2019 New York Mets Season Thread

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Well that was completely predictable.  

Note to BVW:  I can’t take the Mets seriously if Flexen is on the major league roster...I don’t care what the circumstances are.  The guy is simply not worthy of pitching against major leaguers. EVER.  

In 20 career games in the majors, he’s been the losing pitcher in half of them...and has a career WHIP of 2.23.  It’s not that he was in the game last night...the only other option was to bring in a starting pitcher, and I don’t think I would have done that.  It’s that Flexen was even up here at all.  There’s gotta be SOMEONE, ANYONE in the system who can perform at a higher level than fvcking Flexen.  Don’t tell me that you’re trying to win now and allow that complete stiff to be in the picture.  fvcking ridiculous.

Edited May 5, 2019 by Colorado Rockies 1976

['7']

It was absurd. And it seems every year we have about 8 losses like this

Lost in this debacle was that Wheeler gutted through one today. He pitched well. Thought for a moment there (seemed his pitch count was high early) that he may not make it through 5. He went a full 7.

Flexen just needs to be sh!t into the sun. He is absolutely hopeless in absolutely everything he does on the mound. If he gets through a clean inning it's on luck alone. You'd be hard pressed to find a pitcher who has less in terms of actual stuff. Actual talent. 

This team is better than that. They have no business being under .500. I'm not saying they're a playoff team but they have got to straighten this out already. 7-13 in their last 20. Unacceptable. We cannot let this get off the rails like it did last year with a befuddled Mickey Callaway pressing all the wrong buttons

[NJDevs4978]

To think Flexen (or Oswalt) was supposed to be our alternative to Vargas lol

Losing two games to a Brewer team that didn't have a healthy Yelich is bad all in itself never mind the bad play over the last three weeks.  Rosario's getting to the point where he needs a mental health break if not an outright Conforto-type demotion.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Agree on Rosario...think he could use a little trip to AAA.  Part of the problem is he’s been overrated from Day 1, really...he’s been error-prone at every level.  We should probably just get used to that part of his game.  As far as fielding goes, he’ll never be what Reyes was in his prime...or Ordonez.  

[NJDevs4978]

Expected result today on the way to a sweep

In other news D'arnaud signs with the Dodgers after being outrighted.  Not sure why the Mets didn't bother playing him in AAA if they were just gonna be stuck with the salary anyway, unless saving the vet minimum is that big a deal.  It's just weird they tendered him, rushed him back into the lineup then offed him completely.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Yeah, of course the whole handling of d’Arnaud was clumsy/sloppy you name it, but at least he’s gone.  He never should been part of the 2019 plans.

And on another note, Flexen is obviously awful and likely would’ve lost last night’s game anyway, but friggin’ Angel Hernandez decided to shrink the strike zone to the size of a credit card during the bottom of the 18th inning.  fvcker decided he wasn’t going to give Flexen ANYTHING borderline.  

And here’s yet another reason why Mickey needs to be canned ASAP.  Exhausted pen, Vargas has a 1-2-3 fourth...and he’s done for the day.  So now the gassed pen has to account for five more innings.  Like Zeile just mentioned, maybe Vargas has some sort of physical issue...but I need an explanation for this one.  

[NJDevs4978]

Apparently Vargas DOES have a hammy issue...you really can't make this sh!t up.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

15 minutes ago, NJDevs4978 said:

Apparently Vargas DOES have a hammy issue...you really can't make this sh!t up.

The Met universe will one day be explained...

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Same ol’ Mets.  And enough of Todd Frazier already.  Got I hate hitters like him.

['7']

29 runs in our last 11 games is pathetic. We're 3-8 in that stretch. This is starting to look a lot like that death plunge from last year where Callaway looked absolutely overmatched and befuddled and it totally ended our season

Is BVW going to step up and do something or are we going to let this slip away? Because believe me with Mickey at the helm this can very easily turn into a 25 losses in 34 games type of nightmare.

Nimmo is in an 0-20 stretch. 

Pete Alonso cannot be the entire offense. He needs help

Edited May 5, 2019 by '7'

[NJDevs4978]

Oh my this really is gonna blow up in a hurry

 

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Oh Matz might be hurt...that’s a total surprise.

I’m all for sh!t-canning Mickey, but Riggleman will be the replacement.  May not make much difference.  Not saying not to do it, just that it may not be the jolt we’re hoping for.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

41 minutes ago, '7' said:

29 runs in our last 11 games is pathetic. We're 3-8 in that stretch. This is starting to look a lot like that death plunge from last year where Callaway looked absolutely overmatched and befuddled and it totally ended our season

Is BVW going to step up and do something or are we going to let this slip away? Because believe me with Mickey at the helm this can very easily turn into a 25 losses in 34 games type of nightmare.

Nimmo is in an 0-20 stretch. 

Pete Alonso cannot be the entire offense. He needs help

I’m thinking it will be status quo for a while.  Maybe Mickey get the ax, but even that won’t happen overnight.  

Kinda funny that suddenly the carnival barker is a lot quieter now.

['7']

Just now, NJDevs4978 said:

Oh my this really is gonna blow up in a hurry

 

 

Who knows now with this nerve issue and the time frame for a potential return. But not going all in on Keuchel right now seems like malpractice 

[NJDevs4978]

47 minutes ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Oh Matz might be hurt...that’s a total surprise.

I’m all for sh!t-canning Mickey, but Riggleman will be the replacement.  May not make much difference.  Not saying not to do it, just that it may not be the jolt we’re hoping for.

Yeah pretty much, and if this thing does nose-dive quickly not sure what a manager change would do regardless.  Just hope Brodie doesn't give him an extension before the roof falls in the way Shero did with Hynes

The sad thing is this game was actually there for the taking despite Vargas and the crappy bullpen being stretched after an 18-inning game and still the offense failed.  

32 minutes ago, '7' said:

 

Who knows now with this nerve issue and the time frame for a potential return. But not going all in on Keuchel right now seems like malpractice 

Not going in on GIO is definitely malpractice...yeah I know his recent track record has been underwhelming but he was cheap and my gosh he'd be better than what we're throwing out there now especially if Matz and Vargas have to miss turns.

Edited May 5, 2019 by NJDevs4978

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

13 hours ago, NJDevs4978 said:

Yeah pretty much, and if this thing does nose-dive quickly not sure what a manager change would do regardless.  Just hope Brodie doesn't give him an extension before the roof falls in the way Shero did with Hynes

The sad thing is this game was actually there for the taking despite Vargas and the crappy bullpen being stretched after an 18-inning game and still the offense failed.  

Not going in on GIO is definitely malpractice...yeah I know his recent track record has been underwhelming but he was cheap and my gosh he'd be better than what we're throwing out there now especially if Matz and Vargas have to miss turns.

There's plenty to get on the Mets about, but passing on Gio isn't one of them...a reminder:

2016, from 5/23 through 9/28:  24 starts, 129 IP, 139 H, 80 ER, 46 BB, 81 K, 16 HR, 5.58 ERA

2018, from 6/9 through 8/29:  15 starts, 74.1 IP, 93 H, 56 ER, 42 BB, 56 K, 11 HR, 6.78 ERA

When Gio is going bad, he's going really REALLY bad.  Vargas bad.  His overall career numbers are respectable, and that's part of the problem, in that too many Mets fans think he's better than he really is at this point.  Some will counter with "Well, he's been good for Milwaukee", but he's averaged about 5 IP per start in 7 starts with that team.  Talk to me if he gets through the rest of 2019 without having a long stretch of awfulness. 

 

On another note, BVW will soon learn that empty sales pitches and carnival barking BS bragging won't endear him to anyone around here.  YOU are the one who talked about contending immediately Brodie...the fans were pretty much prepared for anything, even a full or partial rebuild (we wouldn't have loved it, but we could've understood it, especially if the Mets had hired a GM with any kind of experience, who wanted to rebuild from the farm on up, his way)...but nope, you beat your chest and said "Come and get us!"  So it's on YOU to back up those words, otherwise it will be obvious that you're just as full of sh!t as your predecessor was. 

So enough with Todd Frazier.  Great, you and Mickey decided to throw off the chemistry of this team by trying to make fetch happen by forcing Frazier into the lineup, and guess what?  It ain't happenin'.  Yeah, he hit a grand slam...since that game, the guy is slashing .121/.147/.212.  That's friggin' 2018 Reyes bad...just stop it already.  OK, you at least had the balls to dump d'Arnaud...do the same with Frazier.  Assuming he'll somehow pick it up and be less rotten, what's his upside at this point?  In his last 420 GP, he's hit .218 and struck out 400 times...I don't care that he hits random HR...just get him the fvck out of here.

Oh, also, if you're so serious about the Mets contending in 2019 (your words, not ours), then sign either Keuchel or Kimbrel.  You obviously have a need now, and you can't possibly consider guys like Flexen or Oswalt legitimate backup options...hell, Vargas shouldn't really be here anymore, but he's a former client of yours, so I guess he got to stick around. 

 

I wouldn't mind Kimbrel in the pen and Lugo or Gsellman moving into the rotation myself.  But suffice it to say that if Big Mouth Brodie just lets this season die on the vine after talking the talk, then screw him and this franchise.  Just as full of crap as they've always been. 

Edited May 6, 2019 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

Brodie reminded me of Rex a little when he came in being how much he was trying to sell the fans on change and big talk, difference is Rex actually had some initial success and wasn’t completely ‘I know something none of you do’ obnoxious. Especially since Brodie was coming into a job he hadn’t actually done before while Rex at least was a football lifer and had a head coach in the family.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Just now, NJDevs4978 said:

Brodie reminded me of Rex a little when he came in being how much he was trying to sell the fans on change and big talk, difference is Rex actually had some initial success and wasn’t completely ‘I know something none of you do’ obnoxious. Especially since Brodie was coming into a job he hadn’t actually done before while Rex at least was a football lifer and had a head coach in the family.

Heh heh that comparison didn't really come to mind...it's a loose one, but there's some parallels for sure. 

And man I hope Cano isn't as bad and as disinterested as he's looked so far.  That's one guy who's really going to mail it in if the Mets have another early "Well there goes the season" collapse.  Diaz is obviously a fine closer and the Mets can always deal him off for pieces if this thing REALLY goes south, but they are 100% stuck with Cano.  The Mariners are likely STILL celebrating getting his albatross contract off their books...not to mention that FWIW, the OF prospect the Mets gave up (Kelenic) in that deal is shredding it in A ball right now (.337/.434/.615).  We all knew that the Cano trade had serious blow-up potential the second it was made...yikes...

[NJDevs4978]

Yeah the people who actually do care about more than two years down the road knew that deal was a bit reckless, sort of like what Columbus did at the NHL trade deadline, you’d better be ALL in on winning now if you make that kind of deal. They basically went 75-80% all in as is the Mets wont which was bad enough but the fact this deal might blow up in year one as opposed to year three is a bit scary. You figured even in a worst case Brodie bought a two year window.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

And you just touched on my main complaint...you can't pull the 75-80% crap with this fanbase anymore.  Two players who can help you in 2019 (and who you may not have to commit to for longer than that) are out there for the taking.  Don't give me the draft pick crap...if you care about NOW, then don't worry about not being able to select a player who may help you in 4-5 years at the earliest...or may never even make it.

About the Cano deal, in some ways I kinda understand mostly because Jay Bruce could not be allowed to stick around here in 2019...he 100% had to go.  Swarzak was obviously a little less of a "Gotta get him the hell out of here" scenario, but at the same time, it just felt like some of Sandy's signings needed to be blown out, almost for sanity's sake.  But I couldn't agree more, "reckless" is the perfect term for taking on five years of late-30s Cano.  Especially when factoring EVERYTHING that comes with him (PEDs, lack of hustle, etc). 

Doesn't help that Callaway has no interest in holding anyone accountable...he'd rather be everyone's pal.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Tebow now 1-for-his-last-27 with 0 BB and 12 K in his last 6 GP (season OPS now .362).  Someone's gotta tell this guy "No more" very soon.  The dream's over Timmy...you tried, you gave it your best.  Doesn't mean you should get to keep going.  Especially since you were THE longest of longshots to ever get to the major leagues to begin with.   

['7']

24 minutes ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Tebow now 1-for-his-last-27 with 0 BB and 12 K in his last 6 GP (season OPS now .362).  Someone's gotta tell this guy "No more" very soon.  The dream's over Timmy...you tried, you gave it your best.  Doesn't mean you should get to keep going.  Especially since you were THE longest of longshots to ever get to the major leagues to begin with.   

And he's 31 years old too. What "prospect" his age and in his situation would still be plugging along at his level? Or would even still be carried by the franchise?

It's starting to get embarrassing for him. He's had some nice moments here and there but...show's over

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

9 minutes ago, '7' said:

And he's 31 years old too. What "prospect" his age and in his situation would still be plugging along at his level? Or would even still be carried by the franchise?

It's starting to get embarrassing for him. He's had some nice moments here and there but...show's over

His little run in AA last season (and the only success he's really had since starting this thing, in spite of undeserved promotions) was kinda fun in a way...I've never been a Tebow guy, never understood the rock-star treatment of a guy who's not very good at pro sports and believes very heavily in fairy tales...but I kinda respected the fact that he stubbornly found a way to start having some level of success in spite of everything...in the end, everyone can get behind an underdog.  And Tebow does seem like a genuinely nice guy and good person through and through.  

But yeah, the longer this goes on, the sadder and more embarrassing/less endearing this story gets.  Factoring in every last bit of this story, I really feel like Tebow can look back and say he managed to hold his own for a while against lots of hungry young kids (many of whom are clearly more talented and skilled than Tebow could ever hope to be, no matter how hard he works)...I think there's something to be said for that.  He's finally flaming out, but I think just about everyone expected that to happen at the A level...even though his numbers weren't good in A and A+ ball, they were just passable enough that I could understand giving him 2018 (and again to his credit, he had some nice moments in AA).  But yeah, it's just time to end this. 

Edited May 6, 2019 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

Unfortunately Tebow is a CAA client so Brodie is gonna be even more wedded to riding it out than Sandy (who I don’t think wanted anything to do with Tebow in the first place). He probably should get demoted asssuming he doesn’t find a hot streak in the next couple weeks but the whole ‘ticket sales’ nonsense comes into play especially given it’s the first year in Syracuse they won’t want to pull the plug just for that.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

39 minutes ago, NJDevs4978 said:

Unfortunately Tebow is a CAA client so Brodie is gonna be even more wedded to riding it out than Sandy (who I don’t think wanted anything to do with Tebow in the first place). He probably should get demoted asssuming he doesn’t find a hot streak in the next couple weeks but the whole ‘ticket sales’ nonsense comes into play especially given it’s the first year in Syracuse they won’t want to pull the plug just for that.

What's funny is you can make the argument that he never should have been promoted from A or A+...his numbers were not good at either level.  He did start pretty well in AA, but saw his numbers falling back to his A and A+ levels, before he suddenly got very hot in mid-June...but even that hot streak had some asterisks...sure, he batted .348 over a 27-game stretch, but struck out 27 times while drawing just three walks, and he also put up a .476 BABIP for that run...that screams of incredible luck...the kind of luck he will almost certainly never be able to count on again as a pro ballplayer.

What it comes down to is how much is really there that screams "It's only right that we ride this out"...though I guess it's fair to point out ticket sales...one thing about Tebow is that he could take a leak on the mound and a dump at home plate, and his disciples would like up around the stadium to see it.  A good chunk of his fanbase is a bit crazy, but they do show up for all things Tebow.