On this date in 1961, the National League held it expansion draft as it welcomed two teams into the league for the first time in 70 years, the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club (Mets) and the Houston Colt .45’s (who became the Astros )
Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times takes a look at how both teams went about putting together their inaugural teams. The Mets were run by former Highlander GM George Weis and went more for players with New York baseball roots, like Gil Hodges, Duke Snider and Don Zimmer whereas the Colt .45’s under Paul Richards, took a Moneyball approach looking for undervalued commodities especially in the pitching department in the later rounds of the draft.
A lot of stories this weekend were about the Big 3 getting bounced out of the postseason. The Highlanders and Red Sox are strapped with bloated contracts that can’t be moved and the Phillies are stuck with payroll restrictions and an older lineup with not much farm help in sight. This is why it won’t be the devastating blow that many Mets fans think it will be if Jose Reyes signs elsewhere. If Reyes is up for a 4yr/$80-$90 million deal with the Mets, that would be perfect, any more years than that, then take care Jose. Remember all that talk about Reyes getting a Carl Crawford like contract? There is no way Sandy Alderson would ever do that; even if the Skill Sets still had Bernie Madoff money he wouldn’t do it. I still say Alderson hopes there is the one dumb owner out there who will go six years for Reyes so he can bow out of the bidding. As we see this post season you can have all the bling, bit it don’t mean a thing.
I’ll make this prediction now; Joe Girardi doesn’t last the season in 2012 as Highlanders manager. I could see Lou Pinnella taking over as interim while grooming Jorge Posada to take over as skipper in 2013.
Follow the Society