Meet the Epps, Meet the Epps

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET 

Step Right Up and Greet the Epps ...

Back in November 2021, a newly hired general manager named Billy Eppler inherited a high-level core of players.  That group featured Jacob deGrom - who only very recently returned to action - Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, and Edwin Diaz.

Shortly after moving into his new office, Eppler selected two outfielders from the free agent market called Starling Marte and Mark Canha, then, on Dec. 1, signed pitcher Max Scherzer (at Steve Cohen's behest).  Not yet done, Eppler signed free agent infielder Eduardo Escobar, reliever Adam Ottavino, and acquired starting pitcher Chris Bassitt from the Oakland A's.

Mets fans looked around and said this was good.

By May, as expected, the Mets finally parted ways with Robinson Cano - a move that would have mentally and financially crippled the previous regime.  This front office deemed Cano's DFA necessary and did indeed improve the team via the old adage, addition by subtraction.  It's also safe to say the previous owners would not have been copacetic with all of Billy Eppler's off-season acquisitions, much less agreeing to Max Scherzer's present annual value.

I digress ...

Over the last few years, JD Davis and Dom Smith were afforded a fair chance at earning their keep, respectively.  Mission unfulfilled as the former was dealt away at the trade deadline, and the latter remains on the 40-man roster at Syracuse.  In turn, Billy Eppler acquired lefty-hitting Daniel Vogelbach, lefty-hitting outfielder Tyler Naquin, and right-swinging Darin Ruf to reinforce the bench and lineup.

All the acquired players by Billy Eppler mentioned above, be it in the offseason or at the deadline, have a game, a hit, or a standout moment this season that we can point to and deem unequivocally as essential contributions toward the team's success.

I'd be remiss if I didn't extend well-deserved props to Carlos Carrasco, Taijuan Walker, Trevor Williams, David Peterson, Luis Guillorme, and others.

Let us not forget minor league call-up, Brett Baty.  He homered during his major league debut against the Atlanta Braves.  Left-hander Nate Fisher, a former banker from the Seattle Mariners system, allowed just one hit in three innings of relief in his major league debut against the Phillies this past Sunday.  The point here is it takes a 40-man roster to win championships.  We must also remember how Eppler did not recklessly empty the farm system of its top prospects at the deadline.

The Mets are 21-9 since the All-Star break.  They own a 43-19 record against their N.L. East division rivals and enter Tuesday's action with a four-game lead over the second-place Braves.  Their overall record (79-44) is second best in all of baseball behind the Dodgers.  Except for Apr. 11, the Mets have spent every day this season in first place. 

Billy Eppler has no doubt impacted this team.  However, we still need to buckle up because the real fun has yet to begin.  The month of September is a mere ten days away.  That's when Eppler's most crucial off-season acquisition comes into play.  There are few if none, more qualified managers in baseball to lead the Mets through a pennant race than Buck Showalter.

Let's Go Epps!

There's Great Joy in Metsville

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Back in the Summer of '22 ...

The Mets continue taking bites out of the dog days of summer.  They survived the seasonal June swoon with a 13-10 record, followed by a strong 17-8 month of July.  So far, they're off to a 7-2 start in August.

Except for eleven games, the Mets in 2021 spent nearly all of their first 110 games in first place.  They teetered for another week in and out of first.  But, by August 14, they were getting swept by the Dodgers and would never climb back atop the N.L.  East standings again.  

As we know, the division-winning Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros to become baseball's world champions.  It was a disappointing season in Flushing, to say the least.

Welcome to 2022 ...

Through the first 110 games of this season, the Mets have occupied first place for all but one day back on April 11, when they fell a half-game back of the Phillies.  They've remained in first place ever since.  By June 1, the Mets had built a 10.5 game division lead.  But, as expected, the Braves awoke from their slumber.  Atlanta posted a 23-27 record in their first 50 games through May, then in June, caught fire with a 21-6 record to pull within three games of the Mets.  They continued with an 18-8 record in July but gained no ground in the standings.  

On Tuesday, August 2, the Braves defeated the Phillies to pull within 2.5 games of first.  A year ago today, the Mets were traveling home from Philadelphia, where they initially ceded first place upon getting swept by the Phillies.

With a 3.5 game lead this past Thursday, the Mets hosted the Braves for the opening game of a mid-summer-defining five-game series at Citi Field.  Carlos Carrasco won his twelfth game, and Edwin Diaz registered six outs to earn his 24th save.  The Braves evened the series with a win in game two.  But the Mets answered with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday and wrapped up their fourth win in five games on Sunday.

Highlighting the series was the unveiling of Flushing's dynamic one-two punch, Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom, who, before his August 2 start at Washington, last climbed a major league mound on July 7 of last year.  Through two starts, deGrom has allowed three runs on four hits and one walk with 18 strikeouts through 10.2 innings.  On Monday, he struck out twelve Braves in a triumphant return to Citi Field.  Max Scherzer pitched the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing no runs on four hits and no walks with eleven strikeouts for his eighth win against two losses with a 1.98 ERA.

I'd be remiss if I didn't laud the entire staff, a deep quality staff.  The foursome of Chris Bassitt, Carlos Carrasco, Taijuan Walker, and David Peterson have joined together for a 36-16 combined record with a 3.43 ERA in 440 innings pitched.

Meanwhile, closer Edwin Diaz continues having a season for the ages.  He has yielded only 27 hits in 45.1 innings with an eye-popping 91 strikeouts for a 5.4 H/9 and 18.1 K/9 average, respectively.  Said another way, he has struck out 52.9% of all batters faced, which is reflective of his 0.860 WHiP, to go along with a stellar 1.39 ERA.

Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have been the clear leaders at the plate.  Alonso tops the National League with 96 RBI, and Lindor is third.  Brandon Nimmo has carved his niche as a premiere leadoff hitter, and Jeff McNeil has consistently maintained a .300 batting average.

In his first season, Billy Eppler's off-season acquisitions have been essential cogs in this machine we call the Mets.  The performances of Chris Bassitt and Starling Marte have been exemplary.  Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha have been nothing short of serviceable and, in Escobar's case, clutch.  And while Eppler's trade deadline acquisitions were met with some criticism, extensive renovations were not needed.  What Eppler did with the acquisitions of Daniel Vogelbach, Darin Ruf, and Tyler Naquin was fix a leaky roof and replace the windows.  Now the lineup at Flushing by the Bay is water-tight.  As planned, they're all contributing to the Mets' fine play in August.

Above all else, I believe Buck Showalter plays a significant role in the Mets' success.  His attention to detail and insistence on fundamentals is the team's bedrock.  He's genuinely bucking analytical trends and transforming his team into savvy players.  Buck's experience is vast, and his baseball intuition uncanny.  Just the other day, they executed a suicide squeeze.  Baseball is back, indeed.  Buck Showalter corrects the years of novice managers and their inexperienced folly.

The Mets enter Wednesday night's game against the Reds with a 71-39 (.645) record.  They've won four in a row.  Moreover, they're winning at a historic pace for this franchise.  

Last season, the Mets and Braves did not face each other in August, which proved a disadvantage for the Mets.  This season, the schedule makers had something else in mind, and the Mets seized the moment.  Their division lead over the Braves is now back up to seven.  

It's been an incredibly entertaining summer.  For better or worse, we'll be talking about this season for years to come as a relaunch of the New York Mets under the ownership of Steve Cohen.

In the meantime, the battle for the N.L. East flag rages on ...

Let's Go Mets!

The Metsian Podcast: Summertime at Flushing By The Bay Begins

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THEMetsianPod

The deeper we get into this 2022 season, the more the Mets distinguish themselves as one of baseball's top contenders.  Team depth and resiliency have kept them atop the division and continue pushing this team forward; injuries be damned.  Please join Sam, Rich, and me as we convene to discuss everything going right in Flushing, along with other Mets minutiae.

sixty-nine minutes 

The Metsian Podcast "Rat in the Grass" Episode

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell     @MetFanRich     @BTB_MikeII

@THEMetsianPod

 

It's been said before but bears repeating.  The first-place Mets lead the National League in wins and still have yet to lose a series this season.  They're getting it done with solid pitching, fielding, and timely hitting.  However, we've seen this before.  The season is about a fifth of the way through.  So, let us pause and ask what differentiates this team from last year's Mets, who, on Aug. 14, 2021, dropped in the standings behind the Phillies and Braves and never recovered.  Please join Sam, Rich, and I, as we recap the week and chase down the "rat in the grass" on another getaway day edition of The Metsian Podcast.

seventy-three minutes

N.Y. Mets Pitchers Toss Combined No-Hitter in Shutout Victory Over Rival Phillies

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

COMBINED NO-HITTER

Edwin Diaz Finishes What Tylor Megill Started; Mets Pitching, Fielding, and Timely Hitting Rule the Day

Remember Tylor Megill's last-minute season-opening start at Washington?  That was a dandy.  He has been nothing short of stellar ever since.  Friday's game marks the third time in five starts he has yielded three hits or less in at least five innings pitched.  Tylor has now limited the opposition to 18 hits and six walks over his first 28 innings pitched for a 0.857 WHiP, with 27 strikeouts and a fine 1.93 ERA.

The game remained scoreless through the fourth inning.  Afterwhich, the Mets finally provided Megill with some support.  Jeff McNeil drove home two runs in the fifth, and Pete Alonso hit a solo home run in the sixth for a 3-0 Mets lead and the final margin of victory.  

After Drew Smith struck out J.T. Realmuto to start the seventh.  Enter Joely Rodriguez, who promptly walked Kyle Schwarber, who was himself erased when the Mets infield came to Joely's rescue and converted a 6-4-3 double-play.

Otherwise, Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez, and Seth Lugo kept Philadelphia hitless through the eighth.

Edwin Diaz took his turn in the ninth and struck out the side, all swinging, preserving the shutout and the combined no-hitter - only the second no-hitter in Mets history, both at Citi Field.

That's how you finish!

And what better opponent than the Mets' closest division rival - the Philadelphia Phillies ...

The Metsian Podcast: First in the N.L. East and Hit by Pitches

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell   @MetFanRich   @BTB_MikeII

You can't win them all, but the Mets are surely winning a lot, and they keep getting hit by pitches!  Despite losing Wednesday's finale at St. Louis, they've won their first six series to start the season and return home with a 14-6 record, good enough for first place in the National League East.  In that order, pitching, fielding, and timely hitting have led the way, with Buck Showalter spearheading the charge towards the most wins in the majors to date.  Please join Sam, Rich, and me as we deliberate over one of the finest starts to a season in franchise history.

sixty-nine minutes

#LGM

The Metsian Podcast: Mourning the Passing of Flushing's 2021 Playoff Aspirations

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell   @MetFanRich   BTB_MikeII

Look out!  That piano falling out of the sky has a New York Mets logo on it.  Sunday's series finale against the Brewers was akin to something out of Looney Toons.  If only they were as enjoyable to watch.  Swept by the Cardinals, two losses against the Phillies, swept at Boston, and again at Milwaukee, the free fall continues.  The season's final homestand opens on Tuesday against the always troublesome Miami Marlins, then it's off to Atlanta to close out the schedule against the Braves.  Alas, their remaining games retain little matter in the standings.  Please join Sam, Rich, and I as The Metsian Podcast regrettably mourns the passing of Flushing's 2021 playoff hopes and aspirations.

ninety-five minutes

What Went Wrong And When...?

Marcus Stroman ~ Michael Conforto ~ Javier Baez

Jeff McNeil ~ Taijuan Walker ~ Edwin Diaz ~ Noah Syndergaard

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ~ The New York Mets of Queens

Third Base ... I Don't Know

and so much more!

#LGM

The Metsian Podcast: Dog Days of Summer Keep Chewing Away

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell     @MetFanRich     @BTB_MikeII 

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER 

KEEP CHEWING UP THE METS

#LGM

It's a Mad, Mad, Mets World: A Cathartic Metsian Podcast With TUMARO MEDIA's Phil Maillard

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

GUEST
TUMARO MEDIA

PHIL MAILLARD

114 minutes

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mets world.  The lack of slugging is driving us crazy.  After losing three of four to the Miami Marlins, being swept by the Phillies, and falling out of first place, Sam, Rich, me, and Phil Maillard convene for a cathartic episode of The Metsian Podcast.  We're here for you.  Listen in and decompress.

#LGM

Brooklyn Cyclones Get Two-Hit By Hudson Valley Renegades For Third Time In Series

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE 

Hudson Valley defeats Brooklyn; 5-1

I - HVR 3; BKN 2

II - BKN 5; HVR 3

III - HVR 1; BKN 0

IV - HVR 8; BKN 0

V - HVR 5; BKN 4

VI - HVR 5; BKN 0

Look What The Renegades Did To The Cyclones, Again!

Toeing the rubber for Brooklyn in Sunday's series finale is Jose Butto, opposed by Hudson Valley right-hander Hayden Wesneski.  A scoreless duel extends through the fifth inning with just three hits for the Renegades and one for Brooklyn off the bat of Zach Ashford in the second.

Butto exits a scoreless game after the fifth.  He faces 19 batters, throwing 82 pitches with 54 (65.8%) going for strikes while allowing just three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.  Reliever Allan Winans enters in the sixth and promptly surrenders the Renegades' fourth hit of the game, which is soon erased when Renegades' catcher Josh Breaux bounces into a 5-4-3 double-play.

Hayden Wesneski surrenders only his second hit of the game in the sixth, a one-out single by Cody Bohanek.  He goes right back out and throws a scoreless seventh, striking out Antoine Duplantis and Ronny Mauricio before walking Brett Baty.  Catcher Francisco Alvarez flies to left field, ending the frame.

Allan Winans climbs the hill again for the eighth.  He walks the dreaded leadoff batter, and you know what happens next.  Shortstop Josh Smith doubles down the right-field line scoring Evan Alexander from second base.  Mitch Ragan relieves Allan Winans.  After issuing an intentional walk, Josh Breaux greets Ragan with a line-drive double to left field, scoring Smith.  Breaux then hits the next batter with a pitch to load the bases.  First baseman Eric Wagaman lofts a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ezequiel Duran from third.  Mitch Ragan finally gets James Nelson on a pop-up to second.  But the damage is done, three runs for Hudson Valley in the eighth.

Right-hander Nick Ernst relieves Hayden Wesneski in the eighth.  Wesneski exits on the winning side of a 3-0 game, allowing just two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts through seven innings pitched.  The Cyclones are set down in order in the bottom of the frame.

Brooklyn right-hander Hunter Parsons is called upon to pitch the ninth in relief of Mitch Ragan.  With a double and single, Hudson Valley immediately puts runners on the corners, and a walk loads the bases before Parsons records an out.  A fielding error by Ronny Mauricio leads to a pair of runs.  Another intentional walk reloads the bases.  The Cyclones then convert a forceout at home, get the infield fly rule invoked, and finally retire the Renegades on a flyball to center from Wagaman, but not before two more runs come home for a 5-0 lead.

Hudson Valley right-hander Zach Greene retires the Cyclones to end this Coney Island nightmare.

In this series, Hudson Valley whitewashes the Cyclones three times, and three times they limit Brooklyn to just two hits.  On Thursday, June 10, in game three of the series, Hudson Valley limits the Cyclones to just a pair of hits.  On Friday, June 11, the Cyclones are again limited to just two hits.  Sunday is no different.  Zach Ashford and Juan Uriarte are the only two Cyclones who hit safely.

• BOXSCORE: 6/13/2021

The Squirrel, Jeff McNeil, started at second base and batted lead-off.  He lofted a fly to left field in the first inning and grounded out to first base unassisted to end the third before being removed.  This marks Jeff McNeil's second-ever visit to Coney Island.  He last played for the Cyclones in 2019, going 1 for 4 with a run scored.  After spending the 2013 season at Kingsport, McNeil bypassed Brooklyn in 2014, spending the season at Savannah and Port St. Lucie.

N.Y. Mets: Command and Control, the Comeback, and The Closer

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

After Friday Blizzard Mets Split 

Saturday Twin Bill at Coors Field

Teammates Rally Together in Support of Jacob deGrom's Near Record Effort

Making his third start of this young season, Jacob deGrom puts forth something more than just another dominating effort.  In facing 23 Colorado batters, he hurls 99 pitches with 67.6% going for strikes.  His line reads three unearned runs on three hits and just one walk with 14 strikeouts through six innings pitched.  It marks his second straight start with 14 strikeouts.  But this performance against the Rockies is so much more special than that.  

Jacob registers his first strikeout to end the first, then fans the side in the second.  He again strikes out the side in the third and yet again in the fourth, giving him nine consecutive strikeouts, eight of which are of the swing-and-miss variety.  Jacob now lay within one strikeout of matching Tom Seaver's 51-year old year record of ten consecutive strikeouts set on April 22, 1970, against the San Diego Padres.  

But Colorado third baseman Josh Fuentes has other ideas when he grounds to second leading off the fifth and reaches safely on Jeff McNeil's errant throw to first.  And wouldn't you know, Jacob strikes out the next batter he faces.  Afterwhich, trouble comes knocking at the door.  Catcher Dom Nunez triples off the right-field wall scoring Fuentes, and pinch-hitter Yonathan Daza's sacrifice fly to right field scores, Nunez.  Left fielder Raimel Tapia then homers, giving the Rockies a 3-1 lead.  Jacob finally fans second baseman Ryan McMahon to retire the side.

Pete Alonso who back in the third inning drove home Jacob deGrom with the game's first run, homers leading off the top of the sixth, cutting the Mets deficit to one.  Jacob deGrom, in his final inning of work, retires the Rockies in order with two more strikeouts.  In the top half of the seventh, runs batted in by Jonathan Villar and Francisco Lindor put Jacob deGrom back on the winning side of the game.

Edwin Diaz then slams the door shut on the Colorado Rockies, needing just 13 pitches to strike out the side, all swinging.  While earning his first save of the season, Diaz likewise locks down deGrom's first victory in three tries.  The deGrominator evens his record at 1-1 with a glistening 0.45 ERA through 20 innings pitched to date.

The results of game two at Coors Field on Saturday do not escape me.  The fact they were a mere 2 for 23 at the plate with just two walks and six strikeouts albeit against a representative German Marquez is more than I care to know.  Otherwise, Joey Lucchesi's second appearance and first start for the Mets proved troublesome as did that of reliever Jacob Barnes.  The Rockies struck for three runs in the first inning and the rest is, as they say, 

... you know, Metsian.

The Metsian Podcast Opening Day Special with Guest Noelle Gold

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

SPECIAL GUEST

Great Niece of Gil Hodges & Mets Fan Extraordinaire

NOELLE GOLD

120 minutes

OPENING DAY at CITI FIELD

Review of Series at Philadelphia

Gil Hodges, Umpires, and so much more!

#LGM

N.Y. Mets: Opening Night in the Nation's Capital

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Northbound and down, loaded up and trucking, 

the Mets are gonna do what they said can't be done.

They've got a long way to go and a short summer to get there. 

They're northbound. Just watch ol' Mr. Met run!

OPENING NIGHT
NEW YORK METS
vs.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

FROM

Capitol Hill Grounds

With Defensive Shortcomings and Outstanding Bullpen Issues, The Mets Lineup Must Lead The Way 

Even though the Mets last season batted miserably with runners in scoring position, timely hitting this upcoming season is the least of my concerns.  By all indications, the Mets will be featuring a lengthy and potent lineup with few if any dead spots.  With the resumption of a full 162 game schedule, the law of averages will hopefully play a normalizing role as well.

I think we fans agree that Brandon Nimmo and his career .390 OBP is the logical choice for batting leadoff.  However, this season I want to see from him a more aggressive approach at the plate.  Otherwise, on average, Nimmo has scored runs in 49.8% of his 365 career games played.  I anticipate that percentage climbing as the hitters batting behind him should prove problematic for opposing pitchers.

Batting second in my order is Jeff McNeil.  Bat control factored heavily in my decision.  McNeil's and Francisco Lindor's respective rate of strikeouts are separated by mere percentage points.  Lindor strikes out in 15.7% of his at-bats, whereas McNeil fans 13.3% on average.  This might be a hot take, but I believe McNeil is the more traditional and polished slap-style hitter than Lindor, who swings a tad bit more from his heels.  I seek bat control from the second spot, someone adept at hitting the ball to all fields for the sake of advancing runners and not getting doubled-up.

Deep in my heart, I want Dominic Smith batting third.  The old adage says bat your best hitter third, and I believe Dom to be the Mets' most pure hitter.  However, I just cannot fathom Francisco Lindor hitting any further down the lineup.  Lindor's switch-hitting abilities, low strikeouts, and his .500 plus slugging average in three of the last four seasons make him quite the unique number three-hitter.  Dom Smith is better equipped to hit as far down as sixth with limited protection behind him; Lindor not so much.  But in truth, hitting sixth is never what Mets fans envisioned insofar as Francisco Lindor's proper place in the lineup.

Batting cleanup in my lineup is Michael Conforto.  Few hitters in baseball will be afforded the level of lineup protection the Mets will be providing Lindor and Conforto with Pete Alonso and Dom Smith hitting behind them.  Lindor and Conforto should game in, and game out see the best and more hittable pitches being offered.

 

Pete Alonso put the squeeze on Grapefruit League pitchers.  In 16 games and 50 at-bats, the Polar Bear slashed .340/.421./700/1.121, with six doubles, four home runs, and 16 runs batted in.

While Dom Smith offers exceptional protection for the top half of the lineup, he, in turn, will have to protect him either J.D. Davis or Luis Guillorme and James McCann.

McCann has never played in more than 118 games (72.9%) nor achieved 500 plate appearances in any of his five-plus full seasons in the bigs.  However, the Mets appeared to sign him while in the midst of an offensive uptick.  In 2019 with the White Sox, McCann registered career highs in all batting categories for a season that somewhat resembles JT Realmuto-like production.  Last season, he was arguably on track to surpass those numbers.  Not many other eighth batters in baseball can say that.

See pitch, hit pitch.

Time to play ball!

#LGM

A Metsian Podcast: Just Basking in the Florida Sunshine w/ Guest, Baseball Author Brian Wright

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

w/ SAM, RICH & MIKE

GUEST

Baseball Author

Brian Wright

seventy-seven minutes

#LGM

N.Y. Mets: Third Base Debate Rages On

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

SPRING TRAINING

updated, Saturday, 10:30 pm

Who's on First; What's on Second; I Don't Know is on Third.

That's for Luis Rojas to decide ...

Luis Rojas has legitimate fielding issues to deal with, for which Spring Training offers no solution. 

For those of you who missed Saturday's game, the Mets committed three errors at third base.  It's as if we're just biding time until this ongoing condition makes its triumphant return to Flushing, where the onus will again be on Rojas, like previous managers under Sandy Alderson, to manage around it.  

The problem at second base is the easiest fix of all.  There is no problem.  Jeff McNeil is clearly the only answer.  He spent his minor league years playing primarily as an infielder, and comparatively, little time roaming the outfield.  As such, I want him eliminated from any and all talk about playing left field.  The infield is his comfort zone.  But as is their custom, perceived or real, the Mets forced him to play beyond the infield diamond on a more frequent basis.  This must stop.  His frame and build and agility are best suited for second base, even more so than third base.  I beg management to just leave him alone.

That leaves four other positions in question: first base, left field, center field, and third base.

Why mince words ... despite improved glove work, Pete Alonso remains a defensive liability.  In the absence of a universal designated hitter, he remains the incumbent at first base.  That means Dom Smith, the Mets' best fielding first baseman and one of their top batsmen, will be shoehorned into left field.  There really is no escaping this scenario.

Meanwhile, Brandon Nimmo teeters on being a par center fielder; we get it.  But his career OBP/OPS can not be denied.  He is among MLB's elite when it comes to reaching base safely.  Therefore, fans like me are willing to put up with his fielding deficiencies.  If and when a clear-cut upgrade comes along, make a move.  Until then, I'm agreeable with Brandon Nimmo as the starting centerfielder.  Let Luis Rojas implement late-inning replacement if he chooses.  That's his job.

The most conflicting situation facing Luis Rojas involves the hot corner.  If it's an offensive threat you desire, then you lean towards JD Davis.  But if it's a defensive specialist you seek, then Luis Guillorme is your man.  By starting Guillorme over Davis, Manager Rojas reduces the team's four outstanding liabilities by one.  But this does not preclude JD Davis from forcing himself into the line-up.  Sometimes offensive production speaks for itself.  If he's wielding a lethal bat, he starts, no questions asked.  But in more normalized situations, with the expectation Francisco Lindor, Michael Conforto, and Pete Alonso are providing the requisite production, I prefer Luis Guillorme starting at third and having JD Davis pinch hit off the bench.  I'm otherwise completely open to a full platoon at third.  However, like Jeff McNeil, the last place I want to see Davis is in left field.

Jonathan Villar remains an unknown variable; he might yet factor into the equation.  Although, he committed two of the Mets' three errors on Saturday.  The third error of the day was committed by an A-level third baseman who shall remain nameless.  He is not what this is about. 

Guillorme did not play Saturday against the Nats.  But if his 2020 slash of .333/.426/.439/.865 through 29 games and 57 at-bats, and this Spring's five hits through eleven Grapefruit at-bats to date is any indication of things to come, then we'll soon be having a much different conversation.

Grapefruit League Preview, Sky King, and "Ya Gotta Believe" on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH & MIKE

Opening Day in the Grapefruit League

Mets Roster Projections 

Bullpen - Third Base - Luis Rojas

Pete Alonso > Social Media < Steve Cohen

The 1973 National League Champion New York Mets

and so much more!

ninety-five minutes

#LGM

Howard Kellman, Broadcaster of the (AAA) Indianapolis Indians Joins A Metsian Podcast

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING, MR. MET

With SAM, RICH & MIKE

GUEST

Play by Play Broadcaster 

(AAA) INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

est. 1902

HOWARD KELLMAN

seventy-six minutes

Howard Kellman was born and raised in Brooklyn.  He helped pioneer radio broadcasting of St. John's University basketball games and for the last forty-six years has been the play-by-play broadcaster of the famous (AAA)-Indianapolis Indians.  Established in 1902, the Indianapolis club is the second oldest minor league baseball team in America after the Rochester Red Wings.  Howard is friends with Brooklyn Dodgers great Carl Erskine with whom he worked alongside in the booth, and with Howie Rose, for whom he filled in many times as recently as 2014 on Mets broadcasts.  He takes us through his own near fifty-year experience in the game.  The Indians have variously served as an affiliate of the Reds, Expos, Brewers, and Pirates, thus Mr. Kellman has witnessed the rise of many burgeoning stars.  He recalls the wildly successful Montreal Expos affiliation with particular fondness.  A clear baseball insider, he adds clarity to the ongoing reorganization of minor and independent league baseball.  After which, Mr. Kellman transports us back to 1968 and his recollections of the New York Mets.  To hear more about Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Gil Hodges, Hank Aaron, Larry Walker, Jeff McNeil, Pee Wee Reese, the Indianapolis Clowns and the ABC's, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the city of Indianapolis itself as told to by a native Brooklynite, then please give a listen.  Great conversation with Howard and partners Sam and Rich; you won't be sorry.

#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 !!!!!

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.

Pondering an Uncertain Future on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

RETIRED NUMBERS DEBATE

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

SOCIAL DISTRACTION

The 2020 Season ~ What 2020 Season

Sid Fernandez ~ Rafael Montero ~ Duaner Sanchez ~ Tug McGraw

Jeff McNeil ~ Tommie Agee ~ Rusty Staub ~ Benny Agbayani

Keith Hernandez ~ Gary Carter ~ David Wright

The 2019 Season ~ The North American Championship

Jackie Robinson and so much more.