Edgy MD

Koos had another 20-win season coming in 1979.

That was a good report by Gelbs, too. Mets lineup needs a new approach tonight.

OK, Verlander, time to remember you're a Met now.

My sources say Álvarez is in the lineup tonight and batting sixth. [TABLE][TR][TH][/TH][TH][FIMG=250]https://cdn.freebiesupply.com/images/large/2x/new-york-mets-logo-transparent.png[/FIMG][/TH][TH][/TH][TH][/TH][TH][FIMG=250]https://cdn.freebiesupply.com/images/large/2x/houston-astros-logo-transparent.png[/FIMG][/TH][TH][/TH][/TR] [TR][TH]#[/TH][TH]Player[/TH][TH]Pos.[/TH][TH]#[/TH][TH]Player[/TH][TH]Pos.[/TH][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]1[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Brandon Nimmo (L)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]cf[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]1[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Jose Altuve (R)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]2b[/TD][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]2[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Starling Marte (R)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]rf[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]2[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Alex Bregman (R)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]3b[/TD][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]3[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Francisco Lindor (S)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]ss[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]3[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Kyle Tucker (L)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]rf[/TD][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]4[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Pete Alonso (R)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]1b[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]4[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Yainer Diaz (R)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]dh[/TD][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]5[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Tommy Pham (R)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]lf[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]5[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Jose Abreu (R)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]1b[/TD][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]6[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Francisco Alvarez (R)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]c[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]6[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Jeremy Pena (R)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]ss[/TD][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]7[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Jeff McNeil (L)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]2b[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]7[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Corey Julks (R)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]lf[/TD][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]8[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Mark Canha (R)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]dh[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]8[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Jake Meyers (R)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]cf[/TD][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910]9[/TD][TD]=#002D72]Eduardo Escobar (S)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]3b[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]9[/TD][TD]=#002D62]Martin Maldonado (R)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]c[/TD][/TR] [TR][TH][/TH][TH]Pitcher[/TH][TH][/TH][TH][/TH][TH]Pitcher[/TH][TH][/TH][/TR] [TR][TD]=#FF5910][/TD][TD]=#002D72]Justin Verlander (R)[/TD][TD]=#FF5910]sp[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F][/TD][TD]=#002D62]Framber Valdez (L)[/TD][TD]=#EB6E1F]sp[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

Yes, the better alternative to Escobar may be a more fulltime role for Baty. The better alternative to Cahna may be a more full-time role for Vientos. The better alternative to Pham may be a more fulltime role for Mauricio (possibly with McNeil seeing more time in the outfield. The better alternative to Narváez may be a more full-time role for Álvarez. I'm not advocating as such, but the options are there.

The third dude was Gerson "That's Our Gerson!" Bautista. A sliver of his DNA continues on in the person of Edwin Diaz.

Well, your point seemed to say that there wasn't any trade market. Beyond that, "robust" is an ambiguous and relative term. I think, if the Mets want to deal, precedent suggests that they can find a partner for many or most of them. Frequently, those deals may yield little besides clearing a roster spot for another player, but if that's the way forward they want to take, it's certainly a possible one. I don't think they'll go very far down that route, but it's a way that's available for them. I think a better plan is to smash their way forward.

Heavin' Stephen was DFA'd, waived, cleared waivers, received a Syracuse assignment, rejected that assignment, became a free agent, and on June 16, was signed by the Diamondbaxxx to a minor-league agreement. He did all that but received no memory thread. And that is unjust. So this — this here — is the Memories of Stephen Nogosek thread. Let's try to correct a historical wrong and 'member this mustachioed Met.

Indeed. We're also missing a dude in between Gary Sanchez and Grant Hartwigginton. And that fella is ... ?

This lost soul wasn't noted. Transactions, 6/16/2023 [th]Direction[/th][td90]GOING[/td90][th]Transaction [/th][td90]Signed away by ARI to Minor League Contract[/td90][th]Position Group [/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th][/th][td90][fimg=90]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/d_people:generic:headshot:67:current.png/w_213,q_auto:best/v1/people/668665/headshot/67/current[/fimg][/td90][th]Name [/th][td90]Stephen Nogosek [fimg=50]https://thecranepool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/US-flag.png[/fimg][/td90][th]DoB[/th][td90]1995-01-11[/td90][th]B/T[/th][td90]R/R[/td90][th]High Level[/th][td90]MLB (2023)[/td90] He also deserves a Memories ... thread.

It's one of those Covid-Era adjustments that stuck. They switched from the three-game series model to a six-game standard, to cut down on travel and other opportunities for exposure and stuff. I'm not sure how effective it was, but I'm sure the accountants appreciated cutting the travel in half, so now most series run from Tuesday–Saturday.

I disagree that everyone on that list is underperforming. For instance, Pham? I'm not advocating for trading any of them, but they could certainly move several of them if they were of a mind to. Also, Narvaez has a player option, so isn't particularly likely to be a free agent as of now. Ottavino has one too.

All-time Mets #93!!!

Hartwig is the first Mets player to wear #93. Hefner wore it as a coach back in 2021.

Meet the Met #1203, Grant Hartwig!! [fimg=500]https://cdn.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2023/06/Grant_Hartwig_Mets-1024x683.jpg[/fimg]

Dubin hung out to dry by Dusty.

Get your bets in. Does Scherzer come out for the ninth? If so, does he finish it?

Álvarez is staying in the game, but I'm suspecting he won't be out there next inning. Or tomorrow.

"Hartwig's a great story. He went undrafted and he was going to go to med school. Then the Mets called and two years later, he's on a big league roster." My God! Med school! Oh, cursed fate!

I'm just taking it one batter at a time. Win the game first and the bullpen will be fine. And the shutout dies on that note.

Maldanado, of all people, gets the second hit for the Astros.

It's pretty crazy how hard it has been for Buck to sit Pham down. Two weeks ago, they'd have put McNeil in left. He's already stealing playing time from Canha, and now he's keeping Guillorme and Escobar out of the lineup.

Yeah, those are not the live shots they should be using. Scherzer, on the other hand, looks like the guy they are paying for.

I don't think I'm giving up on the hitting. They just seem to be too programmed into three-true-outcome mold. I think that leads to feast-or-famine effect. It also leads to boring baseball, sometimes even when they are scoring. They've done OK on power this month, especially considering Alonso's absence, but not particularly well. They've done OK on walks, but not particularly well. Their batting average has been stinky. I think that could turn. It may take a philosophical shift, or maybe a couple of key players make small adjustments. I think we have good reason to think Lindor isn't going to finish with a .200 average. Other guys too. Whether they reverse course in time, well, that's the game, isn't it?

Applause to whoever has been positioning Pham this inning.