HERE I GO AGAIN!
Another week in the books with some good and some bad.
Beating the Yankees two out of three was a major plus followed by a rather mediocre performance against the Nats, although we managed to split the four-game series. Winning at least two of three from the Marlins will keep on the playoff track. The road to the postseason clearly rides on the backs of our top prospects.
So far, it’s hard to understand why Nick Moribito has been promoted. After one start, he has been riding the bench with Melendez continuing to prove he is and never has been an answer. However, Morabito is slated to start in Friday’s game.
AJ Ewing is one of the more exciting prospects to join the team over the past 40 years. He has demonstrated an ability to get on base at a very high rate. He is a disciplined hitter with a knack of making pitchers work- a natural leadoff hitter who is going to steal a ton of bases I his career. And yet he is being buried at the bottom of the lineup. On the other hand, Marcus Semien seems to have the sixth spot cemented – go figure.
IMHO, I would have Ewing leading off with Benge batting second and Bo Bichette in the clean-up spot. Mark Vientos has simply been unable to produce and his lack of discipline as a hitter should mark him as a casualty once Lindor is ready to return. Incidentally, it was good news to hear that Craig Kimball was given his walking papers.
A bit of a controversy this week when Morabito was allowed to wear number 8. Gosh, Gary Carter was a terrific player who gave the Mets a couple of good years. However, his HOF career was earned while starring as a player with the Expos. Retiring his number is a rather stupid idea. In fact, I am generally opposed to retiring numbers.
Next up is Carlos Beltran to have his number 15 hung on the rafters to join the disgraced duo of Gooden and Strawberry. And you don’t want to know my feelings about Stengel and Mays being honored.
Later this year, Lee Mazzilli and Bobby Valentine will be recognized. Lee’s greatest contribution to the Mets was getting traded to the Rangers for pitchers Ron Darling and Walt Terrell. I think Terrell was actually a better hitter than Lee. And Terrell got us Howard Johnson who was a terrific switch-hitting third baseman with power. I do remember that Lee was a big hit with the ladies for reasons that escape me.
Recently, Gary Cohen cooed about Aaron Judge being the greatest right-hand hitter of all time. This opinion has been shared by others. While there is no doubt that Judge will be installed in the HOF on the first ballot, he just went through a stretch where he struck out in seven consecutive at bats. Maybe these commentators have never heard of Roger Hornsby, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Albert Pujols and a few others who were all better right-hand hitters.
One thing that all of these have in common is not striking out more than 100 times in a year. I will admit Judge is one scary looking human being and wish he was on my team.
I’ve run out
of things to rant about. I’ll be back next Friday.
Ray
May 23, 2026
10 comments:
I agree with Ray's point that the young guys should be spending more time at the top of the lineup. That said, they are not ready to propel this team into the playoffs. They need the experience so they can do that in a future season. Semien has played admirably in the field but just can't do much with the bat, much like the problem Jeff McNeil was having last year. But McNeil was batted 8th or 9th.
I wonder how the great hitters of decades past would have found hitting against the Mason Miller fireballers of today.
The median MLB offense now fans 8.2 times per game.
In 1960, when more innings were played due to no man on 2B gimmicks in extra innings, the median MLB offense fanned just 5.2 times per game.
That is a 60% increase.
Current Mets offense? It badly needs “don’t ask me to stop running on my bad leg until I really hurt myself” Lindor back - but that won’t happen anytime soon.
See you in July, Francisco.
And “I’ll swing so hard I’ll hurt myself” Alvarez, too.
See you in July, Francisco.
Two big holes in the offense. Not soon repaired.
I’d bat Ewing and Benge 1-2. Morabito stays at #9 until he hits, in my book.
I would also bat Ewing and Benge at the top of the order but I would play Meledez left out
Mack, I think Jared Young will return in a few days. 2 hits for Syracuse last night, and no Ks. (Clifford 0-3, 2 Ks, BTW)
I think Melendez is out very soon, with Young back.
Meanwhile, the other Young, Wyatt, had 2 hits and a sacrifice fly and mopped up for the 5th time this year on the mound. Ohtani, just a foot shorter LOL
I don't miss Alvarez. He had reverted to old habits and would have been an offensive liability. When Lindor comes back it will take him another month to find rhythm, so let's count on August for a contribution. Really starting to miss LuisAngel Acuna - if he had the chance Mauricio did, he would have made the most of it and not been hurt.
The Mets have provided a nostalgic rather than a performance experience. That's how team was first assembled with an eye toward selling tickets to Brooklyn Dodger fans - like me. Retiring numbers is about nflating memories.
Well put.
We keep trotting out the same lineup expecting different results. Time to shake things up and have table setters on the top of the lineup.
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