Weekly Poll: Who Should Get The Final Bench Spot?

by James Kannengieser on Mar 25, 2010 11:00 AM EDT

The list has been cut down since our last vote to the three realistic candidates. Twitter champion David Lennon was kind enough to answer some fan questions about the bench last night -- here are a few of his responses:

Poll

Pretend today is Opening Day. Who should get the final bench spot?

Frank Catalanotto

104 votes

Chris Carter

672 votes

Mike Jacobs

137 votes

913 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 43 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Lennon continuing his streak of being wrong, obnoxious and condescending

Man, you guys love flavor of the month RT @nmigliore: jacobs will probably win it, f-cat shouldn’t win it either. carter definitely should.

Lennon, I know you’ve been covering baseball since 1995 (omg!), but calm down.

by Bieser's Balk on Mar 25, 2010 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

It's funny how much Twitter just reinforces how little these jackasses really know.

I can’t see how these beat writers believe tweeting really helps people want to read what they have to say.

Who cares how bad the Bay deal will look in 2013, the world is going to end in 2012 anyway

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 25, 2010 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs

Really, I was thinking about this after listening to poor Jose field dumb questions yesterday

All the questions weren’t dumb, but seeing the sausage made is not pretty. The reporters try so hard to lead him into something that will give them some interesting copy. And I don’t even mean that they do it with nefarious intent, there wasn’t much of that yesterday, though one guy did press for his justification for taking two weeks off from his training program for Christmas. (What the relevance of that would be I can’t tell you.)

But anyway, how the news gets made is becoming ever more transparent, and I don’t see how it won’t have a really dampening effect on most reporters’ credibility. So many of them are such posturers, and so resistant to even friendly, well-intentioned debate.

People will find news sources that they can interact with, sources that don’t mind being challenged. This will be reporters (Davidoff is a good example) and bloggers, and the particular category won’t matter.

by SuperT on Mar 25, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

And they wonder why newspapers are dying...

by Ogre39666 on Mar 26, 2010 4:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Look at that vote

Chris Carter officially has a cult following. And why in the hell did 10 people vote for Jacobs? David Lennon must be trolling!

Trying to believe is my full-time occupation.

by Preach19 on Mar 25, 2010 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

Um,

Spring Stats and possible positions that can be played (sort of):

Catalanotto: .143/.208/.333 in 23 PAs. Can play LF and RF
(2B)
Jacobs: .208/.345/.458 in 29 PAs. Can play 1B. (Catcher)

Carter: .444/.500/1.056 in 20 PAs. Can play 1B, LF and RF

So clearly Catalanotto should get the bench spot.

If there's ever a riot at Citi Field and Oliver Perez was the starter, I started the riot.

by meigs1414 on Mar 25, 2010 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

The thing is:

Spring stats don’t mean anything. Guys with no track record can have really hot runs in ST but it doesn’t mean a thing until they do it in a meaningful regular season game.

Except, of course, for Jenrry Mejia. His spring success is indicative of his ability to immediately step in and mow down major league hitters.

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Mar 25, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I kinda disagree with that statement about spring stats

I feel for the fringe guys, spring stats are more important than for the regulars because this is the only way they can impress management, especially management like ours who tend to value small sample sizes over longer term tendencies (See Santos, Omir). Plus, what exactly is Lennon basing his decision on? Name recoginition? Spring stats? Was he paying attention to Catalanotto last year with the Brewers?

As a pinch hitter/bench guy the last two years (09 with MIL and 08 with TEX), Catalanotto was about .275/.345/.390 in about 430 PAs while playing mostly OF, (224 innings at 1B in TEX and 7 innings at 2B in MIL). Probably not a bad choice, but the fact that he is 36 means that he’s losing his range. You have Tatis, who is better defensively at any position he’ll play (probably better at 2B too). Catalanotto can’t hit for power and lost whatever speed he had to age. At this point, I’d rather go with the guys who have the better power potential (Jacobs and Carter) than a singles hitter who’s not providing better defense than the incumbent at the utility position (Tatis).

If there's ever a riot at Citi Field and Oliver Perez was the starter, I started the riot.

by meigs1414 on Mar 25, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Guess my sarcasm didn't come across very well.

It’s the last two sentences that are supposed to be the giveaway. Oh well.

Stupid internets.

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Mar 25, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh my bad

I just thought the last two sentences were sarcastic.

Still, Catalanotto was closer than I originally thought. I immidately thought Lennon was an idiot for suggesting it. Now I think that he feels the Mets should have four Tatis clones on the bench and Blanco. Not the best way to have a bench but to each his own.

If there's ever a riot at Citi Field and Oliver Perez was the starter, I started the riot.

by meigs1414 on Mar 25, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I forget who said it

But we really might be looking at the least athletic/defensively-challenged bench of all time.

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Mar 25, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

One correction.

Both “1B” and “Catcher” should be in the parentetical for Jacobs. His real “position” is DH.

by SoCal Metfan on Mar 25, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ah, touchez

I was giving Jacobs the benefit of the doubt at 1B.

If there's ever a riot at Citi Field and Oliver Perez was the starter, I started the riot.

by meigs1414 on Mar 25, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

But

Carter does have a track record as a solid hitter at the AAA level. Everything about him indicates that he is type that will grind and not give away at bats, a solid bat off the bench and could occasionally give Frenchy or Bay a day off. Plus, he’s 2 years younger than Jacobs, and gets on base more than him. If it’s Carter vs. Jacobs, there should not even be a debate.

by Mackey Sasser on Mar 25, 2010 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

The Carter fan club

Needs more members: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102889256414963&v=info

by Mackey Sasser on Mar 25, 2010 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

PLEASE!

As the one who started the group…

Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!?

by CharlieH on Mar 25, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

26 votes for Jacobs

Who knew his mom had 26 different IPs?

by SoCal Metfan on Mar 25, 2010 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

Some people try real hard.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 25, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

To the people who voted for Jacobs, Why?

serious question, why do you prefer him over Carter?

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Mar 25, 2010 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

Homerunzzzzzzzz

But I voted Carter

Who cares how bad the Bay deal will look in 2013, the world is going to end in 2012 anyway

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 25, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Notice how the votes that Jacobs gets almost invariably come from people who don't visibly contribute and/or campaign for him?

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 25, 2010 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

It would be pretty hard to type a well-thought out, defensible argument for Jacobs

The Jacobs supporters must be very casual fans.

I would love to hear Manuel and Omar’s arguments for Jacobs and Carter from an informed, skilled interviewer (if any exist).

I have a feeling Manuel/Minaya made some promises to Jacobs in order to get him to sign a minor-league contract, and now they need to save face.

I’m also thinking Carter must look REALLY bad in the field in practice (or something else) for him to be given so little consideration. Or, kind of like with Church, Castro, Evans, et al, there is something about him which is looked upon very unfavorably and we don’t really know what it is. I know the Mets overrate homeruns, favor certain personality types, etc. and are generally irrational, but they’re baseball-lifers and aren’t complete idiots. There HAS to be something in the equation that we’re missing.

by DoghouseBlues on Mar 25, 2010 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

This should be easy

Carter has been decent in the minors and should get a shot due to his hot spring. He can always be sent down if it turns out to be a fluke.

Jacobs is a known one-dimensional hitter, and has hands of stone playing the field.

Catalanotto shows every sign of being in serious decline. Cat man don’t.

by erich10031 on Mar 25, 2010 2:26 PM EDT reply actions

Jacobs just made

an incredible meal of a pop up

by deadspy3 on Mar 25, 2010 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

In fairness, Valdespin was calling him off and then stopped coming.

He still sucks though.

Who cares how bad the Bay deal will look in 2013, the world is going to end in 2012 anyway

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 25, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Valdespin's looked good

Showed nice range up the middle, stole a base, looks very fast, and had a couple of nice at bats.

by Mackey Sasser on Mar 25, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

His plate discipline looked good too. He had a 9 pitch AB against Carpenter and generally looked comfortable with the strike zone.

Who cares how bad the Bay deal will look in 2013, the world is going to end in 2012 anyway

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 25, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I really thought he played well

I’ll take him over Castillo right now, no questions asked. But then I think I’d take Catalanotto over Castillo at this point.

Perhaps today IS a good day to die.
- Klingon proverb

by Thomas Wachtel on Mar 25, 2010 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Wooh, 284 votes for Carter

too bad we’re not the GM

"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"

by firejerrynow on Mar 25, 2010 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

It's a very clear decision.

Carter is the best at hitting and versatility and they all really suck at defense but I would go with Carter defensively.

by EtSuKe on Mar 25, 2010 4:08 PM EDT reply actions

really?

i figure catalanatto to be much more verstaile, only reason why i’d give him the spot.

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on Mar 25, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Catalanatto is more versatile, yeah.

Carter, he can play an average corner outfield (most likely) and a below average first base (most likely). F-Cat can play all of the middle infield positions, too.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 25, 2010 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

If by play, you mean physically stand in the correct position with a glove...

Then yeah. I’d sooner see Tatis at 2nd or SS at this point then Frankie Cats though, so I really wouldn’t even bother to include tose in his repetoire.

Who cares how bad the Bay deal will look in 2013, the world is going to end in 2012 anyway

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 25, 2010 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions