Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Cannon Shell
I dont think it is that bad a trade at all if the Mets are trying to win now. Church had a sneaky good year last year hitting .272 with 43 2bs, 15 hrs, 70 rbi's, scoring 57 runs, with a .349 OBP and .464 SLG%. This was done starting 3/4 of the games in the worst park for hitters in the league. He bats left handed, can play all of the outfield positions well (he is a good defensive player) and will be willing to play a role on a team that may sit him against lefthanders. This will allow the Mets to give Alou (who quietly had a good year despite numerous injuries) rest aginst really tough righties especially since he isn't a 150 game a year player anymore. With Beltran in Center and Church and Chavez in the corner OF positions, the Mets will have the best outfield defense in the NL.
Schneider ( a lefty catcher) will most likely platoon with Estrada and probably be a late innings defensive replacment too. He doesn't hit much but is a way better defensive catcher than Lo Duca who was basically a terrible catcher whose main attribute was that he didn't strike out much. Of course he didnt have any power or even walk near enough to make up for the roughly 60 BB's or singles that he allowed to be doubles behind the plate. Estrada/Schneider is an upgrade over Lo Duca/Castro.
Milledge simply wont be effective as a part time player and the Mets cant take a chance at him flopping and trying to find an expensive replacement mid season. He strikes out too much, make only decent contact and probably not ready to handle the immense pressure that the Mets will have on them considering the collapse. He may just be the latest Mets phenom who wasn't. If he turns out to be the next Alex Rios I will admit I was wrong but I'm gonna guess he wont.
|
I hope you are right on Church but I can't get too enthused about a guy who didn't even have a decent season until he's 29. He strikes out once every 4.39 and a hitters ballpark (which Shea isn't but who knows what the new ballpark will bring) isn't going to help him with that. Milledge strikes out once every 4.38 at bats but one would think he has more room to improve on that than Church does.
I can't see them keeping three catchers so I assume they won't tender Estrada making him a free agent. They can't release Castro since they just signed him to a deal with guaranteed money.