SBNation.com User Blog: Marquus

A thing of beauty

Marquus — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:36:50 -0000

My best guesses. That's a full load, no?

MLB

1. Santana

2. Niese

3. Gee

4. Harvey

5. Some Dude

AAA

1. Wheeler

2. Mejia

3. Familia

4. McHugh

5. Gorski

Its the first time in a couple of years that if we suffer an injury, we aren't calling up 29 year old dreck, but a real live prospect. Cool.

1. Montero

2. DeGrom (guess based on age)

3. Mazzoni

4. Peavy/Cohoon (meh)

5. Goedel/Hutchingson/Cuan

Probably the weakest of the bunch, but (a lot) of help is on the way

A. (very sweet)

1, Syndergaard

2. Fullmer

3. Tapia

4. Mateo (guessing he jumps a level)

5. Verrett/Pill/Matz

This feels a lot like 83/84 Mets low A - Gooden, Youmens, Myers, Aguilera - even with Darling and El Sid in the majors. No Doc now

A-

1. Lara

2. Ynoa

3. Robles

4. Cessa

My best guesses. That's a full load, no?

MLB

1. Santana

2. Niese

3. Gee

4. Harvey

5. Some Dude

AAA

1. Wheeler

2. Mejia

3. Familia

4. McHugh

5. Gorski

Its the first time in a couple of years that if we suffer an injury, we aren't calling up 29 year old dreck, but a real live prospect. Cool.

1. Montero

2. DeGrom (guess based on age)

3. Mazzoni

4. Peavy/Cohoon (meh)

5. Goedel/Hutchingson/Cuan

Probably the weakest of the bunch, but (a lot) of help is on the way

A. (very sweet)

1, Syndergaard

2. Fullmer

3. Tapia

4. Mateo (guessing he jumps a level)

5. Verrett/Pill/Matz

This feels a lot like 83/84 Mets low A - Gooden, Youmens, Myers, Aguilera - even with Darling and El Sid in the majors. No Doc now

A-

1. Lara

2. Ynoa

3. Robles

4. Cessa

Pick 3

Marquus — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:06:54 -0000

Play Knicks GM for a minute

Lets assume the Knicks match whatever Lin gets, lets go of Fields, signs Novak and JR and makes no other moves. You can pick three free agents:

1) Sign-and-trade for $6m per (not trading Iman)

2) Mid-level exception $3m

3) Some veteran takes the minimum... just cause.

My choices:

1) Ray Allen

2) Felton

3) Kenyan Martin

1) for the sign-and-trade I want a starting 2 that can hit a 3. I like Ray Allen (don't know if the Celts do it, but we are fantasizing a little, right?). I have no interest in seeing JR start, and I don't see this being a banner year for Shump. I'd really prefer a bigger defensive guard, actually, but I don't think we have enough to sign Mayo or Brandon Rush

2) I use the mid-level on a backup point guard. If Felton doesn't take it, I go for Sessions. Again, I like the bigger defensive guards. I miss Derek Harper and Doc Rivers beating the crap out of smaller PGs. I even miss (can't believe i'm saying this) Chris Childs' toughness

3) I want a big to help out - I like Kenyan Martin and his tough guy act (I'm assuming Camby doesn't take a minimum contract). I'd also welcome Shawne home.

Play Knicks GM for a minute

Lets assume the Knicks match whatever Lin gets, lets go of Fields, signs Novak and JR and makes no other moves. You can pick three free agents:

1) Sign-and-trade for $6m per (not trading Iman)

2) Mid-level exception $3m

3) Some veteran takes the minimum... just cause.

My choices:

1) Ray Allen

2) Felton

3) Kenyan Martin

3) I want a big to help out - I like Kenyan Martin and his tough guy act (I'm assuming Camby doesn't take a minimum contract). I'd also welcome Shawne home.

Can I be a prospect again?

Marquus — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:06:14 -0000

Dear Mr. Sickels

I'm a 20 year old (turning 21 later in June) playing AA ball. Once upon a time I was a highly regarded signing out of the DR and a very highly touted prospect (did I mention I'm only 20?). Unfortunately I was always overshadowed by a teammate of mine who was also highly touted. I was pushed hard by a very aggressive GM, and I wound up holding my own as a 17/18 year old playing full season A ball(!), although I didn't do anything special.

After being top 5 on my team in the beginning, Baseball America has completely dropped me off my team's top 30 prospects. You gave me an honorable mention (thank you!). Some of this was my fault - I showed up out of shape to camp. I haven't really displayed the power that people thought I would. My defense at 3B deteriorated enough they were looking to move me to first, and I probably don't have the bat for that.

So, here I am in AA, as a 20 year old hitting .363. My power is not there yet, but my plate discipline has improved quite a bit starting last year. I hit pretty well in the AFL last season before getting hurt. Reports are that my defense at 3B has improved quite a bit.

So when you look at prospects again, hopefully you can look my way.

Yours truly

Jefry Marte

Binghamton Mets

Dear Mr. Sickels

So when you look at prospects again, hopefully you can look my way.

Yours truly

Jefry Marte

Binghamton Mets

When are we going to be good again?

Marquus — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:07:41 -0000

So, if Sandy decides we are done for the year, what year does he play for? Does he trade Beltran for 2012 help (AAA and AA players only)? Are we ready to be competitive next year?

I'm thinking that IF we can resign Jose and we are lucky enough to have some prospects come out right, we are still in for a down year in 2012 (70 wins?), a promising year in 2013 (85 wins?), and a competitive year in 2014. So what does that mean for this year's trade deadline? Who is going to be here in 2014 competing?

C: Thole - he might be here, I'm not convinced he's a starting catcher on a competitive team.

1B: Ike - He'll be there

2B: Whatever. I guess Murphy or Tejada. I'd hope we could upgrade by 2014

SS: Jose

3B: Wright

LF: Bay? Gawd, I hope not. How about giving Duda his at bats this year and next? Eventually we will need to land a guy who is what Bay was supposed to be. But I would think we could buy that in 2014.

CF: Pagan? I doubt it. he's headed for the wrong side of 30. Could Captain Kirk take over CF next year? Van Dekker may be ready mid-season. This is going to be a hard position to fill, there aren't a whole lot of candidates available that are true CF. If Kirk, Dekker, and Puello don't pan out (distinct possibility), then we will be left to declining Victorinos and Byrds.

RF: I really wouldn't mind Scott Hairston getting full time At Bats, but I'd also tolerate giving FMart an extended look next year. Cory Vaughn may be ready for a mid-season callup next year depending on how he handles AA next year. I'm optimistic that Vaughn could be an above average hitter and stick (of all the Mets OF prospects).

Rotation: Pelfrey? I wouldn't like to see him around in 2014; Niese I like a lot; I don't see Capuano or Dickey around in 2014 either. I'm not sold on Gee, but I can't see why he wouldn't be a bad back of the rotation starter on a competing team. We will have Johan next year, but I think we'll be showcasing him for a trade deadline deal in 2012 on him.

So... if 2014 is the goal, my preference would be to trade Bay (or buy him out), and trade Pagan, Pelfrey, Capuano, and Dickey besides Beltran. I'd be willing to tolerate Duda, Newenhuis, Martinez, Schwinden, Misch, etc learn on the job next year (and whoever Sandy can pull off). Eventually Mejia, Harvey, Familia, Rodriquez will be competing for jobs.

I want the best outfield and rotation prospects Sandy can get. I like the Reds (pitchers) and Braves (Beltran) as trade partners the best. The Reds have a bunch of grade B and C MLB or near-MLB ready outfield prospects that could trade them for pitchers. The Braves have some interesting middle infielders, but their strength is starters (I'd like Minor, Perez, and maybe someone like Lipka, Salcedo. or Pasternacki for Beltran).

I'm no big fan of the Phillies toolsy prospects (excepting Brown who we won't get). The Cardinals have a bunch of old prospects that don't excite me, and I understand the Pirates are overvaluing all of their prospects. After Wheeler and Belt who the Mets aren't getting, the Giants are pretty stripped.

I know nothing about AL prospects - the weakness of playing in an NL-only fantasy league (Mendoza Baseball, best fantasy game out there by far)

Add to the mix whatever spare parts Sandy and his number crunchers can come up with, and I think the mets would be interesting if not competitive next year. If we don't sign Jose, then its another story altogether. For us to be promising in 2013 and competitive in 2014, Sandy is going to have to shine next week.

So, if Sandy decides we are done for the year, what year does he play for? Does he trade Beltran for 2012 help (AAA and AA players only)? Are we ready to be competitive next year?

C: Thole - he might be here, I'm not convinced he's a starting catcher on a competitive team.

1B: Ike - He'll be there

2B: Whatever. I guess Murphy or Tejada. I'd hope we could upgrade by 2014

SS: Jose

3B: Wright

LF: Bay? Gawd, I hope not. How about giving Duda his at bats this year and next? Eventually we will need to land a guy who is what Bay was supposed to be. But I would think we could buy that in 2014.

I know nothing about AL prospects - the weakness of playing in an NL-only fantasy league (Mendoza Baseball, best fantasy game out there by far)

Hated losing Gallo, but...

Marquus — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:13:13 -0000

Just like we wouldn't have been able to afford Will in 2011 FA, we wouldn't be able to keep Gallo in 2012. Not and get an all-star caliber point guard.

Remember the Heat had to just give Beasley away when they signed their trio.

If the plan is three max players (and I doubt they'll be able to do that after the next CBA lowers the cap), then you better be prepared for life with marginal, minimum salary role players. Semi-star players like Gallo and Will are not affordable after their first go in free agency.

I seriously hope Donnie stays around, because we need to do a great job bottom fishing like he did when he found Shawne (and when Riley found Starks and Mason). From here on out, we talk Barron, not Gasol. We talk Jeffries and not Mayo.

Thank God we found Fields...

Just like we wouldn't have been able to afford Will in 2011 FA, we wouldn't be able to keep Gallo in 2012. Not and get an all-star caliber point guard.

Remember the Heat had to just give Beasley away when they signed their trio.

Thank God we found Fields...

This remind anyone of McAdoo, Heyward, The Pearl....

Marquus — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 15:46:44 -0000

Back in the 70's (post-championship), Knick ownership figured that if one scorer was good, and two was better, then 4 must be better still and another 2 would be even better! With an aging Clyde and Pearl, Knicks picked up hot young scorer Spencer Heywood. Then Bob McAdoo for three first round picks (who dominated the ball). The Randy Smith who could shoot with 24 seconds left on the shot clock. Then Mike Newlin...

I don't know, I'm not seeing this Melo thing no matter how much you give up. I get the two superstar thing, but don't they have to complement each other? This isn't Scottie playing second fiddle to Mikey, This isn't Kobe and Shaq, or Hakeem and Clyde. These are two scoring forwards - neither of whom can run the point and both need the ball to be successful.

For everyone that said that this team couldn't compete - it couldn't this year. Maybe not even next year. But I LIKE watching a team grow together. These guys are all babies, and they all know how to play. I hate the idea of trying to scoop up superstars like this. I like building a team. Yeah, it might take a few years to be top of the division, but I know they would outlast the Celts, and eventually I think they'd give the Heat a run.

If this trade goes down, you really think that Melo, Stat, and Chauncey are going to learn to mesh in D'Antonio's system in 30 games?

I don't want Melo at any price.

If this trade goes down, you really think that Melo, Stat, and Chauncey are going to learn to mesh in D'Antonio's system in 30 games?

I don't want Melo at any price.

How about this center as a trade target

Marquus — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:18:46 -0000

I'm from the camp that Carmelo doesn't bring that much extra to the table. I am a fan that likes watch our children turn into men, and Gallo, Wil, Landry, and even Randolph are still babies. I just don't think Carmelo adds that many extra points to our already league leading average, and I think he hurts us defensively. The price is too high.

So if we use a trade chip or two, it should be for a bruising center. If the Nets can mortgage their future for Carmelo, and the Nuggets are willing to go into true rebuilding mode, what about knocking on their door afterwards for Nene'?

He's 28 years old, and has a player option for next year on this contract - he may opt out if they gut the team anyway. He's not a 10+ rebounder, and he isn't injury free - but a could be a nice 30 minute a game player and make a sweet rotation between Amare, Ronny, and him. He is athletic and big, although he doesn't shoot like D'Antonio likes (neither does Turiaf).

It was reported that Randolph gets us a 1st round pick - would we be overpaying if we sent Gallo and the pick for Nene? I'm really warming to the idea of Wil at the 3, and Extra E backing up the 2 and 3.