Centerfield 2013

[Edgy MD]

Sorry to get ahead of the game on this question, it just strikes me that. while you kinda see where the Mets are going at several positions, the team has several options, all with upside and downside, for center, and the future there seems wide open.

[MFS62]

Valdespin seems the best bet to me.
IMO, DenDekker is still a year away, Kirk may be better suited to a corner outfield spot, as is Lagares.
I think (hope) Torres will be gone.

Later

[Edgy MD]

I hope Torres will be awesome.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Torn between Niuewy and other, I went with "other"

[Ceetar]

Torres. he's sorta started to hit, plays good D, and is under team control. The Mets don't have much sure fire outfielders, so there is no way they're dumping a cheaper controllable player if he's producing anything. I expect Kirk to get plenty of time there as well, but the 'starter' will be Torres. I expect the Mets to acquire a power-hitting RFer as well and hopefully Duda shakes off his slump and is the LFer.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Torn between Niuewy and other, I went with "other"

Any ideas?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I really don't. I don't think at this point there's a great reason to retain Torres (not reliable enough, getting older). Nieuwenhuis has obvious flaws in his game, so does den Dekker, it appears. Valdespin probably won't handle it defensively.

As I said before I think maybe we see an all-new OF in 2013.

[Edgy MD]

Some interesting FA options, with some chances to go big.

[list:2u4ygwxq][*:2u4ygwxq]Marlon Boid[/*:m:2u4ygwxq]
[*:2u4ygwxq]Michael Bourn[/*:m:2u4ygwxq]
[*:2u4ygwxq]Curtis Granderson (Yanks have $15 million option)[/*:m:2u4ygwxq]
[*:2u4ygwxq]Josh Hamilton[/*:m:2u4ygwxq]
[*:2u4ygwxq]Torii Hunter (not playing center in recent years)[/*:m:2u4ygwxq]
[*:2u4ygwxq]Angel Pagan[/*:m:2u4ygwxq]
[*:2u4ygwxq]B.J. Upton[/*:m:2u4ygwxq]
[*:2u4ygwxq]Shane Victorino [/*:m:2u4ygwxq][/list:u:2u4ygwxq]

A lot of legs that have seen more mileage than Torres', also. If I'm shopping, I probably focus on Bourn as maybe the best value/$. I have a pretty baseless suspicion that the Mets would like Upton.

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: As I said before I think maybe we see an all-new OF in 2013.

We could use a new bullpen, too. Catching's not so hot either. Center field is looking grim. All I know about this Den Dekker is that LWFS once called him the Ordonez of center field. I've never forgotten that. Like I said, CF is looking grim. Grimmer.

[Ceetar]

We could use more power as a team, particularly if Tejada and Thole are likely to stick (and they probably are) as welll as Murphy. CF typically isn't that, but Kirk does provide some if he can re-adjust to major league pitching.

[Vic Sage]

• Marlon Boid
• Michael Bourn
• Curtis Granderson (Yanks have $15 million option)
• Josh Hamilton
• Torii Hunter (not playing center in recent years)
• Angel Pagan
• B.J. Upton
• Shane Victorino

A lot of legs that have seen more mileage than Torres', also. If I'm shopping, I probably focus on Bourn as maybe the best value/$. I have a pretty baseless suspicion that the Mets would like Upton.

Edgy DC wrote: Some interesting FA options, with some chances to go big.

don't forget Scott Hairston. I hear he's invaluable.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: As I said before I think maybe we see an all-new OF in 2013. We could use a new bullpen, too. Catching's not so hot either. Center field is looking grim. All I know about this Den Dekker is that LWFS once called him the Ordonez of center field. I've never forgotten that. Like I said, CF is looking grim. Grimmer.

BTW, I ran some back of the envelope numbers for Lucas Duda, and came to the quick and dirty conclusion that his defense is so bad, Duda's gotta have a batting season like last year's Joey Votto or Jose Reyes for the Mets to get meaningful positive value from him. In other words, Duda's gotta hit like an MVP all season long to provide value that is way clear of neutral or break-even.

[Edgy MD]

Certainly, any future for him would be better in left, still better at first, and best at designated hitter.

He's strange and that strangeness really intrigues me. Maybe he's a psychological sponge, and on a team that's struggling, he becomes the biggest load, but on an an energetic team fighting like hell in the middle of a race, he becomes the biggest animal of them all.

He just seems so damn uncomfortable in his skin.

[Frayed Knot]

I'm not sold on Valdespin being either a real CF or even an everyday player at this point.

[Edgy MD]

I don't blame you, but he's nonetheless an option before them.

You know, what craziness made the Mets' brain-trust sit down at a table one morning and agree "You know who's our 1990 centerfielder? Keith F. Miller, that's who!"

[metsmarathon]

newey looks llike hte leader in the clubhouse, provided he gets back on track after some more AAA. i don't think torres will necessarily be back, and valdespin is only a centerfielder in the absence of a centerfielder.

[Ceetar]

metsmarathon wrote: newey looks llike hte leader in the clubhouse, provided he gets back on track after some more AAA. i don't think torres will necessarily be back, and valdespin is only a centerfielder in the absence of a centerfielder.

Did you see Valdespin actually got to a THREE ball count last night?

[MFS62]

• Marlon Boid
• Michael Bourn
• Curtis Granderson (Yanks have $15 million option)
• Josh Hamilton
• Torii Hunter (not playing center in recent years)
• Angel Pagan
• B.J. Upton
• Shane Victorino

A lot of legs that have seen more mileage than Torres', also. If I'm shopping, I probably focus on Bourn as maybe the best value/$. I have a pretty baseless suspicion that the Mets would like Upton.

Edgy DC wrote: Some interesting FA options, with some chances to go big.

Bourn makes a lot of sense to the eye test- speed, defense, a decent or better leadoff type hitter. The only thing is - he's yet another lefthanded batter. This lineup will need more balance at some point (OK, so Granderson or Hamiltion would be just fine).

Later

[Vic Sage]

Valdespin reminds me of a poor man's Alfonso Soriano -- a bit smaller, a few less HRs and SBs, similar lack of glove with an excess of athleticism and a questionable attitude.
Ultimately, if his bat justifies it, he might get a shot as a LFer. I'm not sold on even that, yet. He might end up a utility guy or end up cutting cane back in the DR.

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: Valdespin reminds me of a poor man's Alfonso Soriano -- a bit smaller, a few less HRs and SBs, similar lack of glove with an excess of athleticism and a questionable attitude. Ultimately, if his bat justifies it, he might get a shot as a LFer. I'm not sold on even that, yet. He might end up a utility guy or end up cutting cane back in the DR.

The guy's going to have to stop swinging at wild pitches and pitches that almost hit him. Ultimately it may be a good comp, if he can have the coverage to hit the balls, which I guess he has shown some ability to do, but he's gotta be better at recognizing pitches, and it's not something he's done on any level.

[Vic Sage]

yeah, i don't really think Valdy has a shot at putting up the numbers soriano has (and i don't even like soriano). They just strike me as similar baseball types: athletic power-speed guys, hackers from the DR ("you cannot walk off de island"), who started out as erratic 2bmen that got moved to the OF.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Valdy to me looks like a second baseman. I don't think you want to chance his production out there in left or right field, and he doesn't really look like a CF.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe (and I do mean maybe) he's one of those athletic guys who just needs an intensive offseason of training to make him from a middle infielder to a confident and capable centerfielder turning his skills loose. Yount, Mantle, Murcer, um... some other guys.

And maybe he's Keith Miiller. But it's not crazy that the right outfield tutor can make a man out of him. The outfield is still all new to him.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yes that's true. But if you're really looking to improve from a 3rd place team to a 2nd place team or better you want a center fielder about whom there are not so many questions.

[Ceetar]

I think he's athletic enough to play CF, with some reps and practice. I'm still scared of him on the infield after that disaster game where he was booting everything.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Having watched Den Dekker pretty closely for a couple of years now... he's flawed, and those flaws aren't going away. He's a plus-fourth-piece, methinks.

[Frayed Knot]

"Centerfield 2013"

I just hope he posts more often than he is so far in 2012







By coincidence, John Sickels answers a write-in question today on what a full year might look like from Valdespin:

-- "I have a hard time thinking his [current] production holds up with such a low walk rate, but you never know for sure.
I could see him developing into a 15-20

---

guy, but with erratic BAs and OBPs."

[Edgy MD]

So, stick in him in the middle of the order, Terry C.!

[Theoldmole]

Nieuwy. He works on his strikeout problem in winter ball, and returns a nieuw man.

[Guest themetfairy]

TheOldMole wrote: Nieuwy. He works on his strikeout problem in winter ball, and returns a nieuw man.

But hopefully not as Newman.