In a shocking act unprecedented in professional sports the New York Mets, having upset the favored Washington Nationals in an exciting seven game NL championship series have opted to not participate in the 2015 World Series.
In a press conference held at Citi Field Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, flanked by team owners Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon, and Saul Katz, made this opening statement.
“While we salute our players and congratulate them on a magnificent playoff run we must reluctantly withdraw from participation in the World Series.
“As you all know we have established innings limits for all of our pitchers. Never thinking that our team was as good as they have been we have now reached a point where all of our starters and relievers have reached- and in some cases – exceeded their acceptable limits. We cannot in all good conscience push these fine athletes any further without risking their health.
“We have to, after all, think about the long term success of our players and our team. Were we to push our pitchers further at this time we might shorten their careers and see even more Tommy John surgeries to our staff in the coming years.
“We congratulate the Houston Astros who will now benefit from our forfeit and will now become the 2015 major league champions. A best of seven series between our team and theirs would have been exciting for the fans to see. It’s unfortunate that all of our pitchers have reached their innings limit so that we can not participate.
“I promise our fans and all of major league baseball that we will endeavor in the future to not have this occur again. To that end our front office will be discussing a move to a seven, possibly eight, man rotation in future years so that when, not if, we again reach baseball’s ultimate series we will be able to play in it.
“Thank you. I’ll take your questions now.”
I probably shouldn’t be the first commenter to my own article but I wanted to make clear that unlike my usual articles here at Mets 360 this is just a humor piece in the spirit of “The Onion” or T”The Sports Pickle.”
I am not crazy about this six man rotation that the team is working its way into this week and think teams may be going a bit over the top in their effort to limit the innings thrown by their young starters.
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Get your point and it’s funny you have us beating the Nats who did hold Strasburg out of the post-season for the same reasons. I do think the 6 Man rotation is an effort to avoid this same thing. Don’t you think?
To some extent I agree with you but I think it has more to do with their not knowing what to do with Dillon Gee. They rightly don’t see him as a bullpen fit and clearly have been unable to trade him. Syndegaard is just too good to send down. Outside of putting Niese on the DL with a “bum ERA” they seem to want to kill two birds with one stone. Go to a six man rotation which keeps Harvey’s, deGrom’s, and Thor’s innings in check and keep showcasing Gee.
I would wager that if a reasonable deal came up in the next week or so for Gee (or Niese) that you would see that six man rotation disappear in a heartbeat.
The Mets are only three weeks away from passing Super 2 and promoting Matz. How can you keep him down when he was pitching almost as good as Syndergaard? The Mets are too close to a playoff spot not to send their six best pitchers out. Yes, six best, because in today’s pitching world, innings unfortunately have to be limited.
Gee Larry, next year with a healthy (hopefully) Montero, Wheeler (and even perhaps, Hefner) joining Thor, Harvey, JdG and Matz, the Mets could go to a six or seven man rotation.
Seriously, I think your point about the six man rotation disappearing if Gee or Niese were to be traded is right on.
I think that even if Hefner comes back as good as ever he still will find himself either as the long man in the bullpen or eating innings in Vegas. He could well be next year’s Dillon Gee as Alderson waits months and months to find a trade partner.
Well, while he’s looking for trade partners, his team on most nights is trying to keep a pulse. They were 13-15 in May, and that’s before we get to see the big boys with regularity.