Delgado's Out Long Term: What Do The Mets Do?

It's official: Carlos Delgado has a torn labrum in his right hip, and will have surgery Tuesday. There's no official timetable, but we could be looking at a conservative 6-8 weeks-and possibly end his playing career.

Now thatDelgado is out long term, what do the Mets do? Do they look for a first baseman? Tofd Helton would be a nice get-but a risky one. He still has three years to go on a a pricey nine year deal and a degenerative back condition. People talk about the 'Coors Field Effect ' with Helton. Remember 2 things: Most above average players do better at home than the road, and Helton is still very good. As I said, he comes with a "Buyer Beware" sign, but when healthy you'd still take him over Nick Johnson or Adam Dunn. Paul Konerko also comes to mind-a few years younger than Helton, with the HR power you want at first.

I will say this: All spring the Mets lauded Daniel Murphy as a can't miss terrific hitter of the future. He's put in a lot of work in left field. No matter what you do at first, keep Murphy in left-at least for this season. DON'T jerk him around the way the Yankees did with Joba Chamberlain the last few years. The best way to see if a kid can play is-let him play. Suddenly, Jerry Manuel's love fest for Murphy seems to have grown cold. Ramon Castro and Ryan Church are also in Chateau Bow Wow for mysterious reasons. Pinch hitting for Murphy last night with just called up Angel Pagan was a mistake. Not sending up Jose Reyes or Castro once he the decision to pinch hit for Murphy was made an even bigger one.

I say mix and match Fernando Tatis, Gary Sheffield, and Jeremy Reed at first and look for snother starting pitcher at the trade deadline. As long as the core of Reyes, Wright and Beltran are themselves, and Luis Castillo is productive, the Met offense will be fine. It's the pitching after Johan Santana that is the problem. Omar Minaya, get busy.