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

[nyr2k2]

I will die for Pete Alonso. I hate the Mets for doing this to me.

Does feel cruel, doesn't it?

 

[Sam Spade]

How many games in a row now have the Mets scored in the 1st inning? It's got a be like seven.....

 

[Mac n Gs]

Does feel cruel, doesn't it?

They're like a drug that just can't be quit. I just hope that their incoming regression isn't too painful, and that they can maintain decent ground in the wild card hunt. This back-to-back series with the Nats and Braves could make or break this season.

 

[Sam Spade]

They're like a drug that just can't be quit. I just hope that their incoming regression isn't too painful, and that they can maintain decent ground in the wild card hunt. This back-to-back series with the Nats and Braves could make or break this season.

Since my grandpa took me to see them at Shea as a nine year old.

 

[JimmyG89]

Matz is the guy who is going to frustrate us the rest of the way. We're also somewhat spoiled when he takes the mound as a #5, with all the other starters we have. The Marlins are kind of hitting him around, it's just that they keep grounding into double plays. The good teams won't do that all the time.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Matz is the guy who is going to frustrate us the rest of the way. We're also somewhat spoiled when he takes the mound as a #5, with all the other starters we have. The Marlins are kind of hitting him around, it's just that they keep grounding into double plays. The good teams won't do that all the time.

I hope not. There's just so much talent there. And he's a lefty.....

 

[ponytrekker]

They're like a drug that just can't be quit. I just hope that their incoming regression isn't too painful, and that they can maintain decent ground in the wild card hunt. This back-to-back series with the Nats and Braves could make or break this season.

Meaningful games in August is all we can hope for as Mets fans. Anything else is bonus territory.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

McNeil, Jeff.

I think Justin Wilson can help stabilize the Mets bullpen.

 

[nyr2k2]

They're like a drug that just can't be quit. I just hope that their incoming regression isn't too painful, and that they can maintain decent ground in the wild card hunt. This back-to-back series with the Nats and Braves could make or break this season.

Yeah, this is what I'm afraid of. We come all the way back to within a game or two, then shit the bed in these two series and it's like, "Haha, nah, go back to your corner and cry little bitches." You know, all this and then...it just ends in a few nights.

 

[JimmyG89]

And here we go, no more cupcakes. Beat up on the worst the MLB has to offer. First games against any team with winning aspirations since the Twins series. Here is the schedule for the next month:

 

[Maximus]

And here we go, no more cupcakes. Beat up on the worst the MLB has to offer. First games against any team with winning aspirations since the Twins series. Here is the schedule for the next month:

On paper sure it looks a bit daunting...no doubt this upcoming Mets schedule. 34 games vs good to great teams other than the Royals.

That said who other than Dodgers and the Braves do you actually fear playing or you think is actually better than us? I'm looking at this objectively as I can and I'm sorry but I don't see any teams that worry me other than LA and Atlanta.

I know I don't especially with the kind of pitching we have and how clutch the bats are. I'm telling you, if anything, if I'm those other teams I'm saying before playing the Mets... "damn...I don't want to be dealing with those Mets...they be nasty"....lol

In all seriousness, I don't think it's unreasonable for us to go around 19-15, 18-16 or even .500 or so during this 34 game stretch which will bring us to mid-September. If we do what I'm thinking we can realistically do, I have no doubt we'll be right there till the very very end for a WC spot, seeing all these other teams will be beating the hell of one another as well.

No matter how this turns out in the end run, I'm just so damn proud of this team. They came back from the dead and now they have lifted the spirits of every Met fan on the planet. This team has alot of heart and guts and now they are showing as well how talented as well and that's a hell of a combo....

 

[JimmyG89]

who other than Dodgers and the Braves do you actually fear playing any of the others?

Right now, the Indians are one of the hotter teams in baseball and the Cubs series will be tough. Also, not sure the Braves have the pitching at this point. They can mash, but if our offense is clicking, I think they are a notch below the other two teams.

 

[offdacrossbar]

 

[East Coast Bias]

And here we go, no more cupcakes. Beat up on the worst the MLB has to offer. First games against any team with winning aspirations since the Twins series. Here is the schedule for the next month:

Remaining schedule

Mets - 29 home, 18 away
Braves - 24 home, 26 away
Nats - 25 home, 24 away
Phils - 21 home, 28 away

29 at home, where they're playing .615 ball this season (32-20) is nice

 

[Bob Richards]

There's still a lot of mountain to climb

But in any case, the fact that I've actually been (good) stressed about the past few weeks feels cool? Normally I'm long jaded and apathetic by this point but lately I've actually felt some kind of investment? In August?

That might be lame as f*** but this team has given me almost nothing in my entire fandom so I'll gladly take some little victories.

 

[sbjnyc]

I wouldn't be particular concerned about the cubs but I think Mets will face Corbin and Strasburg this weekend which will make for a tough series. But as long as Stroman, deGrom, Thor and the bullpen hold up I think a series win is doable.

 

[Machinehead]

I don't know what to make of the Mets.

I mean, they're the Mets. And it's no secret they've been beating up on bad teams lately.

That said, I look around the lineup and there's talent all over the place.

They should be a good team.

 

[nyr2k2]

I don't know what to make of the Mets.

I mean, they're the Mets. And it's no secret they've been beating up on bad teams lately.

That said, I look around the lineup and there's talent all over the place.

They should be a good team.

That's exactly what gives me hope. This was a team that came in with legitimate aspirations to win the division. Cano and Lowrie are out? Was anyone really expecting them to be huge components? Even then, every team loses a player or two.

The reality is, they pitched like shit for most of the season and that's what killed them. They seem to have turned it around. Hopefully it lasts. But them playing good baseball, regardless of the caliber of opponent, shouldn't be that surprising.

They might have the best 1-5 in the game, a rookie who is going to mash over 40 homers, Conforto is killing it, McNeil might win the batting title AND is hitting for power, JD Davis is a revelation, Wilson Ramos is still decent, etc.

 

[Leetch3]

the mets record is the result of their awful bullpen...I realize that all blown saves aren't created equal but they have a league leading 22 blown saves and pretty sure most of those are familia and diaz. those 2 clowns are why they needed a miracle run just to get over .500

 

[Leetch3]

looks like the mets won't need to worry about their waiver position with regards to panik. apparently and i know this is a shocker they aren't going to put a claim in cause then they would have to pay his salary...but if he clears waivers, SF has to eat the $$ and they can sign him for the minimum than they'd be interested.

 

[nyr2k2]

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.

looks like the mets won't need to worry about their waiver position with regards to panik. apparently and i know this is a shocker they aren't going to put a claim in cause then they would have to pay his salary...but if he clears waivers, SF has to eat the $$ and they can sign him for the minimum than they'd be interested.

Quote above explains it. Panik makes $3.85M and would put them over the luxury tax. They'd only be over by a couple million and could theoretically get back under, but then they'd also have to concern themselves with getting back under next season. Not saying it should matter to them, but the Wilpons are not gonna pay any luxury tax money if it can be avoided.

 

[Maximus]

Right now, the Indians are one of the hotter teams in baseball and the Cubs series will be tough. Also, not sure the Braves have the pitching at this point. They can mash, but if our offense is clicking, I think they are a notch below the other two teams.

Sure the Indians are a good team and with Kluber coming back by time playoffs start, you add him to Bieber and Clevinger...hmmm...not sure I'd want to be facing them in the division round.

That said, I should have clarified a bit better but other than the Dodgers and Braves who in the NL do you think is clearly better than the Mets are? I came up with nada...no one and I really thought long and hard about the Nats, Cubbies, Cards, Brewers and even the Giants and Dbacks but I couldn't come up with anyone of those teams that I wouldn't feel pretty damn confident against.

And I'll take my chances with our staff vs anyone's and that includes the Nationals whose trio of Scherzer, Strasberg and Corbin is the only one in the NL that is within sniffing distance of ours but that's only if Scherzer is healthy which he is not currently.

Bottom line...I'm not asking Mets to go 24-12 or something insane like that in these next 34 tough games. I'm asking for 20-14 or something. Heck even if we go 17-17 and play exactly .500 ball the next 34 games, we'll still be 3 games or more over .500 heading into the final two weeks of the season and we'd likely be in the very same position we are in now seeing most of our opponents also play one another and will beat the shit out of one another for the next month.

If my suspicion is correct that it's going to take 85 wins to get invited to the playoff dance, if we go worst case scenario 17-17 during this stretch, we'd be right in that 77 win area for those last 15 games which will include at least 4 more games vs the Marlins. I'd like our chances very much to get in if this is where we are at mid-September.

Now if Brodie can get us Joe Panik, I'd be a very very happy camper as he'd fill one of those holes we have back of the batting order.

 

[will1066]

the mets record is the result of their awful bullpen...I realize that all blown saves aren't created equal but they have a league leading 22 blown saves and pretty sure most of those are familia and diaz. those 2 clowns are why they needed a miracle run just to get over .500

They really need to divest themselves of Familia. Ugh. Makes Benitez look solid like Bedrosian in comparison.

 

[darko]

Sure the Indians are a good team and with Kluber coming back by time playoffs start, you add him to Bieber and Clevinger...hmmm...not sure I'd want to be facing them in the division round.

That said, I should have clarified a bit better but other than the Dodgers and Braves who in the NL do you think is clearly better than the Mets are? I came up with nada...no one and I really thought long and hard about the Nats, Cubbies, Cards, Brewers and even the Giants and Dbacks but I couldn't come up with anyone of those teams that I wouldn't feel pretty damn confident against.

And I'll take my chances with our staff vs anyone's and that includes the Nationals whose trio of Scherzer, Strasberg and Corbin is the only one in the NL that is within sniffing distance of ours but that's only if Scherzer is healthy which he is not currently.

Bottom line...I'm not asking Mets to go 24-12 or something insane like that in these next 34 tough games. I'm asking for 20-14 or something. Heck even if we go 17-17 and play exactly .500 ball the next 34 games, we'll still be 3 games or more over .500 heading into the final two weeks of the season and we'd likely be in the very same position we are in now seeing most of our opponents also play one another and will beat the **** out of one another for the next month.

If my suspicion is correct that it's going to take 85 wins to get invited to the playoff dance, if we go worst case scenario 17-17 during this stretch, we'd be right in that 77 win area for those last 15 games which will include at least 4 more games vs the Marlins. I'd like our chances very much to get in if this is where we are at mid-September.

Now if Brodie can get us Joe Panik, I'd be a very very happy camper as he'd fill one of those holes we have back of the batting order.

Nats are better than Mets.

 

[darko]

I don't know what to make of the Mets.

I mean, they're the Mets. And it's no secret they've been beating up on bad teams lately.

That said, I look around the lineup and there's talent all over the place.

They should be a good team.

While this streak won't last (obviously) IMO the real Mets are a lot closer to this team than the one we saw April through June.