Tom Brennan - THE METS' JEKYLL-HYDE-JEKYLL SEASON
A crazy Jekyll-Hyde-Jekyll year, with 6 games left:
First "Jekyll":
11-1 start (.916)
- all seemed good; players mostly healthy. What could go wrong?
Then "Hyde":
33-61 (.351)
- a torrent of injuries is what basically went wrong for nearly 100 games.
- The Mets essentially grow wings and become Orioles.
Then "Jekyll" again:
29-21 (.580)
- McNeil explodes on the scene; Conforto resurrects; Bruce becomes Bruce again; Nimmo on fire; Wheeler pitching magnificently. So much going well, the trading away of Familia does not hurt much.
That last 50 game stretch makes me quite optimistic for 2019.
9 comments:
Actually the records should be what you should be most disappointed about...
instead of top pick we have fallen to No man's land.
Players playing well is great but when you are not in the race you want to lose.
Everyone's complaint is the minors depth well it easier when you have higher picks and more important higher draft pools to spend..
So that second half record is the worse part of this season...
Crazy doesn't really capture this, does it?
40-22 sandwiched around 33-61 equals an "Oreo" no one would
want to eat!
Ugh....I hope for better days ahead.
So is it all injuries? Or is it personnel decisions, too (too many ABs squandered on Bautista, Gonzalez, Reyes, Jackson, etc.)?
In a lot of ways, I agree, Eddie. I wanted another Kelenic.
Those too, definitely, Reese.
I don't think this team needs to keep losing, but rather just like losing is contagious, so is winning. The Tampa Rays picked up Liberatore at #16 and McClanahan at #31, so if you do your homework, a good player will be available.
From the Department of Redudency, we all know that the bullpen for next year needs an overhaul. However, I believe there's something to start with in Lugo, Gsellman, Swarzak, Zamora, and Mejia (who is already pitching in winter leagues and we all know he has some wipe-out pitches). If Bashlor, Callahan, or Bautista can step up and you add a decent back-end guy, the Mets could get by with that. I would get rid of Sewald, Peterson, Gagnon, and let the free agents go, too. If the aforementioned three don't step it up, Oswalt can be an option or Rhame or Hanhold step up. As for the last two spots, one of these five or six guys has to be decent. Too much talent to expect otherwise.
Lastly, while Flores is not sexy, he is a good piece. A possible second base insurance from McNeil crashing to earth, Flores is a 20 HR bat from the middle infield that will be going into his walk year. Why do you want to just throw that away?
Flores should be worth something to someone. Is Flores clone Rivera good to go in 2019? Should be.
We need a pen that is STRONG to compete.
Gus, WHADDYA think of Gagnon? Anyone else can chime in too. I have missed his recent Mets outings.
Tom, Gagnon seems good enough for a minor league free agent invite to spring training. His fastball sits at 91 and his strikeout rate is pretty low but hopefully his experience will make him savvy enough to make it as a middle reliever. While he looked ok against the Phillies, but they have gone down the toilet so it's hard to analyze. He gave up 7 hits in 4.2 innings and had 3 K's. Pedestrian stuff.
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