BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: SNY: Salfino: Mets, Yanks face off in shabby shape

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Friday, May 16, 2008

SNY: Salfino: Mets, Yanks face off in shabby shape

Before this train reaches the next station it will become the scene of the most spectacular Mets hijack ever attempted!

Why do both teams, given their high payrolls, have such weak benches? Shouldn’t all that extra salary buy you some depth? The Mets banked on either Damion Easley repeating his outlying 2007 or Luis Castillo (who limps around like Fred G. Sanford) making 150 starts. Of course, neither is going to happen. Perhaps the front office disagrees with me and views Marlon Anderson as something more than the new Lenny Harris (pinch-hitter with no pop and zero defensive value).

Endy Chavez could be DFA’d right now and not be claimed. Angel Pagan? He’s at best Endy Chavez in 2006 form, if Chavez couldn’t field. Ramon Castro makes Castillo seem like Cal Ripken.

I’d have been happier if the team called up Val Pascucci rather than Fernando Tatis. In New Orleans, Tatis went .242/.345/.597. Pascucci, in 59 at-bats, is .303/.393/.731. Last year in Triple-A, Tatis hit 21 homers (in a pitcher’s park), Pascucci 34 (leading the Pacific Coast League, but in Albuquerque). Tatis is 33, Pascucci 29.

The Yankees bench has been terrible, too. Morgan Ensberg is showing why multiple teams released him. Shelley Duncan has done nothing with his limited opportunities. Alberto Gonzalez was actually useful during Jeter’s absence—5.27 assists per nine innings at short versus a pathetic 3.89 for Jeter (average is 4.57).

Repoz Posted: May 16, 2008 at 05:27 PM | 14 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: mets, yankees

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Melo's Love Handles (NJ) Posted: May 16, 2008 at 05:46 PM (#2783294)

Alberto Gonzalez was actually useful during Jeter’s absence—5.27 assists per nine innings at short versus a pathetic 3.89 for Jeter (average is 4.57).

Make fun of the rest of the bench if you want, but speak no evil of The Former AG.

2. Russlan will never be fond of Jason Bay Posted: May 16, 2008 at 06:32 PM (#2783347)

Luis Castillo may limp but the man does have a .370 OBP and is ranked sixth in the majors in ZR at second despite a BABIP that is 45 points lower than usual. Castillo is playing about as well as the Mets could have hoped.

3. The Essex Snead Posted: May 16, 2008 at 06:37 PM (#2783357)

How can he be the "former" AG when those are his initials? (Very funny! Like TBS!)

I'd like to think the Yankees' weak bench this year is in honor of the historically weak bench the Yankees annually employed at the tail end of Torre's tenure. I especially liked it when Minky was playing 1B last year, and John Sterling or Michael Kay would trumpet that they have JASON GIAMBI coming off the bench for the princely sum of $21 million.

4. PreservedFish Posted: May 16, 2008 at 06:38 PM (#2783364)

Castillo is interesting to watch. He has the most simple batting strategy. He goes up there looking for a walk, and then if the pitcher starts throwing strikes he just starts slapping. He has 18 walks to 11 strikeouts. It almost seems like he's decided that he'll never have another extra base hit (at least as a lefty), so why bother?

5. Metman died today. Or yesterday maybe, Posted: May 16, 2008 at 06:53 PM (#2783389)

6. Melo's Love Handles (NJ) Posted: May 16, 2008 at 06:57 PM (#2783394)

I can only assume there has been some type of error in regards to the Mets record. I was assured that the Mets would win at least 95 games this year and that they would be the best team in the NL. This is a national tragedy. Arlen Specter should investigate.

Someone is going to make you look stupid by posting the worst 40 or so game stretches of teams that have won~95 games the last few years.

7. Metman died today. Or yesterday maybe, Posted: May 16, 2008 at 07:07 PM (#2783413)

Someone is going to make you look stupid by posting the worst 40 or so game stretches of teams that have won~95 games the last few years.

No doubt.

Mets' Last 148 Games = 74-74; 730 RS; 727 RA

Let me know when it's safe for me to conclude that they are not a 95 win team.

8. Conor Posted: May 16, 2008 at 07:10 PM (#2783418)

Let me know when it's safe for me to conclude that they are not a 95 win team.

When they lose their 68th game?

9. Metman died today. Or yesterday maybe, Posted: May 16, 2008 at 07:12 PM (#2783419)

To be fair, over the last 162 they are 83-79; 785 RS, 779 RA

10. There are no words... (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: May 16, 2008 at 07:29 PM (#2783431)

To be fair, over the last 162 they are 83-79; 785 RS, 779 RA

And this is something to write home about?

11. Conor Posted: May 16, 2008 at 07:32 PM (#2783434)

The Yankees started 18-21 last year and won 94 games.

12. There are no words... (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: May 16, 2008 at 07:34 PM (#2783435)

The Yankees started 18-21 last year and won 94 games.

Cue Francesa: "Yeah, Dawg, but they're the Yankees..."

13. Melo's Love Handles (NJ) Posted: May 16, 2008 at 07:49 PM (#2783447)

Wasn't the low point 21-29? My memory could be off.

14. Conor Posted: May 16, 2008 at 07:53 PM (#2783450)

Wasn't the low point 21-29? My memory could be off.

Looks like it; I was just using their 39 game record since thats where the Mets are at right now.
They were 21-29, and then 12 games later they were at 500, after a 10-2 stretch. They actually got to 34-32, but before too long they were back to 36-39, before they just went on a tear. They were 40-41 at the halfway point, and finished 54-27.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Friday, May 16, 2008

SNY: Salfino: Mets, Yanks face off in shabby shape

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics