7/7/16

Manure-For-Brains Manager Smells Like a Rose

In what universe do you take a guy who's hit 4 home runs in the past 4 days and .315 since the beginning of June and decide, "Hey, the best way to try to win is to glue his butt to the bench!"?

Of course, Wilmer Flores saves his sorry ass by smacking a 3-run homer that helped win the game from the bench.  Imagine what he might have done had he gotten up to bat more often, but no...that made way too much sense.

Had Wilmer not hit that HR you can bet everyone would be crucifying the silver haired simpleton in the morning papers...the man must have found his lucky rabbit's foot when bending over to pluck his four leaf clover.  Tell him to buy a lottery ticket...he's the luckiest SOB in town.  

17 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Amen to that. A week ago, no one hitting. Now everyone, including 5he "new guy", is. Quite the dilemma.

Hobie said...

For all of TC's many faults, getting a .357/.448/.662 (1.110) slash from 5 guys in 4 positions over 79 AB's since Sunday is pretty far down the list IMO.

And. yes, Wilmer's 1.826 OPS is the engine there.

Sorry, Reese, but there's more reasoned analysis in a typical Facebook post.

Reese Kaplan said...

Oh, I know it is not up to my usual standards, but I was angry from the moment the lineups were posted and then when Flores got his dinger I couldn't help thinking that TC's the Teflon Don...but my point is valid that had Flores not bailed him out he'd have been lambasted today.

That Adam Smith said...

It's pretty clear to me that TC doesn't particularly like Flores (whether that's personally or as a player). He views him as strictly a RH platoon bat. It'll be interesting to see how many Starts Wilmer gets against RHP down the stretch. Meanwhile, Curtis is proving me wrong, he's apparently not dead yet. And what can you say about Cespedes?

Also, I'm not sure what we're going to get out of the SP#5 slot, but at least (assuming he gets the surgery) we have some resolution to the Matt Harvey dilemma. I don't think there are a lot of great in house options, pending Wheeler's possible return. If he wasn't so desperately needed in the bullpen, I'd think hard about looking at Robles as a fill in starter. He's actually looked very good in a couple of extended relief outings recently.

Final note... Amed is up to .424 and added another triple last night. The hot streak is starting to get long.

IB said...

Great game last night. The slide rule is a mess.

On another subject:

If I remember correctly there were questions about Cabrera's recent defensive numbers coming into the season. Stats lie or, at least, don't tell the truth. This guy is smooth as silk out there. Every ball hit to him I know he'll field cleanly and throw a strike to 1st base. A huge relief after some of the guys we've had on the left side.

Tom Brennan said...

Adam what about Robles to rotation and Lugo to pen? Worth a try?

Maybe Luis Mateo could be a pen arm soon, but they need to get him (and/or Beck Wheeler) to AAA. Guys who are faltering in AAA, even Montero, should go to AA from AAA pitchers' hell for a breather.

Meanwhile, I would put Cecchini in the Vegas OF ASAP, get him to learn to play there, and promote Rosario (.424 in 60 AA at bats) to play SS in AAA, and also promote Dom Smith and release 1B Marc Krauss, who is hitting .225 on a team that is hitting .295. Push the studs up. Forget their age.

Hobie said...

Giving Cecchini some Feps isn't a bad idea--nor is pushing Amed.

I'd leave D.Smith where he is, however. How about some reps for Conforto and/or "Tyrone" at 1B in LV?

Reese Kaplan said...

Taijeron is a plus outfielder but that's not helping him either. Having him learn to play 1B might help in the event Duda becomes another Wright in terms of prolonged injury issues that linger from season to season. Loney's not the long term answer.

Tom Brennan said...

Man, Reese, I wish Taijeron could lower his K rate. he is otherwise really intriguing and first base would be something he should start ASAP. release Krauss and put Travis at 1B in Vegas.

Loney is clearly better than TJ Rivera - Loney has already "been there, does that."

Hobie, I think Conforto at 1B is another great option - frankly, and I have supported Duda a lot over the past few years on Macks Mets, but Duda MUST be traded.

And Wright should retire - see how this team is already falling into place without him, and with more durable guys? His time is really past, unless he goes somewhere warm to DH in AL. $$$ is what complicates that.

Reese Kaplan said...

I wonder with Taijeron if the K issue is about missing the good pitches or flailing at bad ones? If it's the former, then he's not likely to improve in the majors where there are more good pitchers. However, if it's the latter, patience and discipline can be taught. OTOH, consider the career of the incument right fielder who struck out at a rate as high as 32% of the time. Taijeron is at 37%. Regardless of the reason, when he comes to the major's I'd initially expect that rate to get worse before it gets better. Now you're into Kirk Nieuwenhuis/Anthony Recker territory. The difference is Taijeron also hit for a high average. At his advanced age I wouldn't bank on any major impact but he could certainly be a bench option (better than De Aza).

Tom Brennan said...

Like to think so with Taijeron. His ratio of an extra base hit every 8 at bats for his career is impressive

Tom Brennan said...

On the subject of Taijeron, a major league comp could be Chris Davis, enormous power but hitting about .230 the past 3 years with a stunning 500 Ks in his past 360 games. Is there really no comparison there? Davis much better? Any thoughts?

Tom Brennan said...

Just to add a little more to the Taijeron analysis, he was .366/.426/.634 in nearly 50 spring training plate appearances.

Unknown said...

Then he follows that up by not starting him AGAIN! I also wonder who takes the heat in the FO for letting Murph go because right now he's the difference between us and the Nats and how wonderful when he wins the batting crown it's like facing Chipper friggin Jones again and we gave him to our rival.

eraff said...

1 Pitcher goes to Surgery...your offensive cornerstone has a leg injury.... the prospective allstar starter has an arm problem in addition to his bone spur...your Rookie lefty has a bone spur too...

...and you guys are trying to figure out how to sell 1st baseman's gloves to Taijeron and Conforto, while playing Chichinni in the OF....!!!!..

...and You say THE MANAGER has Manure for Brains?

Tom Brennan said...

Gary, I wanted Murphy kept badly, with Duda traded, and wrote it right on this website. I believe mets folks read all of these things, so the idea was out there. They chose the wrong path, with huge downside. If They do what I said, Mets are up at least 5 games right now.

Tom Brennan said...

Gary, I wanted Murphy kept badly, with Duda traded, and wrote it right on this website. I believe mets folks read all of these things, so the idea was out there. They chose the wrong path, with huge downside. If They do what I said, Mets are up at least 5 games right now.