2nd base - 2006

[Elster88]

Kaz, good luck in Japan next year. He'll probably hit .350.

[Guest sharpie]

Not sure if Kaz will make it through the year with the Mets. I'd rather go out and find a lefty slugger.

Valentin has become mrs. sharpie's favorite Met. It's that Latin American dictator look.

[Elster88]

I can't imagine why another team would take him. We'd probably have to cut him.

[MFS62]

Elster88 wrote: I can't imagine why another team would take him. We'd probably have to cut him.

The only team I can think of that might take him is Seattle. They are currently playing kids in the middle infield, they are owned by a Japanese Conglomerate, and have a Japanese President. And their city has a relatively large Japanese-American population. They not only have a Japanese superstar (Ichiro) but a Japanese catcher, too.
I have no idea who the Mariners have who the Mets might want.

Later

[Vic Sage]

the kids seattle has in its middle infield have been terrific. I see no reason why they'd take on Kaz' salary, merely to back them up, regardless of his race.

[Frayed Knot]

At this point, trading Kaz and simply cutting him is virtually the same thing. A trade get you almost nothing in return and will still cost you most of the remaining money (~ $5mil). Throw in the fact that Kaz has almost complete veto power over a deal and (guessing here) will likely return to Japan for next year anyway, thrying to strike a deal that satisfies all the right condition might just be more of a headache than it's worth.

[metirish]

Jon Heyamn today says the Mets are talking to the Nats about Vidro and the D-Rays about Lugo, even though he's a SS he'd fit at 2nd.

[nymr83]

me gusta Jose Vidro, hopefully Minaya does too.
i'm lukewarm on Lugo but its hard to doubt that he's an improvement over our internal options.

[seawolf17]

I don't know that Lugo gives us anything we don't already have; I see no point in trading anything for him. Vidro... if he can stay on the field, he's a nice fit.

[Zvon]

Getting Vidro would be phenominal.

[Elster88]

I'm waiting for Valentin to fall off the cliff. If we can find someone elsewhere without giving up to much, I'd be for it.

[Guest sharpie]

He's hit 25-30 homers every season when healthy. If he can do that and hit .240-.250 and play good defense out of the number 8 hole then I'm happy.

[Elster88]

I don't think he can. And his defense is poor.

[nymr83]

I'm not about to turn into a Valentin-defender, but I think with no viable everyday 2Bman you play the hot hand, and thats him atm.

[Guest sharpie]

Yeah, I know, his reputation is as a poor-fielding shortstop. I have to say, however, that he's looked pretty good at second base.

[DocTee]

With Mark Ellis out until the All Star Break, Oakland may be in the market. While they surely don't want Kaz, they may drive up the asking price for other available 2B-men.

[smg58]

Maybe the Pirates would deal Castillo or Freddy Sanchez. They're stupid, and I see no problem trying to exploit that fact.

Speaking of stupid teams, I could see the Royals parting with Grudzalainek at some point, as he's not helping them much.

Adam Kennedy's been in a lot of rumors, but surprisingly none here that I'm aware of.

The Reds always seem to have too many second basemen, so it couldn't hurt to ask about Freel or Rich Aurillia.

All that being said, I'm not in any hurry to pull the trigger on anything as long as Valentin is doing well, but there's no reason not to work the phones.

[Elster88]

I don't think that the Royals and Pirates are necessarily stupid....just poor.

[Frayed Knot]

A newspaper report out of Texas has the stRangers about to DFA D'Angelo Jiminez (they just traded for Jerry Hairston Jr.).
He's not hitting now but has had decent OBAs in the past. He's also reportedly a PiTA who isn't always given to working all that hard.

He's not someone I'd simply hand the 2nd base job over to but it's possible they'd see him as a platoon - or maybe just as a better bench player than Kazoo.

[Elster88]

]But Randolph is fine with the situation and wants to let it play out after the trade of Kaz Matsui to Colorado as Jose Valentin and Chris Woodward take over second base. "We don't have a so-called everyday second baseman," Randolph said before Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. "The guys we have out there, they put their heads together and get the job done just fine." Woodward started Sunday, but Valentin will get the majority of the playing team because the veteran has a more lethal bat and has been an everyday player most of his career. Randolph is willing to let it play itself out for now. "You don't have to anoint guys and this and that," he said. "There is no reason to do that. We can let Jose play, Chris play. I've been on many teams where it was a platoon situation or someone steps up. That's fine, as long as they get the job done."

I'm not a fan of the platoon.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I thought Platoon was pretty good.

[Guest *62]

sharpie wrote: Yeah, I know, his reputation is as a poor-fielding shortstop. I have to say, however, that he's looked pretty good at second base.

we haven't exactly been throwing Bill Mazeroski out there these past few seasons ......... he's adequate

[nymr83]

]I'm not a fan of the platoon.

why not and what is your solution?

i think the platoon, provided that whoever is "hot" gets most of the time, is a good way to fill the position while also keeping a needed bwench player fresh.

[Elster88]

Nymr83 wrote: ]I'm not a fan of the platoon. i think the platoon, provided that whoever is "hot" gets most of the time, is a good way to fill the position while also keeping a needed bwench player fresh.

What you describe is not a platoon.

[nymr83]

what i'm describing is what willie seems to be doing, he can call it whatever he wants as long as he keeps doing it

[Elster88]

That's nice.

______________________

But back to what I was saying, I am not a fan of the platoon.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I have no objection to platoons. (They're rarely seen anymore. When was the last real Mets platoon?)

Anyway, Wally Backman was pretty pathetic against left-handed pitchers. It was good to have a Tim Teufel to step in for him.

[Elster88]

In a situation like that I have less of a problem with it.

But the standard righty/lefty platoon, just because neither player is really good and because everybody "just knows" that you hit better when the ball breaks into you...that has never worked for me.

Off the top of my head the only one that I can think of is Spencer/Garcia.