Let's talk about Yu

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm beginning to convince myself that the best way for the Mets to become truly frightening again will be to resume that thing we had going for about 15 minutes in 2015 where it didn't really matter what day it was, because our starting pitcher was going to have a good day.

Right now I feel like we count on deGrom and hopefully Syndergaard to bring that kinda shit most days but I'm rapidly losing faith in Matz; Harv is a wreck but possibly will be better if he knows what's good for his career; Wheeler is iffy; Gsellman's iffy; Montero's still a work in progress or fully formed as an erratic guy you can't count on; it's a little early still for Petersen. Lugo's okay but not a diffmaker.

Add another Ace-type, and not only do we have a threesome up front that can go with Scherzer-Strasburg-Gonzalez but the competition lights the fire under the other guys, AND creates some fodder for trade to address all the offensive needs we have, AND at least gives us a small advantage should we also choose to pursue Otani inasmuch as he and Darvish were apparently bros across the Pacific.

Darvish will be 31. I'm just pulling these figures out of my ass, but would 5/150 get it done? 7/200? I don't think Sandy's a seven-year contract guy but that's around what Scherzer got.

BUT YOU GOTTA MAKE AN EXCEPTION SANDY GODDAMNIT! SIGN THIS GUY ALREADY!!!11

What say Yu?

[Guest 41Forever]

I like it.

Now, does a deal like that create a template for deGrom and Syndergaard, and can we afford the back end of a seven-year deal when we are trying to lock them up?

[Edgy MD]

I'm all for setting sights on Darvish, but ... pitchers that come over from NPB, even if they initially make a big splash, have a long history of losing their game early.

A lot of them tend to become Mets, even useful Mets, in the back half of their careers anyhow, but in low cost/modest role arrangements. A commitment like your ass is suggesting would be a horse of a different color. Heck, seven years for a pitcher from any background is dramatically risky. Barry Zito, Johan Santana ...

[smg58]

His ERA+ was noticeably down this year (118, compared to 134, 130, and 145 in his previous three seasons), and that's before we talk about the postseason. The risk that he's already past his prime is too high to justify a monster deal (defining a "monster" deal as north of 5 years and $100M). I'm totally for another frontline starter, but Darvish might not be that guy anymore.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Some Online Guy making predictions pegged Yu getting 6/160 so my ass is in the neighborhood. I'd sooner see the Mets try 4/100 or 3/90 if it works but who knows.

He's still very strikey-outy and at worst looks like a guy looks like a guy who's gonna make some bread next year. If you have other ace-types in mind let's start threads and Talk About Them. My mind is open.

[Ceetar]

smg58 wrote: His ERA+ was noticeably down this year (118, compared to 134, 130, and 145 in his previous three seasons), and that's before we talk about the postseason. The risk that he's already past his prime is too high to justify a monster deal (defining a "monster" deal as north of 5 years and $100M). I'm totally for another frontline starter, but Darvish might not be that guy anymore.

His Dodger numbers were more in line with some of his better years though. But maybe just a league switch thing.

But his K rate is still good. Is HR rate spike a little last year. juiced ball? (but didn't happen in 2016/2015 so much?) HR rates can be bad luck sometimes. (Though his xFIP was still higher, though not as high)

It's always going to be a risk. But I'm on board with him. I'd go after Otani too though. Maybe i'll make a thread for that.

[Edgy MD]

I think the 2017-2018 version of Pedro Martinez' Mets deal should be appropriate, no? Pedro was similarly coming off a fallback year that suggested that his arm was deterioriating and he'd have to get by on craft and guile going forward, but still should be feared because he had both of those in surplus.

[Ceetar]

Velocity was actually up and he threw a lot fewer curveballs in favor of mostly sliders. Given the suggestions about the Mets being more curveball friendly going forward, this actually feels like it could be an even better fit.

[Centerfield]

It's strange. He's been around since 2012 but I don't think I've seen a single game he's pitched. Even in this past postseason by the time I turned on the game he was gone.

The numbers suggest he's just a tick below the truly elite, Cy Young type level (WHIP is a tick high, ERA is a tick high), but still a frontline starter. I'd be on board so long as he's healthy. Sign me up!

Agree with everything in JCL's initial post. My only criticism is that this thread should really be called WhatchYutalkinboutDarvish?

[seawolf17]

Would he take a Ces deal that gives him an out after a year? 4/80, something like that? I'd do that. I wouldn't offer more than four years; if someone else does, let him go.

[seawolf17]

FWIW, the marketing potential of "Yo and Yu" is gold.

[HahnSolo]

seawolf17 wrote: Would he take a Ces deal that gives him an out after a year? 4/80, something like that? I'd do that. I wouldn't offer more than four years; if someone else does, let him go.

Yu's free agency has a 6 year, $180 mill contract offer from Arte Moreno written all over it.

[Lefty Specialist]

I'm nervous about Darvish. I'm worried about a decline. Japanese pitchers burn out early because they get overworked at a young age. I would not give him a long-term deal.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Would he really get $30 million per year? While I may not be convinced that the Mets budget is as low as some reporters indicate, I think a $30-million pitcher would still take a prohibitively large bite out of whatever the budget is.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Would he really get $30 million per year?

I think no way.

[Guest Mets Willets Point]

"I Found Out About Yu" would make a great entry in a song parody contest.

[Centerfield]

OMG, the possibilities are endless. We should sign him for this reason alone.

Yu got the hook.
Yu must have took...
36 pitches just to get thru the first. Babeee....

[Edgy MD]

SANDY TO DARVISH'S AGENT: I WANT YU TO WANT ME! [fimg=300]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e1/b0/f9/e1b0f994258bc02c136bbc24aa3c29e9.jpg[/fimg]

[Guest Mets Willets Point]

A devoted Darvish fan's life is told in "She Loves Yu."

[Frayed Knot]

[youtube:oksqd3xe]1qB6XdAkkAo[/youtube:oksqd3xe]



I actually heard this song earlier today over a store's sound system.

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Japanese pitchers burn out early because they get overworked at a young age.

They sort of do and they sort of don't.
They tend to get thrown in the mix at a younger age and have heavier in-game pitch totals plus throw more between starts.
But then they only pitch once a week which tends to reduce the pitches under stress totals.

[Edgy MD]

Put there's also a long tradition of them carrying their teams in national high school tournaments with Herculean pitch counts, before they even earn taste their first money.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Who signs first this offseason? Darvish or Arrieta?

And do we have any interest in Arrieta?