Ernest Dove - What's wrong with the Mets' farm system?

 

Ernest Dove addresses a question that we have been asking ourselves often: What is wrong with the Mets' farm system?!

Here is the report with his view: link

Reese Kaplan -- David Stearns Again Sitting on His Hands

On June 23rd the Mets announced that they were finally addressing the non-existent offense that has plagued the team all year long by claiming DFA’d Jared Oliva from the Giants.  Mr. Oliva is a guy best known for his legs, having provided as many as 37 SBs in a season while toiling for nine years in the minors.  As a major leaguer he owns a .175 career batting average.  Yup, he’s the answer David Stearns thinks will be a difference maker on the last place Mets. 

Obviously no one expects the now 30 year old Oliva to morph into an All Star but that is indeed the problem here.  The Mets can’t hit.  The Mets can’t pitch.  The Mets often can’t field (remember the narrative about run prevention?).  They do have a few folks who can run and Oliva was added to the 40-man roster but sent to swipe bases in Syracuse.  It was a filler move, not a substantial one.

The question people should be asking what exactly is the plan to change things?  Now we can’t hold David Stearns accountable for things like Clay Holmes’ fractured fibula, but when he reached out to acquire guys with well known chronic health issues like Luis Robert and Jorge Polanco you have to wonder about his hope-for-the-best strategy in finding lightning in a bottle rather than acquiring players likely to remain on the field and to provide positive at bats regularly.

Of course, there are guys who stayed healthy but simply did not perform as expected such as Freddy Peralta.  Given his $8 million salary in his walk year and the less than stellar output from the resources traded away to get him it’s not quite as bad as it could have been, but again you have to question scouting and player evaluation when this kind of transitional torturous trajectory happens again and again.

Need more proof?

Let’s see...there is nice guy and baseball pro Marcus Semien earning an awful lot of money to hit just .219.  He’s been an All Star three times, won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers.  These achievements, unfortunately, happened when he was younger than the age 35 at which he’s playing his initial season as a New York Met.

A bit harder to understand is career .290 hitter Bo Bichette who has had to turn red hot of late to rally all the way up to .248 for which he’s being compensated in the $42 million range to not hit as expected and to field more like Mark Vientos than he does like Brett Baty.  David Stearns gave him the oddball contract with opt out clauses that likely won’t be exercised because no one things .248 hitters are worth that kind of payroll hit. 

How about former David Stearns Brewers closer Devin Williams?  The fact is that on paper he seemed like a less expensive high quality replacement for Edwin Diaz.  In fact, for his career he owns a 2.63 ERA vs. 2.91 for Diaz.  Given his decidedly less expensive contract and better track record for staying off the IL it seemed a good move.  Unfortunately he’s tallied a 4.81 ERA thus far for the Mets so he too falls into that bucket of players with poorer performance than expected. 

In the previous year David Stearns did absolutely nothing to deal with the mess until the trade deadline period happened and apparently that is again his method of operation when things in 2026 are even worse.  No one knows who will stay and who will go but isn’t it the job of anyone in senior management in any kind of business to take corrective actions early enough to have an impact on results rather than finding more Oliva types?

Word did arrive late Wednesday night that the club had made its first major league personnel change of the 2026 season when they agreed to send free agent to be David Peterson to the Cubs for a low average slugging first base prospect.  This deal was not as much about what Cole Mathis can bring to the Mets but more of a classic addition by subtraction type of deal receiving a roll of the dice prospect for a non-essential and non-productive starting pitcher who would be gone for nothing at year's end anyway.  With Christian Scott due back shortly it doesn't appear as if losing Peterson will create any major reengineering of the starting rotation.

MACK - Friday Observations - Weekly Update on the Future

 

 

Taken off the report this week:

 

None

 

SP Jack Wenninger/AAA-Syracuse –

As of end 6-3 - 10-G, 9-ST, 3-3, 2.80, 1.33, 45-IP, 46-K, 25-BB

As of end 6-10 - 11-G, 10-ST, 3-4, 2.68, 1.33, 50.1-IP, 49-K, 28-BB  

As of end 6-17 – 13-G, 11-ST, 3-5, 3.34, 1.38, 59.1-IP. 33-BB, 60-K

6-23 – 3.2-IP, 5-H, 4-ER, 3-BB, 4-K – another sub-par outing. Very disappointing.

As of end 6-24 – 14-G, 12-ST, 3-5, 3.71, 1.43, 63-IP,36-BB, 64-K

 

SP Zach Thornton/AAA-Syracuse & MLB-Mets –

As of end 6-3: AAA: 4-ST, 3-2, 4.87, 1.37, 20-1-IP, 19-K, 9-BB

As of end 6-10:  AAA: 5-G, 4-ST, 1-2, 3.91, 1.26, 25.1-IP, 24-K, 11-BB

As of end 6-17 – AAA:  6-G, 5-ST, 1-2, 3.81, 1.38, 26-IP, 13-BB, 25-K

As of end 6-24 – 7-G, 6-ST, 4.80, 1.50, 30-IP, 14-BB, 29-K

6-19 – the production level of upper level Mets starters continued to deteriorate, this time with Thornton, who went 4-1P, 8-H, 5-ER, BB, 4-K.

 

SP Jonah Tong/AAA-Syracuse – I haven’t tracked him in a while, but John From Albany convinced me to put him back on the list and report on his outings. So…

As of 6-24 – 12-ST, 1-5, 6.30, 1.62, 50-IP, 32-BB, 68-K

 

RP Jonathan Pintaro/AAA-Syracuse & MLB-Mets -

As of end 6-3:   AAA - 18-APPS, 2-0, 3.38, 1.09, 29.1-IP, 37-K, 13-BB

As of end 6-10 -

    MLB - 3-APPS, 0-0, 1.35, 0.30, 6.2-IP, 1-BB, 5-K

    AAA - 19-APPS, 2-0, 3.16, 1.05, 31.1-IP, 38-K, 13-BB

As of end 6-17 –

    MLB – 4-APPS, 0-0, 2.61, 0.48, 10.1-IP,1-BB, 9-K

    AAA – same as 6-10   

6-20 – 3.1-IP, 6-H, 3-ER, BB, 3-K (3.63)

Pintaro only has a 3.65 MiLB ERA, but because he also has  a 2.61 in four major league games, I’m going to keep him on here.

On Wednesday, the Mets used Pintaro as the 26^th man… 2-IP, 2-H, 4-ER, 2-BB, 3-K. Major league ERA now up to 5.11. Hmm…

As of end 6-24 -

 

RP Ben Simon/AAA-Syracuse –

As of end 6-3:  AAA  5-apps, 3.18, 1.59, 5.2-IP, 1-K, 5-BB

As of end 6-10:  AAA - 7-APPS, 1-1, 2.16, 1.20, 8.1-IP, 6-BB, 4-K

As of end 6-17 – 9-APPS, 1-2, 2.38, 1.23, 11.1-IP, 7-BB, 7-K

6-20 – 0.2-IP, H, 0-R, 14-IP

As f end 6-24 – 11-APPS, 2.57, 1.14, 7-BB, 8-K

 

RP Felipe De La Cruz/AAA - Syracuse -

As of end 6-3:  AA - 14-APPS, 0-0, 1.56, 1.15, 17.1-IP, 23-K, 9-BB

As of end 6-10:  AA - 16-APPS, 0-0, 1.37, 1.12, 19.2-IP, 11-BB, 26-K   

As of end 6-17:  AA - -APPS, 0-1, 2.11, 1.31, 21.1-IP, 12-BB, 29-K

6-18 – promoted to AAA-Syracuse

6-18 – 2-IP, 2-H, 2-ER, 0-BB, 3-K – a typical first outing at a new, higher level.

6-23 – 2.1-IP 1-H, 0-R,  3-K – that’s more like it…

As of end 6-24 – Combined AA/AAA – 20-APPS, 0-1, 2.45, 1.31, 25.2-IP, 35-K

 

NEW ADDITION – RP Dan Hammer/AAA-Syracuse – Hammer has quietly produced a great AAA stat line. Through 6-18, the 28/year old is 11-APPS, 2.13 A\after 10-apps, 2.77 in Binghamton.

6-18 – 2.2-IP, 1-H, 0-R, BB, 5-K

6-22 – 0.2-IP, 1-H, 1-ER, 2-BB, 2.25

As of 6-24 – AAA: 13-APPS, 0-1, 2.25, 1.56, 16-IP, 13-BB, 18-K

 

C Kevin Parada/AAA-Syracuse

As of end 6-3:  AAA:  31-AB, 0-HR, 9-RBI, .355/.400/.484/.884

As of end 6-10 - AAA:  38-AB, 1-HR, 10-RBI, 10-K, .342/.381/.526/.907

As of end 6-17 – 50-AB, 1-HR, 10-RBI, .320/.397/.460/.857

6-18 – 0-3 – Parada is slumping, having lost over 50 BA points in the month of June.

6-20 – 3-5, R, RBI, 2B (3) – the difference a day makes…

6-21 – 2-4, RBI, 2B (4)

6-22 – 0-4

As of end 6-24 – AAA: 66-AB, 1-HR, 12-RBI, .318/.387/.455/.841

 

2B Ji Hwan Bae/AAA-Syracuse

As of end 6-3:   176-AB, 2-HR, 18-RBI, .278/.380/.375/.755

As of end 6-10:  192-AB, 3-HR, 19-RBI, .297/.400/.406/.806

As of end 6-17:  212-AB, 3-HR, 21-RBI, 31-BB, .283/.383/.396/.779

6-18 – 1-5, R, RBI

6-19 – 1-3, R, HR (5), 2-RBI, BB

6-20 – 0-4, R, BB

6-22 – 1-2, RBI, 2-BB

6-23 – 0-1, R

As of end 6-24 – 227-AB, 4-HR, 35-RBI, 35-BB, .278/.381.410/.790

 

NEW ADDITION – SS/3B/2B Yonny Hernandez/AAA-Syracuse – The well-travelled  Hernandez hit the minimum .275 level after Sunday’s game. Hopefully, he holds that level.

2026 to date: 174-AB, 2-HR, 19-RBI, .276/.371/.345/.716,  (6)

6-21 – 3-4, 2-R, 3X-2B

6-23 – 3-4, R, RBI, BB

As of end 6-24 – 178-AB, 2-HR, 20-RBI, .287/.381/.360/.741

 

OF Nick Morabito/AAA-Syracuse

As of end 6-3:   AAA - 180-AB, 5-HR, 22-RBI, .256/.363/.400/.763

As of end 6-10:  199-AB, 5-HR, 22-RBI, .246/.352/.382/.734

As of end 6-17 – 219-AB, 5-HR, 25-RBI, 31-BB, .251/.360/.379/.736

6-18 – 2-5. 2-R, 2-HR (7), 2-RBI – have a day, Nick

6-19 – 1-3

6-20 – 1-4, 2-R, BB

6-21 – 1-3, HR (8), RBI, BB

6-22 – 2-4, 2-R, BB, (.261)

6-23 – 2-5, R

As of end 6-24 – 243-AB, 8-HR, 28-RBI, 34-BB, 26-SB, .263/.368/.416/.784

 

SP Jonathan Santucci/AA-Binghamton –

As of end 6-10 - 11-ST, 1-5, 3.93, 1.23, 52.2-IP, 24-BB, 63-K              

As of end 6-17 – 12-ST, 1-5, 4.13, 1.31, 56.2-IP, 29-BB, 68-K

6-18 – 6-IP, 5-H, 0-R, 2-BB, 7-K – Santucci’s best outing this season

6-23 – 3.1-IP, 4-H, 3-ER, 3-BB, 5-K – followed by…

As of end 6-24 – 14-ST, 2-5, 3.95, 1.33, 66-IP, 34-BB, 80-K

 

RP Saul Garcia/AA-Binghamton –

As of the end 6-3:  20-APPS, 0-1, 4.43, 1.21, 22.1-IP, 33-K, 5-BB

As of end 6-10:  21-APPS, 4.24, 1.24, 23.1-IP, 34-K, 7-BB         

As of end 6-17:  24-APPS, 0-1, 3.67, 1.22, 27-IP, 9-BB, 39-K

As of end 6-24 – 25-APPS, 0-1, 3.86, 1.25, 28-IP, 10-BB, 40-K

 

SP Jose Chirinos/A+ Brooklyn –

As of end 6-3 - A+ - 1-ST, 0-0, 1.80, 1.20, 5-IP, 4-K, 3-BB

As of end 6-10 - A+:  2-ST, 0-1, 3.27, 1.18, 11-IP, 6-BB, 14-K

As of end 6-17 – A+ - 3-ST, 1-1, 2.81, 1.31, 16-IP, 8-BB, 20-K

6-20 – 5-IP, 9-H, 4-ER, BB, 3-K, 3.86 – and there goes the last of the decent upper- level starters…

As of end 6-24 – 4-ST, 1-2, 3.86, 1.47, 21-IP, 9-BB, 23-K

 

SP Nicholas Carreno/A+ Brooklyn –

St. Lucie -

as of end of 6-3:  10-G, 5-ST, 2-0, 1.43, 0.98, 37.2-IP, 56-K, 18-BB

as of end 6-10:  11-G, 6-ST, 2-1, 1.94, 1.05, 41.2-IP, 21-BB, 58-K 

as of end 6-17 –

  A-St. Lucie:  2-1, 1.94, 1.06

  A+ Brooklyn:  0-1, 5.40, 1.50

   Combined A/A+:   2-2, 2.61, 1.14

6-23 – 4-IP, 5-H, 5-ER, 3-BB, H – Carreno seems to be having difficulty mastering the A+ level. Welcome to the club, Nick.

As of end 6-24 – AAA: 3-ST, 0-1, 7.71, 1.64, 14-IP, 9-BB, 15-K

                                    

SP David Hurtado/A+ Brooklyn -

As of end 6-10 - A+ - 3-ST, 1-0, 0.69, 0.46, 3-IP, 2-BB, 11-K

As of end 6-17 – A+ - 4-ST, 2-0, 0.50. 0.44, 18-IP, 3-BB, 13-K

6-18 – 4.1-IP, 6-H, 4-ER, 0-BB, 5-K – easily his worst outing this season

6-23 – 6-IP, 2-H, ER BB 6-K – back to normal…

As of end 6-24 – 6-ST, 3-1, 1.91, 0.60, 28.1-IP, 4-BB, 24-K

 

NEW ADDITION - SP(?) Dakota Hawkins/A+ Brooklyn – not sure Hawk is a starter now, though he did start on Sunday, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings, giving up only two hits, walking one and striking out two. The important thing is he has now lowered his seasonal ERA to 2.08, far below the minimal 2.99 needed to make this report. Welcome Hawk.

6-21 – 3.2-IP, 2-H, 0-R, BB, 2-K

As of end 6-24 – 14-G, 4-ST, 1-0, 2.08, 1,00, 26-IP, 6-BB, 26-K

 

SP Channing Austin/A+ Brooklyn –

           A+ - 8-ST, 2-1, 1.17, 38.1-IP. 48-K, 22-BB

5/27 - Austin was placed on the IL with an oblique issue.

 

RP - Bryce Jenkins/A+ Brooklyn

As of end 6-3 - 15-APPS, 1-2, 2.61, 0.87, 20.2-IP, 8-BB, 22-K

As of end 6-10 - 16-APPS, 1-2, 2.49, 0.83, 21.2-IP, 8-BB, 23-K

As of end 6-17 – 18-APPS, 1-2, 2.66, 0.84, 23.2-IP, 9-BB, 25-K

6-18 – 1-IP, 0-H, 0-R

6-21 – 0.2-IP, 1-H, 0-R, BB, 2-K

As of end 6-24 – 20-APPS, 1-2, 2.49, 0.87, 25.1-IP, 10-BB, 27-K

 

NEW ADDITION – RP Juan Arnaud/A+ Brooklyn – The 22/yr. old righthander is quietly doing a good job this season.

6-19 – 1-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 3-K

Season: 22-APPS, 2-1, 2.78, 1.41, 22.2-IP, 33-K

As of end 6-24 – 23-APPS, 2-1, 2.66, 1.43, 23.2-IP, 14-BB, 35-K

 

NEW ADDITION – RP Hunter Hodges/A+ Brooklyn - made this list after going 1.0-IP, 1-H, 1-ER, 1-BB. Yeah, I know. Not that impressive, but he should have bee on the list earlier due to his 2026 accomplishments. Y

early Cyclones stat line: 22-G, 0-2, 2.63, 1.17, 27-1-IP, 39-K.

 

OF JT Benson/A+ Brooklyn –

end of 6-3 - A+ - 39-AB, 9-RBI, .256/.310/.385/

As of end 6-10 - A+ - 53-AB, 1-HR, 11-RBI, .264/.371/.472/.843

As of end 6-17  A+ - 66-AB, 2-HR, 15-RBI, .258/.380/.485/.865

6-18 – 1-5

6-19 -1-4, R, 2B (8)

6-20 – 1-4, R, 2B (9)

6-21 – 1-4

6-22 – 2-3, R, RBI, 3B (2), HR (3)

At of end 6-24 – 92-AB, 4-HR, 19-RBI, .283/.371/.565/.937

 

RHSP Emilio Obispo/St. Lucie –

As of end 6-10 – 7-G, 4-ST, 2-1, 1.93, 1.07, 23-1-IP, 6-BB, 27-K

As of end 6-17 – 9-G, 6-ST, 3-1, 1.67, 1.17, 32.1-IP, 10-BB, 38-K

6-23 – 4-IP, 3-H, 0-R, 5-BB, 3-K – much too wild, but still went hitless. He will have to work on this as he moves up the chain, and he will elevate to Brooklyn soon at this rate. Increasing control should easily increase his IP/G to 6+.

We may have something here.

As of end 6-24 – 10-G, 7-ST, 3-1, 1.49, 1.26, 36-1-IP, 15-BB, 41-K

 

NEW ADDITION -  RP – Zack Mack/St. Lucie - big in my household… Mack arrived after picking up his second win of the season in Tuesday’s game.

As the end 6-24 – 13-APPS, 2-0, 1.89, 1.21, 19-IP, 7-BB, 24-K

 

1B Randy Guzman/A-St. Lucie –

As of end 6-3:  173-AB, 9-HR, 29-RBI, .260/.363/.480/.843

As of end 6-10:  210-AB, 9-HR, 29-RBI, .257/.357/.469/.826         

6-10 – on IL-7  

 

2B/3B/SS Trey Synder/A-St. Lucie – Snyder is a 20/year old former 5^th round prep pick in the 2024 draft. He started this season playing for the FCL Mets, hit .333 in 15 at-bats, and, as of the day I added him here (end of game Saturday), is hitting .296 for St. Lucie.

As of end 6-17 – 40-AB, 7-RBI, .300/.364/.425/.789

6-19  – 1-4, R, BB1

6-21 (played CF) – 1-5

6-22 – 2-5, 2-R

6-24 – 0-5, (.271) – boy, Snyder just got under the minimum. He’s got another week to sharpen his bat.

As of end 6-24 – 59-AB, 0-HR, 7-RBI, .271/.328/.356/.684

 

SS Elian Pena/A-St. Lucie –

As of end 6-3:  177-AB, 35-BB, 3-HR, 22-RBI, .282/.410/.395/.806

As of end 6-10:  199-AB, 3-HR, 22-RBI, .271/.404/.377/.781

As of end 6-17 – 220-AB, 3-HR, 23-RBI, 42-BB, .264/.393/.364/.756

6-18 – 1-3, 2-R, RBI, 2-BB

6-22 – 0-4, R

6-24 – 1-5, RBI

As of end 6-24 – 234-AB, 3-HR, 25-RBI, .261/.397/.355/.751

 

OF Yohairo Cuevas/A-St. Lucie –

As of end 6-17 – A – 78-AB, 2-HR, 11-RBI, .308/.466/.551/1.017

As of end 64 - IL

 

C Yovanny Rodriguez/FCL  –

As of end 6-3:  60-AB, 5-HR, 16-RBI, .267/.353/.567/.920

As of end 6-10:  74-AB, 5-HR, 18-RBI, .297/.402/.541/.943

As of end 6-17 – 89-AB, 5-HR, 21-RBI, 30-K, .281/.387/.483/.870

6-18 – 0-2, RBI

6-21 – 2-4, R,2-RBI

6-23 – 2-4, RBI, 2B (3)

As of end 6-24 – 102-AB, 5-HR, 26-RBI, .284/.380/.480/.861

 

SS Vladi Gomez/FCL

As of end 6-10 - FCL - 47-AB, 1-HR, 8-RBI, .340/.500/.532/1.032

As of end 6-17 – 58-AB, 1-HR, 9-RBI, .345/.486/.517/1.004

6-18  – 2-3, R

6-20 – 0-3, RBI

6-21 – 2-3, R, RBI

6-23 – 2-3, R

As of end 6-24 – FCL – 70-AB, 1-HR, 11-RBI, 19-SB, .371/.483/.514/.997

 

NEW ADDITION – SS/2B/3B Yorber Semprum/FCL –

IFA January 2025

Added 6-20 – 2-3, .300

6-23 – 0-3, .269

As of end 6-24 – 29-AB, 0-HR, 2-RBI, .241/.313/.241/.554

Semprum is just starting off a new level (FCL) after starting off this season hitting .389 for the DSL Orange team. We have to give him a little time to settle in.

 

3B Roybert Herrera/FCL –

As of end 6/17 – 35-AB, 5-BB, 1-HR, 7-RBI, .371/.476/.514/.990

6-18 – 1-3

6-20 – 0-2

6-21 – 0-3, R, RBI

As of end 6-24 -

 

RF Bohan Adderley/FCL

As of end 6-5:  76-AB, .289, 3-HR, 11-RBI, 19-SB, .796-OBP

As of end 6-10 - 88-AB, 4-HR, 13-AB, .295/.354/.477/.831

As of end 6-17 – 101-AB, 4-HR, 14-RBI, .287/.345/.446/.791

6-18 – 1-3, R, 2B (5)

6-21 – 3-4, 3-R, RBI

6-23 – 2-4, R, 2B (7)

As of end 6-24 - 112-AB, 4-HR, 15-RBI, .313/.364/.482/.846

 

END OF THE WEEK DSL STATLINES (end of games 6-24):

 

C Frank Moreno ++           48-AB, .375, 2-HR, 14-RBI, ,983-OPS

1B Jonnhan Sanchez -  ++     54-AB, .407, 2-HR, 16-RBI, 1.091-OPS

1B Anthony Delgado - ++    33-AB, .303, 1-HR, 5-RBI, .976-OPS

SS/3B Michalle Mercedes –  ++    58-AB, .293, 1-HR, 14-RBI, .761-OPS

OF Henry Manrique –  ++    57-AB, .316, 0-HR, 10-RBI, .922

OF Cleiner Ramirez -  ++    65-AB, .308, 5-HR, 13-RBI, 1.028-OPS

OF Jhoanel Cuello - ++    63-AB, .317, 4-HR, 17-RBI, .968-OPS

OF Ryan Rudas - ++         2-HR, 27-AB, .296, 7-RBI, 1.110-OPS

 

RHSP – Abner Mesa –

6-22 – 5-IP, 4-H, 0-ER 5-K, BB

As of end 6-25 – 4-ST, 16.1-IP, 2-1, 2.20, 0.92, 16-K

RHSP Henderson Hernandez –

6-23 - 4-IP, 1-H,  0-ER, BB, 3-K, 2.08

As of end 6-25 – 5-G, 13-IP, 1-0, 2.08, 0.92, 12-K

 

HELIUM ALERT

 

RP Nathan Hall/FCL Mets – The 22/yr. old, 6-3 righty was the Mets 6^th round draft pick last year, out of Central Missouri. Had a season-ending elbow injury early on last year that shut him down for the season. Had UCL/internal brace (ouch) surgery. His first professional appearance was this bast Thursday –

6-18 – 1-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 0-BB, K, 0.00

 

RP Randy Guzman/DSL Mets – This is not the Randy Guzman that plays first base and outfield in Florida for the St. Lucie Mets. No, this is the Randy Guzman that pitches for the DSL Mets, who went 4.2IP, 2-H, 0-R, 0-BB, 7-K in his last outing. The 18/yr. old’s overall season stats after this game were 12-1-IP, 2-H, still 0-R, 2-BB, 15-K, 0.00, 0.81. Where does he go from here? We’ll keep an eye on him.

 

SUMMATON

 

To be honest, I can’t find a DOMINANT BAT at any level above rookie.

To be honest, I can’t find a DOMINANT pitcher above rookie.

To be honest, I can’t find a DOMINANT bat or pitching coach above rookie.

I never intended on this weekly report to be this dismal, but, at this point in the season, it is.

Tom Brennan - LOB Efficiency; Wilmer Flores a 2026 Option? And MORE…

There is…

Good news!

The Mets through June 17 had the second lowest runners LOB per game at 6.32, with the Cubs the worst at 8.07.

The bad news?  

The Mets are probably one of the worst at MOB….getting Men On Base in the first place.

NEWS FLASH: 

SAW THIS: “The Cubs are acquiring left-handed pitcher David Peterson from the Mets, a source told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian on Wednesday night, adding that New York will acquire first baseman/DH Cole Mathis (the Cubs' No. 13 prospect). The clubs have not confirmed the news.”

Mathis is 22 and in High A ball. Mets’ 2028 first baseman? Who knows?

YESTERDAY?

“Hey, let’s LOSE two.”

Time to sell.  What a shame. The Braves have lost 4 straight, and a Mets hot streak would have made things interesting. Losing 5 straight? Brutal.

What is the Mets’ Tragic Number?

By the way, SIX METS ERRORS in game two?  Really? 

The six minors teams yesterday combined for just 2 errors.

The Yankees, competitors fot N.Y. Metro’s fan base, beat two time Cy Young winner Tariq Skubal, launching 3 HRs off him.

We root for losers, when there are winners in town. Why do we do it?

IF THESE EIGHT HITTERS HAD NOT CRAPPED THE POT…

I decided to look at how pathetic some of the hitting has been compared to what i might’ve thought it wouldbe before the season started. 

Before the season started, you might have thought that the combined offensive output of Lindor, Semien, Polanco, Vientos, Baty, Melendez, Taylor, and Robert would be solid. 

More like diarrhea than solid in actuality, unfortunately.

Those 8 hitters have been up roughly 1,230 times, or the equivalent of two full 162 game seasons.

When I combine the stats so far for those eight players, I get:

 .208 with 45 doubles/triples, 34 HRs, 128 RBIs, 101 walks, and 304 Ks. 

Lindor and Polanco with a total of 7 RBIs through half the season?  SMH.

Based on a 162 game player-year, that 8 player normalized total is:

.208, 23 doubles/triples, 17 HRs, 57 RBIs, 50 walks, and 152 Ks. 

Bad indeed.

When, pre-season, I roughly would have expected .245, 35 2Bs/3Bs, 25 HRs, 85 RBIs, 60 walks, and 125 Ks from this Gang of Eight, if not better.

Considering that these 8 dudes comprise 42% of the team’s plate appearances, that collective offensive deficit from what I would have expected from them has probably cost the Mets 8-10 wins.

Thanks for the misery, fellas.

A NOVEL 2026 FIRST BASE SOLUTION?

I did not realize Wilmer Flores was now playing in Mexico.

Thru June 16, .303/.389/.480 playing for Tijuana.

Last year with the Giants?

.241/.307/.379, with 16 HRs and 71 RBIs in 463 PAs. NOT BAD.

Compare to Vientos (who had 2 errors in last night’s game).

Compare also to powerless 3 HR Baty.

With Uncle Wilmer hitting in that crappy SFG park, too.

So…For the rest of 2026? What would I do?

Trade Vientos and his .275 OBP, and sign Wilmer, just for the rest of 2026.

Bring Back Weeping Wilmer? Yes. I won’t shed tears seeing Mark go.

STEALING BASES IN THE MINORS IS OVERRATED.

Through their first 430 combined plate appearances, Benge and Ewing have stolen 18 of 23. Good, but it seems that projecting minor league stealing rates at the MLB level requires a real downwards adjustment.

Victor Scott of the Cardinals has stolen just 9 of 13 this year. 

He stole 94 in 132 minor league games in 2023.

WEIRD BUT EYE CATCHING

Calvin Ziegler’s thrown so few innings after 2022, but the numbers are insane…

8 2/3 innings, 1 hit, 4 walks, 19 Ks.

Hopefully, injuries are now fully in the rear view mirror.