Is Torres Flushing Away His Mets Career?

Someday soon Jason Bay will be deemed ready to return to the feeble level of production he's shown thus far in his expensive but unproductive Mets career.  While no one will be rolling out the red carpet for him, the fact remains he gets paid no matter what, so where does he go when he puts on his number 44?


The obvious answer to Mets management is "Rook, know your place" which spells a puddle jumper flight to Buffalo for one of Vinny Rottino, Kirk Nieuwenhuis or Mike Baxter.  A betting man would say it's Rottino who goes since he is a journeyman who's not likely part of the long term plans. 


However, the bolder move would be to return Bay to his left field position and sever ties with the Mendoza-line struggling Andres Torres.  Yes, we have seen some notable defense from him and yes, there are times Nieuwenhuis' running catches are the result of not being in position properly in the first place.  However, you have to look at what they've produced on the field and there's no question Kirk has earned the right to be here. 


Here's where it gets more interesting.  If you keep Baxter and Hairston as your 4th and 5th outfielders, who gets that 25th spot on the roster -- Rottino or Torres.  Warner Wolf used to say, "Let's go to the videotape" but instead let's go to Baseball-Reference.com.  Here we find that Vinny is hitting a mere .200 in 20 ABs at the big league level this season, but came here from Buffalo where he was hitting .307.

Andres Torres is hitting a hardly robust .213 with 1 HR and 11 RBIs.  Extrapolated for the same number of ABs and Rottino eats his lunch in terms of hitting HRs and driving men in, but of course it's a small sample size.  A bigger sample would be to look at Torres' minor league stats which seem to make the case even stronger for Rottino.


They have had 3800 and 3900 minor league ABs respectively.  Torres has hit .272, slugged 50 HRs and driven in 346 during that time with a nice total of 317 SBs.  Given his speed he likely led off which would mitigate one AB's probability of driving in a run. Rottino posted better production numbers overall -- a .295 AVG, 77 HRs, 557 RBIs and stole 107 bases. 


If you needed a starting centerfielder (as the Mets did when Spring Training began), then Torres is your obvious choice here.  However, with the emergence of Kirk Nieuwenhuis that need no longer exists, so instead you must consider what it is you need from a bench player.  How about speed?  Check -- they've both got that.  How about power?  Well, if I can acknowledge Rottino's speed next to Torres than it's only fair I acknowledge Torres' power next to Rottino.  What about versatility?


Well, Torres is a centerfielder who could play the other positions in a pinch.  Hairston can also play centerfield and while I wouldn't want to see Rottino out there, Vinny does have experience at 1B, 3B, C and outfield -- kind of a Super Joe for this team.  Given Ike Davis' struggles it might not be a bad thing to have him available to start here and there at 1B against a tough lefty.  The same may be true with Duda should he have a cold spell against the southpaws. 


Cutting Torres (or finding a trade partner) would send a few positive signals to the team.  Number one -- you earn your starting role, it's not merely given to you based upon longevity or salary (oops, well there is Jason Bay, but that's another story).  Number two, just as the team was unwilling to withstand any more incompetency from Carrasco or Acosta, so too they should take a stand against offensive incompetency as well.  Number three -- with a limited bench you need guys who can be moved around the field as necessary.  One trick ponies don't cut it in the age of expanded bullpens. 


Final thought -- the game is on the line.  You have to go to a pinch hitter against a lefty pitcher.  Hairston has already been used.  Your options are the backup catcher (ugh!) and Torres or Rottino?  Me?  I'm going for Vinny.