Comments on: Angel Pagan: Starter or Utility Man?

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:56:44 +0000

MASK, SO MUCH DEPENDS ON NEXT YR’S PAYROLL BUDGET. I’D HOPE IT’S SOMEWHERE BET 120-130M FROM THE 149 WE’RE AT TODAY. IF LESS THAN THAT WE’RE IN BIG TROUBLE; BUT THAT PARAMETER CAN BE MADE TO WORK. THERE’S 93M ALREADY COMMITTED ON BOOKS PRESENTLY. MY GUESS IS 15M FOR A GOOD #2. 10-15M FOR THAT PWR LF(BEST CANDIDATES HOLLIDAY-13.5M IN ’09 & IF CRAWFORD ISN’T RETAINED WITH TB OPTION @ 10M FOR ’10) LEAVING VERY LITTLE FOR 1B & C. OUR BEST OPTION MAY BE IF DELGADO’S BATSPEED IS STILL GOOD, A LOW GUARANTEE OFFER FOR 1 YR W/ MODEST INCENTIVES HOPING FOR LITTLE COMPETITIVE INTEREST DUE TO AGE/INJURY AND KEEPING SANTOS,THOLE AS CATCHER TANDEM. SOMETHING ELSE I’D CONSIDER AS COST REDUCTION IS PARTING WITH BOTH CORA & TATIS IN FAVOR OF A-HERN & MURPH AS B/U INFIELDERS. A POTENTIAL LOWCOST LF WITH RIGHT MAKEUP MAY BE NADY COMING OFF 2nd TJ OF CATREER IF NYY FALTER IN INTEREST. WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF LUCK & APLOMB IT MAY BE DOABLE ON THE CHEAP @ >130M. CERTAINLY IF THIS WERE BAU AS IT HAS BEEN WITH A 173M LUXURY CAP, THE ISSUE OF COMPETING WOULD BE MOOT. SO MUCH MORE COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN MORE DOMINATING FASHION; BUT ALAS, I THINK NOT & PRAY FOR 130M CEILING

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:38:42 +0000

MASK, WHILE TAKEN IN A VACUUM, YOUR CRITICISM OF NYM FUNDIES IS ACCURATE; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE U NEED TO CONSIDER EXPERIENCE & TALENT LEVEL INTO THE MIX, IF U TOTAL ANGEL’S ENTIRE MLB CAREER OF 4 YRS. HE’S PLAYED IN ONLY 245 TOTAL GAMES AMASSING ONLY 667 ABS WITH 185 HITS & ONLY 54 BB OR 239 BASERUNNING OPPORTUNITIES IN 4 YRS! COMPARE THAT
TO REYES’ ’07 SEASON OF 160G WITH 681 AB, 191 HITS & 77 BB OR 268 BASERUNNING OPPORTUNITIES. SO IN 4 YRS PAGAN’S AMASSED FEWER BAERUNNING EXPERIENCES AS REYES GOT IN ONE SEASON. MURPHY IS MY TALENT EXAMPLE, HE WAS A LATE ROUNDER, WHICH SPEAKS TO RAW TALENT LEVEL, YET HE WAS SEEMINGLY FAST-TRACKED PAST AAA WHERE HE MAY HAVE ACQUIRED THE NECESSARY SITUATIONAL SKILLS. MURPH’S IS A PLIGHT MANY OF OUR YOUNGSTERS FACE SINCE WE’VE HAD A PAUCITY OF FIRST-ROUND TOP TALENT TO WORK WITH, YET WE KEEP SKIPPING THEM TO MAJORS FROM AA EXPECTING POLISHED TALENTS. EVEN THE PUREST OF DIAMONDS NEED PROPER POLISHING TO CLEAN THE SURFACE DIRT EBABLING THEM TO SPARKLE PROPERLY. BTW, PLS NOTE, SAME LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES HINDERING PAGAN’S DEVELOPMENT LIKELY TO IMPACT F-MART THE SAME WAY SINCE F-MART IS A REGULAR ON THE D/L. EITHER WAY, IN MY OPINION, ANGEL’S A #4 & MURPH IS TATIS’ REPLACEMENT AS B/U 1B,3B IN ’10.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:45:55 +0000

I have been asking myself the same question in regards to Pagan. He shows a great deal of talent as well as being injury prone. Its a tough one. I do agree that this team needs a power bat. Its apparent that they can not win without it. They also need someone who is CLUTCH…. They can’t even score when the opportunity is given to them.

Anyway, I believe that both Pagan and Murphy should play winter ball and continue to develop thier skills.

By: mary

mary — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:27:35 +0000

I say we shoud try to fins sombody better, but pitching is our priority, along with a power hitter. If we can get an upgrade over Pagan great. Somebody will surely get injured and leave Pagan with plenty of playing time. I like Pagan all things consdered I think he is more of a postive on this team than a neagtive.

By: fredisright

fredisright — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:01:07 +0000

But if Delgado comes in cheap for one years, with an upgrade if he does good then Murphy will start off on the bench, and or be part of a trade.

By: Kerel Cooper

Kerel Cooper — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:00:07 +0000

Agreed. 4th outfielder at best. The Mets need to go out and get a LF through free agency in the off-season.

By: fredisright

fredisright — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:58:05 +0000

Oh and about Murphy. So far he did not hit as good as last year. BUT, he did hit good enough later in the seaason.

And early on he must of had some emotionally stuff going on because of him finding a position to play.

And since he is so young then I would question if he can also develop into a long ball hitter. I feel that he can also be a 20 plus homer guy.

So can he be our first basemen or not? Well if they can not find one in a trade/FA then he should at least start the season and see if it works out.

By: fredisright

fredisright — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:42:45 +0000

I feel that Pagen has not fully had enough time to be fully comfortable at playing on a steady basis.

Because of that I feel that he needs more time playing every day without the discomfort of feeling that if he does wrong, he losses the whole thing.

A steady Pagen will make a steady good player. And his long ball (20 or just above it) will be good enough to do the job.

LF should be his next year, unless he fails to live up to what I felt that he could do.

By: theonlymaskman

theonlymaskman — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:25:42 +0000

He has enough stats that there should be a team out there with the proper skills to develop players that will take him as part of a deal that includes other inducements. I agree LF, 1B, SP, and even catcher are the proper needs to go after if we are to have a chance at being competitive next year.

By: oldtimer

oldtimer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:23:08 +0000

Give me Pagan in LF over Murphy at first! Would i rather have Holliday, Abreu or Dye in left? Yes, but do the Mets have the finances to do that and to address the starting pitching issues (not to mention 1B)? It doesn’t look that way. Pagan starts the season in LF with the now tarnished FMart in the wings.

By: Mykey

Mykey — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:20:59 +0000

To me, that would be the best case scenario…trade him either in a package deal to get either a LF, SP, or 1B, or trade himn for prospects. Of course, there has to be a team willing to take him.

By: theonlymaskman

theonlymaskman — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:12:23 +0000

I think Sullivan is by far the better player. Perhaps Pagan is nothing more than a PH’er and late inning defensive replacement depending on who the LF is next season. Best of all would be to use him as trade fodder to get a real major legaue player to fill one of the holes.

By: Lifelongmetsfan

Lifelongmetsfan — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:03:59 +0000

I thought we already went over this last week? Pagen is in contention for one of the back-up outfielder jobs next spring. Pagen still makes the same mistakes he made with the Cubs. The Cubs let him go because they thought he had hit reached his development ceiling.
The thing about Pagen is, you never know what Angel Pagen is going to show up on a given play? For a back-up player this is not an endearing quality. Why take a chance playing Pagen if he is going to make bone headed base running plays and throw to the wrong base…. when you could play a less dynamic but far more reliable player in a part-time role such as Jeremy Redd or Cory Sullivan. And I like Pagen a lot! But I don’t know…

By: Mykey

Mykey — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:22:33 +0000

I agree that Pagan should be our #4 outfielder. However, if the Mets can somehow go out and get a legit power hitting 1B, then I wouldn’t mind Pagan starting in LF. If the Mets can’t get that power 1B, then they need to get a power LF, in which case, Pagan can come off the bench.

By: theonlymaskman

theonlymaskman — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:15:59 +0000

Agreed, he is a backup player and should not be a starter. Like Murphy, he needs some training at using his skills properly. Learn to run the bases and read plays better on defense. He needs to focus porperly during live action instead of being distracted. The Mets appear deficient in developing player skills and fostering growth in the capabilities of young players. The organization needs to concentrate on executing player development in a meaningful way if players like Pagan and Murphy are to be seriously considered for starting roles. As they are now, neither is ready to be a starter in the majors.

By: Phil Hoops

Phil Hoops — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:14:58 +0000

Great article Greg! I completely agree with you, Pagan is a great player, who puts his team first. However, likewise I just don’t feel comfortable relying on him to play everyday.