Master Index of Archived Threads


Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Benjamin Grimm Dec 23 2009 07:05 AM

[quote="Marty Noble"]Delgado's return to action delayed Without seeing him play, club may have less interest in veteran By Marty Noble / MLB.com 12/22/09 10:16 PM EST NEW YORK -- The Mets' interest in Carlos Delgado, an interest that was not shared by all members of the club hierarchy after the season, may begin to wane now that the free agent has postponed his return to active baseball. Two members of the Mets' staff have said that Delgado won't resume playing until the middle of next month. No specific reason was given for the delay, but one of the people aware of the change said on Tuesday night that Delgado probably isn't yet physically ready to play. As recently as Dec. 15, general manager Omar Minaya said that the club planned to monitor Delgado when he began to play in the Puerto Rican winter league in his native country that night. No mention of an episode or incident that interfered with Delgado's return was made by either staff member. Minaya said on Monday that Delgado had not resumed playing and probably wouldn't until January. Another person reiterated that on Tuesday and added that the delay -- and the reason for it -- might diminish the Mets' interest in re-signing the 37-year-old veteran of 15-plus seasons. Delgado, who hasn't played since May 10, underwent surgery on his right hip in May and planned to return during the season, but he strained his oblique muscle in August and finished the season having played in 26 games, fewer than any season since 1993, when he played in just the first two. The chances of Delgado reclaiming the first-base assignment that became his in 2006 haven't been good since his season was interrupted. And when Daniel Murphy, his successor, hit better in September than he had in the preceding months, the uncertainty surrounding Delgado became mixed with a sense that the club might not need him as much. Murphy, who had 508 at-bats, led the team with 12 home runs. Delgado, who hit 38 home runs in 2008, connected for four in 94 at-bats in '09. Delgado re-signing with the Mets -- though any contract with any club likely would include a lower salary and many incentives based on games or plate appearances -- is not an impossibility. Minaya believes the bat that has produced 473 career home runs still has speed and potential. But when Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel speak about Murphy, they seem to imply he will be the first baseman. If Delgado were to return, he probably wouldn't be asked to play regularly, and it's difficult to see how the Mets could carry a player with so little versatility on a 25-man roster. Moreover, Delgado accepting a sharply reduced role is unlikely.

metirish Dec 23 2009 07:11 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Delgado, who hasn't played since May 10, So in reality by the time he gets into playing shape it could be late February/ March....a long time for a guy to be out.....

Gwreck Dec 23 2009 07:49 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

I'd like to see him resigned, whether it be as regular first baseman, power threat off the bench, motivation for Murphy, whatever.

Frayed Knot Dec 23 2009 07:54 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Problem with seeing him as a bench player is that if he shows himself to be even reasonably good someone will want him for a full-timer (or mostly anyway) - particularly an AL team. And if he doesn't show himself to be recovered then there's little sense in signing him.

Centerfield Dec 23 2009 07:59 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

If our options are Murphy or Delgado, put me down for Delgado.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 23 2009 08:02 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

I've also been rooting for Delgado to be the guy. But he does kind of have to be able to play for that plan to work.

metirish Dec 23 2009 08:07 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

I'm rooting for Delgado too. What does it say about Murphy that a lot of people are rooting for an oft injured Delgado to come good?

Edgy DC Dec 23 2009 08:12 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

That it's easier to project productivity onto somebody who's done it than onto somebody who hasn't. Murphy, if nothing else, did something only one other Met did last year --- he answered the bell all season long.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 23 2009 08:15 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

I think it's as much a reflection on Delgado as it is on Murphy. The Mets seem to be putting a lot of weight on how well Murphy played in September. Maybe it's a sign of things to come, but maybe they should remember how mediocre he was from April to August.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 23 2009 08:35 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

I would like to go on record as agreeing with every single post in this thread. I even read this entire thread twice, just to make sure.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 23 2009 10:16 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":1x41tvgd]I think it's as much a reflection on Delgado as it is on Murphy. The Mets seem to be putting a lot of weight on how well Murphy played in September. Maybe it's a sign of things to come, but maybe they should remember how mediocre he was from April to August.[/quote:1x41tvgd] Seeing clearly through Vails tends to be a difficulty for this club.

Edgy DC Dec 23 2009 10:51 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Well, they're certainly looking.

Ashie62 Dec 23 2009 10:52 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Give Murphy the year at 1B, with "I like Ike" Davis looming. No need on spending on Carlos at anything near what he probably wants. If Murphy fails and Davis is "delayed" the 1B situation can be revisted next season.. Presumably with the Mets having more spendable cash..

MFS62 Dec 23 2009 10:55 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

[quote="Ashie62":2b2potgr] Presumably with the Mets having more spendable cash..[/quote:2b2potgr] I hope they're not expecting another payment from Madoff. Later

Frayed Knot Dec 23 2009 11:07 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Catching up with Carlos Delgado Maybe we can turn him back into a catcher!!

Benjamin Grimm Jan 04 2010 08:28 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

[quote="NBCSports.com"] Carlos Delgado's comeback begins Mon Jan 04,2010 10:00 AM ET By Craig Calcaterra It was just a winter league game in Puerto Rico, and he went a mere 1 for 4, but given how long it's been since Carlos Delgado picked up a bat in anger, it's something. For what it's worth, Delgado said he felt fine, though he didn't go overboard with it. In all likelihood he'll need a lot of time to get back into anything approaching Major League playing shape. The Mets could still be interested in bringing back Delgado. The Orioles have also been rumored to be looking at him. Given how well he hit in 2008 (.271/.353/.518 with 38 homers), and even in 2009 before he was injured (298/.393/.521), Delgado could be a potential difference maker for anyone willing to take a chance on the guy. Troy Glaus got $2 million. There's no reason why Delgado couldn't too, assuming he shows that he's healthy.

If the Mets can get Delgado to sign for $2 million, they should absolutely do it. I'm assuming he'd need some incentive clauses (he won't want to hit 40 homers for only $2 million) but I'd love to see them bring him back. I think he still has a lot of upside.

Centerfield Jan 04 2010 08:29 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Yup. Delgado yes. Molina no.

Edgy DC Jan 04 2010 08:36 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Delgado finally makes his debut, going 1-4 with a single, no walks, no strikeouts. Perhaps most importantly, he DH'd.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 04 2010 09:41 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Apparently the plan for Delgado is to have him play first base on grass and to DH on artificial turf. (Artificial turf! I remember that stuff!) The Puerto Rican Winter League regular season will end on January 14, which doesn't leave a lot of playing time for Carlos. His team, the Carolina Giants, is 3.5 games behind. If they manage to make the post-season, it will mean at least a few more games for Delgado to play. According to this article Delgado says he's "not afraid to slide."

Benjamin Grimm Jan 08 2010 06:51 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Delgado hit his first homer yesterday.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 08 2010 09:39 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

[quote="Benjamin Grimm"]Apparently the plan for Delgado is to have him play first base on grass and to DH on artificial turf. (Artificial turf! I remember that stuff!)... According to this article Delgado says he's "not afraid to slide."

Holy crap. Speaking as someone who played a bunch of youth soccer and Legion games on the stuff, if it's on artificial turf-- like, Metrodome-carpet-stuff-- I'd be TERRIFIED to slide. I still have some keloid on my hip from a slide tackle-born raspberry.

Rockin' Doc Jan 08 2010 11:05 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"][quote="Benjamin Grimm"]Apparently the plan for Delgado is to have him play first base on grass and to DH on artificial turf. (Artificial turf! I remember that stuff!)... According to this article Delgado says he's "not afraid to slide."

Holy crap. Speaking as someone who played a bunch of youth soccer and Legion games on the stuff, if it's on artificial turf-- like, Metrodome-carpet-stuff-- I'd be TERRIFIED to slide. I still have some keloid on my hip from a slide tackle-born raspberry.

Sliding on artificial turf is not advised for those that prefer to keep their epidermis intact, but baseball fields generally have dirt around the bases where most sliding occurs.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 08 2010 11:15 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Fair enough. If the Metrodome's any fair indication, though-- got a chance to walk around on the playing field thanks to a youth soccer trip-- there is NO give to the ground underneath, though. Those base areas are like dirt on top of a concrete industrial floor.

Edgy DC Jan 12 2010 10:21 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

AOL's Ed Price (who?) reports that the Mets are leery of the hip mobility they've seen from CD, and Toronto --- also scouting him --- seems like the likelier landing place.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 12 2010 10:25 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

I guess he'd DH for the Jays? Maybe that would lessen the artificial turf issue?

Edgy DC Jan 12 2010 10:29 AM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Yup. Jays don't really have a DH.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 13 2010 02:22 PM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

Blue Jays, reportedly, are not interested in Delgado.

Centerfield Jan 13 2010 03:35 PM Re: Catching up with Carlos Delgado

I won't believe it until Ed Price says so.