Mets trade Brian Stokes for Gary Matthews Jr

Omar, just when I thought you lost the Contest. While Brian Stokes wasn't the best (his 3.97 ERA was really lucky, a 4.63 FIP and a 5.50 tRA) he certainly was better than Gary Matthews Jr. Since signing that 5/$50 million contract, Matthews Junior has been worth -1.1 WAR. Yeah, negative. He can't hit anymore (his wOBA has been .324, .303 and .313 the last 3 years). He'd be a perfectly good fourth outfielder except he can't field anymore (1, -9.3, -14.5 UZR the last 3 years). I know we're paying him $1 million this year and next, but what do we get for that $1 million? Or, more importantly, who could we have signed?
But what does Omar think of it?

"He's a very versatile player"

Is versatile another way of saying he can suck at left, right and center field?

"I felt just that with Carlos being out, it's an opportunity to get a guy that's versatile, and a guy that in our ballpark can play all outfield positions. I just feel that versatility is important"

we get it. He's versatile. He will save you .9 runs in right field. That's all we can play. Oops, I forgot, we have Frenchy!
And, if you're so commited to versatility, why did you sign Alex Cora, who can only play second?

"and to be able to get a guy like him on board -- with Carlos or without Carlos -- I think it just makes our team better."

How the #@^&$@*&(*!&#^%^#&%$@%^&#! does getting someone below replacement level make the Mets better? Explain that to me Omar?

"There's an opportunity for him to come into New York and hopefully be able to get more playing time, I think the key for him is going to be playing time."

The key for him is to get more playing time. So he can suck more? I mean, I'm not Jeff Francoeur's biggest fan, but I'd rather have him playing right field and center field than Gary Matthews Jr.

Matthews wanted to be traded to a team that would allow him to start, and the Mets, at least temporarily, can offer him that assurance
WHAT THE %*&$&@(^*%$(@*&%((**(&@&^@#^$&^*@$*&@$^&^!&*(!)*($*(&@^!#^
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ANTHONY DiCOMO?

"I think it's going to be open competition," Minaya said of the center-field job. "That's the same thing that I told Gary Matthews Jr. when he asked that. Nobody's going to be given a job. Whoever performs is going to be given the opportunity."
Pheew. You had me worried there Omar. I thought you were actually going to give the center field job to Gary Matthews Jr. Even you aren't that dumb.
Oh yeah, I forgot. You traded Brian Bannister, who would be the Mets 2nd best pitcher right now for murderer Amborix Burgos.

Omar, the Angels were not on the approved trading list for Omar™. You are only allowed to trade with Dayton Moore, Brian Sabean, Ed Wade and Ned Colletti.
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*Head hits keyboard in frustration*

The Mets think Jason Bay is better defensively than Matt Holliday. It's not a joke

Yep, in another coup in the Mets FO, they believe that Jason Bay is better defensively than Matt Holliday.
"- Despite the numbers, they like him defensively over Holliday."
Source
How much do you want to bet that is because of this play:
Speaking of the numbers, Holliday is better than Bay in all the meanigful defensive stats (sorry, fielding percentage, and errors).
Holliday UZR vs Bay UZR, 2009
Holliday:5.7 (not to mention excellent 9.1 and 14.2 UZR's in 2007 and 08 in Coors Field)
Bay:-13
Holliday ZR vs Bay ZR, 2009
Holliday:17.148 ZR with STL, 11.658 with OAK, total of 13.341
Bay:11.255 ZR
ZR is zone rating: The percentage of balls fielded by a player in his typical defensive zone, the zone being measured by STATS, Inc.

Seriously. Holliday>Bay. And now that Holliday has been offered 8/$128m, I would forget Bay's contract, which is the same basically, and offer 6/$110 to Holliday. Maybe'll accept. But I'd rather have Holliday than Bay.

Why Jeff Francoeur for 3 years is a bad idea

According to mets.com (Marty Noble) the Mets want to sign Francoeur for 3 years.
Here's the quote:
"The Mets believe Francoeur will look sharp in their 2010 uni, so much so that they are inclined to approach him about signing him to a three-year contract that would allow him to become a big league Beau Brummel, if he so chose. They like what they have seen of him in and out of uniform -- from his spirited demeanor to his nuclear arm to the two doubles he produced Saturday afternoon in their victory against the Nationals."
I won't even go over the "Beau Brummel" part (should Frenchy's cleats be coated with the champagne from 2007 that Willie Randolph never got to use?). How about the fact, that even if Francoeur look's good he still sucks. Sure, he's hitting .280. You know what his OBP is? .309. Cannon arm? Yeah, he has a good arm. He sucks at the rest of defence though, according to UZR. If he has such a great arm, make him a pitcher. Then he has value as a hitter.
You want a 3 year contract, Noble? For a guy who has been worth -9.1 runs? He has been worse offensively than an average hitter. The track record is against him. He has the worst plate discipline on the team, swinging at 35% of pitches outside the strikezone. He is not good at baseball. You know who's better, and cheaper? Bobby Abreu. So, for once, Omar/Wilpons/who ever is the GM, make the right effing decision. Because if we sign Francoeur for 3 years, I'm done.

Murph!!! Win 3-2

The Mets won their first game of the post David Wright playing every day era. As the third baseman was put on the DL (hopefully for the rest of the year, and OMG OMG OMG Omar didn't do something stupid!!!), his teammates were celebrating in a walk off dogpile, which could provoke more injuries. With David Wright out, his teammates tried to replace his prescience in the lineup. There was Fernando Tatis striking out in his 2 official at bats. And, then there was also Luis Castillo hitting a home run to the second deck. Is this some kind of bizarro world that we live in? No, its not. Because, with a 2-1 lead going into the 8th, and having thrown only 90 pitches, Jerry left Big Pelf in, and he promptly gave up 2 doubles to blow the lead. But Brian Stokes and Pedro Feliciano came on, and got the job done. I feel that Feliciano and Stokes should be the relief aces (closers), and used like Orosco and McDowell were in 1986. The Mets did nothing in the 8th, and in the top of the 9th Blow-Rod came in (to the nervousness of all the 38,793 Citi Faithful). But, he struck out the side, to become K-Rod again. And, then Francoeur singled (to the shortstop), Tatis bunted him over, and Daniel Murphy hit the walk off single.
Stupid Decision of the Day: Leaving Pelfrey in for the 8th. Because this year batters are batting .333/.500/.333 against him in the 8th, and not only that, but batters are batting .360/.429/.440 after 101 pitches (he threw 104). And, not only that but the fourth time around the order (which is what Pelf was in), batters are batting .333/.500/.500 (compared with
.297/.355/.464 in the third time.)
Random Thought of the Day: Seeing as Wright is now on the DL, maybe Murphy should play third, just to see if his bat will play there. His bat really doesn't play for first. Oh yeah, I hope they call up Nick Evans to replace Wright. That would be nice. Hold on? What's that? They called up Andy Green? a 32 year old who is a career .199/.280/.265? But, wait he can play everywhere. I think Mestradamus was right when he said they were grooming utility players. Not Nick Evans who has gotten his average up 100 points since going back down to AAA? And who crushes lefties? Ok. Thanks, Omar. (Green-translated .231/.295/.368)
Clutch Play of the Game: Daniel Murphy walk off!!! +.299 WPA (multiply by 100 to get percent)
Up Next for the Mets: Finale of 4 game series with Giants
Livan Hernandez (7-7 5.08 ERA, 4.64 FIP, 5.74 tRA) will try to be the Giants by eating all of them. He'll face
Joe Martinez (2-1 6.00 ERA, 3.01 FIP (someone's unlucky), 4.85 tRA)