I am writing this in puzzlement and despair.
Maybe the 2023 Mets go on a tear, win almost every game remaining a la 1969 and 2015. Although seemingly going on a tear might have more to do with a hamstring than wins this year.
I still say this:
A fine team on paper going into 2023.
A lousy team on field during 2023.
Sell.
Blow the team up.
If you’re going to lose anyway, spend like Pittsburgh.
Stockez-vous beaucoups des prospects magnifique.
OK, not great French. Get over it with a tasty soufflé.
Have a nice day, a belle jour, and enjoy the rest of your season.
Bonjour.
Au revoir.
But, of course, there are those who hold onto the faint hope that the Wild Card is Tres Attainable.
And steadfastly maintain that those hopes are not a bunch of crepe.
Then, if that is vous, strap in, stay the course, remain hopeful, and wait until the off season for repairs and overhauls.
Let’s win a World Series, they plead.
That wine connoisseur Tom Seaver got us to two World Series, although reaching both highly unexpected. “One more such shocker, in 2023, and let’s raise glasses and have a champagne toast”, is what they wish.
Yogi said it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
Well, your Yoo Hoo is about to turn into Boo Hoo.
Sorry, Yogi, it’s over - before it’s over.
Just keep in mind, with any sell-off involving pitching, that theSyracuse ERA is 5.75. In fact, the whole league is averaging around 5.30. Per Buck Showalter, the new way of calling strikes there in AAA has narrowed the strike zone to the point where pitchers only expect strikes if they are entirely over “the white”. Which clearly will lead to more hitting success.
And makes it harder, I’d think, to know who to call up to pitch, and even who to call up to hit when the International League has turned into the hitting equivalent of the Pacific Coast League, with recollections of the Mets’ days in Lost Wages, Nevada when the likes of Eric Campbell put up big but deceiving stats.
Billy and the boys will sort it all out this week back at the Ponderosa.
No doubt.
Bring in more Trevor Gotts, Billy. He’s dynamite. Some just Gott it.
Guys not kept for 2023?
Seth Lugo, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker, Chris Bassitt, and Trevor Williams? Remember them?
In 2023, they are a combined 40-25, 3.75. Who needs that, anyway? Suffering is far preferable.
JEFFRY ROSA
A 2022 S100,000 bonus 6’1”, 190 OF; in just 84 at bats in the DSL this year, he is hitting .300 with 8 doubles.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention…ELEVEN HOME RUNS. 26 RBIs, too.
He didn’t grow up on a ball field. No, he grew up on a launch pad
AMAZING.
Less amazing, but for this organization not even the tiniest bit surprising, is this news, reported by Mike Mayer and seen by moi this morning, in METS TRADE RUMORS:
Mets pitching prospect Calvin Ziegler isn’t expected to pitch in 2023 after suffering a torn right quad, according to Mike Mayer of Metsmerized (Twitter link). 2023 becomes an entirely lost season for the 20-year-old, who had yet to pitch this year due to an elbow surgery to remove bone spurs.
THIS ORGANIZATION SURE KNOWS HOW TO LOSE PROSPECT PITCHERS FOR AN ENTIRE SEASON.
Bon jour.
ReplyDeleteSacre bleu.
ReplyDeleteJeffry Rosa is the example of what good player development looks like. Hope he keeps it up
ReplyDeleteErnest, I like that Rosa is still 18 and doing that. Imagine if he had played all 35 of his team’s games and not missed 9.
ReplyDeleteAmazingly, though, in the big picture, the 2 LAD teams are 50-17, +188 runs, while the two DSL Mets squads are 29-41, - 57 runs.
I’d love to hear why we can’t be like LAD once in a while.
I am happy we have several good hitters, but the pitching is mostly weak.
Lastly, does Showalter want to keep managing? Is he still managing or just looking to stay out of the way, because that’s what it appears to be. He lauds himself as a teacher, yet loathes youngsters… isn’t that a contradiction?
ReplyDeleteDoes DeRosa want the job?
ReplyDeleteGus, very valid points. I think partial detonation is the way to go. Every club would want Max or Justin for a playoff push, but my guess is few would be willing to assume even half their remaining salaries. Near-term (2023-24) pitching help of real substance is nowhere to be seen in the Mets minors. Possibly Tidwell, Vasil, and Hamel, but Tidwell is far off, and the other 2 have been shaky. Stuart and Scott, possible back end rotation guys in a year or two.
ReplyDeleteSo, to jettison those two would be very hard. If you cannot get strong return for Robertson, keep him. Get Mauricio and Vientos playing ASAP. The majors are a tough place to thrive without a bunch of “Baty” games. I asu e Baty and Alvarez will thrive in 2024, because they’ve been through the fires in 2023.
Get Lavender up here, let’s ride him the rest of 2023, even if he struggles. He could be another Hartwig.
I’d even promote Rowdey Jordan soon. See if he can adapt.
Trade McNeil to Yanksfor Thorpe and another top pitcher prospect? Why not?
Yes, it is a big contradiction, unless the front office tells him it is time to play Vientos and Mauricio.
ReplyDeleteI have little illusion that if they both got called up now, that they would hit over .220 - 230.
But that step will get them to .250 - .260 next year, cheaply. Save money, stock the bullpen.
DeRosa? Perfect for 2024.
ReplyDeleteI also would like only a modified tear down, as opposed to scorched earth, for 2 reasons:
1) would like to win another WS in my lifetime
2) Little confidence this org can build a winner the old-fashioned way…home-grown talent.
Would you trade Parada, Jett, Mauricio and Vientos for Elly de la Cruz?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.mlb.com/news/elly-de-la-cruz-blasts-long-home-run-vs-brewers
ReplyDeleteAgree Trevor's Gotta go. Look Schwarber's hitting .185 but has 26 dingers and 62 RBI so don't you think it's worth playing Ronnie and Mark to maybe see if at least one of them can get close to those numbers but you have to play them.
ReplyDeleteAnd somehow they get by with schwarber in leftfield.
ReplyDeleteMauricio looks error prone at ss and second base.
Force him in Outfield .athletic with good arm and some speed. Looks a little awkward so far but give him reps. But they're back playing him at second and last few games at ss. What are they doing???
Jge, it certainly is a Mauricio Mystery. Frankly, and I said it the other day, if I was Ronny, I would have drilled on 2B and OF all of my free time this past winter. NO excuses that the Mets could use to slow walk him.
ReplyDeleteGary, I think Vientos could do those numbers right now.
ReplyDeleteYou could certainly find enough AB's for Pete Brett Mark and Ronnie at DH 1st 3rd LF because the season is over and it's time but we might have to tie up Buck our Titanic Capt. and not let him make up the lineup card. There was a post that mentioned a comp for Mauricio is Alfonso Soriano and I'll take that in a second.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing this AARP team was built for 1 maybe 2 postseason runs and by now we realize it was 1 run so is it smart to try and squeeze a 3rd season out of this group or make some serious changes ASAP
ReplyDeleteGary, allow me to chime in here. It’s Keith Law that has been calling and still calls Mauricio a perfect comp to Alfonso Soriano. He keeps pointing to the size and quick and strong wrists. As for the AARP twins, I know what you mean but as Tom covered above, do the Mets have a choice? There is nothing in the minors that can offer what they can and there won’t be in free agency. So, what option do the Mets have? A complete tear down and rebuild will not be well accepted.
ReplyDeleteTex I get it a rebuild is hard to sell but do u really think after this years total collapse trying to sell this team to the fan base and expecting a rebound next year with mostly the same old cast is the way to go? If SC really wants to win a WS anytime in future we have to go through Atlanta and there already lightyear's ahead of us so to me major wise choices need to be made or were rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Also Pete and Jeff's freefall along with Marte's injury issues is a factor as well.
ReplyDeleteGary, Pete is heating up, and I have what I think is an interesting different perspective on Ronny on Thursday. Don’t miss it.
ReplyDelete