smg58

I think the answer to that is both. Mineola replaced its Friendly's with a taco place, so it's definitely not 1981 anymore. That, and a different family is living where my parents used to.

He might know that Weird Al parodied it.

Amick has upside if he's teachable. That could be a big if, but it cost us two months in a meaningless season of a relief pitcher working his way back from a major injury. Expectations need to be realistic. It's way too soon to speculate on mini-Benny. But even if he comes up for a cup of coffee at some point, it would make for a nice story.

I'd be shocked if they could do that well with Peralta by himself, but I think Peralta or Holmes plus Weaver might give us a shot at somebody. Fangraphs has an updated list (https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board), if you want to take a look.

Something tells me the Cafe Peralta was not nearly as good as you hoped.

Teams have been using analytics, and successfully, long before the Mets started using it. Perhaps "old school fans" want the Wilpons back? Then again, the Wilpons had their best success when Sandy Alderson -- who had been part of the front office that started analytics -- was running baseball operations. All these data still need to be interpreted properly, though, and I think a lot of teams are blowing it in that regard. On a very basic level, Peralta had consistently been a 3.50 or 3.60 ERA pitcher with the Brewers, until he had a very lucky BABIP last year. People with a 100-level understanding of analytics would know better than to make an offer for him like he were an ace. In general, teams have adopted the Rays' approach to handling pitching (maximizing speed and spin rate), which was basically designed to eke value out of AAAA pitchers before their arms blow out, and applied them to good pitchers who are now pitching five innings a game and still can't stay healthy. And if there's clear evidence that pitching is better as a whole for it, nobody has presented it. On the bright side, the Mets' rookies are doing fine. McLean had a stretch of adversity, but that was inevitable and he overcame it. Scott is doing well, and Thornton has been an unexpected surprise. Plus Manaea seems to be putting it back together. Holmes' injury may have killed the Mets' season even more than Soto's trips to the IL, but it was a freakish in-game injury that had nothing to do with his right arm. I'm not about to take it out on Willard for Peralta not meeting expectations that he wasn't a good bet to meet anyway. And honestly, if other GMs want to overpay for Peralta, I'm cool with that.

Right. Unless you have a reason think nobody will make a better offer between now and the deadline-- and we're not that close yet -- you sit.

You should have said things like "hit memorable postseason series-clinching walk-off homerun that grazed the centerfielder's glove." Now you're making us think, and I have a headache.

Is #1 Anthony Recker?

Here is a hypothetical. You're the Tigers' GM, and you conclude that selling is your best option. Do you take the best offer on Skubal if it comes from the Dodgers?

It would be funny if we got Jett Williams back. His power numbers are down this year, which I'm hoping is injury-related, but I'd gamble on a bounceback.

Yeah, I think Semien's upside is not a whole lot better than what we're seeing. If anybody asks over the next week -- not that I'm holding my breath -- the answer is yes.

I definitely agree with not selling short. He had a .786 OPS last year and has a .791 OPS this year, despite not being fully healthy in either season. I realize health is a very legitimate concern, but how easy do you think replacing him would be if nearly all those teams will still be in the market for a catcher in the offseason?

This was exactly how I'd answer the question. It might be a little different if we were buyers, but not much.

I'm still pretty high on Benge, though I'm higher on Ewing. He was thrown into the deep end before he was ready, and he adjusted and held his own. Our rookies were what went right this season. I think you have to bet on them moving forward next year, regardless of how strongly they finish.

Ed Hearn, who helped us win a championship and was then one of the biggest overpays in the history of the game.

Everybody asks everybody about everybody the week before the deadline. OK, nobody is expecting the Dodgers to be sellers, but you get the idea. Torrens has a very legit glove, and that's enough to make other GMs ask about him. From my perspective he'd be very dealable if I had more confidence in Alvarez staying healthy, but I'd still listen. It's always possible that somebody will offer more than I think he's worth.

"Blewett" is an awkward last name for a relief pitcher. Or maybe I'm just sensitive because my first name is Scott.

We'd still be sellers, unfortunately, because too many other things have gone wrong.

I'd pay more for Raley right now, I think, but they both will find value. They are both quite a bit better than Gregory Soto, the best lefty non-closer dealt at last year's deadline, so the Mets should get more for each of them than they gave up for Soto (Wellington Aracena is currently the number 14 prospect for the Diamondbacks, after being traded a second time). Given the sellers' market and the fact that there is no bullpen that couldn't use an upgrade, I don't think asking for one of a team's top 10 prospects is unreasonable.

No real surprises. The free agents pretty much have to be moved. Weaver should be moved, as his value will never be higher than it is now and there are always comparable free agent relievers available in the offseason. Holmes is more complicated. Personally I'd gamble the difference between the draft pick and what we could get in a trade that we would be in a better bargaining position to bring him back for three years by holding on to him. But the right return could change my mind.

Their futility with RISP in the pandemic year was maddening, because that was a good team with (when nobody was on base) a great lineup. An average amount of luck (at bat; injuries are another thing) wouldn't have saved this team. So maybe this is a good year to get it out of our system.

https://www.mlb.com/news/chicago-bandits-advance-to-ausl-championship-series?p=0&partnerId=it-20260724-19101127-mlb-1-A&utm_id=it-20260724-19101127-mlb-1-A&lctg=140161442 The inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League play-in game was put in the books courtesy of a clutch walk-off hit by one Aliana Agbayani.

He'll be a fan favorite, for sure.

I don't think the Mets have anything to offer that would get a top-50 prospect. Peralta's ERA would need to be half what it currently is. I think if you want a relatively high-end prospect, you have to make a package offer. Peralta (with a good outing or two) plus Weaver might get us Gray, and that intrigues me.