Monday Applesauce

by Eric Simon on Oct 13, 2008 12:24 PM EDT in Applesauce

At MetsBlog.com, in a preview of his interview with GM Omar Minaya, Matt Cerrone posts a Q&A on Daniel Murphy's status:

Ed from Melville, NY, asked, "How do you envision Murphy in the line up? What position do you see him playing? And how excited are you about this guy?"

Minaya, on Murphy, speaking to MetsBlog.com:

"Well, first of all, we are very excited. We rarely see a young player having that kind of plate discipline…

I am comfortable that he is going to play the outfield if we need him to play the outfield. We are also comfortable that he would be able to play first base – if someday Carlos Delgado is not with us. So we’re excited about him, and we envision him that way…

He is going to play second base in the Fall League, but that was something that was decided a while back before he actually came to the Major Leagues"

Emphasis is mine, and hoo-ray for Omar Minaya acknowledging plate discpline! I mentioned this the other day, and I still feel that the Mets are downplaying Murphy's role at second base in the AFL in case it doesn't work out. Obviously, he would be a huge upgrade over anything they have now if he could be even adequate defensively there. It's probably a longshot that he will be, given how few players have moved from third base to second successfully, but a successful transition would be a huge win for the Mets.

Over at the Hardball Times, Victor Wang analyzes what Ben Sheets might be worth in free agency given his health and a team's relative aversion to risk. Sheets has had a lot of injury problems in the past, and heads into the offseason with a torn elbow muscle that may require surgery. The latest prognosis is that the elbow just needs rest and that it should be fine long-term (i.e. by next season).

Hawaiian Winter Baseball

Honolulu Sharks 6, North Shore Honu 3

Greg Veloz (2B) went 1-for-4.
Junior Guerra allowed two hits in a third of an inning.

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Comments

Interesting

breakdown on sheets. Here’s mine:

I wouldn’t touch him with your’s. There isn’t a player out there who guarantees you anything, but making a huge investment in a guy with a history like Sheet’s would be foolish. This isn’t giving pavano one year with an option. This is 5 years we’re talking

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Oct 13, 2008 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

As much as we talk about how giving Manny five years would be a terrible idea, I submit the same goes for Sheets. Granted, he had a pretty great season this year but anything more than an incentive-laden short-term deal seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Oct 13, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

3B to 2B-it's been done.

It has been done by the Mets, albeit 30-odd years ago. For a few years, Wayne Garrett played both 3B and 2B (but not simultaneously-his range wasn’t THAT good). He was no threat to win a Gold Glove, but he was adequate. And his power made him more valuable at 2B than 3B.

I don’t see that it’s such a difficult transition for a reasonably athletic 3B. You need to show more range, but not SS-level; a burly, slugger-type 3B might not be able to handle it, but Murphy doesn’t fit that profile. I suppose the toughest part is turning the DP. On the other hand, the throws to 1B are much shorter and easier.

by madisonmetsfan on Oct 13, 2008 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

Lots of things have been done

Chase Utley did it in the minors. My only point is that it’s exceedingly rare.

by Eric Simon on Oct 13, 2008 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Never mind 30-odd years ago...

Edgardo Alfonzo transitioned from 3B to 2B pretty successfully when the Mets signed Robin Ventura. Though, to be fair, he had played a mix of the two earlier in his career before settling in at 3B in 1997, and played primarily shortstop (poorly, with 22 errors in 78 games) with the B-Mets in 1994.

by JoshNY on Oct 14, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

If the order of his words mean anything...

…It doesn’t appear that Omar has any GRAND design to put Murphy at second. He mentions him first in the outfield, then at first base (didn’t see that coming) and lastly at second. I’m beginning to worry about who is going to shore up 2nd as I am worried about what’s going to be made of our bullpen.

Sheets? Surgery this year? Injury issues year after year? The Brewers know that they’re not going to be able to keep C.C. Sabathia, so if they get rid of Sheets, who have they got left? Bush? Gallardo? Suppan? Parra? None of which had over 10 wins. So it seems to me they’re going to want something extra special in order to get Sheets. I pass.

What arms do we have developing in our farm system? Any?

" GOD BLESS WHAT'S LEFT OF AMERICA "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Oct 13, 2008 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

Sheets is a free agent

No trade necessary. Just a pile of cash and whatever other incentives these guys usually end up with.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Oct 13, 2008 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Murphy at 1B

Realistically, Delgado won’t be around forever, and while Teixeira/Dunn might potentially be appealing if Delgado’s option isn’t picked up (though I’m guessing it will be), there’s no guarantee we’d get either. Of course, if there’s concern that the Irish Hammer doesn’t hammer enough to hold a corner OF slot, he presumably isn’t a strong enough hitter to be a regular MLB 1B either.

by JoshNY on Oct 14, 2008 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions