Well, Cohen 2023 big bucks spending fell short…what’s next??
Arch rival Atlanta has an ultra-potent offense.
As in 209 more runs than the Mets through their first 147 games.
They're set. So set.
Matt Olson...they lose Freddie Friggin' Freeman and get a guy slugging more ferociously than the Mets' all-time ferocity leader, Pete Alonso.
Plus the Bravos have Acuna Matata and his trouble-free philosophy...he will end up with 140+ runs, 70+ steals, and .340, plus tons of HRs at age 25.
And plenty of others Bravaderos. You know who they are.
So...I then look at their top 30 prospect list and see that # 1 thru # 7, and # 10, are all right hand pitchers!
One is a 55 grade, 6 are 50 grades, and one is a 45.
They are super stocked with future pitching (which every team needs) going forward, in other words.
Supreme current offense. Endless supply of current/future pitching.
The Mets, on the other hand, much more badly need pitching.
After all, they've given up 51 more runs than Braves pitchers this year.
They've also given up Verlander, Scherzer, and Robertson.
The Mets’ top 10 prospects at this time of urgent need, unlike the Braves, include just 2 pitchers - #9 Mike Vasil and # 10 Blade Tidwell. Both are 50 graded arms.
Top 8 Mets prospects are anll offensive players, unless they suddenly wake up one day and say, “I just realized…I’m a better pitcher than hitter.” Not very likely to happen.
All other higher Mets pitching prospects in their top 30 list, like Hamel, Scott, and others, are ranked only as 45's.
Numerically, then, both in quantity and relative ratings, the Braves' pitcher prospects are better.
There's that "better" word again.
Braves = Better.
Mets = Mutter.
Of course, we all know Matt Allan will return to the Mets in 2024 as Jake deGrom II - in our dreams. Bryce MDO returns breathing fire from the pen again, but with pinpoint control.
We may not have Paris - but thankfully, we do have Joander Suarez.
Moving on...
Two of the Mets' current "hot" prospects in the majors - Baty and Vientos - have not hit well in 2023. Period. Certainly not like Olson and Ronald McDonald Acuna.
Will they hit in 2024? (Hint: Mark will. Will 2024 Baty outhit 2023 Vogelbach? We’ll see.)
We need them both, though, to hit like they are worthy of being on a 95 win team. Not like they are auditioning for the Oakland 65’s.
The Braves simply have stunning talent. The 1986 Mets would have been VERY hard-pressed to beat them. A super-smart Georgia front office, too.
Will the Mets EVER catch the Braves? I am pessimistic.
Mr. Stearns has the ultimate challenge, huh?
How does he close that chasm?
Weigh in, please.
Only you, our readers, know what to do. You need to tell us. Please spill.
16 comments:
Well, Vientos had 2 HRs, Baty one, and Mauricio got on base a few times. Maybe those 3 will help close the Mets-Braves gap in 2024?
Pitching will help close the gap. Can't wait to see what they do this off season.
Ray, 260 run differential is a huge gap, and we lost Justin, Max and David. Lots of gap o close to be remotely competitive.
The head Braves scout for years has been Brian Bridges.
He basically built the team you watch today
He left the Braves yesterday
To the Royals
I feel your article is flawed. The Mets top 30 were effected by the trade deadline as the Mets added a lot of top position players. These players pushed the pitchers further down our top 30. All articles I have read recently said that the Mets farm system is at the present time better than Atlanta’s.
As far as numbers go they do not mean anything until a pitcher moves up to the Show and proves that he is good. I see a lot of good young pitchers moving up in the Mets system that I hope in a year or two will help out. Cohen can also go out and get good pitchers in free agency.
The Mets have a very good group of youngsters that I feel with more confidence will really help next year, plus add in this new group that is in AA now. It looks good to me.
I see Vientos, Mauricio and Alvarez Al, doing well with the Mets next year. These are all players who are a home run threat every time they come to the plate. Adding them to Alonso, Nimmo, McNeil, and Lindor will really help our line up.
The Mets need to add some starting and relief pitchers and I feel we should be competing for a playoff spot next year. Atlanta has a great team and we need to get better which I feel we will do. Only time will tell. The NY Mets fan motto is wait until next year.
Wow. Now it is the Royals’ turn.
Tom,
The Braves have known for a long time that the minor leagues is what keeps the ML team on top for long periods of time. This is why they are the class of the NL East.
They have the scouts, trainers, facilities to teach these players the right way to play baseball. How often do you see the Braves bringing up a prospect that fails and has to be sent down to the minors again?. Not often but with the Mets it seems to be a 50/50 chance or worse.
If the Mets want to compete with the Braves in the near future, they have to build the minor leagues and wait until it starts giving them the top end prospects that the team will need to build upon for the future. They also have to lock those players to long contracts like the Braves do time and time again.
This is why the Mets need to be open about trading Pete Alonso. Find out what kind of return they could get for him vs how much money and years he wants. He wants Freddie Freeman's money? okay, wants over 200 million for 10 years?, nice knowing you.
2024 is supposed to be a building year for the Mets so they should not go after old players but sign players with 2025 in mind for being the year where they will compete with the Braves.
The Braves were working on their player development system long before the Mets. This is the result. The Mets have done great things to improve their system and are continuing to work it. Unfortunately, the key ingredient is time. We will gradually see the results and some day should see the strength the Braves have built.
Raw, I did not say Atlanta’s system is better. I did say they are stocked right now with MLB offense, and will remain so. So their future need is pitching, and the rankings of prospect pitchers (which I did not create) indicate the Braves are better positioned with pitchers in the minors than the Mets. I hope actuality is the Mets’ arms are better. We’ll see. It is possible. I like the Mets’ minors pitchers.
Between the 4 current baby Mets and the offensive players in the minors, best group of up-and-coming hitters ever for the Mets.
Paul, I think our system will surge with hitters.
Pitchers? Fingers and toes crossed.
Viper, Pete’ HRs and RBIs are remarkable by historical Mets’ standards. He is our Shaquille O’Neal.
Yet, there is a surge of young hitters in the organization. A Pete trade could be entertained, but the talent in return HAS to be overwhelming in terms of pitching. Or forget it.
This team struggles to score more than three runs. Imagine what it would be like without Pete!
Look we know were a long way from topping the Braves but when you look at the teams fighting for the playoffs we should cetainly be in that group next year as we just need to make the playoffs then anything can happen. SC's money is the big difference and we must capitalize on it to move the process forward quicker and a factor we never had before Mr. Cohen.
This is great reading today, a very good thread. I agree on being open to trading Alonso but on one condition: The Mets do not sign Ohtani. If they do, keep Alonso as a second power source. Alone, Alonso is not enough so just move him.
Also, while we are all ready to squander Cohen’s money, in my opinion Eppler did a better job of throwing my money away than we ever can.
Lastly, have y’all seen the article in The Athletic that quotes a Tommy Pham as calling some of the Mets the laziest bunch of players he’s ever played with? Ouch!
Gus, Pham gave the biggest rationale why long term contracts are anathema. Some guys get paid multi-year and get lazy. Playing on yearly contracts would fire a lot of players up. Won’t ever happen, of course.
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