Before we jump into 2018 quiz Q’s, do the Mets as currently constructed have enough pitching for 2023?
Well, Max Scherzer is back, so I assume the same production from him; Justin Verlander most likely will pitch a lot more than Jake did in 2022, and probably of higher quality, so that should be an improvement; Kodai Senga should be pretty much a wash for losing Chris Bassitt; Cookie Carrasco should show some age-related regression; and Carlos Quintana should be a Taijuan Walker equivalent.
Also, in many Wilpon years, Megill, Peterson, and Lucchesi would be in the starting 5, not sitting 6 through 8. Those 3 will see some starting time and some pen time, and hopefully glean from the 2 Hall of Fame hurlers in the rotation.
In the pen, Edwin Diaz will still be EDWIN, but probably regress somewhat from his almost perfect 2022; Ed Sullivan said that Brooks Raley looks like a raley good pick up; David Robertson should be a quality replacement in the bullpen, although I’d still like to also get Adam Ottavino back; and the rest of the additions, along with other flame-throwing giants like Bryce Montes de Oca and Stephen Ridings, ought to be close to enough pitching resources for this 2023 team.
However, one key point of reality: pitchers seem to break down awfully frequently, and I’m not sure that there’s enough depth in the minors to deal with that rash of boo boos currently.
So let’s see what they do from here on out in terms of completing the roster. They’ll probably add Otto and/or others, why chintze now?
But it is a GOOD pitching roster as is, right now, IMO.
2018 QUIZ:
In an unquestionably bad Mets season...
I have questionable questions for you:
1) Which pitcher won a Cy Young award with the least starter wins for a Cy Young winner in major league history, with a scant and skimpy 10 wins?
2) Which rookie call up with rodent DNA stunned the Mets’ fans by hitting .329?
3) Which scampering hitter got on base 216 times but only scored 80 times due to Pete Alonso’s RBI bat not being allowed by the Wilpons to show up until 2019?
4) Who began his long injury-related disappearance and hung out with wild boars on a ranch?
5) Which former Mets batting champ finished his career in 2018 by hitting 146 points lower than he did in his batting title season?
6) How many games out of first place did the Mets finish? (No, “too many” is not a good answer).
7) Which catcher in just 203 at bats hit more HRs than the Mets’ catchers did in all of 2022?
8) How many saves did the Mets record in 2018?
9) Which 2 starters combined to go 25-11?
10) Which 2 Mets pitchers were the polar opposite, going 0-9, with an ERA well above 6.00?
Without question, every great question requires a great answer:
1) Mr. deGrom. Working as a Texas border patrol agent as we speak. Needs the extra income to support his family. Who can live on $185 million anymore?
2) The 2022 MLB batting champ, and flying squirrel, Jeff McNeil, interviewed by this writer earlier in the 2018 season while he was dismantling AA pitchers and disproving the hordes of doubters the best possible way - HITTING!
3) Fan favorite Brandon Nimmo, who has been on base 912 time in 2,385 Mets’ plate appearances.
4) Yoenis Cespedes, La Absencia. “Old Yoenis had a ranch, E I E I O.”
5) Jose Reyes, whose steep career descent surprised this writer, as he hit .189 at age 35.
6) 13 games behind the 90 win division winning Braves.
7) Devin Mesoraco hit 10 HRs. In 530 ABs in 2022, Mets’ catchers hit just 7 fence-clearers.
8) 41 saves, led by Jeurys (17) and Robert Gsellman (13). In 2022, Mets genius Edwin Diaz saved 32 and the team as a whole saved 40 games.
9) Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard went a splendid 25-11; naturally, both were part of the Phillies, not Mets, World Series team this year.
10) The two pitchers who combined for 0-9 in 2018 were Paul Sewald and Chris Flexen, who have been outstanding pitchers in 2021 and 2022 for the resurgent Seattle Mariners.
Next quiz special? 2019.
When? Don’t be so quizzical.
11th quiz question...who will be the first (besides me) to post a comment to this article?
ReplyDeleteMe
ReplyDeleteTom
I am totally confident that both Peterson and Megill can help carry the season if one of the current rotation pieces go down.
Now, I won.
Do I get another of those $1,200 stimulus checks?
Steve Cohen is our stimulus check.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see Ottavino AND Lugo back. See my 9am article to compare pitching stats between the 2023 METS and their NL East rivals.
ReplyDeleteMack, the check, as they say, is in the amil.
ReplyDeleteOttavino AND Lugo? Heck, I'm game
ReplyDelete4 Alzheimers/Dementia Patients Perhaps
ReplyDeleteRecently, I saw a video online for Alzheimers. Thought of Buddy Harrelson immediately, Bruce Willis, Jack Nicholson, and maybe even Michael J. Fox with Parkinsons.
The problem identified is being termed Diabetes 3.
It creates memory loss which a scientist/professor has discovered is not caused by old age, plaques, or any other of the things that we have been told for decades. Rather, it is caused by an accumulation of sugar actually covering our brain neurons that blocks normal brain function.
The cure is a product called "Neuro Tonix" a very powerful Probiotic that combines multiple probiotics in one. You can find out more about this at https: getneurotonix.com. There are also several videos online regarding it on youtube.
I am not claiming anything here with this, since it is entirely all new information to me. But it seems to hold some potential credibility and I wanted you all to see what you think after researching it.
Buddy came to mind first with me, because I literally learned how o play shortstop all those years ago by reading his book, and watching pretty much every televised Mets game when he was our team's shortstop. He was sensational a shortstop.
The probiotic in this "Neuro Tonix" is a tablet that melts in your mouth taken before bedtime. This scientist/professor used its initial testing on his own wife, who had become quite riddled with Alzheimers. He did it for her, it worked, and now wants everyone to know about it. You may already know, but to me this is brand new. So see what you think if/when you study it online. I make no money off this in anyway, so you know. Just trying to help people.
Thanks.
BTW
ReplyDeleteProbiotics also work for human gut biome strenthening. Everything begins there in the gut, and there are many foods and artificial sweetners that can ruin our gut biome's natural functioning. It is part of this Alzheimers model and even some depression issues as well.
Study up and see.