Den Dekker in Center Field

[MetsFanatic19]

He reminds me of Rey Ordenez, just in the outfield and with more power.

If he has two hitters on his left and on his right, I wouldn't mind him as a starter, assuming he keeps up his Gold Glove defense.

[letsgometsgo]

I think competition helps. I expect Kirk N, Cowgill, and Den Dekker to come into the season strong, in shape, ready to beat each other out for the position. Every Spring, it seems, there is always a player that plays beyond expectations. That's what competition does...and I expect someone to rise to the occassion in Center Field.

Right Field, though, is an entirely different matter. We need bonafide punch.

[The Futurist]

I wasn't suggesting that he become a slap hitter. Just a CFer who tries to find a way to make more contact than one who Ks 150 times and hits less than 20 HRs. Perhaps he has and it, at least at AAA, didn't work.

[YoungStuna]

I wasn't suggesting that he become a slap hitter. Just a CFer who tries to find a way to make more contact than one who Ks 150 times and hits less than 20 HRs. Perhaps he has and it, at least at AAA, didn't work.

Like I said he has problems recognizing breaking balls down and he has length in his swing. He will always have high strikeouts, I just hope they don't get out of control so he can at least hit for a .250ish batting average.

[Oldmantrash]

Why can't we ever develop any good outfielders?

The last guy as far as I can remember was Straw, that's crazy.

[fanofclendennon]

Yup, just ask Jeremy Reed.

Geez, that guy was truly pathetic. But he was great with a glove.

And he epitomized how horrible Jerry Manuel was as a manager.

When Daniel Murphy was an absolute disaster in left field and Carlos Delgado went down, trying Murph at first base never occurred to Manuel which was stupid since the kid had spent most of his professional career as an infielder.

In fact, in one of his infamous post game pressers, Jerry joked that he would put himself in at first before trying out Murph there. To underscore this point, in one game he actually had Reed, an excellent outfielder, at first base while Murph was stuck in left field, a position he just could not play.

We would find out later in the year that not only could Murphy handle first base but it was also his best position.

And unlike Reed, he could hit too.

[fanofclendennon]

He reminds me of Rey Ordenez, just in the outfield and with more power.

Great analogy. Good job!

[fanofclendennon]

Why can't we ever develop any good outfielders?

The last guy as far as I can remember was Straw, that's crazy.

That question has puzzled me for the last 40 years.

Cleon Jones, Amos Otis (traded for crap), Ken Singleton (traded for Rusty), Mookie Wilson, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra, Jay Payton, and that's it.

Is that pathetic or what?

[Sick Of It All]

Burnitz was the last decent outfielder the mets developed.

[fanofclendennon]

Burnitz was the last decent outfielder the mets developed.

Oy.

[Nymfan87]

Burnitz was the last decent outfielder the mets developed.

Does Pagan count?

[YoungStuna]

Does Pagan count?

Yes imo, since he was drafted and developed by us before dealing him away.

[MetsFanatic19]

I thikn the Japanese would agree that Milledge has turned out well

[dunbummin]

What's the name of this thread again? Oh yeah, Den Dekker in center field. I agree with that 100% . . in Las Vegas, though. DD will probably mash in the thin air of Vegas, so I'm not sure how much that will prove. But it should improve his confidence and maybe later in the season he can get his shot against major league pitching. Meanwhile, I am very happy with a Nieuwenhuis/Cowgill platoon in CF to open the season.

[Sick Of It All]

Yeah, Pagan counts.