Edgy MD

Neil in the Archives: Talking about Neil Walker with you guys in here Q.O. for Walker Memories of Neil Walker

I'm a Tom's River hero with a port wine stain on my temple and Yankee taint on the rest of me. I'm walking, talking proof that the Mets are willing let go of David Wright daydreams and sign a dude to be the dude who plays third. I'm a low-average/big-power/meh-OBP guy that's pretty much the living embodiment of the era. Of course I came from Cincinnati. It's the law—journeyman hitters start out as Reds or maybe Pirates, journeyman pitchers start out as Dodgers. Something stupid like that. I'm here now. First year of a two-year deal. Good defense, allegedly good teammate, already know my way around New York. What's the deal in 2018 for me? [fimg=343:22nfyjyk]http://mlb.mlb.com/assets/images/5/0/4/266583504/cuts/640x0/cut.jpg[/fimg:22nfyjyk] [fimg=357:22nfyjyk]http://image.nj.com/home/njo-media/width620/img/yankees_main/photo/mlb-spring-training-houston-astros-at-new-york-mets-ef44aa2c56a0c2b2jpg-325aca492ff01068.jpg[/fimg:22nfyjyk] [fimg=305:22nfyjyk]https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/bff476cf41fb4d1315a543652acb245d8a9830d5/c=50-0-973-694&r=x408&c=540x405/local/-/media/2018/03/06/Bergen/NorthJersey/636559485940792226-ax194-39bb-9.jpg[/fimg:22nfyjyk] [fimg=395:22nfyjyk]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/rey-todd.jpg[/fimg:22nfyjyk] I dare you to watch my sizzle reel. [youtube:22nfyjyk]E1eBwhBYB2U[/youtube:22nfyjyk]

I spend a pointlessly stupid amount of time wondering what I'd do if I were in Altuve's position. I'd love to think I could show up and stun him to his knees with my 30-second eloquent, compassionate, and irrefutable indictment of his agenda, but I'd likely make a babbling fool of myself, and end up only solidifying his grip on power. I'd do better staying away and stating my reasons in writing, which I do far better, but that would feel cowardly. Any past president, I'd shake his hand warmly and wish him well.

My bread's still on deG.

updated to reflect this whole Bat Céspedes Second movement that seems to be afoot. [fimg=200]http://offload.uni.watch/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/13094922/Screen-shot-2015-07-15-at-3.12.33-PM.png[/fimg]Wong, 2bCarpenter, 1bOzuna, lfPham, cfFowler, rfDeJong, ssGyorko, 3bMolina, cC. Martinez, spNimmo, cfCéspedes, lfBruce, rfFrazier, 3bGonzalez, 1bCabrera, 2bd'Arnaud, cRosario, ssdeGrom, sp How do you feel about that movement, by the way?

It's kind of remarkable that Callaway hasn't made any cuts yet. I imagine that most every team has. Reading a little bit between the lines, I guess I'm reading that a lot of these players are new to himself and his coaches, so they want as much time to evaluate as possible, even for some of the guys who likely won't be appearing until perhaps later in the season. Notable that they have a new staff at AAA too.

Good summary. I think it's more likely that Bruce floats to first base (experience, age), but yeah.

Rich McLeod at BaseballProspectus is concerned. Following a 2017 campaign that saw the Mets closer suspended during the first month of the season and on the disabled list for a total of 106 days, Jeurys Familia is looking to rebound in his final year under team control. After making just 26 appearances while posting a 4.38 ERA last year, Familia has largely flown under the radar this spring. While Familia hadn’t allowed a run until his most recent outing, where he was blasted for five earned runs, four hits, two home runs and a walk in just 1.1 innings, there has been something off in his first five exhibition appearances. In 5.1 innings to start the spring, Familia has allowed five runs, six hits, four walks and has hit two batters while racking up one strikeout. It may be just a handful of innings in games that don’t actually matter, but Familia’s inability to miss bats right now is a bit alarming. Last season, Familia struck out 9.12 batters per nine innings while generating whiffs on 55.4 percent of his pitches. In 2016, Familia’s last fully healthy season, he got whiffs on 81.6 percent of his pitches. Throughout the course of his career, Familia’s fastball and sinker have averaged between 95-97 miles per hour. So far this spring, however, Familia’s been sitting mostly between 91-93 mph with those pitches while generating very few swings-and-misses. We’ll have to wait and see how and if he progresses over the next two weeks leading up to Opening Day, but lack of swings-and-misses for a power pitcher can often be an indicator of a regression. If that’s the case, the Mets may have some late-inning troubles early on this season.

No, it wasn't spoken that way at all.

Well, the idea is that $75 mill invested poorly in one place means $75 mill not invested wisely in another place.

I hit and hit and hit and then I hit a ball into my face. That's my story. I play a little of every position, none particularly well, and have feet of molten lead, but I have a big swing and turn on pitches pretty nicely, particularly the lefthanded stuff. But my season ended when I smashed my nose in a freak accident. It was brutal. And what is to happen next is a little more cloudy. Help me figure out my season. [fimg=312]https://www.fantraxhq.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Flores.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=388]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/fd/2f/wilmer-flores-31415-getty-ftrjpg_1t3hjdcbg31nn1dapkdzllqysi.jpg?t=615557932&w=960&quality=70[/fimg] [fimg=350]https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/f019a676ccf073148e06e2ce1278e2bf02c41c0b/c=0-98-1932-1190&r=1280x720/local/-/media/2017/11/16/Bergen/NorthJersey/636464565534824811-20170408-arh-sh4-0011-15599571.jpg?quality=10[/fimg] [fimg=350]https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2014/01/16/images/mlbf_31305917_th_45.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=321]https://imagesvc.timeincapp.com/v3/fan/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Frisingapple.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F09%2F842006298-new-york-mets-v-houston-astros-game-two.jpg.jpg&c=sc&w=850&h=560[/fimg] [fimg=379]https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/styles/marquee_large_2x/public/2015/08/01/wilmer-flores-new-york-mets.jpg?itok=sftEgofg[/fimg] You know what's better than Dunkirk? My highlight film. 3TYymIFTx10

Come on, Mets! The Astros just put a guy named Hoyt on the mound, so you know he sucks.

This team looks sloppy. A guy behind the plate has a got messina? t-shirt that must be at least 15 years old and probably closer to 20.

Wow, two-ish errors on one double-play ball by the allegedly sure-handed Guillorme.

Come on, guys, STFU with those Tebow chants.

Here he is checking out the Crane Pool. [fimg=500:3rmf8680]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/screen-shot-2018-03-11-at-3-41-44-pm.png[/fimg:3rmf8680] He saw that I mentioned him and started waving: [fimg=500:3rmf8680]https://metsrostercentral.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/screen-shot-2018-03-11-at-3-43-06-pm.png[/fimg:3rmf8680] As the Mets turn bases-loaded/no-outs into zero runs. Come on, Mazeika!

The team still has a ton of infield depth, but very little in the way of outfield depth. And none of the guys who were at the top of the system were really centerfielders.

We've also got The Dude sitting in Row 3 on the aisle.

Incrediboy thrown into a game situation here and so far not distinguishing himself.

Vargas fanned five through four innings. Looked good! Kept it around the plate and had everybody off balance, looking for the wrong stuff. Maybe exploiting the minor leaguers, but still!

[fimg=250]http://www.stickpng.com/assets/images/584d431b0a44bd1070d5d428.png[/fimg][fimg=250]https://s3.amazonaws.com/freebiesupply/large/2x/houston-astros-logo-transparent.png[/fimg]Lagares, dhCéspedes, spBruce, rfFrazier, 3bGonzalez, 1bCabrera, 2bNimmo, cfPlawecki, cRosario, ss deGrom, spMarisnick, rfKemp, cfBregman, 3bGonzalez, ssGattis, dhReed, 1bWhite, 2bTucker, lfStubbs, c McCullers, Jr., sp Astros wearing rainbow side panels.

I'm sure she's an impressive person, but I want our organization and our nation to get past the reality show culture where we believe that people who are good at promoting themselves should make for good administrators.

Have I even pitched this spring? Did I get DFA'd, waived, and claimed and not know about it? See if you can figure out what happened to me, and then tell me what's going to happen to me. [fimg=320:3r1fk0ig]https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7-zlfwjFlXoBAN80YaBCba-vcY8=/0x0:2700x1800/1200x800/filters:focal(1005x244:1437x676)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57456891/840659732.0.jpg[/fimg:3r1fk0ig] [fimg=380:3r1fk0ig]https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2017/08/24/images/mlbf_1764109183_th_45.jpg[/fimg:3r1fk0ig] [fimg=370:3r1fk0ig]https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DsuLPn9ylZi7W-oUuIqbG2eYcSc=/0x0:2976x2399/1200x800/filters:focal(1226x134:1702x610)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56027135/usa_today_10194017.0.jpg[/fimg:3r1fk0ig] [fimg=330:3r1fk0ig]http://media.nj.com/mets_main/photo/texas-rangers-v-new-york-mets-2bf20c42469d6822.jpg[/fimg:3r1fk0ig] Have you ever seen a Chris Flexen highlight reel? No? Well strap yourselves in! [youtube:3r1fk0ig]iBxkFzvLGD0[/youtube:3r1fk0ig]

I read that Healy character compare me to Armando in my unreliablitiy. Come on! Don't you get it? We're relievers! I saved 51 games two years ago. You know how many times Mariano Rivera (all kneel) ever did that? Once. The year before, I put up a 1.85 ERA, and the Mets went to the World Series. That's called getting it done. And now I'm part of a bullpen committee system and I'm acting all cool with it. Because that's what a dude should do. So I'm sorry, I got hurt last year. But don't give me that Armando shit. I'm not playing that. I'm pitching, I'm devastating, and you're lucky to have me. So, I don't know how 2018 is going to shake out. More relievers, new manager, new pitching coach, coming off an injury. Maybe you know and can tell me below. But I know one thing. I've been as reliable as they come. [fimg=280:kdvge4gz]https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3650564/familia-Rob_FoldyGetty_Images.0.jpg[/fimg:kdvge4gz] [fimg=280:kdvge4gz]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2182980.1428894125!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/mets-braves-baseball.jpg[/fimg:kdvge4gz] [fimg=140:kdvge4gz]https://risingapple.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/3/files/2014/07/jeurys-familia-mlb-milwaukee-brewers-new-york-mets.jpg[/fimg:kdvge4gz] [fimg=126:kdvge4gz]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR1hUN8LkdV1IFRCiqp9ZGT4rLR00q2LMuPzjTLkeci_Y-nEekd9Q[/fimg:kdvge4gz] [fimg=287:kdvge4gz]http://remezcla.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ap_124473820524-1150x767.jpg?x71916[/fimg:kdvge4gz] [fimg=287:kdvge4gz]https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/y4Rgg4aMSWHWES1pEsqE3gHpOQ0=/0x0:3760x2507/1200x800/filters:focal(0x0:3760x2507)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47118398/usa-today-8788270.0.jpg[/fimg:kdvge4gz] [fimg=265:kdvge4gz]https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TqrzLOWGeotQZXp1HinxL5m_xJA=/0x25:2538x1717/1200x800/filters:focal(0x25:2538x1717)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47502701/usa-today-8874108.0.jpg[/fimg:kdvge4gz] [fimg=123:kdvge4gz]https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/04/21/sports/21Mets-2-cty/21Mets-2-cty-blog427.jpg[/fimg:kdvge4gz] [fimg=312:kdvge4gz]https://media.nbcphiladelphia.com/images/652*367/ap-mets-jeurys-familia.jpg[/fimg:kdvge4gz] The best do it like this. [youtube:kdvge4gz]i4UCQoq4Omo[/youtube:kdvge4gz]

As Moustakas returned to the Royals, they lost last season's rookie star (and future Met) Jorge Bonifacio for half the season to a drug suspension.