Mets and Yankees Hot Stove

The official start to the Hot Stove was at 12:01 yesterday morning when free agents were able to sign with any team they choose. The free agent class for this season appears to be weak and with the economy being the way it is I don't think teams will be rushing to sign anyone and these players may just have to take some deals quick otherwise risk being out there in January without a job much like last year. I am going to start off with the New York Mets since they have many holes to fill and a lot of work to do. The Mets need a leftfielder, starting pitching, a setup man, possibly a first baseman and a catcher. I think the best thing the Mets can do if it is possible is trade for Roy Halladay this would give them a very nice 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Santana and Halladay and would energize their fan base. These fans need a reason to come back to Citi Field next season and right now they don't have one, they aren't going to want to hear that they will get their players back healthy next year. Omar Minaya and the Mets need to make a big splash. If they can't get Halladay then they really need to look at signing John Lackey. The Mets also may need to sign a Jason Marquis or Joel Piniero and that is fine but only if they get one of the other pitchers to put behind Johan Santana. They can't go into next season with John Maine, Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey and whoever else behind Johan Santana, that would be a very questionable rotation and they can't have that. I think for leftfield the Mets need to sign Holliday or Bay. I know people will say that is a lot of money to spend but the Mets have to stop acting like they are a small market team, no they can't compete with the Yankees but no one can. The Mets are the only ones that know if they got hurt by Bernie Madoff but if it is true that they didn't lose money then they have to step up to the plate and spend it. The Mets farm system is a mess and they have to build the big team up first and at least get the fans interested again. I do think the Mets really have to flex their financial might in the international free agent market and also the draft like the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox do. This is what really hurts their farm system when they aren't willing to overslot guys in the draft. If the Mets can unload Luis Castillo which I don't think they can then they could sign Chone Figgons or Orlando Hudson. I am not sure what they can do for the bullpen but Mike Gonzalez and Rafiel Soriano are out there as good options for the bullpen, maybe they will resign J.J. Putz. First base is intersting, they may resign Carlos Delgado if they think he is healthy or they could explore trades or maybe get a Mark Derosa or someone like that as a stopgap. They feel that Ike Davis their big prospect may be ready in 2011. The New York Yankees are coming off a World Series Championship and really don't have many holes. They could use a starting pitcher but if they don't they have Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain ready to become the 4th and 5th starters. I think they want to resign Andy Pettitte for one year and I think he wants to come back. If they have CC, A.J. and Andy at top they are in pretty good shape. I think they will explore Roy Halladay but he is going to cost a lot in money and prospects and unless they jump in because it looks like the Red Sox might get him I don't see the Yankees getting him. I could see the Yankees signing a Randy Wolf or Jason Marquis or someone like that as a 4th starter and then having Hughes as the 5th and keeping Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen. I also thik it will be interesting to see what the Yankees do with Chien-Ming Wang. If they do sign him and he comes back healthy then they could have a really strong top 4 but that is very questionable if he can come back and be close to what he used to be. The Yankees will try and resign Johnny Damon for leftfield and I see them giving him either a one year deal with a option or a 2 year deal. I could see 2 years 20 or 22 million. I think Hideki Matsui will be let go and they will use the DH spot for Posada, A-rod, Jeter, Damon. I can see the Yankees signing Mark Derosa who went to Bergen Catholic and would serve them well as a super utility guy. The only way I see the Yankees in on Bay or Holliday is if Damon doesn't resign.

NFL Week 11

The New York Giants are coming off of their buy week needing a win. They are playing the Atlanta Falcons at home and at 5-4 with a 4 game losing streak this is as close to a must win as you are going to get. The Giants just found out yesterday also that they would be without their defensive leader Antonio Pierce for possibly the rest of the season, he has a bulging disk in his neck. Chase Blackburn will take over for him. I see the Giants really getting back to their strength which is running the ball and controlling the clock. Danny Ware is back now and I think they will get the 3 headed monster going again a lot like they did last year. Eli Manning has had a foot problem so I am not sure if that has hurt him or he hasn't played well. The Giants defense needs to step it up also. I am going to say the Giants come out flying and they will win this game. Giants 28 Falcons 20 is my prediction. The Jets will be heading up to New England to face the Patriots after coming off a tough loss to Jacksonville at home and Rex Ryan making a impassioned speech in which he cried to his team. I just don't see the Jets beating the Patriots again especially in Foxborough. I think the Jets season basically ended last week when they lost and a loss here will really basically end it for them. I don't think Mark Sanchez will fair too well in this environment and I really see the Patriots putting a beating on the Jets. I am going to go with Patriots 31 Jets 17. I am not going to pick another game this week as I haven't really looked at the games other then the local teams. We will have a special thanksgiving special with 3 picks on Thursday. Enjoy the games everyone and hopefully the local teams will get back on the winning track.

Yanks 40 man roster moves

The New York Yankees added 7 men to their 40 man roster today. This is all in preperation for the Rule 5 draft which is coming up in December. The rule 5 draft for those who don't know is a draft for minor league players that aren't on the 40 man roster and have played 6 or more years in the minors to be taken by any other team, the catch is they have to stay on the roster for the whole year otherwise be offered back to their old team. Here are the players that were added according to Chad Jennings of the Journal News: Hector Noesi Ivan Nova Romulo Sanchez Austin Jackson Reegie Corona Eduardo Nunez Kevin Russo Austin Jackson is the Yankees #2 prospect and Kevin Russo really established himself this year as a super utility type guy. Corona was taken last year but then brought back to the Yankees. Noesi, Nova and Sanchez are all pitchers. If you want to learn more about these guys check out the lohud yankees blog where Chad Jennings has more on these guys. He worked with Scranton for the last 7 years or so and brings great knowledge about the minor leagues to that blog, great job by him.

Playoff schedule to change next year

Bud Selig announced today that the playoff schedule will be tightening up next season. I do think it was crazy this season how many off days there were. Bud Selig said " We are going to change it, I don't disagree with Mike Scioscia. I think he was right, so we're going to try and tighten that up." The Yankees played 15 games in 36 days from the end of the regular season to the end of the World Series. Baseball players are used to playing everyday, they play 162 games in 180 days. I understand that TV plays a factor and you have travel so it won't exactly be the same as the regular season but they should play as often as possible. If a series ends there is no reason that the team has to wait around for a week. I think when a series ends on a Saturday or Sunday they should be playing by that Wednesday. Bud Selig also said " When you plan the playoff schedule, you don't know how many games the first round will go so that is difficult. There were clubs that sat around, some were necessary, but some were not." Bud Selig also spoke about looking at instant replay and reworking the draft. His big thing is a slotting system to regulate signing bonuses but we will see what happens. I don't think they will do anything with instant replay yet but after all the missed calls in the postseason it has become a very hot topic and something has to be done. I don't see anything happening with the draft system but I am guessing he is trying to keep the teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers from overslotting and getting the best players that way but the thing is those teams always draft near the bottom so it is fair in that way.

NL Cy Young

The National League Cy Young is next up today for the awards. I have been on a roll with these predictions lately and will try to keep that up. I am going to pick Chris Carpenter from the Cardinals. Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals is also one who could get a lot of votes and has a great chance of winning it. I think Lincecum will get some consideration but won't win it. I will be back later with the announcement and some reaction. I am going with Chris Carpenter to win it though.