Bring me a LH pinch-hitter

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

As much as we've given it up for Endy, and as surprisingly strong as Valentin's been as an everydayer, this team badly needs a left-handed hitter with a little bit of credibility. The lack of such was glaring last night, when with two outs, two on, David F. Weathers scuffling, the Reds bullpen already taxed and the game tied, we had to go to Endy, who hit into a force play.

I want the potential for additional mayhem in such situations. Make Narron consider burning another pitcher. Put up a guy who could lift one into the jetstream.

It would be nice if said LH-hitter could also play a few positions, as the dude he'd replace would likely be Marerro.

I think the other option would be to go get a second baseman and return Valentin to the role, but I don't see that playing karmawise unless it's a true upgrade.

*cough* look at what Ray Durham is doing *cough*

Of the LH-hitters in AAA only Tucker is doing anything respectable, and you gotta figure the pretenderinos will start unloading guys eventually. I suppose a better RH hitter than Marerro would also be preferable (Craig Wilson?) but I dunno.

Go find me some guys.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, it's not about Endy to me, but, yeah, I wanted a guy there who could tie up the game with one swing, rather than needing two (or more) hits to tie.

[seawolf17]

Darryl out of jail yet? Now there's some lefty pop.

[metirish]

Tony Clark would fit the bill except he's on the DL.

[Guest Iubitul]

="seawolf17"]Darryl out of jail yet? Now there's some lefty pop.

Darryl is not in jail - Doc is in jail...

[metirish]

It would have been nice to have Marlon Anderson for such situations....

[Guest Iubitul]

Somebody get a time machine, and bring me Rusty.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Marlon doesn't have the extra-base pop I'm looking for.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Browsing for options:

Daryle Ward, 1B/OF, Washington Nationals.
.295/.383/.564 in 78 AB. Has some pop, with 5 HR and 15 RBI.

I have to go somewhere and can't finish typing, oops.

[metirish]

What about Buck ONeill, is he a leftie?

[seawolf17]

How about a right-handed PH?

(I'm kidding.)

[metirish]

I would not be a bit surprised ir Omar signed him.

[MFS62]

Wasn't Omar the one who first scouted/ signed Sammy?

Would he give Sammy a looksee?
Stranger things have happened.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

NITZ 3!!!!

[Vic Sage]

looks like Endy did just fine today.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Ok, I'm back. More options.

Jeff DaVanon, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
He's a switch hitter, but has done most of his damage on the left side of the plate (.299/.369/.453). He's got 4 homers and 30 RBI split between starting and the bench. If Arizona decides to sell off spare parts in order to build a true contender in the near future (good idea) instead of going for broke, trying to win an ass division, and get beatdown in the NLDS (bad idea), he could become available.


Todd Hollandsworth, OF, Cleveland Indians
He'd probably be the easiest to aquire, partially because the Indians are out of the race and partially because he kind of sucks. .246/.259/.478 with 6 HR, 12 doubles, and 26 RBI.


Russel Branyan, OF/3B, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
He's got power (10 HR) but that's about all. .198/.288/.496


Travis Lee, 1B, Tampa Bay Devil Rays



Matt Stairs, OF/1B, Kansas City Royals
I seriously didn't know he still played baseball for a living. Not having an awful season, either.
.268/.354/.453 with 8 HR and 31 RBI, and is probably pretty cheap.


Todd Walker, 2B, Chicago Cubs
Intriguing. He can be valuable if Valentin finally slows down (which is looking less and less likely every day the way he's going, knock on wood), and plays for a crappy team.
.287/.357/.396 with 5 HR and 37 RBI is nothing to sneeze at for a second-sacker, but I don't think he'd be happy on the pine.

[Guest Edgy DC]

DaVanon and Stairs have isolated slugging percentages that I imagine won't translate well outside of their hitter-friendly home parks.

Hollandsworth and Branyan shake my maracas a little more.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050224/050224_bonds_vmed_7p.widec.jpg

[Guest OlerudOwned]

="Edgy DC"]DaVanon and Stairs have isolated slugging percentages that I imagine won't translate well outside of their hitter-friendly home parks. Hollandsworth and Branyan shake my maracas a little more.

To be fair to DaVanon, he has a higher ISO on the road (.186 to .108), but he not much of a power hitter and would be kind of worthless with Chavez already on the club.

Hollandsworth seems like a decent option, but the low OBP combined with the fact that he never really was a power hitter throws me a bit.

I agree about Branyan though. He's hit for very good power and may have had some bad luck concerning his average:

[Guest heep]

There is always Michael Tucker in Norfolk.

[Elster88]

]Joe Mikulik and Calvinball

Calvinball is my favorite game.

[Theoldmole]

Looks like Endy might not be the worst choice after all.

[metirish]

This is hardly what you are looking for.....

] Mets talking to Sierra The Mets have been in contact with free-agent Ruben Sierra, and it's possible that the 40-year-old could join the team when rosters expand to 40 in September. Currently, Sierra's comeback is on hold as he tends to his ailing mother, but the two sides plan to talk if Sierra decides to return to action this season. Before his mother's health problems, Sierra and the Mets discussed a program in which Sierra would spend a few days in Port St. Lucie, then a couple of weeks with Triple-A Norfolk before joining the big-league club Sept. 1. Even if Sierra joins the organization at the minor-league level by Aug. 31, he will be eligible (as an injury replacement) for the team's postseason roster. Sierra, a two-time former Yankee, hit .179 with no homers and four RBIs in 14 games for the Twins this season. He missed six weeks because of a ruptured left biceps tendon. The Twins released him July 10.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spmnotes064842769aug06,0,2022569.story?coll=ny-sports-print

[seawolf17]

Hey, you want a bopper, he can bop. I don't know if I'd waste the roster spot, but after September 1, why not?

[metirish]

True ,plus he'd bring that winning yankee attitude.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

After September 1, why not indeed?

But after October 1 is a different story. If they sign him, it would surely be with the playofffs in mind.

[Elster88]

How does the cutoff date work for playoff rosters? Does a guy have to be on the roster by a certain date to be eligible to play in the playoffs?

Also, would adding Sierra (or whoever) mean someone has to get bumped from the 40? And if so, what would be the risk of that? Does the bumpee have to clear waivers?

[Guest Edgy DC]

When you remove a guy from the roster, yeah, he gets exposed to a waiver claim by a team willing to put him on their roster.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

A player has to be on the active (25-man) roster by August 31. But there's a loophole there (that MFS62 can probably better explain) that allows players added later to make the postseason roster if they're replacing a guy on the DL.

So the Mets could sign Sierra on September 1, and then put him on the playoff roster as a replacement for Sanchez.

[Frayed Knot]

]So the Mets could sign Sierra on September 1, and then put him on the playoff roster as a replacement for Sanchez.

No, because Sierra would not have been in the NYM organization on Aug 31st.
That injury loophole allows a player who was non-active (but in your system) to substitute for an injured player on the post-season roster.
Victor Diaz, for instance, could sub in for Sanchez even if brought up after Sept 1.