Daniel Murphy can't possibly be on the Mets in 2015. With virtually no offensive players that are tradeable (due to contract size), his increasing price tag for solid production makes him desirable to fill another hole in the lineup. I could see Wilmer Flores at minimum wage being kept while the second best hitter on the team is sent packing. From a business standpoint I can understand it, but as a fan I'd hate to see a hard worker like Murph leave town.
Wilmer Flores showed on Monday night why he should be getting the at-bats to see whether or not he can handle the rigors of shortstop. No, he didn't make any flashy plays with the glove, but his six RBIs were all driven in with the bases loaded when clutch le hitting is most valuable. He gave you in one night about a month's worth of Ruben Tejada's offense. Lest you think I'm exaggerating, in his career Tejada once finished the full season with just 25 RBIs and his high water mark is 36. Even if you extrapolate his performances over 162 game averages for his career, it would amount to 41 -- and Flores pretty much matched that month's 6.7 RBIs in just one game. Play the man!
David Wright is not making his paycheck look like good value. Yes, he's driving in runs and playing his usual solid defense but the power just isn't there. We all know the number Citifield does to the players' heads at home, but what's the excuse on the road?
Hopefully the small but solid production we've seen from Bobby Abreu can be parlayed into a DH role. I appreciate what he's doing (and neither Young nor den Dekker are making a case for more playing time). Still, he's not part of the future so see if you can turn him into another Dilson Herrera.
Zack Wheeler and Bartolo Colon look as if they are both back on solid ground. In the former's case, that's a good thing as he is part of the future. In the latter's case, keep looking for team's in need of an experienced innings eater. (So hard to type that and not reference his physique).
What can you say about the bullpen lately? For the first time since maybe the days of Turk Wendell and Dennis Cook do I feel confident when various people step in from the pen into the game. Vic Black, Jeurys Familia, Josh Edgin, Carlos Torres and Jenrry Mejia have all looked confident and comfortable out there. It's a shame the team doesn't have enough offense to warrant late inning pitching heroics.
Are the Mets ready to part ways with Daisuke Matsuzaka if Rafael Montero works with Frank Viola to rediscover his mojo? Even if he doesn't, at some point Dillon Gee will be back AND you have Noah Syndergaard knocking on the post Super Two door as well.
Is there a market for either of the Youngs? Eric would probably draw some interest from teams who would use him properly -- as a fourth outfielder and pinch runner. Chris Young? As much as he has not performed up to Sandy Alderson's expectations, he does play solid defense, can run and has power. You found a taker for Ike Davis after his abysmal 2013. Anything's possible.
Who is the Mets' MVP thus far this year? A strong case can be made for Juan Lagares who has hit above expectations while making acrobatic catches seem routine. I haven't seen his arm nearly as much this year as last, but maybe other teams are wising up that it is not a good idea to test him.
6 comments:
Hi Reese
Totally agree on Flores playing every day. As a 21 year old in AAA last year, from May thru July, in 78 games, he hit .340 with 73 RBIs and 43 extra base hits. 73 RBIs in a 78 game stretch!! So in a league where he was virtually the youngest guy, he did that!!
Let him play SS this year, every day, then replace Murphy next year at 2B, and get an elite SS by trading some pitching, and I think our infield will look great for years.
Mack Ade · Works at Mack's Mets
MVP?
Wow... that's a tough call. I really don't have one.
Trade value? Only Dice-K
Mets MVP so far is Bartolo Colon. He's the only SP not to miss a start, he's gone deep into games, yeah when he's bad, he's downright awful but in 7 of 11 starts he's allowed 3 or fewer runs, including two where he allowed no runs. His antics at the plate provides some much needed levity at Citi Field Two of his five wins have stopped Met losing streaks and his last two starts closed out two back to back series wins. He's been a steadying influence on the young staff as well. I'd hate to see where this staff would be without him. Alderson has proved the doubters wrong (so far) with this FA signing.
Don't forget Colon's unheralded contributions to that Philadelphia cheesesteak record
What was Bartolo's contribution to that cheesesteak record? I did not see a count for him, but I be someone on the squad at more than him. Maybe a little guy like EY jr, those little guys usually surprise.
Wasn't that Bartolo in the Austin Powers movie playing the guy with the Scottish accent? I'll have to rent the movie again and run the credits.
He has been largely effective, that's true. And he is steady and mostly effective, anchoring a very interesting staff.
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