Ya see, Mets pundits are really only looking for 15 ballplayers each year. Forgt the 25-man and really forget the 40-man. What everyone wants is a healthy super star running out on the field during the first inning, four more starting pitchers that can do the same, a closer, and an eight–inning dude that used to be a closer somewhere else. The rest is filler.
What the Mets already have in 2010 is Castillo at second, Reyes at short, Wright at third, Beltran in center, Santana as SP1, and Rodriquez as closer.
That’s 6.
9 more to go.
I’m going to assume that the Mets will either offer Frenchy arbitration of they will sign him for a 3-year contract. Either way, this will be your right fielder and that makes 7, with 8 to go.
The next is John Maine, who isn’t going anywhere. I’m nut sure if he’s an SP3 or Sp4, but he’ s back and the Mets will pick up his option. Another starter down, making it 8, with 7 to go.
(left: catcher, three starters, 8th inning dude, first baseman, and left field)
(left: catcher, three starters, 8th inning dude, first baseman, and left field)
I think you’re watching, in winter ball, the first base problem be solved, though it will take another year to be implemented. Ike Davis will definitely be the man in 2011, and possibly as early as the all-star break in 2010. Daniel Murphy will hold it down until then, but there’s no reason to look for an outsider here. 9 in, 6 to go.
We gotta leave it here.
Free agency and trades are needed to continue this process. Right now, the 6 needed that would currently run out of the field would be Josh Thole, Fernando Martinez, Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey, Jonathan Niese, and Bobby Parnell. This is not exactly stand up and cheer type main men. Many qualify for a filler role mentioned above, but none would be one of my 15 killers.
Is Josh Thole ready for 140 games? No.
Is Fernando Martinez healed and has he proven he can hit at this level? No.
Is Oliver Perez healed? No.
Has Mike Pelfrey developed the junk needed to succeed at this level? No.
Will Jonathan Niese be able to push off on one leg, while walking straight on the other? No.
Will Bobby Parnell’s mind clear from the starting failure in September and fill the 2009 projected shoes of J.J. Putz? No.
Solutions?
Well. Money would help.
Subtract Thole with Victor Martinez.
Subtract Fernando Martinez, with either Jason Bay, or, which one is it, Halliday or Holiday?
Take the other guy named Halliday or Holiday
All of a sudden, who the fuck cares who the SP4 and SP5 is.
Parnell should settle I somewhere in the pen, so now we have 13 studs, two other starters, and 25 guys making the 400k minimum.
Ya know… Carter, Andy Hernandez, Shawn Bowman, Josh Thole, Nick Evans, Feliciano, Mason, Martinez, Bostick, and guys like that.
So….
A rough 40-man salary:
1B: Daniel Murphy 400K
2B: Luis Castillo 6,000,000
SS: Jose Reyes 9,000,000
3B David Wright 10,000,000
C: Victor Martinez 7,000,000
LF Jason Bay or Halliday/Holliday: 10,000,000
OF: Carlos Beltran 18,500,000
RF: Jeff Francour: 4,500,000
SP: Johan Santana 21,000,000
SP: Holliday/Halliday: 10,000,000
SP: Mike Pelfrey 1,312,500
SP: Oliver Perez 12,000,000
SP: John Maine: 4,000,000
RP: Francisco Rodriguez 11,500,000
26 guys @400K 10,800,000
Total Salary: 135,312.500
But, that’s just me…
2 comments:
hi Mack. This is Danny.
I don't know how you plan on getting Victor Martinez. Doesn't Boston have his option?
I'm with you on Murphy, give him a chance. I think he'll get better at all aspects of his game. How could he have succeeded this year - failing at LF, and playing a position he never played before. I think with a lot of work he will get better defensively. His bat will come around too and be more consistent. I hope they give him a chance and just look for a left fielder and starting pitching.
Notice how weak their bullpen is right now. They need to save some money to improve it.
Danny:
I ued Martinez, Holiday, and Halliday as examples here and wrote a little toungue-in-cheek.
The point I was trying to make was, if a team has a killer player on every starting position, and they remain healthy, it really doesn't matter who else in in the dugout.
Look at the Yankees over the years. There was no holes in the batting lineup.
You and I can do nothing about the health issues. Let's just hope 2009 was an abberation.
If it was, starting the off-season with Murphy/Davis, Castillo, Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Frenchy, Santana, Rodriquez ain't a bad start.
You can bring this payroll in around 130-135mil with a new LF, C, and SP and have a damn good team
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