Ceetar

Centerfield wrote: Is Julio Franco retired? Someone should see what he's been up to. Or even Matt Franco. Lenny Harris is the new third base coach in Miami.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Josh was talking about the possibility of trading for a guy like Ben Zobrist. He's rehabbing a knee now but might come at the right price. Ceetar wrote: intrigued by the Zobrist bit though, since you could always move him to SS, or elsewhere, as guys get healthy. What would it take? might be Matz right? Yes, so I proposed that Billy Beane might want to trade Zobrist for Matz. But it's only partly up to him.

Thorsblot on Wednesday!

I'm still not sure who's proposing this.

Frayed Knot wrote: And the frustrating part is that it didn't look like this going in. They started off with a crew plus some backups who had some combination of either finishing up strong last season (Nieuwenhuis), or had really good springs (Nieuy again, plus Muno, Mondell, Castellanos), or had a track record of ML success in specific role situations (Mayberry vs LHP, Nieuwy vs RHP) and yet ALL of them have thus far failed miserably and then the ones brought in to replace the initial washouts are now washing out. It's probably sample size meaninglessness, but Nieuwenhuis wasn't very good off the bench last year either, most of his value came in his spot starts.

Centerfield wrote: He cannot. I stopped arguing with him last winter when he refused to acknowledge that having the ability to spend more on payroll is an advantage for a team. I only argue to pass the time. I used to debate but you guys rarely respond with facts or logic so it never works.

Nymr83 wrote: i have the mlb radio app on my phone and decided to tune in just now to the 10th inning of Angels/Padres, the Angels broadcasters were bashing the idea that BABIP was meaningful (they were likely discussing the underperforming Matt Kemp, who was at bat and just cleared the bases with a double) their "argument" was that it didnt take into account strikeouts, well yeah, it doesnt claim to you fucking morons! Someone should tell them it doesn't take into account home runs either and really get them going.

Tejada's a push at 1:1. I agree that Flores needs to hit longballs. It's the only thing that keeping him somewhat viable. Of course, he could start walking some too, and providing overall offensive ability, but maybe don't hold your breath on that.

Edgy MD wrote: I see. It's my job to research your claim. Got it. it's certainly not my job to educate you. if you're going to call my point false, one that seems pretty well established to me, then give me some facts. truthfully 10 anecdotal examples won't quite do it anyway. I mean, here's a quick and dirty query. last year Rookies hit for a wRC+ of 80 compared to the league average 96. Hell, league SS had an 87 wRC+. Chances are a callup isn't even going to hit as well as your average major league SS.

How about he out-homers the routine plays he's botched? because he's not doing that either.

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: I don't know about you but I've known Lucas Duda has been good for years and am not surprised. I'm not surprised. That's more or less a big part of my point. Will these conclusive statistics be forthcoming? no, you know where the stats pages are. Go look up 10 prospects last full season in the minors and see how the first full majors season compares, then look up 10 established players one year versus the next and see which correlates more.

I don't know about you but I've known Lucas Duda has been good for years and am not surprised. Maybe a little surprised by the actually lefty success (as opposed to just not sucking against them) this year, but that's about it. Duda's actually a good example. I said to someone near the end of 2011 that I'd rather gamble on Lucas Duda hitting than Domonic Brown. Brown was Baseball America's #4 prospect coming into that season. He destroyed the minors. Lucas Duda is, and was, better than him. The majors are tough. I'm not pissing away a playoff shot by giving Matt Reynolds or Herrera 200 AB to hang themselves or find themselves. And certainly not both at the same time combined with playing Flores and Plawecki.

Edgy MD wrote: Life is a gamble. There's no need to quote "work." It's an established term and the activities I'm describing meet the criteria. I disagree that less major league experience necessarily means a bigger risk. well, you can disagree all you want, the statistics bare out the truth. The best way to know how a guy will hit in the majors is to see him hit in the majors. I'm quoting 'work' because A. I doubt guys aren't doing what they need to do, and B. no amount of work can replace a guy's talent ceiling. This is like Terry Collins saying "uh guys, maybe don't strike out so much?" like they're not trying to hit the damn baseball.

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: Ahh, the glorious "Let's just play the guys we have and hope they're good/get better" plan.Guys DO get better. And it's not just a matter of hope. It's a matter of work. It's a matter of a philosophy that folks are on board with. It's a matter of the right personnel. It's a matter of investing in youth. It's a matter of major and minor league track records. It's a matter of intelligently experimenting with combinations. It's a matter of rehabilitation and having information about your players that other people don't have. Yup, but we've got a hell of lot of gambles in that department, and no matter plans and information and 'work' the less major league experience they have the bigger the risk. The idea here is to reduce the risk and create more stable offense. Can the Mets afford that many growing pains? it doesn't seem like it.

Nymr83 wrote: Centerfield wrote: And for what it's worth, fuck Ben Zobrist. Call up Reynolds. If it's a few weeks, play him at third base. If Wright it out an extended period of time, play Reynolds at SS and Flores at third. When Dilson Herrera gets healthy sit anyone that isn't hitting and re-align as necessary. Bang. A Plan. Ahh, the glorious "Let's just play the guys we have and hope they're good/get better" plan.

TransMonk wrote: I enjoy watching Flores as a hitter and I am slowly becoming a fan. He is not perfect defensively, but if he can make the routine plays and hit 25 HRs, I can live with limited range. Only Ian Desmond makes a lower percentage of routine plays at SS this year.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: "You people" is a bit too broad. There's only one person here who seems to think it's a good idea. I don't see even one. Well, unless you count Billy Beane, but I don't think he's here.

Centerfield wrote: Getting back to Wright for a second, Sandy's latest comments suggest he may be back sooner than expected. Will see a specialist in California and will know more in a few days. I am encouraged by his comment: �None of the doctors at this point have given us any indication this is a long-term problem that can�t be managed.� Of course, this is classic Sandy-speak, in that presumably none of the doctors have given any indication that this is a short term problem that can be managed. This is the only answer he would give in public. So either he's going to be fine or he's trying to make other GMs think he's not desperate for a quality bat that can play 3B.

Inside edge doesn't love him much. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&stats=fld≶=all&qual=y&type=3&season=2015&month=0&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=15,d

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It would seem pretty ridiculous to trade Matz for Zobrist, particularly when he might not be worth a lot more than Gee. Matz or Zobrist?

d'Kong76 wrote: Mets SS Wilmer Flores, who had an RBI single Sunday, has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games. For something that might be a feel good statement, it kinda hasn't felt that way? His line over that stretch: .286/.298/.482 with 1 walk, 3 HR and 2 GIDP The power is good of course, and I that plays okay at SS (depending on just how damaging his defense turns out to be long term) but it's not exactly a 'good' performance. Especially with the offense struggling in general, and there being no one on base to drive in. Curtis Granderson � RF Juan Lagares � CF Lucas Duda � 1B Daniel Murphy � 2B Michael Cuddyer � LF Wilmer Flores � SS Danny Muno � 3B Anthony Recker � C Bartolo Colon � RHP

Tampa, presumably was salary dumping though. Is Oakland after the same thing? Or perhaps because they gave up so little they'd be less stingy about getting more? Murphy can't play SS and (well, perhaps Flores can't either) Flores can't get on base. Zobrist is better, and fits the profile of a guy that you wouldn't necessarily have to bench if/when Wright comes back. and even if Wright were only out for the year, he's a one-year guy that you don't need to keep next year. I mean, Wright is irreplaceable. You're not replacing his production in one guy. So any best case scenario includes him returning, so it makes sense to make a move that factors that possiblity in. Someone that can play elsewhere. Zobrist fits the bill. There are surely other guys, but at least Zobrist is pretty good over a long stretch. OPS+ of at least 112 every year but one going back to 2008. Has played some SS going back to last year (and it's not like we'd be replacing a gold glover there, he won't be worse than Flores) And this was what, his first DL stint? He played at least 146 games each of the last 6 years. Yes, clearly give him a physical, and yes he's older so maybe don't sign him long term, but he's an above average quality player and the Mets sorely need that. Would rather gamble on his health than gamble on someone else (particularly a mostly sucky guy like McGehee) having a good second half.

I'm not suggesting the Mets should necessarily deal Matz, i'm just theorizing on the price for an above average hitter for a long time who can play many positions and it's still May. Obviously it depends on Billy Beane too. Maybe Matz is too close to the majors, but it's probably right around what the As ask for.

McGheee? I wouldn't pay him a dime. I worry about Rick Ankiel types. You bring a guy in and you're almost committing to at least trying him a bunch. Ankiel helped us lose games, I have little doubt this guy would too. intrigued by the Zobrist bit though, since you could always move him to SS, or elsewhere, as guys get healthy. What would it take? might be Matz right?

Edgy MD wrote: Dianosis on David Wright. A narrowing of the spinal column. So says Anthony DiComo. It's a serious but treatable condition, but it's what forced Lenny Dykstra from the game at 35 (as opposed to chronic gambling and rampant drug and alcohol abuse). medically, 20 years ago is a long time. Seems like there are various degrees to this and it's impossible to know how bad it is at this stage.