Man there is a lot in here to comment on haha. Very fulsome piece this morning! I'll address the one piece that I suspect no one else will because I laughed when I heard him say it last night. When Buck managed the Orioles he said "I like our guys" before the 2014 season. The Orioles then printed a t-shirt with that quote and a list of all of the guys on the roster at that time and made it a giveaway. I have had that shirt since and in fact wore it last night when I took my kids to the pool. Anyway, as soon as I heard him say it last night I texted my family who are Orioles fans to let him know that he's repurposing the line in NY AND that I want the Mets to create a similar shirt so I can update my collection. However, I want to make sure he didn't use the same exact line prior to the 2018 season as well...
Good to see guys who have been struggling contributing. The good thing about the catcher position is that we don't need massive improvements from them in order to get what we need from that spot in the lineup. I don't expect McCann to hit like it's 2020 but I also don't expect him to hit .170 all season. The injury he suffered really saps your power; hopefully he's coming out of it now as opposed to having to wait until 2023. I don't think the Mets are making any moves at catcher; DH is where they will likely focus their attention. In the meantime, it's good to see JD and Dom get some big hits.
Big weekend ahead (aren't they all); get at least 2 of 3 going into Atlanta. LGM
This is a great one. Coming off a great night I might have more positivity than usual, but the insight about Bassit, the piece about Keith from NYP, and the piece about JD are all gems.
On Davis, another commenter earlier mentioned something that still bothers me. JD’s comments here answer part of it, but consider:
As a fan watching most games, it seems that JD has one, glaring weakness which could be devastating in the playoffs. He is soooo often beaten by high (often in strike zone) fastballs (many not all that fast.). His success vs. other pitches and mistakes will be much harder to reproduce when facing only the best pitching when everyone can see him looking like a minor leaguer on a specific kind of pitch. Am I too harsh? Does he have a point about needing to see more of these for success? I’m willing to be convinced. But seeing him hit OTHER pitches over time is an argument for him being a major leaguer, but not an argument for being a DH on a championship contender. I hope he proves me wrong.
A quibble: when a guy has a series of fortunate hits, we should acknowledge that rather than describe it as “getting hot.” Marte (an all-star) having a couple bloopers and a seeing eye hit is great, but let’s not exaggerate such luck. JD’s double was pretty lucky last night, and his single was an out of a yard either direction.
More on why you seem less optimistic on Dom vs. JD?
Wow that Bassitt COVID quote is insanely disappointing. I really hope someone sat him down and spoke to him about why COVID is not the same as a cold or other seemingly-similar maladies and why we isolate when infected even if asymptomatic. The world is bigger than a single person, Chris.
JD's hit was cool, his emotion was consistent with 1st career GS, but McCann looked like he was floating going around the bases...the pressure of 'get a big hit/Mets catchers suck bring up Alvarez' and all the 'McCant' and 'McDouble-play' crap he gets on Mets Twitter and on formal chat forums has to be eating at him in year 2. I can't wait to see the reaction to Dom's first homer, and I really hope McCann keeps it going.
wtf Chris Bassitt? Testing and reporting is not your call and threatening not to report a positive test affects the entire organization, not just you. Such irresponsible comments that lack any logic at all. Hoping JD and Dom are being showcased and good things happen as a result. I am fine with whatever McCann contributes at the plate but I really do like the way he handles his job behind the plate. If he could hit between .225-.250, I'm going to start calling him Jerry Grote. I know Steve Cohen covets the Dodgers but maybe he should covet Atlanta's pitching scouts. Year after year they come up with pitchers that are top tier. Still loving Buck showing love to his players.
Man there is a lot in here to comment on haha. Very fulsome piece this morning! I'll address the one piece that I suspect no one else will because I laughed when I heard him say it last night. When Buck managed the Orioles he said "I like our guys" before the 2014 season. The Orioles then printed a t-shirt with that quote and a list of all of the guys on the roster at that time and made it a giveaway. I have had that shirt since and in fact wore it last night when I took my kids to the pool. Anyway, as soon as I heard him say it last night I texted my family who are Orioles fans to let him know that he's repurposing the line in NY AND that I want the Mets to create a similar shirt so I can update my collection. However, I want to make sure he didn't use the same exact line prior to the 2018 season as well...
Good to see guys who have been struggling contributing. The good thing about the catcher position is that we don't need massive improvements from them in order to get what we need from that spot in the lineup. I don't expect McCann to hit like it's 2020 but I also don't expect him to hit .170 all season. The injury he suffered really saps your power; hopefully he's coming out of it now as opposed to having to wait until 2023. I don't think the Mets are making any moves at catcher; DH is where they will likely focus their attention. In the meantime, it's good to see JD and Dom get some big hits.
Big weekend ahead (aren't they all); get at least 2 of 3 going into Atlanta. LGM
....following the 24 extended rule .....
This is a great one. Coming off a great night I might have more positivity than usual, but the insight about Bassit, the piece about Keith from NYP, and the piece about JD are all gems.
On Davis, another commenter earlier mentioned something that still bothers me. JD’s comments here answer part of it, but consider:
As a fan watching most games, it seems that JD has one, glaring weakness which could be devastating in the playoffs. He is soooo often beaten by high (often in strike zone) fastballs (many not all that fast.). His success vs. other pitches and mistakes will be much harder to reproduce when facing only the best pitching when everyone can see him looking like a minor leaguer on a specific kind of pitch. Am I too harsh? Does he have a point about needing to see more of these for success? I’m willing to be convinced. But seeing him hit OTHER pitches over time is an argument for him being a major leaguer, but not an argument for being a DH on a championship contender. I hope he proves me wrong.
A quibble: when a guy has a series of fortunate hits, we should acknowledge that rather than describe it as “getting hot.” Marte (an all-star) having a couple bloopers and a seeing eye hit is great, but let’s not exaggerate such luck. JD’s double was pretty lucky last night, and his single was an out of a yard either direction.
More on why you seem less optimistic on Dom vs. JD?
Thanks for great stuff!
Kevin
Wow that Bassitt COVID quote is insanely disappointing. I really hope someone sat him down and spoke to him about why COVID is not the same as a cold or other seemingly-similar maladies and why we isolate when infected even if asymptomatic. The world is bigger than a single person, Chris.
JD's hit was cool, his emotion was consistent with 1st career GS, but McCann looked like he was floating going around the bases...the pressure of 'get a big hit/Mets catchers suck bring up Alvarez' and all the 'McCant' and 'McDouble-play' crap he gets on Mets Twitter and on formal chat forums has to be eating at him in year 2. I can't wait to see the reaction to Dom's first homer, and I really hope McCann keeps it going.
wtf Chris Bassitt? Testing and reporting is not your call and threatening not to report a positive test affects the entire organization, not just you. Such irresponsible comments that lack any logic at all. Hoping JD and Dom are being showcased and good things happen as a result. I am fine with whatever McCann contributes at the plate but I really do like the way he handles his job behind the plate. If he could hit between .225-.250, I'm going to start calling him Jerry Grote. I know Steve Cohen covets the Dodgers but maybe he should covet Atlanta's pitching scouts. Year after year they come up with pitchers that are top tier. Still loving Buck showing love to his players.