The First Desperate Move

[Gwreck]

I'm on board with most of the ideas suggested here.

I'd suggest that Daniel Murphy be given time in the outfield again. If we're not going to trade him, time for him to become more valuable as a utility guy who can fill in anywhere, and that means learning how to play left field again. Maybe shortstop too. Valdespin can play second base every day.

Duda is recalled immediately and plays every inning of every game from here on out. Same thing with Nieuwenhuis (once healthy).

Sorry to Jason Bay and Andres Torres, I guess you're not playing ever again this year. I just don't care, though, seeing as how you won't be back next year.

[Ceetar]

how about Satin or Lutz at second base before Valdespin? I have more faith in either of them being worthwhile major leaguers at this point. Reese Havens?

[Lefty Specialist]

Ceetar wrote: how about Satin or Lutz at second base before Valdespin? I have more faith in either of them being worthwhile major leaguers at this point. Reese Havens?

Reese Havens, he of the .730 OPS at Binghamton? Um, no.

[G-Fafif]

Gwreck wrote: I'd suggest that Daniel Murphy be given time in the outfield again. If we're not going to trade him, time for him to become more valuable as a utility guy who can fill in anywhere, and that means learning how to play left field again.

Huzzah. Murphy seems like one of the more confident, less insecure players on the roster presently, perhaps possessing a different mindset than when overwhelmed by fly balls in 2009. It wasn't wrong to get him out of left field then but it wouldn't be wrong to try him out in left now.

Murphy, Baxter, Hairston and Cedeno plus a legitimate righty-swinging backup catcher (and maybe first-half Valdespin, though you'd like to believe he could start) would form the nucleus of a reasonably reliable bench for a good team. Reminds me potentially a bit of the Mets of the Bambi's Bombers/Hondo's Commandoes period when you couldn't argue with Rusty as a PH, Jorgensen as a defensive 1B, Bailor as your all-around fill-in guy, but there was nothing much worth substituting for.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Gwreck wrote: I'd suggest that Daniel Murphy be given time in the outfield again. If we're not going to trade him, time for him to become more valuable as a utility guy who can fill in anywhere, and that means learning how to play left field again. Huzzah. Murphy seems like one of the more confident, less insecure players on the roster presently, perhaps possessing a different mindset than when overwhelmed by fly balls in 2009. It wasn't wrong to get him out of left field then but it wouldn't be wrong to try him out in left now. Murphy, Baxter, Hairston and Cedeno plus a legitimate righty-swinging backup catcher (and maybe first-half Valdespin, though you'd like to believe he could start) would form the nucleus of a reasonably reliable bench for a good team. Reminds me potentially a bit of the Mets of the Bambi's Bombers/Hondo's Commandoes period when you couldn't argue with Rusty as a PH, Jorgensen as a defensive 1B, Bailor as your all-around fill-in guy, but there was nothing much worth substituting for.

Reminds me of the line from 1981 in Sports Illustrated about the great bench the Mets had then. The problem, though, was that the bench was in the starting lineup.

[Edgy MD]

I've missed a lot of baseball the last week, so maybe I've missed the most telling moments ever, but the idea that Torres is done seems premature when when we gots nobody elses who plays centerfield. Plus he's under control.

I hope to improve, but I ain't for setting sail without a full crew.


If you don't have a centerfielder, you give up a lot of
inside-the park home runs!

[Ceetar]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Ceetar wrote: how about Satin or Lutz at second base before Valdespin? I have more faith in either of them being worthwhile major leaguers at this point. Reese Havens? Reese Havens, he of the .730 OPS at Binghamton? Um, no.

That'd be better than we can expect from Valdespin.

(and he looks like he's been better than that lately)


I agree on Torres. We've got 39 games left. That's a lot of time and a lot of time to fix a statline.

[Gwreck]

Edgy DC wrote: I've missed a lot of baseball the last week, so maybe I've missed the most telling moments ever, but the idea that Torres is done seems premature when when we gots nobody elses who plays centerfield. Plus he's under control.

Torres is 34. This is his second straight season of putting up a 85 OPS+. He's making $2.7 Million this year, so that means at least $3, maybe $3.5 million after arbitration. It's perfectly clear to me that he's 1. Getting non-tendered and 2. Not part of a future winning plan for the Mets as anything more than a bench player.

We have important outfield bats to get in the lineup and evaluate who might be part of the future (Duda, Nieuwenhuis, Den Dekker, Valdespin, whomever). Sorry Andres, no room for you.

I don't think the Mets will bench him for the rest of the year but this is the "desperate moves" thread, after all.

[Vic Sage]

Sorry to Jason Bay and Andres Torres, I guess you're not playing ever again this year. I just don't care, though, seeing as how you won't be back next year.

Torres may get non-tendered, but Bay ain't going anywhere. He's signed through next season with an unmoveable contract (and a buyout required for the following season) and i don't believe for second that the Wilpons will just eat it and release him outright. He WILL be back next year.

[Gwreck]

Again, this isn't the "predict what the Mets will do" thread.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ecuador-Chile sold out in driving rain, and the other two soccer matches before this year were also big sellers.

As I'd like to be able to sign more than one non-minor-league FA per offseason, let's put more money in the coffers. Let's schedule as many international/club friendlies as possible, whether the Mets are out-of- OR in-town. It's not like they're using the field for anything important or interesting during those home dates, anyway; I'm sure Met fans would appreciate the visual distraction.

[Vic Sage]

Gwreck wrote: Again, this isn't the "predict what the Mets will do" thread.

oh sorry, i thought you were asserting that Bay was gonna be gone as a factual matter. like "trade Hairston, cuz he ain't gonna be here next year anyhow". or "why give up anything to get shoppach, since we don't control him next year?"

you know, like that.

[Edgy MD]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ecuador-Chile sold out in driving rain, and the other two soccer matches before this year were also big sellers. As I'd like to be able to sign more than one non-minor-league FA per offseason, let's put more money in the coffers. Let's schedule as many international/club friendlies as possible, whether the Mets are out-of- OR in-town. It's not like they're using the field for anything important or interesting during those home dates, anyway; I'm sure Met fans would appreciate the visual distraction.

You know, depending on what you mean by "non-minor," I'm good with signing only one non-minor free agent per offseason.

As long as the next one plays the outfield and is good.

It puts a lot of eggs in one basket, but doubling down is what got the 'Pons over-exposed. It's enough pressure to re-sign Wright and Dickey. It'll take a lot of soccer games for them to get more than one big fish this off-season.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Vic Sage wrote: Sorry to Jason Bay and Andres Torres, I guess you're not playing ever again this year. I just don't care, though, seeing as how you won't be back next year. Torres may get non-tendered, but Bay ain't going anywhere. He's signed through next season with an unmoveable contract (and a buyout required for the following season) and i don't believe for second that the Wilpons will just eat it and release him outright. He WILL be back next year.

I'm sure Egghead & Co, with their Ivy League education in Economics are familiar with the concept of a "sunk cost". It's somebody else keeping Bay in the organization.

[Ceetar]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ecuador-Chile sold out in driving rain, and the other two soccer matches before this year were also big sellers. As I'd like to be able to sign more than one non-minor-league FA per offseason, let's put more money in the coffers. Let's schedule as many international/club friendlies as possible, whether the Mets are out-of- OR in-town. It's not like they're using the field for anything important or interesting during those home dates, anyway; I'm sure Met fans would appreciate the visual distraction.

this is probably irrelevant though. If they're not raising the payroll, it's not because they don't have the money, it's because they don't want to continue to lose the money. They want the Mets revenue to pay for the payroll. That's where the 70 million dollar loss thing comes in, which is only technically true. Sandy said they've looked at plans with different numbers in mind, and I suspect part of his upcoming discussions with the Wilpons is convincing them they need to raise it at least a little.

He actually said some interesting stuff, when Francesa let him get a word in, and i know it's all GM spin anyway, but I found it helpful.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I think you missed (or, rather, I missed landing) my primary thrust: soccer games during the baseball games. 'Cause the ballgames alone are depressing.

[Ceetar]

I think you missed (or, rather, I missed landing) my primary thrust: soccer games during the baseball games. 'Cause the ballgames alone are depressing.

oh.

I'm good with that..but..

pansy soccer players. Let's have a "Summer Classic" and get a hockey game going in left field. or hell, football.

[Centerfield]

Naked cheerleaders.

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: Naked cheerleaders.

I bet VAldespin gets to those in a hurry.