2nd base - 2006

[Guest Rotblatt]

Elster88 wrote: If Grudzadjoainalek isn't obviously head and shoulders above Matsui, why bother with him? Another average middle infielder clogging up the roster?

K-Mat posted an OPS+ of 72 last year and 88 the year before, averaging 364 AB per season. G-Neck posted OPS+'s of 92 & 96, averaging 393 AB per season. I'd say that between 8% & 20% better equals "head & shoulders" over Matsui.

And the only average middle infielder we had last year was Reyes. Cairo, Anderson & Matsui all sucked (at least when starting), and Woody & Offerman mostly played first base.

I like Anderson Hernandez, but given his decline over the last two months and his struggles in Winter ball, I doubt he'll be the silver bullet to our 2B problem. Maybe Keppinger, but I wouldn't expect him to do any better than G-Neck.

I think our offense will be able to carry a below-average 2B, but if we can upgrade there for just $1.5M, why not do it?

[Elster88]

I guess I'm still assuming Matsui is better than his numbers, and at least a 95 OPS+ guy. I gotta stop assuming.

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This post had the designation 111) Alejandro Pena

[Frayed Knot]

Also, Grudzeyechart is coming off a coupla pretty good seasons and will shirley see enough offers to where he wouldn't take one that wouldn't peg him as the likely starter. I can't see him coming here to be a bench/platoon player.
If we do go after him it seems to me that it would be instead of Matsui (to be dealt away seperately with mucho greenback swallowing) rather than in addition to him.

[DocTee]

Hearing Kiner butcher Grudzy's name makes it worthwhile.

[nymr83]

at this point i dont see them getting anyone better than matsui so they might as well give it another go. i only ask that they dont stick with him the way they stuck with cairo if he doesnt play well.

[Elster88]

Is Ralph going to be back to gargle his way through another season on the Mets' new network?

[MFS62]

DocTee wrote: Hearing Kiner butcher Grudzy's name makes it worthwhile.

I always wanted to hear a Mets/ BoSox game in which Kiner had to announce a double play with Nomar Garciapara at short and Arquimedez Pozo at second.

I think Kiner's ancestry is Polish, so he might not have a tough time with Grudzelainek.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

]Hearing Kiner butcher Grudzy's name makes it worthwhile.

Keith butchers that one all the time.

]Is Ralph going to be back to gargle his way through another season on the Mets' new network?

Haven't heard. I just kinda assume at this point that Ralph can pretty much write his own (limited) ticket for as long as he wants.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think, we need to decide what we mean by average.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Apparently, the Marlins are definitely getting rid of Castillo & we're said to be interested. Forget where I read it, but the article I saw that in suggested that Anderson Hernandez would be the key component of the deal.

If he's the biggest prospect they're asking for, DO IT.

That's a great fucking deal. Castillo's been an on-base machine and we could really, really use that at the top of our lineup. Reyes can bat eighth until he figures out how to get on.

[Guest sharpie]

Reyes will never bat eighth for the Mets. If Castillo were brought aboard, then Castillo would hit second as he's done with Florida. The Mets are committed to Reyes being their leadoff hitter and Reyes seems determined to fill that slot. Minaya calls him "our leadoff hitter", Randolph dropped him down for, what, one or two games, and then reinstalled him there.

Ain't. Gonna. Happen.

[Guest Rotblatt]

]Reyes will never bat eighth for the Mets. If Castillo were brought aboard, then Castillo would hit second as he's done with Florida. The Mets are committed to Reyes being their leadoff hitter and Reyes seems determined to fill that slot. Minaya calls him "our leadoff hitter", Randolph dropped him down for, what, one or two games, and then reinstalled him there. Ain't. Gonna. Happen.

But sharpie, if Reyes & Castillo are 1-2, then where do Beltran, Manny, Delgado, Wright & Floyd all fit in? You'd have one of them hitting 7th and poor Pudge would have to bat eighth . . .

But seriously, if I were Willie, I'd drop Reyes down to eighth in a flash if I had Castillo. You're probably right, though, and Reyes isn't going anywhere, but a boy can dream, right?

[Guest sharpie]

Yes, dreaming is permitted (except about Reyes hitting anywhere but first).

[Elster88]

I had thought Castillo was declining, but he has his best year ever in OPB last year at .391 and second best year ever in OPS (only .726).

[Guest Edgy DC]

He seems to go through an extended slump every year that makes him look finished when the Mets and Marlins matchup. Four weks later they match up again and he's on fire.

[Guest heep]

Didn't Castillo have a bad leg injury last year?

How is his health?

Why trade Hernandez for Castillo? I would not advocate that trade.

Hernandez is fast, real good glove, versatile, switch hits, 22, hit over .300 last year, hitting over .300 this winter. Maybe he is a younger, healthier version of Castillo. Give him a shot.

I say, dump Matsui, platoon Kepp and Hernandez. Hernandez and Kepp, (but more so Hernandez) are ahead of Matsui defensively anyhow.

If I see Matsui botch a routine DP ball this year I will puke. Like that one against the Yanks at Shea. Deplorable at best.

[Elster88]

Gotta love those minor league and winter ball stats. So Hernandez hits over .300 in those places, and that means he is preferable to a 30 year-old career .293 hitter (.303 since 2003)?

]Hernandez is fast, real good glove, versatile, switch hits

So is Castillo

]I say, dump Matsui

How is this to be done?

]platoon Kepp and Hernandez

The idea that two minor leaguers will be successful as a platoon on the ML level because they have good minor league numbers is incredibly shaky at best, stupid at worst. But I'm not all that surprised that you are advocating this considering your reaction over the loss of Mike Jacobs, future hall of famer. I think there is an overwhelming tendency to overrate the ability of minor leaguers because they have played well for the B-Mets or Norfolk Mets. D-Wright and Reyes are the exception, not the rule.

]Hernandez and Kepp, (but more so Hernandez) are ahead of Matsui defensively anyhow.

What are you basing this on? My guess is gut feelings and anecdotal evidence. Even leaving Matsui's shaky defense aside for a moment, how many balls have you seen Hernandez and Keppinger field? Hernandez played 6 games in his major league career yet his defense is somehow obviously ahead of Matsui's (more so than Keppinger's) You must catch a lot of minor league games to know this.

]If I see Matsui botch a routine DP ball this year I will puke. Like that one against the Yanks at Shea. Deplorable at best.

*sigh*

MATSUI SUCKS!!!!!

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think dumping is a bad idea, if I'm correctly inferring that you mean to advocate Matsui's release.

There's little evidence --- and I expect that the Mets agree --- that Keppinger is better defensively than Matsui right now. I expect that the evidence is specious that either is better than him right now offensively.

]If I see Matsui botch a routine DP ball this year I will puke. Like that one against the Yanks at Shea. Deplorable at best.

This is a problem with player-hatin', we resent what we've seen, but romanticize the unseen. I imagine Keppinger botched more than his share of plays in his career and will yet, but it's been below the radar. Anderson, of course, was an offensive zero before this past season and Met fans were largely flabbergasted as to why the team traded Wilson for such a failed prospect

OE: Elster beats me to the punch, but I used "specious."

[Centerfield]

If all they're asking for is Anderson Hernandez, I can't sign fast enough.

Hell, I'll throw in Keppinger too so Buster Olney can accuse me of overpaying.

On Edit: (Link to now moot article removed)

[Frayed Knot]

Well, Castillo is now a Minnesota Twinkie, dealt for a pair of minor leaguers (didn't hear which ones).

So it's on to Plan B for you Castillo fans.

[Guest sharpie]

Here's the story

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2245065

[Centerfield]

Included in the deal was 24 year old Travis Bowyer who should compete for the role of closer. Minnesota was willing to give up pitchers. I'm glad we weren't willing to give up our's.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Wow, the Marlins are really purging quickly.

They probably want to get rid of everybody as early as possible to help with their 2006 season ticket sales.

[Elster88]

Batting eighth, the second baseman, Kazuo Mat-SU-ee.

[MFS62]

Maybe they just have limited seating on the major league lifeboats for when that ship finally sinks.

Later

[Guest sharpie]

Good deal for the Twins.

[MFS62]

Castillo should hit very well on the carpet at the Baggie-Dome.

Later

[metirish]

Playing on the carpet might not do Castillo's balky knees/ankles hammies and back any good, he has injury problems ,right?

[MFS62]

metirish wrote: Playing on the carpet might not do Castillo's balky knees/ankles hammies and back any good, he has injury problems ,right?

That's the possible down side to him.
I took the glass half full view.

Later

[Guest Rotblatt]

Great deal for the Twins. I don't think either guy was high on their depth chart and they've got plenty of minor league arms. 2B was a real problem for them last year. If they sign a competent 3B, they should be out of the cellar offensively . . . Mauer should improve and if Morneau gets his act together, they might even be an average offense. With their staff, that would make them tough to contend with.