Centerfield

I'm on board with someone like Gonzalez too. We're one rotation injury from having Vargas and Chris Flexen start 40% of our games. And our rotation includes Syndergaard, Matz and Wheeler, so the chances of them staying healthy, well, you know. Obviously we should be aiming higher. But you take what you can get I guess. Gio's been good against the Mets right? I feel like he'd be one of those ok pitchers that dominated us that isn't very good by the time we sign him later.

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Clubs aren't tanking for draft positions. They're doing so just to save $$ Yup. I'd shake up the draft order just to take this excuse away.

Yeah, I think this is terrific too. What did he say about bunting against the shift? I guess it depends on the situation but is he generally in favor of it? I'm guessing his conclusion is not "Don't ever ever do it, even if you're down multiple runs in the ninth and the entire team is hovered around first base". Which is what the Mets' philosophy has been.

That works too.

Swarzak and Bruce are basically dumped contracts, and the money issue complicates things. We asked for money back and to dump salary. Which is why we ended up losing Kelenic. Some pretend money doesn't matter. Money cost us the best prospect we've had in years. In isolation, I think Cano could have been had for nothing. That contract is an albatross, and DiPoto had to move him this winter. As tough as it is to move a 36 year old with 5 years, left, it's nearly impossible to move a 37 year old with 4 years left. He knew that. We could have gotten him for Gerson Bautista. Or Eric Hanhold. Or Gavin Cecchini. I think Diaz could have been had without giving up Kelenic. But if DiPoto insisted, then you walk away and sign Ottavino or Britton or Robertson to go along with Familia.

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not of the mind that you never know with prospects. It's an over-simplistic philosophy. I mean, OF COURSE you never know. But you never know with veterans either. Nothing is a lock. Their future performances all exist in terms of varying degrees of likelihoods. Canó, Kellenic, Alonso, me, you, and Ariana Grande. How often does a veteran's productivity nosedive as soon as he is the centerpiece of a big trade? Often enough, I'd say. Actually, I take that back. The president's future performance is something close to a lock. You know what's a lock? Edwin Diaz (or any other closer) will never put up a WAR between 7 and 10. Kelenic has a chance to do that someday. To a lesser extent, Dunn could too. And you know what? If you gave me Kelenic and Dunn, I bet I could have traded them for a guy with a WAR of 4 or over.

But I don't know how the teams at the bottom ever get better if they aren't getting good draft picks. They spend money on free agents. Poof. They're better. And now since they are more competitive, they place higher in the standings and get those higher draft picks. "Rebuilding" would mean that a team tries to win, rather than actively tries to lose. The order of draft picks, as FK and other have demonstrated, is largely not relevant. But the draft order is publicized as critical. Why? Because owners want you to think that. That way they can justify low spending. They say things like "Trust the process" or "This gives us financial flexibility". What they are really doing, is tanking under the guise of rebuilding, and pocketing profits the entire time. In 2018, each MLB team received a bonus check of $50 million. This is without selling a single ticket. The Rays had a payroll of $25 million. That's a joke. Murphy's idea is great. Not because it will do a lot for the actual rebuilding process, but that it will eliminate a long-held excuse for the owners to not spend money. Which is why it will never happen.

Edgy MD wrote: Kellenic lands at #38 for Keith Law. Cano better be ASTOUNDINGLY good. Which is part of the reason the trade was a huge mistake. People say you never know with prospects, and it's true, you never do. But he's so highly regarded right now. A 19 year old who is #38 has tremendous value. He's the one prospect that I didn't want to trade, but if you are going to trade him, he's the one you use for a stud. For Nolan Arenado, or Cory Kluber. Not a relief pitcher. Even the best one. Brodie not only traded the wrong prospect, but he grossly underestimated the value of that prospect. Edwin Diaz was balls out last season. 57 saves. WHIP under 0.8! His WAR was 3.2. Star position players and ace starters range from 5 to 10 in WAR. You do not trade stud position player prospects for a closer. It's a foolish trade. And you certainly don't trade a stud position player, package him with your best starting pitching prospect and ship him off for a closer. Do you know the position player equivalent of Edwin Diaz? Starlin Castro. Starlin Castro and his .729 OPS had a WAR of 3.3.

The thing is, there are millions of Chucks. Guys who believe that this is a hot take and somehow this makes them smarter than the average fan. But it's not. This is the average take. This is the Joe Bloggs answer. The ones who read, get educated, know exactly the opposite is true. But the Chucks will never, ever take the time to read up and find the truth. Because they're Joe Bloggs.

Edgy MD wrote: I have mixed feelings. I mean, I'm pleased as punch that senior leadership put Grimmy in charge of the TCD, and marvel at the work he's done. But I can't help but regret that he was tapped to oversee our internship program. It's simply a major lawsuit waiting to happen. He tries to shirk responsibility for Juni, and paints her as an outlier. But the intern in the back there shows you his process is flawed. Or not flawed. Depending on your perspective.

=RealityChuck post_id=2087 time=1548871140 user_id=82] They sign someone to a big contract to much acclaim, the player is injured and, toward the end, the same people who hailed the contract in the beginning will complain how big a mistake it was and how it's preventing other moves.

https://media.gannett-cdn.com/28911775001/28911775001_5783886995001_5783884426001-vs.jpg?pubId=28911775001&quality=10> No, I wasn't aware that I wasn't considered a candidate for the permanent GM position, but, um, thank you guys for letting me know. If you could just let me through, I really did need to use the rest room...

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/new-york-mets-first-selection-in-the-2018-draft-jarred-kelenic-talks-picture-id993596556?s=612x612> Um, Jared, so uh, there's no real easy way to say this, and um, I'm just finding out myself, but...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOycDJsXkAA2tS5.jpg> No, um, actually I didn't know about the karaoke portion of the meeting, but uh, sure, I'll go first. That's fine.

http://media.sny.tv/sny/2017/11/17/images/snyf_1867132383_th_13.jpg> We're what? On the air? Like right now?

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/new-york-mets-assistant-general-manager-john-ricco-walks-out-of-the-picture-id1036418616?s=612x612> Hi, we've met before right? Youuu're Frank? Jim! Right. Sorry. https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/new-york-mets-assistant-general-manager-john-ricco-talks-on-his-phone-picture-id1036418886> I'm sorry, who is this? https://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.19462602.1530147687!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/landscape_768/image.jpeg> Um, geez, wow...uhh, I'm not sure...wait, what was the question again?

CPF! I challenge you to find me a picture of John Ricco where he doesn't look like he was caught slightly off guard. https://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.26577992.1548806299!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_768/image.jpg> Wait, what? https://media.sny.tv/sny/2015/12/09/images/snyf_533722183_th_43.jpg> Wait, what? https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/john-ricco.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=618&h=410&crop=1> Waaaiiit, what? http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/John+Ricco+New+York+Mets+v+Miami+Marlins+vXfZ_DBayTGl.jpg> Wait, what?!?!? https://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.20092787.1532557525!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/landscape_768/image.jpeg> Wait, what? Surgery? What is he talking about?

Also, how do you pronounce "Juni"? Is it: a. JOON-EE b. HOON-EE c. YOON-EE d. HEY-YOON-EE

Everyone talked about his natural movement, but whenever I saw him pitch I couldn't pick up on any of it. But I guess I couldn't pick up on Mariano's movement either, so what the hell do I know. I thought it was a good move to bring him into the pen. I thought he could be a mainstay for years, but I didn't think he would remain "the closer". They say relief pitchers have to have short memories. I guess in that sense Mejia has the right mindset. But if he's so forgetful he tries the same steroid three times, maybe take notes or something. It will be interesting to see if he can still be a productive big league pitcher. How much of that was talent and how much was the juice? I guess we'll find out.

By the way, all the gossip columns are running with the rumor that Marissa and Shelby were not invited to the ceremony because of intense jealousy from Maja. I mean, from what I know of Maja I can't imagine that's true, but you may consider a public statement or something.

A couple of things. *The TCD winning post is always my favorite post of the year. When the contest starts winding down, I find myself looking forward to reading it. Terrific job! May this tradition live forever. *BG has proven that you can feature Mario Van Peebles and still have a hit. This is no small accomplishment. I feel like everyone is overlooking this. *Um. Let's go hang out in our lobby. *I like how the O YEAH banner now kinda seems like the cover is celebrating its own win. *I like how all of us are thanking the organizers and volunteers like it's a big crew. *I would guess BG has the most interesting search history of all of us. *Doesn't the winning cover do a world tour before getting installed in the lobby? Or am I mixing things up.

Chris Flexen. Eric Hanhold. Jacob Rhame. All these guys are on the 40 while we cut Gavin Cecchini and Jennry Mejia. Maybe I'm biased against Brodie Van FancyTalk, but I feel like he's been a bit reckless. Cecchini is a former first rounder.

That's great info. Anyway, back to the larger point, which is that if Boston is able to do it, then there's no reason the Mets can't do it as well.

Read some of the middle relievers we held onto. Cutting Cecchini is an unforced error.

This is crushing for the Cecchini Fan Club. Surprised he got the axe instead of like Tim Peterson or someone like that. I still think he can hit someday. Would have been good if he didn't completely disappear after that foot injury last year.