I’m pressed for time today so here are some random thoughts about the Mets and the Mets blogosphere.
Everyone made such a big deal out of the results of the Mets’ SP and now that Max Scherzer is out for a bit, those same people want to trade for a playoff SP. Meanwhile, David Peterson and Trevor Williams have combined for a 2.91 ERA in 34 IP, one that high only because of the start where Williams was set up to fail, where he allowed 4 ER in 2 IP. Take that away and they’ve combined for a 2.53 ERA. They’re not that good but they should keep the Mets in the game more often than not when they take the ball. That’s enough for right now.
The Mets are ninth in MLB with a 4.6 runs-per-game average. Since May 1, they have a 4.8 rpg and against teams with a .500 or better record, they also have a 4.8 rpg. And this is with bottom-third production from the catching and third base spots, below average production from RF, rotten production at DH when Pete Alonso isn’t playing there and a SS who’s been lousy since the first two weeks of the season.
Was just over at SNY and someone left a comment that Tommy Hunter should be considered an option to start for the Mets while Scherzer’s out. Hunter does have 76 starts in his career but only one since 2013 and that came last year when the Mets used him as an opener. And for the cherry on top, the manager who converted him to the pen – Buck Showalter. Really don’t miss dumb comments like this since Mets360 became a pay site.
Year after year I’m amazed that more people here don’t take advantage of the Game Chatters. It’s one thing if you live out of state and can’t see the games on a daily basis. But even then, you should visit when the game’s broadcast on a national outlet. No one is obligated to stay the whole time. Ideally, we’d have enough people participating that if five people stepped away, it would still contain a lively back-and-forth dialogue by those remaining. It’s a fun way to watch the game and you’ll definitely learn more about the personalities who comment at the site. And likely learn something about baseball and the Mets, too.
The Mets are third in MLB in runs with RISP. Just imagine how productive they would be if they weren’t tied for 18th in HR in this split. The team is also doing okay with the bases loaded, being middle of the pack with their 12th-place ranking in runs with the sacks full. In previous years, the Mets didn’t hit at all in this split. Their one saving grace was drawing a lot of walks. But this year, the Mets have just 1 BB in 34 PA with the bases juiced.
So far in May, the Mets have played 18 games. J.D. Davis has 10 starts and Dominic Smith has eight. Neither has hit well with this part-time approach, as Davis has a .460 OPS in May and Smith has a .619 mark. My continued hope is that Showalter will pick one of them and give them the vast majority of PA for an extended stretch and see if regular playing time can get them untracked. What he’s doing now isn’t working.
Still waiting for FanGraphs to publish its article on the Mets top prospects. They’ve released 22 teams so far. They’ve done the entire AL East and NL West, four of the five teams in the AL and NL Central and three teams in the AL West. And just one team in the NL East. That’s as haphazard as the MLB schedule, which has the Mets done for the year against both the Cardinals and Diamondbacks, while they’ve yet to play a game against the Marlins.
After his outstanding first seven games of the year, it’s been tough sledding for Francisco Alvarez. In his last 100 PA, the team’s top prospect has a .218/.300/.276 line. Despite last night’s 0-4, Alvarez has been hitting better lately. He has four multi-hit games in his last six contests. But he has just one extra-base hit, a double, in 27 PA in this span.
In the last two days, Mets broadcasters have spent some time talking about the poor weather that will greet the team in Denver this weekend. Very warm before they came and nice after they leave. But tonight’s game in jeopardy of being snowed out. The Mets were snowed out of a game in Denver last year, too. They played a doubleheader the next day and the starters were Jacob deGrom and Joey Lucchesi. Oh well…
A nice grab bag of comments, Brian. As usual I agree with almost all sentiments expressed. Curiously, I didn’t panic when Max went down…. while I am sad that he won’t come up every fifth day, I feel the team could coalesce around the hole in the rotation and fairly well plug it… but gotta get Megill back at 100%.
We will miss the swagger that Max gives, and we surely hope it does not signal a pattern of fragility to his late-thirties body. Two injuries now amidst seven starts? If the Mets do opt for a trade, I would not want some middlin’ guy to offer hit and miss starts, but rather a stud guy who would provide a veritable murderers row… like a G.Marquez or a J. Means. Would also likely cost us JD, Dom, maybe Taijuan, and several prospects… Megill is untouchable.
I saw this morning that the Nats could trade Juan Soto before they lose him to FA. No doubt the Yankees would go all out. Dodgers too. And why not? The best pure hitter in the game and 24 years old? Rue the day he winds up in the Bronx…
Wondering how the “Marte for Leadoff” Committee is doing these days?
I agree that losing Max is not a cause for panic, but the piling up of double headers will be a significant challenge.
I was the chairman of that committee when the Marte trade was first announced. I was sure he was the best leadoff hitter and that Nimmo was the perfect #2. While not totally convinced that I was wrong, I have come to see that Marte is a free-swinger, often making contact on the first pitch and perhaps not as ideal to lead off. Still, too bad Nimmo might be the best #2 hitter on the team, and the best #3 for that matter. Love that Nimmo forces pitcher to throw more pitches than he wants to throw…
I believe Marte will still improve at the plate. He hit a ton of balls on the nose but was often unlucky. Those things have to even out. I have been impressed with his bat-to-ball skills overall. Mets have to be happy they have him… he provides various ways to win games.
Nimmo, of course, is growing into a huge asset. Maybe an All-Star, but certainly close to the team MVP. Far fewer bad ABs, fewer overall strikeouts, and hitting LHers at a relaxed and confident clip. He’s just starting his prime… Mets need to lock him down.
I was thinking about the impact of losing Scherzer. If he’s out 8 weeks that should be around 50 games for the team and 10 starts for him. If we assume the Mets would go 7-3 in those starts (8-2 if we are optimistic) and the replacement starter (Peterson/Williams) could give us 5-5 then we would lose 2-3 more games by losing Max which doesn’t sound too bad. I could live with that. On the other hand, is there a trickle down effect of losing him? Do others pitch better with Max in the rotation (is his pitching contagious?) or do they step up further in his absence?
I have been a Mets fan for over 50 years. I have enjoyed the game my whole life. I get it about all of the data and analytics. But to me, the game is more about emotion and not science. So, yes I want the Mets to win the World Series. So rather than thinking about the data of other pitchers, I feel no deGrom and no Scherzer for two months. So yes, my emotion comes out and I would love to add another starter. What is cool about baseball is yes, the data may point to us being ok with pitching until August, but the truth is, no matter what we do, we just won’t know until the games are played. That’s the fun of it.
I feel MLB should start asking teams to negotiate retractable roof stadiums going forward. There aren’t too many, but there should be. That $100+ ticket per seat needs it in April and November in some areas.
Eppler is a good job obtaining Scherzer and Bassitt in the off season and maintaining three depth starters in Megill, Williams and Peterson. The trio are good enough the pitch in the rotation of the majority of the teams in MLB. Szapucki and Butto are there in the minors for an emergency start. Cahill should only minor league depth. Medina should be brought up to be the long man in the bullpen. This is sufficient but not an ideal fixed but they shouldn’t trade assets for a starting pitcher just yet.
The Chatter is a good time voice to your opinion and engaged conversations with knowledgeable fans. Of course, we also are rooting the Mets during the game. It’s fun.
Davis and Smith are disappointing. They are running out of time. Guillorme deserved more playing time and maybe also Mazeika . At least until they are staying productive.
I remember suggesting that Max and Jake would each go 15-5 conservatively, putting the Mets 20 games over .500. Now, Max might get to 10 wins, and Jake probably won’t. Still the Mets hold the largest lead in the majors, and they are the kind of team that finds a way to win…
That said, the loss of their two stoppers means a longer slump is now more likely than it was before, and that’s really the only way to lose a good lead i the standings. So the Braves and Phillies see more hope than they did a week ago.