Comments on: If Reyes Isn’t Ready In 2010; Here’s My Backup Plan

By: sarge

sarge — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:25:47 +0000

If Scutaro is willing to take a Met friendly contract coming off a good year plus knowing that Mets are hurting at SS then I would take him in an instant over both Cora and Valdez but I would try and find a way to bring Cora back for his baseball smarts and clubhouse influence. But, will Scutaro come to Mets and accept a part-time role considering what a year he just had? Just talking out loud.

By: steve

steve — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:35:13 +0000

Even if Reyes was healthy Scutaro makes sense.Also Barajas behind the plate.

By: I’m Reading: about Marco Scutaro, Mo, & FNPs

I’m Reading: about Marco Scutaro, Mo, & FNPs — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:49:20 +0000

[...] D of Mets Merized Online looks at the market for free-agent shortstops, in the wake of Jose Reyes’s looming surgery, and [...]

By: kevin

kevin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:07:32 +0000

Are you seriously arguing over keeping one of these two? You gotta be kidding me.

By: kevin

kevin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:56:33 +0000

Scaturo has flown under the radar this season and has compiled some impressive stats along the way. As for Cora, Ahern and Valdez, get rid of them all and clean house.

By: James K.

James K. — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:40:04 +0000

But that’s not what you wrote in this piece. You said forget Valdez, let’s get Cora because of intangibles. You “strongly disagreed” with bringing back Valdez over Cora. I’m quite confused.

By: Joe D

Joe D — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:33:55 +0000

Agreed, given their difference in salary, Valdez is the better choice of the two.

By: James K.

James K. — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:13:40 +0000

Joe, I didn’t write in my piece that Valdez’s small sample size hitting performance is reason to keep him. I know he’s not a good hitter. I doubt you even read my piece but that’s fine.

Valdez didn’t blow the Nats game with a throwing error, that was Anderson Hernandez. Valdez is an outstanding fielder, and it’s not “small sample size”. He’s played 800 big league innings at SS and if you prorate his performance to a full season he’d be one of the best, if not the best, defensive shortstops in baseball. Cora has been serviceable defensively in the past but was pretty awful this year.

Obviously it’s not the difference between 95 wins and 85 wins (I hate when people say stuff like that) but Valdez has been more valuable than Cora this year, whether you believe it or not, and would cost $1-$1.5 million less than Cora. Put that $$ towards a good player, not Alex Cora.

By: theonlymaskman

theonlymaskman — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:58:39 +0000

Scutaro is solid and would make a good add for the Mets and, most importantly, at an affordable price. He actually compares fairly well to DeRosa, with more speed and better BA but with less power. Both are versatile. Scutaro would fill a need on this team at a low price.

By: Matt F.

Matt F. — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:43:53 +0000

Is reyes finally a #3 hitter?

If there’s any year to try it, it might as well be the year after multiple leg injuries.

By: Joe D

Joe D — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:39:30 +0000

James, I think both are poor options, especially if they are forced into regular duty as I wrote.

Just as you refer to Francoeur’s hot streak (your words) as a small sample size to say he’s elevated his performance, Valdez’s sample size is less than half that of Francoeur’s.

So all we really have to look at is his career body of work which is pretty poor even by your standards. As for his fielding, again too small a sample size. Didn’t he just blow a win for the Mets in the Nats series with a throwing error?

Neither of these guys is worth the debate. The Mets need to find a solid addition to the lineup if there is ANY chance Reyes could miss the start of the season.

By the way, I totally acknowledge Cora sucks as a hitter, just as Valdez, but given the choice I’d take Cora simply because he was a positive influence, was willing to play with torn ligaments in his thumbs, and exhibited solid fundamentals unlike most of his teammates. My preference though is that we bring back neither.

As for Scutaro, thoughts?

By: Matt F.

Matt F. — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:34:23 +0000

I couldn’t agree more.

The most glaring reason for his newfound success is his improved walk rate. As long as that rate is sustainable, then this career year won’t turn out to have just been a fluke.

Even if Reyes is healthy, Scutaro makes more sense than Cora.

By: jets-mets fan

jets-mets fan — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:08:56 +0000

I’d actually move Luis Castillo and give second base to this guy. Look at his OBP, he’d be perfect in the two hole. We can trade Castillo for a 2B/SS utility player who’s better than Cora or Valdez, both of whom have nothing to offer offensively or defensively. With a healthy Reyes, the Mets would have a nice 1-6 in the lineup.

By: James K.

James K. — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:06:20 +0000

I’m all for using facts to make a case for or against players, as was sorta done with Valdez. But why wasn’t the same done for Cora? No mention of his batting average, OBP or SLG this year? Or his fielding? Only a mention of his intangibles, which, by definition, are subjective and not factual. Cora can’t hit or field. Valdez can’t hit but can field at a high level, and is a lot cheaper. Those are some facts.

Here’s to another year of Alex Cora’s leadership and 67 wins in 2010.

By: Ace

Ace — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:48:15 +0000

Versatility and consistancy, good choice Joe….we are in dire need of those…and it seems this guy could help….however, it’s all speculation until someone, ANYONE speaks from the front office….