What Don't We Know?

[Edgy MD]

Why can't/won't Terry Collins find a start for Kirk Nieuwenhuis? Wild speculation is welcome.

[RealityChuck]

He can't spell "Niewenhus" and doesn't want it to show it on the lineup card.

[seawolf17]

[Ceetar]

My theory is that by his occasional success pinch-hitting he's been type-cast as a guy that's able to come off the bench therefore that's what he'll do.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah I think the Mets have decided he's too whiffy and too vulnerable to LH pitching and curveballs overall. They also want to give dD the bigger shot but to my eyes he's failing too. The notion addressed in another thread that Terry was unaware of the team's W-L record when Niewy starts is dumb for a lot of reasons.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Yeah I think the Mets have decided he's too whiffy and too vulnerable to LH pitching and curveballs overall. They also want to give dD the bigger shot but to my eyes he's failing too. The notion addressed in another thread that Terry was unaware of the team's W-L record when Niewy starts is dumb for a lot of reasons.

yes, but the notion that Kirk has the highest OPS on the team and has 100 PA this season (which isn't..nothing) and did well in the second half of last year and is not bad on defense and is the same age as den Dekker..(almost exactly)

So really the only thing Matt has over him is some defense.

[Frayed Knot]

I think the role thing -- that Kirk excels at PH-ing therefore that's how we should use him -- maybe have something to do with it.
Mainly though I suspect they want to see more/showcase MdD. Remember that as recent as early 2013, prior to his ST injury, he was considered the possible CF future ahead of Lagares. If he would hit even reasonably during this trial (time rapidly running out) it could make he more attractive to a team looking for at least a platoon CF candidate.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, the issue can be that Terry and the organization's opinion is locked in with regard to what Nieuwenhuis can do. Not that they don't think he's a starter, necessarily, but they have a pretty good idea (or feel they have a pretty good idea) what he can bring as a starter or as a reserve or as a pinch hitter. So these September games can be used to give dD (only three days younger than Nieuwenhuis, but with far less MLB time) a chance to make an impression of his own.

[Ceetar]

guess that makes sense. I'd disagree that they know enough about Kirk and feel like the extra 100 or so AB he could've gotten would've been more useful, but alas.


anyway:

Since being called up in June of last year, Kirk Nieuwenhuis: 201 PA 6 HR .228/.328/.427 111 wRC+

[Edgy MD]

I'd probably disagree with that too, thus the thread. I mean, what is knowable about the future? But it is true that they've seen far more of him than den Dekker, and you've got to make assessments with what little PT you have to go around.

Still, he's starting less than Recker. Or Tejada. Or Young.

Satin, on the other hand. He's REALLY buried.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: I'd probably disagree with that too, thus the thread. I mean, what is knowable about the future? But it is true that they've seen far more of him than den Dekker, and you've got to make assessments with what little PT you have to go around. Still, he's starting less than Recker. Or Tejada. Or Young. Satin, on the other hand. He's REALLY buried.

I've been sorta busy, but has Satin been here since 9/1?

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, he came up with the roster expansion. He's had six trips to the plate in that time, logging an 0-4, a walk and an HbP.

All but guaranteed to get removed from the roster at the end of the season.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Fwiw, I'm on Team Kirk. Love the threat he represents.

But i suspect what theyre doing is staging a stealth competotion between denDekker and Lagares.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, if it's a competition, denD is losing. Badly.

[Edgy MD]

And his alleged ++ defense isn't exactly making itself obvious in left.

If they want to measure him at all against Lagares, they should be starting him in center against every third righty and thus getting Nieuwenhuis a go in left or right twice a week.

[nymr83]

I don't think Neiwenhuis is a starter or anything more than the 5th outfielder on the next pennant winning Mets team, they need to do better. I'm slightly less sure of that with denDekker, but with enough playing time he'll probably show himself to be more of the same. nothing to get excited about in the Mets' outfield rgiht now

[Edgy MD]

Well, until tonight, there was Lagares.

LAG
AR
ES

And Nimmo not too far off.

[nymr83]

I meant "in the Mets' outfield right now" as in "on the team right now", Nimmo isn't here yet so he doesnt factor into the current playing time equation which is what was being discussed.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, well, until today Lagares had been one big human erection-producing machine out there.

Nimmo, well, he's been watching from the stands the last few nights.