The Leiter Side of Leaving
Here's to hoping that I will continue my string of saying something and having it come true the next day.
The Yankees are looking to dump Kevin Brown, and are looking towards a veteran lefty with New York experience. It just so happens that a free agent Met fits that bill.
Al Leiter is one of my favorite baseball players. I own a jersey, I have his autograph, and when I met him at a signing he was friendly and likeable. He's always done his best for the Mets, single-handedly pitching them into the playoffs in 1999, and he will go down as one of, if not thee, best lefthanders in Mets history.
With all that said, it also happens to be time for him to go.
Al is 38 years old, and while his ERA remained quite solid, what isn't so visible by stats is the fact that Uncle Al can't pitch into the seventh inning. In fact, a Google search of "Al Leiter pitched seven innings" came up empty. Al will make a very solid number four or five starter for a good ballclub, or a number three starter for a decent one. But, the Mets are on the hook for ten million dollars if they want to exercise their option. Ten million dollars is money paid to an ace (for example, Roger Clemens was paid ten million by the New York Yankees from 2001-2003), not to an aging lefty that will no doubt tax the bullpen every time he toes the rubber.
If letting Leiter go means him signing with the Yankees, so be it. It's the fear of public backlash that put this team where it is right now. I say it's time to prove to the fans that the Mets no longer operate according to what they think the fans will say.
Certainly one way to do that then to not exercise that option. This is a big free agent pitching year. You have guys like Matt Clement, Derek Lowe, Brad Radke and Russ Ortiz out there. Guys that could slot into that number two hole a lot better then Leiter for the same, possibly even less, money.
Let's do this thing right.
The Yankees are looking to dump Kevin Brown, and are looking towards a veteran lefty with New York experience. It just so happens that a free agent Met fits that bill.
Al Leiter is one of my favorite baseball players. I own a jersey, I have his autograph, and when I met him at a signing he was friendly and likeable. He's always done his best for the Mets, single-handedly pitching them into the playoffs in 1999, and he will go down as one of, if not thee, best lefthanders in Mets history.
With all that said, it also happens to be time for him to go.
Al is 38 years old, and while his ERA remained quite solid, what isn't so visible by stats is the fact that Uncle Al can't pitch into the seventh inning. In fact, a Google search of "Al Leiter pitched seven innings" came up empty. Al will make a very solid number four or five starter for a good ballclub, or a number three starter for a decent one. But, the Mets are on the hook for ten million dollars if they want to exercise their option. Ten million dollars is money paid to an ace (for example, Roger Clemens was paid ten million by the New York Yankees from 2001-2003), not to an aging lefty that will no doubt tax the bullpen every time he toes the rubber.
If letting Leiter go means him signing with the Yankees, so be it. It's the fear of public backlash that put this team where it is right now. I say it's time to prove to the fans that the Mets no longer operate according to what they think the fans will say.
Certainly one way to do that then to not exercise that option. This is a big free agent pitching year. You have guys like Matt Clement, Derek Lowe, Brad Radke and Russ Ortiz out there. Guys that could slot into that number two hole a lot better then Leiter for the same, possibly even less, money.
Let's do this thing right.
posted by a2d @ 2:26 AM
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