With Damien Easley out with a season ending injury it has sent the Mets scurrying for reinforcement. No matter where they go for a replacement it will be very hard to replace Easley and his very productive right handed bat off the bench. The best bat now at the Mets disposal is Ruben Gotay’s as he has hit a blistering .361 vs. left handed pitching.
Some of the names out there are not really overwhelming. Jeff Conine is 41 years old and does not give Willie Randolph the versatility he likes in his bench players. Miguel Cairo? He has signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals. Big deal. Been there done that with Cairo. Rich Aurilia is an intriguing player as he has some versatility, he’s a professional hitter and he’s a Brooklyn guy but the big draw back here is I can’t see how he clears waivers as the Braves and Phillies would block than tin a heartbeat.
When A Hern was brought up I was surprised as I figured the guy to bring up would be Fernando Tatis. Tatis is hitting .267/.350/.474 in Nawlins’ with 19 HR against PCL righty’s he’ hitting .303/.411/.468. He was a regular in the bigs and he can play 1B as it seems the Mets not only need a right handed bat off the bench but they also need insurance for Delgado as you know his injury is worse than the Mets are letting on.
The question is what happens when Endy Chavez comes back at the end of the week? Best case scenario is if Chavez can stay out until September 1st when the roster’s can expand or A Hern stays up for a week until Chavez is given the green light to go.
Maybe this team is better than I think as I’m worried about who gets to sit on the dugout bench for ¾ of a game.
Tim Marchman the best baseball writer in town has a great article in the NY Sun today on the test the Pads will give the Mets this week. The three wins against the Nats were great but this week the Pads and Dodgers come to town then it’s on to Philly for four games and three in Atlanta. If the Mets are still in first place and I don’t have an ulcer on Labor Day then it will top off a great summer.
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This post was written by kranepool on August 20, 2007
UPDATE AS OF 6pm
The New York Mets today acquired first baseman/outfielder Jeff Conine from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor leaguer infielder Jose Castro and minor league outfielder Sean Henry.
This is not a bad deal. He can provide pop off the bench that Easley did. I know he is 41, but he was the best option out there at this moment. Now all we have to worry about is the pen really. But the question is “What do we do with Mota?” I assumed cannot send him down to the minors because of his contract and he is probabily out of options as a 7 year vet. Anyone know the deal with that? I remember in 2000 the mets option out another ineffective releiver In Rich Rodgriquez who had similar service time like Mota. As for a replacement why not try Pelfrey? He throws hard and gets a lot of ground balls when pitching at this best. The Dodgers almost always start out their best pitching prospects in the pen. Just a thought. And Joe Smith cannot be worst then Mota or Sele. His numbers have been good lately at Triple A.
Even with Pelfrey struggling in “Nawlins I’d love to see him get a shot in the pen but I don’t think that will happen (along with Joe Smith rejoining the Mets) until September 1st.