In Goes Frazier!

[seawolf17]

Centerfield wrote: And I get that the years committed is a huge factor and it's not apples to apples. But if you're going to go for it, then fuck, bring in some star players and go for it.

I see your point, but I think that's just the way this team operates, for better or worse. I don't think any of these deals -- Swarzak, Bruce, Frazier, Gonzalez, et al -- are "bad." They're good, solid moves that have some upside and little downside:

Players Good + Team Good = Yay!
Players Good + Team Bad = Tradeable!
Players Bad + Team Good = Yay!
Players Bad + Team Bad = Less tradeable, but no commitment and we can retool!

Wade Davis at $17M is bananas for 58 innings, which is what he pitched last year.

[MFS62]

What the F does "Thumb on Down" mean on the Post page above?
Are they negative about the deal? (I'll give it a 30% probability)
Are they sad the MFYs didn't get him? (my 30% probability)
Are they doing something to get us to buy that rag to find out? (40%)

Screw you, Rupert Murdock, I'm not spending money to help you support Donald Trump.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

"Thumb on Down" rhymes with "Come on Down" and is also a reference to the "Thumbs Down" guy on the Daily News cover.

[Centerfield]

seawolf17 wrote: And I get that the years committed is a huge factor and it's not apples to apples. But if you're going to go for it, then fuck, bring in some star players and go for it. I see your point, but I think that's just the way this team operates, for better or worse. I don't think any of these deals -- Swarzak, Bruce, Frazier, Gonzalez, et al -- are "bad." They're good, solid moves that have some upside and little downside: Players Good + Team Good = Yay! Players Good + Team Bad = Tradeable! Players Bad + Team Good = Yay! Players Bad + Team Bad = Less tradeable, but no commitment and we can retool! Wade Davis at $17M is bananas for 58 innings, which is what he pitched last year.

Agreed that none of these are bad. Like you said, all offer some upside, little downside. I just think to really be a great team, you have to take a chance on a guy who can give you a ton of upside. Even at risking a long term deal.

The Nats really put themselves out there with long term deals to Scherzer and Strassburg, but man, they are fucking good because of it.

[ashie62]

Feels nice to have a Scarlet Knight in the lineup.

Lets Go Mets!

[Ceetar]

Sure, but Strasburg is an injury expert and Scherzer has one of the biggest workloads of any pitcher. You gotta be reallllly nervous about the Nationals.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: "Thumb on Down" rhymes with "Come on Down" and is also a reference to the "Thumbs Down" guy on the Daily News cover.

I figured the first one. Didn't realize the Post waits for the News covers before they publish.(Do they do that often?)
I'll still say, "Screw you, Rupert Murdoch".

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

No, the Post doesn't wait for News covers! They're simply referring to the same event, in their own way. The "thumbs down" thing is public knowledge. The Post doesn't need to get it from the Daily News.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: No, the Post doesn't wait for News covers! They're simply referring to the same event, in their own way. The "thumbs down" thing is public knowledge. The Post doesn't need to get it from the Daily News.

Funny they both referred/ used it on the same day for the same topic.
Thanks.
Later

[Centerfield]

I think I'm going to need an explanation on this thumbs down thing. I'm clearly not getting a reference.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Todd Frazier hit a home run at Citi Field during that game when the Tampa Bay Rays were the home team.

"Thumbs Down Guy" was a Mets fan in the stands who was photographed glumly giving the "thumbs down" gesture after the homer. The image went viral. The guy even got a bobblehead and was recently photographed with Frazier at some event or another.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It appears that the bobblehead effect is rather slimming.

[seawolf17]

Ceetar wrote: Scherzer has one of the biggest workloads of any pitcher.

Plus he has that crazy eye thing.

[MFS62]

Ahhhhh.
Now all is clear.
Didn't remember the reference.

Later

[Guest cooby]

Edgy MD wrote: It was fated to be.

Rey!

[nymr83]

The Post wins for photoshopping him out of the MFY jersey

[smg58]

Ceetar wrote: They've praised Frazier's adjustments last year. Plus his BABIP has been crazy low the last two. If he's truly learned how to walk and can build on that with the new team, he'll be good.

Teams probably use a shift on him, which would lower the BABIP (see Granderson, Curtis and Duda, Lucas), although the .226 BABIP he had last year probably had some bad luck tied to it. A good OBP in spite of a bad average would make up for things, especially if it comes with plus power and plus defense. He's a decent pickup at a very good price. That sets up the infield. Now back to pitching.

[Ceetar]

seawolf17 wrote: Ceetar wrote: Scherzer has one of the biggest workloads of any pitcher. Plus he has that crazy eye thing.

so does my cat. It makes it hard to hate him.

Ceetar wrote: They've praised Frazier's adjustments last year. Plus his BABIP has been crazy low the last two. If he's truly learned how to walk and can build on that with the new team, he'll be good. Teams probably use a shift on him, which would lower the BABIP (see Granderson, Curtis and Duda, Lucas), although the .226 BABIP he had last year probably had some bad luck tied to it. A good OBP in spite of a bad average would make up for things, especially if it comes with plus power and plus defense. He's a decent pickup at a very good price. That sets up the infield. Now back to pitching.

sure, although shifting hasn't lowered the league BABIP noticeably. But that's still 035-045 below his career norm.

[Fman99]

I'm all done with the Thumbs guy. Like, the instant I heard about him.

[Edgy MD]

How do you feel about Freaks About New Jersey Transit Guy?

[Fman99]

Edgy MD wrote: How do you feel about Freaks About New Jersey Transit Guy?

He's also a shitass.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, it gets kinda old when all folk-hero Met fans are overweight, middle-aged, white, miserable, and needy.

Myself, notwithstanding.

[Ceetar]

[tweet:lx3t740q]https://twitter.com/dawn2dusk30/status/947087015719395328[/tweet:lx3t740q]

Apparently you can just run into Todd at Home Depot.

[Guest 41Forever]

I don't get the obsession with the thumbs down guy in the tabs.

I like this deal. Frazier can raise the Apple a bunch of times. He complements our elite masher (Cespedes) and our up-and-coming masher (Conforto) and even our respectable masher (Bruce) and provides decent defense, which we desperately need. I imagine Gonzalez is on a short leash. If he's decent, he can rake and we're all good. If not, he's a minimal gamble and we have other options.

Frazier isn't a guy we build around, but he's a piece to the puzzle in a team that already has key parts. If our offense can make it so our stud pitchers don't feel like they have to throw a shutout every time out, we're good!

Ceetar wrote: Scherzer has one of the biggest workloads of any pitcher. Plus he has that crazy eye thing.

But he's very well-educated!

[Edgy MD]

Don't forget our washed-up masher (Gonzalez) and his apprentice masher (Smith).

And again, this also kind of kicks aside (if not fully killing) any flirtation with trading good for bad to get Josh Harrison.

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: Don't forget our washed-up masher (Gonzalez) and his apprentice masher (Smith). And again, this also kind of kicks aside (if not fully killing) any flirtation with trading good for bad to get Josh Harrison.

Agreed. One of the best parts of this deal is that it means we won't give up too much in a trade for Harrison, or sign Eduardo Nunez.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It seems like this is going to be another Mets team with a lot of solo homers.

41Forever wrote: If our offense can make it so our stud pitchers don't feel like they have to throw a shutout every time out, we're good!

I would hate to have any of our several 6.00 ERA pitchers feel like they have to throw a shutout.

[smg58]

Well yeah. Offense wasn't really our problem last year, and it won't be this year either. Defense was a problem, but I think that has been reasonably addressed. And that brings us back to pitching.

[Frayed Knot]

41Forever wrote: I don't get the obsession with the thumbs down guy in the tabs.

The thing was that the Yanqui team picked up on it and so a whole dugout full of guys giving their own teammate the 'thumbs down' signal after a big hit became the thing to do over the second half of the season.
So basically the Tabs are merely reflecting a trend that all started with Frazier, not creating one on their own.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It appears that the bobblehead effect is rather slimming.

That's true. I'm also much slimmer in my bobblehead.