When assessing what’s left of this offseason, Sandy Alderson has given fair critiques on what remains. He has stated Yoenis Cespedes was a square peg for a round hole. In essence, Alderson was saying Cespedes’ bat doesn’t justify his poor defense.
Last year, Cespedes’ UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) in centerfield was -3.2, which is also his career average. UZR tells us he’s a below average centerfielder. DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) paints an uglier picture. Cespedes was a -17 in center last year, which is about as bad as it gets. His career average in his prior years in center is -4, which suggests he’s below average. Therefore, no matter what stat you want to use, Cespedes is a poor defensive centerfielder in a spacious Citi Field outfield.
Mets fans seem to feel differently because Cespedes hit extraordinarily well when he came to the Mets. When he was hitting like that you could justify his poor defense in a key defensive position. Problem is Cespedes just doesn’t hit like that. He’s a low OBP with good power (or potencia). He is a career .261/.319/.486 hitter. He is a career .236/.302/.491 hitter at Citi Field. I know I expected that to be a lot higher too. Thing is if Cespedes reverts back to these numbers, you can’t justify playing him in centerfield everyday.
Understandably, Mets fans remember him more for his insane hot streak. They overly correlate winning the division with Cespedes’ arrival. Some will dismiss the statistics and point to the eye test. With respect to the eye test, all I can say is Cespedes gave up not one, but two, Little League homeruns last year. How many centerfielders do that?
Overall, the Cespedes’ situation leaves me irritated. No, I’m not irritated because the Mets aren’t going to re-sign him. I’m irritated because of what they gave up to get him.
The Mets gave up Michael Fulmer for three months of Cespedes. At the time of the trade, the industry believed Fulmer was an unbelievable get for the Tigers. Yes, baseball people said the Tigers won the deal; not the Mets. Part of the reason might be the fact the Tigers most likely couldn’t re-sign him due to the language in his contract. Cespedes wouldn’t and most likely couldn’t re-sign with the Tigers, and they got Fulmer in the deal? It just wasn’t a good trade. The Tigers were the more desperate team, and the Mets still gave up too much value for a player they knew they weren’t going to re-sign.
Fulmer could be a potential ace. Last year in AA, he was the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. He’s a guy who can get his fastball up to 97 MPH with a full repertoire. He can probably help a big league team in 2016. He will be bringing that talent to the Tigers instead of the Mets.
Usually, it’s at this point I hear how you have to give up something to get something. That’s fine, but that doesn’t change the fact the Mets have up too much for a player they had no intentions of re-signing. I’ll also hear how it was worth it because the Mets won the NL East and made the postseason. That’s a stretch considering the Nationals imploded, and the Mets won the division by seven games.
Furthermore, this trade ignores the John Smoltz trade. In 1987, the Tigers traded Smoltz to the Braves for Doyle Alexander. Alexander was terrific for the Tigers going 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA. He helped the Tigers win the AL East. I’m sure Tigers fans were elated. The problem is the Tigers didn’t win the World Series, and oh yeah, they traded away a future Hall of Famer. Do you think the Tigers and their fans would want a do-over on that trade?
Is Fulmer a Hall of Famer? We don’t know that yet. We don’t know if he’ll be an ineffective starter and have to go to the bullpen. The thing is his value as a potential ace was much higher than a rental.
Here’s what we do know:
- The Mets lost 15 pitchers over the last year;
- The Mets had to sign a fifth stater this offseason; and
- The Mets didn’t win the World Series.
That’s it in a nutshell. The Mets tout all this pitching depth, and yet they’re signing guys like Bartolo Colon because they didn’t have a fifth starter. Furthermore, the Mets don’t have a World Series title to show for losing all that pitching. In fact, they don’t even have a Cespedes. So while I agree with Sandy Alderson that Cespedes isn’t a centerfielder, I can’t agree with him giving up a potential ace to a desperate team for someone he saw as a square peg to a round hole.
Just like most Mets fans, I’m irritated over the Cespedes situation. However, I’m irritated because they gave up a lot to bring him to New York. I’m alright with them admitting he wasn’t a centerfielder. I just wish they realized that before sacrificing a part of their future. A part of their future that will come all the more important when the Mets may not have the money to re-sign any of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, or Noah Syndergaard.
When that times comes, what will you be thinking? Will you be thinking the three months of Cespedes was worth it, or will you be wondering about how the Mets really could’ve used Fulmer to cushion the blow? My bets on the latter.
Editor’s Note: this first ran on metsmerizedonline.com
If you had an opportunity to watch the Hall of Fame press conference, you would’ve noticed the Mets sent a contingent there to show their support and appreciation for Mike Piazza. The contingent included Jeff Wilpon and Sandy Alderson.
As Adam Rubin noted on ESPN.com, Sandy Alderson stuck around to answer from questions from reporters. During the impromptu press conference of sorts, Sandy addressed a myriad of issues from his health to replacing Paul DePodesta to the Mets offseason to the Mets fans favorite topic: the payroll. First and foremost, it is great that Sandy is able to work during his cancer treatments. I wish him well. With that said, where was Jeff Wilpon through all of this? I cannot believe there was not one reporter in that room who wanted to ask him a question.
No, Jeff Wilpon made himself scarce and/or unavailable. He was not there to answer questions about his feelings about Piazza’s induction or the possibility of retiring Piazza’s number. He was also not there when/if any hard questions arose:
- Can you comment on the Mets settling a case where it was alleged you discriminated against an unmarried pregnant woman?
- What is the payroll limitations for the 2016 season?
- Has your recent debt restructuring put any limits on the team’s ability to spend like your prior debt agreements had?
- If payroll isn’t increasing, why did the Mets raise ticket prices?
- What would you say to fans who feel like the owner’s aren’t keeping their promise and investing in the team?
These are all fair and reasonable questions. Other New York owners have stuck around to answer the tough questions. John Mara did it recently. Jeff Wilpon didn’t. Instead, he sent out a 68 year old man battling cancer to field all the questions while he scurried away.
Editor’s Note: This article first ran on metsmerized.com
There have been some irresponsible opinions that Mike Piazza‘s election to the Hall of Fame means it will pave the way for known steroid users to be elected to the Hall of Fame. This premise contains one potential logic fallacy. It presupposes Piazza used steroids. Did he?
Let’s start with the case against him. There are no reports, investigations, or tests linking him to steroids. The case against him boils down to rumor, innuendo, and skin problems. We have no statements from teammates, clubhouse workers, or anyone else who may have any link to Piazza establishing he used steroids. So that makes me question how do you counteract rumors and innuendo? Facts don’t work. Piazza’s denials haven’t worked. Overall, the only way to combat rumors and inneundo is to present what people will actually say in public about a person.
Cliff Floyd was a teammate of Piazza from 2003 – 2005. Floyd is an analyst all over the place from MLB Radio, MLB Network, and SNY. Here’s his opinion on steroid users and the Hall of Fame:
https://mobile.twitter.com/mlbnetworkradio/status/684848408364998656
Floyd doesn’t want steroid users in the Hall of Fame. Here’s how he reacted when Mike Piazza was elected:
@mikepiazza31 Congrats big fella…well deserved-glad I could be a part of your journey! #HOF
— cliff floyd (@CliffFloyd30) January 6, 2016
Floyd didn’t choose to ignore Piazza’s election. He didn’t condemn the choice. He celebrated Piazza’s induction. Floyd shared a clubhouse with Piazza for three years. If anyone would know he used steroids, it was Floyd. However, there were no accusations from him. Just congratulations. From this it is apparent that Cliff Floyd does not believe his former teammate used steroids.
I already know the rebuttal. Steroid testing in baseball began in 2003. Of course Floyd saw nothing. This rebuttal doesn’t take into account that no teammate has ever spoken about Piazza using steroids. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been good enough thus far. To that, my next example is Al Leiter.
Like Floyd, Leiter is all over the place covering baseball. Leiter was Piazza’s teammate from 1998 – 2004. They played together a long time, and Leiter threw to Piazza more than any other catcher. Here was Leiter’s ballot on MLB Network:
It should first be noted Leiter doesn’t actually have a ballot. The above photo from MLB Network shows how he would have voted if he had a vote.
Note, there’s no Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens on the ballot. Leiter didn’t vote for two people who have been linked to steroids use during their careers. These are two people who would’ve been elected but for their steroid use. Leiter didn’t vote for people who we know from various sources that used steroids. Yet, Leiter voted for Piazza. Other than Piazza himself, who would know better than Leiter if Piazza used steroids?
If teammates like Leiter and Floyd don’t link Piazza to steroid use, how can anyone else? If we’re going by word of mouth or rumor, shouldn’t we at least take into account the opinions of Piazza’s teammates? These are people who have put their name out there and have separated Piazza from the group of known steroid users. They now are now members of the media and are staking their reputations if it ever came out that Piazza used steroids. I find it hard to believe there is a massive Mets cover up afoot; a coverup which includes each and every player and former player.
Isn’t this substantive proof that Piazza DID NOT use steroids? Isn’t this more than what has been presented by anyone as a factual basis to prove Piazza used steroids? Why doesn’t anyone ever discuss this aspect of whether or not someone used steroids? It seems the people saying Piazza used steroids are the ones that didn’t play the game. They weren’t the ones in the Mets locker room. Somehow, we’re supposed to believe they know more about Piazza than people who were with him every day from February to early October. It doesn’t add up.
Therefore, using the same “standard of proof” others have used, it is conclusive Piazza didn’t use steroids.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on metsmerizedonline.com
I think it’s fair to say that Mets fans have been disappointed in this offseason. No matter how you look at it, the 2016 Mets are worse the the Mets team that lost the World Series. There are still some moves to make, but I agree with Sandy Alderson when he says Yoenis Cespedes isn’t one of those moves.
The issue is Cespedes just isn’t a centerfielder. It’s the reason why Alderson said signing Cespedes is trying “to fit a round peg in a square hole.” Cespedes was great for a stretch, but it was mostly with the bat. Be honest with yourself for a second and think about Cespedes’ tenure with the Mets. What was the great fielding play he made in center? I tried racking my brain, and I couldn’t come up with one. The only thing I could think of was a throw:
Look, it was an awesome throw. He has an incredible arm. However, the throw was made possible because he played the ball poorly. No, I’m not saying he should’ve caught that. I’m saying he was in poor position. Go watch it again. The ball splits the outfielders and goes to the wall. While the ball is rolling to the wall, Cespedes is still heading towards left field. Given the curvature if the Citi Field walls, it’s physically improbable that ball bounced towards left. Sure, Cespedes turn it into a remarkable play, but it doesn’t change the fact he almost misplayed a double into a triple.
Here’s the part where many people will say I’m over-analyzing one play. That’s a fair critique. With that said, let’s look at his defensive metrics. Cespedes had a UZR of -3.2, which rates him as a below average centerfielder in a large outfield. It’s not a one year fluke as Cespedes’ career UZR in center is -12.6, which equates to an average UZR of -3.2 per season.
If you don’t like UZR, let’s look at Cespedes’ DRS (defensive runs saved). Cespedes was a -17 in center last year! That’s worse than below average. It’s flat out awful. It was the worst of his career. Typically, Cespedes averages a -4, which is still below average. There’s simply no reason to believe Cespedes is a good centerfielder. He’s not even an average one.
Typically, when I raise this argument, I’m told the eye test shows Cespedes is a good centerfielder. Are you sure:
Don’t know about you, but my eyes tell me that was a bad defensive play. He didn’t look like a great centerfielder there. It’s also not nitpicking just one play. Here’s another:
How many good centerfielders allow two Little League homeruns in one year? The answer is none. By the way, you have to hate his lack of hustle going back for the ball he missed there.
Ultimately, we remember Cespedes being better than he was defensively in centerfield because he has a canon of an arm, and we were distracted by his bat. It was a fun run with him, but the truth is it was nothing more than an insane hot streak. For his career, Cespedes is a .261/.319/.486 hitter. He has hit .236/.302/.491 at Citi Field. Those aren’t the types of numbers that can cover up bad defense at a position where defense is at a premium.
Like all Mets fans, I appreciate what Cespedes did. However, let’s be honest his career statistics prove out he’s not a centerfielder. I’m not saying you need to be happy with Alejandro De Aza. I’m saying you need to be honest and admit Cespedes isn’t a centerfielder. He’s a corner outfielder on a team with two terrific incumbent options with Michael Conforto and Curtis Granderson.
Cespedes is just a square peg that can’t fit the holes the Mets have.
It might be easy to forget now, but at the beginning of the 2014 season, things were going terribly with the Mets. Part of it was the hangover from Matt Harvey missing the year due to Tommy John surgery. Most of it was from the team staring off the reason really poorly. The fans were in revolt.
That’s when the Mets had this “genius idea.” Get the fans to sign a loyalty oath. No, this isn’t a joke. The Mets actually thought the best way to quell the fans anger was a loyalty oath. I’m not sure I know anyone that signed it. I suspect Murphy did.
No matter how you slice or dice it, Murphy wanted to be a Met. He wanted to sign an extension last year, and he was willing to negotiate in season. Sure, he rejected the qualifying offer, but nevertheless, he wanted to stay. He didn’t negotiate with anyone until it was clear there was no chance of returning to the Mets. Murphy signed that loyalty oath the Mets asked all of us to sign back in 2014. He was that loyal player fans and management always talk about wanting. Murphy is now a National.
It’s a sad reminder that at the end of the day this is a business. Murphy signed a three year deal when the Mets need their arms twisted out of socket just to offer a two year deal. Many will point to Murphy signing with the rival Nationals as a reason to boo him or to ask where his loyalty was. Murphy was loyal all along. He wanted to be here. After the Mets made a business decision, he had to make one as well.
He was a good and loyal Met. He had a good Mets career and a postseason no one will forget. I wanted Murphy back. I was hoping the Mets would reward him for his good play and loyalty. Ultimately, we all learned the Mets demand everyone’s loyalty, but they are unwilling to show any loyalty to anyone else.
With thay said, we should all appreciate and cheer Murphy as he was the one who was willing to show the fans any loyalty, and he asked for nothing from us in return.
It’s funny when you think about it, but Kelly Johnson is now an ex-Met. He has returned to the Atlanta Braves where he has played most of his career. However, at least to me, in his three plus months with the team, he became a Met.
It might’ve been the circumstances in which he came to the team. The offense was historically bad. Terry Collins was trying to stick Danny Muno sized pegs into a Krakatoa sized hole. I used Krakatoa there because it was a disaster. Sandy Alderson finally responded by making a shrewd trade to bring on Johnson and Juan Uribe. In his first game as a Met, Johnson hit cleanup, played second, and did this:
The Mets who couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag suddenly beat the Dodgers 15-2. The season had a different feel. The Mets made a move, and it was paying off. The Mets would win three straight. Everything changed when Johnson and Uribe joined the team. Everything that happened afterwards started with them.
Johnson did all he could do to help. He played every position but pitcher, catcher, and center. I appreciated it, but to me that wasn’t the moment he became a Met. That moment was after Game Two of the NLDS. He lambasted that coward. He was emotional defending his teammate, a teammate that was a New York Met.
Before the trade, I was never a fan of Kelly Johnson. The reason is as simple as it might’ve been unfair. He was an Atlanta Brave. Now, however, I see him as a New York Met even if he’s back in a Braves uniform. He was a key part of a World Series team and wish him the best of luck. When he returns to Citi Field this year, I’ll stand up and clap. He deserves it.
Thank you Kelly Johnson.
Once Mike Piazza was elected to the Hall of Fame, we all knew it was only a matter of time before he declared he will enter the Hall of Fame as a Met. Yesterday, that moment finally arrived:
I have to admit the moment was a little emotional. It brought back all the great Piazza moments for me. From the homerun to cap off that huge comeback against the Braves in 2000 to the post 9/11 homerun to his return to Shea with the Padres, I remembered it all.
I remembered how the Mets went from an average team to a World Series contender overnight. Piazza’s arrival allowed me to go to a Mets postseason game with my Dad and brother. We got to go two years in a row (only time that has happened in Mers history). I got to see the Mets in the World Series. These events were all made possible by Mike Piazza coming to the Mets and re-signing with the Mets.
Now, I get to say that I saw the career of a Mets player who is in the Hall of Fame. I’m incredibly grateful Mike Piazza was a Met. I’m incredibly grateful he will always be a Met. Its amazing how this week has given me the opportunity to re-live all of these great moments. I look forward to re-loving them again this summer. I cannot wait to go to Cooperstown with my Dad, brother, and son to see his plaque in the Hall of Fame.
I’m sure I will get a little emotional again. I suspect you will too.
Congratulations again to Mets catcher Mike Piazza.
After this week’s events, there is no other place I could go. If you don’t get 100% on this I will be astounded. Name the players who have entered the Hall of Fame as a Met:
After he was banished from baseball for violating its golden rule, it appeared there would be no more moments of glory for Pete Rose. When you gamble in baseball, you always lose. You’re always out. No more managing the Reds. Certainly, no Hall of Fame.
Then Bud Selig relented, if only slightly. As part of the turn of the century, Major League Baseball wanted the fans to vote on the All Century Team. Even though Rose’s name would never be permitted on a Hall of Fame ballot, Major League Baseball was going to allow its fans to decide if the Hit King should be a part of the All Century Team. The fans selected Rose, and Selig invited Rose to take part in the honoring ceremony during the 1999 World Series.
At the time, we believed this would be the last time Pete Rose would ever step foot on a major league ball field. When the members of the All Century team were introduced, Rose received the biggest ovation. It was a big night for him. On that night, it was also a big night for Jim Gray to get an interview with Rose:
Jim Gray stood there and asked every question each and every person was hoping Rose would answer. On the one hand, he was forceful in trying to get answers to his questions. On the other, he was seemingly doing his job. He would be universally derided. A new rule was set forth. There should be no tough questions when a former player is celebrating an achievement. That was until yesterday.
Finally, after years of waiting, Mike Piazza was elected to the Hall of Fame. He then did the rounds to answer questions on what it meant to him to be a Hall of Famer. It was a victory tour of sorts for Piazza. Then came the question that you’re no longer supposed to ask on these occasions (as transcribed by Adam Rubin and published on ESPN):
Are you bothered when people make accusations against you alleging steroid use and just cite acne on the back?
Someone broke the rule and went there. Piazza was gracious answering the question saying he “really want[ed] to celebrate his career” and accusations like that are out if his control.
In the past, this issue has rankled him. He once asked Peter Gammons, “what does acne have to do with steroids?” He had steadfastly denied the steroids rumors. Rumors that have been propagated by the Murray Chasses and Jon Heymans of the world without any proof. Despite the rumors and innuendo, Piazza rose above it all and became a Hall of Famer. He deserved his moment in the sun. However, someone had to go and ask him a steroids question. At one time, it might’ve been a fair question. After 1999, such questions were supposed to be out of bounds. It wasn’t yesterday.
If someone like Pete Rose, who agreed to his own banishment under the cloud of his betting on baseball, can’t be asked hard questions, no one should. This goes double for Mike Piazza, who has never been implicated in any report, test, or investigation. Hopefully, one day these questions will end, and we can just focus on Piazza’s career. Unfortunately, that day is not today. At least for today, no question is out of bounds no matter the setting.
It makes me wonder. Is Piazza owed an apology for the question, or is Jim Gray owed an apology for the criticism he received?
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published at metsmerizedonline.com
I remember going to the last ever game at Shea with mixed emotions. One the one hand, I had a tremendous sense of melancholy over the closing of a Stadium I had been going to since I was three years old. I was also excited because the Mets needed to win to either go play a play-in game or go to the postseason (let’s never talk about the game again).
I went to Shea Stadium with the intention of just soaking everything in. I wanted to keep my eyes pealed for anything I would want to have in the future. One thing I really wanted was The Last Game at Shea t-shirt. It was hard to get one for a few reasons. First, I’m a large man requiring an XXL shirt. If you recall, Shea Stadium would usually carry the XXL stuff at different locations, but not all concessions. Second, as this was the last game of the season and the final game at Shea Stadium, the Mets were selling everything at a pretty steep discount. The concessions were mobbed.
Keep in mind, I’m the type of guy who gets to Mets games as the gates open. On that day, so did everyone else. Each and every concession was a madhouse. My first two stops didn’t have them. I then went to the one that I knew was the best stocked. I fought my way to the front. Note, the old style concessions had no lines. You had to find your way up front, get the person’s attention, and get what you could before it was sold out. I got to the front. I got the salesperson’s attention. I overheard the other salesperson say, “I only got three XXL shirts left!”
I was relieved. I was going to get one of them. Then my Dad stepped in, and asked, “How many Bobbleheads do you have left?” The dutiful salesperson went back and counted. I don’t remember the number, but she told us how many were left. My Dad started to do the math in his head as to what it’ll cost and who would get one of those Bobbleheads. At that point, a large man stepped next to me talking about the shirts.
I yelled at the salesperson, “We’ll take them all as long as you can get me an XXL Final Game shirt!” I got the last XXL t-shirt . . . and about 15 Bobbleheads. Guess what my Dad got me as a good gift for Christmas? One of the 15 Bobbleheads (he took a few off my hands).
Here’s the funny thing. After that game, my most treasured souvenir from the Last Game at Shea wasn’t the t-shirt; it was the Bobblehead. That Bobblehead has come to symbolize not just that game, but all the games I attended at Shea with my Dad and brother. It’s also funny that there were enough left over that I could give one to my son when he was born.
So with that, I hope you have a Happy National Bobblehead Day.