Slappies

[A Boy Named Seo]

OK, so our two big vacancies have been filled at the cost of just Guillermo Mota and cash, but they've been filled with a couple of light-hitting, adequate defenders (adequate at best for Estrada), both slowed recently by injuries.

I don't think we can reasonably expect too much more out of Alou, Delgado, or Wright than we got in '06 '07. Maybe Beltran either. Reyes will hopefully improve. A healthy Castillo and Estrada are known quantities.

People, I think we need a bat in RF. A big one.

Edited November 20, 2007 by Guest

[metsmarathon]

fukudome?

[A Boy Named Seo]

I thought he had cold feet about coming over. Anyway, I think we might need something a little more sure.

There's not much in the FA market. During the GM meetings, the Pirates new GM put Jason Bay's name out there. He had an off year and is a left fielder by trade, but I think we could do worse. Griffey's in the last year of his contract, is due $12.5M this year, and played right field last year. Something could probably be worked out there.

[Mex17]

metsmarathon wrote: fukudome?

YES!!!!!!!!

[Mex17]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: OK, so our two big vacancies have been filled at the cost of just Guillermo Mota and cash, but they've been filled with a couple of light-hitting, adequate defenders (adequate at best for Estrada), both slowed recently by injuries. I don't think we can reasonably expect too much more out of Alou, Delgado, or Wright than we got in '06. Maybe Beltran either. Reyes will hopefully improve. A healthy Castillo and Estrada are known quantities. People, I think we need a bat in RF. A big one.

I disagree with you in that:

-Castillo and Estrada are not "light hitters". They are just not power-hitters. Castillo is perfect at #2 and Estrada is a very serviceable offensive player for #7 or #8.

-I do expect more in '08 from Alou (will play more games) and Delgado (will bounce back in year leading up to option. . .and will be more acclimated to fatherhood as opposed to last year when his son was born. . .and he was surely afflicted with the late-night feedings/diaper changes/up and down all night crap assuming the wife and/or a nanny didn't do it ALL. . . just before the season started).

[A Boy Named Seo]

Castillo and Estrada are the definition of light hitters.

Both with a sub-100 career OPS+, both sub-100+ last year (78 Estrada, 93 Castillo, 96 with us). They combined for 11 homers and 44 doubles in 990 at bats last year. That's not a lot of pop, man.

Alou was pretty fantastic in the amount of time he played. I hope he plays more, but the rate and maybe even the overall level production will be hard to top at 41.

Delgado's going to be 36. Babies and whatever else aside, the guy's in decline.

We need offense out of right field.

I'd also ask about Matt Kemp in LA, and maybe see if Andruw Jones wants to try a new position and stick it to the Braves.

[smg58]

I have more confidence in Milledge than Fukudome. He's a front-line talent and it's time for him to show us what he's got.

Not sure we can count on more games from Moises. I have to think and hope Delgado can bounce back some.

[Centerfield]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: People, I think we need a bat in RF. A big one.

That's what I've been saying.

[Guest Edgy DC]

As I type I'm playing Diamond Mind with a team of 2004 players. Johnny Estrada is handling my catching against righthanders, and, when he does, I bat him second. I do that because of his .401 2004 OBP against righties.

That wasn't a fluke. He had 337 at-bats against starboarders that year, plus 33 walks and 10 plunks.

If half that skill is still dormant in his skin, I want him.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Centerfield wrote: ="A Boy Named Seo"] People, I think we need a bat in RF. A big one. That's what I've been saying.

Then I agree with you, man.

[metirish]

Milledge is going to have a fine year in RF, will it be for the Mets?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't know why anyone would be so averse to growing a hitter. The last two we banked on turned out OK.

If he just plays at the same level as last season but stays healthy and gets into 160 games, that's 19 homers and 79 RBI. I don't say not to investigate alternatives and get some in place, but isn't that a show worth sticking around to see?

There's the odd Mike Jacobs short-tenure flurry here and there, but, among Mets with 150 or more at-bats, very few have slugged .441 at an age as young as he is.

[A Boy Named Seo]

No aversion to Lastings or growing a hitter in general, just not sure he's there yet. I'm hanging my hopes on a lot of uncertainties next year and would like one less is all, but we seem to be running out of positions to do that.

[Guest Edgy DC]

All is uncertain. And nothing sure. That's true of veterans also, and easily demonstrable with Japanese imports.

As I said, all he has to do is hit as well as last year and stay healthy, and we have a batter. If he improves --- and these kids, they tend to improve --- then we have a batter and a half.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The past has shown us that when you have four outfielders they can call get a lot of playing time.

If the Mets can bring in another outfield bat for 2008 and hang on to Milledge, it will allow Lasty to mature but also allow for some fallback and flexibility.

It's been rumored that Andruw Jones might be willing to sign a one-year contract and try free agency again next year, hopefully with a better season behind him. If he's willing to do it as a right fielder, I think it's worth looking at.

As a fourth outfielder (especially in an outfield with Moises Alou in it) Milledge should get plenty of playing time.

But if the Mets can't get a big bat to join their outfield, I'd be okay with handing the job to Lastings. By 2009 he should be fully ready (I personally think he'll be fully ready in 2008) and I think he's worth hanging on to.

[Guest attgig]

boras is saying he's not settling for a one year. and if he DOES go for a 1 year contract, there's no way he's moving to right field. Centerfielders get paid more. The only incentive for a 1 year contract is to bounce back and get back a huge contract - more possible if he's a CF.


I'm all for giving lastings 160 games this year. those projected numbers 19/79 are if he maintains last year's production. I would expect him to have matured as a hitter and hit better than 19/79. Would he hit ahead of delgado? alou?
lineup should look like
reyes
castillo
beltran
wright
Alou
Delgado
Milledge
Estrada/Castro

[Guest attgig]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The past has shown us that when you have four outfielders they can call get a lot of playing time.

I think Carlos Gomez is our 4th outfielder.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think Endy Chavez is our fourth outfielder and Marlon Anderson is our fifth. GoGo has some baseball to play if he's going to improve.

If the Mets are going to get another big bat, I'm hoping it's somebody who can swing up and play first also, so it's a case of fitting five bats in four positions, rather than four bats in three.

Cincinnati just picked up Aedam Dunn's 2008 option, upping his salary from $10,500,000 to $13,000,000. He hits 40 homers every year and strikes out at a rate that'd make Dave Kingman blush. Whatever the new steroid regime is, he's survived it without failing any tests or watching his numbers go down. He plays first, left, and right, with (last I checked) a very good outfield arm but only a fair outfield glove.

He wouldn't be cheap, and he's a free agent after this season.

[metirish]

With Minaya filling the catcher spot and keeping his prized trading chips I would think if he is going to use them it would be on a starting pitcher.

[Benjamin Grimm]

attgig wrote: ="Benjamin Grimm"]The past has shown us that when you have four outfielders they can call get a lot of playing time. I think Carlos Gomez is our 4th outfielder.

Right now I'd say Endy is the fourth, but it could become Gomez.

But my point was that if the Mets were to import another outfielder, then Lastings would become the fourth.

[seawolf17]

Isn't the Reds' management dumb, though? Maybe we can get Dunn cheaply. I'd make that deal, as much as I hate guys who strike out a lot.

[Valadius]

We could probably grab Aubrey Huff from Baltimore, but it would skeeve me out every time I saw him in a Mets uniform. We'd have to take away his porno privileges and keep him away from strip clubs.

[metirish]

seawolf17 wrote: Isn't the Reds' management dumb, though? Maybe we can get Dunn cheaply. I'd make that deal, as much as I hate guys who strike out a lot.

Used to be dumb, not now with Dusty Baker there.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I guess the Mets feel Easley is their guy already, but I'd like to see a big meat-eating burly right-handed masher to complement Delgado at first base (or get Alou some starts there and get a big bloodthirsty leftymasher to fill in at the corners).

[Valadius]

Tony Clark?

[seawolf17]

Considering his offseason, I'd bet we can get Huff really cheaply.

Still, I think I'll pass.