Victor

Diaz

This is probably nothing. If the Mets acquire a long-term right fielder and trade Mike Piazza, there’s a slight chance they could look to turn Diaz into a catcher. It’d be a tough thing to make work, though. Diaz has a good arm, but catching isn’t something he could just pick up in a year.

Diaz might become the Mets’ everyday right fielder for the rest of the season, depending on what happens with Mike Cameron. He needs to be picked up in NL-only leagues.

Diaz was hitting seventh between Jose Offerman and Gerald Williams tonight. If manager Willie Randolph uses the same order tomorrow, Diaz might not see a single strike in the game.

Diaz has been a big disappointment while hitting .224/.276/.330 in 379 at-bats for Norfolk, but he did hit .257/.329/.468 in 280 at-bats for the Mets last year and he’s just 24. We can’t imagine that he’ll make it through waivers unclaimed. Unless there’s a trade, the Pirates will have the first crack and they should be all over him.

Diaz, filling in for Richard Hidalgo, is batting .308 in 39 at-bats this month. He might get each of the remaining starts in right field.

Diaz may get one start per week in center field. That’s not going to give him any fantasy value.

Diaz hit .292/.332/.491 for Norfolk. There’s some chance that he could be the Mets’ right fielder of the future, but he’s due to spend another year in Triple-A in 2005.

Diaz, who was moved from second base to right field this spring, is batting .290/.326/.498 in 126 games. He’s going to need to spend another year in Triple-A next season, but the Mets might call him up to act as a reserve outfielder in September.

The Mets were already up 4-2, so the homer was simply more insurance that prevented Braden Looper from getting a save opportunity. Diaz has been playing regularly since Mike Cameron went down and is batting .290 with six homers in 28 games since being recalled on August 12. His solid performance will allow the Mets to explore trading Mike Cameron this winter.

Usual No.2 hitter Kaz Matsui (hamstring) remains sidelined, and his second-base replacement, rookie Anderson Hernandez (0-for-8 in two games), batted eighth in his second career start last night.