OT: MLB Thread XXIX: Marcus Stroman is a.....Met???

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I am attending my first ever baseball game next month, Yankees-Angels. I was wondering how easy/difficult it is to get close to the field to watch warm ups. As a Dutchman, of course I will be there to watch Didi Gregorius play.

 

[Irishguy42]

As a Dutchman, of course I will be there to watch Sir Didi Gregorius play.

Put some respect on the name

Also, congrats on being able to watch the best "Mike T" in baseball in person.

 

[Crease]

If the Mets are going to find a way into the postseason, they need to shore up their depth. No Nimmo, Smith, Lowrie, or Cano means regular at-bats for Lagaras, Altherr, Hechavarria, and Guillorme. Blech.

 

[JimmyG89]

Having Smith and Nimmo come back cures some of the issues. They could DFA Altherr at that point, unless it's September. If they can get by this month with this bench, September should have reinforcements.

Not sure what other veterans will get DFAd over the next few weeks hoping to get scooped by a team making a run. Missing Cabrera sucks, and him going to the Nationals is worse. Don't think Granderson will be released, but I would love to have him back as a 4th OF, lefty off the bench type. Could use a lefty bat too, but the Marlins probably see him as someone to continue mentoring the young guys in Miami.

Think in the future that the deadline will be moved to a little bit later. Maybe 8/15 or near that. Get it closer to 50 games remaining on the schedule.

 

[sbjnyc]

Interesting info in an article on the Mets in the Athletic. The Mets luxury tax payroll is $203.6 million per RosterResource.com so no surprise they were skittish about adding payroll at the deadline.

 

[Greg02]

Kind of strange how nine days ago everyone thought the Mets were crazy for acquiring Marcus Stroman.

 

[Maximus]

IDK how anyone could accuse Mets fans of "getting ahead of themselves" or anything like that. Read the posts here, go to Amazin' Avenue, MetsBlog, wherever. Pretty much every post ends with, "This is so much fun until [something cataclysmic happens] and we're back to normal." Mets fans are some of the least likely fans in sports to get ahead of themselves given we've seen so many collapses before and that part of us being "Amazin'" is that we do some impressively awful stuff, as well.

I texted my old man last night (who was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan when he was little, until they moved, and has been a Mets fan ever since 1962). He's seen some stuff. His response to my semi-optimistic text: "Starting pitching has settled in, b-pen has improved slightly. They have some bats so anything is possible. Concerns- Cano was heating up and they have a bunch of guys hitting below .200 (talking about Guillorme, Altherr, etc.--he doesn't understand they're emergency backups). Not much bench. And then they have terrible defense and baserunning. So it will probably all fall apart." He's been watching the team for 57 years now or whatever it is. He knows what's up. You grow up a Mets fan, and you just know the wheels are about to fall off at any moment. There's no getting ahead of yourself as a Mets fan.

That is, unless you want to listen to WFAN or something. But the people that call in there seem to constantly be in a battle to be the biggest dick on the radio waves at any given moment. They're not representative of anything.

This post as your Dad reminds me of my Pop who left us and is at Shea Stadium up above us. But he was a longtime Brooklyn Dodger fan, hated the Yankees with a passion and who became a Met fan from the get go. I used to love to talk baseball with him...my lord do I miss it. Your post reminded me of it and so cherish it.

And to your point and I've said this a few times on this thread, sure there is the "impending doom" and " when does the other shoe going to fall" and any other pessimistic thing you can think of when those rare good things start to happen for our team. I mean you can't be a true Met fan unless you have the "suffering" and the "pain" thing going on.

But, and this is what I've said a few times and I'm going to say it again, every few years, the baseball gods throw us Met fans a bone and they give us some magic to grasp onto. They'll give us a special season or they'll give us a special few months. For me and don't forget I'm 56 and tho I was around for the 1969 miracle Mets, I was only 6-7 and my understanding of baseball wasn't up to snuff yet.

It was the 1973 "Ya Gotta Believe" Mets was when I really got caught up in the excitement of the Mets and what a pennant race was like and how all the pitches in all the games were so important. This is the kind of vibe I'm getting from this team. I really believe we are getting thrown a bone and this ride we are on is going to go till the end of September. I don't see any 8-9 game losing streaks coming up....the pitching is just too good for that too happen.

49 games are left folks. I did the math. 85 games is going to get you a WC spot maybe even 84-83 wins. Mets need to go 28-21 rest of the way to get to that magic 85 number. That my friends is very doable even with a hard schedule coming up. As someone pointed out...forget who but the majority of these remaining games are at home where we've been pretty good.

If we didn't have the pitching we have, I might not be feeling like this but we do have the pitching better than most anyone of our contenders. And just like we have warts...so do they. Next weekend vs the Nats is going to let us know if we really have something special going on but in the meantime, we gotta finish the Marlins off. No letting up....take at least one of these next two and we move on.

 

[Larrybiv]

If the Mets are going to find a way into the postseason, they need to shore up their depth. No Nimmo, Smith, Lowrie, or Cano means regular at-bats for Lagaras, Altherr, Hechavarria, and Guillorme. Blech.

Oh gosh, was just thinking that yesterday upon looking at how WEAK the bottom part of that 2nd game lineup. I said to myself betwixt Lagares, Altherr, Hechavarria and Guillorme if we got anything more than 1 hit, it would be a miracle.
Still praying Nimmo gets back soon, what a boost he would be if able to produce similar to last year. He was ALWAYS on base, and the original McNeil. Imagine having McNeil and Nimmo 1 and 2. Would lengthen the lineup considerably.

This thing has gotten me very excited. Not misleading myself, but with that staff, you never know. Key is getting Familia and Diaz where they need to be.
At this point, I have no doubt we will get that wild card position. Take 2 out of 3 (at least) from the Nats then sweep Atlanta (that will be tough) and they just might even have a chance at overtaking them.
Can't wait for Stroman's next start. He will be settled in by then and nerves aside.

 

[Larrybiv]

Kind of strange how nine days ago everyone thought the Mets were crazy for acquiring Marcus Stroman.

Who is everyone? I thought it to be ingenius. Ridding Vargas was icing on the cake for me.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I am attending my first ever baseball game next month, Yankees-Angels. I was wondering how easy/difficult it is to get close to the field to watch warm ups. As a Dutchman, of course I will be there to watch Didi Gregorius play.

I wanna say it's gonna be difficult. The ushers and staff there are very anal about letting people get to those areas without showing a ticket that you have a seat there.

 

[will1066]

I am attending my first ever baseball game next month, Yankees-Angels. I was wondering how easy/difficult it is to get close to the field to watch warm ups. As a Dutchman, of course I will be there to watch Didi Gregorius play.

Apply sunscreen liberally. First-timers always regret not putting on sunscreen at a baseball game in late August/early September. Your Viennese skin will thank you.

 

[romba]

I am attending my first ever baseball game next month, Yankees-Angels. I was wondering how easy/difficult it is to get close to the field to watch warm ups. As a Dutchman, of course I will be there to watch Didi Gregorius play.

In the Bronx? They're pretty tough letting us blue class folks into the white collar section. We smell I think.

Check stubhub the afternoon of the game for unsold field area seats. Edit a copy of your ticket in photoshop to match the unsold one to save for later use. Use your paid, legit, unedited ticket to get in to the stadium itself, then use the fudged one to get past the usher to the ritzy areas. Not sure if they scan it there, I doubt they do though. Make sure to shower PRIOR TO THE GAME so you pass the sniff test too. Have not done this myself but I've heard it can work in the NBA for floor seats so might be worth a shot for MLB too...

 

[romba]

Apply sunscreen liberally. First-timers always regret not putting on sunscreen at a baseball game in late August/early September. Your Viennese skin will thank you.

Definitely. And baseball hats are convenient for the same reason at baseball games, go figure!

 

[sbjnyc]

Definitely. And baseball hats are convenient for the same reason at baseball games, go figure!

Just don't wear an Orioles hat in the owners box!

 

[Irishguy42]

Definitely. And baseball hats are convenient for the same reason at baseball games, go figure!

Yes, baseball hats are useful...

 

[NYRFAN218]

In the Bronx? They're pretty tough letting us blue class folks into the white collar section. We smell I think.

Check stubhub the afternoon of the game for unsold field area seats. Edit a copy of your ticket in photoshop to match the unsold one to save for later use. Use your paid, legit, unedited ticket to get in to the stadium itself, then use the fudged one to get past the usher to the ritzy areas. Not sure if they scan it there, I doubt they do though. Make sure to shower PRIOR TO THE GAME so you pass the sniff test too. Have not done this myself but I've heard it can work in the NBA for floor seats so might be worth a shot for MLB too...

If you’re talking about Legends, they double scan those.

You can go down for batting practice down the lines and in the outfield near the field but you’re not getting anywhere near the dugouts because of the legends seats.

 

[offdacrossbar]

mets need to do 3 things.

1. keep lugo as the closer. cannot afford to throw away wins in the 9th inning. diaz can find himself but closing isn't his thing right now.

2. improve this tire fire IF defense. lets hope that rosario figures out his footwork and plays the same defense hes been playing lately. plus hes been raking since the ASB. he has been better.

3. wait out nimmo, smith and lowrie injuries and get those guys back the next 30 days. that will be huge to address the lack of depth.

the SP will determine if they have a chance. its good enough. best in baseball since the ASB.

they can roll out 4 guys that could well be 1 or 2's in any rotation.

 

[romba]

If you’re talking about Legends, they double scan those.

You can go down for batting practice down the lines and in the outfield near the field but you’re not getting anywhere near the dugouts because of the legends seats.

Wow double scanning, they mean business keeping the dredges of society confined to the crappier areas lmao

 

[Bob Richards]

3. wait out nimmo, smith and lowrie injuries and get those guys back the next 30 days. that will be huge to address the lack of depth./QUOTE]

I have low confidence on any of those guys being available any time soon.

The Mets’ airtight lips are only getting tighter when it comes to updates on the progress and recovery of their injured players. Brandon Nimmo (bulging cervical disc in neck) and Jed Lowrie (left side injury) are allegedly doing ‘baseball activities’ in their attempts to return to the Major-League roster. However, what those activities consist of and what the next steps are remain a mystery.

When asked if Lowrie or Nimmo are options in the near future, Callaway said it depends what the near future is. If the near future is a week, then no. OK, then what if the near future is two weeks? Callaway struggled to provide an answer that was anything short of vague.

"Ehhh, you know. It's hard to put a timeline on any of them really. We need rehab assignments, things like that. So that's a tough one,” Callaway said.

When asked if Lowrie or Nimmo are close to a rehab assignment, Callaway continued the odd secrecy.

"That's another tough question. I think we can't speculate on how tomorrow goes for any of these guys,” Callaway said. “I think we just have to continue to rehab them the best we can and make that decision when it presents itself.”

Dominic Smith (stress reaction in left foot) wheeled into the Mets clubhouse Monday on a knee rover. The tricycle-like device was used to place Smith’s knee on a padded seat in order to take full pressure off Smith’s ailing left foot.
This is a bad sign for Smith’s recovery from the stress reaction he sustained on July 27. When Smith last talked about his injury, he was walking around in a boot. A week later, he’s wheeling around on a rover. Smith is shut down from baseball activities until at least the end of August.

Mets say ‘near future’ determines whether Brandon Nimmo or Jed Lowrie will return ... and when

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Put some respect on the name

Also, congrats on being able to watch the best "Mike T" in baseball in person.

He was knighted by our queen following the World Cup win in 2011. It was quite rare because that honor is usually reserved for Olympic champions when it comes to athletes

 

[Maximus]

So do you guys agree with my math that it should take a 28-21 type run for the Mets in their final 49 games which gets them to the magic 85 win # that should insure a WC Spot?

Do you agree with that 85 win # of mine?. I actually think it could be even a game or two less and even 83 for the 2nd WC as these teams in the hunt are going to be beating the hell out of one another rest of the way. Or you think it will be higher?

 

[Krams]

If the Mets are going to find a way into the postseason, they need to shore up their depth. No Nimmo, Smith, Lowrie, or Cano means regular at-bats for Lagaras, Altherr, Hechavarria, and Guillorme. Blech.

I'm not even focused on the others, I just really want Nimmo back for September. Totally changes the dynamic in the outfield and the lineup.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I'm not even focused on the others, I just really want Nimmo back for September. Totally changes the dynamic in the outfield and the lineup.

Agreed. Imagine a 1-2 of Nimmo and McNeil at the top of the lineup.....

 

[JimmyG89]

I'm just thinking about how riled up Nimmo must be by now. Dude is a ball of energy and he's been injured for a long time. He's going to full on "I need to beat out this double play" like sprint to 1st on a walk and will probably circle the bases on a homer in 12 seconds when he comes back.

 

[Maximus]

Ramos...boom!.

A different hero each night for the Mets....gotta luv it.