On merit alone

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

If I were designing a team to win, both this year and in the future, I'd probably take Milledge north this spring (or maybe call him up in April or May, just to see that he gets off to a good start as an everyday player) . I haven't seen him pitch but once but from what I've read, Bannister seems to have pitched his way on to the team: viewed on merit, how wrong is this? I'd also go with Keppinger and Anderson Hernandez over Matsui (before he hurt himself). Anyone else who deserves to go north, to your mind?

[Vic Sage]

and by "merit", I'm assuming you mean measuring the performance of players in ST in a relatively small sample size, playing against other teams' prospects, when rookies are trying to impress and veterans (some of whom were off playing in the WBC) are just trying to get ready for the season.

or does "merit" include other things? like wishful thinking?

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

Vic Sage wrote: or does "merit" include other things? like wishful thinking?

I just mean who looks like a MLB player to you. I think this stuff should be based on all sorts of statistical measures, and projections of minor league play, etc, but there's a spot for recognizing sheer talent with your eyes, too. I think the Mets would benefit some if more players knew they were trying to keep their jobs. Not just in ST, either, although here the competition is (or should be) more open.

[Vic Sage]

i think Pelfrey is legit. I also don't want him coming north, either to sit in the pen, or to be pencilled into the rotation and be responsible for 170-200 IPs for this team this year.

I think Milledge is legit, and i wouldn't mind seeing him win the RF job over Nady or Diaz. But, given his age and tendency to hack, i also don't have a problem with him starting in AAA and, if Floyd goes down (as is his want) or if Nady and/or Diaz aren't producing, and if Millsy is showing some plate discipline in Norfork, call him up in June.

As for Bannister... I don't trust his stuff but i never could understand how Maddux got people out, either, so don't go by me. But i'd sooner he and Heilman got the 4th-5th slots than Zambrano, who can start in the pen for all i care.

I would've liked to have seen Heath Bell and Fortunato get more of a shot to make the team rather than trading SPers for guys like Sanchez and Julio, or signing guys like Bradford and Iriki, but they're here and they're going to pitch, so there's no room for those guys. I still think Bell is going to make somebody a Dan Wheeler-type setup guy at some point. I just wish it could've been us, and we could've traded any of Cameron /Seo / Benson /V.Diaz as part of a package for a better 2bman or frontline SPer.

[Guest heep]

I think Bannister AND Heilman should both be in rotation, and, if Zambrano is 1 and 4 to start the season, both Heilman and Bannister will be a mainstay in the rotation, because I think both will continue to perform.

Interesting note how Marty Noble compared Bannister to Bobby Jones, predicting Bannister could win 15 games.

Same goes for the Nady/Diaz battle, and Keppinger/Hernandez.

Keppinger and Nady are a bit more polished than there counterparts, as they have demonstrated, I would go with them.

[Elster88]

I'd like that too, though I wouldn't use W/L to judge him.