The strategy moving forward with a repeat of Kodai Senga as a short stint opener followed by the inclusion of starter Tylor Megill means that the 5-man rotation now has six members. Luis Severino is slated for Game Two with Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Jose Quintana and Tylor Megill now a part of that mix. Throw in Senga and the Mets suddenly have something of an embarrassment of starting pitcher riches, though it comes at the expense of weakening an already borderline bullpen.
Ryne Stanek and Phil Maton have done good things in the past but you’re never quite as confident in them as you are in Jose Butto (coming off his two homer performance in Milwaukee), as well as Reed Garrett, Danny Young and Edwin Diaz. Huascar Brazoban and Max Kranick were demoted to make room for Senga and Megill.
What is interesting moving forward is how Carlos Mendoza uses the assets he has at his disposal. We’ve seen the pitching roulette wheel in motion with mostly good results. On the offensive side it’s a little less clear. Harrison Bader has been relegated to defensive replacement and pinch runner duties though with left handed starters on the horizon from Philadelphia he may emerge with a starting assignment again.
Tyrone Taylor has been terrific in the field and on the basepaths but with a bat in his hand he has been less than stellar. Luisangel Acuna is also in that Bader role as a reserve and defensive replacement
On the more regular starting side of things, the club is looking for more consistency from Mark Vientos until benching him in the late innings. Jesse Winker and J.D. Martinez have suddenly become lefty/righty platoon DH options with neither completely excelling but Martinez has had some highlight reel pinch hitting moments in Milwaukee and now in Philadelphia. Starling Marte has been off and on, but in post season veterans often get the nod ahead of younger players without the long MLB resume.
Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Alvarez, Jose Iglesias and Francisco Lindor need to put their offensive efforts into the next gear as it has been frustrating to watch the team struggle mightily over the past few games until it got to the late innings.
Right now it would appear that the team is not only competing to advance in the postseason, but also auditioning folks for contract renewals or new roles in 2025. What will become of the starting rotation, the bullpen, the outfield and the bench in the future are still great unknowns. Hopefully these decisions will be made as Ws happen more often than Ls.
5 comments:
Bader has been a big problem. My brother did not want him, saying you watch, he won't hit. Until July 12, he was wrong - Bader was hitting .279...then, he was right. Since then, just 24 for 148 (.162). He struck out in a big at bat too easily late in yesterday's game. I'd play Acuna instead.
I don't want the run to end. It is easy to say, they lost, reality is catching up. But Philly is a tough park. Philly has a tough team. They are coming to what will be a rocking Citi Field. Let's win this in 4 games.
Y'know...Quintana 170 IP in 2024 vs. 75 IP in 2023, Severino 182 vs 89, and Manea 181 vs. 117 have all pitched a ton more this year than last year. IMO that sets them up for an injury and/or a regression in 2025. As good as these guys where this year, I'd plan on cutting bait on all of them in 2025. The Mets now have a reputation as a place where pitchers can go to resurrect their careers. With Senga, Peterson, and Blackburn they have three starters. Add Butto to that mix, and possibly Sproat and there is five. Find the next reclamation project(s), and plug them in.
their pen is like, what we call down here, a "Low Country Boil"... whatever you have left, throw in the pot
what happened to Megill?
and Blackburn?
Reese you have to buy a DVR and get some sleep
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