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2/16/21

John From Albany - Mets News and Breakfast Links 2/16/2021

 



Good Morning.  Good Morning. Happy Birthday Tommy Milone and Blake Tiberi. Mets sign another CF and see former players go to the Yankees.

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

Mets Links: 

As we had yesterday on Mack’s Mets: Mets Agree with Kevin Pillar.

NY Post: “Pillar, 32, slashed .288/.336/.462 last season with the Red Sox and Rockies. Once a premier defensive player, Pillar has declined in recent seasons — he was minus-two in outs above average last season, according to Baseball Savant, which placed him in the 11th percentile among MLB outfielders.”

Metstradamus: “Pillar’s metrics have definitely slid: According to baseball reference, Pillar went from a 3.0 dWAR and a 2.8 dWAR in 2015 and 2016 to a 1.8 in 2017, an 0.1 in ’18, a combined -0.4 in ’19 and a combined -0.2 in ’20, and since WAR is a cumulative stat, that might have been worse in a full season.”




SNY.TV: 'It's hard to put it into words' how good Mets' rotation is, says pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. Mets acquired Carlos Carrasco, Joey Lucchesi and wait Marcus Stroman to pitch behind Jacob deGrom.


SNY.TV: Mets have stayed in touch with Trevor Rosenthal, 'clearly in' on reliever: report. Rosenthal had a 1.90 ERA with 11 saves and 38 strikeouts last season.

NY Post: Mets flirting with Trevor Rosenthal after Justin Wilson free-agency miss. “After three seasons with the Tigers and Cubs, Wilson spent 2019-20 with the Mets as one of the club’s most effective relievers. That included a 3.66 ERA and 1.373 WHIP in 23 appearances for the team last season.”

NY Post: Yankees signing reliever Justin Wilson away from Mets.

SNY.TV: Yankees sign former Mets catcher Robinson Chirinos to minor-league deal. “Chirinos, a nine-year catching veteran, most recently spent time with the Mets after being traded from the Texas Rangers alongside Todd Frazier. Once in Queens, Chirinos slashed .219/.242/.375 with one home runs and nine RBI in 12 games for the Mets.”

NY Post: Prospect shocked Mets traded him so quickly: ‘What is going on?’ “Josh Winckowski was a member of the Mets for less than two weeks before he was traded for the second time this winter. The right-handed pitcher, who was acquired by the Mets from Toronto in the Steven Matz deal on Jan. 27, was shipped off to Boston 13 days later in the three-team deal that sent Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City and netted the Mets outfield prospect Khalil Lee.”





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Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com: 

Transactions:

New York Mets signed free agent Clem Labine on February 16, 1962.

Born on this date:

Died on this date:

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from February 16, 2012 – RIP Gary Carter.

Also from February 16, 2012 a Mack’s Blast from the Past with Dave Rubin saying: “So Hard to Say Goodbye.”

Baseball Reference:

2012 - Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter dies of brain cancer in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. After becoming a perennial All-Star with the Montreal Expos, Carter led the New York Mets to a World Series title in 1986. 

2018: The Mets agree to a deal with free agent SP Jason Vargas, who is coming off the best season of his career at 35. Vargas will be paid $16 million over two seasons, as long as he passes a physical exam.

Want more?  Check out https://sportspyder.com/mlb/new-york-mets/news. 

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16 comments:

  1. Tom BrennanFebruary 16, 2021 at 6:35 AM

    Nice video clips of Gilliam (who looked MLB quality) and Szapucki in those Ernest Dove clips. It feels like a sighting of Sasquatch - they really do exist.

    Pillar - great get. Wilson loss? Get Rosenthal and it will make the boo boo feel better.

    Another pitcher move or two and why wouldn't the Mets be the team to beat in the East?

    Pitchers and Catchers when - tomorrow?

    Great to see Davey (who's still in the navy and probably will be for life) is over that demonic COVID virus. Governor Cuomo isn't.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tom BrennanFebruary 16, 2021 at 7:30 AM

    Since Pillar played years in Toronto, I was curious to see how former Jay Stroman reacted, since he sometimes will be playing defense when Stroman pitches. Seems Stro is excited. So I am, too.

    But I'll be bitchin' if we don't sign more pitchin'.

    ReplyDelete
  3. John From AlbanyFebruary 16, 2021 at 7:34 AM

    Tom - I like Pillar more than Almora. I guess this was a depth move. We will see what else they still do. I think we will see more pitchers sign this week.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2021 at 7:40 AM

    I like Pillar, think he's a solid all-around baseball player. Will be useful.

    Good signing, good work.

    Jimmy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bob W.February 16, 2021 at 7:44 AM

    As someone on the SNY board speculated, Pillar may the the prelude to now including someone (Nimmo? Smith?) in another deal.

    Or, they needed to find someone to rhyme Villar with in the 2021 Mets Fight Song. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. John From AlbanyFebruary 16, 2021 at 8:05 AM

    All we need now Bob is Kevin Mill-ar.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Remember1969February 16, 2021 at 8:46 AM

    As I posted on the other board, I'll go on record here as the minority. I think this signing was unnecessary. He hasn't had a positive DRS in CF since 2017 and at age 32, I can't imagine him getting better.

    He is an OK hitter . around a 4% walk rate (too low), K rate is about 16% which is OK, but he just doesn't bring much more.

    I understand that he is cheaper than Bradley, but nowhere near the player, either.

    I personally like Almora better - 6 years younger and a better fielder. For a defensive replacement, that seems to be the tool that you'd want.

    And the player option for 2022 is odd.

    I just think this will be another case of the Mets trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Not a fan.

    But we'll see - hope I am surprised. As long as it doesn't take a lot of ABs away from Smith and Nimmo.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2021 at 9:34 AM

    Pillar hit .342 vs. LHP last season (small sample, but you get the idea).

    Again, very useful role player and a solid complement to what we already have.

    What I like about Pillar signing is that it shows us they have an accurate take on Almora -- that he's a maybe guy with a minor-league option -- now in our possession. Maybe he can get his act together in AAA or, perhaps, earn himself a spot (over Martinez?) during Spring Training.

    I would have been happy with Marisnick.

    Jimmy

    ReplyDelete
  9. Remember1969February 16, 2021 at 9:47 AM

    Again, you are using 2020 to cherry pick what looks good.

    I am far less impressed with Pillar's .342 batting average vs LHP last year than his .320 career On Base Percentage.

    So Kevin Pillar all the sudden learned how to hit while JBJ still can't hit despite his .283/.364/.450 slash in the same year?

    This signing, of all the off-season moves, to me rates only ahead of the Martinez signing, which I still cannot understand in any way.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2021 at 1:11 PM

    Remember1969, I don't understand your problem.

    Pillar was signed for one year, with an option, at $3.5 million.

    Your guy -- who has a proven track record of being a lousy hitter -- .239 BA career -- was seeking 4 years at significant dollars.

    I wasn't trying to do a big comparison, just mentioned that Pillar is good against LHP (and the Mets OF is entirely LH-hitting), signaling his use.

    For his career, PIllar's splits are:

    RHP: ,253/.290/.387
    LPH: .286/.320/.464

    He's a very credible bat against LHP, and really should never start against RHP. That was my point. He was signed to fill that role. A fan can easily see how he could be used effectively for the Mets.

    Here's Bradley:

    RHP: .240/.321/.431
    LHP: .236/.318/.367

    Pillar is the better complement to what we already have in our outfield, has a better role, and is a LOT cheaper. Whereas the Bradley contract could have easily become a problem two years down the road, PIllar won't be around. Hopefully Crow-Armstrong can do the job for next to nothing.

    I'm not cherry picking stats. I never do that and there's no need. I'm not trying to "win" an argument by misleading anyone. I'm just not infatuated with a guy, Bradley, who CAN'T HIT and wants way, way, way too much money.

    Jimmy

    ReplyDelete
  11. Remember1969February 16, 2021 at 2:32 PM

    I'm not sure it's a (my) problem we're addressing .. just a difference of opinion.

    I just cannot figure out the strategy that they are working on. A few things strike me.

    (1) While I agree that Bradley (and his agent Boras) are asking for too much money (and years), it seems Mets have been in on him for awhile now and were not interested in signing him without the DH because they didn't want to take at-bats away from Dom Smith.

    (2) Bradley is the only starting centerfielder left to sign - there were really only two to begin with - Springer and JBJ.

    (3) Nimmo's splits against Left Handed Starting pitchers, while only a quarter of the career at-bats, are actually better than Pillar's. Nimmo's line in his career in games started by a left handed pitcher is .260/.370/.426; Pillar is .277/.308/.445. Dom's short career against left handed starters stands at .279/.333/.514. Neither Nimmo nor Smith are good platoon candidates in that they both outhit pretty much everybody that he could platoon with against lefties. (Admittedly a fairly small sample size, but great starts)

    (4) If they wanted a centerfielder to be a late inning defensive specialist, Almora is the better option. Pillar has not have a positive DRS since 2017.

    (5) Without going through all the relief pitchers they may face, I believe that all 4 closers of the other NL East teams are right handed. Using Pillar as a late inning defensive specialist will certainly get him at bats against the opposing closer - is he the guy you want up there down one against Archie Bradley?

    (6) They tendered Guillermo Heredia, and selected Drew Ferguson in the Rule 5 draft. While each has options left, both are better fielders than Pillar at this point. I suspect Heredia will be the victim of the 40 man roster when Pillar is announced. I don't have a problem with that - I would trade Heredia for Pillar every day.

    (7) Why did they sign Almora if they don't trust him to play? The guy has been in the majors for 4 years now.

    (8) What is up with the player option for 2022? That that seems weird for a player like Pillar. That is a player win every time.

    It just seems that the flow of what they are trying to do with the outfield this whole offseason is odd.

    Perhaps this will work out for the best and when Pillar is up to the plate against A. Bradley, I'll certainly be rooting for him.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tom BrennanFebruary 16, 2021 at 3:54 PM

    Remember 1969, I like the new approach: bring in veterans who have proven performance.

    Heredia? He can be a call up if needed. The other guy? Mallex Smith? Call ups if needed.

    We need to get to 95 wins. We may as purists and nice guys want to see what the kids can do - but if they screw up, we might lose the division by a game or two.

    You want to have the best shot at actually winning in a really tough division? Veterans. And only REALLY good minor leaguers who are dominating in AAA and have high ceilings.

    At least that is how I see it.

    And the guys who've read these columns for years know how hard I pulled for kids in the past - partly because in most seasons, I never felt the Mets were serious enough about the last 10 guys on their 25 man roster to do what it took to actually win the division.

    So I like Almora - maybe he'll flop, maybe he'll have a renaissance. and I like Pillar. Because they are veterans.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tom BrennanFebruary 16, 2021 at 3:55 PM

    Also, and I hate to even suggest it, guys do get hurt. Almora might play every day for a month while someone is out on the IL.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Remember1969February 16, 2021 at 4:32 PM

    Yes, certainly the injury thing that hangs over every team is a key to the season. I get the depth thing. I am not sure I fully understand (or completely agree with) your comments about the veterans. I am afraid I could write a lot here, but isn't every veteran a rookie at some point that came up and proved himself?

    McNeil was a mid-round pick and while he was an OK hitter in the minors, he never showed himself to be the kind of hitter he has been since his arrival.

    David Peterson is another guy who made good on his chance last year.

    I believe that for a truly winning team that is sustainable, the young guys have to come up and play. I don't think Washington would have won in 2019 if Soto hadn't been called up, or if they had obtained Pillar to fill that slot because Soto was still only 20 years old.

    More later. . maybe I'll do another essay on this topic.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tom BrennanFebruary 16, 2021 at 4:50 PM

    Hey R 1969 I was typing a reply twice and it crashed twice. Bad teams can call up anyone they want, the worst that could happen is the guy is so bad, the draft pick is better. You call up a Matz or a Gimenez because they are hyped. Lower risk. McNeil came up in the middle of a lost 2018.

    But a marginal rookie type can crater you. Look thru the stats of those guys for the 2015 thru 2020 season. You'll be shocked how bad they collectively did.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Remember1969February 16, 2021 at 5:15 PM

    Not to belabor this a ton, but I remember a lot of Robinson Chirinos, Rene Rivera, Keon Broxton, Michael Wacha, Rick Porcello . . . as veterans who really didn't help the cause all that much.

    Man wouldn't it be interesting to go way back in history and look at this topic .. Don Hahn comes to mind.

    Your point may be best backed up by a guy named Donn Clendenon, the final piece in the 1969 puzzle they obtained mid-year from Montreal. That team had mostly young veterans who came up the previous couple years, or were obtained from other clubs.

    Good stuff - thought provoking!

    ReplyDelete