He is a decent player that will provide .275/18/70/.360/40db in 500 AB. For 6th or 7th in the order, alot of teams would take that. Mets will take it too.

He is not a 6th place hitter for a team that scores 950 runs. But Mets don’t have to score 950. 850 would have sufficed last yr to make the playoffs. 850 will suffice this yr if the pitching is improved.

It is true that the majority of defensive plays are either “makable” or not. But I don’t think its as overwhelming as you make it out to be, and the plays that do make the difference between a “great” defensive player and a “good” one aren’t the ones you see on ESPN’s web gems. They are the ones who execute fundamental baseball day in and day out and don’t make mistakes. There are plenty of times in a season where a defensive play can be the deciding factor in a given game, whether it be a good play or a poor play. I definitely feel that having a quality defense as opposed to an average defense is worth a handful of wins at the end of the season. Does having 8 gold glovers have the same impact as five ace pitchers? Probably not, but I still feel its a very important part of the game that’s just difficult to see.

He had almost 500 AB last yr. To me, he has already proven he can play everyday whether it is 6th or 7th. 6th is more of an RBI spot but he isn’t being asked to bat cleanup.

As for Delgado’s hip that the stick mentions, it doesn’t bother me either. my hip doesn’t hurt a bit…...However, I wouldn’t want to be swinging a bat with a pain in my hip.

Ok you got me on Alou. No, I don’t believe he hits .340, but .300 yes. Alou has always hit when he plays. Unless you think he is going to play 30 games instead of 80, the production should be same as last yr from LF. Just b/c you don’t like the signing does not mean he won’t hit.

Delgado’s hip? Time will tell. But he did play last yr w/several injuries, including a hip. I don’t see why he can’t do 20/75.

Beltran and Castillo played on bad knees last yr. Beltran won a SS. Castillo did alright. Unless the surgeries went wrong, I don’t see how they perform worse.

Just b/c you don’t like Church deal does not mean he will play poorly. He is hitting 7th in the order. He is not being asked to do more than in the past so I don’t see how playing in NY effects him.

Agree w/stick. Scheinder/Castro is as good as LoDuca.

Delgado’s hip doesn’t actually bother me that much. Most likely, if it had been during the season, he would have had treatment and just played through it. At this point, they know what it is, and will do regular maintenance on it (drugs, treatment, etc.).

If that is the worst physical ailment he has this year, we are in good shape!

And Schneider will be just as productive as Loduca was last year (hard not to be, since Paulie stunk with the bat). Also, keep in mind that Schneiders numbers were dragged down by playing against lefties, and with Castro, he should get more rest against the tougher ones.

And since Castro will play more this year than last (at least that is the plan), the overall numbers from the catchers spot should be better.

RF, with Church, should also be overall better, and more stable, and certainly the D should improve!

Alou? You think a guy who will be 42 is going to hit over 340 again, especially since he has injuries already, coming off surgery. He definitely regresses.
Delgado: This is a big question. If his hip bothers him a lot he will miss enough games to continue to regress. If his hip feels ok then its a question of one bad year or rapid aging.
Church worse than Green? We’ll see. You never can guarantee a player’s reaction to NY. He might thrive or be a disaster.
Schneider vs LoDuca… Yes the offense is worse. But what is worse his prsence in the 8 th spot makes it very hard for Randolph to fit Alou’s subs into the lineup where they can help.
Reyes: If he doesn’t bounce bacvk this team is in big trouble.
Beltran> wouldn’t youy like to know if the knees really hurt or not.
Castillo: See Beltran…..

Robert: If we need to bring up the guys you are watching then this team is finioshed. None of them are big league ready….

Who is going to regress?

Delgado less than 24HR/87?

Alou?

Reyes less than .280/12/57?

Is Church/Scheinder worse than Green/LoDuca?

The teams offense finished 4th in runs scored last yr. Unless Alou and Delgado play 50 games ea, I don’t see the regression. I see an increase in runs scored from a better Reyes, a similar Delgado and Alou, a better RF and more out of 2B.

Jeter, I mean, there’s an over-rated defender if I’ve ever seen one in my entire life.

He simply doesn’t have a shortstop’s range and so plays that would be routine for any other shortstop he has to make LOOK hard with the dive and the throw.

How often is that ball going to get hit that Average Centre-Fielder can’t get to but Beltran or Hunter or whoever can?

Once a week? Once a month? Ten times a season?

I think the difference between good and excellent defense is especially hard to see with Beltran. He looks so effortless when he runs, we take for granted just how much range he has and just how good his jumps are. This could be said for Reyes to. The fact that he combines great range, speed, and a cannon arm means he runs balls down that an average SS would have to dive for, and he’s almost always got time to set and throw. A good contrast for this is Derek Jeter, who frequently throws off balance or moving in the other direction. Granted Jeter is quite good at that throw, you’d always rather see the guy have time to set himself and make a good strong throw.

Also… extraordinary defense is a bit over-rated in baseball insofar as the small number of places where an amazing fielder will actually make a play that a simply good fielder will not.

Most of the time, either a good fielder will make the play or no fielder would be able to make the play.

Delgado’s defense will regress, Castillo and Schneider are not the defensive wizards they used to be and while Church is probably a better fielder than Milledge was at the end of last season, Milledge is going to eventually grow into a better fielder than Church is now.

I’d say that the defensive “upgrades” will be minor at best.

07 12-21, 06 16-14, 05 17-11, 04 13-20

“Oh, they can definitely pitch but will the aging and brittle starting line-up stay healthy enough to close the deal for the pitchers?”

Its a question that is a long ways away from an answer, still.