Reese Kaplan -- Has Steve Cohen Reached a Breaking Point Yet?

So let´s see if we have this situation right...

First new Mets owner Steve Cohen assumed leadership of the club by having a bit of an adjustment year.  Some changes were made but nothing earth shattering one way or another was implemented.  

Then came time to flex his muscles a bit and the addition of Max Scherzer didn´t hurt a bit.  The team landed in triple digits in wins and that certainly had everyone feeling good about putting the Wilpons in the rear view mirror.

Then came 2023 and you can start with health, poor performances and somehow giving blame to Buck Showalter who was everyone´s hero just a year earlier.  Somehow it became Buck´s fault that Edwin Diaz missed the year, that Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer both had IL stints, that Starling Marte was operating on perhaps just 2 cylinders due to injuries, that Eduardo Escobar, most of the catchers, Jeff McNeil and the DH wannabes all performed poorly. 

As a result, then GM Billy Eppler conducted the Mets´ first fire sale since the 2017 housecleaning which saw them rid themselves of major assets to replenish a fairly barren farm system.  Given how poorly the club was performing no one really blamed the team management for making this strategic change as it was clear they were not headed to play October baseball.

Come the end of the season the Mets began their next clean sweep, making Buck Showalter take the blame for the injured players and lackluster performances of others.  Then came Eppler´s alleged resignation over IL manipulation of the roster, though a new POBO in David Stearns likely wanted to call his own shots on player personnel. 

Interestingly, there were no fully healthy and in their prime players brought onto the team during the off season.  Luis Severino was coming off a horrific season.  

Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor were fringe players.  Harrison Bader would indeed improve center field defense but never showed much of a bat.  Sean Manaea was a better than average pitcher but not a regular All Star.  Joey Wendle and a bunch of reclamation relievers were not difference makers.  Somehow people felt that the 2024 season was gong to be more than one of learning and transition.

As it has unfolded, that assessment appears to be on target.  The club rallied after a poor start to pass the .500 mark but then collectively fell apart on the mound and at the plate.  This streak of handing out an unconscionable number of walks and struggling to score more than 2 runs per game suggested it was time to shake things up.

The arrival of Joey Lucchesi for a surprise starting assignment on Wednesday started off fairly well before the roof caved in midway through the game.  Mark Vientos went 2-4 in his plate appearances including an RBI, but showed defensively with skill and judgment he was not going to remind anyone of Brooks Robinson. 

Then late in the day on Wednesday apparently Steve Cohen reached the near breaking point and was forced to delete a tweet in which he said if things didn´t improve dramatically very quickly then it would be time to have a true fire sale.  While no one can say that this opinion is unreasonable, it calls to mind another team owner in New York baseball history — George Steinbrenner.  He was a man known for his temper, his unreasonable expectations and his bizarre hiring practices.  

No one suggests Cohen has dipped his toe into his style of megalomania, but if we believe that Cohen was after a long term legacy then perhaps his real fire sale thought is not necessarily a bad one.

For several years the Mets have not hit the upper stratosphere with first and second tier players on their team.  They were never a single player away from winning it all.  The question now becomes whether you keep putting band aids on what is not working or do you rip them off and start again with fresh faces (and fresh blood). 

Yesterday we talked about blowing things up per Mack´s suggestion.  

Now we are left to wonder to what extent that would truly look like.  Does it mean you give it all over to the kids and sell low on some of your long term contracts?  Do you do a true Steinbrenner and outbid the world for whomever it is you want as a free agent?  Do you supplement again in the hopes that another year older for the core all that is required is one or two supplemental pieces? 

So which approach would you take?

Tom Brennan: Mets Minors Action, and the Next Six Weeks

You Can Always Find Some Mets Guppies Doing Neat Stuff in the Minors

This is really a brief post about the minors, but…

First, the NY Mets had a back-and-forth battle with the Phillies. 

Edwin blew another save. I hope we see the “2022 Edwin” once again.

A 6-5 win in extras. Diekman hung tough. A desperately needed win.

Schedule for the Mets’ next 6 weeks? 

Looks easier than that of the first 6 weeks. Don’t despair quite yet.

Of course, the Yanks are 15 over .500, without their ace. No Bronx despair.

MINORS:

Some great pitching outings on a night where hits and runs were scarce for Mets minor league hitters…

NOLAN MCLEAN! 

4 innings, 1 unearned run, NINE Ks! Wow! 

- McLean on the mound is REALLY starting to impress the heck out of me.

BLAKE TIDWELL! 

One run allowed in the 6th inning on a HR, 6 Ks! Nice rebound outing.

ERNESTO MERCEDES! 

The St Lucie hurler 5 innings, 2 hits, 1 run 6 Ks! 

- He has a gaudy 41 Ks in 26 IP this season. 20 year old 6’2” righty.

JEREMY PEGUERO!  

The FCL Mets righty threw 4 hitless innings, 8 Ks! 

- This year, 7 innings, 1 hit, 12 Ks!

Good pitching, fellas. ‘Nuff said. Good night.

Reese Kaplan -- Blow It Up Sooner Rather Than Later

No sooner had my keyboard cooled on a piece regarding the stagnation that was apparently OK with David Stearns and the rest of the front office when he caught many folks by surprise with the promotions this week of Joey Lucchesi and Mark Vientos.  

The former was pretty surprising considering his rough arrival to spring training but a 2.58 ERA speaks volumes against the alternative banished to the bullpen who was pitching closer to a 9.00 ERA. 

The second arrival of Mark Vientos came as a total shock.  There´s no other way to say it.  Yes, Brett Baty is still the primary third baseman but with a slew of lefties on the immediate horizon it provided the opportunity for that rarity in Metsville — actual playing time for Mark Vientos.  

It is interesting to see both how he handles it and how much opportunity will exist for him if he hits well and fields better than say J.D. Davis did when he had an opportunity to take on the hot corner.  If both of those things indeed happen, does it mean Brett Baty is slated for a visit to Syracuse and perhaps Jose Iglesias gets promoted to replace Joey Wendle as the spare infielder?

Of course, these changes are only the beginning.  The open questions from Wednesday´s column still remain with Drew Smith, Tylor Megill, David Peterson on the pretty much immediate horizon and Kodai Senga in the wave that follows.  It would appear that David Stearns has some roster juggling to do which could include trades of expiring contracts or unproven multi-year pitchers who never really put it all together. 

On Sunday Mack published his ¨Let´s blow it up¨ column in which he implored Steve Cohen and company to understand that the current roster is not any better than they have shown.  Now perhaps it is time for me to make my take on a wholesale makeover which bean a little earlier than anticipated for a July midseason rewrite. 

The first issue is, of course, Pete Alonso.  Trade him to get a return that likely surpasses the QO draft pick that would happen by keeping him for the full season.  He already turned down an offer in 2023.  You could up the offer but for a second straight year he is demonstrating an all-or-nothing offensive approach and you might simply be better saving somewhere in the vicinity of $30 million or so per year for 6-8 more years than it would be to pay him in that range. 

Granted, without seeing regular playing time and consistently productive hitting by Mark Vientos this action would require tremendous courage and guts of steel not seen in New York in quite some time.

Next would come DH J.D. Martinez.  He is still a solid hitter at a position well suited to someone who at age 37 is best known for his bat.  Hell, D.J. Stewart was used as a pinch runner for him this week which speaks volumes.  As long as he can hit, he might be a retention candidate for a 2025 contract, but he also could net some immediate return in a club disassembly.

On a lower profile, you have to wonder about the prospect of a return for Starling Marte who appears to be proving he is over the injuries that sullied his 2023 season.  The Mets do have him for one more year and his 2024 showing might entice another team to bring him on board with little long term financial risk.

After that comes another player on a second consecutive subpar year in Jeff McNeil.  He is not delivering what he has shown capable of doing and at age 32 it is possible his best days are prematurely behind him.  Trading him away would likely require a buy-down as no one will be lining up to pay his salary obligation at this level of output.

Then there are the short termers like Harrison Bader and Omar Narvaez.  Neither would net much in return but there is nothing more to be gained by keeping them around. 

The last group would include the fringiest players like D.J. Stewart who might have a modest return possible as the club has gotten as much out of the big man as they can expect.  Pitchers Jose Quintana is on an expiring deal, Adrian Houser is playing himself out of pro ball and some relievers might be open for the right deal as well. 

Going into 2025 I can foresee Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, Francisco Alvarez, maybe Brett Baty, Franciso Lindor, Tyrone Taylor and Brandon Nimmo.  Pretty much everyone else is up for grabs.  Kodai Senga, Christian Scott, probably Sean Manaea, perhaps Jose Butto, perhaps Luis Severino, Edwin Diaz and other relievers currently on the team could be back. 

As Mack said, there are a lot of holes in this roster.  One or two quick fixes won´t transform the team into a contender.  

Paul Articulates – The Mets are not having fun anymore

Last night’s very sloppy ballgame in Philadelphia was not just an ugly loss, it was an indication of a very unfortunate turn.  I will explain.

In a long baseball season, all teams go through ups and downs.  There are hot streaks, there are times struggling teams are carried by one or two exceptionally hot players, and there are the losing streaks.  The players and the coaches know it, and they try to stay on an even keel throughout the season so their emotions don’t affect the play on the field.

Because of their experience with the ups and downs of the game, professional ballplayers can usually avoid getting into that state of desperation that the media calls “pressing”.  Pressing is best described as a state of mind that causes a player to do things outside their normal game rhythm because the fear of failure drives them to an unnecessary sense of urgency.  

We experienced that behavior last night on several occasions by several players.  Joey Lucchesi throws unsuccessfully to third on a bunt attempt to cut off the lead runner when he should have gotten the routine out.  Jeff McNeil attempts an off-balance throw after a diving stop even though the slow baserunner is nowhere near first base.  Francisco Lindor tries to initiate a double play faster than he usually does and loses his grip on the baseball.  Pete Alonso throws behind the pitcher covering after a diving stop in his haste to get the ball there.    

I could go on with some of the at-bats, but you get the point.  The team has turned from enjoying the competition to desperately trying not to lose.  They have hit the inflection point where the ups and downs become only downs and they are in danger of slipping from a “right around .500” team to an unrecoverable record within a few weeks.

Am I just being a downer after an awful loss or two?  I don’t think so.  I have seen this state of mind more than a few times, including last year, where unfortunate losses compound.  It is a bad break one day, a poorly played game the next, a woeful hitting day followed by a pitching blow-up or a blown save.  You have seen all of these this week.

Listen to the player interviews. None of them are saying, “We got this”; none are saying “We just caught a hot team at the right time”.  They are saying “We are grinding.”  That is a positive way to say, “This is really hard and we are not having fun but we are still trying.”  Carlos Mendoza in his post-game interview last night said, “It is our job to get the players through this.”  That is a far cry from “Just a tough day – we will put it behind us and come out swinging tomorrow.”

The veterans on this team went through this last year, and they were unable to right the ship when they needed to.  Nothing against any of them, but if they did not demonstrate resiliency then it forebodes the same result now.   People were clamoring for call-ups for Mark Vientos and Joey Lucchesi to infuse some new blood into the group.  You saw how that worked out.  AAA and AAAA players don’t turn around pressing teams.  They actually get pulled down very quickly with the rest because there is not the stabilizing influence they need.

You probably all read Mack’s “Blow it up” article on Sunday.  Many reacted, thinking it was too much.  But it wasn’t so much a call to dismantle the entire team as it was a strategic view of building a winner.  You don’t need to throw all the pieces out, but if you only build around the edges of a core that does not have the resiliency to survive adversity you will not create a championship culture with any added pieces.

Tom Brennan: Mets’ Never Quite Overcoming Injury Saga and Other Woes; Field Dimensions

I’m Thinking This Saga Has Played Out Before in Metsville

 We all know the saga - Mets fans get a version of this nearly every season.

We get into spring training, all excited, and immediately a key pitcher, the ace, in point of fact, gets hurt. 

Two guys (a pitcher and hitter) have already had unexpected early off season injuries that will eat up anywhere from a half to all of their 2024 seasons.  Off to another of those foreboding season starts, I see.

We hope it won’t be too long into the season when the key player recovers and returns. 

Except the key player will eventually return much later than initially thought, which is pretty predictable, and the season is in severe jeopardy by the time he is expected to finally return.

A week before the season starts, you sign the coveted veteran slugger, yeah, THAT ONE, who is showered with accolades. You hope he will be ready on opening day. 

Instead, he gets sore and misses the first 4 weeks. The team was 13-11 when they activate him, and they naturally go 6-11 in his first 17 games with the club.

A starter stepping in for the key injured hurler gets immediately hurt. At first it sounds almost day to day. He then naturally misses 6 weeks.

A key reliever starts brilliantly, and you think, I wondered if he would regress if they re-signed him, but my fears are completely allayed - until naturally he hurts his arm a little later in the first month of the season - at first, you think”I hope it’s just a few games”, but naturally he will miss the whole season. 

This increases the need for a high minors lefty, but the one most likely one to be tabbed, who pitched really well in the minors in 2023, suddenly needs TJS. Naturally.

The exciting young catcher you hoped would help the offense is safe on an idiotic throw to first base by the pitcher.You smile. It seems theMets got a break. No, they got a tear instead.

The catcher, you see, turns first base, slips and injures his hand, and he misses two months. His replacements? There are probably 50 minor league catchers in the minors in other organizations that could play better. 

Before spring training, you figured that by mid May, you’d be starting to think it might be nice to consider when to call up your top 2 hitting prospects. Man, were you excited about that duo last year. 

However, due to injuries and slow starts, they have played briefly but poorly, and missed most of the season’s games and still are not due to resume playing for a few weeks. Hopefully in early June, but who can ever really be sure.

Your # 3 and # 4 hitters are paid a combined $55 million, and you hope they will shoulder the Mets and carry them when others perhaps start slowly. You especially think that way because your clean up hitter will be a free agent after the season, so you expect he’ll be super motivated and produce like a monster. 

But they themselves need someone to bail them out - they are hitting just a combined .215 a quarter of the way into the season. You realize you are not surprised, even though logic tells you that you should be.

The best reliever in the entire world in 2022 is the only player to sustain a truly serious injury during the March 2023 WBC tournament. Of course, it was a bizarre injury. He returns fully recovered, but seemingly less lethal, than in 2022.

You sign the 2022 MLB batting champ to a 5 year, $50 million extension. Figure you got yourself a bargain.  In his next 196 games, though, he hits .262 with just 89 runs scored and 62 RBIs. It was a bargain, all right - for him.

The two most seasoned veteran starters naturally don’t get hurt and healthy, they combine to go 1-7, 6.30 in the season’s first quarter. One of these two cornerstone starters has been credited with just 10 wins in 31 decisions since Labor Day 2019. You know, pre-COVID. Yeah, that far back.

Your 3rd baseman starts out like his poor performance in 2023 was just a rookie adjustment period. By mid-May, he is, naturally, hitting the same Ashe was in mid-May in 2023.

You call up a phenom who has 2 terrific starts in his MLB debut. Naturally, he is 0-1 after those two starts. He’s a Met.

Lastly, just to make you feel the team really isn’t snake bit, a marginal pen pitcher turns out to have perhaps the best early 2024 of any reliever in the majors. Your optimistic friend says, “You see, you’re making too much of things, Tom, this is a sign everything from here on out in 2024 will go incredibly well. Ya Gotta Believe, Tommy Boy.”

Maybe this time, they’ll finally be right. 

After all, in 1969 the Mets had won one fewer game over their first 41 games, AND LOOK WHAT THEY DID!!

I wonder what next year’s saga will be?  Being who I am, I like to think ahead. At this point, I turn my head and say “Honey, is that the Who’s Won’t Get Fooled Again on the radio? Could you turn that up, please?”

JOEY WAS OK FOR A WHILE, VIENTOS DID FINE

But when the Mets score 5 these days, they give up 10. Joey allowed 1 run over the first 4, but had a rough 5th on a crappy weather day (do the Mets have any other kind?) 

Vientos doubled, singled, drove in a run, and important for his critics to note, did not make an error, although he was late covering the bag in the 5th.  Gotta get there.

The spiral is now 7-15 in their last 22. When will it end?  Will it end?

LET ME GLOAT ABOUT THAT FELLA SPROAT:

5 scoreless and 6 Ks in his AA debut. I see no reason he shouldn’t pitch for the Mets later this year. I don’t care if it is his first pro year.

Morabito, meanwhile, was .399 in St Lucie, now .391 in Brooklyn. Queens in September? Think outside the box, people.

Simon Juan is the real Simon Juan this year. Two doubles and his 2nd HR today in the FCL. BREAKING OUT. .419!

Jonah Tong is battling the control a bit, facing better hitters in the SAL.  But his season's ERA is still 0.86 and 51 Ks in 31 IP this year?  Terrific.

To Gary Seagren And Bill Metsiac (my underline for emphasis):

Fence depths apparently do matter.  A guy named Carl Maier, whom I do not know, posted on Facebook this excerpt of an interview he had with Hank Aaron 50+ years ago. He said he "attended a Pirates-Braves game at Forbes Field as an 18 year old Career Academy of Broadcasting student":

Carl: 

Hank, you said that you’re going to hit 714. What kind of seasons do you think you’ll have to do that?

Hank: 

"Well, I don’t think I ever said I was going to hit 714. I have a chance to do that if I have two fairly good seasons. I said that it is in my reach if I had a good season...

...and the reason I said this is because of the ballpark I’m hitting in...

If I was hitting in a ballpark like San Francisco, LA and some of the larger ballparks, I said that the chance of me perhaps getting close to Babe Ruth’s record would be nil,…

but right now if I can have two fairly good seasons, I have an excellent chance of getting there."

By the way, Hank hit 38 in 1970, followed up by a career high 47 in 1971, while playing in just 139 games.

YA SEE...DIMENSIONS DO MATTER!

THEY MATTERED TO HANK AARON! 

Tom Brennan: Sir, Your Begging Has Worked, Your Wishes Have Been Granted

 Mark Vientos (photo by Richard Nelson)

Sometimes, I feel like a dog that’s been trained to beg.

So, I love to beg in my columns. Unabashed and unashamed.

All spring, I’ve been begging and begging and begging for two things:

1) Mark Vientos on the Mets

2) Joey Lucchesi on the Mets

Sometimes, begging ends up with the dog getting not one, but two, bones.

Out go Yohan Ramirez (again) and the other Joey, Wendle, whose consolation prize is his guaranteed contract.

Joey pitched a lot…..for his former Padres team, that is.

I felt all along that Joey Lucchesi (4-0, 2.89 in 47 Mets innings in 2023) should have been here in the county of Queens from Day 1. 

His 2-1, 2.58 in 38 AAA innings proved as much.  The average International League ERA is twice as high.

He deserves the chance. No, really, he does. Skeptics, naysayers…but Joey is back. I hereby remind him that a fellow lefty, John Tudor, went 20-1 after Memorial Day in 1985, so he still can win 20 this year. Not too late.

Marky V was not hitting quite as well as I hoped in AAA - I hoped for huge power and .340. He was hitting a still-decent .284 with 6 HRs - and providing something the Mets bottom half of line up really, really needs - RBIs. 

He has 30 ribbies in 116 AAA at bats, quite the rate.  Brett Baty, as he did last year, started well for a few weeks, but has been fading - again.

Baty’s last 15 games, in point of fact, look like this: .191, and in 47 at bats, 4 RBIs and 19 Ks. Sub par, subterranean in fact, and clearly coinciding with and aiding and abetting the Mets’ recent 7-14 slide. 

I still hope that Mark can hit like Kyle Schwarber.  I think he can. May he prove the 99% of you who doubt that wrong.

Schwarber II?  I’d take that in a heartbeat.

So, I’m glad my repeated and, frankly, endless begging has been rewarded. 

How does a dog like me spell “upgrade”? Why, Woof, woof, woof, of course.

I hope both call-ups do very well, so I don’t look like another dumb dog. “Shut up, and go to your corner, ya mutt.”

I think, though, both will do well. I hope your stays are long, fellas, and doggone prosperous.

PETERSON AND SUAREZ

If David Peterson was not on the 60 day IL for another 12 days(?), he’d be called up and start in Queens in his next outing.

In AA last night, 5.1 shutout innings, no walks, fanned 8, 70 pitches. 

4 rehab outings, 0.00, 0.57, 24 Ks and a mere one walk in 14 innings.

Joander Suarez relieved. He recorded the final 11 outs, 5 by K, one hit. His ERA since July 8, 2023 in AAA is roughly 2.00.  105 Ks in 92 innings v. 23 walks. Just 58 hits allowed. 

He’s ready, too. For a promotion to AAA. 

Better than Dom Hamel and Mike Vasil, and yeah, he’s been in the system for a good while, but he is in fact younger than Vasil and Hamel. 

So, I am begging for Joander to get promoted.

BROSSEAU BOMBS AWAY

Mike Brosseau, 30, stepped in for the called-up Vientos last night. 

All he did was hit 3 homers and draw a walk for Syracuse. 

582 MLB career at bats, .242, 26 HRs, 77 RBIs. Hmmm…

MAGIC JOHNSON LOVES QUADRUPLE DOUBLES

Lastly, a quadruple double for FCL Mets pitchers last night. 12 hits allowed, 14 walks, 15 runs, 16 Ks.

Reese Kaplan -- Again, Who Stays and Who Goes From the Roster

One problem with writing a few days in advance is when things happen that were unexpected.  Tuesday evening it was announced that both Joey Lucchesi and Mark Vientos were joining the Mets at the expense of Yohan Ramirez (again) and Joey Wendle.  While the Ramirez departure didn’t catch anyone by real surprise, the fact it was Lucchesi coming to the big club was not foreseen.  

As dissatisfied as fans have been on both sides of the game with Wendle, no one truly expected Mark Vientos to get the tap on his shoulder to join Lucchesi in an Uber to Citifield.  The justification here apparently concerns the great number of left handed starting pitchers expected during the long stretch of uninterrupted games which also corresponds with Brett Baty´s long inability to hit southpaws.

The roster is once again in question after the team remains below .500 and new players on the mend looking to return to New York from their stints on the IL.  Coinciding with the potential of as yet pretty much unseen Tylor Megill and David Peterson comes the banished-to-the-bullpen Adrian Houser and the I’m-too-old-for-this-short-rest Jose Quintana, he of the 10.57 ERA when pitching on 4 days´ rest.  Hot on their heels will be temporarily slowed-down Kodai Senga.

Making this starting rotation picture even muddier is the expected return this week of reliever Drew Smith who went on the IL while pitching to a 2.70 ERA over ten games.  Look a little closer, however, and all is not gold.  He did have 11 Ks during that period but had a horrific WHIP of 1.70.  Still, veteran arms being what they are, he is likely pushing someone off the active roster now that his shoulder appears to be ready to go once again.

Behind him you have the case of Brooks Raley who sported a perfect 0.00 ERA over 8 games before breaking down.  Raley had been a hidden gem when he came to the Mets in 2023 during an otherwise forgettable season for the team the little-known Raley appeared in 66 games, finishing with a 2.80 ERA that included 61 strikeouts in 54+ IP and a respectable WHIP of 1.262.  Now at age 36 suffering shoulder woes that took a turn for the worse earlier this week when it was announced he is not close to returning to the mound during his rehab.

With Jake Diekman left as the only left handed relief pitcher on the active roster it may be that heretofore mediocre starting pitcher David Peterson may find himself shifted to a relief role as the rotation is already crowded and the need for pitchers to back up those starters is rearing its head.  Diekman at age 37 has been more good than bad with a 3.65 ERA but he can´t do it alone.

The bigger challenge for a spot on the 26 man roster belongs to Tylor Megill.  He does have a minor league option available, so there is the ability to keep him in Syracuse for another month or two until midyear trades take place.  For now it is not entirely clear who he would push out of the rotation other than the now emergency starter Adrian Houser who is slated to give all starters a full five days of rest during this especially busy part of the schedule without days off.  Even if the preference was to use Megill in Houser´s current role, what then do you do with Houser?

Of course, the eventual return of Kodai Senga makes this roster skirmish even messier.  Obviously he was slated to be the number one starter during offseason planning.  His health has kept that from happening, but he still has that reputation and expectation.  Who should be pushed aside?

Right now Sean Manaea is doing everything right except winning, but that output is a result of the less-than-stellar offense than anything he is doing wrong.  Newcomers to full time duty Jose Butto and Christian Scott have not done anything to suggest they are not yet ready to resume a regular spot in the rotation.  

Newly anointed number one starter Luis Severino is also deserving to be there as well.  It would again appear that Jose Quintana is on the way to pitching himself out of the rotation just as teammate Adrian Houser already has done.  Again, there doesn´t appear to be room at the inn for Tylor Megill unless they choose to cut loose another relief pitcher and shift him into that less-than-well-rehearsed role.  

Other teams have already ventured into the trade market to improve their rosters but thus far during the active 2024 season the Mets have not yet done so.  The expected sell-off at the July trade deadline perhaps should be considered a bit earlier but significant changes to the roster are very much dependent upon the health of people who would like to be a part of the season’s second half.  

MACK - Some afterthoughts on last Sunday’s “Let’s Blow It Up” post.

 

Some afterthoughts on last Sunday’s “Let’s Blow It Up” post.

 

Some readers found this harsh. One particular one found it “aggressive”. This is true. It was designed that way.

 

The exercise was done to show you what a TOTAL blow up would look like if you were targeting this team for a World Series visit in 2026. I should have made that clearer. 

 

It was also a primer for just how much could be saved with a total blowup. There is no factor here for any portion of contracts you would still have to pay in a trade.

 

No one is happy right now. And no love of this team can make one believe this team will go all the way this season. The pen has been A+ and the rotation, though spotty, has pitched good enough to produce a playoff team, but only if… and this is a big if… the bats produced. The fact is they haven’t, at any level. The lower part of the lineup has produced very little and the core hitters are collectively and individually hitting below league averages in all categories.

 

And field defense? Ranks two spots above last in the league.

 

What you could do is factor back in one or two of the current aging starters you would want to keep around for another season, see what the saved money then would total, and then begin a plan to both spend on new players like Juan Soto while also keep the team at a total level that will stop the loss of draft pick status.

You could also add in OF Drew Gilbert and RP Drew Smith. And you could hold up on Alex Ramirez for awhile.

 

Under my plan, the Mets need to find a credible third starting outfielder, an additional utility infielder, a new back-up catcher, and at least one quality starter.

 

I stand by my plan as being a sound one for a World Series winner in 2026.

SAVAGE VIEWS – Quarter of the Way

Hard to believe that a quarter of the season is in the books.  

As I write this, the Mets are a mediocre two games under .500.  Pre-season, I predicted we would be playoff bound and I’m not backing off – however, the bar is set very low.

There is reason for optimism as they have probably played a more difficult schedule than their competitors in the NL East.  Also, the calvary is about to arrive when the likes of Megill, Peterson and Senga rejoin the rotation.  Chistian Scott looks like a future ace.  These reinforcements plus the return of Alvarez and Drew Smith should make us a compelling team over the next four months.  

At some point, players such as Alonso, Marte, McNeil will start earning their paychecks, although there have been recent signs of life.  To sum up, an easier schedule, improved rotation and more productive at bats should carry the team to a wild-card berth.  Of course, once in the playoffs anything is possible.

If it was up to me, I would revamp the roster and move on from the chronic underachievers.  Take Starling Marte whose lackluster approach infuriates me.  I have nicknamed him “Toe Protector” Marte.  He swings at any pitch near his foot.  Too bad Gilbert is on the injured list, I would love to have him take over RF.  

I don’t remember the last time McNeil hit the ball hard. His unproductive at bats drags down the rest of the team.  He used to be difficult to strike out – no longer the case.  Hopefully, Rony Mauricio is able to rejoin the team before year’s end.

On one hand I want Alonso to be a Met for life; on the other hand, I’ve grown tired of his approach.  He is no longer a clutch hitter.  I’m conflicted as to whether he should be offered an extension.  At most, I would offer a four-year contract in the neighborhood of $140 million.  Anything beyond that would be foolish.  If he walks or gets traded Mark Vientos could be an adequate replacement.

The team’s greatest need is to sign a potent bat to power the lineup.   That would mean breaking the bank to sign Soto.  A tandem of Soto and Alonso would make for an interesting 2025.  Otherwise, let Alanso go and treat 2025 as a transition year while newcomers Gilbert, Acuna, Rameriz and Williams get incorporated into the lineup.

Recently JD Martinez hit Willson Contreas with his bat fracturing Contreras’ arm and he was awarded first base due to catcher’s interference. In my view, JD should have been called out due to batter’s interference.  JD’s right foot was outside the batter’s box making his positioning illegal.  It should be a judgment call rather than an automatic catcher’s interference.

Seems that the NY Post’s Phil Mushnick is a follower of Mack’s Mets. He’s taken up my banner of advocating for the first batter in extra innings to be walked setting up a potential double play or force out at third.

Next up are seven games against the Phillies and Marlins.  Should be an interesting week.

Ray

May 14, 2024