Ok, ok, back at it!
Started this thread early in case anyone else has the afternoon off. SNY is replaying the July 31, 2015 game against the Mets. Harvey is on the bump.
A great game. Mets came in trailing the Nats by three at the start of this series. They acquired Cespedes three hours before first pitch and had just endured a crazy week -- the Gomez trade that wasn't, the awful, awful loss to the Padres the day before after a top 9 rain delay. I went to two of these games and remember it so well 4 years later.
Flores wins it with a walkoff bomb in the 12th. Loudest I'd heard citifield before Todd Frazier's 3-run ninth inning tie two weeks ago.
Tonight starts a huge nine game homestand. The level of competition increases (Tribe, Barves, Cubs) and the Mets have to keep winning series to zero in on one of the two Wild Cards.
Steven Matz had a great July then bobbled a little before inexplicably being lifted in Atlanta after retiring 14 in a row. Matz has been up and down overall but most of those downs have come on the road. Matz has a 5-0 record, 2.14 ERA, and WHIP just north of 1 in 11 home appearances (9 starts, two relief appearances). Getting on the board early in this series against the Tribe with Matz would be big-time, with Stroman and Thor to follow.
Stretch run starts now -- if we could bang out a 6-3 (or better) homestand against this group, it would be huge for the playoff effort!
LFGM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Kent? was an awful trade (to me) since Cone was traded to TOR, but Kent is a borderline HOFer (though mostly due to stats not with the Mets)
Was going to say something similar. Walt Terrell for Howard Johnson maybe? Technically we DID trade for Piazza though.
Quote:
1 for 1 playing CF in SYR.
I think he needs to play 2 days in a row before he comes back. see how he rebounds after tonight.
Wow. I was thinking he would be there for a week. Ill take sooner though. I think with his OBP, he would still be valuable in the lineup cold getting his swing back against ML pitching.
That's just me guessing. I mean why move him to SYR at all unless it's to get him closer to Queens for the homestand?
I think they just need to see two games in a row of pain free results and he'll be activated.
Just my guess though.
Quote:
he may be the best position player trade we've ever made already. Can't even think of anyone else in that conversation in the last 30 years other than Piazza (who was really more of a FA signing). John Olerud?
Jeff Kent? was an awful trade (to me) since Cone was traded to TOR, but Kent is a borderline HOFer (though mostly due to stats not with the Mets)
Really shows how bad we've been at acquiring good players more than anything I guess. The fact that a 4th OF'er like Xavier Nady or Paul Lo Duca may be in this conversation is just sad.
Thankfully we've been a lot better with pitchers (Hampton, Johan, Thor, Wheeler).
Quote:
In comment 14537478 Eric on Li said:
Quote:
he may be the best position player trade we've ever made already. Can't even think of anyone else in that conversation in the last 30 years other than Piazza (who was really more of a FA signing). John Olerud?
Jeff Kent? was an awful trade (to me) since Cone was traded to TOR, but Kent is a borderline HOFer (though mostly due to stats not with the Mets)
Really shows how bad we've been at acquiring good players more than anything I guess. The fact that a 4th OF'er like Xavier Nady or Paul Lo Duca may be in this conversation is just sad.
Thankfully we've been a lot better with pitchers (Hampton, Johan, Thor, Wheeler).
Cone, Darling, and Leiter too.
I guess you'd have to count Cespedes as one of the best position players acquired in trade just for the 2015 stretch run alone.
but agree in principle. short and unimpressive list.
Nice watching the other team's D come apart
JD
Wilson
Ramos
Panik
Stroman
Decision to start Pete from day 1
I did not see that coming. Funny how the defense looks like it used to as wel.
Cano .896
Alonso .905
Conforto .936
JD Davis .1049
McNeil .962
Ramos .770
Frazier .616
Rosario .947
2018 numbers
Nimmo. .887
Lowrie .801
This. Also not sure how he deserves credit for giving up 1 more year of Pete Alonso at the league minimum for 9 games that had 0 impact on the season. If the team had sprinted out to lead the division from day 1 maybe you could make a case that was part of the culture. When they were 1 of the worst teams in the NL 3 months into the year, did it really matter that had Alonso up for the first 9 games of April instead of Dom Smith or JD Davis (who have each been excellent in their own right)?
More big hits from JDFD & Conforto
Rosario closing in on .300 & has a .900 OPS (and .383 obp) in his 99 at bats hitting leadoff this year
Lagares working nice at bats late in the game and making a case to continue getting regular PT even when Nimmo gets his call up
Polar Bear doing his thing
Justin Wilson with 1 of his best outings of the year putting out a fire when it mattered
Panik and Davis showing that their veteran savvy and a glimmer of quality depth
Frazier made some good plays on D
Ramos extends hitting streak
Great team win with Stroman and Thor coming up with chances to take the series before handing the ball to JDG to open against the Braves Friday.
If we had a huge lead and were running away with the division? Its a bad move because Alonso wasn't needed.
IF we are in last place and completely out of it? Its a bad move because Alonso wasn't needed.
But this is literally the only way it could have gone down where literally any game over the first couple of weeks could actually have been the difference between the postseason or not this year. And Alonso came out like a house on fire too hitting bombs in the first few weeks which led to wins. We dont know if Smith or Davis would have had the same success.
Right now, I just want to get healthy. In 2015, a bunch of players came back over the last half and when we entered the postseason we ended up as deadly as anyone. That can happen again with this team and this pitching staff. Davis was a huge boost tonight. We might get Nimmo, Lowrie, and McNeil back within a week. Cano and Dom still possibly later in September. This team can be a nightmare for teams down the stretch if the stars align for once and if they do... everything will have been worth it IMO.
We could almost certainly flip him in the offseason for what we gave up to get him IMO. The Yankees and other teams were flat out pissed we got Stroman for as little as we did.
We could almost certainly flip him in the offseason for what we gave up to get him IMO. The Yankees and other teams were flat out pissed we got Stroman for as little as we did.
Not so much criticism as it is (for me at least) being realistic. He's been mediocre in his 3 starts.
nothing wrong with an honest evaluation for those 3 starts.
He was lights out his last couple starts with TOR, I'm hopeful that he settles in here and pitches the same way.
and to the poster who asked.
he last pitched against CLE on 7/24. 7 IP 5H 1 ER 1BB 6Ks
I'll take it if we see that again.
He also started against CLE in April, another QS, just not quite as good.
He likely only had a partial tear.. aka grade 2 strain if he is already out there taking BP.
I think there is a good chance he will make it back in a few weeks.
Not sure if that is good news...
Lagares is actually hitting now so not sure if Nimmo is an upgrade...
Quote:
And the fact he has been mediocre. Trading Vargas to team we are in race with was puzzling at best. And cano has been disaster. Jd Davis is only move to be impressed with.
This. Also not sure how he deserves credit for giving up 1 more year of Pete Alonso at the league minimum for 9 games that had 0 impact on the season. If the team had sprinted out to lead the division from day 1 maybe you could make a case that was part of the culture. When they were 1 of the worst teams in the NL 3 months into the year, did it really matter that had Alonso up for the first 9 games of April instead of Dom Smith or JD Davis (who have each been excellent in their own right)?
Can't agree on Alonso, the guy earned it, keeping him down for no reason causes bad blood down the road in negotiations.
What is this tea's best every day lineup?
McNeil 2B
Rosario SS
Conforto RF
Alonso 1B
Davis LF
Ramos C
Frazier 3B
Nimmo CF
Bench would be Panik, Lagares, Dom, Lowrie, Nido.
That's a deep roster.
What is this tea's best every day lineup?
McNeil 2B
Rosario SS
Conforto RF
Alonso 1B
Davis LF
Ramos C
Frazier 3B
Nimmo CF
Bench would be Panik, Lagares, Dom, Lowrie, Nido.
That's a deep roster.
I think Lowrie is a better player than Frazier. Unless Frazier is "hot" then I'd give the spot to Lowrie. Better defender and hitter than Frazier in 2017 and 2018.
Both Nimmo and Lowrie have been out a LONG time though. Let's keep that in mind. Give Nimmo and Lowrie enough minor league ABs so that they can be ready to contribute when they come up here and not have to get back into game shape while we're playing meaningful games. Let's remember that Nimmo was not good before he went on the DL.
True, and honestly for the time being I may go with that same lineup except Lagares in CF batting 8th. He's been earning it lately.
The one thing that makes me change my mind is that if Alonso had started in SYR, maybe Dom Smith gets those starts and if he started out well (like he did in a backup role) the Mets FO might have felt like shit, Smith is playing well, let's leave Alonso in SYR longer.
And the way it worked out in reality is MUCH better than that scenario.
I too and thirsty for results TODAY, but sometimes thinking big picture is wiser.
I'm not complaining with how this worked out though.
Mets need to finish the job now.
He has been providing a little bit of pop. Obviously we know about game 1 in the last Nats series. He got us started late in the Royals comeback on Sunday.
It's kind of a nice problem to have knowing that Frazier and Lagares are producing but can be replaced by Nimmo and Lowrie at any time.
Wasn't Delgado a trade?
Quote:
he may be the best position player trade we've ever made already. Can't even think of anyone else in that conversation in the last 30 years other than Piazza (who was really more of a FA signing). John Olerud?
Wasn't Delgado a trade?
yeah, good call.
My hope is that Lowrie will take 2 starts a week from Frazier and be a tough at-bat as pinch hitter coming off the bench. The team is much improved but agree he won't be an everyday player.
Quote:
In comment 14537478 Eric on Li said:
Quote:
he may be the best position player trade we've ever made already. Can't even think of anyone else in that conversation in the last 30 years other than Piazza (who was really more of a FA signing). John Olerud?
Wasn't Delgado a trade?
yeah, good call.
Ces trade? At the time, he provided the spark for the WS run
Definitely have to take the good though, without them we probably don't win our only 2 divisions this century.
Re: the Alonso thing I think it just remains to be seen how things play out. If they can get him resigned early like the Braves did with Acuna and Albies it's a non-issue. If they can't and arbitrary budget constraints hamper them in 2022, when he could have been on the books for the minimum, or the years following when he will be expensive in arbitration and they will still have Cano making $20m through 2023, then everyone may regret those 10 days.
I don’t think so, Z.
Lowrie last two years against RHP:
825 OPS
841 OPS
He was also signed by BVW. So, I think he plays angst RHP and Todd against LHP.
but then the rosters expand so it's less of an issue, to have them rehab with the major league club. IOW you don't have to worry so much about them tying up an active roster spot.
Yes, his 2nd half OBP is .409 - that's better than McNeil's season OBP of .400 which is awesome - and to me it is as much of a Rosario vs McNeil as it is Rosario vs Nimmo for who bats leadoff.
Until and if he cools off, Rosario leads off if it's up to me.
I'm fine with it so long as Rosario keeps getting on base. McNeil seems like a natural #2 hitter to me.