We discussed this in late September after 'John From Albany' supplied us a wonderful breakout of the upcoming Rule 5 draft.
I thought re would revisit this question.
Who would you add to the 40-man?
Me?
It's plain to me that the Mets bullpen cost us a playoff spot.
The least I could do is clean out some relief fodder we currently have on the roster and replace it with some of the guys we could lose here to other teams.
You?
I dunno about Rule 5 right now. I would generally agree with clearing out marginal pitchers as necessary.
ReplyDeleteBut:
Rule # 1? Spend like the Yanks, get in the playoffs annually, too.
Everyone goes to the prom but us.
I just looked at the list; Szapucki wasn’t on it. He is eligible. It start with him, and then goes Sanchez, Mazeika...
ReplyDeleteTexasGus, agree. Szapucki has to be on the 40.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gus. I will double check that and add him.
ReplyDeleteTom, not everyone goes to the prom, but it’s safe to say that their lack of a plan wasted an opportunity. That opportunity was with a healthy Wheeler, DeGrom, and Syndergaard all being together. They won’t have it again, especially dealing Woods-Richardson. SWR, Szapucki, Allen, Wolf May ha e been the next great thing.
ReplyDeleteI would reload by moving Smith, Matz, and Lowrie, but I don’t see anyone giving back a top arm. Good outfield prospect would be a possibility if they combine Matz and Smith.
My pleasure John.
ReplyDeleteTexas Gus, I 100% agree they wasted the opportunity. I heard a fan today say, hey they DIDwin 86 games...typically Met fan-like. When you get way above expected results from Alonso, McNeil, and Davis, not making the playoffs is entirely unacceptable. Now we get to see if BVW’s next moves are magic...or tragic.
ReplyDelete"Rule # 1? Spend like the Yanks, get in the playoffs annually, too.
ReplyDeleteEveryone goes to the prom but us."
Let me remind you that ONE team wins it all and there are 29 also-rans.
The Mets are 1 of the 29 again, as will be the Skankees. I feel worst for the teams that made expensive sacrifices trying to be the one.
IMO, it takes health, luck, and destiny to be the one...I got to see the Mets get there twice, and that's what it took.
To nickel7168:
ReplyDeleteSome teams get to the playoffs a lot - few win the World Series. Understanding that, my focus was on making the playoffs.
This team has, objectively speaking, been poorly run - well run teams frequent the playoffs. This team, poorly run, rarely gets to the playoffs.
As TexasGus rightly pointed out, we had a small window this year with strong starters, and then we also got surprisingly superior output from Alonso and McNeil - and we still weren't one of the 10 teams to make the playoffs. Simply unacceptable for this to happen almost every year.
If you are reading this, here is a homework assignment you can report back to us on:
How many seasons since 1995 have the Yankees made the playoffs? And how many seasons have the Mets made the playoffs? Once you have determined that, are you still of a mind to remind me of how I am wrong here?
I will answer in advance….I didn't think so.
In a large market, where the Mets can spend more than the Pittsburghs of the world, we should average making the playoffs once every 2 to 2 1/2 years, given that there is a 1 in 3 chance of getting in each year. Not close.
Tom, sorry, but disagree with you. Teams create windows for themselves, and those windows are to last a few years and then you reload. Not often you see teams like the Braves, Patriots, or other dynasties... Right now, the windows were open in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. I don’t think the Yankees are a perennial playoff team because their pitching is laughable, but Cashman keeps a strong bullpen to bail them out. The Mets window should have been opened this year because after one year of seeing Callaway, did they think in the next year he would become Miller Huggins? Have to tip my envious hat to Theo Epstein who replace Rick Renteria a month after hiring him because Joe Maddon was available. That’s balls, and that how winning works.
ReplyDeleteTexas Gus, we are not as much in disagreement as you think - I agree with your windows and reload viewpoint - but on average, over a longer span, a team should make the playoffs once every 3 years - 10 out of 30 make it. Big market teams should be able to reload quicker and get into the playoffs more. As you indicate, this is edging towards reload time - can BVW minimize the reload length and depth, ir screw it up? I am not optimistic on the pitching front unless Peterson, Humphreys, and Szapucki all leap forward.
ReplyDeleteBut even if they do, BVW has to have a good rotation in 2020 - short of re-signing Wheeler and keeping Thor, I am not sure how he does that. As you note, making timely smart moves is what is needed - Baltimore knows the other side to that.
I am hopeful that our new team of analytic guys from Boston can hel find one or two relivers that we can shape the 2020 pen around
ReplyDeleteUceta, Zanghi, Torres, Blackham and Gonzalez couldn't be any worse that the pitchers to whom we will wave bye-bye.
ReplyDeleteTom, I didn’t notice your “windows” comment earlier. You are right, we are saying the same thing, basically.
ReplyDeleteTo Reese, I ask: Are you ready to double down on more unproven arms? I’m willing to carry two kids at most, and I actually already like Flexen and Oswalt. I’d send Bashkirs to AA to learn command before I’d let him touch a ball in Citifield again. Sewald is gone. Rhame is gone. Gagnon, Mazza, Flexen and Iswalt will battle for two spots. Keep Diaz, resign Avilan. So, Diaz, Wilson, Avilan, Lugo, Familia, and another arm.
Put Gsellman in the rotation.
The Mets need to add two back end arms. BVW says Diaz will be kept despite a historically bad season. Fine, I get it given his trade value, low cost, and stuff. However, he is not a quick fix, and should be considered middle relief for 2020. Ditto for Familia. Brodie needs to find two reliable dudes without giving up the ranch. Let’s see what he is made of.
ReplyDeleteThe Mets should add to the bullpen so they don't lose them in the Rule V.
ReplyDelete