Kia Tigers Interested in Seo Jae-Woeng

Seo has been expressing his dicontent for a while about how the Mets have used him, which is very unfortunate, as Seo had a decent year with the Mets in 2003, when he went 9-12 with a 3.82 ERA. Also, it looks like Seo will be on the move, as the Mets have basically signed Pedro Martinez to a 4 year contract.

Well, Jae is set to begin the year in AAA, with Matt Ginter getting traded. I highly doubt the Mets' have him in their future plans. It's a shame considering how hard he worked on the way back from TJ surgery. I hope Jae will pitch his way back to the Majors before May.

In place of injured Kaz Ishii, Seo pitched 6 innings, giving up only 1 run, 6 hits, no walks, and 4 K's. [Game Recap - MLB.com] [Box Score - MLB.com]

I was disappointed in a way not get a chance to see him play last weekend when the Tide came to town. However, I'm happy for him because he's back up in the Majors and enjoying his baseball career. His AAA number weren't good, but he sure impressed a lot of fans with his outing. Jae will need to make 2-3 more good outings like the last one to make sure he'll not get send down again.

Seo is currently 4-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 11 games with AAA Norfolk. He has 20 BB/70 K's in 69 innings. These numbers certainly warrant another look for Seo, given his success in his 3 games this year with the Mets. [Minor League Stats]

Seo was re-called from AAA Norfolk, Friday August 5th. Seo pitched 7 and 1/3 shutout innings, only giving up 4 hits, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. Seo is 3-1 on the year with a 1.42 ERA. [Mets Transactions] [Box Score]

Seo will get another start later in the week. It is not a foregone conclusion that he will yield to Traschel right away when he returns. He'll probably work out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season.

The rap on Seo was that he was stubborn and didn't take coaching well. He was a 2 pitch pitcher. When he went down, he added a couple of new pitches to his repetoire.

He pitched a great game against Greg Maddux and the Cubs. Unfortunately, there is no room in the Mets' rotation now. Trax is a free agent in 2006, so a slot may open up, if the Mets don't fill it with a vet or one of their other young arms.

The current story on Seo is that either him, Koo, or someone else will return to AAA when Traschel returns. Hopefully Koo or someone else returns to AAA, Seo has done everything to deserve to pitch at Shea this year. He's 3 and 1 with a 1.42 ERA in 4 games with the Mets this year [MLB Stats] and 7 and 4 with a 4.29 ERA in 19 games with AAA Norfolk [Minor League Stats].

Seo has nothing left to prove in AAA anymore and deserves a spot on the Mets rotation. I'd pitch him over Zambrano any day.

Since Mr. Koo is a lefty, I think he'll stick, though he's hardly a lock. Padilla probably pitched himself off the team last night.

I have to disagree on Seo over Zambrano. First, I think Zambrano has better stuff. Second, he came in the Kazmir trade and the Mets will not send him down. He has pitched quite well, though Ishii-like in control sometimes. He's a work in progress. he's also had poor run support.

Seo has had a few very good outings. Right now, he might be close to Trax, but the vet is going to get the opportunity. If they feel good about Seo after the season's over, they could let Trax walk. Save his $6 million+ pay and give Seo a shot at a rotation spot. But Seo can't be a 2 pitch pitcher, which, while he did well, he reverted back to in his last start. That is going to upset Rick Peterson (pitching coach), which is how he ended up in the dog house to begin with.

- Since Mr. Koo is a lefty, I think he'll stick, though he's hardly a lock. Padilla probably pitched himself off the team last night.

I'm also a little misinformed abouit Koo. He's been okay, 0-0, 3.57 ERA, in 32 games. So Koo will probably stay. Though he's been up and down, but consistent.

As you say, Padilla probably pitched his way off the team as the Mets will most definetly keep Gerald Williams as the extra pinch hitter.

- I have to disagree on Seo over Zambrano. First, I think Zambrano has better stuff. Second, he came in the Kazmir trade and the Mets will not send him down.

Zambrano might have better stuff, but as you mentioned, his control is very erratic. I watched him daily when he played with Tampa Bay, he walked tons.

The Kazmir trade is turning out to be another mistake by the Mets, but that's off-topic and I'll stop there.

- Seo has had a few very good outings.

I fail to see how Seo has had a very few good outings, almost every game he's pitched with the Mets has been good. [MLB Stats]

- Right now, he might be close to Trax, but the vet is going to get the opportunity.

I agree that Traschel is definetly going to get an opportunity, and I think he might or might not be back next year. But with the Mets Traschel has been pretty consistent.

I should have written; Seo had a few good outings. Meaning he didn't pitch often on the Mets, but when he did, he was good. I like him, but he is stubborn (like Willie Randolph).

The problem with Mr. Koo is that he doesn't have Randolph's confidence - which is fatal. He has been so-so.

Zambrano and Seo are two different pitchers. Zambrano can have great movement on his pitches and has some speed. The flip side is his control problems. He was dazzling the last time out. Peterson thinks he has a lot of upside. On the trade, we won't really know how it pans out for a few years.

Seo is a pitch placement specialist, sort of like Glavine. Doesn't throw heat, but he can spot the pitches. He's not much worse than Trax, which is not to put him down. His problem has been the 2 pitch repetoire. He's quite good, but I don't think the Mets like his make-up, and he very well could be traded for the right price. I like him nonetheless.

What do you think of Mazilli's firing, by the way?

Seo is a good pitcher. His upside is starting to show finally. This year he finally is starting to put it all together. If he can put it all together this year he should warrant a look next year either for the Mets or someone else (for the right price). Seo is a pitcher I've liked since he's been with the Mets, and I've been rooting for a long time, since his 2003 year.

- What do you think of Mazilli's firing, by the way?

The Orioles were due for a change of somekind. I'm kind of sad to see Mazzilli go, as our team kind of chased him out of town. The Orioles have played like we are clueless on the field. Though at times Mazzilli didn't look like he knew what he was doing, he continued to trot Kline and Grismley out like it wasn't a problem. I agree with firing Mazzilli, it seems he was clueless at times.

Sam Perlozzo, a former Mets minor league player/manager, not to mention a former Yakult Swallows player, should be an interesting manager. Though our team's chemistry lies in the hands of Peter Angelos, no change for the better will happen.

Seo had another great game today against the Dodgers, pitching 8 innings, giving up 5 hits, 1 run/1 earned run, walking one, and striking out 6. [Box Score - MLB.com]

Seo is now 4 and 1 with a 1.35 ERA this year.

Looks like Seo is bumping Trax into the pen. Trax might also be traded. Rick Peterson, who was down on Seo early this year because he would not listen, was heaping praises on JW, comparing his pitch selection to Pedro Martinez.

Seo heeded the coaches' suggestions to add a cutter and slider and he mixes up his speed more. His pitching turned around as a result. He is also recently married and a new father. He may have grown up.

No way, after all this work and tribulation, will he go anywhere but with the Mets right now. And one more thing, the Mets fans love him now. He gets the job done and overcame adversity. Kazuo, are you listening?

Jae Seo won his 4th game on the year now to improve to 5 wins and 1 loss. Seo pitched 8 scoreless innings, giving up only 4 hits, walking two, and striking out 5. [Box Score - MLB.com]

Seo is 7-1 this year with a 1.79 ERA in 9 games/9 starts. Seo has 9 BBs/43 Ks in 60.1 IP. [Stats - MLB.com]