1.
Baseball needs to act swiftly with
this Houston Astro stealing signs mess. Even one of their ex-pitchers, Mike Fiers
confirms this. Sports need some strict guidelines on infractions like this.
Spousal abuse would lead this list. In this case, make the baseball world know
that everyone needs to play under the same rules. Hurt their future because
they cheated in the past. Take away ‘X’ amount of their 2020 draft picks and
shut them out of the 2020 International bonus pool.
2.
Everybody seems to be jumping on the “build around Alonso”
band wagon. What do you think we did last year with the addition of Justin Wilson and J.D. Davis,
and the improvement of Jeff McNeil, Amed Rosario and
Dom Smith? Sure, more is needed… a viable backup catcher, a defensive CFer, an SP5, and
multiple relief pitchers… but we would be looking to improve here even if Wilmer Flores was still playing first.
3.
Whether we like it or not, this team
has a cheap owner that refuses to operate above a $208mil salary level and
thus, generate a 20% tax on the overage. This, even though the monies owed David Wright and Yoenes
Cespedes are a year away from disappearing and the team would naturally
return to a level below the $208mil. Bad contracts, piss poor drafting, and
disrespecting the International market put us in this position and, though we
have improved in the last two areas, we have to live with this until, at least
2021. Maybe 2022. Our best prospects are kiddies and need time to grow up.
4.
The Mets and Chili Davis have agreed
to a 2-year deal to return as the Mets hitting coach. You need to embrace this.
Those in the know credit Davis with the growth of players like Pete Alonso, Dom
Smith, and, especially, Amed Rosario, We wouldn’t have come as close as we did
in playing 2019 playoff without the work of this guy with our batters. The best
part of this is we don’t have to break in a new hitting coach at the same time
as we break in our new manager. Love the move.
5.
And lastly… it is tough to keep
coming up with what direction to go in the off season. So, I need your help. We
have had a very successful post feature called OPEN THREAD where I ask a
question and readers like you chime in with comments. My question is this… do
you have anything you want me to ask on this series? I would love you to write
back as a comment here, what you want me to ask in the future.
(but, what do I know…)
8 comments:
Houston was a stunning 60-21 at home, a far worse 47-34 on the road.
Minnesota, likely not sealing signs, was 46-35 at home, but a far better 55-26 on the road.
Yes, indeed, Houston should be severely punished.
Building around Alonso and Jake - these dudes deserve World Series appearances, so while you always want to build around your good players, the stakes are higher if you want to get to the World Series (or even the playoffs). So, as I wrote in response to John's article this AM, spend over the cap for one year. $10 million over is just a $2 million luxury tax. A better team will make that up at the turnstiles and in concessions sales.
Chili D helped the Mets to have their 7th highest scoring team ever, against a very tough schedule. Great to keep him.
tOM -
I 1000% agree with you about spending $10mil more in 2020 than projected.
The one year penalty is pocket change in this game and it could be the difference of getting one more award winning player on this team.
You have to give to get. So for an open thread question, who of McNeil, Conforto, Rosario, Syndergaard, Ramos, Lugo and Gimenez would you be willing to trade and for what type of return?
Reese Kaplan might not win a Cy Young, but he ought to win a Dick Young award after his reliever article series.
Houston should be punished, I agree. You just wonder if the punishment will be enough of a deterrent to keep them honest? Reminds me of the cheating Atlanta did in the past (Latin prospects).....yeah, they were punished a bit, but it didn't slow them down at all.
I am pleased with the retention of Chili Davis.......the team was better offensively last year and he had a lot to do with it.
Mack, absolutely. A $2 million luxury tax penalty is peanuts.
In Dick Young fashion does that mean I'll campaign to get Jake out of town? 🤔
Houston should be penalized & perhaps the Wilpons will spend some money.
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