Feliciano Ready To Show Up Warthen

You have all read about Yankees GM Brian Cashman crying foul regarding LHP Pedro Feliciano. He has blamed the New York Mets for the current injury to his offseason acquisition citing overuse on their behalf. To add to the story, Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen came back with:

They didn’t know that when they signed him? … He volunteered for the baseball every day. He was asked whether he was able to pitch. He said ‘yes’ every day — every day — and wanted to pitch more than we even pitched him.

I feel badly that [Cashman] feels that way. That was part of the reason we decided to not re-sign him — because we knew we had used him 270-some times in the last three years.

Warthen was within his right to come to the defense of the Mets organization. There was nothing in his statement that would give anyone reason to get their feelings hurt, right? After all, he was speaking truth which just so happened to be the most obvious, unless you are Cashman.

Well you would be wrong!

Feliciano did not take too kindly to those words and has come back at the Mets with this statement:

I think at some points they just left me there with no reason.

They said they didn’t sign me because [they knew] I’m going to blow up this year.

I will show him in the Subway Series when I strike out Ike Davis, and when I jump up and down on the mound I’ll be like, ‘That’s for you.’

Well Feliciano, I got something for you. A big, fat cork for your mouth. How about keeping it shut? You even admitted that you wanted the ball every day. So how can you come out and talk about being overused? Then you talked about being left in for reason. Think of it this way: it got you warmed up for the mismanagement of Joe Girardi which has been chronicled by many. The organization itself does not know what to do with their pitchers. Maybe you have not noticed what has happened with Joba Chamberlain. They kept flipping him between starter to reliever so many times, he doesn’t even know what he is.

So good luck with that. Try to keep your arm attached to your shoulder.

This is just a story of Cashman realizing he screwed up and is trying to pin the blame on someone else. Feliciano is just trying to prove to his new team that he doesn’t take anybody’s crap. Well it isn’t working Pedrito (little Pedro) because Pedro Martinez you are not.

Underdogs? The Yankees? Why?

Photo Credit Boston.com

Yes this is a blog about the Yankees on CFoD. Do not despair. This might make some of you cheery. There seems to be a rumor going around that the New York Yankees are being considered the underdogs of the AL East. Yes, I am being very serious.

With a payroll of $206,738,389, I would hardly call them “underdogs”. At least, they really should not be called that. If I were the boss, I would have a fit after investing so much money.

When you think of the term “underdogs”, you most likely think about the New York Mets. Even you have to agree with that. I mean, who else would be the “underdogs” of the NL East?

The New York Yankees are supposed to be big bad wolf of the AL East, right? This year it seems that is far from the truth considering Theo Epstein over in Boston did such a killer job raking in players for his Red Sox. Adding Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez is nothing to sneeze at.

Apparently this seems to stem from the inability to have landed Cliff Lee during the offseason. Now while we are happy the Yankees did not acquire him, I would hardly call them pitiful or without the ability to bring home a championship. They have the heavyweight, literally, CC Sabathia. They spent money on AJ Burnett. Oh wait! He has a little cold.

Well, they have Joba Chamberlain. right? On second thought, he is not the same guy he once was. He might have an identity crisis trying to figure out where he belongs. So how about Pedro Feliciano? Oh crap! He is on the DL for the first time in his career thanks to his rotator cuff. Maybe thanks to Jerry Manuel.

Jorge Posada is still around, but is one misstep away from having a room in the hospital thanks to age. He may not want to slide. It might result in a broken hip and require surgery. That is what happens when you get old. Jeter may want to be careful himself.

However, with all of these question marks, I would hardly call them underdogs.

Feliciano: Mets Reason For DL Stint

Former Mets reliever and LOOGY, Pedro Feliciano, is set to start his Yankee career on the disabled list. He can thank his tenure with the New York Mets under former manager, Jerry Manuel, for this.

It is no secret that Manuel most certainly wore out his bullpen. Any iota of trouble his starters would show, he would pull them and bring in someone from the bullpen. Feliciano was among these individuals having pitched in 88 games in 2009 and 92 games in 2010. Everyone knows that Feliciano was only supposed to be the lefty specialist. Manuel felt otherwise and used him in all situations.

Now Feliciano is feeling the wear and tear he has had to endure. A triceps injury will keep him in Tampa for extended spring training.

Could it be that Mets General Manager, Sandy Alderson, actually did the Mets a favor in letting him walk? Quite possible. He never went to the disabled list before.

Will Feliciano still be effective for the New York Yankees like he was for the New York Mets? A fair question that just might be answered “no”. A rubber arm, he does not have. We all know how Yankees manager, Joe Girardi, loves to use his bullpen.

Perez Out Of Flushing. Could Remain In New York?

In case you have not heard, Oliver Perez has been cut from the New York Mets. It happened at around 8am this morning while half of you were on the train on your way to work. So that would be why you heard all in Mets fandom whooping and hollering all over New York City and the rest of the nation.

Well, just because he is out of Flushing, does not mean he is completely out of New York City. He just might sticking around thank to the New York Yankees. I assure you this does not make me happy. He is the last person I want in my borough. It is bad enough I have the Skanks here.

Here’s the deal. Just like Chase Utley has been having some knee issues over in Philly, the Yankees have been having some problems with Pedro Feliciano with his arm and Boone Logan with his back. So, according Jon Heyman, the Yanks were actually considering the degenerating lefty as a precautionary measure. Just like Luis Castillo is for the Phillies.

What the Yankees do not seem to realize is that Perez will not accept a minor league assignment, which is what he would surely get, just like Castillo. He would have to be with the major league ballclub. Heyman did mention that GM Brian Cashman would not be “enthused” by the idea. Common sense dictates if you are “not enthused” by something, then you do not do it. I mean, that sounds logical to me.

With all of that said, I would be very surprised to see Perez in the Bronx. Heyman should be sued for slander. Putting Cashman’s name with Ollie’s is like calling him an outright jackass.

2011 Mets: Believe or Not Believe? That Is The Question

The answer to that question has been answered by all of the baseball preview magazines with a very loud:

You must be out of your mind if you believe.

Spring Training has finally arrived kiddies and so have the preview rags. So what do these magazines have to say? If I were you, I would not be quick to want to the answer. Almost every magazine I have looked at, including Sporting News, has the Mets finishing in fourth place behind the Florida Marlins. Shocked? Not so much. What shocked me, to a certain degree was the USA Today baseball preview which had the Mets finishing in last place.

You all know I feel the Mets will finish in at least third place ahead of the Marlins who, by the way, have been a thorn in our side for a few years now. I would love it if the Mets could kill them.

I have been saying for a month now that new manager Terry Collins is going to work wonders with this team. He has made it known to the players fighting for their jobs where he stands and that is a good sign. The players know he will not stand for nonsense, super stardom matters very little as does big contracts. If you don’t produce, you get cut loose. Simple as that.

Roster spots are being speculated now and I have issues with the one by the Sporting News predictions. Right away, and rightfully so, left and center field positions are given to Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran. As for right field, there is no mention of Angel Pagan. They have Fernando Martinez as competing for the job but the team bringing in a right fielder. What is wrong with Pagan in right? What reason do they have to believe that a kid who has been ravaged by injuries will even make it to the bigs this year?

That was my big issue. It is as if Pagan is the one who will be coming off the bench. If this were to happen, which I can almost guarantee will not, it will be a slap in Pagan’s face because he has done more then enough to prove that he deserves a starting role with this team. If you want to have Martinez come off the bench to get his feet soaked in because Beltran is likely to leave at the end of the season, that is fine. You just do not tell a player who has shown he can play everyday that he is coming off the bench for a kid who has not proven anything.

The Mets do have questions with their pitching staff. Spots four and five are up in the air as is the bullpen. Faith remains in Mike Pelfrey, Jonathon Niese and R.A. Dickey. Losing Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi will have an impact on this team. The pitching is the only worry I would have with the 2011 New York Mets. Pitching coach Dan Warthen certainly has his job cut out for him.

Bottom line:

The Mets will not make it to the playoffs this year. I strongly believe that. Will they make a push and do better than every body seems to think? I will say yes. When you think of the talent this team has plus the addition of Terry Collins as manager, there is no question in my mind this is a team that will produce and give the Atlanta Braves a run for second place. I feel they will end the season in third behind Atlanta, but making Atlanta very nervous.

This city will get excited again. Not for the team in the South Bronx, but the team that nobody wants to believe in. The Mets will do special things this year.

So should Mets fans believe? Yes! Until the September tells you otherwise, you believe. You go into this 2011 season with the battle cry that Tug McGraw made specifically for the New York Mets on your lips:

YA GOTTA BELIEVE!

Interest In Feliciano Hurts Mets

Pedro Feliciano has declined the Mets arbitration offer in favor of a multi-year deal he wants. He stood to make $4 million in a one year offer.

What makes this bad news for the Mets, other than the fact it would cripple the bullpen should he not return, is that other teams have expressed interest. Other teams who have cash to burn. Reports are the Yankees are among those teams, which could also include the Philadelphia Phillies and Anaheim Angels. All of this extra interest will undoubtedly raise the price tag on him to where the Mets will not even be able to negotiate.

While others were worried about him burning up what little money the Mets have to spend this offseason, I had hoped he would take the deal. However, this does not mean the Mets cannot negotiate with him. They still can. Hopefully, they can work things out. Maybe work out a three year deal that will not financially cripple the team.

Either way, Feliciano is one man this team cannot give up on. I love how they still have yet to decide what to do about Oliver Perez, yet they drag their feet on someone who has put the bullpen on his back. At last I checked, you reward people for their hard work. Not slap them in the face.

More Bad News

Here is something that will make you laugh. The New York Mets are counting on Tim Redding pitching a no-no.

Apparently Shawn Green, Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano are unavailable as twittered by NY Times writer Ben Shpigel. You can count on seeing Elmer Dessens and Pat Misch tonight against the might St. Louis Cardinals.

What are you going to do? Just keep rolling with the punches.

Mets Complete Deals

Last week Friday, the Mets managed to avoid arbitration with their remaining eligible player, Pedro Feliciano, for one-year, $1.61 million.

Thank goodness. I hate arbitration hearings. Sometimes when the player wins, they usually get what they do not deserve. Players get way too greedy with these arbitration cases.