Scott Hairston Signing Official

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• Anthony Marte January 5, 2012 at 10:04 am

  This signing may not seem exciting, but as you pointed out Joe, Hairston did well last season. He had 11 walks over 145 plate appearances and a .773 OPS off the bench which is fine for someone who mostly pinch-hit. And the only thing I can remember him doing is hitting home runs because even though he only hit 7, he did that over 132 at-bats. While this move is sort of lateral and doesn’t improve the team from last year, Hairston deserved to be resigned for his work off the bench.
  • Bayonne Mets Fan January 5, 2012 at 10:55 am

    You’re concerned with how many times Hairston walked? Unbelievable. Again it’s typical, misguided saber/moneball-type thinking. Walks is not something I think about when it comes to Hairston. Hitting the long ball in spot situations is.

    Hairston was signed to be a pinch-hitter, backup OFer with some power to drive in runs – not walk. I have no problem with resigning him
    • Anthony Marte January 5, 2012 at 10:59 am

      Did you only read the first two sentences of my comment?
      • Joe Diaz January 11, 2012 at 6:57 pm

        He prefers outs Anthony.If anybody else was GM he wouldn’t say a word about your comment.Even though Sandy has nothing to do with moneyball.
    • martin January 11, 2012 at 8:27 pm

      bayonne you already told us a million times you are purposefully ignorant of how the game works.
• srt January 5, 2012 at 10:10 am

  I have no problem with this. He plays all 3 OF positions as well as 2nd base.
  • NJstuckinTX January 5, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Agreed. It’s no Fielder signing, but it makes sense for a depth and production standpoint.
• Alex68 January 5, 2012 at 10:13 am

  sigh……… my goodness…..
  • Russell Zanca January 12, 2012 at 8:53 am

    Sorry, Alex, but until we signed Hairston I thought this season was in jeopardy for sure! Whew!
  • Alex68 January 12, 2012 at 9:28 am

    LMAO, Russeeeeeeellllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!
• Alex68 January 5, 2012 at 10:15 am

  john heyman:

  mets looking at ronny cedeno in addition to theriot and jack wilson. quintanilla is just a spare part/minor leaguer
• Donal January 5, 2012 at 10:18 am

  Ugh, another article from a typical Sandy worshiper. He signs someone else’s reject and can do no wrong. But when past GM’s signed a different, more expensive player and put him in a far more important role, then we get to second guess all day.
• Steve S. January 5, 2012 at 10:41 am

  I’m OK with this signing. And with the fences moved in and down, the Mets will need some RH power off the bench, as well as an inexpensive Wilponzi/Katzscammed OFer.

  Unfortunately, nothing has been done to improve the mediocre starting rotation……
  • srt January 5, 2012 at 10:46 am

    I’m with you on this SP right now. Mediocre might be putting it kindly especially as I’m not expecting much from Santana. Wouldn’t surprise me if we’re still waiting for him to come back when the ASB rolls around.
    • Steve S. January 5, 2012 at 10:51 am

      Agree! I almost typed “putrid”—but then remembered that Dickey was well above average for the past two years. I think that Niese is overrated by many, Gee isn’t that good, and Pelfrey for $6 million is ridiculous!
      • Met Maniac January 5, 2012 at 10:56 am

        Gee was better than Trevor Cahill last season, who people like swoon over on this site. And Niese could be better than Gio Gonzalez. Dickey is a solid #2.

        Santana is toast, Pelfrey just sucks.
        • srt January 5, 2012 at 11:00 am

          I like Gee’s guts but I just don’t see him as anything more than a #5 type in a normal rotation.
          Think the jury’s still out on Niese. Yes, he can be ‘better’ so I’m hoping he steps up this year.
          Love Dickey but I’ve got no allusions on Pelfrey anymore.
        • Steve S. January 5, 2012 at 2:41 pm

          Gee wasn’t better than Cahill (not that I’ve ever “swooned” over him) last season, if you look at their ERA + numbers (which take into account park factors and the league ERA): Cahill 97; Gee 84. So Cahill probably is overrated, as is Gee. As for Niese being better than Gonzalez—no way: ERA + for Gonzalez last year was 130; for Niese 84. Agree that Dickey is a solid #2 and that Pelfrey sucks. Santana? Who know? He might actually be decent this year…..
• Russell Zanca January 5, 2012 at 11:13 am

  A gaping yawn in terms of significant news, but I’m not about to complain. In a way Hairston is the definition of the 2012 Mets. Towering Mediocrity. I bet if he saw 500 ABs BA would be Mendozaesque!
• RickeyBobby January 5, 2012 at 1:36 pm

  I think it’s a real good re-signing. Hit’s for power, can spell Torres and Duda from right side.. im such a fan of having someone on the bench that can hit for power if not for just the physcholgical effect. Im borderline surprised he resigned because his full season numbers project pretty well(except avg)

  Last season i thought Collins did an excellent job of keeping the bench involved and productive, with the exception of Hairston, he didnt seem to ever get on same page as him. I hope he gets more consistent ab’s this season. I think he’s a pretty produictive player overall especailly in a platoon/bench role.
• Ken Tomlin January 5, 2012 at 4:03 pm

  I liked Scott Hairston last season. I think he had a couple of big moments at the plate last year and I’m glad he’ll be back. Not sure if some of you know, but his grandfather was a good player in the Negro Leagues.
• Donal January 5, 2012 at 5:06 pm

  This was a money saving move. They can spend less on hats and helmets since Hairston and Mr Met wear the same size and can swap.

  Jokes aside, an OK move. He was decent for a sub.
  • Ghost of omar January 5, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Don’t faint or have a stroke donal, but I will agree with you. An ok move. Hairston is a decent bench guy, no more no less.
• Mike Lloyd January 5, 2012 at 9:23 pm

  I ‘m happy to see this move. Hairston is an okay player, moreover, he provides ‘quality’ depth at multiple positions, and has some pop. I have always thought the Mets never have signed enough quality bench players, always grabbing guys who were either good hitters who couldn’t field or good fielders who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a shovel…Fine move…
• Joey D. January 5, 2012 at 10:01 pm

  Yes, a good move to re-sign Hairston for the bench. Sandy could have replaced him with another player (who knows) for much less and glad the Wilpons didn’t force him to do so.

  Still, only three of the twelve new players Sandy obtained during last winter (Hairston, Byrdak and Carasco – no choice since he signed him for two years) remain with the team twelve months later. I’m on the fence regarding Sandy because fans of sabremetrics and money ball that have kept me undecided by praising him for accomplishments he never did in Oakland (money ball came into play after those championship seasons and the team went down hill) and were confident last winter that he shored up our pitching with Young, Capuano, Carasco and those other relievers when I claimed they were just rejects signed on the cheap.
• Jerry M January 5, 2012 at 11:13 pm

  40 man roster is full. Hairston signed major league contract. Who is be DFed from roster?
• theonlymaskman January 7, 2012 at 8:53 am

  I guess everyone here has forgotten Hairston’s K’s last year. Continually whiffing as a PH’er in important situations. He fits in perfectly as a completely mediocre player on a completely mediocre team. Ho hum, announcements like these put me to sleep. We’re actually spending a milliion bucks on someone like this when $ are in short supply? Just another brick in the foundation we’re building on the cellar.
  • XtreemIcon January 7, 2012 at 9:01 am

    He also hit three pinch hit home runs, too.
    • theonlymaskman January 12, 2012 at 9:34 am

      Whoope-de-do!
• Sach January 11, 2012 at 8:39 pm

  I have no problem with Sandy bringing back Hairston. I rather have him back than Harris. There were very slim pickings on the FA bench market esp. for just 1MMish. I guess the Mets 5 man bench is going to be Turner or Murph, Nickeas or Johnson, Hairston, Cedeno and ? maybe Mike Baxter although Sandy will probably bring in another 4A OF on a minor league deal to challenge Baxter in ST for the last spot on the bench.
  • Steve S. January 11, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    Agree (see above comment). I think the bench will be Nickeas, Hairston, Cedeno, Turner, and Baxter. They need some pop off the bench, so signing Hairston was OK.
• Rudy January 12, 2012 at 3:18 pm

  Thank the lord! Scotty H is back! NL comeback player of the year?!?! Oh wait…he has to come back from something….Dud signing