July 8, 2021
I was spoiled growing up in Brooklyn following the Dodgers during the 40’s and 50’s. They had one of the best lineups of all time with future hall of famers Robinson, Reese, Snyder, Campanella and Hodges leading the way. Furillo, Gilliam and Cox filled out the roster. Not only were they a powerhouse, they were also very entertaining.
What stands out is how well the lineup was balanced. Junior Gilliam and Pee-Wee Reese were the
table-setters for the middle of the order.
Seems there was a place in the lineup for each everyday player.
The reason I bring this up is because I’ve always been a
believer that, in order to be successful, a lineup needs to be balanced. In a perfect world the top of the lineup
would consist of players with a high on base percentage who can help to
manufacture runs via a stolen base and hit and run. Typically, your number three guy should be
the best pure hitter on the team. These
table-setters then pave the way for the middle of the lineup to produce runs.
As we know, the Mets have the ideal leadoff guy in
Nimmo. Now that he’s back from the DL,
it’s clear how much he was missed. Lindor is holding down the number two spot
although he has not proved himself capable.
However, there are signs that the second half of the season will see a
significant improvement. My scenario would
have Jeff McNeil batting no lower than third in the lineup. He is potentially the most productive bat on
the team. Coming into this year I believe
his lifetime BA was in the neighborhood of .320.
Now that he is healthy again, it’s not unreasonable for him
to revert to normal. One thing Jeff
McNeil is not is a middle of the lineup hitter.
To use him in the sixth or seventh hole does not maximize his talents.
Jeff was benched for the second game of Sunday’s games
against a soft-tossing lefty in favor of Perazza. That move did not make a lot of sense to me
at a time when Jeff’s bat seemed to be heating up.
During the off-season the thought was that the team needed
to add a strong right handed bat to the lineup.
Many of us felt the need to replace JD at third and to add a righty bat
in the OF. No move was made and in 2021
the Mets are vulnerable to every lefty pitcher on the planet.
I have come to the conclusion that Rojas is not as fond of
Jeff as I am. Recently, there has been
speculation of a trade that would bring Donaldson to the Mets. Of course, such a move would mean JD is
history. But, the idea that it would
take Jeff plus a prospect to land Donaldson is ludicrous. Makes no sense to take on the contract of a
35 year old due $63MM over the next three years if it means sending McNeil plus
a prospect the other way. I imagine any
deal with the Twins would send a starting pitcher our way.
Jeff is one of my favorites and I hate to see him misused
by Rojas. It may be inevitable for him
to be traded to become the next Daniel Murphy to taunt the Mets for years to
come.
Ray
12 comments:
I said this on John's post.
With Cano returning, second is going to be interesting next year.
If he returns to the Mets.
JDD was 0 for 3 with 3 Ks in rehab yesterday = HE'S READY!
Nimmo in the lead off role is the right move. His numbers are strong, but he played hurt (and poorly) for a while or they'd be stronger. He is a catalyst on a team that badly needs one.
Jeff should be moved up in the line up, definitely - he is heating up.
Peraza is dangerous with the Mets in the clutch.
I still wonder, after the season, if the Mets will negotiate a buy out with Cano. Enough to help him buy more performance enhancers. Jennry Mejia probably knows just the right guy. They did it with Cespedes after his screw ups, why not Cano? This is a game for young men.
Also how badly has his credibility been affected in the clubhouse?
Sorry, who's credibility?
re: Savage Misfit Column
Through my eyes the misfit this season could actually turn out to be none other than RF Michael Conforto. I have never seen him struggle at the plate like this before. Even his power game is off. What's up with that, is it the contractual stuff lingering, injury or what?
The shortfall here isn't the outfield though. And it is definitely not JD Davis starting on third base when healthy again. He is our best choice there and his 2019 numbers prove this.
It's the starting pitching, because for some reason beyond my explanation the NY Mets never seem to have enough good arms on staff. Plus, who can you possibly call up from Syracuse? Zero.
I simply have never encouraged the type of trades for "cast off" starting pitchers, and guys who never really ever had it to begin with. This team does not need to keep stockpiling them here like at a flea market. Mets management has for awhile liked to get two or three iffy retreads rather than get that one best tire that they need most to make their car run perfectly sound and smooth without worries. This has been playing here for too long. For three balding tires, you can perhaps get one with a much better tread remaining.
The Mets have the outfielders to make these types of moves to shore up their playoff chances second half.
Ideally, and as I have stated here before, I would get a reasonably veteran starter with just this one last year contractually remaining (Berrios/Twins perhaps as an example). Then also, and this is equally importante here, someone young and left handed with promise for the Mets' AAA Syracuse team's starting rotation. Someone who can actually pitch would be a nice for a change there I think.
For this I still like either MacKenzie Gore (Padres) or once one of our own hot NY Mets prospects Stony Brook's Anthony Kay, who may need additional time down at Syracuse just to be made optimal first.
[I cannot find any factual contract numbers on Gore currently, but the guy has kind of stalled out at the Padres AAA. Padres have a solid five rotation already and say that they want Gore ready-to-go only as starter and not a reliever. He is age 22 while A. Kay is 26. ]
On the topic of PEDS.
You may always have these types of issues in pro sports because when a league bans one substance, there is already in development a brand new one to take its place. It's sadly true. Many professional athletes and body builders have used these substances, some you may have heard of a lot. Some have also died from them. There is risk involved.
It goes on and on.
On BNIM.
Glad Brandon is back and healthy again because without him in the lineup all the MNY Mets have batting over the .300 mark is Jake deGrom.
I'm opposed to trading top prospects for pitching.
Remember, Nimmo struggled in AAA before being recalled.
RDS900
Noah Syndergaard came here via a trade with Travis d'Arnaud for RA Dickey (CY Young candidate winner), Josh Thole, and Mike Nickeas. I think that pitching is still dominant in MLB, and sometimes you have to give a good player to get back a good player. Once the playoffs are happening, it is usually a fairly even split between the two teams batting wise and the team with the better pitching (esp. starting pitching) normally wins and moves on to the next level. Starting pitching and closing is this team's traditional hallmark.
Regarding CF Brandon Nimmo: He arrived here slowly because each good player has their on natural timetable for arriving to this highest level. It is very difficult to rush anyone on whim for a team. Another good example of recent here will probably turn out to be LSP Thomas Szapucki. Leaving it alone and allowing these really good players to arrive on their own watches is very sound advice. You cannot rush this process in other words.
Look too at Tyler Megill of recent. I had never seen Tyler pitch until his first game up here. I was literally floored (not kidding) right away by how fabulous he was in every single facet of pitching really. It totally cracks me up to read articles and posts questioning if Tyler is the "real deal" or not. Trust me, Tyler most certainly is the real deal. To me, a cannot miss starter with one or two starter potential.
I felt the same exact way with Taijuan Walker as well the very first time I watched his many videos. I knew right away. Both are top end starters for certain and both (barring injuries) will be long in this league and stars in my opinion. They are just that good!
The Mets have four really good and above average starters from outside their organization now. Megill, Walker, Syndergaard, and Carrasco.
My how the times have changed.
What's left to do here for the playoffs?
With Carrasco scheduled for the end of this month to be back whole, this is a really good thing. Noah Syndergaard maybe by middle of August. I think Carlos will stick once back with the hammy thing healed. But with Noah, I could see possible more complications but hope not.
This is the Mets year right now. It's up to the team.
If my call, I might add in one more veteran starter but not elderly into this mix as insurance. But right at this moment this is how I rank things with the rotation. 1. Jacob deGrom (but on limited starts building in occasional games off for rests.) The team can win without him starting every fifth game and the playoffs and WS should be this team's goal. 2. Taijuan Walker. He's just in a groove and it could be permanent because he is that good. 3. Carlos Carrasco. But his leg has to hold up and not bark or cause other injuries from favoring his mechanics. 4. Tyler Megill. Just a phenom pitcher with mechanics of the gods. As "Captain Midnight" might say, "Tyler Megill has that pitcher's something special few have and it is to die for." 5. Marcus Stroman. His win/loss isn't as good as it could have been with a few more breaks along the way. But he is hungry and definitely a three starter on any other team. He's that good. I wear my du-rag every single time he pitches too!
The issue worthy of contemplation: If one or two starters get hurt second half for the rest of the season. This has to be factored in here and now by trade deadline.
In all honesty, I want the above five in my playoff and WS run. I believe in each one that much. They are sound. They are winners. But Noah may not be that insurance starter, it depends on his recovery from TJ surgery. There is no set amount of time in common with each pitcher. It is individualized.
If me, I'd make a deal with Minny for Berrios, just in case, although every team will want him in the hunt esp. NYY. Worse case scenario would be Noah cannot get back whole in time, a starter goes down hurt, and Berrios is right there to help bring this 2021 Mets team to the promised land. I also like Daniel Duffy, but he has a recent injury history that raises a red flag. I might do something that no one would agree with here. I understand that.
I would trade Michael Conforto one for one for Jose Berrios. Then after the season, maybe consider letting go of one of the Berrios, Carrasco, or Syndergaard starters. Mets could even bring back Michael Conforto if they wanted to after the season with a new contract. In the meantime, I would move Jeff McNeil to right, with Nimmo in center, and Dominic in their normal positions. Pillar and McKinney would be my four and five outfielders. I like both, their hustle factor, and their batting mechanics.
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