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Evans

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 28 2011 07:29 AM

I know I'm framing this all wrong because from all I read it looks like Muffy is in and Evans is not, but why not? Evans can play more positions better than Muffy, whose only advantage seems to be his lefthandedhittingness. We're plenty righthanded on the bench already with Hu, Hairston, Paulino, etc. Maybe the answer for Evans is a trade for someone else's options-poor lefthanded bench masher. Or to learn to switch hit really fast.

metirish Mar 28 2011 07:33 AM Re: Evans

Snooze had a thing this morning with Evans seemingly resigned to being an Ex-Met , his missus fretting , not a comfortable time was the gist of things.

Ashie62 Mar 28 2011 07:43 AM Re: Evans

Nick Evans..Welcome to the life of a career minor leaguer.

Ceetar Mar 28 2011 07:45 AM Re: Evans

I still say I'd take Evans over Harris, but i imagine there's some personal bias there, I just don't like Harris and don't think he's very good. I'm not thinking Evans state is any more dire now than it was a week ago really. He's still got an outside shot.

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 07:50 AM Re: Evans

Evans can play more positions better than Muffy... I think that's debateable. And it's also a key about which positions we anticipate them needing to play. Rating them on a scale of 1-10: Pos Murphy Evans 1b 8 6 2b 3 1 3b 5 3 lf 2 5 rf 2 5 Sum 20 20 Plenty can disagree with me about where I'm being generous or un-generous there, but it'll probably look like a tossup on most of our spreadsheets. So it's Murphy's lefthandedness, experience, and success at this level trumping Evans out-of-options-ness.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 28 2011 07:59 AM Re: Evans

Way too kind to Muffy and/or shortselling Evans there. I also think "success at this level" tends to be overstated wrt Muffy.

seawolf17 Mar 28 2011 07:59 AM Re: Evans

I've never been enamored of Evans, but I do get the sense that he's a guy we're going to regret letting go of some time down the road.

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 08:00 AM Re: Evans

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Way too kind to Muffy and/or shortselling Evans there. I also think "success at this level" tends to be overstated wrt Muffy. Where?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 28 2011 08:13 AM Re: Evans

Edgy DC wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Way too kind to Muffy and/or shortselling Evans there. I also think "success at this level" tends to be overstated wrt Muffy. Where? Well, I'm referring to that .313 OBP in his only full season.

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 08:15 AM Re: Evans

Oh sure. Evans certainly isn't wiped out there. I meant, where I was being too kind? I mean, Murphy might not be an 8/10 at first, but I think evidence at hand suggests it's reasonable to think he's two clicks ahead of Evans. Evans has played only about 30 games at third, most of them in the low minors, and condiditons would have to be certainly more dire to put him at second than to put Murphy there. So I think it remains a tossup as far as useful versatility.

smg58 Mar 28 2011 08:16 AM Re: Evans

Edgy DC wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Evans can play more positions better than Muffy... I think that's debateable. And it's also a key about which positions we anticipate them needing to play. But Harris can play more positions than Murphy and play them better. And we're one injury away from needing more than just Hairston from the right side. The Mets actually have several non-trivial decisions to make this week. It will be interesting to see how things pan out.

Ceetar Mar 28 2011 08:18 AM Re: Evans

Edgy DC wrote: Oh sure. Evans certainly isn't wiped out there. I meant, where I was being too kind? I mean, Murphy might not be an 8/10 at first, but I think evidence at hand suggests it's reasonable to think he's two clicks ahead of Evans. Evans has played only about 30 games at third, most of them in the low minors, and condiditons would have to be certainly more dire to put him at second than to put Murphy there. So I think it remains a tossup as far as useful versatility. the 2B is a huge deal as well, because Ike and Wright are so much more cemented than Emaus. Of course, Evans is theoretically better for RF, which is an injury concern. But there's more depth there in Hairston and Duda and even Martinez.

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 08:19 AM Re: Evans

I'd certainly have no huge problems with them stashing Murphy and running with Evans. It'd be gutsy, it would. Harris better get his keystone skills pumping, though.

TheOldMole Mar 28 2011 08:19 AM Re: Evans

I'm guessing the Mets brain trust thinks that Murphy has more of a long term upside than Evans -- that right now Evans is about as good as he's gonna get. Of course, they could be wrong.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 28 2011 08:22 AM Re: Evans

Edgy DC wrote: I'd certainly have no huge problems with them stashing Murphy and running with Evans. It'd be gutsy, it would. Harris better get his keystone skills pumping, though. That's what I'm saying. Let's see Muffy tear it up in Buffalo before we lose a versatile young hitter.

Ceetar Mar 28 2011 08:25 AM Re: Evans

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I'd certainly have no huge problems with them stashing Murphy and running with Evans. It'd be gutsy, it would. Harris better get his keystone skills pumping, though. That's what I'm saying. Let's see Muffy tear it up in Buffalo before we lose a versatile young hitter. Well, some think Evans will get through on waivers anyway, but I wouldn't want to lose him and I also wouldn't want to guarentee him a spot on the 25man all year (which would have to be the case if they put him on waivers and pulled him back)

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 08:27 AM Re: Evans

If he makes the team and doesn't perform well, it increases the likelihood of him clearing waivers.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 28 2011 09:01 AM Re: Evans

Not a terrible idea. Frankly, I'm not sure I'd stipulate to Evans playing any of those positions, even the OF, better than Murphy-- he just LOOKS more comfortable. Not the same thing. And by the way: THIS is why the last two months of 2009 really sucked. If the hidden legacy of Minaya's dominion is in guys like Davis and Thole, then Manuel's fingerprints are all over crap like this, where we could have a bunch more major-league information about the Evanses (and less about the Mejias) for decision-making purposes. The Mets aren't just locked down at the corners ahead of Evans/Murph-- guys like Lutz and Ratliff are creeping up behind them.

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 09:07 AM Re: Evans

I submit that the that we don't have more information than we need about Mejia, so much as more than we need about Lucas Duda. Tejada too, certainly. He was going around and around the rink while Turner and Castillo weren't allowed to put their skates on. But that's (among other reasons) why Jerry is gone. I think I need to step back from this --- because surely my perspective is skewed --- but I sure felt I was in the midst of as weak a single-season Met managerial performance as I've ever seen.

Gwreck Mar 28 2011 09:07 AM Re: Evans

I realize that Evans doesn't really hit right handed pitching but his career ML numbers against lefties: .322/.379/.512 (in 132 PAs); his MiLB numbers are also not shabby. I guess he gets the squeeze because Harris can hit lefty. Personally, I wonder if Evans is a better choice than Scott Hairston.

G-Fafif Mar 28 2011 09:10 AM Re: Evans

I've never been sure what we have in Evans (which I guess is the point) but I do get a bit of a Danny Woodhead vibe should he be cut loose. Maybe not fatal, but I could see a couple of annoying base hits in the wrong-colored jersey. Murphy's not so much on scholarship, as the GKRism goes, but he does seem to be a legacy. And a lefty.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 28 2011 09:12 AM Re: Evans Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 28 2011 09:15 AM

Hairston is MUCH better defensively than Evans-- or, probably at this point, Harris-- and can play center in a pinch. I was okay with seeing a little more Duda than perhaps was necessary; what I really didn't need information about was 2009 Sheff and Tatis. Whether it came to winning games (see: Pyth record) or being a good steward about resources, Jerry's tenure from about late July 2009 through the end of 2010 was probably the worst 15 months of managing I've ever seen, up close and personal-like.

Ceetar Mar 28 2011 09:13 AM Re: Evans

Gwreck wrote: I realize that Evans doesn't really hit right handed pitching but his career ML numbers against lefties: .322/.379/.512 (in 132 PAs); his MiLB numbers are also not shabby. I guess he gets the squeeze because Harris can hit lefty. Personally, I wonder if Evans is a better choice than Scott Hairston. Hairston plays CF. I guess Harris does too, but perhaps not as well?

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 09:24 AM Re: Evans

Yeah, we've all got to do out part to temper any fanbase expectations that Harris is going to regularly be putting on an Endy Chavez show out there. I'd hate to see him perform to his more-or-less standard level and be a disappointment to folks.

Gwreck Mar 28 2011 09:42 AM Re: Evans

We already have a backup centerfielder on the roster. A guy named Carlos. My guess is that he'd do just fine there in a pinch. (Yes, Carlos might open the season on the DL but in that case I bet Evans makes the team).

smg58 Mar 28 2011 11:14 AM Re: Evans

The Minaya strategy with advancing prospects always seemed to put upside over readiness. He badly overestimated Pelfrey's readiness in 2007, deeming Brian Bannister expendable a year before he actually was. In 2008 he called up Murphy and Evans straight from AA to play the outfield, when more experienced outfielders were putting up better numbers in AAA. Murphy's six weeks of playing over his head got him a full time gig in 2009 that he wasn't ready for, while Evans' mediocre six weeks got him shoved through the cracks. In early 2009 Minaya parted with Rule V pick Darren O'Day after three weeks, when Bobby Parnell had less ML experience and all his options. Then at the start of the 2010 season, Parnell was demoted in favor of Mejia despite having established himself as an ML reliever. Minaya was wrong most of the time, but he was generally consistent. In Evans' case, he paid the price for having a so-so six weeks after being called up from AA and asked to be part of a pennant drive. He got bounced around in 09, then had a very good 2010 in AAA probably because he wasn't bounced around so much. He might not be more than a righty reserve or platoon OF/1B, but that's not nothing. At any rate there are teams that could use him (the D-Backs, for one), so I wouldn't expect him to clear waivers. I'm pretty sure that Murphy, because he was never on the active Mets roster last year, still has options. I also think that the difference in performance between Murphy and Evans at the major-league level in 08 gives a perception of Murphy having greater upside that might not be accurate.

Ceetar Mar 28 2011 12:42 PM Re: Evans

smg58 wrote: I'm pretty sure that Murphy, because he was never on the active Mets roster last year, still has options. I also think that the difference in performance between Murphy and Evans at the major-league level in 08 gives a perception of Murphy having greater upside that might not be accurate. I think the hardworking attitude/perception of Murphy (and in particular the way the beat writers portray it) works in Murphy's favor whereas Evans took getting passed over by Sheffield (which was the bigger mistake there. They obviously weren't actually comfortable with Murphy in left so went with some sort of bastardized platoon..unless that's just how Manuel interpreted the decision. I wonder if Omar meant jerry to run Sheffieldi nto the ground while Murphy boned up on defense and eventually took over to be possibly rested on lefty st arter days by Evans who would get another month or so of seasoning) took it to hard and slumped so hard he was then demoted from AAA and had to see as shrink.

attgig Mar 28 2011 04:08 PM Re: Evans

according to espn, he's been put on waviers

Ashie62 Mar 28 2011 05:00 PM Re: Evans

Evans can't hit

Gwreck Mar 28 2011 07:02 PM Re: Evans

Ashie62 wrote: Evans can't hit righties but would be very effective off the bench or as a platoon partner against lefties Fixed it for you

MFS62 Mar 28 2011 09:18 PM Re: Evans

attgig wrote: according to espn, he's been put on waviers Are those what used to be called irrevocable waivers, or if another team claims him, can he be pulled back and a trade negotiated? Later

The Second Spitter Mar 29 2011 02:42 AM Re: Evans

No, they're not irrevocable waivers. What I wanna know is who is the "baseball official" who made the list public and why would ESPN bring attention to the fact they publicized a list that is suppose to be secretive? The Mets placed Nick Evans, Luis Hernandez and Pat Misch on waivers Monday, according to a baseball official who was not authorized to speak publicly because the process is secretive. I can think of two scenarios: 1. The baseball official and ESPN both dislike the Mets and ESPN wants to hammer home the fact they are doing them a disservice. 2. The baseball official dislikes the Mets and ESPN dislikes both the Mets and the baseball official and wants the latter exposed for his misfeasance. And I'm willing to wager the family ranch the "baseball official" is someone out of a NL East front-office.

duan Mar 29 2011 03:03 AM Re: Evans

"baseball official who was not authorized to speak publicly because the process is secretive. " actually they use that kind of language all the time in these reports and while it does kind of bug me (hey if you're not supposed to talk about it don't talk about it!) it's nothing particular to the mets/espn in this context.

The Second Spitter Mar 29 2011 03:48 AM Re: Evans

duan wrote: "baseball official who was not authorized to speak publicly because the process is secretive. " actually they use that kind of language all the time in these reports and while it does kind of bug me (hey if you're not supposed to talk about it don't talk about it!) it's nothing particular to the mets/espn in this context. Except it's alerting other GM's (who may be otherwise pre-occupied) of the fact 3 useful players are available. Advertising this is actually doing the Mets a disservice.

duan Mar 29 2011 04:49 AM Re: Evans

I absolutely guarantee you that every baseball operations office watches the waiver wire closer then they watch ESPN. Each office will have a list of the guys from other organisations who are likely to be on the bubble and whom they see as potential fits for their needs. They'll have scouting reports and stats databases to back it up.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 29 2011 12:07 PM Re: Evans

Toby Hyde addresses the whole shebang comprehensively and even-handedly here. I think Hyde's correct in saying it isn't Murphy-- because of 2B-- over Evans, so much as it is Harris over Evans. On the "Fragile OF": Are these [comments about OF fragility] arguments for Evans or Harris? At first blush, they might argue for keeping a player of Harris’ experience. However, on further inspection, I think they swing Evans’ way. If one of the Mets’ starting three goes down, Hairston could fill in capably for short periods of time, and even hit LHP. However, if Pagan does get nicked up, and the Mets committed to keeping Beltran in right, Hairston would be the only other guy in the organization with CF experience at the MLB level. Is that enough justification for keeping Harris? Harris, a career .239/.327/.352 hitter, wouldn’t be much help if the Mets need to fill AB on the corner. If one of the corners goes down, Murphy would be sitting on the Mets’ bench, and three promising left-handed hitters, Lucas Duda, Fernando Martinez and Kirk Nieuwenhuis would be lurking in AAA. All four of these young lefties could use a Nick Evans to hit against lefties for them at least occasionally. To be fair, they could also probably use a Harris to play defense too... ... I would have gone with Evans. His right-handed power off the bench has more tactical value on a daily basis than Harris’ soft left-handed bat and defense. Evans could have allowed Terry Collins to be very tactically aggressive with his flexible infield parts of Emaus, Hu and Murphy. There could be weeks where Harris gets no more than one start, or a pinch-running opportunity. However, Evans would be a dangerous pinch-hitting option nearly every night, and a great alternative to Ike Davis against any LHP. His presence would maximize the 25th roster spot. Harris is the very definition of a replacement level baseball player.

Edgy DC Mar 29 2011 12:11 PM Re: Evans

Not bad.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 29 2011 12:18 PM Re: Evans

Mets though see it as Evans v. Hairston, not Evans v. Harris. Same way they refuse to accept my comparison of Evans and Muffy.

Edgy DC Mar 29 2011 12:26 PM Re: Evans

It's assumptions about Harris' glove and middle infield usefulness that gets him set apart, apparently.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 30 2011 12:54 PM Re: Evans

Claimed! By nobody

metirish Mar 30 2011 12:56 PM Re: Evans

wow......who'd have guessed that? , if you're him are you happy or wondering why the hell no other team claimed me.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 30 2011 12:59 PM Re: Evans

It might be because he's always blinking allatime

Benjamin Grimm Mar 30 2011 12:59 PM Re: Evans

I suspect that a lot of other teams also have roster space issues at this time of the year. A team that claims Evans would likely have to waive somebody else.

Frayed Knot Mar 30 2011 01:08 PM Re: Evans

'nother HR by Hairston today ... just sayin'.

G-Fafif Mar 30 2011 01:10 PM Re: Evans

Either every other team is a dope or we're a little overwhelmed by our own guy. I remember Vance Wilson having to be put through waivers when he was considered a stud prospect. Gary Cohen described with much sorrow how obviously the Mets were going to lose this talented young catcher and...nothing. Nobody took him and he lived to back up Piazza for several season to come.

TransMonk Mar 30 2011 01:13 PM Re: Evans

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I suspect that a lot of other teams also have roster space issues at this time of the year. A team that claims Evans would likely have to waive somebody else. This. G-Fafif wrote: ...or we're a little overwhelmed by our own guy. And this. Either way, I'm glad he's still ours in AAA.

Edgy DC Mar 30 2011 01:25 PM Re: Evans

Unless they re-launch him onto the roster to fill in for Bay.

TransMonk Mar 30 2011 01:28 PM Re: Evans Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 30 2011 01:29 PM

The speculation I'm gathering is that Duda would fill in for a possible Bay DL stint so that Evans doesn't have to go through waivers again when Bay is eligible to return at the end of next week. I imagine it will have to do with the severity of Bay's injury and the likelihood of his return as soon as possible, but if Bay will be ready sooner rather than later, I would agree with going Duda over Evans.

smg58 Mar 30 2011 01:29 PM Re: Evans Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 30 2011 01:32 PM

It's true that everybody goes through a crunch at this time of year, and that certainly may have been a factor. But Evans is 25 and had a .907 OPS in the minors last year, and there are teams that need right handed bats. If Bay's injury costs him significant time, we'll be one of them -- let's face it, the chances of Beltran and Bay both being out at the same time at some point are good. So I'm obviously glad he's still here.

metirish Mar 30 2011 01:30 PM Re: Evans

Alderson says Evans cleared waivers yesterday but that they waited until today to inform the world because of the Bay/Duda situation.....so Evans had a chance to stay up......what no leaks? Alderson expects Luis Hernandez to accept trip to Buffalo.....

The Second Spitter Mar 30 2011 10:28 PM !

Great news that he's through.... ploughing through the 25-pages of waiver rules late last night generated some positive karma! TransMonk wrote: G-Fafif wrote: ...or we're a little overwhelmed by our own guy. And this. Maybe. Any guy who hits LHP like he does, can be an important cog. I (perhaps foolishly) still believe he can figure out righties, but I probably hold this belief because he is "our own guy".