Let the Bidding Begin: Yanks Make Early Splash in Offseason

In my last post, I wrote that Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter all made their voices heard this offseason in their feelings for acquiring free agent pitcher CC Sabathia. This week, I decided to explore the blogosphere once again to find comments and analysis on two recent moves the Yankees have made. On Friday - the first day teams could officially speak to free agents outside of their organization - the New York Yankees offered Sabathia a 6-year, $140 million contract that would make him the highest paid pitcher in Major League Baseball. While the Sabathia situation remains in limbo, the Yankees wasted no time in filling their vacancy at first base. The team officially said goodbye to 7-year first baseman Jason Giambi (currently a free agent) when it traded backup Wilsom Betemit and two minor leaguers to the Chicago White Sox for first baseman / outfielder Nick Swisher. Although many believed the Yankees would go after free agent Mark Teixeira this offseason to play first base, it seems as though the team is content with Swisher playing the position, as long as he puts up strong power numbers. Also, the move allows the Yankees to focus solely on their starting rotation and go after other star pitchers not named Sabathia. While the Yankees' offseason is far from over - actually it is just beginning - this week I explored the blogosphere to find two posts that covered the Swisher trade and the Sabathia offer. The first post I read was entitled "Making Sense of the Swisher Trade," written by baseball expert Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. This post in the blog entitled Bats deals with the positives and negatives Swisher, shown in the photo on the left, brings to the Yankees. While Kepner stresses Swisher is no Teixeria, he also says Swisher can provide a solid replacement for Giambi at first base. The second post I read was entitled "CC the perfect fit for the Bombers," written by Mark Feinsand, a baseball expert who has covered the Yankees for the past 8 years. On his blog titled Blogging the Bombers, Feinsand writes the Yankees' offer for Sabathia was a good one despite negative reactions from some fans and general managers around the league. He explains the Yankees needed to set the tone for negotiations right out of the gate, and that is exactly what the team did. I found both of these posts on their respective blogs to be very insightful, and I commented on both of them. My comments can be read below.

"Making Sense of the Swisher Trade"
My Response:

First of all, I would like to thank you Tyler for writing such an informative post on the Yankees' new acquisition of Nick Swisher for the 2009 season. Based on what I have read outside of your blog, it seems as though management has him pegged as next year's first baseman, although Swisher can play all three outfield positions as well. Over the last few months, I have read a lot of you and your colleagues' posts in Bats, which has allowed me to see that your crew provides some of the best in-depth blogging for New York baseball. You brought up a great point in your second paragraph: "The Yankees showed here Teixeira is a player they don't absolutely have to have." Heading into the offseason, many people around baseball assumed the Yankees would be big players in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. While acquiring Swisher does not completely rule the Yankees out of the Teixeira bidding, it does put the first baseman on the back burner. By trading for Swisher, the Yankees not only saved money - and possibly a long negotiation period with Teixeira and infamous agent Scott Boras - on their first baseman but the team also portrayed that its prime goal this offseason is to focus on pitching, pitching and more pitching. While replacing the 30 homeruns and 100 RBIs Jason Giambi provided the Yankees throughout much of the past 7 seasons may not fit Swisher's role in the Bronx, the new acquisition does have some power (he has hit at least 21 homeruns in his four full major league seasons), and at only 28 years old, Swisher provides some youth to a team that is getting old fast. You wrote, "Swisher is popular throughout the game and does have some attributes the Yankees like: he draws a ton of walks, he's got a good glove at first base, and he's a switch-hitter with power who can fill in at all three outfield spots." He sounds like a player who, in my opinion, can be a key kog in the Yankees success in 2009. My question for you is do you think the Yankees should have made this deal or should they have dived into the Teixeira / Boras sweepstakes?

"CC the perfect fit for the Bombers"
My Response:

Mark, I would like to thank you for writing such an insightful post on your feelings about the Yankees 6-year, $140 million offer to CC Sabathia. Reading your post as a die-hard Yankees' fan, I found myself agreeing with you on most of the subjects you wrote about. You are correct, Sabathia is the "perfect fit" for the top of the Yankees' rotation. You put him at the top of a rotation followed by Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Derek Lowe / A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte, and I think the Yankees find themselves with one of the best rotations in baseball. All of a sudden, the team would go from one of the worst rotations in 2008 to one of the best in 2009. Additionally, you wrote "All it will take to get (Sabathia) is money. Not Phil Hughes, not Austin Jackson, not any other prospect. Just money." The main reason the Yankees pulled out of the Johan Santana talks last offseason was because of the prospects. In the Sabathia case, the Yankees would get to retain all of their top prospects, and all they would be losing is money, but as you point out, money is something they have. And, even if Sabathia, depicted on the right, does get injured, the Yankees have the luxury of more money to spend on other players to help them win. While some fans might find the $140 offer distasteful and some other general managers might call it overbidding, the truth is the Yankees did what they felt was necessary to help their team win next season. You also touched on a great point toward the end of your post. Yes, Sabathia does favor the west coast and the National League, and if the Yankees only offered him a $110 million deal, then the L.A. Angels or L.A. Dodgers could have offered him a $120 million deal and plant the seed in his head to pitch out west. By blowing away everyone else's offer off the bat, the Yankees made a statement to Sabathia and the rest of the league: this guy is ours to lose. I do have one question for you, however. I think Sabathia is a given to sign with the Yankees at this point. Now, do you think the Yankees are better of signing Lowe or Burnett to round out their rotation?

Bronx Report: Yanks Talk CC

It is no secret that New York Yankees fans endured a frustrating season last year in which their team failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993. The biggest problem, without a doubt, was the squad's lack of starting pitching depth. However, aside from the demands and questions from fans as winter approaches, management is hearing some comments from its most tenured players. According to the New York Daily News, Yankees all-star catcher Jorge Posada commented on the situation Friday night at fund-raising dinner: "We need more than one [starting pitcher]. We'll start with one. Obviously, we'll see who wants to come here and hopefully we can land two big pitchers." It was not as if Posada was making angry demands. They were just hopeful suggestions, but the fact that he spoke out to the media should send a message to general manager Brian Cashman that the players want -and need- more to work with in 2009. Now, it is also no secret that one of the best starting pitchers from last season will officially become a free agent November 14. Former Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers' pitcher CC Sabathia, depicted above, is the type of ace Posada was talking about that could lead his team deep into October. Sabathia, the 2007 A.L. Cy Young Award winner, compiled a collective 2.70 ERA, 251 strike outs and 17-10 record in 2008 while almost single handedly carrying the Brewers into the playoffs by pitching three times in final nine days of the season-almost unheard of in the modern era. But it is not just the Yankees' catcher who wants to see the 28-year-old ace in pinstripes next season.

The Yankees two other longest tenured players have made their feelings perfectly clear as well. Mariano Rivera, regarded by many as one of the best closers of all time and the greatest postseason closer in history, has been with the club since 1995. "Definitely. If you ask me, personally, I would definitely like to have (Sabathia)," Rivera said according to the New York Post. But I'm no one to say what the Yankees should do or not." Again, while Rivera did not demand that the Yankees acquirethe young star, he did say his personal choice would be in favor of signing the Bay Area native. Like Rivera, Yankees captain Derek Jeter has been with the Yankees since 1995, and maybe more important than speaking through the media to management, Jeter told reporters Friday he talked on the phone to Sabathia about New York. "(Sabathia's) asked questions about us. But I'll leave it at that," Jeter said according to Yahoo! Sports. "A private conversation that you have with some one is private. If he wants to talk about it, I'll give him the opportunity to do it first." However, the star shortstop later added, "I don't ever try to sell New York. I'm there if some one wants to ask me questions about different things. But I don't think you really have to sell the organization . . . I leave that up to them if they need convincing." Of the three players who have mentioned Sabathia in the media, Jeter probably holds the most influence in the organization. After all, he is the captain of the team and the player that teammates and fans always expect to come through in the clutch. Fans love him; players love him; management loves him. If any player had any say in what transactions Yankees' executives were mulling over, it is Derek Jeter.

What is interesting about these three players speaking out this offseason and endorsing the signing of the ace lefty is that they are currently the only members on the team who played for the Yankees dynasty from 1996-2000. These players have been in New York since their early 20s, and they were big assets to four World Series championship teams in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 and key factors on Yankee teams that reached the Fall Classic in 2001 and 2003. So, if any three players know what the Yankees need to reach the top, it is Posada, Rivera and Jeter, shown below. Management should know by now that if these three players have spoken about signing Sabathia, there is no reason the team should not offer him a contract that would be impossible for him to refuse. In my mind, if the Yankees do not sign Sabathia in the upcoming months-no matter what else they do-this offseason will be considered a failure. The organization will not only let down the fans, but it would also let down their three most honored and loved players. Last season, Posada also made remarks that the Yankees should go after a left-handed ace who was on the trade market: Johan Santana. While the team was in a bidding war for the Minnesota Twins star, the Yankees eventually dropped out of the race because they felt management felt trading away prospects and giving Santana a record-breaking deal would be too much. Not listening to Posada hurt the team in the long run and left a glaring hole in the rotation the Yankees could never fill in 2008, which is why the team is in this position now. The New York Mets ended up trading for Santana and signed him to a 7 year, $150 million contract. In terms of Sabathia, the Yankees have no excuses not to offer him a contract even larger than Santana's. They will not be losing any prospects and the team, which held the highest payroll in Major League Baseball in 2008, has roughly $80 million in salaries coming off the books this offseason. The only way Sabathia is not wearing a Yankee uniform in the Bronx next season is if he truly does not want to pitch in New York. It should not be anything the Yankees failed to do. If it is, the team will have made a horrible decision that could affect the club's stars the team's loyal fan base. Fans and players cannot wait for the hunt for CC, opening nationwide Friday, November 14.

Dempster Joins List of Free Agent Starters

In a move many did not see coming, Chicago Cubs' SP Ryan Dempster filed for free agency Friday and said he will test the free agent market this winter. Dempster will join a list of the best free agent pitching crop in recent memory, including the likes of other top-notch starting pitchers CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Derek Lowe, Oliver Perez and more than likely A.J. Burnett assuming he opts out of his contract. Following his 2008 campaign, many assumed Dempster, who reportedly loves Chicago, would re-sign with the Cubs before Nov. 14 - the date all free agents are allowed to negotiate with other teams outside of their most recent organization. However, Dempster said he will test the waters this winter, which may result in a major loss for the Cubs starting rotation. After winning 17 games and piecing together the best year of his career in 2008, Dempster picked the perfect time to post incredible numbers as he was in the final year of a 3-year, $15.5 million contract. He will surely draw interest from all teams looking for starting pitching and may get a contract up to five years in excess of $60 million. This week, I searched the blogosphere to find any in-depth analysis on what kind of contract Dempster will receive and where he might play in 2009 and beyond, and I came across to unique posts on which I commented. The first one was entitled "I called it" written by avid Cubs' fan Kurt Evans. His post in the blog Goat Riders of the Apocalypse presented an argument that while the Cubs would greatly benefit in re-signing Dempster in the off season, the team should not offer him more than a three-year contract. Instead, they should trade for SP Jake Peavy. The second post was entitled "Free Agent at the End of the Season: Ryan Dempster," published American University student Josh Levitt in his blog Jorge Says No! This post highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of Dempster and provided a personal opinion on what type of contract the free agent pitcher should be expecting. In addition to posting my comments directly on each blog respectively, I have posted my comments below.

"I called it"
My Response:

Kurt, I would first like to thank you for writing an interesting post from a Cubs' regarding Dempster decision to test the free agent market this winter. Your knowledge as a fan exceeds most fan blogs I have read, and your insight provided me with more information than some professional blogs at ESPN or online newspapers. Many analysts and reporters believed Dempster would not consider testing the market following his impressive 2008 season when the starting pitcher went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA while tallying 187 strike outs in 206.2 innings pitched. You, however, linked to a previous post of yours written nearly one month ago that explained Dempster may not be with the Cubs next season. In Dempster's case, he's 31 years old, and this may be his last opportunity to get that lucrative five year contract. In terms of your post, I like how you strongly stand by your belief that, "if Demspter can get 4 of 5 years elsewhere, then I believe the Cubs should wish him the best and send him on his way." While I don't agree with that feeling, I do recognize the benefits it provides for the Cubs, including the possible addition of Peavy and the free salary cap flexibility. My thoughts, however, feel that great starting pitching is very hard to come by in the Majors, and I personally do not think the Cubs have enough to offer in their minor league system to the San Diego Padres for Peavy. I also really enjoyed the list of pitchers you wrote that may be able to help the Cubs next season. After reading your post, I do have a few questions. If Dempster doesn't return to the Cubs, where do you think he will end up and for how much money? And, who would the Cubs go after? Also, if he does return, do you still see the Cubs going after any of the pitchers on the list you mentioned?

"Free Agent at the End of the Season: Ryan Dempster"
My Response:

First off, I would like to thank you Josh for writing such an interesting post pointing out the strengths and weaknesses to signing Ryan Dempster. Although I have read many blogs about the possibility of Dempster signing outside of Chicago as a free agent, not one post has outline the positives and negatives to signing the pitcher as you have. First and foremost, the structure of your work was incredible and very easy to follow. By writing Dempster's 2008 accomplishments to start your post, I knew exactly how great of a year Dempster had and what kind of demand he would have on the free agent market. While your arguments for signing Dempster - his age, relatively healthy arm, nasty pitcheing repertoire on the mound and mentality - were strong, I felt your position against Dempster was even stronger. Your wrote, "Sure Dempster had a great season this year, but he has only had one season in his 10 year career that even comes close to matching the kind of success he had this year (2000)." That's a big point a lot of teams are going to fail to look at when offering Dempster a big contract. Outside of his inexperience as a starter and lack on consistency on the mound, you pointed out the pitcher's high walk total and competition he will face among other top-flight free agents that may affect his value on the market. Additionally, I liked how you gave your own prediction on the type of contract Dempster will get based on your analysis of his skill and the market. I do agree that your four year, $48 million offer is quite conservative because I know a desperate team will start throwing out the money once other the free agent pitching crop begins to shrink. While your post covered a lot, however, you failed to mention where you think Dempster will end up. Do you think he'll stay in Chicago or will he chase the big bucks and sign elsewhere? Do you think Chicago will offer him more than a three year deal? Also, if Dempster signs in the AL, do you think he will be as effective?

Next Year: 2009 Rays vs. 1970 Mets

From worst to first. The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays remind a lot of sports fans out there of the 1969 New York Mets. Both teams incredibly went from laughing stocks of their respective leagues to the World Series in a matter of a single season. In fact, neither franchise finished a single season above the .500 marker before their remarkable runs at the Fall Classic. And as Bob Kimball of USA Today points out, the similarities go much further than that. A lot of talk has circultated throughout the league drawing on these comparisons between two young teams that took the majors by storm during their own memorable seasons. In order to truly match the '69 Mets however, the Rays need to beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Facing elimination tonight against Cole Hamels in Philadelphia, the Rays have a tough hill to climb if they wish to escape their 3-1 series hole, but as this year has emphasized, the Rays cannot be counted out until the final out is made. While the comparisons between the two teams are stunning, many people forget this relationship when they mention the possibility of a Rays' dynasty. If the 2008 Rays are like the '69 Mets, then next year will present the Rays with anything but the makings of a dynasty. While most people are focusing on this season, and rightfully so because the Rays are still vying for a championship, I am going to jump ahead and look at the 2009 Rays to see if they will suffer the same fate as the 1970 Mets.

After finishing the 1969 season with 100 wins against 62 losses and a World Series title, the 1970 Mets regressed in the pitching department. While pitching that included young flamethrowers Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan remained the teams strength, the overall staff was not as good as the '69 team. After allowing 541 runs to opponents in 1969, the 1970 Mets gave up 630 runs - a huge difference for a team whose offense was not built to out-slug opposing pitchers. Consequently, the team suffered. Rather than build on their success together as a young team from the year before, the Mets struggled with consistency both offensively and defensively and finished the season in third place in the N.L. East with a record of 83-79. The Pittsburgh Pirates won the division that season, and the Mets would not see another postseason appearance until 1973, when they would fall at the hands of the Oakland Athletics in game seven of the World Series.

What happened to the 1970 Mets? They were an established, young unit with the bulk of the team returning from 1969, but the end result was anything but the same as the year before. The young pitchers couldn't string together another stellar season. The 2008 Rays may suffer a similar setback after the team's 97-win campaign. While the Rays offense is not nearly as terrible as the Mets was - the Rays did score 774 runs this season - the team still relies heavily on its young pitching. After all, the Rays have had a fairly strong offense for the last three seasons, but not one season has amounted to a playoff birth because of the team's poor pitching. But this season, with the acquisition of SP Matt Garza and the emergence of SP James Shields behind ace Scott Kazmir, the team boasted its best starting rotation in the franchise's 10-year history. Garza, Shields and Kazmir anchored a staff that had a collective 3.82 ERA and allowed only 618 earned runs. The question is, can these young pitchers do it again? One of the hardest things to predict in Major League Baseball is how a young pitcher will perform from one year to the next. If Garza, Shields or Kazmir regress next season, the Rays would be put into a very difficult position while trying to fend off their A.L. East foes. In all likelihood, another A.L. East crown would not happen. Another main asset to this year's team has been its bullpen. Once looked at as the team's biggest weakness, the Rays bullpen pieced together a strong season in large part due to the acquisitions of closer Troy Percival and set-up man Dan Wheeler. But a big question mark surrounds Percival next season. After already suffering through injury problems in 2008, Percival will be approaching 40 years old midway through next season, and its rare 40-year-old closers can stay healthy and dominate a league. Losing Percival or another piece to that bullpen could greatly hinder the Rays run at another postseason appearance in 2009.

While question marks will always surround young pitchers, I firmly believe this team's hitting will remain a strength and continue to improve. With young phenoms such as 3B Evan Longoria, CF B.J. Upton, LF Carl Crawford and C Dioneer Navarro, the Rays' offense can be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. However, these young players will have to make adjustments as opposing pitchers change their approaches when facing Tampa. Also, the biggest factor for me is whether or not Longoria can avoid the troublesome sophomore slump. Many hitters burst onto the scene during their rookie season, then fall off the map the next because they cannot adjust to pitchers' adjustments. But that is what baseball is: It's a game of adjustments. If Longoria fails to remain consistent at the plate, the team will lose a cog in its lineup and will not come close to making the playoffs next season.

Lastly, and this point goes beyond 2009, is that in order for the Rays to form a dynasty and have more success than the Mets of the '70s, they will need to resign their young studs - a major hurdle for the organization. The 2008 Rays' payroll is the second lowest in the majors at just over $43 million. That kind of payroll will not cut it when the Rays' young stars enter free agency. In order to truly build a dynasty, management needs to keep this team's core intact, but with high-spending teams like the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets and Detroit Tigers, it will be difficult for the Rays to sign their players unless they fork up the big bucks. A lot of the blame for the lack of a team budget can fall on the fans who never filled Tropicana Field this year while the Rays were enjoying their wild ride to the top. Fan attendance averaged at just over 21,000, barely half the capacity in Tampa. Then again, fans can blame a management that fails to go after any big-name stars to bolster their squad. All I know is one thing is certain. The Rays in 2009, 2010 and 2011 will not be nearly as successful as the magical 2008 club unless they lock up some players. If they fail to perform that task, they'll be back in the A.L. East cellar for another possible 10 years.

Out of the Park: An Evaluation of the Online Baseball Community

This week, I searched the internet for creative, in-depth resources that pertain to the concerns I address in my blog and will give readers additional links of information regarding issues, news and events surrounding Major League Baseball. Using the Webby and IMSA criteria for evaluating websites and blogs, I found what I consider to be 20 informative and analytical sports sites and sports blogs based on their content, structure, visual design, functionality, interactivity, depth and activity. These links have been added to my linkroll (right), but I will also evaluate each of them here. The first few websites I evaluated were ones that I have grown accustomed to using when researching data and information for my blog. ESPN.com's "MLB The Playoffs" page features great sports reporting, including game recaps, interviews and analysis, as well as plenty of multimedia aspects that make the website very user friendly. ESPN's MLB site also provides columns and insider information that make nationwide stories more accessible for users who pay a subscription fee. The main drawback about the site is the never-ending advertisements that pop up when reading stories or watching videos. ESPN also has a section of its site devoted to Minor League Baseball, which provides great insight into minor league players, teams, divisions and scouting reports. I use this sight to check out top prospects and draft picks from across the league. MLB.com provides users with the same type of in-depth reporting as ESPN. Even more importantly, it contains links to each team's individual homepage. However, MLB.com's layout is not visually appealing to the reader because it reveals a lot of boring white space. The next two websites I get a lot of information from are very similar in many aspects. The visual design of Yahoo! Sports' MLB Homepage and Fox Sports' MLB Homepage look the same, and both sites provide excellent and timely reporting for the reader. If I had to choose one that trumps the other, Yahoo! Sports' page contains inside information from experts that Fox Sports' page lacks.

I also explored a number of websites that are taken from print media. USAToday.com's MLB page does not appear attractive or professional based on its design, and its colorful distractions overshadow the website's good reporting and graphics. SportsIllustrated.com's "2008 MLB Playoffs" has a professional design and is user oriented. The website contains outstanding expert reporting and an informative "Truth & Rumors" section. The LATimes.com's Major League Baseball page has some of the best baseball reporting on the internet. While the reason is probably because the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the playoffs, the L.A. Times' page is filled with stories, videos, graphics, columns and sports blogs which are all very current. Similarly, the NYTimes.com's Baseball page provides readers with plenty of reporting and great graphics, but the visual design of the page is very boring for the user. Still, the N.Y. Times' web site includes one of the best blogs I've read. Bats provides a cast of New York baseball experts that share insight into New York baseball no other blog can match. Another New York based print medium that provides great information online is NYPost.com's Sports Home. While this website mainly pertains to New York sports and baseball teams, it's very interactive for the user and contains strong reporting and graphics for readers. Sportsline.com's MLB Home Page offers readers plenty of multimedia assets to choose from including videos, stories and graphics. Furthermore, it provides a widget that counts down the days until the World Series, which can be fun for the user to see. Japanesebaseball.com offers international reporting that includes Japanese' player stats and team profiles that are very informative to the reader. The content isn't that strong, however, because most stories are simply one-paragraph recaps without any multimedia tools. One of my favorite websites I explored was Deadspin.com, a comedic website devoted to poke fun at not only baseball, but all professional sports across the globe. Deadspin provides a lot of interactivity for the user and has an abundance of multimedia including videos and graphics. The visual design is also very appealing to the user. Still, my favorite site I found would have to be MLBTradeRumors.com. It's a site devoted to reporting on trades and transactions across the league. It comes off as a professional website and contains links to back up its information. It also contains links to each team's trade rumors and contains player names in bold font to make them easier for the user to find.

The remaining sites I explored were blogs that each had their own unique way of relaying information creatively and effectively. Two blogs I found contained knowledgeable fans' perspectives on baseball. Although Lean Left and Sports Central had impressive insight from fans, both blogs appeared unprofessional in layout design and didn't contain enough multimedia for users to becoming active within the websites. On the other hand, four other blogs I researched were very effective at appearing professional and providing in-depth reporting on their respective topics. MVN.com's "Major League Baseball" page contains plenty of visuals that are attractive to the reader's eye and provides solid reporting behind the stories. Baseball Musings is a blog that showcases many stories with links attached to the original source. I would have liked to see more content and multimedia tools on this blog, however. Mike's Baseball Rants is definitely the best blog I read that's written by a single fan. Although he is just a Philadelphia Phillies fan, Mike Carminati provides insight that rivals professional reporters, and he includes graphics and links to back up his points. The advertisements on his page, however, do not squeeze in well and could distract the reader. Finally, one of the finest blogs I found was NY Baseball Digest. The blog has a professional layout and the entries are placed in by reporters that provide many links and multimedia tools to satisfy the user. Also, the advertisements blend in nicely with the layout. Overall, my week-long exploration gave me more insight to valuable baseball information I can research on the internet.

Double Trouble: Mets Collapse Again

Last week, I questioned Doug Melvin's decision to fire Milwaukee Brewers' manager Ned Yost with just 12 games left in the regular season, and I stand by my opinion when I say it was a terrible and disrespectful move for the organization. It was a slap in the face to a man who was apart of Brewers' history, and it could have resulted in a costly distraction to players. The Brewers officially clinched a playoff birth yesterday with their 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on the final day of the regular season, but it had more to do with the New York Mets' collapse than anything else. This year, the Mets held a three-and-a-half game lead in the NL Wild Card with 17 games left, and they blew their chances on a trip to the post season due to their second consecutive September collapse. I searched the blogosphere to find some in-depth analyses as to why the Mets won't be playing in October, and I came across two posts that I commented on. The first one was entitled "Torch Song", published by long-time professional journalist and radio broadcaster Jeff Kallman. His most recent post regarding the Mets collapse on his blog titled The MLB Source, presented the argument that the Mets' collapse should not only be attributed to the terrible relief pitching but should also linked to the team's lack of hitting down the stretch. Kallman also argued Johan Santana was really the true ace everyone was looking for, whether they saw it or not. The second post was entitled, "FINAL: Mets Miss the Playoffs With 4-2 Defeat to the Marlins", published by New York Times' reporter Joshua Robinson. The blog can be found NYTimes.com "Baseball" section of the site. This post provided an exciting inning-by-inning account of the Mets' final game and made readers feel as if they were apart of the action. In addition to publishing my comments directly on these blogs, I have also posted my comments below.

"Torch Song"
My Response:

Thank you for writing a well-constructed post regarding the New York Mets’ second collapse in as many seasons. You clearly watched games as more than just a fan and made the judgments in your mind of how the Mets could have done something differently to either win their division or fend off the Milwaukee Brewers and keep their lead in the NL Wild Card. I believe your first paragraph sets a great tone for your post. “This time, [the Mets] didn’t blow a seven-game divisional lead by going 5-12 in their final seventeen … This time, they blew a mere three-and-a-half game divisional lead and went 7-10 in the final seventeen.” I like how your opening paragraph humorously points out this Mets’ collapse this year may not be comparable to last year, but it’s just as sloppy and disgraceful for the organization. One aspect of the collapse I felt you could have expanded on was the horrendous individual work of the Mets’ bullpen. Rather than focusing on the games they blew for ace Johan Santana, which, I’ll admit, I had no idea he could have won between 23 and 27 games this season, I would have liked to see more commentary on the fact that the relievers were all basically lefty of righty specialists and couldn’t get through a clean inning to save their life during September. Once closer Billy Wagner got injured for the Mets in August, their season slowly began deteriorating, and that’s something I feel you left out. In addition, I would have liked to get some of your insight of the upcoming plans for the Mets. Management just signed general manager Omar Minaya to a four-year extension, whether he deserved it or not for putting together two straight teams that have collapsed, and I would like to get your insight to what the organization’s off-season plans might hold to right the ship. Will they go after another big name free agent like a A.J. Burnett or CC Sabathia? Will they make another big trade like they made last season? Or do you think they will they sit tight and try to win with what they have?

"FINAL: Mets Miss the Playoffs With 4-2 Defeat to the Marlins"
My Response:

First off, I would like to thank you for writing a post that was different from any other account I've read about the Mets' second-straight collapse. Reading this post almost felt as if I was at the final game at Shea Stadium, and I could feel the crowd. It was a very fun read, especially because you kept going back and forth between the Brewers' game and the Mets' game. One of the most crucial points you hit on during the third inning of your post was when you wrote, "It already has the feel of a game that will be won and lost by the bullpens, which is never a good sign for the Mets." And eventually, the bullpen blew yet another game during the Mets' dismal September collapse. Reading through your post, I found it interesting that you focused most of your blame for the team's loss today solely on the bullpen, when the offense failed to show up at all. Despite Carlos Beltran's game-tying home run, the offense produced nearly nothing during the team's most important game of the season. Coming into the game, you even pointed out the Mets' opposing pitcher Scott Olsen had little success in his 12 career starts against New York, going 1-5 with a 4.89 E.R.A. The Mets should have put more runs across the board, but they didn't, which resulted in a lot of pressure placed on the relievers heading into the later innings, and they gave up two runs that would ultimately end the Mets' season. One more area I think you could have expanded on were the players' reactions during the game. Because I am reading the recap and not watching the game, I need as much detail as I can get to picture it in my mind. While you did a great job with the fans' emotions, I would have liked to picture the players' emotions as well. Lastly, I have some questions for you regarding Mets' interim manager Jerry Manuel. Do you think he is responsible for the collapse this season? Could he have done anything differently? And, do you think he will be back in 2009?

Melvin's Mistake: Yost Should Still Be Brewers' Manager

With just 12 games left in the season, the Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ned Yost last Monday in an attempt to right the ship and put an end to the team's September swoon. All I have to say is what in the world was management thinking? The move was a giant slap in the face to Yost. After 150 games of a long, grueling baseball schedule, the former manager had the Brewers tied for the lead in the NL wild card race. But, apparently, it was not good enough for general manager Doug Melvin. Melvin, however, must have forgotten that Yost led his franchise out of the ruins six years ago. When Milwaukee hired Yost, shown in the graphic to the left, after the 2002 season, the Brewers had just completed their 10th consecutive losing season. Even worse, the team was coming off its worst record in franchise history at 56-106. Yost brought a sense of pride and history with him to the struggling organization. After all, he was the back-up catcher on the Brewer's 1982 pennant-winning team-the last Brewers team to make it to the playoffs-and Melvin said, "He has enthusiasm for the organization and brings a great desire to help us to return to winning baseball," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It was not until 2005 that Yost truly led the Brewers out of the cellar. For the first time in 13 seasons, the Brewers finished the season at .500. With 81 wins and young emerging stars including J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder and staff ace Ben Sheets, Yost finally had a nucleus of players to build around. Thanks to the addition of young-slugging third baseman Ryan Braun to fit in with the rest of Milwaukee's rising stars, the Brewers became a force to be reckoned with in 2007. But after finishing 24-30 throughout the final two months of the season, the Brewers found themselves in second place at the end of the September, two games back of the Cubs. Another long winter awaited the franchise. Whispers began surrounding the organization that Yost was to be fired. But how could Melvin dismiss his manager? He had brought the most exciting season the Brewer's organization had seen since 1992. Even though his players failed to reach the postseason, the team surpassed all expectations of management and fans.

But 2008 was to be different. The Brewers expected to win for the first time since the early 1980s. Yost led his squad to a 32-30 record by early July, and the team sat atop the NL central standings. But Melvin, feeling his team needed more in 2008, made arguably the biggest acquisition in franchise history, trading Matt LaPorta - Milwaukee's best prospect - and three other minor league players to the Cleveland Indians for reigning AL Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia, shown in the graphic to the right after winning his first start in Milwaukee. "We just felt that we needed to go for it at this point," Melvin said according to the New York Times. "We feel that this is a year that gives us a chance." It was a we-must-win-now move for Melvin's squad. Sabathia, like Sheets, is a free agent at the end of the 2008 season, and he most certainly won't be wearing a Brewer's uniform next season. By giving up LaPorta, Melvin hurt his team's future to contend for a championship now. No one on the Brewer's end of the spectrum can argue with the results of the trade. Up until Yost's dismissal on Sept. 15, Sabathia was 9-0 in 13 starts with six complete games and a 1.59 ERA. But, in what probably seemed like a bad recurring nightmare to management, the Brewers 5 1/2 game wild card lead started decreasing in September, much like the team's division lead in 2007. Melvin could not believe it. He had no idea know what to do and just waged his future to trade for a pitcher that would be with his team for only half of a season. On top of losing Sabathia, Sheets would be gone too. Melvin's window of opportunity was closing fast. He panicked. Following the team's 3-11 record in September, Melvin fired Yost last Monday and in an unprecedented move. No manager had ever been fired so late into the season with his team in reach of the playoffs.

From my point of view, it shows a lot of disrespect on Melvin's part. Yost earned the right to manage the last 12 games of the season, regardless of whether Melvin thought so or not. Also, there is no way an executive can fire a manager, especially in the middle of a playoff race, without feeling 100 percent confident in his or her decision. Melvin said this following the dismissal according to ESPN.com: "[Yost] didn't have the answers for what is going on the last two weeks and I'm not sure I have all the answers. I'm not sure this is the right one, either." Melvin should have been completely sure of his decision and been prepared to defend it. But he did not do either. Melvin named third base coach Dale Sveum as interim manager for the rest of the season, as if that would change the outcome for his team. At least bring in some one new and fiery to ignite a spark for this team. Do not get rid of the head poncho and replace him with his assistant. It will not change a thing. Since Yost's dismissal, the Brewers haven't played much better. The team is 2-4 under Sveum and now stands 1 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the wild card lead. Once again on the outside looking in, the Brewers may have botched their best chance to make the playoffs in the last 26 years. Who knows if Milwaukee would have turned their play around and made a push for the post season with Yost at the helm. The only thing that is definite is Yost is gone and Melvin's window of opportunity is nearly shut.