Good morning.
First of all, I want to thank the three readers that
donated $170 to the site in November (I never print the name of the donors
unless they ask it to be done).
We’re nowhere near Jill Stein numbers, but every buck is greatly appreciated.
We’re nowhere near Jill Stein numbers, but every buck is greatly appreciated.
This drive will end at the end of December, though we
will keep the donation command (on the right side of the lead page) on the site
throughout the year.
Again, God bless to the three of you.
There was no big secret what the Mets will be looking for
at the Winter Meetings this week. The signing of Yoenes
Cespedes and Rene Rivera helped define
the 2017 team by eliminating two basic needs, the return of the best hitter on
the team, and a really good defensive backup catcher that the pitchers love
having on the team. I wouldn’t be surprised if Noah
Syndergaard (who has become the ace of this
staff) didn’t have a vote in for Rivera. .
Another factor was the press conference that Jacob deGrom had before the meetings saying that he
will be 100% when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Add to that
a healthy report card for Steven Matz and the
2017 rotation is starting to shape up
Still, the loss of Bartolo
Colon and the undetermined status of Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler should
prevent any deals during these meetings that would include either Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman.
Sandy Alderson isn’t stupid. He knows the
so-called ‘super rotation’ is far from pitching together at the same time.
So, the goals for the winter meetings as they opened
were simple… trade either Jay Bruce or Curtis Granderson for a premier relief pitcher or a
package of high end prospects, fill in with a fifth outfielder that you would
consider being better than Brandon Nimmo, and
rummage around for another relief pitcher or two.
My guess is that the Cespedes deal will be the
highlight of any off-season signings, Bruce will be moved, and the Mets will
either sign a quality free agent reliever or get one in a Bruce transaction.
Past that, I don’t see anything else.
14 comments:
I'm sure Macks Mets would appreciate donations in any amount, so sometimes thinking small is better than nothing at all.
We picked up Cabrera, Walker and re-picked up Cespedes last winter. May Sandy dazzle us again.
Mack, you are right about the pitching...we can only hope our top 5 are healthy and in high gear when spring training ends. I'd try not to trade any of our 7 starters until midseason, at which time, maybe a talent like Justin Dunn races thru the system, or Marcos Molina shows he is 100% back and on fire. Both of which are unlikely. Seems best timetable for both as possible starters is early 2018.
Amazing to think that Lugo (34th round) and Gsellman (13th round) combined for 9-4, 2.50 in 2016. How would we like to see Harvey or Wheeler start with those #s in 2017?
I've seen so many posts that Mack's Mets is the best Mets blog site on the web, and their first read every day. Three contributions? common on, guys!!
Tom -
I agree with you about Dunn. I easily see his ETA being in late 2019
Jon -
Thank you for your kind words.
Right now the team is worse than the one that ended 2016. You have lost Colon, Blevins, Salas and thankfully Niese, Verrett, de Aza, Campbell and Henderson. Again it seems as if the "plan" is for healthy and productive seasons out of everyone. We know how that story ends. I'd rather have 8 good starters, 10 good relievers, 5 good outfielders and 6 good infielders as well as 3 good catchers. Whomever doesn't come north can go to Vegas it be traded. The team is far from that deep yet.
The team that ended 2016 had no Harvey, Wheeler, Matz, or Walker, and had Duda just beginning to play after a long layoff. Not to mention no David.
How is this team "worse"?
Reese -
I agree on Colon, Blevens, and Salas.
The replacement for Colon in 2018 will come from within the system, either Wheeler, Gsellman, or Lugo. This could easily be a wash.
As for the loss of Blevens and Salas, let us give Sandy Alderson the time needed to solve this.
Bill and Reese -
I understand both your points.
The SP injuries allowed for the blossoming of both Lugo and Gsellman.
And none of the injuries listed have anything to do with the pen.
You forgot the partridge in the pear tree!
Another day closer to pitchers and catchers
Let me rephrase:Since early Pctober, we have ADDED to the team that finished the season all the players I listed above. How can the current team be worse than the one we had then?
@Bill doing his best Jay Horwitz impression, "Getting back the guys from the DL will be just like adding players to the roster. No need to get anyone else, spend money, create depth or plan for injuries."
Bill and Reese -
You can not build a team and not recognize that your team will go through a season of injuries.
I have always thought that the Mets suffer from a higher percentage of guys that go down, but friends of mine that own other team blogs say I am wrong. They say most teams have what seems like too many injuries.
I can not count on either David Wright, Zack Wheeler, or Matt Harvey being a productive part of the 2017 season for the Mets. Thus, I have to find solutions outside of this box.
Reese... THE TEAM THAT ENDED 2016 didn't have deGrom, Harvey, Wheeler, or Matz. Also, it's December, NOT April
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