METS WIN….AGAIN?
Pete ties it with a double in the 10th?
Marte wins it with a soft liner to center?
Brett Baty hits a toweringHR into the upper deck?
Max Kranick (W) bails out an injured Diaz?
18-7? 5 game lead? 7.5 games up on the Braves?
Start printing World Series tickets? Why waste time?
HE WON’T BE “IN THE CONVERSATION“, HE’LL BE IN THE ROTATION
A random commenter on an SNY article wrote this about Nolan (Ryan) McLean after his 6 shutout innings on Saturday night:
“Good news on McLean, maybe by mid-season the Mets can get him to AAA and then be one step away from the big club, with the Mets probably losing Canning and Blackburn after this season, they'll be 2 open SP spots for '26, McLean will be in the conversation for one of them.”
My reaction?
McLean won’t be “in the conversation” - he’ll be in the Mets’ 2026 rotation. Count on it. Dude’s stuff is nasty. 0.60 WHIP after 3 starts? WOW.
Heck, if I was in charge, he could be bumped up to the AAA rotation after another killer AA start. Why wait? He’s great. And tough.
Of course, his killer teammate, Jack Wenninger, is a stunning 4-0, 0.90. So McLean has good company.
WORKING THE PITCH COUNT CAN BE “COUNT-ERPRODUCTIVE”
As they say, you can’t argue with success. Winning = GRINNING.
On Tuesday night’s broadcast, “the boys in the booth” were talking about the Mets’ successful strategy of their hitters working deep counts. Heck, the Phillies starter was pulled after 2 innings and FIFTY NINE pitches.
BUT…SORRY…IT DOES NOT WORK WELL FOR EVERY HITTER.
I don’t think that work-the-count approach has helped Vientos and Baty at all. While Vientos had a hit and a walk Tuesday night, he also fanned in an at bat where he was 0-2 in the count after taking two fat fastballs several inches into the strike zone. He should have been turned loose to attack. Animal instincts.
After Tuesday night, Baty and Vientos were 23 for 127 (.181) with just 2 HRs and 9 RBIs. I would posit that the Mets are messing these two up with this “work deep counts” stuff. One size does not fit all.
Green light them to be more aggressive. I am pleased by Vientos’ lower K rate, but a more aggressive Vientos in my opinion will produce much more.
When it comes to Baty? Ask Ray.
My brother agreed 100% with my point here. He asked if I’ve gotten any good feedback on this. I sadly replied,
“Very little, honestly. Totally valid points, though. The man who I have raised repeatedly as the “all out attack” point-of-comparison success story is Brent Rooker.
“Rooker is not swinging at as many first pitches as his incredibly high attack rate of last year, but he already has 7 HRs, and .245, and is VERY HOT RIGHT NOW.
“That also could be Vientos. That SHOULD be Vientos. TURN HIM LOOSE.”
PETE IS SWEET
Excuse me, Mr. Lindor, but so far, despite your own exploits, Pete is the team’s MVP. Most impressive? Few Ks (15) in his first 24 games (through Sunday), and 25 RBIs, and .349. Maybe he’ll be the NL MVP when all is said and done.
The Mets have never had an MVP.
IT IS TIME!
CANNING HAS BEEN UNCANNY
3-1, 3.12 after his grind-out win Tuesday night. And he was 2-1, 1.88 in spring training. A Lab Valedictorian.
WE HAVE A .429 HITTER…His name is Jose Azocar (3 for 7).
RALEIGH, RALEIGH GOOD
We can only hope our soon-returning Alvarez someday hits like fellow catcher Cal Raleigh of Seattle. Last year and this, through 627 at bats, he has 42 HRs and 113 RBIs. Raleigh is 28, so Alvy has time.
14 comments:
Concern with Vientos and Baty and Nimmo and Winker and...
The Underpreformers
I never understood hot and cold from highly talented people. To me, it has nothing to do with their ability It's all in the head.
Maybe Ronny can save third by the all-star break
Winker was sick for a while, which affected him. Not sure if he was also hurt. But as silly as it sounds, he brings so much fire and energy even when he is not playing well. I think he is ready for a breakthrough. Yesterday, up there hugging Alonso while still on the ground after scoring, and his repartee with Marte after the game-winning hit is uplifting.
Vientos and Baty? They need to be more aggressive. I am a broken record there.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - Tom is 100% right about Vientos and Baty. Turn them loose and use the John Daly method - Grip it and Rip it! Those two should not be working the counts - they should be looking for any good pitch to put a hurt on, and many times that pitch is the first one.
You are exactly right about Baty and Vientos taking too many first pitch strikes. Let them bat and see what they can do without the working the count routine. Mark takes a strike down the middle and then seems to make up for it by swinging at one wide off the plate. The pitchers know this and take advantage of it.
When McNeil and Alvarez come back, send Azocar and Senger down. Keep Baty and Acuna up. Mcneil can play second, left, maybe even a little third. Baty, second and third. Acuna, second, short( only if God firbid Lindor gets hurt), and I'd also put him in center occasionally
Tom, you are right about Vientos and Baty. Working the count is more for a seasoned hitter, not the youngsters. I do like the working the count approach, especially early in games to screw with the starting pitcher. But until a youngster hitter establishes himself, I believe your approach is best.
Ya know Joe
If you've been playing this game since sandlot, you are a seasoned hitter
Let's see if that monster Baty Bomb shakes the cobwebs
R69, to me, it is so simple. If you go to a physician, he will write different prescriptions for different people. While the strategy of Mets hitters working the pitchers may make a lot of sense in the macro view, for these two players, it does not work. My prescription for them? Turn them loose - if both of them walk only once every 20 times up and start raking, I’m good with that. Dr. Tom.
Baty did that on his first MLB at bats
Like da plan
Brent Rooker knows I am right. The ultimate free swinger. After floundering thru age 27, he has 46 HRs in 648 at bats in 2024-25, and .280+.
Mack, I can't agree with you 100% on that one. Most of the guys who make it to the pros are stars when they are younger. They are the best in sandlot, the best in high school, the minors. Their talent alone guides them to the majors.
Once there most of them now have to adapt. So, until they get it right, I can see Toms point. They can't let the good pitches go if they still haven't developed the ability to fight off the tough pitches.
It would be like telling a very young Mike Tyson to dothe Ali Shuffle. Let sluggers slug, then start to ease the walk rate upwards.
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