This is a saga of many players, but let's limit it largely to these 5 fellas, just to make a point that the Big Splash in Queens is not working:
Michael Conforto, Francisco Lindor, JD Davis, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer.
Well, when you spend $120 million in a season for Max, Justin, and Lindor, you better get co-Cy Youngs and an MVP in 2023, right?
What happens when you don't?
Even gazillionaires are handcuffed in trying to fix the team with such salary constraints. Of course, you have $20 million each for 2 non-playing players, in Edwin Diaz and Robby Cano, further exacerbating matters.
Signing 3 such fellas to be compensated $120 million for 2023 causes the Management Muckity Mucks to pinch pennies elsewhere.
So, you get rid of a JD Davis, in part because he wasn't hitting and the animalistic Mets fans reminded him of that every second of every day. And in part because he is also about to get more expensive.
So you don't sign an available Conforto to boost the outfield and DH roles, and he instead signs with the Giants for a "cheap" 2 year, $36 million deal.
So you miss out on what those two, combined, are providing to the SF Giants (through Thursday):
21 HRs, 65 RBIs, .270+ in 365 at bats.
And, of course, when you sign FA or traded-for superstars to multi-year deals, you are banking on the early portion of those deals to pay the freight, so to speak.
Max had a solid 2022, and decent 2023 so far, but not $40 million stuff, what with his injuries in those seasons. And he has a big player option for 2024.
Verlander has been injured and spotty in year one. He'll be over 40 and likey more suspect in his very expensive 2024 season.
Lindor DID have a really good year in his first contract year in 2022. Problem is, that left 9 more contract years starting in 2023, with 2023 seeming so far like either a down year or a beginning-of-decline year.
And you can't sign more quality guys, because purse strings are tight, and settle for the Phams and Nidos instead of better alternatives with losser purse strings.
Here is the problem:
If these 3 mega salary dudes don't produce big time, and the Mets' crashes-and-burns continue unabated, long time Mets fans will get old and (to put it nicely) never see a 1986 again.
Maybe I will just concede and move to Atlanta. I am getting old, and at an advancing age, the urgent desire of frequent winning is only matched by an urgency to…pee?
MOVES AND GROOVES:
Mets sign Luke Voit to a AAA deal. Pete's out for a good while, so...
Angels sign Daniel Murphy to a minor league contract. Go Murph.
Mike Vasil promoted to AAA.
Luke Ritter too. Hit 11 HRs in 15 games, and you better get promoted.
This just in":
Dom Smith just hit his second HR since mid-July 2021, spanning over 500 plate appearances. It is said by some that he idolizes the hitting style of Bud Harrelson, and of Tomas Nido, who bypassed all MLB teams and was outright to Syracuse. The DFA'd Sanchez? Doing swell in San Diego - I wonder if Billy Eppler has noticed?
8 comments:
Glad to see Sanchez doing well in San Diego.
Agreed, Ray.
If you had a pitcher who, in his last 4 starts, in 16.2 innings, allowed 29 hits and 12 walks while fanning just 14 of 90 batters faced, would you send him down or put him on the IL? THAT'S TYLOR MEGILL.
Would ya call up a guy who in 7 AAA starts is 4-1, 2.72? That's Joey Lucchesi.
Megill has allowed 22 runs (earned and unearned) in those 16.2. IP.
Mets Moves/Part 1:
Like pretty much everyone else in "MetsLand USA", I too thought the 2023 NY Mets would have it "made in the shade" in their division for 2023. It wasn't so much all the money involved, but the team had gone out and gotten some of the very best talented players available since our new owner had taken over.
But boy was I ever wrong.
Never being one to look back for too long, what needs to be done from this point on is of greater concern.
The Mets team as a whole needs to come back together, as it had been through most of the 2022 season. Mets management does need to be careful with bringing in other team's once good, but now sort of cast-off type players and looking for them to gel this team. This has been sort of a tradition here with these Ny Mets for far too long, and especially with the last ownership post the 1986/87 seasons. It just seldom seems to ever really work out well for most MLB teams including this one.
The Mets saving grace will eventually become their minor league system and the development of the finest most talented players drafted. There appears to be new names popping up in the minors for them now. Guys like pitchers Mike Vasil, Nate Lavender, Christian Scott, and Josh Walker (already up here).
On the hitting/fielding side players like the above mentioned OF Matt Rudick, INF Jose Peroza, and of course INF Ronnie Mauricio. This will become an expanded list with the new ownership now in-place. But it does take some time to develop and we will all need to be somewhat patient with this.
But it will pay off handsomely keeping these young players in the NY Mets system.
Keep the Kids.
Mets Moves/Part 2
Overestimation of MiLB Talent Promoted
This can become a sort of obvious thing, this overestimating player talent and player adjustment timeframes to here. Sometimes they are up here by necessity to injuries of starters. While others arrive here because they have proven that they are totally ready for this MLB challenge.
I have often noticed that some AAA players come up to the bigs ready to kind of rule the league, i.e. C Francisco Alvarez. They come up with a silent scream "I am here everyone!". While others have to sort of shake out all the jitter-bugs first, and inch into their way into their new Mets uniform. Every player being different, and on their own unique time agenda. Some come up with the accompaniment of fan yawns. Then become really terrific players a bit later on after their adjustments are all completed. While others kind of explode onto the new MLB stage.
But it is fun watching all the new players come up from the minors, make their adjustments and seeing just who they can become as a NY Mets player.
The trick for having a great organization begins with careful drafting of young talent, and building a deep MiLB system at every level. This is what I like to call the "Swiss Watch Effect".
A nice trade for the Mets
Corbin
Burnes
age 28
Milwaukee Brewers
But just how is to acquire is the question?
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