Sack One

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: If Mike Jacobs' 2009 is meaningful, so is Nick Evans'. We're grabbing a logical straws here. He played himself into his situation. If he put up that .211 season last year in the Major Leagues --- which would have been a greater accomplishment --- would you be arguing on his behalf?

but he didn't.

Mike Jacobs' 2009 is meaningful, but we also have years before that to go on. Major league years. Are you really telling me you think Jacobs/Tatis is really better than Evans?

It's nitpicking. It's just a minor thing that I'd change, in part because Jacobs is a black hole of suck and Tatis, even if he's been decent off the bench for the Mets, isn't very good and even little change helps in my opinion. Maybe it's mostly a cosmetic change, but I'd rather try and fail with Evans for a week than Tatis/Jacobs. Just a personal preference. Jerry needs all the help we can get, so I'm gonna put that "try Evans" attitude out into the universe. maybe he'll hear it. :-P

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ceetar wrote: If Mike Jacobs' 2009 is meaningful, so is Nick Evans'. We're grabbing a logical straws here. He played himself into his situation. If he put up that .211 season last year in the Major Leagues --- which would have been a greater accomplishment --- would you be arguing on his behalf? but he didn't.

No, he did it in the mnors, which is embarassigly damning and argues in no way for a major league job.

Ceetar wrote: Are you really telling me you think Jacobs/Tatis is really better than Evans?

No, I don't know if this true. But there's no evidence to support it beyond this last week.

[metirish]

If Nick Evans knew that two people were arguing over him he'd be chuffed I'm sure.

[Ceetar]

He's putting the bat on ball, regardless of where, right now.

Tatis and Jacobs are creating stiff breezes, right now.

Who knows how it would translate, right now, in 2010, to major league production, but why not Evans? why not try a different temporary fix? What about Catalanotto for a game (he's even on the roster?) Shawn Bowman, who's technically a 3B but obviously blocked there? (Guess not on that one.)


I'm not even so much arguing for Nick Evans as i'm arguing for anything but Tatis/Jacobs.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, I can tell. But that's dangerous thinking, particularly on a week's evidence, and there are better options in house.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, I can tell. But that's dangerous thinking, particularly on a week's evidence, and there are better options in house.

At least I'm not one clamoring for a potentially unready Ike Davis and proclaiming him the savior. I would've had Evans on the roster over Jacobs anyway, (well, no, he was injured, but I'd have chosen Carter). Murphy is still possibly back in a week, but if he's not, and Jacobs/Tatis still really really suck..well, I definitely think you do something.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, I'm certainly with you in Carter Country.

Erie, by the way, wanted nothing to do with Evans yesterday, and he went 0-1 with three walks, and that impressive OPS went up. I imagine he'll be replacing Cevernak or maybe Pridie on the Buffalo roster soon.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Well, I'm certainly with you in Carter Country. Erie, by the way, wanted nothing to do with Evans yesterday, and he went 0-1 with three walks, and that impressive OPS went up. I imagine he'll be replacing Cevernak or maybe Pridie on the Buffalo roster soon.

I'd have to check, but I thought Evans was playing first? (Evans really has no future with this team, even if he did well, as he's at least second on the "prospect depth chart" at every position, and probably more like 5th on the chart) Figured he was in AA cause Davis is munching the wings at Duffs, err Buffalo, and Nick wouldn't get no AB.

[Guest Edgy DC]

He's playing some first right now, but even more left, while an old dude named Marshall Hubbard (see bloody numbers above) bounces between DH and first.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It's my understanding that Pridie's been playing CF in Buffalo, so if Evans is going to displace a Buff, it probably wouldn;t be Pridie.

If/when Davis hits his way out of AAA, there will be lots of room to move around again.

Who knows for sure, but I think maybe Evans lost some trust in the org with his weird start last year.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Even if you buy that Evans has a very limited ceiling-- and yeah, if you push me, I'm probably of this mindset; statistical evidence doesn't seem to be making too convincing a case to the contrary-- his floor appears to be that of a cheap-ass lefty killer. Looking at his performance in both in the minors and majors, his splits seem to indicate that he's got Matt Diaz-ishness to him, at least... my question is why the Mets weren't experimenting more with Evans-- and players like him-- instead of playing the retreads late last year.

[Guest Edgy DC]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It's my understanding that Pridie's been playing CF in Buffalo, so if Evans is going to displace a Buff, it probably wouldn;t be Pridie.

Yeah, well it's my understanding that he's a douchebag.

No, I was thinking if Pridie doesn't catch on, Fartinez or Feliciano become the centerfielder.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Who knows for sure, but I think maybe Evans lost some trust in the org with his weird start last year.

Hardly a crazy notion.

I think we all need to remember that Pagan is due to get hurt any moment now and that'll shuffle all the chairs around again.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Shawn Bowman is not an option for anything anymore:

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays added some infield depth on Wednesday, claiming third baseman Shawn Bowman off waivers from the Mets. After being acquired, Bowman was optioned to high-Class A Dunedin. Bowman, 25, appeared in 12 Spring Training games this season for New York before being designated for assignment on April 5. That eventually opened the door for Toronto to step in and claim Bowman, who is a native of New Westminster, British Columbia. Originally selected by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Bowman spent last season with Double-A Binghamton. Over 91 games, he hit .294 with nine home runs, 24 doubles and 44 RBIs. Bowman was a member of Team Canada during the '09 World Baseball Classic, but he did not appear in a game. With the additions of Bowman and Cuban shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who officially signed a four-year contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Toronto's 40-man roster is at capacity.

[metirish]

I'm supposed to be mad about that right?

Hold on while I gets angry.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

That play tonite won't win Jacobs any moe rope. Jerry has the right idea of what his role ought to be, the question is how long the team can stand hom in any other capacity.

[metirish]

GMJ will be first to go. Manuel all but dismissed him on the Wfan today admitting it was a mistake going with him.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Trying to belatedly save his roster spot, GMJ singles to lead off the 9th. Top of the order coming up.

Let's Go Mets!!!

[Guest themetfairy]

Oops - wrong thread....

[MFS62]

I'll get angry for you, Irish.
After watching him for years, I used to think that Clete Boyer was the yardstick against which all third baseman were measured defensively. The statistics at the time were limited to fielding percentage.
Clete's career Favg was (IIRC) .965.
The last two years, Bowman's was .970!!!
And the guy at Inside Pitch (the subscription service that covers the Mets minor leaguers) confirms that Bowman is that good, if not better, with the glove. His hitting had improved, and he had shown power potential.
I realize that Wright is the third baseman, but thought that at least Bowman could be decent trade material, and I'm disappointed that he had to be given a release rather than bringing something back in return.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

And what is it you think that 26 y/o career minor league corner IFers with back surgery in his history are fetching in exchanges these days? ... y'know, besides other older career minor leaguers with health issues.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Is it fair of us to boo Jacobs for simply doing what's in his nature?

[ashie62]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Is it fair of us to boo Jacobs for simply doing what's in his nature?

Probably not, but losing has a way of making it so.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Presumably, they haven't asked the guy to make substantive changes; he's walking at about the same rate as he ever has, swinging the same way he ever has, and playing defense with the same aplomb that he's ever had. And if they have, well, they've implicitly undercut those requests by taking him onto the team as is, and giving him a platoon starting slot.

If JerryRig slotted a turd in at first (batting fifth, of course, to break up the non-turd hitters), what good would yelling at the little pile of shit-- "You stink! I wish someone would get rid of you!"-- do?

[MFS62]

And what is it you think that 26 y/o career minor league corner IFers with back surgery in his history are fetching in exchanges these days? ... y'know, besides other older career minor leaguers with health issues.

Well, everyone is worth at least $100 dollars.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/John_Pregenzer

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

Carter went 4-4 yesterday.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And as Carter moves up, so does journeyman Mike Hessman and mysteryman Marshall Hubbard.

Player	Team	Age	PA	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Hessman	Buff (AAA)	32	28	.346	.400	.846	1.246
Evans	Bing (AA)	24	38	.364	.436	.758	1.193
Davis	Buff (AAA)	23	34	.346	.500	.692	1.192
Carter	Buff (AAA)	27	28	.360	.429	.760	1.189
Hubbard	Bing (AA)	28	31	.414	.452	.724	1.176
Lutz	Bing (AA)	24	33	.346	.500	.615	1.115
Jacobs	Mets	29	21	.167	.286	.389	.675
Tatis	Mets	35	21	.222	.300	.278	.578
Cervenak	Buff (AAA)	33	28	.179	.179	.179	.357
Catalanotto	Mets	36	8	.000	.000	.000	.000

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: Carter went 4-4 yesterday.

-- Homer away from the cycle, too, no less.

-- Re: the chart-- Ike's PAs, I think, bear revisiting.

-- More Mike Hessman!

[Ceetar]

Hessman's the Hank Aaron/Barry Bonds of the minor leagues isn't he?

[smg58]

I'm going to go way out on a limb and say that the good citizens of Buffalo will not complain about the Bisons' performance this year.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I'm guessing Ike's first basing, Carter's outfieldering, and Hessman's got a glove he uses somewhere, too?