THE METSIAN PODCAST: Into the Home Stretch with Greg Prince

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THEMetsianPod

SAM ⚾ RICH ⚾ MIKE

GUEST

FAITH AND FEAR IN FLUSHING &

NATIONAL LEAGUE TOWN PODCAST

Greg Prince

"The Mets are better at storming the castle than defending the gates." - GP

Always a delight to join @THEMetsianPod. Thank you to the trio of @THE_SamMaxwell @BTB_MikeII and @Metfanrich, as potent a 1-2-3 as Nimmo, Marte and Lindor! https://t.co/npR88pH40q

— Greg Prince (@greg_prince) September 9, 2022

The Metsian Podcast: Rocky Mountain High

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell     @MetFanRich     @BTB_MikeII

@THEMetsianPod

#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

N.Y. Mets: Last Season in Vegas

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

CASHMAN FIELD

home of the

LAS VEGAS 51s

Triple-A Affiliate of the New York Mets

2013 - 2018

The Mets announced last year their purchase of the Syracuse Chiefs franchise, and thus have successfully consolidated three of their minor league affiliates within the state of New York.  The existing Player Development Contract in place between the Mets and Las Vegas 51s expires at the conclusion of this season.

• Mark Weiner of Syracuse.com reported at the time the New York Mets were purchasing the (AAA) Syracuse Chiefs.  According to Weiner, a tentative deal will allow the Mets to assume control of the Chiefs when the player development contract between Syracuse and the Washington Nationals expires after the 2018 season.  The timing also coincides with the expiration of the New York Mets development contract with the Las Vegas 51s.

However, I have every intention of keeping up with 51's baseball.  Being on the east coast, Las Vegas start times on most nights conveniently follow Mets games.  And with Syracuse in my time zone, I'll still be in search of Pacific Coast League or even California League action.  Therefore, nothing really changes.  Because of my now familiarity with Las Vegas 51s games I'll be sticking around for seasons to come.  I grew to enjoy immensely through the last five years Russ Langer's call and baseball banter.  I'm a creature of habit.  So truth be told, Russ Langer has effectively become my midnight lullaby.

Personally, the last five years have been largely highlighted by former manager Wally Backman and pitching coach Frank Viola.  Many Mets fans hoped for several years to see them both one day working for the big club.  But that never materialized.  Instead Wally and the Mets parted ways two years ago on rather acrimonious terms, while Frank Viola transferred to Binghamton.

The 51's have a new manager again.  Tony DeFrancesco takes over for Pedro Lopez, whom took over for one season after Backman's departure.  Although he is new to the Mets organization, let's just say there are few people more familiar with, and have achieved more success in the Pacific Coast League.  Tony's resume is lengthy, and includes four PCL championships.

Taking over for Frank Viola will be Glenn Abbott, who has been serving dutifully at Binghamton for the previous six seasons.  Viola and Abbott are essentially trading places.  And the former's first order of business as new pitching coach at Las Vegas requires straightening out Hansel Robles and Zack Wheeler.  The two joined forces on an 8.91 ERA after surrendering a combined 21 earned runs on 39 hits through 21.2 total innings of Grapefruit League action.

• Hansel Robles might be getting called up due to an injury to Anthony Swarzak.

Jamie Callahan is a member of the 40-man roster.  Selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, the 24-year old right-hander is a product of the Boston Red Sox system and subsequently acquired by the Mets in the Addison Reed deal.  He appeared in nine games for the Mets last year, allowing seven hits and striking out five through 6.2 innings pitched.  He owns a career 4.71 ERA over six minor league seasons and 384 innings pitched.

Infielders Gavin Cecchini and Luis Guillorme are both also on the Mets 40-man roster.  Amed Rosario is now the starting shortstop for the Mets.  If needed, Adrubal Cabrera, Jose Reyes, and even Wilmer Flores could always fill in.  Meaning Cecchini, the 12th overall selection of the 2012 amateur draft, is potentially facing his third full season at Las Vegas, and therefore will continue transitioning to second base in a bid to win the position in 2019.  Shortstop Luis Guillorme, 23, is coming off a full season at Binghamton, where he batted .283 with a .376 OBP.

Outfielder Travis Taijeron spent the last three full season at Las Vegas.  However, the Mets outfield is log jammed.  There was simply no room for him.  As a consequence, the organization had no choice last November but to grant Travis his free agency after serving seven years in the Mets system.  He was signed with haste by the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Travis was a career .514 slugger through 2,644 minor league at-bats.  He achieved double-digit home runs six times, and twice hit 25 home runs in a season.  I'm sorry to see him go ...

Philip Evans, 25, opened the season with the big club based on his ability to play multiple positions.  However, he's likely the odd man out once Michael Conforto returns to the Mets line-up.  If the Mets were smart, though, they would let Conforto fulfill a rehab assignment first before shoehorning him back into active status.  Evans should otherwise look forward to his second full season at Las Vegas.  Like Travis Taijeron, he similarly finds himself stuck behind a logjam at Flushing, and is fast running out of time with the organization.

Same also goes for Jayce Boyd.  A familiar face among Mets minor league fans, but otherwise indistinguishable from the crowd.  As a first baseman/left fielder by trade, he simply lacks the slugging potential required of those positions.  In his first taste taste of AAA ball last season, he slugged above .500 for the first time in his six year minor league career.  But many chalk that up to playing in the desert conditions of Las Vegas.

Remember Wuilmer Becerra?  He was acquired along with Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard as part of the R.A. Dickey trade with Toronto.  He was barely eighteen years old at the time.  Becerra is 22-years old now, and presently listed on the 51's roster.  He's been playing at Port St. Lucie the last two seasons.  He's double-slashing .282/.341 through 1,577 total minor league at-bats.

Matt den Dekker marks his return to the organization after spending the last three seasons at Washington and Detroit.

Left handed pitchers will forever be in demand.  David Roseboon returns for a second season with the 51's.  He was doing just fine until his arrival in the Pacific Coast League.  With Binghamton, he posted 14 saves and a 1.87 ERA in 2016, with a 5.3 H/9 and 8.4 K/9 averages through 57.2 innings pitched.  But in 18 games and 17.1 innings for Las Vegas last season, he posted an unsightly 8.31 ERA and 1.788 WHiP.

Southpaw Kelly Secrest, 26, is entering his first full season with the 51's.  Last year with Binghamton, he posted a 4.03 ERA and 1.658 WHiP through 38 innings.  He averaged 10.9 K/9, but his 10.7 H/9 and 10.7 W/9 averages would appear quite troublesome.

OPENING DAY

El Paso Chihuahuas

vs.

Las Vegas 51's

THURSDAY