Mack’s Morning News – 1-31-16 – Carlos Torres, Leg Issues, Wilmer Flores, Mets Rotation vs. Cubs, Lucas Duda

Good morning.


I see that RP Carlos Torres was finally released after going through the DFA process. Many Mets officials expected to get a trading chip here but it just didn't happy. I'll miss ole rubber arm. He was a big help, especially in the 2013-2014 season when he posted 3.44, and 3.06 ERAs for the Mets.

Good luck Carlos.

Adam Rubin ‏@AdamRubinESPN  - I'm told both Tejada and Flores' leg issues are fine for spring training. Flores was injured in winter ball.

Mack – This is truly good news. No one in the front office has decided who’s going to start where when it comes to the middle infielders though it does look like these two have been kicked to utility bench to make room for the new acquisitions.

But let’s remember something here.

Everything being discussed from first base to third is about conditions where no injuries occur, a situation that has never happened on this team, like ever.

So, if you’re worried if Tejada or Flores will get a fair amoun of bats… trust me, so will Rosario and probably Reynolds.

Shit happens to this team in the infield.

Adam Rubin ‏@AdamRubinESPN  - Wilmer Flores is going to get a ton of ABs next season between the four infield positions. And that's without an injury to a starter.

                        Mack – I agree with Rubin.

            There will be plenty of bats to go around, especially with the ‘no day is the same lineup’ mentality of Terry Collins.

            I wouldn’t be surprised to see some major time at first base when Lucas Duda slumps. He should also start many games at third base when David Wright needs a day off. Remember… Flores has started 121 games at third.

Noah: Why do you prefer Cubs rotation over Mets? Once you realize that Lester is a terrible fielder who will do worse than FIP (and Lackey bound for regression), decision seems easy. ZiPS doesn’t take into account pitcher fielding (or a pitcher not being able to throw to first).

Dan Szymborski: Mets will probably get a sizable dose of Colon, I don’t think they push Matz too hard, and Wheeler still has uncertainty giving the surgery he’s coming off of

Mack – I think ‘Ski’ is being ultra-conservative about the Mets rotation but I accept what he says. I don’t happen to worry about Matz this upcoming season, but I have to balance that off with my prediction that the signing of Colon will quickly prove to be the wrong thing to have done. I expect the Mets to be scrambling to fill the SP5 slot before Wheeler (please don’t rush him!) comes back.

Jared Diamond ‏@jareddiamond  - National League players who have hit more home runs than Lucas Duda since 2014: Giancarlo Stanton, Todd Frazier, Anthony Rizzo, Nolan Arenado

           Mack – We do tend to slam this guy more than he probably deserves. 

           I will say this... most of the at-bats that Duda has had as a Met have come with him being the only hitter in the lineup that put the fear into an opponent's  pitcher. 

This of course changed when Cespedes joined the team and Duda should continue to get better pitches in 2016 than he had had for most of his Mets career.