NFT: Mets vs Cubs Game 3. Aka "The Shakeup"

In comment 12353912 Shecky said:

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In comment 12353879 ZGiants98 said: Quote: "bad boys" around baseball? lol. I can't even really think of any right now. Bryce Harper might be the biggest but thats not happening obviously. There is a huge lack of personality in baseball. And it goes all e way down the ladder. It's become too "professional" in High School and stays that way. There are some personalities out there, but few and far between. It has become a very bland game which makes it difficult to promote.

I agree with this. I also think with hitting reaching all time lows theres a lot less confidence. There's no more Barry Bonds anymore who just knew they could beat you. Maybe somebody like Stanton or Harper comes close to that but league wide its terrible.

And I had a Twitter conversation earlier in the season and we both agreed they need to do something significant to add scoring to the game. Lowering the mound was one option we both liked . Smaller strike zone would be another option

will be Terry's swan song. How they play on this road trip will dictate his fate. If we get slaughtered, he's gone.

Yes, Wally Backman would be just that, which is one of the main reasons I want him up if Collins is gone. He knows all of the players here and should be given a shot. Id be fine with Lopez too. I know people here don't like Backman but it would be a perfect interim shot to see how he did until the end of the year and if it doesn't work you can bring in somebody else in next year.

Verrett has looked very good. Think he's our permanent long man/6th starter/reliever going forward.

but is it true the Mets scored a run? Thanks in advance.

Eliminate extreme defensive shifts. It's a far less invasive way to infuse some offense than altering the strike zone or the pitchers mound.

In comment 12353993 ZGiants98 said:

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Yes, Wally Backman would be just that, which is one of the main reasons I want him up if Collins is gone. He knows all of the players here and should be given a shot. Id be fine with Lopez too. I know people here don't like Backman but it would be a perfect interim shot to see how he did until the end of the year and if it doesn't work you can bring in somebody else in next year.

I agree. I mean, it's worth a shot. Collins was never a part of the long term plan and he has absolutely lost this team...again....and again. But I just don't have any faith in sandy doing anything. And he'll use the excuse of "not wanting to make a panic move" to do nothing. Not every move needs to be a panic move. But the culture in this place needs to change. One "firey" player isn't going to do it. What's the worst that can happen? If backman doesn't work out than you get a new manager in the offseason anyway. But Alderson doesn't make moves unless they are safe moves...so i don't expect any shakeups.

This team looks bad but they have more talent than what they are showing. And sandy is wasting time. If they shit the bed on this next road trip than the season is over anyway, so what's the point? Make the change now, before it gets worse. So maybe you can salvage the season. I really don't know what they are waiting for.

In comment 12354011 Torrag said:

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Eliminate extreme defensive shifts. It's a far less invasive way to infuse some offense than altering the strike zone or the pitchers mound.

Ugh, not this again. Here;s an idea - how about the hitters adjust?? The reason why shifts started in the first place is because certain players were hitting the ball in the roughly the same spot every time. So the defense shifted to cover those spots, and guess what? The players kept hitting in the same spots.

If they simply hit the ball the other way, they would get a base hit (probably a double). Every. Single. Time. And if they did that, the defense would have to shift back.

And yes, they can do it if they wanted to. They ARE Major League hitters, after all. You don't get to the Majors without being able to hit the ball to all fields...

many who are familiar with Backman. I understand that such a drastic change in managerial demeanor would be less effective on a team full of vets...but these are all young kids. This is the absolute perfect time to try such a change. Ugh. It's such an easy move. But it's a move Sandy would NEVER make. Because he is stuck in his relic moneyball ways that NEVER was all that successful anyway.

But I think with Backman its as much to do with him being an insubordinate or maybe something back to him possibly being balled at the ML level as it is actually making the change because of Collins. I think they are afraid to go with Backman sadly.

Im pretty sure Sandy would get rid of Collins. He apparently was about to last offseason.

In comment 12354040 speedywheels said:

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In comment 12354011 Torrag said: Quote: Eliminate extreme defensive shifts. It's a far less invasive way to infuse some offense than altering the strike zone or the pitchers mound. Ugh, not this again. Here;s an idea - how about the hitters adjust?? The reason why shifts started in the first place is because certain players were hitting the ball in the roughly the same spot every time. So the defense shifted to cover those spots, and guess what? The players kept hitting in the same spots. If they simply hit the ball the other way, they would get a base hit (probably a double). Every. Single. Time. And if they did that, the defense would have to shift back. And yes, they can do it if they wanted to. They ARE Major League hitters, after all. You don't get to the Majors without being able to hit the ball to all fields...

Agree. Hitters are going to be trained to use all fields again instead of trying to jack everything.

I think the game needs more offense. The options to do so are limited. This strikes me as a way to do it that isn't overkill. I'm not going to get upset if it doesn't change but ti deserves exploration as do some other approaches. If you like the game as it is that's great.

I mean besides the Mets. Vegas isn't interesting anymore. Bing has a couple of players and that's it, ditto for PSL. Anything to follow?

Man, remember the good times from this offseason. When we t bought debating the Mayberry signing was actually a worthwhile conversation? For several days.

In comment 12354061 Shecky said:

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I mean besides the Mets. Vegas isn't interesting anymore. Bing has a couple of players and that's it, ditto for PSL. Anything to follow?

I like Bing a lot. 3 first round picks. Fulmer has been awesome. Yon has been better. Lugo is interesting. Akeel Morris in the pen.

St. Lucie has some talent. Sucks Urena has been out so long.

spell check.

In comment 12354063 Shecky said:

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Man, remember the good times from this offseason. When we t bought debating the Mayberry signing was actually a worthwhile conversation? For several days.

lol. Yup. Never expected it would fall apart to these levels. So many injuries(TDA, Wright, Murphy), so many players not stepping up when called upon(Flores, Herrera, Plawecki,), and so many players underperforming (Duda, Cuddyer, ect.)

Just a mess.

In comment 12354059 Torrag said:

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I think the game needs more offense. The options to do so are limited. This strikes me as a way to do it that isn't overkill. I'm not going to get upset if it doesn't change but ti deserves exploration as do some other approaches. If you like the game as it is that's great.

Sorry, didn't mean to come off as attacking you. The game was tilted towards the offense for so long, I guess I don't mind that it has swung the other way. The fields still favor the hitters - most are bandboxes - so they need to adjust to this seemingly excellent crops of pitchers (yes, some of them look good because they hitting sucks, but most are the ones making the hitters look terrible)...

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In comment 12354088 PhiPsi125 said:

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I don't know if he was or not. There's been rumors that teams didn't want him back in the game due to his antics going back years ago. Probably BS.

is still the biggest POS in our bullpen. lol

again...and again...and again...and again (repeat)

Literally ANYBODY would be better against lefties. Good grief.

they make too much money. Same reason guys don't pitch inside or send messages, there is too much money at stake. Having said that, you need an internal policeman in the team, I don't know who that is? You need an identity, the Mets need someone that will slide hard to break up the DP and it can't be Steven Matz.

In the last 15 games, here are some breakdowns during a stretch where they have won 5 times (Mostly behind brilliant pitching) and lost 10 games.

- Last 15 games, Mets scored 24 runs
- Only 2 games, Mets scored more then 2 runs
- Subtract those two games and Mets have ONLY scored 13 runs in 13 games
- Mets have been shut out 4 times
- Mets have scored 1 run or less in 8 of last 15 games

will both throw complete game shutouts and Matz will win 2-1 on Sunday with him hitting a 2 run double

should be a morgue

In comment 12354147 Headhunter said:

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should be a morgue

Headhunter, on that plane trip west, I'd be hard for any of the Mets hitters to look the pitchers in the eye.

fist fights

In comment 12354170 Headhunter said:

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fist fights

Just DO NOT punch an infected tooth.

I can see Harvey punching Tejada

out of the Hitters, including Duda. All our hitters seem to be too timid and wouldn't see to match up physically to the grit that most of our pitchers have.

I do a Doc Ellis ( he did it to the Reds)on the Dodgers, just keep on hitting everyone until the umps throw me out. I head to the dugout and stare down everyone on the defense

Would swing and miss.
I'm here every Thursday folks

In comment 12354207 Headhunter said:

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I can see Harvey punching Tejada

LOL...

would apologize to them as the got to first, never mind

Take Me Out to the Ball Game jingle.

"For it's One, Two, Three strikes you're out.....at the old ball game!"

If a Met hit a ball over the wall in fair territory would he know what to do? If there were runners on base at the time, would they know what to do?

guys don't covr bases or make routine plays. They don't have productive outs. They don't take the extra base.

Overall, they don't play intelligent baseball.

I can live with the growing pains with Flores, Plawecki and Herrera at the plate. But the lack of fundamentals and lack of fire is hard to take.

We've been incredibly lucky with this offense to still be at .500 (Mostly due to our 11 game win streak).

Although this upcoming 12 of 15 games on the road WILL NOT end well for us.

3 @ Dodgers
3 @ Giants
All Star Break
3 home against Arizona
3 @ Cardinals
3 @ Nationals

Those 5 teams are a combined 218-175. If the Mets win more then 5 games during that 15 game stretch, I would consider that a success.

And yes, it's just a vanity move, but I'm sick of that guy.

In comment 12354240 Headhunter said:

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If a Met hit a ball over the wall in fair territory would he know what to do? If there were runners on base at the time, would they know what to do?

Runners would probably tag up and get passed by the batter going into his homerun trot

...his press conference fiasco last week? I'll understand if you ask which one...

Maybe a few breaks and possibly go 7-8 during that 15 game stretch.

Heaven forbid, we actually play above .500 ball and finish 8-7.

From the short euphoria of victory early on...

To "it's just a cold streak, let's not freak out"...

To VIVID ANGER...

(then Gary finally shows up flashing the ban hammer...rightfully so)

And finally we are just so spent and beaten that we are just flat out mocking our own team...and I find this delusionally funny. And yes, I know delusionally isn't a word. Deal with it.

In comment 12354286 Torrag said:

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...his press conference fiasco last week? I'll understand if you ask which one...

Would it be the first time?

It's getting pretty bad and Alderson looks worse and worse every day. I'm fine with dumping Collins. I'm fine dumping Tejada even without a good replacement. Neither has proven to be worthy of any future here. But at some point the mirror needs to reflect on the guy who hasn't made a single transaction through this epic tailspin, put those 2 in the positions that they are in and bears significant responsibility for the negative atmosphere of the the media that follows the team seemingly relishing this opportunity to attack. The pitching has been ELITE and this team still barely bobs around .500 because they can't simply field professionals who can consistently hustle and execute basic fundamentals - base running, sacrifice flys, bunting, defense, etc. This West Coast swing seems like it could be a real death knell for someone, can't imagine how bad things could get if the pitchers go through a mini-slump. It must be demoralizing to hang zeros on the board for 20 something innings in a series and still get swept.

Was the perfect choice as the GM to be a good steward of the team when they were in a financial crisis. He also did a great job trading away some older guys and bringing rich rewards in return.

But it is starting to become apparent that he likely isn't the GM that can take the team to the next level.

1 inning 3K's on 9 pitches. My quest is that better than 1 inning 3 pitches 3 outs?

Anibel Sanchez the Catcher is now hitting .520 close to 30AB's is pretty ridiculous even in Little League

are meaningless in the big picture. Just two scapegoats to vent about. There's no money. They're paying 6 guys 70 million and 19 guys 30 million. 20 of the 70 is Wright who has missed the entire season. You could have Branch Rickey & Earl Weaver running the team and they'd have the same record. Until the owners give the GM & Manager enough money to field a MLB roster this is what you're going to see.