Category Archives: 2019 Mets

Mets Should Give Jason Vargas The Matt Harvey Treatment

15 Apr

You can’t be a Mets fan and not want Dallas Keuchel on your team instead of the anemic Jason Vargas. That being said, Vargas has only had two starts this season, one of which was against the defending NL-East champion Braves (in which he was horrible) and a quality start against the Marlins in which he gave up 2 runs in 5 innings. Vargas also pitched an inning in relief against the Twins that saw him also stink up the joint by allowing 4 runs. That’s 3 outings altogether, 6.1 innings, a 1-0 W-L record and a 14.21 ERA. Yeah, Vargas has for the most part been incredibly bad, but the Mets went into this season hoping that Vargas would continue pitching to the promise he displayed in the 2nd half of last year. So they’re not going to give on him after only 3 outings, no matter what free agent is still out there. It also helps Vargas’ case that the team has gotten off to a nice start to the new season, being only a half-game out of 1st place. Then too, it took 8 outings and 4 bad starts for the Mets to give up on Matt Harvey last year. I think it’s only fair that Vargas, unless the team goes on a major losing streak, gets the same opportunity.

As for Vargas’ appearance in this now infamous interview that took place after the Braves loss…I got him looking like Jerry Springer than anyone else.

Should the Mets Sign Dallas Keuchel?

7 Apr

Dallas Keuchel
TheScore.com:

Dallas Keuchel remains a free agent over a week into the regular season, and now his contract demands are emerging.

One executive spoke to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, and he’s under the impression the left-hander is seeking a one-year contract for more than the $17.9-million qualifying offer Keuchel rejected from the Houston Astros, or he’ll take a long-term deal at a lower salary.

It’s not clear if any team is offering him either of those options, according to Rosenthal.

Keuchel’s already difficult free-agent journey has become even harder now that the season is in progress. Any deal he signs for the 2019 campaign would now be prorated based on when the veteran makes his regular-season debut.

Keuchel’s won a Cy Young and Jason Vargas can’t seem to be trusted to go longer than 5 innings. If it’s really just for a year, why not pay the man the money?

Brandon Nimmo Has Been Looking Awful

6 Apr

Brandon Nimmo
NYPost.com:

The most positive player in the Mets’ clubhouse is trying to stay that way.

But Brandon Nimmo doesn’t want to wait much longer to break out of his season-opening slump, which sunk to 2-for-23 at the plate after going 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Nationals at Citi Field.

“I don’t want to overdo it, because it is just seven games in and I do have a lot of confidence that this is going to turn around, but obviously I look at the next game and I’m like, this is the game I want it to turn around,” Nimmo said. “I don’t want to wait for two weeks or whatever and be like, ‘Ah, it’s just a thing.’ The competitor in me wants it to happen now. I’m going to work as hard as I can for that right now.”

The Mets’ leadoff batter in six of their seven games — he got the night off Monday in Miami — Nimmo has struck out 14 times, the latest coming in the first inning Thursday against Stephen Strasburg. He wasn’t alone, as his teammates only picked up three hits off Strasburg and struck out 14 times as a team.

I know that it’s only been 7 games, but all those strikeouts Nimmo’s been racking up are really concerning and frankly speaking I don’t know if the Mets really have anyone else who can bat leadoff (Lagares?).

Pete Alonso Makes Mets Roster

27 Mar

Pete Alonso
NYPost.com:

The Mets have followed through with their promise to bring their best 25 players north.

Pete Alonso will be among those players, The Post confirmed, after the top Mets prospect had a scorching spring training.

Alonso hit .352 with four home runs and 11 RBIs as he vied for the first-base job with Dominic Smith, who also had an impressive spring training. It’s unclear who will get the Opening Day start against Washington’s Max Scherzer.

Devin Mesoraco Won’t Be On Mets Opening Day Roster

23 Mar

Devin Mesoraco
Newsday.com:

Told that he didn’t make the Mets’ major-league club, Devin Mesoraco decided Saturday to leave the team rather than report to minor-league camp.

Mesoraco was among the Mets’ latest spring training cuts. Also reassigned to the minors were infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, outfielders Rajai Davis and Carlos Gomez, and lefthanders Ryan O’Rourke and Hector Santiago.

The Mets said Mesoraco was “reassessing his situation.” But a source familiar with Mesoraco’s thinking said the catcher, who is 30 and has spent more than seven years in the majors, will not go to Triple-A. He remains under contract — a minor-league deal — with the Mets, who are left with a decision: grant Mesoraco his release or put him on the restricted list.

Mesoraco’s disappointment stems from pre-contract conversations with the Mets, which left him under the impression that he had two viable paths to breaking camp with the team: if Travis d’Arnaud (Tommy John surgery) wasn’t ready for the start of the season, or if the Mets carried three catchers. In the end, the Mets prioritized Tomas Nido over Mesoraco, even with d’Arnaud’s fate to be decided.

This makes little sense. Nido can’t hit at all and Mesoraco was not only superb catching Jacob deGrom last season, but the guy is a former All-Star. Plus, with his hapless track record, you just know that Travis d’Arnaud is going to get injured at some point this season, it’s just a matter of when.

Dominic Smith Is Ready For Starting 1st Base Duties

16 Mar

Dom Smith
Newsday.com:

Dominic Smith could tell you he is in the best shape of his life, as so many other ballplayers do at this time of year, and it probably would be true. But he knows that doesn’t mean anything unless he performs when it matters.

Before he got his body right during the offseason, the Mets helped Smith do the same with his mind. Last season was the worst of his career, and at the end of it, he wasn’t sure where he stood with the organization. The new Mets regime, led by general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, settled that by telling Smith the team still believes in him.

“That’s all I needed to hear,” said Smith, who got a visit from executive director of player development Jared Banner and visited hitting coach Chili Davis. “To hear that, especially early in the offseason, it helped me get through this offseason and helped me feel more comfortable, relaxed and have fun on an everyday basis. They don’t have to let you know that, but for them to be open with me was awesome.”

With his concerns assuaged, Smith used the Mets’ vote of confidence as a springboard into an intense offseason and strong spring training, including a .400 average and 1.005 OPS as he competes with Pete Alonso for the first-base job.

All things considered, the Mets would be better off keeping Pete Alonso in the minor league to start the season anyway.

Could The Mets Carry 3 Catchers On Their Roster?

3 Mar

Travis D'Arnaud
NYPost.com:

D’Arnaud said he had completed all the steps necessary to get back on the field and Callaway added that the final steps included “live throwing, [facing] live runners, getting his footwork synced up. He’s doing really well.”

The catcher’s status remains uncertain, even if he does prove himself to be healthy.

The Mets added Wilson Ramos in the offseason on a two-year deal worth $19 million and signed Devin Mesoraco, a favorite of NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom, late in the offseason.

D’Arnaud was tendered a contract worth $3.52 million, but if the Mets let him go before the end of spring training, they’d have to pay just 25 percent of that amount.

Is it possible that the Mets could keep all 3 catchers on their roster for Opening Day? Other teams have done it and I believe that Mesoraco and even D’Arnaud could play some 1st base.