N.Y. Mets: Unrepentant Jason Vargas Traded for Double-A Catcher

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

The Mets trade Jason Vargas to Phillies 

in exchange for minor league catcher Austin Bossart

Apology accepted ... See you tomorrow, Jason?

I had no particular use for Vargas.  He had no fan in me.  So no harm done on this end as far as I'm concerned.  At least the beat reporters are safe now.  In fact I'm surprised the Mets got back a warm body in exchange - a catcher no less. 

Truth be told he should fit in well with the Phillies; wink.  So just what exactly are the Mets getting in catcher Austin Bossart?

Don't hold your breath ...

At 26-years old Austin is a minor league career .261 hitter with a .695 OPS.  With (AA)-Reading this season Bossart is slashing a mere .195/.303/.335, with just 14 extra-base hits, and 28 RBI through 63 games and an even 200 at-bats.  His forte is apparently behind the plate.  He owns a career .990 fielding average through 246 minor league games and over 2,000 innings played.  Through five seasons he's thrown out would-be base thieves with a 41% rate of success.  This season with Reading he is down to a 35% rate of success - a representative number nonetheless.

I've stated my opinions regarding the catching situation very clearly.  I'm not happy about it.  To review, Wilson Ramos is beyond demonstrating his liabilities behind the plate.  Rather he confirms them on a nightly basis.  I'd be remiss if I didn't congratulate the man for tying his career high of ten passed balls in 48 fewer starts (122 starts in 2016).  While the league averages a 27% rate of caught stealing, Ramos still lags far behind with a rate of 15% caught stealing.  A career high 64 base thefts have occurred on his watch.  Tomas Nido, poor guy, owns a 9% rate of caught stealing.  A whopping 84 stolen bases have occurred under both their watch.

I want first and foremost a supreme defender behind the plate; an agile fellow who fields his position well; and whom features a strong and accurate arm.  I want a superior receiver, someone practiced in the art of forming symbiotic relationships between pitcher and catcher; someone pitchers can trust with pitches out of the zone.  I want an on-field coach behind the mask, and a bully, and a friend, and brother, sometimes all at once.  Offensive capabilities interest me not.  Let other positions carry the load.  I need a Jerry Grote type and the Mets need a more conductive battery.

In the meantime the Mets have a very transient situation on their hands.  Marcus Stroman is in, and Jason Vargas is out.  Stroman is clearly an improvement over Vargas.  If only that were the end of this conversation.  Be that as it may Stroman's place in the rotation hierarchy is not yet determinable as the Mets seem obsessed with trading Noah Syndergaard.

To be continued ...

Mets vs. Yankees: 2019 Subway Series II

From the desks of: 

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Mets/Yankees Split Series 2-2

I - Rain Out

II - NYY 12; NYM 5

III - NYM 10; NYY 4

IV - NYM 4; NYY 2

V- NYY 5; NYM 1

SUBWAY SERIES

New York Yankees

vs.

New York Mets

FROM

41 SEAVER WAY

QUEENS

Welcome back to the second installment of Subway Series featuring the American League's best team taking on the National League's third worst team.  The Bombers are coming off a weekend wherein they score 29 runs on 32 hits through two games against the Red Sox at London Series.  On Sunday, the Mets won their first game in a week and are 3-7 over their last ten games.  With any luck the moribund Metropolitans face a flight fatigued jet lagged sleep deprived strung out Yankees squad when both teams meet Tuesday evening at Citi Field.  Better yet, maybe the entire Bombers line-up all pull their hamstrings considering they're just one day removed from another seven hour return flight back home.  The Mets need all the help they can get considering they're blowing more than half of their save opportunities.

Mets All-Stars:

• Jacob deGrom; selected.
• Jeff McNeil; selected.
• Pete Alonso; selected.

Yankees All-Stars:

• DJ LeMahieu; voted
• Gary Sanchez; voted
• Aroldis Chapman; selected.

AMAZIN'

• During an otherwise stellar ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1969 New York Mets Saturday at Citi Field, the organization incorrectly included two members of the '69 roster into their video tribute to those no longer with us whom are still very much alive.  The Mets front office apologized.  How does this happen?

HOLY COW!

• ICYMI: LONDON SERIES Recap and Pics.

GAME ONE

Yankees  2

Mets       4

FINAL

I do not buy into the notion Zack Wheeler was auditioning for the Yankees Tuesday evening at Citi Field.  The teams still strike me as very unlikely trade partners.  That said, Wheeler toes the rubber in game one of Subway Series II.  He throws 116 pitches with 75 (65%) going for strikes, yielding two earned runs on five hits and just one walk with eight strikeouts.  He leaves the game after 6.1 innings with the Mets trailing 2-1 through seven.  The Mets finally break through for three runs in the eighth on a two RBI double from Michael Conforto, and JD Davis's double scoring Pete Alonso to give the Mets a 4-2 lead.  Just as the rains begin falling down upon Citi Field, Edwin Diaz pitches a scoreless ninth and strikes out Brett Gardner to end the game.  Seth Lugo - the latest hard luck pitcher of note - earns his fourth victory.  Edwin Diaz records his 18th save of the season.  Mets pitching issues two walks all game.

Playing left field, JD Davis is 2 for 4 with a double and his ninth home run in the sixth.  Robinson Cano, finally moved out of the three spot and hitting fifth, goes 2 for 3 with a walk and run scored.  Jeff McNeil and Amed Rosario also register multi-hit games.

Aaron Hicks strokes the Yankees lone extra base hit of the game.  Starter James Paxton yields just one run on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts through six innings pitched.  Adam Ottavino earns his third loss for his work in the eighth.

The Yankees record setting streak of hitting at least one home run in 31 consecutive games ends at Queens.

GAME TWO

Yankees  5

Mets       1

FINAL

Domingo German out-pitches Jason Vargas.  There's your game.

The Yankees starter yields one run on five hits and no walks with six strikeouts through six innings.  He improves his record to 10-2 with a 3.67 ERA.  Jason Vargas surrenders three runs on seven hits and two walks wit six strikeouts through 5.1 innings.  Steven Matz makes a relief appearance in the seventh.  The Yankees get home runs from Didi Gregorious and Gio Urshela.  Jeff McNeil's home run accounts for the Mets only run.

Metsian Podcast Catharsis: The Aftermath Episode

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

THE ROAD TRIP FROM HELL; Ep. #30

A MESIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

With Special Guest

John 

aka

MetsDaddy.com

116 Minutes

STUFF

Fred Wilpon ~ Jeff Wilpon ~ Brodie Van Wagenen ~ Mickey Callaway

Not That Sorry ~ Sunday Crummy Sunday: The Aftermath ~ Jason Vargas

The Road Trip ~ The Phillies ~ The Bullpen ~ The Wreckage ~ The Pain

What in the world are the Mets gonna do with Robinson Cano?

All-Stars ~ No Stars ~ Exploding Stars

Players to wear #30 in Mets History

50th Anniversary of the Miracle Mets

and so much more!

* ART BY CYCLE

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

Podcast: Talking Metsian Baseball with Tim Healey of Newsday

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

My Turn To Host

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

Featuring Special Guest

New York Mets Beat Writer 

Tim Healey of Newsday

one hour thirty minutes

 

@THE_SamMaxwell    @MetFanRich

STUFF

You name it, we dissected it like a frog in high school biology class.

All Things Mets and More..!

A Golden Era Metsian Podcast with Uncle Stan the New York Giants Fan

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

With Guest:

UNCLE STAN 

the NEW YORK GIANTS FAN

Yes, Sam's Uncle Stan!

I was enthralled both listening and speaking with him,

and I'm sure you'll enjoy Stan's baseball anecdotes, as well.

Ninety-Five Minutes

STUFF

NEW YORK GIANTS

Mets vs. Phillies

Rivalry ~ Jacob Rhame vs. Ryhs Hoskins ~ Head Hunting

Gio Gonzalez ~ Mets Money ~ Dallas Keuchel

Jason Vargas ~ Jacob deGrom ~ Zack Wheeler

Amed Rosario ~ Mickey Callaway

Jesus Alou ~ Doug Flynn ~ Bernard Gilkey ~ Matt den Dekker

and so much more..!

N.Y. Mets: Starters Make Opening Pitch

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

FOUR HURLERS of the METROPOLIS

Jacob deGrom  Noah Syndergaard  Zack Wheeler  Steven Matz

New York Mets: First Time Around the Rotation.

The starting rotation completed its first turn around the loop Tuesday evening at Miami.  Jacob deGrom faced off against Nationals ace Max Scherzer in last Thursday's season opener at Washington where fans were treated to an old school duel.  Both pitchers would achieve double-digit strikeouts.  But it was deGrom whom would emerge victorious.  Last year's National League Cy Young award recipient allowed just five hits and a walk over six scoreless innings, while striking out ten.

Noah Syndergaard opposed Stephen Strasburg on Saturday, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and four walks, while fanning seven en route to a no-decision.  This was typical Thor blowing through his pitch count by the sixth.  All told he threw 103 pitches with no regard for pacing.  He again seems content throwing as hard as he can for as long as he can.  Watching two-strike pitch after two-strike pitch get fouled off is sometimes numbing.  Which is to say he still has trouble putting batters away, which I think may be a matter of craftsmanship.  Perhaps he needs to spend less time feuding with Mr. Met and putting in more work perfecting an out-pitch.

Zack Wheeler didn't nearly experience the success I was anticipating.  He blew through 95 pitches in just five innings of work against the Nationals on Sunday, in which he allowed four earned runs on six hits, a walk, with seven strikeouts.  But like Syndergaard, he escaped with a no-decision.  I'm a big believer in Wheeler.  And now that deGrom has been signed to a contract, locking up Zack - a looming free agent - should be the club's next priority.  Last year's second-half performance speaks volumes to me.  However, the Mets appear geared for a game of chicken ... which I believe is a mistake.

Steven Matz pitched Monday's series opener at Miami to mixed results.  He threw 74 pitches with an efficient 54 (71%) going for strikes.  But could have used some help as he allowed three earned runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks, with three strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched.

And then there's Jason Vargas ... the Mets de facto number five starter.  He somehow wins 18 games for Kansas City in 2017 with an American League acceptable 4.16 ERA.  But last season gets off to a terrible start in first season with the Mets.  But from Aug.2 right through to the end of the season, Vargas lowered his ERA by over two and one-half points from 8.36 down to 5.77, while winning five of his last even starts.  He took the mound on Tuesday in game two against the Marlins.  His line reads friendlier than his actual performance.  Vargas allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk, with two strikeouts through five innings for the victory.

FIRST TIME THROUGH METS ROTATION

• Starts: 5
• Record: 2-0
• Innings: 27.1
• ERA: 3.56
• Hits Allowed: 32
• Walks: 7
• WHiP: 1.439
• Strikeouts: 29

Up next: Take Two.

Another Metsian Winter Storm Podcast With Guest Greg Prince

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

SPRING TRAINING SPECIAL

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

Featured Guest

Greg Prince

Author, and Proprietor of

Faith and Fear in Flushing.com 

Host: Rich

Time: 80-minutes

 

STUFF

Bryce Harper Wants to Bring a Championship to D.C.

Insanity ~ Scott Boras ~ Market Maker

Balance of Power in N.L. East ~ Quality vs. Quantity

Ty Kelly ~ Carlos Gomez ~ Dom Smith ~ Jeff McNeil

Where's the Money ~ Shaking Brodie's Pom Poms

Sam's Rant ~ My Rant 

Todd Frazier ~ Injuries ~ Jed Lowrie

Roster Depth ~ Veterans vs. Ifs

Starting Rotation's Last Hurrah ~ Zack Wheeler's Walk Year

Jason Vargas ~ Center Field ~ and so much more..!

N.Y. Mets: The Old Good Fan/Bad Fan Metsian Podcast Routine

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Moving right along ... but where?

Partner Sam Maxwell and I go head-to-head in 

a very spirited Episode 18 of A METSian Podcast. 

 

1 Hour, 4 Minutes

David Wright rejoining the team ~ Peter Alonso not joining the team

I continue ripping Noah Syndergaard; Sam supports Jason Vargas

On Robert Gsellman: Sam is pro-closer; I'm anti-closer

 Innings limits be damned ~ Seth Logo ~ Jennry Mejia?

How does 2017-2018 compare to 1978-1979 ~ Agents Gone Wild

Travis d'Arnaud ~ Darryl Strawberry ~ Juan Lagares

Michael Conforto ~ Jay Bruce ~ Todd Frazier ~ Benny Ayala

Amed Rosario and Willie Mays Hayse ... yes, Major League

!!..Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance..!!

Baseball in NYC, 1918

Brooklyn Robins ~ New York Giants ~ New York Yankees

Burleigh Grimes ~ Waite Hoyt ~ Miller Huggins

N.Y. Mets: The All-Star Game Break, Kinks, Dings and Dents METSian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR.MET

2018

ALL-STAR GAME

Jacob deGrom

Apparently, John Heyman is reporting the Mets are in "excellent financial health."  To that I say, lies!  Sam, Rich, and I discuss this very matter on Episode #14 of a Metsian Podcast.  I want to know whom or what is the source of his information?  Is someone within the organization intentionally leaking sponsored gibberish?  If not, who then is feeding him this nonsense?  I'm not sure what he knows.  I, however, cite highly credible sources and documented facts suggesting otherwise.

We also conducted a compare and contrast regarding the respective business models of N.L. East rivals Washington, Atlanta, and Philadelphia, versus that of the Mets.

As the non-waiver trade deadline approaches, the $65,000 dollar question remains where do they go from here?  You would think the Triumvirate of Flushing has formulated a plan by now.  We'll see ... in the meantime we donned our Metsian general manager's caps and discussed each of our plans for moving the club forward.

We answered the question asking what type of person do we want serving as next general manager of the New York Mets.  After which, we failed at finding few kind words while haranguing over the bullpen and Mickey Callaway's performance, to date.

A recent Yoenis Cespedes sighting ~ why buying out Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, and Jason Vargas makes sense ~ why is Jose Reyes still on the team ~ what we need to see transpire in the second half of the season ~ and much more.

All-Star Memories: 

• Bo Jackson; Fred Lynn; the 1999 All-Star Game and All-Century Team celebration at Fenway Park; the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field; Dwight Gooden performance in 1984; four Mets selected to 1975 All-Star Game and Jon Matlack earns victory in relief; Lee Mazzilli hits home run in 1979 All-Star Game at Seattle; and this year's selection of pitcher Jacob deGrom.

We close out the podcast reminiscing over Mets uniform #14 worn by the venerated Gil Hodges.

   

Showtime: 1 hour, 50 minutes

FOLLOW:

@THE_SamMaxwell   @MetFanRich   @BTB_MikeII

N.Y. Mets: First Pitch

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

OPENING DAY

ALL-TIME 

OPENING DAY RECORD

36-20 (.642)

Let The Games Begin..!

Sandy Alderson's off-season can be summed up in two words: comprehensive change.  Perhaps his organizational reforms came a year or two later than we fans may have preferred.  But change has come to Citi Field nonetheless.  And with Thursday's call to Play Ball, so begins the process of validating his every move.

The Mets have had a devil of a time keeping numerous key players on the field in recent years, but none more so than their starting pitchers.  The extent of injuries and seemingly endless surgeries have been such that Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, and Zack Wheeler have yet to complete a full season together as a unit.  Meanwhile, Syndergaard's misguided decision to bulk up last off-season and his resulting season ending injury exemplified just some of the folly that took place previously in the absence of proper supervision.

As per Alderson's design, the unquestioned strength of the New York Mets is indeed their starting pitching, and if healthy their collective efforts will undoubtedly determine whether or not the Mets emerge as playoff contenders come late September.  Therefore, completely overhauling physical conditioning and oversight were part and parcel to Alderson's sweeping changes.  To that end, Sandy Alderson says the organization will be adopting more modern and advanced training, conditioning, and recovery sciences and applications, while also reformulating their operational procedures and philosophies.

On a more conventional level, Alderson also incorporated redundancy into his corrective measures by hiring former Cleveland Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway to replace Terry Collins as manager, along with hiring Dave Eiland (highly experienced and very well respected throughout baseball) to replace Dan Warthen as new pitching coach.  Because pitch selection and execution oft times proved problematic, as well.  Dan Warthen used to be responsible for calling pitches from the dugout.  But with these new changes, I'm anticipating a completely different approach with a focus on craftsmanship, and particular emphasis on reclaiming the inside portion of the plate.

The time for putting Sandy Alderson's redesign into effect has come.  Opening Day is upon us.  Before a single game is played, though, I'll credit Alderson for pinpointing these two particular hires and thereby creating more conducive conditions through which this rotation can achieve elevated success.

*          *          *          *

Unfortunately, the long anticipated debut of the Five Hurlers of the Metropolis has been postponed yet again.  After surrendering nine earned runs on 22 hits though ten innings of Grapefruit League action, the Mets optioned Zack Wheeler to the Las Vegas 51s.  That comes on the heels of Wheeler's somewhat defensive reaction earlier in Spring Training when media questioned him over the club's acquisition of Jason Vargas.  Pitching coach Dave Eiland characteristically offered no quarter, providing little more than biting words of encouragement for Zack to ponder during his trip back to the desert - essentially telling him potential is all fine and well, but there comes a time when that must translate into major league results.  In other words, the time for babying these guys, is over.

*          *          *          *

Off-season acquisition Jason Vargas, recovering from surgery to his non-pitching hand, will open the season on the disabled list.  That leaves the Mets with one left-handed starting pitcher, and just one left-handed reliever.  His role upon return remains to be determined.

*          *          *          *

N.Y. Mets: Jason Vargas is a Sensible Acquisition

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

First Word: Year Sixteen After Doubleday 

Previously: The Five Hurlers of the Metropolis

New York Mets: Addition of Jason Vargas Suddenly Gives Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz Something Else to Think About.

I) - Why did Jason Vargas become available?

The Kansas City Royals signed him as a free agent entering 2014 to a four-year $32 million dollar contract.  

He completed a full compliment of thirty starts during his first season with the Royals, posting an 11-10 record with a 3.71 ERA and a slightly problematic 1.273 WHiP. 

Then in the summer of 2015, he blew out the UCL in his left elbow in mid-July requiring Tommy John surgery, from which he returned in September 2016.

Last year, he made a full compliment of 32 starts again, posted a career best 18-11 record but with a 4.16 ERA, and an elevated 1.330 WHiP in 179.2 innings pitched.  He started strong, going 12-3 with a 2.22 ERA through June.  From July 5 through Sept. 5, however, Vargas went just 2-7 and saw his ERA spike to a 4.23 mark.  Over his final five starts of the season, Vargas finished 4-1 with 3.79 ERA, while surrendering 22 hits, fanning 24 batters and walking twelve over his last 26.1 innings pitched.

He turned 35-years old this month, and so Kansas City granted Vargas his free agency in November.  On Feb.18 he signed with the Mets for two years (with a club option) for the same yearly $8 million dollar salary he earned during his final season with the  Royals.

II) - What does his acquisition mean for the Mets?

Even I have to admit, Jason Vargas adds needed veteran rotation depth, on a short term deal and at a very reasonable price.

Vargas mainly brings a measure of competition for the fourth and fifth spots in the starting rotation.  Several pitchers, namely Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz (and Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, Rafael Montero), maybe find themselves needing to reprove themselves in the eyes of new manager Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland - which is not a bad thing.

And he's left-handed!  Can't have too many of those.  Vargas and Matz now give the Mets two potential southpaws in the rotation.  That could mean Zack Wheeler opens the season in the bullpen.  But this is a good problem for Coach Callaway to have.  Wheeler, though, has his own work cut out for him.  He needs to cut down on his walks, and address his overall WHiP.  He surrendered 97 hits (15 home runs) and issued 40 walks in just 86.1 innings pitched last season.

Otherwise, let the better pitchers with the jobs.

That's what Spring Training is for.

According to Fangraphs his fly ball/to ground out ratio leveled out after arriving at Kansas City, where as he previously was categorized as more a fly ball pitcher.  In 2014 (the season prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery) his fastball clocked in 87.3 mph, and his change-up came in at 80.4 mph.  Last season (his first full season post recovery) his fastball was clocked at 85.6 mph, while his change-up came in at 79.5 mph.

Moreover, last season he threw his fastball a career low 40.7 percent of the time, where as he relied on his change-up a career high 20.3 percent of the time.

He additionally only mixes in a curveball about nine percent of the time, and so his lack of a representative fastball concerns me.  Perhaps he adds a change of pace considering the Mets rotation mainly features hard-throwers, but that remains to be seen.

In any event, this is where Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland come in.  They're being paid to help these pitchers realize their potentials.