Satin proved to be a contributor on offense, but will it continue in 2014?
Josh "Hail" Satin has been a benchmark for under-the-radar consistency for years. A career .303 hitter in the minors, he has been a sure bet to approximate that figure each year, and his deliberate approach has netted a walk-filled OBP close to .400. He doesn't boast a whole lot of power or speed or athleticism, so with a game isn't particularly flashy, the 28-year-old toiled in the minors as the very capable, professional hitter-that-time-forgot, earning only brief, fleeting big league opportunities in 2011 and 2012.
In 2013, Satin once again started the season in Triple-A and got off to a relatively typical start: .305 average, .420 OBP, and PCL-aided .491 SLG. He earned a big league promotion in June when the Mets sent the struggling Ike Davis down. Satin fought to collect 190 ABs, ending the season with a line of .279/.376/.405, playing mostly first base.
The numbers aren't mind-blowing, but once you start factor in his .293/.395/.420 line as a starter, his .317/.404/.476 line against left-handed pitching, and the lack of an everyday first base option for the Mets, Satin starts looking like a totally solid platoon option against lefties. His high .379 BABIP is disconcerting and could be a sign of lower production ahead, but considering the state of first base for the Mets, it would make sense to give Satin plenty of chances to show what he can do.
Desired 2014 role: Backing up a really great first base acquisition, pinch-hitting, and getting occasional starts against left-handers.
Projected 2014 role: Platoon with either Davis or Lucas Duda.
