Alderson Says 8-9 Players Will Be Cut By Weekend

30 Comments + Add Comment

• stick March 17, 2011 at 2:28 pm

  Buccholz I think is a lock. Izzy could still go either way over the next 2 weeks.
• 86mets March 17, 2011 at 2:56 pm

  I think most of the guys on the “out of options” list are safe for now. By keeping them around until the very last cut they can probably get them through waivers since every other team should already have their 25 man rosters set and are less likely to claim a player they would most likely lose on waivers again anyway. As for the rest, the LOOGY contenders are likely safe as well as Harris. And they’ll probably keep a couple extra catchers around for a few more days. So that leaves Pridie, Adams, Bonser, Boyer, and Igarashi are the most likely cuts.
  • stick March 17, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    nothing lost there. Turner too, if he is still on the ML side of camp.
• Chris March 17, 2011 at 3:05 pm

  Does Sandy look like someone without a plan people??? They knew who the starting 2B would be before spring training started. The whole competition thing was just to get these dudes to work hard. Brad Emaus’ “audition” doesn’t end after March. He will be the starter to start the season and his audition will prob run through April. They didn’t grab him in the draft just to give him back. Prob same reason why Beato will start the year in the bullpen.

  Sandy is smart enough to know that 40 spring training at bats against mostly minor league pitchers trying to make a club, mean absolutely jack. Unlike some people who post around here. They’re going by last year where he excelled in AA and AAA, as it should be. so what, if Tejada went 20 for 40 in March he should be the starter, after he was awful in the majors AND minors last year for 430 AB’s? No one else sees anything wrong with this? I know Bayonne doesn’t. Tejada also had a good spring last year.

  My guess is it’ll be Emaus or Castillo and it’ll only be Castillo if Wilpon doesn’t let Sandy release him.
  • Metstheory22 March 17, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    I agree Chris. Emaus has not gotten enough at bats. Him and Beato might get at least a month before they decide what to do with them. Out of these position players above, I see only Harris and Evans having a chance. Pitchers might be a little more tricky to figure out.
    • stick March 17, 2011 at 6:49 pm

      harris will make the team. That is almost a guarantee.
    • Chris March 17, 2011 at 11:29 pm

      agreed. I would say Harris and Hairston are locks. the interesting thing will be what they do if Beltran isn’t able to start the season. Duda in right, or platoon Harris and Hairston and keep Evans. Either way I would say Hu and Murph are locks for the final two spots.
  • tlagee March 17, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    I believe that, going in to spring training, 2b was Murphy’s job to lose (which apparently he has) and Emaus was a safety net if Murphy didn’t work out.
    • Chris March 17, 2011 at 11:33 pm

      I think it was Emaus’ job the second he was drafted. It’ll be his job to lose in April.
    • ramsam March 18, 2011 at 8:36 am

      What I don’t understand is how Murphy went from being Collins golden boy to the guy “who apparently” isn’t in the running for the 2B job? Was it because of 2 errors last Sat.? It certainly can’t be because his hitting has been inferior. His offense has been a bright spot.

      So, Murphy makes a couple of E’s…. Last time I looked almost everyone that has been playing the middle infield has 2+ errors (not to mention D.W. at 3B). No one seems to freak out when an error is made by anyone but Murphy. The way I look at it is if anyone should be allowed some grace during ST it should be Murphy… he is the only one who is still learning a position. Castillo, Emas, Hu, etc… aren’t they all SUPPOSED to be middle infield guys? Like I said: I don’t get it.
  • Da Madd Genius March 18, 2011 at 12:08 am

    Given that Tejada is the only one that can field the position of the group you mentioned, and we are supposed to have a speed and defense team in the largest park in our league, if Tejada goes 20-40, yes he should get the job. To answer your question about Alderson having a plan, I’m sure he does. But sadly he’s done little to convince that the plan involves fielding the best possible team come opening day.
    • srt March 18, 2011 at 12:21 am

      I thought Tejada was already sent down. He should be out of the running for 2nd base.
    • Bayonne Mets Fan March 18, 2011 at 12:53 am

      And intentionally not fielding the best team possible come opening day is a Major Issue and should be a huge story. That’s where the interaction between fan and writer on Twitter will be very useful.

      If Sandy Alderson knowingly does not put the best team out there possible to win then he’s going to have a very, very big problem on his hands in this town. That won’t be accepted around here and can have huge ramifications.
      • Bayonne Mets Fan March 18, 2011 at 12:54 am

        Ironically, I mentioned the possibility of Alderson purposely not bringing the best 25 north the other day here in another post, forgot which one.
        • stick March 18, 2011 at 1:19 am

          By intentionally, I assume you mean in your opinion? because of course he is going to put together the best team he can, while also addressing the other responsibility of building depth for now and the future.

          You make it sound like he has 2 equivalent situation guys, one good and one bad, and he purposely says give me the bad one!

          and ST #s are not the only consideration. Scouting, body of work (what they did last year), what they are seeing in practice, and like it or not, contract status (as in options) all factor in.

          so sometimes guys that needed work last year, that have an option, still get to start in the minors. and options are a tie breaker, a perfect example might be Emaus vs. Turner.

          Of course, if 2 guys with similar backgrounds show up in ST and one looks terrible and the other fantastic, then the option issue can go out the window. But, best as I can tell, that has not happened this year.

          Also, don’t make it sound like anything is set in stone. Just like with Davis last year, if they decide to go with someone established to start, and send a young guy down to prove he is ready, and it becomes apparent early on that a move needs to be made, they will make it.

          You may not believe it, but sandy quite certainly wants to win, and draw fans, just as much as you do. But, he also wants to make sure to keep a solid base for future years to build on.
          • Mr North Jersey March 18, 2011 at 3:18 am

            you make very good and valid points.

            another thing that should be noted is that the idea of what constitutes “fielding the best team possible” as bayonne put it is entirely a matter of opinion.
            cause i may think alderson is “fielding the best team possible” doesn’t make it so. just as if bayonne felt alderson wasn’t “fielding the best team possible” doesn’t make it so.

            everyone has their version of what is “fielding the best team possible”.
      • Chris March 18, 2011 at 1:19 am

        not putting the best team possible together according to who??? Bayonne???

        please, dude. are you even listening to yourself? you think he’s PURPOSELY fielding inferior players, like some kind of sabotage on the franchise? because YOU don’t think they are the best 25? my goodness man.

        This is right up there with your best Bayonne…ugh.
      • JerryG15 March 18, 2011 at 7:28 am

        Here’s a little shocker for you……….are you ready?

        Sandy Alderson knows A LOT more about baseball then YOU do………

        There is a reason why you are just a chump behind a keyboard pontificating and not actually part of the organization making the decisions.
        • Harry C March 18, 2011 at 8:08 am

          funny grote, its really something seeing that you are writing about yourself, and all your friends…. jerry grote the chump and the dump pomtificator… don’t forget to tell the site parrot what that big word means….
          • JerryG15 March 18, 2011 at 12:06 pm

            another meaningful retort…………..
      • t agee March 18, 2011 at 9:12 am

        If your referring to Tejada when you say “intentionally not putting the best team out there, you should be advised that Tejada hit a punchless .185 against RH pitching last year, in games that counted. That’s what Alderson is trying to avoid. This year and next.

        Having a guy hitting .185 against RH pitching has huge ramifications for the line up and team in general. Add that .185 to questions in RF and LF, Sophmore seasons from Ike and Josh and it’s just not acceptable offensive output.

        Tejada and the pitcher in an lineup where EVERYone else carries a little more than their own weight could work but we haven’t had a lineup like that around here in quite a while.
    • Chris March 18, 2011 at 1:26 am

      DMG, if this was an outfielder we were talking about, I MAY be able to buy into the whole park thing with speed and defense. But the infield is the same size in all 30 stadiums.
• Seligman March 17, 2011 at 4:29 pm

  If there is any chance they let Oliver Perez loose tomorrow I will be thrilled. I don’t mind if they keep Castillo, but Perez must be shown the door with due haste.
  • stick March 17, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    sounds like they have him scheduled back to back games this weekend. Hopefully that turns out to be a debacle, and makes the decision for them.
• Sean Kenny March 17, 2011 at 4:34 pm

  I think they’ll save the difficult decisions for a later cut. These cuts will be cutting Pridie, Bonser, Tankersly, Adams, Igarashi, Turner..I think Ollie will get another chance in the bullpen, or an attempt at a chance.
  • Donal March 17, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    I hope they don’t decide to cut Tank to keep Ollie.
• Mr North Jersey March 17, 2011 at 9:19 pm

  I saw that NJ.com article stating that Alderson told the Post he would cut 8 to 9 players but what I couldnt find is where the NY Post reported it.

  NJ.com doesn’t say who on the Post or links to an article in the Post that quotes Alderson on saying this.

  Not that it is untrue but it would of been nice if the Post confirmed somewhere Alderson having said this or at least another source other than NJ.com
  • Mark V March 17, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    Saturday is 2 weeks from opening day, for decades teams trim down to 34-35 players at that mark. Why are you expending so much energy looking for what all teams will be doing this weekend?
    • Mr North Jersey March 17, 2011 at 9:48 pm

      Expending?

      If you call a google search to find the source of something reported expending than yes I guess I was.

      I always query when someone in the media reports something someone else said. It is something that I do to help determine if indeed something was said. Writing for a blog it is something that I just always do when I see something of interest.

      Still I can assure you that what in your case may feel as “expending so much energy” is second nature and a simple process for me.
• Mr North Jersey March 17, 2011 at 11:25 pm

  Interesting quotes from Castillo in this Newsday article.
  http://mobile.newsday.com/inf/infomo;JSESSIONID=6FCB6C5D68C94F102246.3072?site=newsday&view=mets_item&feed:a=newsday_5min&feed:c=mets&feed:i=1.2766622&nopaging=1

  Here are two quotes to peak the curiosity. One from Castillo and one from Ken Davidoff.

  Castillo: “When you sign for $25 million, you want to play all year,” said Castillo, who played in only 87 games in 2008. “[If I sat], I’d look bad, Omar would look bad, the team would look bad. I think I tried too hard.”

  Ken Davidoff: “The true blame falls on former Mets general manager Omar Minaya for projecting so wrongly, and then on the team’s former “get on the field, now!” culture that led Castillo to hurry back from his surgery in 2008.”