From: cl3l+@andrew.cmu.edu (Craig Steven Lyga)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: The New Yuck Mets:A Look Ahead
Date: 5 Oct 92 19:43:43 GMT
Organization: Sophomore, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


     Well, with all the hype, all the hope, and all the predictions, the
Mets ended their 1992 season with a 2-0 loss and a 72-90 record, 24
games out of first in 5th place only 2 games ahead of Philadelphia.
While even though this type of finish gets the same results as all of
those 2nd place finishes, no playoffs, things look much bleaker than
they did then. I'm not expecting much for the next couple of years, even
if they get real desperate and sign Bonds, which I wouldn't mind seeing.
But things probably would mesh together, there would be some significant
injury, and the Mets would falter somehow again. Also, the way the Mets
are playing, management wouldn't want to take that chance on a big
salary again. It would take a tremendous turnaround for the Mets to
contend next year. So a season with crowds of under 15,000 and sub-par
performances are expected next year. But as a fan, you always have to
hope and look to see who is going to be doing what and where next year.
The expansion draft is yet to come and there are free agents to be
signed and trades to be made but this is the Mets scenario for next
season for now.

FIRST BASE: EDDIE MURRAY. Steady Eddie should have at least one more
productive year in him. He better, he was the most productive player on
the team this year. If he keeps going on after next year, it's a plus.
But Murray's position in time with the team isn't too good. By the time
the younger players develop and the Mets restructure things, he'll be
ready to go. If Magadan is still with the club after next season, he
could be the replacement, or maybe some minor leaguer.

SECOND BASE: JEFF KENT. We traded David Cone for him so he better become
the starting 2nd baseman for the team. He's shown some good power at the
plate and good defense. Hopefully, his average will come up as his
experience goes up. Willie Randolph will probably stick around as a
backup next year.

SHORTSTOP: DICK SCHOFIELD. Kevin Elster will probably not be back year
because of Schofield's experience, great defense, and the uncertainty of
Elster's ability to come back off of his injury. Schofield has been
fantastic in the field and I can live with his hitting, just as long as
he doesn't have two .200 hitters in front of him.

THIRD BASE: DAVE MAGADAN. He always seems to be sticking around. He's
been traded in the papers about twenty times the last couple of years
but he's always on the roster opening day. I guess that's because
everyone's afraid that he'll hit .360 if the Mets trade him to somebody.
He's always been a very consistent player but he's never really
exploded. If Magadan does end up someplace else next year, we might see
Chico Walker at 3rd who was one of the most pleasant surprises of this
season. Chico led the team in batting but his defense hasn't been great
anywhere. There is also a chance of maybe putting Hojo (yikes!) or Bobby
Bo (double yikes!) back at third base.

OUTFIELD: BOBBY BONILLA, RYAN THOMPSON, ???????.  Bonilla is a definite
(we have to try to get our money's month) I think Thompson has looked
good since coming over and he is young yet. I think he will develop into
a capable center-fielder. The third spot I think would have to go to
Hojo. You have to give him the chance. He led the league in HR's and
RBI's a year ago. Unless you can get a real good deal for him (which I
don't think a team would part with young talent to risk), he has to
start next year. Also, it's an odd numbered year coming up, he has to do
well. That leaves the Mets four capable(?) outfielders on the bench.
Vince Coleman, Daryl Boston, Dave Gallagher, and Kevin Bass. They also
have Patrick Howell and D.J. Dozier in the minors. The Mets would love
to dump Coleman but no one would want to take his contract. Still, this
is the area in which the Mets have to make their trades from. Maybe they
can get a capable middle reliever or another solid infielder.

CATCHER: TODD HUNDLEY. He's the man. If we stuck with him all through
this year, why not try again next year. His offense steadily improved
this year and his defense has been good. As for Sasser and O'Brien, I
don't know what's going to happen. I think Sasser is turning into a Mark
Carreon and the Mets are probably going to get rid of him this season.

STARTING PITCHING: If healthy, still very good but of course the key
word is healthy. Saberhagen, like Hojo, is now entering an odd numbered
year. Although he did not win a game after coming off the DL, he didn't
look that bad and you could expect that he would be rusty. Sid had
another one of his typical good seasons. 14-16 wins, 185-200 SO's, and
low opponent's batting average. Pete Schourek pitched with a lot of bad
luck this season and I still think he can be a solid starter. And, of
course, there's Doc. Dwight Gooden just finished his first losing season
in the majors but he still pitched 200 innings and he looked very strong
the last month and a half of the season. My prediction is that he'll be
Comeback Player of the NL next season but that's also because he's my
favorite player on the Mets. The fifth starter could be a minor leaguer
(Hillman?) or an off-season acquisition.

RELIEF PITCHERS: Do I have to talk about this part of the team. We
haven't had a solid bullpen since 1986. Gibson, Jones, Whitehurst,
Guetterman, Young, Innis, Franco, give me a break. I know Franco has
done well in the past but I think he's slipping. Young got off to a
great start but has tailed off badly in the pen. Innis I think could be
a good setup man but the rest of the bullpen is a joke. The Mets have to
make moves in the offseason to try to improve this bullpen. I know that
a lot of closers are free agents this year but that is not as much a
priority as getting some good middle relief, although I wouldn't mind
Tom Henke in a Mets uniform. If the starter gets in trouble we need
someone who can keep us in the game. Then maybe we could come back and
be able to bring in the closer so Franco wont have to complain about his
innings. The offense could come around next year, this bullpen, as it
stands now, will not.


Well, I have to prepare to root for the Braves against the Pirates
tomorrow night. Any views or comments about this post would be gladly
accepted. I'd like to see if I've gotten these rose-colored glasses off
yet.

Go Braves!

Craig
Mets fan stuck in Pirate country
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball