First, thanks for committing to newsletters for the duration. I look forward to this newsletter. Can you send me something daily during the offseason? It can be blank - I'm going for the in-box feel. Second, all eyes on us. The Mets seem to thrive when everybody's watching. Third, bringing up Alvarez is brilliant - I don't care what he does but I love the bravado of bringing in a young gun. If I had to script this any better, I could not. How many times have we seen Atlanta do the very same thing? The pros of winning the division also include the accolades, the banner, the fans being able to say the Mets are the best in NL East...the Wild Card is not a prestigious. I am so excited for this series. LET'S GO METS! See ya in the slack... (Oh, winning tonight's game is imperative. Fried is rested and ready for revenge. Make him suffer - get back to the business of wearing pitchers down. Patience, my little Metsies, patience.)
Max Fried, will be on his best behavior, with the goal of being inscribed in the book of life for 5783. He’ll make sure his catcher stops stealing strikes for him, and their will be no chicanery with quick pitches, much less Vaseline or Emory boards. So it will be a fair fight.
It’s the same reason Richard Bleier, of Miami, kept his composure the other day when he was called for not only one, not only two, but three balks in one at bat, and then again, the next night, when he allowed the game tying hit in the bottom of the eighth by our own Edward O. Escoborowitz, himself an example of grace and manners. Menschen, all three.
If the world survives until 5783, I am confident that Max Fried will not be a topic of discussion. I'm not sure how to interpret this - do you think pitcher's are using other stuff now that umpires check for sticky stuff?
Typically, you have to be on the 40-man by August 31 to be on the postseason roster. However, MLB has to allow teams to make replacements due to injury. So if you are replacing someone who is on the injured list and has served the minimum number of days required for activation, you can replace him with someone like Alvarez. Mets have Brett Baty as someone who fits in this category.
As I said in the newsletter, I think Vientos goes down for Alvarez on the active roster. Someone like Michael Perez could be DFA’d to make the 40-man space.
I understand that loose bodies are highly contagious, as the FDA has yet to approve the new vaccine. Word around the clubhouse is that young Vientos, has not been adhering to team sock mandates, and is putting himself at significant risk.
By the way, a lot of people on MetsFix have been fixated about the upcoming series since the beginning of the year. Hat tip to all who knew it would come down to this.
as they used to say "Ride on jimmy..." totall agree 100% - ivesaid over and over again "I will never seen them win a WS again...." Well here we are FINGERS CROSSED
nothing else to say - Top prospect in all of MLB, The Mets going for a Division Title, 3 white knuckle - pitch by pitch games - LETS GO METS (of ya some good food to go along with all of this lol) - It sreally cool that Steve Cohen went to Atlanta - we should never forget he has suffered along with the rest of us his whole life being a Mets fan - best owner in all of sports.
There's an interesting sidenote with Cohen that I think is not insignificant. His father-in-law is a HUGE Mets fan. He's also, like, 90 years old. The clock is ticking.
I am going to assume that Steve loves his wife, loves his father-in-law, and would love to give this man the ultimate gift.
It adds a note of urgency to everything he does with the Mets. There's a longview -- rebuilding the entire structure of the minor league system that Sandy wrecked -- which will take years -- but also the shortview of trying to win one for the old man.
Believe me -- as I'm sure some of you know -- as you get older, you start to think: Am I going to see them win a World Series again? Maybe! From a different angle, my oldest is 29 and a diehard Mets fan. He hasn't seen a WS win either.
I love the Alvarez move. Which makes an insanely hyped and thrilling series . . . even *more* hyped and thrilling? It didn't seem possible and yet here we are.
I'm still a little confused by Jake going tonight. I'll be thrilled if he can go 7. Mostly looking for zeros. Buck has been slow with the hook this year -- probably a good thing overall -- but I'd be watchful for a fade at around 85 pitches. We'll see. Regular rest, but he didn't max out last time in Oakland.
Very good point regarding fandom and aging. Steve Cohen is definitely trying to fulfill a dream for his father-in-law precisely because he wants to give him a life gift. For his wife to witness it, too. I do understand the desperation of the fan that has not seen them win and if many weren't so demanding and ridiculous, I might pay more attention to them. Bitter, table of one. No, everyone is hyped but I think the younger crowd does not get the romanticism surrounding the Mets. As for Jake, if he gives us five scoreless innings, I will be thrilled. Very excited to watch tonight.
5 will be totally inadequate, UNLESS he is laboring through it, getting out of jams and has is well into the 90’s in pitches. If he is his normal dominance making it look easy, but in the fifth a couple of long at bats bring his count to 87-88, he better get his butt back out there for the 6th.
I can't comment with a GIF but I'd like to. It can more accurately and succinctly explain my mix of emotions going into this series. There hasn't been a series that matters on this level, given we came into the season with real expectations of success - unlike 2015 when we caught lightning in a bottle - since 2006 and ....the next couple of years where I had seasonal affective depression start a few months earlier....
I am of the opinion that if the last game of the year is the game we have to clinch send Bassit to the mound and everyone not on 2 days rest or the game 1 starter for WC if we lose is a bullpen piece so that we get the best shot at the division in the 11th hour and don't burn our best pitcher before the lesser prize of a WC series.
There's been some comments about who gets DFA'd or do they keep McCann off a particular series roster. It's not uncommon, and is more likely to happen in the WC or LDS with our pitchers than a position player. I wouldn't be surprised if a 'big name' and struggling position player/veteran is off a roster. If we fall to the WC I could see a couple hitters get dropped for more pitching.
In 2017 when we traded Granderson, he was league average or slightly above that year with Mets and LAD and was on the LDS but not the LCS or visa versa. Not sure if he got a ring for winning the NL pennant. An aside...do they do that? It's not as flashy or news worthy as the WS but still meaningful.
I don’t think they give out rings for anything but the World Series but he definitely received playoff money since he was there for a round. The players vote on shares.
I am about 37.5% confident the Mets can sweep. If they have to go to the wire, I'd rather pitch the guy who we know gives innings rather than a guy we don't want to get hurt who hasn't been able to go more than 6IP a few times, and didn't get out of the 7th when he did.
I disagree. If Jake is the guy, it’s the right move. If we need that game 162 to win this division, then that’s the game. You go all in to win it. If deGrom is expected to be the key to winning a playoff game, then surely he can win that game against the Nats to save us from even having to play the WC series. And if he loses it, what would he have done in Game one with even more pressure and better competition.
If game 162 is a win and in game; you absolutely 100% treat it as such. That game becomes just as important (if not more than) as Game 1 of the WC series. You can completely avoid an entire series by winning such a game. You treat it as if it's a must win.
As an aside, can I see a scenario where a 101 win Mets team going into the last game of the season needing a win but losing while the Braves lose to Alcantara and we get to hear how those 101 win Mets "backed in" into the division title? Yes I can.
And by the way, the likelihood it comes down to the final day is not low at all. Given how hard it is to sweep, we could take two this weekend and things could tighten right up again with Carrasco and Walker pitching Monday and Tuesday. Not what I want to see, but I’d feel confident in DeGrom righting the ship in game 162. If he doesn’t he could be kissing that new contract goodbye. . .
I hear your points Jonathan and I agree with a lot of them. My concern is Jake for the postseason. He has been flirting with adjusting speeds on the slider and the fastball. As he should if he doesn't want to have a robot arm in 2023 or 2024 because the human body is not supposed to throw 97 mph sliders. I am very interested in what he does tonight. My concern putting him in a position to not only win the division but lose out on a playoff series because he pitches on the last day of the season when they are guaranteed a playoff spot might cause him to pull a Noah and throw whatever the hell he wants because as we saw in his first game back they ain't going to hit that. And then we don't have him for the wild card if we lose or based on how this weekend goes Atlanta still wins. I would rather have Bassett pitch or Max pitch the final game of the season to get multiple Jake opportunities in the playoffs whether or not we are in the wild card. No degrom forces us to carry Carrasco and Walker in the Wild Card. We wrap things up before game 162 we could actually go into the wild card and not have either of them on the roster depending on the team we're playing.
All of it comes down to the next 80 hours. We can disagree about that all we want the main agreement is it's a darn good time to be a Mets fan and I am excited for this series. My hope later tonight is that I'm celebrating a tiebreaking victory for the Mets and I got to tell my Seattle friends congratulations on breaking a really long drought
Last comment before I go outside and climb the ladder (painting my house):
Unlike our esteemed leader, I have no ambiguity whatsoever about the desirability of winning the division. As things look, the Padres seem solid at the #5 seed. Which means the NL East Winner moves on to the Best of 5 vs. Phillies/Brewers or Cardinals winner. The 2nd place team gets a Best of Three vs. the Padres -- and I'd want no part of that -- and then likely the Dodgers.
I agree - I 100% want the division for a myriad of reasons. One of them is that we have been in the league, except for one night, since April. I want that to be finished off. I'm 39, I have never seen them close out a close divisional race and only seen them win the division twice period. Second, no guarantees, but the playoff path is simply easier as the 2 seed. Cardinals or the WC team they lose to are not an easy matchup at all, but it's indisputably easier than playing a WC round and then playing the Dodgers, especially without our pitching in order. Third, I'm really busy next weekend (hosting a 30-person party for my Mom's 70th) and watching playoff baseball exclusively will not be well received in the homestead. I love the Mets but I love my marriage too.
So yes, these are huge games. Tonight is an incredibly important game. This whole season has been both exhausting and exhilarating; let's finish on a high note.
The ‘73 Mets are the only Mets team to have gone down to wire and come out on top. I was 5 and this was before I was aware of this stuff, so I’ve never seen it. 84 was my first competitive season and the first September disappointment. 85 remains the classic come up just short experience. This one is very much like that, but we are up one heading into penultimate series of the season against our competitor instead of down 2. We won the first two, but needed a sweep to “control our destiny”. This time we only need 1 to be in that place.
If we win this division I will be satisfied with ANY outcome in the playoff crapshoot. This will go down as my # 2 season in my Mets fandom history.
There is something I don't understand regarding roster machinations. I completely understand why Alvarez can play the rest of the regular season, but I don't understand how a player not on the 40 can be eligible for the playoffs.
I'm guessing this also happened with Matt Reynolds in 2015. Is it as simple as - "The Mets can add anyone who was in their system on 8/31 to the 40 and they are eligible for the playoffs if there is an injury?
My guess is that they scrambled the rotation because Jake wants the ball. He knows his body best. And he threw only 80 pitches last Saturday.
Alvarez also gives us an emergency third catcher. You know you’d have to PR for nido or McCann in a critical spot. Oh wait- am I suggesting that McCann actually gets on base?
So I would expect Vientos get sent down and Perez DFA. But how do we make room for Givens?
Agreed. Jake stepped up, and it’s great. He probably is embarrassed as hell about how the As game went. He wants the ball, and he’s committed to game 162 if they need the win there too. Good for him!
My friend and I were talking about the Givens part. If they decided that Rodriguez isn't making the post season roster, they could DFA him. I'm not sure they have decided that and I suspect they'd like having him in the pen this weekend. However, as I'm looking at the active roster, I'm really not sure what other option they have at this point unless they wanted to option one of Peterson/Megill but I don't think they want to do that either. Big shrug emoji from me on that one.
I don't think he's a lock either, but I suspect they'd like to see him pitch a time or two in the next 6 games to see what they should do w/r/t the playoff roster. I think there are likely 5 locks for the playoff pen; Diaz, Lugo, Ottavino, Givens, May - that leaves Megill, Peterson, Williams, Rodriguez, Smith (and probably someone else that I'm forgetting) for 3 or 4 spots depending how many pitchers they want to take and also whether they put either Walker or Carrasco in the pen for the division series (optimistically assuming they will be in the DS).
Agreed. But I have trouble thinking all 5 starters don’t belong in the squad. Walker and Carrasco are better pitchers than the all the relievers except for Diaz and Ottavino.
I'm not sure I would put Carrasco ahead of everyone else in a bullpen role, especially if those first inning woes are real and translate to him pitching in relief. I lean towards thinking they'll include him on the roster but I don't think it's a lock.
At this point, you have to wonder if McCann could lose his postseason roster spot in any given round. If Alvarez hits at all the next two days, I suspect he'll catch more games in the final 6 then McCann. You have to give him and Vientos as many at bats as possible this week.
I don’t think Vientos is gonna be getting any more at bats. Pretty sure (as I commented above, and no one laughed by the way) tgat he will be coming down with a case of loose bodies, making room for Alvarez on the 40.
Handling the pitching staff is the most important thing a catcher does. I don’t see Alvarez being more than an emergency catcher this year. Next year is another story…
Here's the thing. He has caught Scherzer and deGrom, and possibly Walker or Carrasco when they missed time. I don't want to oversimplify catching, but I'm not that worried about it; particularly if we're facing a tough lefty and we want to get the best bat possible into the lineup. Obv, getting ahead of myself, but I'd rather see him and Vientos in the lineup vs a lefty right now.
I think Nido catches the vast majority of the remaining games and the playoffs. He's good defensively and has a nice (actually very good) run in his last 15 games. .908 OPS! He missed a GW HR by about 5 feet the other night. He's earned his playing time.
I honestly think McCann might end up being a roster casualty at this point. Both Alvarez and Perez could end up being better choices. Hate to say it, but McCann is a bad version of Nido right now.
First, thanks for committing to newsletters for the duration. I look forward to this newsletter. Can you send me something daily during the offseason? It can be blank - I'm going for the in-box feel. Second, all eyes on us. The Mets seem to thrive when everybody's watching. Third, bringing up Alvarez is brilliant - I don't care what he does but I love the bravado of bringing in a young gun. If I had to script this any better, I could not. How many times have we seen Atlanta do the very same thing? The pros of winning the division also include the accolades, the banner, the fans being able to say the Mets are the best in NL East...the Wild Card is not a prestigious. I am so excited for this series. LET'S GO METS! See ya in the slack... (Oh, winning tonight's game is imperative. Fried is rested and ready for revenge. Make him suffer - get back to the business of wearing pitchers down. Patience, my little Metsies, patience.)
Max Fried, will be on his best behavior, with the goal of being inscribed in the book of life for 5783. He’ll make sure his catcher stops stealing strikes for him, and their will be no chicanery with quick pitches, much less Vaseline or Emory boards. So it will be a fair fight.
It’s the same reason Richard Bleier, of Miami, kept his composure the other day when he was called for not only one, not only two, but three balks in one at bat, and then again, the next night, when he allowed the game tying hit in the bottom of the eighth by our own Edward O. Escoborowitz, himself an example of grace and manners. Menschen, all three.
If the world survives until 5783, I am confident that Max Fried will not be a topic of discussion. I'm not sure how to interpret this - do you think pitcher's are using other stuff now that umpires check for sticky stuff?
You think I’m doing anything but going for a laugh?
Jewish calendar 5783
Ha! Maybe we should bring Wilpon's old buddy Koufax out of retirement.
He’s not available until after Yom Kippur.
Amazing JB! Thanks for the overtime through the end of this fun run!
Would it be possible to explain how Alvarez would be eligible to be on postseason roster if he wasn’t on 40 man roster by 11:59pm on aug 30?
Any sense which two players would be DFA’d for Alvarez and givens today?
Typically, you have to be on the 40-man by August 31 to be on the postseason roster. However, MLB has to allow teams to make replacements due to injury. So if you are replacing someone who is on the injured list and has served the minimum number of days required for activation, you can replace him with someone like Alvarez. Mets have Brett Baty as someone who fits in this category.
As I said in the newsletter, I think Vientos goes down for Alvarez on the active roster. Someone like Michael Perez could be DFA’d to make the 40-man space.
Thanks!
I understand that loose bodies are highly contagious, as the FDA has yet to approve the new vaccine. Word around the clubhouse is that young Vientos, has not been adhering to team sock mandates, and is putting himself at significant risk.
Just what I heard.
By the way, a lot of people on MetsFix have been fixated about the upcoming series since the beginning of the year. Hat tip to all who knew it would come down to this.
Nice turn of phrase
I may partake of something of that nature - not sure yet lol
Maybe just gummy up, Steve? Won't leave you bloated.
Gummies are so hit and miss and your body is so relaxed. I believe the best game time decision is a bong hit of some fine sativa.
Don’t come a-slackin’ if you ain’t drinking.
as they used to say "Ride on jimmy..." totall agree 100% - ivesaid over and over again "I will never seen them win a WS again...." Well here we are FINGERS CROSSED
nothing else to say - Top prospect in all of MLB, The Mets going for a Division Title, 3 white knuckle - pitch by pitch games - LETS GO METS (of ya some good food to go along with all of this lol) - It sreally cool that Steve Cohen went to Atlanta - we should never forget he has suffered along with the rest of us his whole life being a Mets fan - best owner in all of sports.
Biggest game of the year. I even have Lite beer chilling - can't drink an IPA and pay attention 😉
Ha! Love this
I drank IPA's on Wednesday night and I felt like death until the 10th inning. I was in tragic Shakespearean mode. So, lite beer is.
There's an interesting sidenote with Cohen that I think is not insignificant. His father-in-law is a HUGE Mets fan. He's also, like, 90 years old. The clock is ticking.
I am going to assume that Steve loves his wife, loves his father-in-law, and would love to give this man the ultimate gift.
It adds a note of urgency to everything he does with the Mets. There's a longview -- rebuilding the entire structure of the minor league system that Sandy wrecked -- which will take years -- but also the shortview of trying to win one for the old man.
Believe me -- as I'm sure some of you know -- as you get older, you start to think: Am I going to see them win a World Series again? Maybe! From a different angle, my oldest is 29 and a diehard Mets fan. He hasn't seen a WS win either.
I love the Alvarez move. Which makes an insanely hyped and thrilling series . . . even *more* hyped and thrilling? It didn't seem possible and yet here we are.
I'm still a little confused by Jake going tonight. I'll be thrilled if he can go 7. Mostly looking for zeros. Buck has been slow with the hook this year -- probably a good thing overall -- but I'd be watchful for a fade at around 85 pitches. We'll see. Regular rest, but he didn't max out last time in Oakland.
Very, very excited to watch the game tonight!
Very good point regarding fandom and aging. Steve Cohen is definitely trying to fulfill a dream for his father-in-law precisely because he wants to give him a life gift. For his wife to witness it, too. I do understand the desperation of the fan that has not seen them win and if many weren't so demanding and ridiculous, I might pay more attention to them. Bitter, table of one. No, everyone is hyped but I think the younger crowd does not get the romanticism surrounding the Mets. As for Jake, if he gives us five scoreless innings, I will be thrilled. Very excited to watch tonight.
5 will be totally inadequate, UNLESS he is laboring through it, getting out of jams and has is well into the 90’s in pitches. If he is his normal dominance making it look easy, but in the fifth a couple of long at bats bring his count to 87-88, he better get his butt back out there for the 6th.
He needs to NOT have a 30 pitch first inning.
It goes without saying.
But it’s good you said it Bob. Jake might be reading. Why wouldn’t he subscribe? Mets Fix!!!!
We should all suffer like Steve Cohen...
I can't comment with a GIF but I'd like to. It can more accurately and succinctly explain my mix of emotions going into this series. There hasn't been a series that matters on this level, given we came into the season with real expectations of success - unlike 2015 when we caught lightning in a bottle - since 2006 and ....the next couple of years where I had seasonal affective depression start a few months earlier....
I am of the opinion that if the last game of the year is the game we have to clinch send Bassit to the mound and everyone not on 2 days rest or the game 1 starter for WC if we lose is a bullpen piece so that we get the best shot at the division in the 11th hour and don't burn our best pitcher before the lesser prize of a WC series.
There's been some comments about who gets DFA'd or do they keep McCann off a particular series roster. It's not uncommon, and is more likely to happen in the WC or LDS with our pitchers than a position player. I wouldn't be surprised if a 'big name' and struggling position player/veteran is off a roster. If we fall to the WC I could see a couple hitters get dropped for more pitching.
In 2017 when we traded Granderson, he was league average or slightly above that year with Mets and LAD and was on the LDS but not the LCS or visa versa. Not sure if he got a ring for winning the NL pennant. An aside...do they do that? It's not as flashy or news worthy as the WS but still meaningful.
I don’t think they give out rings for anything but the World Series but he definitely received playoff money since he was there for a round. The players vote on shares.
You think it may come down to Wednesday, October 5th vs. Washington? I bought a ticket to that game for this very possibility.
I am about 37.5% confident the Mets can sweep. If they have to go to the wire, I'd rather pitch the guy who we know gives innings rather than a guy we don't want to get hurt who hasn't been able to go more than 6IP a few times, and didn't get out of the 7th when he did.
Makes sense.
I disagree. If Jake is the guy, it’s the right move. If we need that game 162 to win this division, then that’s the game. You go all in to win it. If deGrom is expected to be the key to winning a playoff game, then surely he can win that game against the Nats to save us from even having to play the WC series. And if he loses it, what would he have done in Game one with even more pressure and better competition.
If game 162 is a win and in game; you absolutely 100% treat it as such. That game becomes just as important (if not more than) as Game 1 of the WC series. You can completely avoid an entire series by winning such a game. You treat it as if it's a must win.
As an aside, can I see a scenario where a 101 win Mets team going into the last game of the season needing a win but losing while the Braves lose to Alcantara and we get to hear how those 101 win Mets "backed in" into the division title? Yes I can.
Alcantara has never done the Mets many favors and a loss the last game of the season would be too on brand to bear.
Agreed.
And by the way, the likelihood it comes down to the final day is not low at all. Given how hard it is to sweep, we could take two this weekend and things could tighten right up again with Carrasco and Walker pitching Monday and Tuesday. Not what I want to see, but I’d feel confident in DeGrom righting the ship in game 162. If he doesn’t he could be kissing that new contract goodbye. . .
I hear your points Jonathan and I agree with a lot of them. My concern is Jake for the postseason. He has been flirting with adjusting speeds on the slider and the fastball. As he should if he doesn't want to have a robot arm in 2023 or 2024 because the human body is not supposed to throw 97 mph sliders. I am very interested in what he does tonight. My concern putting him in a position to not only win the division but lose out on a playoff series because he pitches on the last day of the season when they are guaranteed a playoff spot might cause him to pull a Noah and throw whatever the hell he wants because as we saw in his first game back they ain't going to hit that. And then we don't have him for the wild card if we lose or based on how this weekend goes Atlanta still wins. I would rather have Bassett pitch or Max pitch the final game of the season to get multiple Jake opportunities in the playoffs whether or not we are in the wild card. No degrom forces us to carry Carrasco and Walker in the Wild Card. We wrap things up before game 162 we could actually go into the wild card and not have either of them on the roster depending on the team we're playing.
All of it comes down to the next 80 hours. We can disagree about that all we want the main agreement is it's a darn good time to be a Mets fan and I am excited for this series. My hope later tonight is that I'm celebrating a tiebreaking victory for the Mets and I got to tell my Seattle friends congratulations on breaking a really long drought
Last comment before I go outside and climb the ladder (painting my house):
Unlike our esteemed leader, I have no ambiguity whatsoever about the desirability of winning the division. As things look, the Padres seem solid at the #5 seed. Which means the NL East Winner moves on to the Best of 5 vs. Phillies/Brewers or Cardinals winner. The 2nd place team gets a Best of Three vs. the Padres -- and I'd want no part of that -- and then likely the Dodgers.
I know with 100% certitude which path I'd prefer.
The playoffs start tonight. These games are huge.
I agree - I 100% want the division for a myriad of reasons. One of them is that we have been in the league, except for one night, since April. I want that to be finished off. I'm 39, I have never seen them close out a close divisional race and only seen them win the division twice period. Second, no guarantees, but the playoff path is simply easier as the 2 seed. Cardinals or the WC team they lose to are not an easy matchup at all, but it's indisputably easier than playing a WC round and then playing the Dodgers, especially without our pitching in order. Third, I'm really busy next weekend (hosting a 30-person party for my Mom's 70th) and watching playoff baseball exclusively will not be well received in the homestead. I love the Mets but I love my marriage too.
So yes, these are huge games. Tonight is an incredibly important game. This whole season has been both exhausting and exhilarating; let's finish on a high note.
The ‘73 Mets are the only Mets team to have gone down to wire and come out on top. I was 5 and this was before I was aware of this stuff, so I’ve never seen it. 84 was my first competitive season and the first September disappointment. 85 remains the classic come up just short experience. This one is very much like that, but we are up one heading into penultimate series of the season against our competitor instead of down 2. We won the first two, but needed a sweep to “control our destiny”. This time we only need 1 to be in that place.
If we win this division I will be satisfied with ANY outcome in the playoff crapshoot. This will go down as my # 2 season in my Mets fandom history.
Ya Gotta Believe. Mets got hot and won the division with only 82 games. It was a charming shocker.
Be careful on that ladder.
Hah! Watch out for Fried!
There is something I don't understand regarding roster machinations. I completely understand why Alvarez can play the rest of the regular season, but I don't understand how a player not on the 40 can be eligible for the playoffs.
I'm guessing this also happened with Matt Reynolds in 2015. Is it as simple as - "The Mets can add anyone who was in their system on 8/31 to the 40 and they are eligible for the playoffs if there is an injury?
well suffered being a fan not with $
HAHAHA so true but may be the way to go
LOL
My guess is that they scrambled the rotation because Jake wants the ball. He knows his body best. And he threw only 80 pitches last Saturday.
Alvarez also gives us an emergency third catcher. You know you’d have to PR for nido or McCann in a critical spot. Oh wait- am I suggesting that McCann actually gets on base?
So I would expect Vientos get sent down and Perez DFA. But how do we make room for Givens?
Agreed. Jake stepped up, and it’s great. He probably is embarrassed as hell about how the As game went. He wants the ball, and he’s committed to game 162 if they need the win there too. Good for him!
My friend and I were talking about the Givens part. If they decided that Rodriguez isn't making the post season roster, they could DFA him. I'm not sure they have decided that and I suspect they'd like having him in the pen this weekend. However, as I'm looking at the active roster, I'm really not sure what other option they have at this point unless they wanted to option one of Peterson/Megill but I don't think they want to do that either. Big shrug emoji from me on that one.
Frankly Megill has not shown anything. I don’t think he’s a lock for the playoff roster.
I don't think he's a lock either, but I suspect they'd like to see him pitch a time or two in the next 6 games to see what they should do w/r/t the playoff roster. I think there are likely 5 locks for the playoff pen; Diaz, Lugo, Ottavino, Givens, May - that leaves Megill, Peterson, Williams, Rodriguez, Smith (and probably someone else that I'm forgetting) for 3 or 4 spots depending how many pitchers they want to take and also whether they put either Walker or Carrasco in the pen for the division series (optimistically assuming they will be in the DS).
Agreed. But I have trouble thinking all 5 starters don’t belong in the squad. Walker and Carrasco are better pitchers than the all the relievers except for Diaz and Ottavino.
I'm not sure I would put Carrasco ahead of everyone else in a bullpen role, especially if those first inning woes are real and translate to him pitching in relief. I lean towards thinking they'll include him on the roster but I don't think it's a lock.
They really should have experimented with an opener in his games to see if there is a first inning block or if it’s his first inning no matter when.
At this point, you have to wonder if McCann could lose his postseason roster spot in any given round. If Alvarez hits at all the next two days, I suspect he'll catch more games in the final 6 then McCann. You have to give him and Vientos as many at bats as possible this week.
I don't think Alvarez is catching. But we'll see.
I don’t think Vientos is gonna be getting any more at bats. Pretty sure (as I commented above, and no one laughed by the way) tgat he will be coming down with a case of loose bodies, making room for Alvarez on the 40.
Actually Ruf has a stiff...neck
Handling the pitching staff is the most important thing a catcher does. I don’t see Alvarez being more than an emergency catcher this year. Next year is another story…
Here's the thing. He has caught Scherzer and deGrom, and possibly Walker or Carrasco when they missed time. I don't want to oversimplify catching, but I'm not that worried about it; particularly if we're facing a tough lefty and we want to get the best bat possible into the lineup. Obv, getting ahead of myself, but I'd rather see him and Vientos in the lineup vs a lefty right now.
I think Nido catches the vast majority of the remaining games and the playoffs. He's good defensively and has a nice (actually very good) run in his last 15 games. .908 OPS! He missed a GW HR by about 5 feet the other night. He's earned his playing time.
Agree. Maybe McCann plays Sunday, a day game after a night game.
I honestly think McCann might end up being a roster casualty at this point. Both Alvarez and Perez could end up being better choices. Hate to say it, but McCann is a bad version of Nido right now.
Sunday's game is a night game as an FYI.