When the movie Moneyball was released in September, the main gripe by the public was how Michael Lewis never addressed how that team was built on the foundation of great starting pitching. A couple of weeks ago I debated with Chris Plummer at the Perpetual Post who was the best member of the A’s during that […]

What is an MVP? We debate this throughout each season in the world of stat-overload. A couple of years ago Joe Mauer brought the Twins back from the dead to win the AL Central. His numbers at the catching position were historic. That is an MVP. Last year Josh Hamilton put up the best numbers […]

I believe the Yankees dynasty started on October 24th, 1996 when Andy Pettitte beat John Smoltz in Game 5 of the World Series. Smoltz has gone on record saying that he might have had the best stuff of his career that night. Neither pitcher gave up an earned run, but it was an error by […]

For all the criticism the Mets starting rotation has received Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, and Oliver Perez all have benchmarks of being solid pitchers. No one had a problem with these three behind Johan Santana in 2008, or when Perez and Maine combined for 30 wins in 2007. There is little doubt, barring injury, that […]

Another former Yankee joins us on the Sunday Hot Stove as Moose Skowron headlines the show. Moose played with the Yankees from 1954 to 1962, winning 4 World Series. He talks about the great Yankees teams, his World Series highlights, and his role as a community liaison with the Chicago White Sox. I will recap […]

Earlier today I discussed the Mets rotation, and yesterday gave my thoughts on internal options. Some of the readers asked for a poll, so here you go: Who do you want to see get the 5th starter job? I gave an “other” write in option so you can add someone we haven’t been talking about. […]

It’s easy to be worried about the Mets rotation with Santana, Maine, and Perez coming off injuries, while Mike Pelfrey showed some regression last season. What many forget is that this foursome was the same group that led the team in 2008, and was in first place by 3.5 games with two weeks left in […]

It looks like the Mets will sign John Smoltz, and rely on numerous in house candidates for the rotation. Personally, I wanted Ben Sheets. As I predicted, it was going to take about $10 million dollars plus incentives to sign the righty. All winter we have told fans the Mets did not want to take […]

NYBD contributor Joe Demayo just tweeted that he is “hearing the Mets have an offer out to Smoltz and will be looking to see if he can get details.” As I have said before, which you can read here, Smoltz as a piece in the bullpen is a great move. If the Mets are thinking […]

I have been poking around trying to see what numerous people think about the Ben Sheets situation. From what I have found out, the Mets clearly are targeting Ben Sheets as their #1 priority, with John Smoltz shortly thereafter. This, obviously, shouldn’t be a surprise as it has been reported via numerous outlets. The key […]

Another great job by Ed Ryan at Mets Fever picking up this tidbit from an autograph seeker at a Steiner Sports event on Long Island. Apparently Jeff Francoeur told the fan that he “hopes John Smoltz was coming to New York soon.” Just recently Francoeur was playing golf with his former Braves teammate. There seems […]

The amazing part of this offseason is that, as slow as the transactions have come, it has flown by quickly. Pitchers and catchers are right around the corner, and baseball is very near. I suspect many of the lingering free agents will start signing quickly, as was evidence yesterday with Doug Davis and Joel Pineiro […]

Tremendous news last night, as Bengie Molina rejected the Mets’ one-year, $5 million offer and returned to the San Francisco Giants. This was hailed by many as a victory for Mets fans who are sabermetrically-inclined, and it is, to an extent- Molina’s negatives include such things as poor defensive metrics and a putrid on-base percentage. […]

There continues to be rumblings about the Mets interest in John Smoltz. First, Tim Dierkes of MLBTR predicted that Smoltz would wind up with the Mets, and then Matt Cerrone of Metsblog reported yesterday about the clubs interest. Cerrone indicates the Mets would be interested in seeing him either in the back half of the […]

Tim Dierkes has a fresh post up on MLBTradeRumors.com that is worth pondering (full disclosure- I also write at MLBTR). He predicts where the remaining 25 free agents on his lost of 50 Top Free Agents will end up- and no fewer than four of the 25 end up in Queens- John Smoltz, Carlos Delgado, […]