For the last two days the Mets have been rained out. Two consecutive days without baseball could be considered a long time. For Juan Lagares, it may seem like an eternity.
You see, Lagares rarely plays (he’s appeared in only 26 games this year while only making 56 plate appearances since his debut on April 23). It is with this sporadic playing time that makes Lagares still up with the Mets maddening.
At 24, Lagares should be playing every day in Las Vegas as opposed to be a bit player for the Mets. Besides, with 10 hits (three extra-base hits) in 54 at-bats, it’s not like he is lighting the world on fire.
So, what do the Mets have in Lagares anyway?
Well, it’s not like Lagares is some uber prospect the Mets had to desperately call up. Lagares is a gifted athlete who covers a lot of ground in the outfield; has solid speed and a bit of pop but nothing off the charts amazing. Maybe someday the Mets will need Lagares’ services, but it appears that time is not right now.
At this point, the Mets are stunting Lagares’ growth. If Lagares had hit right off the bat, I assume the Mets would be plugging him into the lineup on a daily basis. While 54 at-bats is still a small sample size, I think it is enough to make the case for sending Lagares back down so that he can get regular playing time while improving on some of his offensive flaws.
In return the Mets should see what they got in Collin Cowgill and Kirk Nieuwenhuis this time around. There is no reason why they should be in Vegas any longer. When you throw in Marlon Byrd, Rick Ankiel and Jordany Valdespin, the Mets should want to showcase all these players to see who has any value come the trade deadline.
I think Lagares’ value will come in clearer once the Mets get past the deadline. By then the Mets will know what kind of outfield they’ll be trying to work with in the 2014 season.
What the Mets should do is send down Lagares and recall either Cowgill or Nieuwenhuis. And then by July maybe the Mets can package the likes of Marlon Byrd and perhaps others while getting a better grasp on how they should move forward with their underachieving outfield. As that comes into focus, maybe the Mets can recall Lagares in August and plug him into the lineup on an everyday basis. This way the Mets will give him a proper audition and really see if he will part of the Mets’ future.
Lagares is currently toiling on the bench and, right now, that’s not doing anybody any good.
The Mets should always be attempting to put the best available players on the major league roster. This month, the better player is Nieuwenhuis at the expense of Ankiel. Ankiel was fine because Kirk was struggling but Kirk has come on at AAA and merits another chance. Kirk has more upside than Ankiel.
Lagares at 24 is having his developement inhibited by not playing more. Cowgill at 27 should come up for the CF platoon .
Byrd has been playing as an above average NL RF and should continue getting the majority of the playing time. He also is hitting better than Valdespin or Baxter vs RHP. I would only trade Byrd at the deadline if it was a “real” prospect that is projected to be a ML. Otherwise, keep him and his low salary so that the best players are on the roster. As for impeding JV1, who thinks he is a corner OF? He is a utility man that can’t outhit Byrd vs RHP.
Dan, what you say makes sense. It is very frustrating trying to figure the reasoning behind the way Alderson&Co. have structured the Mets roster.
And Metsense is correct that JV1 is a utility player. Those who see more in him are victims of poor perception brought on by the lack of talent on the team.
Some pressing issues that Sandy/TC have been avoiding for a while now in no particular order.
1. 6 OF’s. Maddening to see from this Mets fan. 6.5 if you include Turner, which is absolutely ridiculous to leave 4 OF’s on the bench and no infielders. If you want to get Turner’s bat in the lineup, take Ike out!
2. Robert Carson. He doesn’t belong on a major league roster at all. I don’t think you can find one encouraging tidbit about this kid. When is it enough?
3. John Buck. He’s was a nice story in April, but he’s reverted back to what he thought he would be. No reason to be playing him at the rate he’s playing. Play Recker like a usual backup; ie. day game after night game and at least the rate of 3 games per 4 series.
4. TC. Go away. please.
Agree with you on points 1,2, and 4. 3 I have to disagree on since Buck’s the best option we actually have. Were TdA ready, he would be up already but he is working his way back to health and Buck is the best option we have in the entire system.
Going back to the original topic, I’m hoping that when Kirk is called up, that they consider calling Puello up to AAA and getting Lagares more playing time. The guy is a plus defensive CF with some speed and some pop; the home run he hit in Wrigley was a proper dinger, not the type of thing hit that Tejada puts barely over the wall.
If Lagares can hit .250, he can be a Major League starting CF based on his defensive capabilities but he’s not going to grow without playing time.
Since May 5th, John Buck has a slash of .175/.259/.227 with 1 HR. To put that into perspective, Ike Davis has a .161/.220/.215 with 1 HR.
Meanwhile (in very limited PA’s), Recker has a line of .263/.333/.526.
Over that stretch Recker has started 5/31 times, about 15%. Even if you include John Buck’s defense, it doesn’t justify playing him that much over Recker.
Will always love the Mets but still boycotting them until TC is gone and Ike is sent down.