is very good. I'd be shocked if this is a flash in the pan. On top of his good stuff and command, he's got that unshakeble, Harvey-like composure and presence.
I'd love to see the Mets have that rotation for like the next 10 years. Obviously with injuries and contracts and everything it's not realistic.. but. It would be really fucking cool to have an entire homegrown rotation like that.
I'd love to see the Mets have that rotation for like the next 10 years. Obviously with injuries and contracts and everything it's not realistic.. but. It would be really fucking cool to have an entire homegrown rotation like that.
Don't forget Matz. He's lefty and probably a better prospect than Montero.
gets them closer to having a really big chunk of money to invest in LF. I'm starting to think there's a real good chance next year's SS position is a competition in camp between Flores, Reynolds, and a 3rd participant with a good glove (and likely be destined to be a spot starter/backup).
Flores has already shown me he has enough to play the position. Add another offseason conditioning program and maybe even a little more time this offseason getting comfortable there and he'll be even better. Its his bat Im worried about(which sounds crazy) but he's been coming around lately. I think we'll be ok with Flores with Reynolds/Tovar backing him up.
I go back and forth on this. Matz is already on the 40 man so it would make sense that he beats Syndergaard but then I ready Macks mets and he just did his end of season top 30 and he says this about Thor who is number one...
MMs Top 25: #1 RHSP Noah Syndergaard
POSTED BY CHRISTOPHER SOTO AT 1:30 PM 5 COMMENTS
#1 RHSP Noah Syndergaard (LR: #1)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 6" Weight: 240 lb
Acquired: Trade, 12/31/2012, with OF Wuilmer Becerra, C Travis d'Arnaud, and C John Buck for SP R.A. Dickey, C Josh Thole, C Mike Nickeas
And then there was 1....the kid whose arrival will mark the beginning of multiple pennant runs. The kid who will complete a string of 1 superstar SP promotion per season that started in 2012. The kid who would be an ace on most pitching staffs but will have to settle for being #4 at least to start. 2012 brought us Matt Harvey, 2013 brought us Zack Wheeler, in 2014, Jacob deGrom bursted onto the scene, and in 2015....THOR will make his presence felt.
Our #1 prospect has something that Harvey, Wheeler, and deGrom can never possess that gives him a distinct advantage over the competition, SIZE. At 6' 6", 240 lbs, he has 2 inches on all 3 of them. He also weighs 20 lbs heavier than Harvey, 55 lbs heavier than Wheeler, and 60 lbs heavier than deGrom. His size, strength, and intimidating Nordic frame gives him a near perfect pitcher's build that will prove to be extremely durable over the course of a season and a career.
As if the size wasn't tough enough for hitters, Thor's pitching repertoire is deadly as well. He has a "plus-plus" fastball that sits between 96-99 MPH and if he takes a bit off it becomes a heavy 94-96 MPH sinker for when he needs a DP. He also has a plus 12-6 curveball that makes Jonathan Niese's curve look Little League quality, and a plus change-up that's deadly against LHB looking to keep up with his fastball. That's 3 plus or better pitches folks....that's Ace quality.
On the surface it seems like he struggled quite a bit in AAA this year but oh that pesky Pacific Coast League adjustment factor. Syndergaard FIP, which is an advanced metric that takes out variables leaving only a performance rating based ONLY on the starter, measured in at 3.70 which is almost a full run lower than his ERA. For comparisons, Jacob deGrom, who's ERA indicated that he performed well in AAA, posted a FIP of 3.73. Nearly identical, folks.
Despite his AAA struggles Thor is ready. Its unfortunate that he did not make his debut this season but you can fault that on deGrom stepping up and stealing the spotlight from him this season. MLB.com's #11 overall prospect and #4 RHP prospect could potentially be the best of the quartet of young talented SP the Mets have. Dare I say.....that Generation K 2.0 is here......and it is glorious.
Ceiling: Top of the Rotation, 200+ K, CY Young Candidate (Stephen Strasburg)
Floor: Solid #2 MLB SP. Hovers around the high 2.00/low 3.00 ERA range (Zack Grienke)
is going to be ungodly good next year. The crazy thing is Neise, Gee, Colon all have value. They just look like steaming piles of dung next to these kids. Trade them all for assets. We are about to have studs all over the place!!
We need more power in this lineup in the worst way and that's the spot we've got to add it.
Yup! Give me a LFer. Trade the excess starters and possibly Murphy for prospects and useful pieces and let the kids take the stage next year. I am so fucking ready.
did you? I just think Matz has come on by leaps and bounds and will be slightly more advanced as a pitcher. Thor is going to be a stud
No not at all. I just think Thor had a really good year in AAA this year. His FIP is almost a full run lower. He was extremely unlucky. As Soto said he's probably ready right now too and might be better than any of the big 3 we have right now already. We hit the effing jackpot with these kids. For those that haven't seen the rankings I can't link just the list. You have to look over in the right column but its a pretty good list. He doesn't value guys like Roasrio as high because they are so far away so thats why he ranks it the way he does. Good read though for all of them. Link - ( New Window )
If they're going to give Flores a chance they need a defensive caddy Â
I'm thinking a Cliff Pennington (Arb) or Clint Barmes (FA) type who will understand the role, can backup the entire infield defensively, and be able to jump in every day for an extended period of time if necessary. They'd also need to be exceedingly confident in the rest of the lineup being strong enough that the team could carry that player hitting 8th if pressed into duty.
I'm not taking that risk unless there's a bonafide all star in LF (and yes I'd give up Thor to do it).
I'm thinking a Cliff Pennington (Arb) or Clint Barmes (FA) type who will understand the role, can backup the entire infield defensively, and be able to jump in every day for an extended period of time if necessary. They'd also need to be exceedingly confident in the rest of the lineup being strong enough that the team could carry that player hitting 8th if pressed into duty.
I'm not taking that risk unless there's a bonafide all star in LF (and yes I'd give up Thor to do it).
That's a little odd no offense. If you are rolling with Flores it's because you are expecting his offense to blossom and for us to have a "offensive SS" with average maybe slightly above average defense. I don't think you have to sign a superstar for LF to make up for an offensive minded SS.
I keep saying it but Cargo can be had for not much. Id be just as fine signing Cuddyer who already is chirping he'd come here for a discount to play with Wright. The guy has been OPSing 900 the last two years and .800 for years before that. He is a very good bat who will be available and easy to obtain.
I just see him as the type of dude who is always going to be dealing with some sort of injury. I don't see him being a guy who hits 200 innings many times in his career. He was close 2 years ago and he'll be close again this year.. but. I just wouldn't want to rely on him too much (though it doesn't appear we'll have to)
1.) Lagares( still improving likely better in 2015)
2.) Murphy/Herrera(good either way Im betting)
3.) Wright (has to be better right? even somewhat?)
4.) Duda(still improving likely better in 2015)
5.) Cuddyer(huge upgrade in LF)
6.) Granderson (has to be better right? even somewhat?)
7.) TDA (still improving likely better in 2015)
8.) Flores (huge upgrade over Tejada, .270 20 home run type bat potential)
to see Harvey's comeback game. By the way Harvey top out at 95 is his last throwing session of 2014. I just go to game 2 & 3 to see Wheeler & deGrom, next year baseball becomes fun and certain pitchers will be must see and the young guys Matz & Thor debuting. It's all about 2015
It's not a very good lineup if Duda isn't this same player next year and Wright doesn't bounce back. It's especially not good if Granderson gets worse on top of that.
I have faith in Duda. Wright, I really don't know. Granderson? Oy..
It's not a very good lineup if Duda isn't this same player next year and Wright doesn't bounce back. It's especially not good if Granderson gets worse on top of that.
I have faith in Duda. Wright, I really don't know. Granderson? Oy..
agreed. If they want to be actually good, they need a surefire guy.
I'm thinking a Cliff Pennington (Arb) or Clint Barmes (FA) type who will understand the role, can backup the entire infield defensively, and be able to jump in every day for an extended period of time if necessary. They'd also need to be exceedingly confident in the rest of the lineup being strong enough that the team could carry that player hitting 8th if pressed into duty.
I'm not taking that risk unless there's a bonafide all star in LF (and yes I'd give up Thor to do it).
That's a little odd no offense. If you are rolling with Flores it's because you are expecting his offense to blossom and for us to have a "offensive SS" with average maybe slightly above average defense. I don't think you have to sign a superstar for LF to make up for an offensive minded SS.
I keep saying it but Cargo can be had for not much. Id be just as fine signing Cuddyer who already is chirping he'd come here for a discount to play with Wright. The guy has been OPSing 900 the last two years and .800 for years before that. He is a very good bat who will be available and easy to obtain.
JMO but Flores is a total lotto ticket. I'd rather have a really strong defensive player there, but he hasn't looked out of place in the field and the offensive potential for his salary is simply too much to ignore. That said, his defense has an 'implosion factor' that could make him a non-possibility (I know it's a different situation but you can't start a season with another Murph in LF blowup) - and if I were constructing a team to give him an everyday chance I'd also need a non-threatening plan B just to be safe. That's why I'd need the big hitter in LF, to protect the lineup in the event that we're basically trotting out a Ruben Tejada level hitter again (which is possible because they'll likely only spend slightly more $ than what Tejada costs on a backup).
I think thats a top 5 national league lineup. I think we should expect better production at every single position next year with the lineup I posted. TDA, Lagares, Duda, and now even Flores all seem to have busted out as the year has gone on. They should all be much better in a full season now that they've worked out the kinks. Anybody at third would be better than Wright next year. Either Wright himself will bounce back or my grandmother would give us better production, surely Campbell would. The point is we will have an upgrade no matter what. We will have a good lineup in 2015 if we plug LF with a solid bat.
my point about Flores is that if you really wanted a defensive SS we have a guy like Tovar as insurance. Reynolds has been playing pretty good defense this year too. I don't think you are rolling the dice on Flores's defense imploding. I think we've seen enough to know he'll be ok. And if you forget about his defense, this is one of our best hitting prospects of the last decade. Im pretty comfortable that he's going to be a good hitter, especially for SS.
It's not a very good lineup if Duda isn't this same player next year and Wright doesn't bounce back. It's especially not good if Granderson gets worse on top of that.
I have faith in Duda. Wright, I really don't know. Granderson? Oy..
agreed. If they want to be actually good, they need a surefire guy.
Agree with both of you guys. Who knows what to expect from Wright going forward? And while I have faith in Duda, I'm not counting on him developing into a guy who can carry a lineup. No idea what to make of Granderson, but I'd probably prefer him hit 1st or 2nd so he can see better pitches (not ideal, but he can draw a walk).
TDA and Lagares have proven that at minimum they are fine for 6&7. Herrera and Flores are complete unknowns.
They either need to add 2 Cuddyer level players (SS & LF) or 1 huge bat in LF. Lots of assets & combinations available for either strategy, just depends who hits the market.
That's my thinking too Ira. Nimmo is gonna be here real soon and Conforto is right behind him. We aren't going to get Delgado like its 2006 again. Those days are gone. Cuddyer is a real solid bat who could come here for a year or two and hold a spot.
Last Met rookie to have 3 games with at least 11 K's Â
bat to add? Stanton? Come on... that's not happening. So who else is left? broken down Cargo? Or a guy a little older like Cuddyer. Those are the best options. Hitting league wide sucks. That lineup is way above average with Cuddyer and Wright bouncing back even a little.
but a seller on the G-Men.
Amazing to think the Mets prospects are much brighter than the Giants
not when you consider that we won 2 Super Bowls. That doesn't continue to happen every year. People think it will but its not normal in this NFL at all.
Top 5 lineup is a bit of a stretch. There's a lot of IF's in your scenario. You are banking on ALL out players improving...and that's highly optimistic.
Quote:
Anybody at third would be better than Wright next year. Either Wright himself will bounce back or my grandmother would give us better production, surely Campbell would.
That's a bit of a stretch. Wright in his worst statistical year was still the third or fourth best offensive player on the team. As much as I'd love to see your grandmother play for the Mets...she'd make a better fit for Right Field. She'd outperform our current option there by leaps and bounds.
Defensively, Flores is good at what he can get to. Â
but it had to be a perfect throw to get him out. I like him being aggressive and trying to make it, by doing so it allowed the runner to advance to second so while not as good as being on third with less than two out you still have a runner in scoring position. It was worth the chance.
to expect young players, most in their first full season, and some top prospects in all of baseball, to improve going to their second full season. There is nothing homer about that. On top of that, almost all have had much better second halts then firsts, which of course is another positive for next year. If you don't believe Wright and Granderson will bounce back but they are both in career low years and at least in Granderson's case he showed he was a very good hitter for a large chunk of time this year. Im optimistic both will be better then next year. And on top of all that Im still expecting another addition/good player. Our lineup will at least be pretty good for 2015 standards.
bat to add? Stanton? Come on... that's not happening. So who else is left? broken down Cargo? Or a guy a little older like Cuddyer. Those are the best options. Hitting league wide sucks. That lineup is way above average with Cuddyer and Wright bouncing back even a little.
Nobody knows what the market will be. Last offseason Jose Bautista was rumored to be out there, and he could be a perfect option for a couple years until one of the kids is ready. CarGo is interesting, and one would think very available. Cespedes could be depending on price. If Stanton passes on the big deal the Marlins are supposedly cooking up, maybe that dream becomes slightly more possible? Jay Bruce had a crappy year, maybe he gets shopped?
I just think it's expecting a lot for a 36 year old Cuddyer to be the guy that flips this lineup into the dangerous category all by himself, plus it puts a lot of pressure on Lagares, TDA, Flores, and Herrera to be more than complimentary players. If they add a proven player at SS (Andrus, Reyes, Castro, etc.) then Cuddyer would make a lot of sense.
And yeah 35/36 is a little old but you are only signing him for a year or two. Nimmo could be up by June. Cargo can be had sure but is HE the guy think is going to change the lineup? He can't stay healthy and hasn't even been all that good lately. Bautista flat out said he's not leaving Toronto. Most likely options are guys like Melky Cabrera maybe Morse. Cuddyer.. and they are going to go fast. Its not ideal but I just want a real solid hitter to lengthen the lineup.
And yeah... I don't think guys like TDA and Duda are role players anymore. They are well above average at their positions. I'd probably stick with Murphy until the trading deadline and see where Herrera is at before I just handed him the job.
It certainly possible a player becomes available that is unforeseen right now. Happens all the time. I know if it does, Sandy will be in on it and we'll have the resources to make a deal.
Cuddyer is hitting now, but again, the Coors thing Â
Gonzalez isn't any more of a sure thing than Cuddyer, he just has higher upside since he's younger and a GG defender.
Duda I agree is way more than a role player, but my thinking is you need to go into the year with 3 "impact hitters", hoping 2 of them have all star level years. Wright and Duda are 2. Add a 3rd and then you've got a damn good lineup because Granderson, TDA, Lagares, etc. become excellent complimentary players.
but he was an absolutely transformative presence in 06. Beltran's production almost doubled hitting in front of him. I think that's the kind of ripple effect that's needed behind Wright to get him back on track.
has to be the favorite for ROY at this point. PS 100% unrelated, Chen on the Orioles is 16-4, they paid him 11.3 million TOTAL last 3 years for 6.2 WAR, what a steal that guy has been,
wouldn't be blown away if Sandy sold high on Zack Wheeler. I think he's the one they would dangle for a "big" player given the chance. I could be wrong.
If a guy's FIP is a run lower that does not mean his "real" ERA is a run lower.
They are two completely different measures, FIP is a ratio of various stats to which an arbitrary number is added. For example, the ratios are generally in the range of 1.5 so many formulas will then add 2 to the ratio, so that the FIP resembles an ERA of 3.5. However, this is just to give readers a general idea of what the number means because most of us would have no idea how to compare a FIP of 1.43 with a FIP of 1.88.
However, it is not an ERA and can not be compared to ERA. FIPs can only be compared to one another and different stats sites calculate FIPs in different ways.
Now, if two guys have an ERA of 5.00 and one of them has a significantly lower FIP, then you can talk about how the one guy was lucky or unlucky. But you can't see an ERA of 5.00 and a FIP of 4.35 for the same guy and say he was pitching better than his ERA. The stat does not work that way.
Also, no one stat is a "true" measure. They should all be used in conjunction with one another. In particular, WHIP and FIP complement each other because WHIP ignores HRs, whereas HRs are the most significant factor in calculating FIP.
has been every bit as good as his era suggests, Wheeler (not knocking Wheeler) has some kinks under the hood. I 100% would NOT deal Wheeler just to deal him but if someone is offering a bit bat who isn't old, I'm giving up Wheeler over deGrom. Best still in the minors I'd probably go
wouldn't be blown away if Sandy sold high on Zack Wheeler. I think he's the one they would dangle for a "big" player given the chance. I could be wrong.
I agree - I could see him dealing Wheeler or Thor, but only for a premium hitting asset (Stanton being the only obvious one that comes to mind). Don't think Sandy would deal either for Castro, but straight up maybe he would? Consistent top 5 SS on a great contract.
have absolutely no investment in the site but if anyone wants to get involved with the top 50 list over at NYFS we are starting up the polls on 10/1 and we currently have a preemptive discussion going on over there. Like I said, I have NOTHING to do with the site, I don't make money on it or anything. I just help run the polls every year. Link - ( New Window )
the guy I would absolutely love would be Lindor. Fangraphs had a piece implying they might consider moving him because of Jose Ramirez, I don't buy it at all but I'd be ALL over that if true. Supposedly they prefer an OF, so we don't match up if that's true but a 3 way deal? I'd give up a pretty penny for that kid.
I'd pass if only because Castro is a poor fielder with some attitude concerns, I feel like that's a potential bad fit for a "volatile" fanbase. I truly hope the mets are finally aggressive making some trades.
Texas has Andrus, Profar, Sardinas
Seattle has Taylor and Miller
Arizona has Didi to spare
Cubs have their guys
Lindor would be so perfect, I shouldn't even think about it since I don't believe 1% he's available despite the great Jose Ramirez.
Even bats "similar to" a Matt Joyce could help this team.
Unless it's a no-brainer (Lindor) I'd stay away from prospects Â
Yes, you can never have enough, but presumably it would be somewhat zero sum since we'd be dealing our own, and truthfully they'll already have enough unproven young players competing for time.
This team needs a proven hitter, and honestly if that player is good enough he doesn't even necessarily need to be young because over the next 2-3 years the law of averages says a few of these homegrown guys will pan out.
Also, other than the no-brainer like Lindor or Russell, is there any young prospect-ish SS with more upside as a hitter than Flores? I'd certainly want to bring in a defensive SS as backup/to compete in ST but if he can play the way he has so far in the ML he might stick there.
has the highest defensive scouting grades I've ever seen in a minor league SS, granted Simmons came up and blew peoples minds but I think Lindor is going to be a 3+ WAR MLB SS at minimum. 10+ homers, 15-20 steals, multiple GG.
to watch the first 8 hitters deGrom faced. That was as dominating a stretch as I've seen thrown by Seaver, Gooden, Harvey. He pitches inside, goes up and down the ladder. Has a plus FB a great slider and a great change up. He is unflappable, we got something special
for 3 simulated innings. He threw everything but his slider did not want to put needless torque on the elbow. He now goes into a normal off season preparing for Spring Training with no restrictions. Nimmo and Matz picked up their organization Sterling Awards, Alderson pointed out how Nimmo has grown into a man's body. Regardless of the winter and I hope they improve without costing a favorite young arm, I'm looking forward to 2015 as much as any Met season since they were bringing up Reyes and Wright. Not making predictions, just looking forward to it
“There probably will be an announcement, but closer to the end of the season, if not the end of the season,” Alderson said at Citi Field, before the Mets wasted another stellar Jacob deGrom outing with a 6-5 loss to the Marlins.
player who is "good enough" to worry about paying them an extra year of arbitration vs. the minimum is going to be effected by the super 2 deadline (now more than ever, as the threshold is now top 22% vs. 17) It would be pretty shocking to see Matz before late June. 1 extra year of arbitration could be worth as much as 15 million depending on how good you think the pitcher is.
MLBTR released the projected Super Two cutoff following the 2014 season. Super Two status is awarded to players with more than two, but less than three years of service time. Only the players with the top 22% of service time in that group are Super Two eligible. Any player who is Super Two eligible gets their third league minimum year replaced with an extra year of arbitration. This gives a Super Two player two years of league minimum pay, and four years of arbitration, rather than the usual three and three. The extra year of arbitration can be costly, especially to impact players, which is why teams try to avoid Super Two status.
Mets estimated had TDA (using him as an example) would have cost 12 million more as a Super Two guy vs. a guy they waited on. That's pretty significant money even if the Mets raise payroll going forward so if you think a player is a multi-year player for your team and a good one you almost "have to" wait it out, unless you have a monster payroll.
am very, very high on Molina (fully admitting as a mere fan I have no idea how realistic it is that he can stay healthy with his "iffy" mechanics) but in terms of upside he has to be near the top in the system. Huge bust potential but still.
Lopez is my choice to manage them going forward too. Plus side is there are only so many openings around the league and Lopez is young and unproven so hopefully he doesn't get poached.
when all these young guys are headed towards Free Agency that the team will have been sold or the real estate market becomes so bullish Sterlung Enterprises makes a billion or two
has been every bit as good as his era suggests, Wheeler (not knocking Wheeler) has some kinks under the hood. I 100% would NOT deal Wheeler just to deal him but if someone is offering a bit bat who isn't old, I'm giving up Wheeler over deGrom. Best still in the minors I'd probably go
Thor
Matz
Molina
I'm not for making Harvey, deGrom and Matz unavailable.
liked McHugh, he's been ace caliber for the Astros. A rare clunker from Sandy in terms of trades.
Reading about McHugh, he seemed to have reinvented himself after coming to the Astros. The Rockies, who need all the pitching then can get, let him go after making the trade with the Mets.
had excellent minor league numbers. I'm not ripping Sandy but I didn't like the trade at the time as I thought McHugh would be a solid 4-5 starter, he's obviously been better than that, just didn't/don't like Eric Young as a player, still don't.
had excellent minor league numbers. I'm not ripping Sandy but I didn't like the trade at the time as I thought McHugh would be a solid 4-5 starter, he's obviously been better than that, just didn't/don't like Eric Young as a player, still don't.
In hindsight, yeah you prefer to have McHugh over EY jr. If the Mets were patient with McHugh and let him figure out the majors, they probably would have kept him.
think it's very, very, very easy to find an Eric Young Jr. and much harder to find young pitching. Again, I'm not going nuts over the move but I'm pretty honest on here and I always liked McHugh and didn't care for the trade. I'm often wrong, this time I was not lol McHugh has surpassed expectations, no denying that at all but I thought he could be Gee-esque.
"I think we’d be reluctant to throw him in the pen," Alderson said. "It is a possibility. You try to go into the season eight or nine deep with starting pitching that you can rely on. He would certainly be in that mix at this point. Taking him out of that mix so he’s not lengthened out or he’s not ready to go if something were to happen – as it always does – so it’s unlikely."
Still, Matz has made a case to be noticed.
"He was really great all season," Alderson said.
"You don’t see a lefthander sitting at 93-94 consistently with the assortment of pitches. He was great this season. Very definitely on the short list at this point."
his health history a move to the pen could be a disaster. People act like the pen is great for a pitchers health but some guys just aren't meant to pitch back to back days or 3-4 times per week.
Something has gone really wrong or we have dealt a lot of assets. Assuming colon is on the team he essentially has to leapfrog degrom, Thor, and montero (all of which may start in Las Vegas for a variety of reasons). I mean you have to assume that they are able to trade colon in the offseason but if he doesn't get value I wouldn't be shocked if he kept him and had degrom start in Vegas while every one of us loses our minds.
“There probably will be an announcement, but closer to the end of the season, if not the end of the season,” Alderson said at Citi Field, before the Mets wasted another stellar Jacob deGrom outing with a 6-5 loss to the Marlins.
nobody really talks about him 41/2 ratio in August is pretty awesome and really 64 baserunners in 9 PCL starts in over 52 innings is pretty impressive. He's not a big guy and the reports all seem to agree withthat he may have trouble maintaining his stuff but as a reliever he might be yet another solid option.
Since McHugh's name been brought up. One thing to keep in mind this entire offseason when everyone is screaming to acquire any and every big name. Complaining the Mets refuse to spend money. This years mets are five games behind the wild card. mcHugh and Cowgill with a combined 5 1/2 WAR. Just something to think about.
Something has gone really wrong or we have dealt a lot of assets. Assuming colon is on the team he essentially has to leapfrog degrom, Thor, and montero (all of which may start in Las Vegas for a variety of reasons). I mean you have to assume that they are able to trade colon in the offseason but if he doesn't get value I wouldn't be shocked if he kept him and had degrom start in Vegas while every one of us loses our minds.
I'd be shocked if Colon was a Met on opening day. There's just no reason for him to be on this team in 2015. $10M in a back-end starter is a waste.
Since McHugh's name been brought up. One thing to keep in mind this entire offseason when everyone is screaming to acquire any and every big name. Complaining the Mets refuse to spend money. This years mets are five games behind the wild card. mcHugh and Cowgill with a combined 5 1/2 WAR. Just something to think about.
Not to single you out, Shecky, but I see this all the time and it just annoys the hell out of me. Probably because people hang on the WAR stat like it's the end-all/be-all way to compare players...and I'm definitely not part of that group.
But just because the Mets are 5 games behind the 2nd wild card, doesn't mean that we would automatically be 5 games better if we had two players all year that have a combined 5 1/2 WAR. Sure, it's an easy argument but it's just so ridiculous. Different league, different park, different pitchers, different hitters, different batting position, different variables altogether. WAR is such a variable, complex, imperfect statistic where many have different ways to calculate. I know that I'm probably in the minority here on BBI since so many love to slobber all over the WAR stat, but that's just my feeling.
I feel pretty comfortable in saying that if we had McHugh and Cowgill on this team...we'd still be 5 games out.
Are you seeing something different? Certone said it's simply his public workout.
Matthew Cerrone: I’m told the Mets will be among the teams watching free-agent Cuban OF Yasmani Tomas during his public workout in the Dominican Republic on Sept. 21.
His work out in the Dominican on September 21. I wouldn't be stunned if they made a legitimate run, if it stays below 100 million for 7 years, he would be cheaper than a ML Free Agent
No worries on singling me out. Certainly didn't want to say mets would be half a game up in wild card. Waaa simply saying if we had kept a solid LF and one of the biggest surprise SPs - we would have a team that is close to contention. Yet both those players were castors from one of the leagues worst teams (Mets) last year. My point was we need better players - and they don't have to necessarily be big name players. As Dan mentioned several times, find the next Dickerson. Before he breaks out.
put on a show in BP yesterday.Alderson was thrilled with his development this year. Starting to turn on the ball and hit for power. His Binghamton numbers were .238 with 6 Home Runs which is why ML numbers don't always tell the story. Collins commented that he is coming fast
cites the Cardinals as an example of not spending like crazy and being good... their 2014 payroll opening day was 27 million more than the Mets. You know what 27 million in talent could look like? What a silly statement. For 27 million they could have had Peralta at SS and Morse in LF with money left over and been a legit playoff contender.
but his comments are idiotic regardless of him leaving. I know the commish works for the owners and player prices being kept down is 100% good for the owners but he makes it sound like the Cardinals are spending 85 million, 341 million over the last 3 seasons (before the Lackey and Masterson additions), the Mets- 273 (minus Ike Davis) for a total of 68 million more spent over the last 3.
the game playing SS, let me know which one because I can't think of 1. I do know that he has made some really nice plays and all the regular plays. I don't understand why they have to go out and get a SS. I swear, one writer writes he is not a SS and the rest of the herd figures it must be true so they write it
I think a lot of people have egg on their face and are rooting against him personally. Especially in the media. Its clear as day Flores can play SS and play it pretty well. Nobody wants to admit it yet.
And yes, he did have exactly one bad day defensively if Im not mistaken against the Marlins where he had two mental errors about a month ago. He's been great in every other game.
It's clear that Flores handles whatever comes his way. Â
His only problem is that his range is limited. But so is Jeter's and so was Ripken's range limited. If Flores can hit like he's been doing lately, that's fine.
Thats a myth. His range is better than Tejada's. The only issue Ive had with Flores's D is his footwork was a little awkward and he looks a little clumsy around the bag but he's gotten sharper as the year has gone on and he'll likely be in better in 2015 if he stays there and keeps the weight off.
game. Love to see his ERA dip back down into the 3's before the season is up. 14 wins is pretty damn impressive on this team this year. We'll find a taker.
more so then anytime I can remember including the Frank Cashen era. How will he optimize the 2015 team? If they signed Tomas for $$&
then I don't see giving up an arm to add to the ML roster. I believe that axiom you can't have enough pitching. The point, IF the pitching a pans out, they are right there without having to bankrupt the system. Alderson is in a very good spot
to see Matz's gem and was part of the standing ovation Matz received when he left in the 8th inning. I would love Alderson to name Wilner the SS for 2015 and have him go into the offseason knowing he showed enough to win the job
a bunch of other teams bid 70+ million on Tomas and the Mets don't then the Mets are pathetic I'm sorry. You can't talk about payroll flexibility and wanting to keep young pitching and then sit out a rare chance to add a potential star OF (who is 23) because you are "scared". How much different do the Mets look if they have Puig or Cespedes going into next season? How much different do the Mets look if the rotation is Harvey, Tanaka, deGrom, Wheeler as a top 4? No excuses. They don't bid high while others do and I'm going to be sick and know that Fred/Jeff will never allow this franchise to truly succeed.
They may do better (young pitching and all) but never put them over the hump. Never say "ok Sandy you need 8 million more on a mid-season deal, go for it". They did similar things even when they DID spend with Omar/Phillips where the Mets almost NEVER made in-season moves. Put up or shut up. 40-50 million for JJ Hardy who is in decline mode or 90-100 for a guy who could be part of your core for the next 6+ years? Hmmm.
don't believe the Mets are obsessed with the "need" for a LH starter as much as the internet fanbase is but if nothing else Matz should allow them to deal Niese if that's at all a "concern".
also talk down to the fans for not coming out. JJ Hardy types create ZERO buzz. Nobody makes plans to come out to CitiField to see JJ Hardy. A young Cuban star gives the Mets the first "buzz worthy" addition to the roster since they added Santana back in 2008. You want to change the "vibe" around the team it can't be 100% prospects. Further, even if Nimmo and Conforto end up good players... MOST rookies are not very good. So Brandon Nimmo could be a legit starting MLB OF in the future but take 1-2 full years to get there, Conforto might be a good MLB (or better) but it may take until his 2nd or 3rd MLB season to get there. "Waiting" on non-MONSTER prospects is silly (and even then look at a guy like Profar? Tavares?)
The difference between the Mets and that other team in NY is that we are all worked up before teams can bid on Tomas knowing that they are not going to the mat to sign this guy while that other team it's a forgone conclusion they will spend as much as it takes. I can't keep beating the same drum about the Wilpons. It's like living with a wife you hate but stay for the sake of the kids. I'm going to avoid all conversations about the Wilpons, it changes nothing and just causes unnecessary aggrevation.
Let's Go Mets!
Burkhardt is inexperienced, but I actually don't mind him on NFL Â
KB obviously had a pretty positive tone to his work but he wasn't afraid to take a shot at the Mets when it called for it. Really, for a "sideline" reporter you couldn't ask for a better guy for the job. Really happy for him even if it's sort of sad for the Mets fans. Hard to believe he joined "the trio" and became nearly as beloved as they are.
...do you really see Mets increasing the payroll up towards $115M? Â
Known Increases for 2015
+$3M - Granderson ($16M)
+$2M - Colon ($11M)
+$2M - Murphy (Arbitration or Extension, $5.7M)
+$2M - Niese ($7M)
Bobby Parnell, Dillon Gee, Lucas Duda (has to get over $3M, right?), Ruben Tejada are arbitration eligible.
Almost Guaranteed Cuts
-$1.85M - Eric Young
-$1.5M - Daisuke Matsuzaka
-$800k - Bobby Abreu
So, estimate that's close to $10M if not more, just to maintain the players they already have, when you include Young/Matsuzaka/Abreu not returning.
This doesn't count any pitching trades.
This means before any talk of bringing outside players in, the Mets 2015 payroll is already around $90M. Tomas getting $15M-$20M, it's a drop in the bucket when you consider how difficult it is to get a power bat, but do you really see the Mets increasing the payroll up towards $115M from $85M?
Damn, it'd be nice to make a splash in the winter at a position of great need.
overall money is a non-issue, you backload the deal and pay him 6-7-8 this year. It's not a valid reason to pass. Paid Chris Young and Colon over 20 in 2014 as it is.
this offseason. They've got the pitching. They've got some solid position players. Time to get a big time bat to fill out the batting order and excite the fans.
if they're willing to spend $10M on a veteran stopgap in the outfield, when they could be in on this young slugger for maybe just double that. Sandy has been able to keep the payroll in check and should have the ability to go out and land a player at a position of need if they believe he can be an impact player.
If they don't engage in the bidding process, it's almost maddening.
My expectations are so low regarding off season moves Â
I am more than ready for anot her season of evaluating and not doing anything of significance.
Would love to sign Thomas, but in no way do the owners who will go unnamed, spend in the neighborhood of 6yrs/90 million to make it happen.
The marketing department, run by a married woman with kids this time, will attempt to gin up interest next year by selling us on the young staff. Boy what a surprise that will be. The pitching plus Thomas will cause a buzz. It will even give the owners some positive press.
But that is fantasy. I really believe ownership looks at us Mets fans as complete idiots.
I am more than ready for anot her season of evaluating and not doing anything of significance.
Would love to sign Thomas, but in no way do the owners who will go unnamed, spend in the neighborhood of 6yrs/90 million to make it happen.
If they're not willing to get in that neighborhood, WTF? They can spend $10M on a 40 year old pitcher but for a young slugging outfielder, an extra five or eight million, that's too much?
I hope that's not where this will go. I don't for a second believe the Mets will be serious bidders for Tomas but if that's the case, I'm hoping teams are willing to go well north of $20M/year.
That extra five million is significant for the small market teams like the Rays, Royals, Pirates, Padres, and Mets.
Just listening to Selig answer questions with a straight face about how he doesn't see anything wrong with the Mets finances and how they are run was infuriating.
Harvey, deGrom, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Montero..
I'd love to see the Mets have that rotation for like the next 10 years. Obviously with injuries and contracts and everything it's not realistic.. but. It would be really fucking cool to have an entire homegrown rotation like that.
Harvey, deGrom, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Montero..
I'd love to see the Mets have that rotation for like the next 10 years. Obviously with injuries and contracts and everything it's not realistic.. but. It would be really fucking cool to have an entire homegrown rotation like that.
Don't forget Matz. He's lefty and probably a better prospect than Montero.
Of course the Coupons will find some way to ruin everything, but I'm still a believer in Sandy and think he'll find a substantial bat this offseason.
Dude is just filthy. That changeup after 95 and in is not fair.
I'm getting that feeling, too.
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next June
I'm getting that feeling, too.
I go back and forth on this. Matz is already on the 40 man so it would make sense that he beats Syndergaard but then I ready Macks mets and he just did his end of season top 30 and he says this about Thor who is number one...
MMs Top 25: #1 RHSP Noah Syndergaard
POSTED BY CHRISTOPHER SOTO AT 1:30 PM 5 COMMENTS
#1 RHSP Noah Syndergaard (LR: #1)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 6" Weight: 240 lb
Acquired: Trade, 12/31/2012, with OF Wuilmer Becerra, C Travis d'Arnaud, and C John Buck for SP R.A. Dickey, C Josh Thole, C Mike Nickeas
2014: (AAA) 9-7, 4.60 ERA, 133.0 IP, 9.8 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 1.481 WHIP
2013: (A+/AA) 9-4, 3.06 ERA, 117.2 IP, 10.2 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.080 WHIP
2012: (A) 8-5, 2.60 ERA, 103.2 IP, 10.6 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 1.080 WHIP
2011: (R/SS-A/A) 5-2, 1.83 ERA, 59.0 IP, 10.4 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 1.085 WHIP
2010: (R) 0-1, 2.70 ERA, 13.1 IP, 4.0 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 1.125 WHIP
And then there was 1....the kid whose arrival will mark the beginning of multiple pennant runs. The kid who will complete a string of 1 superstar SP promotion per season that started in 2012. The kid who would be an ace on most pitching staffs but will have to settle for being #4 at least to start. 2012 brought us Matt Harvey, 2013 brought us Zack Wheeler, in 2014, Jacob deGrom bursted onto the scene, and in 2015....THOR will make his presence felt.
Our #1 prospect has something that Harvey, Wheeler, and deGrom can never possess that gives him a distinct advantage over the competition, SIZE. At 6' 6", 240 lbs, he has 2 inches on all 3 of them. He also weighs 20 lbs heavier than Harvey, 55 lbs heavier than Wheeler, and 60 lbs heavier than deGrom. His size, strength, and intimidating Nordic frame gives him a near perfect pitcher's build that will prove to be extremely durable over the course of a season and a career.
As if the size wasn't tough enough for hitters, Thor's pitching repertoire is deadly as well. He has a "plus-plus" fastball that sits between 96-99 MPH and if he takes a bit off it becomes a heavy 94-96 MPH sinker for when he needs a DP. He also has a plus 12-6 curveball that makes Jonathan Niese's curve look Little League quality, and a plus change-up that's deadly against LHB looking to keep up with his fastball. That's 3 plus or better pitches folks....that's Ace quality.
On the surface it seems like he struggled quite a bit in AAA this year but oh that pesky Pacific Coast League adjustment factor. Syndergaard FIP, which is an advanced metric that takes out variables leaving only a performance rating based ONLY on the starter, measured in at 3.70 which is almost a full run lower than his ERA. For comparisons, Jacob deGrom, who's ERA indicated that he performed well in AAA, posted a FIP of 3.73. Nearly identical, folks.
Despite his AAA struggles Thor is ready. Its unfortunate that he did not make his debut this season but you can fault that on deGrom stepping up and stealing the spotlight from him this season. MLB.com's #11 overall prospect and #4 RHP prospect could potentially be the best of the quartet of young talented SP the Mets have. Dare I say.....that Generation K 2.0 is here......and it is glorious.
Ceiling: Top of the Rotation, 200+ K, CY Young Candidate (Stephen Strasburg)
Floor: Solid #2 MLB SP. Hovers around the high 2.00/low 3.00 ERA range (Zack Grienke)
Yup! Give me a LFer. Trade the excess starters and possibly Murphy for prospects and useful pieces and let the kids take the stage next year. I am so fucking ready.
No not at all. I just think Thor had a really good year in AAA this year. His FIP is almost a full run lower. He was extremely unlucky. As Soto said he's probably ready right now too and might be better than any of the big 3 we have right now already. We hit the effing jackpot with these kids. For those that haven't seen the rankings I can't link just the list. You have to look over in the right column but its a pretty good list. He doesn't value guys like Roasrio as high because they are so far away so thats why he ranks it the way he does. Good read though for all of them.
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I'm not taking that risk unless there's a bonafide all star in LF (and yes I'd give up Thor to do it).
la di da....
I'm not taking that risk unless there's a bonafide all star in LF (and yes I'd give up Thor to do it).
That's a little odd no offense. If you are rolling with Flores it's because you are expecting his offense to blossom and for us to have a "offensive SS" with average maybe slightly above average defense. I don't think you have to sign a superstar for LF to make up for an offensive minded SS.
I keep saying it but Cargo can be had for not much. Id be just as fine signing Cuddyer who already is chirping he'd come here for a discount to play with Wright. The guy has been OPSing 900 the last two years and .800 for years before that. He is a very good bat who will be available and easy to obtain.
2.) Murphy/Herrera(good either way Im betting)
3.) Wright (has to be better right? even somewhat?)
4.) Duda(still improving likely better in 2015)
5.) Cuddyer(huge upgrade in LF)
6.) Granderson (has to be better right? even somewhat?)
7.) TDA (still improving likely better in 2015)
8.) Flores (huge upgrade over Tejada, .270 20 home run type bat potential)
With our rotation?? Thats a very good lineup.
I have faith in Duda. Wright, I really don't know. Granderson? Oy..
I have faith in Duda. Wright, I really don't know. Granderson? Oy..
agreed. If they want to be actually good, they need a surefire guy.
[Thor's] Floor: Solid #2 MLB SP. Hovers around the high 2.00/low 3.00 ERA range (Zack Grienke)
I dont think there has ever been a pitching prospect whose floor was Zack Grienke, outside of Zack Grienke (kind of a cheat). That's absurd.
Quote:
I'm thinking a Cliff Pennington (Arb) or Clint Barmes (FA) type who will understand the role, can backup the entire infield defensively, and be able to jump in every day for an extended period of time if necessary. They'd also need to be exceedingly confident in the rest of the lineup being strong enough that the team could carry that player hitting 8th if pressed into duty.
I'm not taking that risk unless there's a bonafide all star in LF (and yes I'd give up Thor to do it).
That's a little odd no offense. If you are rolling with Flores it's because you are expecting his offense to blossom and for us to have a "offensive SS" with average maybe slightly above average defense. I don't think you have to sign a superstar for LF to make up for an offensive minded SS.
I keep saying it but Cargo can be had for not much. Id be just as fine signing Cuddyer who already is chirping he'd come here for a discount to play with Wright. The guy has been OPSing 900 the last two years and .800 for years before that. He is a very good bat who will be available and easy to obtain.
JMO but Flores is a total lotto ticket. I'd rather have a really strong defensive player there, but he hasn't looked out of place in the field and the offensive potential for his salary is simply too much to ignore. That said, his defense has an 'implosion factor' that could make him a non-possibility (I know it's a different situation but you can't start a season with another Murph in LF blowup) - and if I were constructing a team to give him an everyday chance I'd also need a non-threatening plan B just to be safe. That's why I'd need the big hitter in LF, to protect the lineup in the event that we're basically trotting out a Ruben Tejada level hitter again (which is possible because they'll likely only spend slightly more $ than what Tejada costs on a backup).
He can just start to become the player he's been during the brutal cold streaks on a more permanent basis.
I hate to say it but I can absolutely see him hitting .200 next year with like 15 HR and striking out close to 200 times.
Quote:
It's not a very good lineup if Duda isn't this same player next year and Wright doesn't bounce back. It's especially not good if Granderson gets worse on top of that.
I have faith in Duda. Wright, I really don't know. Granderson? Oy..
agreed. If they want to be actually good, they need a surefire guy.
Agree with both of you guys. Who knows what to expect from Wright going forward? And while I have faith in Duda, I'm not counting on him developing into a guy who can carry a lineup. No idea what to make of Granderson, but I'd probably prefer him hit 1st or 2nd so he can see better pitches (not ideal, but he can draw a walk).
TDA and Lagares have proven that at minimum they are fine for 6&7. Herrera and Flores are complete unknowns.
They either need to add 2 Cuddyer level players (SS & LF) or 1 huge bat in LF. Lots of assets & combinations available for either strategy, just depends who hits the market.
Amazing to think the Mets prospects are much brighter than the Giants
That's my thinking too Ira. Nimmo is gonna be here real soon and Conforto is right behind him. We aren't going to get Delgado like its 2006 again. Those days are gone. Cuddyer is a real solid bat who could come here for a year or two and hold a spot.
Amazing to think the Mets prospects are much brighter than the Giants
not when you consider that we won 2 Super Bowls. That doesn't continue to happen every year. People think it will but its not normal in this NFL at all.
Top 5 lineup is a bit of a stretch. There's a lot of IF's in your scenario. You are banking on ALL out players improving...and that's highly optimistic.
That's a bit of a stretch. Wright in his worst statistical year was still the third or fourth best offensive player on the team. As much as I'd love to see your grandmother play for the Mets...she'd make a better fit for Right Field. She'd outperform our current option there by leaps and bounds.
Yup, I would sure hate to see them trade him away. He is just entering his prime years and has a lot of hits in him.
If you don't see a little @45PedroMartinez influence in Jacob deGrom's delivery, you're not paying close enough attention. #Mets #RedSox
Nobody knows what the market will be. Last offseason Jose Bautista was rumored to be out there, and he could be a perfect option for a couple years until one of the kids is ready. CarGo is interesting, and one would think very available. Cespedes could be depending on price. If Stanton passes on the big deal the Marlins are supposedly cooking up, maybe that dream becomes slightly more possible? Jay Bruce had a crappy year, maybe he gets shopped?
I just think it's expecting a lot for a 36 year old Cuddyer to be the guy that flips this lineup into the dangerous category all by himself, plus it puts a lot of pressure on Lagares, TDA, Flores, and Herrera to be more than complimentary players. If they add a proven player at SS (Andrus, Reyes, Castro, etc.) then Cuddyer would make a lot of sense.
And yeah... I don't think guys like TDA and Duda are role players anymore. They are well above average at their positions. I'd probably stick with Murphy until the trading deadline and see where Herrera is at before I just handed him the job.
Duda I agree is way more than a role player, but my thinking is you need to go into the year with 3 "impact hitters", hoping 2 of them have all star level years. Wright and Duda are 2. Add a 3rd and then you've got a damn good lineup because Granderson, TDA, Lagares, etc. become excellent complimentary players.
They are two completely different measures, FIP is a ratio of various stats to which an arbitrary number is added. For example, the ratios are generally in the range of 1.5 so many formulas will then add 2 to the ratio, so that the FIP resembles an ERA of 3.5. However, this is just to give readers a general idea of what the number means because most of us would have no idea how to compare a FIP of 1.43 with a FIP of 1.88.
However, it is not an ERA and can not be compared to ERA. FIPs can only be compared to one another and different stats sites calculate FIPs in different ways.
Now, if two guys have an ERA of 5.00 and one of them has a significantly lower FIP, then you can talk about how the one guy was lucky or unlucky. But you can't see an ERA of 5.00 and a FIP of 4.35 for the same guy and say he was pitching better than his ERA. The stat does not work that way.
Also, no one stat is a "true" measure. They should all be used in conjunction with one another. In particular, WHIP and FIP complement each other because WHIP ignores HRs, whereas HRs are the most significant factor in calculating FIP.
Thor
Matz
Molina
I agree - I could see him dealing Wheeler or Thor, but only for a premium hitting asset (Stanton being the only obvious one that comes to mind). Don't think Sandy would deal either for Castro, but straight up maybe he would? Consistent top 5 SS on a great contract.
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Texas has Andrus, Profar, Sardinas
Seattle has Taylor and Miller
Arizona has Didi to spare
Cubs have their guys
Lindor would be so perfect, I shouldn't even think about it since I don't believe 1% he's available despite the great Jose Ramirez.
Even bats "similar to" a Matt Joyce could help this team.
This team needs a proven hitter, and honestly if that player is good enough he doesn't even necessarily need to be young because over the next 2-3 years the law of averages says a few of these homegrown guys will pan out.
Also, other than the no-brainer like Lindor or Russell, is there any young prospect-ish SS with more upside as a hitter than Flores? I'd certainly want to bring in a defensive SS as backup/to compete in ST but if he can play the way he has so far in the ML he might stick there.
1st time was with Lagares. We knew these guys had possible MLB potential, but we were all surprised at their all-star potential.
upgrade LF and SS, and we have a team.
Harvey
DeGrom
Wheeler
pick 2 of:
Noah
Gee
Niesse
Montero
Parnell
Black
Famila
Mejia
I like post season chances
“There probably will be an announcement, but closer to the end of the season, if not the end of the season,” Alderson said at Citi Field, before the Mets wasted another stellar Jacob deGrom outing with a 6-5 loss to the Marlins.
Thor, Matz, Herrera, Nimmo, Plawecki, Molina, Rosario, Montero, Cecchini, Conforto would be my top 10 prospects
Lol, seriously? Wow.
Collins coming back is no surprise, though. The Mets are allergic to making good decisions.
Thor
Matz
Molina
I'm not for making Harvey, deGrom and Matz unavailable.
Reading about McHugh, he seemed to have reinvented himself after coming to the Astros. The Rockies, who need all the pitching then can get, let him go after making the trade with the Mets.
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In hindsight, yeah you prefer to have McHugh over EY jr. If the Mets were patient with McHugh and let him figure out the majors, they probably would have kept him.
Still, Matz has made a case to be noticed.
"He was really great all season," Alderson said.
"You don’t see a lefthander sitting at 93-94 consistently with the assortment of pitches. He was great this season. Very definitely on the short list at this point."
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“There probably will be an announcement, but closer to the end of the season, if not the end of the season,” Alderson said at Citi Field, before the Mets wasted another stellar Jacob deGrom outing with a 6-5 loss to the Marlins.
Mets best kept secret.
I'd be shocked if Colon was a Met on opening day. There's just no reason for him to be on this team in 2015. $10M in a back-end starter is a waste.
Aren't practically all MLB teams sending reps to his workout?
Not to single you out, Shecky, but I see this all the time and it just annoys the hell out of me. Probably because people hang on the WAR stat like it's the end-all/be-all way to compare players...and I'm definitely not part of that group.
But just because the Mets are 5 games behind the 2nd wild card, doesn't mean that we would automatically be 5 games better if we had two players all year that have a combined 5 1/2 WAR. Sure, it's an easy argument but it's just so ridiculous. Different league, different park, different pitchers, different hitters, different batting position, different variables altogether. WAR is such a variable, complex, imperfect statistic where many have different ways to calculate. I know that I'm probably in the minority here on BBI since so many love to slobber all over the WAR stat, but that's just my feeling.
I feel pretty comfortable in saying that if we had McHugh and Cowgill on this team...we'd still be 5 games out.
Matthew Cerrone: I’m told the Mets will be among the teams watching free-agent Cuban OF Yasmani Tomas during his public workout in the Dominican Republic on Sept. 21.
"Do I have any problem with the Mets' finances? None." -- Bud Selig
2m
Adam Rubin ✔ @AdamRubinESPN
"I don't have any problem with the Mets' financing." -- Bud Selig
Pedro Martinez - Mets pitching article. - ( New Window )
sucks. Lagares made the 2015 squad already. Let him rest up and play Nieuwenhuis, Den Dekker. How about Puello action before he gets Rule V drafted?
And yes, he did have exactly one bad day defensively if Im not mistaken against the Marlins where he had two mental errors about a month ago. He's been great in every other game.
then I don't see giving up an arm to add to the ML roster. I believe that axiom you can't have enough pitching. The point, IF the pitching a pans out, they are right there without having to bankrupt the system. Alderson is in a very good spot
They may do better (young pitching and all) but never put them over the hump. Never say "ok Sandy you need 8 million more on a mid-season deal, go for it". They did similar things even when they DID spend with Omar/Phillips where the Mets almost NEVER made in-season moves. Put up or shut up. 40-50 million for JJ Hardy who is in decline mode or 90-100 for a guy who could be part of your core for the next 6+ years? Hmmm.
Let's Go Mets!
At least he was that close to calling the refs onto the carpet on sunday.
+$3M - Granderson ($16M)
+$2M - Colon ($11M)
+$2M - Murphy (Arbitration or Extension, $5.7M)
+$2M - Niese ($7M)
Bobby Parnell, Dillon Gee, Lucas Duda (has to get over $3M, right?), Ruben Tejada are arbitration eligible.
Almost Guaranteed Cuts
-$1.85M - Eric Young
-$1.5M - Daisuke Matsuzaka
-$800k - Bobby Abreu
So, estimate that's close to $10M if not more, just to maintain the players they already have, when you include Young/Matsuzaka/Abreu not returning.
This doesn't count any pitching trades.
This means before any talk of bringing outside players in, the Mets 2015 payroll is already around $90M. Tomas getting $15M-$20M, it's a drop in the bucket when you consider how difficult it is to get a power bat, but do you really see the Mets increasing the payroll up towards $115M from $85M?
Damn, it'd be nice to make a splash in the winter at a position of great need.
If they don't engage in the bidding process, it's almost maddening.
Would love to sign Thomas, but in no way do the owners who will go unnamed, spend in the neighborhood of 6yrs/90 million to make it happen.
The marketing department, run by a married woman with kids this time, will attempt to gin up interest next year by selling us on the young staff. Boy what a surprise that will be. The pitching plus Thomas will cause a buzz. It will even give the owners some positive press.
But that is fantasy. I really believe ownership looks at us Mets fans as complete idiots.
Would love to sign Thomas, but in no way do the owners who will go unnamed, spend in the neighborhood of 6yrs/90 million to make it happen.
If they're not willing to get in that neighborhood, WTF? They can spend $10M on a 40 year old pitcher but for a young slugging outfielder, an extra five or eight million, that's too much?
I hope that's not where this will go. I don't for a second believe the Mets will be serious bidders for Tomas but if that's the case, I'm hoping teams are willing to go well north of $20M/year.
Just listening to Selig answer questions with a straight face about how he doesn't see anything wrong with the Mets finances and how they are run was infuriating.