MACK - MORE FOCUS - Tom Tango, Firing Coaches, 2026 WS Odds, Ryan Helsley, Mets Bullpen, Sonny Gray, Max Scherzer, Nolan McLean, CC on Mets, Nov. Roster Adds, Q&A

 

Tom Tango - Tangotiger          @tangotiger

At pitches just inside strike zone, pitches are called strike 77% of time

At pitches just outside strike zone, pitches are called strike 14% of time

There is an especially noticeable difference when there's 0 or 2 strikes

Will be interesting to see it in an ABS-Challenge world

Mets fan survey results

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6757524/2025/10/29/mets-fan-survey-results-2025/

Do you agree with the Mets’ decision to fire much of the coaching staff?

Yes:        53%

Despite believing the pitching staff and Stearns are more culpable for 2025’s disappointment, the fan base was largely on board with the changes to the coaching staff.

Codify                   @CodifyBaseball

2026 WORLD CHAMPION ODDS (@fanduel):

340 LAD

700 NYY

1000 PHI

1200 NYM SEA

1400 HOU

1700 BOS

2000 ATL TOR

2200 MIL SD

2500 CHC CLE

2700 DET

3000 BAL

3500 CIN KC SF

4000 TEX

5500 TB

6500 ARI

8000 ATH MIN

10000 STL

12500 MIA

25000 LAA PIT

50000 CWS COL WSH

Ryan Helsley

LINK

While Mets fans might not like it, there's a world where Helsley is back in Queens next season. New York Post insider Joel Sherman spoke to this in an October 29 article, where he seemed to suggest that Helsley is still a talented reliever who would appear poised for a bounce-back season.

And if this is the something the Mets also believe, they could get Helsley at a bargain compared to what he could have cost if he pitched better down the stretch and hope he reverts to the pitcher he was before coming to New York.

While this sentiment is logical enough, it seems very unlikely that the Mets' brass would want anything to do with Helsley at this point. And Helsley probably prefers a fresh start somewhere else, as well.

So, although there is a case for the Mets to re-sign Helsley, fans can sleep soundly at night knowing this case is a long shot, to say the least.

 

How can New York rebuild its bullpen?

LINK

The external options

Pick your go-to reference for “a lot”: Bullpen options are myriad, sundry and manifold. We ran through several of the closing options when we discussed Díaz last week. Among non-closers not mentioned there, Phil Maton, Kyle Finnegan and Scott Barlow had nice years from the right side while Danny Coulombe, Hoby Milner and Caleb Ferguson were solid as southpaws. This is an area that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has routinely bolstered via the waiver wire and with less heralded pick-ups as well.

 

3 SP doors the NY Mets can refuse to knock on due to their scary second half

https://risingapple.com/ny-mets-3-starting-pitcher-doors-refuse-knock-second-half?utm_source=bleacherreport&utm_medium=referral&_branch_match_id=1408222371212362866&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXTyrSSywo0MvJzMvWt%2FQOKg939Y8MjUiyrytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnXOKMrPTQUAOMh%2BuDkAAAA%3D

Sonny Gray

The St. Louis Cardinals would love to trade Sonny Gray and the backloaded contract he’s on. Owed $35 million this coming season with a $5 million buyout for 2027, he’s a bad match for the Mets for several reasons. Just because the Mets spend money doesn’t mean they want to be abusive about it. Gray had a year that didn’t end as well as it began. He was 9-3 with a 3.50 ERA in the first half. He ended the year with a 5-5 record and 5.45 ERA in the second half. He was annihilated with a 7.81 ERA in July and later a 4.76 ERA in September. August was good but hardly makes his failures with the New York Yankees forgettable. It doesn't matter if Gray is giving out full size candy bars; they're probably melted anyway.

Why Mets might reunite with Max Scherzer in free agency

CLICK HERE

The Mets are expected to acquire at least one quality starting pitcher this offseason. Scherzer will turn 42 next July, and his 2025 season stats (5.19 regular season ERA in 85 innings pitched) don't suggest he's the sort of quality arm New York is looking for right now.

Then again, Scherzer has been decent in the postseason for Toronto, and his postseason pedigree and experience could be invaluable for a relatively young Mets' pitching staff next season. Not to mention that Spotrac projects he'll sign a one-year, $10 million deal, which is certainly affordable for Mets owner Steve Cohen.

 

Meet the prospects every known Tarik Skubal trade suitor can't afford to part with

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New York Mets: RHP Nolan McLean

Nolan McLean made a strong first impression on New York Mets fans this season. He earned his call-up in August and put up a pristine 2.06 ERA across eight starts. He logged 57 K's in 48.0 innings and finished with a 1.04 WHIP. Had the Mets cracked the postseason, McLean would've been their featured ace.

It's hard to know exactly what to expect from McLean long term — eight starts is hardly a meaningful sample, especially when MLB offenses aren't up to speed on your stuff — but the early returns are awfully tantalizing. He wields a destructive fastball and pitches with a mean streak.

The Mets need depth on the mound as much as anything. Kodai Senga's health is unreliable and Sean Manaea was a shell of himself this season. McLean, along with fellow rookies Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong, represent significant long-term upside for the Mets. But wiping out all their depth for Skubal, when he can still pick up and leave come 2027, is a significant risk. The Mets have to give up something, but the vision should be Skubal and McLean headlining the rotation for the next decade.

 

CC on Mets –

LINK

According to CC Sabathia, the Mets are closer to a title than the Yankees. He reasons that they have more to prove, as well as the talent in the room to accomplish it.

"The Mets are going to be super motivated next year because they didn't make the playoffs," Sabathia said on the Boardroom with Rich Kleiman. "It's going to be tough for the Yankees to get by after what they just went through and even last year, going to the World Series. The deeper you get into the playoffs, the harder it is to reset and get ready for the next year. The Mets still have a lot to prove with a great roster and a lot of talent."

 

3 unspecified NY Mets roster additions they’ll definitely make in November

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1) The Mets will claim a nearly 30-year-old infielder with minimal MLB experience

We haven’t seen the last of the Mets claiming Luis De Los Santos, Donovan Walton, or Zack Short. Those specific players are probably not coming to the Mets. Someone of their same ilk will undoubtedly get claimed off of waivers.

One verse of David Stearns’ mantra includes insurance-level players like this whose sole purpose will be to give the team added defensive depth. Who will it be this year and will his 2025 batting average make our skin crawl?

 

Mets fan survey results

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6757524/2025/10/29/mets-fan-survey-results-2025/ 

How would you grade Juan Soto’s first season in Queens?

A                                                           -    48%

B                                                           -    45%

C                                                           -    6%

D                                                           -    1%

F                                                            -    0%

So, the talk radio callers aren’t wholly representative of the fan base?