Here are some questions straight out of our comment threads or that were supposed to be responded to during our Talkin’ Mets Live podcast but never got to them.
1. The Nationals have made a significant upgrade to last season’s division winning team, while the Mets are essentially the same team minus Bartolo and Blevins. Is this shaping up to be another wild card chase for the Mets?
To begin, last I checked there was still almost two months left to the offseason so I’ll hold off on any declarative statements. As it stands now, the Mets still have work to do, and while the Nationals whiffed on Andrew McCutchen, Chris Sale and Kenley Jansen, they still got themselves a solid player in Adam Eaton who was actually much better than Cutch last season.
I’m pretty sure Sandy Alderson still has some tricks up his sleeve and likewise Mike Rizzo, the GM of the Nats. Let’s see how both these rosters look when pitchers and catchers report in mid February.
2. Do you really think all four starting pitchers returning from offseason surgery are going to simply make the opening day roster without any setbacks? It seems very far fetched.
It is very far fetched. While Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, and Zack Wheeler are returning after significant surgeries, left-hander Steven Matz underwent a simple procedure to remove a bone spur so I’m very confident that he’ll return without any setbacks.
The one pitcher I worry the most about is Wheeler because of the numerous setbacks he’s had already and he’ll always be an injury concern because of his delivery. Although I heard he’s made some modifications to his release point and foot plant, I’ll believe it when I see it and of course we’ll have to see how any tweaks will affect his effectiveness on the mound.
In the last two weeks, all four Mets pitchers have said they feel great and their confidence is high. But we heard those same things from Bobby Parnell and Zack Wheeler in 2014 and we saw how that worked out in spring training. So I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best when Mets camp opens.
3. Joe your best guess. 0-100 we acquire a CF of any significance? I say -27.
I have about a 15% confidence level that we will get a center fielder of significance. I could see the Mets targeting a left-handed platoon center fielder to pair with Lagares. But that won’t happen unless they decide to trade Granderson as well as Bruce. And if that happens, I can see them adding a RH right fielder to pair with Conforto too when the Mets face a tough left-hander.
This is just my best guess. And it’s based on the unlikely event the Mets trade both Bruce and Granderson. And remember that the Mets are very reluctant to move Granderson because of how integral a part he plays on the field and in the clubhouse. I’d be shocked if they move Granderson.
4. Who is the Mets second baseman of the future? And now that Dilson Herrera was traded for two moths of awful baseball and we’re paying someone with a long history of back issues $17.2 million dollars, can we all admit not re-signing Daniel Murphy was a huge mistake?
I’m going to ignore the Daniel Murphy part of your question because it’s been beaten to death by me and my staff. Now, as to who is the Mets second baseman of the future, that prospect has yet to rear his head. We simply don’t have a second baseman of the future right now. We can slide Gavin Cecchini over to second and say it’s him, we can play T.J. Rivera exclusively at second and say he’s the future guy at second, but honestly I don’t have a name for you. We have some internal bandaid solutions but that’s all.
Interesting thought here, but did you know that before Walker accepted his qualifying offer the Mets were mulling a three-year offer to him? And here’s a scary thought, Sandy Alderson alluded to shortstop prospect Amed Rosario potentially getting exposure at other positions next season, namely second base. That pretty much tells you what the Mets are thinking about the second baseman of the future. At present they don’t have one.
Send your questions to me at [email protected], or you can try your luck and post them in the comment threads, maybe I’ll see it.
