What If: The Mets Sign Adam Dunn

by Eric Simon on Dec 3, 2008 1:46 PM EST in Quick Hits Comment 68 comments

Now that the incentives and disincentives for signing free agents are all clear (inasmuch as they can be at this point), imagine a top-five that looks like this:

Jose Reyes
Adam Dunn
David Wright
Carlos Beltran
Carlos Delgado

You've got something like 150 homeruns, 400 walks, 500 runs scored (500 strikeouts). Would you rearrange this order? Would you slot someone else in instead of Dunn? Are you too busy drooling to arrange cohesive thoughts on anything right now?

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I'm trying to forget that Dunn exists

So that I won’t be disappointed when we give up a draft pick for Raul Ibanez while Dunn signs somewhere else for likely close to the sign price, if not less.

by Gina on Dec 3, 2008 1:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dunn would be perfect

He’s younger than any of the other FA corners, and he can move to 1B if we part ways with Delgado at the end of this year.

Don’t know if anyone caught it, but Perrotto has a F-Mart/Vazquez/Dye rumor (nothing more solid than that), which would wipe Dunn right out of the equation (and wipe out our farm system all over again).

by Patrick Clark on Dec 3, 2008 2:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not Vazquez

Jenks, as I’ve heard.

by Eric Simon on Dec 3, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

right

Vazquez to the Braves…

by Patrick Clark on Dec 3, 2008 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That sounds

like a nightmare trade.

by Gina on Dec 3, 2008 2:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think many people posting here need convincing about Dunn

I’m less certain about the Mets’ front office, however.

And I’d prefer that the lineup be:

1 – Reyes
2 – Beltran
3 – Dunn
4 – Wright
5 – Delgado

If Dunn hits behind Reyes and Beltran, then the two of them can steal bases while he takes pitches.

by ams258 on Dec 3, 2008 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This makes me giddy

I like Eric’s and ams258’s orders… if Dunn signed, I think Jerry Manuel should play around with the lineup to see how things happen. Dunn in the 2-hole is fine with me.

Imagine the backlash from NY sportswriters (and Keith Hernandez) if the Mets did that? (“he’s not a 2 hitter!!”.. “he can’t hit and run!”… “he strikes out too much!”… “Paul LoDuca – now THERE was a 2 hitter!”)

If Dunn signed with the Mets, I’d be first in line at the Mets Clubhouse to buy his player t-shirt.

by James Kannengieser on Dec 3, 2008 2:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

AAAAAHHHHH!

i had just forgotten about lo duca and there you go giving me nightmares again.

i kind of like the lineup

reyes
wright
beltran
dunn
degado

but you pretty much cant go wrong with those middle 3 no matter what you do.

by kendynamo on Dec 3, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the same thing

as an organization, the Mets throughout the years, have proven to either avoid controversly thinking or maybe just agree with conventional wisdom. I can’t see the Mets having the balls to put Dunn in the second hole, don’t forget, Manuel used Endy and Marlon Anderson there because knew how to take a pitch, didn’t strikeout much and could lay down a bunt.

by Sokojoe on Dec 3, 2008 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunn knows how to take a pitch

Not so much the other two things.

I really liked ams258’s lineup until realizing that the conventional wisdom lovers would have a shit fit about Dunn’s .247 batting average in the 3 hole. They’d ignore the .385 OBP and tell you he has to hit 7th.

Still, I’m having nice little daydreams about:
1. Reyes, SS
2. Dunn, LF
3. Beltran, CF
4. Delgado, 1B
5. Wright, 3B
6. Church, RF
7. Castro, C
8. Murphy, 2B

(Yes, I know that’s an odd order, but I did it that way to avoid putting all the LH hitters in a row. S-L-S-L-R-L-R-L looks better than S-L-S-R-L-L-L-R. And much better than a trailing L-L-L-L with Schneider instead of Hippo.)

by JoshNY on Dec 3, 2008 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Asking Adam Dunn to bunt

is not only an exercise in futility, but it’s also a fireable offense. No manager should be so stupid and keep his job. Yeah, I’m looking at you, Dusty Baker.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Dec 3, 2008 7:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes. Yes. Yes.

This is nice. I might put P at 8 and Murphy at 9 though to get two shots at a leadoff hit because Castro is basically a home run or an out….

by deadspy3 on Dec 4, 2008 4:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunn's only negative

~~is that he doesn’t love the game.~~

are the enviable bad puns writers cannot resist to use, especially something along the lines of getting it Dunn…and his defense.

by Sokojoe on Dec 3, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tempting

I’d be awful tempted to do something like this:
1. Adam Dunn
2. Jose Reyes
3. David Wright
4. Carlos Beltran
5. Carlos Delgado

If not that, Dunn 2nd and Reyes 1st would give Reyes a pretty nice shot at stealing a base every time. Dunn takes a lot of pitches I’d assume. I think the reason I might favor Dunn ahead of Reyes is the amount of XBH he has compared to Dunn. How useful would a player on 2nd or 3rd be if Dunn strikes out or walks a huge percentage of the time? I don’t know, Wright has been a DP machine so far in his career. Or, I suppose if the players were to EXACTLY repeat last year’s performance:

1. Reyes
2. Beltran
3. Wright
4. Dunn
5. Delgado

Although I doubt Beltran walks as much (going by past performance.. he’s kind of flipped 90+ walk seasons with 50-60 walk seasons lately, although I have no way to predict that.) I also highly doubt Delgado performs as well, but one could hope. I’d even be tempted by performance to make Church the 5 batter, or hell:

1. Reyes
2. Murphy
3. Wright
4. Beltran
5. Dunn
6. Delgado
7. Church

Looks like Bill James pegs Murphy at .296/.371/.478 for next season.

I don’t know. There are a lot of possibilities that nearly all equal a freaking-fantastic lineup. If we get Dunn, of course. And if they’d let Murphy play second. Wait and see.

Who's world is it? It's yours.

by BlackOps on Dec 3, 2008 2:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Done and Dunn

No teasing Eric. I wish it would happen, but Davidoff has been reporting that the Nats are going to make a big offer Dunn. Hopefully he’d rather take our 3/40 -ish than their 5/80-ish and play for a winner.

If Murphy gets 2B, b/c I love those Bill James projections:

Reyes
Murphy
Wright
Beltran
Delgado
Dunn
Church
Platoon C’s.

by whynot on Dec 3, 2008 3:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Have we

Made an actual offer on Dunn?

by Gina on Dec 3, 2008 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bob Howry signs with Giants

Together with the Vazquez trade, that makes 2 decent players I think the Mets could’ve had for cheaper than expected.

by James Kannengieser on Dec 3, 2008 4:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm simply flabbergasted that once again...

…Brain power is being used to obsess over offense.

I’m still waiting for coherent discourse on our inept bullpen.

What good is it going to do us to have all of this “bat” power when we still blow it out our rectum in the 7th, 8th and 9th?

But heck…Since this thread is about "O"ffense, I’ll play along.

Reyes (SS)
Murphy (2B) Cowboy Up! Let’s just do it!
Wright (3B)
Beltran (CF)
Dunn (RF)
Delgado (1B)
Church (LF)
Castro © + Platoon

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 4:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why Castro has just been copywritten.

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Copywrited?

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 4:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Copywriteded

I think Castro is availalbe for general use, but the name “Hippo” is all his.

"The people of Houston are spending money like oil's selling at $40 a barrel."

by IanB in MD on Dec 3, 2008 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

However,

calling him ‘Hungry Hungry Hippo’ is verboten.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Dec 3, 2008 7:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wins

I don’t think anyone disagrees that the Mets need to improve their relief pitching, but that doesn’t mean they should forget about other areas of potential improvement. An extra few wins is an extra few wins, whether you’re preventing runs or creating them. Dunn would help the Mets so we’re talking about him. If you want to talk about the bullpen then write a FanPost with your thoughts. Perhaps it will spur the coherent discourse you’re after.

by Eric Simon on Dec 3, 2008 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know me Eric.

Kicking the tires that start the fires. (Lot’s of smoke)

Dunn’s bat probably would have gotten us AT LEAST one more win this past year. Oh my, could you imagine the possibilities then?

I don’t have a problem with ‘more’ offense, but we and the front office know what the downfall of this team was last year – the bullpen. I don’t want them prioritizing offense when that’s not necessarily what this ball club needs. Every dollar towards a setup man (or men) and closer should be spent wisely. Every dollar taken away from that in the form of another bat is a dollar wasted…In my opinion.

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A dollar wasted?

Again, a win is a win. A win added to the bullpen is the same as a win added to the offense. Spending money on a hitter will not preclude the Mets from spending money on the bullpen anyway, so it’s probably a moot discussion.

If we were talking about a medium- or small-budget team, then maybe it would be wiser to address the largest areas of concern first, but since addressing all of those areas are within the Mets’ budget then there’s no reason we shouldn’t be talking about any or all of them.

by Eric Simon on Dec 3, 2008 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take your word for it. You're the SME.

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Short Magical Elf?

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

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Dec 3, 2008 8:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

stingy mirthless ebenezer?

by kendynamo on Dec 3, 2008 9:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You're both wrong

SME)

by Sokojoe on Dec 3, 2008 9:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Damn, it messed my link

I withdraw my comment, you’re both right

by Sokojoe on Dec 3, 2008 9:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bzzzzzzzzz

Wrong again.

by Eric Simon on Dec 3, 2008 9:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you sure, Eric?

Are you sure that you aren’t really The Sloppy Meateaters?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloppy_Meateaters

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

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Dec 3, 2008 10:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

who doesnt enjoy the Sloppy Meateaters

especially their debut album, Eat Meat Cuz It’s Fun. Can’t argue with that.

by kendynamo on Dec 3, 2008 10:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lets kick the tires and light the fires big daddy

‘independence day’ anyone? lets kick the tires and light the fires “big donkey”?

by James Kannengieser on Dec 4, 2008 12:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you

but on the other hand, our offense was pretty solid this year. Adding Adam Dunn would definitely help, but I do wonder just how much better the lineup can get. But if our pitching isn’t going to be better, we may as well try to club everyone else into submission.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Dec 3, 2008 7:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IMO

The purpose in adding Dunn would be to have him move to 1b in 2010 once Delgado’s gone. Regardless we’re going to need to fine a big bat to take his place. Whether that means breaking the bank for Holiday or bringing in Dunn this season. The problem is it looks like next season there will be fewer quality options which is why I think we should take the opportunity to fill it now.

by Gina on Dec 3, 2008 9:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

D'oh!

I forgot about moving Dunn to 1B in 2010 when I wrote that.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Dec 3, 2008 10:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

also

we don’t know which Delgado we get in 2009. Do we get second half Delgado, or do we get 2007/first half of 2008 Delgado? I’d say it’s much more likely we get something in between or the first half version than it is that we get the second half version, and without a productive Delgado our offense is nowhere near as potent. Dunn solves that.

by cjmulrain on Dec 3, 2008 11:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Off topic

But are the Giants really about to trade 25 year old Johnathan Sanchez for Jorge Cantu?

I feel like teams got some memo saying they should helps mets rivals out as much as possible.

by Gina on Dec 3, 2008 5:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It would make sense

The benevolent Ceti eel that had taken over Brian Sabean’s body — and signed Jeremy Affeldt and Bobby Howry to reasonable contracts in the process — has clearly returned to his home planet and left Sabean’s lobotomized husk to resume making the shitty executive decisions it always has.

by Eric Simon on Dec 3, 2008 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

nothing made my day more

than the results from googling ceti eel.

by kendynamo on Dec 3, 2008 9:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's some serious nerding out, Eric

But damn was I scared as hell of that scene from Star Trek II when I saw it at the drive-in when I was four years old.

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

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Dec 3, 2008 9:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A few MAJOR problems I have with Dunn:

1) He’s under 30
2) He’s white
3) He’s not a proven winner
4) He puts up statistical numbers

Whoops, those aren’t my problems, those are Omars. I keep getting us confused…

by cjmulrain on Dec 3, 2008 6:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

re: adam dunn #2

actually black from the waist down, according to gammons

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself in to trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on Dec 6, 2008 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Braves just offered A.J. Burnett $140 million for 5 years

That’s not good news for METS fans

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 6:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

eh

Carl Pavano 2.0 doesn’t worry me too much.

by cjmulrain on Dec 3, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's missed games

But he hasn’t missed that many games the last few years to make me not worry about what adding him to their rotation would do.

by Gina on Dec 3, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If the Braves were smart

they’d offer him a series of one-year contracts. Burnett doesn’t impress me as much as CC or Lowe. He’s made 30 starts only twice in 6 years, and both were walk seasons. He strikes me as a contract year player. He won’t be terrible, but they’ll be over paying him at $15 million a year.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Dec 3, 2008 7:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WTF

Why not just offer CC that? I don’t think that’s good news for Mets or Braves fans But really if the Marlins land Sanchez and the Braves manage to get Burnett after adding Vazquez. I am not going to sleep well at night.

by Gina on Dec 3, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

um, source

i really don’t think atlanta made such an offer…that’s WAY above market.

by englishgrey on Dec 3, 2008 6:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

Let’s get a link here, Lou. That’s more per year than anyone but A-Rod makes.

by Eric Simon on Dec 3, 2008 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Damn fellas

For all of the stats and “what not” you throw in my face, I didn’t think I’d have to provide it. However, in these blogospheric times, I should have known better than to “not” have provided a source.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove08/index

Keep checkin on ESPN’s HOT STOVE

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 8:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The amount came across the scroll during PTI (Pardon The Interruption)

I don’t know why on earth it’s not being provided on the link.

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Another link with time, but no amount...Dammit!

http://braves.scout.com/2/817859.html

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 8:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LET ME GO AHEAD AND JUMP ON ANOTHER GRENADE

Just got this little nugget from the SB Nation Braves site.

“It was on Sportscenter. I had just gone upstairs when my fiance IMed me that they said that the Braves had offered a contract. Apparently, they mistakenly said 5 years, 140 million and the anchor flipped out and made sure everyone knew that was just a typo/mistake and that terms hadn’t been released. I keep looking on stuff online but haven’t found it yet either.”

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 8:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just learned my lesson the hard way about relying on the ESPN ticker.

Chalk it up as lesson learned.

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 3, 2008 8:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the follow up is appreciated

let no one say you arent diligent.

by kendynamo on Dec 3, 2008 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just reveling in how I almost single handedly turned this from the...

Adam Dunn thread to the A.J. Burnett rumor / B.S. / “who knows?” thread.

Ahhhh. The power of the virus.

" Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Dec 4, 2008 6:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

was it preceded by "ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports...."

about 90% b.s. , 5% somewhat b.s. and 5% maybe sorta truth?

by James Kannengieser on Dec 4, 2008 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Braves offered Burnett a deal worth $28 million per year?

I’m gonna have to hold off on believing that until I see the source.

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

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Dec 3, 2008 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here it is

“The Braves can probably go $15-16 mill a year in a five-year deal for Burnett.”

Source

So, 5 years 75-80 million

Who's world is it? It's yours.

by BlackOps on Dec 3, 2008 7:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm all for it.

Put him in Blue & Orange!

"But it's not over yet, everybody thinks it over, but if we can just get the Earth to reverse rotation...this thing can be played again. So there you go, New York Mets......motherf*ckers." - Jon Stewart

by pingel on Dec 3, 2008 7:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs