An early report card for the 2021 Mets is on everyone’s minds though it is indeed relatively quick between the short number of days on the calendar that the season has taken place combined with the tremendous number of games missed due to COVID shutdowns and weather. Still, a .500 team is probably not what people want, yet at the same time it’s still good enough to be tied for first place in the NL East (as of Friday morning, anyway).
Starting Pitching
It’s difficult for a staff to get into a rhythm when they don’t know that every 5th day or so the same person will be called upon to take the mound to control the game for 6 or more innings. When a player is asked to assume an extra day of rest, while you can make the case that it is helpful over the span of 162 games, for other folks the need to assume a regular interval of effort is actually more helpful. This issue came up recently with Jacob deGrom, fresh off his 14K performance, was asked to take that extra day with Joey Lucchesi taking what would have been the 5th day. The result was a bit closer than the other Cub games, but the Mets still managed to lose that contest as well in extra innings.
Thus far both Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman have pitched like All Stars. While the deGrom results are not surprising, the Stroman tally of a 3-0 record with a 0.90 ERA and a WHIP an unbelievable 0.667 was certainly well beyond what anyone would have predicted. Following them in the rotation is Taijuan Walker who is offering up better-than-expected metrics of a 3.21 ERA. He’s only 0-1 on the Won/Lost tally, but he’s struck out 19 in 14 IP. His WHIP is a bit fugly due to his poor control, but the 3.21 really stands out.
After that the other starting pitchers have been less than stellar. With the exception of the one great start from David Peterson, overall he’s looking like the first rotation casualty when Carlos Carrasco returns from the IL. He is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA over 13.1 IP. He does have 18 strikeouts which is good, but he’s been hittable. Lucchesi has had his ups and downs as well. He’s 0-1 thus far over 8 IP of effort with 11 Ks, but his WHIP is outstanding at 1.125. Unfortunately the 6.75 ERA is not.
Relief Pitching
The bullpen has been a source of consternation for Mets fans for quite some time. 2021 is not starting off much better. As of right now, no one is standing out as wholly reliable, though until his 10th inning defeat on Thursday Edwin Diaz has been more good than bad. He has a 2.57 ERA, a 1-1 record and 9 strikeouts in 7 IP. As much as folks hate to admit it, he is a quality arm.
The rest of them have been charitably a mixed bag. Recently dispatched Trevor Hildenberger was north of a 10.00 ERA. Still on the roster with equally bad performance is Jacob Barnes. Robert Gsellman is slightly better at 7.71 and injured hurler Dellin Betances was at 9.00. It does get a bit better after that with Trevor May coming in at a respectable 3.38, Miguel Castro at 3.00 and Jeurys Familia at a surprising 2.45. Aaron Loup is yet to have given up a run and Sean Reid-Foley had a shutout inning in his Mets debut on Thursday.
Newcomers
The splashiest acquisition of the off-season was, of course, Francisco Lindor. Thus far he’s been slow out of the gate but his track record certainly suggests there is nothing to worry about. Kevin Pillar has been flat out awful, and Albert Almora has been doing a Claude Rains impression. James McCann has looked much better behind the plate than at bat. Jonathan Villar has actually been quite good off the bench and warranted a few starting assignments of late.
Mets Veterans
Well, Brandon Nimmo was getting on base before he got hurt. J.D. Davis has been a very reliable bat. The glove is very Michael Jackson-esque. Luis Guillorme is still above .350. After that it gets pretty ugly in a hurry. With uneven pitching the team needs more hitting production from everyone.
Given the .500 record, the performances in the field and at the plate suggest the team is probably where it belongs. There is certainly room for improvement from the pitchers and the hitters. Both would help assure more wins. For now it’s a C team -- average.
15 comments:
2 more off days next week will prevent rhythm from returning yet.
I was sorry to see Lucchesi go - I like his abilities. He could start for many major league teams.
Reid-Foley gives some hope for the bullpen. Wonder when Lugo will return. Before or after Too Many Chances Betances?
Nimmo is freakin' good. Could he be....the BEST offensive player on this team in 2021?
Had a HR and just missed another last night - the smiley faced Nimmo gets on base WITH good power.
Yadier Molina was hitting .339 with 5 HRs. Nido is 1 for 10. Hit or be replaced.
Mack, it is INCREDIBLE that they have two more days off coming up.
San Diego has played 22 games, the Mets just 15. Crazy.
Lucchese was only sent down because of 2 days off next week. Only need 4 starters.
Lugo retuning in May.
Thor... June
Nimmo is not the best offensive player on the team right now.
Jake is.
Our season will end around Christmas.
Much too soon for a report card. Seems petty and unfair.
Two notes:
* I know Tom loves to complain about Nido -- and expresses the hope that McCann will catch the most games in MLB this year -- but I strongly feel in the opposite direction. First, Nido: Pitchers clearly, clearly love throwing to him. He's a terrific defensive catcher and the Mets lose nothing with him behind the plate. The backup catcher who is plus on both sides of the ball simply doesn't exist. Or if he does appear, he won't stay backup for long. Moreover, it's a long season, hopefully one that extends into the postseason. McCann is not used to the primary role, the season-long grind. A smart organization will endeavor to keep McCann fresh, rested, with gas in the tank for the long haul. Rest is good for players, especially catchers. In my view, it's time for people to stop complaining about Nido and begin to appreciate the well-spoken, highly-intelligent backup that he's become. The ABs are getting more credible and competitive with each game he plays, but that's a distant second to his primary role: Working to the get the best possible performances out of our pitchers.
* Remember Jackie Bradley, Jr? He was seeking 4/$48 in the offseason. Which was fine except for the fact that he couldn't hit. At all. An entire career proving that point. Still, some folks wanted him. I looked up his numbers with the Brewers this morning. Holy wow. 71 ABs, 0 walks, 25 K's. Slash line of .217/.260/.348.
Yes, 0 walks and 25 strikeouts in 67 PAs (lucky for Jackie, he's been hit by pitches 4 times). He's striking out 37% of his ABs.
Yes, it's too early for a report card, no need for a grade here, but I was rarely so relieved as the day I read that the Brewers signed Bradley. Whew! I was scared the Mets might grab him as his price fell down to earth. Imagine if we had him? It would have taken games away from Nimmo/Smith just to get Jackie on the field. Kudos to Sandy for keeping the faith in Nimmo.
Jimmy
Jimmy - we dodged a bullet in Bradley Jr.
Agree on Nido. When he gets regular playing time he hits. He won a batting title in Single A.
After a rush call-up to the Mets in 2017...and little playing time to start 2018. He was sent back down to AA. He looked lost at the plate when he first showed up in Binghamton but as he got regular play he slowly picked it up until he was one of the best offensive players on the team come August. It is very tough for an MLB player to be successful coming off the bench - even tougher for a young player. Play him twice a week for his defense. Whatever you get from his bat is gravy.
Bet many of your readers did not get the Clade Rains reference. Showing our age.Think you are being too harsh on Peterson. Ran into bad luck as most of the hits against him were soft hiy.
Jimmy
You have such a way with words.
I am not anti-Nido. Really. Just don’t him to hit .180 over 200 at bats. I’d be happy if he could hit .220/.285/.340. Anything more than that is gravy. If I am any Mets starting pitcher, I’d want McCann to catch over Nido, for the added offense.
He should watch Jake put the ball in play and emulate that. Avoid the K’s. That’s what Jerry Grote did very successfully.
My brother SCREAMED (he does that a lot) not to sign JB Jr. why? Strongly felt he would not hit. Results so far bear him out in that opinion.
Mack, Jake takes everything personally, and hitting is included. If he has to hit, he wants to be a threat. We’ll see if he or Walker is the better hitting Mets pitcher this year.
Tom:
>> If I am any Mets starting pitcher, I’d want McCann to catch over Nido, for the added offense. <<
Okay, obviously, McCann can't catch everyday.
In fact, he's a guy who has NEVER caught more than 118 games, never had more than 450 ABs. So you need to get over the idea that somehow he should become some iron man, catch 140 games for the Mets, and still be an effective player come September.
Secondly, there is a long tradition in baseball of elite pitchers -- who have the say -- requesting "personal" catchers. And guess what? It's never the best hitter. So while you might *think* that pitchers would choose the best offensive player, that it doesn't matter who they throw to, how that catcher sets up, how that catcher calls a game, there's the History of Baseball telling us otherwise. Defense matters and pitchers, at least, know that better than anyone.
You said previously that you wish Ramos was the Mets backup catcher for the offense. I'll take defense in a backup catcher every time. I wish I could ask Jake who he would have rather had behind the plate last night? But I'd put $1,000 that he would have answered Nido over Ramos.
But one last point about Nido: In taking all your frequent swipes at Nido, you ignore the details of the player's development. He was brought up too young, wasn't ready, got destroyed offensively. He showed some progress in 2019, and more progress in 2020. He is a young, improving hitter who is already an asset behind the plate.
Respectfully, I think your expectations for a ML backup catcher are not in touch with reality. Sit back and enjoy what you've got.
Jimmy
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