12
2012
Lutz Is The Only Logical Choice To Replace Wright If Necessary
An article by 
I know the news has been relatively good about the injury to DWright’s pinkie. The prognosis is favorable, like the weather forecast for this weekend. But somehow I feel more sure about the weather being warm and sunny, than I do about Wright being able to play against the Phillies this weekend.
Sure, it’s early in the year and we’ve got some guys who can fill in, like Turner and Cedeno….temporarily. But what if this injury is worse than is now being reported? What if when David tries to swing a bat, or grip a ball, he has trouble because of the little pinkie. The little, insignificant, “don’t worry it’s only a pinkie,” pinkie.
I mean that would be a worst case scenario right? That he couldn’t grip a bat. Or couldn’t swing without pain. Or couldn’t stop a swing once he started it. Or couldn’t grip and throw a baseball. Well, we know it won’t go down like that don’t we? Who ever heard of a little insignificant injury like a fractured pinkie, or getting kicked in the ankle by a teammate for that matter, amounting to anything serious? I mean this is the Mets crackerjack medical staff we’re talking about here.
But what if Wright ends up having to go on the D.L. to give this fracture enough time to heal properly? When I read T.C.’s musings about possibly moving Murphy to third in such a scenario, and bringing Valdespin up from Buffalo to play 2B, I thought he must be crazy. There are so many things wrong with doing that it isn’t even funny.
First, give Murph a break! I mean he’s having enough trouble with second base, let him keep working there rather than moving back and forth like a yo-yo. Besides, he’s not exactly Brooks Robinson over there in the hot corner, he’s probably just as good at second at this point. Plus, he’s been playing only second all season including spring training, he didn’t get any work in at third.
Then there’s the problems with plugging Valdespin in at second base at Citi. He hasn’t played any second base this year at Buffalo, he’s been learning centerfield while Bobby Scales has been the second baseman. And Valdespin still has a lot of work to do on his second base defense anyway.
There is another option, the one that makes sense. And that would be to promote third-baseman Zach Lutz from Buffalo. Zach is a 25-year-old right-handed slugger, who was chosen by the Mets in the 5th round of the 2007 MLB player draft, out of Alvernia College in Reading, PA.
His minor league playing career has been marred every season by various injuries. Last year for example, he only managed to get 228 AB’s, but still was able to hit 11 HR’s and slugged .482. This year he is 100% healthy and looking forward to seeing what kind of numbers he can put up over a full season.
So far this year he is pretty much on fire. Playing everyday for Wally Backman, Lutz has started the season going 8 for 24, good for a .333 batting average. He also has 5 runs scored, 1 2B, 2 HR’s, and 5 RBI’s so far in the young season. His exposure to AAA these last two years have indicated that he can hit at the highest level of the minors, all he needs is to be healthy and to get a chance to play in the bigs. If Wright goes on the disabled list, that opportunity will have arrived.
The other factor to consider that plays into Lutz’ favor? He is already on the 40-man roster, there would be no reason to have to pass anyone through waivers or anything like that. All you’d have to do is pay for his bus ticket. Like you and Terry Collins, I am hoping DWright makes a speedy return to action. He is literally the “straw that stirs the Mets drink” these days, and love him or hate him you have to admit, it would be nice to have him back.
But if a temporary replacement were needed, Zach Lutz is the obvious choice.
Let’s go pinkie! Let’s go pinkie! Let’s Go Mets!
About the Author: Peter Shapiro
The first time I went to Shea was not for a Mets game, it was for the Beatles concert there in August of '66. My first Met game was '67, a guy named Salty Parker was the interim-manager then. My first pennant race was 1969. As a 12 year-old that summer and fall, I managed to get to the park for 3 games. The first was the beginning of the Miracle which actually started on Tuesday July 8, 1969 with a day game against the Cubs. I was there a lot in '73. I saw games 3 & 5 of the 1973 NL Playoffs against the "Big Red Machine", from the upper deck behind home plate. It was from there that I witnessed the fight between Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose, and the mayhem that ensued. And that sweet victory in game 5! I saw a couple of WS games at Shea that year against that legendary Oakland A's club. I was there in 1985 for every single game Dr. K pitched including his two 16 strikeout performances, and the day he one-hit the Cubs on an infield single and the Mets won 1-0. I loved being a Met fan in those days. Hopefully we are once again preparing to emerge from the darkness.
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You know, I never thought to consider him as my brain was locked in on Valdespin. But as is usually the case, you make a convincing argument and one that is difficult to dispute. If Wright does end up on the DL, I’d even be willing to pay for his bus ticket.
Nice job Pete.
The problem is that our bench players are a major dropoff from our starters. We have no depth. We played to very ugly games without Wright.
We probably are not as good as we looked vs. the Braves and hoprfully not as bad as we looked the last two games.
Completely agree, Rich. Everytime a starter goes down the dropoff is incredibly steep, and the options are always limited.
One of the things that has disappointed me in the last two off-seasons is not that we didnt sign a significant pos. player, we had no money for that, but the lackluster bench type players like Hu, Paulino, Emaus, Loewen, Rottino, etc.
What was weird is that when Torres went on the DL, even the GM didn’t reach for Lowen or Rottino opting instead for one of our top prospects.
While true… Turner and Cedeno are about as good as you get for backup middle If and Hairston is a decent 4Th of option
well, for CF, I believe that they wanted Kirk all along, and torres was really just a place holder until he proved ready. They just didn’t IMO anticipate it happening so quickly!
Is there a chance they would have kept him from the beginning if he had not gotten injured?
with a big enough spring, yes with Torres being limited.
How is Lutz defensively? I hate seeing Murphy at 2b, he’s awful. Only the Mets have these ongoing problems with playing guys out of position. I’m sick of it.
He had a .957 fielding% last year at Buffalo, and is not considered a real good defender. That said, he is a natural third-baseman. That has always been his primary position. I’m sure he’s every bit as good as Murphy at third, who’s fielding% at third for the Mets last year was .933, by-the-way.
Agree 100% Pete, I was thinking the same thing.
Lutz is 26 already, if not now when? He’s a RH bat which this lineup desperately needs and has hit at every level and just had 2 HR’s today.
Valdespin and Murphy are learning new positions and really need the continuity and it would be worthwhile to give Lutz a 2 week run if it comes to that.
Could put another guy on the map and even entice some interest around the Majors because 3B is actually one spot we could afford to move a guy with Wright, Murphy, Lutz, Marte, Satin and Flores.
Let’s see what he’s got.
Agreed. I’ve been wanting to get a look at this kid for awhile. And as you said at 26, why wait – especially if the opportunity presents itself by Wright going on the DL.
I agree that if Wright has to hit the DL, Lutz should be called up to play 3B every day.
Agreed even though Turner held his own filling in at different positions last year… but Lutz needs an opportunity.
Agree too with what others say about Lutz. He should be given a chance.
Also, not to mess around with Murphy at second. We can see that he can be a Jekyll and Hyde at second so let him learn more to be the doctor than the latter.
But as everybody says, this shows the Mets have a deep problem with the bench. Why, I do not understand. Yes, we were told Sandy was holding onto what little money he had left to spend on the roster for the middle of the year but then it was said the Mets had roster money both last season and this with the financial troubles of the Mets having been “over-exaggerated”. If that is true, then again why such a thin bench?
The fact that what was first said to be a bruise is now a broken pinkie and I did they think so little of the situation that it didn’t even warrant an x-ray until David came to the park the next day in such pain also makes me believe nothing has changed over the past few years.
Joey,
I really think you need to stop taking to heart every syllable that comes out of ownership or the FO’s mouths as gospel.
Now that the money owed in the Madoff matter has been established and will be off set by recoveries as they continue over the next 3 years the team would like the cloud over Flushing to disappear because it won’t help lure anyone with other options to the Mets and being thought of as a team that can only target the Boyer’s, Capuano’s, Izzy’s, Youngs and Buckholtz won’t help the FO in their quest to remake the team.
A big part of a GM’s job in NY is to keep the media from inciting a gullible fan base into believing the worst and having ownership thought of as unable to afford even middle market type moves is unhealthy for the fans and the targets of acquisition. The first thing Fred said when the settlement was announced was that he wanted to get right to work to get the Mets back into “preeminence” and was heading right down to Pt. St. Lucie. That sudden departure from what He and Alderson had been saying and doing the last two years doesn’t tell you anything?
Having ownership being blamed all year long if this season goes downhill quickly with the resultant cries for them to sell would just create a media s**t storm that would benefit no one except perhapsthe Phillies, Braves, Marlins and Nationals.
Having the Organization continue to be thought of as a destination for players with very few other options would undermine efforts to attract the pieces that are needed here.
Again, especially in NY it is encumbent to watch what they do as opposed to listening to what they say. Here it’s always media spin as you yourself pointed out with Torre praising the Seaver trade. Anyone believe he was thrilled about it? Didn’t think so. Anyone believe that having an account with 500 M in it being replaced by a law suit seeking up to a billion more wouldn’t cause a short term cash flow crises in tough economic times? Keep in mind that relative to other ownership in MLB the Wilpon’s are pretty much at the bottom at the bottom in terms of net wealth.
Keep in mind too that spots on the 40 man roster are really at a premium. We already lost Stinson and Fern and could have lost Armando Rodriguez as well. Had we signed more in the way of bench depth that would have meant putting Flores, Lagares, Carson, Havens, Valdespin, Puello, Lutz or someone else on waivers and signing someone to a multi year deal could cost Gorski, Cordero, Cecciliani, or Vaughn next year.
Having real prospects in AAA or AA that can also be depth for your Major League team allows you to properly balance your 40 man roster but Kirk and Lutz are really the only guys who could be expected to help if need be as Mejia, Havens, Valdespin, Familia, Harvey and Lagares need some additional time hence the Lowen’s, Quintilla’s, May’s, Johnson’s and Rottini’s on minor league deals.
Personally I don’t see Cedeno, Nickeas, Hairston, Turner or Baxter being anywhere near the worst bench I’ve seen here and the balancing act of protecting some of our slower developing yet very talented prospects made that a neccesity because there is very little at the upper levels of the minors ready to produce in a pinch and what you can sign to a minor league deal isn’t always your first choice.
Hi T,
Not asking for Gospal, just for simple courtesy and respect on subjects that being open and honest would not hurt. For example:
1) Why did we have to learn from Carlos Beltran of the seriousness of his injury which the Mets were trying to cover up?
2) Why did we have to learn from Johann Santana last season not to expect him at least until August after we were told he might be surprised at how quickly he comes back.
3) Why be told that the doctors said Jose Reyes would be day to day and probably play in the all-star game when they really said he would need to go on the disabled list?
4) Why tell us that Ike Davis would be back after letting his ankle heel for a few weeks instead of being told he had a micro-fracture which an MRI could pick up?
This is really not an issue with the Mets front office as it is more the integrity of being truthful that is expected of all of us. Why cannot the front office simply adhere to this principle when addressing us on subjects not related to very confidential and private situations or could cause embarrasement which are entirely different issues? Is that too much to ask?
That’s why I am bothered by it so much. Has it come to the point where a little plain truth doesn’t matter any more?
As far as the financial situation, yes, they ahve to be very careful but they would have been better off just sticking to their original story so not to get caught with their foot in the mouth.
Hi Joey,
Just reading between the lines I’m quite sure keeping Beltran’s injury under wraps and the resulting s**t storm was all about selling tickets as the news of the surgery came out in January. I really wonder if the Mets would have preferred him to wait until opening day so as to not impede sales and renewels.
Santana was probably about keeping hope alive amongst the ticket buying faithful.
Ike a bungled diagnosis and treatment, and again early season ticket sales, partial plans ect.
Reyes was immediately diagnosed as most likely going on the DL but they waited a couple days just to get it checked out for sure. I don’t recall any talk from the Met FO about him playing in the All Star game myself but then again I could be wrong.
When dealing with injuries you never know if a deal is in the works that no one wants to get held up but the Met FO has lost any and all credibility in this area and it’s pointless to fret about what they don’t say. Assume amputation or transplant and hope for the best is my advise.
There are plenty of things that fly under the radar that have to be ownership driven like the two first round picks traded for Chris Carter in the Wagner deal and the supplementary round selection sold in the Barajas trade with 5 weeks to go in the season and well after Minaya was out of the decision making process. The primary benefit of both those trades was in being able to avoid paying signing bonuses to the 20th, 39th and (approx) 51st highest regarded amateurs.
These are the sorts of things that should infuriate Met fans. The most hopeful and best case scenarios put on every injury is just standard operating procedure and probably will never change here and although somewhat disrespectful to the Fans doesn’t speed up or delay the injury healing process but the selling of #1 draft choices definitely hurts the teams chances down the road whether in trade or development and that is something you never hear them say anything about and while injuries hurt the on field product they are unavoidable while selling 1st round draft choices is most definitely avoidable and never should have occurred in the first place especially for a team that always has so many “holes to fill.”
“When dealing with injuries you never know if a deal is in the works that no one wants to get held up but the Met FO has lost any and all credibility in this area and it’s pointless to fret about what they don’t say. Assume amputation or transplant and hope for the best is my advise.”
Hi T,
Glad to know you can see where I was coming from. As far as gripes are concerned, the others you point are those one could argue were mistakes of eneptitude, which are different than calculated lies so not to hinder ticket sales (something we all knew). But I don’t think actions like those can be connected with trades because players have to go through physicals and trades can be voided if one team was hiding injury from another – which I’m sure the Mets would have tried.
Even if he’s hitting 133, can we please bring up JUAN LAGARES???? Jason bay f’ing sucks and watching him in the lineup makes me wanna throw up.. What a waste of money that was, i didn’t want him on the team as i was praying we’d get holliday, but bay was the safer signed as he was a power hitter who could’ve contributed to the lineup, little did we know the guy has been the worst FA signing in mets history, THE WORST and it’s not even close. the man sucks and i rather us bring up someone who can at least want to improve and do good… This man is the worst and the reason why we havent gotten it going is because it’s all on the shoulders of wright, davis and duda, noone else can step up since this BPOS forgot how to play fu***** baseball!!!!
Yeah it’s close. Him and Bobbybo. As for bringing someone up they can’t do it just because we are tired of Bay. No reason to rush a kid and ruin his chances. Then Bay would cost us even more. I think when Torres gets back you could see Bay sitting a lot more against RH. For now you got to move him in the order and hope to get him back to awful instead of putrid. I mentioned hitting him 2nd hoping he would shorten up. Maybe you bat him lead off and have him jump in the way.
You know who gets a free pass? George Foster. Yes he was somewhat productive, but we made him the highest paid player in the NL after we traded for him and signed him. He went from a .900 ops to under .700 his first season with us going from an average of 32 HR a season to just 13. His was the first mega deal we ever handed out and he never lived up to that contract. I guess it was a sign of things to come.
Joe D, Seriously, we saw foster, he was old already when he came to the mets and he STILL manage to save face after his disastrous first season, he was a 24 hr and 84 rbi guy, so as bad as he was with his BA as a met (.257) he still did what got him that contract, hit HR’s and drive in runs… Mets released him and that was that, but what do we do with bay?? he hasn’t earned NOTHING, can’t hit for avg, no power, not driving runs, his defense is shaky, can’t run, i mean, what does he do??????? This guy is the worst free agent in history, hell, even bobby bonilla had a 34 hr season, this man in 810 total at bats has a 249 BA 18 TOTAL HOME RUNS and only 100 Rbi… ARE You KIDDING ME!????????? Total piece of SH**!!
Bonilla didn’t live up to his contract but his numbers dwarfed what Bay has done as a Met. He hit more HR’s in 1 year than Bays 2 plus years combined. not even close. Bays by far the worst FA in franchise history. Even Fosters numbers have dwarfed Bays.
Alex I really wouldn’t throw Lagares into the fire yet since his walk to strikeout ratio needs work and he’s doing that work right now and perhaps even adding power to his game as well. He’s also been switched to RF which means next year he’s a legitimate chance to not only come up with a solid foundation under him but also be able to put Duda in LF which would help us immensely provided he does gain control of the strike zone.
What we need real soon is a LH platoon mate for Bay and for Lagares to step up big in AA and allow us to put the right people in the right places and don’t write of Zapata too quick either as he has exactly the same things to work on as Lagares and could be a great compliment to Duda in LF or even pass Juan for RF in the back end of 2013.
Agee, i agree, but damn, watching this bum is making me wanna VOMIT, i am all in favor of the first kid who has a good enough resume to come up and take this guy away ferom the team… What a waste… What the hell happened to this guy??? From 36 hr to just nothing in 2+ season with the team!!! whoever predicted this guy to have a 20+ 80+ season must be kicking himself!
Alex, my man! I agree with you about Bay, boy he really sucks. But I think to promote Lagares now would be a huge mistake. He is in a really great spot there in Binghamton. He is playing a solid RF and hitting third in the line-up. He only got 162 AB’s in Bingo last year, so they feel he needs more time there, and they are right. But the early signs this season are good. He already has a HR, and he only hit 2 HR’s in Bingo last year. Also he only drew 5 walks in those 162 AB’s, but so far this year he already has four walks. That shows maturity, better strike zone recognition, and hopefully a bump in power output as well. He should stay in Binghamton for at least the first half, before they even think of moving him anywhere.
Petey, i agree, i only threw his name out because i think at 22-23 not sure he’d be ready to come in and help, his speed has improve and asyo have mention, his plate recognition has improved bastly… I’ll be happy with bayonne mets fan at LF for all i care as long as it’s not this MFBPOS
No, Lutz is not the right choice. Neither is moving Murphy! The correct move is to play Justin Turner at 3rd base and get him some at bats. Turner has proved that he can hit and more importantly hit in the clutch which we need with David Wright out. Leave Lutz in Buffalo as Wright might only be out for a few days. No sense in him rushing to come back to early and aggravating the injury.
If Wright’s injury was a major problem and his replacement would be a long term,one…the needs would be different.
I have to disagree alan, I think Turner is a player who has gotten an opportunity to play, and from what I’ve seen he is what he is, a reserve player. A bench guy. Lutz has a great deal of upside as a hitter. He could be a considerable home run threat. He has a much higher ceiling than Turner ever had, and he has not had an opportunity in the bigs yet like Turner has. To keep Lutz down in the minors makes no sense at this point if there is an opening at third for the Mets.
I am not in favor of moving Murphy to 3rd if Wright goes on DL. To move him for 15 days and then back is not doing him any favors. If it was for the season is one thing, he should keep playing 2nd and use someone else at 3rd.
We can’t mess with Murph anymore. If this club really believe that Murph is a long term solution at 2nd, moving him around again is just going to further hamper his development.
I believe that Murph can be a passable MLB 2nd basemen, but he needs much improvement…and the only way he’s going to get it is by playing 2nd everyday and learning what he should have learned in the minors.
We all know why Jason Bay is in the lineup. There’s 35 million reasons but what I can’t understand is why Collins continues to be so stubborn and continue to bat Bay 5th. Enough with placating veterans for what they did in the past. If you’re gonna force feed your fanbase this guy then put him down in the order in the 7 hole. Joe Torre batted A-Rod 8th in a playoff game when he was struggling.If A-Rod( HOFer) can bat 8th in a playoff game Bay can bat 7th or 8th. Bay is not struggling, he’s shot.
Gotta break up the lefties.
I’m not sure breaking up the lefties with an automatic out really helps. Unless you’re being facetious.
I don’t necessarily agree with it, I’m just saying that is probably the logic behind it.
But ya, the point of alternating sides of the plate is so you don’t have mismatches lined up after each other. Having an automatic out breaking up your lefties does not achieve this goal.
Big problem for Mets as stated before is the big drop off from starters to bench players, Turner is ok but Cedeno? Really? This must have been our “on the cheap” bench player cause he sucks despite his 3 hit game, his career number state that so SA thanks for the wiffle ball bat off the bench.
Lutz seems like a good fill in but the roster and minors seems to be lacking for decent fill in players in case of injuries which happen.
I also believe that David will be back against Lee cause w/o him we will see another repeat of Wed.
Please do not play Cedeno unless it is for defense or emergency cause his bat is as bad as the pitcher’s spot!
Bay, Bay, Bay what shall we do with thou!
His lack of hitting has really hurt this lineup and he needs to sit after Friday’s game, unless he breaks out against Lee, and let another LH bat, maybe Lowen can be brought up against RH pitchers cause this lineup is hurting for his lack of hitting.