7th Inning Stretch

It was clear that there were certain players on the Mets who were playing their hearts out the final weeks of the season, and some that just could not wait to go back home. With a controversial three year contract extension, Omar Minaya has a lot to prove to New York.

Omar needs to admit to some of his mistakes, either by words or more importantly, actions. Signing a frail Luis Castillo, who was coming off several injury-ridden seasons, was an utter mistake. With two bum knees, he no longer has the speed to regularly get infield hits or steal bases. He simply can’t hit the ball out of the infield, and was an automatic out when he was in the lineup. The Mets were playing at their best while Castillo wasn’t even in the clubhouse - which helps prove some of the grumblings that he’s a terrible fit for the New York spotlight.

The Mets need to find a trading partner for Castillo, and Arizona could be that fit. The Diamondbacks are looking to move scrappy outfielder Eric Byrnes in a ‘bad contract salary swap’ type deal. Byrnes could platoon in left field with Daniel Murphy, with newly signed manager Jerry Manuel playing the hot hand. Byrnes is a player with a passion for the game, a player who would surely run through a wall if it helped his ballclub win a game. Byrnes is a strong supporting player that could bat almost anywhere in the lineup - he has the potential to hit 20-25 homers while driving in 70-80 runs and also has the capability to steal 25-50 (yes, that’s right 50!) stolen bases.

Now that we’ve got Luis Castillo out of the way, what next? Two 2nd base options, with a little help from the letter O.

O Number One - Orlando Hudson
Here is a ballplayer who is actually worth a 4 year $28-$30+ million dollar contract (similar to the one the inept Luis Castillo was handed). He’s won a Gold Glove in ‘06 and ‘07, is beloved by his teammates, and is a strong community activist (runs an Autism charity foundation). He is a gamer, always leaving his heart on the field and is a leader. At 30, he’s not much older than Wright and Reyes, and hopefully his talent, passion for the game, and leadership qualities will rub off on the younger duo.

In the lineup, he’s been batting 3rd most of his career. If that is the case in NY, I suggest keeping him there and moving Beltran permanently to the 2nd spot in the lineup. This takes less pressure on Beltran to hit home runs and more emphasis on getting on base and utilizing his speed on the basepaths.

Getting Hudson also shouldn’t spell the end of the full-time 2nd base experiment for Daniel Murphy. I believe Murphy is a gifted young athlete who can become a supersub, capable of playing everyday at different positions to spell our other starters. If he’s able to play the corner outfield spots, as well as 1B/2B/3B, he’s more of an asset to the team.

If the Castillo/Byrnes trade is done and the Mets sign Hudson, the lineup could look something like this:
Reyes (R/L)
Byrnes/Murphy (R/L)
Hudson (R/L)
Beltran (R/L)
Wright (R)
Delgado (L)
Church/Right Field spot (L/?)
Catcher’s spot (?)

There are a plethora of options at the top of the lineup with all the switch-hitting, contact-making, run producers. A few solid hits and long at-bats to start a game off, and the 2009 Mets could continue their prowess for jumping on the board early.

O Number Two - Brian Roberts
If Hudson resigns with the Diamondbacks, there is another “O” we can find a second baseman from - the Baltimore Orioles. Brian Roberts is the current Orioles 2nd baseman, with one year remaining on his contract. There have been rumors that he’s sick of being on a perennial losing team, and that he wants to finally play for a winner. He has less power than Hudson, but he’s more of a stolen base / on base percentage / runs scored type of ballplayer. I would prefer the Mets go after Hudson than trade for Roberts, as they would only have to give up cash. The Orioles are always looking for young talent, and Omar has made moves with the franchise in the past.

A lineup containing Roberts would be similar to the lineup posted above, and like Hudson, Roberts is also a switch hitter.

O Number Three - Omar Minaya
This isn’t really a choice for second base, but probably the most important talking point. Omar has to live up to his mistakes, and correct them by cutting deep into the current team, and filling key spots with a new breed of Mets players. If Omar rids the team of a malcontent master of mediocrity in Castillo, he’s on his way towards shaping a playoff caliber team. If he goes and replaces said malcontent with a guy like Hudson or Roberts, it would make a huge leap towards October baseball at CitiField.

The 2008 season has come to an unamazin’ finish. The Mets lost another lead in the second half of September, being one win shy from a one game extension of the season at home versus the Milwaukee Brewers.

There are many reasons why the 2008 team collapsed, but the most blatant one down the stretch was a pure lack of a bullpen. After Billy Wagner’s injury, no player from the bullpen emerged as a fulltime closer. Jerry Manuel was forced to trot pitcher after pitcher in an inning to laboriously get through the final few innings of the game. Since there was no bullpen stopper, games, as well as a potential playoff appearance, just fell apart for the Mets.

Mets fans across the country, as well as certain Mets players, are hungry for a championship. Over the course of the Hot Stove League, I’ll bring up some key acquisitions that could truly help the Mets not only get to the playoffs, but to finally taste that sweet champagne down the Canyon of Heroes.