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Questions for Spring

Edgy MD Feb 03 2006 02:17 PM

With apolgies to metsgeek who gave me the idea, but many of these questions are mine. 1) Who establishes himself as the rightfielder? Diaz or Nady? 2) Will Heilman reward the faith shown in him with a successful spring. 3) Which lefty or lefties will get a shot in the bullpen? 4) Who will open the season as Billy Wagner's primary setup man? Remember that last year we opened with what'shisname (Mike DeJean, I had to look it up) as our primary eighth-inning guy). 5) Will Keppinger or Hernandez make the team? 6) Will Mitch Wylie make it, knowing that the Mets lose him if he doesn't get carried? (I'm guessing no, but the Mets pay his ransom anyhow.) The Mets have never had a Mitch, right? 7) What non-roster retreads survive? 8) Who will open the season batting second? 9) How openly will Minaya talk with the media about the unpopular (at least in these quarters) Seo and Benson deals? 10) Will Pedro's toe enter into the picture?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 03 2006 02:37 PM

11) Kaz Matsui: starting second baseman, highly paid reserve, or ex-Met? For question number 4, above, concerning the 8th-inning guy, I'm thinking that the main candidates right now are Sanchez, Julio, and Bradford. My guess (at this point, anyway) is that it won't be Julio, and that Sanchez is more likely than Bradford. Is there anyone I'm overlooking?

Edgy MD Feb 03 2006 02:40 PM

Yeah, I'm thinking that Matsui isn't such a burning question, at least for spring. He stays healthy enough, he's got to open the season with the job, I think. I certainly considered that one, though.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 03 2006 02:41 PM

I don't think the determining factor will be Matsui's health, but whether or not Omar finds a taker for him.

Farmer Ted Feb 03 2006 03:15 PM

In ragard to Matsui and the 2B question, will Boone be a factor as a potential starter on this team or has he essentially washed up?

Johnny Dickshot Feb 03 2006 03:17 PM

They issued Boone No. 9, not No. 79. I think that says, "We consider you a threat to make the team." It'd be cool, actually, to have Keppinger in 6, Hernandez in 1, Matsui in 25, Boone in 9. A four-legit-numbers St. Lucie deathmatch.

Nymr83 Feb 03 2006 03:31 PM

1) I've always thought that the idea of picking a starter based on spring training stats instead of the players' long existing statistical record is the epitome of idiocy in baseball...that being said i'll HOPE Diaz gets the job. 2) successful spring spring? sure, why not? the better question is whether we'll be screaming for Seo on May 1st. 3) Juan Padilla ('cause his wife is hot) 4) Julio, to "justify" the Benson trade. 5) Hernandez will be the main utility IF. 6) no way, too many guys around. 7) none, again too many guys around 8) Beltran if we're smart, matsui/loduca if we're not. 9) he will continue spouting crap about bullpen depth while ignoring rotation depth, he will change his tune when someone sucks/gets hurt in april. 10) i hope not

Edgy MD Feb 03 2006 08:22 PM

1) I've always thought that the idea of picking a starter based on spring training stats instead of the players' long existing statistical record is the epitome of idiocy in baseball...that being said i'll HOPE Diaz gets the job. Well, when people are largely even, you've got to go with something. 2) successful spring spring? sure, why not? the better question is whether we'll be screaming for Seo on May 1st. It's not a spring question. I think we may still have rotation depth, just from different sources, but I think those sources aren't really less credible than Seo and Heilman et al. were last year. That in no way says that they'll be as successful stepping in as Seo and Heilman last year --- or as successful as Seo and Benson this year.

Nymr83 Feb 03 2006 09:18 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Well, when people are largely even, you've got to go with something. Diaz in 331 career ABs ('04-'05) - .263/.328/.477 (OPS+ 109) he will be 25 all of this season. Nady in 775 career ABs ('03-'05 with a single at-bat in 2000) - .263./.320/.414 (OPS+ 98) he will be 28 all of this season. they aren't exactly night and day, but it seems clear to me that Diaz is the better hitter.

Edgy MD Feb 03 2006 09:21 PM

Well, Nady had an OPS+ of 106 last year while playing more, and is probably the superior defender. If you're committed to Diaz, so then you are. But I don't think the Mets got him to sit him behind Diaz without a long look.

heep Feb 04 2006 05:00 AM

1. Diaz - I think Randolph would like to slot someone in, and the comp that Nady brings this season should make Diaz bust his ass. 2. I think Heilman is up to the task of being a legit starter. I do not, however, have the same faith in Zambrano. I see Bannister stepping into the mix this season. 3. I think the lefty reliever is up i the air, I don't think anyone can really say until they perform this spring. I would like to see Ring live up to his potential. I wonder what his deal is. He was hyped as a future closer, made team USA, showed some good stuff out in Seattle last year. Interesting. 4. I would say Sanchez. Still very young, hopefully came into his own last year as a workhorse for the dodgers. 5. I would like for both Keppinger and Hernandez to make the team, but it seems unlikely. I wish Matsui would get lost. If I had to pick, I prefer Keppinger because of his bat. 6. Mitch - No 7. LoDuca or Beltran - (to bat 2nd) 8. Matsui has alot to prove. Just because he is making 8 million, he is not going to play, at least I hope not. His time depends on his performance in March.

Johnny Dickshot Feb 04 2006 07:02 AM

1) Who establishes himself as the rightfielder? Diaz or Nady? I dunno about "establish" but Nady. Diaz goes away... later if not sooner. 2) Will Heilman reward the faith shown in him with a successful spring. He'll be OK 3) Which lefty or lefties will get a shot in the bullpen? Everyone gets a shot, but Venafro, Perisho and Koo the guys to beat. 4) Who will open the season as Billy Wagner's primary setup man? I don't know. But if things stay the same, Sanchez gets 7, Julio 8 5) Will Keppinger or Hernandez make the team? Maybe one gets traded, with Diaz for that pitcher we could still use. I'm hopeful matsui plays well enough to get the starting nod, and can remain helthy, because he's prolly the best of them abilitywise. 6) Will Mitch Wylie make it, knowing that the Mets lose him if he doesn't get carried? (I'm guessing no, but the Mets pay his ransom anyhow.) The Mets have never had a Mitch, right? Hard to see him sticking. Perhaps he was cheap insurance in the event the Mets didn't get the others. 7) What non-roster retreads survive? The lefty or lefties above. Tike Redman. 8) Who will open the season batting second? From what I read LoDuca. I think too much will be made of whoever is there. 9) How openly will Minaya talk with the media about the unpopular (at least in these quarters) Seo and Benson deals? They helped the team by getting talented younger hard throwers in an area the team needed the most help. 10) Will Pedro's toe enter into the picture? It will obviously be this year's "Does Pedro hate Piazza?" gossip.

smg58 Feb 04 2006 10:05 AM

1) Who establishes himself as the rightfielder? Diaz or Nady? Diaz, unless his OBP tanks. 2) Will Heilman reward the faith shown in him with a successful spring. I agree with the person who said he'll be OK. 3) Which lefty or lefties will get a shot in the bullpen? They'll all get a shot; I hope it's Royce Ring because that's where the upside is, but I don't trust Willie to give the kid the ball. 4) Who will open the season as Billy Wagner's primary setup man? Remember that last year we opened with what'shisname (Mike DeJean, I had to look it up) as our primary eighth-inning guy). Sanchez. He's better than Julio. 5) Will Keppinger or Hernandez make the team? Only if Kaz gets dealt. Valentin and Woodward will be the reserves. 6) Will Mitch Wylie make it, knowing that the Mets lose him if he doesn't get carried? (I'm guessing no, but the Mets pay his ransom anyhow.) The Mets have never had a Mitch, right? No. 7) What non-roster retreads survive? Nobody. 8) Who will open the season batting second? LoDuca, unfortunately. 9) How openly will Minaya talk with the media about the unpopular (at least in these quarters) Seo and Benson deals? He'll defend them once and that will be the end of it. It may come up in the regular season if the deals start to look bad, though. 10) Will Pedro's toe enter into the picture? God, I hope not.

Edgy MD Feb 04 2006 10:24 AM

3) Which lefty or lefties will get a shot in the bullpen? This isn't getting much more than a shrug, and an "all of them." I guess I meant, which lefty or lefties will rise to the top and possibly break camp with the team.

DocTee Feb 04 2006 12:15 PM

which lefty or lefties will rise to the top and possibly break camp with the team. Darren Oliver. The we can complain about how retreads block young phenoms.

Johnny Dickshot Feb 04 2006 02:34 PM

Venafro. Just cuz.