The Metsian Podcast: Ushering Change in Flushing With The One, The Infamous, Tío Al

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell     @MetFanRich     @BTB_MikeII

GUEST

Met Fan ~ Mister Hot Take

THE ONE ... THE ONLY

Infamous Tío Al

eighty-two minutes

Changes in Flushing are underway.  After two seasons of pandemic baseball and front-office dysfunction, Luis Rojas was recently let go as manager, along with long-time bullpen coach Ricky Bones and other members of the coaching staff.  But time is fleeting, and the Mets have yet to get their front office in order.  We know who won't be taking over as President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein.  Joining The Metsian Podcast in helping bring 2021 to a close, navigate a new course, and ponder potential front-office and managerial candidates will be Mets fan extraordinaire, mister hot-take on Twitter and YouTube, the Only and Infamous, Tío Al.

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THE METSIAN PODCAST: "Once Upon A Time In Queens" Director, Nick Davis

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell       @MetFanRich       BTB_MikeII

GUEST

ESPN 30 FOR 30

Director of 

"ONCE UPON A TIME IN QUEENS"

NICK DAVIS

sixty-three minutes

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THE METSIAN PODCAST: Flipping Fans the Thumb with Baseball Reporter/Analyst Ernest Dove

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

PART ONE:

TWO FANS IN A CAR TALKIN' METS

@THE_SamMaxwell talks one-on-one w/ @BigRedRuckus

⚾

PART TWO:

Baseball Reporter, Analyst, 

Covering the St. Lucie Mets,

Can Be Heard at

SPORTANARIUM.com

ERNEST DOVE

STUFF

Howie Rose ~ Jerry Koosman ~ Retired Numbers ~ Noah Syndergaard

Jeff Cohen ~ Luis Rojas ~ Sandy Alderson

Francisco Lindor ~ THUMBS DOWN ~ Javier Baez

Yogi Berra ~ Gary Carter ~ Keith Hernandez ~ Tug McGraw

and so much more!

👎

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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.

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The Metsian Podcast: The Second Half Begins With Metstradamus, John Coppinger

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

ROAD TRIP REVIEW:

PITTSBURGH & CINCINNATI

GUEST

METSTRADAMUS

JOHN COPPINGER

eighty-three minutes

 

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The Metsian Podcast: First Place and the Roosevelt Avenue Resistance

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

seventy-two minutes

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The Metsian Podcast: Giving Adversity The Silent Treatment with NY1 Reporter Roger Clark

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

FEATURED GUEST

NY1 Reporter and Life-Long Mets Fan

ROGER CLARK

 sixty-one minutes

RESILIENCY

#LFGM

The Metsian Podcast: State of the Metropolitans with Newsday's David Lennon

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

FEATURED GUEST

New York Newsday Baseball Columnist 

David Lennon

1:40:00

Sandy Alderson ~ Luis Rojas ~ Zack Scott

Outgoing Coaches ~ Pete Alonso ~ Incoming Coaches

Pitching ~ Hitting ~ Defense

... and so much more! 

The Metsian Podcast: Putting April Through the Translator with The Record/NorthJersey Mets Columnist Justin Tuscano

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

GUEST

From The Record and NorthJersey.com

New York Mets Columnist 

JUSTIN C. TUSCANO

104 minutes

APRIL WRAP-UP

Early Assessments ~ Hitting Woes ~ Mother Nature

Zack Scott ~ Luis Rojas ~ Chili Davis ~ Sandy Alderson

Jacob deGrom ~ Michael Conforto ~ Pete Alonso ~ Francisco Lindor

Tom Seaver ~ Doc Gooden ~ Brandon Nimmo

and so much more!

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The Metsian Podcast: Feeling That Rocky Mountain High w/ FAFIF's Greg Prince

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

GUEST

Author and Co-Proprietor 

FAITH AND FEAR IN FLUSHING

Greg Prince

seventy-eight minutes

Jacob deGrom's Gem ~ Marcus Stroman's Craftsmanship

James McCann's Arm ~ Luis Rojas Decisions ~ Francisco Lindor's Presence

The Rest of the Week That Was & The 1976 New York Mets!  

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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

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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

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N.Y. Mets: A Flushing December to Remember

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

SOAPBOX SPECIAL

Okay, the Mets went from seeking a President of Baseball Operations to just letting Sandy Alderson make up his own mind about filling the position himself.  

In the meantime, the Mets reconnected with Jerry Blevins and signed Trevor May.  While Blevins is signed to a minor deal, the Mets' expediency in shoring up the bullpen speaks volumes.  Sandy Alderson was made to sit idly under previous ownership, while the annual run on quality relievers generally took place before New Year's Day.  Then by late January/early February, Jeffie would finally authorize Alderson to sift through the leftovers.

The Mets also signed a much-needed and, more importantly, a competent receiver in James McCann.  He is not J.T. Realmuto, who is presently seeking everything under the sun in contract demands.  Sandy Alderson reasoned that timing was one of the determining factors insofar as their decision to pounce on McCann.  Unlike Realmuto, McCann comes at a very reasonable four-year, $40 million pact.  He has never played more than 120 games in a season.  However, the 30-year old owns an above-average caught-stealing percentage; he is fundamentally sound behind the plate and is adaptable to varying pitching styles and individual quirks - a major complaint levied against Wilson Ramos.

Sandy Alderson also could have easily moved on from manager Luis Rojas but elected not to.  Not only did an as yet fully-formed front office reaffirm their commitment to Rojas, but they also facilitated his request by hiring Dave Jauss as bench coach.  Jauss knows Rojas since the day he was born.  Between them exists a mutual trust along with a lifetime of love and respect.

Then, out of nowhere, the media killjoys chimed in.  Some among the local pundits actually criticized the Mets for what they perceived to be their too slow and overly methodical vetting process while panting at the sudden availability of Theo Epstein and pointing to the aforementioned player acquisitions made before having a general manager in place.  These are the same so-called experts; they know who they are, who for years and years apologized for the Wilpons and criticized a "petulant" fanbase (until emboldened by the Wilpon's clear demise and departure, that is).

Although, it's somewhat ironic that Brodie Van Wagenen raided away from the Red Sox executives  Allard Baird and Jared Banner, only to have Steve Cohen's incoming regime purge Baird and Banner and all remnants of the previous administration, then revert right back to raiding the Red Sox by hiring away Zack Scott to work as assistant general manager to Jared Porter (himself a one-time former Red Sox executive).  In turn, Boston's front office insisted the Mets please agree to cease poaching their executives for a while.  But not before Porter and Scott are successfully reunited.  Therefore, mission accomplished.

It's been quite a December to remember in Flushing.  That being said, I'm not expecting the now settled ownership and new front office to build a World Series champion all in one off-season.  After all, proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance - food for thought that some folk in media should have taken into consideration before disseminating such trash.

Where were they when over the better part of the last eighteen years, we needed them to chastise the Wilpon's for their legacy of gross mismanagement?

N.Y. Mets: The Monster Matz is a National League Smash

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Matzie .. Matzie

not mamma, not dadda, 

Matzie ... Matzie ... Matzie

This was supposed to be the season Steven Matz finally matures into a more composed left-handed craftsman, just like last year was supposed to be the season Steven Matz finally matures into a more composed left-handed craftsman.

So far that person remains missing in action.  This objective observer has yet to detect any advanced development in the now 29-year old southpaw from Long Island.  Maybe what they say is true: playing at home in front of family and friends is a bad idea.  Maybe a change of scenery will do him good.  What else is there left to think?

He has so far failed to exceed six innings through five starts.  His first appearance of the season remains the only game to date in which he pitches at least six innings.  In that game he allows one run on two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.  A stellar season debut, for sure.  But it remains his best and only truly effective outing of the season.  Otherwise, he's been pushing the proverbial boulder up Mt. Flushing ever since.  The Mets are 0-5 in games Matz starts.  He owns a 9.00 ERA, 1.565 WHiP and 7.01 FIP in just 23 innings pitched.  He is averaging just 4.2 innings per start, and presently leads all of baseball with four losses.

THROWING FLUFF & FITS INSTEAD OF FASTBALLS

From his rookie season in 2015 through 2018 Matz utilizes his fastball at a rate of 62.2 percent.  Starting last season he's been throwing his fastball at a decreased rate of 51.5 percent - a noteworthy difference exceeding ten percent.  Conversely, over his first four seasons he utilizes his change-up at a rate of only 12.7 percent.  Last season his frequency increases to 20.1 percent, and this year he is up to 27.1 percent, which is an increase of near 15% since 2018.  His curveball (16.8%) remains relatively level.  But whereas last season he threw his slider at a rate of 14.4 percent this season (3.6%) it has all but disappeared.  Making this somewhat more ponderous is that his fastball is being clocked this season at a career best 94.7mph, while all his other pitches are in line with career averages, all according to Fangraphs.

DANGEROUS PEOPLE WITH STICKS IN THEIR HANDS

At 29-years of age and in his sixth season in the bigs one would think he'd be in the midst of his prime.  Instead Matz is yielding more hits than ever before.  He brings a career 9.1 H/9 average into this season, but is presently 2.6 above that mark with a problematic 11.7 H/9 average.  He isn't just hittable, he is smashable, if there exists such a word.  Matz brought a career 19.7% line-drive percentage into the 2020 season.  The last two seasons have been his best in that regard - a career best 15.4% line-drive average in 2018 and a 19.8% line-drive average in 2019.  This season that number has spiked to 28.8%, which is 8.7% above his career average.  His HardHit% also stands at a career high 42.7 mark.  Never before in his career has he breached the 40 percentile for a full season, also according to Fangraphs.

Did I mention Steven Matz leads the National League in runs allowed, and leads all of baseball in home runs allowed?

SOMETIMES A MANAGER HAS TO DO WHAT A MANAGER HAS TO DO

Mashable Matz .. he's a league wide smash .. hitters catch on in a flash .. do the Mash.

Perhaps Steven and the Mets rookie pitching coach should rethink this change-up strategy.  Otherwise, the rolodex of excuses is near exhausted.  On Thursday Matz was tentatively due to make his sixth start and the 107th start of his major league career while featuring a career 4.25 ERA.  But to hear Luis Rojas speak, it seems nothing is guaranteed.  In fact, Seth Lugo has already been named starter as of Wednesday night.  Not so sure that's the right move either.  However, with the Mets rotation presently in shambles Rojas is at a point where if nothing ventured, nothing is gained.  

Manager's call ... good for him.

Matz is being relegated to the bullpen ... do the Mash.

A Metsian Podcast: First Quarter Review

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

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

#LGM

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

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N.Y. Mets: Ongoing Ninth Inning Fire Rages On

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

WILL THE METS REAL FIREMAN PLEASE STEP UP

One strike away from their second straight victory to begin the season, and ...

 ( ( ( (    POOF!  ) ) ) )

... another Edwin Diaz pitch irretrievably disappears over the fence.

Manager Rojas spends the lead-up making timely substitutions and smartly reconfiguring his defense.  In fact, the freshman Rojas sets the stage rather well.  Starter Steven Matz exits on the winning side of a 2-1 contest after six innings and 93 pitches thrown, with 58 (62%) going for strikes.  After which the trio of Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances, and Justin Wilson, join together for two scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and fanning a pair.

Enter Edwin Diaz; it's the ninth inning.  With two outs and the Mets clinging to a slim 2-1 lead, he gets two strikes on Atlanta designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.  Then comes the fatal pitch, belt high and flat, on the outside portion of the plate, just begging to be hit the other way by a right handed batter.  And Ozuna does just that, sending Diaz' offering high beyond the reach of Michael Conforto, and over the right field fence - game tied.  The Mets eventually lose in the tenth inning, but the damage is already done (MLB's new extra inning rules be damned).

Diaz last year pitches 58 innings and yields fifteen home runs all in the ninth inning, which sets a new MLB record previously established by Francisco Rodriguez.  Now with the 2020 season underway, Edwin appears in each of the Mets first two games.  Therefore, since arriving at Flushing he has now pitched 60 innings, surrendered sixteen home runs, all in the ninth inning.  It bears repeating: eight blown saves; seven losses, sixteen home runs allowed in just 60 innings pitched, with a 5.37 ERA and 1.379 WHiP, over 68 overall appearances as a Met.  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 arm is far from approaching its expiration date.  His 103 strikeouts and 15.4 K/9 average are perhaps his best and only defense.  He strikes out two on Opening Day, and strikes out two more on Saturday before his run in with Ozuna.  But what good is that?

Granted this is only game two of the season, but - and it's a big but - there remains only 58 games left to play.  Therefore, one must question how much longer can the Mets afford to hand over ninth inning responsibilities to a consistently ineffective Edwin Diaz.

FIREMAN WANTED: INQUIRE WITHIN

In this compromised 60-game season, time is of the essence.  The responsibility of rethinking the ninth inning now falls on Luis Rojas.  Hunter Strickland raised some eyebrows during Summer Camp, but on Saturday had fans watching at home turning and looking the other way.  He incurs the loss upon yielding three runs, two earned, in just one-third of an inning pitched.  But the likes of Seth Lugo, Jeurys Familia, Justin Wilson, Dellin Betances, along with Edwin Diaz, should perhaps begin taking on a greater collective role insofar as closing out the ninth inning.

Steven Matz is the overlooked victim in all this.  He allows just one earned run on a mere two hits with one walk, and seven strikeouts, but for all his efforts unfortunately walks away with a no decision.

N.Y. Mets: La Potencia's Return is a Big Hit

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

OPENING DAY 

⇨ IN JULY ⇦

GAME ONE

BRAVES  0

METS       1

At the very least, with everything going on, Friday's game is historic.  Otherwise there's something about the Mets and Opening Day that always gets fans feeling all warm, orange, blue, and fuzzy.  However, it usually doesn't take long after that before we realize it's the hazy, hot, and humid, New York City summer that we're really experiencing.  Otherwise winning is really cool, especially on Opening Day.  It is an event unto itself, where on the one hand 50,000 fans assemble for a common cause, yet a given fan's individual experience is completely subjective.  Of course, you can say that about any games.  But in life they say be first or be the best.  Sometimes Opening Day is both.  Like Friday's opener against the rival Atlanta Braves ...

LED BY JACOB deGROM, METS WHITEWASH BRAVES

If you like pitching duels, you got treated to one on Opening Day.  Couldn't ask for more.  With the understanding Jacob deGrom recently experienced some back discomfort, I do not begrudge freshman manager Luis Rojas for taking deGrom out when he does.  The Grominator is dominant out of the gate throwing 100-mph fastballs en route to a scoreless one-hit effort through five innings with eight strikeouts.  He throws 72 pitches with 48 (66%) going for strikes.  But alas he is awarded the chronic no decision.  Seth Lugo pitches two scoreless innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts for the victory.  After which Justin Wilson and Edwin Diaz preserve the shutout.  Edwin Diaz faces four batters in the ninth, throwing thirteen pitches with eight going for strikes.  He walks one and fans two en route to his first save.  The Mets four pitchers join together on a three-hit whitewashing of the Atlanta Braves with fifteen strikeouts and just two walks.

Outside of one errant pitch placed center mass of home plate, Atlanta pitching is no less effective.  Starter Mike Soroka and three relievers limit the Mets to just six hits and no walks with four strikeouts.  One pitch is all it takes.  The comeback kid himself, Yoenis Cespedes, deposits a Soroka offering deep into the empty left field seats.  It's Yo's first home run in over two years, and it makes all the difference in Friday afternoon's opener at Citi Field.

La Potencia is back!

Oh ... and so much for social distancing in the dugout.

A Metsian Podcast 2020 Season Preview in July Special

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

THE NATIONAL PASTIME RETURNS

OPENING DAY IN JULY!?

GUEST 

  Mets Beat Writer 

NEWSDAY'S TIM HEALEY

2020 COVID NEW YORK METS

SEASON PREVIEW

seventy-minutes