Centerfield

Wow. This was a bad year. Great job BG. Cards are terrific!

Ceetar wrote: This is an overall trend type thing and not really super relevant year by year. I agree that it's an overall trend thing. I don't know what you mean by "super relevant". I think overall trend things are relevant every year. Smoking increases your chance of cancer. Wearing seat belt increases your chance avoiding injury. Spending increases your chance of winning. These likelihoods apply every year, no matter the results. Ceetar wrote: If you get too granular with it you start falling into "This player's better because I spent more money on him". i.e. the money the Mets have spent in previous seasons is relevant to 2018 regardless of what 2018s payroll is exactly. Maybe you do. I don't.

LCS Numbers: 3 (Dodgers, Yanks, Cubs) of the remaining 4 teams are in the top 10 payrolls, with Numbers 1 and 2 overall still alive. The fourth team (Houston) slots in at #18. Dodgers: *It will be their 2nd Straight LCS, and 5th in the last 10 years. *Made the playoffs 5 straight years, and 7 out of the last 10 Yankees: *It will be their first LCS since 2012, 3rd in the last 10 years *Made the playoffs 6 of the last 10 years, including 1 WS championship Cubs: *playing their 3rd straight LCS, 3 in the last 10 years. *made the playoffs 4 of the last 10 years, 1 WS Championship Houston: *First LCS since 2005, none in the last 10 years. *made playoffs 2 of the last 10 years

They're going to win it all. I know this. Because it's 2017 and baseball was destined to make me miserable. And one of the floats from the ticker tape parade will run over Jacob deGrom.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Sigh. My only remaining rooting interest is in seeing the Yankees eliminated. Now I'm in the strange position of wanting the Houston Astros to be the American League champions. You don't want to see Washington lose?

Wow! I am so amazed by the talent on this board. Just amazing.

I wonder if a season like 2017 has an effect on Spring Training attendance the next year. Or if it's more tied to the moves made in the winter.

I don't think it's possible for me to love anything more than I love this picture.

As a comparison, Addison Reed is 1.05.

Edgy MD wrote: That's a lot of Ramos $$. If they want to keep him, it may make it more palatable for the Mets to pretend they're paying Familia $9.2 million and Ramos $7.4 million. Yeah, that's way too much for Ramos. Which I guess explains why Florida chose to get rid of him. I'm not impressed at all by the guy. 1.41 WHIP. Lots of baserunners for a "closer".

Wow! Terrific news!

Frayed Knot wrote: One vote cast for the [crossout]man[/crossout] men named 'NOT Matt Williams' Me too. I find I can more easily come up with a list of names that I don't want to be the Mets manager, rather than actual candidates themselves.

And now the Nate lose too. Baseball is fun again. What time is the Mets game?

Hey look. Baseball is fun again. Mets. I can't imagine anything more miserable than our season. Yankees. Hold my beer.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I don't root for payrolls anyway. Which is your's (and every fan's) prerogative. But the effect of payroll on a team's chances of success are real. If you spend, you can use this to your advantage. If you do not, you are at a disadvantage, and your road to the playoffs is harder.

I think there are a few Sandy quotes suggesting that this is exactly how he views the situation.

Edgy MD wrote: Centerfield wrote: I have no idea how a candidate views the Mets job, but where are we getting this idea that ownership is determined to cut payroll? Bill Madden never struck me as a guy who makes a lot of calls to muster the facts to back up his notions. Right? I mean Sandy has been talking like that every year. And yet payroll goes up every year. The Mets move up in the payroll standings every year.

Ben Grimm made reference to a line in Bill Madden's article today endorsing Joe McEwing. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/joe-mcewing-manager-mets-article-1.3544160 The line I'm referring to: The Mets? Well, the treatment of Collins, all the question marks emanating out of this disastrous season, the apparent determination of ownership to cut payroll, combined with the relentless media scrutiny and expectations that come with managing in New York probably makes them the least appealing job. I have no idea how a candidate views the Mets job, but where are we getting this idea that ownership is determined to cut payroll? As far as I can tell, all the speculation that payroll will drop comes from Alderson's non-committal statements in September. “As far as the payroll’s concerned, the payroll ended up being closer to like $155 (million) this year, which was beyond what we had expected to spend this year. So I’m certainly not sitting here and willing to say, ‘OK, it’s going to be at least as high as it was (this) year,’ but we expect to be a competitive team next year. I know that is going to depend a lot on the health of our pitching staff, particularly our starting pitching and so forth. But the fact that we had so many dollars coming off the books, we recognized, and a good percentage of that, at this point undetermined, certainly will be reinvested in the payroll, but I can’t give you a specific number.” I don't know how anyone can read that as an "apparent determination of ownership to cut payroll". Did I miss something from the owners? Look I'm happy to bash the Wilpons just as much as anyone else, but it doesn't seem like they've actually done anything yet. As for the payroll itself, the Mets were 12th out of 30 teams before the selloff. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/heres-every-mlb-teams-opening-day-payroll-for-2017/ For what it's worth, I still see no reason why a NY team can't crack the top 10. As far as results: Top 10 Payrolls: *5 teams made the playoffs (including the top 3 spenders overall) *4 division winners *LA Dodgers, the top spender, had the best record in baseball Middle 10 Payrolls: *3 teams made the playoffs. *2 Division Winners *Cleveland, 102 Wins, best record in AL Bottom 10 Payrolls: *2 teams made the playoffs, both Wild Cards

I find I'm not all that into this managerial search. I think it's mainly because I have no idea how these guys will manage. I think I'd like someone smart. I think Ventura fits that bill. Alex Cora too. Everyone else I have no idea. I'm glad Wally Backman is not a candidate. He never struck me as particularly bright.

You laugh. But while it's hard to imagine him as the slimy puppet ultimately used in ROJ, it's not hard to think that he could eventually grow into Declan Mulholland, the actor originally cast for the role.

Ashie62 wrote: Deleted photo. LGM Sorry to all offended. Ill thought out attempt at humour. Not at all offended. Just didn't get the reference. Who is Penny?

d'Kong76 wrote: My guess the other day was it's probably fake. I found another one of her snuggling with Jeff Wilpon but decided it would be in poor taste to share. Who is this and why do we have her picture?

41Forever wrote: Here's what I find interesting. The Mets were a team considered World Series contenders decimated by injuries. But an overhaul the likes that we've seen and we are now hearing about make me think that the powers-at-be believe the problems to be deeper than the injuries. I kinda get a sense that the higher ups would have preferred making those changes years ago, and were maybe caught off-guard by the success of 2015 (and even 2016) that handcuffed them into keeping these guys around. Anyway, like Ben said, it can't hurt to examine everything. Really, I'm only surprised at the Warthen move. Seems to be very highly regarded.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: This is kind of intriguing. Kristie Ackert wrote: Besides injuries, the Mets’ other main issue is that they do not have a stockpile of good young players. They were not happy with how shortstop prospect Amed Rosario, first base Dominic Smith and some young pitchers came up to the majors looking unprepared. “I was disappointed with how some of our young players performed over the course of a few weeks. I am glad we got a look at them, but in some cases there is work to be done,” Alderson said. “There are going to be changes at our Triple-A affiliate, in fact, I think major changes. We’re taking a hard look at the rest of our player development system as well.” Alderson sees Collins, who stepped down as manager after Sunday’s season finale, as someone who can help get the minor-league system in order. He has the title of special assistant to the GM. Mets dump pitching coach Dan Warthen, head trainer Ray Ramirez as part of sweeping changes That's an interesting quote. I wonder what exactly Alderson was making reference to. I can't see how he could be surprised by anything from Rosario/Smith. You would think the brass would have a good handle of their progress during their time at AAA.

I think they have to make a run for Wade Davis. In fact, if they can only sign one big free agent, that would be my guy. An absolute difference maker out there. Move Familia to the 8th inning. Throw Blevins in there and that is a nice trio to end games. Not sold at all on AJ Ramos. Walks too many people. Too many baserunners in general. Seems like one of those "closers" who get the name because they compile saves rather than being a lockdown guy. Was a lot more confident in Addison Reed versus Ramos.