Tom Brennan - POSSIBLE METS ALL STARS IN 2019
Mets playing in All Star games is fun for us Mets fans.
I remember in the early days the Mets getting one obligatory All Star, as each team needed at least one. Ron Hunt in 1962, Gil Hodges in 1963, Ron Hunt in 1964, Ed Kranepool in 1965, Ron Hunt again in 1966. None very deserving, but even very bad teams needed one.
Not until 1967 did our All Star truly deserve selection for outstanding performance. A rookie...named Tom Seaver...maybe you remember him?
2017, the Mets were back down to one All Star: Michael Conforto. Last year was only Cy deGrom.
Being limited to one pick each of the last 2 season's was kind of full circle back to the early 1960s for the Mets, who have often had All Star droughts.
In fact in 23 of their 57 seasons, just one All Star. Ouch.
On the other hand, the Mets had six All Stars picked in 2006, and, not surprisingly, 5 selected in that great 1986 season, that was entirely by coincidence the last time the Mets won a World Series.
Got me thinking, though:
Who on the Mets could be All Stars this year?
Quite a few:
Jake deGrom - best pitcher on the planet, hair or no hair.
Zach Wheeler - is Zach's elite 2nd half to become his new normal?
Noah Syndergaard - Doc Gooden would think so. Says he could be the best of the bunch. I don't argue with doctors. They, after all, decide how broke I'll be after visits.
Edwin Diaz - the deGrom of the bullpen world.
Jeurys Familia - made it in 2016. Hopefully, still near the top of his game that once produced 94 saves in 2015 and 2016.
Robbie Cano - dontcha know? EIGHT TIME ALL STAR.
Jed Lowrie - why not? All Star in 2018.
Amed Rosario - could surge in 2019. Road warrior needs to become a Citifield warrior too.
Wilson Ramos - has the resume to get there. Already a 2 time All Star.
Jeff McNeil - repeat the .329 hitting second half of 2018, and then why not?
Michael Conforto - made it once, why not once more?
Brandon Nimmo - his .404 OBP and surprising power in 2018 makes him a legit candidate.
That's 12 possibilities...and there are as I see it 2 possible additional long shots in Peter Alonso and Steve Matz.
If it all came together for Wheeler in 2018's 2nd half, maybe 2019 is Matz's breakout year.
Realistically, Alonso won't have time to make the All Star squad, but he could easily be in the All Star Home Run competition. And win it. BOOM!
Of course, competition for All Star slots is fierce...but I would not be surprised if we have 3 or 4 Mets representing us as All Stars in 2019.
I'll guess deGrom, Syndergaard, Diaz, and Nimmo are 2019 Mets All Stars.
I'll guess deGrom, Syndergaard, Diaz, and Nimmo are 2019 Mets All Stars.
Stuff like that drives home the reality that this could be a very good Mets team in 2019.
Because, when the Mets have more than 2 All Stars, it usually means really good things are happening in the standings.
If you've read this far, let me know - so I know who my All Star readers are!
And, who do you expect to see on the All Star team in July?
And, who do you expect to see on the All Star team in July?
14 comments:
I can see deGrom, Syndergaard and Diaz...I'm withholding judgment of the offensive side of the ledger until I see it in action.
Reese, fair enough - I think Nimmo surprises us again.
If McNeil gets enough McBats, I feel he'll be our offense's all-star.
Met Monkey, you may be right on Jeff McNeil. My concern is he will get enough ABs to get serious All Star consideration...as an outfielder.
DeGrom and Syndi should be a lock.
New money on Nimmo
A reach would be Ramos
I sure hope, Mack, that Diaz makes the All Star team - he was the BEST reliever in baseball last year, and Casey Stengel just told me you could look it up :)
Put it this way...
We have the potential have the most all-stars since the Wright-Reyes-Beltran days
In 1984 you had Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden and Jesse Orosco. In 1985 you had Ron Darling, Strawberry, Gooden and Gary Carter. In 1986 you had Carter, Hernandez, Sid Fernandez, Strawberry and Gooden.
So we need six this year. Set a new record.
I think this is an interesting lens through which to view the team -- and the job Brodie has done as GM.
Without much argument: Cano, Diaz, Ramos and Lowrie are all potentially all-star quality. The team was bad for a couple of years. Needed a transfusion, especially with the regular players.
I like McNeil, but I think the hype has gotten too much at this point. I think he's going to have a hard time getting on the field until injuries hit.
Frazier and Lagares feel to me like the two guys Brodie has been unable to dump -- but wishes he could.
Alonso and Broxton are my dark horses. Not to be All-Stars, but to be meaningful contributors.
Would love to see Noah stay healthy and put it all together.
Jimmy P
I feel a breakthrough coming for Conforto and will predict an All-Star year for him. Diaz too, acquired in the "Diaz deal" (no disrespect for Cano intended either) in fact I will toss out Diaz as the team MVP this year. Cano being an All-Star is a good shot too. If DeGrom is healthy he is as close to a lock as it gets. Considering how the catcher position stacks up Ramos being included could come down to health as well, but with his history I can't predict he will be on the field enough to accomplish an All-Star invite.
Overall a very interesting roster, and a very different one. True optimism is possible and that should almost always be the game plan in February for a fan.
Given the 1 all star selection per team and the 3 mets pitchers who if healthy by reputation will likely get in (deGrom, Thor, Diaz) it is highly unlikely more then 1 other met would make it. I cant see any making it by fan vote. Leaving, where is the national league least defined by position. nope to catcher, nope to 1st base, nope to 3rd base. Unlikely at second. ss, maybe without machado its seager and ...... Outfield is always a possibility. So id say conforto then Ramos (injuries for catchers) then rosario.
Hunt wasn't an all-star in '62, 'cause he didn't play his first major league game until '63. My guess is Frank Thomas or Richie Ashburn that year, but don't know for sure. As for this year, I'm guessing deGrom, Conforto, Diaz and, if this new sinking fastball keeps enough runners off base that they don't run him ragged, Thor.
Just looked it up. It was Ashburn in '62 and Duke Snider, not Gil Hodges, in 1963. Never would've thought Snider was an All-Star during his brief stint with the Mets. I guess if you're (I'm) old enough to remember that far back, you (I) can't.
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