2nd Base 2011: Who do you WANT it to be? (Revisited)

[Benjamin Grimm]

I asked this same question back in September. Who do we want to see win the job as the 2011 Mets second baseman?

21 votes were cast last time, and the winner was Justin Turner with 6, followed by Murphy 5, Tejada 4, Somebody Else 3, Havens 2, and Castillo 1.

Now that we're a few weeks away from finding out, let's try this again. Remember, this thread is for who you WANT. There's another thread in which you can voice your prediction.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I went with Murphy-Emaus platoon, because I'm hoping that Emaus turns out to be something and I'd rather not see him go back to Toronto. But I'd also be quite happy with Murphy/Turner.

[Theoldmole]

I have a soft spot for Murphy.

[TransMonk]

[bmfc1]

ABC: anybody but Castillo.

[seawolf17]

We "wanted" to see Justin Turner? We're idiotic.

[Valadius]

I want it to be Ian Kinsler. I know it won't happen, but that doesn't stop me from wanting him playing second base for the Mets.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Who do I want to be the next Mets 2b-man? This one's easy, especially since I'm not emotionally attached to any of the candidates. I want the best 2b-man to be the Mets next 2b-man. I could care less whose name is attached to that title. The Mets can't go wrong by playing the best guy, even if that guy is, ahem, Luis Castillo. ([u:3ljm1rrm]See[/u:3ljm1rrm], 2010 seson).

But as soon as it becomes reasonably apparent that the Mets aren't in contention (if that should happen) then I'll go with AnybodyButCastillo, whose future is limited no matter what. Unless playing Castillo improves the Mets haul from a subsequent Castillo trade.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Who do I want to be the next Mets 2b-man? This one's easy, especially since I'm not emotionally attached to any of the candidates. I want the best 2b-man to be the Mets next 2b-man. I could care less whose name is attached to that title. The Mets can't go wrong by playing the best guy, even if that guy is, ahem, Luis Castillo. (See, 2010 seson). But as soon as it becomes reasonably apparent that the Mets aren't in contention (if that should happen) then I'll go with AnybodyButCastillo, whose future is limited no matter what. Unless playing Castillo improves the Mets haul from a subsequent Castillo trade.

This is the easy answer. You could say the same about Perez and the rotation.

Also, just because Castillo looks like the best, and puts up a .390 OBP in April, doesn't mean he shouldn't be replaced by Murphy in May either. (Or vice versa) All we're really talking about is who gets to walk out to second that first time.

[metsmarathon]

i believe murphy has the potential to be a good offensive player, and i hope that he is ready to show that this spring while also showing that he can passably field the position. because i like his upside. and i hope that he wins the job because it means that not only would the best player win teh job, but that murphy will have progressed to live up to his potential, and to my aspirations for him. also it means i get to wear my sweet green murphy t-shirsey again.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: Who do I want to be the next Mets 2b-man? This one's easy, especially since I'm not emotionally attached to any of the candidates. I want the best 2b-man to be the Mets next 2b-man. I could care less whose name is attached to that title. The Mets can't go wrong by playing the best guy, even if that guy is, ahem, Luis Castillo. (See, 2010 seson). But as soon as it becomes reasonably apparent that the Mets aren't in contention (if that should happen) then I'll go with AnybodyButCastillo, whose future is limited no matter what. Unless playing Castillo improves the Mets haul from a subsequent Castillo trade. This is the easy answer. You could say the same about Perez and the rotation.

And I probably would. Wouldn't you want Perez to get the most starts if he's the Mets best pitcher? Who says the easiest answer can't be the most sound answer? That Occam guy with the razor wouldn't.

Ceetar wrote: Also, just because Castillo looks like the best, and puts up a .390 OBP in April, doesn't mean he shouldn't be replaced by Murphy in May either. (Or vice versa) All we're really talking about is who gets to walk out to second that first time.

I didn't formulate the question. I only answered it. If Castillo isn't the Mets best 2b-man in the month of May, then I would prefer that Castillo not be the starting Mets 2b-man in the month of May. I would hope that the Mets allow themselves the open-mindedness and flexibility to make changes when it becomes obvious that second stringers are outplaying first stringers. Otherwise, Mike Jacobs would've played in every game last year just because he played most of the first few.

i don't understand the gist of your post. Are you saying that someone other than the best 2b-man should start?

[Ceetar]

Okay, but I think the _spirit_ of the question is Who do you want to be the best 2Bman? I think it's a reasonable expectation for Collins and Sandy to field the team of the best available options, at least to a degree right? I mean, this isn't Jerry we're talking about.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: Okay, but I think the _spirit_ of the question is Who do you want to be the best 2Bman?

Wouldn't your interpretation render Grimm's companion thread as either redundant or superfluous? Meaningless?

Ceetar wrote: I think it's a reasonable expectation for Collins and Sandy to field the team of the best available options, at least to a degree right?

You could start a "Who do you think is the Mets best 2b candidate" thread? That would cover all bases.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Ceetar wrote: Okay, but I think the _spirit_ of the question is Who do you want to be the best 2Bman? Wouldn't your interpretation render Grimm's companion thread as either redundant or superfluous? Meaningless? Ceetar wrote: I think it's a reasonable expectation for Collins and Sandy to field the team of the best available options, at least to a degree right? You could start a "Who do you think is the Mets best 2b candidate" thread? That would cover all bases.

No, I think who you legimately think is going to be the best 2B is different than who you want it to be.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: Okay, but I think the _spirit_ of the question is Who do you want to be the best 2Bman? I think it's a reasonable expectation for Collins and Sandy to field the team of the best available options, at least to a degree right? I mean, this isn't Jerry we're talking about.

Hey, kid ... don't give up so easy. You could've suggested that this thread, in a roundabout way, is asking us to opine as to which Met is the best candidate for 2b? If that were true, then I might've taken the easy way out because then, I essentially said that the best candidate is the best candidate.

But on the other hand, isn't asking us to name our preference for 2b the same as asking us to identify who the best candidate is? Don't we prefer the best? Chew on this for awhile. It's like looking at a mirror and seeing yourself looking at a mirror.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: Okay, but I think the _spirit_ of the question is Who do you want to be the best 2Bman? Wouldn't your interpretation render Grimm's companion thread as either redundant or superfluous? Meaningless? Ceetar wrote: I think it's a reasonable expectation for Collins and Sandy to field the team of the best available options, at least to a degree right? You could start a "Who do you think is the Mets best 2b candidate" thread? That would cover all bases. No, I think who you legimately think is going to be the best 2B is different than who you want it to be.

If you're going to support my original point, then please ignore my looking in the mirror post, which I posted before I read this post that i'm now responding to.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: If you're going to support my original point, then please ignore my looking in the mirror post, which I posted before I read this post that i'm now responding to.

no no, mirror posts all good.

I think you're no the norm. You state that you don't care what name is attached, but most people do, and therefore whoever is the best is the guy you want to be the best. I'm probably closer to this point of view, although I do like Murphy. But I like Murphy because I think he can be the best candidate, and I certainly don't want him if he's not the best. but I'd like him to be the best.

There are certainly plenty that want the best candidate that isn't Castillo.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm sorta with Batmags here, I have no horse in this race, I want the one that wins is all.

In a matter of taste I'd prefer if the player wasn't a complete butcher defensively but I don't even know of those which is best at this point.

[MFS62]

Since we can't shift into Backman Turner Overdrive, Murphy Turner will do nicely, thank you.

Later

[Guest The Second Spitter]

In a matter of taste I'd prefer if the player wasn't a complete butcher defensively but I don't even know of those which is best at this point.

I'd rank them defensively, thus:
1. Emaus
2. Turner
3. Luis
4. Muffy

Offense: 4, 1, 2, 3.

ON EDIT: I think you can start preparing the Memories of Luis Castillo thread.

[Vic Sage]

i'll take Chase Utley.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Braniel Emurph has a sizable lead in this poll.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Vic Sage wrote: i'll take Chase Utley.

I'm with Vic on this one.