Mets Morning Highlights

Josh Satin got the Mets started early with this solo shot.


Juan Lagares doing Juan Lagares things!


Kirk Nieuwenhuis rocks a three-run homer to dead center field.


Zach Lutz puts the Mets up for good.

The Mets, First Base and The Need For Stability

I'm not gonna sit here and rehash the past season. It's over and done with. We know about Ike, we know about Duda, we know about Satin. I am an Ike fan, but I'm done being an apologist for the guy. I also hate Duda, but I'm willing to run him out there if we have to. Satin is a nice player too. He's not someone I envision as an everyday player. One thing we can assume based on reports is that most likely Duda and Satin will still be on this team come spring. Davis is still here though, so for now you have to include him in the discussion.




Photo credit to Michael Baron

Based on the anticipated moves yet to be made, people are calling for a Duda/Satin platoon. As many of you have probably already figured out from interacting with me, I am against platoons. I've become more open minded to the thought recently, especially with the outfield. However, I will not sit here and be cool with a first base platoon. First base is a core position for a baseball team. It's very hard to be successful when you do not have stability at the first base position. First basemen make many of the calls when it comes to cuts and throws from the outfield. On top of that, infielders like to be comfortable with the person they're throwing the ball to every night. I don't believe first base platoons lead to overall team success. If you look at the last 10 World Series winners, the one common theme is stability and production from their first basemen.

2013 - Bos - Mike Napoli             (139 gms, .259 BA, 23 HR, 92 RBI)
2012 - SF - Brandon Belt              (145 gms, .275 BA, 7 HR, 56 RBI)
2011 - StL - Albert Pujols             (147 gms, .299 BA, 37 HR, 99 RBI)
2010 - SF - Aubrey Huff               (157 gms .290 BA, 26 HR, 86 RBI) *100 gms @1B
2009 - NYY - Mark Teixeira        (156 gms, .292 BA, 39 HR, 122 RBI)
2008 - Phi - Ryan Howard            (162 gms, .251 BA, 48 HR, 146 RBI)
2007 - Bos - Kevin Youkalis        (145 gms, .288 BA 16 HR, 83 RBI)
2006 - StL - Pujols                        (143 gms, .331 BA, 49 HR, 137 RBI)
2005 - ChiW - Paul Konerko        (158 gms, .283 BA, 40 HR, 100 RBI)
2004 - Bos - Kevin Millar             (150 gms, .297 BA, 18 HR, 74 RBI) *69 gms @ 1B
                     Doug Mientkiewicz  ( 49 gms, .215 BA, 1 HR, 10 RBI)

With the exception of 2004, when the Red Sox traded mid-season for Mientkiewicz, every team has had a first baseman who played at least 100 games at the position for their respective team. In 2010, Aubrey Huff spent most of June and July filling in the OF for the Giants, but was the teams primary first baseman the majority of the season. And aside from Mientkiewicz/Millar in 2004 and Brandon Belt in 2012, these first baseman have been power hitting run producers in the middle of the line up. I know all the Bill James wannabes are going to have something to say about the stats I've chosen to use. I only used basic stats just to paint a picture of what a typical first baseman usually projects as.

I am in no way comparing the 2014 Mets with these great teams. I don't believe that even with the moves the Mets have made that they are to be taken seriously as championship contenders. They will be competitive and they will be entertaining, but obviously there is more to be done. The Mets do have a lot more holes that need to be filled, including shortstop and the bullpen. I believe though that if the Mets anticipate contending soon, then first base needs to be solidified. No matter who the last man standing is, either Ike or Duda, then you're going to have to use 2014 to gauge whether they are your first basemen or not. Otherwise it's time to cut the cord and find someone who can go play first base everyday. 

Talk Mets and insult me on Twitter @GetsThruBuckner

Late September Race

As the 2013 MLB season nears its completion, teams in both the National League and American League are fighting for the opportunity to participate in the postseason race in October. While teams like the Reds, Cardinals, and Pirates are battling it out for the NL Central divisional crown and teams including the Yankees, Rays, Indians, Orioles, and even Royals are playing to claim the second AL Wild Card and punch their ticket into October, their is a different race occurring on the opposite side of the standings. With only 17 games left in the Metropolitan's 2013 season and recently being mathematically eliminated from playoffs, the only race occurring in Queens is the chase for a top-10 worst record in baseball.

Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) if an MLB team is interested in re-signing a player when he becomes a free agent, they can offer him a qualifying offer. If the player accepts this qualifying offer, which is the average salary of the top 125 players from the previous year, he remains on the team for one more year. But in the case where it is declined, the qualifying offer is a way for the team whom he walks on to get compensation for losing this particular player. The reason the Mets are in the hunt for top-10 worst record in the MLB is because those 10 teams have their first round pick protected and can sign a player who has declined a qualifying offer and still keep their top-10 pick.

Last off-season, the Mets showed high interest in free agent Michael Bourn but were too stubborn to lose their first round pick (11th overall) and chose to pass on the speedy outfielder. Bourn went on to sign a 4 year, $48 million dollar contract with the Indians and certainly has not played to his paycheck as he has a slash line of .260/.312/.344 with only 22 stolen bases.

Currently, the Mets own the 7th worst record in baseball with only 17 games remaining. And yes we all know about an epic collapse with 17 games left although if the Mets complete the year on a high note and don't have the protected first round pick these 17 games most likely wouldn't go down in history. But should the Mets give up on the season to guarantee that top-10 pick? The rest of the season is not only important towards evaluating the rookies and young players such as den Dekker, Eric Young, Tejada, Satin, Flores, Duda but it is also key for Terry's future as Mets manager.

With millions of dollars coming off the books this off-season and all the holes in the Mets roster (corner outfields, shortstop, first base) to go along with Sandy willingness to spend money, I think regardless if the first round pick is protected the Mets must go after players such as Choo, Ellsbury, Pence, Cano, Lincecum because that would not only fortify our roster and put us in a position to make a run at the playoffs but it would send a message to the fans that the year's of losing must come to an end and to do that this front office is going to have to roll the dice one way or another. (And by the way, Cano looks great in blue and orange!)

What You'll Miss While You're Watching Football Today

The Mets continue to limp down the stretch having lost five of their last six and and fifteen of their last twenty-four.  Today, they will send Daisuke Matsuzaka and his 10.95 ERA to the mound in an attempt to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Indians.

On the bright side, the Mets are doing everything in their power to ensure the Yankees are also on the outside looking in when the playoffs begin in a few weeks.  With the help of the Mets, the Cleveland Indians have now won five straight and leapfrogged the Yankees in the AL Wild Card race.

Long story short... Today's lineup features Josh Satin at designated hitter, Anthony Recker behind the dish and Justin Turner at the hot corner.  AKA... enjoy your football and have a beer for us too!