RainMan

I didn't realize that his contact is up in 2008 too? The CLE payroll is relatively low at 62mm. Most of their core is signed for a couple more years so I would think that CLE will try to extend him. The question is will they pony up 6-7 yrs at 18mm per? If Sabathia hits the market, the Mets are in as good a position as anyone to sign him. Thoughts?

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"But why is the rum gone???"

metman

No way. I worry about his conditioning and ability to win a big game. I just don't see that 'intangible' that I see in other aces like Beckett/Santana. And yes, I felt that way about Beckett before 2007. Some guys just have it. I don't think he does.

I know, it sounds crazy, but I just see him getting fatter and frustrating fans once he gets his big payday. I'd like to see us develop a deeper farm and try to steal the next Bonderman/Beckett type. Hell, even Lackey would do well in the NL. Try to fix Irvin Santana, who used to kill the Yankees and is still young, although flakey.

You know what I mean? A 'big name' big contract guy is riskier than we might realize.

lgm6986

At least it would be a good fat guy.

First Pitch Fastball

HAHA, CC is one of the top 5 pitchers in the game today. He struggled this postseason but that's probably because he pitched about 40 more regular season innings than Josh Beckett (he was rewarded with the Cy Young because of his more outstanding season compared to Josh Beckett). This sounds like a Mets fan with a chip on his shoulder. If CC were ever available (he's not gonna be) he's someone you make plan A.

Also, you make it sound as if Lackey is a pushover who might do well in the NL. Of course he would! He's already doing well in the AL and is one of the top guys in the AL.

Bay Ridge Dave

There is only ONE fat f*ck that Omar has his eyes on.

RainMan

I like John Lackey a lot but he has a contract option for 2009 at only 9m. I can't see LAA letting him walk. I understand metman's point about some pitchers have it and some don't in the post season. I would argue that you need a Sabathia to get to the post season and you need the Schilling/Beckett/Lackey type who may never win a Cy Young but is the Big Game pitcher to win the WS. John Maine may not get you to the WS but he has demonstrated that he can pitch well in a big games. Not just the 2006 NLCS game vs STL but last Sept when they needed a win to stop the bleeding that one hitter was huge.

I like the idea of trying get and fix Ervin Santana too. I'd rather do that this season then sign Livian or Silva.

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"But why is the rum gone???"

metman

Quite the opposite. I want Lackey on this team. I just fear that CC will be a mess for a team in 2/3 years. See, he'll want 5/7, so I am not sure I want him for that.

Lackey/Boncerman/AJ Burnett/Sheets

I want to know what they would cost. Moreso than CC. That is all I'm saying. The only reason I said "Even Lackey" is because he's overlooked at times as his 'pure stuff' isn't identical to a top ace. But he can be one and he's been a big gammer. I really want him on the Mets. I think landing a guy like him and Haren in 2 years can maybe do more than just one big gun that depletes our payroll and farm system.

First Pitch Fastball

So you'd rather have John Maine than CC Sabathia pitching a big game in the postseason??? WOW

Maine established himself and pitched superbly in ONE game in the 2006 postseason, against a horrible offensive team. In his other two games, Maine didn't get out of the fifth inning.

Meanwhile this past postseason, CC Sabathia was regarded as the best pitcher in the AL, and got rocked facing two of the best offenses in all of baseball, the Yankees and the Red Sox.

I mean maybe Maine is the better selection somewhere down the line, but Maine has pitched 5+ innings (5.1 IP) in exactly one postseason game. This is like saying Bobby J. Jones is a big gamer based on the strength of his start in 2000. I'll put my eggs in Sabathia's basket (though he might eat them) any day of the week. As I would with Peavy, who has also been uniformly awful in postseason play. (Peavy's younger than Maine too, and Sabathia is only one year older).

Bay Ridge Dave

It's fun to discuss pitchers the Mets will not be getting.

RainMan

MAN! You must be a pretzel maker because you certainly twisted that one. Some of you guys read into everything.

All I implied was that Maine could be that Big Game pitcher. He pitched well in the 2006 playoffs and the one hitter last season when they had to have a win. I never said I'd rather throw John Maine then CC Sabathia, you assumed that.

The point I'm trying to make is this... The Cy Young guy gets you to the post season but he isn't always the best guy in the post season.
Who won all the Cy Young's in ARZ? Randy Johnson? Who would you rather have pitch the deciding game of a post season series based on track record? Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling? I'd argue Curt Schilling.

When the Yanks had their "Four Aces" , Clemens was the stud but Pettitte and El Duque' were the best in the post season.

In 2004 Schilling and Pedro got the Sox to the post season but Derrick Lowe was their best pitcher in the post season.

The Mets need a Sabathia or a Peavy or a Lackey to get to the post season consistently.
They also need the Derrick Lowe type or El Duque type to help win in the post season. John Maine, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, could be that type of guy. That's all I implied.

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"But why is the rum gone???"

RainMan

At least we're not discussing that Santana guy in MIN.

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"But why is the rum gone???"

uphill struggle

while sabathia can't expect to get what santana gets, he has to expect more than zito makes. so somewhere around 20 mil a year and a lot of prospects. i like cc but no way

First Pitch Fastball

I've seen it said elsewhere. I thought you were implying this. I'm of the mind that some pitchers pitch better in the postseason for unknown reasons BUT 9 times out of 10, all things being equal I'd take 2007 Jake Peavy over 1998 Sterling Hitchcock in a game 7. Talent wins out in my view.

RainMan

I absolutely agree. Now we just need to get that top of the rotation guy.

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"But why is the rum gone???"