Today in The Journal News and LoHud.com, there are details on John Maine’s shoulder surgery yesterday, which wasn’t a major deal. There’s also a column by Rick Carpiniello that leads with his thought that the Mets relied too much on four hitters. Think they should keep the big four—Wright, Reyes, Beltran and Delgado—and just tinker with those around them in the lineup?
As for Rich’s posted suggestions for improving the team (Kevin Youkilis, Milton Bradley, Daniel Murphy at second, Derek Lowe or Jon Garland, Huston Street and/or K-Rod), let’s start with Youkilis. Bringing him here to play first wouldn’t be a bad idea. He’s the kind of solid-hitting, winning, intense player they any team could use. But I’d be shocked if Boston dealt him. Carlos Delgado said the other day he wants to play two more years and then reassess. There are some who think now’s the time to let him go. My guess is they’ll pick up his option and then decide whether to deal him, since the buyout is stiff at $4 million.
Bradley is a good hitter, but he’s sensitive to criticism, so this may not be the best place for him. Murphy is headed to the Arizona Fall League to play some second, but it’s hard to envision him having the range to play that position up here. He could be a future first baseman, though, especially with David Wright blocking third.
I like Lowe over Garland, especially since he’s been through the Boston experience and has been through a lot of pressure situations, but the commitment can’t be too long at his age. I would think Huston Street could be had the way the A’s dump their people, but can you count on him? K-Rod is attractive coming off this record-breaking season, but the Mets are concerned about the number of years it would take in relation to the thought that closers can break down, as they saw with Billy Wagner. K-Rod is known to have an awkward delivery. People also say his velocity is down. And yet he seems to get out of every jam. We’ll see if they change their feelings. It will be worth watching Rodriguez in the postseason.
7 Comments
I like the idea of Evans and Murphy moving thier platoon to 1B and finding a suitable fit in LF (Manny Ramirez) rather than keeping Delgado or trying the trade market for someone else. The FA market is thin after Tex at 1B. Its Evans best position, and possibly Murphy’s.
If Murphy could see time at 2B as well it would help, but I think they need a true 2B like Orlando Hudson.
Delgado is a very serious guy, I think the team needs a lighter influence like Manny to bring some fun to a very serious core of players. As much as anything this team missed the fun of Pedro’s antics (understandable) and Carlos Gomez.
I like Lowe as a replacement for Pedro, but as a replacement for Perez I think its a slight downgrade on the field, and maybe a solid upgrade in the clubhouse. Not that Ollie is a bad guy at all, just not a leader. But they need the guy to get them wins to replace Perez, and a guy like Lowe to replace Pedro’s leadership. Santana, Lowe, Pelfrey, Maine & Niese would worry me too much, and has no safety net.
a different view on K-Rod…
He has developed as a pitcher. He no longer wants to strike everyone out, but rather get quick outs. We saw Wagner do that this year to, but in K-Rod’s case it isnt because he is old or hurt, but because he wanted to rack up as many saves as possible and break the record. You cant pitch 4 days in a row if you are throwing 25 pitches and striking out the side. He has learned to be a better pitcher this year and is going to be the best closer in baseball for the next five years, imo.
Passing on him would be yet another example of Omar failing to see the reality of the situation due to his own preconceived notion.
I think Met fans who want Evans and Murhpy to platoon at 1st Base are forgetting that 1B is a corner, power bat position. The reason Evans and Murphy were not top prospects had more to do with their position (1B & 3B respectively) and their lack of power. Currently they are gap power type hitters. Delgado’s HRs will be missed big time. Even as LFs they have below average power. A Delgado/Evens platoon at 1B may be more reasonable. Let Murphy play LF and spell D. wright at 3B from time to time against tough righties. I wouldn’t mind bundling Murphy with Kunz & Heilman to trade for Maglio Ordonez to add a very good right handed bat if the rumors about the Tigers looking to shed payroll are true.
I don’t want the Mets to pursue Ollie beyond #3/4 pitcher dollars.Of the available mid rotation pitchers I like Lowe but wouldn’t rule out a hard play for CC. If this team “over acheived” then Mr. Wilpon should pony up the cash to aquire more talent and offer CC what Santana got. Then the top 3 in the rotation would have a realistic shot at giving the team 7 innings per outing. That will help with the pen. I think Heilman should take a break and then pitch in the winter leagues to build arm strength for a move to the rotation. It’s sink or swim time for him; if he can’t break into the rotation then he has to make the team as a releiver or be traded/dumped. Sanchez should be given a shot at redemption. I don’t think he was ready for the work load and we saw the after affects of two years on the DL in 2008. I wouldn’t throw him out of the pen without another shot. Schowenwies and Feliciano were very good lefty speacialists. Keep one lefty specialisy to go with Joe Smith and get rid of the other. What the pen needs is a closer and three guys that can do an avevage job against lefties and righties. Basically three relief pitchers are needed. Add two new starters (1 from the organization and 1 new face), a righty 1B platoon half (Evans), a legit LF with power. My God spring training is a long way off.
my opinion is that if you can get a special player in LF then you can do without Delgado at 1B. You get that production from 1B and RF this year, LF and RF next year.
So a 1B or LF power bat is an unterchangable situation because of Evans and Murphy.
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