Calling All Colliers (2009 Bench)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

So looks like Easley is headed back to the Dbaggs to further his mark of failing to reach the playoffs, maybe, and Nick Punto, despite drawing some Metly interest, re-upped with the Twinkies.

The Met bench at this point, defensively:

C Castro
1B Anderson, Evans?
2B A Reyes?, Andy Green?
SS ??
3B Tatis?
LF-RF Murphy/Tatis/ Evans / Anderson / Green?
LF-CF-RF Reed

And offensively by role:
Pinch-runner: Reed, Reyes, Tatis, Anderson
LH pinch hitter: Anderson, Murphy, Reed, AReyes
RH pinch-hitter: Tatis, Castro, Evans
Need an XBH guy: Castro, Tatis/Murphy
Need a baserunner guy: Murphy/Tatis, Anderson

This is not strong, particularly if we carry 2 catchers and can't use Castro as freely as we'd like.

Latest rumors have the Mets eying Alex Cora, who can fiill that middle-infield and 3B role better than anyone we currently have, but he can't hit nearly as well as Easley did: His bat is Cairoian. Anderson IMO can't be relied upon offensively or defensively for much longer, so a better LH pinch-hitter who's an XBH threat would ceertainly be a help.

I don't think A Reyes has any use. Green is a longshot. Reed is the only guy who can fake it in CF, so I think he gets every chance. I have no idea why the Mets aren't handing a blank check to Jerry Hairtston Jr. or even Ray Durham, who's limited defensively but switch hits about equally well over his career (slight edge as LH, a bonus for us) and is a good athlete and durable and a former White Sock under Manuel to boot.

Your thoughts on the 209 Bench

[MFS62]

Anderson will contribute as much as eother of the Rule V guys they just selected.

Why is he still on any major league roster?

As Dick Young once said about a player "On one hand, he can't hit. On the other hand, he can't field either".*

Later

* = you get five figlickies with oak leaf cluster if you can name the player.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Because it's December and there's a big bunch of empty roster slots.

[Guest sharpie]

Durham would be the one to get. He might prevail over Castillo for a starting role which would then still leave us short of an extra-base threat offa the bench.

[metirish]

Bucket heart Durham , or used to anyway.

[Gwreck]

With Castro, Murphy/Tatis and Reed presumably locked into roles, we are left with a need for a middle infielder. Anderson, whether I like it or not, probably stays.

I'd really like the Mets to sign a player who is capable of playing shortstop, if only for the reason that Omar wouldn't be tempted/feel the need to put Argenis Reyes on the roster.

Some FA options:
Felipe Lopez (didn't he lose his full-time job when he got traded to St. Louis from Washington?)
Juan Uribe
Mark Grudzielanek

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Note that the bench looks a *lot* stronger if the Mets acquire a full-time left fielder and push both Murphy/Castillo and Tatis to the bench.

[smg58]

Tatis and Murphy should cover us at third, even if we do get Cora.

Marlon is already paid for, so there's no reason (barring a trade) not to give him a shot of making the team. He has not earned the right to get a spot over somebody who outperforms him in spring, though.

Castillo had a worse plus/minus (from the Fielding Bible) than Durham last year, over fewer innings. Not that Durham was any good with the glove, but he won't hurt us relative to Castillo and would be an obvious offensive upgrade.

I doubt Hairston can duplicate last year's numbers, but he's an asset even if he comes within shouting distance. And he's more or less average with the glove wherever you put him.

I'd like to see Argenis spend a year at AAA, hone his hitting skills and get some work at shortstop. He didn't hit a lick in the majors last year, but he has time to improve.

[Guest attgig]

my sig...

[Guest sharpie]

Felipe Lopez has signed or is about to sign with Arizona.

[Guest Edgy DC]

="attgig":29agdrt7]my sig... _________________ cut Marlon Anderson[/quote:29agdrt7] Unworthy of the late Ron Herbel.