TransMonk

I believe the Mets just released their year end Top 10 prospect list and it had 4 shortstops in it: I don't see any reason to stray from a Flores/Tejada combo until one of these guys is ready.

@chelseajbradley

Ceetar wrote: Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, Juan Lagares, and Wilmer Flores all had a lower OBP. (Also Plawecki and Nieuwenhuis and Ceciliani and Muno and Recker) Cuddyer in 2015: $8,500,000 Uribe in 2015: ~$2,600,000 (40% of $6.5M total salary) Johnson in 2015: ~$600,000 (40% of $1.5M total salary) Lagares in 2015: $528,696 Flores in 2015: $513,543 I'm not sure what the point of comparing Cuddyer's OBP to these (much lower paid) bench players is...unless it's to illustrate that the Mets are overpaying him to produce slightly more than non-everyday players.

Granderson has surgery on thumb Metsblog wrote: Mets OF Curtis Granderson had surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb but will be ready for Spring Training, the team announced (Nov. 5). Granderson suffered the injury during the NLCS against the Cubs. In the World Series against the Royals, Granderson went 5-for-20 with three home runs and five RBI. Granderson, 34, is under contract through 2017.

"Somewhat higher" payroll = $101,000,001?

Mets coaches all invited to return; Bob Geren to get Dodgers interview Juan Lagares' right elbow being examined by team doctors Sandy Alderson hopeful Mets will open 2016 with 'somewhat higher' payroll Sandy Alderson: Yoenis Cespedes trade 'absolutely' worth it even if he departs Dilson Herrera 'a viable alternative' to Daniel Murphy at second base Full Audio

He was up by 7 answers with 17 questions left.

Ceetar wrote: I don't think GMs are dumb enough to be fooled by a hot stretch of games in the NLCS But it's not just that stretch. Murphy's OPS+ for the past 5 years are 113, 111, 108, 103 and 126. His batting averages: .281, .289, .286, .291 and .320. He is not a world beater, but he is the model of consistency. I'm sure teams are looking at that, too.

Syndergaard's August 2nd performance against the Nats was amazing...but that was an ESPN Sunday night game, so I don't think it's qualified. That was the first time I had seen a packed Citi Field electrified from start to finish outside of season openers. It was also the point at which I put Noah on the same level with deGrom and Harvey in terms of my confidence level in him during big games.

Agreed. I'm not sure Duda is a lock to return, but also feel like the puzzle grows much more complicated (though not any less solvable) if he's moved.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ...he was hitting HR's at an increased rate (for him) over the last 6-8 weeks of the season but hardly anyone noticed because Yoenis happened... I'd guess hitting in front of a hot Cespedes may have contributed to Murph's rising performance the last three months of the year, too. I've always loved Daniel's hitting...very consistent for the most part. His defense and baserunning are average at best and are sometimes liabilities. I'd gladly welcome him back at the qualifying offer, but I think he'll get an inflated contract from someone else based on his NLDS/NLCS performance. Good for him.

Given that this team went to a WS and increased attendance in 2015 with a 21st ranked payroll, I'm not sure what the business reasoning would be for increasing spending. I can surely see management saying, "if it ain't broke..." Obviously, I hope otherwise, but I don't expect a direct correlation between the increase in revenue and any increase in spending.

We don't Cespedes back, we just need a way to replace his contributions. Not to say we couldn't still use him but consider: He's not a good centerfielder, we have 3 outfielders already under contract, Nimmo on the way, and lots of possibilities in the trade/FA market, and he basically cost us the World Series. We should be thankful the best 6 weeks of his career were with us and move on. This. Especially the part in bold.

I haven't been the biggest Terry fan over the years, but I'm more than OK with the two year deal. I think Terry has gotten better at managing each season. That's big for a manager since it seems like most of them like to be know-it-all experts that never evolve or learn on the job.

Edgy MD wrote: I don't think the Mets bullpen was average. I think it was and is a strong bullpen. They had a 3.48 bullpen ERA (compared to a league average of 3.66) and a WHIP of 1.235 (league average = 1.298) The bullpen ERA in Sep/Oct was 4.65 (24th in MLB) and a 1.32 WHIP (20th in MLB)...and that's with Familia's 2.19 ERA and 1.135WHIP over that stretch. Over the season they were above average, but it seems to me that they limped into the post.

El Segundo Escupidor wrote: Let's be honest with ourselves: Regardless of your expectations going into the year, and notwithstanding how heroically and deservedly they earned their way in, we have to confront the reality that the Mets played like absolute shit in this series, and that really sucks. We all understand how hard it is to get in. Then to go out and put up 4 stinkers out of 5. So disheartening. I feel like they owed themselves, and the baseball-watching world, a better effort. This. If they played like they did in the Cubs or Dodgers series and lost, it would have hurt a lot less. From the Cespedes failed circus trick in Game 1 to Muffy's error in Game 5, their performance was a dog's breakfast. Again, I'll say the Mets had KNOWN weaknesses (i.e., average bullpen, average fielding, inability to hold on and throw out base runners). These weaknesses were a part of why they lost. The heads talked leading up to the series about how much better the Royals were in their bullpen and with their defense. They are what they are...it's not like they played stellar D all year and then lost it last week.

I, too, worry about power. It will be hard to rely on Wright for more than 15-ish HRs (essentially replacing what will be lost when Murphy leaves). Duda's consistency is also a big question mark for me. It seems like power is going to have to potentially come from a new center fielder or middle infielder...which is not where one traditionally finds a lot of pop. A full year from d'Arnaud would help...but I've never seen one of those before. It's very early in the off-season, but I'm on the Colby Rasmus bandwagon.

I guess I would argue that my own personal (selfish or otherwise) expectation for this team back in March was 84 wins and missing out on the postseason. Should they have won the World Series? I don't know, man...I'm still shocked they were playing. That's not to say I don't think they deserved to be there...but I don't necessarily feel cheated. This team had weaknesses. The weaknesses were exposed.

I feel lucky, proud and surprised.

I'd say Granderson or Conforto.

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.

The Mets definitely exceeded my expectations for 2015. The problem with losing in the WS this season is that my expectation for 2016 is now a World Championship. It will be tough for them to exceed that expectation.

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.

Defense and bullpen...weaknesses that KC exploited. Lots to be proud of if you're a Mets fan, though. It should be an offseason full of hope.