The Delgado Situation - What Should The Mets Do ?

[whoisonit]

What should the Mets do about Carlos Delgado, and the 1b / lineup questions his presence raises ?

Do nothing because he'll be fine ?

Give him time, maybe drop him in the order ? Make him a part-timer, & see if that helps ? Release him because his glory days are long gone ?

What are the options for First Base if not Delgado ? In-house ? Trade ? Scrap-heap pickup ?

Is the team's lineup / defense / clubhouse better off with him or without him ?

[NY16CATCHER]

At this point (and since last season actually) its obvious his bat has slowed down to the point where he is no longer a legitimate hitter at the MLB level. Willie's batted him up the lineup out of deference to a veteran for far too long. The reality is that at some point they need to produce or hit the pine or hit the road. Willie's been far too patient.

Delgado's whole career has been centered around his bat. He's at best, a slightly below average defensive first baseman (he is actually a converted catcher). If he doesn't hit, he's useless.

Personally, I think releasing him is the correct choice in terms of the onfield performance issue. The problem comes with the question of who assumes that position, but more importantly, what does that do to the clubhouse?

Easley could play it, but that makes Marlon Anderson your reserve middle infielder (not a great thought), Marlon could play it, but he's no better than Delgado with the bat right now. Alou has never played first base in his life and quite frankly I have no idea if he would be even receptive to a new position at this point in his career, especially if it means learning on the job at the MLB level. I think Brady Clark has a little bit of 1st base experience but certainly not much. You've got 2 kids at AA who are just raking, Carp might be the likely candidate if they go that route, but that's a huge gamble on a player the Mets aren't totally sold on (given is rather dismal year last season at AA).

In terms of who is possibly available, it's slim pickings. The names that come most immediately to mind are Aubrey Huff (and if Baltimore continues at their current pace, that's nothing more than a slight maybe), Dougie the eyechart (been down that road already), Shelly Duncan (playing in AAA presently), Mike Lamb (offseason signing by the Twins, may be the victim of Brian Buscher's emergence, as well as the emergence of Matt Tolbert), and possibly Hank Blalock in Texas. Not exactly an overwhelming selection there. Of all of them I suspect Duncan would be the most easily obtained, followed by Lamb (who obviously carries a larger salary than most of the others mentioned).

It's not a pretty picture by any stretch, no matter how you cut it.

[metfan13]

I wouldn't expect any of those easier to obtain options to give you any better production than Delgado. And it's entirely possible that Delgado will have a couple of hotstreaks that will really help.

When Alou comes back, Delgado drops to #6. He's not DELGADO any longer, but he should still put up 25 homers and 80 RBI. Not a total waste down lower in the line-up. And better than the fall out from cutting him, which I seriously doubt they'd ever do.

[Brooklyn]

I don't think they should cut him unless a legitimate option becomes available. I think Willie is waiting to drop him until Aleut comes back, out of respect. Once Alou is back, having Delgado 6th will be an improvement. he seems to come up too often in key situations the last year+.

I don't think we have much choice but to give him time, but I don't think it is going to matter. his bat speed is way too slow, I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if he is able to turn it around

[LostMet]

I would keep him where he is and first try to bat Alou in the 6 spot. Hopefully, Delgado will get better pitches to hit and get in a little groove. I don't expect him to be the old fearsome Delgado but 28 hr, 90-95 rbi wouldn't be too bad at this stage. If he struggles even with Alou back, dropping him to the 6 spot is an option but then you have Delgado, Schneider and Castillo and then the pitcher which ain't pretty. The proble is you can afford to have a defensive catcher like Schneider but if you have that you need production from your 1st and 2nd basemen.

The minors only can offer Abreu who isn't much of an option. Carp and Evans are in AA so there isn't much chance they would come up to the big leagues and be productive.

How about a trade deadline deal for Nick Johnson? Defense and high OBP.

[NY16CATCHER]

I wouldn't expect any of those easier to obtain options to give you any better production than Delgado. And it's entirely possible that Delgado will have a couple of hotstreaks that will really help.

When Alou comes back, Delgado drops to #6. He's not DELGADO any longer, but he should still put up 25 homers and 80 RBI. Not a total waste down lower in the line-up. And better than the fall out from cutting him, which I seriously doubt they'd ever do.

"It's entirely possible that Delgado will have a couple of hotstreaks that will really help"...and its equally possible that I will get struck by lightning in the next 30 seconds.

He's reached the end. He had reached the end last season. Now its just floundering. The bat is so painfully slow that there is very little he can do with most pitches. And if he doesn't bring the bat he was famous for in or near his prime, what does he bring? It's not like he's a great glove.

There is no evidence from his performance that he can produce 25hrs. and 80 batted in. And even sliding him down the order doesn't help a whole lot, it leaves the 5 hole (Alou presumabably) totally unprotected, which is part of the reason Beltran is struggling right now, he's not seeing many good pitches right now, with pitchers working around him to get to Delgado in many situations. Why would pitchers pitch to Alou if they didn't have to?

[NY16CATCHER]

I would keep him where he is and first try to bat Alou in the 6 spot. Hopefully, Delgado will get better pitches to hit and get in a little groove. I don't expect him to be the old fearsome Delgado but 28 hr, 90-95 rbi wouldn't be too bad at this stage. If he struggles even with Alou back, dropping him to the 6 spot is an option but then you have Delgado, Schneider and Castillo and then the pitcher which ain't pretty. The proble is you can afford to have a defensive catcher like Schneider but if you have that you need production from your 1st and 2nd basemen.

The minors only can offer Abreu who isn't much of an option. Carp and Evans are in AA so there isn't much chance they would come up to the big leagues and be productive.

How about a trade deadline deal for Nick Johnson? Defense and high OBP.

Schneider is hitting the hell out of the ball presently, and Hojo was found a couple of things for him that are obviously working. If he can hit the ball like he has been, I am not worried about his offense.

Nick Johnson isn't going anywhere I don't think...of course his winning the first base job in ST made Dmitri Young an awfully expensive bench warmer and I am not sure how that fits the equation.

[whoisonit]

He's not DELGADO any longer, but he should still put up 25 homers and 80 RBI.

Those are decent numbers. Way to optomistic, in my opinion. There is no way he approches this level of production

I don't expect him to be the old fearsome Delgado but 28 hr, 90-95 rbi wouldn't be too bad at this stage.

Never. That's a great season your expecting. Delgado will only approach these numbers in his sleep or a video game, (which is what I hope he is given ample free time to play).

As NYCATCHER16 stated, the guy can no longer turn on ML pitching.
A full season of this worn out horse can realistically give us HALF what you stated, along with a .230 BA if he catches some breaks.
He defense has, shockingly, declined. He is no longer even a poor defensive 1st baseman. He is travesty, a complete farce as a fielder. I would rather have Jason Giambi. At least he pays attention.

How about a trade deadline deal for Nick Johnson? Defense and high OBP.

I like it. Who do we trade ?

[Dalkowski110]

Michel Abreu is an interesting option, but he's in a bit of a funk, too.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Michel%20Abreu&pos=1B&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=490314

Then again, check out his low strikeout rate. Abreu HAS been making contact at least.

[LostMet]

Those are decent numbers. Way to optomistic, in my opinion. There is no way he approches this level of production


Never. That's a great season your expecting. Delgado will only approach these numbers in his sleep or a video game, (which is what I hope he is given ample free time to play).

As NYCATCHER16 stated, the guy can no longer turn on ML pitching.
A full season of this worn out horse can realistically give us HALF what you stated, along with a .230 BA if he catches some breaks.
He defense has, shockingly, declined. He is no longer even a poor defensive 1st baseman. He is travesty, a complete farce as a fielder. I would rather have Jason Giambi. At least he pays attention.


I like it. Who do we trade ?

Maybe something like Parnell, Carp, and a reliever.

[NY16CATCHER]

Some of you guys make trades sound so easy, like they are total no brainers. Someone throws out Nick Johnson's name for a potential trade target. Let's look at this realisitcally for a moment....

As soon as a GM picks up the phone and inquires about a player, that players value goes up. Especially when its someone who is in a position of weakness, as the Mets are with their 1st base situation.

Now the Mets fan fantasy trade: Parnell, Carp, and a reliever.

Reality: What the hell makes you think that the Nats would want Parnell or Carp (neither has any track record at the MLB level, Carp had a horrible season at AA last season and he isn't a sure shot MLB level 1st baseman, which you would need to get in return from a Nats persepctive, as the Nats do not have a decent defensive 1st baseman to take Johnson's role). Could the Nats use a reliever, maybe a lefty (they only have 1 lefty in their pen), but you aren't going to give up Feliciano in that deal and that leaves Shoeneweis, and I don't see much interest from the Nats perspective there. So what are you really trading them? Your question marks and garbage. No GM in their right mind makes that deal, especially for someone of Nick Johnson's talent.

You might get an Aubrey Huff or Shelly Duncan for that package, but not much more than that.

[whoisonit]

So what are you really trading them? Your question marks and garbage.

This is the very essence of a fan's genius.

[NY16CATCHER]

This is the very essence of a fan's genius.

LOL.

I think you may want to reconsider your use of the word genius.

[LostMet]

Some of you guys make trades sound so easy, like they are total no brainers. Someone throws out Nick Johnson's name for a potential trade target. Let's look at this realisitcally for a moment....

As soon as a GM picks up the phone and inquires about a player, that players value goes up. Especially when its someone who is in a position of weakness, as the Mets are with their 1st base situation.

Now the Mets fan fantasy trade: Parnell, Carp, and a reliever.

Reality: What the hell makes you think that the Nats would want Parnell or Carp (neither has any track record at the MLB level, Carp had a horrible season at AA last season and he isn't a sure shot MLB level 1st baseman, which you would need to get in return from a Nats persepctive, as the Nats do not have a decent defensive 1st baseman to take Johnson's role). Could the Nats use a reliever, maybe a lefty (they only have 1 lefty in their pen), but you aren't going to give up Feliciano in that deal and that leaves Shoeneweis, and I don't see much interest from the Nats perspective there. So what are you really trading them? Your question marks and garbage. No GM in their right mind makes that deal, especially for someone of Nick Johnson's talent.

You might get an Aubrey Huff or Shelly Duncan for that package, but not much more than that.

Since I live near DC, they have a shortage of young starting pitching, they are reloading the farm, they have a glut at 1b, they are in last place and value youth over experience at this stage, they need relievers since Cordero is hurt, So...they MAY be willing to listen to a trade of prospects with upside (this package or another) for their future building of a team for an oft injured 1b on a last place team at the trading deadline. Take a pill, it's just a discussion OMAR.

[NY16CATCHER]

Since I live near DC, they have a shortage of young starting pitching, they are reloading the farm, they have a glut at 1b, they are in last place and value youth over experience at this stage, they need relievers since Cordero is hurt, So...they MAY be willing to listen to a trade of prospects with upside (this package or another) for their future building of a team for an oft injured 1b on a last place team at the trading deadline. Take a pill, it's just a discussion OMAR.

Cordero is a closer. Rauch can close instead with Riveria setting up. Parnell projects as a margainal prospect and Shoeneweis isn't a closer. He is at best a situational lefthander, and not an upgrade over Ray King, who is the Nats present situational lefty. What glut at 1st base? Dmitri Young, who they grossly overpaid, and can't play first base defensively and Johnson, who is 5 times the first baseman that Young is, and not that bad at the plate?

A deal at the deadline, which you referred to, is far too long to wait from a Mets point of view. They need first base fixed alot sooner than the deadline.