Who would you rather see playing First Base and Catcher for the Mets Opening Day and all of 2010, retread  veterans or Ike Davis and Josh Thole respectively?
Jan 24
The Sunday Question
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18 comments
stickguy
1/24/2010-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
You mean this season, on oening day?
Well, retread veterans is kind of a broad statement, so actual names (for sake of discussion) would help.
I would prefer to see solid, experienced guys with Davis and Thole (both of whom could likely use some more time in the minors) getting ready at AAA.
But, if they don’t have those, and the other options are say Santos and murphy or a scrap heap guy for 1B, then I would like to see an open competition for the job in ST. Let the best man win.
If Davis rakes and looks like he could be ready, and the other options stink, give it a shot.
If THole hits and his D looks ML acceptable, then ditto.
The real key, I guess, if you are going to take a shot with relatively inexperienced rookes, is to have the “retread veterans” either on the bench or stashed at AAA in case they flame out!
Oh, I guess it also depends on your expectations for the season. Lean toward the vets if you think the Mets are a legit playoff contender with a little bit of luck and good health. If you are writting off the season already, then might as well take your lumps with the rookie growing pains.
rustyjr
1/24/2010-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
i agree with stickguy ike davis needs a whole season in aaa before we annoint him the heir apparent at first base – thole needs to brush up on his defensive skills while in aaa he has proven ( in a small sample at least ) that he can hit mlb pitching but i don’t know if a veteren pitching staff would have confidence in a guy who has been catching for less than 2 years
prismo
1/24/2010-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
I’m no scout, but my gut instinct tells me that neither player is ready for the bigs, especially if this team wants to make it to the playoffs.
I do think the team should be reevaluated at the All-Star break. If they’re a number of games below .500 and playing poor baseball, maybe it’s time to get Thole and/or Ike some everyday experience in preparation for next season.
gonzowill
1/24/2010-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
I say bring them both up! Give them the experience, I’d rather see Ike Davis than Delgado(knowing Delgado has serious problems at first) and I’d rather have Thole backing up Santos.
njstuckintx
1/24/2010-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
My feeling is that the Mets are not in a position to win in 2010. While I hope they do win, I don’t think they will. I think 2011 will be the year for the Mets. With the “core” still under contract, an abundance of SP going into free agency, and an additional year of training/seasoning/growing for the kids we expect to have an impact (Thole, Davis, Martinez, Niese, maybe Holt?), that will be the year of strides for sure. Knowing (or hoping) all that, I would say what ever situation will bring the most amount of ABs & innings would be best. That should mean Thole, Davis in AAA for sure, with Martinez hopefully in AAA and Niese as the number 5 starter in the rotation. If the Mets are willing to commit the ABs & innings to both Thole and Davis on the Major League level, why not, but I can’t see that the Mets would do that.
And I really don’t want them trying to learn anything under the General. Hopefully He’ll be gone at some point this season, and with a new leader at the helm, renewed confidence and the proverbial clean slate, 2011 will taste sweet as Champagne, not Sham-Pain.
trs86
1/24/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Why are the Mets not in a position to at least win the wild card in 2010?
njstuckintx
1/24/2010-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
They may be. In my mind, they won’t. Just the pessimism in me.
saltygary
1/24/2010-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
Not giving us much of a choice. Either players that are unable to play at that level or players that are not ready for tht level. Surely there are fine options in between. I am fine with what is at catcher now. 1b is a whole other story. There were some decent options available that are gone. I’m not sold on Murphy. I think the gangster screwed him up mentally. Oh and he’ll no to Delgado. What else is left?
rustyjr
1/24/2010-10:06am at 10:06 am (UTC -4)
there are options – Jeff just doesn’t seem like he wants to pay for the better options out there
stickguy
1/24/2010-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
honestly, at this point, what are the better options to pay for, especially at catcher? I hope you don’t mean not uppping the offer to molina?
although he could round out the team without totally breaking the bank by spreading some of the molina/pin head savings around to Gregg, Garko, Barajas maybe. That makes the team stronger.
The only big money item left on the shelves seems to be sheets, so if the piggy bank has money left and they can get him, do it.
Kind of loke a fantasy auction where you have $10 left at the end and 1 roster spot, and every other team has like $3, so you bid $10 on a 3rd catcher, just to get rid of it!
GravediggerHebner
1/24/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
If the choice were mine I would prefer that Davis especially, and to a slightly lesser extent Thole because he at least has some ML experience, would start the season at AAA and play regularly.
As far as the retread veterans go I am less sure about how I feel. Again if it were my choice, I think I would go with Murphy at 1B who I suppose can be described as a middle ground between an untested rookie and a retread veteran.
At C, I find myself in the camp that believes the 2009 accomplishments of Omir Santos involved him “playing out of his mind” or “over his head” a bit. There is just no track record to look back on and predict future success for Santos in my opinion. So I would be more open to the idea of a retread veteran catcher sharing time with the other retread veteran seemingly destined to be on the roster, Henry Blanco.
Whether that retread veteran be any particular one of Brad Ausmus, Paul Bako, Rod Barajas, Michael Barrett, Jose Molina, Yorvit Torrealba or Javier Valentin I have no real strong opinion one way or the other and welcome yours to help shape my own.
prismo
1/24/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
By the way, no way no how Delgado should be back on this team. Via MetsBlog, Jayson Stark is reporting that Delgado still limps when he runs and has no range at 1B. Michael Baron may be okay with this, but any sane person wouldn’t want a limpy guy playing first.
GravediggerHebner
1/24/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
While you may or may not consider me a sane person
on this point I agree completely with you. Just say no to Delgado. Easily chanted and written on placards. Shall we congregate outside the windows of the SNY studios for the next episode of Mets Hot Stove with this in mind?
metsfan4decades
1/24/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
I’ve more or less am going with the opinion of what will be, will be for this upcoming season. I know off season moves aren’t finished yet but let’s just say I’m thinking nothing could be as bad as last year. I’m hoping for the best, of course, but not going to be delusional about it….
With that said, I don’t think Davis and to a lesser extent, Thole is ready to be handed the opening day slot at either one of their positions. No need to rush either up as I don’t think they’re going to be the answer this year one way or another. If all goes well, I expect to see Thole as a Sep. call up and maybe even Davis.
I’m thinking we’re starting the year with what we’ve got at catching. As far as 1st base, considering what’s left, I expect to see Murphy and someone else brought in as backup.
Mr North Jersey
1/24/2010-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
I don’t know how confident I am that Jerry Manuel will handle the growth of the Baby Mets properly. The last thing I want to see is Jerry somehow hurting the development of our kids.
I don’t remember where I read it but someone wrote in so many words that probably one of the best thing so far to come out of this off season for the Mets is that at least the Baby Mets are still here giving fans hope of possibly better days to come.
So here’s to the hope that at least one of these Baby Mets are destined for great things in NY.
Reese Havens, Brad Holt, Brant Rustich, Eric Beaulac, Ike Davis, Jeurys Familia, Fernando Martinez, Jenrry Mejia, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Rhiner Cruz, Ruben Tejada and Josh Thole.
Hazmet
1/24/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Excellent Point. Now, Bobby V having his opportunity with that list I’d like to see. Only problem is for me to get my wish they’d need to tank at the start of the season which is the last thing I want. Oh well, thus continuous my conflicted psychosis that is part of lovin’ dem Metsies.
Mr North Jersey
1/24/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
CaseStreet
1/24/2010-7:16pm at 7:16 pm (UTC -4)
Gotta agree w/ most here. Davis and Thole likely won’t do any better as rooks learning the league than Murphy and Santos who have a little more ML experience. And there’s absolutely no reason to keep them on the bench or platoon them. Let them learn and get playing time in Buffalo (they could use a good squad this year).