Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Fernando Tatis

How Hessman Fits

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Kudos to the Mets for realizing that carrying an injured player is a bad idea, rather than DLing him so that he can heal and their manager can have a full complement of players. But the disabling of Rod Barajas, and promotion of Mike Hessman, gives the team a number of useful options they have […]

Nick Evans: Better Hitter and Just as Versatile as Tatis

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

Last night I covered the Trenton Thunder/Binghamton Mets game at Waterfront Park. During batting practice I took notice that Nick Evans spent a considerable amount of time taking groundballs at third base. Should this be a surprise? Maybe not, as Evans has played six games at third in his minor league career, but it did […]

Don’t Throw the Tatis Out with the Bathwater

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Just wanted to follow up a bit on what Mike wrote earlier today regarding the Mets’ bench. There seems to be a tendency, though not from Mike, to equate Fernando Tatis’ early struggles with those of Frank Catalanotto, Mike Jacobs, Gary Matthews Jr. and Alex Cora. But the reason to be down on the potential […]

Cleaning Up the Mets Bench

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Yesterday I mentioned what a nice job Omar Minaya has done creating a bullpen with some under the radar value this offseason. On the flip side, the Mets bench has never been a strength during Minaya’s regime. The weakest link of the 2006 team, in my opinion, was the bench as an over the hill […]

Keep The Head Up There is Hope

Friday, April 9th, 2010

Sitting in an empty Citi Field last night reminded me how disengaged the Mets fan base has become. What should have been a nightly sellout, or near sellout, of a ballpark that was long overdue has become a mausoleum in short time. With the early morning rain today, I can’t see tonight being much different, […]

Give Chris Carter His Chance

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

I am not about to call Daniel Murphy “Wally Pipp,” but there is irony in the fact that, days before Chris Carter would be likely sent down, Murphy injures his MCL. We all know what Mike Jacobs can do, and yes he is an adequate replacement at first, but Chris Carter might be able to […]

Daniel Murphy Doesn’t Deserve 1B Job

Friday, March 19th, 2010

After today’s game against Minnesota Daniel Murphy is hitting .133. First base, and specifically Murphy, were huge question marks coming into spring training. The Mets already will be short on power without Carlos Beltran, and the absence of Jose Reyes makes it hard to carry any subpar offensive players. Joel Sherman made a great point […]

Being Blocked by a Star

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Ben Shpigel of the Times talks to Ramiro Pena today about being blocked by a Hall of Fame shortstop. Pena has the right attitude saying that “he gets to learn from one of the very best,” but there are other young players in both Port St. Lucie and Tampa that very well may need to […]

Positional Battles: Mets Bench

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Let’s take a look at the Mets bench, which has not been the team’s strength in many years. Locks: Alex Cora, Fernando Tatis, Gary Matthews Jr. Competition: Mike Jacobs, Chris Carter, Frank Catalanotto, Chris Coste, Jason Pridie, Nick Evans, Anderson Hernandez, Russ Adams Long Shots: Andy Green, Jesus Feliciano, Mike Hessman, Mike Cervenak, Jolbert Cabrera, […]

On Mike Jacobs and Daniel Murphy, and 2B

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

The news that the Mets signed Mike Jacobs to a minor league contract filled me with mixed emotions. On the positive side, adding to organizational depth with a hitter who can provide some power, given the limited risk involved, strikes me as a fine idea. But the flip side is that unlike a minor league […]