Baseball Guru
03-04-2004, 04:50 PM
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nym/news/nym_news.jsp?ymd=20040223&content_id=638881&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp
By Kevin T. Czerwinski
2003 record
66-95, fifth in the NL East
2003 Hitting Leaders
(min. 200 at-bats)
Avg.: Jose Reyes, .307
OBP: Mike Piazza, .377
SLG: Cliff Floyd, .518
Runs: Ty Wigginton, 73
RBIs: Wigginton, 71
Hits: Wigginton, 146
2B: Wigginton, 36
3B: Wigginton, 6
HR: Floyd, 18
SB: Roger Cedeño, 14
2003 Pitching Leaders
(min. 30 IP)
IP: Steve Trachsel, 204.2
W: Trachsel 16
L: Tom Glavine, 14
Win %: Al Leiter, .625
S: Armando Benitez, 21
ERA: John Franco, 2.62
K: Leiter, 139
K/9: Benitez, 9.12
WHIP: Mike Stanton, 1.24
Projected Starting Lineup
SS Kaz Matsui
2B Jose Reyes
LF Cliff Floyd
C Mike Piazza
CF Mike Cameron
1B Jason Phillips
3B Ty Wigginton
RF Karim Garcia/Shane Spencer
Pitcher
Projected Rotation
1. Tom Glavine
2. Al Leiter
3. Steve Trachsel
4. Jae Weong Seo
5. To be determined
Bullpen
LH setup man: Mike Stanton
RH setup man: David Weathers
Closer: Braden Looper
Spring Cleaning: Five questions that need answers
1. Who will win the fifth starter's job? Finding a back end of the rotation guy was last on Jim Duquette's to-do list this winter. With Spring Training here, he's hoping to find a gem among some stones, giving Scott Erickson, Grant Roberts, Aaron Heilman, Tyler Yates, Jeremy Griffiths and Shawn Sedlacek a chance to win the job.
2. Who's in right? Abbott and Costello could make a whole routine about the expected revolving door in right field. Roger Cedeño, Timo Perez, Shane Spencer and Karim Garcia figure to fight for playing time barring a deal. There isn't enough playing time to go around, though, for four of them so someone will have to go.
3. How healthy are Cliff Floyd and Mike Piazza? Piazza is coming off the worst injury of his career while Floyd had yet another season cut short by a variety of ailments. If New York is to have any run production from this lineup, Floyd and Piazza have to stay healthy.
4. How will Kaz Matsui adjust to life in the United States? The Japanese star comes with a very high-profile and a big advance billing. Whether he lives up to the scouting reports remains to be seen. He has to deal with a language barrier as well as playing on grass for the first time. Roberto Alomar found blaming the grass at Shea Stadium convenient for his shortcomings with the Mets. It will be interesting to see how Matsui adjusts.
5. Can Ty Wigginton hold serve? Wigginton had a solid rookie season, better than anyone on the Mets ever expected. He needs to play at that level or better this season and not take a step back on either side of the ball. Having Todd Zeile around should give him a break. He was clearly tired by the end of last season and it showed in terms of his production.
New faces: Players acquired via trade or free agency
Kaz Matsui -- He was a Gold Glove-winner and an All-Star in Japan. The promise he brings to the top of the Mets batting order is bettered only by the excitement created when the talk turns to his defensive skills. Matsui is expected to form one of the league's most potent double-play combinations with second baseman Jose Reyes.
Mike Cameron -- The Mets wanted a solid defensive center fielder to aid their pitching staff and got more than they bargained for in Cameron. The two-time Gold Glove winner has drawn comparisons to Andruw Jones and should have little trouble covering the expansive Shea Stadium outfield.
Braden Looper -- Being a closer in New York isn't easy. Just ask Armando Benitez. But Looper says he's ready for the challenge and proved last fall that he knows how to handle a grand stage. He needs to get off to a quick start to win over the fans.
Todd Zeile -- A new face that's actually an old face. Zeile returns to Shea Stadium and will fill the role that Tony Clark performed so well last season. Expect Zeile to get starts at third and at first while serving as the primary bat off the bench.
Rick Peterson -- The former Oakland guru rejoins manager Art Howe as the pitching coach amidst a great deal of hype. He helped mold the A's pitching staff into one of the best in baseball and has had success everywhere he's been. Former pitching coach Vern Ruhle was largely ignored by the veterans and often too confusing for the youngsters.
Long gone
Mo Vaughn -- The big first baseman's career is all but over. He will miss the entire season with a severely arthritic knee before the Mets exercise their option and buy out his contract for 2005. He won't be attending Spring Training.
Tony Clark -- The classy veteran wasn't going to get nearly enough at-bats with the Mets so he moved cross town to the Yankees. His leadership and dignity will be missed in the clubhouse.
Jaime Cerda -- The sometimes promising left-hander was sent to Kansas City in a January deal to free up a roster spot for Zeile. He showed flashes in two seasons but wasn't consistent and angered some in the organization by not playing winter ball.
Jay Bell -- Another good clubhouse guy who called it a career after coming off the bench last season. His impact on the field was minimal, but the influence he had over Wigginton was monumental.
Pedro Astacio -- The Mula's shoulder finally gave out and the Mets weren't about to bring him back. Labrum and rotator cuff surgery cost him most of the season.
Returning from injury
Scott Strickland -- The hard-throwing right-hander had Tommy John surgery in June and is expected to be back with the parent club sometime this summer.
Cliff Floyd -- The affable left fielder's first season in New York was marred by injuries. Eventually he was forced to miss the final six weeks after undergoing Achilles surgery. He's healthy, though, and is expected to be able to be 100 percent as Spring Training begins.
Jose Reyes -- The image of Reyes rolling in the dirt at Shea Stadium last August clutching his ankle was one that sent shivers throughout the organization. Reyes missed the final month with a severely sprained ankle and still wasn't 100 percent as January drew to a close. But he is expected to be fine when camp opens, having already begun working on the transition to second base.
New kids on the block: Prospects to watch
Scott Kazmir -- The former first-round pick will start the season in Double-A, but many folks can't help but think of the impact Dontrelle Willis had on the Marlins last year. If the back end of the rotation struggles and Kazmir gets off to a hot start, his getting called up wouldn't be out of the question.
On the rebound
Tom Glavine -- The veteran southpaw had one of the worst seasons of his career. If New York is to have any chance to be a contending team, it needs Glavine to have a Glavine-like year and not go 9-14 again.
Mike Piazza -- The former All-Star catcher returned from a serious groin injury last summer but was clearly not the player he was before he got hurt. He went a career-high 88 at-bats without a homer to end the year and needs to rediscover his power stroke.
The bottom line
The Mets need to learn how to win again and put the last three seasons behind them. Howe has a year under his belt in New York and should have a better handle on what to expect from the fans and media alike. He came to the Mets with a reputation for being able to mold a young team. New York certainly has enough youngsters in camp this year to put that theory to the test.
By Kevin T. Czerwinski
2003 record
66-95, fifth in the NL East
2003 Hitting Leaders
(min. 200 at-bats)
Avg.: Jose Reyes, .307
OBP: Mike Piazza, .377
SLG: Cliff Floyd, .518
Runs: Ty Wigginton, 73
RBIs: Wigginton, 71
Hits: Wigginton, 146
2B: Wigginton, 36
3B: Wigginton, 6
HR: Floyd, 18
SB: Roger Cedeño, 14
2003 Pitching Leaders
(min. 30 IP)
IP: Steve Trachsel, 204.2
W: Trachsel 16
L: Tom Glavine, 14
Win %: Al Leiter, .625
S: Armando Benitez, 21
ERA: John Franco, 2.62
K: Leiter, 139
K/9: Benitez, 9.12
WHIP: Mike Stanton, 1.24
Projected Starting Lineup
SS Kaz Matsui
2B Jose Reyes
LF Cliff Floyd
C Mike Piazza
CF Mike Cameron
1B Jason Phillips
3B Ty Wigginton
RF Karim Garcia/Shane Spencer
Pitcher
Projected Rotation
1. Tom Glavine
2. Al Leiter
3. Steve Trachsel
4. Jae Weong Seo
5. To be determined
Bullpen
LH setup man: Mike Stanton
RH setup man: David Weathers
Closer: Braden Looper
Spring Cleaning: Five questions that need answers
1. Who will win the fifth starter's job? Finding a back end of the rotation guy was last on Jim Duquette's to-do list this winter. With Spring Training here, he's hoping to find a gem among some stones, giving Scott Erickson, Grant Roberts, Aaron Heilman, Tyler Yates, Jeremy Griffiths and Shawn Sedlacek a chance to win the job.
2. Who's in right? Abbott and Costello could make a whole routine about the expected revolving door in right field. Roger Cedeño, Timo Perez, Shane Spencer and Karim Garcia figure to fight for playing time barring a deal. There isn't enough playing time to go around, though, for four of them so someone will have to go.
3. How healthy are Cliff Floyd and Mike Piazza? Piazza is coming off the worst injury of his career while Floyd had yet another season cut short by a variety of ailments. If New York is to have any run production from this lineup, Floyd and Piazza have to stay healthy.
4. How will Kaz Matsui adjust to life in the United States? The Japanese star comes with a very high-profile and a big advance billing. Whether he lives up to the scouting reports remains to be seen. He has to deal with a language barrier as well as playing on grass for the first time. Roberto Alomar found blaming the grass at Shea Stadium convenient for his shortcomings with the Mets. It will be interesting to see how Matsui adjusts.
5. Can Ty Wigginton hold serve? Wigginton had a solid rookie season, better than anyone on the Mets ever expected. He needs to play at that level or better this season and not take a step back on either side of the ball. Having Todd Zeile around should give him a break. He was clearly tired by the end of last season and it showed in terms of his production.
New faces: Players acquired via trade or free agency
Kaz Matsui -- He was a Gold Glove-winner and an All-Star in Japan. The promise he brings to the top of the Mets batting order is bettered only by the excitement created when the talk turns to his defensive skills. Matsui is expected to form one of the league's most potent double-play combinations with second baseman Jose Reyes.
Mike Cameron -- The Mets wanted a solid defensive center fielder to aid their pitching staff and got more than they bargained for in Cameron. The two-time Gold Glove winner has drawn comparisons to Andruw Jones and should have little trouble covering the expansive Shea Stadium outfield.
Braden Looper -- Being a closer in New York isn't easy. Just ask Armando Benitez. But Looper says he's ready for the challenge and proved last fall that he knows how to handle a grand stage. He needs to get off to a quick start to win over the fans.
Todd Zeile -- A new face that's actually an old face. Zeile returns to Shea Stadium and will fill the role that Tony Clark performed so well last season. Expect Zeile to get starts at third and at first while serving as the primary bat off the bench.
Rick Peterson -- The former Oakland guru rejoins manager Art Howe as the pitching coach amidst a great deal of hype. He helped mold the A's pitching staff into one of the best in baseball and has had success everywhere he's been. Former pitching coach Vern Ruhle was largely ignored by the veterans and often too confusing for the youngsters.
Long gone
Mo Vaughn -- The big first baseman's career is all but over. He will miss the entire season with a severely arthritic knee before the Mets exercise their option and buy out his contract for 2005. He won't be attending Spring Training.
Tony Clark -- The classy veteran wasn't going to get nearly enough at-bats with the Mets so he moved cross town to the Yankees. His leadership and dignity will be missed in the clubhouse.
Jaime Cerda -- The sometimes promising left-hander was sent to Kansas City in a January deal to free up a roster spot for Zeile. He showed flashes in two seasons but wasn't consistent and angered some in the organization by not playing winter ball.
Jay Bell -- Another good clubhouse guy who called it a career after coming off the bench last season. His impact on the field was minimal, but the influence he had over Wigginton was monumental.
Pedro Astacio -- The Mula's shoulder finally gave out and the Mets weren't about to bring him back. Labrum and rotator cuff surgery cost him most of the season.
Returning from injury
Scott Strickland -- The hard-throwing right-hander had Tommy John surgery in June and is expected to be back with the parent club sometime this summer.
Cliff Floyd -- The affable left fielder's first season in New York was marred by injuries. Eventually he was forced to miss the final six weeks after undergoing Achilles surgery. He's healthy, though, and is expected to be able to be 100 percent as Spring Training begins.
Jose Reyes -- The image of Reyes rolling in the dirt at Shea Stadium last August clutching his ankle was one that sent shivers throughout the organization. Reyes missed the final month with a severely sprained ankle and still wasn't 100 percent as January drew to a close. But he is expected to be fine when camp opens, having already begun working on the transition to second base.
New kids on the block: Prospects to watch
Scott Kazmir -- The former first-round pick will start the season in Double-A, but many folks can't help but think of the impact Dontrelle Willis had on the Marlins last year. If the back end of the rotation struggles and Kazmir gets off to a hot start, his getting called up wouldn't be out of the question.
On the rebound
Tom Glavine -- The veteran southpaw had one of the worst seasons of his career. If New York is to have any chance to be a contending team, it needs Glavine to have a Glavine-like year and not go 9-14 again.
Mike Piazza -- The former All-Star catcher returned from a serious groin injury last summer but was clearly not the player he was before he got hurt. He went a career-high 88 at-bats without a homer to end the year and needs to rediscover his power stroke.
The bottom line
The Mets need to learn how to win again and put the last three seasons behind them. Howe has a year under his belt in New York and should have a better handle on what to expect from the fans and media alike. He came to the Mets with a reputation for being able to mold a young team. New York certainly has enough youngsters in camp this year to put that theory to the test.