2nd base - 2006

[nymr83]

was Sojo ever good? i'm in class without time to check numbers...
it would be scary if he lost it the way Baerga did.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I just meant they all got fat.

[Elster88]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: Just an observation, but Castillo to me is starting to resemble the latter-day Luis Sojo and Carlos Baerga around the midsection.

Fonzie too.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Several of the rags think that we're no longer after Soriano. One (forget which) speculates that Willie's the reason behind our disinterest in Soriano. Willie allegedly isn't crazy about Soriano for the following reasons:

strikes out to much
doesn't walk enough
doesn't make adjustments to pitchers
bad defense

If Willie's helped Omar steer clear of Soriano, than thanks, Willie!

Graffanino & Grundzelanicadfkjda are both seeking 3-year deals, which, IMO, means we should be looking elsewhere unless they come down.

The rags also agree that we're not actively pursuing Furcal now.

[seawolf17]

Plus, I believe Furcal was quoted as saying he "ain't going to no Mets."

[nymr83]

thankfully. Furcal is a terrible fit for this team. he is a BAD hitter who is worth having (perhaps) as a gold-glove SS. as a guy learning a position at 2B he's a liability. I'd rather keep Matsucki

[metirish]

Grudzielanek could compete for longest name to ever play for the Mets....he ties Isringhausen if my eyes are not fooling me..

[metirish]

Well a quick look and probably a bunch of players have 12 letters...how could I forget Mientkiewicz..

[Frayed Knot]

Given the improvements, or anticipated improvements, made in other areas: 1st base, catcher, closer; plus having a few readily available replacement-level players for 2nd base: Keppinger, Andy-Handy; I'd roll the dice on getting at least a decent-enough season out of Matsui. There's talent in there somewhere and seeing it finally come out for a sustained period is as good a bet as many of the alternatives.

[Vic Sage]

ditto.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Frayed Knot wrote: Given the improvements, or anticipated improvements, made in other areas: 1st base, catcher, closer; plus having a few readily available replacement-level players for 2nd base: Keppinger, Andy-Handy; I'd roll the dice on getting at least a decent-enough season out of Matsui. There's talent in there somewhere and seeing it finally come out for a sustained period is as good a bet as many of the alternatives.

I'm on board with that, too.

[Vic Sage]

in other words: "double ditto."

[Elster88]

YES! You guys are the best. Get Omar and Willie on board.

[Guest sharpie]

Triple ditto.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, Delgado donning another number has to be worth some indication.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

True - I remember Komiyama's 17 being given away even before he was gone.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I have no particular jones for Furcal at all, but he's a "BAD" hitter who has been a better hitter than any fulll-time shortstop the Mets have ever had.

[nymr83]

Edgy DC wrote: I have no particular jones for Furcal at all, but he's a "BAD" hitter who has been a better hitter than any fulll-time shortstop the Mets have ever had.

i'd be all in favor of getting him to play SS if we had a hole there, but we don't.
why would you want to take a guy with a sub 100 ops+ and change his defensive position?

[Guest rpackrat]

]why would you want to take a guy with a sub 100 ops+ and change his defensive position?

Because a 100 ops+ is the league average, park-adjusted. The average for middle infielders is considerably lower (though I'm too lazy to look it up right now). And Furcal has played a lot of 2B in winter ball, so he probably won't have any problem making the change.

[nymr83]

rpackrat, i'm not too lazy to look it up...but its simply not there! i've seen several discussions of people on other sites asking about it but the actual numbers are nowhere to be found.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Edgy DC wrote: I have no particular jones for Furcal at all, but he's a "BAD" hitter who has been a better hitter than any fulll-time shortstop the Mets have ever had. ]i'd be all in favor of getting him to play SS if we had a hole there, but we don't. why would you want to take a guy with a sub 100 ops+ and change his defensive position?

I have no particular jones for Furcal at all.

[Guest sharpie]

Edgy's lack of jones for Furcal has made him look elsewhere:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2241012

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

So it's the Cubs, Dodgers, or Braves.

I'm okay with it being Chicago or L.A.

]The Mets, who had chased Furcal hard earlier in the winter, now are apparently out of this race -- in part because they wanted him to change positions and play second base.

Did they really chase him hard? I hadn't gotten that sense.

[Frayed Knot]

'Chased Hard' is sportswriter speak for 'mentioned at least once'

[Guest Rotblatt]

From Journal News:

]Reports out of St. Louis suggest the Mets are the leaders for free-agent infielder Mark Grudzielanek. He would compete with Kaz Matsui for the second-base job or to fill the super-sub role held by Miguel Cairo, whom the Mets will not bring back.

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051201/SPORTS01/512010381/1108/SPORTS01

Grudzielanek, a SS turned 2B who has also played a bit of 3B, turns 36 this year, but has posted OPS's of .782, .779 & .741 the last three years while averaging 422 at bats. He hits a lot of doubles, and while he has a decent on base percentage (.366, .347 & .334 last 3 years), it mostly seems tied up in his batting average (.314, .307, .294). In other words, he doesn't walk a ton.

He made $1M last year, plus $0.5M in incentives.

Here's ESPN's scouting on his defense:

]The Cubs seemed to like Grudzielanek's defense more than they did Walker's. Grudzielanek turns the double play well and has a strong throwing arm.

I think this would probably be a decent signing.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'd just as soon gamble on Matsui and keep Keppinger and Hernandez close at hand.

[smg58]

It depends on the price. Grudzelainek is a good fielder and would be an upgrade with the bat and glove, but not so much of one that I'd pay a lot for him. Given what we have at AAA, I don't think I'd go long-term with him either.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I would be quite happy to see the Mets sign Grudzielanek to compete with Matsui for the second base job. He could also fill the role that Marlon Anderson/Miguel Cairo did for the team last season if he failed to win the starting spot.

If the Mets could pick him up for a 1-2 year deal of approximately $1 Mil./yr and incentives, I'd be pretty happy with that.

[Elster88]

If Grudzadjoainalek isn't obviously head and shoulders above Matsui, why bother with him? Another average middle infielder clogging up the roster?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Doesn't seem like it's in the Mets plans or fan/media hearts but if a *true* upgrade for Matsui comes available and affordable, Matsui might make an interesting & useful Lou Collier type.

He's passable in short doses at 2nd or short, I'll bet he could fake it in the outfield, he switch hits with pop, and is fast enough to pinch run for anyone.

7 mills is a lotta buckage for a reserve, but we could and have done worse.