15
2011
From Left Field: And Now We Wait
An article by 
With the signing of Willie Harris to take over as the team’s fourth outfielder and the high possibility of a Chris Young signing soon, it seems as though the Mets have addressed all of their needs heading into the season.
Granted, there are still position battles to be won (second base, bullpen and bench spots) as well as a ton of question marks.
Unless the Mets plan on adding another bullpen arm (maybe a loogy), Sandy Alderson has assembled the pieces of this complex puzzle.
It will now be up to Terry Collins to arrange those piece into a working entity. While there may not be anymore major additions, there certainly might be some addition by subtraction.
I’m sure you guessed it: Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo. I’m curious as to what either of these players will have to do during spring training to make the club. Perez won’t magically be able to throw strikes, and Castillo won’t be stealing second and third base after laying down a bunt single.
If they show they are competent and might be able to contribute in some capacity, will the Mets take the gamble with them or would it be wise to eat their contracts and start fresh with younger talent?
And more importantly, will our core players be able to stay healthy and produce? The talent is undoubtedly there, but can it click all at once?
These questions and more should hopefully be answered during spring training and in the early part of the season. We have a month until pitchers and catchers report to Port St. Lucie so I’m sure there will be tons of speculation and hype concerning position battles and injury updates.
I will list my projected 25-man roster at this point. Naturally, I am not the one making these decisions, but I tried to put together the most realistic roster that will give this team a shot at winning.
While the team may not look as good on paper as some of the Mets’ teams from a few years ago, we should not write them off until we see them play for a few months. Teams can get hot, and hopefully the new management can inspire these players to play to their full potential. I know I’m am optimist, but that’s the type of attitude that could lead to success in 2011.
Without further ado, here is my roster. I would love to hear other opinions and analysis. Please feel free to offer alternatives and provide your own explanation.
Note: I did not include Perez or Castillo since I feel this team is better without them.
Lineup
1. Jose Reyes SS
2. Angel Pagan RF (for now)
3. David Wright 3B
4. Carlos Beltran CF (for now)
5. Jason Bay LF (ahead of Davis due to speed)
6. Ike Davis 1B
7. Daniel Murphy 2B
8. Josh Thole C (I’m a little worried about the three straight lefties in the order)
Bench
C: Ronny Paulino (Mike Nickeas or Raul Chavez for first eight games)
INF: Brad Emaus
INF: Chin-lung Hu
OF: Willie Harris
OF: Nick Evans
Starting Rotation
1. Mike Pelfrey
2. R.A. Dickey
3. Jon Niese
4. Chris Young (assuming he signs)
5. Dillon Gee (but what happens when Johan returns?)
Bullpen
CL: Frankie Rodriguez
SU: Bobby Parnell
SU: Taylor Buchholz
LhR: Taylor Tankersley
Mid: D.J. Carrasco
Long: Chris Capuano (might be starting depending on Young)
Final spot: Manny Acosta, Pat Misch, or Pedro Beato (Beato has more upside and is a Rule 5 pick)
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
Last updated: 06/19/2013
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I liked the Harris signing too but don’t be so sure he’s gonna make the team out of spring training. He could also turn into another GMJ. Duda may make the team too you know. Whether anybody feels he should go to the minors or not doesn’t matter if they think he can go up North. We’ll see during ST.
I am a huge Duda fan and really hopes he cracks the roster. But I would much rather see him get regular at bats in Buffalo then sitting on the bench at Citi. I’d rather see Evans do the sitting. Someone will get hurt which will open the door for Duda. Interesting point about Harris. He is on a minor league deal so we’ll see.
I am also a big duda supporter. But, I agree that he should be playing every day, so AAA to start if need be. also get him more time working in the OF.
then if Beltran goes down or gets traded (or bay or pagan of course) Duda can be looked at as a regular replacement.
I don’t see him as a bench guy, especially since this spot will need to back up CF and supply some level of defensive replacement.
Willie can never be GMJ. Nothing was traded for him, and he will not be foolishly started over someone with much more upside.
Let Mets can do well. A few injuries on Philly and a healthy Met team, let’s have some fun . Our team :The young,the mentally unstable,the bionic men=The New York Mets.
pretty much agree, at least that it seems they are close to done accumulating. maybe another stray cheap FA and some more ST invites.
my changes are:
1) Capuano in the rotation, gee probably in AAA as depth
2) not conceding a spot to Harris yet. This will also be won in ST.
3) pen will have misch + beato/acosta (whoever wins). Space freed up by not carrying Gee.
not sure about the order, maybe bay and Ike flip?
I do agree (hope? pray?) that Ollie and Castillo are no where near the roster on opening day.
and don’t worry about Johan. if he does come back, there will be some logical move to be made. And if they actually have 5 guys pitching so well that they can’t figure out how to get him back in the rotation, then things will be going really well for the mets!
No Murphy?
Whoops, glanced over 2nd base.
I like your idea for the roster, Jim. I’m not as worried about the three straight lefties as you are. I have no valid reason for it, just a hunch. As far as Gee’s fate when Johan comes back, well……..he controls it. Between he, Young/Capuano and further down the list, Dickey (I can’t be completely certain he’ll be the 2010 Dickey and not the 2001-2009 Dickey until I see it…..too much of a sample size against him), whoever’s not producing will be out.
I have another idea, though. Leave Gee in Buffalo. He showed a lot of promise, but he doesn’t have a major-league effective second pitch and he doesn’t have terrific control of his first one. His changeup only clocks in at 7 mph slower than his fastball. That’s not major league stuff. I would think about having Capuano and Young (if he signs) in the rotation and Misch as the long man. That leaves Gee to refine himself in Buffalo and be the first in line for an injury-related callup, and also leaves that final spot in the pen between two men and not three, which is better for the competition, anyway, because it only splits the innings in half instead of three ways, which is a larger sample size in which to judge.
I would also choose F-Mart over Willie Harris. I have no problem with bringing Harris to Spring Training on a minor league deal. Maybe he’ll forget he’s Willie Harris and not be a terrible ball player. But that’s a long shot. Evans and F-Mart of the bench in the outfield.
F mart still qualifies as a top prospect, and young, and given all the time he has missed he has to be in AAA getting PT. No way you can use him on the bench.
I’d have to agree here. FMart and Duda should see plenty of outfield action in Buffalo. When an injury occurs (I won’t even say “if”), one of the two should be called up.
To whom is F-Mart considered a top prospect? Does he have even a little trade value? I would contend that not one person outside the Mets organization and fan base think F-Mart is any more useful than a doodie-flavored lollipop. He’s got to you-know-what or get off the pot. There’s nothing more down in AAA for him, except maybe another injury. Let him play defense a little for Bay, maybe spell Beltran a bit and get up to the plate a little and see if he doesn’t look like Ruben Tejada did with a bat in his hands. That’s how he’ll regain his value as a top prospect. By taking off the training wheels and showing us the Major Leagues aren’t too scary for him.
Get him 100 AB’s first so he doesn’t get off to a sub .200 start up here. If your gonna risk an option make sure he can at least do something. His D doesn’t look too inspired either.
Jim I like your lineup and I feel that if all play to their potential we will be in the playoffs, maybe wild card. Don’t let the other eastern teams effect our chances. They all have to do the same with no injuries.We are the underdogs but we have no place to go but up. Lets go Mets
The Mets have addressed all the needs heading into the season???
You gotta be kidding me
needs being open spots on the roster (and that assumes they do sign 1 more SP).
Thank you. They have addressed their needs. It doesn’t mean they necessarily made the right moves to do so, but they have addressed them.
This is addressing all the needs. The GM gets an F. Any Met fan peased with this solution for the problems will take anything. Enjoy the cellar. Go Phils, go Fish, Go Braves, Go Nats. The Mets are nothing…… Broolyn would beat this bunch of zeroes.!!!!!!!! You replace Santana with a guy who’s been hurt for three freakin years…. He’s worse than Maine, who you hate, you replace your lefty relievers with OP!!!!!!!! Willie Harris is your savior off the bench!!!! 60 wins would make Terry Collins manager of the decade. I love your GM…
Your really only showing how much the Mets have hurt you with these comments you know?
I don’t know who you root for but I want to be the 1st to apologize for all the pain you have suffered cause of My Mets.
Now make sure you take your pills because going out of your way to post these lil nuggets of you know what is definitely an early indicator that your off something.
what a cute little metsie you are… at least you have a little sense of humor……. you are one of the few good little metsie fans around. you don’t deserve the finishes you will endure the next 5-10 years.