Take a Picture of Kodai Senga

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, Uncle Steve's spending binge is allowing the Mets to hang on to their prospects rather than trade them. The farm was a little threadbare and it'll take a few years to recover. That's where the ability to buy what you need comes in handy. I agree it's not sustainable indefinitely but it doesn't have to be, if they do things right.

[Ceetar]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Well, Uncle Steve's spending binge is allowing the Mets to hang on to their prospects rather than trade them. The farm was a little threadbare and it'll take a few years to recover. That's where the ability to buy what you need comes in handy. I agree it's not sustainable indefinitely but it doesn't have to be, if they do things right.

big if. Happy as can be that we've signed some of these guys, but writing a check is the easy part. Two seasons in a row now...three really, but different leadership then (though plenty of the same people!)..they've failed to make the more complicated draft/deadline moves that very well could've been the difference makers. Coupled with the pathetic handling of promotions..

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Well, Uncle Steve's spending binge is allowing the Mets to hang on to their prospects rather than trade them. The farm was a little threadbare and it'll take a few years to recover. That's where the ability to buy what you need comes in handy. I agree it's not sustainable indefinitely but it doesn't have to be, if they do things right.

Like I said, it's mostly a good thing, particularly when the new boss in town wants to show off by going from 0-to-60 in under 10 seconds. And it's tough to argue that it's Not working,

at least for now.

But it's not like they haven't dealt away prospects also -- sometimes foolishly (for Baez), sometimes poorly (Ruf) -- and we're not always going to see the success rate of '21/'22 or

always skate past the pitfalls during the back-end of some of these deals.



In short, they still need a strong/smart PoBO who will SHOW STEVIE THE PLAN!!! so that we don't wind up with a 1980's-era GMSIII, or re-visit Wilponland who, even when they were

spending in the pre-Madoff era, could still manage to screw up a two car parade.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I'm not sure what miracle Cohen's expected to have brought about in the short time he's owned the Mets. He's on the right track and Rome wasnt built. Hopefully, some of the prospects pan out, giving the Mets cheap star talent, like it was with Wright and Reyes almost 20 years ago. Then Cohen can lower the payroll. Not that it's anything anyways. $100M to him is like a fancy dinner or two to regular people. When the Mets are in danger of losing draft picks because of the payroll, then I'll revisit this topic. And its not a guarantee anyways. How many WS have the Dodgers and Yankees won in the last 15 years? Its really a crapshoot now with almost half the teams qualifying for post season. Cohen's extraordinary wealth will allow him to sign top tier free agents but the Mets just wont be winning the WS all the time no matter how high payroll is. But Mets fans will get to watch top notch baseball and root for stars that'll finish among the leaders statistically and maybe even nab some personal hardware. And that's a huge and enjoyable part of being a fan so enjoy that. Unless you prefer Michael Cuddyer in his mid 30s.

[Frayed Knot]

I don't care where the payroll is and never have. That's not what I'm saying here.

I'm talking about not finding yourself in a position where you need to replace and/or retain your #s 1, 3, & 4 starters plus your closer plus your starting CF, all just to get back to status quo (except

that each is now older, more expensive, and more committed to potential down years) because they all hit 30 (or more) and hit the FA market at the same time. And this is all just one year after

spending the previous winter scouring the open market to find a starting RF, LF, 3B plus several starters and several relievers because you had no in-house candidates to fill those spots or were too

impatient to wait and see if you did.



I understand why it's happening this way now and you can't argue with the short term results. But it's also not a trend I want to see happen each and every off-season.

[metsmarathon]

Frayed Knot wrote: I don't care where the payroll is and never have. That's not what I'm saying here. I'm talking about not finding yourself in a position where you need to replace and/or retain your #s 1, 3, & 4 starters plus your closer plus your starting CF, all just to get back to status quo (except that each is now older, more expensive, and more committed to potential down years) because they all hit 30 (or more) and hit the FA market at the same time. And this is all just one year after spending the previous winter scouring the open market to find a starting RF, LF, 3B plus several starters and several relievers because you had no in-house candidates to fill those spots or were too impatient to wait and see if you did. I understand why it's happening this way now and you can't argue with the short term results. But it's also not a trend I want to see happen each and every off-season.

i think that the way this offseason went, they're setting themselves up for more of a roster that can be sustained long term. of all the signings that they've made, i don't think there are any BAD ones, where they're just throwing money out there just to say they did.



in the rotation, only carrasco is a potential free agent after this season, presuming scherzer picks up his player option at $43M. canha and escobar have team options, so there's not a whole lot of need for extensive roster turnover next offseason, unless they do so at their own choosing (if baty & vientos work out, for instance)



going into 25 will be a different story, mind you, unless we can get squirrel and polar bear extended...

[Edgy MD]

Please remind me — is there no longer a posting system for players transferring from NPB to MLB, or does Senga's status somehow exclude him?

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: Please remind me — is there no longer a posting system for players transferring from NPB to MLB, or does Senga's status somehow exclude him?

Early on in the Senga stories, I read that the Major League team that signs him would have to pay his Japanese League team $10 million, but the article didn't specifically say that was because of posting.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: Please remind me — is there no longer a posting system for players transferring from NPB to MLB, or does Senga's status somehow exclude him?

There is still a posting system, but it didn't apply to Senga. I think Senga was a free agent in Japan, so no team had a claim on him.

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: I don't care where the payroll is and never have. That's not what I'm saying here. I'm talking about not finding yourself in a position where you need to replace and/or retain your #s 1, 3, & 4 starters plus your closer plus your starting CF, all just to get back to status quo (except that each is now older, more expensive, and more committed to potential down years) because they all hit 30 (or more) and hit the FA market at the same time. And this is all just one year after spending the previous winter scouring the open market to find a starting RF, LF, 3B plus several starters and several relievers because you had no in-house candidates to fill those spots or were too impatient to wait and see if you did. I understand why it's happening this way now and you can't argue with the short term results. But it's also not a trend I want to see happen each and every off-season.

All good points. I would guess that Steve Cohen has no intention of spending to this degree year after year, and he's doing this out of necessity based upon (1) a bare farm system, and (2) his self-proclaimed 3-5 year window. I'm guessing that he's hoping his investment into scouting etc will allow him to develop some home-grown talent and eventually bring payroll down.



It's a little ironic that the end of the Wilpon Era coincided with the "Everyone makes the playoffs" era. The Wilpons would have been thrilled to pump out 86 win teams with the hope that they would sneak into the playoffs.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Been a week and no official announcement. I want to see this fella do the press conference business.

[batmagadanleadoff]

It's a little ironic that the end of the Wilpon Era coincided with the "Everyone makes the playoffs" era. The Wilpons would have been thrilled to pump out 86 win teams with the hope that they would sneak into the playoffs.

That's pretty much what the Wilpons were doing even before playoffs expanded to the point that almost half the teams qualify.

[kcmets]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Been a week and no official announcement. I want to see this fella do the press conference business.

Kinda odd, right? Even the official site lists the news item with (source) in

the description and when you click on it's a DiComo tweet - which is kinda

amusing but I won't go there at the present time.



Maybe it's taking time for him to get here from Japan and then pass a physical?

Still, I would think that in itself would be worthy of a news blurb or two.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Have they officially introduced Verlander yet?

[Frayed Knot]

I keep seeing tabloid photos of Justin & Kate splahing around on some fancy beach somewheres, so I guess his intro needs to wait until their vacay rental expires.

[Edgy MD]

Baseball-reference refers to Kodai Senga as Koudai Senga. That needs to be sorted out and it may take a few more weeks.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: Baseball-reference refers to Kodai Senga as Koudai Senga. That needs to be sorted out and it may take a few more weeks.

How horrendous! Please continue to monitor this national tragedy and get back to me immediately as soon as this is all rectified.

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Have they officially introduced Verlander yet?

Scheduled presser Tuesday.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Have they officially introduced Verlander yet? Scheduled presser Tuesday.

According to Facebook, he and his WILF are currently vacationing at a beach resort.

He'll be back by Tuesday.



OE: St Bart's https://www.yahoo.com/news/kate-upton-justin-verlander-splash-182255732.htmlhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/kate-upton-justin-verlander-splash-182255732.html

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

https://media.tenor.com/nYk9NUeTXtUAAAAd/oh-my-george-takei.gif>

[G-Fafif]

Worst-kept secret now a known fact.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I feel like my post lit a fire under them.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Is Senga gonna wear a jersey without a front number? Or are all of the Mets now gonna go front numberless? Or just Senga? Can everybody get back to me on this?

[batmagadanleadoff]

This is so freaking boring already. I'm wishing it was already next year so that the Mets can get Ohtani. How much more do I have to wait for Ohtani because I can't wait anymore? Someone go tell deGrom that Cohen still doesn't wanna win. Chris Young has the vision.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Per SNY:

Senga will become the 14th Japanese-born player to appear in at least one game for the Mets, the most by any major league team.

I would never have guessed that the Mets have had more Japanese-born players than any other team.

[Gwreck]

Bobby V and his experience in Japan probably helped push the number higher. Japanese players on Bobby's teams:



Nomo

Kashiwada

[CROSSOUT]Ishii[/CROSSOUT] Yoshii (Oops!)

Shinjo

Komiyama

Edited December 18, 2022 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

From The Days of Kashiwada, the Mets seemed to have some intention of fielding at least one Japanese player a year.



In more recent years they've added to their total with players — Shingo Takatsu, Daisuke Matazaka, Norichika Aolki — making a partial season cameo after being grabbed in a pinch, with a little less intentionality, and subsequently with fewer Metly associations in the public mind.

[G-Fafif]

[kcmets]

Edgy MD wrote: From The Days of Kashiwada, the Mets seemed to have some intention of fielding at least one Japanese player a year.

I have a few pictures somewhere of some of us in Philly parking lot

being stalked by Japanese reporters checking out a Diamond Dad Shinjo

banner. 'Awesoma Powah!' or, something....

[Fman99]

Senga has posted on social media, he's seeking input from fans, thinking among choosing between numbers 34, 40 or 46.