Is There Something Missing On The Bench?

Over at the Gotham Baseball Forum, screen name Not4Nuttin writes the following about the Mets bench:

The Mets will likely carry 5 or 6 players on the bench this year, and 11 or 12 pitchers. Last year, I believe (but someone correct me if I'm wrong), they carried 12 relievers for most of the year and only 5 bench players. As it stands now, assuming Castro is not a starter, we have 3 bench players that are locked in for next season, and a 4th(Endy) who is a virtual lock:

C Ramon Castro $2,300,000
INF/Util Damon Easley $950,000
INF/Util Marlon Anderson $1,050,000
OF Endy Chavez $2,750,000 (salary is an estimate)

That leaves one spot open assuming they carry 12 pitchers. And, I'd assume it will be Ruben Gotay (at about $480,000, again an estimate), as we need someone who can fill in at SS and 3B. It strikes me as a bit weird that we'll be carrying 3 natural 2B on the bench in Anderson, Easley and Gotay, but that seems the route we are going to go. Of course, Easley and Anderson can also play the corner OF spots (with Anderson even playing a little CF the past few years), and each can also play 1B, and possible 3B and Easley can even apparently play some SS as well (having played a decent number of games at SS each of the past several years, except last year).

But doesn't it seem a bit odd going with a bench like this? I like the bench, but it feels like we are missing a key piece. Is it foolish to think that Gotay will be the last piece, or will the Mets exile him back to AAA and have some other veteran bat for the bench? I hope not. Its just that looking at this bench, it seems like something is missing.

Met Re-Sign Anderson For Two Years

Over At Sports Illistrated they write about the Mets re-signing pinch hitter Marlon Anderson for two years:

Pinch-hitting specialist Marlon Anderson is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing Tuesday to a $2.2 million, two-year contract.

One of baseball's top pinch-hitters, Anderson again was at his best off the bench. He went 10-for-29 (.345) with one homer and 14 RBIs as a Mets pinch-hitter this year. He has a .295 career average with eight homers and 44 RBIs in 251 pinch-hit at-bats, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

My List Of Demands To Willie Randolph

from MetsLifer.com

Ok, Willie. Now you can go take a vacation since Omar has announced that you're not going to be fired (yet). But don't think that you can go manage this team the same way you did this year.

Nope. Some changes need to be made. There's no negotiating these points. It's my way or the highway. So read them carefully. Memorize them. Tattoo them on your body if that's what it takes. I want these points to roll off your tongue as if you were naming your children.

Here are my demands:

1. Bunt more - You have possibly the fastest team in baseball next year if Reyes, Gomez, & Chavez are all back on the team. And them with Wright, Beltran and possibly Gotay and you have 6 guys who can steal 20 bases. Don't be afraid to bunt, especially if Chavez/Gomez/Reyes are on 3rd base and there's only 1 out. You'll add more runs and avoid more double plays. You'll thank me for this later when you win manager of the year.

2. Erase Guillermo Mota from your memory - Guillermo who? That's right. Never heard of him. Is he a hot shot second baseman? No? Then I'm not interested.

3. Demand bullpen help from Omar - Omar preaches pitching but come the trading deadline we got Jeff Conine. You've got to let Omar what you need to win. Sometimes he gets his own ideas. Speak up, be heard.

4. Bring back Luis Castillo - The guy's legs are going to fall off at any second, but he'd still bat .300 for this team. He's the kind of no nonsense, get the job done while sacrificing yourself type of player that New York loves, and needs. Think Mark Bavaro at second base. He's the only guy who consistently came through down the stretch outside of Wright & Beltran.

5. Defend your guys - Willie you're always quick to say that Mota's "your guy" or these are "my guys" and I'm sticking with them. Well show them some support from time to time on the field. Marlon Anderson & Paul Lo Duca are getting hosed by the umpires and you lally gag out on the field and don't even put up an argument. Get tossed from a game once in a while. The fans will love you for it. I know this against every fiber of your being, but we need to see your passion in more than words in a post game interview.

6. Bring back Marlon Anderson - This guy is our modern day Rusty Staub. He doesn't have to start a game the whole year and he'd come through in the clutch for us. Must have.

7. Have faith in your young studs - Milledge can play. Gomez has got talent. Gotay has got skills. Don't be afraid to let them play. Milledge was leading the team in batting with runners in scoring position and you buried him in the 8th spot or made him platoon with Damion Easley in right. If they show they can play, let them. I want you to protect them and not force them into the spotlight too early, but please let them help us win ball games. We don't want any more Julio Franco's or Jeff Conine's, old veterans who are supposed to add help but end up just hurting. Youth movement my friend. Remember these youths turn into pretty good veterans.

8. Tell Mike and the Mad Dog No More Interviews - Tell WFAN you'll do all your interviews with Steve Sommers or Joe Baningo. Until Mike and the Mad Dog become decent radio personalities again, you're cutting them off. They want to hate the Mets, let them. But you don't have to feed their fury.

Those are my demands, Mr. Randolph. You've got all offseason to work on them.

With Or With Out Delgado?

Can the Mets do well in the playoffs without our first baseman?

If Carlos Delgado comes back from his hip injury, will he be the hitter he has been for the majority of the year, or will he be the hot hitter he was before he went down. We've seen streaks of brilliance throughout this year, where he would string together a few games with big hits or home runs. He has consistently driven in runs, driving in 80 this year, even though it seems like 18. He continually has lacked the clutch hitting, and usually strikes out in big situations.

While Delgado has been out Shawn Green, Jeff Conine, and even Marlon Anderson have filled in at first. Green has been a hot hitter as of late, smacking doubles and going the other way nicely. He also holds the longest current streak in the NL of games at first without an error.

Conine hits the ball well, but all of his balls seem to find the other teams glove. He will sting a ball, and it will end up going right to the shortstop or second basemen. He is decent at first, but has limited mobility.

Anderson, as we all know, is a pinch hitting master. He is a utility player, most likely being able to fill in anywhere but pitcher or catcher. He can play well at all positions, but doesn't excel at any particular position.

With Green hitting the way he is, we might be breaking even at first, especially the way Carlos has been hitting all year. I still feel that Delgado is underrated at first base, but Green can play the bag well.

In conclusion, we will need Delgado back, even if he isn't 100% and maybe doesn't even get the start every game. Green can fill in just fine, and we will have Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez (maybe), and Endy Chavez to fill in if Shawn is at first. Imagine that big bat of Delgado's off the bench? I like the sound of that.

--TheRopolitans.com--

A Good Hard Slide To Randolph

Steve Popper at North Jersey writes about Willie Randolph's thoughts on Marlon Anderson's slide:

"He didn't exactly say why he was out," Randolph said of his conversation with Bucknor. "Obviously, he thought there was some type of obstruction or something, I guess. I said it to him very plainly, 'Marlon has his feet on the base.'

"It was a good hard slide. It's baseball. I think it's because we're not used to seeing good aggressive baseball anymore."

"I played second base in this league for years, and guys would come in much harder than that and nothing is said."

Did Anderson Break The Rules?

Adam Rubin at Surfing The Mets writes about the Marlon Anderson and if his slide broke the rules:

Anderson's point is that how is this different from what happens all the time?

Here's the rule:

A batter is out when a preceding runner shall, in the umpire’s judgment, intentionally interfere with a fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to complete any play:

Rule 6.05(m) Comment: The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously this is an umpire’s judgment play.

Anderson Set To Come Back

At Rotoworld they write about Marlon Anderson and his return from the Bereavement list tonight:

Marlin Anderson is expected to return from the bereavement list in time for Tuesday's game.

David Newhan will likely be optioned to Triple-A New Orleans to create room on the roster for Anderson.

Anderson Placed On Bereavement List

Brian Heyman at Lower Hudson Online writes about Marlon Anderson landing on the Bereavement List:

This won't go down as one of Marlon Anderson's better days - not after spraining a wrist and having to leave for his grandmother's funeral.