Things That Still Matter

[Centerfield]

*Rosario and Smith. Obviously.

*The return of Noah, Harvey and Familia. They are obviously a big part of 2018, so for us, our winter is a lot better if they all come back and demonstrate that they are healthy and strong. Obviously Harvey is the biggest wild card here. How much of his struggles were a result of his atrophied shoulder? This will be big to watch in over these last two months. Familia too. Never know how one will respond to this type of surgery, and he hasn't been sharp for some time before then. At the risk of jinxing things, I am most confident that Noah will come back to form.

*Gsellman: Maybe he can be a strong 7th inning guy. I wasn't high on him last year, and I think this year he was exposed for what he is. Throws hard, has a good sinker. Maybe he can be an unflappable middle innings guy.

*Lagares: About to enter his expensive years. Let's run him out there every day and see what he's got.

*Conforto: Important that he finish strong. Establish himself as a star. Hits lefties.

*TJ Rivera: Healthy? Can he handle 3B every day?

*Beat Washington. Get healthy, smack the Nationals around to close the season. Send a message we will be back next year.

*Subway Series. Would be nice to win the damn thing. Be the trigger for the MFY's downward spiral.

*Zach Wheeler Changeup. There were some rumblings he was working on one. Great time to try it out if you got it Zach. You need another pitch.

[seawolf17]

*Wright. Can we get him back on the field for one more farewell before the season is out?

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: *Lagares: About to enter his expensive years. Let's run him out there every day and see what he's got.

I'm about platooning Nimmo and Lagares. We've got a lot more to learn about Nimmo.

*Conforto: Important that he finish strong. Establish himself as a star. Hits lefties.

Bat him third, third, third. Bat him thirdy, third, third.

*TJ Rivera: Healthy? Can he handle 3B every day?

Healthy is the key. I think his position is an open question that can be dealt with next year as the reality of David Wright unfolds. But I think T.J. surgery is likely sooner or later.

*Beat Washington. Get healthy, smack the Nationals around to close the season. Send a message we will be back next year.

Those maniacs hit five homers in six plate appearances the other day!

[Benjamin Grimm]

seawolf17 wrote: *Wright. Can we get him back on the field for one more farewell before the season is out?

That would cost the Mets a fortune. As I understand it, if he plays even one game in September, it will cost the Mets at least sixty days salary that won't be covered by insurance. I would be surprised if David Wright appeared in a game in 2017.

[Lefty Specialist]

Wright, much as I hate to say this, has to retire. If he can't work out his problems that are NOT back-related over the course of a full season, he simply can't be relied on any more. The Mets need a real third baseman next year, not some combination of TJ/Wilmer/Asdubal/Reynolds/whoever.

Like I say, it pains me. Wright's been a good soldier; never came within a mile of trouble, was good with the media, never embarrassed the ballclub. If anything he was TOO nice. But the uncertainty about his status has messed up the Mets for two seasons now, because they're afraid to trade for an everyday third baseman if Wright is going to come back. David's made plenty of money, and I think if he can't play for the Mets he won't play at all. But there needs to be some certainty here so that the organization can move forward.

[nymr83]

don't underrate Wilmer - his defense passes muster at 3B (it didnt at SS) and he mashed lefties, he needs a platoon partner!

[Ceetar]

meh, Flores is still not a good defender and doesn't walk enough. He's a nice super-sub type guy but I'd like it, especially if we're going with Rosario and Smith, to get a good defender there as well. Watch how magically the pitching is elite again once that happens.

[Centerfield]

I think "meh" is your favorite word.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm especially curious about second base and third base next year. I'd like to see the Mets go after free agent Mike Moustakas, but I don't know if that's at all in their plans.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Centerfield wrote: I think "meh" is your favorite word.

It's hard to get enthusiastic about a word like "meh".

meh
me
informal
exclamation
exclamation: meh
1.
expressing a lack of interest or enthusiasm.
"Meh. I'm not impressed so far"
adjective
adjective: meh
1.
uninspiring; unexceptional.
"a lot of his movies are … meh"
unenthusiastic; apathetic.
"everyone else I talked to was kind of meh"
Origin
1990s: apparently popularized by the television series The Simpsons .

[Vic Sage]

Here's the lineup i'd like to see for the rest of the season:

Rosario (ss)
Nimmo / Lagares (cf)
Conforto (rf)
Cespedes (Lf)
Smith (1b)
Flores (3b)
Cecchini / Walker (2b)
d"Arnaud ©

Trade Cabrera and Granderson (and Walker, too, if possible) by August trade deadline for whatever you can get for them. I'll even take 4 more A-ball relievers!
Bruce? Unless you can get some value for him, keep him and make a QO in the off-season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I read where Terry doesn't want to play Rosario every day. He's going to get "plenty of rest". I don't know if that's to minimize risk of an injury during these meaningless games, or if they're trying to preserve his rookie status, or if he really thinks that Rosario needs plenty of rest.

[Edgy MD]

Well, he's coming off an injury. And the team is loaded with infielders even after Duda done gone, so Collins might want to protect him from the tougher matchups.

[G-Fafif]

The 2017 Mets still matter.

[smg58]

* Matz, Wheeler, and Lugo showing signs of righting the ship.

* Anybody from this year's bullpen making a convincing case to be part of next year's bullpen.

[ashie62]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Wright, much as I hate to say this, has to retire. If he can't work out his problems that are NOT back-related over the course of a full season, he simply can't be relied on any more. The Mets need a real third baseman next year, not some combination of TJ/Wilmer/Asdubal/Reynolds/whoever. Like I say, it pains me. Wright's been a good soldier; never came within a mile of trouble, was good with the media, never embarrassed the ballclub. If anything he was TOO nice. But the uncertainty about his status has messed up the Mets for two seasons now, because they're afraid to trade for an everyday third baseman if Wright is going to come back. David's made plenty of money, and I think if he can't play for the Mets he won't play at all. But there needs to be some certainty here so that the organization can move forward.

Wright has missed almost two seasons, get on with your life young man.

[Guest 41Forever]

Vic Sage wrote: Here's the lineup i'd like to see for the rest of the season: Rosario (ss) Nimmo / Lagares (cf) Conforto (rf) Cespedes (Lf) Smith (1b) Flores (3b) Cecchini / Walker (2b) d"Arnaud (c) Trade Cabrera and Granderson (and Walker, too, if possible) by August trade deadline for whatever you can get for them. I'll even take 4 more A-ball relievers! Bruce? Unless you can get some value for him, keep him and make a QO in the off-season.

The challenge with the lineup you suggest is that Bruce is closing in on 30 homers, among the league leaders, and I don't know how you can tell him to take a seat.

[Guest 41Forever]

Ashie62 wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Wright, much as I hate to say this, has to retire. If he can't work out his problems that are NOT back-related over the course of a full season, he simply can't be relied on any more. The Mets need a real third baseman next year, not some combination of TJ/Wilmer/Asdubal/Reynolds/whoever. Like I say, it pains me. Wright's been a good soldier; never came within a mile of trouble, was good with the media, never embarrassed the ballclub. If anything he was TOO nice. But the uncertainty about his status has messed up the Mets for two seasons now, because they're afraid to trade for an everyday third baseman if Wright is going to come back. David's made plenty of money, and I think if he can't play for the Mets he won't play at all. But there needs to be some certainty here so that the organization can move forward. Wright has missed almost two seasons, get on with your life young man.

How many years are left on Wright's contract? If he retires, does that end the contract? Is it financially advantageous for him to remain on the disabled list and keep getting paid than to retire and leave a lot of money on the table? Walking away from $30 million or so is hard to do. I don't know if the team would offer a buyout or something along those lines.

I think Mo Vaughn was on the DL for his last year, when everyone knew he had no chance of ever coming back and wasn't even with the team.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wright is signed through 2020, so three more years. If he stays on the DL for those three years, he'll get paid. If he retires, he won't.

[Frayed Knot]

2018 = $20 mil; 2019 = $15; 2020 = $12 -- and no one is going to simply retire and walk away from that kind of cash.

If he's been told that he can't play again, a la Prince Fielder, then his career would already be over, he'd still gets what's remaining on the contract but would no longer be occupying a spot
on the roster/DL or sitting in the dugout at home games.
So that obviously hasn't happened yet and unless and until it does he remains on the DL and in some stage of rehab with an eye toward playing again.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure why we would lobby against him continuing. It's no skin off my bones if he keeps trying to get back on the field. And if he does, great for him and great for everybody. If he gets back but he isn't particularly good, he won't play as much. And if he does, that's an unrelated issue.

[MFS62]

He can't stay on the DL for the remaining three years of his contract. He will have to be put back on the 40 man roster each year prior to the Rule V draft, and then put back on the DL at the start of each next year. So that could expose a player who might help the club down the line to that draft for the next three years
In each remaining year, the insurance policy kicks in after he has missed 60 days. So the club is responsible for about 25% of each year's contract plus the cost of the insurance policy. I don't think those premiums are trivial, since they were renegotiated at the conclusion of his prior contract, and after his spinal stenosis was known.
The fact that there seems to be no long term solution in place to address the third base situation is something that still matters.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Sign Mike Moustakas to play third base next year. The Mets can't continue to hold the position open for David Wright.

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure how Wilmer Flores and T.J. Rivera failed to demonstrate that the Mets have plenty of options at third if Wright doesn't return.

Infield depth isn't what has undone the team this year.

[Guest 41Forever]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure why we would lobby against him continuing. It's no skin off my bones if he keeps trying to get back on the field. And if he does, great for him and great for everybody. If he gets back but he isn't particularly good, he won't play as much. And if he does, that's an unrelated issue.

I think only good things can come from David Wright still being associated with the Mets. When his playing days are officially over, I hope there is some role for him with the team.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure how Wilmer Flores and T.J. Rivera failed to demonstrate that the Mets have plenty of options at third if Wright doesn't return. Infield depth isn't what has undone the team this year.

I would be ok, if that were the plan - Wilmer at third and TJ at second. But it seems Terry doesn't hasn't given them consistent time to develop their skills at those positions. He keeps moving them around and that can't be helpful to their development. If that is the plan, I wish he would just leave them there (once TJ gets back).

Later

[Edgy MD]

Injuries create needs. They've each played plenty of third.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure how Wilmer Flores and T.J. Rivera failed to demonstrate that the Mets have plenty of options at third if Wright doesn't return. Infield depth isn't what has undone the team this year.

well for one, neither of them walk enough.

[Edgy MD]

How much is enough?

Nobody on this team save Granderson walks enough for my tastes. But they both walk more than, say, Mike Moustakas, so I'm not going to thumb my nose at the rest of their skills.

[Ceetar]

well, non-pitcher BB% is 8.7

Flores 5.2
T.J. Rivera 3.9
Moustakas 4.3


At least Moustakas' ISO is literally twice Rivera's so he gets his wRC+ up to 118 this season, but I'm not particularly advocating for him either.