8/9/14

Reese Kaplan - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

August 8th, a day that will live in infamy…

Or so it seems.  August 8th was the day that the light bulb finally went on in the Mets universe.  A number of important developments for the future happened today.

First came the surprising word of a Yalta-like summit in which Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins actually spoke to one another.  There are conflicting reports as to who said what to whom first, but the end result was a proclamation that “It’s time to play the kids!”

Really?  You mean it finally dawned on the braintrust that Mssrs. Young, Young, Tejada, Recker, et al were not getting it done?

However, not to be ungrateful, today’s starting lineup actually included a second consecutive start for the invisible man, Wilmer Flores.  It featured Kirk Nieuwenhuis starting in the outfield perhaps as recognition for his fine game in Washington.  Hey, there’s a novel concept – rewarding players with a spot in the lineup when they do something well.  It was so strange to see this type of behavior associated with the Mets after the entire sad 3.67 years of Collins mismanagement where a good game was almost certainly a ticket to the bench.

Flores rewarded the Mets with this seeming vote of confidence by delivering two hits and driving in a run while Nieuwenhuis contributed a hit of his own. 

However, tonight’s victory on the field and the new approach were just the beginning.  The cherry on top came after the conclusion of the game when it was announced that the Chris Young era has mercifully come to an end with the club choosing to designate him for assignment.  While it’s unlikely anyone will stake a claim for the embattled outfielder, stranger things have happened.  After all, I’m sure the Rockies felt the same way last year when they decided to part ways with one Eric Young, Jr. and they found a sucker to take him.  (We won’t get into the fine season Collin McHugh has had for the Astros since both the Mets and Rockies missed out on that one!)

Now if reports are to be believed, Matt den Dekker is not only on his way to join the big club, but he’s allegedly been promised the starting gig in left field.  Imagine that…bringing up a player from the AAA squad who was on fire and letting him deliver at the major league level instead of burying him on the bench.  The only question left to settle is whether Collins will insert den Dekker or Flores in the 8th spot in the batting order…his head might explode from having to settle this daily quandary.  

While I kid, it’s good to see the team finally abandon the delusion that they are going anywhere in 2014 and trying to see who might or might not be a part of the future.  Remember the date – August 8th – as it’s personally one which restores a little faith in how the Mets organization works.  

9 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Dekker Daily should be our new motto. I think Kirk is a serviceable 5th OF, but because, as you've noted in the past, Reese, he has never dented his excessive strikeout red flag, he remains a red flag.

I am totally proud of Dekker, who has cut his strikeout rate in 2014 in AAA in half from 2012, when he K'd about 155 times in 135 games. Matt should play against every righty regardless if he slumps or not initially. Here's why: last year, after a short post-wrist rehab in A ball, he went to AAA and started 1 for 25. Did it faze him? No. He hit about .333 in AAA after that, until his September call up.

I really believe he can project as a starting RF or CF against righties, and perhaps every day. I don't like Eric Young being the righty platoon for Matt, as Eric's one big asset (steals) is far less effective career-wise vs. lefties. But stick with Dekker, Kirk and Matt should not alternate. Matt every day a righthander starts.

Flores scored one and drove in one. Get used to that. Ruben had a woeful combined 50 runs and RBIs. Those days are OVER!

Unknown said...

Does den dekker have a good arm? Because I would put him in right and move Grandy to left. And when they put in EY you u shift grandy to right.

Bill Metsiac said...

You've got the wrong Eric. The one Terry said will be the RH platoon guy is CAMPBELL.

Hate to burst the bubble of the Terry-bashers here, but at least I hope you get the facts straight before attacking.

Anonymous said...

Colin McHugh had really one fine month, actually incredible month, but since April he is 2-9 with an ERA over 4 and last year he had an ERA of 10.29 with the Mets and 9.95 with CO, so not like they gave up Cy Young for Eric Young. I'm surprised they got anything for him. Happy to see him do well, but not sure you can expect to get anything more than EY for a pitcher with a 10 ERA and CO let him go for the same reason.

Dallas said...

" it’s good to see the team finally abandon the delusion that they are going anywhere in 2014 and trying to see who might or might not be a part of the future."

I think the problem here is that it doesnt have to be mutually exclusive. We have gotten so little from Tejada and CY, that being in a race or not should not have dictated this move. We put the young guys in the back of the bullpen and look what happened. I think its very likely we play better ball the rest of the year. How do any of the prospects stand a chance if they are only allowed to play over veterans when a team is out of the race.

BTW Mack the captcha is showing ads and I have to refresh it a bunch of times to get something to type in.

Mack Ade said...

Did you notice that Brennan typed a paragraph without mentioning Matt Reynolds?

Dallas - what is a 'capcha'?

Steve from Norfolk said...

Why even platoon den Dekker? His career L\R splits are only about .030 apart. Give him a real chance!

Steve from Norfolk said...

Mack,

The "captcha" is what is displayed under "Please show you're not a robot" under the comment window. It's started showing ads instead of scrambled text, and the contrast is pretty bad - and you can't post without re-entering that text.

Reese,

Maybe, as alien as this idea is to SA and TC, Sandy just realized we might have a better chance of winning playing the kids, and we're only 8 games back in a weak division with almost 2 months left!

Mack Ade said...

Sadly, I have no control of the 'captcha'...