tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post4436391603435509036..comments2024-03-29T09:39:10.572-04:00Comments on Mack's Mets: Christopher Soto - Forget the NL East; Mets 2015 Goal Should Be a Wild Card BerthMack Adehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730548449011685243noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-41868623872927330392015-01-20T17:08:09.805-05:002015-01-20T17:08:09.805-05:00Regarding defense as a whole.
Yes it is important...Regarding defense as a whole.<br /><br />Yes it is important - however, on teams with high strikeout pitchers, defense is less important.<br /><br />The Mets were 3rd in the NL in strikeouts last year - that was without Harvey and without a full season of deGrom. <br /><br />Have Syndergaard replace Colon and the strikeout rate goes higher. <br /><br />So yes, defense is always important, but it is less important on a team with a staff like the Mets'<br /><br />Those of you old enough, don't you remember Kevin Mitchell playing SS when Sid Fernandez (a high fly ball / strikeout pitcher) was on the mounds? <br /><br />I think Flores is 3 times the defensive SS Mitchell was Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05107443295708283998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-3114617913026359762015-01-20T17:03:10.093-05:002015-01-20T17:03:10.093-05:00James - One -- excuse me, two - counters to your p...James - One -- excuse me, two - counters to your point on Alderson not stressing defense<br /><br />During the last two drafts, the Mets drafted the consensus best defensive shortstop available: Ramos last year and Guillierome two years ago. <br /><br />Those guys were drafted fairly high, solely on the strength on their gloves with the hopes that the bats get better Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05107443295708283998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-36579531666018346982015-01-20T16:38:09.348-05:002015-01-20T16:38:09.348-05:00James -
you are correct...
and don't let an...James - <br /><br />you are correct...<br /><br />and don't let anybody say "yeah, well, what about J-Lag"?<br /><br />remember, he led the A-ball league in errors as a shortstop before being converted to the outfield as a last ditch effort to utilize his + + armMack Adehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09730548449011685243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-34972259306729929342015-01-20T16:17:43.664-05:002015-01-20T16:17:43.664-05:00Alderson does not believe in defense -- you can se...Alderson does not believe in defense -- you can see it in the draft, the minors, and in nearly every transaction -- and I think it's a major problem with the organization as a whole.<br /><br />The Mets have never played a single meaningful game under his tenure. So the little things never get exposed; nothing really matters! <br /><br />When the games start to count -- hopefully this year -- all those minor details are going to become important for the first time in Alderson history. Much more scrutiny. <br /><br />Sandy may think this is still the steroid-era A's, but scoring is way down in MLB and defense (and speed, another failure) will become increasingly important. James Prellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01342728812342563278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-65656000560677140142015-01-20T14:42:54.420-05:002015-01-20T14:42:54.420-05:00One thing guys...
The closer these games get and ...One thing guys...<br /><br />The closer these games get and the better the pitching becomes, the more defense will come into play.<br /><br />Most teams that have marginal hitters at least field a quality defensive middle field team.<br /><br />Mack Adehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09730548449011685243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-22340413398012733622015-01-20T14:23:58.110-05:002015-01-20T14:23:58.110-05:00I agree that the defense in the middle infield is ...I agree that the defense in the middle infield is weak but the offense is where I have to disagree with you.<br /><br />You could very reasonably say If the #3 through #7 spots of the Mets batting order stay healthy.....they all can hit 20 HR's each (Wright, Duda, Cuddyer, Grandy, d'Arnaud)<br /><br />Not sure if I can say that about any of the other teams outside of the Padres, Rockies and Diamondbacks.<br /><br />In my opinion its not about getting the good or bad breaks in a season. Its about staying healthy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-72768640668800317342015-01-20T14:17:14.172-05:002015-01-20T14:17:14.172-05:00Chris,
I'm trying to be optimistic here...agre...Chris,<br />I'm trying to be optimistic here...agreed on the starters being the best of the wild card teams, but offense and defense are weak. Also, the bullpen is improved but not a given...a legit lefty or quality veteran would have added some needed stability. All in all very iffy, and they need more to go right than go wrong to make the playoffs.TPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371738018453201276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-28504784795676872152015-01-20T10:54:09.268-05:002015-01-20T10:54:09.268-05:00Without a doubt This article is certainly optimist...Without a doubt This article is certainly optimistic.<br /><br />Your correct in your assumption that the Mets cannot compete with the Cards or the Dodgers right now. At this point I do think the Mets have a better club then the Cubs though due to the Cubs lack of pitching after Lester (I view Arrieta as a regression candidate.)<br /><br />I can certainly see the Giants and the Pirates both competing again for the Wild Card as my premise was more towards how both teams are (IMO...) slated to take steps backwards due to their relative inactive off-seasons. <br /><br />Amongst the 12 teams listed here....I truly think the Mets have the best rotation 1 thru 5 as a whole. Offensively, I think they have the best line-up balance but lack the individual player upside that comes with a Buster Posey, Andrew McCutchen, Paul Goldschmidt, etc., etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-88856242950203999392015-01-20T10:43:34.103-05:002015-01-20T10:43:34.103-05:00Chris,
Nice article, I was waiting for this type o...Chris,<br />Nice article, I was waiting for this type of summary, albeit a bit premature as teams have not yet finished making moves. <br /><br />As with anything, some of your observations are debatable...frankly, I don't see how you can rank the Mets in a group ahead of the Pirates and Giants, teams that have already proven they know how to win, and have key players that have done so as well.<br /><br />For my two cents, I put the Mets in the "good but not good enough" pool. Sure, their stable of young arms is awesome, but too many ifs. If Harvey returns to his pre-TJ form (that's a huge if for 2015), ditto Parnell, if deGrom can repeat (it's harder 2nd time around), if DW and Grady bounce back, if Duda and TDA play like they did in the 2nd half. The law of averages says that some if these ifs will work out and others won't.<br /><br />Lastly, playing for 2nd place from the get go and the possibility of qualifying for a one game playoff on a small market budget isn't exactly exciting. And all this after 4 years of sub .500 baseball. Wow, Freddie is "optimistic". Objectively judging this administration's performance, not against that of past GMs or Met history, but against the competition in the NL, their performance has been weak. After 4+ years, the Mets still find themselves in the middle of the pack. What evidence is there, even with the young arms and minor league depth, that they will be able to compete with the Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals anytime soon? I don't see any evidence, frankly.TPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371738018453201276noreply@blogger.com