With their win on Sunday, the Mets upped their record to 32-33. After 65 games in 2018, the Mets’ record stood at 28-37. At the end of June last year, the Mets were 32-48 and their season was essentially over.
The Mets are in the early stages of a tough part of their schedule. They just finished up three games against the Rockies and here’s what comes next:
2 – Yankees
4 – Cardinals
3 – Braves
4 – Cubs
4 – Phillies
3 – Braves
2 – Yankees
3 – Phillies
That’s 28 straight games against teams that feel like they have a shot at the playoffs. The only saving grace is that the Cardinals started the season 20-10 and have gone 11-22 since then. With the four games against St. Louis at home – where the Mets have played well this year – they need to make some hay. And they need to come out on the positive side in their 13 games against the two teams ahead of them in the NL East.
The Mets’ SP is beginning to resemble what we thought they could be. They’ll need to continue that trend the next four weeks, when we should find out for sure if the Mets are contenders or pretenders.
The Mets need to face reality and start pairing successful tandems together. Yes, Ramos is a MLB established catcher, but Nido has had success with certain pitchers and it’s enough of a sample where it needs to be acknowledged. Be it psychological or performance based, the starters have had large variances in their performance depending on the catcher. Results by Catcher and ERA:
Matz: Ramos 3.88; no one else has tamed this wild beast this year.
Wheeler: Ramos 4.12; Nido 6.50; TDA 3.86. Important to note that Nido gets more K/BB as he steals strikes better, but Ramos gets more weak contact.
Vargas: Ramos 1.64; Nido 3.27; TDA 54.00. Like Wheeler, Nido has an advantage in K/BB, but again Ramos gets more weak contact.
Syndergaard: Nido 1.29; Ramos 4.57; TDA 8.10.
JdG: Nido 1.16; Ramos 4.91; TDA 13.50, but Ramos caught a great game by JdG on Friday night.
We all know that Ramos has successfully caught many top pitchers, but not everyone is the same. It’s time to let Nido catch JDG and Thor, at least for a while until they start rolling, and let Ramos have Vargas, Wheeler, and Matz, who do better with him anyway. Time to stop fighting results and embrace what they are telling you for about a month or two. Winning might just become more of a habit.
I think DeGrom has earned the privilege of preference. Veteran, leader & Cy Young, go where he’s comfortable.
I cannot tell whether it’s the typical manager with one eye on his own boss’ signings or…
In the last month, Ramos is batting with a 1.080 OPS and in his last start deGrom only gave up two earned runs while Ramos was catching. I don’t feel that teams should be structured with designated batteries. With that said, the only overwhelming evidence is that Nido should catch deGrom and Syndergaard. The Mets have put themselves in this situation because they have to win the games to stay relative . Every advantage should be exploited. This platoon will result in Ramos starting about 100 games at catcher. He could also start at DH. When he doesn’t start he would be a formidable pinch hitter on the bench. He is 31 years and 10 months old so he’s getting near the age where he needs more rest. The Mets should now take advantage of this situation.
I smell hope, but it’s of the desperate variety.
And look, Keuchel went to the Braves, and Kimbrel to the Cubbies.
Pox on Mets’ management and all their ancestors
Matt, you know I like when you look at the schedule and predict the outcome.
The Mets are fortunate do you have this schedule because by the All-Star break they will know if they are contenders or sellers. Today, they are 5 Games behind.
In the 13 games with the Phillies and Braves they need to go 8-5. In the remaining 12 games they need to go 6-6 and that should get them into the thick of the pennant race. I think that is a reasonable challenge and I think they will accomplish it.
I see many possibilities to Trade-Out of this Race, if 2019 fades. Some of the Vets and Pitchers are giving credible performances that are creating Value— Frazier, 1-2 SP’s, and even a couple of BP Guys.
The Trade-In Possibilities are Limited and Dangerous—this is almost a Forced Stand-Pat Roster. I want to keep all of the youngish/cheap positional guys…McNeill, Nimmo, Conforto, Ahmed, Alonzo, JD Davis. The Minor Leaguers are too few and far away to be of good value.
The only identifiable finish to this team remains a RH Outfield bat— Named Adam Jones. Would I send JD Davis???—McNeill????maybe if it’s the only remaining problem. I’d have to love what I see of the rest of the squad.
The results over the next month will determine whether we buy or sell.
Brian, put this in The Garden. This is cool.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/what-a-player-needs-to-know-before-the-mlb-draft/