From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
If noting else, hiring Brodie Van Wagenen is an attention grabbing change of face. Jeff Wilpon tasks his new general manager not only with improving Mets fortunes but to also once and for all transform the team's negative persona - deserved or not - being perceived by a growing population of Mets fans. Upon taking office in November 2018 Brodie issues a manifesto in which rebuilding is not an option. He insists the team will win now and for years to come. Brodie also says his reconfigured front office will be relentless in its pursuit of excellence. His plan calls for bold maneuvering in the micro, I while the macro entails establishing organizational competitiveness from the lower levels on up through the system. He sets about supplementing the existing core of Mets players with (in his estimation) major league ready talent and deepening the 40-man roster. In lieu of spending money Brodie facilitates his vision by transacting away a clutch of touted albeit low-level minor league prospects.
NOTE: With regards to finances, I'm convinced ownership remains in dire straits. Operationally speaking, be it Sandy Alderson or Brodie Van Wagenen the Mets are merely handing out the same Wilpon dollars to an ever churning corpus of transient players. Case in point: numerous players have come and gone but payroll remains relatively unchanged over the last three seasons. Jacob deGrom's big money years kick in just as Yoenis Cespedes' contract comes off the books. Speaking of which, ownership never once considers reinvesting recouped insurance monies. Of course, this is merely scratching the surface.
Brodie's Notable Off-Season Trade Acquisitions:
- J.D. Davis - acquired from Houston Astros for prospects Ross Adolph, Scott Manea, and Luis Santana.
- Keon Broxton - acquired from Milwaukee Brewers for prospects Adam Hill, Bobby Wahl, and Felix Valerio.
- Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz acquired from Seattle Mariners for Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, and prospects Justin Dunn, Jarred Kelenic, and Gerson Bautista.
Brodie's Notable and Not So Notable Free Agent Acquisitions:
- Wilson Ramos
- Jed Lowrie
- Jeurys Familia
- Rajai Davis; Carlos Gomez; Adeiny Hechavarria; Justin Wilson; Luis Avilan;
Brodie's Mets Inheritance:
- Jacob deGrom; Noah Syndergaard; Zack Wheeler; Michael Conforto; Amed Rosario; Pete Alonso; Jeff McNeil; Seth Lugo; Robert Gsellman; Steve Matz; Dominic Smith; Brandon Nimmo; Juan Lagares; Tomas Nido; Luis Guillorme; Todd Frazier; Jason Vargas; et al.
By the time opening day arrives Brodie's overtly positive rhetoric leaves him and the Mets little to no margin for error. And so the season begins ...
On the morning of May 27, 2019, the Mets wake up with a 27-27 (.500) record. They haven't been at or above .500 since. They post a 10-18 record in June. This past weekend the Phillies complete a series victory over the Mets at Citi Field. The loss drops them ten games below par (.500) and further lowers their record to 40-50 (.444) for the season. If not for the Florida Marlins, the New York Mets indeed would be the National League's worse team. Cycle back one season, and the Mets enter action on June 1, 2018 with a par 27-27 (.500) record. It's the last time Sandy Alderson's Mets touch .500 as they go on to post a similarly poor 5-21 record in June and a 77-85 (.475) record overall.
Most point at the bullpen's abysmal performance as the primary reason why 2019 thus far remains in a state of failure. Mets relievers have blown 22 of 42 (52%) save opportunities. Despite all-star performances from Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, the Mets similarly do not have the offensive potency needed for overcoming such recurring mistakes. Entering Sunday's action they ranked 10th in the National League in runs scored; 9th in OPS and extra base hits; 7th in home runs; and 5th in strikeouts.
Jacob deGrom is pitching well, and to the astonishment of many so is Jason Vargas. However, Noah Syndergaard (4.68 ERA); Zack Wheeler (4.42 ERA); and Steven Matz (4.89 ERA), are not.
And what of Brodie Van Wagenen's off-season acquisitions?
- Keon Broxton proves unproductive and is traded for international slot money. Rajai Davis and Carlos Gomez likewise prove inconsequential.
- The 36-year old Robinson Cano is slashing .239/.287/.361, with four home runs and 18 RBI.
- The 35-year old Jed Lowrie has yet to play a single game (knee).
- Edwin Diaz is 1-6 with a 5.50 ERA and 1.46 WHiP. He has converted 19 of 23 save opportunities, but has yielded eleven walks and seven home runs in 34.1 innings. Batters are hitting .283 against him.
- Wilson Ramos is a defensive liability; Mets starting pitchers are openly expressing their preference for Tomas Nido.
- Jeurys Familia is another costly mistake as evidenced by his woeful inefficiency; both Luis Avilan and Justin Wilson incur unfortunate injury. And so goes the bullpen depth.
- J.D. Davis is a lone bright spot among Brodie's acquisitions, but has few supporters. Not a defensive whiz by any stretch, he nevertheless is slashing .280/.342/.470, with nine home runs and 25 RBI through 200 at-bats, but is being utilized as a back-up to Todd Frazier and an occasional contestant in left field.
- Thank goodness for Adeiny Hechaverria, huh?
Mets administrators have called for more meetings than the Royal Order of Water Buffaloes of Bedrock and Raccoon Lodge of Brooklyn combined. The bullpen is bad but the team's defense is as bad and perhaps worse. The Mets have handled the least physical chances in the field yet somehow lead the circuit in errors. Teams are also running wild against them - be it pitchers incapable of holding runners, or teams taking advantage of Wilson Ramos whose 13% CS is less than half the league average.
You can understand why greater Metsville is up in arms.
But far from claiming responsibility for this epic failure, BVD first targets scapegoats in order to keep his narrative moving forward. He finds them, and fires pitching coach Dave Eiland and bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez. The front office controls the spin claiming Eiland was averse to analytics ... per reports. Surprisingly, Mickey Callaway along the way is afforded not one, not two, but three votes of confidence.
When the Mets ruin yet another superb start by Jacob deGrom, and proceed to lose Friday's series opener against the Phillies at Citi Field, it is reported Brodie Van Wagenen summons Mickey Callaway and the entire coaching staff into a room and berates them all. Reports claim at some point BVW in a fit of rage picks up and throws a chair.
Okay ...
I get pissed off. We all get pissed off. But in truth, this is emblematic of BVW's delusional narrative falling apart like wet toilet paper. The chair toss itself lacks velocity, placement, and purpose.
At the end of the day, Brodie Van Wagenen is an amateur, hired by an amateur. And together with Mickey Callaway, the three form a triumvirate of amateurism.
While Brodie rearranges deck chairs the band plays on.
