1B/LF

Vince Coleman Firecracker
Jun 03 2008 11:18 AM

So, this may be poorly timed, since the latest Oliver Perez implosion might have exposed a need for a SP (Maddux? Wolf?), but until yesterday, a lot of people were talking about trading for a right-handed hitter who could play left while Alou is hurt and take some AB's away from Delgado against lefties. I took a quick look at some players who might be targets. (The slash stats are BA/OBP/SLG. Why? Like Bluto told Pinto, "Why not!?)

Xavier Nady
Career: .277/.334/.451
2008: .322/.384/.536
Split vs LHP
Career: .324/.399/.492
2008: .353/.469/.627
Pros:
Probably available
Played in NY
Good hitter with fantastic platoon splits
Cons:
Cost will be high, as trading for him would be buying high, although if we sign Roberto Hernandez and package him with Oliver Perez...

Juan Rivera
Career: .287/.336/.465
2008: .167/.231/.208
Split vs LHP
Career: .286/.325/.475
2008: .154/.185/.192
Pros:
Has been a pretty good hitter
Buy low candidate
Cons:
Hasn't been a pretty good hitter since 2006
Price probably won't be low enough
May not be available
Not a platoon player, hits the same vs righties and lefties
2008 stats. Ugh.

Marcus Thames
Career: .241/.305/.491
2008: .247/.301/.481
Split vs LHP
Career: .266/.335/.536
2008: .296/.367/.889
Pros:
Really good hitter vs. lefties
Cons:
Useless vs. righties (.285 OBP!)
Price was, allegedly, too high in pre-season

Dan Ortmeier
Career: .255/.309/.412
2008: .219/.315/.313
Split vs LHP
Career: .246/.295/.456
2008: .238/.304/.357
Pros:
Umm... price, no- availability?
Cons:
Well, certainly not his name.
Ok, forget that I mentioned Dan Ortmeier.

Shelley Duncan
Career: .215/.295/.423
2008: .161/.250/.250
Split vs LHP
Career: .250/.329/.458
2008: .205/.289/.333
Pros:
Decent platoon splits
Buy low candidate
Cons:
Overheard in the Bronx- "Okay, Omar, I think we have a deal. I just need to run it past the owners. No, I wouldn't worry; it should just be a formality."

Greg Norton
Career: .251/.337/.424
2008: .246/.377/.351
Split vs LHP
Career: .224/.310/.332
2008: .267/.421/.333
Pros:
Used to be in Husker Du; no, wait a minute...
League average-ish switch hitter
Cons:
Opposite platoon splits, better hitter as a lefty
Doubtful Braves and Mets would make a trade in a year they're both competitive

...and that's about it. Of the guys who might be able to play both LF and 1B:

Kevin Mench (6 minor league games at 1B)
Career: .270/.326/.462
2008: .235/.289/.265
Split vs LHP
Career: .305/.359/.553
2008: .286/.300/.321
Pros:
Good platoon split
Might not be too expensive
Cons:
Might not be available
Not a first baseman
Not so good this year

Ryan Freel (he's played everywhere else)
Career: .272/.357/.376
2008: .297/.341/.359
Split vs LHP
Career: .261/.354/.382
2008: .339/.388/.435
Pros:
Versatility, can play 3B, 2b, and all OF spots
Good OBP vs lefties and righties
Good base stealer
Cons:
Hasn't played 1B
No power
Availability?
Expense?
Not any better vs lefties than righties

Gabe Kapler (2 games at 1B)
Career: .271/.331/.421
2008: .302/.330/.523
Split vs LHP
Career: .287/.338/.476
2008: .286/.295/.619
Pros:
Good power, especially against lefties
Minor league manager (intangibles, ho!)
Cons:
Availability/expense
Not so great OBP

And after that I just see a bunch of guys who have only played either 1B or the outfield. And Lance Berkman. Yeah, I'd be in favor of the Mets getting Lance Berkman.
So, with all of this in mind, I think the Mets should kick the tires on Nady, Thames, and Rivera (and maybe Kapler); but they might just be better off with internal options at first (Pascucci? Anyone? Bueller?), and crossing their fingers for Alou.

seawolf17
Jun 03 2008 11:38 AM

Once again, I'd love Freel. Not necessarily for any rational reason, just because he's the type of player I really enjoy, a Super Joe-type.

TheOldMole
Jun 03 2008 11:56 AM

If we got Xavier Nady, they could play "Welcome Back" at the stadium when he comes up.

Of course, they could do that for Gabe Kapler too.

smg58
Jun 03 2008 12:23 PM

The Tigers have had enough injuries (along with bad play from guys like Jacque Jones) that Thames might not be so expendable right now.

The Angels actually have several excess outfielders (a lot of teams could also use Reggie Willets, who's spent much of the season to date in the minors). I'm not sure what their biggest major league need is, but they're worth talking to.

We'd be buying very high on Nady right now, plus there's still a good chance his 2008 numbers will regress significantly back towards the mean. I like him, but I'd proceed with caution.

I don't think the other guys on the list would be upgrades over Fernando Tatis.

While I seriously doubt he has the speed to play the outfield, Ryan Garko has an OPS over .900 against lefties both this year and last. The Indians have been a bit impatient with him lately despite his rep as a streaky hitter, so it's possible that a buy-low opportunity exists there. His catching experience also intrigues me.

sharpie
Jun 03 2008 01:11 PM

Remember, eventually Alou will be back and when he's back he plays. Church is also going to play as will Beltran so that means this mythical player is going to the bench.

The Reds just sent Corey Patterson to the minors. If they're dumping him or Ryan Freel and he would effectively replace Angel Pagan and Tatis then I'm fine with that. If we wanted to pick up a bat to play the occasional first base and give us some punch offa the bench (Tony Clark or someone like him) I'm also ok with that -- but to list starting players who would command starting player talent back for what would be for us a bench/platoon/injury time player makes no sense.

OlerudOwned
Jun 03 2008 01:24 PM

If Greg Norton the baseball player grows a moustache like Greg Norton the Hüsker, I'd take him in a heartbeat.

Vince Coleman Firecracker
Jun 03 2008 01:33 PM

sharpie wrote:
Remember, eventually Alou will be back and when he's back he plays.

I realize this, but I also realize that after he gets back, he's probably gonna get hurt again. The idea behind the trade is that the team would be able to get the hypothetical player enough PA's by playing him in LF when Alou's hurt or resting, at 1B against lefties and pinch hitting. Also, right now the team is constantly one injury away from having an average or worse lineup. Adding another decent bat would provide some insurance against that.
However, I agree that the Mets would probably have to give up too much to get that player.

Frayed Knot
Jun 03 2008 02:32 PM

Part of the problem with many of the names on this list is that they're full-time players who'll command full-time return that we want to use as part-timers and fill-ins.

That kind of set-up usually doesn't lead to a very good rate of return.

metirish
Jun 03 2008 02:34 PM

If Shelley Duncan is in our future I'm quitting , it's not just who he plays for but it's that stupid dumb look on his face that annoys me just as much as anything.