Please use this thread all week to discuss any Mets-specific topic you wish.
There’s no doubt that Spring Training stats don’t matter for veteran hitters. Still, it’s always nice to see guys get off to great starts. And if given a choice, you’d likely pick guys you were worried about to have hot Springs. Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo are scuffling a bit but the vast majority of us believe their numbers will look fine at the end of a 162-game season. But what about the 2021 underachievers? It would be nice to see them show some juice in the bat this year. Let’s check in on those guys.
Francisco Lindor – .474/.500/1.211
James McCann – .400/.400/.600 – only a handful of PA
Jeff McNeil – .278/.364/.444
Dominic Smith – .389/.522/.778
People will rightly point out that that the biggest sample size here is the 22 PA for Lindor. That’s roughly five games of PA. Last year, the best stretch of five games for Lindor came from 9/10-9/14 where in 24 PA he had a 1.601 OPS. So, he’s hotter now than he was in any similar stretch in 2021.
It doesn’t mean anything.
But it sure is fun to see, just like it was fun to see 4.2 scoreless innings for Chris Bassitt in his first Grapefruit League appearance for the Mets. Now for Carlos Carrasco to keep the good vibes for Mets SP going when he makes his Spring debut.
This spring training is too short for the starting pitchers. Starting pitchers need to build up their innings. Maybe the solution is a four man rotation, using Carrasco, Williams and Megill as piggy back pitchers and an early bullpen for the 4th starter. It would only be two or three times in April until the rotation is stretched out. It would save the bullpen in the long-term. They have two off days in their schedule for first two times around the rotation. It would work because the starters would have their usual routine. They can have a ten man bullpen in April which they should utilized also.
Sorry, there is only one off day (not two) in the first twenty games! This will be taxing to the pitching staff. Fifteen pitchers are needed to handle the load.
They just seem and feel like a professional squad this year. The additions of Bassitt. Scherzer. Amd Escobar in particular have made a huge impact in that regard I think. And of course Buck who just seems like he should have been the Mets manager for the last decade. A perfect fit. They ‘ll have fun but They mean business between the lines. No Donnie Stevenson this season.
It feels like a whole new team, and that’s good. At least at this point the Mets are deep in starting pitching. If all arms remain healthy, they will have the luxury of letting the rotation sort out by performance. The top three is probably the best in the game. But if Taijuan can settle in and if Carrasco is just decent, that keeps the arguably-weaker pen on reasonable workload.
Under normal conditions, is it too much to minimally expect:
Jake 15-5
Max 15-5
Bassitt 14-6
Walker 12-9
Carrasco 10-8
That’s 33 games over .500… (100 wins is also 38 games over)
I cant help but wonder if the best off season signing was Buck Showalter. No one in any position above Buck has even half the baseball chops as him. There will not be panic at the first bit of turbulence. Plenty of reports the clubhouse has definitely changed. It needed it. I love the whole attn to detail we are hearing about, even closed back field sessions where they are working on signs. regardless of the scores or production, it looks like the team is playing baseball and getting the work in. I just hope the condensed timing does not lead to a pile of cold season injuries.
It looks like a more professional team.
Nevertheless, theyre still the Mets until on-field things change.
I have the over-under set at 87.5 wins for the season.
I’ll take the over. 93 wins. See you in the Chatter.
Bring on the real games!
One hopeful circumstance toward Mets success this season is that the Braves lost Freeman, and Olsen will have to prove that he can fill his shoes. But with the Mets so strong in RH pitching, who besides Olsen do the Braves have hitting from the left side? Acuna, Albies, Riley, Duvall, Osuna, D’Arnau could be compromised over the 19 games, giving the Mets a chance to do ok head-to-head. Maybe 11-8?
The Phillies are a different story. Harper, Schwarber, Gregorius, can more than threaten the Mets pitching. Wheeler will negate any Mets starter, so I see it as a tossup overall… maybe 11-8 at best.
Marlins play the Mets tough.
Nats can be pesky.
Will be a difficult road to 90 wins. Mets have to prove they can win the low-scoring battles… and that means defense and relief pitching.
Albies also from the left… forgot to mention.
Also, I believe the schedule has changed so there is no long 19 games per division opponent in order to even out who plays who.
Chris, the change will be 2023.
14 intra division = 56
6 intra league = 60
3 inter league. = 42
4 inter rival. = 4
Total. =162
That is a drastic change ! What do you think?
And so it begins.
deGrom scratched from next start for a shoulder MRI.
Im revising my over under to 85.
Chris,, it’s bad then 85 wins is a good number.
If it’s a minor thing, they might have kept it quieter. Gotta think it’s not good. Bummed.
deGrom shut down for 4 weeks after MRI. Then there is a build up to get back to game ready. Expect him to pitch in June at earliest.
I maintain my revised over-under at 85.
That thud I heard today was the collective “crest” we all held landing “fallen” to the ground… deGrom injured before the season even begins. Truly, a cruel turn of events.
Suddenly Max Scherza is not just a sexy statement pickup… he’s absolutely vital. I fear it is too much to put on him, though I know he is supremely confident. Still, a lot of pressure for him on a new team at his age. Billy E. might need to make a move, and I’m not talking about sheer pitching. Any big move right now would give the team a needed jolt, take some of the attention away from who is missing.
But please not Conforto. Wrong message.
Brian, would you share your initial thoughts on the possible trade with the Padres that sends Smith to San Diego and the Mets get Hosmer and two pitchers?
Sorry for the late reply but I’ve been out of town. I see where this trade is no longer being considered. Good!
I wouldn’t have traded Smith straight up for Paddack, much less taken on the second coming of Cano in the overpriced and under-useful Hosmer.
l was also glad to see that they didn’t make that trade. I wonder if they talked to the Padres about building a trade around Smith and Manaea. I know that ship has sailed, but it seems he would have been good insurance for our starting pitchers.
Well, my name’s not Brian, but I originally liked Hosmer about four months ago. Brian disagreed at the time. As the “other” first baseman, I though he greatly improves the defense and is a reliable LH hitter as well. Yes, he’s come down from his peak years, but still plays 150 games a year and hits better than most… .270 BA / .760 OPS. Only a 1.0 WAR?
Causes some roster issues. Alonso becomes a DH more. That frees up JD Davis’ for trades for more pitching. Ultimately, I don’t think Hosmer is worth 10M a year, but I would love having him at 1B… great glove.
Thanks for your thoughts. I always find your comments insightful.
The proposed trade I heard was Smith for Hosmer and Paddock. Hosmer is no longer what he was and I don’t think he adds anything to the team. They have better options at first base and defensively Alonzo’s advanced metrics have been better than Hosmer’s. Basically I see this trade as trading Smith for Paddock and paying $20 million. Paddock had a promising rookie year but was not very good for the past two. I wouldn’t do it.
Not a fan of the reliever swap that the Mets and Yankees did. Last year may have been the best we’re ever going to see from Castro. Still, he seemed like a solid middle reliever as opposed to a nothing-special LOOGY. Somewhere, TC is smiling.
Nimmo scratched form last preseason games with stiff neck.
Nimmo had a 3.6 bWAR with only 386 PA last year and a 4.8 bWAR with only 535 PA in 2018. A healthy leadoff batter should logged at least 625 PA. Nimmo doesn’t stay on the field in his 6 1/2 years. It hurts the Mets. He is good but maybe the Mets should investigate their options in the next off season.
They also should investigate trade options now. He could get a really good starting pitcher in trade. (McNeil RF, Marte CF, Escobar 2B and Davis 3B).
Like I told Chris earlier, this isn’t fair.
2018 is the first time you can view Nimmo as a starter and he certainly didn’t begin the season with that tag. He just hit so well that he earned the playing time. The reason he didn’t play more that year was not because of any health reason – it’s because the organization, despite the alleged interest in OBP, didn’t view him as a starter.
It’s certainly not good that he experienced major injuries in 2 of the past 3 seasons. But that’s the extent of his injuries at the MLB level – not 6.5 years.
You are right but…. in the last three years the Mets were relying on him. Now right, the Mets should not extend him and should see how the season plays out. Then re-evaluate his status in the off-season. It work for the Mets with Conforto. If a Bassitt-like pitcher would be available right now, the Mets should consider Nimmo in a trade. Nimmo he very good but with the deGrom injury the Mets need to bolster the starting pitching now.
The guy needs a better pillow. And they have massage guys to work out those issues. The head first slide into third base did it? And he was out… adding injury to insult.
As baseball games for real are just moments away, the powers that be have put together the “power rankings”, and it is interesting to see how the broader world sees the Mets.
MLB.com power rankings:
Surely there is something wrong with my eyes. I went through the top 5 and didnt see Steve Cohen’s picture, oops I meant Mr Met, anywhere. Is that pollen in my eyes? Then I went to 10 and still didnt see the Mets, although I did see the Yankees at 6. I did see a team at 12 labeled as the Mets, but that cant be right? And the Braves are at 8.
The Athletic power rankings:
Mercifully people that know baseball are involved. So imagine my surprise to see the Braves listed at third, so the Mets must be second behind the Dodgers! Hmm. Like the MLB.com ranking, #2 goes to the Jays. Well at least these guys will have them in the rightful top 5. Scrolling…scrolling…scrolling. Wait, did I miss something. Theres the Yankees at 8 – and theres the Mets behind the Yankees at 9.
Is the world different without orange and blue sunglasses on?