N.Y. Mets: The S.S. Wilpon is Losing Wind, Again

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

New York Mets: Winning the National League pennant in 2015 blew the organization off course.

... not a knee jerk reaction.  If you're a regular reader of Head-Butting Mr. Met, you know where I've always stood.

This has nothing to do with the Mets going 6-14 after starting the season with an 11-1 record, or the fact they lost six in a row heading into Cincinnati.  For the moment, I chalk that up to the ups and downs of baseball.

• The Mets take the series opener from the Reds by a 7-6 margin.

This is more about the new quagmire they've potentially created for themselves.

The Mets were still in the midst of rebuilding right up until the acquisitions of Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, Yoenis Cespedes, et al.  I'm certainly not criticizing what transpired after the 2015 trade deadline, nor the front office's stick-to-itiveness entering the 2016 season.  But what began as an imperceptible deviation now needs correction as the Mets find themselves somewhere very distant from where they originally intended to be.

Through the draft and via acquisitions, the Mets attempted to rebuild their club around a new generation of starting pitchers: Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, and Steven Matz.  At least that was the idea.

At the time, Kevin Plawecki; Travis d'Arnaud; Wilmer Flores; Juan Lagares; Dilson Herrera; and Michael Conforto represented the up-and-coming position players.  Guys like Dominic Smith, Brandon Nimmo, Gavin Cecchini, Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo were poised to arrive in the next wave.

However, the 2015 team that went to the World Series still featured very familiar faces: Lucas Duda; Jeurys Familia; Daniel Murphy; Ruben Tejada; Curtis Granderson; even David Wright.  And by 2016, the rebuild effort was shelved for a win-now mentality.  Second baseman Dilson Herrera was dealt to acquire Jay Bruce whom was further surrounded by more veterans: Asdrubal Cabrera; Neil Walker; Jose Reyes; Adrian Gonzalez; James Loney; etc.

Today, the positions of left field, right field, first base, second base, and third base, are all bogged down with older players again as a result.  One or two seasoned veterans is fine, necessary even, but not five positions - not to mention an insufferable situation behind the plate.

Alderson has drafted rather curious talents through his years here as general manager.  But also conjures rather ponderous scenarios when it comes time for integrating them into the fold.  I've seen more players called up and effectively misused, than not.  Aside from Travis d'Arnaud, Amed Rosario is the only player for which the Mets effectively cleared out the position in anticipation of his arrival.  Otherwise, Michael Conforto is being forced to play out of position, while guys like Brando Nimmo, Wilmer Flores, and Juan Lagares continue going underutilized.

This condition was poignantly demonstrated recently by the visiting Atlanta Braves at Citi Field, when a young club being given time to develop together came to Flushing and swept the Mets.

Said another way, this organization needs to refocus on youth and get back to establishing a core of position players - something they failed to do the first time around.  They diligently worked on building strong pitching, but resigned themselves to patching together poorly constructed line-ups and hoping for the best.

• The position of catcher is an unmittigated mess.  In simple English, Sandy Alderson's plan behind the plate has failed.  Fans are pretty fed up with Travis d'Arnaud.  Unfortunately, his best ability has been his unavailability.  And just when it seemed Kevin Plawecki was beginning to gain momentum, he sustained an injury.  At least Plawecki is younger, and therefore still represents potential where as d'Arnaud is fast approaching the age of thirty.

• Who's on first?  Dominic Smith was utterly unprepared for his major league debut.  At least prospect Peter Alonso offers a glimmer of hope.  His arrival in Flushing could potentially come within a year.  The 23-year old is presently beating up on Eastern League pitchers.  In the meantime, the Mets hope Adrian Gonzalez holds up.

• What's on second - Dilson Herrera isn't quite living up to Cincinnati's expectations.  In fact, he hasn't participated in a major league game since 2015 with the Mets.  Otherwise, there is no other plan for second outside of transitioning Gavin Cecchini into a second baseman.

• Third base?  Todd Frazier is 32-years old.  Acquiring him was a practical move and economically made sense.  His acquisitions allowed the Mets to finally move on from David Wright (in a manner of speaking) whom has kept the position in a holding pattern.  The only player worth holding out hope for down on the farm is David Thompson, who is not having a fun go of it in his first season at Las Vegas, to date.

• With regard to outfield prospects, the Mets have nothing going on worth mentioning.

Shame ...

I entered this season believing the Mets could contend for a Wild Card.  I still believe that.  It's just that as currently constructed I feel the Mets window of opportunity is very small.

I'm merely suggesting the Mets adjust their course before they become completely lost, again.

N.Y. Mets: Callaway Era Successfully Clears Launching Pad

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets lead series 2-0

I - NYM 9; STL 4

II - NYM 6; STL 2

Series Finale

St. Louis Cardinals

vs.

New York Mets

FROM

Roosevelt Avenue Grounds

QUEENS

New York Mets: Up, Up, And Callaway We Go...!

So far, so good ...

A pair of victories over the St. Louis Cardinals with a chance to sweep on Easter Sunday is a fine start to any regular season - much less Mickey Callaway's first as manager of the New York Mets.  If this keeps up, Mets fans should have little problem giving off-season changes their final stamp of approval.

Two games, though, is far from trend setting.  Yet, Coach Callaway has already made things quite discussion worthy nonetheless.  Although he was mainly hired to harness this team's pitching potential, his choice of line-ups thus far have made the greatest impressions, and impact.

Game One

• Nimmo; Cespedes; Bruce; Cabrera; Frazier; Gonzalez; Plawecki; Syndergaard; Rosario.

Game Two

• Cabrera; Cespedes; Bruce; Frazier; d'Arnaud; Gonzalez; Lagares; deGrom; Rosario.

Lead-off Hitter:

Once Michael Conforto returns, both the center field and lead-off hitter situations will obviously change.  In the meantime, we knew Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares would be platooning.  Therefore, I'm not fielding any gripes about both receiving a start each despite facing two right-handed starting pitchers.  Again ... two games does not a trend make.

Nimmo started Opening Day and went 2 for 3, with a walk, and two runs scored.  On Saturday, Juan Lagares did not lead-off, but went 2 for 4 with a run scored nonetheless.  Asdrubal Cabrera went from hitting clean-up on Opening Day to the lead-off spot on Saturday, and went 3 for 5 with a double, RBI, and a run scored.  Through two games, the Mets lead-off hitters are 5 for 8 (.625) with a walk, RBI, and three runs scored.

Batting Second:

I understand why Mickey Callaway is doing it.  This is about manipulating the bottom of the order in anticipation of, and getting his most lethal hitter more at-bats and better pitches to hit, then providing maximum protection throughout the middle of the order behind him.  Coach isn't exactly breaking with conventional wisdom here.  It's been done before.  It's also an attempt at minimizing the pitcher's potential dead-spot in the line-up.  I'm just not a proponent of batting Yoenis Cespedes second.  Regardless what I think, Coach Callaway's decision is paying off.  Yoenis is 3 for 7 with three walks, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored.

Questionable Three Strategy:

It's always been the unwritten rule that a team's best hitter bat third.  Coach Callaway has twice penciled in Jay Bruce, whom so far is 1 for 8 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored.  In the spirit of Callaway's new ways, I would consider batting Asdrubal Cabrera third, and have Bruce clean-up.

Clean-Up Hitter:

Coach got every one's attention when he charged Asdrubal Cabrera with hitting clean-up on Opening Day.  In Cabrera's defense, he is a professional hitter, and provides more pop than Mets fans originally anticipated.  He's also been one of the Mets more clutch hitters since his arrival.  Alas he went hit-less in four at-bats.  Todd Frazier took his turn cleaning-up on Saturday, and went 1 for 3 with three RBI.

Batting Sixth:

What, me worry?  In the span of two games, Adrian Gonzalez is turning a worrisome spring training into a distant memory.  Hampered last season by a bad back while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gonzalez went 12 for 58 (.207) in Grapefruit play, with just three extra base hits and three RBI.  So far, he is 3 for 7 with two walks, a double, a run scored, and an RBI, through two games against the Cardinals.

Catcher:

We knew there would also be a platoon behind the plate this season, but thank Mickey Callaway for giving this a new spin.  It was very interesting seeing Travis d'Arnaud bat fifth.  He went 1 for 3 on Saturday, with a walk and home run.  Syndergaard prefers throwing to Kevin Plawecki.  That's no secret.  And so Plawecki started Opening Day and batted seventh, going 2 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI.  So far, the platooning backstops are 3 for 6, with three walks, a home run, three runs scored, and two RBI.

Batting Eighth/Ninth:

Coach Callaway has elected to bat the pitcher eighth in each of the first two games.  Let's see how long this continues.  Otherwise, the free swinging Amed Rosario is being positioned to precede the lead-off hitter and Yoenis Cespedes by batting ninth.  Until Rosario learns to be more selective at the plate, this may prove an effective ploy ... for now.  Amed went 2 for 4 in his first ever major league Opening Day, with two RBI and two runs scored.

Terrors on the Base Paths:

Mickey Callaway and third base coach Glenn Sherlock have made one thing perfectly clear.  They intend on being aggressive.  They'll attempt taking an extra base at every turn, challenge outfield arms and their opponent's ability to execute plays.

First Pitch:

The Mets top two starting pitchers seemingly launched their 2018 campaigns without a hitch.  If you look back, the most successful teams throughout history usually feature a terrible twosome that opponents dread facing.  Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom must be that for the Mets more so now than ever.  Noah started on Opening Day, allowing four earned runs on six hits, but walked none and fanned ten batters over six innings pitched for his first victory of the season.  Jacob deGrom lasted 5.2 innings in his first start, limiting the Cardinals to just one earned run on four hits and a walk, while fanning seven for his first victory.

The Firemen:

The Mets opened up on Thursday, were off on Friday, then resumed play on Saturday.  Despite a day off Callaway's utilization of the bullpen was no less curious.  The same trio which appeared on Thursday were the same three which appeared in Saturday's contest.  Coach's plan for Sunday's series finale will prove quite revealing.  Robert Gsellman seems to be embracing his new bullpen role, allowing just one hit and fanning four in 1.2 innings.  Anthony Swarzak pitched the eighth in each game, while Jeurys Familia closed out both, and earned his first save (of the four out variety).

N.Y. Mets: Who Making Bid for First Base Job

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Who's On First

Can Adrian Gonzalez still wield a productive bat?

New York Mets: On the Recent Past, a Questionable Present, and the Potential Future at First Base.

When Ike Davis recorded 32 home runs and 90 RBI in 2012, a bunch of us fans thought the Mets were set at first base for years to come.  However, health issues would hasten his unfortunate demise.

The Mets then passed the torch to Lucas Duda.  One of the most streakiest hitters in recent memory - if not all-time - he often amassed most of his numbers within just two to three offensive outbursts per season.  Otherwise his home run to RBI correlation was generally a source of chronic exasperation.  There's no denying he was well liked.  But unless Duda proved himself ultra-worthy of a long-term extension, the front office plan was to expend all his controllable years until Dominic Smith could take over.  Thus, Duda is now with the Kansas City Royals.

Meanwhile, Smith's Mets career has gotten off to a somewhat bumpy start.  Last year, Sandy Alderson's 2013 first round draft selection (11th overall) was taken to task over his conditioning, and this year has recently been disciplined by Mickey Callaway over tardiness.  He's presently nursing an untimely (quad) injury.

Enter Adrian Gonzalez.  The position of first base appears his to win.

This is a classic example of trying to strike lightning in a bottle - no harm in the Mets present situation.  They're paying him the major league minimum, and therefore have absolutely nothing to lose by bringing him aboard.

Gonzo will turn 36-years old in May.  He was still a productive player as recently as two seasons ago when he slashed .285/.355/.435, with 31 doubles, 18 home runs, and 90 RBI for the Dodgers.  He was compromised last year by injury which limited him to 71 games played.

Best case scenario: he regains health and anchors the middle of the line-up.  I'd also gladly settle for reliable production lower in the order.

Worst case scenario: the end of Gonzo's long individually successful fifteen year is confirmed.

That's why Dominic Smith is by no means out of the picture.  The less Adrian Gonzalez potentially pans out, the more starts Dom will surely make.  On the flip side, the better Adrian does the more Dom can expect to stay active at Las Vegas.

The Mets will have everywhere-man Wilmer Flores, and to a lesser degree Jay Bruce available to fill in at first if needed.

That's why it would behoove Smith to learn from Gonzalez while the two are still in Florida.

In any event, it now seems as if both Gonzalez and Smith are merely holding down the position until prospect Peter Alonso further develops and ideally takes over ... perhaps as soon as the 2019 season.

Alonso was the Mets second round selection of the 2016 draft.  After 82 games last season at Port St. Lucie, he was promoted to (AA)-Binghamton where he played 11 games for the Rumble Ponies.

He slashed .286/.361/.516, with 16 home runs and 58 RBI through 82 games and 308 at-bats for the (A+)-Port St. Lucie Mets.  He then slashed .311/.340/578, with four doubles, two home runs, and five RBI in just 45 at-bats with Binghamton.

If he excels at Binghamton over the first half of the upcoming season, I suspect the Mets would promote Alonso to Las Vegas - creating more reason for Dominic Smith to get his act together.

I briefly caught a close-up view of Peter Alonso in 2016 when he played for the Brooklyn Cyclones and loved what I saw.

In the meantime, the rest of spring training will determine who opens the season at first base.

First baseman Peter Alonso with Binghamton