Shake Up the Mets

[Guest AG/DC]

="duan"]ok first off, I'm not totally freaked yet. The team has had some bad luck with injuries and has thrown away some games that it should have won.

Well, some of the injury luck has to be expected. Marty Noble suggested that they couldn't have counted on Hernandz, Martinez, and Alou for more than one full season among them. I'm not sure that's fair, but his point is solid.

="duan"]I also want Castillo out of the 2 hole while he's hitting into double plays at a fantastic rate (9 so far this season - go Luis!)

Maddening, isn't it? His motion is designed to explode out of the box with the swing and not hit into them thingies, but sometimes his hands almost seem like he's aiming to hit it right at the shortstop on three hops.

OE: it seems to say as much about Randolph the manager as Randolph the man. He's more focused on saving the player than saving himself.

[Frayed Knot]

- It's certainly getting close to jettison time for Delgado. Even if you don't want to get that rash, Evans as a platoon is OK although it's better to wait until he's not needed in the OF. IOW, wait for at least one of Pagan, Alou or Anderson to get back.

- For all the bitching about Castillo, he's getting on base at a .360+ clip after a slow start a level where he's been almost absurdly consistent for his career. Plus, all the logical other choices for 2B are either old, injured, bad fielders, worse hitters, or some combination of all of the above (Anderson, Easley, Andy Handy).
How 'bout hitting him leadoff and switching Reyes to #2? He's not only getting on better than Reyes but stealing better too and not getting picked off. Removes bunting temptations as well except for base hits.

- Play Castro more. Not full time, but how 'bout twice a week. If he fails to stay healthy again well then try something else.
We face a couple of LHPs this week.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Frayed Knot wrote: How 'bout hitting him leadoff and switching Reyes to #2? He's not only getting on better than Reyes but stealing better too and not getting picked off. Removes bunting temptations as well except for base hits.

Wow. What an excellent idea. Plus Reyes' offense, such as it is, is comprised of less walks and more slugging, so Castillo would get moved around the bases with greater efficiency batting before Reyes. I don't have much confidence in Castillo anymore but I have to admit, grudgingly, that he's getting on base at a very respectable rate this season. That Castillo's OBP is more walking than hitting strengthens the case for Castillo as lead-off hitter. I would imagine that this is all as unlikely as sticking Carter and Randolph together into the same potato sack, though. Randolph probably thinks that Reyes' stolen bases matter more than all of this and wouldn't want some runner, ahem, "clogging it up" for Reyes.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Frayed Knot wrote: Play Castro more.

I still don't fully understand why Castro doesn't play more. Not just this year, but last year. I assume that he's somewhat fragile and is physically incapable of taking on such a load based on his injury history, but don't specifically recall ever reading this.

[Guest AG/DC]

He keeps getting hurt.

[batmagadanleadoff]

AG/DC wrote: He keeps getting hurt.

If he never plays, he'll never get hurt. Or maybe Billy Wagner could remind Castro to stop getting hurt.

[Guest AG/DC]

He's been on the disabled list. That's why he hasn't played more in previous years.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I know all about the DL. I even referred to his injury history. But even when he's not injured, he's a once every week and a half starter.

[Guest AG/DC]

No, that hasn't always been true.

[batmagadanleadoff]

AG/DC wrote: No, that hasn't always been true.

You're so much like Iramets.

[Guest holychicken]

I know how to shake 'em up. Take all of their families hostage and threaten their lives if they don't start playing well. That will shake em up REAL good.

[Guest AG/DC]

Hey, batmagadan. How many people's must-ignore list are you trying to get on?

[Centerfield]

If I can't fire the manager, then I would come out and offer my full support and tell everyone that he's going to be here at least until the end of the season.

Then maybe everyone can fucking relax.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree. Either fire him or stand solidly behind him.

This extended twisting-in-the-wind thing isn't good for anybody but the sportswriters.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I agree. Either fire him or stand solidly behind him. This extended twisting-in-the-wind thing isn't good for anybody but the sportswriters.

Bingo. The problem now is that no matter what happens, it's all going to go through the perspective on how it affects Willie. Once the sharks start to circle, they don't go away unless there is some massive undeniable reversal.

Just about every story from here on out will contain the phrase, "Randolph, who has been on the hot seat," or some variation.

Except for stories by Tom Verducci, who will have something like: "Randolph, who must be tired of tarnishing his Yankee greatness by sticking with the Mets...."

[metirish]

What's the breaking point here , ten games out of first?

I think with the meeting and conference yesterday the Wilpon's have put the onus back on wins and losses and now if and when they fire Randolph it can be about that and only that and nothing about race.

They've talked about the comments and it's now time to get back to baseball.

I think he will be gone by the end of the Dodgers series.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Adam Rubin sez carlos Munoiz has been recalled from AAA, but he doesn;t yet know whose getting disabled or demoted or released to make room. The big shakeup is on!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Heilman probably ought to go down, but that would suck for him coming off two good innings yesterday.

Sanchez and Wise are the other most likely candidates for demotion.

[metirish]

Do we need three catchers?

[seawolf17]

Blow 'em up and start over.

Cut Delgado and his contract; same with Matt Wise, Damion Easley, Marlon, and Endy Chavez. Old? Underperforming? Both? See ya.

Get a working part for Heilman? Thanks, Aaron. We'll miss you.

Get Anderson Hernandez, who will never be a major league hitter, off the 40. Clear up some room for some of these young guys, bring 'em up, and let 'em play. If this team is going to lose -- and they're going to lose -- I'd rather the young guys take their lumps. Bring up F-Mart, and Willie Collazo, and Val Pascucci, and Mike Carp, and Jonathan Niese, and give 'em ABs and innings.

You want to bring up Valentin to mentor the young guys? I'm down with that, and in a pinch, he plays just about anywhere you need him to.

Get a hungry young manager in there who's going to kick these guys in the ass and turn this thing around. Now.

[metirish]

" That's a lot of meat seawolf"

[seawolf17]

But seriously, how fucking great would that be? I know it's a computer baseball/fantasy baseball move that would never work in real life because of the personalities involved, and it's obviously not my $130+ million that I'm playing with, but that'd be fucking outstanding.

I'd go on Saturday and cheer my balls off if Jonathan Niese started and Fernando Martinez was in right field.

[Benjamin Grimm]

seawolf17 wrote: Blow 'em up and start over.

That option will never be on the table. Any shake-up would be to help them win in 2008.

And if they don't win in 2008, the focus will be on winning in 2009.

[Guest themetfairy]

Centerfield wrote: If I can't fire the manager, then I would come out and offer my full support and tell everyone that he's going to be here at least until the end of the season. Then maybe everyone can fucking relax.

Yes - what the team needs is for the issue to be settled, one way or the other.

[metirish]

But of course that was never going to be said , Willie is a dead man walking and any two or three game losing streak could be it for him.

[seawolf17]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: ="seawolf17"]Blow 'em up and start over. That option will never be on the table. Any shake-up would be to help them win in 2008. And if they don't win in 2008, the focus will be on winning in 2009.

Obviously. But if the Wilpons called and asked for my advice, that's what I'd tell them.

[Guest AG/DC]

You'd call up a 19-year-old with a .721 OPS as a AA outfielder?

Seems like a scorched-earth policy that can lead to some collateral damage, if I can slightly mix metaphors.

[seawolf17]

Yes, I would. Could this team be any more boring and lethargic? You have a bunch of 35-year-old dead bodies jogging around the field. Get some young guys in there who can play. If not Martinez -- and maybe he's not ready yet, and maybe they want to keep him off the 40 until they have to put him on there -- then at least guys who have a pulse.

Yes, it would cost money, but you're spending that money anyway. Delgado's money is paid, whether he's in the blue and orange and black and gray the rest of the season or not.

[Guest AG/DC]

Well, underpermers include David Wright and Carlos Beltran and every hitter not nicknamed "Churchie." You're obviously not going to release or trade them, but where's the line and why?

Does anybody believe any more that rushing a player can hurt him? Fernando Martinez has been the youngest guy at every level he's been at, starred at none, and has an isolated on-base percentage of .034. The Mets have enough guys who aren't walking.

Milledge was pushed and Gomez was pushed. I think we need to lay off a little and occasionally work with these guys where they are.

[seawolf17]

Okay, so leave him there. There are financial aspects of putting him on the 40 that might not matter.

You can still get rid of the other guys. Hell, call the Ducks and get Pete Rose Jr or Joe Valentine; I'd rather have either of them than Marlon Anderson or Matt Wise.