8/27/22

Ray Savage - Seeing Red

SAVAGE VIEWS – Seeing Red

August 26, 2022

This Savage is on the warpath once again.  I am somewhat outraged at some of the decisions made by Bucky.  I know, I know that I should be delighted to be in first place as we approach September and Bucky deserves some credit. Deciding to pitch Walker over deGrom in the Yankees series made no sense at all.  On one hand you have Walker recovering from an injury and could have used a couple of additional days to recuperate.  On the other hand, you have deGrom scheduled to start on normal rest.  The results were predictable.  Walker goes five and the game gets turned over to the pen.

Bucky had Conner Grey warming up in case Walker needed relief before completing five.  Seriously?   And after Lugo got us through the sixth everyone expected another inning out of him.  Instead, Rodriguez was brought in to pitch the seventh.  I told my wife “Game over” when JR entered the game.  As I said before, it’s great to be in first place but I routinely have had concerns about his bullpen management over the course of the season.

I think it’s great the Mets recalled Brett Baty to take over third base.   He has struggled while  adjusting to MLB pitching. There are those who suggest that he be returned to the minors and replaced by Vientos who is defensively challenged.   Probably the same folks who would have sent Willie Mays back after his slow start. Baty is potentially our answer to Austin Riley and Alex Bohn, both of whom had issues early in their careers.

Baty is going to be a stud and in ten years you all will be talking about how Captain Baty has become one of the cornerstones of this franchise.  This is a guy who needs to play everyday and he will get better as he matures. 

Mark Vientos looks to be another exciting prospect.  I foresee him as our DH of the future with the ability to play in the field if needed.  He could become our answer to Edgar Martinez or David Ortiz.  He’s a keeper and the Mets need to resist efforts to trade him.

Looking forward, making Vientos the DH makes Vogelbach superfluous.   I can see both Vogelbach and Guillorme moved during the off-season to shore up the bullpen.  Wyatt Young appears to have the tools to take over LG’s role.

Since the all-star break the team has had difficulty scoring runs on a consistent basis.  Alonso and Nimmo are two of the biggest culprits.  Take last night’s game against the Rockies.  Had Colorado turned two in the third inning as they should have, we might have been shut out.  The HR by Alonso on a 3-0 meatball might not have happened.

While the Braves are destroying mediocre pitching, we struggle.  I’m not sure what the answer is but we can use a jolt.  I believe McNeil should bat no lower than fifth with Vogelbach dropped down a couple of spots.  Actually, it might be time to rest Vogelbach to allow him to recover from whatever ails him.

Well, that’s my take on a cloudy afternoon in New Bern, NC - birthplace of Pepsi Cola.

Ray

12 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Ray, McNeil is on a storm surge. Batten down the hatches.

I think logic took over, even if illogical. If Yanks beat both Scherzer and deGrom, the Mets could go into a tailspin. Braves will punish any tailspin severely.

But really? Connor Grey! That is scary.

Paul Articulates said...

The Mets are certainly having problems bridging to the closer. Starters can't give them 8 innings and those 6,7,8 innings have been nail biters. More on that Sunday.

I agree that McNeil should be either the 5 batter, or the 3 with Lindor at 5. When he is up in clutch times, he often delivers - why wait for that? Also, Vogey and Ruf are not speedsters - putting them in front of McNeil slows him down. The best way right now to bridge from starter to bullpen is to give the starter a 4-run lead.

Mack Ade said...

So much to digest here.

1. You need a season ticket out with the 7line mob. Also, are you sure you aren't on MetsTwitter?

2. We are currently TIED FOR THE SECOND BEST RECORD IN THE LEAGUE. Is all this Bucky nit picking really necessary?

3. I agree with you on Baty. Play him against all pitchers for the remainder of his career. His splits are not that bad.

4. I also agree with Vientos being next year's RHDH, but I would also add him in this role when the rosters expand this year. Damn the egos of the other players.

5. I'm not even commenting on your Wyatt Young mention. Wait. Did I just do that?

6. Agree on the bats. Getting sick of winning only when we have a timely hit or two. Wanna buch of mini blowouts like the Braves

Gary Seagren said...

Can we play Can-do everyday also it's time. I liked leaving Bassitt in for 7 and lets make that "a thing" going forward as we have to change the mind set of a 6 inning start or I see it becoming 5 innings of 3 runs or less for a "quality start" which is awful. Can anyone remember when the last time was that our minor league pitching was this bad?

RDS900 said...

Vientos needs to be more than Ruf's replacement. Make him the full time DH. Can you concede Bucky has generally mismanaged the pen.

RDS900 said...

Vientos needs to be more than Ruf's replacement. Make him the full time DH. Can you concede Bucky has generally mismanaged the pen.

RDS900 said...

The only role Conner Grey should have is with a mop.

RDS900 said...

The only role Conner Grey should have is with a mop.

Dove said...

It doesn't seem like Mets trust Lugo to get 6 outs anymore no matter his pitch count.

Mack Ade said...

Gary

I'm all for 7 innings from starters, but if they fade in the sixth....

Mack Ade said...

Ray

I don't get the games down here.

I just see the results of everybody's actions

RDS900 said...

I get nearly every game as though I still lived in NY. Terrific when you are a Mets, Giants and rangers fan .