Centerfield

I thought about it some more. If Sandy is wary of signing Cespedes to a long-term deal (and I readily admit the drawbacks there), I think he could go another route: 1. Sign Justin Upton 2. Trade Granderson at the peak of his value. (Does someone take on that salary for the last 2 years?) 3. Go for Colby Rasmus (or maybe trade for Gomez?) for CF This is a lot more shakeup than just re-signing Cespedes, and a lot of things have to fall in place for something like this to happen. But it's an idea. Especially if you think Granderson is not likely to repeat his great 2015. Like LS said. Lots of work to do.

Lefty Specialist wrote: Absolutely zero chance Conforto stars in Vegas. You're set in left and right (unless Grandy gets traded). Lagares is a question mark with his elbow. I think Duda needs to be replaced with someone more reliable. We need more consistent production out of first base. So if there's a trade that can be made, they should do it. I'd like to see Dilson Herrera at second and leave him there. He's done all he can do at Vegas. Wilmer Flores is not a shortstop. No more fitting square pegs into round holes. Trade him (but dear god, not to Milwaukee)- won't see him cry in the offseason. Has value, but he vanished offensively down the stretch and in the playoffs. Tejada's a good backup but they need a real full-time shortstop with range and the skills to lead off. Tall order, but that's why Sandy gets the big money. Middle relief is needed, but that's always a matter of finding diamonds in the rough. The variability from season to season means it's always a crap shoot. One of the best relievers for KC was Ryan Freaking Madsen, who was completely out of baseball for 2 years. So there's no perfect formula. First four starters are Harvey/deGrom/Syndergaard/Matz. I hear these guys are pretty good. Niese is your number 5, and Wheeler comes back in the second half. If Niese can be traded (and he should), you can either give the job to Logan Verrett or sign Colon cheaply. Montero is still out there, too, if he can ever get his act together. So there are options. Lotta work to do. Who is your replacement for Cespedes in this scenario? Still need a middle-of-the-order guy.

In other words, he's nothing spectacular, but he's around. Kind of like the Monica Lewinsky of baseball.

d'Kong76 wrote: Someone, MFS I think, posted the list yesterday in another thread. I looked at BA site and read some other page that said Matz stays on because of time lost or something like that. I thought it was odd that he would still be listed too. CF, didn't you want Reynolds to be the everyday shortstop early in the season? Have you soured on him that much already? He had great numbers last year over AA and AAA. Heard a report that he was the best defender in the Mets system. Then he dropped his OPS over 100 points this year while playing in Vegas. Looks more to be a 1 year fluke rather than actual progress.

I guess it was inevitable considering the success we have enjoyed recently, but my takeaway from that list is that, other than Matz, no one else will be helping the big club in 2016.

Edgy MD wrote: The Mets were reportedly highly motivated to sign Cespedes when they realized how willing he was to patrol center. Now that that willingness has to be understood in the context of (1) some questionable instincts and (2) perhaps some damaged health, they clearly are going to reassess. Which doesn't mean they'll pull out, but it changes the calculations. I'm not necessarily concerned with what's out there. At least right now. There are alternatives on the trade market and the international market and such. We'll see how things unfold. We have this exclusive period to work with. But right now, Cespedes is golfer with a bum shoulder and a swollen knee. I hope that what you say is true. Because that would mean that there is money to spend for the right player. And that is important. Agreed that those things change calculations. Hopefully they change it for all teams, and so the Mets will be right in the center of things. (this part is meant to address LS post above) Bringing in 1B and RF into the equation is interesting. It certainly does open up a lot more options (and makes our offseason much more complex) if you bring those two positions into the mix. In the past I have not seen Sandy willing to shake things up that much. It will be interesting to see what he elects to do this winter.

Conforto? "Iffy in September"? If .813 OPS means iffy, I'll sign on for iffy.

TransMonk wrote: I worry about his streaky nature, his defense and the back-end of his contract. His career stats are nowhere near what he was giving in August. Also, what do we do with Cuddyer and Lagares? Hard to see the Mets being OK with that kind of dollar commitment riding the bench for the majority of a full season. I have NO problem letting Cespedes walk. Someone else will overpay for him. Definitely all legit concerns. But who do you bring in to be your #3 and #4 then? I'm looking at the options out there and don't see anything close to what Cespedes offers. Plus he won't cost you a draft pick.

You're thinking of his father. This is his son.

I encourage Sandy to get creative and fill our #3 and #4 spots with better options if he has them. But the more I think about it, I think they have to bring back Yoenis. No other options really fit well with what the Mets already have. I get it, his career numbers are much lower than what he did this year (.805 OPS), and he has some Cliff Floyd to him. And he may even be older than what they say he is. But he will likely be an elite player for the next three years. Which coincides with the years that this pitching staff will be together. He can play CF for 2 years, then slot over to a corner OF position after Granderson is done. Sure, he might suck for the last 2 years of his contract, but the Mets might be rebuilding then anyway. With 3 World Championships in hand. Plus, you never know if someone desperate will take that contract off of your hands. I'm open to other suggestions as well. But this is how I would attack this offseason.

I think Duda makes that play 9 out of 10 times. Did you see the replay? When the ball is whizzing by Hosmer is not even in the fucking picture. Fuck the Royals.

I am really looking forward to this. It's funny how so many cool things about this place requires the free time of Ben Grimm. Thanks for doing this.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I agree 100 per cent with all three points. And that's what I was thinking as the events unfolded, not just with hindsight. While I rationally know that the next guy would likely be just as frustrating, I hope Terry doesn't come back. Nice guy, and I'm happy he got to manage in the postseason, but I hope they meet with him and he decides to retire as a National League Champion. (He can have a last hurrah at the All-Star Game next summer.) And if he doesn't want to do that, they can fire him. Couple this with his failure to get out and argue the hell out of that Utley play in Game 2, and his decision to pull Noah in Game 5 after just 1 inning. The Game 5 move worked out, but I disagree vehemently with the move nonetheless. These are all judgment calls, I realize, but if that is Terry's judgment, it gives me very little confidence going into next October, should they be lucky enough to get there.

bmfc1 wrote: Terry is obviously still shaken by the World Series and has neglected to have a DH. Um, the DH rule was abolished in December 2015. Where have you been?

Lineup: 1. Granderson RF 2. Herrera 2B 3. Conforto LF 4. Wright 3B 5. Duda 1B 6. d'Arnaud C 7. Flores SS 8. Lagares CF 9. Harvey P

Mets � Willets Point wrote: It seems the Mets are richest in starting pitching and therefore a starting pitcher would be what other teams would most want in a trade, but I don't want to see any of them go. What do folks think is the likelihood that we'll have a rotation with Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard & Matz next season? I think it is 100% (barring injury). I would only trade one of those guys for Mike Trout.

Sure. There will always be questions. Such is the nature of the off-season. But I like our starting-out point better than any team in the offseason. Cardinals and Pittsburgh included. And maybe I'm dumb, but I actually do think the Wilpons will spend this winter. I mean, they have to right? We were just in the World Series. If we have another year of low-end payroll, they have no choice but to admit they are broke, right?

This is one of those points where I probably can't be trusted to speak rationally, but I thought this was badly mismanaged by Terry. Starting with Friday night: 1. Game 3: No way do you pitch Familia in that game. The philosophy of "Let's get his confidence back" should be out the window in Game 3 of the World Series. If you have a finite number of bullets in Familia's arm, it is foolish to use them there. You also give the opposition more looks at your closer. Bad bad all around. 2. Game 4: No way do you pull Bartolo after 1 batter. He dominated the Royals in Game 1 until Wright's error. You let him be the bridge to Familia. And Familia would be better rested not having pitched in Game 3. 3. Game 5: Pull Harvey after the walk. Come on man. Leadoff walk? Bad bad sign. I still can't believe we lost games 4 and 5. Fuck it all. It's coming back again.

Here's why: 1. We have the best rotation in all of baseball. And it's not even close. deGrom and Harvey are already elite, Cy Young candidate type guys. Syndergaard is on his way to being that, if he isn't already. Look what he did to those Cubs. This is a different pitcher than the one who was called up mid-season. Showed giant fucking cajones the way he pitched Game 3. He definitely has the potential to win a Cy Young. And Matz sacked up a ton too. He may have the best secondary pitches of all of them. No one comes close to touching these four. Niese is a very good #5. And we have Wheeler and Montero coming back from injury. No one will want to deal with us in October. 2. We have the best closer in baseball. He had a couple of hiccups in the Series. So what. I take him over anyone else in baseball. 3. We have six of eight hitters coming back. And they are all pretty good. Wright, Duda, d'Arnaud, Conforto, Granderson and Flores. Conforto may even be a star. Of course, all of these guys are a bit of a question mark too. And the spots in our lineup we are looking to fill are numbers 3 and 4. But I have faith because... 4. Our GM is the smartest guy in the room. I don't know how he's going to do it. He has 3 positions to play with (2B, SS, CF). And he has to get 2 middle of the lineup guys from those 3 positions. But I trust him to do it. More than ever I believe that Sandy will find a solution, and if it doesn't work, he will fix it mid-season. 5. Our Middle Relief Will be Better. Reed had a bad game last night, but I think he is still going to be a very useful tool next year. I'd like to see them re-sign Blevins, and with the injuries, they may be able to get a discount. Edgin comes back. As does Mejia mid-season (though it will be interesting to see what they decide to do with him). I also think Sandy will go out and look for a former closer looking to bounce back after a bad year. (Drew Storen anyone?) I realize it's unlikely, but I would love to see them bring back Colon as a long reliever. 6. The Wilpons are out of excuses. Come to the ballpark they said. When the time is right, we'll spend. Well it's time Fred. Open up those books. Be a big market team. Everyone else stepped up. Now it's your turn.

TransMonk wrote: Thanks for the outlet, folks. I love being here. 2015 was probably the most fun I've had as a Mets fan...what a great ride. This. Long ago I realized that posting here is the only thing that takes some of the sting away after a tough loss.

I feel terrible. I'm still pissed off from the last two games. It's one thing to lose games, it's another to lose games because of mistakes. I'm also sad. I loved the 2015 Mets. I hate that this is the last impression we will have of them. I can't believe the mountain of work that has piled up the last month while I've been distracted by this team. Turns out "What is the least amount of work I can do to before I can go home and watch baseball?" is not the best philosophy to have. I've been putting off things. Real life is going to suck. I'm feeling the hangover of this season in addition to being actually hung over.

I imagine in a couple of days I will be able to say something somewhat intelligent about the series, the season, etc. But for now, I am way too fucking pissed off to be taken seriously. I will be ranting and raving. Calling for Terry's head. Cursing a lot. If I were you guys, I'd just ignore me for a couple of days until I get it out of my system.

Omg. Another fucking bloop. Fuck this all. Fuck Terry.

Bartolo fucking colon terry.

Bartolo here. Fuck Terry.