch Estrada and would like to find a more defensive minded catcher, a fair assessment of Schneider as the closest he has come to being an offensive threat is the time got drunk in the clubhouse and started making racially insensitive jokes at Frank Robinson’s expense; don’t worry, he went to rehab- that was a weird time.

Ryan Church is more of a question mark. The Mets are looking at one of two options. The first and most disturbing would be that Willie had some influence on this deal. Willie Randolph’s penchant for using an upturned broom over a young player as long as the broom has been in the league for a decade may be the reason Church is headed for the Big Apple to serve as everyday rightfielder. In which case, mediocrity hasn’t been combined with boringness since Kareem Garcia and Shane Spencer platooned in right. Who wants pizza?

The other non-eye-gougingly boring alternative is that Church was brought in as a trading chip to deal along with Estrada, Gomez or Martinez and Humber or Pelfrey or Mulvey. Many speculate that the Twins would want more than just talented prospects in exchange for Johan Santana and a 72 hour window. Should the Twins want a pitching prospect, an future centerfield prospect and a major league ready outfielder, Church would certainly fit the bill. (see Boring = Minnesota = Ryan Church.) Should the Mets lose the Santana sweepstakes and go to the likely option B in Oakland for either Blanton or Haren, Church may prove valuable. Of course he may not, who knows what obscure extraneous statistic the A’s evaluate talent on this week. Maybe Church hit an even amount of doubles with runners on third in the sixth inning of day games and that doesn’t mesh with the A’s Scouting system’s Department of Numbers We Pulled out of Our Asses this Week.

One can only hope this is a first step in a series of moves designed to land a front end pitcher. I really liked Lastings and hoped he would reach his potential with the Mets. If this goes no where, look for Church to get booed early and often, especially if Milledge continues to progress. Let’s wait and see…

*I hear-by pledge never to use another Chips reference on this website again.**

**The above pledge is null and void should the Mets acquire anyone name Wilcox, Grossman or Getraer. I watched too much TV as a child.

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The Mets shocked the world today (and by world, I mean me) by actually trading lump of shit relief pitcher Guillermo Mota to the Suckers Brewers. The Brewers must not get the baseball package if they actually wanted Mota. I really don’t have a strong feeling on this; I really haven’t seen a lot of Estrada outside his acting career. On one hand you all but ensure the departure of Paul LoDuca and on the other you get rid of the worst relief pitcher in the history of the game.

 

 

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The Catcher Conundrum

I don’t know what happened with the Yorvit Torrealba trade and I don’t want to know. All I know is he isn’t coming to Shea. That guy never really impressed me. I certainly don’t want to hear about how promising Jesus Flores is; every time I do I just get mad. (Omar’s Rule 5 Draft Blunder should follow him during his tenure with the Mets) The trade market isn’t the place to waste trading chips. Don’t screw around, Omar, give Paulie Ballgame his money. This isn’t Minnesota or Oakland. Pay for three years for a diminishing LoDuca to go with Castro and be done with it.

Brave Hearted

It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that the days of Tommy Glavine in blue and orange have come to an end. I can’t say I’m surprised or really broken hearted. After his last game as a Met, I don’t think any diehard orange-and-blue-blood fan was eagerly anticipating another Glavine start. Game 162 wasn’t quite as sickening as Steve Trachsel’s give up last performance as a Met, but it surely wiped out any and all goodwill Tom earned during his stay in New York. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Tom.

That said, Glavine leaves a large void in the starting rotation next to the question marks after Pedro and El Duque’s names father time has penciled in at this stage of their careers. There’s no doubt they are good pitchers but not even the most glass half full fan believes either pitcher goes the whole season without injury. Something clearly has to be done. The question is what? Carlos Silva, Livian Hernadez? It doesn’t really knock anyone’s socks off. What to do…

The Trade Market

The term “Trade Market” might as well be synonymous with the name Johan Santana as far as the Mets are concerned. I can’t think of another pitcher out their any team might be willing to part with of the caliber the Mets need. (You heard me Joe Blanton.) The problem decision has to come down to the guys going to Minnesota in exchange for Santana and an extended contract. If the Mets opt to pursue this, the Twins are going to want a Centerfielder to replace Torii Hunter. (Likely a true centerfielder that can play that ridiculous outfield that features trash bags and a white ceiling for some reason.) That would likely ( by my estimate) need to be Freddy Martinez, Carlos Gomes or Lastings Milledge (pick two) and at least Pelfrey (though not likely) or Humber and maybe even Heilman.

Personally I keep going back and forth on this. First I dismiss it immediately. We don’t need to trade the top prospects; I don’t care if it’s for a 22 year old Sandy Koufax. The I sit around thinking about watching Brian Lawrence follow Dave Williams after I have to watch whatever Jose Lima clone pitch three innings and give up 7 runs every five days only to watch the bullpen shoulder the load mid-July after El Duque needs to cope with itchy liver spots or his Osteoporosis flares up and sidelines him for a month and a half, and guess what; I find myself considering a deal. I have been craving to see those young players mature for years now but it isn’t like we’re trading a Scott Kasmir for a Victor Zambrano here (sorry, too soon?). I would love to wait for Santana on the open market, but I really think that will never happen. After the Barry Zito deal, I don’t think any big name pitcher will hit the open market again and if the Mets don’t act soon, we may never get another shot at him again.

Bottom line

The Mets can get by with the position players they have now if they resign LoDuca. The Starting pitching must be supplemented soon. Failure to do so will surely deplete the bullpen by September and we all know how that ends. I don’t want to mortgage the future but risks and tough decisions are a part of baseball. As D.A. Adam Schiff would tell Blackjack McCoy, “Just make a deal.”

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