June is the month to cast your ballots for the all-star team. With the New York Mets in first place and popping in and out of the lead for the best record in baseball, it is very likely that they will have at least a few players on the NL roster.
When I vote for the all-star team, I try to be as objective as possible. Guys that have done the work and are putting up the numbers should be rewarded for their performance. If it’s close, I’m voting for the home team but I just can’t get behind the PR campaigns to thrust a player into a role he doesn’t deserve.
Here are the Mets that I currently think deserve a place on the team:
Kodai Senga – Yes, he has an injured hamstring, but he has been dominant this year as a starter with the best ERA in the National League. His injury is going to drop him below the qualified innings by the all-star break, but the only person close to matching his 1.47 ERA as a starter is Paul Skenes at 1.78. They should both be on the team by the way.
Francisco Lindor – He has a large lead in the voting right now because people are finally recognizing his superior play. He got off to a huge start this season, and even though he has fallen back a bit, his overall performance has been awesome. His fielding, hitting, and clutch hitting have been one of the reasons that the Mets have such a good record right now. Yes, he will be challenged by Elly De La Cruz (CIN) and Trea Turner (PHL), but Lindor is the guy I want on my team. He adds more than just numbers to the team’s success.
Pete Alonso – Pete has been a difference maker all season. His 63 RBI still lead all of baseball, and he leads the other primary first base candidates Freddy Freeman (LAD) and Matt Olsen (ATL) in both home runs and slugging percentage. As a fielder, he has become a better scooper than Ben & Jerry. Seriously though, Alonso has been maligned in the past for his defensive play and he has worked very hard to improve in that area. He may never get to gold glove status, but he has held his own on the right corner of the infield.
Edwin Diaz – Diaz has a 2.15 ERA, the best saves to opportunity ratio of any closer in the NL, has a 0.92 WHIP and a .153 average against. Mets fans know all of his flaws and cringe when he has baserunners on, but compared to the other teams’ closers Diaz is the guy that brings the heat.
Here are the Mets that I currently think deserve consideration but don’t make the team:
David Peterson and Clay Holmes – Peterson has a 5-2 record, a 2.60 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP in his 86-2/3 innings this year. He has pitched admirably for the Mets, always giving them a chance to win. Holmes is 7-3, 2.87 ERA, and 1.17 WHIP. But with so many high quality starting pitchers in the NL (Skenes, Senga, Sale, Wheeler, Suarez, Ray) those two fall out of the running, particularly since fans can’t give a boost to the pitcher selection – that is the Manager’s call. The Manager is Dave Roberts of the Dodgers.
Juan Soto – Soto is one of the most talented players in the league. He also has the sixth highest exit velocities in all of baseball right now even though most of those balls are being caught. And that’s the catch – with a .248 batting average and a .462 slugging percentage he just doesn’t have the numbers to make it as an outfielder this year. Some will vote for him by name alone, but I think he has to sit this one out.
9 comments:
All Star Game voting is for some reason no longer of interest to me.
Honestly, I have never participated in this process
7,8 how long will the streak go? Williams,McClean,Tong, any called up?
Let's talk...
1. Every baseball team goes through droughts like the Mets are experiencing right now. Shit happens. Sometimes it's pitching shit. Sometimes it's hitting shit. And then it sometimes is close the door, turn on the fan, bring your phone with you, and settle in for the long haul kind I f shit.
2. Sadly, this drought is happening against divisional rivals. Don't worry. They have them too. Philly just had one. The Braves have basically been.in one all season.
3. Stop looking at the win-loss records and division standing. It's far too early in the season to do this.
4. A team going through a drought can only play with the cards they are dealt with. Injuries slow down a recovery but can't heal any faster at times like this. Slumps aren't solved by sitting on the bench.
5. All a team can do is stick to the same routine... come to the field at the same time. Same practice drills at the same time in the same order.
6. A team can consider looking to their AAA team to consider both short and long term solutions. In the case of the Mets, they are currently experiencing a rash of starter injuries and poor performances by the remaining members of the rotation. Additionally, their next starter projected to return can't seem to get anyone out in AAA rehab stints. A short-term solution could be a promotion of the team's next projected pitching star to help turn it around
7. Bat wise, same goes with promoting any producing AAA hitters that could be inserted into the lineup.
9. I caution both these moves. Change is always, first, disruption, especially to members of your team.
10. In the case of the current Mets situation, I vote for keeping the ship headed in the same direction. Spot start Henninger on Friday. Insert Montas into the rotation. Leave Blackbutn in the rotation until Manaea returns. Play Alvarez so he has a chance of working out of his woes. Relax. Go get a cheesesteak sandwich after Friday's game. Stay out of the strip clubs
Too early. Williams and Tong haven't even played AAA ball
See below for my thoughts
An article buried in a comments section!
Good, rational thoughts and recommendations. We got off to a great start, let's get back there again.
This is exactly why I wrote a piece about the all-star game. No need to dwell on the negatives when a very good team goes into a brief slump.
Brief? This could be a 8-9 game losing streak! Sometimes change is good.
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