The Non-Tender List: Players I would be interested in

We saw a bunch of players non-tendered by their clubs back on Friday, and there are a number of them I would be interested in for the Mets. The following is the list of players I'd look at (in no particular order):

BOBBY JENKS (RHRP): This is a doubtful one, but Jenks would solve a LOT of problems for the Mets. He'd take Pedro Feliciano's place as the reliable set-up man and be able to close when K-Rod wasn't available or better yet, close in place of K-Rod enough to keep his 4th year $17.5 million option from vesting. Jenks will likely get a 2-yr $10 million offer from somebody, which is above what the Mets will spend this year.

RUSSEL MARTIN (C): He's recovering from a hip fracture and his performance hasn't been anything to write home about the last few years, but making him the backup to Jose Thole would be a good move if he would take a $1.4 million offer or so. He's another guy who will likely get a good offer from someone (think 2-yrs $5.5 million) so this is also a doubtful player for the Mets.

CHIEN-MING WANG (RHSP): Hasn't thrown a pitch in the majors since mid-season 2008. He's been pretty much injurged more often that not since 2007. He mad $2 Million last year and never pitched. This is a player who has shown he can pitch in New York and will likely be able to be had for a VERY cheap price. An Inceptive laden contract that starts about $900,000 could get this done. Is supposedly throwing pretty well in instructional league action. This is more than possible.

CHRIS CARTER (OF/1B): I understand that the mets HAD to non-tender Carter becuase of a clause in his contract that he would had to have earned $200,000 or more in Triple-A next season, plus his minor league salary. Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reported: “The Mets are now allowed to re-sign him if both sides choose, with a new split contract that calls for a far lower salary,” Well, I hope they do, because I loved Carter's bat and his attitude. He's an excellent guy off the bench as a PH or a 4th outfielder, despite his barely average defense.

Slowly Getting It

Another one bites the dust and it’s about time.

The Mets figured out that another one of their dead-weight players was not going to help the team and cut him loose. Frank Catalanotto was designated for assignment yesterday and Chris Carter was brought up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace him.

Frankly, this is a move I would have made weeks ago. Carter has been doing nothing but hitting the ball like a madman in Buffalo, hitting a rock solid .339 with 16 extra base hits and 20 RBI in 28 games. He looked great in spring training. In fact, as I have stated many times before, once Daniel Murphy went down with his injury, I would have made Carter my opening day 1st baseman. Obviously he won’t be doing that since the 1st baseman of the future is already there in the exciting Ike Davis, but Carter can play the corner outfield spots as well as spot Davis at first.

As with Mike Jacobs, I like Catalanotto, but he just wasn’t getting the job done. He was a drain on the bench batting .143 in 21 at bats as a pinch hitter, with five strike outs.

The Mets are starting to get it. It’s important to not wait to make the moves that will improve this club. Jacobs was a mistake, and thankfully they realized it quick enough that it wasn’t a disaster. Davis came up and breathed new life into the team, and they’ve played much better since. Catalanotto was next and while it took longer it’s still the right move early enough to help.

Now, it’s time to get rid of Gary Matthews, Jr. I don’t care how much he’s getting paid (not too much, but he is making a million this year). Matthews is worse than Jacobs and Catanotto were. After “pinch hitting” in the 7th (I use quotes because what Matthews has been doing cannot honestly be called actual hitting) and striking out again, he is batting .136 with 18 strikeouts, 0 RBIs and two extra base hits in 44 at bats. Keep in mind Matthews had a double in his 1st at bat on opening day which means he’s only had 3 base hits in the 43 at bats after that. He is BEYOND a disaster. At this point *I* could likely make more contact. He needs to go.

So far, this team is playing above what many expected of them, and without the overworked bullpen blowing a few games in the Reds series and in the last game of the Giants series, this team would be doing even better. You need to put guys in the clubhouse to helpo, not make things worse. Please Omar, keep up the right decisions in cutting out the dead weight and get someone else in here to replace Matthews. It’s already too late. Don’t let it be later.

Glaring Issues in Queens

Well it’s only been a week (six games to be exact) and a lot of Mets fans are ready to jump off a bridge. After a 2-4 start and two straight losses to the lowly Nationals it’s hard to blame them, but it HAS only been a week so the need to panic should not have set in yet.

That is not to say the Mets don’t have a few glaring issues however. Right now I would say their inability to hit with runners in scoring postion is the largest. It’s something that the Mets always seem to have a problem with, no matter who is on the team. It’s bizarre.

To me though, one of the largest problems is first base. While Jacobs did hit a home run yesterday (a towering shot in the 8th), he was 2 for 16 before that and has basically been unreliable at the plate. It’s exactly as I feared… he’s all power and no substance. He’ll hit you home runs (maybe even as much as 30 to 35 in a full season) however he’ll do nothing else. This is beyond frustrating when you see Chris Carter doing well at AAA Buffalo after having a great spring. It’s not even like Jacobs is so good with the glove that you’ll take the lousy batting average and non-contact at-bats. The entire thing makes no sense.

It doesn’t help that Gary Mathews, after a good opening day has been as “unclutch” as you can be. He’s been up at least six times with two out and runners in scoring postion (four times yesterday alone) and hasn’t gotten one hit.

Overall the Mets are 10 for 53 with runners in scoring position. That’s a .189 batting average. That is 2nd worst in the NL (behind only Houston). Seeing that Jacobs and Matthews have been hitting mostly in the 4th, 5th and 6th positions you can see where a lot of that lost production is coming from.

It’s only been six games. Jacobs himself has only started in four. However, it’s already getting to be time for the Mets to see what they have in front of them and act. Release Jacobs (or send him down… trust me… he’ll clear waivers), bring up Carter and start playing Pagan in Center at least four or five times a week until Beltran returns.

The starting pitching hasn’t been amazing, but it hasn’t been downright horrible either. Niese and Pelfry both had good starts while Maine and Perez’s starts were lackluster but not disasters. The bullpen has been outstanding so far. Reyes has looked a little sluggish since his return but I would expect that to improve quickly.

Who’s on First?

So with a few weeks of spring training yet, it seems that Mets’ manager Jerry Manuel is still stating that the first base position is an open competition. In that mix are encumbent Daniel Murphy, veteran Mike Jacobs and rookie Ike Davis.

As of yesterday, Murphy was hitting .148, 1 HR, 1 RBI and 6 Ks in 30 at-bats. Jacobs is hitting .200 with no home runs and 2 ks in 20 at-bats. Davis is hitting a whopping .500 with 2 HRs, 9 RBI and 7 Ks in 22 at-bats.

From listening to sports talk radio in New York the general consensus seems to be that people want Ike Davis’ run at first to start now.

I think that would likely be a mistake.

Listen, I’m as excited about Davis as anyone. I see him as a John Olerud type of player. Some decent power with excellent contact and on base percentage skills, strong defense and good baseball smarts.

However, I’d like to give him another year starting at AAA before thrusting him into the spotlight at Citifield.

First off, you cannot use the limited at bats all three players have compiled as a true basis for what they are going to do this season. Twenty to thirty at-bats is nothing.

Second, you have to understand something here. All three players are doing totally different things right now. Their approach isn’t on the same plane. Murphy is experimenting and looking to make some adjustments. 1st base is his job to lose. Jacobs is just trying to do what he can to make the team. He’s not even assured of a role at all. Davis is just looking to prove that he belongs. He’s looking to make people open their eyes to him and leave a lasting impression. He knows that odds are he’s heading to AAA but it looking to make that decision as hard to make as possible, and in that he has totally succeeded.

Frankly, I’d be shocked if Murphy wasn’t the starting 1st basemen when the team heads north. It seems that Jacobs, with his large power potential, has a leg up on the last bench spot. I’m not too sure I like that idea. I like Jacobs, but don’t feel he’d work out too well as a bat off the bench. I actually would prefer Frank Catalanotto or Chris Carter. I love the way Carter looks and was happy the Mets got him from the Red Sox in the Wagner trade last year. I think he could be a solid player.

In any case… temper those thoughts of Davis. I think he WILL be the starting 1st baseman for the Mets in 2011, but let’s not rush him too much, ok?