Mets Update

We are approaching the first month of the season and the Mets are doing well. Wins-wise. They are doing this with a lot of pitching issues. Not as many position issues, if a few.  

One of the new old studs has not pitched a regular season game. The other just was suspended for ten days.  This would not be horrible -- it is only two starts and one would be against the Nationals -- if it wasn't for all the other starter issues. Cookie is out (though Lucchini came back with the first seven-inning appearance, pitching a gem) and another newbie might come back in the summer.  And, Peterson is not doing well lately.  

The Scherzer thing arose because he allegedly misused rosin after being warned.  A first offense here does not seem to warrant ten games and the whole thing seemed rather arbitrary.  Did he really blatantly violate the rules after being warned?  Or, were the rules not totally clear?  Perhaps, it would make sense there to have some experience determining the rules of the game before kicking someone out for ten games.  

Scherzer in the long run will be helped if he has time off, probably, which is the balance of having an older pitcher with such a heavy contract.  He does bring a special vibe to the team.  I do not begrudge them for getting him.  A second pitcher, even older, being paid around 40M for two seasons does seem a bit iffy.  The Mets winning now with the new Japanese pitcher and back-ups (if mostly of MLB caliber) suggests maybe losing deGrom didn't mean you needed to do that.  Well, the owner has the money, I guess. 

The new catcher also got hurt so the rookie was called up.  Fans were pushing him (and Baty at third, who had a good spring and early weeks in the minors) to come up.  Escobar is not having a great April.  Well, neither is Lindor, from looking at his stats.  The team still is scoring runs.  

Needs more out of their starters.  Their pen is doing well, including the Scherzer game (a call-up bridged the gap after he pitched three) and yesterday (three innings from some call-up after Peterson gutted out a bad five).  The pen has a number of "B" team guys, especially with the closer out for the year.  So far, again, doing fine. Their eighth-inning guys, after all, are closer worthy.  Good thing, since that is what they are now.  

I have not seen too many games but not sure about how the new rules (and larger bases) are affecting steals.  Since you have limited times to toss over, there would seem to be more chances to steal.  As to the time of the game, to belabor the point, not seeing much of a change myself.  

Now and then, the toss to first bit is overdone, so guess limiting toss-overs makes sense. The pitch clock and "disengagements" and so on stuff seem tedious but if the players like it overall, fine.  Net, that sort of thing might make the game somewhat crisper.  I'll shut up about it.  

I did not really find the whole thing in recent years too bothersome.  But, fine enough.  Don't know how much changing the shift matters either.  That just seems stupid to me -- it is a change in strategy.  Fight fire with fire there.   

Anyway, I appreciate how the Mets are gutting things out as a team, with a bunch of role players and lesser-known pitchers doing their part.  I am glad Nimmo is doing well.  He's a fun player.  Alonso is showing his power.  Lindor and a few others have had slower starts.  Back-up outfielder Pham (maybe it's the new prescription in his contacts!) has shown value.  The Mets are playing the Giants now.  They have four ex-Mets there!  

The Mets are playing California teams now.  One is Oakland, which is getting sneers for being pathetic.  They aren't a good team and started with a horrible 17-6 drubbing.  But, give them props -- the next two games were impressive.  They lost both, but they were low scoring (one went to the 10th) and had many crisp plays.  I sort of wished they won one of the games.  Not big on moral victories but those two games were for them. 

The Mets often have a good April.  In recent years, late May and June were their problem child.  Last season, it was September and October.  They have the usual injuries.  But, the Phils showed last season that the main job is to get to the postseason.  Only one team gets that bye.  The rest (including three wild card teams) are mostly on equal footing, home field not as important in baseball in many cases.  So far, so good.  

And, certain players will return. Makes room for more injuries!

ETA: After two wins, they lost the second two games vs. the Giants and now have to win against old friend Trevor Williams to avoid being swept by the Nats.  The first four-game losing streak for Buck. Oh well.