According to ESPN, the Mets have a 98.6% chance of making the playoffs as a Wild Card team. A quick Google search appears to show that the Wild Card play-in game is its own separate round, meaning you can have a 25-man roster for that game and, if you win, immediately turn around and adjust it for the division series. Assuming this is still the case, how will the Mets put together their roster for the Wild Card game? Here’s how I’d do it:
SP – Noah Syndergaard
RP – Jeurys Familia, Addison Reed, Fernando Salas, Jerry Blevins, Hansel Robles, Josh Smoker
C – Travis d’Arnaud, Kevin Plawecki, Rene Rivera
1B – Lucas Duda, James Loney
2B – Kelly Johnson, T.J. Rivera
3B – Jose Reyes, Ty Kelly
SS – Asdrubal Cabrera, Matt Reynolds
OF – Jay Bruce, Yoenis Cespedes, Michael Conforto, Curtis Granderson, Juan Lagares, Brandon Nimmo
That’s 24 players. The final roster spot needs to go to a pitcher, in case the game goes extra innings. The rotation appears to be set up for Seth Lugo to be the best-rested starter. The other choice would be Sean Gilmartin, who theoretically could go multiple innings and would also give another lefty in the bullpen. But Gilmartin’s last appearance was less than good. And if they clinch before Sunday, Gilmartin may very well get the start in that game. So, Lugo it is.
That’s just an eight-man pitching staff. You have to ask which players are going to help you win a game. You want three catchers so you can double-switch or pinch-hit and still have an emergency replacement available. There’s a backup for every position and adequate pinch hitters from each side of the plate.
And if the Mets win, you’d need to add two starting pitchers and a reliever to the squad. Kelly, Nimmo and Plawecki would appear to be the most vulnerable to being removed. Bartolo Colon and Robert Gsellman would be the two definite pitching additions. And then it would come down to Jim Henderson or Logan Verrett for the final spot. And that might depend on how much the bullpen was used in the Wild Card game.
If the pen is in good shape, Henderson would get the nod. But if the pen was used heavily, Verrett’s ability to bounce back quicker might be a bigger advantage. Let’s hope Syndergaard turns in a dominating performance in the Wild Card game and Henderson gets the final spot.
I would be seriously disappointed if Sean Gilmartin is anywhere near the 25-man roster, even for a single playoff (playin?) game.
I would put “Tolo and Lugo on the roster to cover the admittedly unlikely event of a slugfest or a long extra inning affair. Nimmo and Ty Kelly have proven to be useful off the bench types and I would take them before I take Conforto. Only need two catchers. Reynolds gets the call because they need an extra infielder.
I’ve been looking all over for the rules on WC rosters. I know something changed in the offseason. I’m not sure if it’s that you have to keep the roster unchanged for the NLDS or if you have to have a minimum number of pitchers.
In either case, it’s a tough call because the inclination might be to stock the bench and leave the pitching staff short, but you still have to be prepared for extra innings. I would feel more comfortable with a rested Lugo over Gilmartin, Verrett, Montero, Ynoa or Edgin. If the Sunday game doesn’t matter we can let those guys mop up.
Good start, Brian. I was actually thinking about it this morning, and started by looking at what the Cubs and Pirates have done recently.
And yes, separate rosters for WC only, and it’s a unique sort of animal.
So I was surprised to end up with a roster that included Eric Campbell, Ty Kelly, and Kevin Plawecki.
Teams generally go into this game prepared for an emergency situation. The Bucs always had three catchers, for example. In the Mets case, this is a bench that is short with RH bats. Plawecki allows d’Arnaud to PH.
Teams go with 10 pitchers and I’d do the same. I’d bring Colon and Gsellman and seven standard relievers (Familia, Reed, Blevins, Salas, Robles, Smoker, and ________.)
I’d bring Campbell over Reynolds. I would not bring Nimmo or De Aza.
So: 3 catchers, 7 infielders, 5 outfielders (w/ Ty Kelly able to PR or play 3B or OF). Reyes is my backup SS.
The final reliever is choice between Goeddel, Henderson, Edgin. Might depend on composition of team we are facing.
No to Ynoa, Verrett, Gilmartin.
Tempting to leave Loney off, but Duda’s back is too unpredictable.
About Gsellman & Colon: Bartolo has proven ability to relieve in WS situations. If season is on line, he’s the man I want to see over guys like Goeddel. Also, Gsellman has thrown very well and seems composed. If game goes long, if Noah falters early, I think Mets need a guy who can give them length. Madden brought 3 starters (two in pen) in the 2015 WC game — and he had Arrieta on the bump.
Again: Pretty shocking for me to write in names Kelly, Campbell, and Plawecki, but Game 163 is a strange breed of cat. Mets, again, all season long, short on that RH bat. The idea is that Plawecki never moves, he could be a cardboard cut-out, but allows d’Arnaud to PH if situation calls for it.
Goedell – that’s the guy I always forget. Hopefully it doesn’t come down to relying on him but I’d take my chances with him over Verrett, Montero or Gilmartin.
Also, another scenario to consider, however unlikely given that we may be facing Bumgarner, but what if we’re on the right side of a blowout – up by a dozen runs early. You wouldn’t want Thor throwing 115 pitches if he doesn’t have to and you wouldn’t want to burn out the back end of the pen. I know, wishful thinking, but still – scenario planning.
Marty, a blowout is not an issue. Also, two days off before and day off after. The pen will be fine.
I’m not so sure about the need for Matt Reynolds on the roster. Jose Reyes could be switched over to shortstop if Asdrubal Cabrerra were to get injured. If Wilmer Flores can get some action in the last series in Philadelphia and show he is not hindered too much by his injury, I’d much rather have him on the wild card roster than Matt Reynolds.
*Yoenis not Yoneis
This has been fixed.
Minority vote here: DeAza over Nimmo. Campbell over Reynolds because he does pinch hit well. Ten pitchers including Colon and Gsellmann. Henderson is included because he has not given up an ER in September and he has closer experience so if needed in an extra inning game he has experienced that pressure in the past.
Yeah, I agree with the De Aza pick.
However, there’s no point putting more than two SP on the roster, assuming you can still adjust it for the Division Series.
I think there is a point, and again, Madden did it in 2015.
Colon is on more as a critical reliever, a guy capable of getting a big out in a tight situation (as he did in last year’s WS).
The other starter is your long man. We don’t have Roger McDowell to throw 5 innings the way he did in Game 6 of the ’86 NLCS. If game goes 12, 14, 16 innings, important to have a guy who can go long that isn’t named Logan Verrett.
Two starters in bullpen because the last thing you want to do is run out of pitchers in a marathon extra inning game. Unlikely, of course, but six potential innings of Gsellmann is better than two innings of Goedell. Also in the original comment I ended up with 26 so therefore no Kelly, Reynolds and no Soup for you.
That’s why Lugo was on my original roster.
I think you have to look at it to maximize the potential of one win. I think you keep a starter in case the game goes extra innings. In my opinion, an extra-inning game is a likely occurrence. But if you have a SP and six RP – how many innings would the game have to go to need two starters to use in relief roles?
In a full 162-game season for two teams, there are 2,430 games. There have been 8 games this year that went more than 14 innings. That’s 0.003 and I’ve got to think that the chance of an extra hitter contributing to a win is greater than that.
Did you forget that TC has killed the grass between the dugout and the pitchers mound? Your arguement is convincing so I would compromise and drop Henderson keeping Gsellmann and adding the switch hitting and versatile Ty Kelly.
Noah goes 5 IP (did that 26 of 30 starts)
TC uses 6 relievers to go 4 IP
Lugo goes 5 IP
I feel pretty good about this crew giving 14 IP
Let’s go with Colon. He must be on the roster.
Oh and I am down in Augusta, Georgia and the Cards are winning on the radio.
I am pretty sure the thought was Gilmartin in the Sunday game if Mets already clinched…that sets up the WC game and potential NLDS rotation. Otherwise, no need, none, for Mr. Gilmartin. He was awful last game. If Mets clinch and have home field for WC game, you will see this lineup Sunday:
P- Gilmartin, C- Plawecki, 1B- Campbell , 2B- Cecchini,
SS- Reynolds, 3B- K.Johnson,LF-Kelly, CF- Lagares,
RF- Conforto.
Phillies will be all out to win and end season for home fans. Just pray Mets don’t need that game. Cards vs Pirates and Giants vs Dodgers….not bad.
Hope we don’t need the help with 2 W’s, but the others sched cannot hurt.
Editor’s Note – Please do not capitalize words in your post, as that is a violation of our Comment Policy.
If we let Gilmartin stay in there and take his lumps, how many runs do you think he could let up?
Yeah, if Sunday doesn’t matter, I’d play as many tier 2 and tier 3 guys as possible to see if anyone of them are worthy of a playoff roster spot. That includes the likes of Nimmo, Kelly and Conforto (amazing how far his stock has fallen). If Sunday does matter, all hands on deck, especially if it’s to keep the season alive.
It’s not really an issue, but I believe that key guys would want a couple of ABs on Sunday, especially if next game is Wednesday. Unless they are really banged up. Even pitching wise, players generally like to stay sharp. This isn’t the hangover after clinching, then you have a few days to sort through the transition.
My hope is that they don’t see getting to Game 163 as a champagne experience. Happy, yes. Have a beer, feel good. But not champagne. Win the WC game.