Touched by an Angel

[Frayed Knot]

]I think it's redundant to have both Chavez and Pagan on the same 25 man roster (whether Alou is available or not).

I think that's the main point - if not immediately (due to Alou's hernia) then eventually.

Pagan switch-hits although, like most of ours, is better from the left side. Endy brings superior defense and speed tho Pagan is reported to be good at both as well (haven't seen enough myself to know how close).
Met fans have a thing for Endy - based mostly on his unexpectedly good numbers in 2006 and one stunning catch - but need to realize that 2006 represented the exception for him rather than the norm and that he's not all that young (30 last month) so it's unlikely that we're catching him on the brink of an upswing.


Suggestions for the RH / bit o' power / corner OF-1B spot:

Marcus Thames: 31 (as of last week)
One good season (2006) -- 26 HRs in 348 ABs (.256/.333/.549)
fell off to .242/.278/.498 in 2007 (269 ABs)
Basically a good-power, High-K, low-BB type .. not sure about speed/defense.
A partial starter for Detroit, they reportedly want a lot for him.

Kevin Millar: 37 in September '08
Brings medium power, good OBP, lousy defense and "veteren leadership" (if you buy that sort of thing)
Probably available, probably wouldn't take much to fetch

Xavier Nady - 29 y/o
We all know pretty much what to expect from X. I do hope fans remember that, for all the complaints about Green's 'D' last season that X wasn't a whole lot better.
The problem - as mentioned above - is that he's a starter for the Pirates and just because WE want him as a fill-in/platoon/PH doesn't mean that's what he gets priced at. I suspect it would take *At Minimum* Heilman-plus, and the asking price would probably start at Pelfrey.

Justin Huber - 26 at mid-season
Limited ML time (100 ABs) and almost no success, but has some real good high-minors numbers (.293/.395/.520 over the last 4 seasons & 1,300+ ABs ... that's more than 40% of his hits for Xtra bases). Has played both corner OF & 1B (although reportedly not well) and could also serve as that rarely needed but occasionally useful emergency catcher that would free up Castro's bat for occasional PH duty.
He's out of options and KC seems to have a glut of corner/DH types with nowhere else to go (Teahen, Billy Butler). He might get waived (although we'd have a late shot at him if he were) or maybe a low-level prospect/reliever might be able to steal him first.

Brandon Inge: 31 in May
Another Detroit guy, got pushed out of his 3B spot by the Cabrera trade.
A GREAT glove at 3rd (not that that's our primary need), came up as a catcher (that emergency thing again) and has played all three OF spots.
.236/.312/.376 last year -- hit 27 HRs in 2006 although 16 or less every other time.
Probably doesn't want to sit as much as the role we're looking for would entail and. like Nady, would probably cost more than he might be worth to us.

[Guest AG/DC]

For now, I'm OK with any Pagan/Chavez reduncancy.

1) Angel's younger.

2) Pagan's got an option year, so he can be farmed out if he doesn't establish himself as the superior player while waiting on Alou.

3) Chavez's documented success and highlight-reel defense may make him a more attractive commodity on the trade market.

I like redundancy period.

[Guest Triple Dee]

Excellent summary, FK.

Huber is intriguing; I'd be good to see him back in the Mets system, and like you say, he's not likely to cost much.

But when I hear names like Shannon Stewart and Reed Johnson thrown around (NY Post) I get the creeps. FFS.

[Frayed Knot]

]For now, I'm OK with any Pagan/Chavez reduncancy

As am I - particularly during the Alou outage.
It's just that, for the longer term, when your bench is comprised of lefty-heavy, lowish-power OFers (Angel & Endy) plus a gaggle of 2B-types (Marlon, Damion, Anderson, Ruben) it would be nice if the only RH bat capable of putting a scare into the opposing manager wasn't the one you're most reluctant to use (Ramon).

Redundancy isn't bad, but variety has its merits too.

[Guest AG/DC]

[Guest Triple Dee]

AG/DC wrote: For now, I'm OK with any Pagan/Chavez reduncancy. 1) Angel's younger. 2) Pagan's got an option year, so he can be farmed out if he doesn't establish himself as the superior player while waiting on Alou. 3) Chavez's documented success and highlight-reel defense may make him a more attractive commodity on the trade market. I like redundancy period.

Re #(3), unfortunately I don't think there are many GM's out there who are sold by Endy-mania.

[Guest AG/DC]

It only takes one.

Well, it takes two to make a market. Let's say two.

[Theoldmole]

How do you pronounce Thames's name?

[Guest Triple Dee]

tɛmz - like the river

[Guest OlerudOwned]

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Baseball/article/349919

Back to the platoon discussion, Reed Johnson has been released by the BJs.

He was awful, but injured, last season after a pretty awesome breakout 2006. .308/.371/.462 career against lefties would fit so nicely with Church.

[DocTee]

Tiggers not dealing an OF bat now that Curtis Granderson is on the DL to start the season (broken finger)...Brandon Inge expected to start in CF