Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Omar Minaya

Veteran Intangibles that Stats Can’t Measure

Monday, March 5th, 2012

All offseason we debate the merits of acquiring different players. Sometimes, we don’t understand why a team brings a veteran into camp when there are cheaper replacements that could do the job just as well, or even better. The Mets were accused of this when they held on to expensive veterans such as Alex Cora […]

It’s Best for Mets and F-Mart to Move On

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

It was late July of 2005 and the Mets unveiled their prized International signing, 16-year old outfielder Jesus Fernando Martinez. The ink was barely dry on his $1.4 million dollar signing bonus before he was taking batting practice in front of the Mets’ officials and players. It was another feather in the cap for the new […]

Alderson Should Build Around Wright

Monday, December 12th, 2011

Pretty much all major sports, but especially, baseball, are copycat sports. If something works for one organization, then others follow the lead. However, due to the long history of baseball and the ingrained ideas and traits, it often takes longer for new ideas to be implemented. Billy Beane began using low cost players who had […]

Temperature Gauge, Gossip Locker Room, A.J. & Whitson, Minaya Deserves Credit, Gary Cohen Wants No Changes at Citi

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

In case I lose power from Hurricane Irene, I have posted a few pieces to go up over the next couple of days. I anticipate the pre-record audio from this week’s show to be up in a few hours. Stay safe out there and hopefully we will still be able to talk baseball here over […]

Girardi 7th Most Popular Mgr, Scully Making the Grade, Minaya Interview Inaccuracies, Citi Field Renovation

Friday, August 26th, 2011

We have chatted quite a bit about Joe Girardi‘s management style this week. In a recent Sports Illustrated poll of the players, Girardi ranked as the 7th most popular manager to play for in baseball. This aligns with what I have heard, as the player perception of Girardi is far different than the media one. […]

Do the Yanks Have the Special Sauce, Pelfrey as the Closer, Bud Selig the Socialist, Was Kim Jones Influenced by Bob’s Blitz

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

Over at Grantland, Jonah Keri (who will appear on Sunday’s show with me) quotes Nate Silver and Dayn Perry from their book “Baseball Between the Numbers.” The authors found three characteristics that define the majority of successful playoff teams, or as they call it the “Secret Sauce.” Those traits are: - A pitching staff with a high strikeout […]

Could Baseball Succeed in Montreal the Second Time Around?

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Newsday’s Ken Davidoff listed the five worst baseball markets in a recent column: Tampa Bay, Arizona, Oakland, Miami, and Washington. It made me think of the Montreal Expos and whether MLB really did their best to save baseball in the Province of Quebec. I am not sure any of those cities mentioned by Davidoff are worse than […]

Ty Cobb Money, Greinke’s Struggles, Omar on the FAN

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Yesterday was Jose Reyes 1,000th career game in the big leagues. We learned that only Ty Cobb has more hits/triples than Reyes after 1,000 games since 1898. You may have heard that Reyes is a free agent after the season, and will probably demand a major payday. Ty Cobb‘s highest salary came in 1927 when, according […]

Golden Thong, Knoblauch vs. Giambi, Gossip Girl

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Jason Giambi returned to his old stomping ground last night. He collected 3 hits, including a long home run in the second inning. Listen to Giambi talk about his new role as a pinch hitter in Colorado, how Troy Tulowitzki wants to emulate Derek Jeter, and what happened to the famous “golden thong” with Michael Kay on ESPN […]

Mets Fans Part of the Early Woes

Friday, April 15th, 2011

None of the fans that showed up to yesterday’s doubleheader gave up a hit, made an error, or failed to drive in runners from scoring position. Joe and Jane fan won’t see a “W” or an “L” next to their name this morning. The Mets 4-9 start can’t be blamed solely on the fans, but […]

Los Mets Are Gone- Can the Fans Move Forward?

Monday, March 21st, 2011

The Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez story line is finally over. On Saturday night I tuned into WFAN’s Steve Somers in the car and heard a caller refer to releasing Perez and Castillo as the end of the “Los Mets era.” Obviously, this was a statement that was leaning towards the type of behavior ridiculously […]

Lazy Radio: Francesa Tries to Conjure Up Anger

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

While covering the Winter Meetings today I decided to turn on WFAN to see what their take was on Cliff Lee, Carlos Beltran rumors, and the Mets value additions. Instead, I was treated to Mike Francesa doing his typical “lazy radio” with a guestless afternoon of Mets bashing. He took calls so well that Debbie […]

Jeter and Mets Would Be Terrible Marriage

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Jon Lewin at Subway Squawkers asks this question over the weekend. Yes, as Lewin points out, Minaya’s first big move as Mets General Manager was signing Pedro Martinez to a 4 year/$52 million dollar contract. The Mets overpaid for a pitcher that was still an ace, but an injury waiting to happen. They would only […]

Alderson Proving to be a Master Salesman

Monday, November 8th, 2010

One of the traits of a successful general manager, in my opinion, is being able to sell stakeholders on his vision. This ranges from employees, fans, ownership, and opposing GM’s. The individual who unable to articulate even the best laid plan is doomed to fail. Just two weeks into his tenure Sandy Alderson has proved […]

Is Sandy Alderson Overrated?

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Sandy Alderson has been the rumored front runner for the Mets vacant GM position for the last couple of weeks. Hearing that a second interview will come this week fuels speculation the organization has made their choice. I believe Alderson will bring discipline, vision, and respect to an organization that’s lack all three for quite […]