Picture if you will Joe and Sarah - the bills are tight, and suddenly, they discover a stash of cash. Problem solved!
Yoenis Cespedes had his little boo boo on his ranch earlier this year, and it appears the Mets just found a whole lot of money for 2020.
Some people, well, they find money and feel like hoarding it, or even worse, not paying down the bills. Honey, don't tell the creditors!
Others run out and spend it...stupidly...or wisely.
Let’s hope the Mets don't hoard it, and instead spend it wisely.
Because, with that extra cash in hand, you need to ask yourself two basic questions - no pussy footing around, answer the question!
1) Have the Mets’ division opponents, already tough in 2019, gotten better so far?
The answer is YES.
TOUGH LAST YEAR. TOUGHER THIS YEAR.
The Phillies sure have gotten stronger. The Braves, too, and with 2 young studs (Soto, Robles) only likely to get better. Washington has lost a big piece in Rendon, but after winning a World Series, they’ll no doubt adjust and field a very strong squad in 2020. Hey, and for the Marlins, sometimes a young team finds itself...think Mets 1969. Doubtful that the Marlins surge like that, but it is likely they will tougher than in 2019.
2) Are the Mets all set now?
Well, they did lose Wheeler, and gain starters Porcello and Wacha...but come on, man...only if absolutely everything went absolutely right in 2020 would anyone but the most cockeyed optimist think they are championship caliber yet. How often does everything go right? Well, it did in 1969, so I guess the answer is "once every 50 years".
They need more.
And that involves two issues...they are imbalanced in the infield and outfield, with the injured Cespedes and Lowrie as 2020 production question marks, and Dom Smith a first baseman on a team that has a great one already.
And secondly...only cockeyed optimists thought that going into 2018 and 2019, the bullpen was strong; the clear-eyed fan said no...and was 100% right. The Mets' pens of 2018 and 2019 were somewhere between sub par and awful.
So, what would I do with the found $$?
I would - wisely - spend that found $$$ on Dellin Betances, maybe Joe Smith, too. Or along those lines.
But maybe that will give them too MUCH pen?
No problem, as I see it.
If the Mets have a pen surplus come June, trade the surplus away. Teams that think they are contenders often are desperate for pen arms in June - and willing to shell out for it. Think back a few years to Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs and Andrew Miller to Cleveland. Those team gave up a lot (e.g., Gleyber Torres).
Because, for the most part, the pen killed the Mets in 2018 and most definitely in 2019, it would be darned shame to have that happen in 2020, too.
SPEND THAT FOUND MONEY WISELY.
The 2019 poor pen wasted historic seasons from Pete Alonso and Jake deGrom. Why? Because they thought the bullpen had enough firepower, and some minors reserves. But the main bullpen guys faltered and the minors back up guys failed, too.
No more waste, please, in 2020...The Mets absolutely need to prepare for high stakes battle or be left behind...so:
BVW, please bolster the pen with that found money.
Maybe it will help you keep your job past 2020, too. And also:
BVW, please bolster the pen with that found money.
Maybe it will help you keep your job past 2020, too. And also:
So the Mets can fight NL East fire...with fire.
8 comments:
You are right Tom... it's the pen.
Right now, I love Lugo, Diaz, Brach, Wilson
I would move Matz to the pen until an injury set into the rotation
I need three more and there are a lot of Mets I like... Zamore, Drew Smith,Kilome, Gsellman... but too many 'ifs',
I miss good ol' Sam Kinison!
I also agree that the roster is a bit our of balance, with excess in certain areas (infielders, utility types) and noticeable voids in others (like the bullpen).
There are still a few months to go, so hopefully Brodie is working on the roster.
In addition to adding a premier arm like Betances, I hope the team invites a bunch of pitchers to ST on minor league invites. The Rays have had a decent bullpen over the years using this approach. You only have to find one needle in the haystack for it to be worthwhile.
I agree we need to add to the pen, but I also think there's too much pessimism among fans and media.
I'm generally a believer in the "revert to the norm" concept, and as such I see no reason to "ass-u-me" that 2019 showed us the "real" Diaz and Familia, instead of just calling it an unusually bad year for both.
Guys who are healthy and have good track records should not be written off because of a bad year.
The fact that Brodie signed Porcello after his awful 2019 shows that he feels the same way.
The talent is there, though I'd still like to add more. I wonder why the Mets have apparently been written off in the race for Betances. I've seen 2 reports saying that, but no reason given.
Bill -
Bertances is demanding $10mil for a one year contract.
Do you think this would be a good idea,
It's a lot of cash, but it is also only for a year.
If he bombs or gets hurt (seems guaranteed for the Mets and free agent relievers), then
he is gone in 2020. But, if he is solid, then the bullpen gets better and that is the fastest
way to improve next year, IMO.
Plus, they already addressed the rotation and CF (sort of).
That would depend on his health. Achilles tendons can be debilitating for long periods of time. I understand he's been working out (alongside Familia) in Jersey this Winter, and the interested teams should be heavily scouting him.
If he's fully healed, he's worth the money. If not, I'd spend it elsewhere.
Good points, Billy boy...especially about the Achilles.
Interesting that on BNNY tonight, Bobby V and Todd Zeile said the same thing. Bobby's words were, "I'd leave the decision to the doctors.
John Harper said that Will Harris would be a safer choice. I still lead toward Betances, if he shows he is healthy.
I wish he'd take a deal like Wachs's, with low base but plenty of incentives. Then signing him would instantly become a no-brainer.
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