Adam Rubin does a roster analysis of the Mets Opening Day squad as it stands today on his blog for the Daily News,
here...
I think the most interesting thing Rubin says is about the bullpen and Sean Green and Bobby Parnell. Rubin thinks they are in jeopardy of not being part of the 'pen opening day. If this were to be the case I would be proud of this organization for once. The Mets have a tendency to hold on to certain ideas a little too long, and if Green and Parnell aren't producing, they shouldn't be part of the 'pen, especially with the way Figueroa, Takahashi, Igarashi and even Calero and Nieve has been pitching. I know Calero has only thrown once, but if he keeps it up, it's going to get harder and harder for Green and Parnell to make the opening day roster.
As for Rubin breaking my heart...
He says, "That leaves the last bench spot, which I believe is headed in
Mike Jacobs' favor. The primary alternative is
Frank Catalanotto, with
Chris Carter likely ticketed for the Triple-A outfield with
Fernando Martinez,
Jason Pridie,
Nick Evans and
Jesus Feliciano."
I just don't get why Carter is getting the shaft here. If he's hitting better than Jacobs, can play more positions at a similar level, bats left-handed, and has power...why can't he make the team? The only reason I can think of can be drawn out of something Rubin says later in his post, "Look for Jacobs to even potentially chip away at
Daniel Murphy's playing time as the season progresses, assuming Jacobs makes the club." Rubin continues, "Manuel has been testing a 3-4-5 order of Wright-Jacobs-
Jason Bay. Let's say the manager goes to that lineup the first Saturday of the season and rests Murphy, and Jacobs goes 3-for-4 with a homer. Manuel would go back to that lineup again quickly."
So I think I've figured it out. The Mets have no confidence in Murphy... That's the only reason that Carter won't make this team, because they need a bench player who they feel can start at first if Murphy struggles. And I don't think it takes much for Murphy to see that. Putting that kind of pressure on Murphy might not prove to be beneficial to his development, or the teams.
Either way, in this article Rubin puts out some interesting situations to watch out for...
