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Shake Up the Mets

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 27 2008 08:24 AM

You've been denied the chance to fire the manager but you still need to shake up the Mets. What's your next move?

metirish May 27 2008 08:29 AM

I would fire the rest of the coaching staff , not that I want to but my other option is to DFA Delgado which I might next week anyway.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 08:29 AM

Sign up O.K Ockatur.

Gwreck May 27 2008 08:29 AM

Fire Sandy Alomar Jr., Tom Nieto and Jerry Manuel? More realistic: I'd like to get an outfielder on this team NOW. Find somebody, make a trade. Church should've been put on the DL 5 days ago instead of pinch hitting each night. If Pagan isn't available, let's get someone here who can hit (ie. not Chavez or Easley).

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 08:31 AM

Barry! Barry! Barry!

Willets Point May 27 2008 08:32 AM

Fire Omar.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 08:33 AM

I'd like to see Raul Casanova and Ramon Castro in a potato sack race.

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2008 08:43 AM

That's a tough one. Who are their players with the greatest trade value? Wright, for sure, but he's not going anywhere. Maine, too, but I'd keep him as well. Santana has a no-trade, and I'm pretty sure Beltran does too. Alou, during an interlude when he's healthy, might have some value to a contender who'd like a veteran PH/DH for the stretch run, but that's more of an August 31 thing, if ever. The Mets are pretty well-fixed at catcher. They could possibly trade Schneider or Castro and promote Casanova. But you're not going to get a big-time player for either of those guys. Reyes' trade value is probably down from where it was last fall, but it's probably still pretty high. I think Perez could bring a good return too. Delgado: little or no value. Castillo: same. Vargas: Probably not much. Pelfrey: I bet somebody would take a shot at him. For the short term, it's not really a shakeup but I'd let Evans keep playing so we can see what he can do. Let Pedro displace Pelfrey, and send Pelfrey to New Orleans. I won't put Ryan Church on an airplane any time soon. The next Mets road trip is to San Francisco: If Ryan's not on the DL, hire a Winnebago with a couple of changes of drivers and drive him non-stop cross country. And let him travel by ground to the next stop, San Diego. And continue that way as long as it's necessary, and a little longer than that. I once flew with a bad head cold, and it messed me up for about a day. Flying with a concussion is apparently a lot worse, and just plain has to be avoided.

AG/DC May 27 2008 08:44 AM

Um, toughie. Fine 'em if they don't take the first pitch when they're behind and they're not at least the tying run. Ban all sac bunting not done by pitchers. I really don't have much of a clue.

soupcan May 27 2008 08:45 AM

I identify the problems being first base, second base, left field and the bullpen. I don't know what you can do in the middle of the season but I'd sit Castillo if I couldn't completely jettison him. Maybe try to swap out Heilman for somebody else's problem. See if there's some potential in packaging Aaron and Delgado (and his expiring contract) for a young first baseman or outfielder? Could we throw F-Mart into the major league mix and have him and Evans coming off the bench while sharing playing time in left? I like the starting pitching especially if we can get Pedro back in the next week or so and Pelfrey in the pen. Catcher, shortstop, third base, center and right (assuming Church is playing everyday) are fine. Anderson and Easley should be better if not relied on as much. Schoenweiss, Wise, Smith and Wagner seem fine. Duaner needs to throw more so I'm keeping him in the mix. I'm not a GM nor do I play one on TV so my ideas are probably not at all realistic, but I think that's what I'd try to do. All this being said - I think Omar knows all this already.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 27 2008 08:57 AM

I'd trade Delgado to Toronto before tonight's game and install Nick Evans + Mike Carp as the everyday 1B platoon. This prolly won't help the Mets win many more games but would be satisfying as a statement. I'd leave Heilman where he is and whack Matt Wise instead. I'd tell Pelfrey he is being replaced by Bobby Parnell unless he shapes up soon.

AG/DC May 27 2008 09:00 AM

Parnell has been bringing it in an on-again/off-again positively Pelfreyan manner for Bingo this season: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Robert%20Parnell&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=458730

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 09:06 AM

I'd hire Gary Carter as bench coach. I'd put Gary in the same potato sack together with Willie and have them race Castro and Casanova before the game. Then I'd make Willie and Gary stay in the sack throughout the game also.

DocTee May 27 2008 09:07 AM

I'd trade for Brian Giles. SD ain't going anywhere and a change of scenery might help him. Oliver Perez and his expiring contract might do it.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 09:08 AM

Who's the threadstretcher?

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 27 2008 09:12 AM

AG/DC wrote: Parnell has been bringing it in an on-again/off-again positively Pelfreyan manner for Bingo this season: Yeah, that way Pelfrey feels even worse. I mean, you could also go with Tony Armas Junior, but how is that fun.

metirish May 27 2008 09:12 AM

I would call Julio Franco and see if he would like to come abroad as bench coach or whatever , but come as a coach.

seawolf17 May 27 2008 09:14 AM

I'd cut Delgado and Vargas and see if Mex and Ronnie have anything left.

AG/DC May 27 2008 09:17 AM

metirish wrote: I would call Julio Franco and see if he would like to come abroad as bench coach or whatever , but come as a coach. Hard to bring him on board as a firestarter when his tenure ended here last year due to his flame diminishing enough for him to end a game by dogging it to first.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 09:18 AM

I would make Gary Carter the manager and then when everybody got to the game, I'd say "Just Kidding".

HahnSolo May 27 2008 09:28 AM

DFA Delgado and call up Carp. Bring Valentin back as a player or coach if you think he's finished as a player. Trade Heilman to Tampa Bay, bringing Cliff Floyd back for a half a season (at least D-Wright liked his leadership).

metirish May 27 2008 09:30 AM

Peter Gammons in his insider column . ] Maybe Minaya needs to blow something up, to do something such as trading Beltran, cash and pieces to a smaller media market and bringing back a package with Alex Rios and A.J. Burnett. Maybe Martinez will revitalize them. Minaya tried to sign David Eckstein last winter. Maybe a Scott Hatteberg, Kevin Millar or Ryan Freel would change the mix.

Gwreck May 27 2008 09:43 AM

Millar would be a good addition. Additionally, unlike Mike Carp, he can actually hit at the major league level. No offense to Carp, but I don't think he's shown that he could be more effective than Delgado has been.

duan May 27 2008 10:09 AM

ok first off, I'm not totally freaked yet. The team has had some bad luck with injuries and has thrown away some games that it should have won. However, if I'm the manager, I'm telling the players that from FIRST PITCH tonight I want to see thoughtful, purposeful at bats, I want to see plate discipline and if we get a starter out early, I want the bullpen worn to bits too. I don't want any playing for one run, unless it's past the 7th inning and I don't want any sacrifices. I also want Castillo out of the 2 hole while he's hitting into double plays at a fantastic rate (9 so far this season - go Luis!) If Carlos Delgado isn't hitting, bench him, no point in DFA'ing him. his long ball capacity makes him a (crazily expensive) bench threat.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 27 2008 10:27 AM

Isn't it disgusting? The marlin pen pitched 10 innings in a DH Sunday, they traavel to NYC on Monday and the Mets let them get away with 8-pitch innings. Integrating Evans as a full-time RH platoony of Delgado isn;t a bad idea either.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 10:28 AM

I'd stuff as many baseballs as I can into the mouth of Luis Castillo and then take a picture of him like the one that's on the cover of Exile on Main Street.

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2008 10:31 AM

Batmag should be banned from this thread.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 10:35 AM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Batmag should be banned from this thread. Which of my suggestions do you have a problem with?

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2008 10:36 AM

Ignoring you from this point forward.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 10:40 AM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Ignoring you from this point forward. I wish you wouldn't.

AG/DC May 27 2008 10:40 AM

="duan"]ok first off, I'm not totally freaked yet. The team has had some bad luck with injuries and has thrown away some games that it should have won. Well, some of the injury luck has to be expected. Marty Noble suggested that they couldn't have counted on Hernandz, Martinez, and Alou for more than one full season among them. I'm not sure that's fair, but his point is solid. ="duan"]I also want Castillo out of the 2 hole while he's hitting into double plays at a fantastic rate (9 so far this season - go Luis!) Maddening, isn't it? His motion is designed to explode out of the box with the swing and not hit into them thingies, but sometimes his hands almost seem like he's aiming to hit it right at the shortstop on three hops. OE: it seems to say as much about Randolph the manager as Randolph the man. He's more focused on saving the player than saving himself.

Frayed Knot May 27 2008 10:56 AM

- It's certainly getting close to jettison time for Delgado. Even if you don't want to get that rash, Evans as a platoon is OK although it's better to wait until he's not needed in the OF. IOW, wait for at least one of Pagan, Alou or Anderson to get back. - For all the bitching about Castillo, he's getting on base at a .360+ clip after a slow start a level where he's been almost absurdly consistent for his career. Plus, all the logical other choices for 2B are either old, injured, bad fielders, worse hitters, or some combination of all of the above (Anderson, Easley, Andy Handy). How 'bout hitting him leadoff and switching Reyes to #2? He's not only getting on better than Reyes but stealing better too and not getting picked off. Removes bunting temptations as well except for base hits. - Play Castro more. Not full time, but how 'bout twice a week. If he fails to stay healthy again well then try something else. We face a couple of LHPs this week.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 11:15 AM

Frayed Knot wrote: How 'bout hitting him leadoff and switching Reyes to #2? He's not only getting on better than Reyes but stealing better too and not getting picked off. Removes bunting temptations as well except for base hits. Wow. What an excellent idea. Plus Reyes' offense, such as it is, is comprised of less walks and more slugging, so Castillo would get moved around the bases with greater efficiency batting before Reyes. I don't have much confidence in Castillo anymore but I have to admit, grudgingly, that he's getting on base at a very respectable rate this season. That Castillo's OBP is more walking than hitting strengthens the case for Castillo as lead-off hitter. I would imagine that this is all as unlikely as sticking Carter and Randolph together into the same potato sack, though. Randolph probably thinks that Reyes' stolen bases matter more than all of this and wouldn't want some runner, ahem, "clogging it up" for Reyes.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 11:18 AM

Frayed Knot wrote: Play Castro more. I still don't fully understand why Castro doesn't play more. Not just this year, but last year. I assume that he's somewhat fragile and is physically incapable of taking on such a load based on his injury history, but don't specifically recall ever reading this.

AG/DC May 27 2008 11:33 AM

He keeps getting hurt.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 11:36 AM

AG/DC wrote: He keeps getting hurt. If he never plays, he'll never get hurt. Or maybe Billy Wagner could remind Castro to stop getting hurt.

AG/DC May 27 2008 11:48 AM

He's been on the disabled list. That's why he hasn't played more in previous years.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 11:51 AM

I know all about the DL. I even referred to his injury history. But even when he's not injured, he's a once every week and a half starter.

AG/DC May 27 2008 11:56 AM

No, that hasn't always been true.

batmagadanleadoff May 27 2008 11:58 AM

AG/DC wrote: No, that hasn't always been true. You're so much like Iramets.

holychicken May 27 2008 12:13 PM

I know how to shake 'em up. Take all of their families hostage and threaten their lives if they don't start playing well. That will shake em up REAL good.

AG/DC May 27 2008 12:20 PM

Hey, batmagadan. How many people's must-ignore list are you trying to get on?

Centerfield May 27 2008 12:27 PM

If I can't fire the manager, then I would come out and offer my full support and tell everyone that he's going to be here at least until the end of the season. Then maybe everyone can fucking relax.

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2008 01:00 PM

I agree. Either fire him or stand solidly behind him. This extended twisting-in-the-wind thing isn't good for anybody but the sportswriters.

metsguyinmichigan May 27 2008 01:06 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I agree. Either fire him or stand solidly behind him. This extended twisting-in-the-wind thing isn't good for anybody but the sportswriters. Bingo. The problem now is that no matter what happens, it's all going to go through the perspective on how it affects Willie. Once the sharks start to circle, they don't go away unless there is some massive undeniable reversal. Just about every story from here on out will contain the phrase, "Randolph, who has been on the hot seat," or some variation. Except for stories by Tom Verducci, who will have something like: "Randolph, who must be tired of tarnishing his Yankee greatness by sticking with the Mets...."

metirish May 27 2008 01:19 PM

What's the breaking point here , ten games out of first? I think with the meeting and conference yesterday the Wilpon's have put the onus back on wins and losses and now if and when they fire Randolph it can be about that and only that and nothing about race. They've talked about the comments and it's now time to get back to baseball. I think he will be gone by the end of the Dodgers series.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 27 2008 01:25 PM

Adam Rubin sez carlos Munoiz has been recalled from AAA, but he doesn;t yet know whose getting disabled or demoted or released to make room. The big shakeup is on!

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2008 01:29 PM

Heilman probably ought to go down, but that would suck for him coming off two good innings yesterday. Sanchez and Wise are the other most likely candidates for demotion.

metirish May 27 2008 01:31 PM

Do we need three catchers?

seawolf17 May 27 2008 01:35 PM

Blow 'em up and start over. Cut Delgado and his contract; same with Matt Wise, Damion Easley, Marlon, and Endy Chavez. Old? Underperforming? Both? See ya. Get a working part for Heilman? Thanks, Aaron. We'll miss you. Get Anderson Hernandez, who will never be a major league hitter, off the 40. Clear up some room for some of these young guys, bring 'em up, and let 'em play. If this team is going to lose -- and they're going to lose -- I'd rather the young guys take their lumps. Bring up F-Mart, and Willie Collazo, and Val Pascucci, and Mike Carp, and Jonathan Niese, and give 'em ABs and innings. You want to bring up Valentin to mentor the young guys? I'm down with that, and in a pinch, he plays just about anywhere you need him to. Get a hungry young manager in there who's going to kick these guys in the ass and turn this thing around. Now.

metirish May 27 2008 01:37 PM

" That's a lot of meat seawolf"

seawolf17 May 27 2008 01:41 PM

But seriously, how fucking great would that be? I know it's a computer baseball/fantasy baseball move that would never work in real life because of the personalities involved, and it's obviously not my $130+ million that I'm playing with, but that'd be fucking outstanding. I'd go on Saturday and cheer my balls off if Jonathan Niese started and Fernando Martinez was in right field.

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2008 01:43 PM

seawolf17 wrote: Blow 'em up and start over. That option will never be on the table. Any shake-up would be to help them win in 2008. And if they don't win in 2008, the focus will be on winning in 2009.

themetfairy May 27 2008 01:44 PM

Centerfield wrote: If I can't fire the manager, then I would come out and offer my full support and tell everyone that he's going to be here at least until the end of the season. Then maybe everyone can fucking relax. Yes - what the team needs is for the issue to be settled, one way or the other.

metirish May 27 2008 01:45 PM

But of course that was never going to be said , Willie is a dead man walking and any two or three game losing streak could be it for him.

seawolf17 May 27 2008 01:52 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: ="seawolf17"]Blow 'em up and start over. That option will never be on the table. Any shake-up would be to help them win in 2008. And if they don't win in 2008, the focus will be on winning in 2009. Obviously. But if the Wilpons called and asked for my advice, that's what I'd tell them.

AG/DC May 27 2008 01:55 PM

You'd call up a 19-year-old with a .721 OPS as a AA outfielder? Seems like a scorched-earth policy that can lead to some collateral damage, if I can slightly mix metaphors.

seawolf17 May 27 2008 01:59 PM

Yes, I would. Could this team be any more boring and lethargic? You have a bunch of 35-year-old dead bodies jogging around the field. Get some young guys in there who can play. If not Martinez -- and maybe he's not ready yet, and maybe they want to keep him off the 40 until they have to put him on there -- then at least guys who have a pulse. Yes, it would cost money, but you're spending that money anyway. Delgado's money is paid, whether he's in the blue and orange and black and gray the rest of the season or not.

AG/DC May 27 2008 02:07 PM

Well, underpermers include David Wright and Carlos Beltran and every hitter not nicknamed "Churchie." You're obviously not going to release or trade them, but where's the line and why? Does anybody believe any more that rushing a player can hurt him? Fernando Martinez has been the youngest guy at every level he's been at, starred at none, and has an isolated on-base percentage of .034. The Mets have enough guys who aren't walking. Milledge was pushed and Gomez was pushed. I think we need to lay off a little and occasionally work with these guys where they are.

seawolf17 May 27 2008 02:12 PM

Okay, so leave him there. There are financial aspects of putting him on the 40 that might not matter. You can still get rid of the other guys. Hell, call the Ducks and get Pete Rose Jr or Joe Valentine; I'd rather have either of them than Marlon Anderson or Matt Wise.

Frayed Knot May 27 2008 02:16 PM

F. Martinez is currently: - DL'd - not exactly tearing up the league even when he was healthy - not on the 40-man and doesn't need to be for a while - and would still be the 2nd youngest player at his level if he were in A+ ball He's not ready, he's not close, and I wouldn't touch him at this point.

duan May 27 2008 05:12 PM here's the thing

"Cut Delgado and his contract;" is pretty dumb. Why? because we're on the hook for $12 million this year (or is it $14) and 4 in the form of a buyout for next year. We're paying that if we cut him, no matter what. Right now he's hitting a homer every 20abs, that's worth something, and he'd be a genuine lefty power threat. Don't get me wrong, if we're 15 games back in July, i'd offer to pay for most of his salary to get someone to take him and the buyout off our hands. Someone who needs a lefty 1b DH, but till then, there's no point in paying him to go away. We're MUCH better off hoping he can get it together to continue the relative improvement he showed in may over april.

duan May 27 2008 05:17 PM

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Isn't it disgusting? The marlin pen pitched 10 innings in a DH Sunday, they traavel to NYC on Monday and the Mets let them get away with 8-pitch innings. I've felt this for the last few seasons; but maybe it's like that thing about "my team gets shut out by rookies way more then anyone else" that you only notice cause you watch it. I still hope that they can have a 22-7 kinda month in them, and that they have it soon.

Elster88 May 27 2008 05:23 PM

soupcan wrote: See if there's some potential in packaging Aaron and Delgado (and his expiring contract) for a young first baseman or outfielder? I don't see how expiring contract plays into it. This isn't the Knicks. ="seawolf17"]Cut Delgado and his contract; And the money would have to be paid either way. This isn't the NFL. Besides, who can we get that will hit better than him? Is there someone who will definitely give more than Old-Delgado's mediocre performance? He's still going to hit 20+ home runs. I want the Mets to win this year.

soupcan May 27 2008 07:35 PM

Elster88 wrote: ="soupcan"]See if there's some potential in packaging Aaron and Delgado (and his expiring contract) for a young first baseman or outfielder? I don't see how expiring contract plays into it. This isn't the Knicks. Steve Phillips used to do it if I'm not mistaken. Take on another club's unwanted contract that is either worth more than Delgado's or has more years left or both.

Elster88 May 27 2008 07:36 PM

I don't know if "Steve Phillips did it" is a ringing endorsement. I agree that the money isn't a big deal. It's getting someone to play first that poses the difficulty.

soupcan May 27 2008 07:39 PM

Jeez Louise dude, calm down. I never said that because Phillips did it, the Mets should. You doubted the plausibility of it, I just stated that I thought it had been done before.

Elster88 May 27 2008 07:40 PM

Quite calm. That was a shot at Phillips, not you.

soupcan May 27 2008 07:41 PM

My bad then.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 27 2008 09:01 PM

the idea was to "shake em up" not get them better, necessarily.

AG/DC May 27 2008 09:09 PM

Well, then I'd set alarms off in their hotel rooms, saw legs off their chairs, and stuff.

metirish May 28 2008 06:35 AM

Rockin' Doc May 28 2008 10:14 AM

I love the cartoon. It is sad that it doesn't seem that outrageous to me. This team just seems to sleepwalking. I'm not saying that they aren't trying, they just seem to be too laid back and relaxed as they go about their job.

AG/DC May 28 2008 10:21 AM

It's kind of forced. It's hard to accept the metaphor of the Mets dugout as a planet.

mario25 May 28 2008 10:43 AM

I think the team needs to get a wake up call in a different way...a nice bruhaha on the field with any Nl east rival.....get the blood flowing a little. It can really spark a team

metsguyinmichigan May 28 2008 11:26 AM

="metirish"] Silly cartoon. Everyone knows the Mets play on Mercury, not Mars. Duh.

batmagadanleadoff May 29 2008 08:47 AM

AG/DC wrote: Hey, batmagadan. How many people's must-ignore list are you trying to get on? Oh that's nothing. I was already posting on the theory that most everybody here was ignoring me. Everybody but you. AG/DC wrote: Well, then I'd set alarms off in their hotel rooms, saw legs off their chairs, and stuff. I'm happy to see some levity breaking out on this thread. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for my own CPF joke permit to arrive so that I can join in as well. As someone else here likes to say: "Later."

Fman99 May 29 2008 09:41 AM

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ="AG/DC"]Hey, batmagadan. How many people's must-ignore list are you trying to get on? Oh that's nothing. I was already posting on the theory that most everybody here was ignoring me. Everybody but you. ="AG/DC"]Well, then I'd set alarms off in their hotel rooms, saw legs off their chairs, and stuff. I'm happy to see some levity breaking out on this thread. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for my own CPF joke permit to arrive so that I can join in as well. As someone else here likes to say: "Later." Be yourself. I thought your jokes were funny. Of course I'm getting called out for using the same profanity and threats over and over again. Whatareyagonnado?

batmagadanleadoff May 29 2008 09:49 AM

Fman99 wrote: Of course I'm getting called out for using the same profanity and threats over and over again. Whatareyagonnado? You should punch 'em in the cunt.

Rockin' Doc May 29 2008 11:23 AM

That was a low blow, batmag.

batmagadanleadoff May 29 2008 12:13 PM

Rockin' Doc wrote: That was a low blow, batmag. I'd like to say that I was only joking, but I already got into trouble for joking.

Elster88 May 29 2008 12:25 PM

Fman99 wrote: Be yourself. I thought your jokes were funny. Of course I'm getting called out for using the same profanity and threats over and over again. Whatareyagonnado? You're not being called out for using profanity. You're being called out for sounding like a 12 year old that just learned a new curse.

Fman99 May 29 2008 12:58 PM

Elster88 wrote: ="Fman99"]Be yourself. I thought your jokes were funny. Of course I'm getting called out for using the same profanity and threats over and over again. Whatareyagonnado? You're not being called out for using profanity. You're being called out for sounding like a 12 year old that just learned a new curse. Actually it's other people that keep bringing it up. Excuse me for starting a trend.