Some people love surprises for the unexpected developments they bring. Others hate surprises because it represents a loss of control over their careful planning. For the Mets the 2025 season has been full of surprises, some good, some bad and some too soon to determine what they really mean.
The Good
For all of the hostility and disappointment people felt about the record setting Juan Soto contract, who here thought he’d be leading the team in home runs ahead of Pete Alonso. Lately he’s been on fire in situations with runners in scoring position.
Starling Marte began the season as a member of the walking wounded and everyone was writing him off as brittle and over the hill. Who here had betting slips that listed Marte as the club’s leading batting average when the season began?
Pete Alonso is having the kind of season many players only dream about. Already in triple digits in RBIs with the best batting average he’s shown in his career, his mere 30 HRs suggests he may need a very hot September to reach 40 by year’s end. I think everyone can live with that.
David Peterson has demonstrated that the unexpected 2024 output was not an outlier. Right now he’s 8-5 and while the ERA has jumped to 3.18, that’s still close to a number one starter’s quality anywhere in baseball.
What can you say about the first three major league starts by rookie Nolan McLean? After making a late entry onto the Mets roster all McLean has done is perform at All Star level. He’s 3-0 with a 0.89 ERA and averaging just about a strikeout per inning pitched while offering up a WHIP of just 0.689.
The Bad
Injuries have disproportionately hit the Mets this season with many pitchers out needing Tommy John surgery, hitters with broken bones and the club scrambling to substitute the expected regulars with 2nd, 3rd and 4th tier players. As a result the team finds itself 4 games out of first place which is actually not that bad considering all of the health maladies that have arisen.
The slumps that have tanked Mets games have been tough to swallow. For much of the season Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Tyrone Taylor, Francisco Alvarez, Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna and others were performing at well below league average levels. Some have turned themselves around. Others have not.
The starting pitching has been adventurous for much of the middle of the year. All of the sudden Kodai Senga is hittable, Clay Holmes went from star level to exhausted, Sean Manaea hasn’t been able to go deep into games and the multitude of others who have attempted starts like Paul Blackburn, Frankie Montas and others fell off the table with injuries and incompetence.
The bullpen has not been much better. Obviously Edwin Diaz is pitching like he’s invincible most of the time, but the rest of the relievers have been fighting overuse, incompetence, health and the inability to thrive once they hit the roster (which, of course, includes the July arrivals).
The Unknown
After regularly posting video game type pitching numbers Jonah Tong is slated to be promoted to start Friday night’s game against the Marlins. Who goes to make roster room for him is apparently reliever Ty Adcock. Everyone’s expectations will possibly mirror what they felt when Doc Gooden was a 19 year old rookie phenom making the roster much sooner than anyone anticipated. Tong is a ripe old 22 years old now but the metrics suggest he’s going to be special. Of course, we don’t know for sure until he actually throws the ball from Citifield’s mound.
26 comments:
Morning Reese
My biggest surprise is how long it took for this team's offense to kick in gear.
My biggest disappointment is how Jonah Tong was mismanaged last night
Was it really necessary to keep in the struggling rook for that many pitches, in a blowout game, so he could get five innings in?
Just beyond stupid
Tong had a tough outing.
TWO TWENTY FIVE MINUTE SEATS IN THE DUGOUT IN BACK TO BACK INNINGS, as the Mets scored 5 in the first and 7 in the second. Hard to be your sharpest with long dugout stays like that. Nearly 100 pitches. Hopefully, no negative residue.
Nimmo, as I mention at 9:00, has put together a very solid season. after many wanted to send him packing earlier this season.
Friggin’ Braves lose to Philly 2-1, despite 12 hits. Come on!!
Well, at least Cincinnati lost
True about the delays but I would have the pen up working during the Mets portion of the fourth and pulled him after the first hit in the fifth
True about Nimmo but I would still take him when Ewing was ready
Just curious as to the board's thoughts on the Mets using a position player to try to close out the game. I understand saving your relief pitchers, but was that the right move?
Tong did well considering the two long delays. I look forward to seeing this young man pitch.
Especially when that position player is your catcher.
Good start by the youngster. Agree, no real reason to keep him in so long, especially after those two rain delay innings.
Definity not as polished as McClean. I actually don't think he is ready to join the rotation full time. He needs a little more seasoning and also needs to expand his repertoire.
Well, the Mets had 576 runs at the time and it was late in the game
It was right until it was wrong
And no, I wouldn't have used my catcher
They are officially going to a six man rotation going forward with the addition of Tong
About time with the six man rotation.
Now bring up Tyler MeGill to take Clay Holmes spot in rotation and put him in bullpen rest of the season.
Put benge, Jett and Sproat on 40 man if they aren’t already on, just in case we need them
On Playoff roster.
Shit I would bring Sproat up and put Megill in long relief
Mendoza called the 6 man rotation a fluid situation. After this tough stretch they will have some days off, so it could change. So, Tong may only get 1 or 2 more starts.
Mendoza announced that Megill would have another rehab start. An obvious sign of "let's put off making a decision her for six more days".
And I'm not sure he earned more than that
I thought the kid did well under the circumstances but fastball command was missing and the 2 delays didn't help so lets at least give him another start or two (come on he just turned 22) and to pitch on the road.
If they don't add him until Tuesday, is he eligible for the post-season?
Agree
I thought Tong showed a lot of maturity and composure considering what a wacky start / stop situation he found himself in. He got out if a few tough spots and if not for the 2 errors behind him in the 5th he would have gotten through 5 closer to 90 than 100 pitches.
Not saying he’ll just stick it and ride the rotation the rest of the way but i think we need 2 more starts to see where he really is coming compared to MLB clubs
DJ, I get that was an insult to the Marlins. It’s one thing to pitch a position player down 15 and another to take the other team for granted because you are up by 15. I understand the reason, but sometimes respect doesn’t need reasoning. I had never seen that before.
I would like to see Sproat also get a start or two to see what is available for next year. It’s unfair for any of these youngsters to be put in the pressure of playoffs with so little MLB time, and only McLean seems ready. Tong isn’t yet, based on yesterday.
Bill, you only need to have him on the 40 man, not necessarily active. Sproat is the one that needs to be added.
Unless Sproat will be kept off for Rule 5 purposes…
I’m confused
Have you seen Manaea and senga pitch lately?
Tong showed more than enough to show he is ready to pitch in the majors and even if he is not Doc Gooden he is better than 3 starters in the rotation
If we fail down the road I rather lose with Tong on the mound than senga and Sean
Tong is a keeper. Needs to be part of the rotation going forward. I would fire Mendoza for the incredibly stupid move to pitch Torrens with a 14 run lead.
Tong is ready. Said it before, and I’m sticking with it.
Post a Comment