Centerfield

I know it's stupid and corny, but I would have loved to see them let Charlie Sheen come out in character to throw out the first pitch. I know it's just a movie, but it had such a lasting effect on an entire generation of fans. Also would be cool to let Uecker call a few innings in character too.

I would love ESPN to do one of those sports science things based on momentum etc. to see if Mookie would have beat that out. I feel like he definitely would have beat Buckner to the bag. Stanley I'm not as sure.

Maybe he became aware of his fringy arm and it went to his head and gave him the yips. I dunno. Sounds kinda like Murphy no?

Hi. I just want to say that if anyone wants to throw Josh Edgin's $300k raise (basically nothing) my way, I'd be happy to take it on. Oh to have been a shitty middle reliever.

It's funny how the '84 Tigers, '86 Mets and '89 A's were thought to be the start of dynasties.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Cecchini didn't just produce in the few at-bats he was given... the approach was what impressed me. He took some great ABs in there, and if he did not seem like a scary hitter, exactly, he looked like a pain in the ass for pitchers to put away. Right? I was thinking that too. We should totally quit our jobs and become scouts.

Per Metsblog: "Cecchini continues to have problems throwing, even struggling on routine throws from second base," Law wrote Monday, after watching Cecchini on the right side of the infield. Sounds like an accuracy thing more than an arm strength thing.

This guy at Rising Apple seems to agree with me. https://risingapple.com/2016/10/24/mets-yoenis-cespedes-rush/ Before we get to that, let’s dispel this myth perpetuated by Olney that the market is “flush with sluggers.” The “sluggers” Olney is referring to are Edwin Encarnacion (34 years old), Jose Bautista (36), and perhaps Josh Reddick (30). Beyond that, there are players like 31-year-old Mark Trumbo , who alternates horrific years with great ones and Ian Desmond, who does the same. So no, the market is not “flush” with sluggers. Cespedes is the cream of the crop offensively, and the Mets and every other team in baseball knows it. And let’s also dispel the myth that the rest of the Mets’ team is so strong that they can afford to wait this out. Their pitching staff is that strong. Their offense is not. Yup.

You guys laugh now, but Jenrry Mejia is going to make a triumphant comeback in 2018. Put him down for me right now as Unsung Hero 2018.

Frayed Knot wrote: - his power became almost non-existent as shown by his IsoP going from a career mark of .163 down to .093. Shit, Rey Ordonez had a .089 isolated power mark one season (2001)! What is shocking is that this happened while moving all of his home games to Wrigley Field.

Gavin Cecchini was 3 for 5 with a HR Saturday. I'm kind of excited over Cecchini. Maybe I'm crazy but in that small sample I saw of him he looked like he had 3 hole potential. Handles the bat well, drives the ball into gaps. He's only 22, and he's 6'2", 200 lbs, so it's possible the power might develop. He's hit well and had a strong OBP over the last two years at Bingo and LV. Would be excited to see what he could do with regular playing time. Only problem is, Keith Law says he sucks in the field. Hopefully he can straighten that out.

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not really making that argument. Then make your argument Edgy. Don't just pick at mine. I've told you what I consider "depth" and demonstrated why I don't think they have it. You obviously felt otherwise, causing you to cast doubt. Then explain. I get what you are saying about Conforto. And I am right there with you on him. Despite this past year, I really believe he's going to be a star. But let's face it, at best, this is one guy that we are hoping might someday, possibly be better than Cespedes. I would bet every organization has one guy that they hope will be better than 2016 Cespedes. (and most of those guys will fail). That's not depth.

Do you not see that the depth argument doesn't apply? Having lots of crappy options doesn't give you depth. Especially when you are talking about three positions. Thanks to the emergence of Lugo and Gsellman, the Mets have depth in the rotation. They have depth at closer. They have depth at shortstop. They do not have depth in the outfield. I don't think they have lots of crappy options. I think they have good options, some of whom have their best years ahead of them, last year's numbers notwithstanding. I don't believe bringing up Conforto is a straw man argument at all. He has no position right now, and he may be a better bet over the next five years than Conforto. Perhaps you and I have different definitions of "depth". To me, "depth" means: "We would like this guy, but we don't necessarily need him next year, because we have other guys who can do what he does." "We would love to re-sign Bartolo Colon. But we don't necessarily need him next year, because we Syndergaard, Matz, deGrom and Harvey. Plus the emergence of Gsellman and Lugo make him a luxury. Our rotation, even with injuries posted the third best ERA in baseball. We want to focus on our 26th ranked offense." Valid argument that you have depth. We would love to re-sign Yoenis Cespedes. But we don't necessarily need him next year, because we have Michael Conforto, Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce. Sure, none of them can do what he does, and to be honest, none of them even really come close. But we think Conforto might be able to someday. And sure, Granderson is 36 and declining, and Bruce was never as good as Cespedes to begin with, even while playing in a pitcher's park, but we think it will be ok. After all, we made the playoffs with the 26th ranked offense. How much worse can it possibly get? Not a valid depth argument.

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure I'd say they have lots of outfielders who are not nearly as good as Yoenis Céspedes. At least, it's not as clear as all that. Well let's see. In 2016, he was 85 points higher in OPS than his closest competitor. 159 points over the second runner up, and 199 points over the guy who would be your third starting outfielder. He has better career numbers than anyone in the outfield. In fact, only Granderson, entering his age 36 season, is even in the neighborhood. So yeah, I'm putting out there that it is, in fact, clear as all that. Do you not see that the depth argument doesn't apply? Having lots of crappy options doesn't give you depth. Especially when you are talking about three positions. Thanks to the emergence of Lugo and Gsellman, the Mets have depth in the rotation. They have depth at closer. They have depth at shortstop. They do not have depth in the outfield. Edgy MD wrote: Right now, there is no room for Michael Conforto to start regularly. Conforto may ultimately be a washout, but there's certainly an argument that he has more to give a team over the next five years than Céspedes. This is a straw man argument. I'm a big believer in Conforto as well, and I hope (and believe) that he will straighten himself out. But there are three outfield positions, including two corners. It's not an either/or situation. Just because we hope that Conforto might possibly be better than Cespedes someday does not mean we should not bring back Cespedes. Edgy MD wrote: I don't feel the same gun-to-my head urgency. Céspedes produced a 133 OPS over 132 games at age 30, while being an enigmatic presence on the base paths and on defense, mixing occasional excellence alternatively with maddening aloofness.* That's certainly a guy I want back, but not at all costs. They did well to play it out last year. I root for them to do it again this year, and hopefully get him back on terms that are desirable, or alternatively, use the money toward a wiser alternative. I don't think anyone is conveying gun-to-head urgency. And there isn't a player in history that is worth "all costs". And who in the world wouldn't want money to be put toward a "wiser alternative" should he walk. I just think that everyone should understand the degree of difficulty we would be facing if he were to walk away. Olney seems to be suggesting that there are many options. Encarnacion, Bautista, Mark Trumbo. I think none of these make any where as much sense as Cespedes. And if you are thinking to go the "incremental increase over several positions" route, I think it's important to be realistic about how difficult it is to upgrade the 26th ranked offense in MLB through such a philosophy.

Like super quiet here. I think it's clear this won't get done by the end of the World Series. I fear he's gone. Buster Onley's Insider* headline this morning: Mets have the luxury to slow-play winter market with Cespedes *I didn't link to the article because of its Insider-iness. I can't read the article itself, but here is this little blurb from MLB Trade Rumors: “There is no urgency” for the Mets to chase Yoenis Cespedes, a source tells ESPN’s Buster Olney (subscription required) since the team already has some outfield depth on hand and can pursue more on the open market for a lower price than Cespedes will command. That said, the Mets would like to have Cespedes back and they’re willing to wait him out this offseason, perhaps if Cespedes is open to accepting another front-loaded contract with an opt-out clause from the team. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/10/nl-east-links-cespedes-drew-phillies-marlins.html I don't know who this source it, but I hope that this is just gamesmanship rather than their actual line of thinking. the team already has some outfield depth on hand Agreed. And by depth, we mean "lots of outfielders who are not nearly as good as Yoenis Cespedes". and can pursue more on the open market for a lower price than Cespedes will command. Also correct. If we are looking for players who are not as good as Yoenis Cespedes, I have no doubt that we can find more on the open market who will be cheaper than Cespedes. perhaps if Cespedes is open to accepting another front-loaded contract with an opt-out clause from the team. Obviously we have to see how this situation plays out, but if the Mets are banking on this, I would think Cespedes would be gone. The whole idea behind last year's deal was so that he could cash in on this year's weak free agent market. The knock against him last year was that he had performed beyond career norms, and he was competing against a strong FA class. This year, he is possibly he strongest FA target, and has added a year of production to his performance from last year. Unless they float a 5 year deal, I don't see him coming back. Someone is going to offer that deal. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see someone float 6-7 years.

I've had some dumb ideas while posting on this board. Advocating for Heyward over Cespedes last winter may have been my dumbest. Imagine the boos he would have gotten at Citi this year? Wow.

Frayed Knot wrote: I sometimes don't know heading into a 'neutral' World Series who I'm going to root for until several games in when I find myself pulling for one over the other. I suspect in this case that I'm going to be pulling for the Cubs (so I voted that way in the poll) although not so much that I don't want to see them at least have to sweat for it. Yup. In theory, when the post-season started, I figured I would root for the Cubs. But watching the NLCS made me realize I can't root for those smug bastards. I had to remind myself several times "Remember Utley. Remember Scoscia. Remember you hate the Dodgers." So I'll turn on the TV and see which way I start rooting and just go with it. Probably Cleveland.

I love it. Lol To proceed in English, press 1, for Spanish, press 2. For whatever it is the Asrubal Cabrera speaks,hold for an operator.

Like super quiet here. I think it's clear this won't get done by the end of the World Series. I fear he's gone.

I write for "Yesterday's Knuckleball". All my articles are half price after 4 p.m.

Oh no, Familia is pitching in the post-season. This is not going to end well.

That Cubs lineup is just sick. There are no holes in that lineup. And then they get Schwarber back next year. Fuck man. The Mets have some serious upgrading to do.

I don't see a lot of viable options there. I think any upgrade would have to come via trade or pray that Travis gets his act together.

Andrew Miller is amazing. Don't think I realized how unhittable that guy is.

I really am sad for David Wright. He looked like he was ticketed to the Hall of Fame. Bunch of bullshit really derailed him. I just wonder what could have been if he hadn't had to deal with those bullshit dimensions when Citi opened fucking with his swing. One day we'll discover that he fucked up his back trying to overswing to hit it over the Great Wall of Flushing. Then getting hit on the head, and the broken back. Fuck man. What could have been.