2014 IPP: Chris Young

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, that's the way you rehab. I'm kinda hoping he's in the lineup tonight. I was a little surprised the Mets didn't elect to trade high on EY. I think the team loves his habits hustle and intangibles, but his skill set is quite distinct from what they Mets are reportedly looking for.

perhaps no one was biting? I mean, it's not like the suitors were lined up when the Mets grabbed him, and it wasn't like he really played great last year either.

[Frayed Knot]

I think that with the reduced state of the NYM OF by the end of last year, this past off-season wasn't exactly time for getting rid of the few OF they had.
But especially if Lagares continues to show that he can hit enough to handle an everyday job, that means CYoung and Granderson are NOT needed for CF making EYJ becomes more tradable as the season goes on. And if additional pressure comes from below in the form of den Dekker, Nieuwenhuis, Puello, and/or Abreu, even more so.

[Edgy MD]

Well, I'm not really advocating --- or retro-advocating ---- but I wasn't really thinking of the end of last season, so much as well into the off-season, when they had put their money on Granderson and Young2.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, I just don't think they were sold enough on Lagares at that point (not to mention den Dekker, Nieuwenhuis, etc). For all the promise he showed last summer he still hit just .242 with neither a lot of walks or pop.
On the other hand, if this small 2014 sample proves even close to sustainable [b/O/S currently up 77/72/116 points] that means CYoung doesn't have to man CF as anything other than an occasional filler and the rest of the picture changes a whole lot.

[MFS62]

As of this moment (11:40 PM on Monday) Chris is 7 for 7 in his Vegas rehab, including 2 homers.
Hope he saves some of that for when he returns to the big club.
Later

[Frayed Knot]

I don't think he's eligible for recall for another four days or so.
We may need him sooner than that given the events of tonight.

[Edgy MD]

So, we need a plan for Chris Young.

It may be too late to redeem his season, but it's not too late to keep him from damaging the team's season any further.

He didn't do as bad as the community during the Brewer series, but that's not saysing a whole lot. He's got to see at least some time, at least until the wounded outfielders start returning, but as was noted in yesterdays inny-gamey, he ought to be kept back in the seventh and eighth slots until he digs his way out or completely plays himself off the team.

[Ceetar]

If we're looking for any signs of hope, I guess the 11:11 K:BB ratio he's put up in the last 28 days with a .208 BAbip is..something. 4:0 SB:CS too.

He's probably got a little time yet, until Lagares comes back or someone else really takes off, whether it's den Dekker, or Nieuwenhuis or Puello, or Brown. With the caveat that if Abreu doesn't continue to hit you'll need 2 guys to take up the OF spots.

I thought he'd be better than this though, now I'd be shocked if he's still on the team in August. Either he'll be completely worthless and released/benched by then, or he'll play well enough that someone will offer a bag of balls for him and Alderson will move on to other guys.

[Guest d'Kong76]

d'Kong76 wrote: Hoping to be surprised by him, suspect a little above ex- pectations

Oh Wah
Ta De
Kai Am

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: as was noted in yesterdays inny-gamey, he ought to be kept back in the seventh and eighth slots until he digs his way out or completely plays himself off the team.

I know lineups and whatnot usually come out in the wash and a few hits could change a lot of things, but I'm beginning to believe that Terry's constant fidgeting with the lineup is at the point where it's become counterproductive.

For one thing, it sends a signal of doubt to just about everyone. Nothing says, "all my choices are inadequate" like a team that's struggling to score runs trying a new lineup every night. No excusing Young but when you're a $7 million Free Agent and probably the best defensive choice and two other "starters" are on the DL, you shouldn't need to wonder whether you'll be in the lineup each night. Drop him to 7th but let him be.

The shortstop switching has got to stop too and here I'd risk alienating Tejada to give Flores an actual shot. I would guess to Flores by now it wouldn't matter whether he bounced into a force at home or hit a grand slam last night -- he's not starting tonight anyway so what's the point?

In the meantime it seems like Terry is trying his hardest not to have Duda hit 4th or 5th, as though he's telling us all he doesn't believe Duda can handle it. Maybe he can't. Give it a shot. He's the only guy with legit light-tower power on the club.

Meantime I'm growing more disappointed everyday that Sandy hasn't done anything more radical than firing his hand-picked hitting coach which he must have known was destined not to make any difference except to excuse the month of May. The time has long since come to trade for a SS who can lead off already, and/or an outfielder with some power.

[Ceetar]

I have so many qualms with the lineup I've given up voicing them, but I think the desire to keep Duda lower is a result of not wanting him back to back with Granderson/lefties but keeping Murphy second, Wright third means Grandy has to be 4th and Duda has to be 6th.

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Meantime I'm growing more disappointed everyday that Sandy hasn't done anything more radical than firing his hand-picked hitting coach....

Not to worry. Next week, Sandy's gonna declare that this year's Mets will be expected to win 95 instead of 90 games.

[Edgy MD]

So, if I'm a hearing you right, tonight and for the time being, you go:

[*:33ok841j]Flores, ss[/*:m:33ok841j]
[*:33ok841j]Murphy, 2b[/*:m:33ok841j]
[*:33ok841j]Wright, 3b[/*:m:33ok841j]
[*:33ok841j]Duda, 1b[/*:m:33ok841j]
[*:33ok841j]Abreu, rf[/*:m:33ok841j]
[*:33ok841j]Teagarden, c[/*:m:33ok841j]
[*:33ok841j]Young, lf[/*:m:33ok841j]
[*:33ok841j]den Dekker, cf[/*:m:33ok841j]
[*:33ok841j]Colon, sp[/*:m:33ok841j][/list:o:33ok841j]

And you alternate den Dekker and Brown as needed, but leave Youngster alone, except for swinging him between left and center, and 9) re-evaluate the outfield situation as people come of the DL, and re-evaluate shortstop after after starting Flores eight of the next 10 games or so.

Meanwhile, keep trying to swing a deal for some offense. Is that right?

[ashie62]

How about Cory Vaughn??

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

1. Flores, ss
2. Murphy, 2b
3. Wright, 3b
4. Duda, 1b
5. Abreu, rf
6. Teagarden, c
7. Young, lf
8. den Dekker, cf
9. Colon, sp

And you alternate den Dekker and Brown as needed, but leave Youngster alone, except for swinging him between left and center, and 9) re-evaluate the outfield situation as people come of the DL, and re-evaluate shortstop after after starting Flores eight of the next 10 games or so.

Meanwhile, keep trying to swing a deal for some offense. Is that right?

Edgy MD wrote: So, if I'm a hearing you right, tonight and for the time being, you go:

That's about right. Den dekker's become a bit of an issue too, I might sooner use C Young in CF, thereby getting Brown in LF to hit 6, and and hit the catcher 8th.

Cory Vaughn is not realistic at this time, wasn't even hitting .200 in Bingo.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Meantime I'm growing more disappointed everyday that Sandy hasn't done anything more radical than firing his hand-picked hitting coach.... Not to worry. Next week, Sandy's gonna declare that this year's Mets will be expected to win 95 instead of 90 games.

You know this remark doesn't add anything to the conversation, and for the record I had no problems with him reportedly saying it (not declaring it). That he did in fact is one of the reasons I'm surprised he's let things get to the state they're in.

[ashie62]

I like that lineup for the balance of 2014.... and in the interim...

Lets find out if d'Arnaud is an MLB player

If Flores can get it done and become established we can find him a position to play for the Mets for the next 10 years.

You get a "final answer" on Duda as a plus 1B going forward..

If need be the Young's could be moved next month...

Find some way to take some heat off David... he is starting to look like an axe murderer with the stress on him..

Get Lagares back and find out if he can hit enough to stick...

It ain't all bad... it just feels like it sometimes...

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Flores, ss Murphy, 2b Wright, 3b Duda, 1b Abreu, rf Teagarden, c Young, lf den Dekker, cf Colon, sp And you alternate den Dekker and Brown as needed, but leave Youngster alone, except for swinging him between left and center, and 9) re-evaluate the outfield situation as people come of the DL, and re-evaluate shortstop after after starting Flores eight of the next 10 games or so. Meanwhile, keep trying to swing a deal for some offense. Is that right? So, if I'm a hearing you right, tonight and for the time being, you go: That's about right. Den dekker's become a bit of an issue too, I might sooner use C Young in CF, thereby getting Brown in LF to hit 6, and and hit the catcher 8th. Cory Vaughn is not realistic at this time, wasn't even hitting .200 in Bingo.

Don't think you can bat Tea-Recker 6th regularly. I think I put Flores there and rotate the den Dekker/Brown/Abreu/Young Jrs/etc in and out of leadoff, at least until Lagares is back. From a lineup consistency standpoint at least.

As long as we're spitballing, what about Wright first for a couple of weeks?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

No. My plan is based on reduced juggling. It's a 7-day, hell-or-high-water, explosion of everyday efficiency, handedness be damned, sample-vs.-this-guy be damned, torpedoes be damned.

[Edgy MD]

I also wouldn't recommend batting Colon ninth regularly. You probably want to use a rotation in that spot.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

WRITE IT DOWN IN INK:

FLORES SS
MUFFY 2B
WRIGHT 3B
DUDA 1B
GRANDY RF*
BROWN LF**
CYOUNG CF
TEARECKER C

* - Abreu if Grandy is hurt
** - OK to flip Brown and Grandy if handedness is your thing.

DEN DEKKER is strictly a defensive replacement when we have a lead, and pinch-runner when we trail a close one
ABREU is the guy we call on when we need a big pinch hit from LH hitter
TEJADA is awaiting word of which club he'll become the new AAA shortstop for and/or watching the transactions wire for injured SS starters. Also pinch hits for the pitcher when we're trailing by 6
CAMPBELL is the main righthanded pinch hitter and emerge D replacement at 1B/3B

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Meantime I'm growing more disappointed everyday that Sandy hasn't done anything more radical than firing his hand-picked hitting coach.... Not to worry. Next week, Sandy's gonna declare that this year's Mets will be expected to win 95 instead of 90 games. You know this remark doesn't add anything to the conversation....

_______________________________

Not to worry. So next week, Sandy will instead proclaim that this year's Mets will win 100 games.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: ... and for the record I had no problems with [sandy] reportedly saying it (not declaring it). That he did in fact is one of the reasons I'm surprised he's let things get to the state they're in.

Oh c'mon. Like Sandy's was supposed to do something to fulfill that declaration. With nine dollars and a cracker jack prize to build a pennant contender. The only reason Sandy said that in the first place was because the Wilpons put him up to it, so they could shamelessly exploit and cash in on the 1,200 New Yorkers dumb enough to go out and buy tickets based upon Sandy's 90 win announcement. The same 1,200 New Yorkers who, last year, thought that this year the Mets would contend.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't wanna argue about anything so dumb, but there are lots of things the Mets do to sell tickets and I'm pretty sure this wasn't one of them.

I'm disappointed when someone resorts to snarky ignorant remarks in response to something thoughtful, happens here a lot.

[batmagadanleadoff]

For their dishonesty and Madoff association, the organization deserves all the snark it gets. I've been hearing for almost two years now about how the Mets money problems are over, about Zimmo real estate and Nimmo prospects and in the end, when the rubber hits the road, they can't even reinvest the money back into the team that came off payroll from the expired Santana and Bay contracts. Is there anything else you need to know? A little bit of Occam's razor here. Alderson's just a GM, he's not a magic Genie.

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but all these posts and machinations about where den Dekker should bat strikes me a little like the rearrangement of the Titanic deck chairs. No disrespect. Hey, at least somebody still cares.

[Zvon]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The shortstop switching has got to stop too and here I'd risk alienating Tejada to give Flores an actual shot. I would guess to Flores by now it wouldn't matter whether he bounced into a force at home or hit a grand slam last night -- he's not starting tonight anyway so what's the point?

No player on a MLB team should ever act that immature and selfish. Unfortunately, I know there are quite a few out there these days that do.

In the past Tejeda has had maturity issues that I think he's just starting to get past over the last year. I'd give him this chance he's getting before pulling the rug.

[Frayed Knot]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I don't mean to be disrespectful, but all these posts and machinations about where den Dekker should bat strikes me a little like the rearrangement of the Titanic deck chairs. No disrespect. Hey, at least somebody still cares.

So let's quit posting about everything: pitching changes, lineup questions, injuries, etc. and just say Jeffie Suxx, Jeffie Suxx all the live long day.
Gee, won't that be fun and informative.

[ashie62]

delete

Edited June 13, 2014 by Guest

[Frayed Knot]

Is that directed at me? -- And, if so, maybe you could explain what you mean by it.

Edited June 13, 2014 by Guest

[batmagadanleadoff]

Frayed Knot wrote: I don't mean to be disrespectful, but all these posts and machinations about where den Dekker should bat strikes me a little like the rearrangement of the Titanic deck chairs. No disrespect. Hey, at least somebody still cares. So let's quit posting about everything: pitching changes, lineup questions, injuries, etc. and just say Jeffie Suxx, Jeffie Suxx all the live long day. Gee, won't that be fun and informative.

No. But this is a forum. With a sampling of Mets fans with differing views. And I just don't know what fans expect from Sandy Alderson. I responded with snark because initially, I didn't want to rehash the tired and well-known list of problems that are plaguing the Mets. But what is Sandy supposed to do? Pull another Keith for Ownbey? That's a once in a lifetime swap, and is probably more about sheer luck and being in the right place at the right time than GM skill-sets. The media has to gripe about the Mets because it's their job, but I can't believe that rational adults, smart Mets fans are still complaining about Alderson and the 2014 Mets. The team is mostly holes and question marks. And there's no guarantee that a new problem might not develop as soon as Sandy plugs one of those holes. Wheeler takes a step forward and starts showing signs of consistently pitching like a front of the rotation guy? Good. So that's when you suddenly notice that David Wright ain't no fresh faced kid anymore -- he's a 10 year vet who might not hit 10 HR's this season.

[Guest d'Kong76]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: So that's when you suddenly notice that David Wright ain't no fresh faced kid anymore -- he's a 10 year vet

This doesn't apply to anyone who posts here.