PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida - A look at the
competition for the starting right field job with the
New York Mets:
Candidates (2003 numbers in parenthesis):
Roger Cedeno (.267, 7, 37 in 484 at-bats)
Karim Garcia (.262, 11, 35 in 244 at-bats)
Timo Perez (.269, 4, 42 in 346 at-bats)
Shane Spencer (.251, 12, 49 in 395 at-bats)
Garcia has the best power potential but has battled
inconsistency throughout his career. Now he has legal issues
that may linger into the start of the season; Spencer seems best
suited to a platoon role and should get the lion's share of
at-bats against lefthanders; Perez has had his chances and
failed to seize the job; Cedeno presents issues for the
club because of his lofty salary and traditionally slow starts.
When he is not pressing he's adequate offensively.
Analysis: The Mets need power and the Garcia-Spencer tandem
could supply some. Garcia is just a year removed from a huge
second half and he could be a key lefthanded bat in the middle
of the Mets' lineup. Perez is best suited for a fifth
outfielder's job and if he is in right field on Opening Day the
Mets could be in trouble. Cedeno would do better with a change
of scenery but his prohibitive contract all but negates that
possibility.