The New York Mets (Redux) - Page 9

Kanadesaga · 02-15-2008, 09:58 AM

Around the Horn: Bench
Mets have very few questions entering camp
By Marty Noble / MLB.com

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Any team's Spring Training is staged largely for the benefit of its starting pitchers who require regular work over seven weeks to prepare their arms for the monumental task of taking the mound -- ideally -- 30-34 times. The Mets are no different in that regard. But their generous Grapefruit League schedule this year -- 33 games -- also is needed for manager Willie Randolph to determine the whos and hows of his bench.

The Mets' starting eight is all but established, their rotation/bullpen has but one significant issue involving Mike Pelfrey and Orlando Hernandez. And even the bench already has a degree of definition, with Endy Chavez, Ramon Castro, Marlon Anderson and Damion Easley having spots locked up even before all the pitchers and catchers filter into camp. But how the remaining vacancies are filled and how Randolph decides to deploy the understudies ought to one of the more intriguing elements of the manager's fourth camp.

In Chavez, Castro and Anderson, the Mets have three exceptional reserves. If Chavez, who is as dynamic a reserve player as there is in the National League, isn't the most gifted and reliable defender on the team, regardless of position, then he is second only to Jose Reyes. Castro is a solid backup catcher who has a recent history of producing a run a game when he starts. Anderson is a pinch-hitter extraordinaire, one who delivers not only hits but extra bases.

And Easley's performance as a role player last season, before a grotesque ankle injury ended his season July 19, demonstrated he can play second base, left field, right field, first base and third base so competently that he need not be replaced for defensive reasons, no small consideration for a manager who wants the days off he gives his regulars to be full days off.

Easley started 36 games at second, five in right, three in left and two at first and completed all but one. He played four innings at third and might have played more if not for David Wright's omnipresence.

Whatever other innings are available to other players will be divided among some combination that includes outfielder Angel Pagan, middle infielders Ruben Gotay, Anderson Hernandez and later perhaps Jose Valentin and the veteran non-roster first baseman who the club signed on Tuesday, Olmedo Saenz.

New York Mets
• Catchers: Turnover behind plate
• Corner IF: Wright stuff on corners
• Middle IF: Speed, defense up middle
• Outfielders: Beltran anchors trio
• Starters: Santana changes things
• Bullpen: Sanchez's return is key
• DH/Bench: Few questions with bench

But on a team with oft-injured Moises Alou and now without Carlos Gomez available to fill in the blanks, there is no telling how the outfield innings will be covered. Easley, Pagan or, after he fully recovers from knee surgery, Valentin, could play significant innings in the Mets outfield by September.

How it all fits together is dependent largely on two unknowns -- how well right fielder Ryan Church hits against left-handed pitchers and how many relievers Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson think they will need to follow the starting pitcher and precede the seventh inning.

The number of relievers needed will determine the number of reserve position players. Church's production against left-handed pitchers will determine not how many players will be on the bench, but who they are. Should Church, a career .254 hitter against left-handed pitching, not provide sufficient production -- and there is no guarantee he will be afforded any great opportunity to prove himself in that circumstance -- Easley probably will get most of his playing time in right field.

On days when Easley starts, Randolph would be without a right-handed power bat on the bench -- unless Saenz were to win a spot. As the only catcher other than Brian Schneider, Castro will be limited in what service he can provide in games he doesn't start. Mostly he will be a final-inning pinch-hitter unless he replaces Schneider earlier.

The middle-infield-reserve assignment appears to be a curious competition between Gotay and Hernandez. Gotay is a far less reliable defender than Hernandez, and Hernandez is of little use as an offensive player. Given the offensive brilliance of Reyes and the small-ball skill and .300 hitting of Luis Castillo, there will be precious little pinch-hitting done for the middle-infield regulars.

Randolph demands defense from his middle-infield reserves, but Hernandez's offense is so meager. And the manager may still be shaking his head over what he witnessed last spring in Vero Beach, Fla., when Hernandez was unable to put a bunt in fair territory on three successive batting practice pitches. Some images are indelible.

Kanadesaga · 02-15-2008, 10:18 AM

February 26 Univ. of Michigan 12:00 p.m.
* Exhibition *

February 29 Cardinals 1:10 p.m.

March 1 Dodgers 1:10 p.m.

March 3 Braves 1:10 p.m.

March 5 Dodgers 1:10 p.m.

March 8 Marlins 1:10 p.m.

March 9 Astros 1:10 p.m.

March 10 Red Sox 1:10 p.m.

March 12 Orioles 1:10 p.m.

March 15 Cardinals 1:10 p.m.

March 16 Tigers 1:10 p.m.

March 19 Indians 7:10 p.m.

March 20 Orioles 7:10 p.m.

March 21 Nationals 1:10 p.m.

March 23 Cardinals 1:10 p.m.

March 25 Braves 1:10 p.m.

March 26 Marlins 1:10 p.m.

March 29 White Sox 5:00 p.m.

poetrychic · 02-15-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanadesaga

Still bitter about Beltran huh? Jose Reyes upped his on base percentage big time last year. Lo duca was great at moving him over. I think the Mets are 5/2 favorites to win the NL pennant. What are the cubbies again?

yay!!

no comment on the rest of the post...just welcome back

VKMHVM2 · 02-15-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

American League pussy ball doesn't count in my book.

Well said!

Kanadesaga · 02-15-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poetrychic

yay!!

no comment on the rest of the post...just welcome back

Thanks, the time out sucked, but I'll try to be a good boy now.

Noob920 · 02-15-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VKMHVM2

Well said!

It does seem to count in the number of World Series and All-Star Game victories though...

Kanadesaga · 02-15-2008, 01:15 PM

VKMHVM2 · 02-15-2008, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noob920

It does seem to count in the number of World Series and All-Star Game victories though...

World Series:

American League 61 (With 26 by the Yankees alone! Your league is nothing without the Yankees!)
National League 46

All-Star Games:

National League 40
American League 36 (And this is with the junior circuit's domination since 1997!)

Noob920 · 02-15-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VKMHVM2

World Series:

American League 61 (With 26 by the Yankees alone! Your league is nothing without the Yankees!)
National League 46

All-Star Games:

National League 40
American League 36 (And this is with the junior circuit's domination since 1997!)

What about the Dodgers? Cardinals? Reds? There HAVE been NL dynasties as well...just not as dominant as the Yankees

Take away the ONE streak the NL had in AS Game victories - where does that leave you?

Oh - and what about interleague play?

Wins by League:
YEAR AL NL
1997 97 117
1998 114 110
1999 116 135
2000 136 115
2001 132 120
2002 123 129
2003 115 137
2004 126 125
2005 136 116
2006 154 98
Totals 1,250 1,202

AL won this face-off for 6 out of 10 years...

VKMHVM2 · 02-15-2008, 02:01 PM

Interleague play is a joke. In reality, the leagues were disbanded since they got rid of the league presidents and put the umpires under the MLB umbrella. The AL and the NL are now like the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference in the NHL. Plus, as retarded as the Designated Hitter is, it does give an unfair advantage to the American League as the offensive players with no defensive ability go to the AL and it gives the AL teams the flexibility needed to build offensive powerhouse lineups.

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