At Least You Have Your Health

The Mets have had years with more and more serious injuries. However, 2011 is quickly becoming another glimpse at how abysmal the NY Met training staff seem to be. Bay... Pagan... Davis... Wright... I won't list Young or Mejia, those things will happen but it seems that we just can't get all our ducks in a row.

Now... the Mets have been close to healthy but if they actually could get ALL of the above players healthy at the same time it becomes a different team. Firstly, the pitching staff + Sanatana is much improved. Second, The teams speed combination of Reyes, Pagan and Wright is solid and scary. Murphy hitting in the 7th hole where he should be, Turner and Paulino providing bench support, Pridie there for defensive replacement work... the list goes on. The Mets with all their current injuries are not a .500 baseball team but if everyone could stick together and get healthy, this team is better than a lot of people think.

Lineup:
1. Jose Reyes, SS (One of the best lead-off hitters in baseball)
2. Angel Pagan, CF (Switch hitter with speed and some power)
3. David Wright, 3B (Power hitter with great speed)
4. Carlos Beltran, RF (Great hitter with great instincts)
5. Jason Bay, LF (Powerful righty bat)
6. Ike Davis, 1B (Powerful lefty bat and best 1B glove in baseball)
7. Daniel Murphy, 2B (Solid hitter and hard worker)
8. Josh Thole, C (Contact Oriented Catcher)

Rotation:
1. Johan Santana (Lefty with good stuff and great control)
2. Mike Pelfrey (A solid #3 pitcher)
3. Jonathon Niese (A good young pitcher who has potential for more)
4. R.A. Dickey (A knuckleballer who is gritty)
5. Dillon Gee (A solid inning eater who has earned a spot)

Bullpen:
CL - Francisco Rodriguez (Workhorse closer)
SU - Taylor Buchholz (GREAT setup guy)
SU - Jason Isringhausen (Veteran with control and a diverse arsenal)
MR - Pedro Beato (Hard throwing young reliever)
MR - Bobby Parnell (Harder throwing young reliever)
MR - Tim Byrdak (Capable left specialist)
MR - Mike O'Connor (Another LOOGY arm)
LR - Chris Capuano (Solid long man and great vs. lefties)

Bench:
C, Ronny Paulino (Power righty bat and solid catcher)
1B/2B/SS/3B, Justin Turner (Solid hitter who can play many positions)
OF, Jason Pridie (Good 4th OF)
OF, Scott Hairston (Veteran OF with power)
IF, Luis Hernandez (Defensive replacement)

Port St. Lucie 500

We've hit the home stretch, with the season opener only 6 games away. The races are all drawing to a close and some are already done and over with. All that we're left with is the things we know and the things we don't.

The Bench:

What We Know:

Ronny Paulino - Ronny Paulino will be up as the Mets secondary catcher as soon as the league will let him. HOWEVER... after Thole's super impressive spring... he might see a VERY small share of the platoon.

Scott Hairston - Scott Hairston locked up his spot on the bench the minute he signed his deal. He's also had a good spring, but he might NOT be on the bench. If Beltran is out, he might be the starting RF.

Willie Harris - Harris might be platooning with Hairston in RF while Beltran is sidelined. Met fans will scream and rave for Duda though.

Daniel Murphy - Murphy's glove was not up to 2B full time, but he will see ABs with regularity and see time backing up Wright, Davis and the Second Baseman.

Chin-Lung Hu - Hu was another lock from the moment that he landed on the Mets. He's not a long-term solution but if he plays well he could sign a low multi-year deal to be a bench player.

What We Don't Know:

Lucas Duda - Lucas Duda is the fan favorite to step in for an injured Beltran. The issue is that Duda has options and Evans does not.

Nick Evans - Let us say that Beltran does start the year on the DL. Alderson might opt to have Harris platoon to protect Evans from the waiver wire. It doesn't make GREAT sense but it does make SOME sense.

The Rotation:

Mike Pelfrey - Mr. Psycho, he's not going to blow you away. Mike Pelfrey is going to be the Met's #1 starter and that is based mostly on last season's success. Many people worry if his spring training woes will be reflected in the regular season.

Jonathan Niese - The Nose, knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men... he can smell it. Niese looks like he could be a break-out candidate in 2011. That could be my rose tinted Lennon specs though.

R.A. Dickey - Everyman, you can't help but like him because somewhere in Dickey... you see a little of yourself... or who you wish you could be. Capuano said, this morning, that he doesn't know how anyone can hit Dickey's pitching. He hasn't been as great as he was last year but... he wasn't that great last SPRING either.

Chris Young - Green Giant, Ho ho ho... Young looks about as solid and steady as almost any starter I've watched this spring. I think that a healthy season could see him return to 10+ wins easily.

Chris Capuano - Mets lower rotation... It's Chris-mas! Of the Chris', Capuano is the lefty. You might be confused because both are fairly intelligent, both are Caucasian and both could have great careers outside baseball.

The Bullpen:

What We Know:

Francisco Rodriguez - Frankie looks REALLY good. So good... that I think the Mets will be forced into his option.

Bobby Parnell - Parnell has been mixed in his outings but his job is safe.

Tim Byrdak - With O'Connor and Perez gone, nothing stands between Byrdak and global domina- I mean... being the lefty specialist.

Taylor Buchholz - Buchholz looks like he might end up being the 8th inning guy.

D.J. Carrasco - Carrasco has been good enough to get a job by anyone's standards... PLUS he's got a two year deal.

What We Don't Know:

Jason Isringhausen - Is he healthy NOW? Will he be healthy TOMORROW? What about a week from Thursday? If the Mets think Izzy can stay healthy, he's going to get a job.

Pedro Beato - Beato is near a lock too. He's got a great arm and he's a rule 5 pick. I can't see a scenario where the Mets don't keep him.

Manny Accosta - Accosta has done everything right... but is looking in from the outside. Don't feel too bad as he's sure to get a job somewhere if the Mets need to put him on waivers.

Blaine Boyer - Boyer has pitched REALLY well. Who has noticed... well... quite a few people. I think he's a long-shot to make the bullpen though.

Second Base:

Brad Emaus - Brad Emaus only faked his death as he carefully manipulated things from the shadows. Proving Murphy couldn't handle the position was rough and it was harder to get the bear to fall and crush Castillo all the way onto the Phillies... but he did it. Now... well... Emaus has proven he's alive. He went 4 for 4 yesterday with multiple hits against Jaime Garcia... PLUS a HR. He's drawn the walks he was touted for and finally looks to be pulling away with the position... as he was expected to.

Luis Hernandez - Henandez is still technically in the race but it's once again a long shot and I, for one, am happy about that.

Phlavio's 25:

Lineup: 8
1. Jose Reyes, SS (S)
2. Angel Pagan, CF (S)
3. David Wright, 3B (R)
4. Ike Davis, 1B (L)
5. Jason Bay, LF (R)
6. Scott Hairston, RF (R)
7. Josh Thole, C (L)
8. Brad Emaus, 2B (R)

Bench: 5
1. Ronny Paulino, C (R)
2. Willie Harris, OF (L)
3. Nick Evans, 1B/OF (R)
4. Daniel Murphy, IF (L)
5. Chin-Lung Hu, IF (R)

Rotation: 5
1. Mike Pelfrey, SP (R)
2. Jonathan Niese, SP (L)
3. R.A. Dickey, SP (R)
4. Chris Young, SP (R)
5. Chris Capuano, SP (L)

Bullpen: 7
CL. Francisco Rodriguez, RP (R)
SU. Taylor Buchholz, RP (R)
SU. Bobby Parnell, RP (R)
MR. Jason Isringhausen, RP (R)
MR. Pedro Beato, RP (R)
LHSP. Tim Byrdak, RP (L)
LR. D.J. Carrasco, RP (R)

Thoughts: The lineup looks a lot better with Beltran in it, but even without his presence, it's pretty solid. The bench, in my opinion, is great. You have hitting and defense and presence from both sides of the plate. (Duda would improve that.) The rotation is fine... a little vanilla maybe, but in Citi-Field they should keep the Mets in the game. The bullpen looks like a REAL strength. NOTE: if the Mets are sellers, only Beato and Parnell are guys the Mets would need to hold on to.

The Amazing Race

It's time for yet another edition of my weekly update on the Races in Met's camp. Some of the races are still wide open and some of them are getting ever closer to to being squared away. This morning Dillon Gee, Boof Bonser, Ryota Iggarashi, Taylor Tankersley, Dusty Ryan, Raul Chavez, Russ Adams and Jason Pridie were assigned to minor-league camp. This doesn't really close the book on most of the races but it does on one.

The Rotation:

Locked and Loaded:

Mike Pelfrey - Mike Pelfrey is the opening day starter regardless of how bad he's looked this spring. Thus far he seems far too hittable and some fans are pointing to the death of his therapist as the root of the issue. Whether it is or not is open for debate but his spot in the rotation is not even open to discussion.

Jonathan Niese - If you read the blog, you know that I love Jonathan Niese above all other healthy Met pitchers... currently on the major-league roster. He looks like he's a front-end starter who is going to go places and that has me excited. I think 2011 could be a break-out year for Niese and his enormous nose.

R.A. Dickey - You can't not like Dickey. TRY. See? He's the man. What with his fast knuckler, slow knuckler and pirate beard. Dickey will be the work-horse of the Mets rotation for the next two years. Knuckle-ballers can through about 9000 pitches before getting tired so I think that's fine.

Chris Young - Chris locked up a rotation spot about a week ago. It was hardly ever in doubt. He's not only looked healthy, but he's looked like he's going to be a PLUS pitcher... not just an inning eater.

Chris Capuano - With Gee gone, Capuano has locked up that 5th starter job. I would prefer the freedom of using Capuano as an LRP/LOOGY but until Santana can join the rotation, the Mets can't afford to do that.

Outside, Looking In:

Dillon Gee - Gee was demoted this morning and I think that it makes sense. Gee will be up this season but given the choice of letting Gee build confidence in AAA and having him flop in the majors... I think the Mets made the right call.

Pat Misch - Poor Misch... I think there is ZERO chance he makes the team. When exposed to waivers he'll likely get snagged by someone who needs a pitcher in AAA in case of emergency. He's done nothing wrong... he's just out of options and the Mets don't need him.

The Bullpen:

Locked and Loaded:

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez - Frankie has looked VERY good this spring. I think he might look good enough that he could be trade-able this season. That's a dream within a dream as the Mets don't want him to have the option lock and could actually get something in return.

Setup: Bobby Parnell - Parnell has made me nervous at times but he's still got a powerful arm and an assured role. He might slide down to Middle Relief if Buchholz or Isringhausen get off to good starts.

LOOGY: Tim Byrdak - Byrdak has won the LOOGY job, despite Perez just entering it. If Ollie gets a role on the team, it won't be at the expense of Byrdak who has looked AWESOME.

In The Mix:

Middle Relief/Long Relief: D.J. Carrasco - I've listed the Mix in order of how likely I think it is they make the team... so this top 4 is a pretty likely bunch. I don't love Carrasco but his two year deal pretty much secure his job.

Middle Relief: Pedro Beato - Mets don't want to lose Beato, who was a rule 5 pick, so expect him to make the team. I think at the same time, he's probably less of lights out reliever than Buchholz or Isringhausen. He's also a very different breed of pitcher.

Middle Relief/Setup: Taylor Buchholz - Buchholz has been near perfect this spring and could compete to be Frankie's setup guy in April. I still think he gets into trouble with walks.

Middle Relief/Setup: Jason Isringhausen - Everyone is rooting for Izzy... accept maybe Accosta, Misch and Perez. He's been effective and I thin would be a great asset to the team with his diverse repertoire.

Middle Relief/Long Relief: Manny Accosta - I only see Manny making the team if Alderson is willing to eat crow on D.J. Carrasco. I like Accosta better. I think he's more talented and has had the better spring but the two year commitment on D.J. looms large.

Long Relief: Pat Misch - Misch is not a lefty specialist. He could be a righty specialist... but that would be a waste. What he is... is an effective innings eater. What he'll be is waived. Yankees might be a team looking to claim.

LOOGY/Long Relief: Oliver Perez - Perez has not yet failed as a lefty specialist but the fact he entered THIS competition late leaves him miles behind Tim Byrdak. His $12 Mil contract and ability to pitch multiple innings puts him a peg over O'Connor.

LOOGY: Mike O'Connor - I'm not a giant fan of Mike but he's had a good spring. Even so... Byrdak has been better and he's easier to part with than Perez.

Outside, Looking In:

Ryota Iggarashi - Iggy has been great at times this spring but I don't think he's destined to make it as a Mets reliever.

Dillon Gee - Gee is going to go to AAA before he'll go into the pen. The Mets don't want Mejia to be the only reserve starter at AAA.

The Bench:

Locked and Loaded:

Ronny Paulino - My money is on Nickeas to serve as the backup until Ronny is allowed to return to the lineup. However ones elligable... Paulino will be the powerful right-handed side of the catching platoon.

Scott Hairston - Hairston will be on the bench... unless Beltran is on the DL to start the season. If THAT is the case, he'll platoon with Harris or Duda in RF and another bench spot will open up.

Willie Harris - Harris is going to be the defensive replacement for the OF. He'll come in late in games to give Beltran and Bay a break and to make some of those heart-wrenching defensive plays he used to make AGAINST the Mets.

Daniel Murphy - The Mets don't see Murphy starting at 2B. I still say he'll get plenty of starts there given his bat. However Murphy will serve as a super-sub and should get at least 1 AB a game.

Chin-Lung Hu - Hu has a job as the backup middle infielder. Why the Mets can't have Hu win the second base job is beyond my grasp. Apparently Luis Hernandez is a better hitter... because nobody is a better fielder.

In The Mix:

Lucas Duda - Like I said, Duda's shot at the bench/platoon role is dependent on Beltran's health. Mets will not risk losing Duda to waivers so they will need to plan his landing points carefully.

Nick Evans - Evans is probably going to miss out on winning a job with the Mets and I think they'll end up losing him to waivers. Perhaps if the Mets decide to send Duda down and part ways with Emaus, Evans will find a spot on the bench.

Brad Emaus - The Mets DO want to keep Emaus but he hasn't done much to win that starting 2B job. If he doesn't win the job and Beltran is healthy it's hard for me to see the Mets keeping him. There IS a chance Toronto will sell him back to us.

Luis and Justin will not be on the bench...

Second Base:

In The Mix:

Luis Hernandez - Collins made me very unhappy when someone let leak that Hernandez was winning the race and he didn't deny it. Luis Hernandez is the SECOND best fielder and probably the second worst hitter in the competition. Give me Castillo, Emaus, Murphy, Turner or Chin-Lung Hu over Hernandez.

Brad Emaus - He had a nice double on Wednesday, but he's not exactly blowing anyone away. The Mets would like him on the team but will have trouble doing that if he doesn't win the job out of spring training.

Outside, Looking In:

Justin Turner - Turner is going to wind up in AAA which isn't the end of the world, but the Mets will need to squeeze a lot of second basemen into AAA and AA. Turner, Satin, Valdespin, Havens... Plus Flores and Tovar should be moving up from A+ before long. Justin survived another round of cuts and had a BIG day at the plate yesterday. Think of his chances being similar to the Devil's chances of making the playoffs. He can not afford to lose ground from here on out.

Daniel Murphy - The Mets don't see Murphy as a starting 2B which is a shame because I think he give the Mets the best chance of winning. EVEN WITH THE INEVITABLE ERRORS. He'll be on the team and get ABs but I insist on complaining.

Lurking in the Shadows:

Reese Havens - If Havens is healthy to start the season and hits well in AA or AAA (wherever he lands) the Mets might have another Ike Davis situation. Met fans will be calling for Havens to be promoted a lot. Expect it.

Jordany Valdespin - Jordany needs to learn the HARDEST lesson a minor-leaguer can learn. He needs to learn to take a walk. If he does that quickly... he could come up and play 2B THIS year. If he does that by the end of the year, he'll be in the Reyes replacement running. Or... at least the 2012 2B race.

JUST CUT!!!

Luis Castillo - Andy Martino's lovely article today about how Mets fans are racist for wanting to be rid of Castillo aside. The Mets knew that their best chances of winning were not WITH Castillo in the lineup. Sandy Alderson will address the media later today and I'm sure it will sound something like, "The Mets and Luis came to the understanding that the best thing for both sides would be to drop Castillo now. We wish him well blah blah blah..." This means that the heat is on between Emaus, Turner and Hernandez with not much time left. Castillo, I'm sorry that you got demonized by the fans of New York for an error that was entirely Omar Minaya's.

P.S. Sandy... you couldn't make this announcement at the same time as you announced that Gee and others were being sent to the minors?

Phlavio's 25:

Lineup: 8
1. Jose Reyes, SS (S)
2. Angel Pagan, CF (S)
3. David Wright, 3B (R)
4. Ike Davis, 1B (L)
5. Jason Bay, LF (R)
6. Lucas Duda, RF (L)
7. Brad Emaus, 2B (R)
8. Josh Thole, C (L)

Bench: 5
1. Ronny Paulino, C (R) [Mike Nickeas, C (R)]
2. Scott Hairston, OF (R)
3. Willie Harris, OF/2B (L)
4. Daniel Murphy, Util (L)
5. Chin-Lung Hu, MI (R)

Rotation: 5
1. Mike Pelfrey, SP (R)
2. Jonathan Niese, SP (L)
3. R.A. Dickey, SP (R)
4. Chris Young, SP (R)
5. Chris Capuano, SP (L)

Bullpen: 7
CL. Francisco Rodriguez, RP (R)
SU. Bobby Parnell, RP (R)
SU. Taylor Buchholz, RP (R)
MR. Jason Isringhausen, RP (R)
MR. Pedro Beato, RP (R)
LOOGY. Tim Byrdak, RP (L)
LRP. Manny Accosta, RP (R)

Carlos Beltran on 15-Day DL

And They're Off!

There are four battles currently being waged in the Mets Spring Training Camp. Who will take the 5 available spots on the major league bench? Who will make the rotation? Who will make the bullpen? Who will become the starter at second base? Thus far, we have a few things we KNOW and a few things seem clearer.

The Bench:

Who's Definitely Out:

Luis Castillo - No, he's not definitely off the team but he's not going to stick with the Mets as a bench player. Compare Castillo's ability to play 2B with Murphy, Emaus, Turner and Hu... who can all play multiple positions and tell me who is going to make the bench.

Who's Definitely In:

Ronny Paulino - It's a bit of a duh, though Mike Nickeas will be the guy who starts the year backing up Thole.

Scott Hairston - Hairston is capable of playing all three OF positions and while Harris has the better overall glove, Scott is the one who doesn't have a minor league contract.

Stock Up:

Daniel Murphy - He's played GOOD 3B, can play adequate 1B and looked okay at 2B. He still probably wins the starting job but he's got a great bench skill set and I don't think the Mets would let that slip away.

Nick Evans - He's played himself back into the legit picture of being on the bench. Collins likes him, he's got power and he's out of options. This means that if the Mets don't make room, he's going to be taken. As much as I like Hairston's bat, I'd prefer not losing Evans who has much more potential.
Stock Down: Chin-Lung Hu - Wow! The kid can field. He can also hit weak grounders to the infield. It's rough to give a spot to a guy who is as close as anyone to an automatic out.

The Rotation:

Who's Definitely Out:

Olliver Perez - The Mets have made it official. We have seen Ollie start his last game for the Mets. He's still alive in the race to be a reliever but even that is a bit iffy given that Ollie is as reliable a pitcher as Ozzie Osbourne is reliable to get the words to the National Anthem correct.

Who's Definitely In:

Mike Pelfrey - Ace until Santana returns.

Jonathan Niese - Looked like he might be the Mets top pitcher to start the season.

R.A. Dickey - Looked sharp and in command.

Stock Up:

Chris Young - He starts today but the buzz is that his velocity is back up a bit and he's got a firm hold of the #4 spot right now.

Chris Capuano - Mets seem attached to him relieving but he's pitched well this whole time. I think he'll get a start next week.

Stock Down:

D.J. Carrasco - He's got to worry about making the bullpen at this point.

The Bullpen:

Who's Definitely In:

Francisco Rodriguez - He's the closer and that is a lock.

Bobby Parnell - He may not win the 8th inning job or be the closer of the future but he's got a spot in the pen with his name on it.

Stock Up:

Pedro Beato - Beato has an electric arm and the Mets have liked him for a long time. They DO NOT want to let Beato slip away. Beato has the inside track right now to make the team.

Jason Isringhausen - Jason will retire if he doesn't make the team. I like his chances and I love that he has 6 pitches to hurl at you. He might work his way into that 8th inning job.

Ryota Iggarashi - Iggy was a disappointment in 2010 but he's impressed his coaches in 2011 and might be a part of the mix.

Chris Capuano - Right now, Chris looks like he could win a rotation spot but he'll make the bullpen before not getting ANY job.

Tim Byrdak - The only pitcher I've seen come in and inherit runners. I'd say Byrdak is winning that LOOGY race.

Stock Down:

Manny Alvarez - Alvarez will go back to the minors and probably close for AAA Buffalo. He's got talent and a strong arm but he's just not ready.

Manny Accosta - Accosta still has a shot and I think he's a good reliever. I question if HE believes that too.

Olliver Perez - Ollie had an awful outing and a passable outing. In his favor, the Mets owe him $12 Million. Against him, every fan of the Mets, the fact he's not experienced as a relief pitcher and physics.

Second Base:

Stock Up:

Daniel Murphy - Murphy has only had one start at 2nd but it went well and that is what matters. It's the first step towards him winning the position (as most fans think he will).

Ruben Tejada - Somebody must have taken issue with me calling him a BPAB (Bench Player At Best). Tejada has hit and hit as well as anyone on the Mets (except maybe Nick Evans and Fernando Martinez) this spring. If he continues, I guess the Mets can have offense AND defense up the middle.

Stock Down:

Luis Castillo - His bat and legs aren't going to win him the job so when he has errors in the field... all those easy outs look even worse.