Ray Savage - Little Lies

 

                                  SAVAGE VIEWS – LITTLE LIES

March 30, 2023

Ah, Spring is in the air and ST has come to a close.   As we begin a new season, the typical Mets fan is wondering who will be our World Series opponent.  Hate to bust your bubble, but, I am not convinced that we are a play-off caliber team yet.

Coming into Spring Training, we were excited about the possibility that our three top prospects had a better than even choice of making the opening day roster.  The facts are none of them had a realistic chance.  Once the Mets signed Nido to a two-year contract and also signed Narvaez to another two-year contract, the fate of Alvarez was sealed.   We saw that Alvarez was not allowed to prove himself this spring as he was given limited playing time.  The decision to send him to AAA was pre-determined prior to his first spring appearance.  Most of us agree that Alvarez will benefit by spending time refining his defensive skills.  However, don’t be surprised if he does appear in a major league uniform before September, unless there is an injury.  In fact, since both Nido and Narvaez are signed through 2024, it won’t be surprising if Alvarez does not get the full-time catching gig until 2025.

Brett Baty and Mark Vientos showed their considerable skills this spring and both appear to be major league ready.  There is little for either to gain through additional seasoning in the minors.  And yet they were demoted based on some outdated theory that they should have at least 400 at-bats in AAA.   Neither had a legitimate chance to make the opening day roster as long as Escobar, Vogelbach, Canha and Pham are all heading north.  Again the decision to farm out Baty and Vientos was made prior to the first pitch thrown this spring.

It will be a waste of talent and detrimental to the overall performance of the team to keep Baty and Vientos down any longer than absolutely necessary.  Roster space must be made available by finding new homes for Escobar and Vogelbach.  Baty then becomes the everyday third baseman whose presence will improve the stats for those hitting around him.  Vientos then takes over the DH role on a full-time basis.  While he may not be a potential gold glover he can do an adequate job of spelling Baty and Alonso.

In order for the Mets to have a successful season, they need to field a strong offensive team.  Their best offensive team would include Baty and Vientos.  If Baty and Vientos wind up spending the season in the minors it would hinder the transition of Mauricio and Alvarez.  Baty and Vientos both need to establish themselves before consideration can be given to incorporating Alvarez and Mauricio.

No one can predict how well our starting rotation will fare.  With two 40 year olds heading the rotation, an unproven Senga and Carrasco and Peterson filling out the rotation, expect the bull-pen to be taxed to the limit.  Right now, I don’t see us as play-off bound.  I’m terrified that we will trade top prospects in order to acquire a closer.  I can see another PCA in our future.

 

Ray