CHURCH METS' “BEST RIGHTFIELD ARM SINCE STRAWBERRY”
ATLANTA -- Accommodating a request, Sandy Alomar searched his mental menu of National League right fielders, arranged by their relative ability to throw out baserunners. As the Mets' third-base coach, Alomar has a need to know. As a person, he has a willingness to share. So he thought. The Mets were preparing for their game against the Braves on Sunday. Not surprisingly, his search yielded the name Jeff Francoeur.
"He has the strongest arm," Alomar said before resuming the search.
He considered Shane Victorino, but eliminated the Phillies outfielder because he has been shifted from right field to center this season. And when Geoff Jenkins, now the Phillies' right fielder, came to mind, Alomar recalled Jenkins did have a powerful arm once. He would learn if he still did Tuesday afternoon when he Phillies come to Shea Stadium.
But, back to the search.
Alomar's search was slowing as a colleague passed by, turned to the left and reached a locker in the visiting clubhouse at Turner Field. "And him," Alomar said.
The colleague was RYAN CHURCH, the best or second-best right fielder in the National League, depending on perspective.
For pure strength, the ability to reach third base from almost anywhere in right, Francoeur is the choice. Almost no one will dispute that. But the guideline presented to Alomar had been this: Which National League right fielder is best-equipped to throw out runners?
The choice wasn't quite so clear when accuracy was factored.
"Good arm, good accuracy," Alomar said about Church. "I was always aware of him last year but not as a right fielder."
Before Monday, when Church was the Mets' Opening Day right fielder, he had played merely 41 games in right field, starting 27. His arm wasn't -- and still isn't -- a household appendage. But it is quite good, and now that he is deployed regularly in right, it will become more widely recognized as a weapon.
It is already for those who witnessed the first out achieved by the Mets in their Wednesday night game against the Marlins. Hanley Ramirez singled to deep right, leading off the first inning, and he was thrown out at second when he tried to add an extra base to his hit. It was merely Church's 12th career assist, his second as a right fielder. He also threw out Mark Kotsay at second base Saturday for his 13th assist.
"He's a pleasant surprise," Willie Randolph said. "I knew he had an arm, but I wasn't aware he was so smooth and accurate. He takes good routes and gets into good throwing position. And he makes good throws." And that comes from a third-base coach.
"I just get a good grip and chuck it," says Church who developed his arm as a pitcher. "I mean, I practice. Three times a week, we're out there making 10 throws. We don't take infield [practice]. I'd rather keep my bullets for the game. But we get a lot of throwing in anyway."
Church appears to have the best right-field arm the Mets have had, all aspects considered, since Darryl Strawberry. And Church is far more accurate. Jeromy Burnitz was a strong, accurate thrower, particularly in his first tour with the Mets. Hubie Brooks could throw before he was returned to the infield, and, of course, Rusty Staub was a terrific thrower before he injured his shoulder in 1973.
The game no longer features at least one exceptional outfield arm. And, so long as Angel Pagan plays left field -- until the return of Moises Alou -- the Mets have three above-average throwers, including Carlos Beltran.
"We throw as well as any outfield," Randolph said. "And that doesn't even count Endy [Chavez]. He throws it too." – Marty Noble, MLB.com
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