Plax 4 Prez

I can see the logic behind the Benson one but the Seo one was the one that really got me pissed. He was amazing down the stretch and Sanchez basically hasn't proved anything for the most part. I also like the lefty we gave up in that trade too... I think Tim Hamulack (?)

well with Pedro hurt, they need to see what else we can afford, or trade

Agreed. I think this was the thinking at the time of the Benson and Jay S. trade. It had to be.

both of those trades baffled me.... if there was no mottive behind it, I'll be pissed

do you know any college basketball message boards we can recruit more UConn fans??? if so please invite them

2877 from the GMB

I think you guys mis applied his post count... you gave him 2,791 instead of his 2,877

I'm going to see the Mets in March!!!

Fri. March 3rd, vs St. Louis, at 7:10 PM, Port St. Lucie

This situation only confuses me more of why we traded Seo. We aren't going anywhere with this rotation now. It isn't that strong as it is and someone is going to get hurt.

well, hopefully we let him fully heal, so if we do make some sort of a playoff run he can atleast be healthy for the playoffs...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Day by day, one missed workout at a time, Pedro Martinez is falling behind the Mets' pitchers, some of whom are already up to 40 tosses per bullpen session. Pedro has yet to throw off a mound and is still looking for a solution to the chronic pain in his right foot.

There's no specific timetable for Pedro's return, though, the first goal is to get Martinez on the mound -- actually on the slope of the mound, where he'll throw, not pitch -- by this weekend. The Mets' next task is to then separate their ace from the World Baseball Classic.

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Pedro Martinez is at Mets camp, but he has yet to throw off of a pitching mound.Pedro says he wants to pitch in the tournament, even though he knows he can't, at least not by March 3. The Mets know Pedro is better off in camp, but they can't say that, either, afraid of swimming against a tidal wave of WBC enthusiasm in the Dominican Republic.

So for now, everyone is adhering to a perfect, PC script: Pedro says, "I would love to represent my country," and the Mets nod and say it's his decision, not ours.

Of course, the Mets' best-case scenario would allow Pedro to excuse himself for medical reasons and have everyone in his native country believe him. That would give Martinez a clear conscience while allowing him to focus on the tender sesamoid under his big right toe, which has nagged him for nearly two years.

Martinez describes it as background pain, just enough to keep him from fully pushing off the rubber. It's the price Martinez is paying for what pitching coach Rick Peterson calls a "violent" hip rotation during his delivery. It's the same motion Martinez has always had, but at 34, he's begun to feel the surcharge.

Actually, Pedro required his first cortisone shot in 2004, then experienced a flare-up last June that eventually cut short his season in September. Nearly five months later, Pedro still isn't running or sprinting or moving laterally without some discomfort.

Instead, he's been forced to exercise on a stationary bike or play long toss in the outfield, as he did on Saturday with manager Willie Randolph. On Sunday, Martinez never made it out of the trainer's room while the Mets went through a two-hour workout.

The longer Martinez is delayed in beginning his throwing program, the more obvious it becomes he'd be at risk in the WBC. The very blueprint for dethroning the Braves could be written in the next few weeks, depending on how fast Pedro heals -- or not.

The front office has been nervously monitoring Pedro's condition since September, when his fastball was down to 86 mph and he had to stop pitching. The Mets were hopeful of a complete recovery during the winter, during which time GM Omar Minaya traded both Jae Seo and Kris Benson while hanging on to to the wobbly Victor Zambrano.

The GM defends the decision, insisting he needed to upgrade his bullpen in deals with the Dodgers and Orioles. And besides, the Mets say, Aaron Heilman deserved Benson's spot after his performance in the second half of the 2005 season.

Used in a set-up role, the right-hander held the National League to a .175 batting average while posting a 0.68 ERA.

Assuming Heilman can maintain that effectiveness a second and third time through the opposing lineup, he should replace Benson and perhaps will be considered an upgrade.

But counting on Zambrano is risky business, if not entirely self-destructive. The Mets lost 17 of Zambrano's 27 starts last year; they won 11 of Seo's 14.

When asked about his rotation's potential thin spots, Minaya is quick to say "we have numbers." He cites Jeremi Gonzalez, Alay Soler and even Jose Lima, among others, as possible replacements if either Tom Glavine or Steve Trachsel goes on the disabled list, or if Zambrano doesn't improve on his maddening ratio of 14.5 baserunners per nine innings.

Ultimately, though, if the Mets are serious about taking on the Braves, someone will have to rise to the bigger moments. Someone, specifically, will have to outpitch John Smoltz.

For now, Pedro is the Mets' leader both on and off the field, but Minaya might regret trading Seo and Benson while Pedro's rehab was bogged down. If Martinez's new, specially fitted spikes don't take the pressure off his toe, it's conceivable he'll be a permanent six-inning pitcher, forced to live with an 86-88 mph fastball.

Of course, Martinez is creative enough to succeed even at that reduced velocity. But that could make him a 12- to 15-game winner instead of a 17- to 20-game winner. The Mets are still sniffing around Barry Zito and might intensify their pursuit based on Pedro's progress -- or lack of it.

The other scenario, albeit a long shot, is hurrying rookie Mike Pelfrey, who has the kind of physical skills, mechanics and makeup to make a GM light-headed. Pelfrey, the Mets' first-round draft pick last year, hasn't even thrown an inning in the minors yet, but has stunned the hierarchy during his mound sessions this week.

Randolph said trying to hit off Pelfrey "could be like facing Randy Johnson" after watching the 6-7, 230-pound right-hander throw off a mound on Saturday.

"He's huge," the manager said. "I was impressed at the way the ball exploded out of his hand."

The Mets would obviously prefer not to pressure Pelfrey, who is only 22. But every day that Martinez grapples with pain creates its own kind of pressure on the club's hierarchy.

The first dilemma is the WBC. The real landmark, however, is Opening Day, when Martinez is finally, fully recovered. Or not.

Ariza is a SF/SG is pretty tall at 6-8 but thin, only 200 pounds, he is only 20 years old, plays good defense, is a good rebounder, gets a lot of steals, and is an incredible dunker.

 

The downside is that he is real raw, and can NOT shoot at all

 

but if he can develop a decent jump shot, then he can be a very good player in the NBA

so I guess that's pretty good...what about Penny? Is he still struggling to to all his injuries?

they want penny because his 15 million dollar salary comes off the books at the end of the year and clears a ton of cap space. the '07 free agent class is going to be sick and they want ot rebuild around howard

yeah, but is he any good anymore?? and what about Trevor Ariza...is he any good?

Interesting, what goes around, comes around!

 

Penny Hardaway goes back to Orlando!

yeah, all we need is Shaq back now

Steve Francis is headed to New York under a deal agreed to Wednesday by the Knicks and the Orlando Magic, ESPN.com has learned.

 

The teams agreed to a trade of Francis for Penny Hardaway and Trevor Ariza, two league sources with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com.

 

The trade was expected to be announced later Wednesday afternoon after being called in to the league office.

 

In New York, Francis will be paired with Stephon Marbury as the highest-paid backcourt duo in the NBA.

 

The Knicks were still talking with several other clubs as team president Isiah Thomas worked at remaking a roster that has stumbled to the league's second-worst record, 15-37.

 

For the Magic, the trade will provide salary cap relief to a franchise that can now go further beneath the cap than any of the league's 30 teams in the summer of 2007 when a bumper crop of free agents will be on the market, giving Orlando several options in figuring out how to rebuild around 20-year-old power forward Dwight Howard.

I don't know who would really want Penny or Francis...I'm a Magic fan, and all I ever see from Francis is a ballhogging/turnover machine/loud-mouthed trouble maker.... Penny is an injury ridden over-priced piece of shit... ever since his first surgery in 1997 he has never been the same... and for the Magic to even WANT him back baffles me as much as them rehiring Brian Hill... whatever, both the Magic and Knicks messed up IMO.. has Penny even played desent in NY?? and who is Trevor Ariza?? is he any good?

I love this move. I'm a big fan of Seubert and thrilled to see his ward rehab work pay off for him and the club.

yeah, I hope to see him start a bit next year

Should we try to get NYG Moderator to come here? He is a good poster at GMB.

lol... Giants Online would then come from our MB instead of thiers..haha

this topic is awesome... I learn more about the differant schemes to more quality posters we have discussing them

The Knicks suck more than a cheap Vietnamese ho. And KG is not going to NY. This is the biggest pile of horsedung I have seen in quite a while.

lol.. Penny Hardaway hasn't been good since he was with the Magic back in 1997.... Steve Francis is a turnover machine/ball hogging/technical foul getting mo fo...trust me I know..I live 30 minutes away from the TD Waterhouse.. I actually hope you guys do the trade for Francis with us... the Miami Hurricanes and the Orlando Magic are the only two Florida teams I like

It is understandable. Money, since he is a mod, has deleted all the posts where I have literally owned him in a debate.

lol, your dumber than a bag of rocks. "Meet Joe Dirt"

Thanks for the Welcome. Who started this site?

Nemesis is a huge part of this MB, but I don't know if he started it or not

lol, I wonder if SIG is still a mod there. Maybe I should send him and BlueSunday an invite.

lol...that's an instant ban

:brooding:

You register by E mail, tell me your E mail adress, not a fake one either. Once you register by E mail you get the default name of Base Ball, then you can change it and post.

yeah, but it won't let me post.... but it's ok...Exit 117 helped me out and when I'll get home I hope it will work... my company pc's blocked the GMB and the Mets MB from our computers...fucken pricks

Phil Simms makes you sad?

 

If anyone sees other posters (from Giants.com or other message boards) worth adding, feel free to list them here...

smart ass

At this point, we need anyone who will speak their mind. More posters, more posts, more discussion.

 

Speaking of which, where have you been? I see you posting almost exclusively in the Politics forum.

Money, everytime I look at your sig. I get sad

Don't tell anyone that just in case big brother is watching.

lol..ok... we lost alot of members due to the link being down a couple days

I would love to help the recruiting effort on the GMB...but seeing as I was suspended without warning or explanation...I am in no position to help

 

BlueSunday

lol...he suspended me for a year, but I just made a new user name

WellDressedAmani is OBEYGIANTS over here. At SW1 he was WellDressedAmani.

I got Chopper to come back... he stopped comming because the link was messed up those couple days