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March 7, 2008 Spring Training 08 Joe Janish

Trade Must Be Made

While I’m liking what Angel Pagan is doing, I’d be surprised if the Mets didn’t look outside the organization for a veteran outfielder — they’ve reached that stage of evolution where they’re not going to go forth with no-names at both outfield corners and possibly first base.

And based on what’s been happening lately, I think we’re all in agreement that the Mets will be extremely lucky to get 100 games out of Moises Alou, a big year out of Carlos Delgado, and an unprecedented season from Ryan Church. In fact, most felt that way BEFORE the rash of injuries.

After the Johan Santana trade, I posted that the key to the Mets was not Santana so much as Delgado. With Alou already scratched for the first month and a half of the season, there’s suddenly a big hole in the middle of the lineup. Add in the mysterious hip injury to Delgado — not to mention he’s coming off the worst year of his career — and it’s even more apparent that the Mets will need to find a big bopper to put behind Carlos Beltran. I’m sorry, but as much as love them, Angel Pagan nor Brady Clark are the answer. The news that the hobbling Jose Valentin is wearing a first baseman’s glove doesn’t make me tingle, either.

When Ryan Church came to New York, we figured his so-so offense would be fine in the 7th spot — assuming Delgado and Alou were around. Now we’re not sure about any of the three.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. isuzudude March 7, 2008 at 10:06 am
    I know it’s super early in the season, and I hate to play the pessimist, but I can’t help but get the feeling that 2008 is going to play out a lot like 2001 – when, after a trip to the World Series and expectations running high, the Mets fell flat on their faces with an older team and managed a meager 82-80 record. If Delgado, Alou, and Church all fail to perform up to par, which at this point is a distinct possibility, then I don’t know how the Mets can manage an above-.500 record, even with the additions of Johan and Pedro.

    Someone please talk me out of this depression den.

  2. Walnutz15 March 7, 2008 at 10:39 am
    *whistles a nice little tune and kicks some rocks while looking up at the sky*

    I cannot provide any sunshine talk right now….check back in a few weeks when we hear how Delgado, Alou, Church, and Sanchez are doing.

    Until then, I’m cautiously optimistic about this year. Just speaking from the heart of a historically jaded-Mets fan.

    I do, however, love our pitching staff. The lineup will need to score runs to make it all work, though.

  3. Walnutz15 March 7, 2008 at 11:27 am
    Looking at today’s Bizarro-Met lineup, I pose a serious question to you guys.

    We’re all real baseball fans — and look past what’s put on paper for us by the newspapers and media — so…..provided some of these guys really AREN’T ready to go — what do you the Mets in the event of a split-squad day?

    The Mets are scheduled to play vs. Baltimore and the Marlins tomorrow. In all sincerity, do they expect to have enough healthy position players for 2 full squads? (Not sure who they’ve definitively sent home right now…or could afford to re-assign, anyway.)

    I’d expect to see some of the walking wounded make a return tomorrow….hence, the vacation day for the healthy regulars today. No way Reyes and Wright make today’s trip with a home game on TV at PSL TOMORROW, especially if they were slated to play in last night’s rainout and still traveled with the team on the pointless road trip.

    Check today’s “Met” lineup: hahaha

    LF Ezequiel Carrera
    SS Anderson Hernandez
    CF Angel Pagan
    DH Olmedo Saenz
    C Raul Casanova
    RF Fernando Martinez
    1B Robinson Cancel
    3B Dan Murphy
    2B Argenis Reyes
    LHP Oliver Perez

  4. joe March 7, 2008 at 12:04 pm
    interesting lineup … plus Saenz and Cancel could swap positions in mid-inning and no one would know the difference.
  5. Walnutz15 March 7, 2008 at 12:12 pm
    Ya know — simply based upon the guys getting a shot in our lineup right now — what’s the harm in re-visiting Craig Wilson, for an invite to ST to play in some of these game and show what he’s got.

    By no means a long-term solution…..if he provides anything in the way of RH pop: he’s what we’ve been saying all along — 1B, Corner OF backup, emergency catcher.

    The Reds apparently weren’t impressed with the results of his physical and sent him home. With this team, anything resembling a warm, semi-healthy body is a plus. And it’s not like he’s needed long-term, provided Alou comes back.

    What’s the harm in extending an invite? I don’t see any.

    Not like there are any expectations for him….and even “injured”, he could play as much as he wants in theses lineups featuring Olmedo Saenz in the cleanup spot. LOL

  6. Matt Himelfarb March 7, 2008 at 5:04 pm
    Barry Bonds…
  7. isuzudude March 7, 2008 at 6:11 pm
    hell no.

    i’d rather lose 100 games than cheer for the Mets w/ Bonds

  8. joe March 7, 2008 at 11:47 pm
    technically, Barry Bonds doesn’t play the outfield … he merely stands in it.

    the PEDs have really ripped apart his body, to the point where he’s less reliable than Alou. i’d pass.