Mets Fever: Will a bat make sense....

I've long said that this offense shouldn't be over looked during the off-season when improving the team. I know they scored the second most runs in the league but this is the same offense two years in a row that struggled down the stretch in clutch situations.

This offense simple has too many "if's" to be considered complete;

If Delgado continues to hit as he did in the second half.

If Castillo returns to the table setter form that he once was.

If Church returns to his pre-concussion form.

If they get production out of Schneider and Castro stays healthy.

If Murphy can handle being a starter and wasn't a flash in the pan.

If Tatis can be the right handed power bat off the bench.

If Marlon Anderson can return to the best left handed pinch hitter he once was.

If Wright doesn't try to put the team on his back and strike out with men on 3rd, no outs late in the season.

If Jose Reyes, without line-up protection and outs recorded can stop popping out when he's not hitting lead off.

Don't get me wrong, I believe most of these ifs will be answered positively but those who point to the fact that we scored the second most runs in the league and will be fine, in my opinion are being too optimistic. We have the opportunity to improve the team and it just doesn't make sense not to do so.....

Let's not forget that this offense was put together in 2007 ( basically 2008 was status quo) and when it was designed they had Moises Alou's bat in mind. While his replacements did a great job filling-in, that doesn't mean that they should be relied upon to take over full-time. Especially a guy in Tatis who was comeback player of the year, Murphy who is out of position and was in AA before his call up.

Of the games the Mets lost, they lost too many 7-5 ( score is an example not actual) type games. Why do I say that, because they lost the battle of the middle innings. The top of the order would score three quick runs ( 3-0) but the offense didn't have the length to keep the pressure on and the pitcher would get off the hook. After the five hitter the starter would get a chance to take a breather, find his groove and regain his confidence. Reyes struggled without protection from a weak bottom of the order and the two hole wasn't effective with two outs. David Wright looked like a different hitter with a runner on and two outs especially late in the season. Suddenly it would be the sixth inning and what looked like it could have been a blow out for us, instead was a 3-2 game. The pen would be coming into a tight game and you can't devalue the toll of coming in every night early and in a close game. The opposition would get a few runs and we would come back with a few runs. Now were in the 8th or 9th in a close or tie game and this is where the 30 blown saves come in and everybody ( rightfully so ) points at the bullpen as we lose another one 7-5. But the offense did play a role in those games, had they had the length to keep tacking on in the middle innings maybe all thirty of those games wouldn't have been blown.

Omar Minaya, GM, Mets - Minaya said last week from the Dominican Republic that he's focusing on signing Oliver Perez if the price is right, and didn't rule out adding a piece to the offense. I mentioned Manny Ramírez, and he laughed and dismissed it. Minaya added, "We'll look into adding some offense, but only if it makes sense. There are still a lot of players out there, so we'll see what happens." source Boston Globe

If you agree or more importantly the Mets, then the question becomes is there a player that makes sense. Not only does that mean the cost but also with being less of a risk then who we already have. It would have to be a right handed hitter or a lefty who hits both righties and lefties well. I know Manny is the perfect fit but I don't see that happening, I still hold out hope that Omar is lying in the weeds as he did with Johan but I will be astonished if it happens. I think the team that Omar and Jerry are making, they would rather have high average, defensive guys then home run threats with average gloves which will rule out Adam Dunn. As I said yesterday in my opinion Abreu really makes the most sense but after that I just don't see who is better then what we have, unless you want a return of Jay Payton....

Here are all the right handed bats or switch hitters left, the top three are the only outfielders left.

Jay Payton

Emil Brown

Danny Bautista ( Mexican league since 2004 still listed)

Frank Thomas

Richie Sexson

Kevin Millar

Jose Vidro

Ramon Martinez

Orlando Hudson

Mark Grudzielanek

Damion Easley