12/1/20

Mets360 - The 2021 center field options for the Mets

 


By Gus Livaditis December 1. 2020

Much digital ink has been used on the need to get George Springer onto the Mets because he’s “a real center fielder” and the one the Mets used this year isn’t. To this, we will examine how good does your center fielder have to be in order to win a championship and is signing Springer to major dollars the best scenario? First, we will examine the center fielder production for the last 10 World Series champions and their team’s dependence on their play. Then, we will examine the names in the news for the Mets, my mystery acquisition and how they compare to our incumbent.

First, a brief summary of each year’s World Series winning center fielder and their relevance to the team’s production. Pitching is always referenced because some teams expect to win because of their superior pitching. All WAR values come from FanGraphs.

 

fWAR

Offensive/Defensive Grades

2011 Cardinals CF:

Jon Jay

2.3

7.7 Offense, -1.2 Defense

Top Performers:

Yadier Molina

5.9

9.1 Offense, 31.3 Defense

 

Lance Berkman

4.7

44.4 Offense, -17.5 Defense

 

Matt Holliday

4.4

29.9 Offense, -3.9 Defense

 

Albert Pujols

3.9

28.9 Offense, -11.6 Defense

The top nine WAR players were all negative on Defense expect for Molina.

Pitching: Chris Carpenter 4.5 WAR, Jaime Garcia 3.2 WAR, Kyle Lohse 2.3 WAR, no one else was over 1.0.

 

fWAR

Offensive/ Defensive Grades

2012 Giants CF:

Angel Pagan

4.6

21.7 Offense, 2.7 Defense

Top Performers:

Buster Posey

10.1

41.9 Offense, 36.5 Defense

 

Melky Cabrera

4.5

33.4 Offense, -5.6 Defense

Pitching: Matt Cain had a 3.2 WAR and Madison Bumgarner had a 2.7 WAR. No other pitcher came close.

 

fWAR

Offensive/ Defensive Grades

2013 Red Sox CF:

Jacoby Ellsbury

4.6

19.1 Offense, 2.9 Defense

Top Performers:

Dustin Pedroia

4.9

11.1 Offense, 10.4 Defense

 

Shane Victorino

4.7

17.6 Offense, 8.6 Defense

 

David Ortiz

3.4

27.0 Offense, -15.0 Defense

 

Mike Napoli

3.4

17.5 Offense, -4.9 Defense

Five pitchers with WAR of 2.3 or greater, led by Jon Lester at 3.3.

 

fWAR

Offense/Defense Grades

2014 Giants CF:

Angel Pagan

1.8

7.6 Offense, -3.4 Defense

Top Performers:

Buster Posey

7.6

25.3 Offense, 25.7 Defense

 

Hunter Pence

4.0

23.4 Offense, -7.9 Defense

 

Pablo Sandoval

3.2

2.4 Offense, 7.9 Defense

Bumgarner had a 3.6 WAR, three pitcher had 1.5 – 1.7; no one else close.

 

fWAR

Offense/ Defense Grades

2015 Royals CF:

Lorenzo Cain

6.1

26.0 Offense, 11.8 Defense

Top Performers:

Mike Moustakas

3.8

10.9 Offense, 5.2 Defense

 

Eric Hosmer

3.5

21.7 Offense, -10.8 Defense

Pitching: Yordano Ventura 2.7 WAR, Edison Volquez 2.7 WAR, Wade Davis 2.0 WAR

By contrast: Curtis Granderson 5.3 WAR, Travis d’Arnaud 3.4 WAR in just 67 games, Lucas Duda 3.2 WAR, Yoenis Cespedes 2.6 WAR in just 57 games, Daniel Murphy 2.2 WAR, Michael Conforto 1.9 WAR in just 56 games.

Jacob deGrom 4.9 WAR, Matt Harvey 4.0 WAR, Noah Syndergaard 2.9 WAR, Bartolo Colon 2.5 WAR.

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Mike's Mets - Baseball Executive Needed, Cojones Required

 


By Mike Steffanos November 30, 2020

Another day, another disappointment for the Mets in their search to hire an executive. After lowering their sights to a GM working under Sandy Alderson rather than a President of Baseball Operations, the Mets are still looking to make a hire. Today's news is that former pitcher Chris Young doesn't want to uproot his family from Dallas to New York City. Some people are making a big deal of this, but I don't really care all that much. I don't blame the club for aiming high for a candidate, and I don't think they should settle for anyone they don't really want. At this point they should perhaps consider tabling the whole thing for another year and going forward with the people they already have. But that's up to Alderson and Cohen.

I notice that Steve Cohen replied to a tweet from SNY's Andy Martino with the million dollar question:

I'm in agreement with Cohen on this.  If there are people shying away from the job because they think Cohen wanting to win in 3-5 years is too demanding, than they shouldn't come here. If you're being handed the resources to build one of the best organizations in baseball, a lot should be expected from you. I don't think Steve Cohen is going to arbitrarily fire someone if the Mets don't win the World Series in 3-5 years as long as they're doing a good job building the organization. But the goals should be very high. Part of the problem here in the last decade or so was that little was given and little was expected.

I'll take Chris Young at his word for not wanting to move his family. Reportedly this was the case with at least one other of the Mets targets. That's just how it goes. But anyone under consideration who's afraid of the owner without even sitting down and having a conversation with the man about what he really wants is just a coward, and has no business taking this job anyway.

The important thing is that the Mets should be prepared to do everything they need to do this winter no matter how long it takes to hire someone. This needs to include decisions on free agents, both the elite ones and the players who get cut loose this week on Wednesday's non-tender deadline. I believe we're going to start seeing some movement in the free agent market finally once we get past that.

There has been word out of Philadelphia that severe losses in 2020 may limit the Phillies' pursuit of J.T. Realmuto. That doesn't mean, of course, that the Phillies won't be at least trying to make a deal with the catcher, nor does it mean that the Mets won't have competition from other teams. It does, however, increase the possibilities of the Mets signing the best catcher in baseball.

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Tom Brennan - WOULD YOU METS GM'S SIGN THIS CATCHER?



We need a catcher.  After all, Wilson Ramos is so slow he just got home after the season.  Slow, I tell ya.

OK, well, he's not quite that slow, but he ain't coming back (at least as a starter, and doubtfully as a back up).

So how about signing this guy?

536 at bats, 29 doubles, 25 HRs, 75 RBIs, .273/.335/.475, with a 33% CS rate?

I'd take one of those.

No, that's not J.T. Realmuto.

That's James McCann over the past 2 seasons.

For a catcher, that's danged good.  

He's about 6 months older than JT, but he had a terrific (if brief) 2020, so he sure seems capable.

I'd love to get J.T. Realmuto.  Wouldn't you?  He's the best.

But I would not sneeze at getting a McCann cheaper and getting a few more truly pro relievers to prevent the back-end-of-bullpen blues that has plagued this Mets team for so many years.

I happened to watch part of the 2006 Mets pennant clincher the other day.  That was some team, great stars, 3 guys (David Wright, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran) with over 110 RBIs each, Jose Reyes in his prime, Paul LoDuca having a great year, etc.  

But that 1996 team also had 9 back-end pitchers who combined to pitched about 230 innings and allowed 7 runs per 9 innings, and 5 hitters who hit .134 in 179 combined at bats.  

All to say that all players matter, in terms of then needing to be competent.  

Your lowest 5 guys getting 179 ABs should hit .200 at a minimum.  Your fringe pitchers throwing 230 innings should give the team, say, a 5.00 ERA or better. 

Those abysmal 2006 performers did not derail the 2006 team, but they sure didn't help.  Maybe the 2006 team wins 102 games with stronger fringe players.  

I don't want to see 2021 derailed by these fringe disaster player types.  

So, if signing a McCann and not a Realmuto because finances are not limitless means we can get more depth on the roster, I can live with that.

How about you?


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Tom Brennan - THE JOY OF WINNING A METS WORLD SERIES


Ahh, 1969.



I was a mere, bespectacled teenager when the Mets' Cinderella team won the World Series in 1969.  How incredibly elating that was! (I had more power than Bud Harrelson, just to let you know, but who didn't?  I digress.)


Little did I (or any of us sufferers) know then that the Mets would win just one more series (in 1986) over the next 51 seasons.


That one was a nail biter, but so utterly joyous when we won. Won for the second time.  1969 and 1986 - two miracle years won in very different manners, with the 1986 team clearly expected to be the best team in baseball.  Cherished memories.


Over those 51 years since 1969, 7 MLB teams have not won a single world series.  In order to be repeat winners, you need perennial losers.  So, let me say to them right here, THANK YOU.


Of the teams that have won world series over the past 51 years, 9 of them won just once, leaving the sheer joy of the other 42 world series wins over that span to just 13 teams.


Seven of those teams have won 3 or more times - they have, in total, won 27 of those 51 world series, include the following:


YANKEES - 7


OAKLAND - 4


BOSTON - 4


GIANTS - 3


DODGERS - 3


ST LOUIS - 3


CINCINNATI - 3 


Why were the Mets only a winner once after 1969?  Well, the narrow losses in 1973, 1988, and 2015 were clearly factors.


But of the above teams, only 4 (Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Giants) have been frequent recent winners, and only the first 3 teams seem willing and able to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to be year-in, year-out STRONG AND COMPELLING CONTENDERs for the crown.  And, despite Atlanta only winning 1 crown in that span, I would add them in there, too, as they have been in the playoffs so many times over the past 30 years.  It just hasn't gone their way.


The Mets need to join the post-1969 Multi-World Series Club over their next 10-20 years.  The only way to get there is to do what the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox do - fight tooth-and-nail to do everything possible, and shrewdly spend like drunken sailors, to win a world series each season.


Given the multi-round playoffs of today's game, vs, the single round playoffs that garnered the Yankees so many titles in the 1950s, it is impossible to expect to win a World Series Crown every year.  


But, like the Yankees, this Mets team, starting in 2021, needs to build a superior team with the goal of doing exactly that.


Which obviously was not the Wilpons' goal, which instead seemed to be "meaningful September baseball".  Too many times, of course, we ended up with meaningless September baseball.  


Heck, as we fanatics know, this team has only MADE the playoffs 7 times in the past 51 years, an incredibly unacceptable rate.  87% of the seasons without playoffs!  Egads!


It is time, right now, to PERMANENTLY raise the team's sights and non-negotiable goals to WINNING A WORLD SERIES EACH YEAR, NO MATTER WHAT THE OTHER 29 TEAMS TRY TO DO TO PREVENT IT.


Nothing else will suffice.  Nothing.


We've waited, and starved, for too long.


We Mets fans want to have a team that is the envy of the entire baseball world again.


If you build it, we will come!


Steve Cohen, please establish a:


METS RENAISSANCE IN QUEENS

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John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 12/1/2020


Good Morning.  Happy Birthday George Foster, Dan Warthen, Herm Winningham, Julio Machado, Joe Zanghi, and Quinn Brody.  Chris Young says no to GM job, and the Mets will have a new Bench Coach in 2021.

Section Links: Mets Links, MLB Links, Winter Baseball, and This Day in Mets History.

Mets Links:

NY Post: Chris Young pulls out of running for Mets GM opening. “Young, MLB’s senior VP of on field operations, withdrew because of family considerations. He lives in Dallas and has children ages 8, 10 and 12 and felt this was not the right time to uproot despite being intrigued by the position with the Mets.” 






Mike’s Mets: Baseball Executive Needed, Cojones Required. 


NY Post: Mets not bringing back bench coach Hensley Meulens. “The decision doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as the 53-year-old Meulens originally joined the Mets as Carlos Beltran’s bench coach last offseason, only to see Beltran lose his job.” 


Ken Davidoff NY Post: Mets tendering Steve Matz would be the right move. “It appears the Mets will tender Steven Matz, who can be a service-time free agent after next season, rather than set him free. And that will be the right call…Yes, yes, Matz did post a horrific 9.68 ERA in nine games…but it was just a two-month disaster…Throw in the Mets’ lack of starting pitching depth…and you have another reason to bring back Matz.”

MLB.com: Mets in on Springer, but they're not alone. 

Empire Sports Media: New York Mets and Jacob Barnes avoid arbitration with one-year deal. 

Mets360: Where does Luis Guillorme fit into the Mets infield puzzle? 

Mets.com: Who had Mets' top single year at the plate? #1. David Wright 2007 - .325/.416/.546, 30 HR, 107 RBI, 34 SB, 8.3 bWAR, 8.4 fWAR; #2 Carlos Beltran 2006 - .275/.388/.594, 41 HR, 116 RBI, 18 SB, 8.2 bWAR, 7.8 fWAR; #3 John Olerud, 1998 - .354/.447/.551, .430 wOBA, 167 wRC+, 7.6 WAR, 8.1 fWAR; #4 Howard Johnson, 1989 - .287/.369/.559, 36 HR, 41 2B, 101 RBI, 41 SB, 6.9 bWAR, 7.0 fWAR; #5. Mike Piazza, 2000 .324/.398/.614, 38 HR, 113 RBI, 155 OPS+, 5.1 bWAR, 5.8 fWAR. 


ICYMI: Yesterday at Mack’s Mets: 

Reese Kaplan -- The World Has Other Infielders for the Mets. 

Prospect Profile: Francisco Alvarez Catcher. 

Scouting Report - OF - Eric Kennedy. 

Scouting Report - OF - Joshua Baez. 

MLB Links:

Yahoo Sports: When will sports stadiums be full again? Dr. Anthony Fauci gives a timeline. “We're gonna be vaccinating the highest-priority people [from] the end of December through January, February, March,” Fauci said. “By the time you get to the general public, the people who'll be going to the basketball games, who don't have any underlying conditions, that's gonna be starting the end of April, May, June. So it probably will be well into the end of the summer before you can really feel comfortable [with full sports stadiums].”

MLB.com: This is why teams are really eyeing McCann. In 2020, catcher showed he can do more than swing the bat. James McCann improved his pitch framing in 2020 after working with former Big League Catcher Jerry Narron.



MLB.com: These 10 broke out in '20. Can they repeat? José Iglesias, Orioles, Brandon Belt, Giants, and Marcell Ozuna, Braves lead the list.

USA Today: Five teams to form 'draft league,' eight relegated to independents as MLB's minor-league shakeout nears end. “Meanwhile, eight more franchises, in the Pioneer League -- spanning Idaho, Montana, Utah and Colorado -- will be relegated to independent status while remaining an MLB ‘partner league.’"


WFAN.com: Trenton Thunder to be part of new MLB Draft League.

MLB.com: Each club's best individual offensive season. For the Mets, as mentioned above, David Wright, 2007.

MLB Trade Rumors: Royals Sign Michael A. Taylor. “$1.75MM base salary and another $1MM worth of available incentives.” 

MLB Trade Rumors: Blue Jays Interested In Kolten Wong. 

MLB Trade Rumors: Robbie Erlin To Sign With Nippon Ham Fighters. 

MLB Trade Rumors: The Marlins acquired right-hander Adam Cimber from the Indians for cash considerations…Miami designated righty Jose Urena for assignment in a corresponding move. 

MLB Trade Rumors: Padres Release Luis Perdomo. 


Winter Baseball:

In the Dominican Republic –

Aguilas Cibaenas 6 Toros del Este 2 (Box Score) For Aguilas Robel Garcia played 2B and went 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI, .161 Batting Average this winter. Jenrry Mejia had a tough night for Los Toros, 2/3 inning, 2 hits, 2 earned runs.

Here is the full Dominican Scoreboard.

No games last night in Venezuela or in the Mexican Pacific League.

Baseball Mexico Blog: Obregon wins Mex Pac First Half by 4.5 games.

In the Mexican Pacific League:

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Bob Miller to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tim Harkness and Larry Burright on December 1, 1962.

Houston Astros drafted Jack DiLauro from the Mets on December 1, 1969.

New York Mets traded Ron Herbel to the Atlanta Braves for Bob Aspromonte on December 1, 1970.

Cincinnati Reds signed Pete Smith of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 1, 1994.

New York Mets traded Todd Hundley and Arnold Gooch to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Roger Cedeno and Charles Johnson on December 1, 1998.

New York Mets traded Charles Johnson to the Baltimore Orioles for Armando Benitez on December 1, 1998.

New York Mets signed free agent Jesus Feliciano on December 1, 2007.

Philadelphia Phillies signed Brian Schneider of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 1, 2009.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Ray Daviault Upon His Passing: The First Canadian Born Mets Player & An Original Met (1962).

Centerfield Maz: Craig Swan: 1978 N.L. ERA Leader (1973-1984).

National Pastime.com:

1998

The Mets sign 31 year-old Gold Glove third baseman Robin Ventura (.263, 21, 91) to a four-year, 32 million dollar free-agent deal. The former White Sox infielder joins two-time Gold Glove shortstop Rey Ordonez, Edgardo Alfonzo, shifted from the hot corner to second, and first baseman John Olerud to make up one of the best fielding infields in history according to Sports Illustrated.

1998

Due to the acquisition of All-Star backstop Mike Piazza, the Mets deal fan favorite Todd Hundley, along with right-hander Arnold Gooch, to the Dodgers for outfielder Roger Cedeno and catcher Charles Johnson. New York then sends Johnson to Baltimore to obtain closer Armando Benitez.

 

2000

Turk Wendell, who wears uniform number 99, agrees to a three-year deal worth $9,999,999.99 with the Mets. The New York reliever had asked that his pact include an option year in which he would play for free, but that plan was unworkable because baseball's collective bargaining agreement sets a $200,000 minimum salary.

Baseball Reference:

2001: The Mets sign former Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Satoru Komiyama to a one-year contract. Komiyama was a seven-time All-Star in Japan.

2018 - Rumors of a blockbuster trade between the Mariners and Mets emerge today, with Seattle sending 2B Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz and a lot of money to New York in return for two veterans , OF Jay Bruce and P Anthony Swarzak, and three prospects, Gerson Bautista, Justin Dunn and Jarred Kelenic. The M's are in the midst of a purge of high-priced veterans after missing the postseason yet again last season. 

Breakfast Links One year ago today - 12/1/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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