IGT 5/3/15 WAS @ NYM: Gee, If You Don't Mind

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Horrible.

You have to wonder if Kirk's days are numbered.

[TransMonk]

Yeah, Kirk is pretty worthless to this ball club right now. The fact that he was sent up to hit for Tejada shows Ruben's value as well.

Horrible way to end a series...especially before an off day.

You're never as good as you look when you're winning or as bad as you look when you're losing...but the last ten games are very concerning to me.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah but Kirk was hardly the only problem today. Over the last three innings - especially after Fister left - none of the Washington relievers were getting the ball over the plate but our guys were making outs anyway; Duda, Murphy, Cuddyer, and more were ahead in the count and swinging at bad pitches, often with men on. That bullpen is very beatable and in four days we barely touched it.

Nieuwenhuis is in the Catch-22 of needing more ABs to get hits hits but then he needs some hits if he wants more ABs. You could send him down but then who fills the LH/PH spot? Johnny Monnel is hitting in Vegas (although everyone hits in Vegas) but isn't as defensively versatile.

[bmfc1]

I thought that they couldn't send him down without "exposing him to waivers" which was why he stayed and Matt dD departed.

[Frayed Knot]

Well, yeah, that too.

So a better way to say it would be that even if you do get rid of him [by sliding him through waivers, by releasing him, trading him, whatever] what you'll want as a replacement for him is essentially a version of him: a lefty bat, preferably with some power potential, who can play the OF.
IOW, yeah he's been bad (in a limited sample) but it's not like there's a better option just sitting around back in the storage closet somewhere waiting to be dusted off.

[Edgy MD]

Well, I would imagine the replacement they would seek would be a guy who is more field tested as a bench player.

[TransMonk]

Frayed Knot wrote: IOW, yeah he's been bad (in a limited sample) but it's not like there's a better option just sitting around back in the storage closet somewhere waiting to be dusted off.

Agreed...but not having suitable replacement doesn't make him any less useless. The fact that the Mets can't send him down without exposure makes the situation even more aggravating as I think Kirk could benefit from a couple weeks of playing everyday to get his bat going.

The lack of any lefty bench hitters is one (of a few) glaring weaknesses on this team.

[Edgy MD]

He's certainly demonstrated usefulness in the past. It's cold comfort now, of course. But the challenge is when to distinguish a current and active pattern of failure with an actual inability. It's even harder to distinguish in the low-sample-size/high-stakes world of lefty pinch hitting.

AAA options are available: Alex Castellanos, Johnny Monell, Darrell Ceciliani, Travis Tajeiron (righty, but still), Cory Vaughn. All are hitting (including Vaughn, who hasn't hit consistently for the last three seasons, it seems) as the 51s streak on. Castellanos has the highest OPS in the PCL by like 160 points.

I tend to think, though that they're looking at trades. San Francisco has supposedly been scouting the Mets, and Gee and Murphy would fit well with them, even if Gee's last start was a head-scratcher. Indeed, if Dilson gets going, it might solve a few problems, with Murphy himself turning out to be the veteran lefty on the bench for the team.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Could be the lefthanded bench player is Muffy once David Wright comes back.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Could be the lefthanded bench player is Muffy once David Wright comes back.

can backup outfield too.

[Frayed Knot]

Ceetar wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Could be the lefthanded bench player is Muffy once David Wright comes back. can backup outfield too.

No he can't.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Ceetar wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Could be the lefthanded bench player is Muffy once David Wright comes back. can backup outfield too. No he can't.

Then I don't think he's taking Kirk's job, for a myriad of other reasons.

[Edgy MD]

I think Murph being the primary left-handed pinch hitter being the sixth infielder is fine, whether or not he can play the outfield.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Right if Muffy becomes a bench jockey then Campbell goes away and Castellanos comes up to replace Kirk. No sweat.

[TransMonk]

I need to see more from Herrera at the plate against ML pitching...but Murph could be an option as a lefty bench player. He could still start a couple times a week to spell Wright and Herrera.

I hope Terry and Sandy are having these same conversations today.

[Ceetar]

TransMonk wrote: I need to see more from Herrera at the plate against ML pitching...but Murph could be an option as a lefty bench player. He could still start a couple times a week to spell Wright and Herrera. I hope Terry and Sandy are having these same conversations today.

I'm sure they have them all the time. But yeah, Murphy is still our best offensive second baseman choice, and offense is still our #1 problem.

We need Wright and d'Arnaud back. Or one of our middle infielders to actually hit.