"How Bad Are They?"

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I have watched the Mets more this season, than I had in any of the 4 or 5 preceeding seasons. With each passing game in June, my desire to continue watching has grown a little less. After the last road trip, I came to the conclusion that there was little worth watching beyond Nimmo, DeGrom, and Cabrera.

I am to the point that I will watch if DeGrom is pitching, otherwise I look for a more enjoyable way to spend my free time, like undergoing a colonoscopy or having a root canal done.

[Centerfield]

I balked at the idea of trading deGrom and Syndergaard. I still think I am against it, especially since I have no confidence in the Mets ability to get value for these guys, but I honestly have no idea how in the world to fix this team.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it involves spending. On a higher quality of free agent (if they're willing to come here) and on international scouting. I don't want to trade deGrom or Syndergaard either, but I don't know that there's a quick fix that's likely to have the Mets contending in 2019. Maybe 2020, if things go well.

[Lefty Specialist]

Centerfield wrote: I balked at the idea of trading deGrom and Syndergaard. I still think I am against it, especially since I have no confidence in the Mets ability to get value for these guys, but I honestly have no idea how in the world to fix this team.

That's the thing. I don't trust these guys to get the building blocks needed to rebuild this team. I'd be more open to trading them if I had confidence that there was a plan and a process to implement it. Instead you've got Moe, Larry and Curly competing for Fred's and Jeff's affection.

[Edgy MD]

Do you really believe that's what Ricco, Ricciardi, and Minaya amount to?

[Vic Sage]

Edgy MD wrote: Do you really believe that's what Ricco, Ricciardi, and Minaya amount to?

No, of course not.
Moe, Larry and Curly were hugely successful.

[Guest 41Forever]

I think it would be a mistake to blow up the team. Improve it, yes, but not blow it up. They just don't appear deep enough to withstand injuries. They need another impact bat if there are going to be questions about Cespedes' ability to stay on the field.

The rotation is strong when all the pieces are there. Rosario is only 22 and learning on the job. We know Conforto is better than what we've seen this year. Frazier is better than we've seen this year. Bruce was apparently playing hurt all season, and we know he is better than what we've seen this year. Hopefully some of the bullpen arms we acquired in last year's purge will start contributing better than they have been.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: Do you really believe that's what Ricco, Ricciardi, and Minaya amount to?

I dont. But I also don't think that Jeff Wilpon isn't putting and won't continue to put his very heavy and clumsy hands on the scale.

[Zvon]

Vic Sage wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Do you really believe that's what Ricco, Ricciardi, and Minaya amount to? No, of course not. Moe, Larry and Curly were hugely successful.

lotd

But it's early.

[ashie62]

I am cautiously optimistic Conforto's career has not "peaked"

I have no feel on Amed Rosario and I'm guessing the Mets may not either

[smg58]

The first thing you need to do is figure out who are the guys you can't win with, and move on from them. DeGrom is the guy I'm most sure the Mets CAN win with, so he's not going anywhere. I'm pretty sure I can win with Nimmo. I'm willing to gamble that an offseason that doesn't involve rehabbing will do Conforto a lot of good.

Matz and Wheeler can be the fourth and fifth starters on a winning team. Wheeler is only under control for one more season, though, which makes things complicated. I believe Lugo can be the fifth starter on a winning team, but I am not certain of that.

d'Arnaud gets hurt too often. I like the guy, but I'm non-tendering him.

Lagares gets hurt too often. He has a contract that may be hard to move. You may have to settle for him as the righty reserve outfielder, which is fine given his defensive value, but you need to get somebody competent in AAA just in case. That's not an unreasonable asking price for what we have available this month.

Cespedes gets hurt too often. The only way he plays a full season again is with an American League team who doesn't need to play him in the field. AL teams might want him, but not at $29M per year. We have to be prepared to eat at least a third of that. He's more likely to be dealable in the offseason, but I could see the Astros showing an interest in August (yes he'll clear waivers, and he may even be healthy by then).

Syndergaard... is young enough and talented enough that I'd still be patient.

Bruce is our fourth best corner outfielder. He needs to show enough life down the stretch to make himself desirable to other teams. Like Cespedes, it might take until the offseason to move him although he will also clear waivers.

Dominic Smith needs to go back to being the guy with extra-base power to all sides of the field that he was in the minors. He has no business being routinely killed by the shift.

I'm curious to see what McNeil has. Hopefully Rivera and Cecchini will reappear before the season is over, so we can make reasonable assessments of where they are.

Rosario... maybe the walks over the last two days are the beginning of progress, maybe they're not. The even bigger concern, and for me the even bigger disappointment, is that both Fangraphs and the Fielding Bible have him solidly below average on defense. That's not encouraging at all.

Frazier strikes me as one of those all-or-nothing swingers the league is adjusting to. His average is limited by the shift, and he's not the power hitter he used to be. Maybe he can keep the seat warm for Nolan Arrenado.

The pen has Gsellman, Swarzak, Peterson, and maybe Lugo if Wheeler is not dealt. That's it. A closer and two lefties are essential, and probably one other pitcher as well.

The 2019 wish list would be a centerfielder who can hit, a frontline starter, and four relievers. Oh, and I forgot catcher. And that's assuming first base, second base, and shortstop take care of themselves. It's a big, daunting list.

[Lefty Specialist]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Do you really believe that's what Ricco, Ricciardi, and Minaya amount to? I dont. But I also don't think that Jeff Wilpon isn't putting and won't continue to put his very heavy and clumsy hands on the scale.

Moe, Larry and Curly may have been harsh, but a troika with no clear delineation of who's in charge is an invitation for Jeff and his clumsy hands.