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Trax unhappy

Johnny Dickshot Aug 28 2005 11:17 PM

Looks like this could be the procedural gaffe the press corps has been panting for since Howe-gate. Notes: Trachsel the odd man out Floyd gets day off; Wright bats cleanup for first time By Marty Noble / MLB.com SAN FRANCISCO -- His ego and sensibilities bruised, Steve Trachsel boarded the Mets team bus Sunday afternoon, smarting from the developments of the day, developments that left him as the sixth man in a five-man rotation and suggested to him that the Mets don't have high regard for his work. Displeased but calm in the late morning after learning he wouldn't start for at least 12 days and probably longer, Trachsel had become clearly agitated by the time he showered following the Mets' loss to the Giants. Initially, he was irked by the Mets' decision to maintain the rotation as it has been since Jae Seo replaced Kaz Ishii. After meeting with manager Willie Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson before the game, Trachsel looked at the situation logically and from a team standpoint, as Randolph has asked his players to do, and he concluded, "It works this way" and offered scant commentary, none with rancor. "October 2," he said with a smirk. It was his facetious guess of the date of his next start. "But even that's tentative," he said. But afterward, he was miffed and sarcastic. "It might be tough to stay sharp, pitching with 12 or 14 days' rest," he said. He referred to the circumstances as "my crisis" and "my situation or whatever you want to call it." He acknowledged being surprised by the decision and said, "It's not right. I guess I should've given up one hit." He also said. "I understand they're getting it worked out. Talk to my lawyer." By that time, Mets general manager Omar Minaya had spoken with Trachsel's agent, Seth Levinson. Minaya said the club has no plans to deal Trachsel. Trachsel said he had spoken with Levinson before the game, but only when Levinson called him. "I was text messaging him, and he called me," Trachsel said. "The first thing he said was 'Tell me the five phone calls I just got aren't true.'" Trachsel believed those calls to have been placed by members of the media and then reasoned that for reporters to have made calls by that point, they would have had to know of the decision before he did. "It sounds like everyone in New York knew before I did," he said. It appeared two of the eight reporters covering the team were aware of the change, but one of the two placed no calls to Levinson. When Randolph had listed his pitchers for upcoming games before Sunday's contest, he had ended with the Friday night game in Florida. He had said Jae Seo would start Tuesday night against the Phillies, followed by Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine and Victor Zambrano. Trachsel's being passed over was not evident. But it became clear during the game when Jay Horwitz, the director of media relations, announced that Kris Benson and Seo would start the Saturday and Sunday games in Miami. His announcement made public Trachsel's exile. "Maybe St. Louis," Trachsel said before the game, relaying what he had had been told. "But it's just a maybe." The Mets don't play the Cardinals until Sept. 8. And because Randolph said he would use Trachsel in relief in "an extreme emergency," the veteran may go 12 days without pitching. "And that's if I do pitch then," Trachsel said. If the rotation remains the same through the series against the Marlins and into the following series in Atlanta with Martinez and Glavine starting the first two games, then Zambrano would start the third game against the Braves. And Zambrano is the one pitcher Trachsel could displace. During his extended rehabilitation following surgery on his back, Trachsel had restored his slider to his repertoire. He used it Friday night when he pitched eight scoreless, two-hit innings in the Mets' 1-0 victory against the Giants and planned to keep it in his repertoire along with changeups, fastballs and split-finger fastballs. He had no plans for mothballs. Randolph offered no specific explanation for the decision, but it is believed he and Peterson regard Zambrano as better equipped to face the Marlins, even though he will be starting with nine days' rest.

GYC Aug 28 2005 11:55 PM

Yay! One more reason I hate Willie!

Edgy DC Aug 29 2005 12:22 AM

]Trachsel believed those calls to have been placed by members of the media and then reasoned that for reporters to have made calls by that point, they would have had to know of the decision before he did. Sorta. There's probably been enough writing on the wall for them to call the agent looking for confirmation. I'm not too keen on a starter that the team needs scaring them off using him in relief by stating he takes 30 minutes to warm up. Then start warming up an inning and a half before you may be needed every other start. Not to rag on Trachs. The same holds true if Benson or Zambrano goes to the pen also. Heck, throw Glavine in there also. The Mets have an asset in having so many effective pitchers ready and able. I wish they'd act like it. Oh, well, we'll learn a lot more in the coming days.

Spacemans Bong Aug 29 2005 02:26 AM

The idea of keeping Trachsel out of the rotation while Victor Zambrano continues to stay in it is the stupidest fucking thing I've ever heard. Even more so after one of the best pitched games I've ever seen on Friday night. I could totally sympatheize with Trax if he just bailed.

Zvon Aug 29 2005 04:00 AM

well, I dont like this a bit. And dont understand it. Chico Esqualla may have to update his book,Bad Stuff About The Mets Id much rather see Zambrano be the odd man out. Or the Mets go to a 6 man rotation (tho Glavine and Pedro may not prefer it). Zambrano even said to the press if he was sent to the pen, he'd take it in stride and do his best there. Trachsels arm is as fresh as you can get a MLB calaber pitching arm this late in the season. And without the need of a trade. Why not go with the obvious and logical move here? Is Willie gonna be another manager who messes up when it comes to properly handling the pitching side of the equation? I dont want to see that happen. That would be a real shame.

Rotblatt Aug 29 2005 07:51 AM

Unfuckingbelieveable. Even if you go so far as to say that Zambrano is as good as a pitcher as Trachsel (which I would completely disagree with), Zambrano can pitch out of the pen and Trachs can't. So isn't moving Zambrano to the pen a completely obvious fucking move? Seriously, this is the latest example of our team being run by incompetents. And if, as Trachs thinks after his close-door meeting, it's going to be a "long while" before he starts again, it's even MORE idiotic.

PiazzaFan411 Aug 29 2005 07:55 AM

Randolph would be a dumbass if he sent Trachsel to the Bullpen and left Zambrano in. Zambrano isn't a great pitcher. Trachsel is. Willie must be fucking retarded. If Willie had it his way he would have only 2 starters, Pedro and Glavine. Because they are simply the best. If I was in Trachsel's shoes I would definitely leave the team if they send him to the bullpen. Trachsel is better than Zambrano and Benson put together. Seo should stay because he is amazing. The point is, WE NEED TRACHSEL!

Elster88 Aug 29 2005 08:22 AM

Zambrano was warming up in the bullpen yesterday. _____________________________ This post was made under the posting designation 171) Mo Vaughn

metirish Aug 29 2005 08:56 AM

I feel for Trachsel, worked hard to get back this season when most thought he'd be done for the year, pitched great, dicked around in the minors longer than he might have expected, he should asked to be traded.

Bret Sabermetric Aug 29 2005 11:52 AM

Best case scenario: The Mets are terminal dumbasses for letting it appear falsely that Trachsel is unhappy with how his 2005 debut was valued by Mets management.

MFS62 Aug 29 2005 11:59 AM

When I first heard that, my firstthought was that Zambrano was being showcased for a deadline deal. But since his next start will be after the deadline, that probably won't happen. So, yes. we can chalk it up as another curious decision by Willie. Later

Bret Sabermetric Aug 29 2005 12:04 PM

Trax: "I guess I should've given up one hit." Nah, Heilman tried that, he got shitcanned to the pen, never to return. Don't dare try that move, Steve.

Rotblatt Aug 29 2005 01:11 PM

]Trax: "I guess I should've given up one hit." Trachsel is so naive! If he wants playing time, his best option would be to convince the Mets to trade him. Here's a little something that might work. It's a bit complicated, but bear with me: Mets trade Trachsel, Heilman & Milledge to Boston for Manny. Boston sends Trachsel, Milledge & Hanley Ramirez to Cincinatti for Dunn. Cincinatti sends Trachsel and Edwin Encarnacion to the Mets for Manny plus the entirety of Manny's remaining contract. Cincinatti trades Manny to Boston for Pedroia. Mets get 3B prospect Edwin Encarnacion Sox gets Dunn AND Manny paid for for the next three years. Reds get three of the best prospects in baseball At that point, we'd have given up like $130M AND our best prospect--plus Heilman--for Trachsel, so he'd be pretty much guaranteed a spot in the rotation. And most likely we'd resign him to a four-year contract in the offseason, setting the price for all free agent starting pitchers in the process.

metirish Aug 29 2005 01:40 PM

David Lennon seems to think that WWSB is sticking with Zambrano for a couple of reasons, one being loyalty and also because of his 2-0 record and 0.82 ERA at Dolphins Stadium, the latter I have no problem with, it's the loyalty angle that has me confused,I'm assuming ist's from this quote that Lennon gets the loyalty angle.. ]"He's been with us all year," Randolph said. "He's pitching relatively well, for the most part. I challenged him to step up and do a job for me and he did, so he gets the ball." Traschel has been with the team going on five years, a little loyalty towards him would be welcome. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spmside294403159aug29,0,6062734.story?coll=ny-baseball-headlines

Rotblatt Aug 29 2005 01:49 PM

I dig the good record against Florida, but in that case, why not use a 6-man rotation for the next go round?

SwitchHitter Aug 29 2005 03:02 PM

Rotblatt wrote: I dig the good record against Florida, but in that case, why not use a 6-man rotation for the next go round? Because WWSB can't count to six.