Mets Bench

The Mets are attempting to tread water this season, in the second year of their official rebuilding phase.  With that being said, they're moving forward with an eclectic mix of returning veterans, young players and prospects, and new acquisitions.  One area which should feature all three types of players is their bench.

1.  Fourth Outfielder:  The fourth outfielder position usually goes to a strong defensive player who will typically lead bench players in games played, though not necessarily at-bats.  He needs to be someone who can play all three outfield positions and be ready to enter games after the seventh inning when his team has a lead.  Who is the front-runner for this role with the Mets?  Good question.  GM Sandy Alderson would have you believe that OF/2B Scott Hairston is capable of filling the role, but if you watched the team last year you know that Hairston was used as a pinch hitter and a long-ball threat off the bench most of the year, not as a defensive outfielder.  Moreover, if you watched the team last year you undoubtedly saw Hairston misjudge fly balls in left field on a regular basis and not play center or right at all, and for a good reason:  He wasn't strong enough defensively to play either of those positions.  The fences are shorter this year than they were last year in right field which could make Hairston more versatile in the outfield, but he still can't play center.  Plus, Hairston has an oblique injury and hasn't played in Spring Training yet.  So that's Hairston.  Who else is in competition for the role?  Well there's prospect CF Matt Den Dekker, who right now is probably the most capable person for the role, although I doubt the Mets would use this guy in the Majors for anything that wouldn't give him regular at-bats.  That's about it.  So who will the fourth outfielder be?  Good question.

2.  Utility Infielder:  The utility infielder is typically a jack of all trades who is expected to be willing and able to play just about anywhere.  But the most important things for these guys is that they have to be able to play both second base and shortstop.  The clear front-runner here is IF Ronny Cedeno, who was signed as a free agent this off-season.  Last season in Pittsburgh, Cedeno batted .249 in 413 at-bats as the team's starting shortstop.  But let's not start sucking each other's dicks just yet.  LeRoy still believes that Cedeno will emerge as the starting shortstop for the Mets, and if that happens, IF Ruben Tejada would then become the utility player.  Also competing as longer shots for the role are IF Justin Turner (last year's starting second baseman), SS Jordany Valdespin (a prospect which the team probably wouldn't use off the bench), and SS Omar Quintanilla (a non-roster invitee who may play second base at Buffalo), but none of them are considered to be close to winning the role.  I'd put my money on the job falling to Tejada.

3.  Backup Catcher:  The backup catcher typically catches day games after night games and comes in for defense on occasion, while also giving the starter an extra rest when he needs it.  The job is different for the Mets though.  The backup catcher in Queens needs to platoon with lefty-hitting starting C Josh Thole (meaning that the backup better be right-handed) and he may have to serve as a personal catcher for both RHP R. A. Dickey and RHP Mike Pelfrey.  Who's that person going to be?  If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on C Rob Johnson.  Johnson's not a good hitter, having batted .190 in 179 at-bats last season with San Diego, but he's better at hitting lefties than Thole (which isn't saying much), he's an excellent fielding catcher, and he could probably catch both Pelfrey and Dickey on a regular basis.  C Ronny Paulino left at the end of last season and no one is on a guaranteed contract, but the closest thing to an incumbent the team has is C Mike Nickeas, who probably represents Johnson's biggest competition.  Also in the mix is C Lucas May.

4.  Left-handed Bat:  The left-handed bat usually serves as the team's primary pinch hitter.  A good pinch hitter usually needs to be able to hit fastballs on a regular basis.  Mets fans have complained about the lack of pinch hitters since Alderson took over last season, but the role has been kept conspicuously vacant for an obvious reason:  The best pinch hitter on the team is IF/LF Daniel Murphy.  The Mets are touting Murphy as their starting second baseman this season, but that's not going to happen.  Second base is going to go back to Turner due to Murphy's fielding difficulties.  And then Murph will go back to pinch hitting and that role won't be anywhere near as vacant as it is right now.  Until then though, Valdespin, Quintanilla, Den Dekker, OF Mike Baxter, and OF Adam Loewen are nominally competing for the role.

5.  Right-Handed Bat:  The right-handed bat is typically the 24th or 25th man on the roster.  He usually isn't a very consistent pinch hitter but gets used against lefties on a regular basis and pulls his weight with spot starts and a degree of defensive versatility.  The person for this role is HairstonNickeas, Cedeno, Turner (who we still think will be the starting second baseman), Johnson, May, 2B Josh Satin, 1B Valentino Pascucci, and LF Vinny Rottino.