• Rule #1: When the Mets claim a minor leaguer you don't know much about, don't say, "oh great, another stupid move". At least try to realize small moves get made for a variety of reasons, and there is a business being run.
• Rule #2: Every big name free agent was not destined be a Met, just like they weren't all destined to be a Yankee, Philly, Twin, or Blue Jay.
• Rule #3: Quitting on your team and shouting it on every message board before the season starts is boorish behavior.
• Rule #4: You used to enjoy baseball, then 2009 happened, we understand. We also understand you should effing get over it already.
• Rule #5: It's OK to complain, it's not OK to complain about everything....we will make an exception to allow you to complain about this post...then you can please shut up. - link
Six players made 10 or more starts in leftfield for the Mets last year and the Mets' leftfielders as a group hit .276/.352/.421. Bay is a career .280/.376/.519 hitter who, save for a 2007 season undermined by injuries in both knees, has been worth roughly five wins above replacement with his bat every year since his 2005 breakout. The catch is that those knee injuries ruined Bay as a fielder and he now gives back more than a win on defense relative to the average left fielder per Ultimate Zone Rating (Ulitmate Zone Rating, a play-by-play-based fielding stat also expressed in runs above or below average). Bay would have been a five-win player as an American League DH, but he's only a four-win player as a National League leftfielder. Still, the Mets leftfielders contributed only about two wins with their bats last year and gave a half-win back on defense themselves. Estimated upgrade: 2+ wins - link
Angel Pagan is expected to be given the starting centerfielder job while Carlos Beltran is on the mend, which is a much better thing than giving the spot to GMJ. Jason Bay was the big free agent signing of the offseason and he'll be in left, providing top-notch offense and, I'm told, he has agreed to stand in the outfield with a glove on one hand, which is probably the best we can hope for at this point. Jeff Francoeur will presumably be in rightfield once he gets back from bat-shopping with Chris Coghlan.- link
LHP (2009 – Dominance 60; Stamina 71; HRrate 48; Control 62) - With the ceiling of a mid- to late- rotation starter, the biggest question surrounding Niese is how he will respond to a horrific rupture of his hamstring in August. With a fastball that typically only sits in the high 80s, Niese’s bread and butter is his plus Curve and plus command. His Change is merely adequate. Niese uses his legs more than many pitchers, so the hamstring surgery is not a minor deal. If he proves healthy in the Spring, he could be in line to open the season in the Mets rotation. If not, look for him to spend time in AAA, until he proves ready. In either case, only the injury stands in the way of a spot for him in New York. - link
Why Ranked Here: Merritt, a lefthanded sidearmer is murder on lefties. He could well turn into a very effective situational lefthander. He throws his fastball in the upper eighties and two varieties of breaking balls that give lefties fits. With his funky delivery, lefties just don’t see the ball well out of his hand. 2009: Lefties hit .209/.276/.322 against Merritt. That’s good for Merritt and bad for the other guys. In April, he was 9-for-10 in save chances, but by May had moved out of a silly AA closer’s role and became a situational lefthander - link
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