Game Called: COVID-19 Whitewashes Yankees vs. Mets at Citi Field

From the desks of: 

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  &   BLAME CARLOS MAY

GAME CALLED
COVID-19
SNY NEWS YouTube Channel

One player and one organizational member of the New York Mets tested positive for COVID-19.

I bid them and their families, and the Mets organization health, calm and peace of mind.

*

Just a reminder: I am on record as being opposed to the playing of the 2020 regular season.  But if players chose to play, earn a potion of their salaries, and in tun allow owners to recoup lost revenue through an expanded playoff, more power to them.  I wish them well.  However, as we see there are ramifications and repercussions to their decisions and actions.

Thursday's Mets/Marlins game in addition to Friday's Yankees/Mets game at Citi Field were postponed.  The Mets are now the tenth team to experience COVID related postponements.  That's ten out of thirty teams - you do the math.  The Yankees previously had a series against the Phillies postponed.  Both instances were related to trace contact with the Miami Marlins who earlier in this process experienced an outbreak of 18 players and team personnel.  Miami has so far been limited to just 18 games and to some extent their roster is unrecognizable.  BUGS BUNNY had the right idea when he hand-sawed Florida away from the continental United States.  On a personal note, my sister and some cousins live in Florida which keeps forever pensive.  Their state clown governor is a governor clown.  The Marlins are due in New York next week.  I say let them land at LaGuardia Airport, give them time for refueling, turn them right around and send that plane right back to South Beach.  The local Tri-State are did a superb job flattening the curve particularly here in New York City.  Last thing we need is a school of infected Fish swimming about in Flushing Bay.  Of course I speak somewhat in jest, but on a more serious note is appears Yoenis Cespedes and Marcus Stroman are owed apologies by all of those whom chastised them for opting out under the perceived pretense of self-centeredness and selfishness.  In fact Stroman himself expressed his anxiety over the upcoming road trip into Miami.

There's a lesson to be learned: temper yourselves.

ICYMI:

• N.Y. Yankees: Jury Still Out on Aaron Judge
• N.Y. Mets: Monster Matz is a National League Smash

The New York Mets presently own a 12-14 (.461) record, with 123 runs for and 130 runs against.  Between the starting rotation being in shambles and the ongoing issue of hitting w/risp, the Mets have more problems than a math book.  Things may look great for the Yankees.  The second place Bronx Bombers own a 16-9 (.640) record, one-half game behind the Rays, with 135 runs for and 107 against.  But they've already sustained injuries to Giancarlo Stanton, Zack Britton, Gleyber Torres, James Paxton, Luis Avilan, Aaron Judge, and now DJ LeMmahieu.

A Mushroom Cloud Rises Over Flushing on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

!! GIMMIE SHELTER !!

DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT

Joined by 

Jeff Cohen from Baseball And BBQ

NEW YORK METS

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

And the rant begins...!

Give a Listen

#LGM

The Good, Bad, and Ugly, of Opening Day Weekend on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

GUEST

John Strubel 

of METS REWIND

forty-seven minutes

OPENING DAY WEEKEND

"SUNDAY NIGHT BLECH BALL"

Complete breakdown of 

Braves versus Mets

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.

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.

Squeezing Grapefruit League Baseball with Marc of MetsFansUnited on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

For love of Bob Myrick!

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

WITH GUEST

Marc AKA @NoMoreWilpons 

and @MetsFansUnited1

77 minutes

STUFF

Grapefruit League Opening Weekend

Left-Handed Pitching Dilemma

Starters ~ Bullpen 

Three Headed Catcher

JD Davis ~ Dom Smith ~ Brandon Nimmo

Steve Cohen ~ The SNY Cash Cow ~ James Dolan

Jason Bay ~ Lastings Milledge ~ Izzy ~ Jeff Reardon

Dave Cone for Mets HOF?

Happy Birthday Ron Hunt, and so much more!

BONUS OFF-TOPIC TANGENT: 

Yoenis Cespedes vs. Bo Jackson?

Yeah, we went there.

#LGM

N.Y. Mets: Brodie and the Budget

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

New York Mets: Not out of the woods yet, but light is beginning to shine through the leaves.

One of the major criticisms fans levy against ownership: the Wilpons can be swayed into spending money, they just do not spend wisely.

I knew the off-season would greatly test Brodie Van Wagenen's creativity.  After just two weeks on the job, it appears he's already passing with flying colors.  BVW reasoned upon acquiring Cano/Diaz how in past years the club too often tethered potential success with hopeful "if" scenarios; something Mets fans have been complaining about for years.  Only this time someone in the front office finally acknowledged it, and actually verbalized the corrosive effect it has had on fans.

We asked for change; we got change.  But due to ownership's continuing financial constraints, how many more changes either this year or next can we realistically expect? 

Ownership has never been forthright when it concerns club finances (so what else is new...).  As a result, they consistently leave themselves open to wide ranging speculation.  But there's obviously much more going on than meets the eye, behind the scene matters of which we're not privy.  In the meantime, I present this small sample of public information in order to somewhat reveal the club's current financial situation:

"When they say it's not about the money, it's about the money." - George Young, former general manager New York Giants.

Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz back in August of 2015 refinanced (over five years) the remaining roughly $700 million dollars of debt stemming from the Bernie Madoff implosion and post-recovery.  As such, the Mets/SNY-TV still owe lenders on average $140 million over each of the next two seasons.

In 2015, the year they won the pennant, the Mets drew 2,569,753 fans.  In 2016, they drew 2,789,602 fans to Citi Field.  After the season, Forbes reported Mets overall revenue rose 10%, to $167 million, up 43% over the previous season.

According to a June 2018 Bloomberg report, the $650 million in municipal bonds issued to build Citi Field were upgraded to slightly above junk status as Moody's Investors Service says investors can count on revenue from naming rights, sponsorship contracts, concessions, parking and premium seats.  The report points out that a little more than one-third of stadium revenue pledged to the bonds, about $60 million, comes from those sources, providing a very predictable cash flow.  The report goes on to say stadium costs are stable and debt service is level.

Rounded math says from 2016 through 2018 stadium revenue grew by roughly $20 million.  However, since 2016, attendance has dropped by over half a million.

For the moment, Baseball Reference lists the Mets 2019 projected salary commitment at $125.2 million.  Based on excitement created by the acquisition of Cano/Diaz, I'll assume Citi Field will experience a slight uptick in attendance, which theoretically should generate more revenue, perhaps achieving upwards of $190 million plus(?).  But once we add debt/bond payments, they're understandably cutting it really close. 

The Mets have just six players to speak of under contract: Robinson Cano; Yoenis Cespedes; Juan Lagares; Todd Frazier; Jason Vargas; and David Wright.  The only other people extracting large sums of Mets money are bankers.  Otherwise, the rest of the roster is populated by the arbitration proletariat.

Then there's the issue of recovered insurance, which is where the Mets can really put their money where their mouth is.  In the meantime, both Jeff Wilpon and BVW very recently reiterated more transactions are forthcoming.  Sounds promising, but I understand real financial flexibility is still about two years away.

"Brodie knows the parameters we're working with." - Jeff Wilpon

And so do we ... kinda.

*Attendance - Baseball Reference

A Very Metsian Podcast with Metstradamus and MetsMusings

From the desk of:  HEAD=BUTTING MR. MET

Sam, Rich, and I, present our

2018 End of Season Round Table 

Metsian Podcast

With Guests

John Coppinger aka Metstradamus

and

Mr. Gary Mack of MetsMusings.com

An End of Season Round Table is worthy of two hours, no?

John Coppinger joins us for the first half-hour.

Gary Mack joins for the final 90-minutes.

STUFF

Cy Young closing arguments ~ David Wright Farewell

The season that was ~ report cards ~ this record vs. that record

Linus' blanket ~ throwing Sandy Alderson under the bus

phantom finishes ~ first base quagmire ~ Peter Alonso

organizational failures at second base ~ Jeff McNeil ~ Amed Rosario

my kingdom for a catcher ~ grading Mickey Callaway

Fred, Jeff, the front office, and the next executive

This is when Sam makes me blow not one, but two gaskets.

N.Y. Mets: Trading Starting Pitching Now is Counterproductive

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Non-Waiver Trade Deadline

New York Mets: Three-Headed Monster Must Avoid Boondoggle of Amazin Proportion.

What's done is done.  Beyond parting with Jeurys Familia and Asdrubal Cabrera, I do not trust the Mets front office in its present state to transact much else.  If the "three headed monster" can relocate Jerry Blevins, Devin Mesoraco, Jose Bautista, etc., in exchange for warm bodies before Tuesday's deadline, fine.  Otherwise, the Mets must first reconcile their general manager situation, then let him/her figure things out.

Is trading Jacob deGrom and/or Noah Syndergaard the quickest way to restock the farm system with talent?  Perhaps.  But let someone else make that decision; someone with a plan.  Because at this very moment the Mets lack a clear and cohesive one, and the last thing any of us need on our hands is a Metsian boondoggle of Amazin proportion.  That's why I rather any talk of trading deGrom, Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, or Steven Matz, be revisited at a time well after Tuesday's non-waiver deadline, if at all.

Am I opposed to trading them?

No, for as long as I feel the plan is sound and the person implementing it garners results.

Truth be told, however, the club is in a bind.  They are financially committed to Todd Frazier for another season, and Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes for two more seasons.  At this juncture, it makes little sense leaving the team bereft of quality starters.  Unless the Mets are willing to eat the remaining monies owed Frazier and Bruce for sake of clearing out playing space for younger replacements, it appears as if the Mets hands are tied.  Therefore breaking up this pitching staff now may prove counterproductive.

N.Y. Mets: Another Jacob deGrom Gem Down The Drain

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Amazin Ineptness

New York Mets: Bats Continue Sabotaging Jacob deGrom's Bid for Cy Young Award.

Pittsburgh's Trevor Williams is only the latest National League hurler to seemingly pitch his best game of a burgeoning career against the Mets.  The Pirates 26-year old silences them through six full innings Saturday, allowing a mere five hits, three walks, while fanning five en route to his ninth victory of the season - almost twice as many victories as hard-luck loser Jacob deGrom.  Their bullpen covers the final three innings of this 0-5 whitewashing at PNC Park, allowing but one hit and striking out six.

The Mets ace is now 5-6 this season for which every single bat wielding member of the team should feel shame.  Every deGrom saboteur can be found, one sitting next to the other, within that clubhouse.

Or not ...

Mets fans caught a fleeting glimpse of Yoenis Cespedes last week.  Otherwise, he and Jay Bruce have proven themselves utterly ineffective, insignificant, and inconsequential, in that order.  Otherwise, not Mickey Callaway; not Sandy Alderson or the three-headed monster; not Jeff Wilpon; not Jay Horowitz; nor Cow Bell Man; the Mets position players are collectively to blame.

Jacob deGrom has five victories against six losses, with ten no-decisions in 21 starts this season.  Of those no-decisions, the Mets lose seven.  Overall, the team is 8-13 in games he pitches.  They provide him with four or more runs just seven times this season, with four occurring back during his first four starts, and only three times since.  Opponents are averaging 3.7 runs against the Mets in games he pitches, while the Mets are averaging 3.5 runs.  Jacob's last win comes on June 18, a resounding 12-2 victory over the Rockies at Colorado, no less.  Subtract that singular outburst, and the Mets are averaging just 3.1 runs in games deGrom pitches.

How inept is the Mets offense? 

Mets Offensive Statistics vs. National League Average

• 13th Runs Scored - League Avg. 463; Mets 406
• 15th Hits - League Avg. 881; Mets 780
• 12th Home Runs - League Avg. 115; Mets 104
• 15th Total Bases - League Avg. 1,436;  Mets 1,290
• 15th Team Average - League Avg. .247; Mets .229
• 13th OPS - League Avg. .723;  Mets .688

The numbers tell no lies.

Jacob deGrom leads the major leagues with a 1.82 ERA.  His ERA has not touched two since his last start in April.  Said another way, he's allowing less than two runs per nine innings pitched for the last three months straight.  His 0.98 WHiP and 6.0 WAR are second in the league, and his 164 strikeouts rank third.

Of the Mets six hits Saturday against the Pirates, Jacob deGrom accounts for two.

Position players, negligent, every single one.

N.Y. Mets: Second Half Faith and Fears METSian Podcast w/ Greg Prince

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

EPISODE #15

Featured Guest:

Greg Prince ~ Faith and Fear in Flushing

STUFF

Second Half Preview ~ George Foster ~ The Seven P's ~ Jacob deGrom ~ 2015 Season

Who's In Charge? ~ Mickey Callaway ~ Trade Deadline ~ Yoenis Cespedes ~ Jerry Grote

Bullpen ~ Jose Reyes ~ First Base ~ Claudell Washington ~ Casey Stengel ~ New York Giants

Brooklyn Dodgers and so much more.

1 hour: 57 minutes

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: Fall To Par Then Pray For Rain

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

MEMORIAL DAY REPORT

This past off-season at a winter luncheon Mets COO Jeff Wilpon told reporters he believes the Mets are within a range in which they can effectively compete ... and that he does not believe they must rank among the top payrolls in baseball in order to contend for a championship.

According to Anthony DiComo at MLB.com, Jeff Wilpon said,

"I'd rather look at what we can do in terms of wins and losses.  Being top five in payroll, I don't think that won us a World Series.  So we're set out to make the playoffs and do well deep into the playoffs, and try to win the World Series - not to try and be in the top five in payroll.  If you look at what's coming back or what should be coming back that was hurt last year, that's tantamount to signing some free agents ... "

Very well ... let's eat your oatmeal pragmatism stick with wins and losses.  The latter have been piling up of late, as have the myriad of ways the Mets have gone about them.  Although the season started very promisingly with the team reeling off five straight series victories en route to a club record 11-1 start, they've since gone 15-25 dropping them to par with an 25-25 overall record, and a fourth place standing in the N.L. East.

• The nightcap of Monday's double-header is/was delayed by rain.

If nothing else the Mets did reconfirm the importance of a good start.  I say it all the time: you can't win pennants in April, but you sure can lose them.  Most fans would be apoplectic by now (if not already) were it not for their 11-1 start.  Instead, we're talking about a team just five games out of first place patiently awaiting the returns of Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier to their line-up.

About that ...

It's Memorial Day, the traditional first checkpoint of the season, and to no one's surprise the Mets are already hobbling after the first turn.  Injuries have again become a source of consternation.  Pitchers Anthony Swarzak, AJ Ramos, and position players Travis d'Arnaud, Juan Lagares, Frazier, Cespedes, and now Wilmer Flores, have all felt something either snap, crackle, or pop. 

In the meantime, the team's numbers speak for themselves:  

N.L. East: 4th Place

Record: 25-25 (.500)

Home Record: 12-13

Road Record:  13-12

Run Differential:  -21

Team ERA: 4.18 (10th)

HR Allowed: 60 (3rd)

Strikeouts: 477 (3rd)

Avg. Against: .251 (10th)

WHiP: 1.31 (9th)

Team Average: .240 (9th)

OBP: .316 (10th)

Slugging: .388 (11th)

Home Runs: 52 (11th)

Runs Scored: 206 (12th)

In other words, the Mets presently are an average team bordering on sub-par.  However, from a May 28th perspective the front office considers this being in the mix. 

My friend Sam says the Wilpons are in the business of selling hope.  And I'm like, the 1973 and 2015 teams rock forever, man!  We can do this.  Ya Gotta Believe!  After all, they twice went from being mediocre to making Mets history, right?

#LGM

Wink, wink, Jeff.

The Greatest Start in N.Y. Mets History Podcast

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

Mickey Callaway and the New York Mets are off to their best start in the organization's fifty-six year history.  They've jumped out to a 10-1 start, and are in the midst of an eight game winning streak.  After opening the season with series victories over the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets pressed forward with series sweeps over the rival Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins.

An Off-Day METSian Podcast: Is This Real?

I hosted, joined by Rich and featured guest Greg Prince from FaithAndFearInFlushing.com

This is our first podcast of the regular season, and we damn near covered everything.
Salute to Rusty Staub ~ Team's Historic Start ~ Mickey Callaway ~ Dave Eiland
Callaway vs. Terry Collins ~ Starting Pitchers ~ Bullpen ~ All Positions Players.
1 hour; 40 minutes ~ Packed Full-o-Stuff.

N.Y. Mets: Callaway Era Successfully Clears Launching Pad

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets lead series 2-0

I - NYM 9; STL 4

II - NYM 6; STL 2

Series Finale

St. Louis Cardinals

vs.

New York Mets

FROM

Roosevelt Avenue Grounds

QUEENS

New York Mets: Up, Up, And Callaway We Go...!

So far, so good ...

A pair of victories over the St. Louis Cardinals with a chance to sweep on Easter Sunday is a fine start to any regular season - much less Mickey Callaway's first as manager of the New York Mets.  If this keeps up, Mets fans should have little problem giving off-season changes their final stamp of approval.

Two games, though, is far from trend setting.  Yet, Coach Callaway has already made things quite discussion worthy nonetheless.  Although he was mainly hired to harness this team's pitching potential, his choice of line-ups thus far have made the greatest impressions, and impact.

Game One

• Nimmo; Cespedes; Bruce; Cabrera; Frazier; Gonzalez; Plawecki; Syndergaard; Rosario.

Game Two

• Cabrera; Cespedes; Bruce; Frazier; d'Arnaud; Gonzalez; Lagares; deGrom; Rosario.

Lead-off Hitter:

Once Michael Conforto returns, both the center field and lead-off hitter situations will obviously change.  In the meantime, we knew Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares would be platooning.  Therefore, I'm not fielding any gripes about both receiving a start each despite facing two right-handed starting pitchers.  Again ... two games does not a trend make.

Nimmo started Opening Day and went 2 for 3, with a walk, and two runs scored.  On Saturday, Juan Lagares did not lead-off, but went 2 for 4 with a run scored nonetheless.  Asdrubal Cabrera went from hitting clean-up on Opening Day to the lead-off spot on Saturday, and went 3 for 5 with a double, RBI, and a run scored.  Through two games, the Mets lead-off hitters are 5 for 8 (.625) with a walk, RBI, and three runs scored.

Batting Second:

I understand why Mickey Callaway is doing it.  This is about manipulating the bottom of the order in anticipation of, and getting his most lethal hitter more at-bats and better pitches to hit, then providing maximum protection throughout the middle of the order behind him.  Coach isn't exactly breaking with conventional wisdom here.  It's been done before.  It's also an attempt at minimizing the pitcher's potential dead-spot in the line-up.  I'm just not a proponent of batting Yoenis Cespedes second.  Regardless what I think, Coach Callaway's decision is paying off.  Yoenis is 3 for 7 with three walks, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored.

Questionable Three Strategy:

It's always been the unwritten rule that a team's best hitter bat third.  Coach Callaway has twice penciled in Jay Bruce, whom so far is 1 for 8 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored.  In the spirit of Callaway's new ways, I would consider batting Asdrubal Cabrera third, and have Bruce clean-up.

Clean-Up Hitter:

Coach got every one's attention when he charged Asdrubal Cabrera with hitting clean-up on Opening Day.  In Cabrera's defense, he is a professional hitter, and provides more pop than Mets fans originally anticipated.  He's also been one of the Mets more clutch hitters since his arrival.  Alas he went hit-less in four at-bats.  Todd Frazier took his turn cleaning-up on Saturday, and went 1 for 3 with three RBI.

Batting Sixth:

What, me worry?  In the span of two games, Adrian Gonzalez is turning a worrisome spring training into a distant memory.  Hampered last season by a bad back while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gonzalez went 12 for 58 (.207) in Grapefruit play, with just three extra base hits and three RBI.  So far, he is 3 for 7 with two walks, a double, a run scored, and an RBI, through two games against the Cardinals.

Catcher:

We knew there would also be a platoon behind the plate this season, but thank Mickey Callaway for giving this a new spin.  It was very interesting seeing Travis d'Arnaud bat fifth.  He went 1 for 3 on Saturday, with a walk and home run.  Syndergaard prefers throwing to Kevin Plawecki.  That's no secret.  And so Plawecki started Opening Day and batted seventh, going 2 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored, and an RBI.  So far, the platooning backstops are 3 for 6, with three walks, a home run, three runs scored, and two RBI.

Batting Eighth/Ninth:

Coach Callaway has elected to bat the pitcher eighth in each of the first two games.  Let's see how long this continues.  Otherwise, the free swinging Amed Rosario is being positioned to precede the lead-off hitter and Yoenis Cespedes by batting ninth.  Until Rosario learns to be more selective at the plate, this may prove an effective ploy ... for now.  Amed went 2 for 4 in his first ever major league Opening Day, with two RBI and two runs scored.

Terrors on the Base Paths:

Mickey Callaway and third base coach Glenn Sherlock have made one thing perfectly clear.  They intend on being aggressive.  They'll attempt taking an extra base at every turn, challenge outfield arms and their opponent's ability to execute plays.

First Pitch:

The Mets top two starting pitchers seemingly launched their 2018 campaigns without a hitch.  If you look back, the most successful teams throughout history usually feature a terrible twosome that opponents dread facing.  Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom must be that for the Mets more so now than ever.  Noah started on Opening Day, allowing four earned runs on six hits, but walked none and fanned ten batters over six innings pitched for his first victory of the season.  Jacob deGrom lasted 5.2 innings in his first start, limiting the Cardinals to just one earned run on four hits and a walk, while fanning seven for his first victory.

The Firemen:

The Mets opened up on Thursday, were off on Friday, then resumed play on Saturday.  Despite a day off Callaway's utilization of the bullpen was no less curious.  The same trio which appeared on Thursday were the same three which appeared in Saturday's contest.  Coach's plan for Sunday's series finale will prove quite revealing.  Robert Gsellman seems to be embracing his new bullpen role, allowing just one hit and fanning four in 1.2 innings.  Anthony Swarzak pitched the eighth in each game, while Jeurys Familia closed out both, and earned his first save (of the four out variety).

N.Y. Mets: Grand Opening

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

OPENING DAY

Cardinals   4

Mets          9

FINAL

So many variables factored into making this Opening Day one of the most anticipated events in recent Mets history.  And I'm happy to say, Callaway and Co. did not disappoint, as relaunch of Sandy Alderson's new order went off without a hitch.

They couldn't have scripted things any better.  Noah Syndergaard pitched six strong innings; the bullpen closed things out with three scoreless innings of no-hit relief; the line-up manufactured twelve hits and nine runs; and the defense played error free.

Thor's first outing of the season went well enough.  Efficiency wise, Syndergaard averaged fourteen pitches per inning, and threw 85 pitches overall with 59 (68%) going for strikes.  He allowed six hits, and surrendered a pair of home runs - one to Yadier Molina that careened off the left field foul pole.  Otherwise, he walked none and fanned ten batters en rout to his first victory of the season.

A rather gamely Robert Gsellman struck out the side in the seventh.  Free agent acquisition Anthony Swarzack struck out one during a scoreless eighth.  Jeurys Familia then closed out the game in a non-save situation.

Mickey Callaway's First Line-Up:

• CF - Nimmo
• LF- Cespedes
• RF- Bruce
• 2B - Cabrera
• 3B - Frazier
• 1B  Gonzalez
• C - Plawecki
• SP - Syndergaard
• SS - Rosario

I'd only question Cabrera batting clean-up, otherwise this order suits me just fine.  If Mickey Callaway insists on batting Cespedes second, then of course something has to give elsewhere in the line-up.  That said, Amed Rosario (making his first ever Opening Day start with the Mets) handed in a stellar performance as the free swinger went 2 for 4 at the plate, with an RBI.  But by batting him ninth Callaway might have realized a desired affect.  Amed scored two runs, driven in each time by Yoenis Cespedes whom went 2 for 5 with three RBI.  

Cespedes, Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, and Adrian Gonzalez, joined to go 6 for 15 (.400), with two runs scored and five RBI.

Kevin Plawecki is apparently picking up where he left off last season, making his mark against right-handed pitching by going 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI.

I've spent all spring raving about Brandon Nimmo, if not longer.  He's such a throwback and self-made talent that I just can't help but root for him.  I do indeed believe he could potentially solve the Mets need for a lead-off hitter.  Unfortunately regular playing time will be hard to come by once Michael Conforto returns to the line-up.  Thursday's performance (2 for 3, with a walk and a run scored) was nevertheless a glimpse into how effective I believe Nimmo could some day be batting atop the order. 

The Mets are now 37-20 (.649) on Opening Day.

N.Y. Mets: Case of the Missing $20 Million Dollars Solved?

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Here we go again.

New York Mets: When they say it's not about the money, it's usually about the money.

Remember when Jeff Wilpon informed media and fans how the Mets would be shaving $20 million dollars from this year's opening day payroll?

During that winter luncheon Mets COO Jeff Wilpon told reporters he believes the Mets are within a range in which they can effectively compete ... and that he does not believe they must rank among the top payrolls in baseball to compete for a championship.

According to Anthony DiComo at MLB.com, Jeff Wilpon said,

"I'd rather look at what we can do in terms of wins and losses.  Being top five in payroll, I don't think that won us a World Series.  So we're set out to make the playoffs and do well deep into the playoffs, and try to win the World Series - not to try and be in the top five in payroll.  If you look at what's coming back or what should be coming back that was hurt last year, that's tantamount to signing some free agents ... "

He is obviously referring to the 2006-2008 clubs rather than the 2015 Mets.  However, being among the top five in payroll was never the issue.  All fans ever asked was for the organization to operate as the National League representative of New York City should.

We're only talking three brackets here: the top ten teams; the middle ten teams; and the bottom ten teams.  The Mets ranked 12th in payroll last season qualifying them as middle bracket spenders.  It's that simple.

Anthony DiComo quotes general manager Sandy Alderson saying,

"You've just got to take another look at the facts from a slightly different perspective.  We've already spent more money than most teams this season.  We've had one of the rare big, big contracts in the last couple of seasons.  No, we're not running out and signing everybody.  But at the same time, in instances, we've stepped up and signed players and made moves in some cases where others haven't."

Sandy Alderson is obviously far more practiced in the art of pragmatic diffusion.  On the one hand, he's right insofar as acquiring and re-signing Yoenis Cespedes was indeed a genuine increase in spending.  Alderson had been doling out the same dollars just to different transient players in the years and months leading up to the 2015 trade deadline.  On the other hand, that transaction was only made possible because the Mets were able to refinance $700 in debt that same summer.

Otherwise, the Mets enter this season spending roughly $50 million more than they did in 2014, and at least equal to what they spent in 2016.

Circling back, Jeff Wilpon also said, "I understand the fan base's frustration."

I would argue he does not.  Because every time ownership says it's not about the money, it usually winds up being about the money.  Therefore the real matter at hand stems from their lack of forthrightness and transparency.

On March 23 Mike Ozanian of Forbes revealed that Citi Field posted revenue of $168 million and net income of $75 million in 2016, then last year generated revenue of $163 million and net income of $97 million - a net increase of $20 million over the previous year.

Why then would ownership be slashing $20 million?

As Mike Ozanian puts it, the $97 million net income was goosed by a $28 million credit for "Requisition of PILOT O&M credits." (Citi Field Expenses: PILOT bond payments in lieu of taxes).

There's the rub ...

That is money ownership knows they will not be realizing again this season.  And considering Citi Field attendance dipped slightly last season, they're apparently hedging themselves (Citi Field) to at least stay steady at $75 million net income.

Think not?

The Mets Opening Day payroll in 2016 was $135 million according to Baseball Prospectus.  Last season, the Mets Opening Day payroll was a club record $155 million.  Then Jeff Wilpon ordered a rollback of $20 million again.  In fact, the Mets will enter this regular season with an adjusted active Opening Day payroll of $123,082,654 million, according to Spotrac.com.

That's no coincidence (injury compensation aside).

This also explains perfectly why Jeff Wilpon reportedly nixed a deal for Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis, whom is still owed over $30 million through the next two seasons.  Sandy Alderson was instead forced to seek alternatives, and wound up signing Todd Frazier for half the money over the same period of time.

Baseball Reference: Complete Breakdown of 2018 NYM Salaries and Contracts

In addition to this year's salary commitments, the Mets must also continue making deferred payments to Carlos Beltran, Bret Saberhagen, and Bronx County head of tourism Bobby Bonilla.

That's right ... Bobby Bonilla is still banking Mets money ($1,193,248 million a year to be exact) and will continue collecting Wilpon's wampum until the year 2036.

N.Y. Mets: Anger in the Outfield

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Spring Training 2018 Previews 

and Another METSian Podcast #6

New York Mets: Michael Conforto is the axis upon which spins all my outfield angst.

Michael Conforto is a left fielder by nature, having started 145 minor league games in left, just seven in center, and none in right.

Yet, he is unable to play left field for the Mets because that position belongs to Yoenis Cespedes, whom not incidentally owns one of the strongest arms in baseball.  Only problem is, he must play right field if the Mets are to maximize that attribute.  Although Cespedes has been only somewhat agreeable to playing center field in the past, he still remains adamantly opposed to playing right field today.

Therefore, the Mets shifted Michael Conforto over to right.  His transition went smoothly right up until the club acquired right fielder Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds, forcing Conforto to accommodate yet another player by moving to center.

This is what you call jerking around your prospects - in this case, you're best positional prospect.  The Mets draft players, develop them, but generally fail at integrating them into a greater progressive operation at the major league level.  I can speculate why.  For the moment, however, I'm content blaming Sandy Alderson and his disjointed team building methods.

Team building ... part of which means being strong up the middle.

Where it concerns Jay Bruce, I was originally against his acquisition because it involved exchanging second base prospect Dilson Herrera.  My former hopes lay in Herrera and Amed Rosario manning the middle infield, with Michael Conforto playing right field.  In turn, Sandy should have been seeking out a legitimate center fielder that could have equally satisfied their need for a lead-off hitter.

Today, the Mets still lack an effective lead-off hitter; are relying on a patchwork system at second base; and are still going with a corner outfielder playing out of position in center.

There's still hope ... for me that is.

Dominic Smith has proven himself unprepared for major league duty, and I have no faith Adrian Gonzalez will work out at first base.  Therefore if the Mets go with Jay Bruce at first base, and Conforto moves over to right, I'd be perfectly content with Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares platooning in center.

In fact, I welcome it.

Since Michael Conforto is still recovering from shoulder surgery, rushing him back prior to May 1st would be complete folly.  There's no reason for the Mets to act with haste when indeed they have Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares available.

Moreover, I was very happy when Sandy Alderson refused to include Nimmo in any potential deal for Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen - not because of any lack of interest in McCutchen, but because I did not want to relinquish Nimmo.  He turns 25-years old in another five days, and to date he's put together a fine spring performance, slashing .283/.361/.585, with eight extra base hits and ten RBI through 17 Grapefruit League games.

Subway Series: Mediocrity Running Wild

From the desks of:  

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Yankees lead series 2-1

I - NYY 6; NYM 5*

II - NYM 7; NYY 1

III - NYY 9; NYM 5

*10 innings

SUBWAY SERIES

New York Mets

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

Yankee Stadium

River Avenue, Bronx

Game One Final

NYY  6

NYM 5

10 innings

The Yankees extended their win streak to three games on Monday with an extra inning 6-5 victory over the hosting Mets.

Logan Verrett did well in his head-to-head match-up against C.C. Sabathia.  Logan allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks, with four strikeouts through five full innings of work, but left on the losing side of a (then) 3-2 game.

It wasn't till the sixth inning that Mets fortunes, and C.C. Sabathia's for that matter, changed when   frequent call-up Matt Reynolds connected on a three run home run, making it a 5-3 Mets lead.

Sabathia then walked pinch hitter Steven Matz (Game Three's starting pitcher) earning him Joe Girardi's hook.  All told, C.C. was tagged for five runs on eight hits, walked three, and fanned five over 5.2 innings pitched.

Luck, however, was fickle this evening, tapping Mets relievers Jerry Blevins and Addison Reed on the shoulder.  Both each allowed a run during a Yankees two-run eighth inning, tying the game at five.

Seth Lugo earned the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning.

After hitting seven home runs in July, Wilmer Flores hit his first home run of August in the second inning off Sabathia.

Game Two Final

NYY  1

NYM 7

Tuesday's start was a test of sorts for Jacob deGrom, who passed with flying colors.  He battled lat issues early in the season, and now believes he's conquered some mechanical issues.

Against the Yankees, deGrom tossed seven shutout innings, while limiting the Yankees to just four hits and a walk.   He threw 103 pitches, with 69 going for strikes, and fanned eight batters.  

Jacob improved his record to 7-5, and sports a stellar 2.41 ERA.

The game marked Jay Bruce's first in a Mets uniform.  Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for second base prospect Dilson Hererra, Bruce went 0 for 4 in his Mets debut.  He saw a total of 13 pitches and fanned twice.

With the exception of 2014, Bruce has hit at least 20 home runs in each of his nine MLB seasons.   He's presently leading the National League with 80 RBI, and is believed he'll provide the Mets a formidable one-two punch from each side of the plate when combined with Yoenis Cespedes.

Game Three Final

NYM 5

NYY  9

Ugly is as ugly does.

In truth, both teams played terribly, but I only root for one of them...

Was Steven Matz' 20th start of the season an omen?  Apocalyptic nightmare?  Not quite, but allowing six runs on six hits and a walk, with six strikeouts through six innings pitched was eerily unsettling.

The newly assembled one-two punch of Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce lasted one game.  Yoenis is heading to the disabled list (with the other guys...) after "tweaking" his ailing quadriceps during his last at-bat in the ninth inning.  

It can be argued the Mets were foolish for devising this play/rest plan of DH'ing him against the Yankees and Tigers in the first place.  While the greater baseball establishment agrees total rest is the only effective remedy for quad strains, once again the Mets opt for playing injury roulette.  They have now exacerbated the situation, and prolonged their agony.  Meanwhile, Yoenis Cespedes' habitual golf playing requires an entirely different conversation.

The Mets offense otherwise continually shot themselves in the foot Wednesday night, essentially letting Yankees starter Chad Green repeatedly escape disaster by rolling over pitches and grounding into numerous double plays through the early innings of play.

  

Then there's Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, who defeated the Mets in more ways than one.   His three run home off Steven Matz in the second inning would ultimately prove the decisive blow of the game, but he also created some drama, and added a little comic relief into the fray.

With the very first pitch in Tex's very next at-bat, Steven Matz hit him in the leg with a pitch, of which Teixeira took exception, and very emphatically exhibited his displeasure.  Both benches and bullpens emptied, but cooler New York City heads prevailed.

The foolishness, however, didn't stop there.  The Yankees loaded the bases in the seventh inning with Hansel Robles on the mound and Teixeira the base runner on second.  In short, Robles thought Tex was stealing signs, and completely let Teixeira screw with his concentration.

Southpaw reliever Josh Edgin is back, making his first appearance for the Mets since undergoing Tommy John surgery.  He walked the lone batter he faced.

No one is complaining, but Jay Bruce is now 0 for 8 with a walk and three strikeouts though his first two games with the Mets.

NEW YORK METS           55-52

NEW YORK YANKEES    54-53

Extra Innings: Baseball's Most Prolific Bench Warmer

ICYMI

N.Y. Yankees: Hal Steinbrenner Backs Brian Cashman 

The Yankees were home, facing a lefty, yet Alex Rodriguez didn't even get his cleats dirty.  I question whether the Yankees front office think his skills are that badly diminished, whether they are holding a grudge against him, or if they are purposely preventing him from hitting home run number 700 of his career.  He would be the fourth player in history to do so, joining Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Barry Bonds.  Yet, the lack of attention is deafening.  Hell, the club may very well even be trying to frustrate him into retiring.

The Mets will start Bartolo Colon in Thursday's series finale against whom Alex Rodriguez has enjoyed great success throughout his career.  It will be interesting to see if Alex is thrown a bone.

Mets Continue July Surge Against Washington

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets win series opener 9-7 over Washington Nationals;

close to within three games of first place.

NEW YORK METS: Amazin' bats back in the swing of things, providing more leads, which means more Jeurys Familia, in turn producing more wins.

The 2016 regular season continues its near mirror imaging of last year, statistically speaking that is.

Only major difference being Terry's Kids lacked major league quality bats last year (prior to the trade deadline), meanwhile entered this season with quality major league personnel, but remain helpless against ever mounting and ruinous injuries affecting their key personnel.

Yet, to borrow a descriptive from last season, the Mets have remained resilient throughout.

The Amazin's entered Thursday's game against the first place Nationals with a 46-38 record, four games behind in the standings.  At face value, not a bad place to be.  Then Jose Reyes and Wilmer Flores both homered to help push the Mets by Washington in their series opener at Citi Field.

Rewind just a few games, and the Mets owned a 44-37 record through 81 games, compared to last year's 43-41 record by the midway point.

For a second straight season, pitching is the Mets forte.  Similarly, look no further than the offense for what has gone both right and wrong for the Mets.

National League

• April - #7 runs scored, #7 team average (.255)
• May - #13 runs scored, #15 team average (.211)
• June - #15 runs scored, #13 team average (.235)
• July - #1 runs scored, #1 team average

Month by Month Record

• April - 2015 (15-8); 2016 (15-7)
• May - 2015 (13-15); 2016 (14-15)
• June - 2015 (12-15); 2016 (12-15)
• July - 2015 (13-12); 2016 (6-1) and counting...

The Phantom Mets Menace

It's clear as the line-up goes, so go the Mets.  But the underlying reality suggests their very strength is fast becoming a major issue.  

Matt Harvey's addition to the disabled list is merely the latest injury seemingly conspiring against the Mets' defense of their National League pennant.  Only now he's facing season ending surgery, again, meanwhile, everyone continues crossing their fingers with every anxiety riddled Steven Matz start that goes by.

They could conceivably be in need of not just one, or two, but three starting pitchers in the months to come, unless Sandy Alderson acts prior to the deadline.

This, unfortunately, is also an untimely consequence of trading pitching prospects, which, in the Mets particular instance helped build them into a contender.  That said, they do not have anything near the likes of Michael Fulmer pitching at Las Vegas ready to step in.  I mean no disrespect, but, Seth Lugo, Rafael Montero, and/or Gabriel Ynoa, simply do not satisfy the Mets potential needs as defending N.L. champs.

Worth noting, this year's non waiver trade deadline has been pushed up to Monday, Aug. 1, to avoid the more familiar July 31 cutoff from falling on a Sunday.  After a fine off-season, the Mets front office stayed reactive as injuries mounted with the acquisitions of James Loney, Kelly Johnson, and Jose Reyes.  The big question, then, over the next three weeks will be ... what more can (or will) they do?

At the same time, it's worth pondering how much the potential returns of Zack Wheeler and Josh Edgin might help the Mets in the months to come.  They could effectively become two much needed acquisitions, in a manner of speaking.  Edgin is performing well during his assignment with Las Vegas, and is closer to returning than Wheeler, whom suffered a slight setback during his rehab, and had his potential return date pushed back to at least August.

METS 2016 ALL-STARS

• Noah Syndergaard (23 years old) is the Mets ace.  That is no longer open for debate.  Thor presently sports a 9-3 record with a 2.41 ERA, 1.06 WHiP, and 1.89 FIP.  In 101 innings pitched to date, Noah has fanned 123 batters for an 11.0 K/9 average, complemented by a low 1.3 W/9 average.

• Despite needing a cool nickname, Jeurys Familia (26 years old) appears fully immersed in the role of Closer now in his second full season serving the role.  Thursday against the Nationals, Jeurys saved his franchise record extending 31st save without blowing a single opportunity all season.  That gives him 74 saves in just the last 1 1/2 seasons.

• Yoenis Cespedes (30 years old) has been worthy of ever dollar spent on the muscle.   Representing the Mets in the batting order, he'll be the National League's starting left fielder in this year's All-Star game.  Yo is presently slashing .303/.373/.585, with 21 home runs and 52 RBI, ranking him second in the circuit in slugging and fourth in home runs.

• Congratulations Terry Collins, manager of this year's National League All-Star squad.

We Are Familia..

I heard Jim Duquette a few nights ago on SNY-TV say Noah Syndergaard was the Mets first half MVP.  That's hard to debate, but I will nevertheless side with closer Jeurys Familia as the Mets first half MVP.

After splitting four games against the Braves, then getting swept by the Nationals, Familia essentially ignited this most recent string of eight victories over their last nine games, when, he closed out the Chicago Cubs during their series opener with what can be argued as the team's biggest save of the 2016 season - Familia's 27th.

The Mets went on to sweep four games from the Cubs, take two of three from the Marlins, and win Thursday's rematch opener against the Nationals, in which Familia notched his aforementioned 31st save of the season.