SAVAGE VIEWS – MID-SEASON REVIEW 2025

   

SAVAGE VIEWS – MID-SEASON REVIEW 2025

We are close to the half-way point of the season and only one game out of first after a terrible ten-day period. Here are my thoughts as we enter the second half of the season.

DAVID STEARNS

I’m generally pleased with the job he has done thus far and the fact that he has brought stability to the front office. The Mets farm system is in good shape and the teams below the AAA level have been productive. I’ve always been an advocate of having top prospects play for winning teams as they climb the ladder.

The signings of Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning have turned out well although Canning seems to have regressed to his 2024 form lately. However, I have trouble understanding bringing Paul Blackburn and Frankie Montas on board. Hopefully, Montas proves me wrong on Tuesday against the Braves. Oh no, Blackburn starts tonight.

Pre-season the thought process was the need to improve the pen and AJ Minter was a good hire, More needed to be done and we are currently left with the likes of Jose Castillo, Chris Devenski, Ryan Stanek, etc. Hard to imagine us doing well with this group eating up innings. And why did we sign Jose Siri?

CARLOS MENDOZA

Carlos has to be a leading candidate to be Manager of the Year. However, I’m not a fan. Hopefully, he works out long-term since stability is important and we can’t continue to bring on a new guy every couple of years. My concerns are numerous. For one, I think he lacks a spine – how I long for the days of Gil Hodges, Davy Johnson and Bobby Valentine. 

Took him 30% of the season to figure out that Nimmo is not a cleanup nor a number five hitter. Nimmo has historically been a productive top of the order hitter. His tendency to pull starters early has resulted in an over-taxed bullpen. Case in example, while Peterson had a tough go of it Sunday, he could have been asked to complete one more inning.

Or, if there is a lefty pitching let’s sit Baty over the less productive Acuna who on occasion has been known to hit the ball out of the infield. And why is Jared Young even getting any at bats at all?

THREE AMIGOS

There were high hopes that the trio of Alvarez, Vientos and Baty would solidify their batting order for the foreseeable future. At times, Baty looks like the second coming of Freddie Freeman and other times looks completely lost. 

Alvarez has the talent to be one of the best backstops in baseball and the demotion to the minors was well deserved. 

Vientos has fallen off the cliff and seems to have lost all confidence. Maybe it’s time to rethink our approach developing top prospects.

OTHER STUFF

It’s disconcerting that none of our position players have made a top ten defensive list. After watching Lindor on Sunday fail to make plays that once were routine it’s time to be concerned. He seems to have taken a page out of Juan Soto’s playbook which requires a player to hustle only occasionally.

LET’S MAKE A TRADE

The Mets seem to be linked to Cedric Mullens and Luis Roberts. My hope is that we look elsewhere for fortifications.  However, I would be willing to trade Taylor, Siri and Acuna for Mullins and Felix Bautista. I’d rather go big and offer Vientos, Mauricio and a couple of prospects for Jackson Holliday and Felix Bautista. By the way, why would we want Roberts with his buck eighty BA.

SUMMING UP

It’s hard to envision the Mets being playoff bound with the way the 40-man roster is presently constructed. Assuming Raley comes back healthy, we still need at least 3-4 arms to make the bullpen a strength. Our best bet is for Baty, Alvarez and Vientos to produce at the high level expected. Incidentally, Baty has been far more productive with RISP than Lindor or Soto. And our last ten homers have been solo.

Ray

June 24, 2025