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"Outfield Insurance"

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 31 2014 05:40 PM

Y'know, in the sense of both "roster depth" and "every inning he plays helps preserve the outfield walls, because he sure as hell won't be running into them. Welcome the latest devil with love to spare, the ageless Bobby Abreu.

metirish Mar 31 2014 05:54 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

In his prime he would have fitted the mold of hitter the org. likes? and yes, Bobby is likely already having nightmares about the Pepsi Porch area.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 31 2014 06:45 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

What do you suppose is the angle here? DH for interleague post-Duda/Davis trade? I don;t see it otherwise.

seawolf17 Mar 31 2014 07:04 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Character guy/"bench coach"/role model for the young'uns?

Lefty Specialist Mar 31 2014 07:08 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Nostalgia for the 1999 Philadelphia Phillies, perhaps? Outside of that, I got nuthin'.

metirish Mar 31 2014 07:32 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

seawolf17 wrote: Character guy/"bench coach"/role model for the young'uns? this I think, sage advice in pitch selection, the opposite type of coaching that got Murph reprimanded last season

Ceetar Mar 31 2014 07:44 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Vegas depth.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 31 2014 08:07 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I think that's pretty much the thing. And, hey, if there proves to be more there, it'll be a dirt-cheap more.

MFS62 Apr 01 2014 07:19 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I'd bet his AB walk- up music isn't "The Wall". Later

Benjamin Grimm Apr 01 2014 07:26 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Ceetar wrote: Vegas depth. I agree.

Frayed Knot Apr 01 2014 07:28 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I didn't like the way Abreu played the OF a decade or more ago when he was in his prime. Might have to shield the children from watching now that he's in his 40s.

Edgy MD Apr 01 2014 07:34 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

It's hard not to think of this as related to pre-trade maneuverings.

MFS62 Apr 01 2014 07:38 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Edgy MD wrote: It's hard not to think of this as related to pre-trade maneuverings. Left handed pinch hitter, scary left fielder. Could be Duda is on the move. Later

Benjamin Grimm Apr 21 2014 07:16 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Word is that the Mets will be adding Abreu to the big league roster in time for tonight's game. No news yet (that I've seen) regarding who will go in order to make room for him.

Edgy MD Apr 21 2014 07:25 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Probably not a good day to be named "Brown."

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2014 08:04 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I'd guess Nuiwy goes down, being lefthanded and the most recent to have arrived. The real question is whether Hefner will loan 53 for Abreu.

G-Fafif Apr 21 2014 12:55 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Andrew suffers Brownout.

bmfc1 Apr 21 2014 12:57 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Brown goes down and with him, a big chunk of the righty power off the bench. Bench: LH--Abreu, Nieuwenhuis RH--Q, Recker, Satin

G-Fafif Apr 21 2014 01:01 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Abreu will be ol' No. 53, in loving tribute to Jerry Manuel.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2014 01:23 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I guess they feel like with lagares down they need the centerfieldiness of Niuwy around to keep leads safe. Only seen a few innings of Chris Young's CF action but perhaps he's not great there.

Ceetar Apr 21 2014 01:33 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I guess they feel like with lagares down they need the centerfieldiness of Niuwy around to keep leads safe. Only seen a few innings of Chris Young's CF action but perhaps he's not great there. Just the opposite I think. Alderson signed Young in part because he could play center. Nieuwenhuis is the better defender over all though and might even be the better hitter. of course, I suspect Brown's a better hitter than Abreu so really all bets are off. You COULD play Granderson in CF though.

Edgy MD Apr 21 2014 01:34 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I'm hoping and trying to be believing that he's better than we've seen. He looked troubled in the long shadows yesterday, but not without instincts. Plus, of course, I don't want to fall into the trap that he suxx because he's not Lagares.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2014 01:58 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Ceetar wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I guess they feel like with lagares down they need the centerfieldiness of Niuwy around to keep leads safe. Only seen a few innings of Chris Young's CF action but perhaps he's not great there. Just the opposite I think. Alderson signed Young in part because he could play center. Nieuwenhuis is the better defender over all though and might even be the better hitter. ???? Uh

Ceetar Apr 21 2014 02:10 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I guess they feel like with lagares down they need the centerfieldiness of Niuwy around to keep leads safe. Only seen a few innings of Chris Young's CF action but perhaps he's not great there. Just the opposite I think. Alderson signed Young in part because he could play center. Nieuwenhuis is the better defender over all though and might even be the better hitter. ???? Uh sorry, I deleted the 'than Brown' bit.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2014 02:12 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

ah. Anyway, I'd bet Niuwy goes away when Lagares returns at any rate

Ceetar Apr 21 2014 02:15 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: ah. Anyway, I'd bet Niuwy goes away when Lagares returns at any rate Where are we at with Lagaras? 9 more days looks like. The way things stand now, yeah, probably, but if Kirk can get a couple of swings in and shows much of anything, they could get Jeremy Hefner's 53 back real fast.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2014 02:34 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I got no problem giving the job of pinch-hitting late inning doubles and drawing crucial walks to a 40-year-old if he can handle it. I think that's a job that's in fact better to be staffed by an ancient guy. Now, I prefer my backup skill guys (SS, CF) to be as young as practicable in the event they are thrust into action. But there's just no way Abreu is going to take starts away from the outfielders other than the rare breather. He and Nieuwenhuis aren't doing remotely the same thing.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 21 2014 02:40 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I would say that Lagares should bump Eric from the starting lineup, Eric will bump Kirk from the bench, and Abreu will stick around, at least for a little while. Is Juan progressing? I haven't heard any updates.

Ceetar Apr 21 2014 02:43 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I got no problem giving the job of pinch-hitting late inning doubles and drawing crucial walks to a 40-year-old if he can handle it. I think that's a job that's in fact better to be staffed by an ancient guy. Now, I prefer my backup skill guys (SS, CF) to be as young as practicable in the event they are thrust into action. But there's just no way Abreu is going to take starts away from the outfielders other than the rare breather. He and Nieuwenhuis aren't doing remotely the same thing. It's not so much about the role they're (probably) filling right now versus what they could be doing. I'm sure Terry will actually start Abreu occasionally and use him too much. I'd rather Young and Nieuwenhuis than Young and Abreu as my outfield reserves. I just think that gives you more versatility all around. Satin might be able to handle the late inning doubles/walks bit anyway. Juan tweeted today that he feels fine, so I was projecting a return after 15 days but it easily could be another week after that.

Frayed Knot Apr 21 2014 02:46 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I'd start Abreu as rarely as possible both because of his age and his (lack of) OF prowess. Besides, the good thing about using him late in games is that he'll take a walk as well as anyone and that tends to be a skill you don't lose with age.

Ceetar Apr 21 2014 02:51 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Frayed Knot wrote: I'd start Abreu as rarely as possible both because of his age and his (lack of) OF prowess. Besides, the good thing about using him late in games is that he'll take a walk as well as anyone and that tends to be a skill you don't lose with age. True, his BB% is still kind of ridiculous despite his plummeting XBH% and rising K%. But that was 2 years ago. Last time he had an above average XBH% was in 2010. Why would you even throw him balls?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2014 02:57 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Well, the storyline I'm sure you've followed is that Abreu lost weight, regained some shape and impressed Hudgens as a member of his Venezuelan winter league team. I mean, it's not as though the Mets are complete idiots. There's a great chance it won't work out, but a reason they believe it might. Think of Cleveland with Giambi or the A's when they gather in old bags like Mike Piazza and Dave Justice. Sometimes it works out.

Edgy MD Apr 21 2014 02:58 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Why would you even throw him balls? Because extra-base-hit percentages have a way of feeding walk rates, and vice versa. With regards to good hitters, one is very often happening because the other is not.

Ceetar Apr 21 2014 03:20 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Edgy MD wrote: Why would you even throw him balls? Because extra-base-hit percentages have a way of feeding walk rates, and vice versa. With regards to good hitters, one is very often happening because the other is not. if he's still a good hitter, which is what I'm questioning. Last time he was even significantly above average was 2010 and all the other stats are falling off too. He's walking more but still getting on base less. batting eye isn't a skill that fades, but pitchers only need to nibble when they worry that a mistake will result in you hurting them. When pitchers realize you're not going to do that, they don't need to be as careful and no matter how good your eye is, you can't walk if they don't throw balls. Sure, sometimes it works out. Obviously the Mets know what they're doing and have more information than me. But this feels more like Rick Ankiel than it does Jason Giambi or even Gary Sheffield. Both those guys are at least Borderline HoFers. Abreu.. It just doesn't seem like he's got enough upside to make up for the likelihood that he's just done.

Edgy MD Apr 21 2014 03:27 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

And yet, despite your analysis, people do walk him. You know, it feels more like Raul Ibanez to me. But if it doesn't work out, they move on quickly and without remorse. Even Ankiel was merely an inexpensive bridge to an internal option. Getting a defensively challenged veteran to take a hack with runners on base every now and then is fine as long as you don't commit two years to Julio Franco. The world needs pinch-hitters, too.

Ceetar Apr 21 2014 05:09 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Edgy MD wrote: And yet, despite your analysis, people do walk him. You know, it feels more like Raul Ibanez to me. But if it doesn't work out, they move on quickly and without remorse. Even Ankiel was merely an inexpensive bridge to an internal option. Getting a defensively challenged veteran to take a hack with runners on base every now and then is fine as long as you don't commit two years to Julio Franco. The world needs pinch-hitters, too. I have no idea where Ibanez pulled out that season from last year in Seattle, but he hadn't been particularly good in years either. I guess that's the goal, but it's not particularly lofty. Abreu hasn't walked in over a year and even then he was pretty much only walking. 14 hits, 12 singles, 12 walks the last three months.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 21 2014 05:25 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Edgy MD wrote: You know, it feels more like Raul Ibanez to me. I was hoping Ibanez-plus-walks, too, though I think it's probably more like latter-day-Lenny-Harris-plus-walks.

Frayed Knot Apr 22 2014 07:55 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

Quickie prediction Q here -- Number of plate appearances for Bobby Abreu this season in a NYM uniform? Let's group the guesses to one of the following: <50 50-100 101-150 151-200 201+

Edgy MD Apr 22 2014 07:57 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

50-100 if only just. He'll get a couple of homers early and that'll keep him around longer perhaps than it should. Maybe.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 22 2014 08:01 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I'm feeling... um... "optimistic." 120 PAs or so, with 1-2 really good weeks.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 22 2014 08:22 PM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

100

Frayed Knot Apr 23 2014 06:41 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

I'm going with 51-100 and only a handful of starts and likely doesn't finish the season. The best "outfield insurance" we could have right now is for Lagares to get back and push EYJ and his one-for-last-eighteen-ness (or whatever it is) into a sub role. And, yeah, I know that Granderson is like 0-fer his last 89 or something but he's the one getting played because he's the one getting paid, plus he has an actual track record of goodness.

Ceetar Apr 23 2014 07:40 AM Re: "Outfield Insurance"

16.