SAVAGE VIEWS – I Wonder as I Wander

At this point of the season, I’m not sure if  I’m an Optimist or a Pessimist.  

Pre-season, I predicted that not only would the Mets be playoff bound but they would field a competitive team that would challenge the Braves and Phillies.  My optimism was fueled by the return of Diaz which would make the entire bullpen better but also the return of our core players to career norms.  I was also enthused by the hiring of Carlos Mendoza as someone who would bring energy to the clubhouse.

A quarter of the season is history and some things are evident.  

First of all, Diaz has not returned to being Diaz – he has gone from being the best closer in MLB to one of the worst.  Hopefully, his mechanics can be fixed and he becomes elite again.  In the meantime, he should be moved out of primetime. 

Nothing more needs to be said about the dismal seasons being endured by Lindor, Alonso and McNeil.  Recently, there have been discussions about moving in a different direction.  Lindor is an example of the fallacy of signing players to long-term deals.  As he gets older, it’s hard to envision him getting better.  Looks as though we’re stuck with him for the next few years.  

It’s a matter of time before Alonso is given his walking papers.  Recent experience in giving out extensions, see McNeil and Nido, should force us to shy away from Alonso.

Expectations are that in 2025 several notable prospects will be knocking at the door.  Gilbert, Williams, Acuna and Rameriz might be ready to take the leap with a healed Maurico in the picture as well.  While it’s hard to predict what will transpire between now and then, players such as Marte, Bader and Taylor might not be back.  Let’s not forget the wild card and potential off-season signings such as Soto.

At the moment Baty is the only third basemen on the active roster.  As much as I like Vientos as a player, his ability to field third base reminds me of another Dr. Strange-glove, Dick Stuart.  In one recent game I counted at least three miscues.  His bat does not make up for his fielding deficiencies.   I can see Mark taking over for Alonso at first when he leaves.

Most Met fans are delighted with the signing of JD Martinez.  I’m not one of them.  I thought Vientos had earned the DH spot out of spring training and the signing of JD sent the wrong message to our younger players.  Had Vientos been the DH since the start of the season, we might have won a few more games.  Our record with JD in the lineup has been less than stellar.

Hiring a manager with no previous managerial experience means going through some growing pains.  While I believe that Mendoza will work out in the long-term, he has made some decisions that have been costly. He’s shown a tendency to remove a SP at the first sign of trouble.  

Case in point, Quintana, up two zip, was taken out in the sixth after allowing two baserunners who were allowed to score by an overworked pen.  The idea that a SP must be removed if he is remotely near 100 pitches is absurd.  

Or having Vientos hit for Baty in the sixth because a lefty is pitching made no sense.  Putting in a defensively challenged player late in a game when said player will likely be facing a RH pitcher with the game on the line.  

Recently, he made the smart move of walking Harper leading off the 10^th inning and the next batter hit into a DP.  Unfortunately, he did not learn his lesson as when the opportunity presented itself again, he let the leadoff batter hit, advanced the runner and another game was lost.

As Yogi used to say, “it’s getting late early”.  Let’s see what the coming week has in store for us.

Ray

May 21, 2024