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9/19/18

Tom Brennan - A PAIN IN THE PEN


Tom Brennan - A PAIN IN THE PEN


What does every true fan desire for their favorite team?

Well, many things, like lots of scoring, lots of homers, lots of wins, for sure, but one critical desire is:



GIVE ME A LOCK DOWN BULLPEN!

In 2017 and 2018, the Mets' pen should have been locked up for assault and battery.  Last night's 5 run 6th inning blow up was only the latest pen plotz.

In 2017, the entire pen was 21-28, and in 569 IP (the equivalent of 63 full 9 inning games), the pen had an ERA of 4.82, a 1.49 WHIP, and 86 homers allowed (one every 6 2/3 innings pitched.  


Was it just me, or were most of those surrendered by former Met Hansel Robles - he of the 17 homers in 76 innings while with the Mets in 2017 and 2018 - just kidding, it only seemed he gave up all up all of the Mets' pen's homers.  

29th out of 30 teams in ERA. Ugh.

This year, the pen through 150 games is just as bad: 

24-34, 507 IP, 4.99 ERA, and 80 HRs allowed (one every 6.4 IP).  That 4.97 is the 28th ERA out of 30 teams.  Why not last?  Because 2 teams are worse, do I have to explain everything to you?

Repeat after me: UGH!!

Teams with bullpens ranked 28th or 29th in ERA don't reach the post season, plain and simple.





"Regrets, I've had a few..."

Blown saves?  More than a few.


In 2017, 34 of 54 in saves.  Twenty blown.  To be honest, though, not a terrible % compared to other teams, actually.

In 2018, 36 of 51 in saves, again not all that bad. But not the best, either.

Compare these putrid pens to 2018 Oakland's, with its 3.25 ERA, 40-13 record, and 43 of 56 saves.  

That's vastly better than the Mets' 2018 pen.   


Yeah, but what about the starters?

In 2017, it was a full-on pitching collapse in Mets land, as the starters had a worse ERA than the pen (5.14 for starters, 4.95 for the pen).  Of course, some of the worst pitchers in the pen also messed up some 2017 starts pretty badly too.

In 2018, however, the Mets' starters have the 7th best ERA at a playoff-worthy 3.69 (thank you, Jake), so that 4.99 ERA in the pen has really hurt this Mets team.  

I'd hazard a guess that if you put that Oakland pen with this Mets starting rotation, the Mets would be leading this division right now.

Simply put: A much better pen is needed.  

Delude yourselves if you wish, Mets' decision makers.

But that is the simple truth.  

To win in 2019, I advise two things regarding the pen:

1. FIX IT.

2. REALLY, REALLY FIX IT.


Because we fans could use a little relief.


12 comments:

  1. 👍 it is terrible...and it does not help when a starter can not get into the 7th inning

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  2. Seattle Steve, so true.

    But it looks like at least deGrom, Wheeler, and Thor will go 7 or more in most games - that helps them, and the team.

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  3. I think they ought to start buying Rolaids at Costco or Sam's Club to cut down on the expense for the relief they will need on a nightly basis.

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  4. Tom -

    But can they go 7 innings in April and May?

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  5. Mack, they need to be ready to go 7 or more after the first start of the season - that is my take. Unless they substantially upgrade the bullpen.

    Reese, fans should be given a free pack of Rolaids when coming into the park.

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  6. Please everybody -

    Don't give up on Drew Smith

    He is the real deal

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  7. Between Catcher, Center Field and the Bullpen, the new GM will need to get busy as soon as the Hot Stove season kicks off.

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  8. Observation: Mets unload Robles and Familia. Combined 3.40 ERA since traded. Mets keep Peterson and Sewald, combined ERA over 6.00. In hindsight, seems like bad decisions.

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  9. Boston Clinches, Mets win too...

    A lot of Mets hits last night. Top of the order ruled, as did Jay Bruce who has healed up and re-found himself with the bat. And it looks like Jay can handle first base some too. All good.

    Online it is looking like Peter Alonso may be going to Fall League, which is outstanding. It's a great place to tweak the defense and get ready for 2019 here.

    The Mets do need to add a topflight catcher more. But I do not favor trading Alonso because he looks like he could be another Yankee Luke Voit type. If the Mets trade him, let's assume for Realmuto (for sake of argument) that could mean Alonso could haunt the Mets for a long, long time. I restrain.

    So what about the catcher need here?

    Good question. Free Agent Grandal is like 30 years old and doesn't hit for average, Philly Wilson Ramos is 31 but has a lot of injuries to his legs already. Neither cost a fortune to bring in, but are they wise investment players?

    The Mets do not have a viable MLB starting catcher at the MLB, AAA, or AA levels. They have guys who can be the backup, but really no starters. Binghamton's Patrick Mazeika may be at least a half season at Vegas away, then there is Ali Sanchez as well. But Ali is further down the minors.

    What about a Blue Jay new catcher Danny Jansen? That might make more sense all around. Has decent enough stats and is up now with Toronto. That might be a guy to go after. And working a trade with Toronto could be something possible. Toronto needs help at multiple positions and the Mets do have some depth now they might be interested in.

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  10. Tough Luck Charlie...

    Wilmer Flores Garcia is sadly out for the rest of the 2018 season (and maybe beyond too) with osteoarthritis of both knees. Now, I finally get why running has looked so difficult for Wilmer these past few seasons. I didn't know.

    Arthritis is basically an autoimmune disorder in causation, not unlike rheumatoid arthritis is as well. The afflicted person's own body is basically attacking the arthritis in the joint, causing the pain, not recognizing that it isn't some kind of an outside the body type of invader being imposed at that joint but itself.

    Traditional opinion stated that the osteoarthritis patient suffers from the wearing down of cartilage surrounding the joint. However, newer theory suggests that it could be similar to the rheumatoid arthritis model, an autoimmune condition.

    There are very distinct foods to eat and then not to eat with this condition. Omega 3 supplements can help, not Omega 6 though. Staying away from sugar, salt, fried foods, steak, alcohol, and everything else we all love, definitely helps.

    May want to research www.med.stanford.edu and do a little research there on this topic. And as always find a good specialist doctor and ask him a zillion smart questions after researching.

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  11. Jake deGrom versus Joe Ross

    Looks like the stars and planets align again tonight for the NY Mets.

    But should be a close one to the wire because of the Nats' still good hitting.

    What has to happen...

    The Mets need to hit again for Jake, like they did last night for Vargas. The bullpen needs to find its correct sequence of relievers, if possible, Tyler Bashlor to close out. Tyler his "two pitch thing" cranking on all six cylinders. Life is good!

    Nat's starter Joe Ross

    I know very little about him. He has not pitched a lot in MLB, a few innings really, over coffee. Has a so-so stat sheet, so-so strikeouts to innings. But with newer pitchers to the league, can come uncertainty facing. So, you have to factor that into the equation here some too. Making it potentially close.

    If the Mets go up there looking to hit a homerun on an early in the count strike, they just might I think. But I am no Einstein nor am not dyslexic that I know of.

    You just gotta' freaking believe!



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