9/14/21

Tom Brennan - What to NOT Do When Setting Up the 2022 Mets Rotation

Rick Porcello on April 24, 2015.jpg

Don't sign an aging Rick Porcello type and expect success.

I'll get right to the point on the above title.  

Do NOT sign veterans who have had success but are starting to slip.

Would you buy a nice older car where the transmission is starting to slip?   Didn't think so.  Let me continue:

Rick Porcello in 2020: 1-7, and now out of baseball.  The fact that he won a Cy Young did not help.

Michael Wacha in 2020: 1-4, and now 3-5 this year with the Cards with a high ERA.  His prior career success has not given him a pass.

Jake Arrieta in 2021: sure, he won a prior Cy Young award, too, but that has not prevented him from having what is most likely a career ending 5-14, 7.39 ERA season this year.

On the other hand, 3 younger former Mets (Zack, Matz, and Flexen) are a combined 39-22.  Which seems to indicate one thing: younger guys bounce back because they are not past their primes, so they can in fact bounce back.

They got lucky with Bartolo Colon, and also so far did OK with Rich Hill.  But it is a fool's game to bet that an old-timer will be successful on a team absolutely intent on making the 2022 playoffs.  Go younger, or go home early.


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