Bridge Collapses In Andorra, Aroldis Chapman Feared OK
Posted by GravediggerHebner on 11:34pm, Saturday November 7th 2009
Bridge near Massana, Andorra
The bridge shown above, near Massana, Andorra, collapsed Saturday. There are no reports that Cuban defector, pitcher Aroldis Chapman, was nearby. Thus New York Mets GM Omar Minaya still has the chance to waste $40-$60 million dollars signing the rookie free agent. Chapman established residency in Andorra to avoid being subjected to the MLB amateur draft.
Chapman was scheduled to meet with Minaya according to ESPN. At least one person, possibly more, thinks signing him is a good idea. I disagree, and encourage Chapman to spend more time on and around Andorran bridges.
Cuban defector throws collapsing bridge a curveball
little snarky tonight hebs. Play nice dude!
Grave did you really write this? I had to do a double take when I saw who wrote it. Not your best work Grave seemed a little cold.
I feel ya Heb, frustrated with the front office, most should be. Just hoping against hope Omar learned the basics of being a successful and compeent GM….
One less option for improving the Mets, if we are to believe Ken Rosenthal:
“The thought of free-agent left fielder Matt Holliday signing with the Mets is good for a chuckle. Some who know Holliday say he would prefer not to play in New York. Also, his power to right-center makes him a poor fit for Citi Field. The Mets would not be so desperate to upgrade in left if Fernando Martinez had justified talk that he might be a left-handed Manny Ramirez …”
Ah, but what if it really wasn’t an option (or not one that would improve the Mets as much as you hope, certainly not for the $$ cost)?
Because, on the off chance that Rosenthal has his facts right for a change, what if Holliday really is going to be a disappointment?
He did struggle (brief sample I guess) in Oakland, and Citi did do a number on DWs HR output. Maybe another RC gap power hitter isn’t the best idea?
Probably still worth the risk, and he certianly should be better than the cheap options. Just hope he is enough of an improvement to be worth the huge (as in only big) off season investment?
From watching guys like Utley and Ibanez beat on the place, a hitter like Delgado or Dunn seems like a good idea!
I hear everything you’re saying Stick and agree with much of it (ala Holliday’s production versus pay and how he might do/not do in Citi).
I was simply writing my comment in the context that every available FA is “technically” an option to become a Met, and if Rosenthal saying he doesn’t wish to come to NY is true, there is now one less option.
Anyone player that hires Boras as his agent knows they are selling themselves to the highest bidder. Wanting to come to NY goes out the window when one of the NY teams (OK, we know which one!) blows him out of the water with the best offer.
Hey, last off season it was widely reported that CC wanted to be on the west coast, not interested in the NY scene, etc., and where did he end up?
Two excellent points re: Boras/highest bidder; and CC/west coast/reality.
Perhaps I allowed myself to get too excited that Holliday was allegedly not interested in NY because I am not interested in the Mets spending the largest portion of their “budget” on LF.
IMO the Mets need to upgrade the SP more significantly than they do the lineup and all of my takes on potential moves are colored by that. I feel that, as you’ve hinted at, the hitter who can “take advantage of Citi” is less likely to be one of the two big FA OF and more likely to come cheaper and be less sexy initially.
Would signing this Chapman kid count
toward the “budget”?
Seriously though, this kid has wicked stuff BUT he didn’t look like
he was really to contibute big time
yet during the WBC.
Could we afford to wait a yr or two
on him while hes being paid millions?
And more importantly, can Omar?
I agree about can they afford to wait. In that context (whether I’m thinking specifically about Omar or just generally about the team’s current roster) I don’t think they can afford to gamble so much money (as his alleged needs are $40-$60 mil) on whether he will or won’t pan out and when it might or might not happen.
If he were more reasonably likely to be able to step in and contribute positively in 2010 I’d be more inclined toward signing him. But if he’s ready in 2012, who will be left on the Mets then? I am in the camp that “this team’s window” (as in the key guys on the roster right now) closes after 2011.
well, “wants” and “needs” with this kid are nice, but he really has no leverage. It is also open bidding, so unlike Dice K, you don’t have to wonder what the highest bid is in a blind auction!
anyway, he does not have the leverage (unlike the japanese FAs) to go back to his old league. So the teams are going to set his value. If no team goes above Strausberg money (what,15mill/5 year deal?), then what does he do?
I just don’t see this guy being willing and able to turn down that much money to pull a Drew and hit the indy league for a season. Maybe he does, but I wouldn’t
A lot of his value now is the perceived “mystique”, since no one is really quite sure what he is. So, if he decides to take the risk and play indy ball, if he turns out to have more average stuff and losuy control and struggles a bit, then his value will come crashing down, and kiss 15mill goodbye (most likely).
If Omar could get him for a 5/15 ML deal, roll the dice. 50mill guaranteed? Invest elsewhere (hell, sign the next 5 best IFAs for a lot less than that).
And just for the record, it’s not my wish that Aroldis Chapman die in a horrible construction accident. It’s that Omar concentrate his resources elsewhere.
Thats a relief!
Thought you were serious for a sec.
No, not really.
Good day fellas!
And
Remember….
Here we go Steelers!…
Here we go!