You're cut

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Stinson
Stoner
Alvarez
Lujan
Rodriguez
Lutz
Valdespin
Fartinez
Tejada
Niewenhuis
Gronauer

[Benjamin Grimm]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Rodriguez

Not Frankie, surely?

No real surprises there. If Beltran ends up on the DL to start the season, Martinez may end up getting un-cut, but I suspect he won't. Duda appears to be higher on the depth chart, at least for now.

[MFS62]

All (or most) of those guys look like the kinds of players who are being sent down early so they can get lots of work in the minor league camp. These aren't the types of veterans with no chance of making the club who are still in PSL to flesh out rosters for ST games.
Let's not forget, Lujan was leading the team in wins so far this spring. (j/k)

Later

[metirish]

I expect Tejada will be back up before long.

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: I expect Tejada will be back up before long.

I wouldn't be surprised if he _never_ has a Mets uniform on again actually.

Tejada and Valdespin are no surprises, had to send down the two faux 2B guys so they can make AB there for the real competitors.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, I think the Mets have real problems if they call on Tejada again any time soon. They have a ton of better hitters and they have guys just as versatile as him in Hu and Hernandez. Hu's at least as good a fielder. Ruben's been rushed and needs to catch up.

Rodriguez is Armando.

[metirish]

Obviously I know absolutely nothing.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, I think the Mets have real problems if they call on Tejada again any time soon. They have a ton of better hitters and they have guys just as versatile as him in Hu and Hernandez. Hu's at least as good a fielder. Ruben's been rushed and needs to catch up. Rodriguez is Armando.

I don't feel like grabbing the link, but there's pictures of Spring Training on the Real Dirty Mets Blog today, and one of them is the back of Rodriguez's helmet where his name sticker is attached. it reads "A-Rod"


I think Tejada is ripe to be traded. The Mets are going to play him at SS (of course, you could read into this as the Mets cutting payroll to 70million and planning on using a guy that can't hit there for the next 10 years) in Buffalo which suggests they don't have any real plans for him this year. It seems like they haev other guys they like better too, so he could easily be moved. The way the 40man is stuffed, I suspect we're going to see a bunch of trades anyway.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, I don't think the evidence yet suggests that he can't hit. More that he isn't ready to hit at the big-league level. He's a baby.

I don't think the Mets are about to trade anybody making chump change, unless --- like Evans --- lack of options prompts them to.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Well, I don't think the evidence yet suggests that he can't hit. More that he isn't ready to hit at the big-league level. He's a baby. I don't think the Mets are about to trade anybody making chump change, unless --- like Evans --- lack of options prompts them to.

Oh, i'm just speculating. I didn't mean right now, I meant in July, or even in the offseason as they rejigger their roster for next year. Finances aside, the team is still going to exist and need to manage a 40man roster. They've seemingly got a lot of these A Rodriguezes on there and you have to think they're going to need to empty it out a little bit at one point as other guys join the organization or rise through the ranks. (Just like Tampa drafting a billion guys this season is a good reason to keep an eye on their farm in a couple of years, as talented guys that they won't be able to protect become avail in rule5)

he can't hit yet was my point, he's done nothing to prove he is a heir to any position, but playing him at SS increases his value some.

[smg58]

Valdespin was the only 2B option showing signs of life with the bat, so I'm a little surprised by that. I'm glad he and Gronauer got to out with a bang.

The verdict is very much still out on Tejada. He came up very young and with no AAA experience last year, so judging him on that is unfair. It's not like Hu has fared any better at this level, and he's 27 while Tejada's 21.

I guess it was always their plan to send Martinez to minor-league camp at this point, but we may see him again sooner rather than later if Beltran can't stay healthy. And that might actually be a good thing.

[Ceetar]

smg58 wrote: Valdespin was the only 2B option showing signs of life with the bat, so I'm a little surprised by that. I'm glad he and Gronauer got to out with a bang. The verdict is very much still out on Tejada. He came up very young and with no AAA experience last year, so judging him on that is unfair. It's not like Hu has fared any better at this level, and he's 27 while Tejada's 21. I guess it was always their plan to send Martinez to minor-league camp at this point, but we may see him again sooner rather than later if Beltran can't stay healthy. And that might actually be a good thing.

Valdespin apparently _never_ walks. And he's only played a dozen or two games above A. He's not ready. Did like what I saw though.

Hu's a defensive backup now, Tejada is still likely to improve.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Murphy hasn't been wretched with the bat, exactly (.273/.300/.415, or thereabouts)... but Valdespin has surprised.

By my count, this means the bullpen battle's down to (in rough order of security):

F. Rodriguez
Parnell
Carrasco
Buchholz
Acosta
Beato
Isringhausen
Misch (L)
Byrdak (L)
O'Connor (L)
Tankersley (L)
Bonser
Boyer
Gee

[Guest Edgy DC]

smg58 wrote: Valdespin was the only 2B option showing signs of life with the bat, so I'm a little surprised by that.

Murphy has gone .276 / .300 / .414 // .714 --- not great but hardly lifeless.

Hu has been lovely at .300 / .417 / 400 // .817.

Harris is a reveleation at .273 / .385 / .545 // .930.

Adams hasn't been without a big moment at .222 / .263 / .444 // .707.

Tejada has been a tastey dish (if lo-cal) at .313 / .333 / .313 // .646.

Castillo is still looking for his stroke, and Turner and Emaus too. But it's oily.

The surprise here for me is F-Mart, especially with Beltran hobblin'.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, Martinez's demotion shows that, at least at the moment, Duda is ahead of him in the Beltran replacement derby.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Despite hitting the snot out of the ball.

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Yeah, Martinez's demotion shows that, at least at the moment, Duda is ahead of him in the Beltran replacement derby.

Yes, but we don't know if that derby is a 4th (or 5th) OF derby, or a week of fulltime derby or possible 'hope he can win ROY' derby.

Might very well be the first, and Duda and Evans types are more polished for a more part time role.

[smg58]

Has Harris gotten any time at 2B yet? He's probably a better fielder there than a few of the guys we're trying.

Igarashi's still in the bullpen mix, and (technically at least) Ollie is as well.

My money is on Acosta, Byrdak, and Isringhausen making the last three spots. I do think Beato has upside, but he has more walks than strikeouts and that's concerning. Acosta had a 2.95 ERA last year and has certainly done nothing to lose a spot. Byrdak appeared to be the front-runner for the LOOGY role going in, and he's also done nothing to lose his spot. In a perfect world, we can find sufficient compensation for the Orioles that will enable us to keep Beato, and we won't lose Misch to waivers. You can't have too much depth.

[seawolf17]

smg58 wrote: In a perfect world, we can find sufficient compensation for the Orioles that will enable us to keep Beato

Okay, FINE, they can have Ollie. But just this time.

[metirish]

Has Harris gotten any time at 2B yet? He's probably a better fielder there than a few of the guys we're trying.[

funny you should ask, John Haper in the Snooze yesterday had one of those really annoying Harper articles, the ones where he talks to "prominent Mets people".


Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy, Brad Emaus, Justin Turner not standing out in Mets second base race

JOHN HARPER

PORT ST. LUCIE - Here's all you really need to know about the state of the Mets' second base competition. When I asked one prominent Mets person Wednesday who would be his choice to play there this season, he didn't hesitate: "Willie Harris." The problem there, of course, is that Harris, a one-time second baseman who is now primarily an outfielder, isn't even part of the four-man competition for the position. And then there was the opinion of a different, but equally prominent Mets person on the same subject: "Don't count out Luis Hernandez." Again, not part of the four-man competition. At that point I decided not to ask Wally Backman what he thought because I was sure he'd nominate himself. The point is that, three weeks away from the season opener, not one of the official candidates - Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy, Brad Emaus and Justin Turner - has wowed the Mets' decision-makers. Furthermore, Castillo, the incumbent of sorts, has annoyed Terry Collins by moping around in apparent protest of being forced to compete for the job, to the point where the manager called him into his office a couple of days ago to tell him he better start working harder if he wanted any shot at all. Castillo didn't even take pregame ground balls one day last week when he was in the lineup as the DH, as Collins has had to juggle playing time to get looks at all four second-base candidates. And that didn't sit well with the new manager, who is not going to tolerate the laissez-faire attitude that permeated the clubhouse in recent years. Since meeting with Collins, who promised to try to get him more playing time, Castillo seems to have raised his energy level, and he had a solid game Wednesday with two walks, a bloop single to left, and a nice play going toward the hole on a ball that went off Ike Davis' glove. Still, if I had to pick a favorite to open the season at second, I'd go with Murphy. The Mets believe he has the most offensive potential of the candidates, and since Emaus and Turner are also offensive-oriented players, Murphy seems to be in line to get the first crack. Of course, that's assuming he shows that he can play at least an adequate second base. The Mets started converting Murphy to second after Davis showed up fo play first base last year, and Collins admitted the jury is still out because he hasn't seen Murphy turn a double play under duress this spring. "He's shown he has the range to play there," said Collins, "but he hasn't had a chance to turn a double play (in games), and I've got to see him make that pivot with somebody sliding in on him." Some in the organization have major doubts about Murphy at second, noting that he doesn't have the quick feet needed to turn a tough double play. Last year at Triple A, Murphy was knocked out for the season with a knee injury trying to turn two. But the coaches who have worked with him this spring say Murphy has made progress with his footwork around the bag. Meanwhile, Emaus hasn't hit as the Mets hoped when they selected him from the Blue Jays in the Rule V draft, and Turner has played solidly but is the only one of the four who can be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers. As for Castillo, all indications are that while he still has a shot, he is not opening any eyes. He is hitting .214 (3-for-14, all singles), and his range has been diminished significantly by age and injuries. If Castillo doesn't win the starting job, the Mets will eat the final year and $6 million remaining on his contract rather have him on the bench. While that is a distinct possibility, it's too early to say it's likely. All of this has the Mets considering giving Harris some time at second base, and then there's Hernandez, the player who hit a rather memorable home run last September after breaking his foot with a foul ball earlier in the at-bat, and basically hopped around the bases. Hernandez was still recovering from the broken foot when spring training began, but he is playing now, and his slick glove has caught the eye of the Mets' brass. As one Mets person said, "He's basically Luis Castillo except he's 25 (actually 26) and Castillo is 35." All of which means: the Mets simply aren't quite sure what the heck to do about second base just yet. jharper@nydailynews.com Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2011/03/10/2011-03-10_still_secondguessing.html#ixzz1GJPqUWpL

[Guest Edgy DC]

Does that mean he's as good as Castillo was at 26, or that he brings as much to the table at 26 as Castillo does at 35?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Some in the organization have major doubts about Murphy at second, noting that he doesn't have the quick feet needed to turn a tough double play. Last year at Triple A, Murphy was knocked out for the season with a knee injury trying to turn two.

Neat trick, Harper. Missing a sentence?

[ashie62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Yeah, Martinez's demotion shows that, at least at the moment, Duda is ahead of him in the Beltran replacement derby.

Perhaps Permanantly?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Duda's far closer to his ceiling, that's all. Martinez, on the other hand, has two big holes in his prospect portrait-- the lack of plate discipline and the health. If he can resolve these, he should be the superior player defensively, on the basepaths, and all-around (even if the bats seem like they'll probably be a push).

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Gee
Bonser
Igarashi
Tankersley
Ryan
Chavez
Adams
Pridie

[metirish]

Tankersley's wife gives birth and he gets cut.....tough crowd.....welcome Huck.

[Guest Edgy DC]

So, cutting the sixth-place-out-of-five-guys Adams is the closest we come to clearing up second base.

Perez has outlasted at least one LOOGy option.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Glad to see Turner hanging in there.

No good news for the bloodthirsty, as Castillo and Perez are still around.

[Gwreck]

Luis Castillo released. (Source: Adam Rubin twitter)

[Benjamin Grimm]

According to Ed Coleman from WFAN, Luis Castillo has asked for and just received his release from the Mets. Scheduled to be in today's starting lineup, Coleman reported this morning that Castillo is currently packing up his locker in Port St. Lucie.

Hmmm... asked for his release, huh?

Probably a smart move. He'll get his $6 million anyway, and he becomes a free agent, who anyone can sign for the major league minimum. He'll be a Phillie before Monday.