Captain Kirk Hoping To Get Beamed Up In 2012

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• any February 10, 2012 at 4:09 pm

  I have said before that IMO Torres is just a place holder. Kirk is coming off an injury, so he has to first prove in ST he is healthy, and likely (unless he destroys ST) go to AAA and get locked in.

  But I certainly expect at some point, if he is putting up the numbers, he will be up to at least share time in the Mets OF.
  • Nick Pugliese February 10, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    I could see this. Kirk won’t provide the defense of Torres in center, but I definitely think he can handle an adequate center and if he didn’t get hurt last year IMO he would be this teams starting center fielder already.
  • Metstheory22 February 11, 2012 at 8:42 am

    I would take a Rick Monday career from him in center.
• Donal February 10, 2012 at 4:09 pm

  He’s on the 40 man roster. I think he’s in the same boat as Havens. If he proves he’s healthy, we’ll see him in the second half. They’ll find a way to play him.
  • any February 10, 2012 at 4:20 pm

    Torres is not likely to be blocking anyone. And who knows what happens with Bay, but I am on record saying that if he performs at all like last season, he will be platooning sooner rather than later.

    havens is still my bet for the LT answer at 2B.
    • t agee February 10, 2012 at 4:44 pm

      Kirk will be here as soon as he puts together a good month unless Torres is killing it.

      Wonder if the Mets consider Murphy to be Bay’s platoon partner when/if Havens and Valdespin join Tejada in the MI. If Wright’s still here and Murph hasn’t been average defensively the only thing left is utility or trade.
      • any February 10, 2012 at 5:09 pm

        those are some of the interesting subplots for this season. For those of us that actually care to pay attention to this season.
      • any February 10, 2012 at 5:12 pm

        I’m actually hoping that they held back on some of the trade options waiting to see if these guys are ready to step in. Given they both have something to prove in ST, it was too risky trading anyone and pencilling them in for a job right away.

        so who knows, if havens say is dominating in AAA, it could free up Murphy (or longer shot Wright) for a trade. Probably not as much of an issue with Kirk, since he could get his time playing for bay/Torres, and if he did get slotted to become the starting CF torres probably just goes to 4th OF.

        I don’t, however, think they are trying Murphy in LF again, at least not on a regular basis.
        • t agee February 10, 2012 at 5:58 pm

          Most likely not any although I think he’d have a much better chance to be OK there as long as he had a defensive caddy to bring in around the 6th with a lead.

          For a non-natural athlete like Murphy to be successful he needs to be put in a position where he’s comfortable in order to get the most out of him. Already having proven he can hit enough to belong removes a lot of the pressure and not being handed a starting job and then being backed up at the last minute by a guy who just might make the HOF takes some more off him.

          Not saying I’m in favor of it but if there’s no one else to platoon Bay with it may be worth a try and wouldn’t surprise me if he’s a lot more relaxed and consequently makes all the routine plays.

          Just get him out of there with a lead in the late innings.

          If not I’d keep him as utility PH and wait for the inevitable injuries.
        • Bayonne Mets Fan February 10, 2012 at 7:20 pm

          Of if Havens has a great ST – why is it automatic that he MUST be in AAA? Maybe he wont’ need it.

          Any of these kids can come up at any time – ST, April, May, June, etc.

          there is no set time to say now when they will come up. Except maybe for some of the pitchers almost any number of the kids closest to the majors can make an impact during ST and come North.

          We’ll see then.
• Met Maniac February 10, 2012 at 4:40 pm

  If he lights it up in ST I dont see why he should go to Buffalo at all. He was pegged to be our starting CF and heir apparent to Beltran anyway. Last week Rubin posted that scouts only see Torres as a 5th outfielder. That tells me all I need to know about him.
  • Donal February 10, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    He missed a lot of time with the injury. They need to see him in situations and under stress that don’t exist in Spring Training.
• Shamsky February 10, 2012 at 4:52 pm

  It’s almost time for baseball again and I’m back from my offseason hiatus. I want to say hi to MMO and all my friends here. But I have to ask, where is the shoutbox? Is it down for maintenance?
  • Bayonne Mets Fan February 10, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    Welcome back Shamsky
• nathan February 10, 2012 at 5:51 pm

  Our outfield could be a disaster or passable it’s really up in the air. It is nice to know that we have options in AAA that can provide good skills and don’t swing at every piece of junk thrown at em.
• srt February 10, 2012 at 7:01 pm

  I have to think that as a result of the money problems, the hope? answer? to CF is in the organization already. That must be why no other pick up or trade for a longer term option in CF than Torres was brought in.

  If Captain Kirk is that answer going forward, fine by me. The sooner the better.
  Not that I have anything against Torres but I just don’t see him as anything other than a place holder for a starting CF.
  • Bayonne Mets Fan February 10, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    the money has nothing to do with CF. If the mets had money Kirk may wind up in CF anyway or even if they had money they could’ve signed someone and use Kirk in trade package.

    And as said before, lost of other teams are picking up good players with little money so instead of it being money problems it’s more of “we have a guy that’s not spending smart” problem
    • srt February 10, 2012 at 8:33 pm

      It’s both, IMO.

      Same reason the SP has stayed status quo. If this was a projected contending team this year, and money wasn’t a problem – even with the highly touted pitching prospects in the minors, I’d have to believe they would have done something to shore up that starting rotation. I don’t believe it was just because – and only because – they’ve got those arms down there ready in another year.
• Tommy2cat February 10, 2012 at 8:33 pm

  Is Niewenhuis fully recovered from his injury?
• Chris February 10, 2012 at 8:46 pm

  I think even if he rakes in spring training he should go to Buffalo just to prove he is healthy and that last year wasn’t a fluke. In a year where everyone is predicting last place anyway, is there really a rush? It doesn’t matter if he plays six months in the bigs this year or four or five. I’d rather him be 100% ready.

  I find it odd that the same people on hear who don’t shut up about how much they suck, are the same ones saying he should be rushed. something doesn’t add up there….but then again it rarely does.
  • t agee February 10, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    It’s always better Chris to bring a younger guy up with a couple hundred AB’s in him against live pitching in real games rather than start ‘em off flat footed.

    Niewenhauss lost the last 2/3rds of the season last year and Havens has the equivilent of a year in the minors. Bringing them north April 1st would just be more of the same old same old.

    Not much can be gained judgement wise hitting off pitchers just trying to strengthen their arms.
    • Chris February 10, 2012 at 11:59 pm

      agreed. I’m sure there will be plenty who will be clamoring about how Harvey should come north if he dominates in the spring also. Ya know, all those minor leaguers he’ll be facing that will prob never even sniff the major leagues and major leaguers that are just trying to groove their swings and are taking more pitches than normal and all that.
      • Bayonne Mets Fan February 11, 2012 at 1:23 am

        How much of a difference is there between facing major league veterans and superstars just “trying to groover their swings” and facing AAA level talent?

        You think these major leaguers are just laying down during ST? Especially towards the last week?

        If any of these kids are not only performing well but CARRYING THEMSELVES professionally and showing they do belong – and you can only tell that if you’re there and not on an internet blog – than those coaches will bring them up. It’s as old as baseball itself

        And if that happens let’s hope a Familia won’t give up a HR to a catcher in the playoffs or a Valdespin won’t strike out withe the bases loaded, or a Capt. Kirk wont leave a runner at 3B.

        I don’t want to have to go through revamping the entire organization again if that happens – again.
      • t agee February 11, 2012 at 11:46 am

        Right just like Paul Wilson or Jenry Mejia.

        Fact is we’ve gotten very miniscule production from our prospects in their first and even 2nd go around up here for a very long time now.

        Putting prospects in the best possible position in which to succeed should take precedence over rushing them and putting them in unfamiliar positions on top of it.

        Mejia, Kirk, Havens and Valdespin would all benefit from coming up here in mid season form rather than right off a good ST when most veteran pitchers and hitters are simply rounding into game shape and working on things.
• Richard February 11, 2012 at 11:12 am

  Kirk will probably never be as good as a defender as Torres,but he still plays an average defense and has much much more power and hitting prowess then most of our players on the Major League roster.
  • t agee February 11, 2012 at 11:37 am

    Offensively and defensively no one will benefit more from the fence being brought in than Kirk. There were plenty of questions about his ability to handle CF and whether his power would translate and this severely tilts the odds in his favor on both accounts.
    • Bob L February 11, 2012 at 6:41 pm

      Captain Kirk is a legit prospect and one i love to root for, given his under-dog status through most of his development. He has forced the issue through every level of the minors.
      i think he’ll contribute either this year or next. Too bad he got hurt last year, because he was coming on fast. He’ll be 25 this year. i think this kid is ‘hungry’. It’s time.
• Joe D February 11, 2012 at 6:59 pm

  Last year when he was on a tear, a Yankees scout told me that Nieuwenhuis was on a par with Andy Van Slyke on offense and defense. He does everything right he told me, and that Kirk’s the kind of player you want on your team.