Omar Minaya, during an interview with Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN, said that the newly acquired Ryan Church will be the starting right fielder going into 2008.
So this was a typical Omar interview, where he didn't commit one way or another on many issues. I like the guys we got back in the trade, for sure, but I certainly don't think that they should have come at the price of Lastings Milledge.
Minaya on the trade- "Church is a plus outfielder who will run more with us and has more opportunities to drive in runs...Schneider is one of the better defensive catchers in baseball...Milledge was not crucial to any trade for a big pitcher so we felt like we could make this trade. I think it was a good baseball trade for both sides."
On the Mota deal - "Mota wasn't working out for us, and was going to be getting paid 3.5 million next year...it was time to move on. His numbers weren't that bad but his performance in big spots was pretty poor."
On the Torrealba deal - "We weren't able to come to an agreement and we agreed to not comment on why, so I'm going to stick to the agreement."
On Lo Duca vs. Schneider - "Schneider is a better defensive catcher and I'm big on defense. I'm a big believer in being strong up the middle, and Schneider gives us great defense behind the plate."
On elite pitchers - "We are in contact with these clubs who are shopping their pitchers...they have definitely shown interest in our players..."
On the team - "I'm happy with the team right now, but there will probably be new pieces with the team by Spring Training..."
On Jose Reyes - "I don't see anyone in the marketplace who has been shopped around who would be worth trading Jose Reyes."
Schneider is certainly a great defensive catcher who will be fun to watch behind the plate, and has always been a favorite of mine (especially because he signed a baseball for me at Olympic Stadium many years ago). He is good at throwing out runners and great at calling a game. He blocks the plate well, too.
The acquisition of Church doesn't excite me as much as the acquisition of Schneider, and hear me out on that. Church doesn't really do anything extraordinary. He's good defensively (but not great) and he's a solid third outfielder, but not a stud. He reminds me of Xavier Nady, which I'm fine with, but has work ethic issues and has only one year of being a full-time starter. We'll see.
2 comments:
Milledge is going to fizzle anyway.
Courtesy of ESPN.com:
" One of the most publicized episodes came in the town that will be his new home. In September 2006, a sign was posted in Milledge's locker in the visiting clubhouse at RFK Stadium that read: "Know your place, Rook. Your teammates."
Milledge earlier had been reprimanded for not running hard on the bases and had arrived late to the clubhouse for a game. He also rankled Mets management by making a rap CD that used offensive language."
We can't have a player like this on our team.
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