Centerfield

Like this move a lot. Robertson dropped off a bit after being traded to Philly, but was overall good.

I've had some time to process this. Also the signing of Verlander helps lessen the sting. Still. I'd like for Jake's arm to fall off during his first year in Texas. And if he gets some sort of STD that's cool too.

Thinking where deGrom ranks in terms of gut wrenching free agent departures of home grown Mets. Immediately jumps near the top of the list. deGrom. Strawberry. Reyes. Wheeler. A little drunk. I'm sure I'm missing a ton.

Hey I remember that time he left and made me feel as shitty as I did when Strawberry bailed town.

Love the Nick Plummer moment, but Baby Hold On is an excellent cover. Went with Baby. Even though it puts that terrible Eddie Money song in my head.

Not sure why the Yankees would let him go.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Or Taylor Swift. Two polar opposites there. Swift: It's crazy how many people love her. Martino: It's crazy how no one can stand him.

I'm reading that it's 100% affordable housing. Will be interesting to see if that holds. This will be amazing if it all comes together.

I don't see how these guys are a fit, but I guess anything is possible. I would never have predicted Canha, Escobar or Marte last year. This is the first post-season that I can remember where I have absolutely no clue what the Mets will do, or how to make this team competitive for next year. They have so many needs. They need three starting pitchers, an entire bullpen (Diaz is just the start), a centerfielder, and some offense (DH or otherwise). I get that Cohen has money, but it's just so expensive. Even if we just sign our top four (all are predictions I've read, except obviously Diaz): 1. Jacob deGrom: 3 years, 145 Million ($48M AAV) 2. Edwin Diaz: 5 years, $105M ($21M AAV) 3. Bassit: 4 years, $80M ($20M, AAV) 4. Nimmo: 5 Years, $100M ($20M, AAV) That's $109M, tacked onto the 2023 payroll, and you still need another starter, the rest of the bullpen, and you haven't done anything to upgrade the offense. Just crazy.

I wonder if Maja has aged.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that someone like Brandon Nimmo can really exist. At first I thought that whole golly-gee, always smiling sprint to first thing was a bit of a schtick. But over the years, it seems this is who he really is. He's a devout Christian, seems authentic in wanting to be kind and do good. But somehow supports this modern Republican party. I mean, I just can't believe what type of disinformation can be out there that someone like Nimmo could justify aligning with some of these guys. Just mind-blowing.

5 of 7. But I took like way to long to make the calls. If I had to call it immediately I'd be just guessing. I've had to do it a few times. For me, it's impossible. When I'm not making the calls, I think I'm pretty good at calling them in real time. The minute that responsibility falls to me, I can't see a damn thing. Every close play becomes a blur and I'm basically guessing.

Seems like Ben restocked on models.

Frayed Knot wrote: Too many teams, too long, and it turns the back half of the regular season into a lengthy waltz with little on the line but slight advantages (or not) in 'seeding' ... and we saw how important that was recently. The Mets would have clinched a playoff spot around Father's Day this year just as the Golden State Warrior are on pace to clinch a week from Tuesday at which point 'Load Management' takes over. Agree with all of the above. At the end of the day, the idea is to reward the best team. Small sample sizes (like best of 5, best of 7) is a poor way of doing this in baseball, where luck and randomness plays a much larger role in the outcome of any one game.

Lefty Specialist wrote: Not seeing it, Papi. I think the Yanx will break the bank to bring him back. Agree. But I'd be happy to drive up that price. As I'm sure they will be with deGrom.

My favorite time of year!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Maybe there can be some kind of next-season incentive for the teams to win the meaningless games? (Can't think of anything specific though. Maybe Dunkin Donuts in the clubhouse? I suspect there may be better possible incentives than that.) The easiest way to incentivize winning is with draft picks. So, for instance: 15 team league. Top 6 make the playoffs. Draft Order: First nine to miss the playoffs, with the 7th place team picking first, then in descending order. Followed by: First four playoff teams to miss the LCS, starting with the 3rd place team picking first. Then Seed 2, then Seed 1.

If you're on board with the pool play concept, there are variations that can work too. For instance: 6 teams make the post-season in each league. Each team plays 4 series, 3 games each. Top two seeds don't have to play each other, so their schedule is easier. Top two teams in each league advance. Best of 7 LCS, Best of 7 WS. This format brings fewer meaningless games, and makes each game a little more important. You preserve the excitement of the LCS and WS.

Yeah. The question is revenue of course. You'll have some meaningless games there at the end. But is more games overall. I think it could work. Winners would be decided on a larger sample size. Scoreboard watching. As God intended.

Keep the 162 game season. Six teams from each league make the playoffs. On October 1, each league has a 15 game round robin. 3 game series against each team. Division winners get 9 home games. WC gets 6. First place in each pool advances to a best of 7 World Series.

Frayed Knot wrote: He's opting out for more money of course. But mainly it's for the extended time. This may be his last contract so he'd like to get as many total dollars as possible, iow, years at least as important as AAV. Benjamin Grimm wrote: Because I think his best days are behind him. I'm not so sure about that. He's younger and with fewer miles on him than Scherzer, not to mention cleaner mechanics. I mean, sure, we likely won't see the likes of 2018-19 again but we may be collectively guilty here of recency bias; that his last three starts weren't vintage so this is what he now is. But even his great years had similar hiccups (remember him getting battered by the Twins?) which turned out to Not be the end of the world. He was also coming off an injury, so you can understand why he might have run out of steam earlier. I guess that's a case both for and against deGrom. If I had to make a guess, I guess I'd lean more toward him leaving than coming back, but neither would surprise me. He might be playing coy with Cohen and the media intentionally to milk every last dollar from him. He's certainly smart enough to do that.

deGrom just finished his age 34 season. If he signs a 3 year deal, at the end of it he'll be younger than Max Scherzer is now. I would guess he'll get multiple offers of 4 years. Someone might even go 5.

Let's score 20 here.

Come on Buck. Get him out of there. Can't we have any happiness?

Please Buck. Get someone up. Save Diaz.