The YoungByrds

[Frayed Knot]

So with the future of the NYM outfield filled with many questions -- will Puello be ready?, can either Lagares or Nieuwenhuis hit enough to maintain a full-time job?, could Flores handle an OF spot?, and whither Lucas Duda? -- it�s reasonable to ponder whether either of the YoungByrds (no, they�re not an aging supergroup of �60s folkies) might be a good idea for a holdover for 2014. �Guys� even brought it up a few days ago during Gary & Keith�s discussion on the subject of trading Marlon Byrd: �couldn�t you just keep him and pencil him in for next year?� he wondered

So today�s hypothetical question is: If you had to keep just one out of Eric Young Jr or Marlon Byrd for the 2014 season, which one would it be?

Both are imports brought it to plug a hole, but both have responded with better than expected performance although each possesses a very different set of skills. .

A little background to help you decide whether this year represents a mirage unlikely to be repeated (aka the Scott Hairston factor):
The charts below show what each has done in a typical season prior to becoming a Met and then how each is doing this season. In each case the stats have been projected to show the results based on a fulll (600 plate appearance) season. In Byrd�s case I used just his most recent (2007-2012) seasons for the pre-Mets career so as to keep the stats most telling; in Young�s case I used his entire career to date.
The NYM stats are current through Sunday's game.

----	H	2B	HR	TB	BA	OBA	SLG
BYRD/600 PA	157	33	13	237	.286	.340	.433
BYRD - 2013/600	151	28	32	283	.277	.321	.519

----	H	2B	HR	TB	BA	OBA	SLG
YOUNG Per 600 PAs	128	18	4	171	.238	.304	.319
YOUNG - 2013/600	152	36	0	197	.288	.366	.373

Young is ... well, younger (not 29 until next May while Byrd turns 36 in August) and faster and more versatile although, based on what we've seen during his short stint here, I think Byrd is the better outfielder and certainly has the better arm. Young fills the lead-off role (assuming this hitting is for real) while Byrd provides needed power.


And do note that there�s no �Both� or �Neither� choices in the poll. Just, as John McEnroe once (loudly) said, ANSWER THE QUESTION!!

[MFS62]

Gun to my head, I'd keep Byrd. Tough decision.
Young's versatility is partially negated by the fact that there are several others on the current roster who can play both infield and outfield. But his speed has been a major plus.
By comparison, the Mets don't have many power/ righthanded hitting outfield options on the current squad. Unless they feel that Puello or Flores will take up part of that slack in 2014, Young is the one to go.

Later

[Centerfield]

I voted Young, but more by default.

Byrd is the better player, but trading him this year is the definition of selling high. I doubt he produces another season like this one. Let's move him for whatever he can bring back.

Let Duda/Young/Lagares/Neiwenheis split time the rest of the way and see what they got.

Young is appealing because he can also play second base.

[Edgy MD]

Don't put a gun to my head, but it kinda feels like a false choice. The Mets retain the rights to Young. But Byrd's like a bird. He'll only fly away.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think in a scenario where one has to go, you part with the one whose departure brings you more, so I'd consider dealing Byrd first.

I don't think Young's hitting is any more sustainable than Byrd's power. I'm not sold on either thing lasting.

[seawolf17]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I think in a scenario where one has to go, you part with the one whose departure brings you more, so I'd consider dealing Byrd first. I don't think Young's hitting is any more sustainable than Byrd's power. I'm not sold on either thing lasting.

This.

[ashie62]

The Mets got Eric Young cause Young was a total failure in Colorocky...

[Vic Sage]

Eric Young was not a total failure in Colorado. He never got more than 198 ABs in a season, and the following year he hit .315. He had a career BA there of over .260, which is about where he is now overall. I'm not saying he's a great hitter, or even a very good one, but no one has bothered to really find out yet. And with his speed and positional flexibility, i think it's worth finding out. So I'd rather take a chance on Young's future than that of Marlon "blaze o glory" Byrd, who'll be 36 coming off a career year. His return to the mean will seem like an asteroid falling from orbit.

[metirish]

Young , he really has added to the team, weather it lasts or not I don't know, but I would think he has a future here.

[TransMonk]

Young has more youth and skills to offer, so I went that way.

[Zvon]

I should have read the question before voting. Yep, I'm an idiot. I voted Byrd and I'll stand by it. Why can't Byrd play right next year? Tell you one thing, I have never seen even a moment this season where Byrd wasn't busting it out of the box. Even on routine ground outs. At the plate, in the field, always giving 100%+.
Can we squeeze more out of him? I think so. I don't think we are going to get what we really should for him.

Now I'm really high on Young and I think maybe he and his potential have found a comfortable home. And if forced to pick one.....well, I'm an idiot. I voted already.

If we keep both Byrd and Young I think that fills two big needs, and I'm curious what Alderson will do this off season if we do.

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: Eric Young was not a total failure in Colorado. He never got more than 198 ABs in a season, and the following year he hit .315. He had a career BA there of over .260, which is about where he is now overall. I'm not saying he's a great hitter, or even a very good one, but no one has bothered to really find out yet. And with his speed and positional flexibility, i think it's worth finding out. .

I mean, you could say much the same about Collin Cowgill, Andrew Brown, Hoffman and probably another guy or two in the minors. He had a good year last year in a limited role, but went back to struggling this year and the Rockies bet that it was the 200 AB last year that was the fluke, not that he'd suddenly turned a corner. His BABIP may in fact reflect that, plus it was Coors Field.

I don't really think either of them is the answer, but I doubt Byrd falls off a cliff in a limited 4th OF type role next year if they were choosing between them for that. Young might OPS .600. I'll take the safer/power guy.

[Edgy MD]

Collin Cowgill is a lot of things, but he never had any big league traction approaching what EY had last year, and he doesn't compare with regard to flexibility.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Collin Cowgill is a lot of things, but he never had any big league traction approaching what EY had last year, and he doesn't compare with regard to flexibility.

The Mets have Murphy, Tejada, and Turner all who can play second base. I'm not really sure that flexibility is a big factor here.

[Zvon]

I think Duda is the odd man out of this outfield. I really don't want to see him out there anymore.

[Edgy MD]

The Mets have Murphy, Tejada, and Turner all who can play second base. I'm not really sure that flexibility is a big factor here.

Positional flexibility not mattering --- true or no --- is a very different argument from "you could say much the same [including apparently positional flexibility] about Collin Cowgill, Andrew Brown, Hoffman... . You can't. They're different players with different histories and profiles.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: The Mets have Murphy, Tejada, and Turner all who can play second base. I'm not really sure that flexibility is a big factor here. Positional flexibility not mattering --- true or no --- is a very different argument from "you could say much the same [including apparently positional flexibility] about Collin Cowgill, Andrew Brown, Hoffman... . You can't. They're different players with different histories and profiles.

All I'm saying is "no one has bothered to find out yet" if they're good or not. And we have a lot more data on Eric Young and over 1000 innings he's profiling okay at center and slightly below average defensively. Meanwhile the younger Collin Cowgill profiles better defensively although with a basically meaningless 250 AB. He hasn't shown anything near what Young did last year but he's had a quarter of the time.

[metsmarathon]

given strictly the choice of having byrd or young on the team next year, i would pick byrd - he's the better player, and more likely to be the better player next year, and more likely to be a contributor to a good team.

however, the choice is not made in a vacuum. because if hte mets do not have either byrd or young next year, one can only assume the reason is that they were either traded away or not re-signed. and if the mets trade away young, they get virtually nothing back - i'm sure of this. the mets could always just let byrd walk away i suppose, but i think the more likely outcome is a trade - in which case i feel the mets could get some value back - potentially more long term value then tehy would receive from retaining marlon byrd for another go-around.

and so, that's why i chose young. i'd rather see the mets keep young and trade byrd for something, than keep byrd and trade young for nothing.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: All I'm saying is "no one has bothered to find out yet" if they're good or not.

Yes, well, but his statement that you referenced was a lot longer than that, detailing several things that were true of Young and not true of those other guys.

You know who else nobody has bothered trying to find out yet whether he's any good? ME. And I'm real bitter.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: All I'm saying is "no one has bothered to find out yet" if they're good or not. Yes, well, but his statement that you referenced was a lot longer than that, detailing several things that were true of Young and not true of those other guys. You know who else nobody has bothered trying to find out yet whether he's any good? ME. And I'm real bitter.

Me neither, and I'm still technically "in my prime" or at least close to it and hey, I'm lefty. I thought if you were healthy and a lefty you were basically guaranteed a job in a bullpen? web of lies.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

So you're saying Edgy is old? I think that's what you're saying, isn't it, with all that "I'm still technically in my prime" stuff, implying Edgy is past his. Way past his prime, is the way I'm reading it.

[Ceetar]

Swan Swan H wrote: So you're saying Edgy is old? I think that's what you're saying, isn't it, with all that "I'm still technically in my prime" stuff, implying Edgy is past his. Way past his prime, is the way I'm reading it.

He falls somewhere between the royal baby thing and Scott Acthison. Atichson? Atichson..dammit, don't make me look this guy up.

I'm running out of years I can play the 'sorta still young/prime' card. Gotta milk it for what it's worth.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

I should talk. I'm past Ken Boswell's prime.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Assuming my decision has no relation to a trade this year... I'd rather have Byrd back. He's got more of a track record, is a better defensive outfielder, and should things go wrong in some 2014 version of Cooter's, he's a better guy to have watching your blind spot. Also, he's probably got some better '80s stories than Young.

[seawolf17]

Ceetar wrote: Swan Swan H wrote: So you're saying Edgy is old? I think that's what you're saying, isn't it, with all that "I'm still technically in my prime" stuff, implying Edgy is past his. Way past his prime, is the way I'm reading it. He falls somewhere between the royal baby thing and Scott Acthison. Atichson? Atichson..dammit, don't make me look this guy up. I'm running out of years I can play the 'sorta still young/prime' card. Gotta milk it for what it's worth.

FUCKIN HELL STOP REMINDING ME THAT I'M OLDER THAN SCOTT ATCHISON.

[Centerfield]

Wow. I just had a moment of panic that I might be older than all of the Mets. Thank god for Latroy Hawkins.

I can't believe this snuck up on me like this. Suddenly I feel very old.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Centerfield wrote: Wow. I just had a moment of panic that I might be older than all of the Mets. Thank god for Latroy Hawkins. I can't believe this snuck up on me like this. Suddenly I feel very old.

Latroy is keeping me young too.

[TransMonk]

Me three.

I won't panic until the coaches are older than me.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Ron Swoboda was interviewed by Guys! last night, and he expressed some wonder that he is now just four years or so younger than Casey Stengel was when Rocky came to the Mets.

[Ceetar]

no one's older than father time.