From: niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent)
Subject: Re: 1992 Mets
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 02:06:34 GMT

In article <1992Dec22.182407.7534@asd.com> scott@asd.com (Scott Barman) writes:
>In<1h04v9INN429@network.ucsd.edu> rand@muttley.ucsd.edu (Rand Steiger) writes:

[...]

>>recent moves. SIgning Joe Orsulak, then letting go of the entire
>>bench, including Sasser, just as he was demonstrating that he might yet
>>become a real catcher.

Yeah, I mean, I like Joe Orsulak a lot as a person.  He seems like a
really nice guy, and he's one of the first people I'd invite to dinner
if I was picking a player to do so.  But he isn't one of the first
people I'd sign as a free agent.

He's actually, IMO, excellent defensively.  But he's Dan Gladden with
the bat.  He has no power and doesn't walk, so he doesn't *do* much for
the team besides put up a flashy but meaningless BA.

>A real catcher who couldn't return the ball to the pitcher without
>problems.  It was getting "dangerous" as some teams had begun to take
>advantage of this.  Sasser also wasn't the best game caller.  He did get
>into grooves, but he was not consistant.  He could hit, however, and I
>find it hard to believe that they couldn't make room for a left handed
>hacker!

I dunno; I used to be a Sasser backer, as well.  But he hasn't exactly set
the world on fire with his bat, lately.  Now, if he could play catcher,
his expected .700 OPS would be a nice contribution.  But if he can't,
his bat isn't much use.

>> Also their most glaring need for the past three
>>years is still unfilled - a left hander in the bullpen behind Franco.

>Al Harazin has said that he would like a left hander, but he has a right
>hander who dose just fine getting out lefties.  If that's the case, then
>having a left handed setup man is a desire and not a necessity.  I'm not
>sure who he was referring to, but he seemed happy with the situation. I'm not.

>>Old Met fans will remember when Mickey Lolich was brought in as the
>>last piece in the puzzle, followed by ten years of mediocraty. Hellooooo
>>Frank Tanana!

>No, Harazin explained this, too.  Lolich was brough in as a "savior"-type
>after they traded Seaver.  Lolich was expected to come in, win 20 games,
>and lead the Mets staff.  Tanana was aquired as a fifth starter and will
>the the guy who will be bumped early in the season becuase of the number
>of off days to get more innings for the Big 3 (Gooden, Saberhagen, and
>Fernandez).  All Harazin says he wants from Tanana is the ~200 innings
>and the ~3.00 ERA he gave the Tigers last year.  Harazin also noted the
>success of lefthanded junk-ball pitchers (Bobby Ojeda, John Tudor, etc.)
>who have crossed over from the AL to the NL as a sign this might be a
>good move.  Maybe, but he's still 39 years old!

Then it must be Frank Tanana's evil twin brother "Jeff" who was pitching
for the Tigers last year, because he had a 4.39 ERA, not a 3.00 ERA.  

>>Actually, with Gooden and HoJo healthy, I think they will do better then
>>some people on the net think. Just good enough to be their old frustrating
>>selves.....

>And maybe stay 10 games ahead of the Marlins?!  :-)

No, but 10 in front of the Cubs, surely.

(Honestly, I don't see why everyone thinks the Marlins are so bad.  If
they play their best available people, position by position, they're
*way* ahead of the Cubs as far as I can tell.)

-- 
David M. Nieporent   | Is it too early to start making predictions for 1993?
niepornt@phoenix.    | Probably, but that never stopped me before.
   princeton.edu     | ALE: Baltimore ALW: Chicago NLE: Montreal NLW: Atlanta
Baltimore Orioles 93 | AL MVP: Cal Ripken  AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball