Buffalo-
lf Jesus Feliciano 2 for 5, 2b, K, .362
cf Fernando Martinez 0 for 4, run, 2 Ks, .239
1b Mike Hessman 1 for 5, 2b, 2 Ks, .297
rf Chris Carter 3 for 4, 3 runs, BB, .348.
c Omir Santos 2 for 4, run, 2b, 2 RBI, .194
2b Ruben Tejada 1 for 3, run, RBI (5), 2 Ks, .243
Tobi Stoner 2.2 IP, 11 H, 6/5 R/ER, K, 7.04 era, L (0-4) (Muy Mal)
Kiko Calero 1.1 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, K, HR, 7.36 era (YUCK)
Bobby Parnell IP, K, 4.05 era
Bing-
cf Kirk Nieuwenhuis 1 for 4, run, .298
1b Nick Evans 1 for 4, run, RBI (17), BB, .314
lf Lucas Duda 2 for 4, 2 runs, 2b (8), 2 RBI (25), BB, .281
dh Marshall Hubbard 1 for 4, run, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 Ks, .315
rf Carlos Guzman 3 for 5, run, 2b (2), RBI (7), .283
Eddie Kunz 6 IP, 6 H, 2/1 R/ER, 7 Ks, 6.94 era (Very impressive Mr. Kunz)
Josh Stinson IP, H, ER, BB, 3.32 era
Roy Merritt 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 Ks, 2.65 era
Clint Everts 1.1 IP, H, 3 Ks, 3.86 era
St. Lucie-
2b Reese Havens 2 for 3, 2 runs, HR (1), RBI (3), BB, K, .313
lf Eric Campbell 2 for 4, 2b, .282
cf Sean Ratliff 2 for 4, run, 2b, RBI, K, .280
dh Joshua Satin 1 for 3, BB, 2 Ks, .277
1b Stefan Welch 1 for 3, 2 Ks, .297
3b Richard Lucas 0 for 4, RBI, K, .202
Kyle Allen 4.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 4/1 BB/K, 7.15 era (he’s been awful)
Rhiner Cruz IP, H, 3 BBs, 4.50 era
Angel Cuan 3.1 IP, 2 H, BB, K, 0.00 era
Savannah-
cf Pedro Zapata 1 for 6, 2 Ks, .234, SB (9)
lf Juan Lagares 0 for 6, run, .264, SB (5)
ss Wilmer Flores 1 for 5, 2b (10), RBI (21), BB, K, .333
3b Jefry Marte 2 for 5, K, .227
c Kai Gronauer 0 for 4, BB, 2 Ks, .294
rf Cesar Puello 0 for 4, BB, K, .259
Taylor Whitenton 6 IP, 3 H, 2BB 9 K’s 2.33 era (soft tossing righty and not young but nice outing)
Darin Gorski 4.1 IP, 5 H, ER, 3/6 BB/K, 2.70 era, BS (1)
63 comments
metsfan4decades
5/4/2010-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
Calero – 8 hits, 7 runs in 1.1 innings? Yikes. Or ‘Yuck’ is a good description.
Anyone else ready to see what one of these baby Mets can do for our bench? I’m getting real tired of seeing not much in the way of production from Cat/GMJ and to a lesser extent Tatis……
njstuckintx
5/4/2010-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
And Man-child Carter is still ripping it up.
stickguy
5/4/2010-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
Feliciano just keeps hitting. and he plays CF. I know he is too old to be a prospect, but he could be perfect for a 4th/5th OF since he plays all 3 positions. Plus he can hit. Unlike GM.
is there any possible way he could be worse than mathews? Plus a nice reword for all the fine work in Bugff the last couple of years.
And Carter might just add a tad more to the team than Cat. ALthough I expect that Murphy is getting his spot soon.
And Havens looks ready. Get him up here to replace Castillo.
OK, that last one was a j/k. I think… OK< it was a joke. I can wait until next ST for him to take ove rthe job.
njstuckintx
5/4/2010-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
You think that the $ owed to GMJ is an issue? (i don’t think it is, but just curious what others think).
If we were to (God Willing!) drop GMJ & another team picks him up, that new team has to cover 400K of his salary, right? If that happens, does the 400K come off the Met’s portion or the Angels portion of what’s owed to him?
trs86
5/4/2010-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
That would come off the Mets. He is no longer property of the Angels.
njstuckintx
5/4/2010-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
So, that should make it all the more easier to part ways with GMJ.
wannybackstra
5/4/2010-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Time to pull the plug on Catalanotto and bring up Carter. Carter can even get some spot starts against righties while playing a corner outfield spot.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
This is why the idea of Carter coming up as the 5th outfielder is something that I just can’t endorse.
“Pinch-hitting is a specialized job, requiring different preparation than any other role. Younger players are not typically successful coming off the bench, meaning that Carter’s gaudy triple-A numbers would not necessarily translate to a very limited big-league job.”
Surfing The Mets – Andy Martino
tkfj
5/4/2010-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
Ok name another player that could potentially replace Cat. It is obvious that it isnt working out and I’d almost rather have Lenny Harris as our PH extrordinare than either Cat/GMJ. Time to admit that the moves didnt work out and bring up players who can actually contribute and help the team. I mean isnt the goal of baseball to win?
I hope Mr.Smithtown isnt still here because he is some sort of LI cult hero.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
Well I am only talking about Carter coming up to replace Cat.
I don’t agree that Carter is best use to us by sitting on the bench and getting a pinch it ab every other day or so.
As far as GMJ I don’t know how to replace him. It would have to be with a serviceable Center-Fielder and Carter definitely is not that. Neither is Daniel Murphy. Is FMart it? I don’t think so based on the Mets are not playing him in CF at this time.
Is Pridie or Feliciano it? Maybe I don’t know enough of either of them to speak knowledgeably.
Capt Kirk is probably the best fit but he is too far away at this stage to be considered I guess since he still is in AA.
tkfj
5/4/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
Fair enough.
wannybackstra
5/4/2010-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
Carter, or anyone else, can’t be worse than what Catalanotto has been so the fact that most young players struggle in the role is meaningless to me at this point. The veteran in the position has been awful.
Anyway, I wouldn’t reserve Carter as a pinch hitter and would play him some in the corner outfield spots and at 1B.
trs86
5/4/2010-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed Wanny. Even if Carter is not ideal for the situation what does it hurt to try? You have to maximize the personnel you have in the organization and having Cat on the MLB team and Carter a 28 year old in AAA is not doing that.
trs86
5/4/2010-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
By the way, where you been? NJ has had to take over the daily ripping of my post.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
OOps, Too late.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Sticks and stones may break my bones and that would suck.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
And I wouldn’t mind using Carter as a part of trade bait to acquire a SP.
like Vazquez… Javy for Ollie. Sign me up.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
So even though you don’t deny that most young players struggle. That is meaningless to you at this point solely because Cat is struggling also?
So you want change for the sake of change not because you actually believe Carter will be better.
I just don’t agree with that logic.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
I know I would much rather go with the odds of most can’t (with some chances ofcan) instead of 100% for sure can’t.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
sorry i totally have no idea what that meant.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
In my opinion the odds of Carter producing (even factoring in that most young players do not) are greater than the odds of Cat producing.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
How do you come to that conclusion if I may ask?
trs86
5/4/2010-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
FWICG, duh.
Based on AB’s I have seen from Carter, stats I have seen from Carter compared to the AB’s I have seen little Kitty take and his stats.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
That is what I thought.
You keep looking at what Carter has done as a everyday player in AAA and are projecting that he can still hit with just an ab every other day or so.
I don’t think it is fair to think Carter could do that considering he has never done that in his minor league career.
If we was talking about Carter getting more playing time while in the Bigs that is one thing but if he is going to be used the same way Cat has I continue to disagree with him being used in that way.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
But anyone is better than Cat right now. Cat does not bring anything on the table.
He has no power.
He has no defensive skills.
He has no versatility.
He has no speed.
He is older.
Why keep this guy?
trs86
5/4/2010-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
Best I can tell because he is a vet and has experience pinch hitting. Of course so does Julio Franco. Perhaps we should bring him back?
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
By your logic the Mets should bring Jacobs back up then since he would be an improvement by your scenario.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Jacobs can’t play LF or RF.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
Kistics point is anyone is better than Cat.
By that logic so is Jacobs.
I am sure he doesnt agree that Jacobs is though but pointing out that to simply say anyone is better is illogical.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
Bottom 9th with runners in scoring position for a walk-off win, who would you have?
Jacobs
Cat
Carter
GMJ?
Right now I’ve seen enough of Jacobs, Cat and GMJ not to trust them. They are no good. GMJ can play defense, so I’ll keep him on the bench, but that’s it.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
As a hitter, actually Jacobs might be better than Cat.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
I’d rather have Jacobs than Cat right now. At least Jacobs can hit for power.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
ok so give Jacobs a glove since he will hardly ever play the field and bring him back up. Problem solved.
njstuckintx
5/4/2010-3:26pm at 3:26 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’d rather the younger player with potential than the retread who’s hit his ceiling. Carter (or insert players name here) has the potential to be much better than Cat. Just cause Cat has done it before in the past doesn’t mean he can still do it.
Kathleen Turner used to be very attractive. Now… not so much. I’m not going to keep bringing up Romancing the Stone or Body Heat when trying to defend her looks in Marley and Me. Just sayin.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
Actually wouldn’t Jacobs have the same problem of not starting?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-3:32pm at 3:32 pm (UTC -4)
Cat is not getting any PT on the field. If Jacobs is being utilized the same way, I’d rather have Jacobs.
They’ll both hit for similar average and have similar speed, but Jacobs has more power.
stickguy
5/4/2010-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think there is any empirical evidence that “proves” young players struggle as PH.
There is also a big, big difference between a guy that is purely a PH (like I guess Marlon, ruty in the old days, and a few others), and a bench guy that spot starts, PHs, etc.
and just being a veteran does not mean that you are going to be any better as a PH.
I think most of the pure PHs are old guys because they were just good hitters, that couldn’t play regularly anymore.
Most young guys with talent aren’t going to end up in a PH role
and sucky guys will suck, young or old.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I was going to try and find some stats for a kid being used primarily as a pinch hitter and I can’t think of many that apply. Gregg Dobbs would be a decent example as he was never really a starter. He spent his first 3 years in Seattle as mostly a bench guy. I am having trouble finding others period.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
I know I can’t show any statistical reason stick.
I simply have felt that Carter being a kid that has played everday in his career and who right now is putting up good numbers in AAA as we speak.
Is it in the Mets best interest to remove him from that so he can pinch hit every other day or so solely because Cat is failing?
I am not sold that the best way to go is to remove Carter from AAA to sit on the bench and get little playing time.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:23pm at 3:23 pm (UTC -4)
Might not be best for Carter at all but I can’t see how it hurts the Mets. It’s not like he is a prospect and even if Frenchy was injured tomorrow do you think he would be the first call up?
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t say who would be the 1st callup I would hope FMart would be.
I don’t see Carter having a future in this organization myself at this time.
I do see him if he continues to hit being part of a package that would bring in a more serviceable player that fits our present needs.
njstuckintx
5/4/2010-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
What is best for Carter? My guess would be making more money at the show than chilling in the minors.
trs86
5/4/2010-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
But NJ a 28 year old AAA player does not have a lot of value. Why not bring him up and give him a shot a the role. He statistically almost can’t be worse. If he is terrible then blame it on your theory, put him back in AAA and trade him later.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
NJ, but what’s best for the team? If you are ready for the majors, no matter what the role is, you bring him up to replace the sucky players.
Look, Carter is not the next top prospect in the Mets farm system. He’s not even that young. So why not utilize the talent that’s available instead of going .143 .182 .190 .372?
trs86
5/4/2010-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
That was kind of my point. If he’s not in the plans and has little trade value then what does it matter if his development is stunted by riding the pine?
stickguy
5/4/2010-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
carter isn’t exactly a kid. I think he is 28? This is not like using Flores or F mart in the role, or sticking Mejia in the pen as a mop up guy.
Oh wait, forget I mentioned that last one..
This is also Carters last year with the mets unless he sticks on the big club. and very possibly, he gets traded anyway this year.
so not really worrying about what is best for him. Just the Mets.
I also don’t think he should just rot on the bench. ph 4 times, and maybe start 2 games (1 each for bay and frenchy)
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-3:42pm at 3:42 pm (UTC -4)
My only opposition to bringing Carter up is if he will get little chance to play in the bigs. I don’t think it is using Carter to the best of his ability to do so. If he is simply going to replace CAT in that role I do not think that is the best way to go.
When we talk of a trade I am not talking of some blockbuster trade but a simple trade that involves a similar trade that got us Carter to begin with when we traded Wagner for him.
wannybackstra
5/4/2010-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
MNJ -
I have said that I would not regulate Carter to solely pinch hitting every other day.
And the Mets might consider letting Cat get some more at bats if they want to try to get him going.
trs86
5/4/2010-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
But the better question is could he replace this: .143 .182 .190 .372.
I just don’t think a PH has to be a washed up veteran.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. Cat and GMJ at the plate is just dreadful.
GravediggerHebner
5/4/2010-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
Mr. NJ you may not be happy with me but I’ve done a 180 on this topic. I was staunchly against Carter as pinch-hitter but I’ve turned.
When I was against it Mike Jacobs was the Mets starting 1B and I thought that somehow Carter might get a shot to replace him in that role. With the promotion and reasonable success of Davis, plus the lingering presence of Murphy, I no longer believe Carter has any chance of ever being the Mets starting 1B, even for just a short period of time. I also don’t see him as their starting LF or RF anytime. So at this point he’s just organizational depth.
Concurrently the Mets have a woeful pinch-hitter. Catalanotto has had success in that role in the past, but last year he was terrible and this year he’s been terrible. He’s 36. He makes “only” $650,000. He may be able to stand at a number of defensive positions on the field but the team is not using him in that way. Unless someone gets injured mid-game it seems unlikely that they are going to start using him that way and even in that instance it would only be for the balance of that one game. I can no longer justify to myself keeping him around.
So the Mets have a crappy pinch-hitter who is for lack of a nicer term disposable. They have a guy who rakes, with power, at the AAA level, who has no future with the team as a starter. So while it might be fairer to him to send him to another organization where he might get that chance, while he’s here they might as well use him.
These thoughts and the existence of Nick Stavinoha are what has turned me around on the idea of using Carter as a pinch-hitter up here. Stavinoha is 28. He first made it to the majors at age 26. In 3 seasons he’s appeared in 83 games, starting 29. He has 169 total career MLB plate appearances, 43 of those as a pinch-hitter. His total career line as of yesterday is .236/.250/.360. As a pinch-hitter it’s .293/.302/.585 so he has performed better as a pinch-hitter than he has overall.
For his career he has a total of 4 HR and 24 RBI. 3 of the HR and 8 of the RBI are as a pinch-hitter. On 4/9 in the top of the 9th with the Cards down 4-3 and Trevor Hoffman pitching he hit a 2-run pinch-hit HR to win the game for the Cards. 5/3 against the Phils in the 7th inning he led off with a pinch-hit solo HR off Joe Blanton to give the Cards a 2-1 lead, they went on to score 4 more runs that inning and win.
I’m not saying the Carter is going to do these things. I do believe that he is more capable than Cat of doing them, and since I see his chances to ever start dwindling I am willing to risk his failure in this role for the chance at some Stavinoha-like game changing power.
asod75
5/4/2010-4:53pm at 4:53 pm (UTC -4)
The whole idea that Carter is too young and fragile to handle a pinch-hitting role sounds ludicrous to me. With how many times this guy has been passed over, only to go rake at AAA, I think he’ll be fine with any role assigned to him. Plus, he’s been DH’ing about half the time at AAA, which is almost like four pinch-hitting appearances during a game. I’m sick of our bench, it’s terrible. I think our backup catcher, who’s not a good hitter, has the best batting average of any of the stiffs on the bench. Bring Pridie and Carter up, DFA Matthews and Cat.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-5:18pm at 5:18 pm (UTC -4)
That’s a good point on DH. You would think it would take similar approach for a pinch hitter as a DH.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-5:20pm at 5:20 pm (UTC -4)
if you get 4 ab’s a day as a dh and 1 ab every other day off the bench how is that similar?
asod75
5/4/2010-5:35pm at 5:35 pm (UTC -4)
It’s just similar in that you’re basically coming off the bench to hit every game, not really into the flow of the game otherwise as you would be playing in the field.
darknova306
5/4/2010-4:59pm at 4:59 pm (UTC -4)
Also, GMJ and Cat have combined to do absolutely nothing for the team this year… does anyone really expect Carter to do any worse? He’s got more potential to help us than either of those bums.
And at the Bisons game I went to a few weeks ago, even during his strikeouts Pridie gave better at-bats than GMJ has so far this season.
A good team should have a good bench… we don’t.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-5:13pm at 5:13 pm (UTC -4)
Grave while I still don’t like the idea of Carter being used in the same role as Cat. I would never be sad that you had a change of heart in your opinion on this or any other matter.
I just see him being wasted in that capacity and I am still of the opinion he is worth more playing everyday so the Mets can possibly trade him to a team that needs a bat like his and might have an arm that the Mets could put to better use in our organization then with the current organization in which he resides.
Now if we are talking about him seeing more ab’s than what Cat is currently seeing then by all means bring him up. Other than that I still stand by my opinion.
asod75
5/4/2010-5:37pm at 5:37 pm (UTC -4)
To me, the only way Carter would increase trade value would be contributing at the major-league level. Everyone knows he can hit AAA pitching. He’s never had the chance to show he can do it at the major-league level. And since he’s 27, it’s not like you’re really hurting him by putting him on the bench. Like I said, he’s proven he can hit AAA pitching. Why not show he can be a valuable asset at the major-league level? I’d be willing to bet he’d give the Mets much more than Cat or GMJ are doing right now.
trs86
5/4/2010-6:00pm at 6:00 pm (UTC -4)
Do you really think his trade value will be decreased by bringing him up to take Cat’s spot? I just don’t see it. Also, the value of that player you are trading for may not be of more value than having a good bench guy. No we have no idea if Carter will be or not be we do know that Cat is not so why not try?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/4/2010-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. If Carter hits the cover off the ball as a PH and/or part-time OF/1B, I’m sure his value will increase.
I’m not sure if the Mets would want to trade him if that’s the case, but that’s another discussion.
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-6:35pm at 6:35 pm (UTC -4)
I am now repeating myself but again,
“I am still of the opinion he is worth more playing everyday so the Mets can possibly trade him to a team that needs a bat like his and might have an arm that the Mets could put to better use in our organization then with the current organization in which he resides.â€
At this moment “I still don’t like the idea of Carter being used in the same role as Cat.â€
“Now if we are talking about him seeing more ab’s than what Cat is currently seeing then by all means bring him up. Other than that I still stand by my opinion.â€
stickguy
5/4/2010-6:57pm at 6:57 pm (UTC -4)
Nr. NO, I expect 1st that Carter would get more ABs than Cat, being as he can actually play and hit.
But, I disagree that calling him up wold change his value. Teams know what he is already, and have seen him rake the first month of the season.
I really, really doubt his trade value wil either go up by spending another month raking in AAA, or go down by spending a month on the Mets bench.
Actually, looking good off the bench an din PT duty might be the only thing right now that would increaase his value!
Mr North Jersey
5/4/2010-7:03pm at 7:03 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, like I said if Carter is going to see more playing time than what Cat is currently seeing I am all for it.