9
2012
Kirk Nieuwenhuis In Centerfield: A Good Plan, Or Act Of Desperation?
An article by 
Unless the Wilpons hit the Powerball jackpot in the next couple of months, the Mets are not likely to sign any big name free-agents, a la Josh Hamilton, to play centerfield. Barring any off-season trades (I don’t see anything significant occurring), Kirk Nieuwenhuis will be the Mets opening day centerfielder. Beam me up, Sandy. Captain Kirk is heading back to Queens.
The question is whether or not Kirk can handle the everyday duties of being a major league centerfielder. Many scouts think he would be better suited to play a corner outfield position, but the Mets seem to have confidence in his ability to play centerfield. Either that or they don’t have any other viable option, so they have to save face by showing confidence in the youngster.
When he was called up in early 2012, he was playing so well at one point that he was garnering rookie of the year attention. Then he started to slump, and was eventually optioned back down to triple-A once Andres Torres returned from his stint on the disabled list. Everyone was hoping that Kirk would get called up later in 2012, so we could get another look at the young prospect, but a foot injury ended his season.
I am probably in the minority, but I like what Kirk brings to the table. He strikes out too often, but he is a gamer. He isn’t the sexy pick for the New York fans, who want a big name star roaming centerfield, but he plays the game with passion, and I can see him winning over the hearts of Mets fans if given the chance. He’s a blue collar type player. He won’t blow you away with any portion of his game, but he plays hard. He may never play in an All-Star game, but he has the ability to be a very solid major leaguer. He doesn’t have great speed, but he is a great athlete. He has the potential to hit 20 home runs, and he has gap to gap power. He could be a solid hitter to supplant in the back-end of the lineup.
The issue with Kirk is he would be a great fit in centerfield if the Mets had solid corner outfielders to bookend him. Kirk’s play would be elevated if he was asked to be part of the solution, not the definitive answer. What I mean by that is that Kirk is the type of player that would be elevated if the right pieces are around him. Instead, his weaknesses will get exposed with weaker outfielders to his left and right. In centerfield, he will have to compensate for his own weaknesses, as well as the weaknesses of the players on either side of him. The Mets are asking a lot from a player that lacks any significant time at the big league level.
So, we are still posed with the question of whether or not having Kirk as the opening day centerfielder is a good plan, or an act of desperation? I think the answer is a little bit of both. It’s desperate because the Mets are being forced to throw Kirk into the fire and crossing their fingers in hopes that it works out. These are the types of decisions that make or break a general manager’s career. If Kirk rises to the occasion, Sandy will look like a genius. If not, well…
Is Kirk the future centerfielder for the Mets?
Probably not. He will eventually settle into a corner outfield position assuming he produces at a solid level offensively. I believe he can be a very valuable player for the Mets, and that we should be looking forward to what Kirk might be able to bring to the table going forward. Mark my words, regardless of what position he plays, Mets fans will be won over by Kirk.
About the Author: Mitch Petanick
Mitch is currently an Editor and Minor League Analyst for Mets Merized Online. His baseball experience includes being a former All-Conference collegiate baseball player who had numerous professional tryouts, and he is currently a hitting instructor. He has been involved with the game of baseball for over 30 years now as a player, coach, and consultant. Mitch is also a former Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @FirstPitchMitch.
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I dunno. Andres Torres will leave some pretty big shoes to fill. Can Kirk top .230BA/3HR’s and 35RBI’s. Mind you he almost did that in 282 AB’s last year. As with any Mets player next year the only stats that matter are: (1) SAL (salary); and (2) AE (arbitration eligibility). Kirk fits the bill for both
Mitch, what was his OBP and PPA?? When wanting a player nowadays the norm is to divulge this type of information.. We wanna know if the player is fit for this moneyball/sabermetric/pathetic phylosophy the mets current FO has in place… Thanks …
To address some of what your asking….
First Pitch Results – 14PA 5H .417 BA .385OBP
1-0 Count – 20PA 11H .2D 1 HR 611 BA .611OBP
1-1 Count – 23PA 12H 1D .522BA .565OBP
3-1 Count – 13PA 2H 1HR .333BA .692OBP 7BB
2-1 Count – 18PA 6H 2D .333BA .333OBP
2-0 Count – 1PA .000 BA .000OBP
3-0 Count – 2PA .000 BA 1.000OBP 2BB
0-1 Count – 26PA 6H 1D 1HR .231BA
0-2 Count – 30PA 5H 1D 1HR .172BA .200OBP 17K
1-2 Count – 61PA 12H 2D 2HR .200BA .213OBP 29K
2-2 Count – 58PA 8H 2D 1T 1HR .138BA .259OBP 33K
Full Count – 48PA 4H 1D .125BA .417OBP 16BB 19K
Ahead – 102PA 23H 5D 2HR .307BA .480OBP 25BB 19K
Even – 95PA 25H 3D 1T 1HR .269BA .266OBP 33K
Pitcher Ahead – 117PA 23H 4D 4HR .202BA 214OBP 46K
He won’t stay out there because he sure doesn’t fit “The Approach”.
They found his hole (High Inside which explains his 2HBPs in 0-2 and 0-1 (Pitcher’s) counts.
Too bad they sent him down when they did because it was right about the time they OpPitchers started pounding the zone early and would have played to Kirk’s strength.
You can dig up all of these numbers but it is not necessary. Anyone with good baseball sense saw that Kirk has many skills needed to be a solid major league center fielder. Like many talented rookies, he started strong at the plate but once the pitchers got to see him they made the adjustments to exploit his weaknesses which included “exuberance”. It was then that he started to press and swinging at bad pitches. That is why he was sent down. Had Torres not been ready to play, Kirk might have lasted longer. If he worked hard at Buffalo before he got hurt and worked with the coaches then he should be better suited to playing every day. Torres does not do anything for me so…..I am feeling that he as of now is the guy. I just hope that the Mets can get rid of Valdespin who is A DUMB PLAYER.
I cant stand anything this front office does. But I want to see Kirk get a full shot in CF next season. Yes he got into some bad habits, but he showed a lot of flashes of brilliance too. Sending him back down was a good move, lets see how he looks this spring.
The mets hitting prospects all have the same problem. they strikeout too much. Pitchers walk too many with harvey the exception. Maybe its because as soon as they spend a couple of weeks in AAA they are rushed to New York.
well, guys like Kirk have been like that all along, including AA. so unless you think they are suddenly going to completely change in AAA, I doubt how long they spent in Buffalo mattered much.
I like Kirk in CF as well. I know he needs to work on those strikeouts but I think he can do so enough where he can be an everyday CF for the Mets. If I had to guess the in house options at CF coming into the Spring will be Nieuwenhuis and Den Decker and I believe Den Decker is the better glove defensively. He got off to a poor start when he was promoted to AAA but a good start at AAA this year may see him up at some point in the season.
also possible that this cold be the platoon set-up if they don’t bring anyone else in.
Kirk and Den Dekker both bat left so that’s no help regarding a platoon.
Den Dekker has been slow to adjust to each promotion. I’d like to see him play everyday in LV. We will see him before the season is over. I’m happy with Kirk. Torres had no arm. Everybody ran on him. I’d like to see the Mets go the Rule 5 route and making April a sink or swim month for a couple of picks.
oops. for some reason, I thought he was RH. must have gotten him confused with Legaras.
I would not say he is the future out there.
but, I have no problem with him defensively, based on what we have seen. More concerned about being able to hit enough.
If they have another viable option that hits right handed to share some time, it could work out just fine.
I also would not anoint him the starter, but certainly let him come to camp trying to win the job.
still, if they can manage to pick up a more solid option via trade, Kirk is certainly not going to be blocking him. Maybe Carlos Gomez from Minny. They could split time, and back up the corners too (especially if Duda is in left, there will be plenty of defensive replacement work to go around!)
I like him in CF…I like that he’s a gamer and has come through in some pretty big spots. A lot of the Mets early success was because of what Kirk brought to the table.
and yes, he needs to be better at hitting recognizing the breaking ball and cutting down his K’s
Kirk had his shot early in the season this year. He was solid for a couple of weeks, but once the league learned how to pitch to him, he couldn’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag. To me, he should be trade bait for a real OF. If this guy’s our CF on Opening Day 2013, the Mets are in trouble, IMHO.
I don’t think there is anything wrong giving Kirk a shot at center this coming season – as long as he is seen by our minor league staff as having the potential as the possible heir apparant to begin with and not just a fringe potential.
As far as his strikeouts, perhaps he too was a victim of the front office mentality of that PPPA stat and got behind in the count too quickly.
Or maybe its the same reason he struck out so much in the minors and swings too freely.
Hmmmm, looking at his PAs, ya, its what I said.
On a good team he’s a very good 4th outfielder. As the Met’s are assembled today he’s our best outfielder.
I like Kirk. He plays solid defense and showed some ability to hit. I’m not going to get on him yet for hitting a wall because it’s natural progression for a league to figure out a hitter and adjust to it. Now it’s Kirk’s turn to adjust to the league. He should start and be given the chance to show he’s a major leaguer.
I agree. I like his approach to the game, and as he matures and learns the strike zone, I think we will see a reduction in his strikeouts.
Unless he cuts down on the strikeouts, he’s never going to be a starter. He struck out 31% of the time, 4th highest in the majors. MInor league strikeout percentage is 25%, so its not like this is just a small adjustment he can easily make. pass
I liked what I saw from Kirk, totally agree he should get a few months of everyday play. He deserves a full shot and the job should be his to lose. He reminds me a little of Andy Van Slyke.
Let Kirk play center, Duda in left, and then acquire some power for right. Tall order but Mets need some pop in the outfield. I have faith in Duda & Kirk, but they need to make some adjustments from this year.
Just a theory – not a statement – but could the Mets instilling that stuff about working the count in the minor leagues as well could be the reason for Kirk’s strikeout ratio.
Maybe not at all, but it is a question to consider.
Except it was a problem in college and under the previous GM who drafted him.
Got another one?