Comments on: Mets Building Blocks And Question Marks

By: Markcomic1

Markcomic1 — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:59:40 +0000

One thing I wish to mention about Ike Davis is, this season he was returning from being out for almost a year. Last year he hit the ground running and was batting over 300. He lost an entire year to injury and did not face major league pitchers during that time. Previously he had only spent a partial season with the mets. Not a full one, close but still not a whole season. When you take that into consideration (not that many do) one has to realize that his is basically his sophomore season and the league already had a book on him and he had not faced major league quality pitchers in a very long time. The fact he was never sent down and was allowed to work on things at this level and he pretty much has is crazy. Still though, he could have used some triple A at bats. So please folks give the kid a break, he works hard, he cares, he hustles, and he is still young and has a huge upside. The power is there and he will hit between 275 and 300. He has proven he can do that but, injuries that keep a young player out of the game for a year will have an effect. I look for him to start 2013 off much better than 2012 because he will truly have a full season under his belt and gotten used to the speed of the game at this level once again. Just a thought..

By: srt

srt — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:30:56 +0000

‘Way too many AAAA types on this team to compete in the NL East in 2013′

Wish I didn’t agree with this.

By: srt

srt — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:27:19 +0000

Good read.

Can’t say I agree with Valdespin or Duda being a building block. I’d put them in the questionable column.

From the questionable list, I’d be moving Acosta to ‘done’. He should not be back next year (I hope).

Love Murphy but I still believe he’s a place holder. He should be back next season as I don’t see anyone else competent enough to play 2nd base for opening day, 2013.

By: wasadeyo

wasadeyo — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:24:25 +0000

They drafted a catcher named Tomas Nido that if he does well and is fast tracked will be exciting. Watched his playing from former teams and he appears to be a slugger. He’ll have to improve his catching skills and remains to be seen if he can make it, but looks to be offensively high ceiling. Plawecki also drafted this year is a contact hitter high OBP and more defensively skilled but the two blended together could be interesting. Catchers can be fast tracked just like Edgin (left handed reliever) was.

By: Mex_17

Mex_17 — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:32:26 +0000

You’re being way overly optimistic about our “building blocks”. Duda and Baxter? Would anyone really say their master plan is to build a team around Duda and Baxter?

I think fans fall into the trap of liking players in a vacuum, forgetting that every other team in MLB has guys just like Duda and Baxter, or more accurately, better than Duda and Baxter.

So even if Duda achieves his ceiling of being a guy who hits 25 HR, bats .210, and is a butcher in the field, every team in MLB has guys like that. It’s nothing special, and offers no advantage over any other team.

The idea is to get players who are better than other teams’ players, not keep grasping at mediocre players who might be ok someday if everything goes perfectly.

By: Willis

Willis — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 23:51:50 +0000

I stopped reading when you listed Ike Davis as a building block. He is the definition of question mark.

The building blocks are scarce: Tejada, Wright, Edgin, Parnell (he’s a piece in a decent bullpen), Niese, Harvey, Gee (he’s solid and improving, plus he works hard) and Dickey (knuckleballers are ageless?). It would be so great for the Mets if next season Valdespin, Mejia and Wheeler elevated themselves into the building blocks category. Then we have the bones of a really good young pitching staff. That would be fun and, moreover, reason for hope.

By: jerseymet

jerseymet — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:40:00 +0000

Way too many AAAA types on this team to compete in the NL East in 2013. Sandy DO SOMETHING! Waiting for the contracts to expire is not a plan. I’d rather see the rip out happen now. Hold a fire sale. Wright and Dickey are a peak value. Those two could turn a 500 team into a winner. We are a losing team with or without them. Perhaps they could be bundled with Bay as a group salary dump.

We won’t start winning until those contracts are gone. We will only win when real talent emerges. Play our AAAA types and hope to find some major league talent. Lots of minor league free agents never get a chance to play in the Bigs, Lots of veterans want a second chance. Why pay big bucks for filler when we can get people to sign for minor league contracts. Sandy you cut the payroll 50 million this year. You can do it again. Lets see the 43 million dollar 2013 New York Mets.

By: Christopher Masiello

Christopher Masiello — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:08:27 +0000

Staff
Building Blocks: Dickey, Niese, Gee, & Harvey. (Let Santana make his 17 starts next year and coach Wheeler, Familia, Harvey, and Mejia). Yes, bring all of them up in September.
Keep Frank-Frank, Parnell, and Edgin. (Not necessarily building blocks, but OK)
Replace the rest with veterans on flyers and the remainder of the young pitchers.
Fielders
Building Blocks: Wright, Davis, Tejada, Valdespin
Keep: Duda & Kirk (Third & Fourth outfielders)
Replace At Least Two of These: Bay, Thole, Murphy, and everyone else on the roster.
Basically they need to sign Wright and two legit players to sure up the Outfield, Second, and Catcher. Sign two and keep the player that can’t be replaced.
Everything else should be plugged from within.

By: Metfan Lou

Metfan Lou — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 20:52:58 +0000

I really don’t take any major issue with the article or comments. Some great insights. I would hate to see us gice up on Parnell. Not too many guys can throw a 95 MPO fastball consistentely. My biggest concern is the catching position. If you bring back Thole you have a catcher that in my opinion who catches RA Dickey very well. On the whole, few passed balls. As you look over MLB rosters you just don’t see any young good power hitting catchers available. You usually wind up with a 36 year old guy at the end of his career. Next year McCann is in his walk year but I doubt he would ever leave the Braves. He becomes the face of the franchise after Jones retires. I say we may be able to get another catcher but I just don’t see this as a position we can get any better at. Nikeas and Johnson are good backups.

By: Connor O'Brien

Connor O'Brien — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 20:00:52 +0000

His K% tends to DROP in the second half. I looked back at his splits for every year of his career, and for the most part, they usually drop 3-5%.

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:03:04 +0000

If he finishes at around 25-30 HR season IMO it’ll be a success for him.. despite his early struggle that reminded me of when beltran came back in middle of July 2010 he too did not find his stroke after 2 months, it was the same with ike, and i think he’d be a 30+ HR guy for years to come for us.

By: Des

Des — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:00:11 +0000

True. All Ike needs to do is cut down on his strikeouts with a controlled, balanced swing. He doesn’t have to hit 500-foot homers. He just needs to hit ‘em over the fence. In most cases, 400 feet will do the job. His footspeed is mostly O.K., but won’t be a strength.

By: Vinny B

Vinny B — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:16:37 +0000

But he does have the abilty to get on through walks. Maybe not as much as Dunn, but he does have the ability to get on through walks.

That’s all I was trying to say.

By: jessep

jessep — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:15:23 +0000

The difference between you & I is: you look at each player and start the debate with which GM brought them to the team.

Omar Minaya and Sandy Alderson has nothing to do with my views of Duda, Gee or Spin.

If they do for you, then that’s your problem.

By: jessep

jessep — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:13:58 +0000

in comparison to Adam Dunn….

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:13:57 +0000

This season has shown players that can be building blocks and allowed for the emergence and growth of a couple of players that may actually be parts of something long term. The continued development of Niese & Tejada. Ike Davis going through what is quite possibly the hardest stretch of his career and coming out on the other end of it still on pace to hit 30 HR’s and 90 plus rbi’s. Wright coming back and having a Silver Slugger type season as a 3rd baseman and the emergence of Edgin and Harvey to the pitching staff. Plus while I admittedly am biased when it comes to Capt Kirk I still feel he will be a starting outfielder for the Mets before all is said and done and be a positive contribution to the team in 2013.

By: Vinny B

Vinny B — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:12:45 +0000

Your 1st post made it seem like Duda couldn’t get on base through walks. And all I said was that he does have the ability to do get on through walks.

By: Amazin

Amazin — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:08:02 +0000

What a joke and a very poor jole the puppet jessup has become. The puppet has great faith in the guy who alderson brought over even tho he is over the hill ,burned out and likey to suck until he his out of baseball but the puppet goes further and blasts every kid brought into the org by Minaya. Watch out Tejada, one bad week and the puppet will make you out for toast as well. you are not funny nor are you a good puppet jesup. You are just a very pathetic and inept loser, just like the Met front office is under the fraud and teflon hero of you cultists.

By: Vinny B

Vinny B — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:57:31 +0000

What I meant was that Duda DOES have the abilty to get on base through walks. And I’m right. He was on a pace to walk 77 times this season. If you can do that, you do have the ability to get on base through walks. That’s all I was trying to say.

By: jessep

jessep — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:52:46 +0000

In comparison to Adam Dunn? Are you kidding me right now?

At 22 years old, in Dunn’s first full year in the bigs he drew 128 walks in 158 games.

At 26 years old, in a TOTAL of 218 games – Duda has drawn 81 walks.

Just stop. Minor league plate discipline and big league plate discipline are not the same thing. If you’re going to argue with me whether Lucas Duda is similar to Adam Dunn, then all you’re doing is proving this statement 100% true.

“Duda is a perfect example of what happens when you (or we as fans) over hype our own players.”