So Now What?

[Edgy MD]

But almost none of that is true.

They weren't four or five years from contending. The team wasn't putrid. Dickey was secured for the coming season, or available to trade, as they did. deGrom wasn't an infielder, but a talented pitcher in the Mets organization. Wright wasn't in his 30s, and wouldn't, in fact, turn 30 until December of that season, after the contract was signed.

[batmagadanleadoff]

41Forever wrote: I think they were in step three in 2015, with the stud pitchers coming of age and adding Cespedes late in the season. I think we could say the same about 2016....

Oh, give me a break already with 2016. In a 15 team league, the Mets had a better record than just 10 of those teams. That's not bad, but don't make it out like it's some historical finish that's supposed to be one of the proudest and most memorable seasons in Mets history. They played in the one game elimination game in a watered down playoff system.

Once in a blue moon, the Wilpons spend like a big market team, and then they lord that season over us to justify all those other years when they spend like the Mets play in Kalamazoo. And that's what you do with 2016.

[Ceetar]

They got outpitched in the play-in game, big deal. They should've started Duda, but whatever. more watered down than it was in years past but still deserved.

If they make the playoffs this year, and they should, that'll be 3 years in 4 they made the postseason. And you'd have to think they'd be poised to do it again in 2019. And they capitalized off 2017 where they could, bringing in some live arms for expiring contracts. Like it or not, they're in it.

[Frayed Knot]

During the stretch where Houston had the top pick three years in a row, they actually wound up whiffing on two: Carlos Correa (2012), Mark Appel (2013), Brady Aiken (2014)
Appel floundered in the minors and has, at least temporarily, retired.
Aiken didn't sign after the Astros didn't like the results of his physical; lawsuits followed and he was picked the following year (#17 overall) by Cleveland. Pitched in low-A last year, hasn't pitched so far this season.
What they did do was hit big on some later picks [George Springer #7 overall; Lance McCullers #41; Dallas Keuchel 7th round) and on some imports [brad Peacock, Charlie Morton, Collin McHugh] which were hardly obvious choices for missing pieces to a 100+ wins and a WS

The Cubs (currently only 1-1/2 games better than the Mets btw] hit big on Kris Bryant (#2 overall) and well on Addison Russell (11th) but then mainly on a whole lot of international FAs: Baez, Contreras, Almora -- a 'strategy' which may be part money (I don't know if any or all of them were big-ticket signings or not) part scouting skill, and, as always, part luck.


So to tack onto what JCL said about fans not necessarily having the patience for a rebuild, there's also the problem of the iffy-ness of it even working.
Some fans have convinced themselves that finding the next generation of stars is simply a matter of adjusting mindset and choosing to do so. Except it's not that easy.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Wright obviously was a bad outcome on the results and would be a difficult decision to make disapassionately but once in a while you get those guys who make it hard. I think everyone understood Wright was getting paid for being such a great representative of the club and an important figure in the history of the team and now and again if you're lucky you have to make a call like that.

It's true the club was not financially able to reasonably contend paying him that much but again that wasn't his fault. The fans gave the Mets a mountain of crap for letting Reyes go under similar circumstances.

I think the Wilpons figured they'd find a way to get lucky with the other 24 guys. Plus, the severity of Wright's injuries could not have been guessed even if you figured on a regression.

[Centerfield]

Right. I was on board with the Wright extension as well. The rebuild was done by 2015, and Wright was still productive even then. If he hadn't had the SS, he would have been productive for a few years after even. Plus at that point I had no idea that the Mets never intended to spend like they had in the past.

I understand that results are not guaranteed by a blow up rebuild. But it seems like unless you do a blow up rebuild, a smaller market team doesn't stand a chance. In order to defeat a big market juggernaut, you have to blow it up, then hope to win the lottery on a good number of prospects.

I don't know. Maybe it can be done another way. What I can tell you is that the Mets way ain't working.

[batmagadanleadoff]

It wasn't necessary to foresee Wright's terrible injuries to come. The Mets were dreadful when Wright was re-signed. So bad that if Wright had a Ruthian MVP season in 2013, the Mets wouldve still lost more than half their games.

Of course you could justify the signing on Wright's outstanding citizenship, but after letting the batting champ and then the Cy Young award winner walk away, the Mets had no balls to trade Wright --- and that's the difference between an ordinary organization and a thoughtful cutting-edge franchise.

[Guest cooby]

It’s time to drop our collective sentimentalities (Wright, 95% of the pitching staff) Nimmo, Jay Bruce (has any man ever taken off so damn much paternity time?) (I dropped him from my fantasy team, the asshole), Conforto, 95% of the pitching staff (oh I mentioned that? I mean EVERYONE except DeGrom and Thor including EVERY SINGLE effing bullpen pitcher.)

There. Thet’s my strategy

Oh wait. Reyes, whom dad loved but fuck him*. And honestly beyond that I can’t name a regular.

I was so proud when my dad drilled me on regulars in the early 70s

These guys suck

*jose, not dad. That would be creepy

[Edgy MD]

cooby wrote: Jay Bruce (has any man ever taken off so damn much paternity time?)

It was like two games.

[Guest d'Kong76]

cooby be like gettin' all in our faces

[Frayed Knot]

Paternity leave is three days with (to my knowledge anyway) no variations in either direction.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: It wasn't necessary to foresee Wright's terrible injuries to come. The Mets were dreadful when Wright was re-signed. So bad that if Wright had a Ruthian MVP season in 2013, the Mets wouldve still lost more than half their games. Of course you could justify the signing on Wright's outstanding citizenship, but after letting the batting champ and then the Cy Young award winner walk away, the Mets had no balls to trade Wright --- and that's the difference between an ordinary organization and a thoughtful cutting-edge franchise.

It would have been bold. The Cards more or less did it with Pujols.

The Wilpons also would have been crucified had they not made the offer. I suspect that, deep down, "risk avoidance"-- PR-wise, rather than actual, onfield risk avoidance-- probably had a decent amount to do with the decision.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I always thought that the Wright re-signing was mostly to avoid the inevitable tabloid PR shitstorm that would follow otherwise. My own theory is that Sandy, left to his own devices, would have flipped Wright for younger talent but for the Wilpons meddling.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

that's entirely possible and probably true at some level. otoh, Wright was a good player and no harm in having too many of those.

[Guest cooby]

d'Kong76 wrote: cooby be like gettin' all in our faces

Ah I’m just frustrated. I can’t watch and it makes Me cranky.


And if Bruce was only off for two games than yahoo fantasy is the one I should be mad at because I swear they listed him as inactive for five days

[Lefty Specialist]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: It wasn't necessary to foresee Wright's terrible injuries to come. The Mets were dreadful when Wright was re-signed. So bad that if Wright had a Ruthian MVP season in 2013, the Mets wouldve still lost more than half their games. Of course you could justify the signing on Wright's outstanding citizenship, but after letting the batting champ and then the Cy Young award winner walk away, the Mets had no balls to trade Wright --- and that's the difference between an ordinary organization and a thoughtful cutting-edge franchise. It would have been bold. The Cards more or less did it with Pujols. The Wilpons also would have been crucified had they not made the offer. I suspect that, deep down, "risk avoidance"-- PR-wise, rather than actual, onfield risk avoidance-- probably had a decent amount to do with the decision.

This. They'd let Reyes walk after 2011 and a batting title. To let Wright walk, the Golden Boy face of the franchise who'd been a Met fan since he was a little kid watching Tides games in Norfolk, would have been a public relations disaster. It would have been akin to trading Tom Seaver in his prime, and we all know how that worked out. This was risk avoidance, pure and simple.

[seawolf17]

I'm sort of fascinated by the new cussin' Cooby. Good times.

[Ceetar]

If Wright doesn't get/have Stenosis he's a fucking hall of famer. It was absolutely the right move, he by all logical accounts had years and years left of high, perhaps great, production, especially given that his profile fits so well into the juiced ball era. The guy would've hit 40 home runs in 2016.

It was absolutely the right move, on any level, to re-sign him. Only a team doing a complete tear down we actively want to lose games for 4 years to get picks would even consider it.

[seawolf17]

Ceetar wrote: If Wright doesn't get/have Stenosis he's a fucking hall of famer. It was absolutely the right move, he by all logical accounts had years and years left of high, perhaps great, production, especially given that his profile fits so well into the juiced ball era. The guy would've hit 40 home runs in 2016. It was absolutely the right move, on any level, to re-sign him. Only a team doing a complete tear down we actively want to lose games for 4 years to get picks would even consider it.

Absolutely.

[Centerfield]

I think it's time to pull Wheeler from the rotation. Insert either Lugo or Gsellman.

Give Vargas another turn or two, and if he doesn't pick it up, insert the other one. Hope that Swarzak coming back fills a hole in the bullpen.

Play Nimmo every day since Ces is out. Try to mix in more Lagares. His .339 looks like luck, but let's give him some AB's until we find out.

Hope that Ces and Frazier get healthy soon. See if Peter Alonso is still crushing it at the end of June. If so, call him up.

Play Devin Mesoraco more. Call Tampa Bay and take Wilson Ramos' contract off their hands.

If all this fails, sell in July.

[Fman99]

Cooby is jacked up. Good. I admire the enthusiasm.

[Guest d'Kong76]

cooby wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: cooby be like gettin' all in our faces Ah I’m just frustrated. I can’t watch and it makes Me cranky. And if Bruce was only off for two games than yahoo fantasy is the one I should be mad at because I swear they listed him as inactive for five days

Lol, I just saw this.
We're all cranky. The Mets, the prez and the overall general forum divisiveness?
I hate him and she hates me. You're a dick, I'm a dick, everyone's a dick dick. And
don't even start on ****, ****s or ****'s!
I don't care about the fantasy stuff. I can't and don't gamble on baseball,
it's in my contract.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is about as nauseating a cover as I've ever seen.

[Ceetar]

Harper is a troll and a bad writer. You literally couldn't do less analysis and end up with a stupider click-baity post. Please no one link to it.

[Edgy MD]

Daily News trollling Met fans on behalf of the Yankees. Nothing new.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Sorry, guys, I clicked it. Harper gets his paycheck this week. Of course it's ridiculous, but 3 elite prospects is just the kind of haul for deGrom I think the Mets should think about if they continue to be shitty. Just not, you know, them.

[Guest 41Forever]

LOL Harper. He should wait until we actually have a losing record before we start talking about trading anyone.

[Benjamin Grimm]

So he was about two days early?

[metirish]

I am starting to tune out with the Mets, next month of games crucial for me to stick for the season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Me too. I've taken a step or two back as well. I should have made more of an effort to get to Citi Field in April. I haven't been there since 2016. I got discouraged too early in the 2017 season. It looked for a while like that wouldn't happen (at least not very quickly) in 2018 but things are looking a lot less promising.