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New York Mets: Clint Hurdle, Chip Hale and Managing in General

In the words of Howie Rose, “Put it in the books” when it comes to Sandy Alderson as the new GM for the Amazin’s.

GM: check.

Now the focus will turn to who will take the helm as the team’s next manager. Before I give some suggestions, I’d like to set one thing straight.

In my opinion, a manager is not as important as the players on the field. Sometimes, fans make such a big deal about who is their team’s manager and how great/bad he is. When it comes down to it, the players on the field control if a team wins games.

Now, I understand that certain managers can formulate great strategies in trying to win games, but if the players cannot execute the strategy, then it’s all for naught.

As fans of the game of baseball, we know the unexpected can happen at any minute.

Did Willie Randolph tell Tom Glavine to give up seven runs in the first inning against the Florida Marlins on the last day of the 2007 season to seal the Mets’ collapse? No.

Did John McNamara tell Bill Buckner to let a slow trickler go between his legs in Game 6 of 1986 World Series? No (but that was great!).

Did Jerry Manuel tell Luis Castillo to drop a pop-up off the bat of A-Rod that would have won a crucial Subway Series game for the Mets? No (that was not as great).

The list can go on and on.

Look at the case of Joe Torre. Any stooge can be successful when he has the talent (and payroll) of the New York Yankees. The managers of younger teams with smaller payrolls (see Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays) are the ones who should be getting the praise.

The point here is that a manager is only so important to the success of the team. Naturally, there are numerous cases in which a manager has inspired his team to play better. Just look at Ron Washington this year.

But the players’ performances decide the games.

Okay, enough said on that. Regardless, the Mets still need a manager, and the search begins now.

Wally Backman? Bobby Valentine? Bob Melvin? They are all possibilities.

Ken Oberkfell? Lee Mazzlli? Maybe not as likely, but they still may have a shot.

I’d like to talk about two men who I think would do a great job managing the Mets. That’s not to say that the others would not, but these two could work great.

Clint Hurdle is the current hitting coach for the Texas Rangers. Obviously, he is doing something right because that offense is extremely potent.

Hurdle managed the Colorado Rockies for parts of eight seasons. Though he has a career winning percentage that is under .500, he will always be remembered for orchestrating the Rockies miracle run in 2007.

Hurdle led the Rockies on a 14-of-15-game win streak and a victory in the one-game tiebreaker against the Padres. The Rockies eventually advanced to the World Series, but they were downed by the Boston Red Sox.

Hurdle understands hitting. Last time I checked, that’s not exactly the Mets strong point. Hurdle has managing experience, has no tolerance for shenanigans, would preach consistent hitting to the ball club and would be an overall great fit.

If the Mets develop some consistency at the plate, they could be a dangerous team.

Now onto Chip Hale. Hale served as the third base coach/infield instructor for the Mets last season and is well-revered within the organization. He has already said that he would like to be considered for the job.

Hale does not have the resume of Clint Hurdle, but he does have some managing experience for the Tucson Sidewinders, the Diamondbacks AAA affiliate. He even served as bench coach under another Mets managerial candidate, Bob Melvin, for the Diamondbacks.

The thing that Hale has going for him is that he is familiar with the current team. Barring any major overhauls, the core of this team will remain the same in 2011. Having someone around who was present last season and internally knows how the team can be improved might be a good option.

David Wright in particular has raved about Hale and his coaching style.

Either way, both of these men are qualified to lead the Mets. But like I said, a manager is only as successful as his players’ performance. Everyone always says that Lou Piniella is a great manager. How come he couldn’t get a talented Cubs team to play better? Because they did not perform on the field, not because of Sweet Lou.

From early reports, Alderson has said that he would like a conservative manager with experience. Many fans believe that the Mets need a fiery manager to breathe some life into a lax team.

I guess that decision is ultimately up to Alderson. No matter what decision he makes, he is bound to receive some scrutiny, but I will ask fans to save it and see how the Mets actually play next year.

A manager can only do so much for a team behind the scenes, but success in baseball rests with how the players perform between the foul lines.

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New York Mets: Unlikely (But Maybe Some Likely) Free-Agent Scenarios

I recently looked into who will be available in this year’s free agent class. There are many big names, but these names will likely come with expensive price tags. Additionally, many of these big name players are not so young anymore.

Whoever is in charge of making the decisions in Queens (which according to Jeff Wilpon we will find out shortly!), it might be a wise strategy to avoid these big-name free agents and either improve the team via trade or letting the young players develop.

Here are only some of the big-name free agents available and how the Mets should approach them this offseason.

 

Cliff Lee

Of all the free agents out there, Lee is the golden goose. His numbers don’t lie. This guy is at the top of his game and has proven he can be clutch in the postseason. Lee will likely get upwards of a six-year deal worth well over the $100 million mark.

As much as I and other Met fans would like to see Lee in Flushing, let’s be honest. It’s not going to happen.

 

Carl Crawford

Of the players available right now, no other player would more help the Mets win immediately than Carl Crawford. Crawford can do it all: hit for average, a little power, field, throw and boy can the man run.

He would be an ideal fit for Citi Field. Imagine a healthy Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan and Crawford (in no particular order) atop the Mets lineup. They would be deadly on the bases. Jason Bay would have to shift to RF if the Mets signed Crawford (don’t know how that would work out).

However, Mets fans, this seems like another deal that’s not going to happen. Crawford is about to cash in big like Lee, and the Amazins really aren’t in any position to be adding huge chunks of payroll.

And with Carlos Beltran still in house, the only way the Mets would make a play for Crawford is if they trade Beltran (seeming more unlikely each day).

 

Adam Dunn

In my opinion, Adam Dunn is the most consistent player in the game today. Every year, he hits 40 HR, drives in 100 runs, walks 100 times and strikes out 150 times. He is a legitimate power threat and even Citi Field cannot contain him (remember that shot he hit to the bridge?).

Dunn however is a one dimensional player. He may be better off suited to a DH role in the AL. The only reason I mention Dunn as a possibility is if the Mets trade Ike Davis for a starting pitcher, which would leave a hole at first base. I’m not saying I think or even want the Mets to do this, but I figured I would list it as a possible option.

 

Manny Ramirez

Oh Manny. Manny, Manny, Manny. You’re 38 now, when did that happen? It seemed like only yesterday you were crushing balls over the Green Monster and even orchestrating a late season playoff push in LA.

And now you’re a free agent again. I wonder how many teams will come knocking. I hope one of them is absolutely NOT the Mets. If this was three years ago, I’d say go for it. The man proved he could still hit like a machine despite his age. However, now is not the time to be adding Manny.

We have enough headaches as it is. Thank you K-Rod!

 

Victor Martinez

Ever since he came up with Cleveland, I have envisioned V-Mart on the Mets. He has serviceable (but not fantastic) catching skills, but is a terrific contact hitter with plenty of pop. It looks like the Red Sox will try to retain him in any way possible.

I like Josh Thole. He’s not going to hit home runs like Mike Piazza used to, but he can be an offensive weapon. He sprays the ball well to all fields, and has good gap power. He will most likely hit seventh or eighth.

V-Mart would be a great addition, but it looks like another deal that won’t happen.

 

Carl Pavano

Something should be noted about the free-agent market for starting pitchers. A guy has ONE good year, and everyone is ready to throw big bucks at him. Some examples: Gil Meche (five years, $55 million contract with KC), another one, and of course Oliver Perez (three years, $36 million…sorry I just threw up a little).

Pavano has had two good years his whole career: 2003 with the Marlins that allowed him to cash in with the Yankees, and now 2010 with the Twins in which he won 17 games.

He is a solid back of the rotation option, but the Mets should stay away from him and his stache. Who needs his stache when we got Keith Hernandez?

 

Orlando Hudson

The O-dawg has openly expressed his interest in wanting to play for the Mets (that can’t exactly be said for many players). I have touched on this possible signing in the past. He may be a good option on a one-year deal, but with Ruben Tejada on the verge of becoming an everyday player (hopefully), I’m not sure if the Mets will pull the trigger on Hudson.

 

So there you have it, some free agents who are available this winter that will garner much attention from many teams. But the Mets might be better off sitting tight, maybe making a trade or two to improve and hope that they can field a competitive team.

I may have missed a few free agents this year who may be on the Mets radar. Please comment on who you think may be a good signing that I missed.

For the Mets, it will come down to patience and hope. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again.

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Carlos Beltran for Zack Greinke and David DeJesus: Can Mets Pull It Off?

After giving the Ike Davis for Prince Fielder trade some time to be debated, I’d like to propose another possible trade option for the 2011 New York Mets.

It would involve the Mets trading Carlos Beltran and some minor leaguers (maybe a pitcher and one of Duda or Evans) to the Kansas City Royals for Zack Greinke and David DeJesus.

This deal would involve many moving parts so here is the rationale I have to support it.

Beltran is due to make $18 million this upcoming season. Naturally, the last thing the Royals want to add is an aging slugger due that much money. The Mets would have to pay for at least half of Beltran’s salary, something they might be willing to do if the right deal comes along.

Beltran would benefit from playing in his old stomping grounds. There would be no pressure on him, he would not have to speak to the media too often and he might even be able to play CF, all things that would sit well with Carlos.

Now let’s look at the Royals players. Mr. Greinke is coming off a pretty brutal year that saw him go 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA. Keep in mind he did play for the Royals, not exactly an offensive powerhouse.

Greinke would certainly benefit from a change of scenery. He is only one year removed from a Cy Young award season where he finished 16-8 with a 2.17 ERA and a whopping 242 strikeouts. There is no question he is an ace in this league.

So why would the Royals want to trade their young stud? Well, Greinke is owed $13.5 million each of the next two years. Royals GM Dayton Moore has already said that if the team cannot sign Zack to an extension beyond 2012, it may be in the Royals best interest to trade him and net some young prospects.

Then there’s DeJesus, who only played in 91 games this year due to injury. I’m not sure what his health status will be leading into next season, but for argument’s sake I’ll assume he’ll be healthy.

To me, DeJesus is a prototypical National League player. He’s a contact hitter with a .289 career average, plays an excellent right field defense, can maybe steal a few bases and has a little bit of pop in his lefty bat.

If the Mets acquired DeJesus while trading Beltran, Angel Pagan would slide into center with DeJesus in right. DeJesus could possibly hit second or maybe even third in the Mets order, but his value is flexible enough so that he could even hit sixth or seventh.

If this trade were to be a possibility, it would hinge on the who the Mets were willing to give up from their farm system. Would they trade a Jenrry Mejia type prospect for Greinke? I can see them pulling the trigger with Nick Evans or even Lucas Duda (though Duda may develop into a big time power hitter), but the real question will be who is the pitching prospect, or even prospects, the Royals would seek. I’m sure Mejia’s name would be brought up. Maybe the Mets would be more willing to part with Dillon Gee?

Once again, I wanted to just present the facts of this trade. You see now how each player would fit in the their new teams and what would be at stake. I’m not going to give my thoughts on this one for awhile. I want to hear what the fans think. Would you make the trade if it involved Mejia? Gee? Another prospect? Not at all?

With Johan Santana’s future uncertain, the Mets need a top of the rotation type starter. Unless they throw the entire kitchen sink at Cliff Lee, there aren’t many affordable options on the free agent market. So a trade may be the only possibility.

Feel free to debate this issue. I look forward to hearing what fans have to say about this.

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MLB Trade Rumors: Would You Trade Ike Davis For Prince Fielder?

So with the bulk of the offseason looming, there are many questions surrounding the Mets. One that fans would not think would be a huge issue is first base.

Ike Davis had a solid rookie year hitting .264 with 19 HR and 71 RBI (just three behind the Mets rookie record set by Darryl Strawberry in 1983).

He played a Gold-Glove caliber first base and is booming with potential.

I have been hearing some possible free agent signings and trades over the last week. Most appear unlikely due to contractual issues or financial constraints. However, one that caught my eye was a possible deal that would send Ike Davis to the Brewers for Prince Fielder.

At first, I thought to myself, “I would never want the Mets to make this trade.” But after giving it some thought, it might be a deal they may want to consider.

Before I go on, I’d like everyone to know that in my opinion, Davis could blossom into a terrific power-hitting first baseman. The Mets have lacked a true power threat for the past few seasons and could use a jolt in the power department.

Enter Prince Fielder. Though Fielder had somewhat of an off year in 2010, the man’s got raw power. He averages 37 HR per 162 games and has driven in over 100 runs in three of his five full seasons, including 141 in 2009.

Now why would the Brewers trade such an impressive talent who is only 26? Well the business aspect of baseball comes into play.

 

Fielder will be a free agent after the 2011 season, and let’s be honest: There’s no way the Brewers will have the budget to re-sign the big guy. Rather than let him walk for just compensatory draft picks, the Brewers would be smart to trade him for a high-level prospect.

Enter Ike Davis. Davis has proven he can hit major league pitching but suffered from a few stretches of inconsistency this season. Scouts have compared him to an Adam LaRoche-type player (above average power, solid glove, will strike out a good amount, hit somewhere between .260 and .280).

So would trading a young Ike Davis who “projects” into an Adam LaRoche be worth Prince Fielder?

I will be the first to say that I am extremely torn on this possibility. I enjoyed watching Davis for us this year. He had some clutch hits and hit some monstrous home runs.

But I also realize the presence that Prince Fielder would have in the middle of the Mets order. There’s no telling if Davis will develop the raw power of Fielder. I wonder what the Mets would do if the Brewers were willing to pull the trigger on this deal (another major consideration).

When looking at this deal, it would make sense for both teams. The Mets desperately need a consistent power threat, and the Brewers would solve their first base vacancy for the next few seasons.

Like I said, I’m glad I am not in charge of making this decision, but I am curious to what the fans think. Feel free to let me know if you would make this deal or place your confidence in Ike, and of course why or why not.

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For New York Mets, Patience Is Key

Patience is a virtue, everything happens for a reason, good things come to those who wait, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you have to look before you leap.

Cliches aside, the Mets (and us fans) will have to be patient in finding out who will be running the show next year and hopefully beyond.

I thoroughly enjoy all the speculation by fans listing who they think will be the next GM or manager. In fact, I will more than likely be releasing my own picks soon. Truth is no one has been interviewed yet, and the dust from the old regime has barely settled.

From various reports, it looks as though the Wilpons would like to have a GM by the end of the month. That is certainly a reasonable task and would give the new guy some time to adjust in preparation for November, December, and January (the crux of the offseason).

There are a few loose ends that need to be tied before a manager is selected, such as Reyes’ option, a multi-year deal for Pelfrey, and what to do with Takahashi as well as some other issues.

As for a manager, I’d have to think that we won’t see anyone hired before mid-November and maybe even as late as Thanksgiving. The Wilpons and the new GM will take their time to decide on who will be the next captain of a once-sinking ship.

We’ve heard the names: Valentine, Backman, Melvin, etc. For all we know, the new manager could be someone who sat in the dugout all year (Chip Hale) or has coached in our minor league system for years (Ken Oberkfell). But the point is that I’d rather see the team be patient in making this decision than be rash and wind up in this same position in another three or four years.

Had it not been for that dismal collapse at the end of 2007, Willie Randolph may still have been our guy. Though he proved he could win, he couldn’t seem to win in the big spot (2006 NLCS, how does Endy make a catch like that and we lose?). The collapse will always cloud his Mets legacy.

So Mets fans, I’m begging you to be patient with the franchise over the next few months. New personnel need to be hired, and player moves need to be made. Whether the moves are geared toward winning now or rebuilding, we won’t know until we have our men in place.

Are we willing to sacrifice 2011 for success in 2012, 2013, etc.? That’s where our old friend patience comes in. Based on the current payroll and lack of overall options, I don’t think the team will be able to rise to World Series greatness in just one offseason.

But two or three offseasons from now, when we look back on these upcoming months and say, “Our patience is what led us to our third World Series title in 2013,” we will commend the organization for their patience. Granted, this is wishful thinking, but who knows what a little patience can do for this organization?

So to reiterate: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will the Mets.

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Thole in One: Josh Thole Wins Game for New York Mets with Walk-Off Blast

Mets catcher of the future Josh Thole drilled a 3-1 pitch off Tyler Clippard for a walk-off homer to give the team a 2-1 victory in 10 innings tonight. The home run was Thole’s third of the season.

It was great to see Tyler Clippard get burned by the Mets. Most Met fans remember that Subway Series game a while ago now, when Clippard threw six innings of one run ball in his Major League debut. Well, we finally got you back, Tyler.

Thole seems to have a bright future for the Metropolitans. He has settled in nicely behind the dish and works well with most of the pitchers. Normally a singles hitter, he has shown shown pop over this final stretch of the season, lacing an RBI double into right center last night and crushing a homer to right field tonight.

I’m curious to see how he handles being an everyday catcher. He was lucky to learn behind two veterans in Rod Barajas and Henry Blanco. Barajas is now in LA (where he tore it up this last month), and Blanco will be a free agent come season’s end.

Rumor has it that the Mets will look to resign Hank White to maybe another one-year deal. Despite his age, he is still a serviceable back-up, especially if Thole continues to improve his game. Blanco has served as a great role model for Josh and that will continue if Hank is back with the club in 2011.

Ike Davis added his 19th bomb of the year as well. Ike has had a very promising rookie campaign, and will look to improve his consistency and plate discipline in the offseason to to make him even more of an offensive threat.

Kudos to Pat Misch, who struck out 10 batters in eight innings tonight—still not good enough for his first win of the season.

I was glad to see Thole’s late-inning heroics, even though there are only now two games left to play. This team needs some heart moving forward, and it was great to see some tonight.

Tonight’s performance may be an indicator of what we see from the Mets next year. Solid pitching, but once again a struggle offensively. But if the final result is a victory, I don’t care how they earn it, as long as it falls in the “W” column. Don’t expect too much change from the roster, Met fans, because it looks like our club will be strapped financially.

Way to go Josh! I’m looking forward to a big year from you next season.

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Jose Reyes, New York Mets Struggle in Loss To Milwaukee Brewers

Catching the baseball.

Many consider this the basic feature of America’s pastime. However, knowing our beloved Mets, they usually seem to screw it up.

Tonight in the Mets 9-2 loss to the Brew Crew, Jose Reyes dropped a pop up with two outs in the fifth inning. Dillon Gee had only given up two runs up to that point, with the Mets trailing 2-1.

Naturally, the next batter, Lorenzo Cain, stroked a two-run double to put the game out of reach by Mets standards. Through five starts, Gee will finish at 2-2 with a 2.18 ERA. Very impressive for the young righty.

Now back to Reyes. If you look at his numbers this year, you would think that he has had a productive year. He’s hitting .285 with 11 HR, 54 RBI (not bad for a leadoff man), and 30 SB. Though his .325 OBP is slightly low for a leadoff man, Reyes was considered the catalyst of this team.

However, Reyes still lacks the discipline and maturity needed to be a successful ballplayer. It seems like we’ve been saying this for some time now, but we always relented claiming that Reyes was still young.

Well, Reyes is now 27. It’s hard to believe, but he’s been in the league for eight years. When will we as fans stop giving him the benefit of the doubt for being young and start getting on his case?

With the error still fresh on everyone’s minds, the fans at Cit Field (albeit very few) let Reyes have it in the bottom of the seventh.

 

With Ruben Tejada on first, Reyes swung at a ball in the dirt for strike three (a familiar site), but the ball got away from the catcher. Rather than bust it down the line, Reyes casually dropped his bat and took a couple of steps towards first base.

What a disgrace! Here’s a guy who is a veteran player, is supposed to be a leader on this team, and makes a ton of money; yet he insists on not hustling or dropping easy pop-ups. His lack of focus is so apparent that his talent is wasted.

This Reyes rant is by no means a call to have him traded. He has a club option for 2011 which the Mets should pick up. I believe he still factors into the Mets future at shortstop and at the top of the lineup. There’s no question that the talent is there. But where’s his head at?

Even though these games don’t count anymore, we still saw guys like David Wright and Josh Thole give their best efforts to try to mount a comeback late in the game. Thole did make an error in the ninth, but it was on a hustle play. It’s obvious to spot the guys who care and those who don’t.

When Reyes is playing well and focused, there is no better sight in my mind than watching him having fun playing baseball. “As Reyes goes, so goes the Mets.”

But when Reyes’ lackadaisical play takes over, the only place the Mets go is down.

The Mets will get a taste of October baseball this year, although it will merely be a three-game series with the Nationals to close out the season rather than postseason baseball.

By the way, with the loss tonight, the Mets officially cannot finish at .500. Another side note, there couldn’t have been more than 5,000 people at the game tonight even though the listed attendance was 25,000. What a shame.

Here’s to a focused Reyes in 2011 and a return to playing fundamental baseball.

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New York Mets: Can Finishing .500 Be Considered a Success?

The Mets are currently 76-79. Including tonight’s game (in progress), they have seven games remaining: four against the Brewers and three against the Nationals.

If the Mets were in a heated pennant race, they would have lucked out considering their competition over this next week. But since they were eliminated from playoff contention a while ago, I would now like to see if the team can at least manage to finish .500.

So that begs the question: can a .500 finish be considered a success for this team?

With a $136 million payroll (the fifth highest in majors), anything short of a playoff berth is rather disappointing. But we need to take a step back and look at who that money in actually invested in.

Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo combined to make about $20 million. What exactly have they accomplished this year? Carlos Beltran and his $20 million dollar salary only played half the season and has only started heating up once the games stopped counting.

Jason Bay has missed significant time and, even when healthy, did not perform like a nine-million dollar player. And of course, K-Rod has his own issues.

For argument’s sake, if you subtract partial amounts of the money owed to these players based on their actual worth, it would amount to roughly $40 million.

That would put the Mets in the range of the Dodgers and Cardinals in terms of payroll, though still in the top ten.

The Dodgers currently sit at 76-81 while the Cardinals are 81-75. Neither team will  be heading to the playoffs. So based on other teams with similar payrolls, the Mets are right where they are expected to be.

The sad thing is that you can’t just arbitrarily subtract payroll based on the poor performances of your players. The solution starts with not making the investment for an Oliver Perez or a Luis Castillo or getting production from a Jason Bay.

This season, the Mets have been carried by the Pagan’s, Pelfrey’s, Dickey’s, and Davis’s, none of whom make over $1.5 million. That being said, if the Mets happen to finish .500 or better, it could be considered a minor success, knowing the vast under-production and financial burden brought on by some key players.

But still, $136 million for a .500 team is a little ridiculous. The Padres and Rangers are in the bottom five of payroll, one of which is fighting for a playoff berth while the other has already clinched. Though some of this success may have to do with strength of division, it does involve clutch performances by players who do not earn a large salary by baseball standards.

It seems the Mets are bound for a payroll decrease, but it may come at the expense of some of their player’s salaries.

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Dillon Gee: A Possible Rotation Option for the 2011 New York Mets

Dillon Gee completed the fourth start of his career tonight. He pitched seven innings and surrendered only five hits and two runs to earn his second victory.

Through these four starts, Gee has thrown four quality starts, giving up only six runs in 27 innings of work (a 2.00 ERA). Though his first two starts were against the lowly Nationals and Pirates, the last two were against the potent Braves and Phillies.

Looking forward, Gee may have a chance at cracking the starting rotation in 2011. Yes, I know, four starts aren’t enough to determine his long-term success, but you can’t argue with his results.

From what we’ve seen so far (and more importantly the lack of other options), Gee may find himself playing a prominent role for the team next season.

The guy throws strikes and relies on his defense. He hasn’t struck out more than five batters in a start yet, but he has been economical in his approach.

With Johan Santana’s status up in the air for at least early in 2011, who will make up the starting rotation?

Naturally, Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese will take up two of the five spots since they are both under team control. Most likely, the team will re-sign R.A. Dickey, so that takes care of three spots.

Santana will hopefully miss no more than a few weeks to start the season. That makes four.

So there’s one spot up for grabs. The Mets may explore the trade market, but who out there is available that would significantly improve this rotation? Ted Lilly? Fausto Carmona? They probably won’t be players for Cliff Lee.

There will probably be more pitchers available over the winter, but until I start hearing those rumors, I will stick with what I’ve heard.

John Maine is a walking question mark and the Oliver Perez ship has sailed. If the Mets re-sign Hisanori Takahaski, he may do some starting, but he is valuable in the bullpen, whether as a long reliever or a closer.

Jenrry Mejia may also be an option, but he has not experienced the success that Gee has.

Considering all these options, Gee could fit nicely into the fifth spot of the rotation. In my view, give the kid a chance.

His spring training performance will likely determine where he’s assigned, but if he keeps throwing quality starts, he will find himself with the big club.

Gee has been one of the few bright spots over the last few weeks and should have one more start to prove is worth.

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New York Mets: Who’s On Second?

According to Abbott and Costello, “Who’s on first, What’s on second, and I Don’t Know’s on third.”

However, for the 2011 New York Mets, the question will be the following: who (not what) is on second?

Let’s be honest. Even before his recent injury, Met fans were not getting excited about the prospects of having Luis Hernandez man second base for us next year.

If you look right now at the Mets’ 2011 roster, the starting nine appear all but certain, barring any major changes (which we no doubt may see).

Davis at first, Reyes at short, Wright at third, Thole behind the dish, Bay (if healthy) in left, and some combination of Beltran and Pagan in center and right. That leaves only second base.

I’m guessing that Luis Castillo already has his luggage packed for the inevitable call that informs him that he is no longer a Met. Luis had a terrific career as a Marlin (two-time World Series champion and a 35-game hitting streak). But his time as a Met was marred by injury, lack of production, and of course this.

On second thought, I apologize for including that, but sadly when we think back on Luis Castillo’s Mets career, that play sums it up.

So who will play second base for the Mets in 2011? Here are some options.

In his time with the big club, Ruben Tejada has shown that he is a magician with the glove. His up-the-middle defense (whether at second or short) has undoubtedly saved the Mets a few losses this season. He struggled at the plate but showed immense improvement over the few games before his recent injury.

The question with Tejada will be can he hold his own offensively so that the Mets can benefit from his defense. He’s like Rey Ordonez (but maybe not as much range as Rey-O). He would bat eighth in the order and would not be considered a run-producer.

However, if the Mets continue their offensive struggles into next season, Tejada may find that he doesn’t have many chances to drive in runs and must be clutch in those situations. If he’s not, he may wind up back in the minors.

Daniel Murphy at second brings up an interesting argument. Sadly, his season was cut short on a dirty slide by an opposing player while Murph was trying to turn two as a second baseman. It’s definitely a work in progress.

We know one thing: Murphy can hit. He led the Mets in home runs last year, albeit with only 12 (thanks for that Citi Field). However, he was misused in the Mets lineup. He is not a #4 hitter which is where Jerry Manuel often hit him due to the lack of offensive weapons. He would be a great six or seven hitter for this team.

If the Mets are willing to sacrifice defense for offense, Murphy would have a shot. It seems though that the Mets envision Murph as a super-utility guy who can play anywhere and spell anyone of any given day.

If the Mets really want to sacrifice defense for offense, they’ll make a trade for Dan Uggla of the Marlins. Uggla will always be remembered for committing three errors in the 2008 All-Star Game.

However, what people should be remembering about Uggla is that he recently became the first second baseman in the history of the game to record four straight 30-home run seasons. That is an impressive feat.

Uggla would provide some much needed pop on a team that has suffered from a dearth of home runs that past two seasons. The cavernous gaps of Citi Field still would be no match for Uggla’s power. But once again, defense is key.

The one man available who would solve the problems with no strings attached would be Orlando Hudson. And how convenient, he is a free agent at the end of this season.

Hudson is a four-time Gold Glover and has a respectable .281 career batting average. He’s had a rough go of it this season in Minnesota, and a change of scenery may benefit him.

That being said, he made $5 million this season. He may not command as much after his year but still would be looking for something in the $3-4 million range. That should be within the Mets price range.

Hudson seems to be the most obvious choice, but then again he will be 33 next year so he may be on the decline. If this year is any indication, he is already on the decline.

Those four appear to be the most viable choices at this point. The Mets may further explore both the trade and free agent market but most likely due to financial constraints will be limited in what they can do.

If Tejada can provide some consistent offense, he would be my choice to start at second. His defense is so valuable, and for a pitching staff that doesn’t overpower hitters, defense wins games.

I’m not saying Tejada has to all of a sudden turn into Jeff Kent (not only did the Mets trade David Cone to acquire Kent, but they then traded away Kent, the all-time leader in HR among second basemen, for Carlos Baerga; great job front office!).

But if he can hit in the neighborhood of .240 to .260 with a few homers and drive in some clutch runs, he will see the field often and be a vital part of the Mets’ success in 2011.

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