Tom Brennan - THE REST OF 2017

Tom Brennan - THE REST OF 2017

The Mets have dumped on their 2017 season so far, due to just way, way too many lengthy injuries, and now they have dumped 4 major Mets hombres in the past few weeks:

1) Lucas Duda - I always felt he could be better than he was, but he wasn't bad, and if not for the elbow injury this season, likely would have been close to Jay Bruce numbers.

2) Addison Reed - two wonderful seasons - you can stop back if you like, Mr. Reed.

3) Jay Bruce - hated him this time last year.  Then I loved his play in 2017.  Back in 2018?  Whaddya say, Jay?

4) Neil Walker - he had to go and pull his hammy after 6 very hot (Daniel Murphy hot) weeks.  Very good when healthy.  Maybe our 2018 third baseman?

Beyond those 4, I still think another team will swoop in and nab Grandy (getting $100,000 cheaper by the day) and perhaps Cabrera (a quality bat and reasonably versatile).  Perhaps save another several million smackers there.  Grandy has to be attractive, since he has had about a .385 on base % after his miserable April and 16 homers in 260 at bats, and has successfully experienced lots of playoff pressure (51 games, .339 OB%, .459 slug %).  Attractive.

Only one major leaguer came to the Mets in another deal - AJ Ramos.  We lost Merandy Gonzalez, and while he has allowed just 3 runs in 14 innings since the trade, his 7 Ks continues a trend of lower strikeouts in High A ball (just 31 in 50 innings), so I wonder if he will experience headwinds in AA, AAA, and eventually the majors if he is not missing enough bats in A ball now.  Another Gabe Ynoa? 

Ricky Cespedes, the second player traded to the Marlins, is off to a poor start for the Marlins minors since the trade.  So I rate the Ramos trade GOOD.  We, after all, need a strong pen in 2018 to support what could be a suspect starting rotation.

So - if Grandy and Cabrera both leave and the 4 departed turn into the 6 departed, there will be plenty of playing time for Brandon Nimmo and Flying Juan Lagares in the outfield to either up their trade value or get them more ready for 2018, most likely as reserve outfielders.  Maybe the Mets will do a decent thing and promote Travis Taijeron and his 351 extra base hit bat to the majors in September for at least a cup of coffee.

& will Cespedes finish 2017 like a beast? Conforto hit 35?

Infield-wise, we'll get to see lots and lots of Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith, and that is good (always fun to follow quality rooks when they debut); also by September 1 should get to see more as to what Gavin Cecchini and Matt Reynolds can do with more consistent playing time. 

Gavin is hitting mid-.290's in 39 games since the start of July, and hence seems to be coming around (and is still only 23), and Matt has hit well in Vegas (.325/.396/.500 in 31 games), and perhaps with more MLB playing time over the next several weeks will show us more...one of those 2 ought to be a 2018 utility player...either would have to show an awful lot to be considered for a 2B starting slot.

Catching-wise, we know what Rene Rivera can do, so let's sit him and call up Kevin Plawecki on September 1 and have him split time with Travis d'Arnaud all September.

K Plaw has failed his Mets hitting auditions so far, but his .329/.379/.531 in 61 AAA games is indicative of a possibly very much improved bat arriving back in Queens in September.

Pitching-wise, it's good to see Kevin McGowan get called up.  5-1, 2.35 in 84 innings in 2016, and 5-4, 4.06 for Vegas in 2017, with nearly a K per inning over 2016 and 2017.  4.06 in Vegas is medal-worthy.  Perhaps he can be a serviceable Mets pen arm in 2018. 

Besides him, it is great to see Chris Flexen getting lots of opportunity to start after his promo from AA, and perhaps Corey Oswalt will get a chance too, in September, given his fine season in AA (especially when you overlook his first few shaky starts of 2017). 

Lefty Kyle Regnault has had a very solid relief year in AA (15 IP, 2-0, 1.17 ERA) and AAA (3-0, 3.41 in 37 IP) with 54 Ks in 52 innings - why can't he in September replace Josh Edgin as the Mets' lefty back up to Jerry Blevins.  I also look forward to seeing how Paul Sewald finishes a very solid rookie season.

Of course, we should be getting back Harvey, Thor, Familia, and Wheeler over the last 7 weeks of 2017, which should give us either great hope for 2018 (esp. Thor and Familia) or a chance to objectively evaluate further in 2017 their potential for usefulness in 2018 (Harvey, Wheeler).  I personally am not a fan of Wheeler, just saying.

And will we see some "bid thee adieu" pinch hitting appearances by David Wright?  Bring your Kleenex.

And at this point, it would take a miracle, but do we see Tim Tebow in September?  Tebow, by the way, turned 30 yesterday and was on base 3 times.  That, though, was on a night where St Lucie had 18 hits and 10 walks, so it appears all of them celebrated.

2017 should still be interesting in its own way...

just not "playoffs interesting".