BO BICHETTE SAW NOTHING BUT BLUE SKIES, AT FIRST…
I REALLY TRY…
I have been trying so very hard to not look at Bo Bichette’s slash line…
But after the May 16th game, I somehow felt compelled to do so.
I could no longer avert my gaze.
I finally peeked.
It was ugly. Some things, you don’t want to see. You can’t unsee it.
I hope I don’t have nightmares.
.210/.269/.271?
Really?
So, like every Mets devotee, I tried to look for “why”, and for a silver lining.
I think what’s happening is this:
1) The pressure of joining the New York Mets as a star hitter is enormous.
- When the initial shock wears off, more normal hitting output begins.
2) Bichette was hurt by Soto missing more than two weeks.
- And, Lindor missing much more than two weeks.
- John Lennon added, “and no Polanco, too”.
- Bo simply was naked in the lineup without them.
3) Getting back to Mets pressure thing, is their precedent? Most certainly.
- Francisco Lindor, on May 16 in his first season as a Met?
- .185/.299/.274. UGLY!
- But Francisco, thereafter, raised his average by 45 points
- his OBP by 23 points, and
- his slug% by 138 points.
4) Soto also experienced it last year:
- .252/.382/.459 thru May 16.
- But .263/.396/.505 for the whole season.
The unstated factor here is (what else?)
Citi Field dimensions.
Early in the year, the “Citi ball” doesn’t carry, and I am sure that these three hitters each lost many extra base hits in their first several Mets weeks in the pitcher-friendly dimensions, when coupled with the worst period of the season (early air deadness and winds) to hit for distance at Citi field.
Once again, Steve Cohen is making a huge investment in a major hitter.
And, sadly, neutering that hitter by having the fences too deep.
And that surprises me not at all.
History repeats itself.
I expect Bo to hit much better from here on out, much like Lindor and Soto did after the calendar turned “mid-May” in their first Mets seasons.
Better weather makes the pitcher-friendly park a tad nicer to Mets hitters.
To this humble writer, I would, as owner, see the handwriting on the wall.
And move the darned walls in.
Why, after all, have the fans turn on your newly minted imported star?
Fans form their opinions early, about the player…and the management.
Cheers are better than jeers.
Respect is better than disrespect.
WHEN YOU MAKE THE DIMENSIONS EASIER TO HIT IN…
EVERY SINGLE METS HITTER WILL HIT BETTER…
SINCE TEAM HITTING IS CONTAGIOUS…
AND YOUR BIG HITTER FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS.
THEY WILL NOT ONLY LOOK SMARTER.
THEY WILL BE SMARTER.
AND WHO DOESN’T LOVE SMARTER?
Right in cue, Bo homered Monday nite, on the road. And then a guy named Schultz and a position player pitched against the Mets in the 12th. Soto popped up to end the inning, but not before plating TEN RUNS.
16-6 going into the bottom of the 12th, and a 16-7 final.
16-7…Jets beat Baltimore in Super Bowl 3, right?
THE WORM - IT HAS TURNED.
The Mets have crawled out of the crypt.
GUESS WHO?
Guess who hadn’t surrendered a relief run from April 24 through this past Sunday?
Edwin Diaz.
He hasn’t pitched, either.
No, I am referring to his Replacement, DEVIN WILLIAMS.
Once it…ahem… Warmed up, weatherwise, so has he. A lot.
He has been one excellent sugar substitute.
Too much Sugar is bad for your health.
Credit where credit is due: David Stearns got this one right.
ZACH THORNTON GETS HIS MLB PROMOTION
Zach Thornton, 2023 fifth rounder, will be pitching for the NY Mets vs. the Nationals on Wednesday.
Why him, you might ask, and not guys like Wenninger or Tong or Santucci?
CONTROL
Thornton is a tough lefty with excellent control, and he keeps the ball in the park, too. In 110 innings this year and last in the minors, just 23 walks and 7 HRs allowed. And slightly over a K per inning. Impressive.
The Mets coincidentally (and synonymously) had a righty reliever in the minors from 2010 through 2016 named Zack Thornton, no relation, who ended up with a career 3.72 ERA…but never made the majors. 301 games pitched. So near, but…
12 comments:
My guess is the Mets will eliminate the starter pressure and duplicate the Brazo/Peterson thingy with
Daniel Duarte
I am good with that.
I cannot get over that it popped into my head that the Mets winning 16–7, and the Namath Super Bowl team back in 1970 winning 16–7 might just be more than a coincidence. It might be a good omen.
away game void of dimension issues
The nationals also have a reputation for bad pitching and bad defense. They showed both last night.
On a different topic, I had posted yesterday that the Oklahoma City – San Antonio NBA game was gonna be Ali Frazier II? And it was. San Antonio won in double overtime, behind the other worldly skills of Victor Wembanyama. Victor had 41 points and grabbed 24 rebounds. And trust me the great Oklahoma City team wanted to do everything in their power to negate him.
Late in the first overtime, Victor got the ball passed to him with the clock winding down and his team down by 3 With only seconds left and overtime. He was 32 feet from the basket. He pulled up for a jumper. Nothing but yet. The guy is 7‘5“ tall, and he drilled that like it was nothing. Incredible if you’ve never watched him, I suggest you would. He is totally one of a kind, and think of the current Mets youngsters. Victor is only 22 years old. He is a freak and an alien.
It would have been even crazier if they were playing Baltimore.
I think that Bo Bichette just isn't cut out for the big spotlight of playing in New York. He will go on to become a great player for some other team in a smaller market. The only hope is that we can get some return for him in the mid-season.
Paul, I am still looking at that parallel between Lindor‘s huge struggles through mid May his first year, and those of BB. I think he’s about to come around, hopefully in a big way.
off topic, but Slater was DFA'd. Rumors on other sites say Morabito is gonna get the call
I have a draft piece on Bichette’s performance breakdown. Unfortunately, it’s even worse than the headline.
He did have a big game yesterday so maybe it’s time for a real breakout. I hope so b/c I’m holding off on the piece - don’t want to mess with the current mojo
As Mack’s Mets usually checks out around 12:00 EDT, if you wake up late, you are left behind.
Nonetheless, I will bring up the promotion of Nick Morabito and DFA of Austin Slater, who replaced Tommy Pham, and ask why Stearns is finally bringing up Morabito and what was he expecting to see in the other two? It appears to me that Stearns is in full “cover his ass” mode with this move as Morabito will probably ride the bench anyway, so why now? Where was this move when Soto got hurt and instead of bringing up one of the kids, he got those two stiffs along with Ibanez. I’m
Really pissed off at Stearns and while I believe in him, he seems to suffer from the same disease Mendoza has in that they will never learn from their mistakes.
Morality may start against lefties with Soto DH'ing.
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