Make-The-Mets-O-Meter, Week 2: Hitters

by Eric Simon on Mar 11, 2011 10:00 AM EST

We're two weeks into spring training games and the picture, while still muddled, is clearing up ever so slightly. We looked at the pitching situation on Tuesday so now we return to the hitters. Second base is up for grabs, as are a couple of outfield spots. Let's see where everyone checks in.

Player		Comment
Russ Adams, IF		His only real shot is at third base, but if Daniel Murphy makes the team he likely becomes the 3B backup. When he's not starting at second, that is.
Luis Castillo, 2B		I still think he'll make the Opening Day roster, but it's no sure thing as he struggles with the bat in spring training.
Raul Chavez, C		Has two hits in 11 at-bats this spring and has no real shot at making the team. There are a lot of pitchers in camp and somebody has to catch them. That somebody is Raul Chavez.
Lucas Duda, OF		I wouldn't have thought he had a chance to be on the Opening Day roster a couple of weeks ago, but he's hitting .323/.364/.613 and his 31 at-bats are second on the team. It seems like his age and his contract situation put him a step behind Willie Harris and Scott Hairston, but you never know.
Brad Emaus, 2B		Hitting just .133 in spring, the fact that he's a Rule 5 pick and would have to be returned to the Blue Jays may not be enough to justify hanging on to him if he continues to not hit or field much.
Nick Evans, OF/1B		His 33 at-bats lead the team, though he hasn't shown much power or patience so far. He's out of options and I have to imagine some other team will grab him if given the chance. A lefty-mashing corner outfielder who could spell Ike Davis at first? Some definite value there.
Kai Gronauer, C		He hit a three-run home run on Thursday. Also, German. Assigned to minor league camp.
Willie Harris, OF		Hitting .273/.385/.545 and probably the frontrunner for the fifth outfield spot.
Luis Hernandez, IF		Hardly any playing time so far. Did anyone in the front office nerdery see the home run he hit with a broken foot last year? No?
Chin-lung Hu, IF		Unless Nick Evans can play shortstop there doesn't appear to be a realistic scenario in which Hu doesn't make the team. Who? Hu?
Zach Lutz, OF		Get thee to a minor league affiliate.
Fernando Martinez, OF		.364/.481/.591 is robust. If Hairston didn't have a major league contract and Harris weren't swinging the bat well, Martinez would have an outside shot as a reserve outfielder. Even so, he needs regular work and will get it at Triple-A Buffalo. Assigned to minor league camp.
Daniel Murphy, 2B		He's playing a lot and all over the place, so the Mets are probably eyeing his versatility as a possible asset.
Mike Nickeas, C		He'll start the season with the Mets, and he could stick around if Ronny Paulino continues to not be in the country.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF		He'll be reassigned to minor league camp in 3...2...1..
Val Pascucci, DH		Smell you later, Valentino. Smell you later forever.
Jason Pridie, OF		Pridie has three walks in nine plate appearances this spring, but he's bound for the Buffalo shuttle.
Dusty Ryan, C		Oh, Dusty. In-famous is when you're MORE than famous. This man El Santos, he's not just famous, he's IN-famous.
Ruben Tejada, IF		Batting eighth and playing shortstop for your Buffalo Bisons: Ruben Tejada.
Justin Turner, IF		On the plus side, he's a ginger. On the minus side, he's not hitting. On the plus side, none of the other second base candidates are, either.
Jordany Valdespin, IF		Slugging .733 this spring on a homerun, a triple, a double, and two singles in 15 at-bats. Assigned to minor league camp.

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Comments

as nice a story as Duda

is he only makes sense on the roster if Beltran begins the year on the shelf… and let’s not kid ourselves, that a feasible scenario.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 11, 2011 11:08 AM EST reply actions

then if he hits like he did teh last 2 weeks of the season

he could be hard to take out of the lineup

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Mar 11, 2011 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

*that's

damn, I hate it that there’s no editing here… UGH

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 11, 2011 11:08 AM EST reply actions

That Luis Hernandez HR was a perfect example of my point in another post

about why Sabermetrics makes watching the crazy events that much more fun. What were the odds of THAT home run?

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 11, 2011 11:16 AM EST reply actions

Probably the same as the independent odds

that a player breaks his foot with his own foul ball. In a dependent instance regarding the sequence it happened, now THAT is probably a textbook sample of an outlier!

"Intelligence is not a genetic predisposition. Think stupid!!"

by Wright of passage on Mar 11, 2011 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Guys help me

my inner Omar Minaya wants to rush Jordany Valdespin to play 2nd base so bad.

I need an exorcism.

But seriously you guys have to admit he has been doing better than the other candidates.

Will the Sun come up tomorrow?

by HELLYEAHGARYOAK on Mar 11, 2011 11:40 AM EST reply actions

Valdespin belongs in AA

Not even in AAA yet. The kid is extremely talented and has a ton of potential, but he has a lot of work to do.

Also, if Reese Havens stays healthy, he’s probably the 2B of the future.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 11, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

he is showing a lot to me

I know he isn’t ready but he seems to be close, and if Havens doesn’t find a way to stay healthy I put him ahead of Havens for next season

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Mar 11, 2011 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

If I see Valdespin make it ahead of a healthy Havens I'll be legitimately surprised

“You’re healed!!”

"Intelligence is not a genetic predisposition. Think stupid!!"

by Wright of passage on Mar 11, 2011 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Infamous or in-famous is not being more than famous it is being a bad ass. Having a bad reputation. e.g. Al Capone is infamous, "the infamous Al Capone."

by ScottfromPeekskill on Mar 11, 2011 11:57 AM EST reply actions

is hairston a lock to make the team?

"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 11, 2011 1:44 PM EST reply actions

Pretty much

He has a Major League contract. Why, I don’t know, but…

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 11, 2011 2:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

If I remember correctly

he always seems to come out of the gate decent, and then fall off tremendously

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Mar 11, 2011 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

If F-Mart can play healthy all season

and put up the numbers we expect. Next season he has to find a spot with the club

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Mar 11, 2011 2:52 PM EST reply actions

but Capt Kirk and Duda look ready to compete for slot

if not this season, 2012 for Kirk

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Mar 11, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

Well Beltran is gone after this year

Pretty much a lock actually.
So that leaves LF Bay, CF Pagan, RF ______

So you will have The Dude, F! (Hate the name F-Mart), and Capt. Kirk probably all make the squad, one as RF and the other two as bench pieces.

Enjoying what may be the final season of two of my favorite Mets in Blue and Orange: Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran

by EMSfan9 on Mar 11, 2011 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Or (most likely)

somebody is dealt. That’s typically what happens when you have a logjam.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 11, 2011 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

But is it really a logjam?

F! can’t stay healthy and Kirk may never amount to being starting material and Duda’s defense needs a bit of work

Enjoying what may be the final season of two of my favorite Mets in Blue and Orange: Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran

by EMSfan9 on Mar 11, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

Mash them all together!

Ferkus Niuwudatez

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 11, 2011 8:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs

Kirk does not project to be a starter

If Bay, Duda and F! are healthy and producing, I’d look for the Mets to trade Bay, start Duda in LF and F! in RF.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 11, 2011 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

I don't see the Mets being able to move Bay

"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 11, 2011 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

If he Blue Jays can move Wells

no one is immovable.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 11, 2011 7:42 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly

If Bay didn’t miss so much of last season, and if he had a second half in line with his 2009 performance, he might be an Ångel right now.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 11, 2011 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

exactly what?

you think the Angels will trade for Bay if healthy?

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 11, 2011 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

would you trade Bay for

Zito?

That’s prob the only viable situation for Bay via trade.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 11, 2011 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think he means in the future

I think he’s meaning this past off-season

Enjoying what may be the final season of two of my favorite Mets in Blue and Orange: Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran

by EMSfan9 on Mar 11, 2011 11:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

well that isn't what was written.

If Bay, Duda and F! are healthy and producing, I’d look for the Mets to trade Bay, start Duda in LF and F! in RF.

this is clearly a forward looking remark.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 11, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

You conveniently missed this one.

If Bay didn’t miss so much of last season, and if he had a second half in line with his 2009 performance, he might be an Ångel right now.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 12, 2011 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

You conveniently missed this one.

If Bay didn’t miss so much of last season, and if he had a second half in line with his 2009 performance, he might be an Ångel right now.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 12, 2011 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Whoops...double trouble.

Double Post.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 12, 2011 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

why would you think

I missed that?

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 13, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Because you left out the part that would have made it clear

that i was referring to this past off-season.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 14, 2011 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

that's funny

cause your initial post on trading Bay was what I quoted above and clearly a forward looking statement. After Ogre’s mentioning of Wells you merely said that the Angels may have even traded for Bay instead of Wells. I didn’t think that changed the context of your original statement but now I assume you are saying you only meant trading Bay this past winter, not in the future.

I guess that must also mean you retract what you said in the event that Duda and F are healthy and producing.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Here's what I wrote

and I;m making part of it boldface to help you comprehend it:

If Bay didn’t miss so much of last season, and if he had a second half in line with his 2009 performance, he might be an Ångel right now.

What part of the latter part of the sentence don’t you understand?

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 14, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

what part of this didn't you write?

If Bay, Duda and F! are healthy and producing, I’d look for the Mets to trade Bay, start Duda in LF and F! in RF.

are you still saying this or not?

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

That's not what you responded to

You responded to this:

If Bay didn’t miss so much of last season, and if he had a second half in line with his 2009 performance, he might be an Ångel right now.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 14, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

which was a response to:

If he Blue Jays can move Wells

no one is immovable.

we all saw the progression of the posts there… so naturally I asked if by that you meant that the Angels would trade for Bay (taking your initial comment and subsequent onesand Ogre’s into consideration)…. this isn’t complicated stuff.

Either you think the Mets could trade Bay or not. I’m not going to attack you if you think they could/will? I just think it will take the Mets taking back a bad contract in the swap…

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm basically doing nothing more than

questioning the logic that some have said which is that the Wells deal proves that the Mets could move Bay.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Just forget it, Russ.

He’s obviously trying to “get” you with some stupid semantics argument where he’s embellishing one part of one sentence instead of looking at the overall tone of the conversation.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 14, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

huh?

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

what the hell does that mean?

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

"...I'd look for the Mets to trade Bay..."

I don’t see what’s at all ambiguous about that statement… followed by:

“If he (sic) Jays can move Wells then no one is immovable…”

“Exactly…”

How does the Angels trade for Wells have anything to do with a potential trade of Bay? unless by that you (or others) are suggesting it shows a pattern by the Angels… (shrug)

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

All it meant is that GM's make horrible moves.

They have in the past and they will in the future. That you can’t glean that then I don’t know what to say to you.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 14, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

ok, you're just going in circles.

and back to the “anything is possible” fallback.

Can you (or Russ) at least suggest some proposals for trading Bay if you want it to be taken seriously as a discussion point?

Apparently either (or both) of you cannot get yourselves to even stand by the initial idea of trading Bay… so I don’t know what to tell you…

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

How are we not standing by the initial idea of trading Bay? We're still (for some reason) replying to you.

Maybe Nick Sabean will want to make a splash and acquire a big name for his outfield. Maybe The Dodgers will get their ownership stuff figured out and have some money burning a hole in their pocket. Who knows? Did anyone see the Angles making one of the worst trades of the decade? No.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 14, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Brain Sabean*

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 14, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

oh Idk, cause

of all the “oh you misunderstand, he was referring to last season” BS and maybe the oh forget it Russ he’s just trying to catch you up in some semantics BS…

as I said, I won’t ever question anything you say going forward. Don’t worry.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

whatever.

I guess I can never have any question about anything posted by you or Russ… noted.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 14, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Instead of Wells?

I can see that. He’s cheaper and has a much better track record as a hitter.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Mar 11, 2011 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

Trading Bay wrt the Angles was clearly a retrospective remark.

But looking forward, if Toronto can move Wells, trading Bay isn’t out of the question (less money owed and better performance history)

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 11, 2011 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

uh no, all it proves is that the Angels

made a bad deal. beyond that it doesn’t mean spit.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 12, 2011 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

It means that thete are GMs out there

who make bad trades. Thus, anything is possible.

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 12, 2011 11:55 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

sure,

we can suggest almost anything and can always rely on “anything is possible” as a defense…

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 13, 2011 1:30 AM EST up reply actions

And when there is/are a precedent(s)

it means trading Bay is not entirely a pipe-dream.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 13, 2011 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

what do you mean?

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 13, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

What do YOU mean?

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 13, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean

if anything, the Wells trade indicates that no other team aside from the Angels would make the sort of trade where one team picks up another expensive 32+ OFer who’s already played his best ball. So unless you or others think the Angels will trade for Bay too, I don’t see the point being made. Iow, the only precedent is that the Angels are capable of this kind of lopsided trade… it shows absolutely nothing more. Beside that, of course anything is possible. But if you have possibilities for Bay in mind, shoot.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 13, 2011 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

more than that

Bay hit 6 HRs in 2010. Wells hit 31. For whatever he’s being paid, at least he produced most recently. Bay will still have to prove he’s a player before anyone will trade for him.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 13, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

will you now

tell me what you mean?

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 13, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Bay is not moveable and that signing is proving to be worse than Ollies.

Five years of watching him wave at curveballs and off speed pitches is going to be Hell

by Putnan Prince on Mar 11, 2011 10:13 PM EST reply actions

The Bay signing is in no way, shape, or form

worse than the Perez signing.

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 12, 2011 11:56 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

He might end up being so

But what makes Ollie so bad is his fucking righteous attitude, as if he’s not an awful player. At least Bay seems like he would be more humble about it. But obviously we have to give Bay this year to redeem himself before we throw him in that category.

"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 12, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Jason Bay, he still posted a positive WAR value.

Perez, he’s so far down in the negatives, he owes the team money. What makes him bad is the fact that he is bad at baseball- his attitude, that just makes it all that more infuriating.

Bay probably isn’t going to break even on the WAR:$ ratio, and its going to be an overlay, but Bay has positive value now, and it is all but guaranteed that he’ll have positive value in the years going ahead. Whether those numbers will be on the high side (unlikely) or on the mid-to-low side (more likely) we don’t know, but they’ll be on the right side of 0, unlike Perez.

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 12, 2011 12:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Hope you're right He hustles all the time (unlike David) and I just hope Citi-Field

does not beat him down.

by Putnan Prince on Mar 12, 2011 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

Unlike Davis... who?

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 13, 2011 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

Imagine if Hu and Who both make the team

We can have Hu on Second and Who on First.
I challenge the Phillies to beat us in that department!

Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.

by Aidan Gibson on Mar 11, 2011 10:31 PM EST reply actions

2nd base position

Daniel Murphy has to be the one at 2nd base eveyrday. He is the best player in the 7th hole not Castillo. Thole behind him they would make a good pair. Murphy getting a double and Thole hitting him home.

by lionstein on Mar 11, 2011 11:33 PM EST reply actions

All of the potential kids coming up soon are lefties.

F!, CapN Kirk, Duda, Havens, Valdespin and Ratlif are all from the left side. Lefty filler is Jason Pridie, Jesus Felciano, Russ Adams and Willie Harris. Add them to the current starting lefties of Ike Davis, Thole and perhaps Murphy at second and the team is quite lefty dominant with the only true righties in the lineup Wright and Bay. Even Pagan is better from the left side.

Wilmer, Aderlin Rodriguez, Cory Vaughn and possibly Jefry Marte are the only righties on the radar in the system and they’re still a few years away.

Come on Nick Evans….

by CatchDog on Mar 12, 2011 10:58 AM EST reply actions