Is Pagan vunerable

Angel Pagan did a great job in earning himself a roster spot in spring training and got off to a really hot start to begin the season. But just as Willie predicted in regards to Pagan, he'll come back down to earth and Angel has done so.

"He's still a nice player, but let's not get crazy," Randolph said. "I hope he stays this way all year long. But he came in here as our fourth outfielder, and when your backup guys come in and really do a job for you, you love that kind of thing." source Newsday 4/15/08

When your hitting over .400 and knocking in a run a game, people forget that you misplay a ball and the team loses a tight game with Johan Santana on the mound. But when you play once a week and are only hitting .278, when a ball bounces off the side of your mitt in a five run inning people notice that.

With Alou returning and Endy's legs looking healthy, Pagan is automatically relegated to the fifth outfielders role. If Pagan struggles to hit or can't be considered a defensive replacement then he becomes very venerable to losing the spot he worked so hard to earn. Hitting .278 with base stealing ability is hardly struggling, but if the team decides it needs a backup 1B it's a lot easier to bump an outfielder who struggles defensively and isn't on fire at the plate.

I like Pagan a lot, he's an exciting young player but I'm afraid he may have opened the door to be sent down if the team needs to make room for someone else, late in a close game there's no doubt Endy is the defensive replacement for Alou.

Of course Marlon Anderson is only hitting .136 but he's known to get off to a slow start, just ask the Dodgers who he carried in Sept. '06' to the playoffs, only to be waived early in '07' and then take off as a pinch hitter for us. I'd guess if it came down to Anderson or Pagan, Anderson would get the benefit of the doubt because he's a veteran and Pagan has options. Pagan would get recalled the minute Alou goes down again anyway........