Dark Horse Met 2020

[Centerfield]

Hey CPF!



Take out your crystal balls and tell me who's going to come out of nowhere to help us in 2020.



The official Dark Horse rules from last year:

1. It must be someone who is not on anyone's reasonable radar for this year. So "I think this is the year Michael Conforto puts it all together" is not an acceptable answer. Neither are top prospects on the doorstep that we expect/hope will contribute. So Peter Alonso, get the fuck outta here. The more obscure the better. 2. Contributions must be made at the Major League level. It's fine if you think Simeon Woods-Richardson will catapult to the top of Keith Law's list, but unless he makes contributions in 2019 as a Met, it doesn't count. Feel free to start your own "Dark Horse Prospect" thread. 3. I'm ok with former top prospects who have fallen from grace. So, if a few years ago, you said Dominic Smith, you would have been disqualified. But with all the 1B options now, and Dom basically an afterthought, he's an ok pick. So is former top prospect Bill Pulsipher, if you're inclined to go that route.

I don't know that we have any prospects that are knocking on the door this year. I guess Peterson and Gimenez are the only ones that are close, so we'll exclude those two and open it up to everyone else. Remember, contributions have to be made at the major league level.



We're also going to exclude Yoenis Cespedes. Sure, he's coming back from a major injury, but the reasonable expectation is that he'll contribute. David Wright, on the other hand, is eligible. WHAT SAY YOU.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

My Crystal balls are itchy and need Michael Wacha to scratch them.

[Ceetar]

You know, there aren't a lot of candidates.



Marisnick? nah.



Either of the two 5th/6th starters maybe but i'm not particularly hopeful either of them will be particularly great.



Matt ADams? a bum.



Max Moroff? I didn't even know the Mets had him.







Fine. David Peterson.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'll say Brad Brach, for no particular reason.

[Lefty Specialist]

Jed Lowrie.



Nobody's expecting anything out of him, but he could be Asdrubal-esque given the right circumstances. If he doesn't qualify due to the 'Cespedes Rule', then....



Stephen Gonsalves, the waiver pickup from the Twins. Already knows Jeremy Hefner, and we're due for a wave of injured starters.

[Centerfield]

Peterson is not eligible.



Lowrie is, since he's still injured and we don't expect a thing.



Brach, Marisnick, these names are not very Dark Horsey. Dusk Horse maybe.



You know who's a dark horse? Austin Bossart. Jordany Valdespin. These are dark horses.



Gonsalves is a good pick. I was thinking of him or Kilome.

[Guest 41Forever]

I think Matt Adams was a good pick up, especially since he's been working in the outfield as well as first. I'm not saying he fights all the way into the lineup. But I think he gets a shot when someone is hurt and hits well enough that he remains a valuable bench guy.

[smg58]

Does Familia count?

[Ceetar]

i expect a hell of a lot more from Lowrie than Peterson.

[kcmets]

Guess I'm in Camp Lowrie, unless he doesn't count as dark enough.

[Edgy MD]

Don't get caught in the stampede. Get your Daniel Zamora shirts NOW!!!!

[G-Fafif]

Luis Rojas has the early lead. Nobody saw him coming.

[MFS62]

Robert Gsellman will play a more significant role in the bullpen in the second half of the season than many projections say he will.

Later

Edited February 21, 2020 by Guest

[LWFS]

Wacha Wacha… All-Star contender. Book it.

[RealityChuck]

If he's able to pitch, Drew Smith. He showed a lot of promise before the surgery.



If not, Tomas Nido. He won't be an all-star, but he should be able to up his batting to backup-catcher level.

[Centerfield]

=RealityChuck post_id=32186 time=1582389796 user_id=82]
If he's able to pitch, Drew Smith. He showed a lot of promise before the surgery.



If not, Tomas Nido. He won't be an all-star, but he should be able to up his batting to backup-catcher level.

[G-Fafif]

I'm throwing in with Ryan Cordell as a callup who starts for three or four consecutive games, gets a couple of big hits and looms as someone I will be dismayed more Mets fans don't remember five years later.

[seawolf17]

=G-Fafif post_id=32300 time=1582654837 user_id=55]
I'm throwing in with Ryan Cordell as a callup who starts for three or four consecutive games, gets a couple of big hits and looms as someone I will be dismayed more Mets fans don't remember five years later.

[ashie62]

Andres Gimenez...300 AB's in the infield

[nymr83]

Crazy Dark Horse prediction: TIM TEBOW comes up in September and crushes a pinch-hit game winning homer in extra innings, which turns out to be his first - and last - hit in MLB.

[Edgy MD]

I'm kind of both bearish and bullish on Teeb right now. I think he will appear as a big leaguer, but with virtually no success. But as noted above, anybody can fall into a signature moment.

[Ceetar]

=nymr83 post_id=32371 time=1582751732 user_id=54]
Crazy Dark Horse prediction: TIM TEBOW comes up in September and crushes a pinch-hit game winning homer in extra innings, which turns out to be his first - and last - hit in MLB.

[nymr83]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm kind of both bearish and bullish on Teeb right now. I think he will appear as a big leaguer, but with virtually no success. But as noted above, anybody can fall into a signature moment.

Born in The Phillipines (sorry, I guess he can't ever be President), Tim Tebow is going to play for their WBC team in the qualifiers next month.



The chances of him being successful long term are beyond slim, but I just think he'll do something - just one damn thing - that will have us remember him as more than the sideshow.



Also, he reportedly turned down the XFL to go to spring training, so his heart is in it.

[duan]

=seawolf17 post_id=32301 time=1582656924 user_id=91]
=G-Fafif post_id=32300 time=1582654837 user_id=55]
I'm throwing in with Ryan Cordell as a callup who starts for three or four consecutive games, gets a couple of big hits and looms as someone I will be dismayed more Mets fans don't remember five years later.

[seawolf17]

=duan post_id=32391 time=1582803224 user_id=99]
=seawolf17 post_id=32301 time=1582656924 user_id=91]
=G-Fafif post_id=32300 time=1582654837 user_id=55]
I'm throwing in with Ryan Cordell as a callup who starts for three or four consecutive games, gets a couple of big hits and looms as someone I will be dismayed more Mets fans don't remember five years later.

[Ceetar]

LOOGYs can still exist if you use 'em right. will be int eresting to see.



Lol at Tebow's "heart being in it" He's probably not good enough for the XFL either. But given he's doing broadcasting and movie producing while being the sideshow certainly doesn't suggest 100% commitment.

[Centerfield]

I've decided to go with Jordan Humphreys as my Dark Horse Met.



This is probably not great news for Humphreys. Past picks from me include Gavin Cecchini and Matt Reynolds.

[Willets Point]

Bartolo Colon, picked up mid-season from Acereros de Monclova, has an excellent set of starts when the Mets need an extra pitcher for a stretch of rescheduled games. Picks up his 250th MLB win and also drives in the runs that put the Mets ahead in a crucial game.

[Fman99]

Jed Lowrie, come on down.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it's time for Brad Emaus to make a comeback.