N.Y. Mets: The Cost of Painting the Town Orange

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Painting the Town Orange

The best trades usually are the ones you never see coming.  Congratulations to Sandy Alderson and his newly-assembled front office for their savvy and clandestine execution of one of the bigger blockbuster deals in Mets history.  

In this instance, actions truly spoke louder than words.  This acquisition has the potential of greatly impacting the Mets for many years to come.  Francisco Lindor is a premiere talent entering the prime years of his career.  So, if as a fan you were still somewhat skeptical before, then this should confirm beyond all lingering doubt that a new era is dawning over Flushing.

Since Steve Cohen finalized the New York Mets' purchase on November 6, 2020, Sandy Alderson has since hired general manager Jared Porter, executive Zack Scott, bench coach Dave Jauss, signed reliever Trevor May and catcher James McCann, albeit not necessarily in that order.  All of which was followed by this week's news of the trade for Lindor and Carlos Carrasco and sprinkled with subtle hints that the front office is still not through. 

MONEY STILL MATTERS

I am quite confident the Mets made this trade with the full intention of extending Lindor.  Considering their decision to part with both Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez, how can they not?  In the meantime, Francisco Lindor, this upcoming season, will earn money previously earmarked for (suspended) Robinson Cano.  So, not only will the Mets be negotiating a new pact with Lindor, Cano's salary returns on the books in 2022 and through the 2023 season.  Jacob deGrom's contract is also ballooning this season and next to $35 million (up from $25 million).  He has an opt-out clause after the 2022 season, but if he stays, deGrom will earn $32.5 million per year with a team option in 2024.  Then, Michael Conforto is to consider who is eligible for free agency after the 2022 season.  With several shortstops becoming available next season, the Mets could easily wait this out and let the market determine a price.  But sign him they must.  All these factors make me question the free-agent pursuits of George Springer and/or pitcher Trevor Bauer.

HISTORY ON METS SIDE

Mets history says they've benefited far more greatly via trades than through free agency.  Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Al Leiter, Mike Hampton, Mike Piazza, Carlos Delgado, and even Yoenis Cespedes bear that out.  Even before free agency, Donn Clendenon and Rusty Staub no less prove the point.  Other blockbuster acquisitions of note include those for Frank Viola and Johan Santana.  Of all the Mets players transacted away in procuring said players, only Hubie Brooks dealt to the Expos in exchange for Gary Carter, which caused me to experience any emotional pain.  In any event, such key trades historically have been the Mets' traditional pathway towards the playoffs.

A Metsian Podcast: Kickin' Off The New Year With Mike Silva of Talkin' Mets Podcast

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

With SAM, RICH & MIKE

HAPPY NEW YEAR

GUEST

Mike Silva

of 

Talkin' Mets Podcast

thirty-eight minutes

!Hot Take!

"Gary Carter was a bad trade"

Give a Listen

#LGM

A Metsian Podcast: First Quarter Review

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

We are one-quarter of the way through the New York Mets 2020 regular season.  There is good news making some fans think they're taking a turn for the better, but there's also bad news making other fans think they're taking a turn for the worse.  So, which is it?  Join Sam, Rich, and I, as we attempt to get a fix on the Mets direction.  Pitching; fielding; timely hitting; and this sudden love affair with Andres Gimenez; A Metsian Podcast will cover it all; including a look back at the Amazin' 1962 Mets.

#LGM

N.Y. Mets: Welcome to Flushing's First Socially Distanced Opening Day in July

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

PLAY COVID BALL !!

Late Sunday afternoon; September 29, 2019; the Mets trail the Atlanta Braves 6-5 in the last game of the regular season; with two runners on base and two outs in the eleventh inning Dominic Smith deposits a Grant Dayton offering deep beyond the right field fence giving the Mets a dramatic walk-off 7-6 victory.  After which the off-season starts like any other.  However, with the onset of winter arrises news of a globe-trekking virus heading our way.  By the end of February and early March, the tristate area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, becomes America's epicenter of coronavirus.  By mid-March major league baseball shuts down all activities as state after state begins implementing COVID protocols.  Near 300 days have passed since Dominic Smith's season ending at-bat.  Today, after much haggling and public harangue, MLB is finally set to resume play, albeit operating under conditions and circumstances never before experienced by sports, barring the Spanish Flu of a century ago.  I am on record (Metsian Podcast) saying baseball should have cancelled the season outright, and I stand by it.  Nevertheless, here we are, time to play ball.  I bid health, safety, peace, and a measure of luck, to every player, coach, manager ... every single person involved with the execution of this upcoming season, and likewise to respective families.

deGROM AND MATZ, THEN PRAY FOR RAIN

Sadly, I do not foresee the Mets being top contenders in the absence of strong performances first and foremost from Steven Matz, and Marcus Stroman second.

Welcome to the 2020 season?  Or should I say welcome to the new, and still transient normal?

In any event, here's something you'll find quite familiar: The Mets have problems.

The much anticipated "Five Hurlers of the Metropolis" were never able to join forces and become the super heroes we thought they'd be.  Injury and overall front office negligence are largely to blame.  The dream rotation of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and Jacob deGrom, unfortunately fail to synchronize their talents for any substantial length of time.  Thus the opposition never fully experiences what fans imagine to be the rotation's full wrath.  Instead, the rotation frustratingly is a perpetual revolving door of those returning from surgery with those requiring surgery, and other like physical issues.  Jacob deGrom aside, you might loosely file what transpires since 2015 as a Generation-K type Redux.  But at least we get a National League pennant out of these guys - most of them - so there's that.

"FIVE HURLERS OF THE METROPOLIS"

Matt Harvey ~ Zack Wheeler ~ Jacob deGrom ~ Noah Syndergaard ~ Steven Matz

2012 - Harvey

2013 - Harvey; Wheeler

2014 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom

2015 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz

2016 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz

2017 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz

2018 - x-Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz

2019 - x-Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz; Stroman

2020 - x-Harvey; x-Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz; Stroman; Porcello; Wacha

I enter this COVIDIAN compromised 2020 regular season with only a small fraction of the confidence I once harbored regarding this team's rotational strength.  Of course Jacob deGrom is the great one, winner of back-to-back Cy Young awards.  He takes the ball on Friday for Game One of sixty.  But who and/or what follows deGrom is very troublesome for me.

I'm not at all pleased Zack Wheeler is a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.  Wheeler in March 2019 made it very clear he welcomed free agency and that the Mets would need to meet his price.  I was hoping against hope they would re-sign him.  Instead the front office let the regular season play out and apparently were dissatisfied with Wheeler's performance.  That's the soft core version of the story.  The harder, colder truth, as we well know, ownership is flat broke.  After all, Zack posted a fair 3.96 ERA and 1.259 WHiP through 195.1 innings pitched.  Now 30-years old, I believe Wheeler's arm is finally sound and that his best days are still ahead.  Over the last two seasons he's made 60 starts with 374 strikeouts through 377.2 innings pitched.  Fangraphs had his 2018 velocity pegged at 95-mph, while last year's velocity remained steady at 96-mph.  Be that as it may the Mets make him no offer.  Wheeler winds up signing with Philadelphia for $118 million over five seasons.  The inner general manager within me would have been agreeable to a $100 million offer, and chewing him down from the other $18 million.  But I certainly would not have let that stop me.  I also have a hunch Wheeler and his agent, just for sake of staying in NYC, would have been amenable to a small compromise.  Lastly, Zack Wheeler I feel is/was better than any of the available replacements, namely Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha.  For these reasons alone I believe the Mets enter 2020 with a weakened rotation - period, exclamation point.

Noah Syndergaard ((( 😔 ))) as we know is out due to Tommy John surgery/recovery.  Who didn't see that coming..?

But here's something whereon Brodie Van Wagenen needs to keep his eyes fixed.  Marcus Stroman, who talks a real good game, is presently out with a calf injury which is an ailment BVW must consider within the context of a 60-game season.  True calf injuries do not heal well; they're habitually time consuming; and without extensive rest they tend to nag for entire seasons.

I'm hopeful Rick Porcello will pitch effectively but I'm only somewhat confident he will.  I like Rick Porcello, I really do.  I'm (also) a Red Sox fan since the mid 1970's.  Back then outside of the World Series inter-league play is nonexistent.  Having a favorite American League team is a non-issue.  And the answer to your next question .. NO .. I was in no way conflicted in 1986, for I am an orange/blue bleeding Mets fan.  Back to the matter at hand: I have a lot of respect for Rick's body of work with Boston.  The man exuded cool, calm, and clutch.  I'm just not sure that success follows him to Flushing.  His best seasons are 2014 when he posts a 3.43 ERA and 1.231 WHiP, and his Cy Young award winning 2016 campaign when posts a league best 22-4 record, with a 3.15 ERA, and fine 1.001 WHiP.   But that's six and four years ago respectively.  Outside of a 3.96 ERA during his rookie season, at no other time during his eleven year career does his season ERA dip below four.  He also has yielded more hits than innings pitched in two of his last three seasons.  Essentially what Mets fans need most from Rick Porcello is a classic baseball comeback season.  To his credit he is a mature, poised, intelligent 30-year old craftsman.  If anyone can bounce back, he can.  However, anything resembling his last three seasons with Boston simply will not do.

I have much less, or little to no confidence in Michael Wacha as a starter.  He and Porcello during the off-season are originally signed to be complimentary depth pitchers, and now intense pressure is suddenly being pumped into both their respective right arms.  Cross your fingers in the hope all their gaskets are sealed tight.  Otherwise, this rotation is gonna leak hits, runs, deficits, and losses, all over the place.

Alas Steven Matz is the Mets X factor.  The day has come .. the hour is near .. this must be the season when Steven Matz seizes the role of Number Two behind Jacob deGrom.  The Mets situation necessitates it.  If they are to compete in a 60-game season against modified opponents such as the Yankees and Rays, along with fellow N.L. East members, they'll need an effective and reliable one-two punch.  The recently turned 29-year old Matz is due for a breakout season, or not.  A veteran of four full seasons in the majors, he owns a career 4.05 ERA through 103 appearances and 101 career starts.  He is coming off back to back seasons of at least thirty starts, while 2019 is the first time he achieves double digit wins.  However, since 2016 when he posts a 3.40 ERA in 132.1 innings pitched, his ERA has since failed to dip below four.  He additionally has yet to pitch 200 innings in a single season.  Therefore I say he needs to make this season his line of demarcation.  Will he mature and elevate as a pitcher and craftsman, or not?

THREE ALARM FIRE STILL RAGES

Edwin Diaz is 26-years old and a veteran of four full major league seasons, during which he's averaged 67 innings per season.  Therefore his shelf life is far from approaching its expiration date.  But 15 home runs in 58 innings pitched?  Not to mention all 15 home runs are surrendered in the ninth inning thus setting a new major league record.  His 99 strikeouts and 15.4 K/9 average are outstanding.  No arguing that.  But a 2-7 record, seven blown saves, a 5.59 ERA, 4.51 FIP, and 1.379 WHiP, are indefensible.  His fastball and change-up are not necessarily the issue.  His slider, however, often resembled a cement mixer, and it cost the Mets a huge price in the standings.

FLUSHING's CORE FOUR?

Pete Alonso; Michael Conforto; Amed Rosario; Jeff McNeil: is this a core four capable of elevating the Mets to higher ground?  Last season was certainly a good start.  Unfortunately, the upcoming 2020 season in and of itself still leaves us with too small a sample size.  And so the question remains to be answered; collective next level performance remains to be seen.  For now the best we can do is monitor the competition and paint a game by game picture until a clearer vision materializes.

LET'S GO METS

ICYMI

Wednesday, July 21, 2020

GUEST

Mets Beat Writer for NEWSDAY, 

Tim Healey

!!!!! WEAR A FREAKIN MASK !!!!!

Another Meaningful Metsian Podcast in September

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

My turn to host ...

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

Show Date: 9/22/2019

eighty-one minutes

ORANGE & BLUE STUFF

The Week Ahead ~ The Wild Card

Success ~ What Went Right ~ THE SEASON ~ What Went Wrong ~ Failure

!The Bullpen! ~ Annual May/June Swoon ~ Offensive Blackouts ~ !The Bullpen!

On Mickey Callaway's Employment ~ Grading Brodie's Rookie Season

Brodie's People vs. Sandy's People

Revisionist History ~ ROBINSON CANO/EDWIN DIAZ TRADE ~ Hindsight

Jay Bruce ~ Anthony Swarzak ~ Prospects

Free Agent Zack Wheeler ~ Trading Noah Syndergaard

JD Davis ~ Amed Rosario ~ Brandon Nimmo ~ Wilson Ramos

BABE RUTH ~ 50 HOME RUN CLUB ~ PETE ALONSO

Casey Stengel ~ Mets Logo ~ Grading the Season

and so much more...!

New York Mets Bats Shy Away From National Spotlight

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

JEKYLL AND HYDE OFFENSE STRIKES AGAIN

Mets win series w/ Phillies 2-1

I - NYM 11; PHI 5

II - NYM 6; PHI 3

III - PHI 5; NYM 2

Fresh off Sunday night's ESPN prime time loss at Philadelphia, the Mets are 2-7 since sweeping the Cleveland Indians.  And now a whole nation knows it.

They're back at two games above .500, and from one moment to the next give the impression of a team either in the midst of something amazin' or a sputtering club running out of steam.  Tough to decipher; teams straddling .500 have a tendency of doing that.  That's the nature of mediocrity and hovering just above par.  And there's the rub: the Mets  players whom wield bats for a living have yet to distinguish themselves.  They continue squandering valuable opportunities sometimes seemingly without so much as a fight, instead appearing content to just fade away quietly into the night.

Like Sunday evening at Philadelphia ...

Sure we can wrangle over relievers Daniel Zamora and Jeurys Familia.  Zamora yields a lead-off hit to Bryce Harper in the bottom of the eighth.  Familia is then summoned from the bullpen and promptly walks Rhys Hoskins.  Both base runners advance on Brad Miller's sac-fly to center (and Brandon Nimmo's bad decision on the throw).  Second baseman Cesar Hernandez is intentionally walked loading the bases.  After which Familia surrenders a bases clearing double to left/center by shortstop Scott Kingery.

Game!

Of course this ruins an otherwise effective performance from Marcus Stroman.  He surrenders just two earned runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts through six innings.  Marcus faces 26 batters, throwing 98 pitches with 65 (66%) going for strikes. But he does not factor in the decision ... because the Mets offense is bi-polar.  Not to be confused with polar bears.

But truth be told, the Mets have been getting effective pitching ever since returning from the all-star break. Which is why I elect to keep my full focus on what has become a dysfunctional offense.  The Mets in game three against Philly post some very familiar offensive numbers that hearken back to their six game losing streak: just two runs on 4 for 19 (.138); another home run with no runners on base; and going another 0 for 3 with RiSP.

In their last seven losses the Mets are now 53 for 248 (.214), with 17 walks, and 54 strikeouts.  They're up to 48 runners LOB, and after Sunday are now 7 for 51 (.137) w/RiSP.

Compare that against their lone two victories (against the Phillies) in their last nine games.

• Game One: 12 for 39 (.308); four walks, nine strikeouts; six LOB; 4 for 10 (.400) w/RiSP; three home runs with five runners on base.
• Game Two: 13 for 41 (.317); three walks; six strikeouts; twelve LOB; 6 for 20 (.300) w/RiSP.

• TOTALS: 25 for 80 (.312), seven walks; 15 strikeouts; 18 LOB; 10 for 30 (.333) w/RiSP

So what's it gonna be?  Will the real Mets please stand up?  I sense we already know the answers to these questions.

NEXT

New York Mets @ Washington Nationals

#LGM

N. Y. Mets: Snap Out of Offensive Funk at Philly

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets Tilt Pinball Bank Stadium

FRIDAY

Mets    11

Phillies  5

FINAL

See what happens when you put runners on base?  The Mets hit seven home runs through six games against the Braves and Cubs, but only two come with runners on base for a net ten runs.  They average just 2.83 runs per game during their six game skid.  Then miraculously the Mets effectively outperform their previous six games in one night.  They hit three home runs in Friday's series opener at Philadelphia, and all three come with runners on base for a net eight runs.  It's also no coincidence they win by an 11-5 final.

In summarizing the Mets six game losing streak, they go 49 for 219 (.224) with 14 walks, and 49 strikeouts.  They leave 44 runners on base and go 7 for 48 (.146) with runners in scoring position.  In game one at Philadelphia's Pinball Bank Stadium, the Met go 12 for 39 (.308), with four walks, two doubles, three home runs, and nine strikeouts.  They leave six runners on base and are 4 for 10 (.400) with runners in scoring position.

Todd Frazier finally breaks out.  He goes 2 for 4 with a pair of three-run home runs.  He had previously hit two home runs all month.  Frazier was a main culprit during the Mets six game offensive shutdown going 0 for 5 with RiSP.

However, Amed Rosario has been a force throughout.  He is now 4 for 10 (.400) with runners in scoring position over the last seven games.

Wilson Ramos extends his hitting streak to 23-games.

Michael Conforto hit his 28th home run of the season in the ninth inning tying his career high, with still a month to go.

Now sweep the Phillies, then we'll talk.

N.Y. Mets: No Fielding, No Pitching, No Dice

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Come Get Us!

Come get the fourth best team in the N.L. East!  Because for all Brodie Van Wagenen's maneuverings that's exactly what the Mets are.  As the summer solstice nears the Mets are closer to last place than first.  The all encompassing question is why?  We know the reasons are myriad, convoluted, and in certain instances uncommonly depressing.  Allow me then to merely scratch the surface with mention of three of the more glaring inefficiencies afflicting the 2019 Mets.


I - FIELDING

• Despite handling the National League's sixth least total chances, the Mets easily lead the circuit with 54 errors.  As such they rank last in fielding percentage (.980) and second to last (.678) in defensive efficiency ratio.
• Meanwhile base runners run circles around them.  The Mets allow the most stolen bases.  Opposing base runners are successful 86% of the time.  In turn they throw out the fourth least base runners.  Wilson Ramos has thrown out just eight would be base thieves versus 54 successful attempts for a rate of 13% which is less than half than league average (27.5%).  Tomas Nido is 0 for 5 in stolen base attempts.  However equal blame falls on the starting pitchers for their woeful inability to hold runners.
• Wilson Ramos has also allowed the second most passed balls (7), and is now just three away from his career high of ten.  Ramos (4) and Nido (2) account for six errors.  Pete Alonso (5) is tied for second most errors among first basemen.  Amed Rosario (11) is tied for most errors among shortstops.  Todd Frazier (6) and J.D. Davis (4) have combined on ten errors which ties Atlanta's Josh Donaldson (10) for most errors at third base.  That's four infield positions accounting for 59.2% of Mets errors.
• To a lesser extent the outfield has only seven errors to speak of spread among five players.  Three different players have joined for seven errors at second base; Robinson Cano has committed four.

II - PITCHING

As a team Mets pitchers have thrown the second most pitches in the National League and the seventh most in baseball.  They own the National League's third worst ERA (4.67), yield the fourth most hits (656), and own the fifth worst WHiP (1.36).  Slash wise, the Mets .256 average against is fourth worst/.326 OBP sixth worst/.433 slugging sixth worst/.760 opposing OPS fifth worst.

 A) THE BULLPEN

Twenty different pitchers have manned the Mets bullpen this season.  Collectively, they've thrown roughly 252 innings - which roughly accounts for 38% of all Mets innings pitched - in which they've yielded 155 runs for a 5.53 ERA.  Of the five relief pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched only Seth Lugo owns an ERA below three.

• Jeurys Familia - 27.2 inn; 7.81 ERA.
• Drew Gagnon - 20 inn; 7.65 ERA.
• Robert Gsellman - 39.1 inn; 4.81 ERA.
• Edwin Diaz - 28.2 inn; 3.77 ERA.
• Seth Lugo - 34.1 inn; 2.36 ERA.
• Wilmer Font and the Fearful Fourteen account for 102.2 innings and a 7.22 ERA.

• The Mets have had the third most (33) save opportunities but only converted 17 for tenth most.  Said another way they're blowing 49.5% of their save opportunities.

 B) THE STARTERS

On the positive side, the starting rotation has stayed relatively injury free.  Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, Steven Matz, and Jason Vargas, have combined to start 70 of the Mets 74 games to date.  Prior to Thursday's (terrible) start by Walter Lockett, only Justin Wilson and Wilmer Font were asked to make four spot starts.
Although Jacob deGrom hasn't necessarily picked up where he left off last year he's pitching very well nonetheless.  He seems to be battling himself more than anything, and throughout the season has appeared noticeably angry be it with himself or otherwise.  He is still the staff ace ace and the rotation stabilizer.  No issues here. 

Jason Vargas is easily the surprise performer of the season if not the Mets second best starter to date.  And there's the rub.  How is it that he should be outperforming Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, and Steven Matz?  Yet, he is doing just that with a 3.74 ERA through 12 appearances and 11 starts and a rotation best .240 batting average against. 

It's a good thing, too.  The Mets are still a team built around starting pitching.  And so far three of their top four starters have yet to fulfill expectations.

• Noah Syndergaard indeed possesses the talents of a Nordic god.  That's what makes him and his 4.55 ERA so damn frustrating.  The man lacks refinement, or more to the point, craftsmanship.  Instead, he continually looks to lower the hammer.  With 98-mph fastballs more a norm throughout baseball and no longer the exception, where then is the novelty of velocity without deception and effective situational application?  He's not fooling anyone.  Despite 93 strikeouts, he's allowed 91 hits (8.6 H/9) and eleven home runs through 95 innings.  The opposition is slashing .253/.304/.398/.703 against him.  He also leads the staff with 15 stolen bases against him.  Pencil him onto the list of team underachievers.

• Zack Wheeler is not having the type of walk season I nor perhaps he anticipated.  With health finally on his side, I predicted a great season ahead.  Through 15 starts and 94.2 innings pitched, Zack Wheeler's ERA this season has yet to dip below three.  He presently sports a staff high 4.94 ERA having yielded 14 home runs to date.  He has surrendered two home runs in a game five times.  The first time occurred in April.  The last four times have come in his last six starts.  Like Syndergaard, Wheeler isn't fooling anyone.  He is allowing more hits than innings pitched.  As such he has allowed a league high 52 earned runs.  Back in spring training Wheeler took a hard line against the Mets indicating his desire to test free agency and that his price would be firm.  The Mets publicly said they were willing to let the season play itself out and revisit the situation then.  There is much to appreciate about Zack Wheeler which will potentially make him the Mets main trading chip come deadline time ... or not.

• Steven Matz biggest problem remains between his ears.  It's all mental with this guy.  His lack of composure jumps out like a jack-in-the box.  His long ball woes are even greater than that of Wheeler's.  Matz who on average has 20 less innings pitched than Syndergaard, deGrom, and Wheeler, has surrendered a staff high 15 home runs in just 73 innings.  Matz likewise has yielded more hits than innings pitched.  After 14 starts he owns a 4.28 ERA with a rotation high 1.37 WHiP.

All this being said, Dave Eiland was relieved as pitching coach on Thursday.  Phil Regan now takes over while Rickey Bones returns for a second stint as bullpen coach.  That's fine and well, but what the Mets need is talent.  Brodie Van Wagenen can shuttle this present collection of pitchers back and forth between Syracuse and Flushing all he wants.  But nothing will change until he imports higher quality talent.  That in turn (like most things Mets) entails a discussion reserved for a future post  involving the team's COO.


III - POTHOLES and PITFALLS

The Mets are presently on an 11-game road trip.  They've already dropped two of three at Atlanta, and lost Thursday's series opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.  That drops their road record to 15-26 (.365) on the season.  They're also 12-13 in one run games.  Like kryptonite, the N.L. Central continues having a crippling effect on the Mets.  This has been going a few years now.  While the Mets own a 19-15 record against their division opponents, they are 5-13 against N.L. Central likes of the Brewers, Reds, Cardinals, and Cubs.  They're 7-9 against the N.L. West.

Of course this is merely the beginning.  The Mets have more problems than a math book.  For now, these are just some of the reasons why I believe the Mets presently find themselves five games under .500 through their first 75 games of the season.  My next round of reasons will include position players, Mickey Callaway, Brodie Van Wagenen, and you guessed it ... the Wilpons.  After which I'll delve into possible remedies for this sickness we call Mets baseball.

Stay tuned ...

#LGM

Another Post Subway Series Metsian Podcast Production

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

2006 NLCS

Yadier Molina's Home Run Into The New York Night

Oh, The Pain!

Preview: Mets vs. Cardinals

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

Subway Series Review

Zack Wheeler ~ Anthony Kay ~ Jason Vargas

Pete Alonso ~ Amed Rosario ~ Jeff McNeil

John Milner ~ Bobby Jones ~ Daniel Murphy

Endy Chavez, and so much more..!

73 minutes

N.Y. Mets: New Backstop or Latest Stopgap?

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

The Old Trying to Catch Lightning in a Bottle Routine

New York Mets: Brodie Van Wagenen Walks Away From JT Realmuto Negotiations; Signs Free Agent Catcher, Wilson Ramos.

The Mets made it official on Tuesday: they sign free agent catcher Wilson Ramos for two years at $19 million.

Prior to BVW's arrival, this signing would have been deemed just another Sandy Alderson reclamation project; another purchase in the discount isle.  As such, the minimalist money approach would have reeked of the same old upholstery in ownership's wheelhouse.

There is a debate to be had as to whether this is business as usual.  After all, BVW said upon accepting the general manager's position the club previously delved into too many "if" scenarios.  Yet, Wilson Ramos represented one of the biggest "ifs" on the open market.

To his credit, BVW did not lollygag.  He negotiated with Miami to a point, then swiftly veered with conviction in another direction.  He has my attention ... ergo perception is everything.

Unfortunately (for me), JT Realmuto will not be donning a Mets uniform.  Unable to strike a deal with Miami, the Mets general manager instead keeps his major league players and minor league prospects by spending money on a transient solution to fill their catching need.  I would have been agreeable to packaging Brandon Nimmo or Amed Rosario along with a clutch of prospects in order to get this trade done, but only for Realmuto, as young well-rounded catchers of his ilk are hard to come by.  Otherwise, a deal including either Michael Conforto or Noah Syndergaard for me were non starters.

When healthy and in the line-up, Wilson Ramos is clearly the more accomplished hitter and receiver over Travis d'Arnaud.  The other available free agent option was Yasmani Grandal, whom has no fan in me, as I have no interest in a backstop whom three times led the league in passed balls, and rates below league average in caught stealing percentage.  Travis d'Arnaud also once led the National League in passed balls, and throws out runners with a mere 21% career rate of success.

Last season, Ramos slashed .306/.358/.487, with 15 home runs and 70 RBI in just 382 at-bats.  He also possesses a strong arm behind the plate demonstrated by his career 32% rate caught stealing, and reconfirmed by last year's 44% rate of success.

The outstanding issue is his availability.  If recent history is any indication, Ramos will prove no more durable than Travis d'Arnaud.  In 2009 while still in the minors, he broke a finger and pulled a hamstring.  In 2012, he tore the ACL in his right knee.  The following season, he suffered two more hamstring episodes.  In 2014 Ramos was sidelined with a broken hand.  In 2016, he again tore his ACL which kept him out of action through May of the following season.  Last year, demonstrating wear and tear, he played in 111 games, making 96 starts at catcher.

Over the last four seasons, JT Realmuto has averaged 134 games per season; Yasmani Grandal 127 games; and Ramos just 108 games per season.  Travis d'Arnaud, not including last season in which he only appeared in four games, from 2014-2017 averaged just 90 games per season.

Signing Wilson Ramos is no stopgap measure.  He is a legitimate catcher.  If he can avoid injury, he will serve the Mets pitching staff very well.  His contract expires after two seasons, when JT Realmuto is due to become a free agent.  Perhaps the Mets can revisit this situation then.

N.Y. Mets: What Happens in Vegas Stays in Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

A METSIAN PODCAST

Back Together Again: Sam, Rich and I

Wrap Up the Winter Meetings.

100 Minutes

Blue and Orange Stuff:

Brodie Van Wagenen and the Winter Meetings

Continuing J.T. Realmuto Trade Rumors

Noah Syndergaard: Robert Gsellman; Seth Lugo; 

Amed Rosario; Michael Conforto; Brandon Nimmo; Todd Frazier

Welcome Back Jeurys Familia; Rule V Draft

Fleecing the Red Sox of Organizational Personnel

1973 vs. 2015

Omar Minaya and Sandy Alderson Revisited

Getting FIGGY Over SNY-TV Decision/Todd Zeile

Buying-In; Wilpon's Wallet; and so much more!

Firing Up the Hot Stove with Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

A METSIAN PODCAST

KINDLING THE HOT STOVE

with Sam, Rich, and Mike

Seventy-Minutes

STUFF

First, I'm a veteran, but may have exercised poor judgement with regards to a joke said in poor taste.

I know better; guilty as charged.

*         *         *

Changes ~ Pat Roessler ~ Rickey Bones ~ J.P. Ricciardi

Radio Days: The Move to WCBS-88 AM

Howie Rose ~ Josh Lewin ~ Ed Coleman ~ Wayne Randazzo

The Syracuse Mets ~ Since when have there been Cy Young finalists?

Peter Alonso ~ Dominic Smith ~ Dave Kingman

Arizona Fall League ~ Andres Gimenez ~ Desmond Lindsay ~ Ali Sanchez

Jacob deGrom ~ Amed Rosario in Japan Series

BVW expectations ~ What's the New Plan ~ Are Mets Hands Are Tied 

Chris Bryant ~ Corey Kluber ~ Manny Machado ~ Bryce Harper ~ Asdrubal Cabrera

The never ending debate behind the plate ~ a plan for the bullpen

and so much more!

A Very Metsian Podcast with Metstradamus and MetsMusings

From the desk of:  HEAD=BUTTING MR. MET

Sam, Rich, and I, present our

2018 End of Season Round Table 

Metsian Podcast

With Guests

John Coppinger aka Metstradamus

and

Mr. Gary Mack of MetsMusings.com

An End of Season Round Table is worthy of two hours, no?

John Coppinger joins us for the first half-hour.

Gary Mack joins for the final 90-minutes.

STUFF

Cy Young closing arguments ~ David Wright Farewell

The season that was ~ report cards ~ this record vs. that record

Linus' blanket ~ throwing Sandy Alderson under the bus

phantom finishes ~ first base quagmire ~ Peter Alonso

organizational failures at second base ~ Jeff McNeil ~ Amed Rosario

my kingdom for a catcher ~ grading Mickey Callaway

Fred, Jeff, the front office, and the next executive

This is when Sam makes me blow not one, but two gaskets.

N.Y. Mets: The Autumnal Equinox Metsian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Sam, Rich, and I present you 

Episode #21 of a Metsian Podcast with special guest, 

author Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing.com

Two Hours

Lots-O-Stuff

Second-half and September play ~ Last home stand of season ~ Finishing strong

The Raging Denton True Young Debate

Jacob deGrom/Sustainability vs. Max Scherzer/Fading Fast

The Best of David Wright Round Table

Subway Series ~ World Series ~ Triple Crown threat

Captain America ~ Toast of the Town

Wilmer's knees ~ When Nature calls ~ The Ghost of Kevin Bass

Amed Rosario ~ Jeff McNeil ~ Michael Conforto

Cleon Jones ~ Lucas Duda ~ NYC in 1921 ~ Carlos Delgado

Mickey Callaway's progress ~ Sandy Alderson's fingerprints

and so much more ...

N.Y. Mets: The Minor Issues and Major Problems of Metsian Proportion Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

We all ranted ... some more than others.

It was epic!

After spending a few weeks apart, the triumvirate of Sam, Rich and myself 

reconvened this week to bring you episode #17 of our Metsian Podcast.

1 hour: 36 minutes

Jose Bautista ~ Montreal Expos ~ Tim Tebow ~ Dom Smith ~ Ahmed Rosario 

The un-Dynamic Duo ~ My Kingdom for an Executive ~ Rich loves dumping on Wilmer Flores

1917 New York Giants lose another World Series ~ Players who've worn #17 in Mets history

Sam Rants ~ Wally Pipp ~ first base quagmire ~ Business for Dummies ~ Brooklyn Robins

Todd Frazier's salt/pepper thing ~ Felix Millan vs. Ed Ott ~ Don Zimmer ~ 40-man roster

Another Sam Rant ~ Jacob deGrom the Winless Wonder ~ Noah Syndergaard ~ mirror images

Keith Hernandez ~ Ellis Valentine ~ mobsters ~ Sam's N.Y. Jets rant ~ Perdro Martinez 

Minor Leagues; Peter Alonso; Levi Michael; Christian Colon; Peter Alonso; Jeff McNeil

and so much more..!

N.Y. Mets: Roosevelt Ave Sluggers Too Much for Bronx Bombers

From the desks of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

NEW YORK, NEW YORK;

It's a hell of a town.

The Bronx slipped up; Flushing Queens is down;

The people ride in a crumbling hole in the ground.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Run by a Bunch of Clowns!

Add C.C. Sabathia to the list of disabled.  He will miss his next two starts due to right knee inflammation.  On the brighter side, a troublesome knee is nothing new to Sabathia.  It's something he manages.  Nevertheless, it's an untimely setback for the Yankees starting rotation.  The news comes on the heels of Sunny Gray's demotion to the bullpen, and newly acquired J.A. Happ contracting Hand, Foot, Mouth disease.

Sabathia is coming off a six inning one-hit shut-out performance in Sunday's Yankees victory over the Texas Rangers.  In 22 starts to date, he's 7-4 with a very respectable 3.32 ERA and 1.28 WHiP, with 106 strikeouts through 119.1 innings pitched.

He was given a fourteen day break between starts during the all-star break.  This next 10-day stint on the disabled list just may prove beneficial for the 38-year old veteran.  If the Yankees are to catch the Red Sox, or at minimum maintain control of the Wild Card, they'll need a reliable C.C. in September.  Although it's "only" mid-August, if one considers the length of a post-season run, his creaky hinge comes into question.

That said, the Yankees are now down three very key components: Sabathia, Gary Sanchez, and Aaron Judge, whom is still experiencing pain in his wrist.  As such, their margin of error diminishes with every Boston, Oakland, and Seattle victory.

Despite Monday night's subway series make-up loss at the Stadium, the Yankees end the day with the second best record in baseball, but you'd never know it.  Fans officially are in a panic.  In a season only baseball can script, the best record of all belongs to the team atop the A.L. East standings hailing from Boston.  While the Yankees sport an impressive (74-34) record, the idle Red Sox entered Monday's action FIFTY!! games over .500, and now own a ten game lead over the Yankees.

Jacob deGrom  vs.  Luis Severino

The crosstown Mets give the Yankees something else to ponder Monday night.  They knock Yankees starter Luis Severino out of the box with a first inning home run by Amed Rosario, a fourth inning home run by Jose Bautista.  Overall Mets strike seven hits off Severino in just four innings pitched.  

• In his last seven starts, Luis Severino has surrendered 31 earned runs in 36 innings pitched for a very problematic 7.75 ERA.  Despite 35 strikeouts, he has allowed 54 hits and nine walks for a 1.75 WHiP.

The Mets receive much needed insurance on home runs by Todd Frazier, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto.

Starter Jacob deGrom surrenders three runs, just two earned, on five hits and a pair of walks through 6.2 innings pitched.  He exits on the winning side of a 7-3 game but not before fanning twelve batters.  Jerry Blevins closes out the seventh in relief of deGrom.  However, Seth Lugo surrenders a two-run home run to Miguel Andujar making it a 7-5 Mets lead.

• Mets have all of a sudden scored fifteen runs in Jacob deGrom's last two starts.  Jacob deGrom finally evens his record to 7-7 with a 1.81 ERA.  He has surrendered four runs in a game just once all season, against the Marlins back on Apr. 10 at Miami,and is now just four innings away from tying Dwight Gooden's club record of consecutive starts allowing three runs or less (per SNY post game).

In the top of the ninth, Gleyber Torres mishandles Didi's throw to second base on a potential double-play ball, allowing the Mets their eighth run of the evening, and their final margin of victory.

Robert Gsellman closes out the Yankees in the bottom of the ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.

The Mets win their 50th game of the season.

N.Y. Mets: Spring Training Previews and Another METSian Podcast #6

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Spring Training 2018

I - First Word: Year Sixteen After Doubleday 

"Run for the hills, boys!" This is a frank, brutal, not-safe-for-shills-eyes look at the #Wilpons' @Mets regime of terrible baseball. Must- read, Jeff (Fredo, @greenwichmets) Wilpon.

— Young Ideas (@DickYoungsGhost) February 14, 2018

II - PITCHERS and CATCHERS

• Five Hurlers of the Metropolis 
• On the Jason Vargas Acquisition 
• Ninth Inning Closer Need Not Apply 
• Catching Hell

III - AROUND THE HORN

• Who's On First?
• Whole Lotta Second Guessing Going On 
• Todd Frazier Restores Order At Third
• Amed Rosario Has Stage All To Himself

IV - A METSIAN PODCAST with Sam, Rich, and Mike #6

• Topics of Discussion: Our brand new podcast jingle..!  The business of Spring Training; Michael Conforto; Brandon Nimmo; Rocky Mountain high; dysfunction; Juan Lagares; another potential trade/CF; Sandy Alderson; land of confusion; ownership; Rafael Montero; Pedro Martinez; injuries; Ed Randall said; one hit wonders; Negative L.I. Mike calls in; and the passing away of Ed Charles.  (Fifty-five minutes).

N.Y. Mets: Amed Rosario Has Stage All To Himself

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

There's something to be said for a plan coming together, 

despite the Mets front office.

New York Mets: Let the Amed Rosario era begin.

Amed Rosario represents an instance where the Mets actually did something right.

They signed him at the age of seventeen as an international free agent in 2013, upon which Rosario promptly logged 58 games at Kingsport of the (R)-Appalachian League.  I got my first up-close view of him the following summer when he played here in Brooklyn with the Cyclones.  He would then skyrocket over the next three seasons through the ensuing levels of the Mets system.

Amed made his much anticipated MLB debut least season on August 1, 2017, at Coors Field, in which he batted seventh in the order, and went 1 for 4 with a strikeout.  He would go on finish out the season at shortstop, but exceeded rookie limits with 165 at-bats, and therefore will not be competing for the ROY award this season, which is somewhat unfortunate.

So far, this is all fairly standard stuff ...

Here's the part the Mets got right - upon completion of Amed's minor league development, they ensured the position was cleared out in preparation for his arrival at Flushing.  It sounds simple, but the Mets are well practiced in the art of ponderous transitioning.  This time, the plan was handing off the position to Rosario, and they actually followed through.

Asdrubal Cabrera was effectively vacated from the position, and made to embrace the hot corner for the remainder of the 2017 season.  Otherwise, there's no lingering stopgap veteran forcing Rosario into playing out of position; or forcing him to ride the bench; nor forcing him into wasting anymore unnecessary time at Las Vegas.  Amed will be the Opening Day shortstop for the Mets.  The position is his.  And the matter is not really open for debate.

Even then, it may behoove Rosario to plant his flag firmly early in the process.

Catcher is the only other position where the Mets have exercised complete commitment to the original plan (to what degree of success, or lack thereof, is another matter).  Point being the Mets insist on playing Michael Conforto playing out of position.  Juan Lagares and Wilmer Flores were never given fair opportunities for establish themselves.  Dom Smith has already been ostracized.  And with the emergence of Rosario, Gavin Cecchini has since been transitioning to play second, which in turn bogs him down behind a backlog of the previously eluded to stopgap and patchwork players (i.e., Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera).

All that being said, I'm excited for Amed Rosario to get his first full major league season underway in a timely manner!

• On a side note, Asdrubal is now relegated to playing second base ever since the off-season acquisition of third baseman Todd Frazier.  At first Cabrera appeared agreeable with the continuing change in developments, but suddenly changed course and expressed his displeasure.  But being that he's in the final season of a three year deal, he perhaps thought better of the matter and backtracked just as quickly, and is now back to playing good soldier again. 

The Mets are in dire need of a prototypical lead-off batter, but I'm not so sure Amed can be that guy.

So far, Amed Rosario is having an average go of it in Grapefruit League play.

He missed a few games after being hit by a pitch earlier this month.  But as of close of business Saturday, he is 8 for 30 (.267) through twelve games of Grapefruit League play with four extra base hits (against a preponderance of double-A and triple-A pitching because that's just the nature of spring training).  Amed is also sporting a suspect .313 OBP.  He has fanned five times, but has only drawn one base on balls.

In fact, Rosario has never really been one to take a free pass.

He split the 2016 season between Port St. Lucie and Binghamton, logging his most games played in one season through that point of his minor league career.  He posted an overall .374 OBP in 527 total plate appearance (which included a .392 OBP in 237 plate appearances with Binghamton), but only walked forty times all season.  He then posted a .367 OBP last year at Las Vegas despite only walking 23 times over 425 plate appearances.

Once called up by the Mets, he only drew three walks in forty games and 170 plate appearances.

At the same time, strikeouts are something Amed Rosario has managed to keep somewhat under control (comparatively speaking, that is).  He owned a .187 strikeout average over 1,775 career minor league at-bats.  If you compare that against one of the organization's greatest ever lead-off hitters in its history, Jose Reyes maintained a .122 strikeout average during his best seasons with the Mets.

Not unexpectedly, Rosario received a rude welcome from opposing major league pitchers last year.  Amed fanned 49 times in 165 at-bats for a .296 average rate.  Let's chalk that up to being a rookie, and instead circle back to his minor league trends.  Lest we forget he is still only 22-years old.

In each of Amed Rosario's five minor league seasons (with one exception), he registered incremental increases to his OBP/batting average differential:

• 2013 - OBP plus .038 over BA (R)
• 2014 - OBP plus .046 over BA (A-)
• 2015 - OBP plus .049 over BA (A+)
• 2016 - OBP plus .050 over BA (A+, AA)
• 2017 - OBP plus .039 over BA @ Las Vegas ?

None of those differentials stand out, and are far from ideal.  What this confirms, though, is that Amed Rosario's OBP is primarily bolstered by his batting average.  Which also means Ahmed is all about seeing ball, and hitting ball.  The man is a free swinger, but at least makes considerable contact.

Is he a threat on the base paths?  He stole seven bases in 46 games last year for the Mets.

Minor League highlights:

• 2013 - 19 stolen bases/120 games.
• 2016 - 13 stolen bases/105 games.
• 2017 - 19 stolen bases/94 games.

As a still unproven prospect, he's at least agreeably adept at making contact, and it's been demonstrated he will not work the count all that much (unless new hitting coach Pat Roessler successfully encourages him into making adjustments).  Therefore, I believe Amed Rosario would be a far more effective two-hitter in the batting order (as would Travis d'Arnaud if he could somehow manage to stay on the field).

In the meantime, the search for a lead-off hitter continues.

However, the era of Amed Rosario at shortstop begins now.

ICYMI:

• First Word: Year Sixteen After Doubleday 
• Five Hurlers of the Metropolis 
• On the Jason Vargas Acquisition 
• Ninth Inning Closer Need Not Apply 
• Catching Hell
• Who's On First?
• Whole Lotta Second Guessing Going On 
• Todd Frazier Restores Order At Third

N.Y. Mets: RA's First Round Amateur Draft Review

Here's my latest for 

RisingApple.com

A player by player review
of Friday's first round draft selections
#1 through #34
Mets June Amateur Draft Overview: Round One

ICYMI:
A look back at the 2011 amateur draft,
and a preview of the 2016 draft.

Should Mounting Injuries Influence Mets June Amateur Draft Strategy?

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

Latest For Rising Apple: Catching Up With #1

Here's my latest for

RisingApple.com

Catching up with #1: Brandon Nimmo

Catching up with #1: Gavin Cecchini

Mike - Senior Staff Writer/Rising Apple