Postseason Musings

[ashie62]

Should there be one...

[HahnSolo]

I think Robles has pretty much cemented a spot in the postseason* pen. Going back to the Wilmer game (yes, a totally selective date, but I was there and he pitched a big inning in relief) Hansel has recorded 25 Ks with only 4 BBs in 17+ innings. During that span he's faced the Nationals three times: four perfect innings with 8 Ks.

Plus I kinda like that he's pissing off other teams with his (alleged?) quick pitches.


*(Should there be one�)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I kinda like the quick-pitch business, too. Almost as much, I like the fact that his reaction to French-type overreacting to the same is so impassive.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Kevin Kernan in the Post is reporting that the plan is to start deGrom in Game 1 of the NLDS. Game 2 will be Syndergaard if it's at Citi Field, and Harvey if it's at Dodger Stadium.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Based on September usage, it doesn't look too likely that Anthony Recker, Johnny Monell, Dilson Herrera, or Eric Campbell are too likely to be on the postseason roster.

I would think that Eric Young is unlikely as well.

How many pitchers do we think they'll go with? DeGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard, Matz. Familia, Clippard, Reed, Robles. Who else? I think I'd add Colon and Niese as long relievers/God-forbid-emergency-starters ahead of guys like Gilmartin or Parnell. Goeddel seems to deserve a spot. I'd say Verrett too, but I wouldn't bump Niese or Colon in his favor.

So, if it's an 11-man pitching staff, I'll propose deGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard, Matz, Familia, Clippard, Reed, Robles, Colon, Niese, Goeddel. I'd like to see them keep it at 11, but if there's a 12th I'll say Verrett.

For 14 position players: D'Arnaud, Plawecki, Duda, Murphy, Johnson, Flores, Tejada, Uribe, Wright, Cespedes, Conforto, Granderson, Lagares, Cuddyer.

If it's only 13 position players, I'd reluctantly drop either Lagares or Cuddyer from the above list. This may leave the bench a little too right-handed, but I don't know if I'd take Niewenhuis over Cuddyer or Lagares.

Discuss!

[seawolf17]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: For 14 position players: D'Arnaud, Plawecki, Duda, Murphy, Johnson, Flores, Tejada, Uribe, Wright, Cespedes, Conforto, Granderson, Lagares, Cuddyer.

This seems like a virtual lock, so I have to figure on 11 pitchers. Of those, DeGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard, Matz, Familia, Clippard, Reed are definites, which means you've got four spots from Colon, Niese, Robles, Gilmartin, Parnell, Goeddel, Torres, and Verrett.

If I had to guess, I'd say Colon, Niese, Gilmartin, and Verrett, but I could see them keeping Robles over one of the starters.

[Ceetar]

Too many hard decisions, I'll leave it for Terry and Sandy.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Uribe is suddenly looking like no lock. Ouch.

[Benjamin Grimm]

They should let Uribe sit until October 8 and then reevaluate him. No need to put him in a game at all for the rest of the regular season.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: They should let Uribe sit until October 8 and then reevaluate him. No need to put him in a game at all for the rest of the regular season.

I agree. I had the same thought after he had to leave the game last night. His versatility, right handed bat, and postseason experience should be very helpful in October.

[Elster88]

I'm still annoyed that he was playing second in the first place. A right handed bat with pop is nice to have on the bench.

[TransMonk]

Not necessarily a worry, so I'll put it here.

The Mets against the NL Central this season minus the Cubs and Bucs: 13-6
The Mets against everyone in MLB minus the Cubs and Bucs: 89-53 (.627!)

I can't decide if I'm scared of the Cubs and Bucs or not.

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: They should let Uribe sit until October 8 and then reevaluate him. No need to put him in a game at all for the rest of the regular season.

Except then he'd be super rusty and it's not like he's a superstar anyway. He's been average (literally 101 OPS+) for the Mets. He's very replaceable so if he's not healthy and ready to go, sorry he's not going.

[Benjamin Grimm]

TransMonk wrote: Not necessarily a worry, so I'll put it here. The Mets against the NL Central this season minus the Cubs and Bucs: 13-6 The Mets against everyone in MLB minus the Cubs and Bucs: 89-53 (.627!) I can't decide if I'm scared of the Cubs and Bucs or not.

The Mets haven't played the Cubs since July 2, and the Mets have changed fairly significantly since then. And of the seven losses to the Cubs, four of them were by a single run. (The scores were, in May: 4-3; 6-1; 2-1; 6-5 and in June/July: 1-0; 2-0; 6-1.)

The Pirates are a little more worrisome, since they swept three from the Mets at Citi Field in August: 3-2, 5-3, and 8-1. The 8-1 game was tied at 1 through 6 innings, until Terry turned it over to Parnell, O'Flaherty, and Carlos Torres. Presumably none of those options will be available to him in October.

[Edgy MD]

Pythagorean winning percentage vs. the Cubs: .142

Pythagorean winning percentage vs. the Pirates: .068 (!!)

That said these teams (particularly the Cubs), caught the Mets during their mid-season lineup crisis. The Mets aren't the same team, and hopefully won't behave like the same team.

Anyhow, we gots to get past the Bridegrooms first.

[Frayed Knot]

I think Pittsburgh might be the best team in baseball right now - and if they can throw a sweep on the Cards -- 3 game series in Pitt starting tonight -- they just may take that title officially.
After a barely .500 start to the season (26-24), they're 69-37 since June 1 which is four games better than the Cards over the same time.
Cards are currently without Yadier (might return for playoffs) and Carlos Martinez (won't return). Plus I keep thinking that one of these days things are going to wrong for them at this time of year even though that never seems to be the case.

[TransMonk]

Edgy MD wrote: Anyhow, we gots to get past the Bridegrooms first.

Agreed...wasn't meaning to look past anyone. I had just been musing that with the 7 game season sweep of the Reds and how well the Mets had played against the East and West, the Cubs and Pirates were really the only thorns in the Mets' side over the course of the whole year.

I have a feeling in another week or so, the national talking heads are going to start trying to debunk the Mets by claiming that they only beat up on a weak NL East this season. Beat the East they did, but they also held their own against anyone not named the Cubs or Pirates, too.

[Gwreck]

I've got not problems looking past the Dodgers. I think we all understand the conditional nature of it.

I would be most happy to see the Pirates have to face Jake Arietta in the wild card game and possibly get knocked out then.

[Elster88]

Gwreck wrote: I've got not problems looking past the Dodgers. I think we all understand the conditional nature of it. I would be most happy to see the Pirates have to face Jake Arietta in the wild card game and possibly get knocked out then.

Me too!

[Zvon]

Middle of the 10th inning in San Fran *yawn.
2-2 Mets

[Zvon]

I hate to say it, but you know baseball. I'm afraid that Justin Turner will somehow bite us bad in the post. Wow, and they got Utley now too. I forgot about him.

My old nemesis.

*teeth start to chatter

[Edgy MD]

Well, the proof will be in the pudding, if the Mets have the honor of facing one of those teams but...

1. Juan Lagares CF
2. John Mayberry RF
3. Daniel Murphy 3B
4. Michael Cuddyer LF
5. Lucas Duda 1B
6. Wilmer Flores SS
7. Kevin Plawecki C
8. Dilson Herrera 2B
9. Jacob deGrom P

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Daniel Murphy 3B
3. Michael Cuddyer LF
4. Lucas Duda 1B
5. Wilmer Flores SS
6. Kirk Nieuwenhuis CF
7. Kevin Plawecki C
8. Noah Syndergaard P
9. Ruben Tejada 2B

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Daniel Murphy 3B
3. Michael Cuddyer LF
4. Lucas Duda 1B
5. Wilmer Flores SS
6. Kevin Plawecki C
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis CF
8. Dilson Herrera 2B
9. Matt Harvey P

1. Curtis Granderson CF
2. Dilson Herrera 2B
3. Lucas Duda 1B
4. Michael Cuddyer LF
5. John Mayberry RF
6. Wilmer Flores SS
7. Anthony Recker C
8. Ruben Tejada 3B
9. Jon Niese P

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Eric Campbell 3B
3. Lucas Duda 1B
4. Michael Cuddyer LF
5. Daniel Murphy 2B
6. Wilmer Flores SS
7. Juan Lagares CF
8. Kevin Plawecki C
9. Noah Syndergaard P

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Juan Lagares CF
3. Lucas Duda 1B
4. Daniel Murphy 2B
5. Wilmer Flores SS
6. Eric Campbell 3B
7. Darrell Ceciliani LF
8. Kevin Plawecki C
9. Matt Harvey P

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Wilmer Flores SS
3. Michael Cuddyer 1B
4. Daniel Murphy 2B
5. John Mayberry LF
6. Anthony Recker C
7. Darrell Ceciliani CF
8. Ruben Tejada 3B
9. Jon Niese P

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Ruben Tejada SS
3. Lucas Duda 1B
4. Daniel Murphy 3B
5. Michael Cuddyer LF
6. Wilmer Flores 2B
7. Kevin Plawecki C
8. Jon Niese P
9. Juan Lagares CF

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Ruben Tejada SS
3. Lucas Duda 1B
4. Daniel Murphy 3B
5. John Mayberry LF
6. Wilmer Flores 2B
7. Kevin Plawecki C
8. Juan Lagares CF
9. Bartolo Colon P

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Darrell Ceciliani CF
3. Daniel Murphy 3B
4. Lucas Duda 1B
5. Wilmer Flores 2B
6. Eric Campbell LF
7. Johnny Monell C
8. Jacob deGrom P
9. Ruben Tejada SS

1. Juan Lagares CF
2. Curtis Granderson RF
3. Yoenis Cespedes LF
4. Juan Uribe 3B
5. Daniel Murphy 2B
6. Michael Cuddyer 1B
7. Wilmer Flores SS
8. Anthony Recker C
9. Bartolo Colon P

1. Curtis Granderson RF
2. Yoenis Cespedes CF
3. Daniel Murphy 1B
4. Juan Uribe 3B
5. Kelly Johnson 2B
6. Travis d'Arnaud C
7. [Michael Conforto LF
8. Ruben Tejada SS
9. Jon Niese P

1. Juan Lagares CF
2. Curtis Granderson RF
3. Yoenis Cespedes LF
4. Juan Uribe 3B
5. Daniel Murphy 2B
6. Michael Cuddyer 1B
7. Travis d'Arnaud C
8. Ruben Tejada SS
9. Matt Harvey P

May 11 @ Chicago		May 12 @ Chicago		May 13 @ Chicago		May 14 @ Chicago
May 22 @ Pittsburgh		May 23 @ Pittsburgh		May 24 @ Pittsburgh
June 30 vs. Chicago		July 1 vs Chicago		July 2 vs Chicago
August 14 vs. Pittsburgh		August 15 vs. Pittsburgh		August 16 vs. Pittsburgh

Those Pittsburgh and Chicago teams faced a whole lot of Ceciliani and a few shovelfuls of Mayberry to boot. Only the last series featured something like the lineup that the Mets are sporting now, and those were all close games, at least until the moment that Bobby Parnell threw the ball into centerfield.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Gary just said that the Mets are considering starting deGrom in Game 4 four of the NLDS on three days rest.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I found an article from AP that says that deGrom would possibly go in Game 4 if the Mets were down 2 games to 1.

Associated Press wrote: After that, it's uncertain who would get the ball if Game 4 is necessary. New York would like to start unbeaten rookie Steven Matz, provided his balky back is healthy enough, and 42-year-old Bartolo Colon remains a possibility. But manager Terry Collins said Sunday the Mets might use a three-man rotation if they fall behind 2-1 in the Division Series. That would mean bringing back deGrom in Game 4 on three days' rest for the first time in his two-year career. Syndergaard would be on full rest for a potential Game 5 at Dodger Stadium.

[Ceetar]

I mean, it all so heavily depends on what happens. Did they use Colon and/or Niese in game 3? is Matz available? are they down or up 2-1? How'd deGrom look in game 1?

[Gwreck]

The decision on whether Matz makes the roster is made by 10:00 AM this Friday. If he does not make it, obviously Colon is not going to pitch in relief.

[Lefty Specialist]

Lotta factors at play. Uribe's boobs. Matz's back.

I like that they've sent a taxi squad down to PSL to stay ready just in case.

[Ceetar]

My predictions.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That the Expos are going to defeat Burger King in the World Series?

I'd bet everything I own that that's not going to happen.

[Centerfield]

I'm excited about this post-season. If we beat the Dodgers we should invite the '88 team to come down and celebrate with us. (We missed the chance to do this in 2006).

Then I hope we play the Cardinals. With Yadier Fucking Molina making the last out. Then we can invite the '06 Mets to come celebrate with us. Maybe not Guillermo Mota.

Then I hope we face the Yankees in the World Series. (It will be kind of awkward for Beltran, who just partied with us a few days before, but whatever.) We can invite the 2000 Mets to the party. Any excuse to party with Benny Agbayani again.