Good morning.
Michael Conforto:
We can win without big-name additions –
"I think we have a great team, I think we have great players,"
Conforto said. "I think last year, without making excuses, it's tough to
have a great year with all of the injuries that we had. That's on us for not
being healthy. I think if we do stay healthy we'll be just fine."
Conforto and I are on the same page here.
I would love a big bat, or two, but (as I have
said over and over) if you build this team around quality, healthy pitching
that can produce an ERA under 3.50… and quality defensive in the middle of the
field… you will win anywhere from 15-20 more games than you did in 2017.
On Dec. 10, 1984 -- 33 years ago today – Gary Carter began the next phase of his career when
Montreal traded him to the Mets for a quartet of players (Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham and Floyd Youmans). It was a big get for the Mets, who
leapt from 68 wins in 1983 to 90 in 1984 behind a couple of young studs named Dwight Gooden and Darryl
Strawberry. Now New York had its eyes on the postseason, and picking up
a star like Carter was a big step toward making that happen.
You could say that the addition of a sluggers
(Cespedes), to join a couple of young studs (deGrom, Syndergaard) began the emergence
of a new World Series bound Mets… until the injuries set in.
Looking forward, the Crew will only be getting better as the
years pass. Having Matz for years to come will be a great anchor to the
rotation. It will be nice not having to worry about finding a solid lefty to
solidify the rotation.
Here’s the deal…
Counting 2018, Matz has four more team controlled
years. I want the same in return, thus, my target player would be:
2B/3B Hernan Perez – 26/yrs – 2017/MLB: 432/AB, .259. 14-HR
They already have 3B/1B Travis Shaw (.273, 31-HR, 101-RBI)
Jack and I follow each
other on Twitter. I’m thrilled for him.
Joyful Collector Recovers His
Long-Lost Baseball
Autograph Albums And Boyhood –
Mead was stunned. “I almost fell out of my chair,” he told
me. “I thought these things had disappeared 55 years ago.”
15 comments:
May Jake and Thor someday join Jack in the Hall.
Concerto may be right, but I still dream of an outfield of Stanton, Cespedes and Conforto. THAT outfield would have been unreal. Yanks will live the dream.
If, if, if, if....
What would make anyone think that this coming year would be any different in terms of injuries for the NY Met pitching staff?
Wheeler, Matz, & Harvey have more years of injury history than healthy.
DeGrom has had his own flare-ups (that he has bounced back from) during the past 2 seasons.
And Syndergaard has shown no signs yet that he has recovered to past performance levels since his injury last season (that actually began the previous season)
I'm with Michael & you, Mack. I root for my guys and don't drool much over the cattle in the other pasture. EVERYTHING depends on a healthy pitching staff. I look forward to the maturation of Rosario, Dom & Nimmo (who with Legares should play 6/10 with Yo & Michael seeing 9/10) I'll live with Cabrera at 3B until something else happens (a miraculous bath at Lourdes for David?). Next year I'll be on the Machado bandwagon--maybe, (if Thompson goes all TJR in LV, screw him).
It's not a prognostication, I don't have those powers--it's called rooting. I remember rooting Gil out of his '53 slump, I don't remember demanding or screaming for his trade/release.
Tinker with the pen--fine. Maybe Bashlor, Uceta, Molina, Drew, Batista, et. al catch MLB fire...I'm rooting for them too. I don't fantasize about a Harper, Trout, Stanton OF...oh wait, they're not all Yankees (yet).
Have you guys read the Mark Carig opinion editorial in Newsday today ? It’s a fair & accurate synopsis on the offseason so far https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-jeff-wilpon-1.15485312
It is interesting that I woke up with mucho notifications from some of my Twitter followers that Marc Carig of Newsday had a blistering story this morning against the Wilpons and their lack of respect for the fans.
I have been leading a mini-revolt on Twitter, reminding my 700+ Mets followers that the only way they can truly get the Wilpons to think about selling is to hurt them in their purses... no parking fees... no food at food vendors... mo new merchandise... and definitely, no ticket to games.
I also ask for them to copy all their protest posts to beat reorters like Carig to carry the torch.
Interesting timing.
Ed just posted up the link
Imagine this scenario. The Mets, exactly as they were going into this offseason, with exactly the same financial resources, but instead of the Wilpons and Sandy at the helm, we had Yankee ownership and Cashman.
We all know the results would be a whole lot bolder. We all know it. Boycott.
BTW, Hubie Brooks was quite good for the Expos, so the Expos did OK in the Carter trade.
Hubie hit .280 for them in a little over 2400 at bats with a fine 390 RBIs. I'd sure take that level of production at 3B right now.
But without Carter, we do not win in 1986. so we came out ahead.
And imagine your scenario, Tom, with Jeter's group as our owners. Bye Bye anyone making decent money or Arbi-eligible.
I drive a nice Impala (Mets blue, of course) which I'm very happy with. Why should I feel bad/jealous of my neighbors who have a Cadillac or Lexus?
I agree with Hobie, and I also remember Hodges in 1953. This is the same team that was rated as WS material by many "experts" at the start of last season. Given good health, I see no reason why we can't be that team again.
Mack-
On the one hand, you agree with Conforto that we don't have to run into the wild FA market to sign high priced big bats - while on the other hand, you disparage the Wilpons for a "lack of respect for their fans" although it sounds a lot like the frustration all of us feel for Alderson's lack of action, which is nothing more than the patience that he always exhibits and which has paid off for him in the past.
I don't see other owners issuing press releases about what their payroll plans are for next season, except for those that have stated publicly that they must get under the $197 million limit. It seems like each team quietly goes about their business adding to their rosters, and that's what the Mets are doing, albeit slower than many other teams. But that is their modus operandi. Last year Sandy talked about a limit on payroll and then blew right through it when the opportunity to sign Cespedes arose.
About Carig's article, he was talking to a guy in the Marketing Department, who Jeff always passes his emails to, and who is always tight lipped. I have had the same experience more than once. He shouldn't be drawing his conclusions based on that conversation. He should be talking to Alderson. Listen, I am frustrated too. But to think that anything at all is going to get the Wilpons to think of selling is, IMO, folly. They are here to stay, so as Mets fans, we have to make the best of it.
Hey Bill, I drive blue, too - a Passat. Nice car.
The Jeter comparison falls short in one sense - he is facing a far different challenge than the Mets organization does. The Marlins won more games in 2017 AND had Stanton, Ozuna, and Yelich to appreciate - yet drew 800,000+ fewer fans. Had the Marlins team and Stanton played in Queens instead in 2017, it more likely turns into a 1.2 million fan difference. A high salary team just does not work in Miami, so Jeter's approach is painful but right for that locale.
I reserve judgment going into 2018, and maybe I will be smiling when pitchers and catchers start - but past history makes me believe it will be a team that will need almost everything to go right to compete, when the offseason signings and trades are over.
Good points, Tom, that lead to another question: If the boycott that Mack and others here suggest actually materializes, and our attendance drops dramatically, what will that do to our budget when what is potentially the greatest group of FAs in history hits the open market next year?
Honestly, this is the last year Im willing to cut the wilpons any slack about not paying top dollar for talent. This doesnt mean signing free agents just to do something. Madoff settlements are done. The tax plan is more advantageous to real estate developers (sterling equities) then anyone else. Ill have to look it up but the mets tv contract with the network they own should be paying them over 100mm per season by now.
Im not exactly clamouring for anyone this year. Id like a degrom extension. And a 2nd baseman worth 10-15 mm for next year, but come 2019. im expecting a 25-30mm a year 3rd baseman. A 40 mm plus bullpen (closer 15mm, 2 7-9mm guys, as a start). Otherwisde sell the fucking team. Steve cohen can lift up his couch cushion to find the 2.5 billion and he wants the team.
Herb,
Carig was spot on, whether he is talking to a marketing guy, Alderson, a security guard, or a popcorn vendor. Yes, I certainly agree with you that teams don't hold press conferences to announce payroll levels, and that front offices frequently wait out markets to get better prices. Nothing wrong with either approach. However, the Met circumstance is somewhat unique, and this ownership has created its own monster - a fanbase that does not trust its motives or commitment to delivering a quality product. If Jeff had any balls whatsoever, he'd deal with it straight on and with more transparency. It is simply beyond logic that a NY team with a beautiful ballpark and its own TV network, in a sport flush with cash, cannot afford a top 10 payroll. Forget about the big boys - Dodgers, Yanks, Cubs, Red Sox, even the Giants, what about spending close to the next 5, whatever the number, to field a team worthy of playoff consideration in 2018?
Whether Carig is right in what he says here (I don't know), he may be putting his job in jeopardy.
He's a beat reporter, not a columnist or commentator, amd expressing his frustration in this manner cannot help him to be objective and gain access to the info he's supposed to transmit to the readers.
I wonder if he's headed elsewhere as a result of this tantrum.
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