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Alay Soler - The Forgotten Man

MFS62 Dec 17 2005 02:26 PM

Sounds like a nice guy. http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051216&content_id=1283417&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym Later

smg58 Dec 18 2005 12:55 PM

I'm guessing that Soler winds up in the pen, which would be fine with me. And if he turns out to be too good to keep in the pen, that's OK too.

Nymr83 Jan 07 2006 09:47 AM

with the bullshit loss of Seo does Soler get a shot?

Frayed Knot Jan 07 2006 10:10 AM

As what, a starter? ... I doubt it. Short-term: he's probably a more likely candidate for a pen guy but even then it might not happen right out of camp. Remember this is a guy who hasn't pitched competetively in over a year and a half. Word is that those who have seen him like "his stuff" but it's all been during instructional leagues in the DR since his defection and visa nightmares. Long-term: Assuming things go well ... either he or Heilman gets designated as the 6th starter/injury fill-in this year, with one or both "graduating" to the rotation as Glavine, Trax, etc need replacing by '07.

Edgy DC Jan 07 2006 12:22 PM

I assume he opens in a minor league rotation (if his arm strength is up to snuff, else in a minor league bullpen), with plans to fill him in if and when a spot becomes available. I think we should look at him more for 2007.

smg58 Jan 07 2006 01:27 PM

I don't know where they see Soler fitting in, and how soon. If he's capable of contributing to the bullpen fairly quickly this year, the Seo deal gets that much harder to defend. It's possible that the Mets will try to fill only one of their two vacancies in the starting rotation next offseason with a free agent, but a lot can happen in the meantime.

Edgy DC Jan 07 2006 01:47 PM

Soler succeeding at the big league level should not reflect poorly on the Seo deal. The Seo deal should sink or swim based on the performance of the players involved in the trade.

Bret Sabermetric Jan 07 2006 01:56 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Soler succeeding at the big league level should not reflect poorly on the Seo deal. The Seo deal should sink or swim based on the performance of the players involved in the trade. Of course it should. If the Mets have adequate product in the pipeline, then they shouldn't be acquiring more product, and using up some of the revenue needed for other positions to do so. Of course, the Mets understanding what a prospect looks like is a foreign concept altogether. As I've said before, if this squad of goofballs was runnning the team in 1967, Seaver would have been traded to the Dodgers before Spring Training for the 37-year-old Maury Wills to block Harrelson.

seawolf17 Jan 07 2006 02:31 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Soler succeeding at the big league level should not reflect poorly on the Seo deal. The Seo deal should sink or swim based on the performance of the players involved in the trade. I agree with Bret. Isn't that part of the basic concept behind VORP? Isn't that also why guys like Overbay and Thome get dealt? If you have what you perceive as a stronger replacement already, then that counts, at least a little bit.

Edgy DC Jan 07 2006 03:30 PM

I certainly say early and often that a team --- particularly this team ---should not be dealing quality anything to build a bullpen, and I vote nay on the Seo deal in particular. But I don't anticipate Sanchez blocking Soler Moon-Frye under any circumstances. Bullpens have 4-8 guys in them.

Edgy DC Jan 07 2006 03:34 PM

And, after a year and half off, there's a decent few peeps ahead of him right now that are more likely to lose innings to Sanchez.

Frayed Knot Jan 07 2006 04:33 PM

I suppose we'll have to first decide whether to define Soler as 'an expensive foreign free agent' or 'a young up-and-comer' before we know whether he's being forced onto the roster despite a lack of track record, or being kept down by the man.

Edgy DC Jan 07 2006 04:47 PM

Yup, yup, coffee cup.

Gold Glove Jan 08 2006 10:53 PM

Actually, I believe I am the forgotten man... how is everyone? By the way, here's another good article on Soler from my local paper: http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=97329&ran=102901

Johnny Dickshot Jan 08 2006 11:04 PM

Hey Glove. For one reason or another, I recall you'd made a comment way back when about Seo that he was a bit of a clown in spring training, until 03 at least. Was that really you and if so, can you provide any more detail?

Edgy DC Jan 08 2006 11:08 PM

Way to represent, Glove.

Willets Point Jan 09 2006 11:04 AM

Welcome home Glove!

Gold Glove Jan 09 2006 02:04 PM

I don't recall too much different in spring training, but he was always a bit of a clown in general. He had weird pre-game rituals... he'd binge eat before a start and fast a lot of the rest of the time... I really like the deal with LA. I don't think he's got the stamina to make it through a full season with the Dodgers with the same kind of success he had here last year. Sanchez and Schmoll are both excellent young relievers. I really think Schmoll is going to be a gem. He's a submariner with good movement.

vtmet Jan 09 2006 02:24 PM

]He's a submariner with good movement. But...does he have location and velocity?

Vic Sage Jan 09 2006 02:34 PM

]He's a submariner should we call him Namor?

Yancy Street Gang Jan 09 2006 02:36 PM

Imperious Rex!

Edgy DC Jan 09 2006 02:42 PM

Namor makes me feel bad about my own physique. Schmoll is like Bobby Parnell in that he entered the pros with crap college numbers and quickly turned it around in the minors.

Yancy Street Gang Jan 09 2006 02:46 PM

Namor should at least make you feel good about your eyebrows.

vtmet Jan 09 2006 02:49 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Namor makes me feel bad about my own physique. Schmoll is like Bobby Parnell in that he entered the pros with crap college numbers and quickly turned it around in the minors. Do they use aluminum bats in college? If they do, switching to throwing against wood might help build some confidence...

Yancy Street Gang Feb 03 2006 08:04 AM

I can't find anything about it online, but today's print edition of the Daily News says that the Mets signed 31-year-old Cuban defector Michel Abreu, a first baseman who had almost signed with the Red Sox last year. The Sox pulled out when they discovered he was four years older than they had first thought. Again, according to the News, he was being considered as a possible starting firstbaseman for Boston in 2006.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 03 2006 08:04 AM

Abreu defected two years ago, and has been in Costa Rica since then.

seawolf17 Feb 03 2006 09:30 AM

Yancy, have you learned nothing? You're supposed to post that in a separate thread, titled "Mets Get Abreu!!!!"

Edgy DC Feb 03 2006 09:44 AM

I think the Sox actually signed Abreu, but then got the deal voided based on his inability to establish US residency (although they were perhaps more conerned with the age issue). The Mets have absolutely monopolized the marketplace on francophonic Cubans.

Bret Sabermetric Feb 03 2006 09:49 AM

Question: What will Alay Soler's first bloop hit be called?

Frayed Knot Feb 03 2006 10:08 AM

A: a Soler flare