According to Adam Rubin at ESPN, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis was called up from AAA Buffalo to replace Andres Torres.. He was 0 for 2 tonight against Pawtucket. Last year he hit .298/.403/.505 with 6HR 14 RBI and 5 SB with the Bisons before shoulder injury subsequent surgery shelved him for the year. The beginning of the season was supposed to be a re-acclimation for Kirk to the AAA level, but with Torres on the shelf for what may be a while, he now has an excellent opportunity to make his mark in the bigs. Baseball America rated him as the Mets #7 prospect and he projects to be a fourth outfielder
Apr 05
Nieuwenhuis Called Up
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25 comments
oleosmirf
4/6/2012-12:50am at 12:50 am (UTC -4)
hopefully he will start on Saturday. Nothing against Hairston, but he should only start against LHP…
I’d also like to see Bay drop to #6 since you don’t want 3 lefties Duda, Kirk, Thole in a row…
Bryan
4/6/2012-12:56am at 12:56 am (UTC -4)
Interesting point about the lineup because Terry was planning on putting Ike and Duda back to back, just not against the Braves because of their lefty relievers but he may have to go with back to back lefties than Bay then back to back lefties again.
NJstuckinTX
4/6/2012-9:07am at 9:07 am (UTC -4)
Unless Bay can truly offer protection by splitting up Ike and Duda, it’s almost going to make sense rolling with an altered lineup having Wright in cleanup. Kirk, Murphy, Ike, Wirght, Duda, Bay, Thole, Tejada. Murphy hits any pitching, so wouldn’t be worried with him and Ike back to back. Just a thought.
trs86
4/6/2012-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Not bad, I just don’t like Wright in the 4 spot any more.
Stick
4/6/2012-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
The lineup is not ideal (in terms of guys natural to each spot), but it makes sense with the L/R balance. Also willhelp once one of the bash bros v2.0 steps up and starts raking. Duda or Ike could end up settling into that role, in which case the rest of the lineup will settle around them.
and without Torres, I almost think you have to put Tejada 1st.
Tejada
Murphy
Wright
Ike
Duda
Bay
Kirk
THole?
still don’t like all those lefties with only a stiff to break them up. So I would give this a try, if you want the balance:
Tejada
Murphy
Duda/davis
Wright
Ike/duda
Bay
Kirk
Thole.
NJstuckinTX
4/6/2012-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
Agreed that it isn’t optimal at all, but until, as Stick mentions, the Baby Bash Bros. start hitting lefties, they’ll need some protection. And having the walking dead left fielder attempting to break them up now isn’t going to do much. May very well have to go untraditional.
As for Kirk in leadoff spot vs. Tejada… i’d be fine with either.
trs86
4/6/2012-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
I said the same thing but lengthen the lineup and put Kirk up top too and slide Murphy to the 3 hole.
Ceetar
4/6/2012-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
Well it worked, since they basically pitched around Bay to get to Duda. (and that worked for them too)
And if he Braves are gonna do it, with Venters, to get to a second year player, other teams will as well.
Hopefully Duda starts making them pay.
Bryan
4/6/2012-1:10am at 1:10 am (UTC -4)
I thought that they might opt for Rottino, but since Torres is re-aggravating his injury it could be more than just 2 weeks, so the Mets need to make sure they’re covered defensively in his absence. Hairston will play some, but most of the starts should go to Nieuwenhuis. Hopefully he’s ready because he really only has a half year of experience in AAA.
srt
4/6/2012-7:35am at 7:35 am (UTC -4)
My thoughts as well. I’d like to see a real CF out there for Torres’ absence as Duda looked a little shaky out there in RF yesterday.
Even if Kirk doesn’t hit, it’s not like Hairston would be much better full time – nor Rottino for that matter.
trs86
4/6/2012-7:47am at 7:47 am (UTC -4)
Heck with saving the kids
Kirk, Ruben, Murphy, Wright, Duda, Davis, Bay, Thole.
I guarantee if you do that then Wright is seeing a bunch of LHP.
Stickguy
4/6/2012-8:05am at 8:05 am (UTC -4)
better hope they miss lee and hamels when they play the PHils next week!
I actually agree that they might as well go all in then. Let Kirk play, see what he can do. Perfect time, since they can always send him back down when (if?) Torres comes back.
actually, given that it will probably be closer to 4-6 than 2-3 (I stayed in a Holiday inn express last weekend. Really, I did, I went to LI for a Bar Mitzvah and stayed in one!) it is possible that when he finally gets back, Bay will be ready for his platoon. Then keep Kirk to rotate to LF and CF?
Hopefully he actually produces. would be nice to see him stick with the team. Might be a bit rough at first, but that’s life.
trs86
4/6/2012-8:41am at 8:41 am (UTC -4)
Just going to have to hope that Wright is on. He has a .286 and a .308 BA vs those 2. Bay has a .273 BA vs Lee and Torres had a .500. The rest have only had about 3PA vs Lee.
Hamels is a different story.
Wright, Bay, Hairston, Murphy, Davis, Torres, Turner and even Pelfrey have a BA over .300 against him.
NJstuckinTX
4/6/2012-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
Well… Sink or swim time. Embrace your opportunity Kirk.
Stick
4/6/2012-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
keep in mind that, like Duda, and unlike F Mart, Kirk is not some young kid barely out of his teens. He is old enough to not (hopefully) need the level of coddling and breaking in slowly that a rushed up guy would need.
wanny
4/6/2012-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
Why do people want to bat Kirk leadoff? Because he had a nice OBP in a short 2011 season? What about his full 2010 season?
I don’t like the idea of calling up a kid before he’s ready just for a cup of coffee, especially when there’s someone else who can handle the bulk of the work (Hairston). We’ve seen how that’s worked with others recently.
NJstuckinTX
4/6/2012-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Whom would you put in that spot with Torres out? Just curious.
trs86
4/6/2012-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
How do we know he’s not ready? It can’t be age with him anymore and he has had almost 1700 minor league PA.
trs86
4/6/2012-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
I also think that batting him 1st or 2nd in some ways takes some pressure off of him. 1st, just get on base. 2nd just make contact…
trs86
4/6/2012-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
I think you could draw a lot of comparisons to a young Lenny Dykstra between these two.
Lenny had a few more AA PA but about the same AAA PA.
.298 .403 .505 .908 for Kirk last year.
.310 .392 .410 .802 for Lenny in 1985.
TKFJ
4/6/2012-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Rather have Tejada at leadoff.
trs86
4/6/2012-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
I think that is what you will see. My thoughts were just extending the lineup a little.
Most likely you see
Tejada, Murphy, Wright, Davis, Duda/Bay, Bay/Duda, Thole, Kirk. Pending on the handedness of the pitcher.
srt
4/6/2012-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
TC said after the game today that Tejada would bat leadoff.
I believe that was before they made a decision on who would be taking Torres’ place. Not sure that would make a difference though.
trs86
4/6/2012-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
I doubt it will. Most likely just switching Tejada and Torres and then subbing in Kirk.
Hazmet
4/6/2012-6:28pm at 6:28 pm (UTC -4)
I actually thought put Bay in the leadoff spot. The thought being he’s got a decent enough eye he should be able to work out walks in the leadoff spot. And heck we’d get the misery of him being in the middle of the lineup out of the way. And he’s got enough speed to steal at the top of the order.
Then I looked at his OBP and almost threw up.