One of the items asked for by readers from our September customer survey was to have things in addition to our regular articles. One of the suggestions was to have interviews with non-team personnel. Below is an email correspondence with longtime reader and occasional writer Chris F. You no doubt recognize the name, as Chris is one of our top commenters. He’s also known as the Mayor of Panic City. Chris likes nothing more than to take my rose-colored glasses off, violently throw them to the ground and then stomp on them. The great thing abut Chris is I can tease him – because I know he can take it. Here’s how Chris answered my questions:
How old are you? Under 25, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55+
55+
Do you live within an hour’s drive of Citi Field?
Not now, not ever
What are your memories of the first Mets game you saw in person, whether Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium or Citi Field?
Well, it’s all pretty hazy. My 1969 WS banner, battered and bruised, and faded has followed me everywhere which I find utter amazing given the fragility it felt and the ease at which they fold and crease, etc. So, I at least started going to Shea in 1970. I think I went to my first games in 1969; however, being quite young at the time, I have no memory. What I remember about those early days for the games included our charter bus pulling into Shea and just being unbelievably blown away at how big it was, how big the city was as a ~10 year old from upstate. I do recall some fear of getting separated and just lost in the sea of humanity! For games, there is no particular recollection aside from the utter joy of going to “helmet day” and “bat day” and of course the cheering. I broke so many of my plastic helmets using them playing catch or whiffle ball, or whatever. There was nothing like unwrapping the clear plastic cover on the helmets and then fixing the internal snap to make it fit. I think I went to Citi Field in 2010, and try to go yearly for a series. It was a shocking disappointment the first time when it was so “un-Mets” early on. Since then, the stadium has earned a history and become a much more Mets home. I’ll never forget going for the ‘69 WS reunion. They had the team come parade into the stadium in 1960s convertible cars creeping along the road and going into the player entrance. It was awesome.
For many years as a small kid, I called it “Shake Stadium” because of the loudness and the ways the stands used to shake! I felt like such a dope when I realized in the later 70s it was Shea Stadium.
Also, I remember the old panels that were on the original stadium. I loved those!
How did you get involved with Mets360?
I was looking to converse more about Mets stuff online and must have searched it out. I remember lurking for some time before posting. I’d guess 10 or more years ago now.
Pete Alonso is one of your favorite Mets, one you’ve pushed for the club to sign long-term for several years now. Do you think they missed the boat on that or is there still time to lock him up for a bit cheaper?
I guess my answer is both! The closer Pete gets to free agency the curve logarithmically goes against a long-term signing for his services. Pete loves this team and is clearly a leader. He loves the fans who love him back. He’s a free agent in 2025. I’d say now is exactly the time to fix this wrong before it’s impossible. It’s past the Braves style, but still possible. I think if you structured a 10 year @ 25M$ per year deal and said here’s a cool $250M, set for life, Met for life, and you and Lindor will be the face of this franchise – ya know it’s worth a shot IMO.
Alonso had a great year with 40 HR and 131 RBIs. But in fWAR, he was only the 3rd-best 1B in the majors, with his 4.1 trailing the 7.1 of Paul Goldschmidt and Freddie Freeman. How does Alonso get into their territory and does that impact your desire to hand him a multi-year deal?
So, my feeling is less about is he a tad behind Goldy or Freeman and more like how far ahead of everyone else. He’s performed in NY – and thrived here. From the get go, Pete has laid down prolific power numbers and been consistent like all get out and not a dip in sight. He’s also not a BABIP-controlled hitter. It’s a bit unfair to compare Pete with Freeman, a clear living candidate for the Hall, but of you compare the first four years of play, Pete is ahead of Freeman. Goldschmidt is even another level – and for sure a playing Hall of Famer. I think Pete is the perfect person to sign. He’s a proven winner. After Nimmo, I’d prioritize Pete ahead of deGrom.
On the other side of the coin, Daniel Vogelbach was a player who frustrated you constantly. Is there any way he can get in your good graces? His .393 OBP was the highest on the club for anyone who had more than 2 PA – did the Mets misuse him batting him 5th?
I don’t see Vogelbach as a Post-season talent. I guess he was better than what we had going, but that’s saying minimal. If you are going to be serious at DH, then you have to have prolific offense given the one-dimensional nature of DH. I view Vogelbach as a trade piece and further will say if he is on the team for opening day as the starting DH, the team is already in trouble. Let’s look at someone really who I think the Mets should sign, and that is Jose Abreu, who has performed as a first baseman and would make a perfect DH at age 35, and whip could perfectly spell Pete for days off. I can’t remember who mentioned in the comments, but Vogelbach’s WPA is quite low given his OPS. I just see him has an accumulator of numbers but little impact on games. He’s be great on a lovable loser type squad, but he’s not the answer for a full time DH. I want outstanding offensive power, and that’s a guy like Abreu.
You’ve been pretty vocal about this not being a team that can win the World Series. But it’s also a team that starts with eight players who turned in a 2.3 fWAR or better last year, even with all of the impending free agents. If you were Billy Eppler, what’s your highest priority and the first thing you look to do this offseason?
This is the classic departure between aggregated numbers and granularity of the post season. You probably will be surprised by my answer, but I’ve come a long way on this player, and that’s Brandon Nimmo. He plays a critical position and is a confirmed producer in NY.
For years, you lamented the Mets’ propensity to play guys out of position to get their bat in the lineup. How do you handle Luis Guillorme, a strong defensive player, who showed some ability with the bat in the first half before injuries hit him? Do you believe in the bat enough to try to get him 500 or more PA next year?
He’s “rent controlled” and has value, but he’s a 100% bench guy. His bat is not enough to make him an every day starter. I would not like him to get more that 250 PA. I see 500+ PA for Guillorme as surrendering the division. In fact, in the offseason I would sit him down and have him work with someone to turn him into a premier bunter. He has terrific hand-eye skills and bat control. Groundout Guillorme is not worth swinging away.
*****
Thanks to Chris for answering these questions! Next up in this series will be David Groveman.
I have questions too that go through my head and I would like to know:
Chris, why do you feel a low average high strikeout first baseman should be signed to a 10 year deal at 28 years old? I could live with five, but ten years at the easiest position to fill? Remember Chris Davis?
Chris, how do you account for Abreu’s loss of power this year? Could his bat be slowing down at 35?
Chris, do you think Vogelbach can be remade as a player – losing 50-60 pounds and getting rid of that severe uppercut swing? Would you give him another chance if he did that?
Both of you, do you think Dom Smith and Luis Guillorme have trade value, even a little?
If the Mets returned the same exact starting rotation, would you be ok with that?
He’d be nuts to sign for 5 years right now, placing him in Jakes world for FA at the decline. Maybe you go 8 years, but I’d cover the time and not take an opt-out clause.
Yeah the HR down for sure, but he hot a lot of doubles and still sporting a 133 OPS+. Add to this, he’s done it every year. Track record of genuine success. He’s the perfect mostly DH occasional 1b to partner with Pete as a en every day 1b and occasional DH.
Vogelbach is a DH for a team like the Marlins. I dont see him as a difference maker come October. I dont want to hold up a roster position for a half-time DH who cannot be useful otherwise.
Smith has little trade value, but Im sure he’ll be traded for a bag of balls – and not surprised if he even turns out to be an ok major leaguer, just not on the Mets. Guillorme def has trade value, but the bat is so profoundly weak that it will limit a fielding only type infielder. He reminds me of Andrelton Simmons. I would much rather turn him into our SU infielder and on-demand sac bunt/squeeze play guy. That would be a valuable person for the team.
Same rotation? No.
I thought the panels on the outside of Shea were great, too!
Read once that it was some kind of nod to the space program. I never made that connection. To me it was stadium-sized confetti – indicative of the celebration that was bound to happen inside the park.