Yesterday was a lot of fun at the ballpark (although Citi Field needs to upgrade stadium staff). I knew the Mets were going to win when Nimmo led off with a HBP. HBP is the new walk. Anyway, watching the Mets score 10 runs was delightful. Bring on Philly - the Mets are ready.
A shame that the last CBA was such a total failure in terms of real change. In the NL this year, I count a total of six teams actively trying for . . . six playoff spots. The Brewers traded away their closer. There have always been huge gaps between the best and worst teams, but never in my recollection have so many teams been punting the entire season. There is a point where the overall product suffers. I didn't see a single Reds pitcher who looked impressive. Not one. It's a little better in the AL.
If the anti-trust exemption goes away we could potentially have leagues that allow for competition but MLB reigns supreme and we could do.....relegation like EPL and major futbol leagues in Europe. Of course the union can't do 300/10 contracts anymore or not include minor leaguers in their ranks - hence why they'll fight this once it gets more tangible beyond the current legislation specific to minor leaguers - but maybe I'm just a dreamer...
There are 10 teams which should be eliminated from MLB. Since that will not happen because MLB vacillates between capitalism and socialism, let’s do what they do on “Ted Lasso” - bump teams back to Triple A if they fail to meet certain standards.
They should end the socialism. Lose the antitrust exemption and that will fall. We can have that many teams, but some markets just don’t bear it anymore, if they ever did, and some owners need to be forced out by fair market forces. Instead, they prop these wealthy men up with luxury tax penalties, essentially penalizing the business owners who treat their employees better. Some system.
I concur. In this particular socialist template, the product suffers more. In real life, if a company has 10 non-performing assets, they liquidate and cut their losses. MLB wants quantity, not quality. What's intriguing is that they don't trust the actual game to sell itself if given the chance. "Less is more" is lost on them. You give us 20 good teams, 10 in each league and we will see quality baseball. So, yes, to improve the game they need to stop expanding and stop degrading the actual game (banning the shift will be the final straw for me).
I think there’s enough talent to field this many teams, but the financials have become perverted. A team such as Tampa, thinks it can win with their analytical approach, but to what end? They put a boring product on the field because they keep plugging in new parts based on analytics and dump the players quickly before they can build a fan following, in order to save money, knowing they can profit by keeping expenses low as long as they get the revenue “sharing” from the “dumb” big market teams. Not possible for more than a couple of teams to win like that, and without fans what’s the point of winning anyway? To stroke the owner’s ego?
The Dodgers and Yankees prove you can spend money to make money, and satisfy millions of fans , and the Cardinals, show that this model works outside the big cities/major media markets. If they can do it in St. Louis, they can do it in Kansas City and Denver and Cincinnati and Pittsburgh too. Shamefully, they Don’t.
In Tampa's defense, they never had above 65% capacity since expansion - and that includes being at home in the WS!
They shouldn't try that hard given fans don't show up. Tampa is low on the MLB FCI (Fan Cost Index) for overall cost of tickets and concessions for a family. Only team less than is the Marlins, and their economics is purely to tank.
Oakland is a different story, those fans show up, and their issue is fighting over a stadium and all that politics. Their issues also connect to MLB's flawed geographic 'control' areas for cable based TV deals. The area the team and city have identified as best case scenario for a stadium (distance would be like Truist Park to Atlanta) is in San Jose area and that is 'Giants Territory' that MLB refuses adjust. Whole thing is a Charlie Foxtrot.
The A's owner has plenty of money-last I heard he was worth $4.2 billion-but he chooses not to spend a few tens of millions of it to put a better product out on the field. This year the A's nearly doubled the cost of season tickets, took away perks that came with the subscription, and put a low budget payroll on the field. A friend who has been a ticketholder for years passed on it.
I got one seat. Section 18, row 19, seat 3. 20 game plan. Weekdays and weekends. I can order from my seat and have it delivered. Plus, I have access to the Delta Club and there was some seriously good looking pizza there. I can also invite a guest and they will help me find two seats together. It’s a cushy seat, too!
it's also almost impossible to sync the radio on MLB TV with it too - i'm not sure about everyone else, but the radio option on the MLB app is a solid minute behind the video stream on the same app which is completely illogical to me
Hmm...I haven't tried that but from where I'm watching in California, the video on mlb.tv is a split second behind the audio of the video stream. I hear "struck him out!" while the batter is in mid-swing.
That issue is the same for me re: the audio when I'm watching the video stream. It's just about a split second which isn't a huge deal when the ball is put in play, but on big strike outs, I hear Gary just as the pitch is working through the zone. It was much worse for me watching hockey on the ESPN app this year as I would hear the goal post before the shot was taken. I'm not sure why the syncing has gotten worse rather then better.
It's far worse now. I live in Baltimore so I used to watch the Nationals games on mute and listen on the app. It used to be 30 seconds behind (essentially one pitch behind), but it's basically a full 2 minutes behind live TV now. It's completely ridiculous and unworkable.
What did you think was behind having Lugo go back-to-back games yesterday? It completely surprised me, especially with the game well in hand. I figured it was either Buck pushing him out of his confort zone . . . or the Mets, along with Lugo's consent, trying to get him accustomed to more strenuous use?
I actually looked up how many times they have used him back-to-back in the morning yesterday, and was surprised it was 6 times. So I think given his previous pitch counts and days off before that, they were willing to do it.
But in so many of those second days he stunk, a pattern was apparent. None of the other relievers on the team demonstrated this particular limitation.
I think it was purposeful, as Jimmy suggested. I think it may be in Lugo’s head that he can’t, and Buck is trying to establish a pattern of success. His first two appearances this year were back to back, and it went well. But he has stumbled regularly in the situation since then. Perhaps he is testing Lugo to see if he has overcome his issues and can return to his former status as a highly reliable late inning “high leverage” reliever. Buck is always thinking ahead, that’s for sure.
Yes, but why? It was completely unnecessary. And if you looked up those back-to-backs, I'm pretty sure you'd see that he didn't pitch well on no rest. Williams was ready to go, Medina, big lead against a garbage team. I wonder what the method was behind the madness.
I think Lugo was that specific goal. Huge lead, safe spot to show the guy there isn’t a physical reason why he can’t get batters out the next day. It crossed my mind he might even give him a second inning to show him he can do that too, but he probably thought better about it. Get him out quickly before something happens to out a bad taste in the guys’ mouth. With Williams, he was probably trying to get him some work to keep him fresh. He lets Williams go weeks without being used then needs him for a long outing or spot start. He was literally on 5 days rest. Last time he worked was when he came in for Walker on Friday.
With Medina, maybe he’s thinking the guy is here to stay, so get him some work. I think he’s the best of the Syracuse shuttle guys now that Holderman has been traded. Definitely better than Lopez, and probably better than Nogosek. I know I like him the best.
Medina probably hadn't pitched at all in at least 1-2 weeks. I do think there's a chance he sticks a little longer (unless Megill comes back and sticks and then Peterson sticks in the pen in Sept).
day off today; half a day off yesterday; the rest of the pen will be completely rested going into this weekend - i don't think it will impact using Lugo in this series or beyond
I can see Diaz going more than 3 outs tomorrow if the situation presents itself; he will have had 4 days off
Easy answer is it's the Reds and he needs to not get rusty. Metrics wise, he's more 2017 than 2018-2020, so he needs to get back into a consistent groove.
The complex answer for Lugo, Rodriguez - even Diaz when considering outings where 4+ outs are required - or how long Walker goes per start, is because they've got to start pushing these guys for the playoffs
Lugo has to be able to go b2b more often and get used to regularly coming in multiple times a week as one would in a playoff series. Same for Walker's endurance to come out of the pen on a Jake day if the bullpen was used a lot the day before in a playoff game, or throwing certain RPs into higher leverage situations than they have so far to see what it feels like to have pressure.
The only SPs who have playoff experience are Jake, Carrasco, Bassitt, and Scherzer. Only position are Lindor, Cahna, Escobar. Nimmo didn't play in the 2016 game. Lugo didn't pitch that day. I was there. I watched Terry not use the hot hand with Reed and Familia was never the same again.
None of these guys have been to the playoffs, don't let our record make you forget that. The rest of August we have 4 against ATL, 2 against NYY and the LAD series (ends on 9/1.) Philly is a non issue. In September we have 1 more ATL series and then Marlins x2, PITx2, Cubs, WASx2, As. We can win a lot of these series and afford to put players into different situations to prove themselves.
Reds aren't good but they had been playing about .500 baseball for the past 2 1/2 months before this series (admittedly pre trade deadline before they dealt away most of their key players) - Mets completely took care of business all after a pretty emotional series against Atlanta; pretty impressive
Votto looked completely checked out. And their new "top prospect" shortstop can't play SS. I think the CF can play. And I loved their 2B last year. Not sure what's going on with him. Injuries, bad environment. Looking at Dunn was another mark in Brodie's favor: He traded the right guy in the Diaz Deal. Sidenote: I still think Kelenic will have a career -- maybe like Joc Peterson -- but he's at .127 BA right now.
By the way, he should be so lucky to have a career like Joc Peterson. A useful contributor to multiple playoff teams, a World Series, an All Star team. He’s on his way to a 10 year ML career in which he’ll earn all the money his family will ever need. Is his career a disappointment? Perhaps if you are a prospect hugger who assumed he would be a perennial all star
We always bemoan the prospects we trade that pan out, but forget all about the prospects we trade that fizzle out. I’m gonna keep a list of all the prospects dealt in the big deadline trades and tuck it away for 10 years and have a look. I expect the data will support trading prospects.
Two more hard-fought weeks. 13 games in 12 days vs. top-shelf competition. September schedule is a breeze. Mets can go .500 for next 2 weeks and roll into the playoffs with a first round bye. Just need to stay on point, and stay healthy, through this tough period: Phils (7), Braves (4), Yankees (2).
I thought Walker looked . . . okay. Hard to tell against that lineup.
I disagree. If they perform at a .500 level through this it will energize the competition and deflate the team. Can’t count on winning by running up the score on the second division teams. That’s what’s been separating us from the Braves and Phils. This set of games is huge. We can put this thing away in the next two weeks, and then the final 27 games can be about load management, maybe even seeing the prospects come up.
if we go .500 in the next 13 games, including no worse than 2-2 v Atlanta and 3-4 v Philly, our lead should be pretty solid going into a very easy September schedule - however, going 3-1 v Atlanta and 5-2 v Philly will essentially lock things up which is the preferred route
I'm not worried about prospects coming up this year, especially since the roster only expands by 2 spots. I think it's possible Alvarez comes up since a) teams like a 3rd catcher in Sept and b) he could get a look at DH occasionally while getting the osmosis training from being around the staff, etc. I don't anticipate seeing any other big prospects up with the team this Fall.
It looks like the Mets have lost the first game of a series just 7 times all season (Phillies in April, Braves in May, Mariners in May, Dodgers in June, Astros twice in June and Padres after the break). That's a ridiculously low number and sets the tone each series; I'd like to see that continue!
I like that we can disagree. I don't see this as a season where "seeing the prospects" is a thing. That's for the crappy teams. Why start Baty's clock? Though I think they might reward Alvarez's status by giving him the opportunity to tag along in meetings, follow Nido around, be in the lockerroom, learn the ropes -- like a new hire shadowing an experienced waiter.
It makes sense to bring Alvarez up so that McCann and Nido can mentor him on defense. Not only could he improve his skills; he could also start learning his pitching staff and the opposing hitters around the league. Can someone remind me what are the current rules on roster expansion in Sept?
Yesterday was a lot of fun at the ballpark (although Citi Field needs to upgrade stadium staff). I knew the Mets were going to win when Nimmo led off with a HBP. HBP is the new walk. Anyway, watching the Mets score 10 runs was delightful. Bring on Philly - the Mets are ready.
how many brewskies did you end up having lol
Only three. I bought a 20-game plan for next year and my goal is to meet some of you and drink more than three beers.
A shame that the last CBA was such a total failure in terms of real change. In the NL this year, I count a total of six teams actively trying for . . . six playoff spots. The Brewers traded away their closer. There have always been huge gaps between the best and worst teams, but never in my recollection have so many teams been punting the entire season. There is a point where the overall product suffers. I didn't see a single Reds pitcher who looked impressive. Not one. It's a little better in the AL.
If the anti-trust exemption goes away we could potentially have leagues that allow for competition but MLB reigns supreme and we could do.....relegation like EPL and major futbol leagues in Europe. Of course the union can't do 300/10 contracts anymore or not include minor leaguers in their ranks - hence why they'll fight this once it gets more tangible beyond the current legislation specific to minor leaguers - but maybe I'm just a dreamer...
There are 10 teams which should be eliminated from MLB. Since that will not happen because MLB vacillates between capitalism and socialism, let’s do what they do on “Ted Lasso” - bump teams back to Triple A if they fail to meet certain standards.
They should end the socialism. Lose the antitrust exemption and that will fall. We can have that many teams, but some markets just don’t bear it anymore, if they ever did, and some owners need to be forced out by fair market forces. Instead, they prop these wealthy men up with luxury tax penalties, essentially penalizing the business owners who treat their employees better. Some system.
I concur. In this particular socialist template, the product suffers more. In real life, if a company has 10 non-performing assets, they liquidate and cut their losses. MLB wants quantity, not quality. What's intriguing is that they don't trust the actual game to sell itself if given the chance. "Less is more" is lost on them. You give us 20 good teams, 10 in each league and we will see quality baseball. So, yes, to improve the game they need to stop expanding and stop degrading the actual game (banning the shift will be the final straw for me).
I think there’s enough talent to field this many teams, but the financials have become perverted. A team such as Tampa, thinks it can win with their analytical approach, but to what end? They put a boring product on the field because they keep plugging in new parts based on analytics and dump the players quickly before they can build a fan following, in order to save money, knowing they can profit by keeping expenses low as long as they get the revenue “sharing” from the “dumb” big market teams. Not possible for more than a couple of teams to win like that, and without fans what’s the point of winning anyway? To stroke the owner’s ego?
The Dodgers and Yankees prove you can spend money to make money, and satisfy millions of fans , and the Cardinals, show that this model works outside the big cities/major media markets. If they can do it in St. Louis, they can do it in Kansas City and Denver and Cincinnati and Pittsburgh too. Shamefully, they Don’t.
In Tampa's defense, they never had above 65% capacity since expansion - and that includes being at home in the WS!
They shouldn't try that hard given fans don't show up. Tampa is low on the MLB FCI (Fan Cost Index) for overall cost of tickets and concessions for a family. Only team less than is the Marlins, and their economics is purely to tank.
Oakland is a different story, those fans show up, and their issue is fighting over a stadium and all that politics. Their issues also connect to MLB's flawed geographic 'control' areas for cable based TV deals. The area the team and city have identified as best case scenario for a stadium (distance would be like Truist Park to Atlanta) is in San Jose area and that is 'Giants Territory' that MLB refuses adjust. Whole thing is a Charlie Foxtrot.
The A's owner has plenty of money-last I heard he was worth $4.2 billion-but he chooses not to spend a few tens of millions of it to put a better product out on the field. This year the A's nearly doubled the cost of season tickets, took away perks that came with the subscription, and put a low budget payroll on the field. A friend who has been a ticketholder for years passed on it.
Agree. I'm an A's fan too, and now that the Wilpons are retired the A's have the worst owner in MLB.
Those 3 are like 24 OZ each though lol
How many seats did you get and where ?
I had one bottle and one of those big’ns- isn’t that three?
I got one seat. Section 18, row 19, seat 3. 20 game plan. Weekdays and weekends. I can order from my seat and have it delivered. Plus, I have access to the Delta Club and there was some seriously good looking pizza there. I can also invite a guest and they will help me find two seats together. It’s a cushy seat, too!
Lets Go Mets !
Oh no, Friday's game is on AppleTV. Great picture, but I'll have to mute it...
it's also almost impossible to sync the radio on MLB TV with it too - i'm not sure about everyone else, but the radio option on the MLB app is a solid minute behind the video stream on the same app which is completely illogical to me
Hmm...I haven't tried that but from where I'm watching in California, the video on mlb.tv is a split second behind the audio of the video stream. I hear "struck him out!" while the batter is in mid-swing.
I notice that too. Or it could be that Gary is just that good.
That issue is the same for me re: the audio when I'm watching the video stream. It's just about a split second which isn't a huge deal when the ball is put in play, but on big strike outs, I hear Gary just as the pitch is working through the zone. It was much worse for me watching hockey on the ESPN app this year as I would hear the goal post before the shot was taken. I'm not sure why the syncing has gotten worse rather then better.
I feel like MLB techies did that on purpose. Up through 2020 that was not an issue at all.
Yeah, I noticed that. It seems like its been worse recently. I feel like it wasn’t that bad in the past.
It's far worse now. I live in Baltimore so I used to watch the Nationals games on mute and listen on the app. It used to be 30 seconds behind (essentially one pitch behind), but it's basically a full 2 minutes behind live TV now. It's completely ridiculous and unworkable.
What did you think was behind having Lugo go back-to-back games yesterday? It completely surprised me, especially with the game well in hand. I figured it was either Buck pushing him out of his confort zone . . . or the Mets, along with Lugo's consent, trying to get him accustomed to more strenuous use?
I actually looked up how many times they have used him back-to-back in the morning yesterday, and was surprised it was 6 times. So I think given his previous pitch counts and days off before that, they were willing to do it.
But in so many of those second days he stunk, a pattern was apparent. None of the other relievers on the team demonstrated this particular limitation.
I think it was purposeful, as Jimmy suggested. I think it may be in Lugo’s head that he can’t, and Buck is trying to establish a pattern of success. His first two appearances this year were back to back, and it went well. But he has stumbled regularly in the situation since then. Perhaps he is testing Lugo to see if he has overcome his issues and can return to his former status as a highly reliable late inning “high leverage” reliever. Buck is always thinking ahead, that’s for sure.
I agree with this theory. I also bet $20 that Buck has been peeved by all the "not availables" on Lugo's resume.
Yes, but why? It was completely unnecessary. And if you looked up those back-to-backs, I'm pretty sure you'd see that he didn't pitch well on no rest. Williams was ready to go, Medina, big lead against a garbage team. I wonder what the method was behind the madness.
I think Lugo was that specific goal. Huge lead, safe spot to show the guy there isn’t a physical reason why he can’t get batters out the next day. It crossed my mind he might even give him a second inning to show him he can do that too, but he probably thought better about it. Get him out quickly before something happens to out a bad taste in the guys’ mouth. With Williams, he was probably trying to get him some work to keep him fresh. He lets Williams go weeks without being used then needs him for a long outing or spot start. He was literally on 5 days rest. Last time he worked was when he came in for Walker on Friday.
With Medina, maybe he’s thinking the guy is here to stay, so get him some work. I think he’s the best of the Syracuse shuttle guys now that Holderman has been traded. Definitely better than Lopez, and probably better than Nogosek. I know I like him the best.
Medina probably hadn't pitched at all in at least 1-2 weeks. I do think there's a chance he sticks a little longer (unless Megill comes back and sticks and then Peterson sticks in the pen in Sept).
day off today; half a day off yesterday; the rest of the pen will be completely rested going into this weekend - i don't think it will impact using Lugo in this series or beyond
I can see Diaz going more than 3 outs tomorrow if the situation presents itself; he will have had 4 days off
I suspect it’s the latter and I love it.
I think the latter too - he wants to have the option to use Lugo on B2B days in October
Easy answer is it's the Reds and he needs to not get rusty. Metrics wise, he's more 2017 than 2018-2020, so he needs to get back into a consistent groove.
The complex answer for Lugo, Rodriguez - even Diaz when considering outings where 4+ outs are required - or how long Walker goes per start, is because they've got to start pushing these guys for the playoffs
Lugo has to be able to go b2b more often and get used to regularly coming in multiple times a week as one would in a playoff series. Same for Walker's endurance to come out of the pen on a Jake day if the bullpen was used a lot the day before in a playoff game, or throwing certain RPs into higher leverage situations than they have so far to see what it feels like to have pressure.
The only SPs who have playoff experience are Jake, Carrasco, Bassitt, and Scherzer. Only position are Lindor, Cahna, Escobar. Nimmo didn't play in the 2016 game. Lugo didn't pitch that day. I was there. I watched Terry not use the hot hand with Reed and Familia was never the same again.
None of these guys have been to the playoffs, don't let our record make you forget that. The rest of August we have 4 against ATL, 2 against NYY and the LAD series (ends on 9/1.) Philly is a non issue. In September we have 1 more ATL series and then Marlins x2, PITx2, Cubs, WASx2, As. We can win a lot of these series and afford to put players into different situations to prove themselves.
oh cool can look into the mets dugout - i would go to a game next year ?
LOL - yes
Reds aren't good but they had been playing about .500 baseball for the past 2 1/2 months before this series (admittedly pre trade deadline before they dealt away most of their key players) - Mets completely took care of business all after a pretty emotional series against Atlanta; pretty impressive
Votto looked completely checked out. And their new "top prospect" shortstop can't play SS. I think the CF can play. And I loved their 2B last year. Not sure what's going on with him. Injuries, bad environment. Looking at Dunn was another mark in Brodie's favor: He traded the right guy in the Diaz Deal. Sidenote: I still think Kelenic will have a career -- maybe like Joc Peterson -- but he's at .127 BA right now.
By the way, he should be so lucky to have a career like Joc Peterson. A useful contributor to multiple playoff teams, a World Series, an All Star team. He’s on his way to a 10 year ML career in which he’ll earn all the money his family will ever need. Is his career a disappointment? Perhaps if you are a prospect hugger who assumed he would be a perennial all star
We always bemoan the prospects we trade that pan out, but forget all about the prospects we trade that fizzle out. I’m gonna keep a list of all the prospects dealt in the big deadline trades and tuck it away for 10 years and have a look. I expect the data will support trading prospects.
The Reds are dreadful. They play a boatload of games in the weakest division in the league and that artificially inflates their record.
Two more hard-fought weeks. 13 games in 12 days vs. top-shelf competition. September schedule is a breeze. Mets can go .500 for next 2 weeks and roll into the playoffs with a first round bye. Just need to stay on point, and stay healthy, through this tough period: Phils (7), Braves (4), Yankees (2).
I thought Walker looked . . . okay. Hard to tell against that lineup.
I disagree. If they perform at a .500 level through this it will energize the competition and deflate the team. Can’t count on winning by running up the score on the second division teams. That’s what’s been separating us from the Braves and Phils. This set of games is huge. We can put this thing away in the next two weeks, and then the final 27 games can be about load management, maybe even seeing the prospects come up.
if we go .500 in the next 13 games, including no worse than 2-2 v Atlanta and 3-4 v Philly, our lead should be pretty solid going into a very easy September schedule - however, going 3-1 v Atlanta and 5-2 v Philly will essentially lock things up which is the preferred route
I'm not worried about prospects coming up this year, especially since the roster only expands by 2 spots. I think it's possible Alvarez comes up since a) teams like a 3rd catcher in Sept and b) he could get a look at DH occasionally while getting the osmosis training from being around the staff, etc. I don't anticipate seeing any other big prospects up with the team this Fall.
It looks like the Mets have lost the first game of a series just 7 times all season (Phillies in April, Braves in May, Mariners in May, Dodgers in June, Astros twice in June and Padres after the break). That's a ridiculously low number and sets the tone each series; I'd like to see that continue!
I like that we can disagree. I don't see this as a season where "seeing the prospects" is a thing. That's for the crappy teams. Why start Baty's clock? Though I think they might reward Alvarez's status by giving him the opportunity to tag along in meetings, follow Nido around, be in the lockerroom, learn the ropes -- like a new hire shadowing an experienced waiter.
It makes sense to bring Alvarez up so that McCann and Nido can mentor him on defense. Not only could he improve his skills; he could also start learning his pitching staff and the opposing hitters around the league. Can someone remind me what are the current rules on roster expansion in Sept?