After seven
games it’s too early to push the panic button. However, my two main concerns
prior to the season are rearing their ugly heads. I felt the major obstacles to
a winning season were the lack of depth of the bullpen and Carlos Mendoza’s managerial
style.
The Mets do not
appear to have been properly prepared to start the season. They are still in
spring training mode. Over the first six games, five different lineups were
used. I remember coaching little league and was required to play all 12 players
on the roster every game. I don’t understand the need for Torrens to play every
third game. Alvarez is a baby bull and only 24 years old. He does not need frequent
rest. Young is not a better player than
either Baty or Benge. No reason for him to be in the lineup except in an
emergency.
Tyrone
Taylor is an excellent outfielder with limited hitting skills. The team, as
constructed, has no need for him as a defensive replacement. He adds no value
as a hitter even when the pitcher is left-handed.
It’s
becoming normal for Lindor to start the season off cold. Not only is his
offensive output lacking but he appears to be in a fog. But he is not the only
one playing lackluster. For example, did anyone notice on the play Lindor was thrown
out at home last Sunday, that Soto failed to make it to third. He should have
advanced standing up giving the team a chance to bring in a run with less than
two out.
In seven
games, Semien has failed to make solid contact. Despite his miserable start to
the season, bet he’s in the lineup Friday night. Bo Bichette was billed as one of
the best right-hand batters in MLB. Hopefully, he will show his true colors
soon.
Wonder if I am
guilty of over-estimating the talent on this team. I thought we would be a
powerhouse with a contact-oriented approach and that we would be solid with men
on base. The opposite has happened.
I remain
concerned about Mendoza’s ability to manage the pitching staff. I thought he
was too quick to pull Peralta from his last start. Also, after a rocky start,
Peterson seemed to find a groove, however, he was pulled after 68 pitches so
Manaea could get in the game. It’s hard for me to imagine Peralta as an ace
when he lacks the ability to make it into the seventh inning. He’s a very good
pitcher who runs out of gas after getting sixteen outs.
The bullen is
in need of reinforcement. Clearly Garcia and Lovelady should only be used in
blowout situations. Meyers as a long reliever probably gets called upon once
every three days and Manaea is neither effective in a starter or relief role.
It’s going to be a long season if the pen is not squared away soon.
We all felt
it important to get off to a strong start of the season and take advantage of
teams that are likely not playoff bound. If things do not turn around soon, could
Mendoza be replaced by the end of April.
Ray
April 4,
2026
5 comments:
Bo and Semien got the bats going, Lindor too. Soto calf and Polanco Achilles are now concerns. If this Achilles thing is chronic, why did they sign him?
Benge is down to .130. The game before, both Lindor and Semien dropped to .130. They combined for 5 hits. Benge’s turn, now.
Taylor? His 0 for 9 really worries me. He can’t carry Soto’s jock strap if Juan is hurt.
All legitimate concerns, but not yet o genuine sources of worry. We are getting very good starting pitching overall, and parts of the bullpen are strong, though overall it is unbalanced and poorly constructed for the long haul. Earlier I expressed the view that in the early going, piggy backing made good sense, with both Myers and Manaea candidates for the piggy. I was probably wrong about who should be the 'back'. Peralta is historically a 5-6 inning pitcher and a terrific one at that. He is a natural to back up with Myers. I don't know what to make of Manaea in any role at the moment. The problem is that even if we found perfect matches for Myers and Manaea as piggies, the problem would be that we have Lovelady and Garcia, neither of whom would be on the staff of a top tier bullpen. And that leaves us with only four reliable relievers who are bound to be overworked quickly. Hopefully Minter replaces Lovelady successfully and as soon as possible. We will probably have to shuttle a few relievers in an out as replacements for Garcia beginning around tax time. Manaea will be the remaining question mark. There really is no role for him on this team. He doesn't look ready to start; he isn't a value as a short reliever at 25m/yr and would be a third lefty in the pen in any case.. I think we will be playing some sort of mix and match until mid June in the bullpen until we get a better read on our minor league bullpen hopefuls.
Full break down of the first 7 games in my post today.
This team needs time to gel. All the new faces & the disruption of the WBC (another reason I hate it) is showing. Hopefully Soto is not seriously hurt.
They will hit & thy need stronger pitchers at the end of the bullpen.
Unfortunately, Christian Scott got ripped up last night. We will need him sooner than later.
Both Tong and Scott got ripped in their starts. Weather related?
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