That's Some Expensive Dominican Food!

Reliever Duaner Sanchez was released by the Mets

How much might you pay for some Pollo Guisado?? How about a plate of Sancocho?? You might be able to get those authentic Dominican dishes for $7 a plate up in the Heights, but one guy paid 1.4 million dollars. Huh?? $1.4M? What am I talking about?? Duaner Sanchez was released by the Mets on Tuesday, making his late night craving for some Dominican food a very expensive run.

You may remember July 30th, 2006... The Mets were in Miami to play the Marlins. Sanchez decided that he needed some Dominican food at 2am. So he called a cab and off he went. The taxi was involved in an accident and Sanchez separated his shoulder. Two surgeries and 3 years later Sanchez is still not the reliever he was before that fateful night. His velocity...down...his location...off... Mets GM Omar Minaya felt that Sanchez had made improvement but not enough to stay in the majors so... That's where we are today... Bye-Bye Duaner.

By letting Sanchez go today, the Mets save money. Sanchez will be paid 30 days' termination pay, $276,639, rather than his salary of $1,687,500. Had they waited until after March 18, they would have owed him 45 days' termination pay. So in essence, Duaner paid 1.4 million dollars (the difference between his termination pay and the salary he would have received) for that plate of food he never ate.

Minaya feels that he did Sanchez a favor too, releasing him earlier than later, gives Sanchez a chance to catch on with another team. Sanchez was 5-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 58 1-3 innings last season. In his last performance this spring, Sanchez pitched an inning against the Orioles on Monday. He allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits. He walked 1 and struck out 2.

So if he had just stayed in that night, maybe the Mets would have won in 2006 and not have subsequent bullpen meltdowns. I know you can't put all blame on that one night but sometimes things have a domino effect. So next time Duaner.. have someone else get your food or better yet, have it delivered. I'm sure you're wishing you did now. One final question: Is it only me who questions the whole "Dominican Restaurant" destination. Ah never mind, let's leave well enough alone.