SINCE GIL HODGES IS NOT AVAILABLE TO BE METS 2027 1B…
WHO IS?
Every team assesses its all of its resources.
And everyone knows:
Free agents are EXPENSIVE.
So, what can the Mets do in-house in 2027 at 1B?
Jared Young has surely earned his half of a platoon, vs. righties, IMHO.
Who, in house, though, can do the job against lefties?
I’d want someone who hits lefties well and who can field.
That counts out Fumble Fingers Vientos. So…
My platoon 1B vs. lefties?
Marcus Semien.
Well…He’s here, and is owed a boatload of Cohen Cash through 2028.
So the Mets are stuck with him, most likely.
A key question….Can he hit southpaws?
He has hit lefties (.264) better than righties (.247) in his career.
Fielding?
He’s always been a fine fielder.
Just…never been a first baseman.
So, what? He can field. He can throw. He’s smart. He can…switch.
That’s my short term 1B solution.
Who plays second instead? Voit, or Pitre, or Rojas. Pick one.
Pitre is the most ready, most likely.
Competent, doesn’t fan, fields deftly, .300+ in AA/AAA since being acquired.
Longer-term at the bag that Gil Hodges sparkled at?
Billy Amick will be the future 1B when he is reduces flaws & is more ready.
OK, that’s solved. And I solved second base, too.
Time to solve world peace. That should be easy, too.
SOME GUY’S PETE ALONSO THOUGHTS
By the way…as you slurp your Sunday mocha…read this…
I saw one fan on Facebook post this interesting Alonso commentary:
Alright, time for a Realty Check for Pete fanboys.
-- On May 1, Pete was batting .198. The Orioles were 5 games under .500. Today they are 5 games under .500 and last in the AL East.
-- defensively, he has collapsed since some early numbers that were a career aberration. Pete has a -0.9 dWAR, 30th among MLB first basemen (there are 30 teams.) He is tracking for -1.0 dWAR. His career season average is -1.0 dWAR.
-- Of his 33 HRs, only 3 have come after the sixth inning, when he is batting .209. Only 12 of his 93 RBIs have come ofter the sixth innings. That is what, like 9 percent and 11 percent? numbers should be like 30 percent. 34 percent of Soto's HRs have come after the 6th inning this year. 32 percent of Lindors.
-- had Stearns signed Pete to that Orioles contract, in 2030 they would have $115 million committed to Age 35 Pete, Age 32 Soto, and Age 37 Lindor. Then you have to pay 37 other players. That will be year four of the new CBA and if you can find anyone that thinks there will be a $300 million payroll then, get in a poker game with him quick.
It also will be in the 5-6 year window when we have to sign all these rising stars.. .McLean, Scott, Tong, Benge, McEwing......add on as you will.
Stearns had to be the adult in the room.
-- Pete is 17% of the way through his 5 year contract and the fanboys are howling. Did you wonder why nobody but us would give him a 2 year contract for 2025-2026, and no one would give him more than 3 years for 2026 on except the Os?
This (click the link) is the aging curve for MLB batters, off an enormous sample:
9 comments:
Tom, Semien has as much experience as Polanco has. Why do you think it will work out better. Plus, Semien just strikes me as a pain in the ass. While everyone praises his “professionalism” (that’s when there is nothing else to praise), he is not what he once was and he needs to be platooned at second base.
Also, I hope by next year, Pete Alonso’s name can go away like DeGrom’s did. Let’s move on, shall we?
I would give Young the first base position first. Vientos is not a good fit, but I wouldn’t cry about it. Let Baty and Semien play second base. They both kind of give the same results but Baty may surprise.
If Bichette does opt-out as is expected, I wouldn’t cry about see about attaching a prospect to Semien and getting rid of his whole deal. Would Wenninger be enough? Would it take Tong? Would you do that?
2027 First Base -
My hopes are that Cohen grows a pair and dumps both Semien and Polanco. Both are huge Stearns screw-ups and the quicker they are off this team, the faster the team can become viable.
Still, I wouldn't play Semien anywhere but second. He plays that well.
Just let Young play every day until you call up Amick.
Alonzo/Age Decline
Again, I don't look back
As for age decline, you should see the graph up to 79!
I think we all need to start getting ready for a Mets team without Bo.
Another stupid Stearns deal. Who signs a star and gives him 459 out clauses??? Gawd, David stinks at this.
I’d like to move on from Baty and Semien. Can’t do that with Semien, unless you attach a real pitcher prospect or two…but we need our prospect pitchers badly…the pool is thin. Perhaps with a hitting prospect of value, you could move Semien in a relatively painless way.
If you wanted me to decide…I keep Semien AND the prospects until rhe ASB. To keep Semien, I make him a first baseman. He can play 2B too. He’d be less of a contract dump at the ASB, too. “Just” $28 million owed to him at the ASB for the rest of 2027/28.
Mack, you can still catch up to Misiorowski and go deep. Your decline starts at 80.
I do think the bewildering part about Polanco at first base is less bewildering when you realize he was damaged goods at the start of spring training. Semien is healthy and could be a good first baseman defensively.
And I’d only consider Semien as a platoon 1B until the guy in my 8:00 article is ready, which should be by the ASB.
BTW, Cole is 2-5, 7.28 vs. Mets in his career, with a .330/.385/.637 slash line against him. He is a HOF pitcher against the rest of the big league teams.
At this point, I would like to see the Mets transfer the colors. Rojas, Pitre, and either Amick or Clifford for July. Let Young start the year, Mauricio at third and let Baty and Semien handle second base. End of June, you take the pulse of where you are.
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