Well, fellow Met fans, it's mid-August and our team is on the cusp of once-again being rendered irrelevant - at least going by traditional standings, with a sub .500 record and major injuries once again having played a huge role in the team's downward trend. However, there IS, indeed, something special about this team, something that hasn't been in evidence since, well, possibly, the 2000 season: GRIT! (No, Charlie Samuels hasn't grabbed soiled, gritty uniforms to sell yet again- think MOXIE!!) Led by manager Terry Collins, a choice that most fans revolted strongly against (you know who you are), this team doesn't quit, doesn't back down, and leaves everything they have on the field, each and every day. This "grit" is not just in evidence on the field - it trickles - no, strike that- it erupts outwardly from the baseball operations team on out, a tribute to the team's reorganization led by General Manager, Sandy Alderson.
There's no need to list the many ways that this team, this organization, is different from those of recent vintage- after all, the season is almost over, and we've all probably read more words about baseball then we'd care to remember. What this time of year DOES bring is three-fold; first, the August 31st Waiver Deadline is a little over 2 weeks away, and it will be interesting to see if Alderson & company are buyers, sellers, or not involved. If they are "buyers' then perhaps a valuable piece for the bullpen can be acquired as part of a cash-dump; if they're "sellers" then there are a few assets that a contending team might want, but I can't see that we'd be able to gain anything useful in the way of players back, so it would signify a minor salary-dump; if they do nothing, then it simply means that there was nothing positive to be gained. We have to give "Team Sandy" great leeway here, as their decent success in the Rule V Draft brought Beato for practically nothing (as well as a good look at a potential bat/second baseman in Emaus) and their aggressive stance in this years recent Amateur Draft (which we'll discuss shortly) provides an excellent insight into their long-range plans. (As I began writing this post, Buster Olney of ESPN reported that Met starter Chris Capuano has cleared waivers and is eligible to be traded.)
Second, the September call-ups are practically packing their bags and headed for "the show" - and that group is rumored to include pitchers Chris Schwinden, Robert Carson and Josh Stinson; catcher Mike Nickeas; infielders Josh Satin (he of the super-hot offensive hand) and Zach Lutz (a perfect Met, seeing as how he is injured all the time, much like Satin); and outfielder Fernando Martinez (who??? - LOL). Personally, I'm really rooting for Satin to get some at-bats in the Bigs, as I think his bat is major league-ready and he can possibly convince some organization (hopefully the Mets) that he is ready for his shot!! This is a very interesting crop of players, as Schwinden & Carson may prove to be valuable additions to an already over-taxed bullpen, and Satin and Lutz could become valuable pinch-hitters. At least this batch of call-ups includes some players who may be of value to the organization either in the form of depth at the big-league level or potential additions to off-season trades. What I like BEST about this group of call-ups is that none of their young players are being promoted to the bigs prior to being ready, just for PR-sake (think Familia or Harvey).
Third, and finally, tomorrow marks the deadline to sign your June Amateur Draft Selections and the Mets, like most teams currently,have yet to ink top pick, Brandon Nimmo. We've all heard the $2.5 million number that's been thrown around, and that amount would make sense considering the position Nimmo was drafted in as well as his recent comparisons to everyone from Von Hayes to Bryce Harper. Of course, being that this was Alderson's first draft, there is NO way that they fail to sign Nimmo, so I an not worried about the inevitability of the signing- UI just wish that they had signed him sooner so that we could have seen him in action before the season ended.
So, Met fans, although our major league season seems to be winding down with more of a whimper and less of a bang, I remain excited about the great things that the baseball ops team is doing, and remember one thing- the last 2 times a New York took the recommendation of their leagues' commissioner and hired someone from their offices, the Giants (NFL) wound up with George Young and a Super Bowl and the Mets wound up with Frank Cashen & a World Series...just some great food for thought!!!
There's no need to list the many ways that this team, this organization, is different from those of recent vintage- after all, the season is almost over, and we've all probably read more words about baseball then we'd care to remember. What this time of year DOES bring is three-fold; first, the August 31st Waiver Deadline is a little over 2 weeks away, and it will be interesting to see if Alderson & company are buyers, sellers, or not involved. If they are "buyers' then perhaps a valuable piece for the bullpen can be acquired as part of a cash-dump; if they're "sellers" then there are a few assets that a contending team might want, but I can't see that we'd be able to gain anything useful in the way of players back, so it would signify a minor salary-dump; if they do nothing, then it simply means that there was nothing positive to be gained. We have to give "Team Sandy" great leeway here, as their decent success in the Rule V Draft brought Beato for practically nothing (as well as a good look at a potential bat/second baseman in Emaus) and their aggressive stance in this years recent Amateur Draft (which we'll discuss shortly) provides an excellent insight into their long-range plans. (As I began writing this post, Buster Olney of ESPN reported that Met starter Chris Capuano has cleared waivers and is eligible to be traded.)
Second, the September call-ups are practically packing their bags and headed for "the show" - and that group is rumored to include pitchers Chris Schwinden, Robert Carson and Josh Stinson; catcher Mike Nickeas; infielders Josh Satin (he of the super-hot offensive hand) and Zach Lutz (a perfect Met, seeing as how he is injured all the time, much like Satin); and outfielder Fernando Martinez (who??? - LOL). Personally, I'm really rooting for Satin to get some at-bats in the Bigs, as I think his bat is major league-ready and he can possibly convince some organization (hopefully the Mets) that he is ready for his shot!! This is a very interesting crop of players, as Schwinden & Carson may prove to be valuable additions to an already over-taxed bullpen, and Satin and Lutz could become valuable pinch-hitters. At least this batch of call-ups includes some players who may be of value to the organization either in the form of depth at the big-league level or potential additions to off-season trades. What I like BEST about this group of call-ups is that none of their young players are being promoted to the bigs prior to being ready, just for PR-sake (think Familia or Harvey).Third, and finally, tomorrow marks the deadline to sign your June Amateur Draft Selections and the Mets, like most teams currently,have yet to ink top pick, Brandon Nimmo. We've all heard the $2.5 million number that's been thrown around, and that amount would make sense considering the position Nimmo was drafted in as well as his recent comparisons to everyone from Von Hayes to Bryce Harper. Of course, being that this was Alderson's first draft, there is NO way that they fail to sign Nimmo, so I an not worried about the inevitability of the signing- UI just wish that they had signed him sooner so that we could have seen him in action before the season ended.
So, Met fans, although our major league season seems to be winding down with more of a whimper and less of a bang, I remain excited about the great things that the baseball ops team is doing, and remember one thing- the last 2 times a New York took the recommendation of their leagues' commissioner and hired someone from their offices, the Giants (NFL) wound up with George Young and a Super Bowl and the Mets wound up with Frank Cashen & a World Series...just some great food for thought!!!
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