25
2011
From Left Field: What Happens When Wright, Davis and Pagan Return?
An article by 
Though setbacks have delayed their return to action, Angel Pagan, David Wright and Ike Davis will eventually be healthy enough to play.
In fact, Pagan is expected back in the lineup this Friday.
While last night’s game was a poor indicator, the Mets have actually played some good baseball without three of their regulars players. Some young guys have stepped up when needed, especially Justin Turner and Jason Pridie.
Pridie has shown enough to keep him on the roster. He can be a serviceable fourth outfielder, and can spot-start while Pagan readjusts to the big leagues.
When Pagan comes off the disabled list, most likely Nick Evans or Fernando Martinez will be the first to be sent to the minors. Evans has become a forgotten man on the bench, while F-Mart needs to play every day to keep improving for the future.
Probably sending down F-Mart would be the smartest option at this point. Evans is quickly losing value, so keeping him buried as insurance on the bench is better than taking playing time away from F-Mart.
Though this decision seems to be an easy one, what happens when Wright and Davis are ready to return?
Turner has established himself as a regular on this team, whether at second or third base. He’s not going anywhere once the regular corners return.
Daniel Murphy started off this season well with the bat and the glove, but he has cooled down significantly offensively. He needs to regain his stroke, so he can be a platoon partner with Turner once Davis returns.
Assuming he isn’t sent down when Pagan returns, Evans should be back down once Davis returns.
When Wright eventually comes off the disabled list—which may be longer than expected—Ruben Tejada will likely head back to Buffalo. If his offense can ever come around, he has the glove to be a regular.
However, sending down Tejada would eliminate the only other player on the roster who can play shortstop. Jose Reyes has been phenomenal, but what if he gets hurt? This would be something to consider in shaping the roster once everyone is healthy.
Meanwhile, Willie Harris and Scott Hairston are clogging up bench spots. The two combined have been a complete disappointment. Harris is on a minor league deal, which may work against him if the Mets are fed up with his performance.
So far, no team has really run away with the division, so if the Mets can stay afloat as their stars are healing, we could be in store for an exciting summer—assuming the Fred Wilpon refrains from any more comments directed at his own players.
Follow me on Twitter @JMMancari.
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 | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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The world ends. FTW
Um, Harris is starting to play pretty well…sayin’
pagan sucks, murphy goes to the bench (where he belongs), wright becomes the k’s leader again, and keeps his unclutchiness, and ike davis hits 25 home runs. then pridei replaces beltran when he’s traded and willie harris stays on the team
Hey, you’re back? I predict it will only take 15 days for Wright to retake the lead in strikeouts. But if he can win some games with his bat, I’ll take them. This is what it’s come down to for our team’s superstar. Pridie is already coming back to reality, his shine has already wore off for me. Soon they wont have Carlos Beltran to kick around anymore, too bad and too sad.
yes maniac, i’m baaaaack to set jesse P staright lol.. and yes, pridie did play well, but, when bay is hitting squad it reflects even more when the subs are not producing, we got a lineup right now of 1 SUPERSTAR and beltran.. that’s it…
Turner, despite his recent rbi streak, is not a regular on this team unless it is 2b and that if he shows he can continue to hit as before.
Turner as Pridie has found out have been found out by other teams and they will be challenged cause of this, Turner or Pridie have not hit well last two games.
I say Pagan goes back behind Jose, Beltran bats 3rd, Ike 4th, David 5th, Bay 6th, Murph or Turner 7th, Thole/Paulino 8th.
I say we keep Evans over Hairston cause he can play OF, 3b, and 1b.
F Mart needs to go and get at bats in AAA.
All our POWER is gone. Beltran is getting pitched around, cause Bay is doing nothing. Find a way to trade Bay and keep Martinez in left. Hairston & Harris get paid for the whole year at this point.
who’s gonna be STUPID or schmucky enough to take on bay’s salary?????
I know, We can only pray and hope someone does
Ike and Wright retake their positions, Turner plays 2B till he’s come back to earth, then platoons with Murphy and Pagan is the 4th outfielder until Beltran is traded.
What will we do?
TRADE! The Deadline will be approaching, Our place in the Division will determine who and what we trade.
I could easily see us making a deal for Turner and Murphy for a decent hitting 2B. They would get 2B and 1B (maybe even 3B) help with some decent bats in exchange for their second baseman.
Trade of Beltran will open up a psotion for F-Mart or Pridie A trade of Pridie and FMart or Pagan and something could also clear some space and bring something else we need.
Don’t count out a trade of K-Rod either. He wo’t have 55 games finished at the time of the trade! If he does for the other guys and they win a WS for having him the 17 Mil for one year is not such a hard pill to swallow!
Even Bay (as unlikely as it sounds) could be traded provided we were willing to pay some of that salary. If we even save 5 Mil a year thats one more 4 Mil per year player you can get to do more than what Bay is doing.
Reyes will not come up until after the season, When the sign number is known and two draft picks come back if he leaves (Better than three guys from a limited selection of one team’s players!)
If Pagan, Wright, and Davis tear it up when they get back then we will be in contention when the deadline comes. We could even be buyers.
All I know for certain is the roster is going to look VERY different in August than it does now. For better or Worse thats true!
When they all come back it will only confirm what Wilpon has said publicly-THEY SUCK!
Lou could not have said it better. this piece is complete denial of the facts. how can you write this crap. I guess an exciting summer to you is fighting for 4th place.
someone asked about a back up SS without Tejada.
Turner can do it in a pinch. he has played there some (definitely in the minors, not sure about inhis brief ML stints). Not gonna be a starter, but for a couple innings in a blow out or a spot start to rest Jose? He can do that.
The author is worried about who will play SS if Yejada is in Buffalo and Reyes gets hurt? For real??? Kevin Mitchell played SS when nobody was hurt. Anybody can play SS for a few innings and do you think it takes a week or two to recall Tejada from Buffalo. Maybe with sleepy Sandy in charge it does. And then the big fears of which minor leaguer to send down. Pridr, Evans, it doesn’t matter, and Hairston Harris, two more crap players brought in by sleepy Sandy dreaming about what the were before he he learned how to check birth certificates in the Dominican. They all are the same rotten player. It doesn’t matter who goes. If you think it does then you think there are no differences in ballplayers. Now agee won’t understand but sleepy has given the mets a lot of oure crap players…. WHY because like agee he is out of touch with reality the difference is that sleepy makes millions and agee makes minimum wage.
Well the other difference is that we don’t have to live with any of these guys if they don’t put up. Not only are we not clogging up a roster spot for an entirely useless player, we’re also not paying him 6-12 million a year to lounge around the clubhouse. Plus, I’m retired.
Pridie’s is ripping things up at 228 and people are concerned about whther or not he staying. He’s a lucky guy. Don’t woorry He’ll clear waivers and the kool aiders will write about how geniuslike Alderson is for making such a daring move…..
Pridie, Martinez and Tejada go. What is the big whoop?