roger_that

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I doubt that many people choose to act (or not act) based on their chances for posthumous election to Cooperstown. It's a factor, not an absolute. "Permanent ineligibility" was definitely designed as a deterrent. Whether it served that purpose equally for all would-be miscreants is doubtful, as you say, but that design has now flown out of the window.

Lefty Specialist wrote: So right now, Acuna's in the lead but nothing's set in stone. Nothing's ever set in stone, Lefty. But I'm asking if you'd classify Acuna as Mendoza's regular 2Bman and #9 hitter at this point (pending unknown future developments, injuries, ginormous slumps, etc.) or just the guy who's getting a bunch of games at 2B and #9 hole lately but could be displaced by Baty or McNeil tomorrow or next week. It's a subtle distinction, one that Mendoza would probably be unwilling to declare for public consumption (because why should he?), but just between us here, which way are you thinking? Me, I'm thinking the former. Acuna's been in the lineup against lefties and righties recently, and he's been effective in both roles. I'd say he's our regular 2Bman and #9 hitter now, and I'd say that's a good thing.

What's wrong with this, logically, is very simple. Before this point, Rose (for example) had to be thinking "I'm not getting in the HoF as long as I'm alive, and also not getting in after that point, either. I guess gambling is a pretty bad mistake." Any future Roses, though, if tempted to place a bet, get to think, "OK, worst case scenario, I don't get in the HoF while I'm alive, but when I die, I become eligible again like nothing ever happened, so I'll roll the dice, hope I don't caught but if I do, so what?"

I may be late to the party, but it seems to me that early in the season, Acuna split the position, platooning with Baty, and then when McNeil came back doing the same with him (and Baty, briefly) but now that all three are on the roster, Acuna is Mendoza's default choice no matter if a lefty or a righty is pitching. McNeil and Baty now are replacements if Mendoza needs to do some late-inning shifting around and they'll start at second against an occasional righty, but it seems to me that it's Acuna's regular position at this point. Verdad? If it's so, then I approve. It's a virtue, all things being equal, to have a set lineup and a set batting order. It's a good thing to give everyone starts, and leave no one sitting on the bench for long periods, but I like the concept of putting young players at a set spot and letting them get comfortable there, too. It's a delicate balancing act, and I think Mendoza is doing a great job of figuring it out. If I were to fault him, it would be flipping batters around in the order too much. sometimes Vientos is his cleanup hitter, sometimes his #6 guy, McNeil, Nimmo, Alvarez all move around a little too much to suit my taste. But maybe there's reasons Mendoza has (beyond "what the hell") that I'm not privy to.

One Peterson is David.

I was just going to say I can't believe McCutchen is still a Pirate. He was supposed to be a Met like a dozen times over the years. "Still"? More like "again."

Peterson one-ninth of his way towards a no-hitter! What? They called that one back? Never mind. OK--NOW Peterson is 1/9th of the way towards a no-hitter.

Harry Parker

May 11th 1972 was the day the Mets got Mays. More of a sentimental move than a player acquisition, he "made" the All Star team in both 1972 and 1973, despite abysmal numbers both years. I get a bit annoyed when I see him credited with 24 All Star teams over his career. Yeah, because they played 2 games per year from 1959 thru 1962 and gifted him in his two Mets years. The real number is 18, which is impressive enough.

=ashie62 post_id=192295 time=1746984814 user_id=90] =ashie62 post_id=192292 time=1746984524 user_id=90]Steal 2nd Acuna

Pete is now 2 for his last 20, with 11 Ks and 1 BB. Puts a giant hole in his numbers--first prolonged slump of the season.

=kcmets post_id=192286 time=1746982853 user_id=53] And he makes three-quarters of a zillion dollars...

=roger_that post_id=192282 time=1746981260 user_id=128] Why is Nimmo starting against a lefty? You may ask. It's because he has a small difference against lefty pitching. His OPS against lefties is in fact the same (.769) as his OPS at home.

Why is Nimmo starting against a lefty? You may ask. It's because he has a small difference against lefty pitching. His OPS against lefties is in fact the same (.769) as his OPS at home.

=roger_that post_id=192275 time=1746980051 user_id=128]3 up, 3 Ks!

3 up, 3 Ks!

Next, Holmes and Megill are on track (with 42 and 2/3rds and 40 and 2/3rds IP) to qualify for the ERA title. Canning will join them if he pitches over 5 innings today, giving him 41 IP in 41 games. Senga and Peterson will also qualify over the next few games by pitching 4 or 5 innings. I don't know the last time the Mets had five qualifying starters. I just noticed that no starter (nor reliever) has walked a batter intentionally so far this year, which gives you some insight to Mendoza's managerial philosophy. Has any team ever gone a full season without issuing an IBB? Baty and Winker are tracking very closely at this point in the year, 67 and 66 ABs respectively, and also in OPS (.738, .746) and RBI (each with 10). Obviously, I'm marking a point in the year immediately following Baty's best game, but I really can't see how Baty hasn't taken away Winker's role as lefty DH--he's six years younger, far more useful in the field (so can play elsewhere than just DH) and has a lot more upside. They won't just dump Winker when he comes back, of course, but a healthy Baty will cut into his playing time. And Vientos'. And McNeil's. And maybe even Marte's if he doesn't start hitting soon (Baty playing 3B against some lefties while Vientos DHs.). Pete still leading the league in doubles and RBIs, and projects to hit over 56 doubles and drive in over 136 runs. He's well under 40 HR on the year. Soto on track to score over 120 runs and to get over 120 BBs. Acuna's on track to steal over 40 bases.

We're now at the quarter season mark, or approximately so (you can bump all these figures up by a rounding error) , so it might be interesting, some would say "intriguing," others "fascinating," still others " boring and meaningless, " to see what happens if we multiply current numbers by 4. First off, of course, is Mets wins, 25, or 100 ( plus a hair) which also applies to Lindor's RBI, impressive for a leadoff batter.

WHIFF!!

Baty looking good tonight. Who gives a shit about family reactions? "How did you get out to NYC so fast?" "Well, Ken, we walked all night from Peoria..."

I admire the way Mendoza keeps the top of the order stable, same 1-2-3 every day. Wish he'd do that with some of his other regulars. Makes a lot of sense to me, tells players where they bat, where they play in the field, instead of having them wonder every day "I wonder where I'll be batting today, and what significance that has." It has no significance, basically, so it's just an unnecessary source of anxiety, and a distraction, I think.

And I'll venture a guess now that McNeil isn't too badly injured.

Excellent start!

=Gwreck post_id=192123 time=1746829023 user_id=56] =roger_that post_id=192120 time=1746827782 user_id=128]Great to see they've moved Baty up to sixth in the lineup.

Great to see they've moved Baty up to sixth in the lineup. This is only the second time this year they've started him this high in the order.