We really need Vargas to get a minor injury

[Centerfield]

...like now. Nothing serious, but something that puts him out for a week.



And maybe Matz to get like a papercut or something too.



I feel like Brodie needs to understand how thin this rotation is and make a move before the other starters get swooped up.

[JeffW]

this is horseshit.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

My plan for the rotation would have been to obtain the best starter available and make him the 5th, but I hopeful the rotation depth isn't our major issue. There's Gslugo, Flexy, Walker Lockett, Kyle Dowdy, Oswalt to start, I'm sure we'll see one or more make a few starts this year.



N4N, Vargas figured it out toward the end last season, you could do worse as a 5th guy going in

[MFS62]

this is horseshit.

I don't know whether I'd give it the "h" word, but it is definitely cold.

But the point is valid, the starting staff could use some experienced depth.



Later

[Guest 41Forever]

What we really need is for Vargas to have a strong, healthy spring so he can be effective. It seems like the spring injury last year derailed his season.

[Centerfield]

Sure. It would be nice for Vargas (and every other starter) to remain healthy. But they won't.



Vargas himself has only been healthy one out of the last four seasons. He's averaging 16 starts per year during that time. And he's now 36 years old.



So given the choice of (a) sign a quality pitcher understanding that pitchers get hurt and 6-7 guys will typically make a good number of starts, and ( just hope everyone stays healthy, I'd vote for (a).

[Edgy MD]

I don't think the Mets have opted for B.

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: I don't think the Mets have opted for B.

What have they opted for?

[Centerfield]

Options for 6th Starter:



Gsellman and Lugo. Sure. But that takes away from the pen.



Corey Oswalt. 5.85 ERA. 1.38 WHIP.



Chris Flexen. 12.79 ERA. 3.15 WHIP.



Walker Lockett. 9.60 ERA. 2.133 WHIP. (Minor league ERA 4.15 and WHIP 1.291)



Kyle Dowdy. 5.15 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 124 innings last season between Double-A and Triple-A.



And maybe someone we're not considering. Dave Peterson or Thomas Szapucki or someone. And sure, I guess any one of these guys could break out. But to rely on that?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree that while they've built up some depth in the infield and at catcher, they haven't really done so with starting pitchers. If Gsellman and Lugo stay in the pen, the 6th and 7th starters are Lockett and Dowdy. I hope that when and if some of the asking prices for free agent starters start to come down, that the Mets will jump in. There had been a fleeting rumor that they were interested in Gio Gonzalez, but there hasn't been a peep on that one in a while.

[Edgy MD]

=Centerfield post_id=3236 time=1550774196 user_id=65]
Options for 6th Starter:



Gsellman and Lugo. Sure. But that takes away from the pen.



Corey Oswalt. 5.85 ERA. 1.38 WHIP.



Chris Flexen. 12.79 ERA. 3.15 WHIP.



Walker Lockett. 9.60 ERA. 2.133 WHIP. (Minor league ERA 4.15 and WHIP 1.291)



Kyle Dowdy. 5.15 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 124 innings last season between Double-A and Triple-A.



And maybe someone we're not considering. Dave Peterson or Thomas Szapucki or someone. And sure, I guess any one of these guys could break out. But to rely on that?

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I'm totally into Walker Lockett for no reason other than his unusual name.



Walker "The Rocket" Lockett. Look out, yall.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I keep conflating Walker Lockett with Walt Wallet.



http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kj995apgYbo/UZO67Dt5nEI/AAAAAAAADYk/cshO9Ik6Mp0/s1600/130426GA.gif>

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: As for Gsellman and or Lugo, if one of them can be effective in the rotation, please, pull him out of the pen.

Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman will only be relievers this spring, Mickey Callaway said. They won't stretch out.

Seems obvious at this point, but I think this is the first time the Mets have actually said it.

— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) https://twitter.com/timbhealey/status/1098638022470447104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22%3EFebruaryFebruary">https://twitter.com/timbhealey/status/1098638022470447104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2019

[Centerfield]

For the record, I'm on board with you. With Lugo at least. I think Gsellman hasn't shown he's worth of a rotation spot.



If they didn't want to go with Keuchel or even someone lower end with upside like Anibal Sanchez, then a move could have been made to free up Lugo and bring him back into the rotation.

[smg58]

I was against Keuchel when I thought the price was 4 and 80. But I'll be mad if he winds up going for something like 2 and 30 to somebody else. You really do have to talk to him at this point.

[Centerfield]

Kimbrel too, if his price is falling.

[metsmarathon]

Yes to both of these.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Nice story in the Post today about longshot starter invitee Hector Santiago, who it is reported grew up a Mets fan and admirer of fellow lefty John Franco.



I had Santaigo in a fantasy league once and he didn't completely suck, or may have cost me the first division, I dunno. Walks too many guys.



Was a 2015 All-Star!

[G-Fafif]

Karma wishes nobody other than Chase Utley an injury.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I'm totally into Walker Lockett for no reason other than his unusual name. Walker "The Rocket" Lockett. Look out, yall.

Walker Lockett: UNHITTABLE IN 2019

[Centerfield]

I have to admit I was completely off base here.



We really needed Vargas to suffer a major injury.

[Centerfield]

All winter long I talked about the lack of depth in the rotation. I can't see how anyone could not see this.