The Mets replaced their hitting coach this week, firing Dave Engle on Monday and hiring Chris Chambliss yesterday. Following a 17-season career as a major league first baseman with the Indians, Yankees and Braves, Chambliss spent 8 seasons as Joe Torre's hitting coach, first with St. Louis from 1993-95 and then from 1996-2000 in New York. In addition to his work as a player and a coach, Chambliss has also spent time as a minor league manager. He leaves a position as Pittsburgh's minor league hitting coordinator to join the Mets.

New York has been quite unhappy with their offensive production this season, as everyone on the starting lineup is hitting below expectations except Edgardo Alfonzo and Rey Ordonez (and even Ordonez is disappointing some people who misguidedly expected more). The team as a whole is not suffering from a particular problem; each player has his own weakness this season. Apart from his still unplanned instructions to specific players, Chambliss thinks the Mets' hitters should ignore suggestions from such a wide variety of sources. While he'll be happy to pass along ideas, he feels the New York batters might be confused by the amount of conflicting advice they're been hearing.

The Mets have shuffled a few players on and off the team this season, mostly due to minor injuries but partially to shake up the bench. New York placed Grant Roberts on the DL yesterday and recalled Mark Corey. Roberts strained his rotator cuff and will likely miss longer than the predicted least three weeks.

Corey was called up earlier this season when the Mets placed Kane Davis on the DL in mid-May, but New York demoted him in late May when they called up Bobby M. Jones. A 27-year-old right-hander, Corey moved from starting to relieving in the minors in 2000. He has promising skills, though struggles with his control have kept him out of the majors. Corey improved his control at AAA Norfolk this season, posing a 33:7 K:BB in 23 IP with 14 H and 1 HR allowed. He only made one appearance in his first stint with the team this season, allowing 2 H with a 1:1 K:BB in .2 IP.

Davis went on the disabled list with a strained lower back but has stayed on because of a partially torn tendon in his right elbow. The elbow injury occurred last season and didn't heal over the off-season. However, the Mets want to try resting the elbow for another 2-4 weeks before deciding on surgery. I believe Davis is no longer experiencing difficulties with his back, though even if they opt against surgery he probably won't be able to return for another 6-8 weeks.

Jones missed most of last season with shoulder problems but performed well enough in AAA this season to warrant a call up. He had a 35:15 K:BB in 40.1 IP with 42 H and 4 HR allowed at Norfolk when New York promoted him to the majors. Jones still occasionally works as a starter in the minors but has settled into a relief role in the majors. In the 2.2 innings he's pitched since his call-up, he has a 2:2 K:BB with 1 H allowed.

In early June, the Mets demoted Mark Johnson and recalled Tony Tarasco. The 31-year-old Tarasco has good plate discipline with a little speed and some power, mostly evident in his doubles. He's only received 20 AB this season and is hitting .200 with a .200 OBP and .300 SLG on 4 H and 2 2B with a 0:1 BB:K. However, I think he could do much better if given more regular playing time. Johnson is three years older has less power, significantly less plate discipline, and no speed, so Tarasco definitely upgrades the New York bench.

New York also picked up Ramon Soler off waivers from Tampa Bay. The Mets moved Eric Cammack off the 40-man roster to make room for Soler. Cammack missed all of last season due to injury after a brief debut in 2000, so he likely needs to spend most of this season in AAA.

Soler gained four years in this off-season's flurry of birthday adjustments, making him a 24-year-old A+ second baseman with speed but bad plate discipline. Interestingly, he's improved his strike zone judgment with his move to AA this season and may actually work out as a utility infielder if continues on his current track and hits the majors in 2004 after spending next season in AAA.

John Valentin returned from the disabled list at the end of May. Valentin went on the DL in mid-May with a partial tear of his rotator cuff. He had an MRI that revealed the tear after he made a bad swing in a May 13th game. However, once on rehab assignment the doctors determined that it was an old tear and so he was able to return almost as soon as he was eligible to come off the DL.

The Mets sent down Ty Wigginton, who they had originally called up to fill Valentin's roster spot, to make room for Valentin when he rejoined the team. After drafting him out of UNC Asheville in the 17th round of the 1998 draft, the Mets steadily advanced Wigginton through the minors without regard for his suffering plate discipline. He has promising power and a little speed but won't really be able to break out unless he can develop some strike zone judgment. Although Wigginton went 1-4 with two strikeouts in his limited major league at-bats this season, his AAA stats show promise. He's hitting .341 with a .403 OBP and .486 SLG in 179 AB at Norfolk on 61 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, and 4 HR with a 22:23 BB:K and a 2/4 SB%.