I've said all along those $$$ are better used in my world on defense and pitching.
my only issue with McCann is I'm not sure about his D (and I include framing in D). I have been consistent I'd sacrifice offense from the catcher spot for defense.
if it meant the Mets could add a Bauer and Springer or even trade for an Arenado or Lindor (with an extension).
That said I'm not going to lose my shit if the Mets don't sign either Springer or Bauer.
but save their money for another day. I know fans are eager to get better, but sometimes patience is the best course of action for building a sustainable winner.
And that's what I want more than the instant gratification of a competitive 2021. Both long and short term success would be good, but I'm thinking big picture.
Very well-said PJ. I agree with all of this (though I do cop to having some serious sugar-plum fairies dancing in my brain).
The DREAM = cash no object offseason would involve, Bauer, Springer, Signing Kim and trading for Lindor.
Let Kim play 3rd (or second if he's unable to handle 3rd)
Alonso/Dom
McNeil at 2B
Lindor SS
Kim 3B
That's my ultimate pie in the sky.
Springer/Bauer/McCann/backup starter is best real case
But yes, the idea is to make this team a habitual winner.
Martino got torched on Twitter for saying that the process is the point but I totally agree with that. Baseball post-season bears the least relation to how good a team is in the regular season due to the small spread between teams 1-10 and the relatively low winning percentage of the very best teams. 108-54 is galacatically good -- but it's equivalent to an 11-5 team.
So yes, the way to rings is to get to the dance nearly every year. From there, you need luck and the right people getting hot together.
Jarrett Seidler
@jaseidler
·
1m
here's a giant counterargument to my own argument: McCann has been an identical or slightly better hitter than Realmuto recently and wasn't much worse of a defender in 2020, basically the same when accounting for playing time. Can I talk myself into this before the deal haapens?
I know people are hot for Almora but Goodwin might be a better addition. He's a push CF but career 102 wRC+. Wouldn't want either starting but might be a solid guy on a minor league deal
same here. I'd love to build a juggernaut and win a WS in 2021.
I'm just trying to be reasonable, lol.
there are like 4 impact free agents available.
I don't want ownership to feel like they have to force one or more of them to feel like the offseason was successful.
if they do nothing and that is the plan, I'm actually cool with that.
All along the main thing I have wanted out of the front office/ownership is a plan.
First and foremost a plan to compete (and win) at the major league level
second, a plan to build the farm into an asset for both when the team needs to add but also as an asset to acquire talent
third, build out analytics, and other areas that are fundamental to #1 and #2, so these are not necessarily in order but #1 and #2 are happening with or without analytics.
and lastly, just do things to make me as a fan proud to support the Mets. I'm not too emotional about sports anymore and this isn't 100% on former ownership, but I was losing interest. One press conference with Cohen and I was as high as I have ever been on the Mets.
so, in summary, I'd love it for the Mets to add Springer, Bauer, and more this off-season, but more importantly I want them to not be reactionary - build a plan for the things I mentioned above and execute. They need to be able to adjust the plan as outside influences change, but I never got the feeling the Mets had a legitimate plan since probably '88
small episodes of success followed by lenghty periods of paying for that success. That's not a model I want for my team.
"The big thing for me is getting my body out of the way, and that's what the open stance has done," McCann told reporters. "It's allowed me to see the ball and allowed me to keep my body out of my swing and allowed my hands to work."
Loved the White Sox last year -- watched them a lot. Big fan of McCann's performance. Offense for him would be gravy. He'd be there to manage a staff, frame well, work with pitchers.
Statistically I can buy that his improvement at the plate the last 2 years is real - there are underlying metrics to support it. But defense is my priority at C so very curious to hear anything about McCann and how he works with pitchers. I don't fully trust the public versions of those metrics yet and they aren't clear cut on him either way.
Sort of answered my own question here (McCann's defense)
even though this is a puff piece, definitely better to read stuff like this than not.
Quote:
But it goes beyond the numbers. McCann has been an integral part of this team as it’s ascended out of rebuilding mode and into contention mode. He’s helped Lucas Giolito, the staff ace, transform into one of the finest arms in baseball, and he was behind the plate for Giolito’s no-hitter.
“Mac, we call him ‘The Captain.’ One of the leaders of our team, vocally and by example,” Giolito said of McCann last month. “I think that for him, whenever he gets in the game, he’s locked in. He knows what he has to do to be able to manage the pitcher he has on the mound, be able to manage his at-bats, give us quality ABs no matter where he’s hitting or no matter how often he’s playing. He has a very good attitude about that.
At the end of the day it will just come down to how much he costs relative to JTR. If you squint there are similarities, and even a few metrics where McCann has been better (he is one of the best catchers in baseball the last 2 years at the SIS statistic that claims to account for handling a pitching staff).
McCann's calling card is his defense. He manages pitching staffs well, is an excellent on-field "captain" of sorts, meaning that he's very good at directing the defense and being a true leader. There's something to be said for having outstanding makeup as a player, and McCann has it. His arm grades out as an above-average tool, occasionally flashing plus on his throws. He is very athletic behind the plate, which is especially impressive considering that he's a pretty big guy at 6'2" and around 215-220lbs. He moves well, frames pitches well, and is good at blocking balls in the dirt. He's just one of those guys you watch and say "that guy is a ballplayer", plain and simple.
Also his last MLB Pipeline scouting report from 2014 right before he debuted:
Quote:
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 30 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
The Tigers went three straight Drafts from 2010-12 where they gave up their first-round pick as free-agent compensation. McCann was their top choice in 2011, when he went 76th overall. He reached Double-A in his first full pro season and struggled there offensively, but hit much better when he returned to that level in 2013.
McCann's calling card remains his defense, however. He has solid catch-and-throw skills, soft hands and the leadership to run a pitching staff. He has thrown out 39 percent of basestealers during his first three years as a pro.
McCann's bat will determine whether he's a big league regular. He has some pop but his swing gets long and he will chase pitches out of the strike zone. At worst, he should be a defensive-minded backup.
That would be outstanding, for sure!
I've said all along those $$$ are better used in my world on defense and pitching.
my only issue with McCann is I'm not sure about his D (and I include framing in D). I have been consistent I'd sacrifice offense from the catcher spot for defense.
if it meant the Mets could add a Bauer and Springer or even trade for an Arenado or Lindor (with an extension).
That said I'm not going to lose my shit if the Mets don't sign either Springer or Bauer.
but save their money for another day. I know fans are eager to get better, but sometimes patience is the best course of action for building a sustainable winner.
And that's what I want more than the instant gratification of a competitive 2021. Both long and short term success would be good, but I'm thinking big picture.
Very well-said PJ. I agree with all of this (though I do cop to having some serious sugar-plum fairies dancing in my brain).
The DREAM = cash no object offseason would involve, Bauer, Springer, Signing Kim and trading for Lindor.
Let Kim play 3rd (or second if he's unable to handle 3rd)
Alonso/Dom
McNeil at 2B
Lindor SS
Kim 3B
That's my ultimate pie in the sky.
Springer/Bauer/McCann/backup starter is best real case
But yes, the idea is to make this team a habitual winner.
Martino got torched on Twitter for saying that the process is the point but I totally agree with that. Baseball post-season bears the least relation to how good a team is in the regular season due to the small spread between teams 1-10 and the relatively low winning percentage of the very best teams. 108-54 is galacatically good -- but it's equivalent to an 11-5 team.
So yes, the way to rings is to get to the dance nearly every year. From there, you need luck and the right people getting hot together.
@jaseidler
·
1m
here's a giant counterargument to my own argument: McCann has been an identical or slightly better hitter than Realmuto recently and wasn't much worse of a defender in 2020, basically the same when accounting for playing time. Can I talk myself into this before the deal haapens?
I'm just trying to be reasonable, lol.
there are like 4 impact free agents available.
I don't want ownership to feel like they have to force one or more of them to feel like the offseason was successful.
if they do nothing and that is the plan, I'm actually cool with that.
All along the main thing I have wanted out of the front office/ownership is a plan.
First and foremost a plan to compete (and win) at the major league level
second, a plan to build the farm into an asset for both when the team needs to add but also as an asset to acquire talent
third, build out analytics, and other areas that are fundamental to #1 and #2, so these are not necessarily in order but #1 and #2 are happening with or without analytics.
and lastly, just do things to make me as a fan proud to support the Mets. I'm not too emotional about sports anymore and this isn't 100% on former ownership, but I was losing interest. One press conference with Cohen and I was as high as I have ever been on the Mets.
so, in summary, I'd love it for the Mets to add Springer, Bauer, and more this off-season, but more importantly I want them to not be reactionary - build a plan for the things I mentioned above and execute. They need to be able to adjust the plan as outside influences change, but I never got the feeling the Mets had a legitimate plan since probably '88
small episodes of success followed by lenghty periods of paying for that success. That's not a model I want for my team.
Statistically I can buy that his improvement at the plate the last 2 years is real - there are underlying metrics to support it. But defense is my priority at C so very curious to hear anything about McCann and how he works with pitchers. I don't fully trust the public versions of those metrics yet and they aren't clear cut on him either way.
“Mac, we call him ‘The Captain.’ One of the leaders of our team, vocally and by example,” Giolito said of McCann last month. “I think that for him, whenever he gets in the game, he’s locked in. He knows what he has to do to be able to manage the pitcher he has on the mound, be able to manage his at-bats, give us quality ABs no matter where he’s hitting or no matter how often he’s playing. He has a very good attitude about that.
At the end of the day it will just come down to how much he costs relative to JTR. If you squint there are similarities, and even a few metrics where McCann has been better (he is one of the best catchers in baseball the last 2 years at the SIS statistic that claims to account for handling a pitching staff).
If he's a good bit cheaper, I get the gamble. If it's 4 years and the price difference is smaller than many projected, why not just spend for Realmuto?
Why the Sox need to re-sign McCann — and why it will be hard - ( New Window )
Also his last MLB Pipeline scouting report from 2014 right before he debuted:
The Tigers went three straight Drafts from 2010-12 where they gave up their first-round pick as free-agent compensation. McCann was their top choice in 2011, when he went 76th overall. He reached Double-A in his first full pro season and struggled there offensively, but hit much better when he returned to that level in 2013.
McCann's calling card remains his defense, however. He has solid catch-and-throw skills, soft hands and the leadership to run a pitching staff. He has thrown out 39 percent of basestealers during his first three years as a pro.
McCann's bat will determine whether he's a big league regular. He has some pop but his swing gets long and he will chase pitches out of the strike zone. At worst, he should be a defensive-minded backup.
The Staff of the Detroit Tigers Prospect Report has ranked their Top 50 Tigers Prospects - ( New Window )