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Céspedes' Position

Edgy MD Jul 18 2016 11:49 PM

I'm fuzzled by this announcement that Yoenis Céspedes doesn't want to play center any longer, and the Mets intend to comply, at least after this series. Firstly, his willingness to play center was an explicit precursor to the team's willingness to sign him. Secondly, limiting him to left effectively keeps Conforto out of the lineup. Thirdly, if you're playing him only in left, and not in center, swapping out Nimmo for Conforto certainly makes less sense. Fourthly, if ending his tenure in center is health related, then the change should be immediate, while any health issue is most acute. The Lagares/Conforto platoon, with Céspedes swinging between center and left, was a big part of the lineup the Mets rode to the World Series last season. I'd hate to see it suddenly unavailable to them. Bonus response by ceetar: This wouldn't be an issue if they used the universal DH.

Zvon Jul 19 2016 12:37 AM Re: Céspedes' Position

I had a conversation with bro #2 (I'll start to number them-#2 is closest in age at 4 years younger, the twins will be 3 & 4, 8 years younger) and I pointed out how Cespedes has been catered to. He is of the mind that the Mets should just tell him, you got center. That's what we got him for. Thirty or so years ago I would have agreed with him, and still kinda lean that way, but these days do you do that with your marque player? #2's response to that was fuck him, he'll be gone next season. I don't know that I agree with that either. Yoenis is kind of a wild card and he may decide to stay. I don't think the bucks are his major motivation. My bonus response is I'd love to see him playing right. That doesn't solve our "problem" unless Lags and Conforto can platoon in center. If Conforto didn't work out at all in center this last stint down I think it would be expecting a lot from him. And if the Mets didn't have him work out a bit in center while in Vegas, they are not thinking ahead.

Frayed Knot Jul 19 2016 12:55 AM Re: Céspedes' Position

Not only is working out Conforto for two weeks in CF not going to turn him into a CF but I don't believe working him out there for two years would either.

Ceetar Jul 19 2016 03:16 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

I'm reserving the DH to maybe get Duda back a week or two earlier actually. Cespedes has been repeatedly beat up this year. I could see how wanting to stay put in left makes sense to get more games out of him, if I felt like the way his injuries happened had anything to do with CF and not just diving (into stands). I guess less plays in LF means less dives means less chance of injury and such, but it seems like such a minute concern. I dunno, I suspect they'll figure it out. If Lagares continues to hit fine, then I guess you have Conforto rove and PH and what not, and don't really worry about it too much and focus on upgrading in the infield where the average-poor hitters are. As long as we're shoving people around the diamond, can we give Conforto a first-baseman's glove?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 19 2016 03:35 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

With the understanding that more depth is better than less, the issue of where Cespy would play given the other OFs on the team was one of the things we went back and forth on all offseason, and also with Heyward. They need to play Cespedes in right field probably, the trick is to make them think it's his idea. Maybe, he's a first baseman!

Edgy MD Jul 19 2016 03:54 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

The best opportunity left to them if they comply with this is a three-into-two platoon with Lagares in center and Granderson in right against lefties and Granderson in center and Conforto in right against righties. But that puts the team in a position like they had last year with Murphy at second, Flores at short, and Tejada at third. It's the crippling egalitarianism of everybody being put at an equal disadvantage by being equally out of position. There's got to be a particular golf course — Augusta National or Old St. Andrews — that the Mets could get access to for Céspedes in exchange for him playing right.

Zvon Jul 19 2016 04:17 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

Frayed Knot wrote: Not only is working out Conforto for two weeks in CF not going to turn him into a CF but I don't believe working him out there for two years would either. You might have a point. So you are convinced Conforto couldn't handle CF no matter how much preparation?

Zvon Jul 19 2016 04:26 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: They need to play Cespedes in right field probably, the trick is to make them think it's his idea. Exactly! I would tell him that he really isn't showing us his potential until he shows us a throw from right field to 3rd. If he has the best arm in the game he should be making the hardest and farthest throws in the game. I'll show him clips of Clemente, Dave Parker, Puig(?) making those amazing throws from RF. Also, is it just me or does Cespedes kinda loaf on base hits and near gappers, seemingy trying to entice the player to try for the extra base, and then gun 'em down.

Edgy MD Jul 19 2016 04:39 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

I like the idea of showing him an arm porn highlight reel, and implying that there's only one thing keeping him out of it. Of course, Céspedes in right still leaves the Mets more or less unable to squeeze Conforto and Granderson into the same lineup.

Frayed Knot Jul 19 2016 04:59 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

I'd like to know what's behind this RF-aphobia he seems to have. He pulled the same thing in Boston so it's not like this is either new or some sort of age deference thing towards Granderson. The idea that there's such a vast gulf between the two to the point where it makes one not only preferable but the other a complete non-starter as a topic completely baffles me, particularly since he obviously has no problem switching back and forth between left and center. It would be nice if any off-season discussions about extensions would start with the provision that they'd want him in RF going forward, but that would be a tough thing to go to the mat over if it means forgoing the bat. And, no, I don't think any amount of training is going to turn Conforto into anything more than an occasional fill-in in CF

Zvon Jul 19 2016 05:20 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

Frayed Knot wrote: I'd like to know what's behind this RF-aphobia he seems to have. He pulled the same thing in Boston so it's not like this is either new or some sort of age deference thing towards Granderson. The idea that there's such a vast gulf between the two to the point where it makes one not only preferable but the other a complete non-starter as a topic completely baffles me, particularly since he obviously has no problem switching back and forth between left and center. It would be nice if any off-season discussions about extensions would start with the provision that they'd want him in RF going forward, but that would be a tough thing to go to the mat over if it means forgoing the bat. And, no, I don't think any amount of training is going to turn Conforto into anything more than an occasional fill-in in CF Arm porn,lol. Occasional? So you don't even peg Conforto as a starter? Or do you mean he starts most in left and sometimes spells relief in center?

Edgy MD Jul 19 2016 05:25 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

I'm reminded of Roger Cedeño's happy comfort with right and center, along with a bitter, uneasy relationship with left. But I understood that. There's something to be said about liking center. It's a tougher place to excel because there's far more ground to cover, but apart from needing the wheels to cover that ground, a lot of folks consider it easier to track balls in center because they don't break. Left field gets the worst breaks because you get the slices off the bats of the left-handed batters with the loopy swings. Which brings us back to Céspedes and right. What gives? I think a few things have to be good and broken desperately before a team goes to Conforto in center. I get the idea that if he's in center, you can be certain the team will announce a transaction shortly after the game.

smg58 Jul 19 2016 05:42 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

Yo is still recovering from a leg injury, so I wouldn't read too much into it long-term. Yet. I think Granderson would make more sense in center than Conforto simply for reasons of experience. But at this point, I don't really care who plays where as long as they hit.

d'Kong76 Jul 19 2016 05:43 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

This whole puzzle piecing every day is not going to work. Let the trade season begin before they're ten games out please.

Frayed Knot Jul 19 2016 06:11 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

Zvon wrote: Occasional? So you don't even peg Conforto as a starter? A starter, yes. A CF, no.

Zvon Jul 19 2016 07:21 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

My local paper, which rarely runs articles dealing with the Mets, has an piece with the headline: CONFORTO READY TO TRY CENTERFIELD. I haven't made the rounds to read any online sports yet. Anyone see anything similar?

d'Kong76 Jul 19 2016 07:24 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

Terry said in pre-game last night he feels he can play CF. I was only half paying attention and was like... really?

Zvon Jul 19 2016 07:32 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

Well, I guess we shall see. Grandy(LF), Lagares/Conforto (CF) & Cespedes (RF) would be my fantasy outfield. And if those two gel in center (regardless of who plays right), we are going places.

Ashie62 Jul 20 2016 04:33 PM Re: Céspedes' Position

Cespedes off today. Terry talked about the leg being nowhere near 100%. A few days ago he basically said we need to work with Cespedes cause we can't afford to lose him for a month. Limping to October I guess.