Brian Stokes DFA'd Plus Here's Your Opening Day Lineup
Right handed pitcher Brian Stokes was designated for assignment. I think the Mets may have called this one wrong. Even if you really believed that Joe Smith would out-produce Stokes, something that was not even debatable, why not keep Smith in the minors for the first month and see if Brian Stokes was as good as he looked?
He had all the things you would look for in a solid reliever and had a great knack for changing speeds and making batters look silly at the plate. Unfortunately, I'm certain that Stokes will be immediately picked up another team, but don't worry... Mets Merized will closely watch the performances of both Stokes and Smith so we can see how this one worked out.
Willie Randolph was pleased to announce his Opening Day lineup for tomorrow's 4:10 p.m. start against the pesky Marlins. Here it is...
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
LF Angel Pagan
RF Ryan Church
C Brian Schneider
P Johan Santana
As I expected, the Marlins are going to test the Mets lineup from the 5 spot down to the 8 spot in the order by throwing a lefthander at us on Opening Day. Mark Hendrickson is far from the best the Marlins got to offer, but he's left handed and as I have stated numerous times already, I see lefty pitching as an Achilles heel for the Mets.
Let's all watch and see how Delgado, Church and Schneider respond to the 12 or so at-bats they get tomorrow. It will tell the tale for the rest of the season. That's it for now...
LETS GO METS!
Comments
Im happy that Brady Clark made the team. Hes the right handed outfielder we need when we face tough lefties.Guess Im just not sold on Church as an everyday player just yet.
Posted by: Pete | March 30, 2008 04:47 PM
It's a good point about Stokes, but hopefully our bullpen is good enough that it doesn't matter.
Posted by: Ceetar | March 30, 2008 05:28 PM
I'm not sure that 1 game can tell a tale for the next 161 games that will be played..but we will get an idea of how we can expect the Mets to respond
Posted by: Todd Shanley | March 30, 2008 07:10 PM
I'm also glad that Brady's on the team, I think he can really be a good hard working influence. And no matter what anyone thinks, Fernando Tatis is NOT better than Brady, in any aspect of the game.
Stokes getting DFA'd didn't surprise me as much as Nelson Figueroa's DFA surprised me. We could at least use him as a long man.
Posted by: Milo | March 30, 2008 07:15 PM
Neither Gotay or Stokes will be missed. Pelfrey and Smith will be back in the minors when Duaner and El Duque return in two weeks.
Posted by: hank | March 30, 2008 10:32 PM
WTF is up with Church batting behind Pagan?
Whatever.
Posted by: Ryan | March 30, 2008 11:03 PM
NEvermind, I forgot Church is a lefty.
Ha.
Posted by: Ryan | March 30, 2008 11:04 PM
church is batting behind pagan because he sucks
Posted by: tim c. | March 31, 2008 12:45 AM