Tag Archive for Alex Cora

Spoiling the Ending

August 8, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

Ruben Tejada didn’t look ready to be an everyday player during the Mets’ initial slide into irrelevancy so I found it rather odd that he was the guy they called for when things got really desperate this week. Not that I disagreed with kicking Alex Cora off the bus: For all he contributed prior to his injuries last year, he hasn’t been good for more than a year and certainly hadn’t earned the approaching second year vest in his overpriced contract, so a release was called for. Consider him, along with Castillo, Jeff Francoeur and Oliver Perez (and Jason Bay?), as what they’ll recall when Omar Minaya is gently kicked upstairs after the year is out. But, wasn’t Justin Turner available?

Meantime, Jesus Feliciano was demoted and Fernando Martinez returned. If Fartinez can take a few starts from Francouer … or Carlos Beltran … or Bay … well, maybe that wouldn’t be a bad thing to get another look at, since whoever’s in charge nest year will have some big decisions to make in the outfield. Martinez is back in 26 and Tejada in 11, by the way.

And while another radical slump from David Wright sure isn’t helping things, Jerry Manuel’s managing of this team remains woefully counterproductive, and, I think, contributes to that frightened offense. He’ll vamoose as well after this year ends and we now know how it will.

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Now Drop and Give Me 20

April 18, 2010 Uncategorized No comments

Holy crap. I’d be surprised if the Mets, once they wake up, don’t make a few quick roster moves for relievers this afternoon after playing 20 innings last night. And though it’s more of a long shot, it’d be also nice to get a few hitters considering they were blanked for 18 innings and managed only to squeak out single runs despite facing position players on the mound for three innings thanks to Tony LaRussa and his seeming strategy to defeat the Mets by humiliating them. This after failing to hold a 1-0 lead on Friday night. Can’t wait till Jose Reyes gets back. What? Oh…

Anyway, it wasn’t a pretty game by any wild stretch but props to Alex Cora for a terrific catch and to Hisanori Takahashi, who became a vicious strikeout artist at the right moment to squelch a 2-on, no-out situation in the 14th. Jerry Manuel’s absurdly passive game plan reached new heights by ordering Luis Castillo to bunt in a plan that successfully resulted in a single run in the 19th but predictably was proven not enough. Mike Pelfrey with the save. Ridiculous!

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Yo, That’s Fresh

February 9, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

Thanks to Dave Mackey in the post below who pointed out new assignments as per the Mets.com roster. I’ll rap more about these later, but here’s the pertinent info. Hats off to outfielding prospect Kirk Nieuwenhuis, with the highest digits assigned so far.

Of interest: Alex Cora moving to 13 and new catcher Chris Coste taking over 3.

New players in bold. * indicates non-roster invitee.

1 Luis Castillo, 2B

2 Frank Catalonotto*, INF-OF

3 Chris Coste, C

4 Henry Blanco, C

5 David Wright, 3B

6 Nick Evans, OF

7 Jose Reyes, SS

8 vacant

9 Omir Santos, C

10 Andy Green*, INF (was 29 last year)

11 Anderson Hernandez, INF

12 Jeff Francoeur, OF

13 Alex Cora, INF (was 3 last year)

14 Retired

15 Carlos Beltran, OF

16 Angel Pagan, OF

17 Fernando Tatis, INF-OF

18 Ryota Igarashi, P

19 Gary Matthews, OF

20 Howard Johnson, Hitting Coach

21 vacant (was Delgado)

22 Jolbert Cabrera*, INF-OF

23 Chris Carter, INF-OF

24 vacant

25 Pedro Feliciano, P

26 Fernando Martinez, OF

27 Nelson Figueroa, P

28 Daniel Murphy, 1B

29 Tobi Stoner, P

30 Josh Thole, C

31 vacant

32 Arturo Lopez, P

33 John Maine, P

34 Mike Pelfrey, P

35 Jack Egbert, P

36 R.A. Dickey*, P

37 retired

38 Fernando Nieve, P

39 Bobby Parnell, P

40 Eddie Kunz, P

41 retired

42 retired

43 Josh Fogg*, P

44 Jason Bay, OF

45 Kelvim Escobar, P

46 Oliver Perez, P

47 Jay Marshall, P

48 Pat Misch, P

49 Jon Niese, P

50 Sean Green, P

51 Chip Hale, 3rd base Coach

52 Razor Shines, 1st base coach (thanks for the correction)

53 Jerry Manuel, Manager

54 Dave Racaniello, Bullpen Catcher

55 Randy Niemann, Bullpen Coach

56 Dave Jauss, Bench Coach

57 Johan Santana, P

58 vacant

59 vacant

60 vacant

61 Clint Everts, P

62 Jesus Feliciano*, OF

63 Shawn Bowman, INF

64 Elmer Dessens*, P

65 Russ Adams*, INF

66 Mike Hessman*, OF

67 Mike Cervenak*, INF

68 Bobby Livingston*, P

69 vacant

70 Carlos Muniz*, P (was 32 in last appearance with the Mets, 2008)

71 vacant

72 vacant

73 vacant

74 Francisco Pena*, C

75 Francisco Rodriguez, P

76 vacant

77 Eric Niesen*, P

78 Ike Davis*, 1B

79 Ruben Tejeda*, INF

80-89 vacant

90 Travis Blackley*, P

91 Kirk Nieuwenhuis*, OF

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Coste-Benefit Analysis

December 1, 2009 Uncategorized One comment

Ouch. The Mets officially got their off-season work underway this week by re-signing veteran Alex Cora and giving free agent catcher Chris Coste a split contract and a shot at the 2010 Mets. In the meantime they saw their own catcher, Brian Schneider, sign with the Phillies, accepting the backup job he probably should have had here all this time.

Cora, it is to be assumed, will step right back into the same No. 3 jersey he wore last season, when unexpected and especially slow-healing injuries to starting shortstop Jose Reyes thrust Cora into a full-time role he was never physically up to. Playing with one and then two sprained thumbs was admirable and gritty, but it didn’t do much to help the Mets win, which raises the question why the Mets would expect a different outcome should Reyes get hurt again. Is he even healed yet? Who knows.

The Schneid and Cute Wifey Jordan in better times.Looks doubtful from here that Coste comes out of his Mets experience with fodder for another inspiring true-life bestseller, but with a decent right-handed bat and some experience playing first base, it’s not out of the realm of possiblity he helps some in 2010. At worst he could be the 2010 Robinson Cancel; much may depend on who winds up with the starting assignment behind the dish: Henry Blanco? Bengie Molina? I’d prefer a trade.

Coste wore 27 with the Phillies (and 41 more recently in Houston) but with Schneider shedding 23, he might slide in there. I’ve always felt Schneider never got enough credit for playing as poorly as he did for the Mets — his defense was less than advertised and his bat was nonexistent but for stretches of both his years here — but news accompanying his signing with the Phillies that he grew up a Phillies fan I’m sure will bring the boo-birds out upon his next visit to CitiField.

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Let’s Go SHaMs!

July 15, 2009 SHaMs One comment

If Marlon Anderson were alive today, he might be distributing his teammates worksheets with the number 45 written on it. Maybe even 50. Those look to be the minimum of the remaining 75 games the Mets are going to have to win if they hope to have any shot at postseason baseball.

Forty-five wins is an even .600 winning percentage and would get the Mets only to 87 wins for the season; 50 wins would make for a sizzling .667 clip and 92 wins. Ninety-two was the magic figure that Marlon Anderson suggested the Mets shoot for when they were floundering at 30-32 and had 100 games left to play last season: a .620 winning percentage. Then as now, the Mets were in fourth place leading only Washington in NL East. They of course fell short of that goal but it took an extraordinary collapse to do it. The advantage this season? 6.5 games out of first place, instead of 7.5 games back last season.

Tall order? For the Mets, you said it. But in the spirit of giving us all some hope, I’m not putting it past the SHaMs: The Second Half Mets.

Hey, why not? The incremental improvements have already begun: Angel Berroa was last seen hitting .136 and wearing No. 14 for the Yankees. But for the Mets, the 2003 rookie of the year and former teammate of Carlos Beltran, represents a clear improvement over the again-demoted Argenis Reyes and will allow Alex Cora to take the days off he so obviously needs. Anything that gets the Mets back to Jose Reyes better than they’ve scuffled without him so far is real improvement.

Berroa’s promotion hasn’t been officially announced just yet: Easy enough to predict however he’ll be wearing No. 4, which he wore in his glory year with the Royals and is available. (EDIT: Dispatches from Atlanta say Berroa is with the team and is wearing No. 4. Go me…)

From here, we can look forward to additions right through deadline season: Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Maine. Wagner. A streak or two you know this team might find in it. Let’s Go SHaMs: Fifty to go.

Don’t forget to join me, Greg Prince, Paul Lukas, Matthew Silverman and a barful of hungry Mets fans as Two Boots Tavern presents AMAZIN’ TUESDAY, next Tuesday, July 21 at 7pm. Present a Mets baseball card for your first drink free! Pizza and Rheingold specials, Mets-Nats game on the big screens, memorabilia, giveaways and presentations!

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Brown Comes to Town

June 3, 2009 Uncategorized One comment

Quick note: Emil Brown, the veteran outfielder signed as AAA depth recently, was called up to the active roster today as Ramon Martinez hits the disabled list with a finger injury. Brown was assigned No. 29. That number was assigned to four different guys last year, though only three of them (Jorge Sosa, Chris Aguila and Andy Phillips)  wore it in combat.

Alex Cora in the meantime was activated today as expected. He takes the place of cursed outfielder Angel Pagan who yesterday commenced with his customary, hot-streak-interrupting visit to the disabled list.

They’re really banged up right now.

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I’ll Be Sittin’ When the Evenin’ Comes

May 18, 2009 Uncategorized One comment

Watching the Met debut of Tim Redding, who tonight will become the 860th Met of all-time.

Redding will be suited up in No. 44 — which belonged to four different guys last year, none of whom I could have told you had I not just looked it up myself, I don’t think. If you’re interested in making a guess in the comments section, go ahead, I won’t say who they are.

Redding’s accompanying lineup is a little goofy — a continuation of the stuff we saw last night where Fernando Tatis played short and Jerry Manuel, once again, made a baffling pinch-hitting call that blew up his face with the game on the line. Yet, Angel Pagan starts tonight in left while Daniel Murphy and Ryan “Doghouse” Church once again sit.

The shortstop is Ramon Martinez, called up because of a thumb injury to Alex Cora who is going onto the DL today too and Jose Reyes is still unavailable (Mackey Shillstone?). You might remember Martinez as the only Met who could buy a hit in the last week of the season last yea. He was wearing No. 22 then but with that jersey since reassigned to JJ Putz, we’ll have to wait and see what he turns up in. (Updated: He’s wearing No. 26)

Seems like only a moment ago I was praising the flexibility of this roster but this is about as stretched out as I’d like to go right now. Carlos Delgado, you may have heard, is on his way to the operating room and I can’t imagine he reappears until August or so.

Redding’s recall, by the way, meant another demotion for Nelson Figueroa — who came and went without an appearance — and a continuing tour for Ken Takahashi.

Right you are, Ken.

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Latest Updates

February 20, 2009 Uncategorized One comment

Thanks to several emails, eyewitness accounts and comments over the last few days I’ve been alerted to updates with the Mets’ spring training roster, and rather than continually update the one below I’ll publish a new one here.

The interesting change is Alex Cora and Cory Sullivan having switched the 12 and 3 jerseys, respectively. I think in a general sense that’s how it should be: The infielders in single-digits and the outfielders not, at least where you can help it. This really wasn’t a switch so much as an adjustment from the paper numbers they were assigned.

Looks like, without Pedro coming to town, 45 could go to whichever pitcher now in the high 50s or low 60s makes the squad, and/or to Tony Armas who I understand may be late arriving due to visa problems.

Still need the uni numbers for the coaches whenever they roll in, but we have a good idea where they will fit in.

 

1 Luis Castillo, 2B

2 Sandy Alomar Sr. (coach)

3 Alex Cora, INF

— switched from Sullivan

4 Robinson Cancel, C

5 David Wright, 3B

6 Nick Evans, OF

7 Jose Reyes, SS

8 Vacant (Carter)

9 Marlon Anderson

10 Andy Green, INF

11 Ramon Castro, C

12 Cory Sullivan, OF

— Was assigned to Cora initially

13 Billy Wagner, P

14 Retired (Gil Hodes)

15 Carlos Beltran, OF

16 Angel Pagan, OF

17 Fernando Tatis

18 Jeremy Reed, OF

19 Ryan Church, OF

20 Howard Johnson, coach

21 Carlos Delgado, 1B

22 JJ Putz, RP

23 Brian Schneider, C

24 Vacant (Mays)

25 Pedro Feliciano, P

26 Rob Mackowiak, OF

27 Nelson Figueroa, P

28 Daniel Murphy, OF

29 Connor Robertson, P

30 Rocky Cherry, P

31 Vacant (Piazza)

32 Carlos Muniz, P

33 John Maine, P

34 Mike Pelfrey, P

35 Brandon Knight, P

36 Darren O’Day, P

37 Retired (Stengel)

38 Tom Martin, P

39 Bobby Parnell, P

40 Eddie Kunz, P

41 Retired (Seaver)

42 Retired (Robinson)

43 Brian Stokes, P

44 Tim Redding, P

45 Vacant

46 Oliver Perez, P

47 Casey Fossum, P

48 Sean Green, P

49 Jonathon Niese, P

50 Duaner Sanchez, P

51 Luis Alicea, coach

52 Razor Shines, coach

53 Jerry Manuel, Manager

54 Dave Racianello, bullpen catcher

55 Randy Niemann, coach

56 Freddy Garcia, P

57 Johan Santana, P

58 Sandy Alomar Jr., coach

59 Dan Warthen, coach

60 Valerio De Los Santos, P

61 Livan Hernandez, P

62 Bobby Keilty, OF

63 Michel Abreu, 1B

64 Elmer Dessens, P

65 Kyle Snyder, P

66 Matt DeSalvo, P

67 Fernando Martinez, OF

68 Heriberto Ruelas, P

69 Vacant (according to MBTN contributor Jason, this number is retired in honor of the 1969 World Champions but probably also to save unnecessary clubhouse and bleacher abuse)

70 Jon Switzer, P

71 Toby Stoner, P

72 Adam Bostick, P

73 Dillon Gee, P

74 Michael Antonini, P

75 Francisco Rodriguez, P

76 Omir Santos, C

77 Rene Rivera, C

78 Josh Thole, C

79 Jose Coronado, INF

**

90 Ramon Martinez, INF

91 Tony Armas, P

99 Jose Valentin, 2B

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It’s the Magic Number

January 14, 2009 Uncategorized One comment

3According to the Internet, and a rumor that seems to have been around for months now, the Mets are expected to announce that they’ve signed veteran reserve infielder Alex Cora to a 1-year contrract. Cora, a lefthanded hitter, is expected to be the primary middle infield defensive backup, and comes to the Mets with the kind of reputation for the intangibles Omar Minaya cannot resist.

Cora in his 11-year career has most frequently worn No. 3 and more recently, No. 13: With 3 recently surrendered by Damian Easley and 13 belonging nominally to potential late-season callup Billy Wagner, we’d bet (and bet big) he winds up in 3. It’s a nice wussyish benchwarming shortstop number after all, Ruth notwithstanding.

In other new-Met news, Marty Noble of mlb.com reports that Tim Redding knew that jersey No. 44 at one time belonged to David Cone (nice!) but that had 23 been available he’d have taken it instead for … Don Mattingly (what?).

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