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 didn’t 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 can’t 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 d’Arnaud should have been called safe, was a waste of time.
On the play, d’Arnaud 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 d’Arnaud to be safe, the inning would still be over because of the out at third.
So Collins didn’t 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, that’s 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 Â
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.
The Mets passed on Hawkins early in the offseason Â
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 Â
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 Â
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.
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 can’t 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 d’Arnaud should have been called safe, was a waste of time.
On the play, d’Arnaud 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 d’Arnaud to be safe, the inning would still be over because of the out at third.
So Collins didn’t 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, that’s 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