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New York Mets 2013 Season Preview

March 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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I’m not all that excited about writing the Mets preview this year. I’ve had the same feeling for a few years now when I write the Mets preview. They’re still part of the fraternal order of Major League Baseball. Due to that, I’ll settle in and do my best to give them their share of the spotlight.

It’s just that the Mets might be without David Wright to open the season due to a ribcage injury he suffered in the World Baseball Classic. If the Mets don’t have their newly crowned captain, they’re not that interesting of a team.

Major Off-Season Moves:

  • Traded for John Buck
  • Traded for Travis d’Arnaud
  • Signed Shaun Marcum
  • Traded for Collin Cowgill
  • Released Jason Bay

Getting out from under Jason Bay’s albatross of a salary was probably their biggest move of the winter. The Mets are in one of baseball’s primo divisions this year, and it’s going to be tough for them to provide bright spots for their fan base. Gone are R.A. Dickey, Scott Hairston, Mike Pelfrey, and Andres Torres. All decent players who make the everyday Mets more interesting, albeit still mediocre. The Mets didn’t do enough to make themselves better. It’s going to be a long year.

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Filed Under: 2013 Diamond Hoggers Season Previews, New York Mets Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Hot Stove Update

January 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One big move and a few middling ones has kept the hot stove burning warm through the end of January.  Let’s review:

Justin Upton was trade to the Atlanta Braves along with Chris Johnson for Martin Prado, Randall Delgado and some minor leaguers including Zeke Spruill and Brandon Drury.  Upton had previously invoked his no trade clause on a deal to the Mariners which would have netted the Diamond a much nicer haul.

The whole thing was a bit weird.  I’m not going to go into stats that say Upton was declining or he isn’t as good of an OF as he should be – there’s plenty of that.  What other team traded a 25 year old superstar for a consistent .300 hitter and some other pieces.  Upton was a fairly popular pick for MVP last year.  Some say that the Dbacks knew something others teams don’t.  I don’t buy that at all.  Upton must have rubbed someone the wrong way, because I don’t see how this makes great baseball sense.  Chemistry is overrated.  You know what players are good chemistry guys?  The ones on teams that are winning.

In other news, the Mets signed Shaun Marcum to a one year deal which I think could be good for him.  There wasn’t a huge market and he can try and regain his old form pitching in an average division in a pitcher friendly park.  Maybe next year he can go out and get more money or more years.  Why would the Mets do it?  Why not?  It’s only one year.

Finally, Kelly Johnson signed with the Rays.  That is all I can say about that.

It’s just the hot stove season right now, but it’s never too early to begin looking at 2013 MLB All Star Game ticket prices. The weather will be warming up before we know it and if you plan on attending the Midsummer’s classic, it’s never too early to start looking.

Filed Under: Arizona DiamondBacks Tagged With: , , ,

Game 57, 2011: Reds 4, Brewers 3

June 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

[Box Score]

[Cincinnati.com] [Brew Crew Ball]

Observations:

This was my favorite win of the year, and it was the biggest win of the year for the Reds in my opinion.

I watched the entire game, and as I watched I was completely astonished that the Reds were going to fall below .500 and they were really going to drop another game on the Cardinals (St. Louis was up on Tim Lincecum and the Giants at the time). Instead, the Reds leaned on a couple of heroes to help them gain a game on the Cardinals, and the night turned superb with a 4-3 victory that saw them take the series from the Brewers and gain a game on the Cardinals.

Shaun Marcum shut the Reds down for for the first two thirds of the ballgame. The Reds had two hits when Joey Votto singled in the 7th and Jay Bruce hit a home run into the Reds bullpen. I knew then that the Reds would have a shot in this thing, but I figured that they would have to do it off the Brewers closer in the bottom of the 9th, and that made me nervous because John Axford has been pitching so well.

In the 8th inning with the Brewers clinging to a 3-2 lead, Brandon Phillips got nailed with a pitch by Kameron Loe, and the next batter Joey Votto hit a Ruthian-type blast off the batter’s eye in centerfield that would give the Reds a 4-3 lead that you knew they wouldn’t let go of.

The crowd of 22 thousand plus was into the game all night and they were rewarded for their faith in the Reds. The Reds weren’t quite dead yet, a hand arose from the ground of the grave that has been dug for them for the past few weeks. Again on this night, there was life for the 2010 NL Central Champions and they’ve got room to keep fighting for a while.

Top Plays:

Jay Bruce homers off Shaun Marcum (17) to break up the shutout

Joey Votto orders a Venti! Extra foam!

Drew Stubbs can track it down in center

Cordero’s 300th lock down of his career

Potpourri:

-Coco Cordero became the 22nd man in baseball history to post 300 saves. How hard is it to believe that he is the active leader behind Mariano Rivera? When people get on Cordero, you realize he’s about as dependable as it gets.

-If you’re a Reds fan and you’re reading this post, or just a baseball fan; get your butt over to the All Star Ballot and vote for Jay Bruce to go to the MLB All Star Game 25 times.

Diamond Hoggers Song of the Game:
You only get one chance for Crowded House ‘Something So Strong’ and the time on that chance falls in July of 1987. Coincidentally two months before that, Eric Davis was murdering every National League pitcher much like young Bruce of the present day, minus the Crowded House. Enjoy this one!

Filed Under: Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers Tagged With: , , , , ,

Milwaukee Brewers 2011 Season Preview

March 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Leading up to the start of the 2011 Regular Season, Diamond Hoggers will preview each of MLB’s 30 teams . Today’s preview features the Milwaukee Brewers. Stay tuned as Diamond Hoggers previews every team division by division until the start of the regular season. [Read more...]

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