End of THE WILPON ERA and 2020 Season Wrap-Up with THE KRANEPOOL SOCIETY Stephen Keane on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

With SAM, RICH & MIKE

GUEST

The Kranepool Society

Stephen Keane

105 minutes

That's a wrap on one of the most uncommon regular seasons in baseball history.  Congratulations to all on a job well done.  Let the post-season begin!  The Mets, however, will be watching from afar.  Their season ends on a bittersweet note.  An era of Mets baseball comes to a rather common end: at the bottom of the standings with a sub .500 record.  However, fans are banking on better days ahead.  For now they anxiously await finalization of the deal that takes the Mets out of Wilpon Family control, and into the hands of hedge fund billionaire and lifelong Mets fan, Steve Cohen.  Ownership, Sandy Alderson, Brodie Van Wagenen, the manager, the weird 2020 season and the future of Mets baseball are all on tap on this week's A Metsian Podcast. 

#LGM

N.Y. Mets: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET 

Sterling Partners sign agreement with Steve Cohen. #Mets pic.twitter.com/ogzUcLFkeQ

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 14, 2020

"If I am fortunate enough to be approved by Major League Baseball as the next owner of this iconic franchise, Sandy Alderson will become president of the New York Mets and will oversee all Mets baseball and business operations." - Steve Cohen

When the Mets are a competitive team and a good draw on the road, other teams make money.  Therefore, I do not foresee Steve Cohen encountering problems with gaining approval from owners.

While Cohen has yet to officially take over, he has already improved the Mets immeasurably by tentatively hiring a president of baseball operations.  What this team has lacked above all else over the last thirty years (post Frank Cashen) is a firm front office structure and a rigid chain of command.  That's no criticism against Steve Cohen's selection to fill the position.  Rather, it's an indictment against the outgoing chief operating officer and chairman of the board.  

However, I am a forward moving creature and so my initial reaction upon learning Sandy Alderson is tentatively returning to the organization was tepid - been there and done that.  I believe Steve Cohen immediately makes the Mets president of baseball operations one of the most sought after positions in baseball.  Therefore, I would have preferred Cohen wait and first let some of the self-aggrandizing candidates around the leagues marinate in contemplation over their own respective futures.

Just to see who pops up ...

That being said, I am not at all averse to Alderson's return because the available resources and more importantly the mandate from up above are about to change.  Lest we forget Alderson previously operated the Mets while constrained by ownership's financial maladies.  But I'm sure the soon to be 73-year old has no want for returning to his old post.  At this stage of his career, delegating responsibilities from the PBO's office is a perfect fit.  Now Alderson potentially sets the parameters.  As president he has three jobs: make sure the owner's directives are met, run the entire baseball operation including salary and P&L, and make sure the latter never comes in conflict with the former. 

If I had my druthers, Brodie Van Wagenen is toast.  I want Sandy Alderson vetting the Western Hemisphere for a new general manager.  And if he can help it, I do not want to be disappointed.  

Thank you ...

Once upon a time, I thought it somewhat impressive when Alderson brought in Paul DePodesta and JP Ricciardi under the same roof.  I do not see that happening again.  But it wouldn't surprise me if Sandy  Alderson's reaches out to former scouting director Tom Tanous and farm director Ian Levin.  Entering the 2019 season, Brodie Van Wagenen retained Alderson holdover Marc Tramuta as scouting director, but replaced Ira Levin with former Red Sox executive Allard Baird.  In fact, Brodie Van Wagenen is widely complimented for recruiting Baird, Jarred Banner and Adam Guttridge into the front office.  But for all we know Alderson may already have other candidates in mind.

• ICYMI: N.Y. METS: Nelson Doubleday Prophecy Fulfilled

What's important here, is that Sandy Alderson effectively gets to build a front office from scratch.  And like a skeleton to a body, this front office will finally have a backbone.

The Passed Ball Show Host John Pielli Joins A Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH and MIKE

GUEST

John Pielli

THE PASSED BALL SHOW

sixty minutes

The Incoming Flight-O-Fish Arriving From Miami on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH & MIKE

COVID-19 continues altering an already compromised 2020 regular season, and the problematic Miami Marlins/Florida condition remains front and center.  Most recently one New York Mets player and one coach tested positive for coronavirus during the team's most recent visit to Florida.  To be fair, where and when they contracted the virus has yet to be determined.  Nonetheless, a concerned Metsian Podcast extends their collective well wishes to the Mets organization.  Ten teams, one-third of all major league baseball teams have now experienced coronavirus related postponements.  New York City's scheduled weekend subway series is an obvious casualty.  Speaking of which, a Flight-o-Fish out of Miami is due to arrive at LaGuardia Airport this week.  How does that make you feel, Mets fans?  Sam, Rich and I go fishing for answers.  

#LGM

A Mushroom Cloud Rises Over Flushing on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

!! GIMMIE SHELTER !!

DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT

Joined by 

Jeff Cohen from Baseball And BBQ

NEW YORK METS

• First Ten Games: 3-7 (.300)
• Five Game Losing Streak
• 19 for 94 (.202) with runners in scoring position
• Team ERA: 5.52
• YOENIS CESPEDES EXITS STAGE LEFT

And the rant begins...!

Give a Listen

#LGM

Week One Summer Camp Review with Arizona Mets Fan Anna Brice on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

GUEST

Transplanted Jersey Girl in Arizona, 

Mets Fan, and Friend of the Show

ANNA BRICE

seventy-six minutes

COVID Continues Hurling Curveballs and Change-Ups at MLB

Sometimes even the best laid plans go awry.  One week into Summer Camp baseball is finding this out the hard way as coronavirus still rules the day.  Confirmed cases in numerous states continue spiking; a number of players and essential personal have tested positive; while other players are opting out of this season all together.  Meanwhile back in Metsville, Yoenis Cespedes is all the rage, but Robinson Cano is no where to be found.  From the booth Keith Hernandez believes he sees shades of the 1986 Mets in this year's potential line-up.  Is he looking through orange and blue tinted glasses?  Will the team finally be sold?  A Metsian Podcast will cover all this and more in its 61st numbered episode.  Former Jersey girl, huge Mets fan, even bigger Lee Mazzilli fan, current Arizona resident, and friend of the show Anna Brice returns for another session of Metsian banter.

Another Metsian Podcast Quarantine Special: More Social Distraction with Greg Prince

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

SOCIAL DISTRACTION

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

GUEST

GREG PRINCE 

FaithAndFearInFlushing.com

STUFF

Noah Syndergaard ~ Jacob deGrom ~ Glendon Rusch ~ Aaron Heilman

Luis Rojas ~ Brodie Van Wagenen 

Robert Manfred

Randy Meyers vs. John Franco

and so much more!

* picture: sticker, Brooklyn street art

ARod, Mad Man Manfred, and Other Great Stuff on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Show Date: 16 February 2020

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

94 minutes

Mad Man Manfred's Wacky Playoff Proposal  ~  Spring Training Experience

Zack Wheeler vs. Brodie Van Wagenen  ~  Trolling Noah Syndergaard

Rick Porcello  ~  Michael Wacha  ~  Pete Alonso

Mets to Wear #43  ~  Who Is Jerry Girard  ~  Al Lang Stadium

Florida Geography  ~  Things and Stuff  ~  The $57 Million Dollar Question

A-Rod and J-Lo  ~  so much more!

Throwing Kerosene on the Hot Stove with Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Four angry Mets fans walk into a bar ...

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

With Guest

John Coppinger aka Metstradamus

100 minutes

 

STUFF

Carlos Beltran ~ Houston Investigation ~ Rob Manfred

The Award Winners ~ The Off-Season ~ The Truth

Pessimism vs. Positivism

Brodie Van Wagenen ~ Jeff and Fred Wilpon

and so much more.

Welcome Back Carlos on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

My turn to host ..

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

@THE_SamMaxwell    @MetFanRich    @BTB_MikeII

eighty-six minutes

 

Carlos Beltran named 22nd manager in the history of New York Mets.

BVD .. er .. Brodie Van Wagenen: Year Two

Let the Off-Season Begin ~ The Mets of 2020

Review of Managers Throughout Mets History

!!Mets Trivia!!

N.Y. Mets: New Manager Carlos Beltran Gets His Wish

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Carlos Beltran Named 22nd Manager of New York Mets

Times are changing.  Traditional resumes need not apply.  The game is not what it used to be.  In this day and age the demands placed upon field managers are very different from those placed upon managers of my youth.  And therefore qualifications for the positions have changed.  In fact the whole business model has changed, and Brodie Van Wagenen appears determined to stay ahead of the curve, if not bend it in a new direction.

Carlos Beltran was not one of my top candidates.  He wasn't even on my list.  In fact, I'll quote myself:

"I have no interest in Carlos Beltran managing the Mets."

If I had my druthers Buck Showalter or Joe Girardi would be managing the Mets.  Their respective qualifications speak for themselves.  I believe the Mets in their present condition would have benefited most with either of these battle tested alpha figures in charge.  Sometimes players both young and veteran go about their respective careers unaware of their full capabilities until strong and tactful managers of their ilk extracts it out of them.  However Brodie Van Wagenen makes it abundantly clear the aforementioned are exactly what he does not want from a manager.

Otherwise this situation is not unique to the Mets, nor the modern era.  The list of novice managers is long and varied.  Fans of a certain age remember 1977 when then manager Joe Frazier was relieved of his duties and Joe Torre went from playing third/first base to managing the Mets for the next 4 1/2 seasons.  Up in the Bronx, Lou Piniella in 1984 played his last game for the New York Yankees.  By 1986 he was their manager.  Hall of Famer Frank Robinson in 1975-1976 served as player/manager of the Cleveland Indians before devoting himself full time in 1977 as manager.  Yogi Berra in 1963 played his last game as a member of the Yankees.  In 1964 he managed them to the American League pennant.  New York Giants Hall of Famer Mel Ott between 1942-1947 also served as player manager. John McGraw served as player/manager of the Baltimore Orioles and New York Giants for eight seasons until retiring in 1906 as a player.

Beltran's path most resembles that taken by Craig Counsel whom retires as a player in 2012 and immediately takes a front office position with Milwaukee.  By May of 2015 Counsel is managing the Brewers.  Beltran too takes a front office position with the Yankees soon after his retirement, and parlays his newly gained experience into one of 30 managerial positions in major league baseball.  He previously said he was interested in managing here, and only here.  He gets his wish.  Now that Carlos Beltran is officially on board I congratulate him, and as a fan will fall in line and support him the best I can.

The Most Lugubrious Managerial Search in Mets History Presses Onward

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

I would have been very copacetic with Joe Girardi.  He was second on my list of managerial candidates.  Be that as it may he is now skipper of the Mets nearest rival, and the Philadelphia Phillies will be better for it.  Of that I'm sure.

THE ROJAS CHRONICLES: CASE CLOSED

Luis Rojas, ponderously not one of the finalists, is/was third on my list.  He would have earned the position the old fashioned way: by dutifully paying his dues.  His resume is classic, having served the last twelve seasons in the Mets minor league system as both a coach and manager.

• 2007 - coach; Dominican Summer League
• 2008 - coach; GCL Mets
• 2009 - coach; Savannah Sand Gnats

Still only 38-years old, I'm unsure if Luis Rojas classifies as a really young Gen-X'er, or a really old Millennial.  In any event, Rojas receives his first managerial assignment in 2011 with the GCL Mets.  In 2012 he takes over the reigns at Savannah where in 2013 the Sand Gnats win the South Atlantic League championship.  In 2015 Rojas is promoted to manage at Port St. Lucie.  In 2016 he leads PSL to their first playoff appearance in three years.  Rojas in 2017 is again promoted to manage Binghamton where the Rumble Ponies post a 149-130 record during their two seasons under Rojas.  Entering the 2019 season Luis Rojas is named the Flushing Mets quality control coach by incoming general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.

If you're a regular rider of the Trolley, then you know I follow winter league baseball.  I do not think; rather I know there is valuable experience to be gained in the Caribbean, be it as a player; coach; manager; even an executive.  The most recent and notable example of someone parlaying his winter league experience is present Red Sox manager Alex Cora.  After retiring as a player, for a few years he initially manages then serves as general manager of the Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico's LBPRC.  Los Criollos win Puerto Rico's 2016-2017 championship.  As general manager Alex Cora then leads an enhanced Criollos team (representative of Puerto Rico) to the 2017 Caribbean Series championship.  As general manager he assembles Team Puerto Rico whom face Team USA in the championship game of the most recent World Baseball Classic.  Very shortly thereafter in April Cora begins his stint as bench coach for A.J. Hinch and the soon to be World Champion Astros.  The following October Cora manages the Boston Red Sox to victory in the 2018 World Series.  Point being, Luis Rojas has captured two Dominican LIDOM championships in 2015 and 2016 as manager of Los Leones de Escogido.  If nothing else it helps punctuate a well rounded resume that should serve him well in future years.

THE FINAL FOUR

The Mets continue marking time is what has become the most lugubrious managerial search in the history of baseball.  Latest reports list the four finalists as Carlos Beltran, Derek Shelton, Tim Bogar, and Eduardo Perez.  The 22nd manager in Mets history will then be named 2:30am (EST) on a random Sunday morning still to be determined.  Don't call them.  They'll call us.

Sam, Rich, and I, were joined on our most recent Metsian Podcast by Gotham Baseball's Mark C. Healey, and we all agreed albeit for varying reasons and with differing levels of trepidation that Carlos Beltran is sure to be named next manager of the Mets.  My reasoning is simply because the Mets continue doing the exact opposite of I want.  For reasons I'll get into shortly, I'm just not interested in Carlos Beltran managing the Mets.

Derek Shelton is a veritable unknown to me.  That alone is enough to dissuade me from hiring him.  Sure, he's been around the block where it concerns MLB level experience.  I can not deny him that.  However distinguishing oneself is another matter.  Being bench coach of the Twins does not a resume make.  Neither does working along side Eric Wedge which is as pedestrian as it gets.  Perhaps you consider him a branch off the Joe Maddon tree considering their time together at Tampa?  The better question is are you a fan of Joe Maddon?  Me .. not so much.  I find Tampa's success far more attributable to Chaim Bloom's oversight than anything else.

Tim Bogar owns ten years of MLB coaching experience.  However, his decade long impact is no more distinguishable than that of Shelton's.  Am I being made to believe by Mets brass that Bogar and Shelton can potentially be better field managers than Girardi ever was?  Not likely.

And then there's Eduardo Perez, the son of Hall of Famer Tony Perez, slugging first baseman for the Big Red Machine.  I grew up watching Tony.  I recall the Reds trouncing the Yankees in the 1976 World Series like it was yesterday.  There's something to be said for being born of baseball blood.  Eduardo also has requisite MLB coaching experience, and likewise managed successfully in Puerto Rico's professional league.  There's no doubt he is media savvy.  He's one man that will not soon get caught short for words.  In fact, I find him the most intriguing of the lot.  But just because I'm intrigued doesn't mean he's right for the job.

Meanwhile, the bombshell candidate is yet to materialize ... as if.

LOOK WHO'S NUMBER ONE!

In case you're wondering my number one consideration is out.  In fact, he was never in.  I want Buck Showalter.  This guy checks all my boxes.  There is no questioning his acumen; he commands respect; and is quite adept at negotiating the New York media.  On that note, the Mets would have received little if any criticism had they elected to go that route.  To my dismay he hasn't received so much as a sniff from Brodie Van Wagenen.  Another time, under different circumstances, I would be more open towards hiring a second straight novice ... just not now.  In their present condition the Mets need nothing short of a swift kick in the Showalter.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROPOSITION

Game seven of the 2019 World Series is now a matter of history.  Why does it seem the longer the Mets managerial search drags on, the more we're being led to believe Brodie Van Wagenen is actually targeting A.J. Hinch?

METS FANS, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Fred Wilpon is still part of the hiring process.

A Metsian Podcast Search for the Elusive Skipper Continues with Gotham Baseball's Mark C. Healey

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Autumn in Metsville

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

with special guest:

Mark C. Healey of 

GothamBaseball.com

Rich takes his turn at the helm.

75-minutes

On the New York Mets 

still vacant managerial position.

In Search of a Skipper w/ Greg Prince on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Out of the Bullpen Hosting for Sam

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

SPECIAL GUEST

Greg Prince of 

Faith and Fear in Flushing

122-minutes

STUFF

Mickey Callaway and the Replacements

Potential Candidates for Manager #22 of the New York Mets

Brodie Van Wagenen ~ Jeff Wilpon

Frank Howard? ~ Pete Alonso ~ Jacob deGrom ~ Jerry Koosman ~ Frank Thomas!

The Dog Days of Spring

The Who's Who of Mets Blown Saves ~ Edwin Diaz Apology?

New York Giants ~ Ray Perkins ~ Michael Ray Richardson ~ New York Knicks

and so much more..!

#LFGM

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...!

Another Metsian Podcast: Deadline Aftermath w/ John Pielli of The Passed Ball Show

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Trade Deadline Aftermath

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

FEATURED GUEST

John Pielli of The Passed Ball Show

seventy-five minutes

STUFF

Post-Trade Deadline Reaction

Marcus Stroman ~ Jason Vargas ~ New Starting Five

Anthony Kay ~ Simeon Woods Richardson ~ Austin Bossart

Brodie Van Wagenen ~ Mickey Callaway

Todd Frazier ~ JD Davis ~ Luis Avilan ~ Justin Wilson

Robinson Cano ~ Pete Alonso ~ Dom Smith

the season ahead, and so much more..!

N.Y. Mets: Better Safe Than Sorry

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Three Cheers for Common Sense

It's no great secret the Mets have more problems than a math book.  Among them was a coherent plan for the trade deadline.  Now that the four o'clock hour has come and gone, we know this to be true.  If their goal all along was to compete for a playoff spot, then they needed to address the bullpen and center field.  Instead they transact for Marcus Stroman as a theoretical replacement for Noah Syndergaard whom they were actively shopping as part of some wacky ploy to address all their other needs and still contend at the same time.  That being said I'm the first to advocate nothing ventured, noting gained.  But that does not mean going about one's business with reckless abandon.  As luck would have it someone in the front office exercises common sense and thinks better of the Mets present condition.  By standing pat they may very well have saved themselves from themselves.  Dare I say they did well by keeping things simple.  And thank goodness because in my estimation their intended plan would have resulted in complete folly.

In the meantime the Mets head into the final two months of the season with arguably the best rotation (one through five) in the National League.  How far they carry the Mets remains to be seen.  As presently constituted the Mets will not be catching the Braves anytime soon, if at all.  Of that we're all quite sure.  However they're only five games behind the second wild card position.  Securing it would entail leapfrogging Arizona, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Washington, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

They enter Wednesday night's action four games under .500 with 57 games left to play.  In order to remain viable they'll need to win at least 60% of their games.  Although unlikely, it's completely plausible.  This team is not in dire need of a miracle.  If they tighten up their act on defense and get length from their starters ... who knows what can happen.  That's the beauty of baseball.

But heaven forbid I end on a pleasant note.  Because the way I think, if you're not equipped to challenge the Dodgers, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, much less the Yankees, Astros, Twins, Indians, Red Sox, et al, then you're just wasting my time.

Make of it what you will ...

N.Y. Mets: Meet The Magicians

From the desk of:  HEAD BUTTING MR. MET

The New York Mets acquire pitcher Marcus Stroman (and cash) from the Toronto Blue Jays.  Toronto receives from the Mets pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson.

Stroman is 28-years old and comes with one more season of organizational control.  He owns a career 3.76 ERA and 1.278 WHiP, with a 9.0 H/9 and 7.2 K/9 average through 789 career innings pitched.  This season he is 6-11 with a fine 2.96 ERA through 21 games.  He throws a full repertoire of pitches: fastball; slider; cutter; curveball; and change-up.  This season he is throwing his cutter and curveball at the expense of his fastball far more often than in his four previous seasons according to Fangraphs.  Is the strategy working?  This season he is inducing ground balls at a rate of 56% to date.  Over his last four seasons he averaged a 62.1% rate of ground balls.

Make of it what you will, because I don't care.

In lieu of acquiring a legit positional slugger, I'd be perfectly content with this acquisition if it winds up being their only transaction.  Stroman is a fine addition; key word being addition.  And there's the rub.  I fear acquiring Stroman is merely a prelude to disaster.  I'm not averse to trading Noah Syndergaard, Edwin Diaz, or anyone else for that matter.  I personally love blowing teams up and starting from scratch.  But that requires a competent front office and a well thought out plan.  Brodie Van Wagenen is not yet a full year on the job, we're only four months into the season, and the organization is in a complete panic.  His incoming bravado; dynamic off-season transactions; the bold new narrative; all of it; a complete fail.

The Wilpons say fans won't support a rebuild (meanwhile New York City teams are rebuilding all around them).  They're also verified unwise and broke.  Although, I'll play along and agree that a full rebuild is not necessary at the present time.  That being said there's only so much Brodie can do in the absence of hard cold cash.  But this is the condition he agreed to when he took the job.  What's a new general manager tasked with quickly resuscitating a losing organization to do?  He essentially wipes out the minor league system in an ill conceived attempt at immediate contention.  That didn't work.  Thus here we are two days shy of the trade deadline with the Mets scrambling to implement another hastily contrived plan.  Hence this latest death defying high wire plan of emptying the farm's last vestiges of talent in order to acquire Syndergaard's replacement, whom they are reportedly hoping to trade for sake of replenishing said farm system and(!?) adding major league solutions to their myriad of positional problems while still striving towards post-season contention in time for 2020 ... all at the same time ... is complete folly!  In this latest scenario we find ourselves tripping back over the old narrative.  Like father, like son, the overwhelming problem is Fred and Jeff are too blind to see the err of their ways.

Meet the Magicians ...

On the bright side Brodie Van Wagenen has somehow cornered the market on available starting pitchers (Stroman, Syndergaard, and Zack Wheeler).  But the likelihood he recoups talent representative of what he's given away are at best speculatively low.  Here's to hoping Brodie has another trick up his sleeve.  It just better not be handkerchiefs or a pigeon.

Oh, and I see they just traded Jason Vargas.

To be continued ...

PODCAST: The Metsian Mid-Summer Round Table Extravaganza

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

2019 ALL-STAR BREAK

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

PRESENT

The Metsian Mid-Summer Classic Round Table Extravaganza

ALL-STAR LINE-UP

John of MetsDaddy.com

Taryn, aGalForAllSeasons.com aka THE COOP

John aka Metstradamus of theSportsDaily.com

128 minutes

STUFF

The 90th ALL-STAR Game

Jacob deGrom ~ Pete Alonso  Jeff McNeil

Favorite All-Star Moments ~ Home Run Derby

The Passing of Jim Bouton, author of Ball Four

The Mets First Half ~ Everyone Hates Wilson Ramos

Brodie Van Freakin' Wagenen ~ Trade Deadline Strategy

Trade Chips and Dips ~ Confidence in Front Office or Lack Thereof

The Dreaded Bullpen ~ Who is Blowing What ~ Syndergaard as Closer

Brodie Van Freakin' Wagenen ~ Joey the Bear ~ Rants ~ and so much more!

N.Y. Mets: Brodie's Chair Throw Lacks Velocity, Purpose, and Placement

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

If noting else, hiring Brodie Van Wagenen is an attention grabbing change of face.  Jeff Wilpon tasks his new general manager not only with improving Mets fortunes but to also once and for all transform the team's negative persona - deserved or not - being perceived by a growing population of Mets fans.  Upon taking office in November 2018 Brodie issues a manifesto in which rebuilding is not an option.  He insists the team will win now and for years to come.  Brodie also says his reconfigured front office will be relentless in its pursuit of excellence.  His plan calls for bold maneuvering in the micro, I while the macro entails establishing organizational competitiveness from the lower levels on up through the system.  He sets about supplementing the existing core of Mets players with (in his estimation) major league ready talent and deepening the 40-man roster.  In lieu of spending money Brodie facilitates his vision by transacting away a clutch of touted albeit low-level minor league prospects.

NOTE: With regards to finances, I'm convinced ownership remains in dire straits.  Operationally speaking, be it Sandy Alderson or Brodie Van Wagenen the Mets are merely handing out the same Wilpon dollars to an ever churning corpus of transient players.  Case in point: numerous players have come and gone but payroll remains relatively unchanged over the last three seasons.  Jacob deGrom's big money years kick in just as Yoenis Cespedes' contract comes off the books.  Speaking of which, ownership never once considers reinvesting recouped insurance monies.  Of course, this is merely scratching the surface.

Brodie's Notable Off-Season Trade Acquisitions:

• J.D. Davis - acquired from Houston Astros for prospects Ross Adolph, Scott Manea, and Luis Santana.
• Keon Broxton - acquired from Milwaukee Brewers for prospects Adam Hill, Bobby Wahl, and Felix Valerio.
• Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz acquired from Seattle Mariners for Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, and prospects Justin Dunn, Jarred Kelenic, and Gerson Bautista. 

Brodie's Notable and Not So Notable Free Agent Acquisitions:

• Wilson Ramos
• Jed Lowrie
• Jeurys Familia
• Rajai Davis; Carlos Gomez; Adeiny Hechavarria; Justin Wilson; Luis Avilan; 

Brodie's Mets Inheritance:

• Jacob deGrom; Noah Syndergaard; Zack Wheeler; Michael Conforto; Amed Rosario; Pete Alonso; Jeff McNeil; Seth Lugo; Robert Gsellman; Steve Matz; Dominic Smith; Brandon Nimmo; Juan Lagares; Tomas Nido; Luis Guillorme; Todd Frazier; Jason Vargas; et al. 

"COME GET US."

By the time opening day arrives Brodie's overtly positive rhetoric leaves him and the Mets little to no margin for error.  And so the season begins ...

On the morning of May 27, 2019, the Mets wake up with a 27-27 (.500) record.  They haven't been at or above .500 since.  They post a 10-18 record in June.  This past weekend the Phillies complete a series victory over the Mets at Citi Field.  The loss drops them ten games below par (.500) and further lowers their record to 40-50 (.444) for the season.  If not for the Florida Marlins, the New York Mets indeed would be the National League's worse team.  Cycle back one season, and the Mets enter action on June 1, 2018 with a par 27-27 (.500) record.  It's the last time Sandy Alderson's Mets touch .500 as they go on to post a similarly poor 5-21 record in June and a 77-85 (.475) record overall.

Most point at the bullpen's abysmal performance as the primary reason why 2019 thus far remains in a state of failure.  Mets relievers have blown 22 of 42 (52%) save opportunities.  Despite all-star performances from Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, the Mets similarly do not have the offensive potency needed for overcoming such recurring mistakes.  Entering Sunday's action they ranked 10th in the National League in runs scored; 9th in OPS and extra base hits; 7th in home runs; and 5th in strikeouts.

Jacob deGrom is pitching well, and to the astonishment of many so is Jason Vargas.  However, Noah Syndergaard (4.68 ERA); Zack Wheeler (4.42 ERA); and Steven Matz (4.89 ERA), are not.


And what of Brodie Van Wagenen's off-season acquisitions?

• Keon Broxton proves unproductive and is traded for international slot money.  Rajai Davis and Carlos Gomez likewise prove inconsequential.
• The 36-year old Robinson Cano is slashing .239/.287/.361, with four home runs and 18 RBI.
• The 35-year old Jed Lowrie has yet to play a single game (knee).
• Edwin Diaz is 1-6 with a 5.50 ERA and 1.46 WHiP.  He has converted 19 of 23 save opportunities, but has yielded eleven walks and seven home runs in 34.1 innings.  Batters are hitting .283 against him.
• Wilson Ramos is a defensive liability; Mets starting pitchers are openly expressing their preference for Tomas Nido.
• Jeurys Familia is another costly mistake as evidenced by his woeful inefficiency; both Luis Avilan and Justin Wilson incur unfortunate injury.  And so goes the bullpen depth.
• J.D. Davis is a lone bright spot among Brodie's acquisitions, but has few supporters.  Not a defensive whiz by any stretch, he nevertheless is slashing .280/.342/.470, with nine home runs and 25 RBI through 200 at-bats, but is being utilized as a back-up to Todd Frazier and an occasional contestant in left field.
• Thank goodness for Adeiny Hechaverria, huh?

Mets administrators have called for more meetings than the Royal Order of Water Buffaloes of Bedrock and Raccoon Lodge of Brooklyn combined.  The bullpen is bad but the team's defense is as bad and perhaps worse.  The Mets have handled the least physical chances in the field yet somehow lead the circuit in errors.  Teams are also running wild against them - be it pitchers incapable of holding runners, or teams taking advantage of Wilson Ramos whose 13% CS is less than half the league average.

You can understand why greater Metsville is up in arms.

But far from claiming responsibility for this epic failure, BVD first targets scapegoats in order to keep his narrative moving forward.  He finds them, and fires pitching coach Dave Eiland and bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez.  The front office controls the spin claiming Eiland was averse to analytics ... per reports.  Surprisingly, Mickey Callaway along the way is afforded not one, not two, but three votes of confidence.

When the Mets ruin yet another superb start by Jacob deGrom, and proceed to lose Friday's series opener against the Phillies at Citi Field, it is reported Brodie Van Wagenen summons Mickey Callaway and the entire coaching staff into a room and berates them all.  Reports claim at some point BVW in a fit of rage picks up and throws a chair.

Okay ...

I get pissed off.  We all get pissed off.  But in truth, this is emblematic of BVW's delusional narrative falling apart like wet toilet paper.  The chair toss itself lacks velocity, placement, and purpose.

At the end of the day, Brodie Van Wagenen is an amateur, hired by an amateur.  And together with Mickey Callaway, the three form a triumvirate of amateurism.

While Brodie rearranges deck chairs the band plays on.