Slow day thus far, so wanted to start a new thread to discuss Mets this week and a little FBB to go with.
Senga tonight back home vs Phils. LHP Ranger Suarez going for the Phils.
Has to be a Vientos night, of course, and the fact that he's already taken Suarez deep in AAA will make this interesting to watch both how Suarez approaches Vientos and how the latter performs.
He hasn't gotten much going, and I have to believe the lack of regular ABs is hurting his effectiveness in the box.
Hoping for a big night from the Kids.
FBB notes, I proposed a trade to the Senga owner...I send Eury Perez and Gunnar Henderson. I have been holding Henderson waiting for the breakout, which I think will happen eventually. Perez has been terrific, but concerned about innings limit. He has 45 IP or so total this year with minors and MLB included, and has only pitched a max of 78 innings in his young career in any single season. Have to think they'll cap him around 100-120 IP.
Thinking about trying this deal for the Tanner Bibee owner, but that has more risk as he has likely his own innings cap to deal with. Bibee has pitched a max of 132 IP, and has pitched 50 innings this year. I need to stack wins, my pitching stats are killing me. I've been trading and working the wire, and here's my staff (not counting relief pitchers):
Gonsolin, Logan Webb, Logan Allen (also a max of 132 IP in his career), J.P. France, Musgrove (need him to get going), Bailey Ober, Bobby Miller, Eury Perez, Hunter Greene, Drew Smyly, and Jordan Montgomery. I lost Springs and Wright to injury, which was a huge blow, particularly Springs.
I previously dropped Kyle Gibson and wish I could add him back, but not sure who I'd drop. The problem with Gibson is his low Ks and lack of dominant upside in terms of ERA and WHIP, but he could get me 15-18 wins this year.
Would love to do a two-for-one with a young pitcher, preferably Perez, for a better starter with a longer innings cap and high K-rate. I've tried to package Greene and a hitter for starter (particularly Alcantara after his slow start for a buy-low opportunity) but didn't get a response in either of my trade proposals. Maybe I upgrade my offer to Logan Allen and Henderson? We keep 3 players, so if the Henderson breakout happens, he has value as a keeper. Allen was terrific yesterday, between him, France, and Miller I racked up 22 Ks and 2 wins, nice little start to the week.
I hope you guys grabbed Royce Lewis. Pretty awesome start to his big league season yesterday. I also have McLain, who is probably due for some regression, but he has a 93% speed rating, and his xBA of .284 will still play in my 2B spot if he can get me the steals.
My big stash right now is Elly De La Cruz. I think he's in the minors for 1 to 2 more weeks, max.
My Mets homerism is reflected in my lineup. Shortly after Alvarez's call up, I traded David Robertson for him. That has hurt me in the saves category, but still feel like that's a big win. We play 2 catchers, and between him and Rutschman I feel like have the best catching tandem in our league. I also have Baty in my 3B spot, and stashing Vientos, hoping Buck eventually relents and plays him as the everyday DH.
My hitters:
C: Alvarez/Rutschman
1B: Alonso/Lowe
2B: McLain (SS eligible)/Paredes (1B/3B eligibility)/Miguel Vargas (1B eligibility)/Chisholm Jr (IR spot and has OF eligibility)
3B: Baty, Henderson, Elly De La Cruz (minors, 3B eligibility)
SS: Royce Lewis
OF: Acuna/Tatis (SS eligible)/Betts (2B eligible)/Siri/Ozuna/Bellinger (IR spot)
UT: Vientos
I'm in 2nd to last place, my team has been pretty dominant in the offensive categories, and getting whipped in the pitching categories. Started off horribly by playing Henderson for the first few periods and with the Tatis suspension, slow start for Betts, and Christian Vazquez as my other C, and while James Outman was terrific for me in April, just killed me in May, leading to a drop for Jose Siri. But overall I'm first or second in the league in homers, Runs, and steals, batting average is 4th, but just tied for 6th in RBI. RBI is trending northward with Alvarez's ascension and since I added Paredes (nice surprise, 18 RBI in May).
I still believe I have a shot at playoffs, but I have to crush it over the next 12-13 weeks, and unlikely to do so without major improvements in the pitching department.
I know, TL;DR - but it's at least helpful to me to write it all out to mentally collate a strategy to go forward.
Go get Elly De La Cruz if he's still available though.
Back to Mets, let's hope Alvarez stays hot, and Baty gets hot. I'm really bullish on Baty. And first look for these Phils hitters against the ghost fork. LGM.
Canha 1-3 vs Suarez, Alonso surprisingly 0-7 with an RBI vs him (but he'll get him tonight).
I'm not a fantasy guy but Musgrove would seem like a good bet
Obviously, could've sat McNeil in favor of Baty at 3rd, but that would be two games in a row on the bench for McNeil, and I think it's fine to show deference to Jeff, who has hit righties and lefties equally well. Jeff loves hitting against the Phillies, .331 career average against, .339 against them last season.
vientos 111.5mph single
nimmo 108.5mph ground out
marte 106.5 flyball
lindor 104.6 homer
senga up to 10 swings/misses.
As bad as bullpen has been of late, that is awfully risky
Quote:
huge effort from senga putting away schwarber there. wonder if buck lets him take a crack at JTR or Bohm before going to the bp.
As bad as bullpen has been of late, that is awfully risky
if he feels ok i think id let him get a shot at jtr and only keep him in for bohm if he gets him quickly.
the insurance run from escobar is big bc he can go right at jtr.
The final line on Kodai Senga:
7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 100 pitches.
The only blemish to his line was a bloop single in the third inning.
Senga has a 0.47 ERA in his last three home starts.
@MarkASimonSays
A Mets starting pitcher has posted at least 7 IP and 1 H or fewer 55 times
Tom Seaver's done it the most (5x)
David Cone, R.A. Dickey, Matt Harvey 3x
Kodai Senga joins many who did it once, including
Ron Darling
Tug McGraw
Shawn Estes
Octavio Dotel
Jorge Sosa
the positive i see is if you are down 1 or down 2 against a wild righty, he can draw the walk and you can pinch run for him. that is obviously a very niche role.
@MarkASimonSays
A Mets starting pitcher has posted at least 7 IP and 1 H or fewer 55 times
Tom Seaver's done it the most (5x)
David Cone, R.A. Dickey, Matt Harvey 3x
Kodai Senga joins many who did it once, including
Ron Darling
Tug McGraw
Shawn Estes
Octavio Dotel
Jorge Sosa
Bobby Jones in the 2000 NLDS.