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Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Benjamin Grimm Dec 09 2015 01:00 AM

Is he Plan B after Zobrist?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 09 2015 01:05 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

eh. Let's revisit my trade for Xander Boegarts

Centerfield Dec 09 2015 01:11 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Fuck Cabrera. Go get Heyward you assholes.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 09 2015 06:47 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Asdrubal talk makes me mildly Asdepressed.

Lefty Specialist Dec 09 2015 02:11 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

His wife doesn't appear particularly hot. So, no.

Ceetar Dec 09 2015 02:17 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

He's probably better than Flores, if similar. low OBP with some pop. Probably better defensively. But Flores is young and can get better and I'm not sure the marginal upgrade is worth paying for. even less so at second.

Centerfield Dec 09 2015 11:27 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Bonus from the Walker deal: NO ASDRUBAL CABRERA. Win!

Benjamin Grimm Dec 09 2015 11:44 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

I agree, but Jim Duquette seems to think otherwise.

Centerfield Dec 10 2015 02:27 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Maybe I spoke too soon.

Centerfield Dec 10 2015 02:35 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

2 year deal plus an option, says Ken Rosenthal. 18.5 guaranteed.

TransMonk Dec 10 2015 02:49 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

I'm not sure I like this one. Seems expensive given the slight upgrade from Wilmer. I'm not even sure his defense is any better.

metsmarathon Dec 10 2015 02:50 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Okay... This is interesting. Wilmer as super-ute, or should I be really really worried about wright?

Centerfield Dec 10 2015 02:51 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Exactly TM. You were talking about cost-efficient moves? Put this one down as an example of inefficiency. I don't get this at all. Either they are working on a trade with Flores, or maybe Wright is hurt more than we know? Complete head scratcher. It probably also means that whatever slight chance we had at Cespedes/Hayward/Upton is out the window. Jesus Mets. Can't even give me one night to enjoy the Walker trade?

d'Kong76 Dec 10 2015 03:08 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Feels like they went from Plan B to Plan D.

Frayed Knot Dec 10 2015 03:37 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Yeah, this is odd. I would have thought ONE middle IF but not two and if they were going to go get a SS I assumed it would be a glove-first type. Not sure what it says about the future of Wilmer and his injury, or about Tejada who they just (in effect) re-upped by offering a contract, or about the likes of Herrera/Reynolds/Cecchini.

themetfairy Dec 10 2015 03:55 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

We already have shortstops who can't hit at less than half the price.

Fman99 Dec 10 2015 04:03 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

MFS62 Dec 10 2015 04:19 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Gee. I leave you kids alone while I go to work and this is the kind of excitement I find when I get back home. As CF and Thon mentioned above, this makes me think the Mets are very concerned with Wright's health. I like both moves- they got themselves a new keystone combo that can both field and hit for power. (Cabrera had a real hot second half last year, and Walker won the Silver Slugger for 2B in 2014.) This frees up Wilmer to be great insurance for Wright. But don't forget, if David is ok, Wilmer can play first when Duda needs a rest or is in a slump. Incidentally, I saw an interview with Sandy earlier this week on Yahoo sports(it may have been a reprint of an earlier one). Someone asked Sandy if he knew how much, if any, the Mets have received from the insurance coverage of David's contract. He said he didn't know. Maybe he just looked inside the envelope and saw that he has more money to play with than he had thought. I hope so. There's more work to be done. Later

Edgy MD Dec 10 2015 04:21 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

I expect their concern is more with the wounded wheels of Flojada.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 10 2015 04:23 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

MFS62 wrote: Incidentally, I saw an interview with Sandy earlier this week on Yahoo sports(it may have been a reprint of an earlier one). Someone asked Sandy if he knew how much, if any, the Mets have received from the insurance coverage of David's contract. He said he didn't know. It's probably none of Sandy's business. When should I stop rolling my eyes?

MFS62 Dec 10 2015 04:30 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

batmagadanleadoff wrote: MFS62 wrote: Incidentally, I saw an interview with Sandy earlier this week on Yahoo sports(it may have been a reprint of an earlier one). Someone asked Sandy if he knew how much, if any, the Mets have received from the insurance coverage of David's contract. He said he didn't know. It's probably none of Sandy's business. When should I stop rolling my eyes? Really? He is the GENERAL MANAGER. He is the one with the budget. He should know how much he has to spend. It IS his business, by the definition of his position. Later

batmagadanleadoff Dec 10 2015 04:42 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

MFS62 wrote: MFS62 wrote: Incidentally, I saw an interview with Sandy earlier this week on Yahoo sports(it may have been a reprint of an earlier one). Someone asked Sandy if he knew how much, if any, the Mets have received from the insurance coverage of David's contract. He said he didn't know. It's probably none of Sandy's business. When should I stop rolling my eyes? Really? He is the GENERAL MANAGER. He is the one with the budget. He should know how much he has to spend. It IS his business, by the definition of his position. Later I ... umm ... agree with you. I'm rolling my eyes at Sandy's quote, not at you. So again, when should I stop rolling my eyes?

Nymr83 Dec 10 2015 04:44 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

MFS62 wrote: MFS62 wrote: Incidentally, I saw an interview with Sandy earlier this week on Yahoo sports(it may have been a reprint of an earlier one). Someone asked Sandy if he knew how much, if any, the Mets have received from the insurance coverage of David's contract. He said he didn't know. It's probably none of Sandy's business. When should I stop rolling my eyes? Really? He is the GENERAL MANAGER. He is the one with the budget. He should know how much he has to spend. It IS his business, by the definition of his position. Later Exactly - he should know how much he has to spend. Now, are you really assuming that the Wilpons are "letting him spend" Wight's insurance money? or do you think they pocketed it? I know what I think and I'm not even in the top ten on the list of "Wilpon Conspiracy Theorists" around here.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 10 2015 11:22 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Mets Named Asdrubal Asdrubal Beauchamp (1972, 1973) Asdrubal Bethke (1965) Asdrubal Dwyer (1976) Asdrubal Fregosi (1972, 1973) Asdrubal Gosger (1969, 1973, 1974) Asdrubal Hickman (1962 - 1966) Asdrubal Lindeman (1994) Asdrubal Mann (2000) Asdrubal Marshall (1962) Asdrubal McAndrew (1968 - 1973) Asdrubal Tatum (1998)

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 10 2015 12:12 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

whoa I sacked out on the couch last night and missed this. I guess one thing you can say is he's a better SS than Flores and a better hitter than Tejada. Modest approval?

smg58 Dec 10 2015 01:05 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

He'll give you an OPS in the mid 700s, which Tejada can't do and Flores has yet to demonstrate he can. Defense is the bigger question mark. It's not a bad pickup unless he turns out to have no range at all.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 10 2015 01:12 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Very concerned with poor reviews of this guy's D. I mean, I guess the Mets are saying if you're going to put average/worse defensive players out there every day they may as well hit some home runs but I'd have hoped for a stronger statement about the D. Though to be fair I don't know anything about Cabrera IRL, I conflate him with a million other American League SSs and have never watched him closely.

Edgy MD Dec 10 2015 01:29 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

In a matter of hours, Tejada went from starting shortstop to third string. And that's not bad, considering the lack of depth that the team has had at the position and the pattern of Tejada playing his best with a gun to his head. I'm trying to look at it like I look at Grandy and Cutty. His job is to hold down the job until somebody takes it from him.

Lefty Specialist Dec 10 2015 01:44 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Bit of a head-scratcher, unless they know more about the WilmerRuben injuries than they're letting on (which would be typical Mets). Well, the infield's got more pop than it did yesterday anyway. Wonder if Wilmer is the supersub or trade bait at this point, though.

Vic Sage Dec 10 2015 02:37 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

the infield does NOT have more pop. Flores hit 16 HRs last year; that's more than Cabrera did, and more than Cabrera's hr avg per season. the SLG and BA are virtually identical. Flores has a disastrous OB% but he's 24 and control of the zone is something you can develop over time. Cabrera is a Venezuelan 30, meaning he plays like he's 35. He has very little, if anything, on Flores offensively, and considering how well Flores played SS toward the end of the season, and how Cabrera's range became so limited that they moved him to 2b last year, i don't see much of a defensive upgrade either. This retards Flores's development, as well as cecchini, and doesn't give us much of an upgrade. And the $8m could've gone toward a quality OF bat, instead of a LHed hitting OFer to platoon with Lagares which is what we're going to get, if we got anybody out there at all. Modestly happy about Walker (because we filled a hole from our surplus, without impacting our small-market budget), but Murphy had a higher slg% last year, so no, our IF does not have more pop, at least not $8m more. This deal sucks.

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 02:45 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

I really don't like Cabrera much, but this deal is relatively low and I guess I get it. Depth is certainly important. I think this harkens back to the second half last year. They really seemed to enjoy the flexibility of guys playing multiple positions and able to rest and rotate guys. This definitely puts them in that category (And so would've Zobrist). (It also speaks to Colon I think, who maybe they're pitching as a swing guy that they tested out in that role last year and can move around and pitch whenever) Cabrera isn't great, but he is better than Flores in both defense and offense. Walker has better range too, and the Mets swapped out Niese, who had the highest GB rate on the staff, for likely more of Matz's strikeouts. So helps on the run prevention side too. Marginal, but Flores was straight up bad at times. I expect to hear Flores/Tejada trade rumors all offseason, all spring, and with every Matt Reynolds or Dilson Herrera home run.

Edgy MD Dec 10 2015 02:53 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

The infield has more pop perhaps if you think about it from a depth perspective. Less Campbell and less Muno expected. Perhaps less Herrera also. If Tejada is moved, that's certainly suggesting more pop. The infield also gains more pop if you sign Bruno Mars or Drake or Pharrell Williams or somebody.

Centerfield Dec 10 2015 02:58 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

If depth and flexibility were what they were looking for, then Kelly Johnson could have provided it for a fraction of this price. The offensive production is similar. They cal both play multiple positions. The only thing Cabrera can do that Johnson does not is play SS, and Cabrera plays it poorly. And as of now, the Mets have 3 guys (Tejada, Flores, Reynolds) that can all play SS, with Ceccini hopefully adding his name to the mix sometime in 2016. If it turns out that the Mets sign Cabrera for $9 million, Will Venable for $8 Million, and Bartolo Colon for $5 million, while letting Heyward/Cespedes/Upton walk, I'll fucking lose my shit.

Centerfield Dec 10 2015 03:00 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Edgy MD wrote: The infield has more pop perhaps if you think about it from a depth perspective. Less Campbell and less Muno expected. Perhaps less Herrera also. If Tejada is moved, that's certainly suggesting more pop. The infield also gains more pop if you sign Bruno Mars or Drake or Pharrell Williams or somebody. If all you want is pop...

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 03:02 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Yes, but Cabera DOES play SS better than everyone else on the Mets overall, and Kelly Johnson isn't really a much better hitter than he is. (and wasn't real good on defense either) Just because YOU think the Mets have to sign a big-bopper outfielder, doesn't mean it's the right move. I imagine you've written off Cuddyer and Lagares as mostly worthless at this point where the Mets haven't.

Edgy MD Dec 10 2015 03:06 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

I know I haven't.

TransMonk Dec 10 2015 03:15 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Ceetar wrote: Yes, but Cabera DOES play SS better than everyone else on the Mets overall... Is this true? I have yet to find ANYONE saying that he's anything better than average recently. I just don't see the $9.25M per year difference from Wilmer either offensively or defensively. 01/02/15 Asdrubal Cabrera doesn’t have world beating defense, but that’s not an indictment. Most of the negative reports out there come from his days at short stop, which may not be his position in the future. 09/11/15 Meanwhile, Cabrera is no longer beloved by defensive metrics. On the season, Cabrera now rates as 3.1 runs below average by UZR (which puts him on pace for six runs below average over 150 games) and seven runs below average by DRS. Those numbers too are right in line with what a reasonable person should have expected, and they tell the story of Cabrera as a below-average (but not terrible) shortstop*, who would probably be a league-average second baseman. 10/19/15 Cabrera has never been a great defender and the second half of this season was the first time he had starred at the plate since 2012.

metsmarathon Dec 10 2015 03:16 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

At second base, walker is not rangey, but has a good glove and arm. an upgrade over murphy, who was not rangey and definitely not not a good glove. At shortstop, Cabrera is somewhat not rangey, and has a fairly good glove and arm. an upgrade, possibly, over flores, who was somewhat rangey, but had an error-prone arm. he compares a bit with tejada who is also not terribly rangey, and was terribly not rangey last year, but has a good glove and arm. flores, for the record, looks to be a better defender at second, with good range, and a good glove and arm. he's had no throwing errors there in 450 innings, and only one fielding error. yeah, I know - small sample size. flores is probably our super-utility player, providing meaningful backup at three infield positions, and is a good bat to have on the bench in case you need to hit for Cabrera late in a game. he could even be used as a defensive replacement at second. alternatively, Cabrera could be our super-utility player, leaving flores to mature as a hitter, but freeing him up to move to third if the need arises. tejada is probably our backup shortstop, and would come in there as a defensive replacement. I kinda like the flexibility, but don't fully understand the rush on it. unless tejada is more of a question mark than we thought, or if there's a move coming for flores.

Edgy MD Dec 10 2015 03:18 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

While Cabrera may well not be your guy, defensive metrics suggest Tejada fell off a lot last year. Demonstrably-worse-than-Flores bad. And Flores is nobody's idea of a long-term solution. And they both now have broken wheels. The Mets probably think they need one more bridge to get them to Cecchini or whoever.

Ceetar Dec 10 2015 03:38 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

of qualifying SS last year, Asdrubal was 7th by fWAR and 4th by wRC+ so it's not like a better SS is out there. Crawford, Bogaerts, or Peralta are the ones that out run-created Asdrubal last year (Although Tulo may be getting too much of a park adjusted hit for Coors) and they're not particularly available anymore. (Should've signed Peralta when he was a FA)

Ashie62 Dec 10 2015 05:38 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Love it. Two veterans that can hit and play everyday.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 10 2015 05:52 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Edgy MD wrote: The infield has more pop perhaps if you think about it from a depth perspective. Less Campbell and less Muno expected. Perhaps less Herrera also. If Tejada is moved, that's certainly suggesting more pop. All almost certainly true. And they've got platoon-split options on both sides of the plate/against both sides of the rubber. That's pretty much all I like about this particular deal, without knowing more about Ruben's and Crybaby's respective healing situations. It's a lot of money to throw at a depth signing. (Especially when there are more significant upgrades to be had out there for potentially cheaper, or where that budget slot would help.)

MFS62 Dec 11 2015 12:15 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Mets Named Asdrubal Asdrubal Beauchamp (1972, 1973) Asdrubal Bethke (1965) Asdrubal Dwyer (1976) Asdrubal Fregosi (1972, 1973) Asdrubal Gosger (1969, 1973, 1974) Asdrubal Hickman (1962 - 1966) Asdrubal Lindeman (1994) Asdrubal Mann (2000) Asdrubal Marshall (1962) Asdrubal McAndrew (1968 - 1973) Asdrubal Tatum (1998) And don't the current Mets team doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery: Asdrubal Altchek, MD and Asdrubal Levinson, PT, CSCS Later

bmfc1 Dec 11 2015 04:16 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Future NY Post back cover after Cabrera wins a game: "METS KICK ASD"

A Boy Named Seo Dec 11 2015 04:23 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

And when bmfc1 wrote: Future NY Post back cover after Cabrera wins a game: "METS KICK ASD" And when he boots a ball in the 9th and we lose: "ASS DRIBBLE"

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 11 2015 05:10 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

ASS TROUBLE? Cabrera to reporters: "I just want to play" SLAP DAT ASS I make the lineup, sez Collins SHAKEN, THAT ASS Cabrera reels after closed-door meeting about hole-play

d'Kong76 Dec 12 2015 01:48 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Kinda depressing watching the ticker this evening and the only thing Mets is making Asdrubal official. Mets 2016! And we still have some coupons left!

Centerfield Dec 12 2015 02:24 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Now if only Cabrera would also retire. We could sign Cespedes.

Edgy MD Dec 24 2015 04:51 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Another translation jobbie, this time from Venezuela's Ultimas Noticias. Asdrubal working out with former Met Jon Nunnaly. Asdrubal Cabrera Comes to Margarita and Dons a Uniform Asdrubal Cabrera came to the Margarita Braves' park yesterday, grabbed his uniform, and began to practice. The creole player also took grounders at shortstop, was in one of the batting practice hitting groups and also made soft swings against the netting with coach Jon Nunnally looking on. "He came to practice, as he did in Puerto La Cruz," said Miguel Angel Garcia, who coaches the Caracas Lions. When asked about a possible debut, he replied, "We haven't talked about it. We have not raised that question. He simply came to train." The ballplayer and was going through stretching exercises with the Caracas Lions last month in Puerto La Cruz, where he said that once he signed his contract in the majors, could be in uniform with the longhairs (?) this season. Sources close to the ballplayer have stated that the shortstop would debut in January and has already started training seriously. However, the player himself has not confirmed a debut date. "I'm trying to secure permission. I have to have done three weeks training to be ready when once I'm allowed to play. That leaves open the very real possibility of having the big leaguer available for the postseason. Cabrera last played in LVBP in 2012-2013, when he hit .346 (13–47), with a homer and four RBIs.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 05 2016 07:05 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

I've been appreciating Asdrubal Cabrera lately, so I'm bumping this thread.

Edgy MD Sep 06 2016 12:20 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

Man, a lot of words.

Rockin' Doc Sep 06 2016 02:03 AM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

We grossly misjudged Cabrera. He has been far better than we collectively (with the exception of Ashie & Ceetar) gave him credit for being.

Centerfield Sep 06 2016 01:27 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

I'm appreciating Cabrera too. He's hitting much better than I thought he would for this year. I think most of the backlash/confusion over the Cabrera signing was when we were under the impression that the Mets did not have the resources to bring back Yoenis. Once Yo was signed, much like the De Aza signing, a lot of that criticism became moot. Still, the thinking behind the criticism was and remains valid. Cabrera does not give a significant upgrade over Flores offensively (.791 OPS vs. .789). And as far as defense, though he catches everything he gets too, it's been painfully obvious that he has very limited range. But overall, very glad to have him on the team, and I hope he gets healthy soon.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 06 2016 01:38 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

As I noted, he was better offensively than Tejada and better defensively than Flores, not that that was a particularly difficult combination for a MLB shortstop to pull off. My concern with him was poor reports on his glove but he's been better than I expected there (eyewitness defense - don't know what the advanced metrics say).

Ashie62 Sep 06 2016 04:52 PM Re: Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

He had me when he went blond.