As Opening Day Approaches, Key Jobs Still Up For Grabs
The Mets play the first game of their regular season on March 31, against the Florida Marlins. So while players like David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran are focusing on staying healthy and fine tuning their game at this point, others are battling it out to be on the 25 man roster come the 31st. It is unclear as of yet who will be the 5th starter in the rotation, the long man out of the bullpen, the starting left fielder or even the back-up catcher if Ramon Castro proves to not be ready to play by the start of the season. Here's my view of how the Mets should deal with these openings, leave your opinion in the comments section below.
5th Starter: Mike Pelfrey. Simply put, Mike Pelfrey has to face Major League hitters at some point this year to ever be big league ready. True, he put up some ugly numbers last season (3-8 on the season, 5.57 ERA), but he won't get any better at 24 years old pitching to washed up veterans in New Orleans. He's got to face big league hitters to learn how to pitch at this level.
Long Relief Job: Nelson Figueroa. I don't take anything that happens in Spring Training too seriously, but if the job for a long relief man had to be decided by who's pitched the best as of yet in Spring, you'd have to give the job to Figueroa. I hope that Orlando Hernandez with eventually figure out how to pitch with a new windup effectively, but until that happens I'd be inclined to have Pelfrey and Figueroa fill out these 2 roles and let El Duque start the year in AAA until he feels comfortable enough to face big league hitters.
Left Fielder: Angel Pagan. He's been absolutely great this Spring, and even if he comes back down to earth when the season starts, we know what he's capable of at the big league level from his time with the Cubs. I don't think Omar Minaya should go out and trade away even a mid-level prospect for a right handed bat, now that our Minor League system's been gutted from the Johan Santana trade. I think Angel Pagan starting with Endy Chavez and Brady Clark as the 4th and 5th outfielders would be a good way to hold down the fort until Moises Alou comes off the DL.
Back-up Catcher: Gustavo Molina. This may not be an available job for all I know, but if Ramon Castro or Brian Schneider aren't ready to play on the 31st for whatever reason, I'd rather see someone with an upside over Robinson Cancel or Raul Casanova. Molina's just 26 years old, and could eventually turn into a late blooming prospect for this organization. He's hitting .364 this Spring, the exact number he hit with the Orioles AA Affiliate last season. Even if its for a brief period, it'd be nice to see what we have with Molina at the big league level this year.
Comments
I'm kind of curious to see what we have in Molina too..if Castro or Schneider are unable to stay healthy. Pelfrey won't get the 5th starter job unless El Duque completely falls to pieces.The Mets probably won't even need that 5th starter for the first month so he has some extra time to heal up.Eventually I'd like to see Pelfrey make his way into the rotation if he earns it...
Posted by: Adam Baker | March 22, 2008 12:08 AM
I'm kind of curious to see what we have in Molina too..if Castro or Schneider are unable to stay healthy. Pelfrey won't get the 5th starter job unless El Duque completely falls to pieces.The Mets probably won't even need that 5th starter for the first month so he has some extra time to heal up.Eventually I'd like to see Pelfrey make his way into the rotation if he earns it...
Posted by: Adam Baker | March 22, 2008 12:09 AM
I like the platoon of Pagan, Clark and Chavez in left. To me none of them has ever shown they can play on a consistant basis, but a platoon works perfect. I like our bench this year, but I still feel we are missing a power threat on the bench, but oh well I can deal. I hope Pelfrey gets the #5 spot, he looked good the end of last year before the collapse that is.
Posted by: Vegas Chris | March 22, 2008 12:43 AM
I agree with you with the last two, but I dunno on the first two. If El Duque is already healthy and is making regular starts, he should be the 5th starter. Pelfry will come up when the inevitable Duque injury happens, and if he is good, I say he keeps the job.
The long reliever is in my mind Jorge Sosa. He's had like an era 2 points lower than Figueroa. Don't get me wrong, I really like Figueroa, I saw him a lot in Dominican Winter Ball this past winter, and even though he was shutting out my team, I loved him. I knew he was an FA and thought the Mets should sign him, and I guess my wish came true. I think he's the 2nd option for long reliever (Or any other bull pen spot for that matter), and the 3rd option for the 5th starter. He is a workhouse BTW, he pitched 140 pitcher twice in the Winter.
Posted by: GPR | March 22, 2008 12:45 AM
I absolutely 100% agree with you on Pelfrey and Figueroa. As for rounding out the 25 man roster I would love love love to see the two deals I have proposed here over and over since December. Before I get to those two deals I would like to see Casanova on the team, too bad we made the awful move of resigning Castro, yes I know many of you are high on him but he is very overrated. As for my deals I would love to see a deal of Delgado and Sosa to the Tigers as part of a three team deal that also sends Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen to the Giants who send Jonathan Sanchez, Erick Threets and Rich Aurilia to the Mets. Then deal two which would send John Maine, Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez to the Nationals for Nick Johnson, John Lannan, Jason Bergmann, Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch.
Which would give the Mets a roster of...
Reyes
Johnson
Wright
Beltran
Church
Schneider
Pagan
Castillo
Chavez
Anderson
Aurilla
Easley
Casanova
Santana
Pedro
Perez
Bergmann
Pelfrey
Wagner
Cordero
Rauch
Wise
Feliciano
Register
Figueroa
but it won't happen that way :o(
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 22, 2008 05:01 AM
Sorry Christian, but John Maine isn't going anywhere. That guy was a steal and a trade including him would make us all forget about whining that we lost Kasmir. Maine will be a star!
Posted by: PA Mets Fan | March 22, 2008 08:15 AM
No way Tigers trade Guillen for only Sosa and Delgado, much less Guillen and Inge! Explain why Detroit would do this.
Posted by: Old Timer | March 22, 2008 10:24 AM
maybe thames and lnge
Posted by: john | March 22, 2008 03:19 PM
Its actually quite simple Old Timer Inge wants out and Guillen isn't a well experienced 1B. The Tigers offense has no need whatsoever for either one of them. Delgado would fit in perfectly in that lineup where he will not have to be the key guy to carry the offense also he can DH as well as play 1B. Tigers need some pen help desperately and have had interest in Sosa in the past he would fit right in there pen. We may need to throw in another arm.
PA Mets Fan - sorry but I see your one of the many Mets fans that are extremely over valuating John Maine. He is a solid #3 starter but will be nothing more. He will have another solid year or two but when his slightly above average stuff become average he will be hit hard. I give him credit for being a gritty guy who knows how to pitch but the guy does not have over powering stuff. Also he would make a much better fit in DC where he can be near home and reunite with his buddy LoDuca. That type of deal makes so much sense to both teams that it actually makes too much sense.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 22, 2008 08:23 PM
Also to place Maine in the same category as Kasmir is insane.
Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | March 22, 2008 08:24 PM
Kazmir***
Posted by: Lucas | March 24, 2008 12:34 AM