Johnny Lunchbucket

Here's something I didn't know and/or had forgotten: Brad Brach was an all-star in 2016. It was one of those obligations from a shitty Baltimore club, but he was very good that year and really, better than average most years. Decent K's, maybe a few too many walks, good homer-preventer. Depending on how Rojas ultimately deploys them--I suspect they will join the "bullpen game" trend-- he and Wilson could be a kind of Turk-Cook for this club. So... 3-3, 3.77, 50 innings

He's already generated early support for the Dark Horse Met, but can he take it to Super Tuesday? What's in store for the slim right-hander who pitched his way off one contender... And onto another in 2019?

14-54 .255/.306/.427 That's his last year line minus "1" across the board

Pretty disappointing first year on balance, and now a year older. Robby says the HBPs ion the hands were a bigger issue in his first half suck than we might have known at the time and like a lotta guys he was better in the 2nd half. The hammies I'd guess would continue to be an issue though, as will range and D, doncha know. So, what do you expect?

Tie

Harol proceeds to give up 3 straight singles but managed a "hold" on Brody Quinn's throw to the plate. Last chance to avoid a tie

This guy is fresh. Stylish hair, sideburns, Fu Manchu and whiffed the 1st 2 guys he faced. Now gives up back to back singles. C'mon, Harol!!!!!

Harol Gonzalez out there in the 9th, wearing no. 5. He's an athletic young pup

Marisnick is capable of battering a mistake pitch

MFY-tainted big dude coming out of the bullpen. What's your expectation?

Matt Adams has not lost 30 pounds over the off-season. I think the Marlins will terrorize us this year.

No worries on that, but what's your Bashlor 2020 vision?

I could barely believe what I saw last season, and I can't honestly expect a repeat. It's fatalistic but realistic too. I'm sorta with Ceets in the hopefulness that someone else on the club can step up and be as big as him again, because then he can have a relative offyear and not necessarily hurt us 29-99 .250/.320/.480? A few more slumps?

What do you say? Sophomore slump? MVP? Something in between?

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: btw, the "predictions archives" listing the Hey Nineteen threads don't turn up They're fixed, guessing Ben G popped the hood and did something! Reminded now last year's set came with actual effort in the initial post. You don't have to worry about that this year. In 2020, YOU'RE the star. 🌟

Give us your Burly Bashlor predictions NOW!!!!

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

btw, the "predictions archives" listing the Hey Nineteen threads don't turn up

These threads were fun to look back on as the year progressed, let's get 'em going. I think there's precisely 40 days to go till opening day so let's do the 40 day by day-ish Bashlor was absolutely dreadful last year in every respect -- walked way too many, gave up a buttload of home runs, blew a bunch of save opportunities and finished 0-3, 6.95. ERA+ of 59. I'm predicting a dead-cat bounce for this guy as he's got a very good chance of becoming the Ducks' new closer if he doesn't turn it around quick: 2-2, 4.40, 1 save, 30 games, 30 innings, 29 Ks. Half the season or more in Syracuse anywhoo

Vic Sage wrote: lineup v RHPs Sherzer (game 1) and Strasburg (game 2): Nimmo*, cf McNeil*, 3b Alonzo, 1b Conforto*, rf Davis, Lf Cano*, 2b Ramos/Rivera, C DeGrom/Syndegaard, P Rosario, SS lineup v LHP Corbin (game 3): Rosario, ss Alonzo, 1b Cespedes, lf Davis, 3b McNeil*, 2b Ramos, C Conforto,*rf Stroman, P Nimmo*, cf These lineups start the season by platooning Cespedes and Cano (assuming Cespedes starts the season on the active roster and can play the field without falling down like Willie Mays in 73), reducing their playing time in consideration of their age and physical decline, as well as Cano's career-long (and increasing) platoon splits. If they both show they can play ever day and be productive, things can change. In the meantime, Marisnik can occasionally spot Conforto (who still has problems against LHP, unlike Nimmo and McNeil, who have less significant splits) and Smith can spot Davis against RHP, once in a while. Rivera catches Syndy, to give Ramos a regular day off. Lowrie gets replaced by Guillorme at the end of the bench. Marisnick it would seem was supposed to be the guy who could get a start against Corbin. Mickey would put Lagares there, anyway. I still think there's gonna be some earthshaking trade before spring is out

There's so much going on in these cards, and I like that the league leader series eschews RBIs and so forth in favor of Singles and Base-Out Runs Saved. Seriously these need to go in a gallery. Or at least, I'd like a blown-up framed version for my "Man Cave" I dunno if Wifey Bucket would let me hang one in the bedroom.

I think our inclinations in that thread last year were correct at some level: Brodie musta had other plans in mind when Lowrie was acquired. Sorta like how he wound up with both Stroman and Wheely. If you back into it seems like they got Stroman with the intention of sending Wheeler packing, he just didn't or couldn't complete a second deal. Rookie GM

The Tuesday Night Mets Club has a strict policy about attending Tuesday Night games in March without advance weather notices. 3/31 will be a game-time decision

The problem with Aramark and beer at Citi as I see it is that they too often don;t bother staffing booths that sell the indy brands. The Tuesday Night Mets Club was very disappointed to find the Promenade "Craft" coolers padlocked most nights. Some are available in the clubs, but you can easily miss an inning waiting for the 1 bartender on staff.

I have a fb album of shots going out the Shea that winter with 3-year-old Lunchpail. Snow on the ground, this brown fake Brooklyn monument in front of us, and wrecking balls slamming into the big murals on the side of the building. Every seat ripped out and the damned uncomfortable steel box-seat rails cut up so Fred & Jeff could profit from the destruction twice over. It was aggressively depressing. I don't mind the "new" stadium much as a place to watch baseball but won't ever get over the glee the org took in propagating the myth that Shea was an irretrievable dump they couldn't wait to hack into tiny pieces. They took the center field panel off the wall before the last game was even played.