If the Mets were not inconsistent after the break, the week around the trading deadline (August 1st, Tuesday, at 6 P.M.) would be tempting. We are talking about seven games of Nationals (a bad team if one that could be respectable with a bit more talent) and the Royals ("well, we aren't the As"). This is a 5-2 type schedule, especially after they squeaked out a 2-1 win based on the Nats pen blowing it in the first game.
The schedule then becomes tougher though mixed with the Orioles, Braves, Rangers, and Angels (how much Ohtani dreaming will take place?) are the Cubs (bad but can win now and then) and Pirates (fell off a cliff after actually leading the division for a time). So, being within spitting distance of .500 possibly would have been somewhat misleading.
You could find a Mets writer or WFAN host opining they should basically stand pat. They had little hope the Mets actually would make a run given the number of teams ahead of them who are hovering around the same record (over six games ahead of the Mets) but they figured the Mets wouldn't get much in return. We are talking about a bunch of decent short-timers without going into the possibility of a big deal (one of the expensive aces), who people figure to have too much salary to dispose.
I find this misguided. What is the value of retaining these people so the Mets can win around half their games (which might be generous) and still miss the playoffs? This expensive payroll was not set up so that the Mets could (if everything went right) manage to be the third wild card. Prospects are always a crapshoot. Get some for the likes of Canha and company, you will likely at least get something of some value.
There is a level of depressing for this fan to watch a disappointing bunch over and over again. It felt wrong to guarantee the GM and manager keeping their jobs (leave it open at least) for the season when things have gone wrong. Where are the consequences? I have seen some talk that part of the problem is an inability to adapt to new rules. For whatever reason, a bunch of people are underperforming. Just shrug and let them stay?
I am not impressed -- to the degree I am supposed to be as compared to it just being reported -- that such and such players are now doing well. Oh, Alonso is finally showing life? Charming. 43M Verlander is pitching like an ace. Okay. I was born yesterday, so the first three months or so need not concern me. And, Vogelbach is now having some success? Who fucking cares? This guy as the DH, repeatedly taking playing time from someone possibly with a future on this team, is aggravating.
Plus, the baseball operations guy has yet to be hired. We have seen that sort of holding action for years now (first it was keeping a manager that was clearly a bad fit until ownership could be settled, now this). But, it is not like the team is being totally retooled. They are tooling around the edges to get parts for rentals. It is a waste not to get something for these people and the baseball people there can't be total morons in so doing it.
Well, the Mets bit the bullet, and David Robertson (who said he liked it here, which is nice and all, as is the fact he pitched like the closer they surely needed without Diaz) was traded on Thursday. It was surprising to some people that he was traded to the Marlins (other teams need pitching too) for a pair of baby prospects. A few reports that they are pretty good but who knows? People figured Robertson was a leading trading chip and there were days left to the deadline. Well, it was done.
We will see what else happens but the assumption will be that a few other people (like Ottavino, Raley, Canha) will be traded too. I personally want Vogelbach gone, since again, why waste a key slot for this guy? There are various players that can be given more playing time. The biggest issue will be the bullpen, at least, once the heat of August comes.
I think the Mets should think long-term here. The Mets paid Max Scherzer big money to bring cred. He has been disappointing in various ways though started well last season (then collapsed at the end when the team needed him though he wasn't the only one) and struggled this season. He had too many bad games. His 9-4 record is misleading and it didn't help he was penalized for sticky stuff.
But, net Verlander was no better, even if he looks better if you just skip over the first half of his season. Many people thought the Verlander deal with correct, a sort of necessary move with deGrom leaving, and old or not, he just had a Cy Young year! Looked a lot more human this season. Who knows what next season will bring? You hope it is more Verlander-like. Would it shock if he was injured again or something? He is over 40.
There is news now that Texas (deGrom turned out to be a bad bet) wants Scherzer. It would be a matter of Scherzer agreeing to waive his no-trade clause. Reports were he went to management after the Robertson deal, concerned about the team's status. It's the Mets. He must know how this goes down. The history is far from opaque.
Scherzer is inconsistent but will give you some gems. The other times you need a strong offense to balance him out. There are multiple playoff teams that sometimes need to out slug to win. The Mets in theory could have been such a team but player after player has underperformed.
I have seen people concerned about the Mets rotation if either one of the aces goes. Why? It's one of the times when (can't help myself) start muttering and ranting a bit. It helps to do this when no one is around or few people are "listening." Anyways. It is not like the team is just going to eat what now amounts to around 60M (two months plus next season) for each contract. This season is a wash. You got a few possible fill-ins (now that Q. is back and looking interesting) for two pitchers.
Next season? You have possible future starters in the system. But, part of the stupidity of the concern for me is that again they are not just going to eat ALL that money. I find that very unlikely. Even a fraction should get you a mid-rotation sort of guy. The assumption is that you can get something decent back. Scherzer is not an ace now anyway.
Verlander might have even more money coming to him if he meets the 2024 innings limits. This to me seems a bit absurd if he has the potential to do it. 35M in 2025? Really? And, all this money, well that makes finding okay pitching for 2024 doable in various ways.
Verlander might be but it's a question of figuring net you aren't losing much. We already saw this season that he too is far from a gimme next season. There is a chance that the net result of losing major pieces here is that 2024 will be somewhat of a struggle. But, with three wild cards, a good core of guys, Diaz closing, and some reliable starters, you can have a decent shot at the playoffs. And, you need to think long-term here.
Short term, it is basically depressing for me to watch the team. I rather the Nationals, who have some good young talent, win 2-1 games than have a couple of relievers screw up and allow the Mets to eke out two runs (around a long rain delay) helped by a wild pitch and a hit by a pitch. They seem to "deserve" such a win more, granting that is an emotional reaction. 11-10 type wins versus the White Sox that are mixed in with enough losses to stop any real run also do not impress.
We will see how things go. One somewhat sad character is Starling Marte, who is struggling with injuries and migraines. The soon-to-be new daddy has my best wishes. From what I can tell, he is a good guy and teammate, and in the past has done well.
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A note: A few people on Mets Twitter (the blue bird is now an "X" thanks to the asshole owner) have felt Pete Alonso (who is doing horribly this season overall) is being mistreated. They are annoyed a few people think he is a jerk. I don't really pay attention to other people's reactions to the guy and find doing so a bit silly.
Alonso has one annoying trait: he seems to have one speed, looking at the positive. This is fine as far as it goes but at times he comes off as ridiculous when he ignores bad things. This vibe perhaps annoys some people, making him seem full of himself or something. I don't know.
The fan response is also a mixture of people loving Alonso and thinking he doesn't get enough respect for his talent. Well, this is not a great season to complain about the second thing, when he is struggling, which at times moves past his average to his on-the-field play. I simply have not seen too much of the disrespecting cited so do not know the reason why. I think it is in some fashion that the guy rubs some the wrong way.
Another thing is that the Mets seem to be hit a lot. This is likely a result of how the players bat. It is not like there is some sort of conspiracy. There are some complaints that the Mets never retaliate. I guess at some point that might be sensible, especially in certain limited instances. OTOH, again, maybe they get hit a lot because their batting style encourages it.
ETA: There will be some news in the next few days so won't try continual updates but the Scherzer deal to the Rangers has been confirmed. Pretty quickly.
The Rangers are reportedly paying over 20M of his salary (factoring in next season). That's more than enough to replace Scherzer next year and have money left to help with other issues.
I will wait and see if anything surprising happens. The platitude is "anything is on the table" now. Uh-huh. Who exactly is realistically going to be traded that would be unexpected?
ETA: The "anything" is basically Verlander. The expected: Canha and Pham. The somewhat unexpected but shrug: Leone. Raley and Ottavino stay. They also got a pair of arms to help fill innings.
A lot of strum and drang over this, talk about "tearing down" and how the GM (I never take them seriously) "lied" about being competitive in 2024. Blah blah blah. Scherzer is flawed and easily can be replaced from the free agent market. Others were leaving anyways, except for Verlander.
Money coming back from him too (from Astros; blah to that), so options there too. This isn't the Marlins after the World Series. Core basically still there. Are competitive for 2024.
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