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Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 09 2010 06:14 PM

Internet sez the Mets will give him a minor league deal and a spring training invite. I like the idea they're trying to push Muffy, but they aren't using a whole lotta real threats.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 09 2010 06:25 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

Crasnick Tweet here. Is Ken Oberkfell planning on an 8-man superplatoon at first, or is the International League just playing slo-pitch this year?

seawolf17 Feb 09 2010 06:55 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

Dude hit 32 home runs two years ago. I know he DHed a lot last year, but the Royals had their 23-year-old wunderkind Billy Butler at first. I can definitely see Jacobs breaking camp. Maybe pushes Nick Evans off the depth chart.

Valadius Feb 09 2010 07:01 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

Return of the Jake-Monster? No shit? Wow.

Frayed Knot Feb 09 2010 07:23 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

Certainly a LH threat off the bench ... but, jeez, Delgado is a better fielder.

OlerudOwned Feb 09 2010 07:55 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

Might make for a decent platoon with Evans, if Murphy's bat still doesn't warrant a corner IF position.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 09 2010 07:58 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

Forget Delgado, Venus De Milo is a better fielder. And Butler's no prize at first himself... the Royals sat/DHed Jacobs because he's giant-sucking-sound terrible. Even during his 32-HR season, he put up a barely above-league-average .338 wOBA, due largely to a Molina/Taveras-like sub-.300 OBP that year. At this point he seems to have one discernible baseball skill-- hammering mistake fastballs by righties a long, long way. He does nothing else of value, offensively or defensively. If he makes the Opening Day roster over Nick Evans or Chris Carter, it will because of a misleading spring/poor Met-valuation, or because someone has kidnapped and is currently impersonating the actual Mike Jacobs.

metirish Feb 09 2010 08:37 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

I posted this before but it's a good read Joe Posnanski on Mike Jacobs

bmfc1 Feb 10 2010 07:50 AM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

LWFS's point is amplified in Buster Olney's column from today: The Mets signed Mike Jacobs, as colleague Jerry Crasnick reported, and the most ardent Mets' fan at ESPN, Mark Simon, sent me a note on this signing. Mark, the floor is yours: "Mike Jacobs is an ideal (sarcasm intended) fit for the Mets. He had the 2nd-lowest OPS in 2009 (.698) among players whose primary position was DH. No player with as many home runs as he hit last year (19) had a lower slugging percentage than Jacobs' .401. And over the last three seasons, Jacobs ranks last among first baseman in the defensive stat 'Runs Saved' (similar to UZR, measures many aspects of a defenders ability, via the company Baseball Info Solutions). This despite his only starting 13 games at first base in 2009 (which tells you how bad he was in 2007 and 2008). That should work out especially well, considering that over the last three years, their second baseman -- Luis Castillo -- ranks LAST in MLB in runs saved for second baseman.

Edgy DC Feb 10 2010 08:02 AM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

No mention that it's a minor league league deal (no sarcasm intended) or that he's adding to a ton of depth at the position. People really need to relax. Part of the game is also finding guys who are excellent in one or two things, and seeing if they can or can't use them.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 10 2010 08:17 AM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

No, that's not how it works. Every time the Mets pick up a spare part, we're supposed to react as if they're endorsing the guy as the greatest player ever, and then berate them for being so stupid as to think that.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 10 2010 08:18 AM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

They might be doing him a favor, too. Give him a spring invite, show that he can still mash and maybe they can find a spot for him with an AL team.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 10 2010 08:20 AM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

I know that Mike Jacobs sucks but I like him.

smg58 Feb 10 2010 10:53 AM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

I bet Jacobs wouldn't be any worse defensively behind the plate than he is at first.

Valadius Feb 10 2010 11:16 AM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

Well that's where we had him in the first place anyway.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 10 2010 11:54 AM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

[quote="Edgy DC"]No mention that it's a minor league league deal (no sarcasm intended) or that he's adding to a ton of depth at the position. People really need to relax. Part of the game is also finding guys who are excellent in one or two things, and seeing if they can or can't use them.

Problem is, this is one "why not" that could be problematic in context, presuming they like the other guys they've got.

Unless they're looking to let someone go just after spring training, they've got, like 7-8 guys for 3-4 slots at AA-AAA. If he stays, he'll take at-bats. And he'll take those at-bats from folk that the Mets still, presumably, want to road-test a bit (in Davis, Evans, Carter, etc.).

Edgy DC Feb 10 2010 12:12 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

He may not even break camp. In the meantime, Evans and Carter play outfield as well. Cevenak plays third and outfield and fools around at second. Hessman plays third and DJs drivetime at WKRP. Come on. Last year they were ripped for (a) not having enough disaster planning in place, (b) not fielding a competitive team at Buffalo, and (c) rounding out the roster with punchless middle infieders. Well, this year, there's a bunch of rock 'em sock 'em robots in St. Lucie. Get your tickets now.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 10 2010 12:27 PM Re: Mike Jacobs Mach II: Jazz Odyssey

Fair enough. Plus, if he hits and still doesn't make the team, odds are the Mets just cut him loose to give him a shot to latch on somewhere less crowded. (Or, y'know, give him a 3 yr/20 million dollar deal.)