Here we are at the All-Star break and it’s rather unclear which direction our favorite team is going.
As many of you know, pre-season I predicted that the Mets would make the playoffs and would make a deep run. What’s clear thus far is that there are no really dominant teams in baseball.
The
pre-season favorites are looking very fragile these days. An argument can be made that the Mets match
up favorably with such teams as the Yankees, Braves, Phillies and Dodgers. Each of these teams has problems that make
them vulnerable. Here are my latest thoughts.
MENDOZA
LINES
I continue
to be perplexed by the daily moves made by our novice manager. For Example:
· Bringing in Diekman on Friday was
not the best choice. At this point, Jake should only be used in mop-up situations.
· After Iglesias and Bader had career
days on Friday, both were benched on Saturday in favor of Stewart and Gamel. Not
only that but Stewart keeps getting put in the five-hole when he plays.
· On Sunday I thought I would experience a criticism free game. But then with two men on Mendoza decided to have JD Martinez pinch-hit for McNeil. McNeil had previously shown signs of coming out of his season long slump with several hard drives.
JD on the other hand has not
been making solid contact over the last few weeks. Righty against righty and
the results were predictable. I’m afraid JD left his Superman cape in LA.
More competent management might have resulted in a half dozen or more wins. On one hand, I try to remain optimistic but then there are those moves that snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Mendoza reminds me a lot of Joe Torre, loved
by the media, a calm demeanor, loved by his players and not a great in-game
strategist. We all remember how well Torre’s reign with the Mets went.
SAYONARA
Time to bid
adieu to several players who continue to underperform.
· DJ Stewart continues to demonstrate that
he is not a major league caliber player.
I would love to see the Mets bring back someone like Michael Conforto
from the Giants. Mike’s acquisition cost
can’t be too high.
· Tyrone Taylor is a marginal talent who
should be easy to replace. Hopefully,
Starling Marte will be ready to return soon.
· Ben Gamel – not sure why he is on the
team. Another marginal talent.
· JD Martinez – JD provided a spark
for several weeks, but lately the luster has worn off. His recent Abs have not been acceptable. I understand that he has had a positive
influence but his continued presence batting third only drags down the lineup. Not
sure what’s going on with Baty, but let’s find out if he is a keeper.
· Any bullpen arm not named Diaz, Nunez,
Butto, Reid-Foley and Garrett.
IMPROVING
FARM SYSTEM
There has been a tendency to criticize the lack of significant progress from recent high draft picks. Personally, I like what I see from Rameriz, Parada, Houck and the “el” guys, Hamel, Vasel and Tidwell.
Alex Rameriz is every bit as talented as PCA
and a year younger. There’s a lot of talent in the lower minor league levels,
IMO, this is the most talented group of young players in my 60 plus years of
following this team. And they have just drafted a handful of talented players.
To top things off, they are making major inroads in bringing international
talent on board.
GOING
FORWARD
The return of Senga, Reid-Foley and Garrett should bolster the pitching staff. Expect that at least one more significant arm will be added to the pen by the trade deadline plus one or more bench players to replace the departing group. So far, the team is playoff bound without major contributions from Alonso and McNeil.
There has been a tendency to underestimate
this team’s resilience. Our offense is a good as any team in baseball. The question remains is will our pitching
hold up. Stay tuned.
Ray
July 16, 2024
14 comments:
Many good points, but I don't agree with the JD Martinez dismissal. He is much more valuable than his statistics, as his hitting tips to several of the players has led to increases in their performance. If and when JD finally declines to the point he no longer has value in the lineup, they should transfer him to hitting coach.
I’m keeping battle tested JDM. I just want a few pen pieces, and a replacement for JD Stewart.
I don't understand the love affair with Stewart and McNeil has most definitely worn out his starting caliber pedigree. It's been two years now of poor performance. That's more than a slump.
I know the talk has been about the Mets being buyers at the deadline but there are definitely many people who should be offered up in trade.
Our offense is definitely top 5. Adding one quality OF could make it the best. If I am a betting man, I have this gut feeling that we don’t see Marte for 4 more weeks. Earlier, they risk a setback. 4 more weeks is far too long for Stewart and Taylor’s way sub par hitting.
I agree we have several minor league players who got off to a slow start that are doing much better. Don't give up on them. I especially think Parada ,Houck and Rameriz are players who will continue to strive with proper coaching.
Comment on MLB this morning that the 11th and 12th round picks today could be high school players who would need to be over slot offers to sign and forgo college.
Mack, do you see this as the Mets approach this afternoon rounds 11-20?
Agree 100% on Mendoza. I don't get how coaches that have been around baseball most of their lives come up with his logic. His use of the BP reminds me of Terry Collins and his affinity for the same relievers that were running on fumes. Perpetual Pedro comes to mind.
Steward should not be on the team and Taylor should be shown the door. There are more deserving players in the minors.
JDM is going to be okay. You can't be clutch all the time. He will come around.
McNeil is hitting the ball hard lately but is finding gloves. Pinch hitting for him is not going to help his confidence.
Agree on the farm system improvements. Years ago when I thought about the Mets farm, I envisioned goats and chickens. We have actual talent now.
Most of the improvements for the Mets are in-house already and coming back from injuries.
A real true test if coming with the Braves and Philthies. Lets see how this team does.
My question to you all is this:
- Honestly, can’t Alonso’s production be replaced? The production he has had this year, not in the past. I would see how he starts the second half and if it’s more of the same, I don’t wait any more.
- A comment from Ron Darling last week made me freeze. Jeff McNeil connected on an outside corner slider and feebly popped up to third base. As I watched the replay and saw how he was kind of moving to first as he just put a bat out there, Darling said that McNeil can never do anything with that pitch the way he swings. That’s a third of the plate he gives away! So, if he can stand in there and drive the ball, should they move him along?
To me, these are losses in name only, not in production. Problem is, there isn’t anyone that I feel can step into their shoes on the roster. We can put Inglesias out there and maybe expose him, but ride the wave, and bring up Baty and put Vientos at first… but I don’t think that helps any…. So, again, I leave the lineup alone.
Texas,
The Alonso question is about what he will want as a free agent vs the expected return vs how many years.
Lets not forget what Alonso hit last year, 216. In his walk year, he is hitting in the 240's and Nimmo has better stats than him.
If Vientos had the same amount of at bats that Alonso has, where would he be?
Another thing is that positions have to be opened for the up and coming prospects and the Mets need to get cheaper, faster and a lot younger.
Alonso 5 years 125M sounds good but he won't take it. He wants 200M. He is not worth that money.
to me here's what we need to think about...
If it comes down to only getting one of Soto / Alonso it has to be Soto. I love Pete but I'm I think the Mets made a very fair contract offer at 157 million. I'm concerned that he's starting to decline a bit already and will end up being more like Adam Dunn towards the end of his next contract.
Soto batting 3rd behind Lindor and Nimmo is a sick top of the order with a lot of talented young hitters building a deep lineup behind them. I would be open resigning Alonso with Soto (and the Mets should be as well) but it has to make sense. I feel like there should be a way to thread the needle and reset the luxury tax for next year while signing Soto and others to a more Ohtani like contract (big money with a bunch deferred to lower the lux tax hit). I think Pete would be a great candidate for this. You can offer him similar money to his last contract offer, even a little bit more money but double the number of years it's payed out using deferred money.
If we sign Soto and re-sign Alonso I could even see bringing JDM back on another 1 year deal (maybe with a transition to hitting coach after that). In that scenario the year would start like this in 2025...
Lindor
Nimmo
Soto
Alonso
JDM
Alvarez
Vientos
Marte (can be replaced by Drew Gilbert or Jett Williams when appropriate)
McNeil (can be replaced by Jett Williams or Acunua when appropriate)
I can even see Marte being traded to clear payroll. I'm super down on McNeil who I've loved in the past but what I like about him is that he has positional versatility.
A lot to think about for next year. I'd really like to see Soto in this lineup either way.
The Yankees are screwed with the Soto negotiations. They cannot trade such a package and not re-sign him. They are the Yankees and players will forever take advantage of them. Plus, what if this guy gets injured. Probably the best Boras contract lately is Bryce Harper only because he is still performing. But, he is now a first baseman albeit a good one. But, 13/$330 is quite a bit for a first baseman. Look at Kris Bryant. Look at Anthony Rendon. “No” to any contract over six years. Sign the pitchers instead. Also, Soto is on record saying that he will not defer his money and I believe Alonso said the same.
Fck all these guys. The problem with the Mets is that they traded away their young talent for “opportunities” to win now, but didn’t always prevail. And, they signed big contracts for “opportunities” to win now and struck out there too. A player that has achieved does not have the same motivation. Let Alonso go. Let Soto go. Get good players that are plying for that next carrot.
I would like everyone to watch this interview with Pete Alonso at the HomeRun Derby and tell me if you feel there is a disconnect with his teammates. Remember, two weeks ago in an article in The Athletic, several times Brandon Nimmo mentioned himself and Francisco Lindor as the leaders of that team. Those were the only names he said. He says that Lindor and him but meals for the teams when they get to a new city, as “the leaders of a team should do to promote team unity”.
https://sny.tv/video/pete-alonso-shares-desire-to-stay-with-mets-ahead-of-home-run-derby
Please, please, let JDM go. He's a shell of himself. Open your eyes.
Texas,
You can trade Pete and Severino. Replace Pete with Vientos, Baty to 3B, Senga replaces Severino when he is back from injury.
Still get good prospects back while keeping ours.
Agree to bypassing Alonso and Soto.
Dodger got Yamamoto for a lot of Mula and he is hurt already.
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