Please use this thread to comment on any Mets-specific topic you wish.
We’ve seen Mets players start to return from the IL. Here are their stats since re-joining the Mets:
Pete Alonso – 138 PA, .274/.341/.516
Jeff McNeil – 54 PA, .224/.296/.224
Jonathan Villar – 6 PA, .000/.000/.000
Luis Guillorme – 72 PA, .271/.394/.288
Kevin Pillar – 108 PA, .194/.231/.408
Michael Conforto – 47 PA, .135/.298/.162
Brandon Nimmo – 18 PA, .389/.389/.444
Tomas Nido – 3 PA, .333/.333/.333
Albert Almora – 19 PA, .105/.105/.211
If Pillar was hitting better, you could make a case for him becoming the starting RF. As is, he should probably platoon with Conforto, who – outside of the abbreviated 2020 – has always been the weakest of the team’s LHB against lefthanders. This year, Conforto is batting just .167 with a .530 OPS against southpaws.
Pillar is their 4th outfielder and being the fourth outfielder he should get some reps so that he wouldn’t stale. The problem this year is that he has reverse splits, vs RHP .681 and .599 vs LHP. On the other hand, Conforto has a .530, Nimmo a 1.092 and Smith .872 vs LHP so Conforto as the likely candidate to rest vs LHP. Interesting that Smith is hitting .685 vs RHP so there isn’t is difference in production this year when Pillar rests Smith vs RHP. All outfielders should be rested and Rojas has done a very good job about that and that is why I don’t see the need to have a Pillar/ Conforto platoon.
The offense is about to roll. Expect a big hot week or two and expect them to open a big lead and leave two of Phil’s,Braves and Nats out of contention.
Wow, I know McNeil and Conforto haven’t torn it up since returning, but those OPS numbers are frightening…and the sample size is growing. Of course these guys should get some more time to return to more expected results, but they also should not get a blank check. These two could certainly find themselves with less AB by August if Davis returns and the Mets perhaps make a positional deadline acquisition. I am a Conforto fan, and he gets kudos for leadership, but barring a one-year prove it deal he will most certainly be playing elsewhere next year, so I would not be too much concerned with hurting his feelings if he doesn’t step it up soon.
Team records are not always what they seem.
It’s easy to look at the standings and records and conclude the East is the weakest division because they have 4 teams under .500, but is that really the case?
East vs Central : 47-43
East vs West : 43-40
Central vs West : 59-55
So East has winning records against the Central and West, and the Central has a winning record against the West so you could argue it is the most competitive division and West the weakest. Yet because the West has 2 really bad teams in the division and schedules are unbalanced (NL west playing AL west while NL east plays AL east), they’ve been able to push 3 teams with seemingly very good records that are likely to make the postseason.
Very nice analysis. Thanks.
Conforto is on his way to ruining his big free agent payday.
Can anyone explain why Rojas brings in Diaz in the 8th, in a non-save situation, when his track record could not be more clear… why not bring in Lugo, get the zero, then try to win the game in the bottom of the 8th. For god sakes, do not use Diaz unless it’s a save opportunity!
How good is Peraza?
The 8th was the first extra inning as each game in a double header is only 7 innings. So, they were in extra innings when Diaz came in. At home, teams like to use their closer to start extra innings because they feel that will give them two chances to win, and obviously there won’t be a save. The two chances are the bottom of the inning the closer pitches -expecting him to throw up a 0 run effort – and the next inning because no matter who pitches the following inning, the home team will get another chance to hit.
That’s how it used to be before the free runner, and I don’t think that thinking has changed any.
Topic: JdG has decided to skip ASG
Go!
Anyway, from SportsNaut:
“While announcing his decision, deGrom lobbied for teammate Taijuan Walker to be his replacement. The right-handed Walker is 7-3 with a 2.44 ERA in 15 starts in his first season with the Mets.”
This is interesting, the level of control JdG appears to have over the ASG. Has there ever been someone who said, “Nah, I am not going, but you should pick this here teammate”, and the PTB actually acquiesced to the holdout’s proclamation?
Do yous know why I’m special? Because I’m sooooo immune to being called stupid. For example, at this here blog site, I rarely contribute some deep, thoughtful post. Well, I’ll correct that to say I essentially never post any deepness, at least the type related to baseball.
Because I’ve carried the burden my entire life of being a damn genius. While the rest of yous were acting rowdy on Fridays during your mid-teen years, I was looking through my telescope, and trying to force myself to get some sleep that night because I was scheduled starting pitcher for our team the next afternoon.
So if anyone wants to call me stupid, believe me, you won’t hurt my feelings.
But of course, yous guys are far too pleasant and decent to ever say anything rude or nasty to me. In fact, almost all of yous guys are generally too decent to say anything nasty about anyone, except for former owners Dexter and Fred Coupon, some fossilized field managers, or any part of a plethora of pathetic relief pitchers.
So, what is the point of this story? What information pertains?
Sorry, channeling Paul Simon again. I bet yous didn’t know that Paul Simon and I were born in the same city, that is, sunny Newark, NJ.
Right, the point was the 3rd sentence above, in the first paragraph.
And since this is a so-called catch-all thread, and this post is arguably marginally connected to NYM baseball, well there you have it.
I was just thinking that it’s great that I generally don’t have much to say, for the most part.
I will title this post “Negotiations & Love Songs” or “Train In The Distance”
Yet another postponement
Through July 7th, there have been 35 doubleheaders in all of MLB. The Mets have played in a whooping 9 of those 35 (25.7%). On saturday they will be playing their 10th double header, most likely out of 37 total (27%). Oh and they have at least 2 more scheduled on their docket for a minimum of 12 doubleheaders. That’s got to be a record in this non-doubleheader era.
OK, I notice today (7/8/21) that currently, JdG is leading the Major League (!) in fewest hits allowed per 9 IPs and most strikeouts total.
Also, JdG is leading the majors in most Ks/9IP (14.3) and fewest BBs/9IP (1.1), so it made me wonder – has anyone ever led the majors in both of these simultaneously at the end of one entire season? I asked my Uncle Google, and my dear (senile) uncle provided a weird and useless response
Looks like more people are starting to come around to my unpopular opinion that Michael Conforto is not worth a $200mm contract. On the plus side, he’s a homegrown player, likeable, hits homers, and plays a solid OF. On the downside, he gets hurt too often, he’s streaky, struggles against lefties, and doesn’t hit for average. He’ll never be the best player on a good team or an MVP. Left-handed hitting corner outfielders are not a rare commodity. I’d hate to see him go, but if Boras is gonna demand 7 or 8 years and 200+ another team can have him. I’d rather reallocate that money toward locking up other Mets players who aren’t so easily replaced.
Agree and have agreed. Homegrown, easy guy to root for, but in no way an elite player. Even with Uncle Stevie they can’t be giving away millions. Nimmo makes more sense long term. Especially after overpaying Linder and having to figure out how high to go with JDG.