Yes! One Player CAN Make a Difference
Posted by trs86 on 4:11pm, Monday July 6th 2009
Amidst all the debate about the demise of the Mets, one popular statement seems to be that the Mets can’t replace all the parts they are missing with one bat. This to me has to be one of the biggest cop-out statements I have heard this year. This is Omar’s version of Manuel’s constant comments on the lack of talent in the lineup. Look there is no doubt that we are NOT going to get 1 bat that can replace Reyes, Delgado and Beltran. Thus, we are not going to be as good as we would if all were here and healthy. However, they are not and we are trying to “tread” water until they return. The guys we currently have, obviously either can’t swim or are starting to cramp up from swiming with so much weight on their shoulders.
So what spot can Omar improve that will make a huge impact? 1B, SS, CF, 2B? Lets step away from that and not focus on what spot this guy plays on defense but instead focus on one spot in the order.
I have reported this stat before but it still applies in July the same way it did in May and June.
| BA .227 | OBP .290 | SLG .325 | OPS .615 | GIDP 14 |
Those INCREDIBLY ugly numbers are that of the Mets #6 hitter for the year. Compare that the other teams in the division.
Phillies
| BA .299 | OBP .363 | SLG .503 | OPS .866 | GIDP 6 |
Marlins
| BA .230 | OBP .338 | SLG .405 | OPS .744 | GIDP 9 |
Braves
| BA .277 | OBP .344 | SLG .365 | OPS .709 | GIDP 6 |
Nats, THE FRIGGIN NATS
| BA .234 | OBP .351 | SLG .369 | OPS .720 | GIDP 8 |
(Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference
Looking at those numbers how is it possible that if you replace those numbers with league average numbers you don’t score more runs? The Mets have already played 26 1 run games this season, 10 more games than they have played in blowouts (+- 5 runs). To me the best course Omar can take is to be active. Don’t try and replace 3 players with one bat, just make an improvement over what we have and then start over again.
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There is no I in team and one player cannot rarely change the course. Historically what mid-season trade took a .500 team and took them onto their backs into the playoffs? Manny last year or CC to the Brewers? That’s all I can think of and those were blockbuster type players. Pretty rare
I can totally be wrong but I’m just trying to think of more and cannot come up with anything. Tex to the Braves or the Angles, nope. If you go here:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/trade_deadline/moretrades_08.jsp
Just change the year at the end you can see all the midseason trades. Just don’t go to 04 unless you’re into that sort of thing.
And I also agree that one player, particularly one who is merely better than the crud we have now, will make a difference.
Without a healthy Reyes, Beltran and Delgado, the Mets would really need an impact hitter (i.e. Carlos Lee or better) and probably another solid hitter too.
Ryan Church should be that guy, but apparently he’s also a 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th hitter.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=churcry01&year=2009&t=b
Yup he looks like our man. Especially against righties. I am not a smart enough basball person to know but if you don’t give the guys any oportunities against lefties won’t they always fail against them? His at bat splits are ridiculous with Rvs.L and so is his average. But if he only has 40 ab against lefties and he knows the manager thinks he sucks against lefties he will just be destined to fail.
The lineup shuffle that Manual does drives me nuts. Just play the guy.
There’s no doubt the Mets’ lineup has no depth whatsoever right now. It’s basically Wright, a 40 year old Sheffield and a solid but inconsistent Ryan Church who, even at his best, does not scare anyone. The 1-2 hitters (when Castillo is not among them) are disgraceful. The 6-8 hitters are a wreck.
So the question is, who is this player you propose acquiring and what is it that it will take to get him. Sure, it will be easy to get someone better than Nick Evans or Dan Murphy, but will it be worth the return in the long run?
Agreed. If Omar want’s to grab a corner OF I am up for it and would love to see it but any trade needs to have an impact through next season. A positive impact.
I didn’t think my post was as clear as it was. Thanks for understanding (and agreeing to boot)!
My point is that it will be easy to get a guy like Huff, who is obvously better than Dan Murphy is right now. But there’s no way they can overvalue him just because he’s marginal improvement over what they have; because in the end, he’s just another mediocre hitter in the lineup.
So Real, youre actually advocating trading for a bat now? Thats a different song you were signing 3 wks ago. As a matter of fact your words were when I was pushing for a trade were “What the hell do you want Omar to do?” Who exactly would you trade for? A Huff? Wouldnt the O’s want alot for him? Wouldnt ANY team want alot for a player knowing we’re in a desperate situation?
Are you confusing him with me?
No I have been advocating looking for a small move such as Teahen, Wiggy or even Huff as long as it would not cost the farm. Also, as your post suggest 3 weeks is a long time. Now we are in prime trading season, then we were not.
TRS always wanted to make a move IIRC. Even if it ws marginal improvement, and even if it meant calling up someone like Sullivan instead of F Mart.
It is true that there are a number of spots in the order (on the field) where you could upgrade offensive output. C and 2B sure, but they aren’t happening. Likely not SS either.
So, get one or both of a 1B or OF (any one, they need them all!)
I was never in dispute about that, just about what it was worth giving up, and how likely the guy coming back was enough better to make it worthwhile.
Not hard to upgrade from F Mart though.
Here’s a strange idea. Get Freddy Sanchez and Ian Snell in a salary dump. Everyone is talking about LaRoche but why could you not add Sanchez and let him or even Cora play 1B? Then next year you could pick up his option if you can dump Castillo or you can pick it up and trade him.
i wasn’t given any glimmer of hope by listening to adam the bull and heyman today
and heyman disspelled the total autonomy crap that omar is supposed to have
Omars hands are tied. All i got to say is thank god for the asb. Hopefully they will use this time to get their stuff together and HAVE A PLAN. Most of our problems is the team doesnt seem to follow a plan. No real reason for so many guys to be playing out of position. Yes we have guys out but jerry needs to sit down and look at stats to put together the best lineup and defensive squad on the field. Like cora said…defense cannot go on a slump. The mets are one of the WORST defensive teams in the majors. Jerrys job is cut out for him….he just needs to get it together.
Omar tied his own hands!
Contracts that cant be moved
for players who are unproductive,too little depth
and too many suspects rather
than prospects.Tens of Millions wasted in payroll since he took over and now
on his third Mgr and Coaching
staff. Is it any wonder the
Wilpons have lost some trust?
Phillies up by 2 touchdowns and a 2 point conversion.
I still disagree, because this one marginal improvement player would not only have to bat 6th (or by virtue of his presence move someone more productive there), but he would have to get the hits he’s going to get at the opportune time. What is preventing this moderate player from being cold when the whole lineup is cold, and driving in runs on either end of blowouts? Nothing tangible that I can see. Just as likely the guy merely participates in the 9th inning 6 run rally when down by 8. Given the # of All-Stars missing from the lineup, Huff probably = 1 win, and any of the other utility dreck = 0. And even if Huff = 2 wins, if they came on a day the 1st place team also won, they don’t improve the standing of the club. What do we want to give up for 2 games of water treading? And yes I typed this knowing the team missed the playoffs by one game the last two seasons. The Phillies had been teasing me by being half-assed themselves. Now that they are on a roll I am far more pessimistic about baseball the 2nd week of October, and beyond. If this one guy were to have made a difference, it was 2 weeks ago.