Mets Offense

[Vic Sage]

Right now, here's how we rank in the NL by OPS, based on last season's production, at each position:

C = Schneider 14/16 (.661) [LoDuca = 11/16 .689]
1b = Delgado 14/16 (.781)
2b = Castillo 12/16 (.742)
36 = Wright 4/16 (.963)
SS = Reyes 8/16 (.775)
LF = Alou 4/16 (.916) [Chavez = 15/16 .705]
CF = Beltran 3/16 (.878)
RF = Church 6/16 (.813) [Green = 11/16 .782][Milledge = .787]

We're now giving up on offense from catcher, we've got a seriously declining 1b, oft-injured players at 2b and LF, and a platoon player in RF.

Unless other moves are in the offing, it will once again be Reyes, Beltran and Wright, and then say "goodnight".

I think we're in trouble, without even discussing the pitching woes.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Bingo.

We could fix the rotation and the bullpen just fine and still look like longshots for the division. I mean, we need the Real Carlos Delgado back or we're toast.

[metsmarathon]

does the situation improve if we look at OPS+? i mean, prolly not by much, but it could make for an ever so slightly rosier picture.

[Guest Edgy DC]

That'd help. It'd also help by looking at performance over time, as WRight and Reyes rank higher because they did it every damn day.

Then you penalize yourself in left and right. And second also, somewhat.

[Centerfield]

Delgado really killed us last year. I can't believe we have to put up with another year of that.

[nymr83]

metsmarathon wrote: does the situation improve if we look at OPS+? i mean, prolly not by much, but it could make for an ever so slightly rosier picture.

yeah, we do play in the NL's 2nd or 3rd best pitchers park after all

[TransMonk]

metsmarathon wrote: does the situation improve if we look at OPS+? i mean, prolly not by much, but it could make for an ever so slightly rosier picture.

C Schneider 12/16 (77) (Loduca 10/16, 80...Estrada 11/16, 78)
1B Degado 13/16 (103)
2B Castillo 11/16 (96)
SS Reyes 6/16 (103)
3B Wright 3/16 (150)
CF Beltran 3/16 (126)
LF Alou 3/16 (138)
RF Church 6/16 (114) (Green 9/16, 104...Milledge 105)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ya know, the Pirates are ready to trade or nontender Xavier Nady. He'd be an awful nice platooner with Church and could also fill in when Alou gets hurt and Delgado suxxx.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I thought about Nady, too, and thought if we were going to that route, just give them Church and a Jason Vargas-type starter for Jason Bay, who's the same age as Nady (29 in '08), relatively cheap for us($5.75M), and a better bet to give us solid production.

They're rumored to be interested in a Bay for Shoppach/Cliff Lee trade, and if a catcher has to be included, give them Church (cheap, productive, under control for a few years), a similar cheap, young, under control Vargas-y pitcher, and Estrada and $2 mils to pay his salary.

Bam.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Nady will likely come easier than that. Like I said they would prefer to can him rather than pay an arbitrated salary -- they also have outfield depth.

Chuch (120 sOPS+ vs. RHP) + Nady (105 sOPS+ vs. LHP) = Pretty good player

[smg58]

Centerfield wrote: Delgado really killed us last year. I can't believe we have to put up with another year of that.

He wouldn't be the first player to bounce back off a bad year. Remember the year Mike Lowell had in 2005? Or Jim Thome for that matter? Granted Delgado will be 36, but that's not so old for a first baseman that he couldn't regain his form. He's not somebody I'd consider dead weight yet, although if somebody else wants to the roll the dice on him enough to give us somebody useful (remember the Phillies got Rowand in the Thome deal), I'd have to listen.

[Vic Sage]

smg58 wrote: ="Centerfield"]Delgado really killed us last year. I can't believe we have to put up with another year of that. He wouldn't be the first player to bounce back off a bad year. Remember the year Mike Lowell had in 2005? Or Jim Thome for that matter? Granted Delgado will be 36, but that's not so old for a first baseman that he couldn't regain his form. He's not somebody I'd consider dead weight yet, although if somebody else wants to the roll the dice on him enough to give us somebody useful (remember the Phillies got Rowand in the Thome deal), I'd have to listen.

Lowell's upturn is due, in large part, to Fenway. He was a pretty mediocre player last year on the road.

Thome had 1 injury-plagued year and has been healthy the last 2, putting up similarly solid numbers

The problem with Delgado is not just age. He showed slippage in 06, hitting .265, with sub-career numbers across the board, after hitting .300 the year before (and .280 lifetime). This year continued the trend, hitting in the same subpar range, with even less power. I think he's losing bat speed, and you don't bounce back from that.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

From what i saw of Delgado at the plate last season, I would agree with Vic's assessment that he appears to have lost bat speed. Personally, I expect his production to get worse, rather than better, in 2008. I certainly hope that I am wrong.

[Farmer Ted]

Delgado will bounce back. He had the pre-season surgery on his wrists which prolly weren't fully healed and his wife gave birth at the beginning of the season. Injured with no sleep. Not a good thing. His numbers will jump.

[Valadius]

I hope Delgado bounces back.

On a cool personal note, Delgado used to be (and possibly still is) my uncle's next door neighbor in Florida. My aunt's brother designed his house. I'm not sure if he moved after he was traded from the Marlins to the Mets.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't know what happens with Delgado. I'm surprised at Centerfield's certainty, though.

Is there something about playing in fantasy leagues that makes folks look at last season as increasingly meaningful, because this season is almost all you play for in these leagues? Just asking.

[Guest iramets]

Farmer Ted wrote: Delgado will bounce back. He had the pre-season surgery on his wrists which prolly weren't fully healed and his wife gave birth at the beginning of the season. Injured with no sleep. Not a good thing. His numbers will jump.

Oh, help me, Rhonda. Feeblest excuse of the month. Do you really need a list of MVPs whose wives gave birth during their peak season? Imagine how good their MVP seasons would have been if only they hadn't been awakened by a crying baby, even on the road.

[Centerfield]

You know, after my son was born, I couldn't hit for shit.

[Farmer Ted]

15 dingers on the road vs. 9 at home. 22 doubles on the road, 8 at home. After my daughter was born, my best sleep came when I was traveling for work. It was just a stretch theory, Rhonda.

[metirish]

Centerfield wrote: You know, after my son was born, I couldn't hit for shit.

Not for nothing but my back has been barking these past few days.

[smg58]

Well hey, if Andruw Jones can get an annual salary of $18M after last year, there's no reason to assume that Delgado is valueless.

I do think Farmer Ted has a point concerning the wrist surgery.