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Eli Marrero's roster spot

Yancy Street Gang
Aug 04 2006 09:11 AM

Disclaimer: This isn't one of those "the worst guy on the Mets sucks because he's the worst guy on the Mets" rants like someone posted about Chris Woodward a week or so ago.

I'm not sure what to think about Eli Marrero.

He hardly ever plays. When he does, he doesn't really produce. And then last night, when he was going to get a rare start, he had to beg out because of a sore neck.

The best thing that Eli brings to the table is that he's the third catcher, a luxury that few teams have. With Ramon Castro ailing recently, the Mets have been able to play Lo Duca every day withing having to make a roster move to get him a backup. And in the postseason, having a third catcher can be very handy, especially if Lo Duca or Castro gets hurt during a series, when roster moves can't be made.

But other than his potential as an emergency third-string catcher, he's pretty much not a contributor.


So, should Eli Marrero be on the Mets postseason roster? Or should they look to replace him with someone who can be more in the mix?

cooby
Aug 04 2006 09:16 AM

]He hardly ever plays. When he does, he doesn't really produce. And then last night, when he was going to get a rare start, he had to beg out because of a sore neck.


He must sit in the dugout at an odd angle most nights


Anyway, I'm sure a trick like this will be well remembered when they are building a post season roster. Or even next week's.

Edgy DC
Aug 04 2006 09:18 AM

I think that's a problem for another day. But a team rarely needs more than nine pitchers in the post-season, as the fifth and sometimes fourth starter moves into the pen, so I have no problem carrying a third catcher/outfielder/firstbaseman over a twelfth pitcher.

Eli's cool. He can hit a little, plus he's playing without a thyroid. How many people can say that? He's Pete Gray out there.

The sore neck is interesting, because his neck is where his cancer was.

metirish
Aug 04 2006 09:19 AM

I had forgotten about him until Gary mentioned him last night, no I don't think he should be on the postseason roster,he hardly ever even gets called on to PH, maybe he catches tomorrow if Castro can't play,Willie was talking about having to make a move if Castro is still ailing,LoDuca needs some days off.

cooby
Aug 04 2006 09:22 AM

]The sore neck is interesting, because his neck is where his cancer was.



!! I did not know that!

Yancy Street Gang
Aug 04 2006 09:23 AM

I didn't know about the cancer or the thyroid either.

My cat has a thyroid condition. She manages it by taking a half pill daily inside a mushy salmon-flavored cat treat.

Which gives me a thought...

Meet me in the "my favorite products" thread!

metirish
Aug 04 2006 09:24 AM

]!! I did not know that!


Stop making fun of the poor lad Cooby.

Johnny Dickshot
Aug 04 2006 10:00 AM

I also didn't know about Marerro's health troubles either.

Howie on the radio last nite said he was almost certain Castro would be DLed, which would require the promotion of a catcher (prolly minor league vet Sandy Martinez) or maybe a trade. Weird that with 3 catchers we really only had 1 available last nite.

Bigger picture I don;t see Marerro providing much value to the team other than his emergency ability, and I'd prefer his spot go to a LH-hitter who can be a threat.

You know, Burnitz is awfully available...

seawolf17
Aug 04 2006 10:09 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote:
You know, Burnitz is awfully available...

Because we definitely need someone who can strike out in a big spot. Let's go drag up Rich Becker's corpse and throw a uniform on it.

Johnny Dickshot
Aug 04 2006 10:18 AM

I was kinda joking, but the guy slugs right-handed pitching at .500 and has 3 pinch-hit homers this year.

I'd prefer a left-handed hitting slugger who makes fewer outs and can catch in an emergency too, but can't find one. Can you?

Yancy Street Gang
Aug 04 2006 10:22 AM

I wonder, in an emergency situation, let's say it's a playoff game and Lo Duca was pinch-run for and then Castro gets hurt. Marrero's not on the roster.

Who catches? Woodward? Would Delgado ever be an option?

seawolf17
Aug 04 2006 10:25 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote:
I was kinda joking, but the guy slugs right-handed pitching at .500 and has 3 pinch-hit homers this year.

I'd prefer a left-handed hitting slugger who makes fewer outs and can catch in an emergency too, but can't find one. Can you?

Fair point. Too bad Matt Stairs is no longer available.

="Yancy"]I wonder, in an emergency situation, let's say it's a playoff game and Lo Duca was pinch-run for and then Castro gets hurt. Marrero's not on the roster.

Who catches? Woodward? Would Delgado ever be an option?

I'd have to figure Delgado's already in the game at that point, but he'd probably be the guy. Unless Roberto Hernandez is available.

Yancy Street Gang
Aug 04 2006 10:27 AM

Oh, I'm sure Delgado would be in the game. But he could move behind the plate and Franco or somebody else would take over first base.

MFS62
Aug 04 2006 10:50 AM

The Daily News mantioned this morning that the Mets might have to put Castro on the DL (I forget the nature of his injury). It then went on to mention Mike DeFelice and someone else (a "veteran" now at Norfolk) as the possible replacements.
I think that says a lot about the possibility of seeing Marrero behind the plate.

Later

Elster88
Aug 04 2006 10:56 AM

]I think that says a lot about the possibility of seeing Marrero behind the plate.


And further underlines Eli's uselesness.

Edgy DC
Aug 04 2006 11:28 AM

I'm not sure what's being insinuated here. He got hurt and was removed from the lineup.

is there a pattern of him begging out of the lineup?

Yancy Street Gang
Aug 04 2006 11:32 AM

No, I don't think so.

And I have no objection to his being on the roster on August 4.

I'm just wondering if his ability to be a third catcher justifies him being on the roster on October 3. And if Eli's not going to be on that roster, who would be a better choice?

MFS62
Aug 04 2006 11:35 AM

Edgy DC wrote:
I'm not sure what's being insinuated here.

Nothing by me.
I just reported what I had read, and wonder why the Mets would look at other alternatives to bring up from the minors. Eli is already on the ML roster and had been a semi-regular catcher in the majors.

Later

Edgy DC
Aug 04 2006 11:41 AM

Because they are disabling the backup catcher, and the starter and the third-stringer are both sore.

It doesn't have to mean anything that the Daily News suggested that the Mets might replace a catcher with a catcher.

Gwreck
Aug 09 2006 12:29 AM

Well, he lost his spot.

I was frustrated that Willie steadfastedly refused to give him innings (he had 3 total, all in blowouts) behind the plate. Still, unless he could hit, his value was minimal at best.

Woodward is the emergency catcher, prior to Marrerro being on the team, he would go out to warm up pitchers, etc. which I like to see, as a preparation of sorts.

cooby
Aug 09 2006 08:47 AM

ew, sorry Eli, I didn't mean to jinx you...

Edgy DC
Aug 09 2006 09:35 AM

Marrero is in a fix career-wise. He was a good catcher when he was young. But he seems to have made it clear that he's only an emergency catcher at this point, perhaps in deference to his health concerns. While a team can respect that, they certainly have no obligation to employ him if he only manages to hit well enough to be a catcher