Judging from what I’ve read, the Mets seem most interested in adding a CF in free agency. However, what I mostly see is the Mets are interested in lefty bats:
My sense of the free agent CF types who are on the Mets’ radar at this point: Span, Fowler, Parra.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) November 6, 2015
Gerardo Parra, Denard Span, and Dexter Fowler are everyday players. They’ve been everyday players for several years. They’re expected to receive 3+ year contracts for $8 – 13.8 million a year. There should be a reasonable market for these players meaning they’ll have an option to go where they want to go.
This means they won’t go to the Mets, at least not as a platoon player. Therefore, if any of these players comes to the Mets it will mean they have assurances that they’ll be the everyday CF. They should make them the everyday CF if the Mets are going to spend what’s necessary to bring them into the fold.
So if the Mets sign a CF, it means the Mets have moved on from Juan Lagares. I’m not sure it’s a wise move. Not just yet (even if I think Fowler gives them the best chance to win). He’s a year removed from a Gold Glove season. He’s got an elbow injury that just requires rest. Isn’t it the best case scenario for everyone that Lagares is the everyday CF. After partly losing a World Series due to defense, why downgrade the place where you’re best defensively?
So, while I’m hopeful the Mets will make improvements, I’m not sure it’ll be in CF. This means Lagares will receive one last chance to be an everyday player. I hope he rewards the Mets for their confidence in him. Otherwise, the Mets will bring someone else to do the job.
This will be a big year for both the Mets and Lagares. I’m hoping Lagares will be a part of the Mets plans.
Unfortunately, after quite the colorful year, it seems that the Mets no longer have a spot for Juan Uribe on the roster. It’s a shame because he was a terrific locker room presence and leader. However, there may be a way to keep him around.
As Keith Law mentioned in his chat yesterday, the Mets could consider him as a bench coach. It’s possible the position will be open with Bob Geren interviewing for the Dodgers job. However, he’s not likely to get the job, and the Mets have invited the entire coaching staff to return. Furthermore, Uribe seems to love this game and may not want to retire.
He’s going to be 37 years old. This may be his last year in the majors. Although, I’m sure Uribe will force them to tear the uniform off his back. While his skills are diminishing, I’d like to see the Mets find a way to keep him. At the very least, they should offer him a minor league deal in the event he can’t get a major league deal elsewhere.
He has so much to contribute both this year and in the future. I hope the Mets find a way to keep him in the organization.
There are few toys remaining from my parents’ generation that are still around today. One of them is the Wiffle Ball. That iconic yellow bat with the ball attached at the top. The ball sold separately with instructions on how to throw the curve and the slider. It’s one of the few toys that my father, my son, and I have all played with.
It’s more than that. It’s one of the few toys that young and old play with. You see it at tailgates. You see it in backyard BBQs. You see it at picnics. Oh, and everyone is great at it. Just ask them. They all have an unhittable pitch. For me, I go submarine when pitching.
All of this makes for an iconic toy. It’s a piece of America’s pastime. It’s as American as a slice of apple pie. However, it’s still not good enough for the National Toy Hall of Fame. With all due respect to the Supersoaker, you can’t have a National Toy Hall of Fame without the Wiffle Ball. It’s not possible. In my opinion, it would be the equivalent of what many people call a first ballot Hall of Famer.
So respected baseball people like Jonah Keri has his cause with Tim Raines. I now have mine. The Wiffle Ball belongs in the National Toy Hall of Fame.
When you hold up an example of what you want in a ball player, it’s hard not to point to Curtis Granderson. He’s an All Star caliber player and human being.
First off, Granderson is a charitable human being. His one-time $5 million donation to his alma mater is the highest single donation made by a player. The ballpark built with that money serves not only the college baseball team, but it also is available for the youth in the area. It hosts a city-wide baseball tournament. He invites kids to the field to work out with him.
In addition to this, he found the Grand Kids Foundation. The organization provides educational and athletic opportunities for children. The organization has provided school supplies at different schools. It has held events at the aforementioned college stadium. It’s no wonder he was a nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.
On the field, he’s an All Star caliber player. This year he was the MVP on a Mets team that went all the way to the World Series. He had an amazing postseason both at the plate and in the field. With a torn thumb ligament requiring surgery, he hit three homeruns in the World Series.
He is giving it his all both on and off the field. He’s the type of player and person that makes you proud to be a Mets fan. He’s the type of human being that I can hold out to my son and say, “there’s a man you can root for.”
Thank you for that Granderson.
The Mets have some definite holes on their team. They did in 2015, but those holes didn’t prevent them from making the World Series. One of those holes continues to be the SS position. Unfortunately, the free agent market doesn’t appear to be a solution. That means you either roll with what you have or make a trade.
Now, everyone on the Mets roster can be traded except David Wright, who is a 5-and-10 player meaning the Mets can’t trade him without his permission. So other than him, any player on the roster is available for trade. No one is ever untouchable. Not even Noah Syndergaard. If the Angels call tomorrow and offer Mike Trout for him, you’re making the deal.
With that said, we’re pretty sure that is not going to happen. Funny thing is, I’m sure there are Mets fans who would object to such a trade. Overall, I’m not going to create trade rumors because you wind up sounding ridiculous. Sure, I’ll comment on rumors that exist as I’ve done in the past. However, it’s another thing to create them.
So I won’t be doing anything like suggesting the Mets trade Matt Harvey for Xander Bogaerts or Corey Seager. First, you’re assuming either team would do it. Second, you’re only creating the same unfillable SS hole on another team when there is decent to great starting pitchers on the free agent market. Seriously, are we to assume the Red Sox and Dodgers need to trade young SS because they can’t afford to pay Zack Greinke or David Price?
Furthermore, the Mets starting pitching is the reason the Mets were able to stay afloat. It’s the reason the Mets made it to and were competitive in the World Series. Great starting pitching covers up a lot. When you deal from a position of strength, you only serve to weaken yourself. So no, I don’t advocate trading the starting pitching.
I also don’t advocate creating rumors out of thin air.
Last year, Terry Collins did a masterful job juggling the shortstop position between Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada. Looking over the free agent list, the Mets might be wise to go with Flores at SS next year.
The proverbial class of the SS market is Ian Desmond. He’s anticipated to receive a four year $60 million contract in free agency. He’s likely to receive and reject a qualifying offer meaning signing him comes with forfeiting your first round draft pick. The narrative is he’s coming off a down year. I’m not sure that’s true.
Yes, Desmond was not good in the first half hitting .211/.255/.334. He picked it up in the second half hitting .278/.310/.444. Overall, he finished 2015 hitting .233/.290/.384. In 2014, he hit .255/.313/.430. I could argue last year was just symbolic of a declining player as he hit .280/.331/.453 in 2013. For his career, he’s a .264/.312/.424 hitter. He’s hit .255/.329/.440 at Citi Field.
The thing is he’s going to have to hit to stay at SS. Last year, his UZR was -3.7 meaning he’s a below average SS. The prior year his UZR was 0.1 meaning he was average. Two years ago, his UZR was 4.4 meaning he was an above average SS. Again this is further evidence that Desmond is amidst a three year decline.
I can accept the argument that he had a down year last year due to his impending free agency. However, how do you explain his 2014? I’d rather take my chances with Flores, who is younger, has more potential, and surprisingly, is better defensively. The Mets have several areas to address, and they can’t wrap up all their money in a declining player.
There are ways to upgrade this team. Ian Desmond is not one of them.
Going into the 2015 season, the Mets were determined to make it work with Wilmer Flores at SS. It was rough. Flores had trouble turning the double play. He made some routine throwing errors. He seemed to press from day one.
Eventually, the Mets had to abandon the plan. Not only was Flores struggling in the field, he was also struggling at the plate. At the end of June, he was hitting .236/.267/.390. At that point, Flores wasn’t the only one struggling. The whole team was, especially with David Wright out indefinitely. Therefore, Daniel Murphy would move to third, Flores would move to second, and Ruben Tejada would once again become the Mets SS.
From June 30th on, Tejada was the everyday SS. Flores would eventually be relegated to the bench first with the trade for Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe. That went doubly so when Wright came off the DL. Soon Tejada was going out there everyday and Flores was on the bench.
At that point, the Mets got healthy and got Yoenis Cespedes. They just needed defense from Tejada. The narrative was Tejada was a good defensive SS, and Flores wasn’t. Looking over the stats, I believe the narrative was wrong. The narrative should’ve been, Tejada is more steady than Flores. It’s a slight difference, but it’s an important one. The difference is because Flores has better range at short than Tejada.
In fact, in terms of range, Tejada isn’t a SS. He never was. His UZR this year was a -5.6. This translates to him being a below average SS. Throwing away last year, Tejada’s average UZR is 0.8, which means he’s, at best, an average SS.
On the other hand, Flores did come into 2015 with some promise. His 2014 at SS was 4.0 rating him as an above average defensive SS. However, this year he had a UZR of -2.5 which rates as being a slightly below average SS. It makes him better than Tejada, but still below average. However, the flaw with UZR is it doesnt judge throws or the ease in which a player turns a double play.
It’s the attempt at turning the double play that might’ve cost Tejada a chance at being the SS in 2016. Going into the playoffs, Tejada really seized his chance to be the everyday SS. He was making the routine plays, and he was hitting. In September and October, he hit .297/.357/.496. For the year, he hit .261/.338/.350. This is compared to Flores’ .253/.287/.386.
Tejada really became the better of two bad choices. He had the leg up in the competition until Chase Utley took Tejada’s legs right out from under him. Mets fans were initially nervous with Flores really being the only SS. He performed admirably.
Flores did show off that range, but now he was making all the throws. He showed no signs of hesitation on the double plays. He only hit .195/.298/.294 in the postseason, but he was taking better at bats. He showed why the Mets wanted him to be the SS over Tejada.
Accordingly, Flores is the better SS, and if the Mets make no additional moves, he should be the 2016 Opening Day SS.
Earlier, I had a case as to why I believed the Mets should try to re-sign Daniel Murphy. I think the Mets should bring him back. However, there are valid reasons why you don’t bring him back.
He’s not a good defensive second baseman, and that’s the only place to play him right now and in the near future. He’s prone to a base running gaffe or two. Re-signing him will be very expensive insurance option for David Wright, especially when you already have Wilmer Flores. You don’t want to create a log jam on the roster and in the infield for when Dilson Herrera is ready to play everyday in the majors.
Whatever the decision, I hope the process happens quickly. The longer it goes on, the more awkward it becomes for everyone. As a result, more questions get asked about why the Mets arent interested, or what’s wrong with Murphy that team’s aren’t interested? It’s better that the process happens quickly. The overall goal is to avoid the he said – she said that followed after Jose Reyes signed with the Marlins. The Mets were good to Murphy, and in return, Murphy was good to the Mets. There’s no need for anyone to look bad here.
As a parting gift, the Mets should get a first round compensation pick, and Murphy should get a huge contract.
Yesterday, Matt Harvey won the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award after missing the entire 2014 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Can you name the pitchers who have thrown the most innings the season after Tommy John surgery? Good luck!
Matt Harvey was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year. He won this award after coming back from Tommy John surgery. All he had to do to win the award was push himself further than anyone else has:
Matt Harvey's 216 innings pitched were the most ever 1st year back from TJ surgery. Had been John Lackey 215.1 IP in 2013.
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinMedia) November 5, 2015
This is the same pitcher everyone questioned because he and his agent tried to get the Mets to hold him back a little bit. There was a debate on who said what. There was a debate on why this was happening. However, most people agreed Harvey was selfish. They agreed he should’ve ignored advice and pushed through it. The narrative was universal throughout the press, which includes those media outlets affiliated by the Mets.
Harvey was then terrific in the NLCS. He left to standing ovations. He gave his all in Game 5 of the World Series. It was an epic performance. It wasn’t appreciated. The jokes and hot takes followed:
The very definition of irony: The #Mets losing the World Series because Matt Harvey talked his way into pitching one inning too many.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) November 2, 2015
Harvey was named the Comeback Player of the Year. A year in which his desire to win was question. A year in which he left it all out on the field to help his team win a World Series only to be mocked. So yeah, I think the congratulations ring hollow.
I’d be much more impressed with retractions, apologies, and thank yous.