I fear that one day someone will be impaled by a flying bat. Murphy's Law certainly applies.

While taking a lead off third, [Delgado] was hit in the arm by Brady Clark’s shattered bat. . . .

Also, that wouldn’t have happened if the Mets had signed Barry Bonds instead of keeping Brady Clark around.

After reading this, I decided to fire up the old Transdimensional Viewfinder -- haven't used it in a while -- and check in on Alternate Reality BB72(C), in which the Mets did, indeed, sign Barry Bonds.

What do you know? Turns out in that reality, Bonds was hitting last week in a simulated game against Pedro, and hit a screaming line drive off Pedro's skull. Killed him instantly.

Wouldn't have happened if the Mets had just stuck with Brady Clark.

The moral of the story? Stay away from alternate realities. They suck.

I had to get up and walk around for a minute after reading 2, Sam--just hilarious. Well done.

I do want the Mets to get an outfielder/1b who can hit lefties a little bit. I don't want Barry on the team. I don't want the money that might be spent on Barry to not be available to get a deal done for this hypothetical OF/1B so that instead we wind up with this year's version of Jeff F. Conine.

I am more concerned with the rotation depth than I am about first base/rightfield. Pelfrey needs to be in AAA the entire season in 2008, IMO. It was a mistake to rush him last year. His secondary stuff is mediocre.

BTW, I asked this question in a different thread. What do you guys think of this potential trade.

Pelfrey for Cabrera.

Cabrera being Daniel Cabrera, BTW.

I do it in a second.

Pelfrey needs to be in AAA the entire season in 2008, IMO. It was a mistake to rush him last year. His secondary stuff is mediocre.

I don't think there is good evidence that a player develops better in AAA than in MLB. Usuaully if the pitcher can "handle" MLB, even if he handles it not so great, pitching to MLB players is better for you development.

What do you know? Turns out in that reality, Bonds was hitting last week in a simulated game against Pedro, and hit a screaming line drive off Pedro's skull. Killed him instantly.

Wouldn't have happened if the Mets had just stuck with Brady Clark.

The moral of the story? Stay away from alternate realities. They suck.

Oh, I didn't realize I made up that Clark hit Delgado.

I am more concerned with the rotation depth than I am about first base/rightfield. Pelfrey needs to be in AAA the entire season in 2008, IMO. It was a mistake to rush him last year. His secondary stuff is mediocre.

BTW, I asked this question in a different thread. What do you guys think of this potential trade.

Pelfrey for Cabrera.

Ordinarily I'd agree with your thoughts on Pelfrey and AAA, as I'm completely unimpressed thus far with him. That said, I don't have to be impressed. If he can improve even slightly on last year and put up an ERA of 5.25 in 175 or so IP, that has a lot of value to the Mets. He's cheap, and that's not far off what we might be able to expect from D. Cabrera. Pelfrey also could improve into a respectable fourth starter, while Cabrera seems to be headed in the opposite direction.

And with that said, I'd need to know a lot more than I do, and I'd need the additional information almost entirely in the form of scouting reports: What was going on with the unprecedented jump in Cabrera's HRA rate, for instance. Is his the sort of stuff that will thrive coming to the NL? Etc.

I don't think there is good evidence that a player develops better in AAA than in MLB. Usuaully if the pitcher can "handle" MLB, even if he handles it not so great, pitching to MLB players is better for you development.

I think Pelfrey should be in AAA not because it will help him develop more quickly or better, but because he hasn't shown that he's going to be any good and I don't trust him. As a 5th starter, it's not a big deal, but I would like to see him have some success getting hitters out (whether AAA or MLB) before throwing him against Atlanta or Philly in a critical series.

Oh, I didn't realize I made up that Clark hit Delgado.

Oy. Man, sometimes you take some things just a little too seriously, Chris.

There might be a lot of really good arguments and reasons for the Mets to sign Barry Bonds and sign "See ya" to Brady Clark. A freak play like a shattered bat hitting Delgado is obviously not one of them. By definition, a freak play like that can happen to ANY player, any time -- including Barry Bonds. He might have lost his grip on the bat in that same situation and killed Carlos Delgado, or broken Delgado's arm and put him out for half the season. Who the hell knows??? You criticize a team/GM for not making moves based on what they should reasonably anticipate. Well, Minaya could reasonably anticipate how much better a hitter Bonds is . . . not that Clark's shattered bat would hit Delgado. So if you want to argue they should sign Bonds because he hits a ton? Fine. If you want to start really arguing about a shattered bat, you're just going off the deep end.

As for Pelfrey, if his development has stalled (and I haven't seen him pitch yet this spring), then that is a moderately big problem for the Mets. It leaves them without a good fill-in for El Duque, and it doesn't bode well for him really EVER getting over the hump . . . at least not in a Mets' uniform. This could be the classic case of a guy who needs a change of scenery, and a new pitching coach with a different approach. 'Cause what Rick's selling, it seems Pelfrey ain't buying.

The moral of the story? Stay away from alternate realities. They suck.

I think your viewfinder got stuck last September 8. Maybe you want to jiggle it.

Seems to me that Lohse at the low, low price of 4.25m would have provided something very like the upgrade Bonds would provide, without the drawbacks.

A freak play like a shattered bat hitting Delgado is obviously not one of them. By definition, a freak play like that can happen to ANY player, any time -- including Barry Bonds. He might have lost his grip on the bat in that same situation and killed Carlos Delgado, or broken Delgado's arm and put him out for half the season. Who the hell knows??? You criticize a team/GM for not making moves based on what they should reasonably anticipate. Well, Minaya could reasonably anticipate how much better a hitter Bonds is . . . not that Clark's shattered bat would hit Delgado. So if you want to argue they should sign Bonds because he hits a ton? Fine. If you want to start really arguing about a shattered bat, you're just going off the deep end.

Oy. Man, sometimes you take some things just a little too seriously, Sam.

Actually, the real problem with Delgado is that I'm afraid he might just be toast. After Brady Clark's bat, maybe he's sliced toast. But he's toast. A bad hip is no cure for an already-slow bat . . . And playing baseball every day is no cure for a bad hip.

Shawn Green played a pretty good 1B, and his bat ended up WAY better last year when he was playing 1B.

Just sayin'.

I'd like to see Shannon Stewart on this team. And I'd rather have Valentin than Anderson. Hell, I might rather have Valentin than Castillo if he's healed back up completely.

Shawn Green played a pretty good 1B, and his bat ended up WAY better last year when he was playing 1B.

15 games. 45 PAs.

Sample. Size. Fluke.

Green is no solution to a first base problem, assuming the Mets have one. I remain hopeful -- but not really optimistic -- that an aching hip isn't going to kill Delgado's season.

I'm not worried about Delgado at all.

Shawn Green played a pretty good 1B, and his bat ended up WAY better last year when he was playing 1B.

15 games. 45 PAs.

Sample. Size. Fluke.

Green is no solution to a first base problem, assuming the Mets have one. I remain hopeful -- but not really optimistic -- that an aching hip isn't going to kill Delgado's season.

Besides which, Green retired when no West Coast club would sign him.

Unfortunately, Valentin is back up in NY to be treated for a stiff neck.

Castillo looked good over the weekend. Beltran did not – you could tell he wasn’t pushing it in the outfield, save for one failed dive, since balls kept rolling to the wall.

The April-May 2007 version of Pelfrey is back. Little command of a mediocre fastball, inconsistent breaking ball. What the heck happened to his 97 mph sinker, is what I want to know. I’d like him to go to New Orleans to see if Warthen can help him, since Peterson hasn’t.

El Duque will not be ready opening day. Which really shouldn’t be a problem since they won’t need a 5th starter until April 12th (and Johnny gets Opening Day at Shea!) The real question is, can he be ready by then? I’m not confident, and I don’t want Pelfrey up, but then the only other option is Figueroa. El Duque better be alright

The real question is, can he be ready by then? I’m not confident, and I don’t want Pelfrey up, but then the only other option is Figueroa. El Duque better be alright

I can live with Sosa as the fifth starter for a handful of starts.

Freddy Garcia is still out unsigned. I am not sure how good he'll be considering he had surgery in August. He might be an option in a few months as he probably won't sign until then.

I can live with Sosa as the fifth starter for a handful of starts.

If they could figure out how to juggle the rotation so he doesn't have to face Philly or Atlanta I would also be fine with that. Especially at Philly.

I think those are likely disaster starts for Sosa where he gets tagged for a bunch of runs early and the bullpen is really taxed. Although there is such a thing as getting too caught up in his splits, and I might be guilty there.

Hey chis dial, shut up! no one cares about you. Your stupid articles waste my time. Get a job, and quit banning me. Your all misguided idiot midgets, and I hope you learn your lesson.

How would learning a lesson make us taller?

I can live with Sosa as the fifth starter for a handful of starts.

Yeah, I’m not impressed with Figueroa as well. Guy throws nothing but junk.

Peterson broke Pelfrey. And Joe Smith.

Perez pitched well today. 5 ip, 1 run (unearned, of course), 5 strikeouts, no walks, no homers.

The Mets ran wild on Jesus Flores today. They stole 5 bases against him in the first 5 innings, including a steal of third by Jose Reyes.

Can I assume that 2008 team previews will begin in earnest by 2150, or has BBTF abandoned the concept altogether?

Barry Bonds would have hit that pitch into the right field bleachers and endangered an entire section of COMPLETELY UNPROTECTED FANS. Does the evil that dwells in that man have no limit?

Why yes, you should trade a pitcher who walks too many, doesn't strike out enough, and is headed for the minors for a major league starter every chance you get. You should avoid doing the opposite, like, say, Oliver Perez for Runelvys Hernandez whenever possible, too. Other organizations may be aware of this strategy.

Why yes, you should trade a pitcher who walks too many, doesn't strike out enough, and is headed for the minors for a major league starter every chance you get. You should avoid doing the opposite, like, say, Oliver Perez for Runelvys Hernandez whenever possible, too. Other organizations may be aware of this strategy.

Just because a guy has struggled in the big leagues at a young age doesn't mean he always will. Pelfrey did very well in the low minors and was respectable in AAA (4.01 ERA in AAA last season). He still has plenty of time to develop into a quality starting pitcher.

Cabrera has a lot of upside but he also has a career ERA+ of 91 and is entering his age-27 season.

(Looks at Baltimore's roster) Still looks like a minor leaguer for the Orioles' #3 starter.

I understand that Pelfrey could come around and be a fine pitcher at some point, but I don't think anybody's going to give the Mets much to take that gamble. Of course, if he does prove himself this season, it will be because somebody is on the DL and he will then be a very valuable part of the Mets' team/rotation/playoff hopes/future, etc.

Hmm. Cabrera was a super two. I forgot that. I guess he'll be on the block next off season.

John Maine continues to have a fabulous spring. He is throwing hard, his secondary stuff looks sharp, and, more importantly, he is pounding the strike zone. I'd take a repeat of last season from him but I would not be surprised if he is better than that.