John Sickles on –
Mets No. 11 prospect Tomas Nido isn't known for his power -- he hit a career-high eight homers last season -- but he showed some pop with a solo homer in a win over the Astros. The 23-year-old is batting .273 (3-for-11) so far in Spring Training.
Gone from the game for decades, the bullpen cart is making a comeback to Major League Baseball thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team announced on Tuesday that they will be using the OnTrac Bullpen Cart to transport relief pitchers from the bullpens to the mound at Chase Field during the 2018 season.
Carlos Beltran | 2005 Mets
Terms: 7 years, $119 million.
Losses Year Prior: 91. | Three-Year Average: 91.
AAV: $17MM ($14.7MM above average).
The 2005 Mets also committed $53 million over four years to sign a 33-year-old Pedro Martinez. While Pedro gave them only one good year, Beltran actually compiled a higher OPS+ (129) for the Mets than he did for any of his other six teams. The Mets advanced to the NL Championship Series in 2006, then narrowly missed the playoffs in 2007 and 2008 after late-season collapses. The Mets of this period had two homegrown stars in David Wright and Jose Reyes, but had they hit on top 10 overall draft picks in 2004 (Phil Humber) and 2005 (Mike Pelfrey), they might be remembered differently today.
The 2005 Mets also committed $53 million over four years to sign a 33-year-old Pedro Martinez. While Pedro gave them only one good year, Beltran actually compiled a higher OPS+ (129) for the Mets than he did for any of his other six teams. The Mets advanced to the NL Championship Series in 2006, then narrowly missed the playoffs in 2007 and 2008 after late-season collapses. The Mets of this period had two homegrown stars in David Wright and Jose Reyes, but had they hit on top 10 overall draft picks in 2004 (Phil Humber) and 2005 (Mike Pelfrey), they might be remembered differently today.
2018 MLB Draft Profile: Matthew Liberatore
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Libertore looks like, for a high schooler, like he lights up the radar gun.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Spring Training thus far, although a bit early on.
ReplyDeleteSome of the more veteran Mets players currently here, kind of look to be "sleep walking" out there a little, while their Mets' kid player counterparts have really impressed me a lot more overall. But it is still very early I do realize that the veteran Mets players have been here before many times. But I do love the hustling Mets players.
Sometimes I really do wonder about a much younger lineup though, something like this perhaps...
1B Cespedes, 2B Cecchini (.350 BA), SS Rosario, 3B Thompson (.318 BA and he looks ready Sandy), LF Borenstein (.250 and hustles unlike some of the others out there in the Mets outfield that I won't name here), CF Nimmo (.344 BA and I told ya'll he is ready now, did I not?), RF Bruce until Conforto is back healthy again, C Plawecki (.381 BA and more upperbody strength)- Cespedes, Conforto, and Bruce would anchor the team as the veteran contingency.
I want this NY Mets franchise to build a "dynasty type team" now if possible. Something closer to The Nationals, Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, and Cubs. They can. Maybe something more affordable to go year after year.
The truth may be that the younger Mets pitching staff only has so much longevity left now. Some are really not that young anymore and we have squandered a bit of lost time. This has to get done now with the rest of this team, to sync it up with especially the rotation now assembled. Time really is of essence from this point.
I like Manager Callaway so far too! I think this 2018 NY Mets team has a real life chance to make the playoffs this season!