smg58

I believe they have 48 hours from putting Evans on the wire to take him off. Whether that would leave them enough time to make a firm decision on Bay is anybody's guess.

I'd have offered one to Baltimore for the full rights to Beato. That way you only lose one (assuming Izzy ultimately stays). I still think that Acosta's track record beats Boyer's though.

Two words: Brad Emaus.

The Minaya strategy with advancing prospects always seemed to put upside over readiness. He badly overestimated Pelfrey's readiness in 2007, deeming Brian Bannister expendable a year before he actually was. In 2008 he called up Murphy and Evans straight from AA to play the outfield, when more experienced outfielders were putting up better numbers in AAA. Murphy's six weeks of playing over his head got him a full time gig in 2009 that he wasn't ready for, while Evans' mediocre six weeks got him shoved through the cracks. In early 2009 Minaya parted with Rule V pick Darren O'Day after three weeks, when Bobby Parnell had less ML experience and all his options. Then at the start of the 2010 season, Parnell was demoted in favor of Mejia despite having established himself as an ML reliever. Minaya was wrong most of the time, but he was generally consistent. In Evans' case, he paid the price for having a so-so six weeks after being called up from AA and asked to be part of a pennant drive. He got bounced around in 09, then had a very good 2010 in AAA probably because he wasn't bounced around so much. He might not be more than a righty reserve or platoon OF/1B, but that's not nothing. At any rate there are teams that could use him (the D-Backs, for one), so I wouldn't expect him to clear waivers. I'm pretty sure that Murphy, because he was never on the active Mets roster last year, still has options. I also think that the difference in performance between Murphy and Evans at the major-league level in 08 gives a perception of Murphy having greater upside that might not be accurate.

Another difficult situation. Boyer has been a bit better than Acosta this spring, but Acosta has really only had one bad outing and has a superior track record. Both are probably better than Pedro Beato right now, but Beato has the upside and is a Rule V pick. Boyer also might be (and Acosta most likely is) better than D. J. Carrasco, but Carrasco has a two-year commitment. The good news is that it's been a seller's market for relievers, so the Mets should be able to get more than the $25,000 waiver claim fee if/when they part ways with somebody.

Edgy DC wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Evans can play more positions better than Muffy... I think that's debateable. And it's also a key about which positions we anticipate them needing to play. But Harris can play more positions than Murphy and play them better. And we're one injury away from needing more than just Hairston from the right side. The Mets actually have several non-trivial decisions to make this week. It will be interesting to see how things pan out.

PS And Brad Emaus is quite obviously here for his ability to draw walks.

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Good stuff. I liked the Reyes question & answer. Don't agree w/ the commenter that 'seasoned beat writer' Delcos caught Sandy 'unaware' with his decidedly non-softbally question. Seems like Sandy gave a solid, no-bullshit answer, and don't think any of us should be surprised that he admits Reyes is great, but he may not be back for a couple of legit reasons. Janish also cited Harris, Paulino, and Hairston as evidence of an inconsistency in Alderson's approach. Actually Harris draws a fair number of walks and has decent power for a lefty reserve utilityman. He had a .364 OBP in 2009, despite a .235 AVG. Obviously he can only do so much good in that category if he's on the interstate again, but Alderson is betting on that not happening. As for Paulino, a .328 career OBP is hardly awful for a backup catcher, and he has a .390 OBP against lefties. Hairston's not a super OBP guy, but the .498 SLG against lefties despite playing most of his career in a worse hitter's park than Citi obviously factored in (as did defense). And at any rate, the point of beating on that with Reyes is that his speed is an asset only to the extent that he gets on base.

I'll go 88-74 and a wildcard.

I like him too, but he's not on the 40 and can therefore be demoted, unlike just about everybody else he's competing with. I expect him to be the first guy called up, though.

metirish wrote: word is Luis Hernandez could be traded by next week , out of options and drawing interest......Emaus apparently has the 2nd base job but is being coy..... I wonder if the Orioles would take him in exchange for the right to demote Beato without putting him through waivers and offering him back.

When you have options, you can't leave any room for doubt. Neither Turner nor the Mets will be hurt by his getting full-time work at Buffalo.

For now. I think we'll know who won the draft in October. I don't expect too many waiver wire pickups to be difference makers.

You can autodraft the first half of the draft and be OK. (As long as you make sure Adam Wainwright is on your "do not pick" list, that is.) You'll have a better chance of finding diamonds in the rough in the second half than your computer will, though.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2011/news/story?id=6246728 To paraphrase a friend of mine, file that one under -- "not our problem!"

It looks like Cohoon, from what I can tell. http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/get-to-know-mets-prospect-mark-cohoon/ I found this looking for info. I haven't found definite word on where he's starting out, but I have to assume he'll be in Binghamton.

It's as accurate as his report on Johan earlier in the week was.

3-0 is the final. It's hard to complain when everybody pitched well. Bonser pitched the 7th and 8th, and Byrdak finished it.

Ollie has a decent inning as well. Still 1-0, mid 6th.

Correction (stupid MLB.com gameday feed): Izzy pitched the 4th, K-Rod the 5th.

1-0 good guys after 4. They got three strong innings from Carrasco, which is encouraging after he had a couple of shaky outings. And now two strong innings from Izzy. I'm beginning to think his spot is safe.

G-Fafif wrote: Now that I have reached Jesse Orosco status, I am utterly, utterly charmed that he is listed as a starting pitcher, relief pitcher and right fielder. One of my all-time favorite Met games.

He had a much better 2009 than most people realize, but one very costly play when he was still in the fans' doghouse damned him.

The only way the other contestants were going to get enough ABs at this point was to let Castillo go, so you either commit to him now or boot him now. I don't expect the choice to be regretted.

Alas, for all the years Pat Zachry spent here, his best year came as a rookie in Cincinnati. Butch Metzger was already a has-been when he got here, if my long term memory is functioning properly.