12/18/20

Tom Brennan: METS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, NOT GROVELERS, AND DO ZIPS INDICATORS FOR METS' PLAYERS GIVE YOU A NEW PERSPECTIVE?


How many off seasons did Mets fans feel we'd sign no one of real consequence and were fighting an uphill battle to nail down the better talent out there?

Answer: TOO MANY TO COUNT

We'd watch as the Yankees added to their embarrassment of riches while we stocked the outfield with Collin Cowgill and his ilk.

So I loved seeing Sandy Alderson saying this yesterday:

"People know who we are now, where we're going.

As a result, that part of the conversation disappears and we get to talk more about nuts and bolts."

That's what you can say when you are allowed to drive in the driver's seat of the Cohen Cobra, 500 HP and ready to blow everyone off the line.

So I ask you:

How are you enjoying being in that driver's seat as a fan?


Moving on for a second, when you also hear the Mets emphasize something I've often advocated for, namely honest-to-gosh real depth, you wonder if the Mets will want to use any of these in the 2021 season - so do you keep these, or look to do better for the 26 man roster:

CATCHER

Tomas Nido: ZIPs projection: .218/.253/.342

Ali Sanchez: ZIPs projection: .219/.270/.309

Pat Mazeika: ZIPs projection: .214/.288/.352

Just going by ZIPs, of the three, I'd go with Mazeika - but I think we need better quality behind McCann.

Do we sign another catcher, or trade for one? Or does Sandy hope one of these struggling three will step up his game well beyond ZIPs and grasp the # 2 role?

OUTFIELD

Johneshwy Fargas: ZIPs Projection: .189/.259/.283 with 23 of 36 steals


Mallex Smith: ZIPs Projection: .246/.316/.361 with 33 of 42 in steals over 484 PAs

To me, if Smith could give us that level of performance as a 5th outfielder, I'd take it without hesitation.

INFIELD

Jose Peraza: ZIPs Projection: .272/.314/.389, 15 of 22 in steals

L. Guillorme: ZIPs Projection: .242/.322/.330, 3 of 6 steals

Amed Rosario: ZIPs Projection: .275/.315/.430, 20 of 29 in steals

J.D. Davis: ZIPs Projection: .262/.321/.464. 20 HR, 58 RBI

A. Gimenez: ZIPs Projection: .223/279/.359. 20 of 33 in steals.

If those numbers are true, do you send Gimenez to the minors for more seasoning ABs, and keep the other 4?

If no DH, do you move Davis in a trade and keep the other 4?

Or do you trade for a Lindor or an Arenado?

Many seem to hand the SS crown to Gimenez already, but those Rosario #'s are much better, if of course he ever decides to perform up to his capabilities.

Those are my thoughts. What do you think, folks?



6 comments:

Viper said...

Tom, there are certain things that the Mets need to do. First off, forget about Lindor or Arenado. They would cost too much in prospects and money.

2nd, why no thoughts about moving Rosario to 3B?. Why not have both JD Davis and Rosario take practice at 3B two or three times per week during the winter?. I don't know if that's because of the ML contracts but one would figure that they both want a starting job and that would be the best way to get one. In Rosario's case I would have him taking fly balls in LF as well.

An infield of Rosario 3B, Gimenez SS, McNeil 2B, Alonso 1B is not bad. I would really enjoy seeing Rosario 3B, Gimenez SS, Guillorme 2B and Smith at 1B.

Can the Mets sign both Bauer and Springer and still have money to extend Conforto and Syndergaard?. They have to be careful as Mets fans wouldn't be happy if they lost either Conforto or Syndergaard to free agency.

Reese Kaplan said...

Everyone seems to forget that Gimenez was never much of a hitter and after his quick start in 2020 he was on a downhill spiral offensively. It was expected but folks seem to think he'll get it together while Rosario who did well for each of the past two seasons apparently will never recover. Call me stubborn, but the guy with the major league track record is more likely to succeed than the one with a couple of 2020 weeks of competency.

Tom Brennan said...

Reese, ZIPs agrees with you.

Tom Brennan said...

Viper, I am open to that plan. Use money for pitching and Springer.

I just wonder if trading Rosario and keeping Peraza makes any sense.

Remember1969 said...

Tom, I agree with you .. I am more of a fan of Gimenez that Rosario. I like defense and speed and think his bat will play at SS.

I don't understand these projections, and they don't give the # of at-bats. I can't see any way that Peraza, Guillorme, Rosario, and Gimenez get 80 attempted steals among them. How do they figure that Gimenez with his 8 for 9 SB success this year is going to go 20 for 33? I don't think they'll have the patience for him to get thrown out 13 times.

The Baseball-reference projections are much different. I don't understand that one either. They have Gimenez at .257/.335/.421 with 12 of 14 SBs and 12 HRs in 335 ABs (378 PA). If he hits that well, unless he gets hurt, will have significantly more at bats than that . . (I guess there could be the scenario where he could start at Syracuse for a couple months and come up in June to take over .. )

B-R has Rosario at .267/.312/.406 with 12 of 18 SBs and 11 HRs in 431 AB (464 PA)

B-R has Peraza at .257/.309/.382 with 9 of 13 SB and 8 HR in 369 AB (402 PA).

I cannot see all three of them having 400 plate appearances.

Bottom line . . Rosario and Peraza are pretty much clones of each other, Peraza probably the better fielder and has more position flexibility with Rosario having a little more power at the plate. I would think trading Rosario (for Sonny Gray?) would be the best result.

Tom Brennan said...

Remember 1969, good thoughts there.

Of course, they are only projections. I am sure Jed Lowrie’s projections going into 2019 were way off.