So the Mets nearly had their Opening Day lineup available and deployed last night, with the exception of David Wright. But even that limited victory lasted just two innings, with center fielder Andres Torres leaving due to an injured calf. He’ll take the next few days off and then re-evaluate.
It’s a forgotten part of analyzing the Torres-for-Angel Pagan swap that Torres played just 112 games last season. So even if his production recovers to 2010 levels, there are no guarantees that he’ll be available on an everyday basis. Moreover, the alternatives to take his place: apparently, non-center fielders Adam Loewen and Mike Baxter, Jason Bay, who hasn’t played the position since 2004, and Jordany Valdespin, who is neither an outfielder by trade nor has the bat to carry the position, are the contestants.
Here’s what I’d like to see: Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
Look, there’s no telling what you get with Nieuwenhuis. This bright prospect missed most of last year with shoulder surgery. But his slash line in Triple-A for 221 plate appearances before he got hurt was a robust .298/.403/.505. And here’s the beauty part: he already plays center field!
There’s another component to this, though: it gives fans something to get excited about in the regular lineup. A bona fide prospect’s development isn’t something this team has a lot of among position players, either on the current roster or about to hit New York. Ruben Tejada and Lucas Duda are getting regular playing time this year, but both did last year as well. Nieuwenhuis is a shiny new toy. And Mets fans, frankly, deserve a present.
Would this be a good reason by itself? Absolutely not. But holy cow, look at the alternatives. This is a win on the field now, and in the stands for everyone who brings their kiddies and their wives. No guarantee, but worth a try.
UPDATE: As multiple readers have pointed out, Nieuwenhuis has an oblique injury himself. He is, however, scheduled to hit today, so the idea is he could get back in the near future. But man, when it rains, all the Mets slip and fall.
10 Comments
I think everyone agrees that if he were healthy, he’d be the first choice now, unfortunately, he’s still recovering from an oblique injury: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/40548/nieuwenhuis-still-on-mend-unavailable
Major league minimum salary. Perfect fit. How about Murphy in center? They haven’t tried him there yet. As someone noted elsewhere, they’re still paying Bobby Bonilla. Third base? If the 2012 Mets win 40 games, they’d be bumbling darlings. If they win 70, they’re just boring drones.
Nieuwenhuis was today sent down. Along with him, the best Met pitcher in Florida, Matt Harvey.
Niewenhuis is a AAA hitter. He can´t catch up to the good fastball and he can´t hit the stuff that moves either. He dropped an easy fly ball in CF…not a great sign. I don´t like his game at all…big swing, all effort, no success.
Jordany can hit. Who are the great hitting CF´ers right now.
Met lineup should be
Jordany
Ruben
Murphy
Duda
Davis
Wright
Bay
Thole
Pitcher
If we can get this lineup in every day, we are going to score some runs…
Do not sleep on Met pitching either.
Maybe you can drag four or five runs out of this lethargic group once in a blue moon. Problem is, you lose each of those games 9-5.
Aside from Pelfrey, our pitching is not bad…once our management team comes to its senses and cuts Pelfrey to make room for Harvey, we will be better than a lot of teams in the league.
F-Mart, long erected on a pedestal and promoted as the next future all-star and Hall of Fame outfielder for the Mets, was today sent down to Triple A by the talent-laden Astros.
I’m a Kirk fan! I hope he can get into a game or two before Spring training ends.