Amazin' Stories

Reyes Decision Time?

Jose Reyes ran Tuesday at a rehab clinic in New York and felt some discomfort while running at about 70 percent effort.

He is being evaluated by team doctors today and this could push him toward surgery.

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Drats

Does no one in the Mets organization remember how baseball turned out for Charlie Brown? Guess not since I just got this release:

METS TO HOST PEANUTS 60-YEAR CELEBRATION AT CITI FIELDTHIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 Snoopy to Throw Out Ceremonial First Pitch;First 25,000 Fans Will Receive a PEANUTS Trick-or-Treat Bag for Halloween FLUSHING, N.Y., September 30, 2009 – The New York Mets today announced they will host PEANUTS 60-Year Celebration at Citi Field this Saturday, October 3 when the Mets play the Houston Astros at 1:10 p.m. The famous PEANUTS characters Snoopy and Charlie Brown will roam the ballpark with Mr. Met throughout the game. Snoopy will also throw out the first pitch and join Mr. Met for the Mr. Met Dash, where children run the bases after the game. The first 25,000 fans in attendance will receive a PEANUTS Trick-or-Treat Bag in time for Halloween. Lucky fans will also be able to win copies of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” DVD from Warner Home Video, and PEANUTS New Balance Sneakers for toddlers and infants. Tickets for PEANUTS 60-Year Celebration are available online at Mets.com or LosMets.com or by phone at (718) 507-TIXX. #  #  # 
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The lineup

Pagan LF
Castillo 2B
Wright 3B
Beltran CF
Murphy 1B
Francoeur RF
Schneider C
Valdez SS
Pelfrey P

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Run round

Something for Jerry Manuel to think about for next season?

A Mathematics professor at Williams College has a faster way around the bases. Check it out here.

Crunch Time For Manuel

It may be difficult to plan for 2010 when your 2009 roster includes very few of the players that you'd want to be back next season.

But Jerry Manuel has been pointed towards 2010 for some time, figuring out  who he would want back, who are the gamers and who are tough enough for a pennant chase - even if there is little in this season that would provide practice for that.

But Manuel, as we detail in today's Record, is confident that he will be back and is already planning how to change things. He lectured David Wright Saturday, hoping to set a tone at the top of the clubhouse. And he is intent on setting that tone because he knows the clock is already running for him.

The lineup

It is 2-5 Nelson Figueroa vs the Nats and 0-6 Ross Detweiller in, to paraphrase Ben Folds, a battle of who could care less.

Pagan LF
Castillo 2B
Wright 3B
Beltran CF
Francoeur RF
Tatis 1B
Santos C
Hernandez SS
Figueroa P

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The lineup - if I was a betting man edition

Wright and Beltran get the day off, slightly offset by Josh Johnson scratched for Marlins.

Pagan CF
Hernandez 2B
Murphy 1B
Francoeur RF
Sullivan LF
Tatis 3B
Thole C
Valdez SS
Misch P

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The lineup

Pagan LF
Castillo 2B
Wright 3B
Beltran CF
Francoeur RF
Tatis 1B
Santos C
Hernandez SS
Maine P

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Mets in Chapman Chase?

Not convinced that a rotation of Santana, Pelfrey, Perez, Maine and Niese will get the Mets back on track next year? Not a believer that John Lackey, the class of the veteran free agent shopping spree this winter will be worth the money? How about Aroldis Chapman?

The 21-year-old Cuban lefthander was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball Friday after establishing residency in Andorra last week. He defected from Cuba at the World Port Tournament in Netherlands in July and has reportedly drawn interest from the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Angels. And according to Newsday, a Mets official said that they will investigate his price tag. Here's the release on his free agency.

CUBAN DEFECTOR AROLDIS CHAPMAN DECLARED FREE AGENT BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

 

New York, NY September 25, 2009 – Athletes Premier International (API) announces that Major League Baseball has declared Aroldis Chapman a free agent following its investigation.  The United States Department of the Treasury has also licensed him as an unblocked national of Cuba.  Chapman is now free to sign a contract with a Major League club interested in procuring his services.

 

“I wish to thank Edwin and the rest of the API team for helping me get to this point,” stated Chapman.  “It has been a dream of mine to pitch in the Major Leagues and I’m very excited to start the next phase of my life.”

 

“This is a great reward for nearly three months of hard work, but our real objective is helping Aroldis achieve his personal and professional goals,” stated Edwin Mejia, CEO of Athletes Premier International.  “We look forward to speaking with Major League teams and other potential partners interested in helping Aroldis attain them.”

Mets claim Rutherford's Jack Egbert

METS CLAIM RHP JACK EGBERT FROM CHICAGO WHITE SOX

PLACE OUTFIELDER FERNANDO MARTINEZ ON 60-DAY DISABLED LIST

 

 

 

FLUSHING, N.Y., September 25, 2009 – The New York Mets today announced that they claimed righthanded pitcher Jack Egbert off waivers from Chicago-AL.  The White Sox placed the righthander on waivers on September 23^rd. To make room for Egbert on the 40-man roster, the Mets transferred outfielder Fernando Martinez to the 60-Day Disabled List as he continues to recover from surgery on his right knee. 

 

Egbert, 26, spent the majority of the 2009 season with Charlotte (AAA) of the International League and posted a 6-11 record with a 5.05 ERA in 30 games, 18 starts, with the Knights.  In 108.2 innings, he allowed 73 runs, 61 earned, with 132 hits, 33 walks and 78 strikeouts.  The 6-3, 220-pound hurler also made two appearances out of the White Sox bullpen during a stint with Chicago from April 21^st – 24^th, allowing eight runs on eight hits in 2.2 innings of relief.     

 

The Rutherford, NJ resident, who was born in Staten Island, NY, was selected in the 13^th round of the June 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of Rutgers University where he won 18 games and posted a 3.90 ERA in his three years with the Scarlet Knights.  He also recorded 163 career strikeouts, which ranks fourth in Rutgers history.