The New York Mets are in the process of building a team that can consistently compete for a championship. This year it is not going well at the MLB level as we are all painfully aware. Reese discussed this earlier, so there is little more to add.
What is worth discussing is the work being done at other levels. You see, the Mets are enjoying a championship season in the minors at multiple levels.
Here are the facts:
The Port St. Lucie Mets (low A) went to the Florida State League semi-finals this year after compiling a 77-53 record (.592) over the full season, including a torrid 43-22 second half (.662). For the full season the St. Lucie team registered a +136 run differential. The next best team had a +85.
The Brooklyn Cyclones (high A) won the South Atlantic League championship this year. Brooklyn dominated the first half of the SAL schedule with a 46-20 record, which earned them a playoff berth. Although they cooled in the second half, they re-found their mojo and swept their way through an undefeated playoff run to the title.
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA) won both the first half (45-22) and second half (45-24) seasons, storming to a franchise record 90 win season. They swept the Somerset Yankees in the semi-final and are now in the championship series against the Erie Seawolves (Tigers).
The Syracuse Mets (AAA) did not make the playoffs, but compiled a successful 77-73 (.513) full season record, and surged to a 46-29 (.613) second half record which fell just 3 games shy of winning a playoff berth.
These teams have turned in very successful seasons despite having to manage the personnel flux that comes with minor league franchises. As players excel, they are promoted. As they struggle, they are sometimes demoted. Good performing players sometimes have to step aside as a hot prospect arrives and takes their position. It is quite a juggling act to maintain the greater plan while attending to the development needs of all the individual players.
To add a championship ambition to all of that takes a great deal of strategy, management, and focus. This is something the Mets should celebrate, because it shows that some of their long-term initiative is indeed succeeding. They are developing talented individuals into team-oriented competitors, building the mindset that is necessary to overcome any adversity and achieve a goal.
Some of these players that have helped to build the minor league champions have moved upwards, including a few notables like Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat. More are on the way. This does not guarantee a World Series championship, but it bodes well for the team's chances in the future even as this year's fate seems to be much less favorable.
As Mets fans we will continue to persevere, putting yesterday's disappointment behind us and using the knowledge that the Mets are building the right way to stoke optimism for the future.
If they blow this one, my level of perseverance will dramatically wane. With all the success in the minors, will it eventually morph into FREQUENT METS POST-SEASON APPEARANCES? Because in 64 seasons, that has never been the case. Yankees? Extremely frequent. Truly a shame. Not saying they won’t eke in this year, but they are thisclose to an epic collapse, the latest of many.
ReplyDeletethis is a nice column
ReplyDeletewe need nice this morning
is the talent at these levels real? well, what it tells me is, when they play a team at an equal level, they are overall better
the problem is when a few of these... like Williams, Benge, and Clifford, will reach the majors, they won't be playing against teams filled with players from their previous level. No, this is The Bigs where big people play.
Still, there is a lot to be exciting about in the Mets chain. Especially starters.
One would hope that the current organization is a little wiser than previous front offices. No more PCA trades. The Wasil, Tidwell, and Gilbert trades were more of a gamble than a give-away like PCA. If this is true, we will retain more of the players that have been developed to win.
DeletePaul, nothing is for certain. And if your organization squanders talent by making stupid and unnecessary trades, you will erode the depth of your minors that is needed to sustain your organization.
ReplyDeleteI recall about ten years ago that MLB did an analysis of the organization that had the most major leaguers playing and the winner was…… the Mets. The Mets organization was the most represented at that time in MLB, which tells us that their impatience to allow their youth to develop rather than chasing bubbles and losing on trades for years was hurting them. So, along comes this very successful and rich individual that buys the Mets and says that they will develop their prospects while they sign free agents to short term deals to fill the holes while allow prospects to develop.
But, then you trade Pete Crow Armstrong AFTER Jacob DeGrom was hurt and out for the year. Like did you expect Baez to make up for him? And you continue to make small deals but systematically losing a little bit on each one. Well, you know what happens to your bank account when you consistently spend a little more than you make? That’s the Mets.
Sorry to be a party pooper this morning, but someone pee’d in my orange juice this morning and I’m that person gets a check from the Mets.
Must have been that centerfielder last night
DeleteIt may have been. But I am pretty sure it was the guy that traded for him.
DeleteWait until Chicago's centerfielder pees in your OJ. Then you will be really depressed.
DeletePaul, good article. Gives us some hope for the future.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said (ad nauseum) Stearns has got to do a much better job moving. As you have guessed by now, I am not a fan of deadline deals. They very rarely work, take time to adjust and you give way more than you get. To me they always reek of desperation.
What scares me the most is with all this money committed they will try and roll out the bunch of inconsistent crap that we saw this year, without possibly Pete and Diaz on the team.
How do you replace these two without signing and overpaying two similar, highly flawed players. If they take a hike than you have to take a step back and rebuild. Get rid of anyone you don't see helping this team moving forward. Even if you have to sell low.
If they're not part of the solution, they are part of the problem.
What Stearns does in the off-season will first be determined if Cohen opens his man purse to Alonso and/or Diaz.
DeleteThen, what players contracts will be put up for grabs and what percentage the Mets will eat.
Only after that will Stearns be able to create a plan for 2026
The optimism in this piece was based upon a much greater probability that we can load a team with talent that is evaluated and trained in a new winning mindset. Then the only "purchases" we may have to make are to fill a specific role, and that player will integrate into the environment that exists. The piecemeal makeup of prior rosters created a clubhouse environment that was a potpourri of independent approaches. Not a fertile ground for a unified group.
DeleteMack certainly not our centerfielder sadly LOL. The disaster that was the trade deadline will reverberate for some time and also with all the raves about our farm system why does DS not seem to trust it? Even staying the course would have been better and of course still being the sad inept stepchild of our crosstown rivals seemingly forever is just salt in the wound. Just when we thought, after 64 years and having the richest owner in baseball, our late season collapses would be behind us sorry but look again ugh.
ReplyDeleteAll the talent in the world means nothing without focus and having your head screwed on tight
DeleteMets are set up for longterm success but it might be time for Stearns to either trust more young players or sign more arms thst aren't waiver wire guys.
ReplyDeleteCant "lab" all of them to success.
Ernest, I really think there is a lot of talented starters in the chain but I don't see any potential ace.
DeleteI would be much happier if the Mets signed a productive major league starter for 2026
How can you have the Dodgers East if you won’t let the kids play? Ironically, the Dodgers became a juggernaut when they let their kids play. Since then, their farm has sort of battened and they are constantly throwing money around at aces and power hitters.
DeleteJoeP, I agree with about 75% of your comment. The three trades made on deadline day were all stupid. The Greg Soto deal was a good get to fill a hole and the cost was right. [I’m wondering how much more Baltimore would have gotten if they waited.] As for Alonso and Diaz leaving, I’m torn. I don’t want the Mets to become an old team like they were a few years back. Having Nimmo makes keeping Alonso harder. Nimmo already is a bad outfielder. I was jealous hearing yesterday how all three Washington outfielders have great arms and that kid in centerfield…. Wow. And he can fly!
ReplyDeleteAs for Diaz, I’ve often said that he has a ten cents brain, but, I guess he can throw the ball. The risk of resigning a guy that only has two pitches and can’t hold runners on while frequently forgetting to cover first base is he turns into Craig Kimbrel and just loses his stuff. Now, if he keeps it like Billy Wagner or David Robertson did into their late 30’s, then it’s a great move.
I'm just not sure if I would spend big bucks plus a long term contract on Diaz
DeleteI wish the rest of the pen was strong. If it was I would make Ross my closer
Pete is coming back, and unless they lose their minds on money and years, it’s the right move. I don’t see the wisdom though in signing Diaz as a top 3 most expensive closer for more than two years being that he’ll be 32 next season. Especially since if he loses an inch off his stuff it’ll be a track meet on the bases every night.
ReplyDeleteNimmo is hitting below .200 vs LHP, I believe. Still a very, very good bat vs RHP. He needs to be the long side of a platoon next season. McNeil was actually their most consistent hitter this season - OPS above ML average every month. One year left and he’s going nowhere, whether or not he’s the everyday 2B. CF is the big upgrade spot, and the question over what level of player to bring in is whether they see Benge as a regular CF by sometime next season. Clearly Siri and Mullins are gone (Siri could be gone by tomorrow when Taylor gets back - never thought I’d be counting hours until his return, but he’s a top defensive CF). Bullpen needs to be rebuilt almost entirely (hopefully Minter can be Minter next season). I can’t see them selling low on Manea until they see whether the elbow surgery makes the difference. He was close to an ace last season and right now, they’d have to eat most of $50 mil just to get someone to take him. I can absolutely see them making a big trade, very possibly including Vientos, for a top young-ish starter.
Remember
DeleteOther teams know the limitations of players like Nimmo too.
All great comments guys. Had to take wife to dentist so I missed a good discussion.
ReplyDeleteAdam, I would not be so certain about Pete. For whatever reason Stearns seems to be digging his heels in with him. If they low ball him again he is gone.
As for Diaz, I would offer to add 2 years on to his contract. Like you said he has too many flaws to ignore. probably won't be enough so I can see him leaving.
As for Manaea, remember his delivery was new last year. It doesn't seem the same this year. Is it a case of the league figuring him out?
Don't go on a centerfield spending binge when you have Benge.
ReplyDeletePaul, that was exactly what I was hoping for when Stearns toke over. But once Soto was signed, they had no choice in the matter.
ReplyDeleteThey went for it.
Hope they can convince Soto that it might be worth a step back next year to really implement a long term plan.