Greater Future Impact: Reyes or Wright?

With New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes becoming a free agent at the end of this season, sports writers, bloggers, and fans everywhere are wondering where the, quite possibly, currently most entertaining player will end up.

I posed a question on the CFoD fan page on Facebook of who the fans feel has a bigger impact on this team: David Wright or Reyes. While Wright certainly appears to be the current face of this franchise, would Reyes be a better bet for the future? Is being “a face” that important?

Wright offers health and could be a great hitter if he could remain a little more consistent. However, that slack could be, and currently has been, picked up by Ike Davis who has clearly shown the power he has. Comparing the two numbers wise:

• Wright: .254 BA, 16 RBI, 5 HR, 7 2B, .354 OBP,  and 32 SO
• Davis: .314 BA, 22 RBI, 6 HR, 8 2B, .398 OBP, and 25 SO

The numbers are close, with the exception of the batting average.

There is also the defense element or rather the lack thereof. A number of sports writers and fans who keep speaking about Wright’s defense leaving something to be desired. I have to admit that there have been quite a few games where he is throwing to first where I hold my breath and pray he doesn’t overthrow the ball. Could he improve? At 28 years old, possibly.

Now think about Reyes. He brings so much more the table. When Reyes is at the plate, fans get excited just because of what he could do on the bases. At the speed he runs, you have to wonder if his feet are even hitting the ground. He can turn doubles into triples and triples into an in the park home run. He steals bases with the best of them having only been caught one time. He is currently at 11 and it is only May.

He only has 11 strikeouts, 10 doubles and two triples which will undoubtedly go up. If you want to talk batting average, how does .325 strike you? These are all great numbers for a lead-off hitter. While Angel Pagan has become among the fan favorites, he could be a lead-off guy, but you cannot compare him to Reyes. He is the only player who can fill that number one spot. If he gets one base, he immediately puts the team in a position to strike first in any game.

Reyes is the true catalyst of this team now and in the future.

The number one argument that you can make about him: health. He has a poor health history with this team. You can say that he is healthy, but for how long?

Taking all of these factors into account, who do you choose? My decision is made. Mets GM, Sandy Alderson, could dump payroll by trading Wright and use that money to re-sign Reyes.

What is your decision?

Here is what some fans on the CFoD fan page had to say:

Alan L.: I would have to say Reyes he brings more to the game.

Erich W.: Wright is more stable, has always been healthy, and still produces decent numbers. although Wright may have more trade value at this time it all depends on who we are getting for the respective player…

Jon L. M.: Wright is easier to replace than Reyes. Good shortstops and lead-off hitters are far more valuable than third basemen. When you factor in Wright’s strikeout propensity over the last three seasons, it makes it easy.

Allen S: Ouch a tough question! Both bring different things to the table a great lead off man can set the table for the run producers like Wright. But u would be losing a 100 RBI in Wright. I would find a way to keep both.

Beltran Making Move To Right Field

After conversations with manager Terry Collins, Carlos Beltran is expected to announce his shift from center field to right field. While it seems this move was inevitable, it just seems a little awkward. No more stellar catches in center field by the three-time Gold Glove winner? Sacrilege to many, I can assure you. Especially to yours truly.

Despite knowing this would happen, many expected him to be the Opening Day center fielder because he is the more experienced veteran. After opening eyes last season as acting center fielder in Beltran’s absence last year, it seems Angel Pagan has inherited that position.

This is a smart move, especially so early into Spring Training. As I had mentioned in a previous blog, Beltran needed to make this decision now because he has not played right field since 2000 and that was only for three games. So he could use some time there now because he has to get acclimated to what will feel like a new position for him. He’ll definitely have his job cut out for him at Citi Field with the way the ball bounces around out there. This move will help to extend his career as well with that arthritic knee nagging him.

This just proves that he indeed has the best interest of the team at heart, unlike some players of whom I will not make mention of. The announcement is set to be made by Beltran and Collins later today.

So we bid adieu to the days of Number 15 taking that long stroll out to center. Instead, it will be a hop, skip and jump away (of which he should not try with that knee) from the dugout. We wish him as much success in right field as he has had in center.

Source: NJ.com

Beltran: Questionable For Center Field or Being Cautious?

Terry Collins has made a decision regarding Carlos Beltran and his playing time come the start of the spring training games. Many have begun to question the center fielder’s ability to play the position he was destined to play. To protect his premier outfielder, Collins has decided to err on the side of caution and have Beltran play the role of the designated hitter until around March 10th.

Why?

Well, the Mets manager wants to be careful with Beltran’s surgically repaired knee and ease him into playing baseball again.

Once again I have to ask the question: Why? Beltran played for two and half months last year. He has been training all winter long. If Collins is so worried, why not just get him prepared to make a transition to right field which some believe would extend Beltran’s career? If there are indeed questions about his knee, Beltran should not be in center field. At least not at Citi Field where it is like an abyss.

In 2010, Beltran hit .255, his second worse year since 2000 with the Kansas City Royals when he batted a .247. I understand if the Mets wanted Beltran to get into hitting again. Last year, with that average, was definitely not one of his finer moments. Personally, I think he can use whatever hitting chances he is given.

According to the Daily News, the Mets center fielder is currently involved in a running program to test his knee. Where was this running program all winter long? Did he just start the program?

I am not worried about Beltran’s defense. How can you question the defense of a guy with three Gold Gloves, all with the Mets and their abyss of an outfield? This guy covers an amazing amount of ground. Yet, if there are questions about his knee, you have to move him to right field and give Angel Pagan center. I just worry that he will only have two and half weeks to prepare for a position he might have to play and has not played since 2000 with the Royals. FYI, he played right field for only three games. If he is going to be transitioned to right field, he needs to start preparing now for it.

So to answer the above question:

Beltran is both questionable for center field and being cautious.

2011 Mets: Believe or Not Believe? That Is The Question

The answer to that question has been answered by all of the baseball preview magazines with a very loud:

You must be out of your mind if you believe.

Spring Training has finally arrived kiddies and so have the preview rags. So what do these magazines have to say? If I were you, I would not be quick to want to the answer. Almost every magazine I have looked at, including Sporting News, has the Mets finishing in fourth place behind the Florida Marlins. Shocked? Not so much. What shocked me, to a certain degree was the USA Today baseball preview which had the Mets finishing in last place.

You all know I feel the Mets will finish in at least third place ahead of the Marlins who, by the way, have been a thorn in our side for a few years now. I would love it if the Mets could kill them.

I have been saying for a month now that new manager Terry Collins is going to work wonders with this team. He has made it known to the players fighting for their jobs where he stands and that is a good sign. The players know he will not stand for nonsense, super stardom matters very little as does big contracts. If you don’t produce, you get cut loose. Simple as that.

Roster spots are being speculated now and I have issues with the one by the Sporting News predictions. Right away, and rightfully so, left and center field positions are given to Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran. As for right field, there is no mention of Angel Pagan. They have Fernando Martinez as competing for the job but the team bringing in a right fielder. What is wrong with Pagan in right? What reason do they have to believe that a kid who has been ravaged by injuries will even make it to the bigs this year?

That was my big issue. It is as if Pagan is the one who will be coming off the bench. If this were to happen, which I can almost guarantee will not, it will be a slap in Pagan’s face because he has done more then enough to prove that he deserves a starting role with this team. If you want to have Martinez come off the bench to get his feet soaked in because Beltran is likely to leave at the end of the season, that is fine. You just do not tell a player who has shown he can play everyday that he is coming off the bench for a kid who has not proven anything.

The Mets do have questions with their pitching staff. Spots four and five are up in the air as is the bullpen. Faith remains in Mike Pelfrey, Jonathon Niese and R.A. Dickey. Losing Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi will have an impact on this team. The pitching is the only worry I would have with the 2011 New York Mets. Pitching coach Dan Warthen certainly has his job cut out for him.

Bottom line:

The Mets will not make it to the playoffs this year. I strongly believe that. Will they make a push and do better than every body seems to think? I will say yes. When you think of the talent this team has plus the addition of Terry Collins as manager, there is no question in my mind this is a team that will produce and give the Atlanta Braves a run for second place. I feel they will end the season in third behind Atlanta, but making Atlanta very nervous.

This city will get excited again. Not for the team in the South Bronx, but the team that nobody wants to believe in. The Mets will do special things this year.

So should Mets fans believe? Yes! Until the September tells you otherwise, you believe. You go into this 2011 season with the battle cry that Tug McGraw made specifically for the New York Mets on your lips:

YA GOTTA BELIEVE!

Angel and Mets Come To Terms

The Mets and Angel Pagan have reached an agreement. The fan favorite outfielder will remain with the Mets by signing a one year, $3.5 million deal. Nobody is more happy about this than Pagan. He had this to say about the deal on Mets.com:

For the first time in my career, I have a spot on the team. But I’m not taking anything for granted. I can’t wait for Spring Training to start. I think we’ll be better than people are predicting.

I am in agreement with Pagan on how this season will play out. So be happy, Mets fans. You guardian Angel will be around to protect the outfield.

Also avoiding arbitration is the Mets golden ticket, R.A. Dickey. Here is a guy nobody really expected anything from, but got everything they could ask for. I think Dickey definitely got what he deserved in a two year, $7.8 million contract. He proved to be the biggest signing and the best deal that Omar Minaya got us. Unfortunately, Dickey’s comment are always famous last words with Mets pitchers:

If I want to be part of the solution here — and I do — giving some things up might help the collective good. I was willing to do that for this organization, and still am.

I think pitchers should be banned from ever saying what they hope to accomplish with this organization. Or any player, for that matter. Dickey remains with the Mets through 2012, but he can be kept for an additional $5 million for the 2013 season.

All in all, I am very happy with the way things are coming together. How about you?

“Do what the back of your baseball card says you do.”

Terry Collins was on with Mike Francesa, king of the sports blow hards, earlier today. They discussed Spring Training and more.

• Fundamentals is a huge part of his game. He plans on working hard on that with these guys. I like hearing this because it seems that over the past year or two, some of the players are lacking fundamentals which leads to poor results, like finishing the season in fourth place.

  So expect to see Jose Reyes and David Wright play much better among others. Plus, with all of the young kids coming to ST, it is nice to know they will be get some great lessons. He compares the Japanese players to American players.

• Collins stated that one of the biggest question he has had to answer so far was regarding Carlos Beltran and Angel Pagan. Who will play center field and right field respectively?
  The answer: Collins and company will be sitting down with Beltran to discuss his knee. Beltran will have a chance to prove he can play CF during the early part of the exhibition games. If he fails to prove it, he could possibly be playing RF. Beltran says he will do whatever is best for the club. This will be settled within 10-12 games of camp.
• Second base? There are four names being discussed with Luis Castillo being among them. An interesting comment that Collins made about Castillo which nobody really wants to own up to because they hate him so much is “[he] is still one of the toughest guy in the National League to strike out…Daniel Murphy, we need to figure out a way to get his bat into the lineup. Justin Turner and Brad Davis we just got in the Rule 5 Draft who people are saying they are going to be very good offensive players“.
• “At the end of camp you take the best 25.” Contracts does not determine who makes the team out of ST. So if Castillo and Oliver Perez suck, they are staying down South. Personally, I would like to see Perez stay South of the border. But that’s just me.
• Collins feels that Young is a perfect fit for the Mets, especially with the dimensions of Citi Field since “he is a fly ball pitcher“.
• Reyes will be the leadoff hitter. Collins feels he is quite possibly the best leadoff hitter in baseball. He will allow Reyes to fly if he feels he has the opportunity. Collins feels he will have a big year. He feels you have to let Reyes do his thing and taking pitches, by the second batter, will do that. Angel Pagan is probably that batter because he has grown into his own over the past couple of years.

Personally, my favorite quote of the interview was this:

The Blow hard: Reyes, Pagan, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, that’s a pretty good 1-6.

Collins: I totally agree and I totally believe in that line-up. You know I have explained it to each and every guy…why I’ve done what I’ve done…I’ve told them that if they just do what the back of their baseball cards  says that they do every year, we’ve got a chance to put some runs on the board and if we do that, our pitching throws the ball over the plate, and our defense will take care of the rest, I think we have a chance, we can at least compete on a nightly basis.

Maybe while Collins is down in Port St. Lucie waiting for the players, he should take the baseball card of each player and hang it in their locker.

Collins has a style, and image, that he wants this team to project going into this season. I could not agree more:

When you know the Mets are coming to town, your defense had better be on its toes because we are going to run the bases. We have foot speed, we’ve got guys throughout the lineup that can steal a base, they can score from second, they can take an extra base. We’re going to play defense behind you. We’re not going to beat ourselves.

I’m looking forward to Spring Training and the 2011 Mets season. I liked what I heard with Collins. He seems like he is a no nonsense type of guy. I am definitely in his corner. He has my full support. This is a guy the Mets really needed. I think he might actually be better than Bobby Valentine.

To catch the entire interview in case you missed it, click here.

Arbitration Null and Void

The New York Mets and Mike Pelfrey have come to terms with a deal that allows them to avoid arbitration hearings. Thank goodness! I hate those hearings. Well, here is the breakdown: Pelfrey gets $3.925 million for this season with a possible $500,000 in performance bonuses.

Not too shabby for a guy who took a bit of plunge during the summer when the team really needed him to step it up. But I’m not judging.

The next players are Angel Pagan and R.A. Dickey who, as Adam Rubin reports, will begin exchanging numbers on Tuesday.

Anybody want to bet Dickey and the Mets will come to terms, but Pagan and the Mets will be going to hearing in February?

Keys To Success In 2011 By Angel Pagan

“Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat.” – Malcolm Forbes

Nobody knows about defeat more than the Mets. Since 2007 they have been killed up and down the NL East and by the media. I tend to agree with Mr. Forbes. I’m sure the 2004 Boston Red Sox team agree as well after being cursed for 86 years to come back from a 3-0 deficit to steal the AL championship from their nemesis, the Yankees. Nothing is sweeter than the taste of victory. Unless, of course, it is sweet revenge.

Well, Mets outfielder, Angel Pagan, claims to know the keys to a successful 2011 as he stated in the NY Daily News. I’ll list them for you:

1. A different atmosphere, a new start and that’s what we’re looking for.
2. Carlos Beltran will have a bounce-back year. He’s going to be key to where we want to be, turning things around.
3. Jose (Reyes), if he’s healthy, he’s the best leadoff hitter in the game.
4. The Mets must “find a way to go to someone else’s house and do the same damage” they did atCiti Field.

He seems to have forgotten about our pitching situation. It is not just the starting rotation. Quite honestly, I am more worried about our bullpen than I am about the rotation. While GM Alderson has been making moves, they are not the moves the fans would like.

What would the fans like? BIG signings. They want a splash. How has that worked out for them over the years? EPIC FAIL!

So the Mets are going small but with a different attitude brought about by Pagan. I will acknowledge that on paper the Mets have not got a chance in hell. I mean, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a better shot. Well, let’s not go that extreme, but you get the picture. However, Pagan is thinking that if the Mets can get their act together, they have a legitimate shot.

Look at the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks. Who did they have compared to the mighty Yankees? Yet they managed to shut them down with only two stellar pitchers in Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Did I mention that they had two starters with ERA’s over five? The greatest idiots to have ever lived in Boston beat the Yankees. It seems smaller market teams, including the Florida Marlins, manage to get it done.

So my question is: Why not the New York Mets?

Was it really that big of a deal that they did not even look at Cliff Lee or any other star pitcher or position player? You can have all the stars. Will that bring you a championship? No way! The Yankee teams from 2001-2008 can tell you that. They paid out of their butts with no rings to show for it.

Pagan has the right idea. It takes strength, determination, courage, and, most importantly, CHANGE. The change is definitely what they got up and down Citi Field. Now this team will need to go into Spring Training, not as a defeated team, but as a team that has a shot at taking their rivals who is everybody in the NL East.

The game of life is about attitude. Why shouldn’t baseball be too? LET’S GO METS!