Good news out of the Mets Mini-Camp yesterday- Johan Santana threw some pitches and felt good. He reported no pain in his elbow and that’s good news for all Met fans.  Let’s get even more excited because good old Ollie Perez is down there throwing as well. Maybe Johan is giving him tips. Boy things are looking up!
Until you look over at who’s playing First Base.
Santana, could we ask for anything more? He gets hurt and pitches through it. He gets elbow surgery and not only promises to be ready by Spring Training but also adds that it will not affect him in the 2010 season. He is everything and more. Trading for Santana was a great move and yet parried with that is this horrible situation at First Base. Here’s a good question:
Why can’t the Mets stop fooling around with the notion that Delgado can play first? He can’t and you know what, the Mets might think he can and in the long run, if he is playing First, it will cost the Mets and Johan W’s.
And that’s not good management.
The Mets must leave Delgado where he is. And while there at it, Murphy and Tatis as well. At this point, I’ll take a defense over offense. Johan pitches every fifth day and he deserves to have an infield behind him, he needs someone who can pick it at First.
Why do we have to be cheap here? I’m not saying to trade the farm system for Gonzalez but at least pick up a real first basemen. Like Garko, Jacobs, Aurila or even Millar. Yea, I know these guys have issues hitting but they could play the position- and that’s what the Mets need at this point.Â
Not wishful thinking like Delgado’s amazing recovery from Hip Surgery.
Look, watching all these pitchers get signed in the last few days basically tells me that the Mets have no intentions of spending any real money on a free agent starter. Fine. I could deal with that. But you have to consider the liability of a bad first basemen.
I like Murphy, I really do-but as a backup, not a starter and if I see Tatis playing first, well then I guess I’ll begin getting in shape because I too, might have a shot at playing.
The Mets are high on Ike Davis, maybe they have plans to bring in him up at the All-Star break, but until then, the Mets need to spend just a little more money and pick up a glove.
C’on Omar, you can’t miss this one.
35 comments
prismo
1/27/2010-8:17am at 8:17 am (UTC -4)
I’m actually OK with Murphy at first. His defense was fine last year, and I expect it to continue to improve the more he plays. And his offense isn’t great, but if he has a decent year at the plate, he might be good trade bait when Ike is ready to start. Or if he really has a good year, the Mets may have the dilemma of which young, potentially above average 1B to start in 2011…which is the kind of team dilemma I can approve of. If he has a cruddy year, they can either try out Evans, or just hang on until Ike is ready to start next season (hopefully).
I would support a platoon, but I think the majority of starts should go to Murphy. I certainly see where you’re coming from though.
njstuckintx
1/27/2010-8:49am at 8:49 am (UTC -4)
I 2nd Prismo’s comment.
stickguy
1/27/2010-8:25am at 8:25 am (UTC -4)
I’ll just be polite and say I don’t really agree with this piece, other than the fact that Delgado should stay far, far away from this team.
But, did you really suggest getting Garko or Jacobs to upgrade the defense?
forget 1B, if you really want to help the pitchers and upgrade the Defense, get a decent 2B and punt Castillo. That will have a much bigger impact on the team D.
wannybackstra
1/27/2010-8:29am at 8:29 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, none of those guys fit the mold as defensive players. Strange position to take; defense over offense with guys like Millar and Jacobs.
njstuckintx
1/27/2010-8:51am at 8:51 am (UTC -4)
There’s always the light hitting, great defense of Meitkewivichwietzches. (sarcasm)
CaseStreet
1/27/2010-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
gonzo strikes again. lol
I agree on Delgado, but come on. Murph needs a RH platoon mate at best. His defense is pretty decent, just needs to improve scooping up the ball.
I would’ve like LaRoche as an upgrade and to give us depth, but did you really say Aurilia and Millar?
How about a legit SU or C or SP? Murph is the least of our problems.
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-8:50am at 8:50 am (UTC -4)
Murph has the tools to become a very solid all around player. Will he?
Just one way to find out.
Frankly, I think that among the reasons for the Bay signing was to increase power significantly so Murph’s 15-HR power will be sufficient at first.
Murph appeared to be adjusting late last year, he is young, skipped AAA, and the Mets should be commended for giving him another chance to play every day and see how good he can be.
Delgado isn’t coming back, as every report says he cannot even move at first base.
stickguy
1/27/2010-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
“Delgado isn’t coming back, as every report says he cannot even move at first base.”
From your lips (keyboard?) to Omar’s bagel guys ears.
CaseStreet
1/27/2010-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
amen
mrose
1/27/2010-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
really? I think i’m along with everyone here… i’ll try to be polite. I don’t think anyone is trying to say they are excited to see Delgado playing 1B for the Mets cause of how he supposedly can’t move, but what did Murphy really do wrong? He was playing the position for the first time ever, made a few slick plays and seemed to be solid enough at it late in the year. I’d only imagine that he spent his offseason hitting and playing 1b, because he means business. I expect him to be league average at 1B this season and honestly besides just getting a RH compliment, i’m ok with Murph there, especially given the Garko’s and other people who are out there… nothing great about any of em, with the glove or bat.
njstuckintx
1/27/2010-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
The scooping and positioning is something that can be taught. Murph also showed very good range and his agressiveness was something I was impressed with. Get Keith down there for some special instruction, ASAP. I think we’ll be pleasantly surprised by what we get from him. I’d love to have to worry about “do we keep Ike down in AAA for another year or consider him an outfield option?”. Those are the good problems to have.
mrose
1/27/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
exactly… unless we are 100% out of it again by midyear/september and evne then, Murph is horrendous.. I hope we dont have to consider Ike at 1b this year
johan4cy
1/27/2010-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
I’m all for signing delgado. He isn’t nearly as bad as a first basemen as you all make him out to be and remember, he is a fantastic hitter compared to any other option
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
This comment would be much more valid if it was 2006.
He has been hurt for years, and the reports from winter ball are that he cannot move.
Gotta move on, and also have to see if Murph is going to be a serious MLB hitter, which, if he plays every day, we will see over the course of 2010.
CaseStreet
1/27/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
it’s not us who were scouting him,
“Scouts who have seen Carlos Delgado play in Puerto Rico have this recommendation: Look for a DH job.”
“He’s got no range at first — none,” said one scout. “He actually limps out there. He can’t play first on a day-to-day basis. I think he can still DH, because he’s still got power. But to play first for a team like the Mets? Can’t see it.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings010122
johan4cy
1/27/2010-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
ok, that quote got me…
njstuckintx
1/27/2010-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
I disagree with you, but I do see where you are coming from. If he turns out to be healthy, then he could be a better option at first.
I disagree based on age, health and letting the kids get their feet wet. Had 2 other starting pitchers of note been signed/traded for and Beltran not had surgery and this was an all in year, I could see them blowing the money on Delgado. If he doesn’t work, you just fall back to Murphy anyway. I just don’t see this as an all in year, but more of a constructive year for the kids, sprinkled with some hope that if the Mets are still close come the trade deadline they’ll go out and make a splash with a trade or two. No sense in making a splash now considering they’re not sure who’s arms or legs are going to fall off yet.
johan4cy
1/27/2010-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
A little off topic but I wrote this on the last post. Is there any reason why no body has signed chen ming wang yet and the mets are actually more interested in smoltz? I know wang is a little risky because of his horrendous season but he is still a proven 15+ game winner.
CaseStreet
1/27/2010-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
as of last week,
“The Mets are among 15 teams that are expressing great interest in Wang, according to Alan Nero, who represents the former Yankee.
Wang, who won 19 games in 2006 and 2007, is coming back from shoulder surgery and since was non-tendered by the Yankees. Nero says that Wang has been working very, very hard and is in the best shape of his life.”
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/332034-new-york-mets-might-have-interest-in-chien-ming-wang
johan4cy
1/27/2010-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
if so many teams are interested, one would have signed him by now… it’s getting late
CaseStreet
1/27/2010-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
I think he’s yet to pitch off the mound, like Sheets did. Once he does that, he’ll get an offer from someone.
njstuckintx
1/27/2010-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
I think it’s concerns both with health and something that also plagued Pelfrey. Infield defnese. Sinkerball pitchers with bad defense behind them aren’t as effective to say the least. With a healthy Reyes and hopefully average or slightly higher D from Murphy, the D should be better, but Castillo’s range is no longer average any more. I think the collective thought was if Castillo got moved for an above average defender (Phillips anyone?), then he would be a good fit as a lower risk, higher reward type of guy.
CaseStreet
1/27/2010-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
I’m not sure the defense argument is as valid as some think.
1. not every ball will be hit to 2b, we have 3 other guys that play in the infield
2. you get more outs w/ grounders and w/ a large OF and not-great OFers, more balls w/ drop than usaul
3. if anything we’re better off with strikeout pitchers like Santana and Ollie
njstuckintx
1/27/2010-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
True on point 1. That said, figuring that 50% of the balls are smacked to the right side, having minimal range guys could be a problem. Murph should bring that up some with his range over Delgado.
And agree on pt 3. Just not sure there are any out there anymore.
GravediggerHebner
1/27/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
Hey, who are you calling “some?”
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
I have read that something about Wang’s injury has affected the movement on his ball, which is why when he tries to pitch he gets shelled…supposedly he does not have the control he has had, and some scouts think he will never be an effective MLB pitcher again.
njstuckintx
1/27/2010-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
I wonder if Noah Lowery will be an option. Curious to see how he throws. He had good stuff back in the day.
prismo
1/27/2010-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
Ken Rosenthal wrote a column bashing the Mets this morning:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/rosenthal-on-new-york-mets-omar-minaya-012610
Sounds like he hates Omar. I adamantly disagree about the “team chemistry” issues he brings up. Just because the team hasn’t played well doesn’t mean they have chemistry issues. That’s just asinine.
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
LOL!
Another silly, obnoxious, dumb, and utterly meaningless article.
We are fools for not grossly overpaying for the mediocre at best Pineiro?
What a joke.
oleosmirf
1/27/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
Omar is a fool for not even addressing the starting pitching for possibly the 2nd straight year.
he might be able to convince some of you that Maine, Ollie, Pelfrey, Niese and Nieve can get it done but Im certainly not falling for it…
Kingman 26
1/27/2010-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
Of course you are not, because b*tching and whining is all you EVER do on here.
If Omar got Halladay and Lee and Walter Johnson’s remains for the rotation, you would be complaining about Murphy, the catchers, and the bench.
Some folks enjoy hearing themselves whine; I get it.
darknova306
1/27/2010-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Same old nonsense: a team wins and they’re gritty with great chemistry, a team loses and they lack heart chemistry. *yawn* Another worthless article.
darknova306
1/27/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
*and* chemistry
mrose
1/27/2010-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
wow… we agree on something
GravediggerHebner
1/27/2010-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
Gonzo, I am 100% behind your general sentiment that the team needs some improvement, but you lose me when you suggest it should accomplish that at 1B, and you really lose me when you suggest that Garko, Jacobs, Aurila or even Millar are “real first basemen” especially in the context of defensive play, because they just aren’t.
All but Jacobs IMO could be useful as back up/semi-platoon partners with Murphy, but none of them are quality defensive players.
It sounds like what you’re looking for is Doug Mientkiewicz, and as you say about (and I agree with you) Delgado, been there done that.