He is also not the first player to start off a season ice cold. Pretty much half the HR's he hit as a Yankee were on the road. My point? Patience, he will hit a hot streak and carry the club for a week or two. He will settle in to what he always was
Retweeted by Paul Schwartz
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis 19m
Kyle Farnsworth will close for the moment. Collins didn't want to add the pressure of the cleanup spot to Lucas Duda's plate.
Collins said. "So we might have to do something to get him out of that spot, just to take a little bit of the pressure off him. Although I think Curtis Granderson is not afraid of pressure and being on the spot."
A play at Citi Field on Saturday night, one that may have cost the Mets a game, offered a classic case in point. TV replays showed that Freddie Freeman clearly fouled a ball off his foot in the third inning. But because home plate ump Eric Cooper didnt see it, the ball was in play as it rolled slowly toward the mound.
There were two outs and two runners on at the time, and when Bartolo Colon threw wide of first and down the line, both runners scored, turning a 1-0 deficit for the Braves into a 2-1 lead.
[...]
Still, for all of the Mets problems, you cant ignore the fact that flaws in the replay system cost them on both nights here.
Friday, the umpires wrongly told Collins that a challenge of a call at first base, on a play where it appeared that Travis dArnaud should have been called safe, was a waste of time.
On the play, dArnaud was called out to end the inning, yet Freeman, the Braves first baseman, threw across the diamond anyway and Lucas Duda was tagged out at third. So the umps ruled that even if the replay showed dArnaud to be safe, the inning would still be over because of the out at third.
So Collins didnt challenge. But on Saturday, he said that he had since learned umpires had the discretion, based on an overhead camera shot that has been installed in all ballparks, to send Duda back to second if they saw that he had slowed down which he did after seeing the third out apparently made at first.
In other words, a challenge should have resulted in the Mets having runners at first and second, with two outs. In a game that was 1-0 at the time, thats a major blunder by the umps.
keithlaw @keithlaw 9m
Both terrible arguments. @Joelsherman1: Collins said Grandy good history at 2d, plus hopes gets more fastballs behind Eric Young Jr
Costs the Mets a pick and the difference between Tejada and Drew at Shortstop is not going to suddenly make the Mets a playoff caliber team. Hanrahan, on the other hand, only costs $$$ (and a lot less than Drew at that)
oh yeah you may well be right but the money would be a terrible excuse but one the Mets may in fact use. If the Mets can't sign players at 5 million or less without biting their fingernails that's just not good.
I like Granderson in the 2 hole - IF he adjusts his approach
plays more to contact and gets OB more. Murphy in the 4 hole is laughable from a power perspective, but considering our cleanup hitter has no protection I'd rather it be someone who doesn't easily expand the strike zone - like Granderson does.
Also I'd still sign Drew for 2 years right now if I could. Mostly because I have zero confidence they will have the $ necessary to sign someone better like Asdrubel Cabrera or Lowrie for 50M+ in the offseason. Only thing that would stop me from signing Drew is if they've had conversations that make them confident they can get a capable young player via trade in the next few months (presumably when Montero/Thor are ready to take other player's spots in the rotation). Hell, maybe Toronto is finally ready to just dump Reyes' salary and willing to kick in some $ for Gee or Niese? They have been 1 of the teams rumored to like Drew...
This team isn't winning 90 games, but they aren't going to even hover around .500 if they continue trotting out Tejada, Valverde, and Farnsworth in meaningful roles. Similar to what they did with the OF last year early on, they need to make some personnel moves pretty rapidly if they want to try to get any early momentum going.
likely because they knew every cent mattered in the bigger deals they were looking to complete. I think the way things played out they would have taken that deal in a heartbeat for 2.5 over signing Farnsworth or Valverde, but hindsight is 20/20.
Cabrera would likely be a disaster of a signing. He certainly looks to be fully in decline mode and his defense has been awful. The money + years and pick... I could see that being a truly regretful move. 2011 3.6 WAR 119 wRC+, .344 wOBA, 2012 2.8 WAR, 113 wRC+ .332 wOBA, 2013 0.6 WAR .307 wOBA 95 wOBA, 2014 (so far) 0.0 WAR .293 wOBA, 89 wRC+ and his defense once again has been below average. I see him moving to 2b for his next team.
They are not a playoff team - but winning 80+ games would have value
This team is held back by an environment of losing that was/is created and fostered by the Wilpons. Fans and players of this organization are always waiting for the next bad thing to happen, more often than not correctly. If Sandy is going to break that cycle they need to build towards improvement and establish some semblance of the foundation of a winning team. Great defense and solid starting pitching are achievable goals this year that will give them something to build on next year with Harvey back in the mix.
I agree Dan - that's why I'd still sign Drew for 2yrs & give up a pick
there aren't any appealing options in FA next year, and they'll likely cost at least 2x whatever Drew costs now. Again, only reason I wouldn't sign Drew is if there's a player available via trade that's within reach. If Tejada is still the starting SS past Memorial Day it's a huge failure for Alderson.
Tejada really isn't even good defensively. Average at best. And he's not a major league hitter
Stop overrating Drew at the plate. Not to mention, we are not a playof team with Drew at SS so why waste a pick which limits draft flexibility (because you have less chances to go under slot to allow more money for overslot guys) and costs money that could be used to improve the bullpen?
One "of't injured SS is not going to put this team over the top in a pennant race.
What scares me the most is what if they do sign Drew and he becomes the next Luis Castillo where the front office feels obligated to play him and not look to upgrade despite health or play concerns.
This scenario where the risk ($$) outweighs the reward.
all due respect but that would be an awful decision. The Mets need to let TDA play and see what they have. Recker is "Todd Pratt". He's got some power, he's a solid backup catcher but that's what he is. What good would come of making TDA the backup or playing him 50% of the time? Player development and seeing what players are/aren't is more important than 30 year old Anthony Recker's production.
The Braves not even with their best lineup are right there with us. They have tried to give us the game several times but of course, we can't get the big hit. So tired of watching the Braves kick our asses. It is a broken record that never stops!
Like being at .500 while being nearly dead last in most offensive categories.
Seriously, should I be more positive about our big free agent that is batting .127 and striking out at an alarming rate? Plus, he's not great defensively. Please tell me the positives other than this short lived time at .500.
Im pretty sure I didnt see everyone super excited when we signed him. The high strikeouts/dismally low batting average was fine when he was in the middle of the yankee lineup and jacking out 40 HRs a season.
We won't get the 40 HRs...not even close. So what does that leave us with? High strikeouts/dismally low batting average and 20 HRs? Maybe?
I think it is a pretty safe bet that it was a bad signing. The first 16 games only helps to confirm it. I really dont know what some of you were expecting with Granderson. You think he was all of a sudden going to be a more productive player in a ballpark that eliminates his ONLY strength?
I for one did not want the Mets to sign him... with that being said... when he's hot he can carry a team and when he's not he's bad lots of K's.... but he's great team mate...so says every team he's been on great attitued and we need alittle of that with this team...
So if granderson is fortunate to put up those numbers you say he may. Was it worth 4 years 60 million. NO. Alderson could've spent the money better or not spend it at all. Bad signing. Phipsil couldn't have said it better
And has had way more than 150 strikouts per year since then. I have a hard time believing that a now 33 year old will figure out how to play again like he was in his prime. That would be great if that happened but history tells us otherwise.
I spoke with a long-time Yankee fan yesterday and when I asked about Granderson he told me he'll wind up with his usual
.230 to .240 and hit maybe 25 to 30 home runs, and have an incredible hot streak or two where he carries the team on his back for 10 days or so. However, he'll get all his positive stats in 50 games. The other 100 or so he'll suck.
So the good news now would be he's already sucked for 18 games, so the outlook is much brighter.....instead of being 50 up and 100 down for the rest of the season now he's already gotten 18 out of the way so he'll only be the second coming of Jason Bay for 82 more games. Progress!
That would make this contract horrid and we are in year one at 33 years old. And he's never started off this bad. Id hate to think we spent 60 million for 50 great games and 110 games of what we've already seen
and many of us were not huge fans of the signing when it was made, but stop being idiots.
even Bay got like two years before the fans completely turned, I think many of you are using the Bay experience to bury Grandy before it's legitimately time to turn on him.
He may be an awful signing (like a lot of us thought), but it's April 20.
I'm interested to see how this lineup plays over the next week
It seems like it's going to get Granderson some more opportunities to get pitches to hit, hopefully that can get him going.
Sidenote - watching Simmons play makes me hate Tejada even more than normal. The guy literally makes 3-5 plays a game that Tejada doesn't even come close to making (and he can hit).
As Gary said, they are .500 with a tough schedule and a bunch of injuries. Plus the starting rotation hasn't even really gotten rolling yet. Couldn't have asked for much more considering.
I'm only killing the signing of granderson for the ridiculous length of the contract. If 2 years and 32 million couldn't get him here then I wouuve passed. 4 years to look at his 230 bA is too much for me to deal work
consistent career. He got hurt a lot and missed a lot of time which is why he got a longer rope from the fans, but dont be fooled...the fans certainly didnt give him two years before booing the hell out of him.
The problem is that people knew exactly what Granderson was (which was scary to begin with) and he's been way worse.
I really hope he turns it around, and to some extent im sure he will. But he's not going to be what a lot of people want him to be.
He wasn't going to lose his job to Chris Young. And if anything, it wouldn't be Granderson specifically blocking Lagares. You could say it's Chris Young or you could say it's Eric Young (who should be the 4th OFer when all are healthy)
and I think this whole "really difficult schedule" thing is totally
but they got fucked yesterday on the ball that freeman fouled off his foot. So far granderson has been putrid, hopefully he turns it around. This lineup has way too many automatic outs and is striking out at a pace quicker than last year. That shit has got to stop.
Defensive metrics aren't great to look at in small samples
but they like Granderson as a RF. So even if he sucks balls as a hitter, he should at least provide some level of good defense. Bay was a negative runs saved defender, so Granderson has that on Bay at least.
When Lagares comes back, EY to the bench and CY leads off
Pretty sure before Lagares got hurt CY was rehabbing and batting leadoff - which is the spot he's actually batted most in his career.
Heck, if Lagares comes back and continues to hit and get on base, maybe he becomes a leadoff option?
The PT issue will arise if EY continues to play over his head and then Lagares comes back and doesn't hit.
In the grand scheme of things Earl is right though because some combination of the non-core players (Gee, Niese, Murphy, Duda, Flores, etc.) needs to be turned into a legitimate SS.
In an ideal situation Duda steps up to be the clean up hitter
Murphy is better suited to bat sixth and be a tough out especially since he doesn't walk much
Presented without comment RT @AckertNYDN Farnsworth will close now
Just use that money and sign Joel Hanrahan to be close.
Almost makes too much sense.
Meanwhile in Colorado....
David O'Brien @ajcbraves 31m
#Braves lineup pic.twitter.com/3FAESu40bI
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis 19m
Kyle Farnsworth will close for the moment. Collins didn't want to add the pressure of the cleanup spot to Lucas Duda's plate.
Link - ( New Window )
There were two outs and two runners on at the time, and when Bartolo Colon threw wide of first and down the line, both runners scored, turning a 1-0 deficit for the Braves into a 2-1 lead.
[...]
Still, for all of the Mets problems, you cant ignore the fact that flaws in the replay system cost them on both nights here.
Friday, the umpires wrongly told Collins that a challenge of a call at first base, on a play where it appeared that Travis dArnaud should have been called safe, was a waste of time.
On the play, dArnaud was called out to end the inning, yet Freeman, the Braves first baseman, threw across the diamond anyway and Lucas Duda was tagged out at third. So the umps ruled that even if the replay showed dArnaud to be safe, the inning would still be over because of the out at third.
So Collins didnt challenge. But on Saturday, he said that he had since learned umpires had the discretion, based on an overhead camera shot that has been installed in all ballparks, to send Duda back to second if they saw that he had slowed down which he did after seeing the third out apparently made at first.
In other words, a challenge should have resulted in the Mets having runners at first and second, with two outs. In a game that was 1-0 at the time, thats a major blunder by the umps.
Link - ( New Window )
Both terrible arguments. @Joelsherman1: Collins said Grandy good history at 2d, plus hopes gets more fastballs behind Eric Young Jr
I'm ok with passing on Drew at this point... they won't sign Hanrahan because they probably don't want to spend the money.
Collins will never be mistaken as great strategist,
Also I'd still sign Drew for 2 years right now if I could. Mostly because I have zero confidence they will have the $ necessary to sign someone better like Asdrubel Cabrera or Lowrie for 50M+ in the offseason. Only thing that would stop me from signing Drew is if they've had conversations that make them confident they can get a capable young player via trade in the next few months (presumably when Montero/Thor are ready to take other player's spots in the rotation). Hell, maybe Toronto is finally ready to just dump Reyes' salary and willing to kick in some $ for Gee or Niese? They have been 1 of the teams rumored to like Drew...
This team isn't winning 90 games, but they aren't going to even hover around .500 if they continue trotting out Tejada, Valverde, and Farnsworth in meaningful roles. Similar to what they did with the OF last year early on, they need to make some personnel moves pretty rapidly if they want to try to get any early momentum going.
Guy continues to be a pleasant surprise for 2014
Stop overrating Drew at the plate. Not to mention, we are not a playof team with Drew at SS so why waste a pick which limits draft flexibility (because you have less chances to go under slot to allow more money for overslot guys) and costs money that could be used to improve the bullpen?
What scares me the most is what if they do sign Drew and he becomes the next Luis Castillo where the front office feels obligated to play him and not look to upgrade despite health or play concerns.
This scenario where the risk ($$) outweighs the reward.
or at least 50-50
maybe they should make him the closer
he has a dominant fastball but it flattens out later in the game
Very well said.
d'Arnaud is your best chance to end it in the 13th. Dice-K would be an automatic out
Seriously, should I be more positive about our big free agent that is batting .127 and striking out at an alarming rate? Plus, he's not great defensively. Please tell me the positives other than this short lived time at .500.
Bobby Abreu to join #Mets on Monday
Poor signing by sandy
Colon will be bad too. But we don't have too look at him for 4 years
Waste of 80 million
We won't get the 40 HRs...not even close. So what does that leave us with? High strikeouts/dismally low batting average and 20 HRs? Maybe?
I think it is a pretty safe bet that it was a bad signing. The first 16 games only helps to confirm it. I really dont know what some of you were expecting with Granderson. You think he was all of a sudden going to be a more productive player in a ballpark that eliminates his ONLY strength?
.230 to .240 and hit maybe 25 to 30 home runs, and have an incredible hot streak or two where he carries the team on his back for 10 days or so. However, he'll get all his positive stats in 50 games. The other 100 or so he'll suck.
So the good news now would be he's already sucked for 18 games, so the outlook is much brighter.....instead of being 50 up and 100 down for the rest of the season now he's already gotten 18 out of the way so he'll only be the second coming of Jason Bay for 82 more games. Progress!
even Bay got like two years before the fans completely turned, I think many of you are using the Bay experience to bury Grandy before it's legitimately time to turn on him.
He may be an awful signing (like a lot of us thought), but it's April 20.
Sidenote - watching Simmons play makes me hate Tejada even more than normal. The guy literally makes 3-5 plays a game that Tejada doesn't even come close to making (and he can hit).
As Gary said, they are .500 with a tough schedule and a bunch of injuries. Plus the starting rotation hasn't even really gotten rolling yet. Couldn't have asked for much more considering.
Plus he might hold back Puello. Nimmo and lagares
Harvey
Thor
Montero
Wheeler
Matz. Starting rotation 2015
Trade bait is gee. Niese. Murphy. Duda to get that SS
This the one position mets need to make a priority
I can deal with Wilmer Flores at second base
The problem is that people knew exactly what Granderson was (which was scary to begin with) and he's been way worse.
I really hope he turns it around, and to some extent im sure he will. But he's not going to be what a lot of people want him to be.
That leaves lagares and grandy. Draw your own conclusions I for one use granderson as 4 th outfielder and pinch hitter
I would have Murphy or Lagares lead off.
Heck, if Lagares comes back and continues to hit and get on base, maybe he becomes a leadoff option?
The PT issue will arise if EY continues to play over his head and then Lagares comes back and doesn't hit.
In the grand scheme of things Earl is right though because some combination of the non-core players (Gee, Niese, Murphy, Duda, Flores, etc.) needs to be turned into a legitimate SS.