Minaya went from genius to Steve Phillips pretty damn quick.

Usually the Mets either have only one or two guys I hate, or like '93 or '02, they have 20+. This group has 4. Schoeneweis, Heilman, Sosa and Castillo. I dread seeing them out there.

I was no fan of the pre-Johan offseason, but it's still only April 23. This team looks inept at the plate, but we should bear in mind that the Cards and Marlins are both playing .600 ball. Too soon really to draw many conclusions. Reyes and Beltran need to produce more consistently at the plate, Delgado has turned into a singles hitter, Castillo is worthless in an offense built around walks and power, and Pagan is coming back down to earth. Castillo and Delgado are the issues I'm most concerned about going forward. A AAAA lefty masher would seem to be the best move, but it would probably involve kicking Marlon to the curb.

How often did they rub it in our faces that the Cubs snagged Reed Johnson before the Mets could?

The image of say....Sam M. leading a discussion in the socratic method only to suddnely burst out with a "MINAYAAAAAA!" is certainly a compelling one.

I don't know about Sam, but I tell my students right off the bat that I grade while watching the Mets and the class average will swing a full letter depending on how they're playing...it gives them incentive to root for the Mets, and I figure all that extra good will is worth .2 wins/season...

As a Twins fan, I'll support dealing Livan to the Mets. You're going to have to make up for the Santana deal though.

I don't know about Sam, but I tell my students right off the bat that I grade while watching the Mets and the class average will swing a full letter depending on how they're playing...it gives them incentive to root for the Mets, and I figure all that extra good will is worth .2 wins/season...

This made me LOL.

and that Figueroa is starting because, contrary to the loudly expressed wishes and desires of every fan and pundit with the least interest in the Mets, the team didn’t sign a cheap, reliable innings sponge such as Livan Hernandez or Kyle Lohse this winter.

I for one am mightily glad to see a good AAAA pitcher (good relative to other AAAA pitchers) getting starts rather than the washed up carcasses of the likes of Jose Lima 2006, Dave Williams 2006, Kaz Ishii 2005, Brian Lawrence 2007, James Baldwin 2004.

The Mets may be the best team in the National League, but it's Chicago that more and more looks the part.

The Diamondbacks politely disagree with both options. Best rotation, best defense, 125 runs scored, a 4-deep pen, young team only getting better, Scherzer throwing AAA cheddar/big league ready.

The Mets may be the best team in the National League, but it's Chicago that more and more looks the part.


The Diamondbacks politely disagree with both options. Best rotation, best defense, 125 runs scored, a 4-deep pen, young team only getting better, Scherzer throwing AAA cheddar/big league ready.

Eh, it's April 23rd. Not to say that any of these three teams (or another?) could assert their NL dominance, but geez, its April 23. Check back in 6 weeks.

Eh, it's April 23rd. Not to say that any of these three teams (or another?) could assert their NL dominance, but geez, its April 23. Check back in 6 weeks.

Semantics alert: "more and more looks the part"

Scherzer throwing AAA cheddar/big league ready

The putz finally allowed some runs yesterday--his 4th start in AAA--so his ERA on the season is now all the way up to 1.17. But gotta love his 38K/3BB ratio in 23IP.

$135M doesn't seem to buy Omar any love these days, does it? Who gets canned first if the Mets keep struggling, Omar or Willy?

Delgado's hurting this team at the plate an in the field. At this point, I'd rather see Eddie Kranepool back at 1B!

http://sportslocker.blogspot.com/

Certainly Reyes, Wright, and Beltran are top-notch players in any lineup, so the Mets simply need average production out of the other positions. Looking at them one-by-one, in order of worry (least worry to most):

Church: He's a keeper. He can hit for power, and is an above average right fielder defensively. Only real concerns here are health and the sustained ability to hit lefties (I think he will).

Alou/Pagan: When he plays, Alou will hit. Simple as that. Pagan seems to be having his career year, and he's still not that good. But combined with Alou's production when healthy, that should be enough, even for a corner outfield position.

Schneider: Still doesn't have an extra base-hit and his bat is weak. But he is a catcher, so he shouldn't be a millstone on the offense as long as he can get on base 1/3 of the time.

Castillo: He looks bad so far. His legs look shot, and his already-low SLG is cratering. The hope is that he can still put up a respectable OBP in the .340-.350 range and therefore extend rallies. Also, he's perfect in the 8 hole because of his desire to take walks (hopefully Willie realizes this).

Delgado: The big concern. I think Mets fans would run with a .350/.450/.800 OPS line if offered. There are some AB's where it seems like he's hitting into hard luck, but there are others where his swing looks very defensive and therefore useless. You still have to give him a couple more weeks to see if he'll come out of it. He really should sit against tough lefties.

Altogether, while this lineup is clearly not in the elite, it still has the potential to be quite productive. And as long as the pitching is among the elite (which I think it will be), we should be OK.

You heard it here first: in the offseason, Omar signs Orlando Hudson to 5 year, $55m deal.

than the washed up carcasses of the likes of Jose Lima 2006, Dave Williams 2006, Kaz Ishii 2005, Brian Lawrence 2007, James Baldwin 2004.

What about Kyle Lohse?

I for one am mightily glad to see a good AAAA pitcher (good relative to other AAAA pitchers) getting starts rather than the washed up carcasses of the likes of Jose Lima 2006, Dave Williams 2006, Kaz Ishii 2005, Brian Lawrence 2007, James Baldwin 2004.

And you think Figueroa is better than these guys because?

Who gets canned first if the Mets keep struggling, Omar or Willy?

and...

You heard it here first: in the offseason, Omar signs Orlando Hudson to 5 year, $55m deal.

So are you tiping your hand, and you really suspect Willy gets canned? I agree with the Hudson to Mets thing, i've thought the same thing as well. Mostly because you keep saying Byrnes won't resign Hudson, and the Mets in reality have the hole at 2nd -- Castillo's years left aside.

Carlos Delgado, right now, is the worst regular starter the Mets have had since Roger Cedeno played centerfield. Possibly since Bobby Bonilla opened the 1999 season as a rightfielder. He is the worst defensive first baseman in the league, and he is possibly the worst offensive firstbaseman in the league, assuming that Rich Aurilia is going to retire in shame soon. That is a very nifty trick to pull.

Last year the optimist's spin was that his very slow start back from a hand injury was understandable, and he rebounded to solid performance from May on. This year his hip injury is proving just as big an impact on his swing as the hand was, and it is murdering his defense, which was already crappy. He is immobile. He is Jason Giambi or David Ortiz. He can only make plays on balls hit right at him, and he doesn't even have Mo Vaughn's soft hands.

In the first few games it looked like Delgado was making a point of flaring singles the other way, Tony Gwynn style, as if he understood that he needed a new approach at the plate. It now appears that that smart hitting to the opposite field was in fact dumb luck, a few bloops that just happened to find holes over there.

I don't think he should be released immediately ... but if I'm Minaya I am working on my contingency plans for a summer without Delgado. He may have played himself off the team by then.

Delgado's hurting this team at the plate an in the field. At this point, I'd rather see Eddie Kranepool back at 1B!

http://sportslocker.blogspot.com/

If you are going to spam the site, shouldn't you learn to use html tags? It is not like you have to write them out

I do have a huge amount of faith in Figueroa, more than one ever should in a AAAA guy. But my hunch is that he's going to be a big league starter for a few years - I think he may fashion a Paul Byrd-ish second career for himself.

I agree with the Hudson to Mets thing, i've thought the same thing as well. Mostly because you keep saying Byrnes won't resign Hudson

Webb's agent yesterday went into a long tirade about Hudson declining an extension offer from the Dbacks, and then opined that Omar would love to pay $9m/year for Hudson's services. Now, while I find it strange for Webb's agent to comment on Hudson, I do think that's the sentiment in the industry right now--unless Kenny W jumps in and steals Hudson from Omar's fantasy. My personal impression is that the Dbacks have made an honest effort to keep Hudson in AZ, and have been trying to sign him long term over the last two years, but Hudson (and especially Hudson's agent) has been adamant about testing free agency--and the Dbacks aren't going to pursue Hudson once he becomes a free agent.

And you think Figueroa is better than these guys because?

I would guess because he has had some success in the minors?

Delgado: The big concern. I think Mets fans would run with a .350/.450/.800 OPS line if offered. There are some AB's where it seems like he's hitting into hard luck, but there are others where his swing looks very defensive and therefore useless. You still have to give him a couple more weeks to see if he'll come out of it. He really should sit against tough lefties.

We all knew he was on the Mo Vaughn as a Met career path didn't we? Were there people out there who actually expected a good year out of Carlos?

The Mets will still be ok, but the Delgado situation isn't even mildly surprising.

From the category of I'm Just Sayin':
Mike Carp has posted .425/.469/.712 through his first 73 ABs at Binghamton.

Delgado may not have much range, but he has mastered the sweep tag, saving Wright, and even Reyes a bunch of potential errors.

He does look pretty bad at the plate right now. I have no idea what he and HoJo are looking at when they say "everything is functioning well". He looks somewhat discombobulated.

I just hope plan B is not Abreu. To balance things out, Carp, Evans and Murphy are all mashing at Binghamton.

And you think Figueroa is better than these guys because?

they sucked and should have been predicted to suck.

Anyone who played fantasy baseball for more than few years knows that the DOWNSIDE these old farts (old vets, declining stuff, recent ERAs over 5.00) present is worse than any random AAAer (At least you know the random AAAer usually won't get another start after his piss-poor stuff gets shelled- teams always seem to want to give the vet who has nothing left another start or two...)

they sucked and should have been predicted to suck.

Really? I still remember having "Dave Williams, league average starter" stuffed down my throat two years ago.

He does look pretty bad at the plate right now. I have no idea what he and HoJo are looking at when they say "everything is functioning well". He looks somewhat discombobulated.

HoJo is being polite.
Delgado is in denial.

BTW since the trade Delgado is at .258/.345/.484 and Mike Jacobs is at .265/.321/.477
For that negligible gain in production the Mets have paid many millions of dollars...
but on the other hand both Petit and Psomas look like complete busts


The problem is- where's the contingency plan?
AAA? Unless you count Tatis (I don't).
Carp??? He's 22 and hit .251/.337/.387 in Binghamton last year (after hitting .287/.379/.450 in the FSL at age 20- Wright hit 270/.368/.459 there at the same age- but scouts always loved Wright- they don't even like Carp)- if Carp is hitting .363/.458/.619 after 223 ABs, then by all means- promote him- I wouldn't hold my breath though

If/when Alou returns- put him at 1B and let Pagan/Endy play in left?

Trade?

Really? I still remember having "Dave Williams, league average starter" stuffed down my throat two years ago.

Not by me, but I do remember reading that as well.... and wondering what people were smoking.

but on the other hand both Petit and Psomas look like complete busts

I can't comment on Psomas, but Petit posted 103 ERA+ as a sport starter (10GS) and occasional reliever over 57 IP last year. He's still 23. That hardly screams "bust" to me. Maybe that's a "bust" in the eyes of Mets fans who two-three years ago were creaming their pants expecting him to be the next Gooden...

[edit] I will say though that Petit is not very suited for Chase Field. Ideally, he gets traded to a team with a ballpark that forgives flyball pitchers... but in the meantime, he'll be just fine as the long reliever/back of the rotation insurance in AZ

HoJo is being polite.
Delgado is in denial.

BTW since the trade Delgado is at .258/.345/.484 and Mike Jacobs is at .265/.321/.477
For that negligible gain in production the Mets have paid many millions of dollars...

Yeah, but that isn't fair, because the 06 Mets had a legitimate chance to win a WS and having Delago at first instead of Jacobs made them that much better. Sure, they didn't win the WS in 06, but with Delgado they had a very good chance.

I really hate it when people cite the total value of a contract as though it's all paid out in year 1. The Mets didn't spend $135 million in 2008, and you really can't blame that contract or use it as an excuse for why they didn't make other upgrades or address other team needs.

I really hate it when people cite the total value of a contract as though it's all paid out in year 1. The Mets didn't spend $135 million in 2008, and you really can't blame that contract or use it as an excuse for why they didn't make other upgrades or address other team needs.

I'm pretty sure $135 million is the Mets' total payroll this year, not a reference to Santana's deal.

Yeah, but that isn't fair, because the 06 Mets had a legitimate chance to win a WS and having Delago at first instead of Jacobs made them that much better. Sure, they didn't win the WS in 06, but with Delgado they had a very good chance.

Yes that's true, but '06 Mets were making the playoffs with or without Delgado and the the '08 Mets may very well miss the playoffs if '08 Delgado is as bad as we Mets fans fear.

Yes that's true, but '06 Mets were making the playoffs with or without Delgado and the the '08 Mets may very well miss the playoffs if '08 Delgado is as bad as we Mets fans fear.

It is true that they would have made the playoffs in 06 with or without him, but their ability to go further in 06 would have been hampered without him. (He hit 351/442/757). I still make that trade.