Centerfield

Last year, the team had a slightly better than average payroll despite being a NY team that is in "win now" mode after a significant rebuild. Their 12th ranked payroll was inexcusable for a team in the top 5 in revenue. The idea that payroll would be further slashed $20 to $30 million should be unthinkable, but there we were, facing it as a realistic possibility. At the end, the payroll is nearly what it was last year. Almost getting back to a level that was unacceptable in the first place deserves no congratulations. I don't know why the rumors were circulated. Whether they really intended to slash payroll, or whether that was done to dampen expectations so that we could be brainwashed into being happy with status quo, I have no idea. I do know that it is incredibly depressing that after years of rebuild, our best case scenario, the peak of our mountain, is "we can probably compete for the wild card if we get lucky"

Yeah. This one is a head scratcher. A ton of money to give to a guy, though great last year, has been inconsistent. But more so, Eric Hosmer doesn’t turn the Padres into contenders (or so I read, don’t really know them well). In fact, I hear they are years away. So you wonder how this makes sense. If he puts you over the top for the next three years, then sure. Big market clubs can afford this. But to take you from 70 to 75 wins? The timing is weird. By the time SD is done rebuilding you’d think this contract would already be an albatross.

I’m less angry now that I hear that he was a tag along rather than being invited. But these assholes have to know what that family stands for and how this is not just “politics”. No first family has ever outwardly promotes bigotry and hate as them. If they don’t realize how that picture would be received, this is the definition of white privilege. As for Mickey, I can do without the brush off he gave this topic. He should go talk to his first baseman and find see if he thinks this is no big deal. He can talk all the bullshit he wants about how he’ll manage the pen. This was his first test and he failed it miserably.

This whole offseason is about as satisfying as a dry hump.

I do like his name, though. It's the opposite of this guy's name: This is really funny. I'd rather sign Snoopy.

Hi. I'm Joe Panik. I'm another guy who doesn't hit any better than the infielders you already have. But hey! I don't make much money, so that's something!

Mike Pesca has a book coming out called Upon Further Review: The Greatest What-Ifs in Sports History that looks like a similar idea to what I tried to do in this thread. Also, Pesca is a Mets-Lovin' Big Shot. And there is Bill Buckner on the cover of the book. I always felt that had Buckner gotten Mookie out, the game would be tied heading into the 11th inning and the Mets would have won anyway. They had the home field advantage and probably the better bullpen options going forward (after Shiraldi was the Sox best reliever that season and he'd already blown the save). I suppose we would've seen Oil Can Boyd and Sid Fernandez at some point. If Sid's used there, it might affect Game 7. Though Game 7 was 2 days afterwards.

More cover memories. Was intentionally walked in front of David Wright with the game on the line. I remember thinking, wow, has David's career sunk to the point where they are intentionally walking Matt Reynolds? David came through and the SEEDS OF LIFE cover made a deep run in the TCD.

I still think he can be a pretty good player. Capable of playing SS and can handle the bat a bit. Victim of the roster crunch. I had hoped that maybe Frazier's physical wouldn't get scheduled until this week.

If you're going to walk around with a man-bun, you better hit the gym...

Wow, he really is in the best shape of his life!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Dunno. I see Darvish as a risk they might regret. I assume that they know it's a risk, and that it's one that they're willing to absorb if things don't work out. He'll probably be fine for the first few years. In 2022 and 2023 this might be a bad contract, and I'm sure the Cubs know that. Yup. I'm thinking they're hoping to have a few more championships in their pocket by then.

Edgy MD wrote: One thing about trying to be more walky than sluggy is that it's easier to stay healthy and continue to be a ballhawk as a walky guy. Not that that's worked out so far. On the other hand, the Mets had four sluggy outfielders last season, but that mostly slugged them to fourth place. I'll take any improvement I can get though, and happily note that the idea (if only the idea) of guys adding that uppercut to the swing is not just to garner more homers, but more base hits overall. So go, Juan, go! Yeah, I think the added power is only part of it. The whole uppercut swing adds a lot of advantages. 1. Bat stays in the hitting zone longer rather than a downward plane swing which only has one point of contact. So more contact, fewer strikeouts. Also, the idea is more foul balls when you are fooled, so it could lead to more walks. 2. Soft line drives fall in. Soft ground balls rarely find holes. 3. More HR's.

I'm guessing that, lightning rod that he is, if he really was fat it would be front page news. Surprised no one has written a Matt Harvey "this year I feel totally different" article.

Hitting bombs in batting practice. Hoping it translates into game success. Lagares hit in a group with Yoenis Cespedes on Saturday on Field 2 at the Mets’ First Data Field complex and bombed some balls into the palm trees. Cespedes, who knows home runs, told Lagares that he looks “way better.’’ https://nypost.com/2018/02/10/juan-lagares-new-swing-draws-praise-from-yoenis-cespedes/ Your 2018 Mets! Way Better!

Six years. $126 million. Incentives could take him up to $150. Per Ken Rosenthal. The team has played in 3 straight NLCS and has a World Championship. And now adds an ace.

Seriously. I think I'm gonna hurl.

Got it. So you would guess that as the big names come off the board, unless those big names improbably sign with the Mets, that projection might dip below .500. Fangraphs also pegs us at 81 wins. They expect Boston to top the MFY's. https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

Question about these formulas. Let's say the Mets went nutty and signed Arrieta and Darvish this weekend. Obviously their projection improves. If that happens, do they take wins away from, say, Washington? Basically, I'm asking if a team's projection can change while standing still, or is each team's projection independent of another team?

Edgy MD wrote: While a lot of this is educated guesswork, that doesn't seem to be unreasonable. Betting's not my business, but I'd guess it to be a smart play to bet on the healthiest starter out there to miss three starts. In fact, if I could sign up for 3 missed starts by deGrom and 6 by Noah, I'd do it right now.

Here's the link to the Mets individual stats. Not really high on anyone at all. https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/dc/index.php?tm=NYN

I don't think we discussed this anywhere (sorry if I missed this). BP's projections for 2018: https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/dc/ They have us projected at 81-81 and missing the playoffs. 8 games behind Washington, 3 back of the second Wild Card. BP predicts four juggernauts (NYY, CLE, HOU, LAD). Washington and the Cubs are your other 2 division winners. Obviously this will change as free agents come off the board, and projections are obviously heavily flawed, but it's interesting to see what others realistically think of our chances.

One of the hardest parts of being an adult is learning to accept that bad things happen to good people. Meanwhile ********** Pete Rose is on TV hamming it up. What a fucking world we live in.

Dom Smith lost 30 pounds. Matt Harvey found it. Just kidding. I think it's the wind puffing out his shirt. Would love to hear what the early thoughts are on how he looks.

Ceetar wrote: nah. I did that while they were building Citi. It was not an overall pleasant experience, and it's completely unwieldy if it's a day game. Yes, the subway is somewhat easier, but there are plenty of times when they're backed up going into flushing because all the trains are on the other side going the other way waiting to pick up crowds of people. Sometimes you have to wait for a train too. And then for those of us coming from the west/northwest it's actually driving PAST the park. Plus many of us non commuters/city dwellers don't always have a metrocard or one with money and that becomes an additional expense, especially if you're a family. It's not for everyone. My kids love the train. And to emerge from underground and see the field as you approach. To me, that's part of the fun. Plus the Korean food. So good. Say what you will about the BBQ everyone else gets, the noodle houses are the best. Sam Won Gak has the best Cha Jang Myun. Ceetar wrote: But there's something to be said for a neighboring place that you KNOW will be packed with Mets fans at the appropriate times. Like watching a 4pm Nats start before a 7pm Saturday game or something. And this is the thing really. Something like Ballpark Village for the Mets would be amazing. You have the water, the harbor, so much potential. Maybe the Wilpons should sell to someone who has some experience in real estate development. Someone capable of turning that area into gold.