Are The Phillies That Much Better With Halladay?

The Toronto Blue Jays waved goodbye to the face of their franchise by dealing starting pitcher Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies. The three-team deal, which also involved the Seattle Mariners, will be considered complete once all the players involved take (and pass) their physicals.

On paper, it looks as if the Phillies improved themselves drastically by adding arguably the best American League pitcher of the past few years. However, while I was focusing on the Phillies/Blue Jays part of the Halladay trade, my one-track, fourth-place mind failed to realize that to make this deal, the Phillies had to deal Cliff Lee to Seattle. Lee is a younger lefty who not only had playoff experience (unlike Halladay) but excelled in the postseason (4-0, 1.56 ERA in the 2009 playoffs). In addition to losing Lee, the Phillies also parted ways with Kyle Drabek, who was supposed to be a major part of their future.

I’m trying to envision the Phillies’ rotation for the 2010 season and I see Roy Halladay leading the staff, followed by the following pitchers:

Cole Hamels

Hamels has question marks after last season’s inconsistent performance. He has been overworked at a young age due to extended postseasons.




Joe Blanton

Blanton gave up more hits than innings pitched last year and was one of only four pitchers who gave up at least 30 HR in 2009. However, every other pitcher who gave up 30 HR made at least 33 starts. Blanton only made 31.


J.A. Happ

Happ is a good young pitcher, but faltered down the stretch and in the postseason. After his last start in August, he made five more starts. In those starts, his ERA was 4.84 and opposing batters hit .344 against him. In the playoffs, his ERA was 5.68 and his WHIP was 2.21. There are clearly some durability issues here.

Jamie Moyer

The man is so old, he got misty eyed when the Phillies played the Yankees in the World Series because it brought back childhood memories of the 1950 Phils-Yanks World Series matchup. His 2009 ERA was just south of 5.00 and his 25 starts were his fewest since 1996, when Todd Hundley was setting catcher home run records for the Mets.

The Phillies can also turn to Kyle Kendrick and that Bastardo named Antonio, who are ready to step in whenever Moyer needs to take a nap or change his adult diaper.

The Phillies’ rotation doesn’t look too different from the staff the Mets currently employ. We have a bonafide #1 starter in Johan Santana, followed by Question Mark (Mike Pelfrey), Question Mark (John Maine) and Off The Mark (Oliver Perez).

The glaring difference between the Mets and the Phillies is very clear. It’s all about each team’s offense. The Phillies slugged their way to the World Series by hitting a league-leading 224 home runs in 2009, including more home runs with men on base (96) than the Mets had home runs (95).

Fine, so the Mets didn’t get an ace pitcher who could complement Santana in the rotation. But their rotation is still comparable to the Phillies’ starters, even more so if they can add Jason Marquis or Joel Piñeiro. If they want to have a chance in the National League East, they’ll need to sign a big bat or two and hope for a return to form by the injured hitters.

Sadly, there may not be enough big bats left out there other than Matt Holliday and Jason Bay and both of them play the same position. If Daniel Murphy leads the Mets in home runs again, it won’t matter what our pitching staff looks like. It’ll be another postseason where we root for certain teams to lose instead of rooting for the Mets to win.

Halladay To Phillies, Lackey To Red Sox, Jack Squat To Mets

On a day when a few extra coals have been added to the Hot Stove, the Phillies are close to trading for ace pitcher Roy Halladay, while Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that Studious Metsimus man-crush John Lackey will be signing a five-year, $85 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.

In related news, the Mets have announced the signing of Jack Squat. Squat hasn't done much in the past and might go unnoticed in the Mets clubhouse, but that is due to the fact that no one ever knows he's there. Since he wasn't a Type A or Type B free agent, the Mets pounced on Squat since they knew he would sign for next to nothing.

I have to joke about this because if I didn't, I'd be crying. The Mets are just twiddling their thumbs watching players they should have acquired not only sign with other teams, but get traded to teams that will have a great impact on where the Mets will finish in 2010 and beyond.

Not only are the top pitchers being signed and/or traded to other teams, but now the Mets might have to overpay for pitchers such as Jason Marquis and Joel Piñeiro so that they don’t sign with other teams. I have nothing against either pitcher, but what if Santana gets hurt again like he did at the end of the 2009 season? Neither Marquis nor Piñeiro is good enough to be the ace of a staff the way Halladay and Lackey were with the Blue Jays and Angels, respectively.

The 2010 Mets with a staff of Santana, Marquis/Piñeiro, Pelfrey, Maine and some $36 million pitcher looks a lot like the 2009 staff, meaning mediocre at best. Of course, on the bright side, the Red Sox might not be able to afford Jason Bay now that Lackey will be getting a couple of bucks from them. Unfortunately, Jason Bay can’t pitch and now that Halladay and Lackey appear to be off the radar, there is a dearth of ace-type starters for the Mets to consider.

The Citi Field press conference room is resembling a ghost town.

Let’s just put it this way. The way the Mets have gone about this offseason, it looks like they’re taking the “let’s take our time and see how this all plays out” approach. What might have worked in the past is not working this time around. Omar Minaya can’t let other teams, especially his main rivals, scoop up player after player while he waits intently in the Citi Field press conference room for the player introduction that’s not going to happen.

While teams like the Phillies and Red Sox are giving their fans awesome stocking stuffers, Mets fans are just getting lumps of coal in their stockings. At least we’ll be able to use that coal to heat up our stoves because it sure looks like the Mets’ hot stove isn’t using it.

A December To Remember! Citi Field Tour Pics!

With oodles of thanks going out to Coop, these are some pictures from our Citi Field tour today. This tour was given to season ticket holders and I must say that they did a great job with it. From bringing out the 1969 and 1986 World Series trophies and allowing fans to take as many pics as they wanted with Mr. Met, to walking on the field and unsuccessfully calling the bullpen for a lefty, this was certainly a December to remember for this Mets blogger. Here are some pictures for your viewing enjoyment.

My Studious Metsimus colleague, Joey, was excited to get his first all-access tour of Citi Field. Too bad he missed the first few minutes because he was stuck in this tree.

This is in the production booth. This screen controls what goes up on the scoreboard. From kiss cam to birthday greetings to the tenth call to the bullpen, this is the place where it's all put on the scoreboard and CitiVision.

This is where Gary, Keith and Ron give us great joy during Mets telecasts, since the events taking place on the field surely don't give us any kind of joy.

This is the view from the media room. Non-bloggers get to sit here behind clear glass (bet you couldn't tell there was glass in front of the camera where this picture was taken) and watch the game in a beautiful air-conditioned environment. Where do bloggers get to sit?

We get to sit right here in the bloggers' room. Not the best view of Citi Field, but at least the floor tiles are lovely.


This is a room I had no idea existed. Although my colleague mistook it for a coffee break room, it's really an auditorium located just above the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.

We finally did what the majority of the people came to do. We got onto the field without being tackled by security! The warning track area is a very hard surface. I can't imagine making a diving catch on it without receiving many cuts and bruises. Then again, that's what the 15-day DL is for, even if it was overused this past season.


These are seats we'll never be able to afford on our Studious Metsimus salary. Then again, we can't even afford Shake Shack burgers on our Studious Metsimus salary. Someone has to talk to the boss about that one. What? I am the boss? Sometimes it sucks to work for the man.

It's Coop from My Summer Family sharing a tender moment with my colleague in the Mets dugout. I guess this is My Winter Family.

My colleague is waiting patiently for his turn at-bat. I hope David Wright's oversized helmet isn't the one they give him.

These are the indoor batting cages near the Mets clubhouse. This may teach them how to hit 95-MPH fastballs and biting curveballs, but can it teach them how to hit with less than two outs and a runner on third?

Here we have the Mets clubhouse. It needed expanding because of all the minor league players called up to replace the disabled regulars. After sitting in those couches, I can see myself being placed on the 15-day DL just so I can sit here during games. They're oh so comfy!

This is the game room directly across the hall from the clubhouse and training room. (Insert joke about Mets trainers here.) The tour guide told us that Nelson Figueroa introduced the team to Rock Band (see the drums near the big plasma TV). He also said that Figgy is the team's resident IT guy. If you need a computer fixed, Nelly Figs is the man. Studious Metsimus could not get a straight answer from the tour guide when asked about Figueroa's pool expertise. Perhaps this is something worth following up.

If you're wondering why the Joey half of the Studious Metsimus duo was the only one photographed, the answer is simple. Three words: Mickey Mouse Ears. You will never know what I mean by that, but if you did, you'd know why none of my photos from the Citi Field tour will ever see the light of day.

WHILENOONE'SWATCHING,JOEYHASTAKENOVERTHISBLOG.

Greetings, SMFs! While my colleague is away, I decided to add a little something to his blog. It came to my attention that he was not going to share any of his pictures from the Citi Field tour with you. Shame on him for hiding them from you, our beloved readers.

Well, it so happens that I have found the main picture that caused him to become Ebenezer Scrooge. So Bah humbug to him! I'm going to share the infamous Mickey Mouse Ears picture that he wants no one to see.

Thanks to everyone for reading this blog and we hope to see you next year at Citi Field. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and send cake. (NOT fruit cake! BIG difference!) Enjoy the Mickey Mouse Ears picture of my colleague!

Omar Lives By The Rules of The Old Perfesser

First it was Chris Coste. Then it was Henry Blanco. Earlier today, Joe D at Mets Merized Online posted that the Mets might go after Rod Barajas if they can’t get Bengie Molina. SI.com’s Jon Heyman is now saying that the Mets are considering offering Molina a one-year deal worth $6 million, plus an option for a second year. Heyman states that teams in the larger markets aren’t in need of frontline catchers. Therefore, the Mets feel they can sign Molina since the smaller-market teams are probably not willing to spend as much for catchers when there are less expensive catching options available.

What I’d like to know is this. The Mets have been saying that their top priority at the Winter Meetings is to acquire pitching. If this is indeed the case, then why does it appear that they’re signing or attempting to sign every catcher this side of Hobie Landrith? Is Omar Minaya thinking of Casey Stengel’s famous words when they drafted the aforementioned Landrith with their first pick in the 1961 expansion draft?

When asked about the signing of Landrith when there were other players the Mets could have drafted to become the cornerstone of their fledgling franchise, Stengel said the following:

"You gotta have a catcher or you're gonna have a lot of passed balls."

I get that the Mets need a catcher for 2010. Brian Schneider has signed with the Phillies and Omir Santos is not a #1 catcher. But regardless of who the Mets sign to be their top catcher next season, he is not going to be the long-term solution there. It appears as if Josh Thole will be the full-time catcher for the Mets by 2011. The Mets should just settle on one catcher instead of spending all of their Monopoly money on houses for Mediterranean Avenue and Baltic Avenue. If they continue to sign every catcher available, they’re not going to have the resources to put hotels on Park Place and Boardwalk.

Make up your mind, Omar. Do you want to have the fewest passed balls in baseball or do you want to put together the best team so that the fans won’t continue to dress as green seats for games in September? While you were attempting to sign every backstop available, other teams are already signing potential players that would help them, even at catcher. (The Nationals signed Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year deal worth $6 million, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown on his Twitter page.)

I’m usually a patient person, but come on. I’m tired of other teams getting effective players the Mets could have had, while we get scrubs and past-their-prime players. If the Mets come back from the Winter Meetings with their fifth and sixth-string catchers and don’t come back with a top-notch pitcher or their starting leftfielder for 2010, this team might continue to resemble the teams Casey Stengel used to manage. The fans might have bought into it then, but they surely won’t buy into it now.

Ferecito Says "¡Ay Dios Mio!" To Bill Madden's Article

So yesterday I was looking for something to blog about and I came across an interesting article by Bill Madden in the Daily News. If you're too lazy to click on the link or if you're boycotting Studious Metsimus for not having many new blogs recently, I'll quote Madden's short paragraph on the Mets.

"They won't spend the money for Holliday, Bay or Lackey and apparently, they're only interested in signing low-budget Latin players, having shown little or no interest in Byrd, Figgins, DeRosa, Wolf or even Staten Island's Jason Marquis, while waiting for their markets to come to them. At the same time, the Phillies and Braves wasted no time in addressing their needs. Sad."

For those of you who didn't boycott our silly little site and clicked on the link to Madden's article, you might notice a certain word missing from the article that appeared in the quote above. The word is question is "Latin". Today, the word doesn't appear in the blog. When it was originally published yesterday, it was there.

It looks like Mr. Madden got a little bit of a backlash from what he wrote. Yes, the Mets re-signed Alex Cora and then signed their catcher of the day, Henry Blanco. Both players are Latinos. However, they also signed Chris Coste. Last time I checked, he wasn't a Latin player.

Even Fred Armisen's Saturday Night Live character, Ferecito, would be offended by Madden's original statement. His trademark "Ay, Dios Mio" ("Oh, my God" to those who failed first-grade Spanish) would be quite appropriate to describe his feelings for Madden's comment.

I guess Madden is now using Ferecito's other catch phrase when he recanted his original statement. ("I'm just keeeeding!")

Shame on Madden for even considering putting that in print. If the Mets were to go after only Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Jason Marquis, or Studious Metsimus' man-crush John Lackey, would Madden have channeled his inner George Jefferson by saying that the Mets are only interested in signing honkies? (I apologize for using the word honkies. I'm just trying to make a point and I miss watching great shows like "The Jeffersons".)

To those of you who have boycotted Studious Metsimus for the lack of blogs, boycott Bill Madden instead. We're an equal opportunity offender, not like Bill Madden. Shame on you, Mr. Madden. As Ferecito would say, "Ay Dios Mio" indeed!

Vote For Gary Cohen! Let's Get Him Into The Hall Of Fame!

Hey, SMFs! Let's get our fav'rit Mets broadcaster into the National Baseball Hall of Fame! If you have a Facebook account (and you know you do), you can vote for Gary Cohen to receive the 2010 Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting.

Fine print: Technically speaking, recipients of the award aren't considered Hall of Famers, as they are not inducted into the Hall of Fame. But they do give speeches during the weekend of the Hall of Fame Induction and their names are included on a plaque in the Hall of Fame's library.

It's so simple to vote, even a Phillies fan can do it. Here are the instructions:

1) Log into your Facebook account and go to http://www.facebook.com/baseballhall.

B) At the top of the page, just under the status message, you will see a line that says "wall, info, events, boxes, photos, poll". Click on "poll", where you will be taken to the page that lists all potential award recipients.

III) Scroll down to Gary Cohen's name and let your finger do the clicking.

There you go, SMFs. It's as easy as that. The best thing about it is that kids DON'T have to ask for their parents' permission to vote, unless if you're grounded and you're not allowed to log on to Facebook. Don't exacerbate things with your parents. If you have been grounded, please leave me a comment here and I will vote for you. After all, multiple votes for the same broadcaster are allowed (and encouraged)!

Thanks for voting! Tell all your friends! Let's get Gary Cohen to Cooperstown without having to buy a ticket for him! He's given us many nights to remember over the radio and now on SNY. Let's give him a weekend to remember in Cooperstown!

Legendary Broadcaster Vin Scully Returns For 61st Season

Bronx-born Vin Scully will be back in the broadcast booth for the Los Angeles Dodgers for a record 61st season in 2010. No other broadcaster has spent so many consecutive years working for the same team in baseball history.

In 1950, Scully began his broadcasting career working in the Brooklyn Dodgers' radio and television booth alongside Red Barber and Connie Desmond. When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles following the 1957 season, Scully left his roots behind but brought along his Hall-of-Fame voice with him.

In addition to baseball, Scully also called NFL games for CBS from 1972 to 1982. He left football after the 1982 season to work as a baseball broadcaster for NBC. Longtime Mets fans might remember one particular call from Scully during the 1986 World Series.

"Little roller up along first. Behind the bag! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight and the Mets win it!"

Vin Scully and Shea Stadium. Can't help but feel nostalgic for 1986.

That wasn't the first time Scully had mentioned Bill Buckner's name in a memorable call. Back in 1974, Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run against Dodger pitcher Al Downing. A young Bill Buckner was the leftfielder in that game for the Dodgers so he got a perfect view of the home run while he was chasing it towards the left field fence.

Naturally, since the feat came against the Dodgers, Scully was in the ballpark calling the game. Here was his call when Aaron made history.

"It's a long drive to deep left. Buckner to the fence. It is gone!"

After a short pause (similar to his pause after Ray Knight scored the winning run on October 25, 1986), Scully offered this to baseball fans.

"What a marvelous moment for baseball. What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us, and particularly Hank Aaron."

Vin Scully has never been about himself. He has always been about the game. For sixty seasons, he has taken out his canvas in the broadcast booth and painted a beautiful picture for baseball fans to watch and listen to.

In 2010, Hall-of-Famer Vin Scully will be entering his 61st season as a Dodger broadcaster. If you ever watch a Mets game against the Dodgers and can get the audio of Vin Scully, do yourself a favor and listen to it. I'm sure Gary Cohen or Howie Rose won't mind if you do. After all, they owe everything to a legend like Mr. Scully.