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Passing the Hat for Endy

Edgy DC Jul 25 2006 05:46 PM

Praise be to number ten.

seawolf17 Jul 25 2006 05:50 PM

Dear Mr. Chavez, When you signed your contract this off-season, I questioned the sanity of Omar Minaya, and made several statements to the effect that you were "not worthy of a major league roster spot." Please accept my humblest apologies and best wishes for your continued success. Sincerely, Seawolf

metirish Jul 25 2006 05:51 PM

KC Jul 25 2006 06:30 PM

Diamond Dad sung praise for brining in Endy to me on opening day. I don't remember what I answered to him, it may have just been a nod and a yah hah at best. Damn know-it-all roto guys.

Elster88 Jul 25 2006 06:54 PM

Good job kid.

Frayed Knot Jul 25 2006 07:54 PM

Remember that the choice was between him and Tike Redman -- the vote would have been close.

Zvon Jul 25 2006 08:15 PM

Endy, I am making you your own custom KaBOOM. Reyes doesnt even have one of those yet. Now, dont be swingin for the fences everytime up, but dont let me down either. Next time you hit one out, Ill be ready. Theres no rush-- dont feel pressured. Make it count. Zvon, the wizard of graphics.

Edgy DC Jul 25 2006 08:31 PM

I take the blame. Prematurely celebrating a performance outside of the IGT while the game was still to be finished. My very own Milledge faux pas.

Johnny Dickshot Jul 25 2006 09:40 PM

Mothballing the Give it up for Endy thread has had grave consequences as well. And the fact that they keep hitting first inning home runs -- think it has something to do with the fact we never knew this enemy? Goddamn it, this is 100% true, at the game the other night the first two things I wondered were "Why isn't Nomar in the starting lineup?" and "Why's that guy (Ronny Cedeno) wearing Nomar's number?" And it took me a whole inning to remember Craig Brazell's name.

Willets Point Jul 25 2006 09:41 PM

If you're going to keep criticizing that I wish you'd at least respond to one of my posts on the subject.

metirish Jul 25 2006 09:42 PM

Very true Dickshot, the KTE has suffered lately......I was surprised to see Dusty in the dugout for fecks sake...

Johnny Dickshot Jul 26 2006 06:00 AM

Willets Point wrote: If you're going to keep criticizing that I wish you'd at least respond to one of my posts on the subject. On Endy? Or on mothballing? I know, you gotta keep it clean, I'm not complaining about you, just remarking it's a shame that sometimes you can't find what you need when you need it. I don't have good enuf memory or enuf time to remind myself to remind you which threads oughta survive, and Endy is a pretty wobbly topic to put up a fight for, so nevermind. Sorry.

Willets Point Jul 26 2006 06:06 AM

Here is Give it up for Endy. The mothballs are keeping it from evil internet moths.

Johnny Dickshot Jul 26 2006 06:42 AM

Ya just neever know when you're gonna hafta give it up for Endy.

Gwreck Jul 26 2006 07:59 AM

For what it's worth, I think quite a few people at the game last night already got the message. Cheers had died down after he got back to the dugout but then an "En-dy! En-dy!" chant broke out and he got what I think might've been his first curtain call.

MFS62 Jul 26 2006 08:46 AM

="Frayed Knot"]Remember that the choice was between him and Tike Redman -- the vote would have been close. I've read several times that Endy is one of Omar's personal favorites. I think he may have been the one who originally scouted/ signed him. And whern he was available, Omar drafted him for Montreal. When he was signed by the Mets, we looked at the fact that he had low OBPs for a "Speedy little leadoff type centerfielder". But Willie hasn't used him much (if ever) in either role, and he has performed well when needed. Quick side note - because Omar seems to be very loyal to players likes/ has done business with before, when Nady went down I expected him to try to lure Sammy Sosa to the Mets. Last week, Sammy announced that he migh come back for the "right offer". And This week, Omar said something like not all deals have to be done by the end of this month. Stay tuned once the rosters expand in September. We now return you to your love for Endy thread. Later

Elster88 Jul 26 2006 08:53 AM

Bringing Sammy Sosa to the team will prove to me that Omar is stupid. No matter what else happens. If we win the WS this year and go 162-0 next year, it will not change that opinion of Omar if Sammy ever puts on a Met jersey.

Edgy DC Jul 26 2006 09:03 AM

]And This week, Omar said something like not all deals have to be done by the end of this month. Stay tuned once the rosters expand in September. He was very specific in saying that he was referring to trades of players that pass through the waiver wire. And anybody acquired after roster expansion is scarcely relevant.

Frayed Knot Jul 26 2006 09:09 AM

The media seem to work under the assumption that everyone who has ever played for Omar was there (and will eventually be here) specifically and solely because he's a personal favorite and whether or not he can actually play is treated as a non-factor in the decision process. The only one who seems to even remotely fit that bill that I've seen is Julio Franco and, given the role he's in, it's not like that's been a bad move roster-wise. So until shown othewise, I think I'm going to refrain from panicking in advance over moves that might be made in the name of favoritism. And my only point on keeping N. D. Chavez is that it was hardly a clear cut move as the season broke - yet it's tough to believe that it could have worked out better had they chosen to go w/Redman. On a side note, I was making a case the other night for Endy as a poor-man's Ichiro. Think about it: Similar size & build, both lefty/lefty speedy OFers w/good gloves & arms. Similar type of lithe flexible body with that hips-bailing-toward-1st kind of swing that slaps the ball around most of the time yet can & will put a charge into it when all those moving parts time things out just right. Same type of skills, only, y'know .... not as good; specifically not the amazing hand/eye coordination that puts wood to leather as consistantly.

Edgy DC Aug 21 2006 01:39 PM

I decided to look up Tike Redman today. He's now laboring for the AA Corpus Christi Hooks after turning in some dreadful numbers in his first 300 at-bats for the Toledo Mud Hens. http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Tike%20Redman&pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=276523

metirish Aug 21 2006 01:43 PM

] On a side note, I was making a case the other night for Endy as a poor-man's Ichiro. Word outta Seattle is that Ichiro is not that keen to sign another contract as he wants to play for a winner, his current contrat expires after the 07 season,appaernetly he's not happy with the direction the club is going in.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 21 2006 01:45 PM

metirish wrote: ] On a side note, I was making a case the other night for Endy as a poor-man's Ichiro. Word outta Seattle is that Ichiro is not that keen to sign another contract as he wants to play for a winner, his current contrat expires after the 07 season,appaernetly he's not happy with the direction the club is going in. Wow - I can imagine my mother-in-law's reaction when Ichiro signs with the MFYs.

Frayed Knot Aug 21 2006 01:53 PM

I heard that "report" too but it's basically just speculation at this point. The thinking is that since his contract is up after next season that this winter would be the time to either talk to him about signing longer or maybe explore trading him before he can walk on his own if the Mariners' slide into mediocrity (or worse) is getting to him enough to make him want to look elsewhere.

Gwreck Aug 26 2006 08:22 PM

Badump for the 4-4 with 2 RBI.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 26 2006 08:46 PM

The bunt was fun and well-done but as he showed in his next turn, the drag bunt rarely beats the drive over the right fielder's head as a strategy. That said, Endy plays like he got a blood transfusion from Mookie Wilson. Poor Phillies: They may have cost themselves a postseason or two waiting for Marlon Byrd to be the man, and finally gave up, getting Chavez in a trade. Then they let Chavez fly and he goes around killing a new round of playoff hopes.

metirish Aug 28 2006 07:46 AM

I didn't know Endy was part of the Mets organization before. ] The Mets had Endy Chávez for five seasons before deciding in 2000 that they did not want him anymore. They did not want him in 2001. Or in 2002, either. Now Manager Willie Randolph cannot imagine life without him. How Chávez went from disposable to indispensable, in his fourth tour in the Mets’ organization, is one of the captivating storylines of the Mets’ ascent in the National League. Signed in December as a free agent after playing not particularly well for two teams last season, Chávez has become the Mets’ Mr. Everything. “You always have guys on your team who you appreciate more than others, and that’s Endy,” Randolph said. “When you look at him play, he’s as fundamentally sound as you get. He does everything well. He hits, he throws, he plays defense, he puts the bat on the ball. He’s a real luxury.” Injuries and trades have done their best to disrupt the Mets’ outfield, but the one constant has been Chávez. He began the season as a pinch-hitter, and he ingratiated himself by thriving as a replacement for injured players. Now, given a chance to play every day, Chávez often finds himself as the central figure in a game’s most decisive moments. Most recently, it was his two-run double that keyed the Mets’ seven-run seventh inning in their 11-5 victory Saturday night against surging Philadelphia. The hit capped a 4-for-4 evening and raised his average to .307, the highest it has been since the end of May. When the Mets took two of three games against Arizona in late May, Chávez scored the winning run in the first victory, then drove in the winner in the 13th inning of the second. On July 20 in Cincinnati, Chávez hit a two-out double in the 10th inning that scored the go-ahead run. “Sometimes, I say, ‘Wow, this is crazy,’ ” Chávez said of his late-game dramatics. “I’ve done this before, but not as much as I’ve done this season.” A key, Chávez acknowledged, has been embracing who he is. Listed generously as 6 feet and 165 pounds, Chávez came into spring training with the reputation as a superb defensive outfielder but a batter with a long, loopy swing and a high leg kick befitting a power hitter. After returning from the World Baseball Classic, where he played for Venezuela, Chávez worked extensively with the Mets’ hitting coach, Rick Down, to develop a compact swing. Chávez would make the team, he figured, by putting the ball in play. He has a keen instinct for the rhythm of a game, knowing when to bunt or swing away, how to track a fly ball and which route to take when cutting off a ball in the gap or down the line. Chávez has nine outfield assists, tied for sixth in the N.L., and he has not committed an error in the 613 2/3 innings he has played this season. On several occasions, Randolph said he had marveled that Chávez had caught balls he assumed would be extra-base hits. “I’m always trying to be a better player and do everything right,” Chávez said. “That means not being lazy, that means always having energy and having good body language. I know kids are watching, so I try to be a good example for them.” Indirectly, the 28-year-old Chávez has served as a model for one of the Mets’ kids — José Reyes. When instructing the excitable and free-swinging Reyes, Randolph often tells him to watch Chávez hit with two strikes. In that situation, Chávez chokes up on the bat, shortens his swing and waits until late in the pitch’s path, giving him valuable extra time to see the ball. He is trying to hit to the opposite field, usually on the ground, to take advantage of his speed. Chávez has struck out only four times since July 30, and his .274 average with two strikes is seventh in the N.L. “I pay more attention when Chavy bats now,” Reyes said. “He knows what to do with two strikes, and I don’t want to strike out.” Chávez was signed out of Valencia, Venezuela, as an undrafted free agent in 1996 and was voted the top player on his rookie-league team in 1997, but he never advanced above Class A over the next three seasons. Left unprotected for the Rule 5 draft in 2000, Chávez was taken by the Kansas City Royals. He returned to the Mets briefly, then went back to the Royals. In December 2001, the Detroit Tigers claimed him off waivers, where he lasted six weeks before the Mets signed him again. Three weeks later, the Mets dropped him. He had a fan, however, in Omar Minaya, the Expos’ general manager at the time, and 10 days after taking over in Montreal, Minaya signed him. Chávez had his best season in 2004, when he batted .277 for the Expos, hit 6 triples, scored 65 runs, stole 32 bases and struck out only 40 times in 502 at-bats. After the Expos moved to Washington and changed general managers, Chávez fell out of favor for his reluctance to bunt and take pitches. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 14, 2005. He batted .215 in 91 games and was not offered a contract after the season. Two teams — the Mets and the Orioles — pursued Chávez, but he signed with the Mets because of his familiarity with Minaya and the chance to play all outfield positions. The deal has worked out better than expected for both sides. “Omar liked him a lot, but I didn’t know a lot about him,” Randolph said. “Omar told me that he could play defense and promised me that I’d like him. Well, I like him.” The Mets are paying a bench player’s salary ($500,000) for a solid and steady everyday outfielder. Chávez earned the opportunity to start — and start fresh — for a team that once had little use for him. “They’ve treated me very well,” Chávez said. “You never know where this game will take you, “but I’d like to come back next season. I’m having a lot of fun here.’’

Benjamin Grimm Aug 28 2006 07:51 AM

I hope Endy doesn't slip away like Marlon Anderson did. He's the type of role player that championship teams always seem to have.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 28 2006 08:08 AM

] didn't know Endy was part of the Mets organization before. As the article sez, several times. Endy also had a brother in the org called Ender Chavez. I wonder what happened to him.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 28 2006 08:26 AM

Endy should marry Edgardo Alfonzo's sister. They'd have to compromise on what they'd name the children. Maybe half of the kids would be named a variant of Endy and the other half would be a variant of Edgar.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 28 2006 08:35 AM

Endgar

Edgy DC Aug 28 2006 08:51 AM

Grendel.

Edgy DC Aug 28 2006 08:56 AM

Last I checked, Ender was toiling in high A with the Potomac Nationals. Checking... [url=http://www.potomacnationals.com/cgi-bin/dist/roster.cgi?player=1112714926]Yup[/url]! Did a little time in the Eastern League also.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 28 2006 08:58 AM

Gary

Frayed Knot Aug 28 2006 09:05 AM

I don't miss Marlon Anderson all that much. Yeah, he was a nice bench player and all, but not all that unique and therefore very replaceable. Guys like him are hardly make or break types for winning teams. Now, granted Endy is a bit of a different story as he's a career backup (and near washout) who's suddenly playing like a legit starter. But he's also got 3 HRs in about the same number of ABs that Cliff & Nady had(about 25 total?) and he's not going to be a CFer on this team as long as Beltran is young enough to roam out there. So while I'd like to keep him and - seeing as how I don't believe he's yet reached FA status yet (unlike Marlon) - they should be able to retain him if they choose, he'd also make for some decent trade bait for someone desperate for a reasonably cheap CFer.

Edgy DC Aug 28 2006 09:14 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 28 2006 09:23 AM

Marlon allowed the Mets to have a player on their all-time roster sharing a name with each player on the Jacksons' all-time roster.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 28 2006 09:16 AM

I was gonna remark a theory I'm developing about bench players: It's not only good to get former starters the year they switch to reserves, but to do that every year seeing as good bench guys are rarely good bench guys two years in a row. I'd have to study that to be sure, but I mean, Woody & Castro are two examples.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 28 2006 09:19 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Marlon allowed the Mets to have a player on their all-time roster sharing a name with a player on the Jacksons' all-time roster. What about Jermaine Allensworth and Tito Navarro? And Michael Tucker.

Edgy DC Aug 28 2006 09:24 AM

]I was gonna remark a theory I'm developing about bench players: It's not only good to get former starters the year they switch to reserves, but to do that every year seeing as good bench guys are rarely good bench guys two years in a row. Whitey Herzog was pretty down with that. Almost coldly so, to read his book.

ScarletKnight41 Sep 01 2006 08:49 PM

It is so nice watching him patrol left field. His defense has been great lately.

cleonjones11 Sep 02 2006 02:19 PM

Thing with Chavez..he looks like the fastest human being on the planet other than Jose Reyes..

Johnny Dickshot Sep 02 2006 03:39 PM

The other night in Denver (think it was game 2 of that series), somebody hit a ball over his head/out of his reach, and I realized it was the first time I could recall that happening all year.

Edgy DC Sep 21 2006 06:46 PM

ND is having a great game tonight.

metirish Sep 21 2006 06:50 PM

Is Endy signed just for this season?

Valadius Sep 21 2006 06:50 PM

I believe so.

Frayed Knot Sep 21 2006 09:05 PM

Yeah, but he still should be short of FA-gency -- meaning the team would have control of him next year if they so choose.