With the Mets’ signing of Jorge Sosa — as mentioned earlier —- all but a formality, Newsday’s Ken Davidoff attempts to explain the club’s modus operandi without mentioning Rick Peterson straightening anyone out in ten minutes.
Just as with Oliver Perez, the Mets see the potential in Sosa (above), and his signing is another reflection of an organization-wide belief that anyone can be turned around with the right instruction. Omar Minaya also likes to have plenty of depth for his rotation, which remains shaky with spring training less than a month away.
The Mets must turn to Perez, John Maine, Dave Williams, Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber in the hope that they can prove themselves worthy of staying in the rotation at some point. Or at least keep the Mets alive long enough to make a significant trade by the July 31 deadline. Minaya wasted little time in striking a deal for El Duque after a rash of injuries in late May, and he’s apparently content to wait and see how this current group comes together.
The Mets also plan to announce this week the signing of lefthanded reliever Scott Schoeneweis to a three-year, $10.8-million contract. Schoeneweis, 33, follows Ambiorix Burgos in Minaya’s two-pronged effort to strengthen a bullpen that lost the effective Chad Bradford to the Orioles this winter. Schoeneweis, was 4-2 with a 4.88 ERA and four saves in 71 appearances last season for the Blue Jays and Reds.
As underwhemling as the Sosa acquisition might be on the surface, at least the Mets aren’t reduced to auditioning Sammy.
Gary Sheffield’s upcoming autobiography is said to contain a handful of juicy bits about Barry Bonds, BALCO, Sheff’s relationships with Joe Torre and George Steinbrenner, etc. , and I for one will be very disappointed if R. Kelly is left off the hook.
When the resources are there to take on projects like these, the chips fall where they do, and sometimes you’re looking at an arm too many, though a major asset suddenly in a young arm that can bring in return the piece you need somewhere else. Not thinking Epstein’s blunder sending Arroyo off for Willy Mo, but you get the idea. Better to go with the Mets approach and not have to count on any specific one standing out.
I’ve linked to here for a few days – could you post one for http://www.deadissue.com?
Peace – DI
D.I.,
I link to sites that I’m a fan of — either those that I personally visit every day or those that I would at the very least recommend as a resource (without necessarily endorsing their viewpoint). I’m not into the reciprocal link thing — I’m grateful that anyone links to CSTB, but I’m not asking for it nor expecting it. There are a number of blogs on the CSTB ‘roll that have never acknowledged my work and I’m totally ok with that. It would be pretty shady on my part if my recommendations were just some sort of mutual back-scratching thing. Not that there’s anything wrong with having an itchy back.