| Player | PA | OPS | fWAR | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Plawecki | 129 | .598 | .1 | 68 |
| Eric Campbell | 142 | .542 | -.4 | 58 |
| Ruben Tejada | 133 | .736 | .6 | 107 |
| Dilson Herrera | 77 | .622 | .4 | 78 |
| Wilmer Flores | 248 | .688 | .9 | 93 |
There is something glaringly wrong with this table, and it’s the fact that Ruben Tejada has been one of, if not the most productive members of the Mets infield outside of Lucas Duda. The very same Tejada that was basically left for dead by the front office and fan base alike just a few short months ago. And yet here he is, surpassing Wilmer Flores in OPS and wRC+ despite having a slugging percentage nearly .100 points lower. If Tejada doesn’t encapsulate what the 2015 season has been for the Mets, I don’t know what does.
Injuries have been frequent and ravenous against the Mets, as recently pointed out in great detail. Yet despite a 13-11 record in one-run games, a 3-1 record in extra-innings, and a overall record better than what their stats say they should have, they keep finding new ways to lose of late. The table above certainly helps understand why, as 22% of the Mets overall plate appearances in 2015 have gone to those underwhelming numbers. But there seems to be something else at play. And that’s where Terry Collins generally comes in.
The cries for Collins’ head are growing awful and often. It is understandable. The team looks as though it has zero life at the moment. Multiple times Michael Cuddyer has talked about confidence in post-game interviews, but right now I can’t imagine there is much of that going around the Mets clubhouse. The pitching staff has had multiple miscues, but overall have held their own. In all of baseball they still rank 1st in K/BB, 7th in WHIP and 8th in ERA. Yes they’ve gotten rocked a few times, but overall the staff has been what we all expected it would be; the strength of the team. Nothing displays that more than Matt Harvey‘s great effort on Sunday versus the Atlanta Braves. Harvey was very solid over 6.2 innings, giving up just one run. Yet Julio Teheran and his 5.07 ERA at first pitch were able to stifle the Mets to four measly hits in what looked, at times, like Chris Heston all over again.
Since that 11-game winning streak so many moons ago, the Mets have stumbled, bumbled and crumbled to a 23-32 record, including two 5-game losing streaks. Who knows, maybe they can make it six-in-a-row tomorrow night! Bye-bye good feelings, you were a brief candle in the wind, we shall miss you. Did I mention Met-killer Freddie Freeman didn’t even play a game during the Mets series? So where does the blame fall?
Sure it’s easy to point fingers at Collins, but what has he realistically had to work with? Again, I reference the table above. His handling of the bullpen has been minorly tragic as always, but is he alone responsible for the team being nine games below .500 since that winning streak ended? Or is it the fault of the players? Are we just expecting way too much, too early from guys like Kevin Plawecki and Dilson Herrera? We knew Flores would be serviceable at SS if he could hit, but a .276 OBP? Come on, Jon Niese has a better OBP right now.
The last paragraph was full of questions, and wouldn’t you know it, the team is full of questions. And the road record, oh sweet Christmas the road record. It’s enough to boggle the mind. So what are the Mets to do? They have one last asset that can be called up from Triple-A in Steven Matz, and then it’s up to the guys in New York to do what they are paid to do and win some ball games. If for a brief moment the Mets can have a full roster of major league-level infielders, if the pitching staff can continue to improve, and if Collins can stop using irrational matchups in the bullpen, then maybe the team can turn things around. If not then it’s Collins who’s going, not any one specific player. It’s unfair and it stinks, but it’s also baseball.
It seems to be a problem of motivation right now. For whatever reason these guys don’t appear to have anything to play for. Of course I know each guy on the team would say I’m dead wrong and that they give 100% each night and blah, blah, blah. Nuke LaLoosh should get out his notepad. But something is wrong, and you don’t have to even see the games to see it. Maybe that means new blood is needed to give them some chutzpah. I really wish I knew who or what could provide that, because I’d hate to see Collins canned simply because they couldn’t figure out what else to do. He’s not a great manager, but he’s also not the one on the field stinking it up night, after night, after night, after night, after night, after…
Terry is ultimately responsible, that’s how it works. Can’t fire the team so you fire the mgr. I understand some of the defensive issues, however, when Terry said they weren’t going for the gimmie force at 3rd on the bunt thebother day, that shows he’s not playing to win. The offense speaks for itself, their approach is horrible.
Fair or not, Terry needs to go.
Ruben is horrible, those numbers won’t last, but he should play everyday at SS.
Things need to change.
Unfortunately, management has already given up on 2015. The lack of motivation — the message — comes from the very top.
They should put Syndergaard on the table, but I doubt ownership is willing to take on salary.
When you’re a GM and you Fire your Manager, people look at You more closely.
Given their recent behavior, I would guess that they are thinking that the returns of d’Arnaud and Murphy will return bigger than “mid level deals” would—and it’s possible that Big Deals are not yet on the table.
“On this team, we fight for that inch
On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us
to pieces for that inch.
We claw with our finger nails for that inch.
Cause we know
when we add up all those inches
that’s going to make the ******* difference
between winning and losing
between living and dying.
I’ll tell you this
in any fight
it is the guy who is willing to die
who is going to win that inch.
And I know
if I am going to have any life anymore
it is because, I am still willing to fight, and die for that inch
because that is what living is.
The six inches in front of your face.
Now I can’t make you do it.
You gotta look at the guy next to you.
Look into his eyes.
Now I think you are going to see a guy who will go that inch with you.
You are going to see a guy
who will sacrifice himself for this team
because he knows when it comes down to it,
you are gonna do the same thing for him.
That’s a team, gentlemen
and either we heal now, as a team,
or we will die as individuals.
That’s baseball guys.
That’s all it is.
Now, whattaya gonna do?”
Look, as long as the Mets fail to change and adapt to reality, nothing will make a difference. Right now, with the team they have, they are better off shifting Flores to 2B, Tejada to short and Murphy to 3B. But since Murphy is hurt, why not send Campbell or Herrera to Vegas while calling up Wilfredo Tovar?
In this scenario, Tovar plays ss, Tejada 3B and Flores 2B. That gives a much better defensive team while it gives Flores a position where his limited range actually works.
While at it, the Mets should start plattoning Granderson and Cuddyer. Start Ceciliani at RF while shifting the dynamic duds to LF. Stop leading off with Granderson. Who cares if he draws walks but does nothing else?
Lagares
Ceciliani
Flores
Duda
d’Arnaud
Cuddyer
Tejada
Tovar
Leaves a lot to be desired but its the best the team can do for now.
Do not trade Syndergaard, Matz or Montero. The team will need that depht. Use Colon, Niese, Murphy in trades. If they can’t then fine, keep them.
By the end of July and assuming that Niese and Murphy are gone and Conforto is up. I am also assuming that Herrera stays at Vegas for the year. He is not ready yet.
Lagares
Ceciliani RF
Flores 2B
Duda 1B
d’Arnaud
Conforto LF (yes, sit the useless duo)
Tejada 3B
Tovar SS
At least they would be more fun to watch.
Editor’s Note – Please do not capitalize words in your post, as that is a violation of our Comment Policy
Glad to see someone saying Conforto should be called up! Let’s see what he’s got, because it can’t be much worse than what we are watching.
I’ve been wondering what the heck is Muno doing here when Tovar gives you good speed and a superior glove. Is it because they drafted the stiff?
Now Gus be nice. Not all of Sandy’s moves (drafts) are going to work out. So we just have to get used to seeing Alderson sit on his hands while the team implodes in front of him. Life is beautiful! isn’t it? The ulcers this team is giving the owners is poetic justice for all the squirming they have provided to we the Met fans and their employees.
Pete, did you read my gut reaction? Nice? I’m on the verge of indifference. If they don’t want to win, why should I stress over it?
I agree with a lot of this, but not Herrera. Yes, he’s struggling, but after a similar amount of games last year, 1 less I think, Joe Panik was hitting .220. Then he hit .349 in August and .301 in September. Herrera just needs to lay off the high fastball. Young guys can hit fastballs, Cuddy and Grandy cannot. I mean 95 mph ones. With a pitcher like Fiers, guys with slow bats usually do better. That’s why Grandy hit Collmenter on the DBacks.
Grandy would not be in my lineup either and thought not moving him was worst non-move of off season. The Braves moved Melvin Upton and Kimbrel got Maybin and Wisler(who just beat us). In that trade, the Braves dumped $25 million in salary, and Upton is paid through 2017, like Grandy. The Pads GM is an idiot. They also gave up Jace Peterson for J Utpon, a 1 year rental.
I like Flores, but he’s no SS. I’d move him to the OF, or trade him. He’d be no worse than Cuddy or Grandy. I’d also bring up Conforto, buy maybe Jayce Boyd first. He’s hitting .298 or so, but .,367 in his last 10. I see he hasn’t played the last 2 games, so maybe he is injured. He doesn’t K much. If you look at some of the better teams, the Cards, Giants, Royals, they don’t hit hr’s, but they K less than most teams, and they have good pitching, The Giants OF, without Pence, has 6 hr’s. Pagan has zero, Aoki 1, Marshall, 4. Both Boyd and Conforto have low K numbers. Murph, Flores and TDA are the best on the Mets. Cuddy, Grandy, Soup and Duda are bad, and Lagares is worse than last year. But with Duda, you expect more hr’s, and they’ll probably come One player I’d like? Nick Ahmed of the DBacks. He’s only hitting .227, and K’s a bunch, but he’s a defensive wizard, up there with Simmons of the Braves. With our pitching, he’d be a godsend. With him, we’d have an extra win vs the Braves and the Blue Jays, in just the last week.
To editor was the previous poster chastised for using capital on 3B or LF. If so the use of Botha is correct. In believe your rule refers to using capitals for emphasis
Nope that was not what he did. 3B and LF are fine.
Like other flights of fan fantasy, it has no basis in reality and therefore what’s the point. I do think a mgr change might have at least a short term effect. As SA has constructed the OF there’s not much leeway. The inf has a bit more to work with.
The Braves traded Kimbrel with Melvin Upton for Maybin and Wisler, eliminating a net $18 million in contracts, with Upton being paid thru 2017, like Grandy. If they can trade Melvin Upton, who’s hit under .200 for more than 2 years, we can trade Grandy. Of course, the Pads GM is a dope. They just gave up Trea Turner, their #1 pick last year to the Nats for a PTBNL. He’s hitting .322 in AA, and is a SS. The Nats stole him. But we can move Grandy, then platoon Cuddy. Our IF has enough people, but Flores can’t play SS. It’s not just the errors and miscues, but he plays shallow due to his weaker arm, and this limits his range. That ball by Gomez last night is caught by every other major league SS. But he’s 3 steps in, and he can’t get to it. Has to stop.
Collins has his team playing better than their pythagorean run differential. Sandy’s interference in the the managing is the problem. The manager should have the right to play who he wants and where he wants. If the GM doesn’t like it he has the right to fire him. It is called delegation of authority and accountability. Sandy extended TC. Sandy wanted a yes man. Sandy should have hired someone that enhances the team by being innovative, with his own ideas but within the guidelines of the team philosophy. Sandy didn’t.
Meanwhile the team keeps sliding. The weakneses are obvious. The GM won’t make a bold move. He won’t make any move. His job is to just keep the Wilpon’s as owners.
This rebuild has taken four years just to get to the same record it started with. Year five started very promising with the team in first place, a pitching staff that was in place for at least three years, and a minor league system with enough trade chips to finally begin to play for the present. The pitching staff is too talented to have a 500 record. The obvious offensive problems need to be fixed.
Sandy should do his job andalso allow the manager do his job. IMHO both of them were fine for the rebuild but both are unable to take this team to the next level.
The main problem is that major league baseball kept the Wilpons as owners. They needed to spend money on the right free agents and rebuild the farm system. Unfortunately, for us, they only did the latter.
This went back to before the Madoff scheme was exposed, when the Wilpons wanted Bay (instead of Holliday) signed before the 2010 season.
CY, EY, Cuddy and Grandy were terrible. Mayberry, too. One thing I don’t understand is why we keep getting guys that other teams dump, like CY and Mayberry. Not sure why SA thinks they’ll magically perform here. You do see it on other teams, but they’re often temporary, e.g., the Giants trying Uggla last summer before committing to Panik, and the Angels trying Kirk N for about 10 days. We tend to make major commitments, then are stuck.
SA deserves some blame for sure, but so does TC. For example”
Why does Grandy deserve more AB’s than anyone else?
Why does Duda bat 3rd, not 4th? If he bats 4th, and someone gets on, he’ll still get up in the 1st inning, but only is someone is on. Isn’t that what you want, him coming up with MOB?
Why does Cuddy bat 4th?
Why do TDA and Murphy bat behind Cuddy? Don’t both deserve more AB’s than Grandy and Cuddy?
Why doesn’t Murphy bat 3rd, in front of Duda?
Why don’t we hit n run? Murph, TDA and Flores are among league leaders in fewest K’s per AB. Wouldn’t they be perfect to hit n run with?
At the moment, RT is our best SS. Why isn’t he playing there, at least when he plays? Is it because TC doesn’t want him to feel bad? That’s a leader?
Sorry, TC needs to go.
There’s something rotten in Denmark. Rather than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic Sandy needs to figure out wtf is wrong at the core of this franchise. Other teams don’t go through collective slumps like this. Other teams don’t have half their team on the DL year after year. Sandy needs to exhume that indian burial ground or Phillies jersey or whatever the hell is under Citi Field. That’s what he and his highly paid Ivy League cronies were brought on to do – to create a “culture of winning.”
You don’t need a monster lineup when you have great pitching but you can’t win with a bunch of slump/injury prone .250 hitters with no speed and little power.
I like all our young pitchers too but when your fridge is stocked with food and not a drop to drink…
We have more hr’s than the Cards, Giants, Royals, so that’s not it. BA is key. We’re tied for last at .238. Last year, no team hitting below .250 made the playoffs. So, we need to rid ourselves of guys certain to hit below that. Soup, Granderson, will never hit that. I also think we need a SS. Only the Brewers, Cubs and Phillies have worse fielding percentage. But ERA and BA are the best determinants of being successful. The Cards, Bucs and Dodgers have the best ERA’s. We’re 5th, which of course is very good, but we’re 12th in fielding, tied for 13th in runs(with the Brewers) and tied for last in BA, with the Brewers.
If Matz can hit then that would be considered a valuable asset. I see no reason for Alderson to bring him up and start the clock if the season is going down the toilet. What’s the point? No offense. An inconsistent offense. Wasn’t this the problem last year? So the team will finish in third place in the division. Then what? Fire Collins? Bring up Backman? Hire Gardenhire? None of these options is going to improve the offense. Suck it up and trade one of the SP kids for a proven offensive bat. Stop the nonsensical FA signings. Colon. Murphy, Gee, and Parnell are all gone ( Niese via a trade). No excuse about not having money for payroll for an offensive bat.
Gus if Fred truly cared something would of been done already. Like you said before they just have to hang on for 2 more years then they get to build another mausoleum tribute to their past
I hope they don’t build another mausoleum for a while, I kinda like this one!
Just kidding Eric. No more money and I doubt the city will lend the Wilpons any more!
It’s not about money. Braves dumped $25 million per by moving Kimbrel and M Upton, and picked up $7.5 million back with Maybin and Wisler. It can be done. And M Upton had 2 more years after this for a combined $31 million. So, it’s not money. It’s guts and being smart.
The Wilpons are smart! It’s not their fault they have poor judgement in their friends. Alderson is not here to pull off a Houdini act and land a player. The Met’s were essentially done after signing Michael Cuddyer. Think about that for a moment? The signing of a 36 year old who had lost significant time to injuries recently was the Holy Grail for the Met’s. I wonder if SA even contacted Prell during the off season? They’ll be no major moves in the foreseeable future. Alderson will claim the price was too high and that the players coming back from the DL will be what the team needs to get back into contention, Blablabla.
You folks have nailed it. Winning is just not a priority right now. How else does one explain all the place holding signings SA has ever made (Granderson, Cuddyer, Colon)? It should not come as a surprise to anyone that this team will ultimately be built with young talent however long that takes and no matter what they say publicly.
As far trading Grandy, who are you going to trade along with him to get the deal done? And good luck finding another sucker.
I’m done with this team. I’ve been a fan since ’82. There have been bad times but this is pathetic. I’m tired of talking about them. We can all sit here and say what they should do but what’s the point? I’ve never seen a team sit on their hands like this. Why should I be a fan of that? There’s no fire. Oh we’ll be fine, just gotta get it going. Yeah? Well, when’s that gonna happen? A full decade of a NY team not making the playoffs. We have a great team they say. Sorry boys. No we don’t. I’m done. I’m gonna start rooting for a team who knows how to do it. Maybe St. Louis, SF, Heck even the Royals, Cubs and Pirates are making it work. Time to start shopping for new baseball caps. It’s a sad day. Good bye Mets.