As the season for the Mets draws to a disappointing close:
The Atlanta Braves are the intra-Division team the Mets are hoping to someday overtake.
The magnitude of that “overtake” task, however, seems extreme. Why?
Well, heading into Wednesday’s action, with 5 games left, the Braves had hit 301 HRs, far beyond the Mets’ single season record of 242.
916 Braves runs scored, a huge number. Mets at 691, 225 runs behind.
And a Braves’ .501 TEAM slug %.
.501?? The whole team??
How high is that?
Highest in baseball history, brother/sister/mister, that’s how high.
Heck, the murderous 1927 Yankees of Ruth and Gehrig had “just” a .488 team slug %.
The Mets’ highest in a full season? Just .445.
The 1986 Mets? 100 slugging points lower than these Braves, with Darryl and Keith’s team clocking in at .401.
And the 2023 Mets? .407, or 94 points behind the Braves.
Heck, there are many Mets seasons where not even a single player achieves a .501 slugging %.
And the Mets’ greatest, David Wright, over his career? Just .491.
How David Stearns is going to truly narrow that humongous slugging/scoring gap, and with it the teams’ equally huge win gap, is beyond me.
His executive actions will have to be drastic, and he’ll have to be lucky, too.
However…
Some positive signs Saturday in the sweep:
Megill dazzled in game 1, going 7.1 IP and the Francisco’s took over, with Lindor smacking a 2 run shot, and Alvarez slamming 2, a 2 runner and a grand slam. Maybe there is hope.
32 comments:
Tylors last 7 games…a 2.63 ERA. FINISHING STRONG.
Good Morning Tom,
Depending on what the David Stearns Mets do over the winter if there is one or two starting pitcher positions open come spring training I see a lot of competition with Peterson, Megill, Luchessi and to a less extent Butto. I also feel we will see Vasil pitching in some spring training games.
Maybe I am always hopeful when it comes to the Mets but it looks interesting.
Stearns I am sure has been watching the Team over the last few weeks so I am sure he has some ideas as to how he can make this team better.
Last night games were terrific. Alvarez looked great. He definitely is our catcher going forward. Mauricio looked good and I feel he will get better with more time.
The lineup has a few holes but not many but maybe Stearns can make it better.
This winter will be interesting.
We need to get better than the Marlins and Philly to make the playoffs next season.
Tom, pitching wins. And, good pitching always beats good hitting. The Mets can close the gap quicker if they can get the pitching to shut them down when they play. Plus, are you expecting 70/40 every year? Or 54 homeruns? Or Ozuna to still play like an all-star? Let’s see what happens…. The Dodgers are a juggernaut, but the Padres took them down last year in the playoffs. The Pads just didn’t have the pitching depth this year, but it was still a winning record.
Boys if at lest two of our Baaby Mets don’t perform as solid MLers next year it’s another 75 win season. Let’s hope Alvarez,,Mauricio,Baty and Vientos work hard this winter..
They just couldn't lose the last 3 games of the season to insure they went into the lottery pick at 1.6
They couldn't even do that
Woody
I think the Mets walk away here.2-4 at worst
25 home runs plus top 10 defense work... for a catcher... is far from a failure
And my beliefs are that... in the long run... Mauricio will excel at THIRD
2 out of 4 is slightly above the average in league history
Hope so,
Good comments, gents.
Mack, I am 1005 with you, This team never doesmuch of anything right. You want them to win, they lose. You want them to lose, they win.
Gus, it is possible that Peterson and Megill finally got to an effective level. Lucchesi too. But my gut tells me one of the 3 will pitch like bona fide MLB starters next year. I hope I am wrong. Get me a Yamamoto. I could use Senga II.
The Baby Mets, other than Alvarez, are question marks. Rather than exclamation points.
Agree on Megill Peterson and Lucchese
Add Butto
These 4 will produce an ADEQUATE SP5
Did anyone here really think we would luck into the lottery pick? Really come on now. It should be a VERY interesting off season to say the least. The season sucked but with SC's money and a real PBO with a solid track record and our current group of quality youngsters I'm really excited about this winter. Hey I gotta have something to look forward to after my Jets lost Rodgers and my Giant got creamed by Dallas those neverending disasters continue so my Mets please don't disappoint I'm getting to old to go through this again MAKE THE PLAYOFFS NEXT YEAR!
The first thing Stearns needs to do is hop on Steve's private jet with Cohen himself , his current GM and Senga and fly to Japan and lock down Yamamoto
Thru July and largely pre-selloff, the Mets (who were once 14-7) were 50-55. Do the Math, and that is 36-48 after the 14-7 start.
After the epic sell off, the Mets lost 10 of their first 12 August games, and it seemed like they were a lock for a HIGH DRAFT PICK.
Then, the Mets have played 1 game over .500 after the first 12 games of August. SMH.
Baty needs to take 1,000,000 swings at sliders on the inside corner at the knees this winter. Then he needs to take 1,000,000 fly balls to work on his outfield skills. If he can get rid of that hole in his swing, he can turn into a productive outfielder with a strong arm and some power. As Mack said (and he's usually right), Mauricio will excel at 3B.
Thank you Paul
I have a funny feeling that Jett Williams will push the envelop and wind up in Queens after the 2024 ASG
He will instantly cement Jeff McNeil in the outfield and Mauricio on third
Alvarez is one home run behind tying Johnny Bench's all time home run record for rookie catchers
And some say he has failed this season
Some people are never satisfied.
Johnny hit 15 as a rookie, in 154 games, and 26 in his sophomore year.
But Mikey Pizza hit 35 as a rookie for the record.
Piazza was 24, though, when he did it. We’ll see how Alvarez does in 3 years when he turns 24. I’m guessing 40.
The Baby Mets failed not Alvarez! But. Alvarez has a way to go, 25 HRs great but pitchers will adjust,will Alvarez.
I forgot to put in
Under 21 of age
Wood
I want to thank you for showing.up every day with your negative spin about the team
Though I often don't agree with you all discussions need both the pro and con.on a subject
You supply that
Thank you
Let me start over
Needs one home run to tying for the.most homers in ANY SEASON FOR A PLAYER 21 OR UNDER
Now THAT is incredible. And in just 122 games. We’ve got ourselves a freak.
Negative spin or realistic? This is a 75 win team with the highest payroll ever! They have. One of the six worst records in the game.. Our beloved Baby Mets hit like 220 with tons of strikeouts and two of them seem to lack positions. Holes everywhere.
Wrong again
Should have said youngest catcher.under 21
I will give.up now
Sorry
Take the compliment Wood
I'd like to think we are on the right path. I'm very optimistic about our future.
Buck is out as manager. just broke
Oh no I can't say "What The Buck" anymore. I'm going with "The Futures so Bright I gotta Wear Shades" as we have Steves money Stern's smart's 5 solid everyday players ( I'm adding Alvy) and half a dozen quality prospects plus the new and improved Peterson Megill Q and Butto and they haven't even started the off season yet. Now if we can't even make the Wildcard next year then there's a problem but I'm staying optimistic. I want "Mack Attack" next year to be a positive thing.
The new manager needs to retaliate on HBP. It will bring down the number of HBPs for Mets batters, and keep them HEALTHIER.
The season spiraled out of control when Atlanta hit Alonso in early June. 2022, ditto, when Marte was HBP in early Sept.
Butto has surprised me, he has really upped his game.
Gary I think it would be fine going forward to use WTB or that the Mets Bucked Up...good ole Uncle Buck is now part of the history.
I like Mauricio at third. Plenty of 2nd base candidates. Baty should shag fly balls all winter.he can be passable. And correct his swing path and spin recognition. Gilbert closest to reach in this next wave.....question, why doesn't anyone pitch inside against diving over the plate braves especially the mets. Move some feet!!!
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