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Centerfield

metirish Mar 24 2012 08:17 PM

Kind of a scary thought thay Den Dekker could be the opening day centerfielder. Injuries put den Dekker in centerfield mix PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets started a prospect in centerfield Thursday who went to the University of Florida at the same time as Tim Tebow and had a few classes with him. But if Matt den Dekker makes the Mets' Opening Day roster, it won't be because of his fleeting Tebow connection. It'll be because the banged-up Mets are almost out of options in centerfield less than two weeks before the April 5 opener against the Braves. Den Dekker, 24, went 0-for-3 with two runs scored in the Mets' 8-2 win over the Astros at Digital Domain Park. The Fort Lauderdale native, whose father was born in the Netherlands, is one of five players the Mets are considering as emergency centerfielders in the event that injured Andres Torres and Scott Hairston are not ready to open the season. Torres, the 34-year-old starter, strained his left calf Tuesday and has been shut down, although he hopes it won't be for too much longer. Hairston, the 31-year-old backup, has been out all spring training with a strained oblique and has not been cleared to take batting practice. He's close, but so is the need to get at-bats before the season starts. The outfield injuries have the Mets scrambling. Their options include den Dekker, a fifth-round pick in 2010 who hit a combined .265 with 17 home runs last season in Class A and Double-A; converted first baseman Mike Baxter; converted pitcher Adam Loewen; middle infielder Jordany Valdespin, who made his first career appearance in center Thursday when he replaced den Dekker; and Jason Bay, who volunteered to play centerfield "in a pinch" if the Mets need him. They hope not to need him. The best-case scenario has Torres returning soon and staying healthy the rest of spring training. "I feel better," Torres said. "I'm hoping in a few more days I can get back to the field. At least I'm better. Day-to-day. See how it feels. But I don't want to rush it." The Mets would consider playing top prospect Kirk Nieuwenhuis, but he has a strained oblique, too. So they are giving a look to den Dekker after reassigning him to the minor-league camp March 15. He had a postgame meeting with Terry Collins and general manager Sandy Alderson Thursday and is on the travel roster for Friday's game against the Braves in Lake Buena Vista. Den Dekker is considered major league-ready as a defender. Of the group being considered as possible fill-ins down here, he is the only true centerfielder. "I've played there my whole life, since middle school," den Dekker said. "I'm comfortable there. Whatever they ask me to do, I'm ready for that." As for the Tebow connection, den Dekker played baseball at Florida and overlapped for three years (2007-09) there with the Jets' new backup quarterback. "I like Tebow, but I don't like getting caught up in so much Tebowmania," he said. "Plus, I'm a Dolphins fan, too. I was kind of hoping Peyton Manning would go to the Dolphins." Den Dekker was described on Thursday's SNY Mets broadcast as "buddies" with Tebow, but he said, "That's probably a little bit of a stretch. I've had classes with him and stuff. He's a good guy, a good person." http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ ... -1.3618590

A Boy Named Seo Mar 24 2012 08:43 PM Re: Centerfield

Screw it. I certainly go with him if the other dudes aren't ready. It's not long-term and like JCL sorta said elsewhere, the D is so questionable in so many other spots that having a great glove in CF with whatever kinda bat is fine for a couple weeks. Would rather use him than those 'converted' infielders or Löwenbräu. #Team_denDekker

metirish Mar 24 2012 09:03 PM Re: Centerfield

Yeah, kind of a reflection on things though i think to be looking to a kid who was in single and double A last year.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 24 2012 09:06 PM Re: Centerfield

The glove's always been major-league ready. It's the strike-zone-recognition/batting-mechanics that are still a little iffy. As a Met fan and a proud Prospect Dad, I'm of two minds. But, yeah, between Frankenstein in right and a decomposing stiff in left... an elite-level glove-- and he IS that-- may not be terrible in there.

metirish Mar 24 2012 09:10 PM Re: Centerfield

So, is he like a Carlos Gomez when he came up?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 24 2012 09:24 PM Re: Centerfield

Slightly less pure speed, but much better overall defense. Think "Rey O, outfielder." [youtube]8H_-xrRHTMU[/youtube] [youtube]zSZf6o7rM58[/youtube] [youtube]XorbDHmX0Fg[/youtube] Virtually all the scouting reports I read have some variation on "he gets everything" in there... and the ST games I've seen bear this out.

A Boy Named Seo Mar 24 2012 09:49 PM Re: Centerfield

That 2nd vid is unreal.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 24 2012 10:10 PM Re: Centerfield

The second-best part about that vid? His pitcher's "Yeah, that's about what I expected" reaction. I guess it figures that they may be promoting Den Dekker in the first year when the fences are Endy-Catch-able again.

Ceetar Mar 24 2012 10:12 PM Re: Centerfield

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The second-best part about that vid? His pitcher's "Yeah, that's about what I expected" reaction. I guess it figures that they may be promoting Den Dekker in the first year when the fences are Endy-Catch-able again. well, most of the CF fences were always Endy catchable.

Edgy MD Mar 24 2012 10:23 PM Re: Centerfield

A Boy Named Seo wrote: That 2nd vid is unreal. That's the cool thing about center. It's the only position where a superior athlete can outrun a drive. I thought he'd get hurt on all three of those. Then a I remembered that 19-year-olds bounce a little better.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 24 2012 10:26 PM Re: Centerfield

Yabbut, a LOT more of the area is playable that way now.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 25 2012 02:15 AM Re: Centerfield

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Think "Rey O, outfielder." And you think this is supposed to be a good thing? I'm hating him already.

Ashie62 Mar 25 2012 02:44 AM Re: Centerfield

I don't think Andres Torres would be missed that much. Maybe Den Dekker is flat out better.

MFS62 Mar 25 2012 08:27 AM Re: Centerfield

The use of Valdespin in center interests me. Casey Stengel turned many good/decent hitting players who weren't good defensive shortstops into centerfielders. Examples include: Mickey Mantle, Bobby Murcer, Tony Kubek (who was ok at short, too) and Tom Tresh. The skills needed at both include speed and good arm. The quick hands needed at short don't seem to be as important in center. If they feel his glove is holding him back, why not give it a try? Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 25 2012 08:34 AM Re: Centerfield

batmagadanleadoff wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Think "Rey O, outfielder." And you think this is supposed to be a good thing? I'm hating him already. As opposed to, say, "Kevin Baez, outfielder."

Frayed Knot Mar 25 2012 09:08 AM Re: Centerfield

By the look of the outfield wall, the first of those vids apparently occurred at Flintstones Field

Frayed Knot Mar 25 2012 09:31 AM Re: Centerfield

Unless keeping MdD around for maybe just a couple of weeks is going to involve some fancy roster maneuvering that winds up exposing someone unnecessarily I don't see any harm in it. He's not a kid (25 this coming August) and while the same-aged Nieuwenhuis (three days older) has a better upside offensively and has a lot more upper minors ABs under his belt (800 PAs at AA & AAA vs 300) den Dekker is considered the better pure CFer and, as has been mentioned, that may be the higher priority in the short term. What would be great is if both our young Dutchmen play well enough either here or at Buffalo to where they force themselves into the lineup.