The Beltran Situation: What Next?

[Ceetar]

soupcan wrote: It just means he'll be back 2-3 weeks later than we originally thought. Lousy, but I'm not jumping off any bridges...yet. I am hoping this doesn't become a Reyes situation like last year, where they keep telling us 'oh just a few more weeks' and then he's out all year.

At least. Of course, they didn't exactly say why. I know i'm no doctor, but what was the measurement/analysis? scar tissue in the knee? what sort of tests? does it look to be 'almost' healed? So really there is no timeline or date yet.

Did the Mets really announce the setback with the words "making progress"?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm preparing myself to go forward without him. Pagan's the centerfielder, and Martinez's job is to try and take Gary Matthews' job away.

[ashie62]

You go with what you have. I have mentally pegged Pagan as the 2010 CF so i don't have to be invested in the trial and tribulations of Beltran's knee.

[TransMonk]

I'm fine with Pagan in center.

My problem is the only backup in the organization to Angel is GMJ. Pagan hasn't been the healthiest player in Mets history. If F-Mart can't play center and Beltran's not coming back anytime soon, we need a better back up than GMJ.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think it's true that Martinez's best position isn't center. I don't think it's true that he can't play center.

Neither Bay, Francoeur, Matthews, nor Martinez would likely be seen as a defensive asset in center, but I think enough faking it can go around to justify playing any of them once a week. If not, we end up hoping Pridie or Feliciano have enough stick to play there once a week.

The key, of course, is Pagan not getting hurt.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: I think it's true that Martinez's best position isn't center. I don't think it's true that he can't play center.

I've always took "The Mets see him as a corner outfielder" to mean that they're expecting Beltran to be in Center, and they see Fernando's place on the team being in right.

[metirish]

Pagan hitting third is the new thing now that Reyes has given his disapproval to the idea of him doing it. Lennon has Manuel all but admitting that Reyes batting third is now on the dung pile , Pagan ,Wright and Bay as the 3,4 and 5 guys.

[Guest Edgy DC]

He's young. If his wheels are healthy, I can't see any reason why not. Not a lot of teams have likely lost pennants because their backup centerfielder wasn't an a defensive asset. Darryl back up Mookie back in 1984 and even 1985. Carl Yastrzemski backed up Fred Lynn on the 1978 Sawx.

[TransMonk]

An average NL CFer in 2009 put up: .268/.339/.424/.762, 16 HR, 68 RBI

I think Pagan can match or exceed those numbers as a full time player. Francoeur will need to pick up some of the Beltran lost power, which isn't impossible.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

TransMonk wrote: An average NL CFer in 2009 put up: .268/.339/.424/.762, 16 HR, 68 RBI I think Pagan can match or exceed those numbers as a full time player. Francoeur will need to pick up some of the Beltran lost power, which isn't impossible.

Yabbut, an average NL CFer circa 2009 put up numbers well beyond French's .280/.309/.423/.732 (much less RFers, who averaged .277/.363/.466/.829).

Assuming Delgado-Bay is a push (approximately) the onus is on the Ikes and Rods of the lineup to replace the lost power.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't want to tell him and maybe make him shakey, but there is quite the onus on young Ike.

For what it's worth, he's already tops great ranking of Mets Named Ike.

[*:1fh7oo7t]Davis, 2010[/*:m:1fh7oo7t]
[*:1fh7oo7t]Hampton, 1974[/*:m:1fh7oo7t][/list:o:1fh7oo7t]