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Right Field 2008

Centerfield Oct 11 2007 09:20 AM

I think the Mets will re-sign Castillo to play 2nd. I think they might make a run at Posada but he will ultimately return to the MFY's. That means the only place in our lineup where we can really make a significant improvement over 2007 is right field. Right field is where sluggers play. Right fielders hit 4th or 5th in the lineup. A right fielder of that caliber makes this lineup dangerous again. The problem is there are no Vlad Guerrero's out there in the free agent market. So Omar is going to have to get creative. I really think this off-season represents his biggest challenge so far...and right field will go a long way in determining how successful he is. Good Omar: Landing a power hitter in RF means Alou and Delgado can slide down to 6 and 7 respectively. Bad Omar: Carlos Gomez is in RF on Opening Day.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 11 2007 09:31 AM

Lastings Milledge falls somewhere between Gomez and Guerrero. (Much closer to Gomez, of course.)

Vic Sage Oct 11 2007 09:32 AM

Milledge and Green both had 106 OPS+ so, unlike 2b an C, we had better than average production at that position this year. While certainly it would be nice to see more production out there next season, i think the money and/or personnel it would take for an upgrade in RF would be better invested in pitching. The Mets best prospects are all OFers, so we can afford to give them a shot. Milledge should finally be given an opportunity to play every day. i don't think Gomez is anywhere near getting such a chance. And if they re-sign Castillo as you've proposed, then Alou and Delgado already are down to #5 and #6 in the batting order, with wright/beltran hitting 3-4.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 11 2007 09:36 AM

I put Milledge in right and cross my fingers.

metirish Oct 11 2007 09:46 AM

Not much out there in FA land. http://www.mlb4u.com/freeagency.php?field=position

Edgy DC Oct 11 2007 10:00 AM

OPS+ for BA-title-qualifying MLB rightfielders: 1 Magglio Ordonez 170 2 Vladimir Guerrero 154 3 Brad Hawpe 130 4 Corey "The Boy in the Box" Hart 127 5 Nick Swisher 124 6 Nick Markakis 123 7 Alex Rios 119 8 Bobby Abreu 119 9 Jose Guillen 118 10 Ken Griffey Jr. 116 11 Michael Cuddyer 109 12 Brian Giles 107 13 Jermaine Dye 106 14 Randy Winn 105 15 J.D. Drew 105 16 Andre Ethier 104 17 Jeff Francoeur 101 18 Austin Kearns 100 19 Shane Victorino 96 20 Mark Teahen 95 21 Delmon Young 88 Mean: 115 Wow, who knew we had a better hitter in right than the Phillies did? Anyhow, that suggests that yeah, there's some risk (always is) in going with Milledge in right and Green or his like as a safety net, but it seems like a worthwhile one. It's not too hard to see him as Alex Rios in 2008.

vtmet Oct 11 2007 10:12 AM

="Edgy DC"]OPS+ for BA-title-qualifying MLB rightfielders: Wow, who knew we had a better hitter in right than the Phillies did? Anyhow, that suggests that yeah, there's some risk (always is) in going with Milledge in right and Green or his like as a safety net, but it seems like a worthwhile one. It's not too hard to see him as Alex Rios in 2008. Michael Bourne and Shane Victorino haven't shown a lot of power or OBP yet, but both of those guys can fly...they combined for 107 runs scored and 57 steals in under 600 at bats, while covering quite a bit of territory in RF...

smg58 Oct 11 2007 11:05 AM

Is Milledge a front-line talent worth holding on to or isn't he? If yes, then he'll improve even further with a steady stream of AB's. If not, the Mets get as much out of RF as they got last year, which is not what killed them. At any rate I think he's reached the point where it's time to find out about him. Gomez needs another year of seasoning, but that's fine.

Valadius Oct 11 2007 11:17 AM

I think Milledge is only going to get better. 20 HRs doesn't seem that big a stretch from him next season if he plays full-time. I think Gomez ends up being the odd man out in the outfield if we hang onto Endy, and I have very little confidence in Gomez as a hitter.

Rockin' Doc Oct 11 2007 11:23 AM

The free agent market is pretty thin. The Mets would likely need to acquire a corner outfielder by trade. The team has a very limited number of trading chips, and I believe they would be better spent acquiring a solid , proven starting pitcher for the rotation. I can live with a combination of Alou/Milledge/Chavez dividing up the playing time for the corner outfield spots. I don't believe this team can seriously contend next year without the addition of a front line starter.

Valadius Oct 11 2007 11:27 AM

I don't believe we can seriously contend next year unless we shore up the bullpen. That's my number one concern.

metsmarathon Oct 11 2007 11:28 AM

i really wouldn't mind if we came back with basically the same outfield, but with milledge owning the starting job in right, and green filling the role of backup corner of/1b/ph, and gomez waiting for a chance to get some at bats.

metsguyinmichigan Oct 11 2007 12:05 PM

I think we have outfielders to spare. Give it to Milledge and see what happens. You can always pick up a bat somewhere along the way. I don't care about the showboating. Passion and fire are what we seemed to lack. As long as he backs it up with his bat, I don't care if he does the cha-cha in the on-deck circle and blows kisses to the fans running out to rightfield, I agree that the middle relief did us in, and that's where we need an overhaul -- and better use of the arms.

User 362 Oct 11 2007 12:24 PM

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I put Milledge in right and cross my fingers. I'd put Milledge in the trade market. He's too flaky, and Randolph can't seem to control him.

HahnSolo Oct 11 2007 12:30 PM

A fellow Met fan gave me this harsh analysis of Milledge: "We were sold on him as a five-tool guy. Is he even a two-tool guy?" I'm not that down on Lastings, but I'm also not sure he's ready to be the everyday RFer in 2008.

vtmet Oct 11 2007 12:30 PM

metbaseball wrote: ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]I put Milledge in right and cross my fingers. I'd put Milledge in the trade market. He's too flaky, and Randolph can't seem to control him. I kind of see a lot of Gary Sheffield in Lastings...and while it may rub people the wrong way, I think that it is a good thing for the team that lets Milledge become an integral part of their offense...the guy has great bat speed, good speed, good power and a take no shit from anyone attitude (something that has been missing since the '86 Mets)...

Benjamin Grimm Oct 11 2007 12:35 PM

metbaseball wrote: I'd put Milledge in the trade market. He's too flaky, and Randolph can't seem to control him. That's more of a reason to get rid of Randolph than it is to get rid of Milledge.

HahnSolo Oct 11 2007 12:40 PM

]I kind of see a lot of Gary Sheffield in Lastings Not at the plate, you don't.

vtmet Oct 11 2007 12:43 PM

HahnSolo wrote: ]I kind of see a lot of Gary Sheffield in Lastings Not at the plate, you don't. I'm talking in potential, not by performance so far...

Vic Sage Oct 11 2007 01:43 PM

its not just potential. over 5 years and 1100+ ABs in the minors, he has put togther this "season average" line (rounding off): .300 ba / 17hr / 110r / 80 rbi / 40 sb / 17hr /40 dbl with an OPS of .860 (.380 ob / .480 slg) and he's not even 23 yet. I think some people are letting perceptions cloud the facts of this kid's talent. He is poised to be an everyday player for somebody. I'd prefer it be the Mets, while we look for pitching help.

HahnSolo Oct 11 2007 01:59 PM

But it is potential. The numbers you quote are minor league numbers. LM's big league #s: G: 115 AB: 350 RS: 41 HR: 11 RBI: 51 2B: 16 SB: 4 AVG: .257 OBP: .326 SLG: .414 OPS: .741

Edgy DC Oct 11 2007 02:07 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 11 2007 02:13 PM

What's in the past is in the past, none of it guarantees anything going forward. Neither is it meaningless. He's still one of the youngest players in baseball. How many Mets have slugged .446 at age 22? Twenty-two!

Vic Sage Oct 11 2007 02:12 PM

production is production. Minor league numbers can be evaluated to make major league projections. Bill James showed it, and others have demonstrated it too. Of course, its not a direct 1:1 correlation, and you have to adjust for the league, and the player's age relative to the league he was in, and there is always the possiblity of injury or personal problems. But lets not pretend he didn't do what he did, at the ages that he did it. There are guys who ARE still just potential, like Gomez, who haven't done it yet, even in the minors. Milledge isn't one of those guys.

Edgy DC Oct 11 2007 02:26 PM

Answers: Two. Darryl Strawberry and David Wright. Dykstra almost did it, slugging .445 at 23. Good company. Some of the best hitters the Mets have ever produced who logged any real time with them.

metirish Oct 11 2007 02:31 PM

I would have no problem with Milledge getting the starting RF job, I would at least give him that shot at making it his for keeps.