Tom Brennan: Will Alvarez Be the Next Gary Sanchez? And the Mets are Unserious

ALVAREZ 

ONE THING BEFORE MY TOPIC DU JOUR:

The lollygagging, lackluster, lifeless Mets better get their act together.

The line up tonight, of course, was sabotaged by the usual crappy culprits.

Vientos (0-4, 2 Ks, .136 this year with RISP) and Taylor (0-3, 2 Ks, and in his last 30 games a truly unserious .186 OBP), both of whom are having unseriously horrific offensive seasons.  534 combined plate appearances, and just 41 lousy RBIs.  

Also, as I wrote a few days ago, Ronny Mauricio CANNOT HIT LEFTIES.  

He naturally went 0-3 and a K against one last night.

Torrens can’t hit, either, but he got a medal, as he managed to go 1 for 3.  

So, those 4 hitters (occupying 4 of the 9 lineup slots) were 1 for 13.  

Any mystery why the Mets lost, then, when half the line up (I have to say it, I really do) Simply Sucks!?

The pitching likewise was sabotaged by knowing Part-Time Sean Manaea would not go deep into the game (he threw 4 admittedly great innings); he was followed not by Shrek, but by “Dreck”.  

Dreck-sters Anthony Carrillo and Mr. Waddell were crushed.  Obliterated.

A serious alternative for an unserious franchise could have been to call up the best pitcher in the entire minor leagues (Jonah Tong) to pitch after Manaea’s 4 inning almost-half-start.

Tong in AA went 5.1 IP, 2 hits, no earned runs, 1 walk, 7 Ks.  

Tong has an ERA of right around 1.00 after his first two starts this year.  

1.00, AND a strikeout machine?  

Nope, not nearly ready, right, David?  

Let’s use your cadre of crappy veteran relievers instead.

Ahh, it’s only one game, right? And, as in many years, the Mets are unserious about making the playoffs.

And all indications were that Winker and Marte would be back right after the ASB, but those were the usual unserious projections.  Marte instead was, naturally, pushed back, looking like a return by end of July now, and Winker - well, who knows after just receiving an epidural rather than a rehab assignment. They both took the jobs in NY knowing David Stearns is very generous with time off with pay.

Jett, Kevin Parada, and Drew Gilbert are all hot. Bring them up, and throw 3 other bags of iceberg lettuce disguised as hitters in the garbage?  Or is that unserious?  Seriously, I don’t know anymore.

OK, OK, ON TO MY SERIOUS ARTICLE….

Francisco Alvarez arrived on the major league stage at a very young age and went on a big power home run tear.

He has though struggled at the big league level since.

Gary Sanchez hit the major leagues at a very young age and went on a two year tear, hitting 53 HRs in 672 at bats, while batting .285.

He hasn’t been the same since.

In year 3, Sanchez plummeted 90 points to .186.  What?? Struggled.

In year 4, Sanchez rebounded to hit .232 with 34 HRs in 106 games. That is a sizzling Alonso-like 52 HR pace over 162 games. 

In year 5, he didn’t play much (149 at bats) due to the COVID 60 game schedule, with a decent 10 HRs,  but just a .147 average!

In his last 5 years since, he has hit around .215, with 74 HRs in 1,378 at bats, or a HR every 18.6 at bats. 

Over a span of 500 at bats, that rate would be 27 HRs.

Would you accept 27 HRs and .215 in 500 Alvarez at bats year after year?

Especially when Torrens, and Senger, the alternatives, in 221 at bats have 2 HRs, 15 RBIs, and hit .200?

I would. Every day of the week, including Sundays.

Hopefully Alvarez in his unfolding career will hit with power and for higher average.

But if he “only” hits like Gary Sanchez, I’ll take it. You know, Sanchez, the guy with 189 career HRs in 2,927 career at bats.

Or are you a baseball purist who prefers Torrens/Senger batting starvation?

UPDATE: 

In Alvarez’s first post-All Star break at bat, he homered - YAY!

But it was for Syracuse.  BOO!

A serious franchise would have had him in the NY Mets lineup up last night.

But it is unserious. 

Senger will probably start Saturday instead, in the continuing frantic search for his first career RBI. “It’s gotta be here somewhere! Seriously!” 

Be patient, you serious fans, he’s only been up 49 times. 

Torrens? In his last 30 games, 13 hits and 3 walks in 90 plate appearances, with four RBIs. Seriously?

Will our Frankie Alvarez (the guy with 10 HRs and 23 RBIs in 100 minors at bats) be called up today?  

What’s the rush, says David, when Torrens and Senger are killing the baseball the way they are, right? 

Why be serious, when you can be UNSERIOUS?

Dial 1-800-DAVID for serious updates.

The Alvarez Watch is on. Seriously.

PAUL BLACKBURN 

FANNED 8 in 3.2 IP in the FSL Thursday, in a rehab game. 

Sounds healthy to me. 

Get his lazy rehab butt up here to replace Rocket Man Carrillo. Pronto.