17 comments on “Mets Friday catch-all thread – 5/4/18”
Eraff
The Hangover from playing the first 15 games like “Game 7″….. the Catcher Injuries and Shortened lineup…… the slumping lineup…. all recoverable in a variety of ways
This team is built to Pitch, and they need at least 3 Healthy and competitive starters. JDG and CinderGod are filling their roles…is it really a fact that The Mets have hit a Dry Socket on All Four of Vargas, Harvey, Wheeler, Matz…???????? There is not a “First Move” for this team beyond finding 5-7 competive innings every 5th day from at least one other SP.
This team is also built to Trade—- into a Pennant Race, or into a Rebuild. 29 Games in with “30 games until the Yankees” on June 8th……… this season and the team’s next 2-3 years are almost entirely pinned to what happens in May.
FWIW – The Mets are 3-1 in games started by Wheeler and he was in Triple-A the first 10 games of the year when they were 9-1.
As to Eraff’s point that the Mets were built to pitch – then I suggest that the manager actually let the starter pitch. Look for reasons to keep them in the game – not reasons to yank them.
I’d also suggest that the manager start the guy with a 1.008 OPS more times than the guy with a .406 OPS. That Brandon Nimmo and Jose Reyes have each started the same number of games is a problem. There are three guys right now who can sit — Jay Bruce, Michael Conforto and Adrian Gonzalez – in order to get Nimmo in the lineup. Play the guys who hit and don’t bury the ones who aren’t. It’s not rocket science.
MattyMets
I’m with you Brian. The first step to get this lineup moving is to put Nimmo atop the lineup regularly. Conforto, Bruce and Gonzalez are all underperforming. No reason they can’t rotate sitting out for a while. Cutting Gonzalez would further open up playing time, but maybe it’s hard to justify that move with Conforto, Bruce and Flores not performing that well either.
Steve S.
Yup, that’s it! Rotate those guys and get Nimmo and, yes, Lagares in there more often, as well as Flores.
Rosario also has struggled at the plate, but seems to be hitting the ball a bit better lately—even if they have gone right at somebody.
BTW, has anyone checked out Neil Walker’s stats this year (18 OPS+ in 91 AB)! We were thinking of signing him at one time, right?
Eraff
Does anyone have deeper data on Gonzalez? I’m looking at that 700 OPS and thinking that what you see is what you get… and it looks like the most recent 500 or so ab’s are the best indication of what you get.
They have a Platoon available today…and two minor leaguers available today. Cutting AG is the easiest move a GM could ever make.
In other news…I’ve always despised the “Mets Whispers” about players…but the Harvey situation undeniably demonstrates that He is not ready to Pitch. He’s an Asshole—His Arm Hurts…whatever! It’s becoming corrosive, and He needs some real help that he can’t get sitting in the Bullpen. They may need to present him with his choice of finding his inner pitcher at Bingo, or elsewhere with another organization. As is, he has zero value for them as a player or trade asset
Mike Walczak
Harvey is destroying his own career. He is going to have a hard time landing a contract in free agency. Maybe he just doesnt want to play anymore.
The best answer is AAA. If he doesn’t like it, let him go get a real job like the rest of us working stiffs.
MattyMets
I hope that Harvey shows just enough so that we can package him in a trade. I agreed with giving him a shot; he’s earned that, but now it’s time to revoke the scholarship.
John Fox
On a brighter note, I recently noticed an obscure cable channel called “Stadium” and a few days ago they showed the tape of the 1986 World Series, game 6. It was fascinating to watch it all these years later, even though I knew how it would end. Vin Scully and Joe Garigiola calling the game, old school graphics. Timely hits by Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight, it was fun.
There used to be a channel called “Classic Sports” that was eventually gobbled up by ESPN and cut its usefulness in half. But in the pre-ESPN days they used to show a ton of great stuff. Somewhere I have on VHS an All-Star AB by Mickey Mantle against Tom Seaver.
They used to show a bunch of 1980s college basketball and that was great, too. Even saw myself on TV once when they showed an old NC State game.
Chris F
also on Youtube. The Astros game was even better in the NLCS! I recommend watching Game of 69 WS as well. Kooz was a Monster.
opening color commentary by Koufax and Mantle.
Priceless
TJ
I am in agreement with the notion of finding reasons for the starters to stay in longer, this could cut either way but there is no better time than now to see if the 3,4,5 guys can sink or swim. I am also in agreement with getting Nimmo more playing time. There is no guarantee that he can keep it up, and more regularity my expose weakness, but has Brain said, he and Jose getting the same number of ABs is simply a criminal offense. A Gon may well be adequate over the course of the season, but given the roster and commitment to Bruce, A Gon loses the musical chairs in this one. Harvey’s window is just about closed. Someone will take him to fill a void, so long as the Mets eat the money. I think this is the best solution for all parties, send him somewhere far away where the Mets won’t see him again in 2018. Flexen and Oswalt should stronger be considered and soon if Matz. Wheeler, or Vargas don’t show more consistent quality. Rosario looks clueless and may need to go down for more refinement, which poses a big problem since they really don’t have a legit plan B at SS, and not having big leaguers at both C and SS is not acceptable. I love Jose but he has earned his ticket off the squad. This is why Sandy gets the big buck. Now is not a time for reaction, but it is a time for action.
MattyMets
Matt Harvey DFA’d. Never thought I’d say those words. He refused a minor league assignment so they cut him loose. They have seven days to find a trade partner or he’s a free agent. Wish him luck elsewhwere.
I wish Harvey well. Pre TOS he was a star and it’s good to have stars. It’s too bad he couldn’t get back to that level. I don’t think this is anyone’s fault. But I hope Harvey puts his career first and I hope Callaway/Eiland learn something from this experience, as they were the ones who convinced Alderson not to trade him at the Winter Meetings while they might have gotten a C+ prospect for him.
TJ
Unfortunate is a good word to describe the situation.
Although the outcome was not good, Iagreed with Callaway/Eiland. Harvey was a worthy risk for $5.6 million. The minor league start path made the most sense to me, and he may well get things together, but without a change of attitude it wasn’t happening in Flushing. I think Eiland made a great point in that an organization cannot afford to have a player rehabbing at the big league level.
TexasGusCC
The good ole days…
Eraff
I’ve been hoping that Harvey would take an MILB assignment. I’m sure that any team that approaches him will offer that. This will probably resolve with him turning the page on the Mets and reporting to MILB with another team.
Mike Walczak
Reality – Mets are near the bottom of MLB in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage and OPS.
The Hangover from playing the first 15 games like “Game 7″….. the Catcher Injuries and Shortened lineup…… the slumping lineup…. all recoverable in a variety of ways
This team is built to Pitch, and they need at least 3 Healthy and competitive starters. JDG and CinderGod are filling their roles…is it really a fact that The Mets have hit a Dry Socket on All Four of Vargas, Harvey, Wheeler, Matz…???????? There is not a “First Move” for this team beyond finding 5-7 competive innings every 5th day from at least one other SP.
This team is also built to Trade—- into a Pennant Race, or into a Rebuild. 29 Games in with “30 games until the Yankees” on June 8th……… this season and the team’s next 2-3 years are almost entirely pinned to what happens in May.
FWIW – The Mets are 3-1 in games started by Wheeler and he was in Triple-A the first 10 games of the year when they were 9-1.
As to Eraff’s point that the Mets were built to pitch – then I suggest that the manager actually let the starter pitch. Look for reasons to keep them in the game – not reasons to yank them.
I’d also suggest that the manager start the guy with a 1.008 OPS more times than the guy with a .406 OPS. That Brandon Nimmo and Jose Reyes have each started the same number of games is a problem. There are three guys right now who can sit — Jay Bruce, Michael Conforto and Adrian Gonzalez – in order to get Nimmo in the lineup. Play the guys who hit and don’t bury the ones who aren’t. It’s not rocket science.
I’m with you Brian. The first step to get this lineup moving is to put Nimmo atop the lineup regularly. Conforto, Bruce and Gonzalez are all underperforming. No reason they can’t rotate sitting out for a while. Cutting Gonzalez would further open up playing time, but maybe it’s hard to justify that move with Conforto, Bruce and Flores not performing that well either.
Yup, that’s it! Rotate those guys and get Nimmo and, yes, Lagares in there more often, as well as Flores.
Rosario also has struggled at the plate, but seems to be hitting the ball a bit better lately—even if they have gone right at somebody.
BTW, has anyone checked out Neil Walker’s stats this year (18 OPS+ in 91 AB)! We were thinking of signing him at one time, right?
Does anyone have deeper data on Gonzalez? I’m looking at that 700 OPS and thinking that what you see is what you get… and it looks like the most recent 500 or so ab’s are the best indication of what you get.
They have a Platoon available today…and two minor leaguers available today. Cutting AG is the easiest move a GM could ever make.
In other news…I’ve always despised the “Mets Whispers” about players…but the Harvey situation undeniably demonstrates that He is not ready to Pitch. He’s an Asshole—His Arm Hurts…whatever! It’s becoming corrosive, and He needs some real help that he can’t get sitting in the Bullpen. They may need to present him with his choice of finding his inner pitcher at Bingo, or elsewhere with another organization. As is, he has zero value for them as a player or trade asset
Harvey is destroying his own career. He is going to have a hard time landing a contract in free agency. Maybe he just doesnt want to play anymore.
The best answer is AAA. If he doesn’t like it, let him go get a real job like the rest of us working stiffs.
I hope that Harvey shows just enough so that we can package him in a trade. I agreed with giving him a shot; he’s earned that, but now it’s time to revoke the scholarship.
On a brighter note, I recently noticed an obscure cable channel called “Stadium” and a few days ago they showed the tape of the 1986 World Series, game 6. It was fascinating to watch it all these years later, even though I knew how it would end. Vin Scully and Joe Garigiola calling the game, old school graphics. Timely hits by Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight, it was fun.
There used to be a channel called “Classic Sports” that was eventually gobbled up by ESPN and cut its usefulness in half. But in the pre-ESPN days they used to show a ton of great stuff. Somewhere I have on VHS an All-Star AB by Mickey Mantle against Tom Seaver.
They used to show a bunch of 1980s college basketball and that was great, too. Even saw myself on TV once when they showed an old NC State game.
also on Youtube. The Astros game was even better in the NLCS! I recommend watching Game of 69 WS as well. Kooz was a Monster.
opening color commentary by Koufax and Mantle.
Priceless
I am in agreement with the notion of finding reasons for the starters to stay in longer, this could cut either way but there is no better time than now to see if the 3,4,5 guys can sink or swim. I am also in agreement with getting Nimmo more playing time. There is no guarantee that he can keep it up, and more regularity my expose weakness, but has Brain said, he and Jose getting the same number of ABs is simply a criminal offense. A Gon may well be adequate over the course of the season, but given the roster and commitment to Bruce, A Gon loses the musical chairs in this one. Harvey’s window is just about closed. Someone will take him to fill a void, so long as the Mets eat the money. I think this is the best solution for all parties, send him somewhere far away where the Mets won’t see him again in 2018. Flexen and Oswalt should stronger be considered and soon if Matz. Wheeler, or Vargas don’t show more consistent quality. Rosario looks clueless and may need to go down for more refinement, which poses a big problem since they really don’t have a legit plan B at SS, and not having big leaguers at both C and SS is not acceptable. I love Jose but he has earned his ticket off the squad. This is why Sandy gets the big buck. Now is not a time for reaction, but it is a time for action.
Matt Harvey DFA’d. Never thought I’d say those words. He refused a minor league assignment so they cut him loose. They have seven days to find a trade partner or he’s a free agent. Wish him luck elsewhwere.
An unfortunate but probably necessary move.
I wish Harvey well. Pre TOS he was a star and it’s good to have stars. It’s too bad he couldn’t get back to that level. I don’t think this is anyone’s fault. But I hope Harvey puts his career first and I hope Callaway/Eiland learn something from this experience, as they were the ones who convinced Alderson not to trade him at the Winter Meetings while they might have gotten a C+ prospect for him.
Unfortunate is a good word to describe the situation.
Although the outcome was not good, Iagreed with Callaway/Eiland. Harvey was a worthy risk for $5.6 million. The minor league start path made the most sense to me, and he may well get things together, but without a change of attitude it wasn’t happening in Flushing. I think Eiland made a great point in that an organization cannot afford to have a player rehabbing at the big league level.
The good ole days…
I’ve been hoping that Harvey would take an MILB assignment. I’m sure that any team that approaches him will offer that. This will probably resolve with him turning the page on the Mets and reporting to MILB with another team.
Reality – Mets are near the bottom of MLB in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage and OPS.