When one tries to think of the slugger most similar to Pets Alonso from my teenage days, Harmon Killebrew comes to mind. Big HRs, big RBIs.
Harmon was hitting just .210 with 17 HRs at the 1968 All Star Break. Let’s hope Pete finishes strong after the ASB in 2023, and there are real signs of a strong 2nd half for Pete, but that Killebrew average looks fairly close to his. At least until last night, when Pete broke loose with 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, of course.
Harmon slipped into an excruciating full split on a stretch for a throw at first base in that mid-season classic, tore his hammy, and his season was over.
Some thought Harmon might be finished. Kaput.
But seasons change.
The next season in 1969, healed up, Killebrew stormed back and had 49 HRs, 140 RBIs, a league-leading .427 OBP, and garnered an AL MVP.
He was “Harmon” lots of baseballs. Ouch.
Who knows?
Pete’s 2024 just might be a replay of Harmon’s 1969, whaddya say?
Shorten those Citi Fences this off-season and let’s really find out.
If he does viciously rebound, we can toast one another with a Killebrewski.
THIS JUST IN:
TOM PETTY NOTES THE METS ARE FREE FALLIN’.
This Mets team is a bunch of Heartbreakers.
Living like a refugee.
Recent Jarvis Addition Note:
Justin Jarvis, recently acquired right hander via trade, made his Syracuse debut Sunday. Final line, 3 innings, 5 hits, 2 HRs, 5 runs, 1 BB, 3 K.
Gotta start somewhere, get ‘em next time, welcome aboard.
NIDO VS. MAURICIO IN AAA:
Tomas Nido was written about in a harsh, yet objective way in his Mets tenure earlier this year. Some of that, it turned out, was due to vision issues, since addressed.
Demoted, Tomas has been HOT of late, and his slash is up to .313/.374/.470.
In fact, on July 4, in AAA, he was just 6 for 33, after a 3 for 15 initial stint in low A ball. So, he was 9 for his first 48 minors ABs, continuing his Mets hitting woes.
Since then, though? A sizzling 20 for 50 (.400). Found the light switch.
Compare if you wish to Ronny Mauricio, at just .289/.338/.479, and much colder than Nido of late, when you are considering Mauricio’s readiness.
Meanwhile, in last night's 11-2 drubbing of the Cubs, Mark Vientos dropped an 0-5 in the midst of a hitting party to drop to .202. That’s what Pete had dropped to before starting his turnaround. May Mark do the same.
And that Kodai Guy, Senga, won his 8th and graduated to ace of his class.
God bless you, everyone, says Tiny Tom, as he wraps up today’s missive.
22 comments:
I noticed Pete was all smiley hitting against Smyly.
Moving the fences might be a good idea. The Orioles did and look at them.
When I was a youngin we all cut our sleeves off to look like Teddy Klu
Of cource having a set of guns helped
Back then if I cut my sleeves I would look like Don Knotts.
Sleeveless Joe Jackson?
MOVETHOSE FENCES IN. MAKE IT COZY.
Tom I'm just glad your not "Petty" and remember "Love is a Long Road" as a Met fan. Nice wet night last night but it sure would be good to see Vientos actually hit a little. The baby Mets are sure not like baby Braves but need to be if we ever think we can climb that mountain. If you want to look at a good example of wise verses unwise spending look no further than the signing's of Nimmo and McNeil. Atlanta is paying 100 million for 8 years of Acuna at 25 Harris 72 million for 8 years at 22 and Albies 72 million for 35 million at 26. We're paying 162 million for 8 years of Nimmo at 30 and 50 million for 4 years of Jeff at 31. Need I say more and our guys aren't even close in talent and they get 3 for 207 million and we get 2 for 212 million. This is the problem we have to fix ASAP.
I mentioned a few times here that developing one top prospect out of every three is the goal of every team
They just don't all work out
The Mets now have a top prospect (Acuna) who is proficient at short second and center
Hopefully the Mets put a contingency plan together in winter ball and get this kid some third base reps
I'm worried Vientos is gonna follow Baty back to Syracuse. He's had some good at bats but the K's are mounting
Frankly he should
Mets clubhouse and dugout pretty toxic right now
3rd rd 3B/OF/RP Nolan McLean debuts today at DH for FCL
Great.two way pick by the Mets
Good to see McLean getting in there. Sproat soon?
Part Uno
It's the pitching that makes this franchise great, when they are great. Everyone falls in love with the homeruns. They are moonshots and gorgeous. Like falling stars. I love them myself.
However, this Mets franchise only goes deep into the playoffs when their pitching staff is great. Moonshots alone don't do it. That's starting pitching and relief pitching, both.
Moonshots are truly a thing of beauty, but it's all about the pitching first here with these NY Mets.
Part Dos
So it's the pitching first, then the hitting right close behind it. True. So what's really interesting with the Syracuse pitching right now in no order.
Hunter Parsons age 26 / 5-3 record / 48 KO's in 39 innings / 3.89 ERA / 1.25 WHIP
Nate Lavender age 23 / 3-2 record / 60 KO's in 37 innings / 1.14 WHIP / LEFTY
Mike Vasil age 23 / 2-3 record / 95 KO's in 81 innings / 1.24 WHIP
Maybe one or two could start, the other relieve. We'll see in time.
Pitching first Mets teams have produced one WS crown in the last 54 years.
My biggest failure on this site was not getting this particular anonymous guy to write for the site
Both Parsons and Vasil have some work to do
Positional Syracuse Players of note, and others.
1. Ronnie Mauricio - age 22 / LF, 1B , 3B, DH .289 BA / 16 HR / .338 OBP
2. Lorenzo Cedrola - age 25 / OF / .262 BA / .371 OBP
3. Brandon Mcllwain - age 25 / OF / .269 BA / .363 OBP
Then you have after these players further down but close for consideration:
Luisangel Acuna - AA / SS/2B / .308 BA / .371 OBP / 7 HR
Drew Gilbert - AA / OF / .277 BA / .367 OBP / 12 HR
My point here is that several 2024 ST invites and subsequent roster moves could include players from this list above for positions and roles on the 2024 NY Mets.
Because defense first had more
Summary
Here's how most teams plan their next season roster in the off season.
In this case with these NY Mets, they are relatively deep in everyday and utility role positional players, but clearly short in the one and two starting rotation spots. I think this is obvious to all. Let's hope so. So then, to get two really good but younger starters (one an two) back (without arm injury damage already sustained from pitching elsewhere) they will need to trade two of their best everyday starting positional players to do that.
Sure, most fans and Mets reporters will say, "Why not just go out and sign two free agent starters?" Because this seldom works out very well for this team, that's why. The reason is that by the time a starting pitcher makes free agency, he is older and may have serious mileage on his arm. We just saw that here in 2023. Do you seriously want a recurrence of that nightmare? Plus, by trading two Mets existent decent players for these two top-end starters in return, you get pitchers that are younger and hopefully with less wear and tear on their arm following research on this. And for less money too!
To me, this top starter acquisitions via trades will be the determinant in the 2024 success ratio.
So where these NY Mets have the most positional solid depth is precisely where their portion of these two trades begins.
Tom You Rascal You.
The Mets only have two WS rings. Both of these teams were pitching first. Although the 1986 team did have very impressive hitting on it.
But my point is this, with these two WS winning Mets teams it was pitching first. They did not win the 2000 NYY WS because of this factor.
It all starts with the pitching. The Braves will be the team to beat for sometime yet. They have outstanding pitching. We must compete to succeed.
Yankees have handfuls of rings…hitting-driven.
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