Second base is a position where players have to be quick on their feet and need to have a quick mind. They have to be able to make the quick turn to complete the double play, and they need to be able to get the ball out quickly to start a double play. Some of the Mets great second baseman throughout their franchise history are Edgar Alfonzo, Jeff Kent, and Mets current second baseman Luis Castillo. The Mets have had several players play second base this year including Castillo, Alex Cora, Wilson Valdez, Anderson Hernandez, Fernando Tatis, Argenis Reyes, and Ramon Martinez. I believe there is only one player of that bunch that has done spectacular this season and that is Luis Castillo. The Mets took a huge risk resigning Castillo after last year he was on the DL for most of the year. He’s only missed a few games this year when he fell down the dugout stairs and has done better than everyone expected him to. But what was his expectations? Play half the year, with an average at least over .200? Don’t get me wrong, I agree Castillo has done great but is he playoff material at this point? If not who could be the Mets second baseman in 2010?
Luis Castillo, age 34
2010 contract: $6M (‘08-’11)
2009 stats: .308 avg, 1 hr, 36 rbi, .355 slg
Career stats: .293 avg, 28 hr, 422 rbi, .355 slg
It’s true that Castillo has shocked every Met fan at how well he’s played. His average is ninth in the National League but his ability to hit singles and sac-bunts may not be helpful to the Mets if they are going for a playoff run next year. Castillo has been able to stay healthy (for the most part) and his defense has been at par if you take away his dropped ball against the Yankees. I still don’t think his singles and his few stolen bases are enough to get the Mets into the playoffs.
Verdict
No, best of luck to Castillo next year but he is more suited for a team that needs a reliable base runner and is a more likely competitor for the playoffs. I say deal away Castillo for something the Mets need for next year.
Orlando Hudson, age 31
2010 contract: no contract
2009 stats: .285 avg, 9 hr, 62 rbi, .415 slg
Career stats: .282 avg, 77 hr, 434 rbi, .430 slg
I was surprised the Mets did not get Orlando Hudson this offseason. The guy was basically begging to play for the Mets. His past numbers have proven he’s an offensive plus to the team and his defense, well you’ve all seen how great that is. He would be a great defensive and offensive bonus to the team and he was younger than I thought he was so he would be around longer than Castillo would.
Verdict
Yes, there’s no doubt in my mind that Hudson would be a bonus to the Mets. He’s someone the Mets need to go for during the offseason. His defense is spectacular and he can hold his own at the plate.
Dan Uggla, age 29
2010 contract: no contract
2009 stats: .240 avg, 30 hr, 85 rbi, .456 slg
Career stats: .257 avg, 120 hr, 355 rbi, .482 slg
We’ve all seen Uggla play poorly in last year’s All-Star game, probably the worst defensive player in the National League as well. But his offensive power makes up for it. He has consistent power numbers but his average is sub-par and he even he may not be able to reach the CitiField walls.
Verdict
No, Uggla may have power but the Mets say they are going to work on defense, speed and pitching. Everything Uggla doesn’t have. He could help the Mets in the power department but that’s all he’s good for.
Ben Zobrist, age 28
2010 contract: none
2009 stats: .286 avg, 24 hr, 79 rbi, .518 slg
Career stats: .253 avg, 39 hr, 136 rbi, .444 slg
Ben Zobrist is coming off the best season of his young career and is someone the Mets could use at second. He plays hard, runs hard, hits hard. The only disconcerting thing about Zobrist is his average. His average has been constant, consistently decent. Nothing spectacular in that department but the rest of his numbers are great and with guidance from the veterans on the team he would be a great fielder and hitter.
Verdict
Yes, Zobrist has proven himself down in Tampa and played well when they played the Mets earlier this year. He is someone that has heart and plays his hardest. His young age is helpful to the Mets if they are going to try to build up on future players.
Other possibilities…
Wilson Valdez - No, he’s done a decent job at filling in for the injured Alex Cora and Jose Reyes but he’s not in the Mets plans for next year.
Argenis Reyes – No, he let me down this season, he had a decent season last year with the help of Jose but he was useless to the Mets this year.
Ramon Martinez - No, hahahaha sorry needed a laugh. The guy has been out longer with a sprained pinky than A-Rod was with his hip surgery.
Alex Cora – Yes, despite getting injured several times he’s done well as the Mets platoon middle infielder and the Mets should bring him back. Maybe not for another two million but for less.
Anderson Hernandez - No, he only came back to the Mets to help fill in for the injured middle infielders. You’ve lost your marbles if you thinks he’s coming back next year.
As a roundup…
Yes – Alex Cora, Ben Zobrist, Orlando Hudson.
No – Argenis Ryes, Luis Castillo, Dan Uggla, Anderson Hernandez, Wilson Valdez, Ramon Martinez.
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How do you expect the Mets to get Ben Zobrist? Trade David Wright? The Rays have a superstar playing at league minimum with 5 years of team control left…
Also why does he need “veterans” to help him? He’s already an elite hitter and defender, probably one of the most complete players in baseball.
I also think you’re overstating the difference between Castillo and Hudson. Hudson’s wOBA is only a few points higher that Castillo’s. While Castillo is a truly horrendous defender, Hudson’s no Gold Glover anymore, he’s good at ranging to his left basically never goes across the body for a GB.
No, Zobrist has an arbatration year. Rays might not be able to afford it, and look to trade Zobrist.
Assuming you meant arbitration year, no you’re wrong. He has 2.1 years of service time.
he does? i thought this was his third year. sorry about that.
My solution for second base – I’ll repeat til I’m blue and orange in the face:
Trade for Cincinnati Reds Brandon Phillips. I mean, REALLY make it worth their while (such as Maine, Parnell, F-Mart etc…).
Trade for Carl Crawford, who is rumored to be on the trading block (Tejada, Flores, Holt).
Sign Lackey as FA. Determine JJ Putz’ health and, if healthy, re-sign to 2 year deal w/mutual options.
Crawford
Reyes
Phillips
Beltran
Wright
Murphy
Francouer
Santos/FA Catcher
Bench: Pagan, Sullivan, Tatis, Handy-Andy & Catcher
AAA in reserve: Matt Murton (sign him), Chris Carter, Nick Evans, Josh Thole (needs seasoning), Wilson “slickster” Valdez.
With the exception of Beltran, everyone is in their 20’s. Its a young, healthy line-up entering its prime with competent reserve at AAA. Pagan is excellent Beltran insurance and Cory Sullivan proves himself time and again. Brandon Phillips is a gamer and reminds me of Mookie.
Rotation: Santana, Lackey, Pelfrey, Niese/Ollie , Nieve/Redding/Figgy
Bullpen: K-Rod, Putz, Stokes, ChadBrad, Figgy, Feliciano, Takahashi, Adam Bostick
There’s no way we’d be able to get all of those top players. We would have to trade all of our prospects and core players and be bankrupt.
Murphy should not be the Mets starting first baseman. He doesn’t have what it takes to be there a whole year.
And Reyes is not a #2 hitter
Crawford is on the block. He’s actually a restricted FA and the cash-strapped Rays have made it known that he’s available.
Reds need pitching. Phillips can be obtained with the right mix of pitchers and infielders (Niese or Holt, Tejada, etc…)
Crawford is a better leadoff hitter than Reyes, who would benefit by having someone i/f/o him w/a high oba. Reyes would get better pitches to hit. Reyes has more power than Crawford. Reyes wouldn’t be expected to steal everytime he gets on base.
Lackey has earned a solid longterm contract. Perfect no. 2 pitcher behind Santana.
Empty the farm? We have a number of talented farmhands – Holt, Niewenhuis, Familia, Mejia, Ike Davis, F-Mart, Tejada and Wilmer Flores, just to name a few. If Parnell has value either to the Reds or Rays, gift-wrap him if it brings Phillips or Crawford closer to wearing a Mets uniform.
Its doable.
crazy, can i have some koolaid?
Dave: Jeff Kent? He goes into the same second base garbage pail as Carlos Baerga and Roberto Alomar. Kent was a 75-RBI man for the Mets and a sour puss. He only prospered when he moved on to the Giants. Every team he played on he made enemies.
Baerga and Alomar built their reputations in other cities.
How could you leave out Charlie Neal, Ron Hunt, Ed Broussard, Doug Flynn, and Jose Reyes as “great secondbasemen” of the past.
Also Felix Millan in addition to the 5 you listed. Millan, Neal, and Hunt were some of our few good players during the early years.
HEY, MASK, ONE OF PHILLIPS’ BIGGEST MISTAKES, IN MY OPINION, WAS NOT USING MILAN, THEN A ROVING MILB INSTRUCTOR FOR NYM, TO WORK EXCLUSIVLY WITH ORDONEZ ON HITTING.
There’s bigger problems than Castillo on this team. Leave him in place especially since he’s the perfect Small Ball player and that’s the name of our game now.
we need castillo. he fits into the plans of this team, especially hitting behind reyes. if reyes can get on base, and i know he can. castillo is perfect for that exactly. the problem has just been health. between reyes hurt this year and castillo last year, its been difficult but both players healthy are very productive and are goign to lead to a lot of first inning runs.
I like all the other guys that were mentioned, but castillo fits this a lot better at the moment.
and if you could get ben zobrist, why not have him play left field, since he does give u some power.
TOO OFTEN CASTILLO’S LOOKING TO MOVE REYES TO 2nd INSTEAD OF ALLOWING REYES TO TAKE 2B ON HIS OWN THEN MOVING HIM ONTO 3B. CAN WE STOP GIVING AWAY OUTS TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING LIKE REYES TO 2B? WITH JOSE & LUIS 1,2 THERE’S NO REASON WE SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE CONSITANCY OF 1B & 3B MOOK OR NAILS HAD WITH DIRT(MOOKIE,DYKSTRA.BACKMAN) THOUGHOUT MOST OF ‘86 SEASON IT WAS FIRST & THIRD MOST EVERY FIRST INNING SETTING A VERY CHALLENGING,INTIMIDATING TONE.
Castillo is ok but when he comes up with bases loaded you know that he is not going to drive in more than one run, unless maybe hitting from RH side, cause the whole OF is playing short. I have seen this all year, all the runs that were left on base cause Castillo could not get a decent fly ball from the left side. I don’t know what Mets can do but with his contract it will be hard to move him. If he can be moved then I would take Hudson since he is FA and does not require trading away players. We have to stop wanting to trade what players we have in minors all the time to fill in holes in roster. Let some of these kids develop, pitch a lot of innings, a lot of at bats to properly see what they offer the big club. We need to develop our own fill in players.
until omar is gone, nothing the mets do matters. whoever comes in after omar will just have to undo it.
castillo has had a fine season and will be welcomed back, as he should be.
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Rufor