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June 2, 2011 Shea What? Joe Janish

Who Would You Weed Out?

Last night during the postgame show on SNY, Bob Ojeda had a passionate reaction to Mets manager Terry Collins’ press conference. Ojeda suggested that there are players on the current Mets team who are not as intensely concerned with winning as they should be.

Here is the direct quote from Ojeda:

“… I better start looking at the end of the day, did we win or did we lose? And they have some guys in there who think like that. They have some guys in there, who, it’s about the scoreboard. But they have some who, it’s about, “my job” It’s about “I did my job, and I’m gonna go home, and it’s the end of the day.” Those are the ones they gotta weed out — if they’re gonna move this club, if they’re gonna change the culture, they’ve gotta start weeding them out.

Do you agree with Ojeda, that there are players who don’t care enough about winning? If so, what specific players do you think Ojeda is talking about?

I eagerly anticipate your thoughts in the comments.

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. NickD June 2, 2011 at 7:40 am
    I agree completely. Guys who are playing “soft,” like Harris, should be looking in the mirror.

    The difference between the Mets and the Phillies is that, for the most part, the Phils field 9 guys who want to punch you in the mouth. The Mets of late don’t want to punch anyone in the mouth. There’s no fire, no swagger, no chip on the shoulder.

  2. Mic June 2, 2011 at 7:45 am
    Phillies have personnel. The mets do not. The mets lead this division with healthy dave wright, santana, and ike. Fixing the black hole in right would help.

    The bullpen need arms, and terry needs to trust those arms. We can only speculate but tc n
    Knows who he wants out.

    • Patrick June 2, 2011 at 7:49 am
      The black hole is RIGHT? What in the world does that make Left Field?
    • Patrick June 2, 2011 at 7:51 am
      Ojeda, like Collins was beating around the bush. Either say it or don’t.
  3. Larry June 2, 2011 at 7:59 am
    Willie Harris is clearly the least productive position player the Mets have had since Luis Castillo. He should definitely be the first to go. And Parnell is close to useless in the pen.
  4. Paul June 2, 2011 at 8:11 am
    I’m not in the clubhouse. I don’t know if the Mets have players that only care about their own stat lines.

    I do know that they are being forced to use a lot of AAAA talent at the moment. It’s tough to win that way.

  5. Clancee June 2, 2011 at 8:32 am
    Let’s go around the positions:
    Bay – BENCH
    Pagan – IN
    Murphy – IN
    Beltran – Not Sure
    Harris – BENCH
    Pridie – REPLACE BAY
    Tejada – IN
    Turner – IN
    Thole – BENCH (he’s not a major league player..period.
    Nickeus – Bring him back. Best of the bunch
    • Mike June 2, 2011 at 10:26 am
      I have no idea what the Pridie obsession is about. Yet another case of over valuing marginal players by Mets fans. Jason Bay plays, everyday, as long as he’s healthy. If he ever figured it out he would be three times as valuable than Pridie at least. He plays, shut up about benching Bay. Bay needs to figure it out for this year, next year, and the year after that. He is going to get his chances. His contract guarantees that.

      Really the only thing we can hope for is Davis and Wright coming back sooner than later. Otherwise this team is awful, no other way around it.

    • Mike June 2, 2011 at 10:33 am
      Really? Nikeas over Thole? Pridie over Bay? Beltran is lifeless?!!!!!!

      Have you ever seen Beltran play before? The guy is smooth and calm. He’s not Jose Reyes pumping his fist and his chest. Most under appreciated Met possibly ever. Yes he’s been hurt, but the guy is productive when he’s on the field. No one in this lineup is hitting right now, but does everyone forget the few games we had a full lineup? That lineup was deep and productive for that one week or so. I believe that lineup can be productive again, but once again two stupid injuries have screwed everything up.

      This team is full of bad players out of position but that doesn’t mean you replace your struggling vets with marginal AAAA players just because they play hard.

    • Mike June 2, 2011 at 10:34 am
      Clancee that was not all directed at you, forgot to click “Click here to cancel Reply” on my second post.
  6. Clancee June 2, 2011 at 8:36 am
    One more comment. At the point we are at, it’s no longer about winning but, more about pride. Josh Thole belongs in the minors. We’re trying to make a major league player out of him when it can’t be done. Bay is the most useless player we’ve had in NY since Fernando Tatis. He is lifeless. Beltran is lifeless. I’d rather see kids playing with desire than others because they feel entitled to play.
  7. pal88 June 2, 2011 at 8:39 am
    BAY = Bench

    BELTRON = TRADE TODAY !

    Bring up Captain Kirk, DUDA, F-Mart (a real tryout)

    Harris/Hairston = RELEASE TODAY

    PARNELL = Buffalo

    Sign JOSE to a fair Extension if possible,

    • Clancee June 2, 2011 at 8:47 am
      I’m good with all of that but, Thole has to go too. He can’t catch. He can’t hit. Bring Nickeus back. If they don’t play with balls, they don’t play. At this point, the scores are irrelevant because we lose all the time anyway.
  8. Tony June 2, 2011 at 8:56 am
    I agree with Joe and a lot of you guys. Even if we have a misconception of Harris, he’s not the right fit at this time. You have to love the way Turner and Murphy are hitting, they now this is their time to stake their claim as being MLB caliber guys. I don’t think Pridie did that by pussy footing on shallow balls in the OF. The Met’s have a stock of Mid 20’s guys in the high minors that were once prospects, and could have value, let them play, let them live in the moment and see if they appreciate what they have and fight for it.
  9. gary s. June 2, 2011 at 9:59 am
    Ojeda is just blowing smoke.This team has 5 players who get paid like stars.Only Reyes and K-rod have earned their salaries so far this year.So, even before the injuries, this team had a lot of problems.I’m just hoping that Beltran can get thru June and be traded before he gets hurt again and has no value.Turns out that old man Wilpon was right about him being 65 per cent.He is a shell of his old self defensively and on the bases and he is totally unable to lead or smack a few 3 run homers to help decide a game since wright and davis went down.Jason K is just pathetic at the plate and has taken ollie’s spot as the worst contract in mlb.Phew!!
  10. Yellow June 2, 2011 at 1:01 pm
    I think Ojeda is talking about Little Carlito Beltran. This little girl we have playing right field. Personally some times its as clear as it can be that he doesnt care about winning. Although one thing i dont understand is that he is a free agent. He currently makes 19 mil this season. Next season i would honestly say he is lucky to make more than 5 mil. He is an average right fielder and a shit hitter.

    PS: I dont understand why the mets dont send Bay to the minors. He plays like a Minor Leaguer, in fact there are probably plenty of guys down in the minors who are much better than he is. He has 8 Homeruns in his 2 seasons with the mets. Really.

  11. izzy June 2, 2011 at 2:19 pm
    I am amused by the guys who blame everything on a career bench player like Harris and rave about the Phillies and how they have all these guys who are tough and play the right way. And thet is why the Phillies have the Met reject Wilson Valdez playing over half the games and why the Phils were so quick to overpay met reject Brian Schneider to join them. Guys who were losers in Queens are suden;y winners in South Phillies. Sure guys. Pridie ain’t helping the team win, either is Nickeas or Evans or Murphy or etc etc etc. The Mets have very few fine players , a crappy rotation a hideous buyllpen and no bench, and you7 want to blame Harris or someone else. It don’t matter. They need to build a team a whole team.
  12. gary s. June 2, 2011 at 3:34 pm
    harris reminds me of castillo with his ineptitude.In my book that means it’s time to leave.Team will still stink but no castllo impersanators will be tolerated
  13. Steve S. June 2, 2011 at 4:26 pm
    DFA: Harris.

    Barely OK as minor guys on bench (but keep for now): Hairston and Pridie.

    Beltran: trade asap since you can’t offer him arbitration and get draft picks. But don’t give him away either. Bring up Duda or FMart from Buffalo.

    Bay: If he doesn’t get it together soon, give him the “Thole treatment” (i.e., time off to work on his hitting).

    Tejada: Send him to the minors to play full time when Wright comes back.

    Pelfrey: Trade, if you can get something for him, and if Cahoon looks ready. Otherwise, the starting rotation and bullpen is OK for now.

    Negotiate a five-year/$90m. deal with Reyes.

    Trade K-Rod, if possible, if Parnell can close….

    • Joe June 2, 2011 at 4:42 pm
      I don’t see Parnell having the ability to close yet. Do you really trust that guy to close on a regular basis? I don’t trust him in the 8th inning yet.

      When Davis or Wright is back, Harris isn’t really necessary — he is a utility guy of some use until then. Pridie is a decent 4th outfielder with defensive skills. Hairston is marginal. Bay is an overpaid bust thus far.

      I agree with the other stuff, basically, but would think about trading Wright if some worthy offer pops up. I want to see Murphy and Turner playing on at least a semi-regular basis. And, Wright has been a disappointment the last few years.

      The team has to start on a new foot. Reyes is too good to lose but replacing Wright would send a message of a new direction in place.

      • Steve S. June 2, 2011 at 5:20 pm
        That was why “if” was there for Parnell. Let’s see how he pitches from now on. He looked good today though. If we trade KRod, you could have a “closing by committee.”

        Agree on looking to trade Wright, but with his bad back and high strikeouts, you might not get that much for him.

        • Joe June 2, 2011 at 6:02 pm
          I realize the “if,” but just saying, the implication is that there is a reasonable chance there and not seeing it yet.

          I agree about Wright, but that sort of thing also leads me to be not that excited about keeping him.

    • Mike June 2, 2011 at 5:37 pm
      That Cohoon comment is ridiculous. He was okay enough in AA, but I think he was promoted based off need to AAA. He got shelled in his AAA start. So yeah, he doesn’t look ready. Chris Schwinden has been the biggest surprise in the minors pitching for AAA. He’s next in line.
      • Steve S. June 2, 2011 at 6:08 pm
        Ridiculous? People were saying Gee couldn’t pitch in the bigs, too. (He had almost a 5.00 ERA at Buffalo last year.)

        You might be right about Schwinden, but Jeez, Cohoon has had one start. Let’s give him a chance….

        • Steve S. June 3, 2011 at 8:53 am
          Actually the best reason to trade Pelfrey (other than he sucks) is because Santana will be back soon, hopefully.
        • Mike June 3, 2011 at 12:20 pm
          I wasn’t sating Cohoon won’t be a big league starter, but he is best known as a crafty lefty with guile and finesse. Which means he needs to figure out AAA before he can succeed with the Mets. He’s had one start as you say, so no, he is not ready. I actually think he projects favorably with Gee but with more value because he is a lefty. Don’t misinterpret my comment. I’m no troll looking to start a fight. People seem to have an opinion of me around here but one thing I’ve always been is in love with following the Mets farm system. Cohoon could earn a spot in September, but look for him next spring.

          Schwinden will be in NY this year if he is healthy. His peripherals have improved so much this year, his only knock is still his lack of Ks. As you should know strike outs are the single best indicator of MLB success for a minor league pitcher. His BABIP is curiously low (.231) and he had a bad start his last time out. If he was on the 40 man roster already he would have been up by now. Soon though.

        • Steve S. June 3, 2011 at 2:31 pm
          Fair enough on Cohoon. Perhaps I was a bit overly optimistic about his being ready for the bigs in four starts or so.

          Sounds good to trade Pelfrey and try Schwinden, if Santana isn’t ready.

  14. LEONIDES SANTIAGO June 2, 2011 at 5:41 pm
    We are now at game 56. Lets clean house. And start fresh
    1b- Davis / Murphy
    2b- Murphy/ Tajeda
    ss- Reyes
    3b- Turner
    RF- Duda
    CF- KIRK
    LF- Martinez
    c-Paulino I believe we can win the same 80 to 82 games we would win this year. And it would move the team foward.
    Make PARNELL the closer, If he fails trade him. All THE POSITION PLAYERS THAT ARE MISSING SHOULD BE TRADED.
    • Joe June 2, 2011 at 6:04 pm
      I’m not sure why Pagan should go.
      • Mike June 3, 2011 at 12:33 pm
        Because LEONIDES SANTIAGO think Kirk has had a good year in AAA. A quick Google search says that he has, but his BABIP is a ridiculous .400. I love his patience but his strikeouts have been pretty high (30%). Also, he has not played since he made this catch http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=15154051&sid=milb

        So really the only complaint I have is Harris and Hairston are taking up roster spots and contributing little. Let Nick Evans play. Let Duda play (who has raked since his return from injury). Move Beltran at the deadline. Move Krod ASAP. And then just relax people. This will take time, and this season is a waste anyway.

        • Joe June 3, 2011 at 4:14 pm
          Pagan is starting to have a good year too. It’s unclear why the person cited is thought to be a BETTER option w/o more clarification from the original author.
  15. Andrews June 2, 2011 at 6:03 pm
    I think Harris and Harston need to go. Bring up Duda and Martinez. TRADE BELTRAN NOW he has value get some pitching or a player that is ready to make an impact or has some sort of fire in the belly. Im tired of players just doing their job they need to want to win a pennant not to be the last place team or 2nd to last in NL east. The Phillies play like champs and we play like they just want a check no heart.
  16. NormE June 2, 2011 at 6:15 pm
    I am amazed at the the Mets fans who think that with the release of Harris/Hairston and the benching of Thole and Bay that this team would be better. True, these guys have not produced, but the talent level beneath them is thin or not ready.
    If we were honest with ourselves we would have known that this year would be a bad one. Rebuilding takes time. It starts with this year’s draft and the reshaping of the team in the off-season. Each year will see changes in the roster. We have to be realistic and patient even though games like Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s are hard to swallow.
  17. Mic June 3, 2011 at 4:18 pm
    Dont forget..get rid of beltran…and his .280 avg and 10 hr. This guy who could still be a hall of famer when its over.