Now that we’re down to a small number of guys who might or might not make the team, I’d like to discuss them.  I’ll start with my impressions:

RELIEF PITCHER

Brian Stokes - Has always had terrible command/control.  His major league time to date has been atrocious.  Willie and Peterson don’t seem like they fall in love with pure stuff very often, but I can’t figure out why else Stokes is still around.  From what I’ve seen, he’s has an above-average fastball, though not a swing-and-miss fastball.  He has a slider that is sometimes nasty, but inconsistent.  He tends to miss just off the corners, or right down the middle.  Occasionally he’ll throw one 3 feet off target, and he rarely hits the glove.  Some paper claimed Willie sess him as a starter.  Whatever.  I’ll be surprised if we see him this year as anything other than a desperation fill-in.

Joe Smith - Yay!  His sinker is sinking again!  Unfortunately, he seems to be struggling with his release point, leading to sequences where pitch after pitch runs back toward his arm side, resulting in HBPs and no strikes.  And when he throws his slider from that release point, it just spins up there saying “hit me”.  If he can figure out the problem and correct it, he could be nasty again.  If not, then he’s probably too much of a risky mess to want in the ‘pen right now.  If he wins the job simply by default, his outings will be serious finger-crossing affairs.  Used as a ROOGY in situations where a walk won’t kill us, he will be good enough.

Duaner Sanchez - I suspect he’ll be physically capable of pitching before he’s ready to compete.  Sadly, I expect the Mets to start giving him crucial late inning appearances as soon as he’s physically able.  His fastball is not what it was, and he hasn’t thrown his curve or slider in any of the outings I’ve seen.  The changeup looks great.  I’d give him plenty of time in AAA to add some arm strength and hopefully lengthen his stride and add upper body torque to take some stress of his arm.  He’s throwing slightly across his body right now, which is bad news.

Nelson Figueroa - A breaking ball pitcher who tried to use his fastball in his last outing, and was predictably pounded.  His best asset is his control with a curve and sinking chageup.  He can varry and locate both pitches, and I think he’d be extremely effective one time through an order.  He’d be a nice contrast between, say, Maine and Wagner — if he stays away from that weak fastball.  I don’t know what to make of his last outing.  If the team told him they wanted to see more of his fastball, there’s no way he makes the team.  As for the fill-in starter possibility, at this particular moment I’d prefer him to Pelfrey and Duque.  For one start, I’d call it a toss-up between him and Sosa.

Ricardo Rincon - His motion and slider make him tough on lefties.  His fastball command is good enough.  He’s nice LOOGY insurance if we can get something for Schoeneweis in a trade. Righties will pound him, just like they’ll pound Show if Willie’s dumb enough to let him face them.

We’ve likely seen the last of Steve Register, who was hitting the glove consistently, with pretty average stuff.  I’d prefer him as a back-up, last guy in the pen option to a mess like Stokes.  But maybe the Mets would rather take on a higher-upside project — I couldn’t really fault them for that.

My vote: carry 6 relievers and use the roster spot on a hitter.  Sanchez, Smith and Stokes need to iron stuff out in AAA.  Figueroa and Rincon don’t add much.

FIFTH STARTER

Mike Pelfrey - I’ve heard some say that Pelfrey’s problem is his slider.  I haven’t even noticed, I’ve been so underwhelmed with his fastball.  The pitch comes in at 91 with only a tiny bit of sink and is only effective when thrown down and in to righties.  I wish he’d go back to throwing the way he did in college when his fastball was nasty.  It’s a bummer that he hasn’t learned quality secondary pitches faster, but that takes some guys years.  The real problem is that the fastball that got him drafted isn’t appearing in his spring training outings.  Until it does, there’s no benefit to having him on the team.

El Duque - “If anyone can adjust to an altered motion, he can!”  Ha ha.  What a load of $#!t.  He’s been pitching with a very specific motion for 20 years — everything he can do with a baseball is based on that motion’s timing, mechanics and feel.  If his new motion gave him a 93-mph fastball, then who knows?  But it doesn’t.  He needs to treat the pain and pitch with his old motion, or he won’t be effective.  Simple as that.  Rub some numbing cream on the bunion and let’s go.  Failing that, I’d take Sosa or Figueroa.

My vote: if the fifth spot came up in a major league game yesterday, I’d probably have wanted Figueroa.  For now, I’d skip the fifth spot the first time through and give the candidates more time.

FINAL BENCH GUYS

Fernando Tatis - Everyone likes to talk about his versatility — versatility we don’t need.  Stop worrying about whether we have mediocre talent to back up our SS and 3B who never miss a game.  Damion Easley is quite enough for now.  The main thing I care about is how well Tatis hits lefties.  If he crushes them, great.  I still don’t want him getting a ton of time in the OF, which he plays poorly.

Brady Clark - Not much power, isn’t going to scare anyone coming off the bench.  Not a gifted OF either.  Still, he takes walks, knows what he’s doing at the plate and in the field, and is generally reliable.

Jose Valentin - Given the alternatives, I’d happily go with the guy who adds to the clubhouse and helps keep Reyes focused.  If he’s healthy enough to play, I assume he’ll still pack some pop against righties.

Angel Pagan - Fantastic athlete, mediocre hitter.  He’s where Endy Chavez was a few years ago — can he become a real hitter?  Who knows?  I like the upside here better than the other guys listed.  If Pagan turns into an everyday-caliber player on our watch, that’s a significant addition to our resources.  While Alou’s out, I say give him a shot!

Olmedo Saenz -  His career looks done to me.

Ruben Gotay - Young, cheap, can hit righties.  Not great in the field, but not a butcher, and improving.  Still has room to develop into an everyday player — but not on this team, with Castillo’s contract.  Maybe we can trade him or-   Oh, we put him on waivers?  Hmm, well, I hope he clears them and tears up AAA for us to establish some trade value.  It’s be nice to have a minor league backup option for our creaky 2B, but man, poor Gotay.

My vote: Pagan gets one spot.  As for the other, Ramon Castro is a better threat against lefties than any of these guys.  So I say carry a third catcher.

THIRD CATCHER

Gustavo Molina -  Strong arm, good mobility behind the plate.  Still improving as a hitter.  Not ML-ready yet.

Robinson Cancel - A lot like Raul Casanova, but doesn’t switch-hit.

Raul Casanova - Adequate receiver and thrower.  Not a lot of plate discipline, but hits mistakes hard.  Can take mediocre high fastballs out of the park.  Switch-hitter.

My vote: Casanova.  Though it’s possible he’s awful on defense and I just haven’t seen it.

What do y’all think?