Flash back to August 21st, 2005. It was a hot late-summer afternoon at Shea Stadium where the Mets were hosting the Washington Nationals.
By the fifth inning, the Mets found themselves trailing 7-0. All appeared to be lost until a rookie came to the plate by the name of Mike Jacobs.
Jacobs, a highly ranked Mets prospect, made his major league debut and promptly hit a three-run home run on the first pitch he saw. The Mets went on to lose that game 7-4, but Jacobs continued his torrid hitting streak and homered in each of the next three games.
After only 100 at-bats in 2005, Jacobs finished with 11 home runs, which is a rather incredible feat. It appeared that the 24 year old would be anchoring the right side of the infield for many years to come.
However, that was not the case and in an effort to improve the team’s playoff chances for 2006, Jacobs was shipped to the Florida Marlins along with Yusmeiro Petit in exchange for Carlos Delgado.
Here we are nearly five years latter, and the Mets find themselves, again, searching for a first baseman to help them secure a playoff spot in 2010.
Now with the Kansas City Royals, Jacobs is coming off quite possibly his worst season in the big leagues. In 128 games last season, Jacobs hit only .228.
The bright side is he did hit 19 home runs and drove in 61 RBI’s. Nonetheless, numerous media outlets have reported that Jacobs is an almost guaranteed non-tender candidate given his lackluster performance combined with $3 million-plus salary for next season.
Assuming he hits the open market, the Mets would be crazy not to at least entertain the idea of bringing back the slugger. Keep in mind, this is not an unproven player. Jacobs is only one year removed from a season in which he hit 32 home runs to complement the 92 RBI’s.
I see a little bit of Jeff Francoeur in Jacobs, in the sense both are gritty, hard-nosed players.
These are exactly the kind of players the Mets want to fill the locker room with next year. Maybe their style of play will rub off on their teammates as well.
Jacobs has a passion for the game that rivals even the most dedicated players in the sport today. It is worth pointing out that despite what has only been a brief stay in Kansas City, the first baseman made quite the impression on Kansas City beat writer, Joe Posnanski.
Posnanski, citing Jacobs’s superb work ethic, went as far as calling Jacobs his favorite Royals player, even though he struggled greatly throughout the year.
This speaks volumes, especially when you consider that the probable AL Cy Young award winner, Zack Greinke, is also a member of the Royals.
Signing the slugger to a one year deal worth $4 million or so would be beneficial for both parties
For Jacobs it would be an opportunity to establish himself as a big time bat, and to help justify a club signing him for big bucks down the road.
For the Mets, Jacobs would be a good bat in the lineup, who could help them increase their home run totals and provide the trio of David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Jeff Francoeur with some added protection in the lineup.
His presence would also allow prospect, Ike Davis, to adequately develop in the minor leagues, instead of being rushed up to the major league level.
Obviously, Jacobs comes with his flaws. His defense needs improvement. Also, along with his powerful free-swing approach comes the tendency to strike out a bit.
Am I suggesting that Mike Jacobs is the solution to the Mets offensive woes? Of course not.
What I am suggesting is that signing Jacobs for a reasonable amount of money could allow the Mets to allocate more resources to pursue a slugger for the outfield or a number two pitcher. Both of which are areas where the Mets could use vast improvement.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
I like Jacobs alot, always have. He has a huge hole in his long, loping swing that ML pitchers have learned to exploit. Its a project, but one worth exploring. It would be nice to have a healthy competition between him and Daniel Murphy. Talk about a dog fight… Perhaps Murph could help Jacobs with plate coverage and Jacobs could help Murph with his power stroke.
Please Note:
“Jacobs is only one year removed from a season in which he hit 32 home runs to compliment (sic) the 92 RBI’s.”
“compliment” should read “complement”.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Jacobs is a sub-replacement level hitter who couldn’t play a defensive position for the worst fielding team in the majors. No team in their right mind should give this guy anything more than a minor-league contract or a camp invite.
Also, you’re grossly misrepresenting Posnanski’s article. He didn’t cite Jacobs’s work ethic, he cited the enjoyment factor in watching a guy with so many obvious flaws succeed just that every once in a while that he actually managed to hit the ball. Also, that article was written in April, back when it looked like Jacobs could at least be the league-average hitter that he had been through his career. He didn’t even live up to that mediocre bit of promise this year.
Mike Jacobs is 28 years old and couldn’t get on base more than 29% of the time playing in a no pressure situation in Kansas City.
He has no upside in terms of potential being that if he has any he should have shown it by now. He’s a .230, .300 OBP hitter that cannot touch lefty pitching to save his life.
Murphy is better than Jacobs.
Mike Jacobs…people, okay maybe just Phil, you are getting more desperate by the minute!
Half a stiff drink, and then think long and hard about whom we’re going to need to take us to playoff-level baseball.
Royals scrub=Mets contributor. The world is going mad!
I get it. Metsmerized came up with a new daily post: JOKE OF THE DAY
I’m not saying that Jacobs is the guy, who is going to singlehandedly take the Mets to the playoffs, but it’s hard to pass up on a guy with the kind of power Jacobs has.
He’s a gamer and I like his approach to the game. Is he perfect? No. Is he the best option at first base next season? No. But, let’s get realistic the Mets probably aren’t going to be spending a great deal of money this year.
This move would allow them to possible pursue one of the bigger tier free agents, such as Matt Holliday or John Lackey, if they wanted to go in that direction.
Jacobs would be a relatively inexpensive short-term commitment until the team decides whether or not they want to go with either Murphy or Davis or bring someone from outside the organization to play the position.
This is a guy that has shown he can hit for power at the major league level. His numbers prior to his one year stint in Kansas City, were respectable.
no they were not. his numbers have always been awful. perhaps if he was a gold glove shortstop with those numbers he would be ok. but a 1b? he is terrible. why are you guys so bad at understanding what good offensive numbers are?
I remember how he took Mets nation by storm after he was called up and also Pedro Martinez lobbied for him not to get sent down. My only problem is giving him more than $3 million. I like him, but I’m not willing to risk more than 3MM on his potential.
what do you like about him? his lack of any major league talent? his inability to play a position that isnt first, where he should be one of the best hitters on the team?
uhh, what?
Hi, thanks for sharing.
No, This is just an example of trying to save Fred’s money when Jeff just wrote us a blank check. Let’s broaden our horizons Mets fans and think about Adrian Gonzalez or Fielder for 1B. Think BIG and think about spending Fred’s money, not saving it.
Let’s hope Omar is really thinking Big with Fred’s money.
Yes, I’m thinking Gonzalez, Holliday, and Halladay. Then I’ll apologize about everything I said about ownership and Omar and I’ll get tickets to Opening Day.
I’ll sit at the table with you while they serve crow. However, positive talking is easy…delivery is another thing.
Yes it’s easy to “talk the talk”. “Walking the walk” is another story!
Referring to a guy as “gritty”, “hard-nosed”, or “a gamer” is usually a cheap way to mask the lack of major-league talent.
correct. jacobs is absolutely terrible, he can only destroy the mets hopes to improve.
look, i know you guys are morons and you are desperate to think up a topic for an article. but saying jacobs could help? please. get it together, idiots. a horrible hitter playing first base? what could be worse? christ, what is wrong with you guys?
Where do you get off coming to someone’s website and calling them “morons” and “idiots”? What a child!
that is my way of expressing amazement with the incredible lack of understanding of the game by many fans.
I’m surprised that the author of this post doesn’t even discuss Jacob’s abominable OBP at all. I understand some people don’t believe the statistic has value, and while I believe that is gravely incorrect, I do think it is something that should be addressed, even if the author’s conclusion is that it doesn’t matter. That and his terrible defense and speed.
4 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS UNDERACHIEVER???? LETS THANK GOD PHIL HOOPS IS NOT A GM….i wouldnt even consider giving this guy a million.
CitiField plays best to lefties in terms of power potential. Delgado might be the best option at first. Scary if he gets injured but not so much if you have a backup. Jacobs can play first and outfield. He is def. a power lefty and he could be a 4 or 5 hitter in a pinch. We had Daniel Murphy batting cleanup last year.
Trade Murphy, Pagan, Maine and Pelfrey for Halladay or take on a portion of Vernon Wells’ contract and put him in left. Then sign Sheets, Bedard and Wolf.
Rotation
Santana
Halladay
Sheets
Bedard
Wolf
Perez
3 righties and 3 lefties. I don’t mean to suggest a 6 man rotation, but I think Oliver getting like 20-25 starts filling in for guys that need to miss a turn might be most effective.
Lineup
Reyes
Beltran
Wright
Delgado/Jacobs
Wells/or free agent left fielder
Franceur
Santos/Blanco
Castillo
When one guy like Delgado represents the only power bat on your roster, things get bad quickly. We need to add some home run threats to go along with our very well rounded core players.
It’s all about pitching and that rotation is scary.