Centerfield

And now tied again.

Announces his retirement. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/curtis-granderson-announces-retirement.htmlhttps://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/curtis-granderson-announces-retirement.html

I wouldn't have thought that we had 18 regulars. Is that right? I was thinking we are like 12-15.

=smg58 post_id=30861 time=1580487129 user_id=62] It's not close. McNeil had a higher OPS+ than Arenado the last two seasons (which basically means if you factor in ballpark, McNeil's been the better hitter), and he appears to be a pretty good defensive third baseman too. So, no. If you had that kind of money to throw around, you could have gotten a second ace starter or a #2 instead of a #5 or #6. I suggested Cano and prospects earlier, which was half-serious -- if Brodie said they have to take Cano and they returned his call, I'd be as surprised as anybody -- but I can't think of any other scenario where the Mets get Arenado, don't take on more money than they appear willing to spend, and unequivocally improve the team.

Pedro Strop to the Reds. 1.85M. This is the type of flyer that I would have liked to see from the Mets. Not a great year with the Cubs last year, but still has good stuff, WHIP was decent, and only 34 years old. For that type of money. You just wonder if we're even trying.

I'm sure it makes sense on some level, but if Chicago were willing to pay $35M/year for a third baseman, wouldn't they be better off just paying their own? It seems like Chicago may be entering into the early stages of a rebuild. My guess is that they keep Bryant at least for the early part of this year, then trade him for high-ceiling prospects. I'm not sure what is going on with Arenado. It could be that there is enough ill-will that Colorado has to move him, but that's an awfully short honeymoon. I'd guess they have to eat some money if they want value back for him.

It must be so frustrating to be a AAAA player. I mean, for the rest of us, it's easy to get over the fact that we will never make it in the bigs. But for these guys, to be so close. Like if the top 30 shortstops in baseball got hit by lightning, then boom. Ruben's a major leaguer.

Thanks! I think I'll try Guardians of the Galaxy next. I think that blue robot girl is sexy.

Was my pick for Dark Horse Met of 2018. It didn't work out. Hope he ends up rooming with Wilmer.

My new affinity for running plus a subscription to Disney Plus means I have a good opportunity to catch up on the Marvel Universe. They're kinda perfect for running on a treadmill. I think I already screwed up the optimum order by watching Infinity War first. Then I watched Avengers, Age of Ultron. Then we watched EndGame together at the theater. My first movie on the app was the original Avengers, which was fun and light. Any recommendations for how to tackle the remainder of the series? I've seen none of the individual movies, or any of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

I mean, the whole dynamic of replacing "dog" with "jog". It works on so many levels. My one complaint about that cover is the orange 3. Would have been better if the headline had remained consistent. I think Conforto running into the wall was the cover for 2018 right? It would be cool to see a triumphant Conforto take the prize a year later.

Frayed Knot wrote: The long-time 'Pro' DH argument has always been: 'Well who would you rather see hit, [inept pitcher] or ['Name' slugger]? But that argument carried out to its logical conclusion can be fitted to just about any situation. -- 'Who would you rather see play SS?' ... and use that to have a rule where your glove man fields but another hits for him. Rey Ordonez: Designated Fielder. He coulda had a 20 year career!! -- 'You wanna see Wilson Ramos run or Sam Haggerty?' ... and have a situation where SH never bats but trots out to replace the Buffalo each time he reaches base. The fault with the DH, as it does with many things, lies with the Yanquis. Exactly right. Extract that logic out further. Who would you rather see hit? 8 guys not as good as Mike Trout or Mike Trout? We should let Trout take every AB and use pinch runners. Sam Haggerty. Billy Hamilton. A well-trained cheetah.

=41Forever post_id=30641 time=1580231889 user_id=69] =TransMonk post_id=30633 time=1580224183 user_id=71] Universal DH coming...I'm surprised it took so long. I'd like it more if it was part of radical change to the game. Geographically realign, get rid of the NL/AL, unbalance the schedules to reduce travel by playing bulk of games in division, shorten the season to 156 games with regularly scheduled off days and double headers. I think someone here (FK?) linked to an article last year that talked about blowing up the league in order to start fresh now that everyone would be playing by the same rules, but I can't find it now.

I don't know that it will benefit the Mets. Especially since the Mets pitchers can hit. I just happen to like Davis. But agreed, the DH sucks.

I guess silver lining, if this means JD Davis has a long term role on this team, that can be a good thing. Love that guy. Looks like a real hitter. And I thought we were trading Cano for Arenado.

The other is Brennan Malone. The D-Backs #7 and #9 prospects. And the ask was Nimmo plus? LMAO.

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Heyman says the Dbaggs will have a Marte Partay Liover Peguero (SS Prospect) and another prospect are the players going the other way. Young, high ceiling guy but years away.

Cespedes extension confirmed.

=seawolf17 post_id=30447 time=1579899452 user_id=91] Arenado can fall off a cliff too. And then you're stuck with a fucking albatross of a contract. HARD. PASS. I'm with you.

From the other thread. =Centerfield post_id=30441 time=1579896831 user_id=65] Now let's do Arenado. First of all, if the Mets could afford $35 million a year for a third baseman, they would have been in on Rendon. They weren't, and they cannot. And nothing could be dumber than passing on Rendon because you don't want to pay money, then trading for Arenado, taking on his salary, his optout, and giving up young talent. And if the Rockies ask for McNeil, you hang up and never speak to them again. Nolan Arenado will be 29 in April. His career OPS is .897. He plays half his games in Coors. Arenado gives you out of the world defense at 3B. WAR of 5.7 in 2019. Jeff McNeil will be 28 in April. His career OPS is .896. He plays his home games at Citi. McNeil doesn't play nearly as well on D, but can play 4 different positions well. WAR of 5.0. McNeil makes nothing and is under control for 5 more years. Arenado makes $35 million, has a contract paying him that until he's 35, and has an optout after 2021. It would be insane to pass on Rendon, then trade McNeil for Arenado.

Now let's do Arenado. First of all, if the Mets could afford $35 million a year for a third baseman, they would have been in on Rendon. They weren't, and they cannot. And nothing could be dumber than passing on Rendon because you don't want to pay money, then trading for Arenado, taking on his salary, his optout, and giving up young talent. And if the Rockies ask for McNeil, you hang up and never speak to them again. Nolan Arenado will be 29 in April. His career OPS is .897. He plays half his games in Coors. Arenado gives you out of the world defense at 3B. WAR of 5.7 in 2019. Jeff McNeil will be 28 in April. His career OPS is .896. He plays his home games at Citi. McNeil doesn't play nearly as well on D, but can play 4 different positions well. WAR of 5.0. McNeil makes nothing and is under control for 5 more years. Arenado makes $35 million, has a contract paying him that until he's 35, and has an optout after 2021. It would be insane to pass on Rendon, then trade McNeil for Arenado.

Sometimes I feel like I'm in a twilight zone when I read about the possible trades the Mets are considering. If Starling Marte were to join the Mets, he would join Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, JD Davis and Yoenis Cespedes as possible starting outfielders. Marte, at .793, has the lowest career OPS of this entire group. Even if you don't give up anyone here, he makes you worse offensively by taking ABs away from a better hitter. If you exclude Cespedes, he's also the oldest and most expensive. And he's the only one coming off a PED suspension. Sure, his CF defense is better than any of these guys, but as has been posted many times, it's declining. Either precipitously, or moderately, depending on which metric you look at, but certainly dropping. So is the CF defense over Nimmo worth what you will give up offensively, plus the additional salary, plus what you will give up for him in a trade? I've heard that catching prospect Francisco Alvarez might be involved, or Thomas Szapucki. That sounds insane to me. And to give up Nimmo for him? Nimmo is already a better hitter, even when you consider he played half of 2019 without being able to turn his neck. Use only his healthy numbers and the comparison isn't even close. Factor in the age, salary, years of control...this is just stupid.

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Arenado should be on the Mets Arenado trade rumors are flying around twitter. Hard to imagine there is any truth to them. If the Mets could afford Arenado, they would have been in on Rendon, who would have cost just money.

I'm sure he did good things as a member of the Mets. But the one memory I have is that awful inning in Washington. He gave up a groundball hit to the rightside. Off the bat I thought it could be an out, but no one was anywhere near it. So there you have it. Luis Avilan, played a part, I guess the smallest part, in the biggest single game collapse in Mets history.

They say he's a good communicator, and makes good decisions. That sounds promising. I would like to hear that he buys into analytics, but in the end I'm guessing Jeff will still be pulling the strings. I think he was the guy who acted as the messenger between the front office and Mickey last year, so doesn't bode well for those hoping for autonomy. Anyway, I have no opinion. The Mickey Callaway era taught me that you can't trust a thing that is written about a manager before he is hired.