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The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

metsguyinmichigan Dec 27 2010 03:45 PM

So says multiple tweets, acquired for Michael Antonini.

Ceetar Dec 27 2010 03:50 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

At least it's someone else to talk about? I remember Chin-lung Hu from watching Mets-Dodgers Spring Training in 2007, but only for the jokes. In fact, i'm not sure they didn't acquire him for the jokes. Also, interesting quote here from him, apparently he only does good when Chien Ming Wang does good, which would explain why he's no longer a big prospect: "And every time, he pitches good," Hu said, "I have a good game. Like, I had three hits a few days ago, then I went on the Internet and saw that Chien-Ming Wang had pitched seven shutout innings [on July 3, against the Twins]."

Ashie62 Dec 27 2010 04:45 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

27 year old SS who was highly regarded by the Dodgers but has done nothing as of yet. Not bad, didn't cost anything.

Frayed Knot Dec 27 2010 04:50 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Spring training conversation: Man #1 - "That SS over there, who's he?" Man #2 - "No, he's Hu." Hu turns 27 in February so I'm not sure he's going to turn into something that he isn't already - which is kind of Rey Ordonez only not as good a hitter. On the other hand I have no idea who Michael Antonini is so I can't figure I'll miss him.

seawolf17 Dec 27 2010 04:51 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Can play second and short, so he could be a viable MI backup. Worth a look.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 27 2010 06:05 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

That reporter will be thrilled.

metirish Dec 27 2010 06:21 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That reporter will be thrilled. even though he's from Tawain she'll be claiming him as Chinese.

Edgy DC Dec 27 2010 06:42 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

He'd be the first Taiwanese or Chinese Met, so that's something. Antonini is a Philadephia-area product. Strong but relatively undersized lefthanded blondie. I think he pitched in one of those exhibition preview games at CitiField.

smg58 Dec 27 2010 07:06 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

He has to play first base at least once, doesn't he? Or at least get to first base. On the field, that is. Oh, never mind. Probably not a consequential deal. Antonini put up good numbers in the low minors, but reality set in at Binghamton. Hu hits singles but doesn't do much else. I suppose one more lottery ticket doesn't hurt, but we may have a bigger organizational need for lefty arms than middle infielders at this point.

Frayed Knot Dec 27 2010 07:15 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I guess the idea is that, if things go well with Hu, the Mets can let Ruby Tejada germinate for another year in AAA while CLH does the backup SS/2B thing.

Edgy DC Dec 27 2010 07:35 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

smg58 wrote: I suppose one more lottery ticket doesn't hurt, but we may have a bigger organizational need for lefty arms than middle infielders at this point. Good point, though I'm not sure Antonini was particularly close at this juncture. He was sort of similarly ranked with Dillon Gee for a while, but Gee took some big steps forward the last year and a half while Antonini stalled out.

Valadius Dec 27 2010 08:01 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That reporter will be thrilled. If Sandy acquired him to shut her up, think again. I'm anticipating a thousand questions from here to the end of time about when does Hu come to Flushing.

attgig Dec 28 2010 09:06 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Frayed Knot wrote: I guess the idea is that, if things go well with Hu, the Mets can let Ruby Tejada germinate for another year in AAA while CLH does the backup SS/2B thing. at this point, i'm guessing it's safe to say tejada has no shot on being our 2b in 2011. we have: Castillo Emaus Hu Murphy My guess would be, murphy beats out castillo for starting 2b, and castillo gets cut. Then it's Emaus vs Hu for the backup MI guy. if Hu wins, Emaus goes back to toronto. If Emaus wins, Hu goes to AAA. If castillo somehow wins out on 2b, murphy becomes the utility (though I'd hate to see him at SS), and both Emaus and Hu isn't in flushing.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 28 2010 09:10 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I don't know about that, there may be room for both Hu and Emaus. My guess is that the Mets will carry 6 infielders. (12 pitchers, 2 catchers, and 5 outfielders) The six could end up being Wright, Reyes, Davis, Murphy, Hu, and Emaus.

attgig Dec 28 2010 09:19 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Who's backing up ike and wright in that scenario then? I would think they would keep someone in the roster for the corner IF spots.. i guess someone like evans may be able to do for a game here and there, but we'll see i suppose.

attgig Dec 28 2010 09:20 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

fangraphs just posted something about this trade, and offers up this scenario: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/hus-on-short/ The best-case scenario for Hu? The Mets struggle along in 2011 and find themselves below .500 near the break, sell Jose Reyes for a considerable package of prospects that can revitalize their minor league system, plug in Hu, and find that he can be a glove-first slap hitter that provides value while he’s cheap. That would work for the team, too, except for all that “struggling in 2011 stuff.”

Benjamin Grimm Dec 28 2010 09:23 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

attgig wrote: Who's backing up ike and wright in that scenario then? I would think they would keep someone in the roster for the corner IF spots.. i guess someone like evans may be able to do for a game here and there, but we'll see i suppose. Well, Murphy can do that.

attgig Dec 28 2010 09:25 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Benjamin Grimm wrote: attgig wrote: Who's backing up ike and wright in that scenario then? I would think they would keep someone in the roster for the corner IF spots.. i guess someone like evans may be able to do for a game here and there, but we'll see i suppose. Well, Murphy can do that. then, Hu's on second? uhhh... I would be a little afraid to yank Murphy around the infield when the other guys need a break. if he's still getting himself comfortable at 2b, I would want him to stay at that position.

Edgy DC Dec 28 2010 09:41 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Evans can also back up first. Emaus plays third as well. I have no problem with Murphy playing first and third in addition to second. We're a little too oriented with conquering weaknesses in player development. Giving folks a chance to foster their stengths is where it's at. Any number of good and great players played all over the field, getting by with what defensive skills they had, until opporunity and their bat settled them at one position or another. And once their stengths established them in a more permanent place, they ironed out their weaknesses.

metirish Dec 28 2010 09:43 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Emaus, Hu, Murph, Evans.....can't fucking wait I tell you....exciting times in store.

Ceetar Dec 28 2010 09:44 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Edgy DC wrote: Evans can also back up first. Emaus plays third as well. I have no problem with Murphy playing first and third in addition to second. We're a little too oriented with conquering weaknesses in player development. Giving folks a chance to foster their stengths is where it's at. Any number of good and great players played all over the field, getting by with what defensive skills they had, until opporunity and their bat settled them at one position or another. And once their stengths established them in a more permanent place, they ironed out their weaknesses. that's fine, but if they do with Murph as the regular 2B starter, I'd kinda like to have him 'stick' there except in extreme cases. Don't get all fancy with making your starters also the backups at other positions. (Although I guess that's what will happen with Pagan)

Benjamin Grimm Dec 28 2010 09:45 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

You know, I think there are a lot more reasons to be optimistic about 2011 than there were in 1980. I know that's not saying much at all, but at least this is a "bad" Mets team that really can turn out to be good. (With some good breaks and a lack of bad ones, except in Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Miami.)

Edgy DC Dec 28 2010 06:58 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Potential at-bat music: [list:1f4pvqrd][*:1f4pvqrd]"Hu Are You?"[/*:m:1f4pvqrd] [*:1f4pvqrd]"Hu's Behind the Door?"[/*:m:1f4pvqrd] [*:1f4pvqrd]"Hu Wrote Holden Caulfield?"[/*:m:1f4pvqrd] [*:1f4pvqrd]"Hu Killed Cock Robin?"[/*:m:1f4pvqrd] [*:1f4pvqrd]"Hu Let the Dogs Out?"[/*:m:1f4pvqrd] [*:1f4pvqrd]"Hu Needs the Kwik-E Mart?"[/*:m:1f4pvqrd][/list:u:1f4pvqrd] Anyhu, does anybody else wonder if stocking up on middle infield depth presages moving Reyes for the rotation help they seem to be needing?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 28 2010 09:50 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Plus, leverage in midseason extension negotiations, maybe? /Accentuating the Jose-positive

seawolf17 Dec 29 2010 07:36 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Mets: "Well, we'll just go with Hu at short." Jose's agents: "Seriously? You just added another $5 million to our demands."

Benjamin Grimm Dec 29 2010 07:49 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Yeah, I don't see Hu's arrival as an option that would lead to Reyes' departure. Not on a team that has plans to contend at least eventually.

Edgy DC Dec 29 2010 07:59 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

at this point, i'm guessing it's safe to say tejada has no shot on being our 2b in 2011. we have: Castillo Emaus Hu Murphy My guess would be, murphy beats out castillo for starting 2b, and castillo gets cut. Then it's Emaus vs Hu for the backup MI guy. if Hu wins, Emaus goes back to toronto. If Emaus wins, Hu goes to AAA. If castillo somehow wins out on 2b, murphy becomes the utility (though I'd hate to see him at SS), and both Emaus and Hu isn't in flushing. You leave out the out-of-options force of nature that is Luis Hernandez. The numbers were against Tejada even before this deal. Meanwhile, I reread and see that attgig already posted fangraphs forwarding a Hu-presages-a-Reyes-trade scenario.

Edgy DC Dec 29 2010 08:01 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Yeah, I don't see Hu's arrival as an option that would lead to Reyes' departure. Not on a team that has plans to contend at least eventually. If they get big-league value back for him, it may not be a drain on big-league pennant hopes. They may lose three WARs at shorstop but gain them back in the rotation --- plus a little control and flexibility and blahblahblah beyond this year.

Frayed Knot Dec 29 2010 08:30 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Trading Reyes based on the addition of Hu would still leave us needing a starting SS

Edgy DC Dec 29 2010 09:00 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Well, I'm not advocating it, but a starting shortstop is just a shortstop who starts. If they replace a 4.0 WAR guy with a 0.8 guy, they may believe they will get those numbers back at another position with what they bring in. (With Gee and Perez their nominal fourth and fifth starters, there's certainly room for improvement.) They may additionally get payroll flexibility and control beyond 2011 to boot.

seawolf17 Dec 29 2010 09:12 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Holy hell, NOBODY IS TRADING JOSE REYES. Next person that does gets bitchslapped.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 29 2010 09:22 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I'd trade Jose Reyes if we could get someone that's better. Maybe there's a team out there that could spare a player that's better than Jose Reyes because they'd rather have the worser player. If you're that team, come on down and have Jose Reyes. He's not as good as the player you want to trade us.

Edgy DC Dec 29 2010 09:26 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I'm just trying to forsee what their plans are.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 29 2010 09:37 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I think that Hu is simply here to contend for the role that Alex Cora filled the past couple of years.

Ashie62 Dec 29 2010 09:41 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

seawolf17 wrote: Holy hell, NOBODY IS TRADING JOSE REYES. Next person that does gets bitchslapped. Call me silly and call me slapped.

smg58 Dec 29 2010 03:05 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think that Hu is simply here to contend for the role that Alex Cora filled the past couple of years. Right. The Mets do not have a good defensive shortstop among their current list of second base options besides Hu and Tejada, and Alderson has made it clear that he wants Tejada to start the year in AAA. As for Reyes, I got the impression that Alderson would have dealt him for the right price, but nobody has made that kind of offer. Keep in mind, though, that if the Mets aren't contending in July it may be in their best long-term interests to trade him, even if they still wish to sign him next offseason.

attgig Dec 29 2010 03:32 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

The question is, when does Sandy see the mets contending... if it's 2012, I see an extension as inevitable for reyes. if it's somewhere between 2013-15, i see sandy trading reyes away. there's potential fa like furcal (ex dodger with them dodger ties), hardy, infante, bartlett, rollins, and scutaro. and there's always the possibility that reyes can be resigned in the offseason. I would like to see someone younger than any of those guys, if we're replacing reyes.... but i don't see that happening...

Benjamin Grimm Dec 29 2010 04:38 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I don't want this to happen, at all, but it would be pretty funny if in 2012, Rollins was a Met and Reyes a Phillie.

Edgy DC Dec 29 2010 07:19 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I don't see Alderson particularly writing off any season. If he has faith that a 2011 dollar can get him a buck and half in 2012, I imagine he'll do it. And if a 2012 dollar can gain him more in 2011, he'd probably do that too. The deadline is one thing, but in December, a good deal is a good deal.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 29 2010 10:07 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't want this to happen, at all, but it would be pretty funny if in 2012, Rollins was a Met and Reyes a Phillie. I don't find the prospect funny at all.

attgig Dec 30 2010 07:39 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't want this to happen, at all, but it would be pretty funny if in 2012, Rollins was a Met and Reyes a Phillie. I don't find the prospect funny at all. agreed. phillies are a winner in that scenario. no good.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 30 2010 07:58 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I didn't say it would be good, but that it would be funny. (Maybe ironic would be a better word? Fans of each team would have to start rooting for the shortstop they loved to hate. Philadelphia fans, of course, can root for Michael Vick, so they can root for anybody.)

MFS62 Dec 30 2010 08:36 AM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Philadelphia fans, of course, can root for Michael Vick, so they can root for anybody.) Well, anybody but Santa Claus. Later

Number 6 Dec 30 2010 01:42 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

Typical Heyman: Jon Heyman wrote: The Dodgers made a good trade, acquiring starting pitcher Michael Antonini for all-field, no-hit shortstop Chin-Lung Hu. For the Mets, whose No 4 starter until Johan Santana returns is Dillon Gee and No. 5 starter is unknown for now, it was the latest in a series of curious moves. Doubt he even knows who Michael Antonini is.

Edgy DC Dec 30 2010 01:51 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

The Dodgers have a glut of middle infielders and they needed to unload one before passing him through waivers, and so, got some guy. It might be the guy who installed my cable. I really don't know.

Fman99 Dec 30 2010 05:10 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

I'm looking forward to making "Hu flung poo" jokes all year.

metirish Jan 21 2011 03:00 PM Re: The newest Met: Chin-lung Hu

The Mets have announced a press conference for next Wednesday to introduce Hu. Your one from Flushing is sure to be there.