|
With each passing day in the final week of July, I have been dreading the sound that signals the arrival of a new MLB At Bat notification. With plentiful coverage of rumors, sources, and speculation, I was preparing for the Mets' starting lineup for the remainder of 2019 to be something like:
deGrom Matz Vargas Lockett Mazza There is a certain psychology to any fan's post-trading deadline love of a team with a losing record. Specifically, around this point in the year, you begin to author narratives to build your interest, an excellent example being Jacob deGrom's journey to the Cy Young Award in 2018. There may have been more than enough disappointment to fill the ballpark to bursting, but once every five days there was excitement, hope, and what can perhaps best be described as live performance art. This year, I readied myself to create new reasons to follow the team: Steven Matz just pitched a complete game shutout; is this a return to his excellence earlier this season? Walter Lockett and Chris Mazza have shown promise and potential; could they be the Lugo/Gsellman that these 2019 Mets may require? Instead, the trade deadline came and went, and despite rumors and possibilities, everything remained fairly static. Thor and Wheeler remained in the rotation. Edwin Diaz (for better or for worse is yet to be determined) was still the closer. Todd Frazier continued to anchor third base. Yes, Jason Vargas was traded to the Phillies, but this was hardly a profound loss. I think Amazin' Avenue's Michael Drago framed it best with the headline "Jason Vargas was often competent, but always frustrating." Vargas was, in effect, replaced with Marcus Stroman, the former Blue Jay and 2019 All-Star pitcher. Just like that, New York upgraded their pitching staff: their fifth starter now has twice the WAR (3.1 vs. 1.5), a 26% lower ERA (2.96 vs. 4.01), and over thirty more innings under his belt this season. In other words, the Mets replaced their number five starter with a number two starter. This brings me to the point of this blog post: in the midst of the final flurry of trades before the deadline, Mets first baseman (and also All-Star) Pete Alonso penned a letter to his fans. Actually, it is 2019, so he didn't "pen" it, he tweeted it. Regardless, it was a multi-paragraph note addressed to Mets fans that succinctly and sincerely expressed gratitude while also calling on the fans for support. "The boys are hot and we've been working our asses off," Alonso wrote. He closed with a call to action: "We need you guys, the fans, more than ever for these last two months. Together, let's be a part of history." I read this as a call for contributing to the Mets' momentum. Just like any individual game, seasons can be influenced by such a force, allowing for either stunning strings of success or the crushing monotony of multiple defeats. Or, sometimes, both. Whether you believe in momentum or would argue instead for the cold, hard facts of accumulated data, I write to you now as a fan grateful for being gifted reasons to follow my team. I'm grateful for general manager Brodie Van Wagenen's moves at the deadline (though I wouldn't have turned down some help for the bullpen...). I'm grateful for those who have carried this season (Jeff McNeil, Alonso, deGrom, Seth Lugo, and more) as well as those who are currently hot (Amed Rosario, J.D. Davis, and Todd Frazier leap to mind). And I'm grateful for the first baseman's message. Alonso returned to unifying language regularly throughout: we, our, and together. Faith that this is not mere rhetoric and speaks to a very human desire to belong, agree, band together, and overcome the odds should not be underestimated. And so, while I will not speculate as to what the "F" in his "LFGM" acronym represents, I'll wholeheartedly and unprofessionally pound the caps lock key to conclude with, "LET'S GO METS!" I just read the first of two headlines I've hoped for since the season began: Bartolo Colón is about to be available. As just appeared on my MLB At Bat ticker, "Big Sexy" has been designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves. Now, to be clear, I have never wished inefficiency or other struggles on Colón, but I have wished for the day when a reunion with the Mets would be possible.
Based on the numbers, it would appear that the Mets were actually fortuitous in not resigning him this season. After all, as of this blog post, he holds an 8.14 ERA and has allowed six or more earned runs in three of his four most recent starts (in the one start where he let up only two earned runs, he allowed nine total runs). What is most alarming from a Mets-centric view is that he has failed to go deep into games: he has not gone further than five and two thirds innings since April 28th, and his innings pitched for the past three games reads 2.1, 3.2, 4.0. Each reads more like an ERA that the Mets might find enticing... Which brings me to the second of two headlines I have been hoping for... "Bartolo Colón resigned by the Mets." In my fantasy world, this is followed shortly by headlines such as: "Big Sexy is 'Amazin' again" and "Colón's grand slam wins it for New York," and others of that nature... I understand that this is beginning to sound like a wild array of delusions driven by a dreadful season for my favorite team and simply no cause for such a roster decision. Still, speaking more rationally, Colón has long represented more than the sum of his stats for New York fans. He provides experience and energy which is in only moderate supply, and I find it difficult to believe that there are many Mets fans out there who could not think of at least one pitcher they would prefer to see replaced by Bartolo Colón, even considering his struggles thus far this season. Here's another consideration, albeit a narrow one: facing Washington on May 20th, Colón struck out six and allowed only two runs -- one unearned -- across four and a third innings. The result was a win for the Braves, if not for Bartolo. Meanwhile, the Mets have struggled mightily against the Nationals this season. In their April series, the Mets were swept with Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Zack Wheeler taking the mound respectively. Harvey fared the best, lasting seven innings while allowing three runs, but he is not currently available for the Mets. For his part, deGrom has mastered the Nats twice since his loss to them in April, but he could use some help and perhaps Colón could be the right man for the job. Finally, Wheeler's April 29th matchup resulted in a win for the Mets and a very similar stat line to the aforementioned Colón line from May 20th. Really, anything would be better than the Nats vs. Mets game that must not be mentioned. (Let's just say "23-5" and forget the particulars, as well as the aftermath.) I'll leave you with one final argument: Bartolo Colón's season is shaping up just like the Mets' season, with plenty of promise but what feels like only disappointment to show for it. For Mets management, perhaps taking a chance on him would be like taking a chance on themselves, doubling down and stating, yes, we can turn this all around. Have I convinced you yet? Perhaps I haven't even convinced myself, but it's certainly fun to imagine. SOURCES: - "Bartolo Colón." Baseball Reference. Accessed: 29 June 2017. Available: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colonba01.shtml. This will be a brief one, blog readers. I tried to move on and not to write about the game last night, but I can't be the only one out there who was stunned by a couple of the extra innings decisions on the part of Mets. From where I sat last night -- which, to be fair, was my couch -- Josh Smoker let up a double to Bryce Harper, a man who is hotter than just about anyone in baseball right now. Then, Terry Collins intentionally walked Daniel Murphy. Finally, with runners on first and second and one out, Collins brought in Jeurys Familia from the bullpen. Glass half full? Familia proved himself to be one of the most dominant players in the game last year. Glass half empty? Familia has a well-established record of not doing well with runners on base, with allowing hits or even runs before closing the door. Thus, despite my frustration as a fan, I can't see Familia as fully to blame for back-to-back walks, the second of which brought home what became the winning run. Collins' concern about Murphy at the plate is understandable given his history against the Mets (thus, the intentional walk) but the alternative option (leaving the solid Smoker in against a lefty) seems the far superior option. Making the move to take Smoker out certainly couldn't have been a confidence booster for the lefty. I know: hindsight is 20/20. Still, I was talking to my television last night well before the game-losing walk was issued.
After writing about Yoenis Céspedes' walk up music the other day, it occurred to me that there is another Met whose music always comes through loud and clear on the television broadcast. His name is Lucas Duda, and he enters his at-bats to the tune of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," as covered -- and electrified and elevated -- by Jimi Hendrix.
Hendrix was just 25 years old when he recorded his arrangement at a studio in London, and the track went on to be considered the definitive version. Now, nearly 50 years later, it blasts through the speakers in CitiField to announce the arrival of New York's Lucas Duda who, when healthy and hot, is among their best sluggers. While perhaps not as bold a choice as "The Circle of Life," I couldn't help but notice how fitting a wish that first line represents: "There must be some kind of way out of here." Duda will be out for a bit with an injury to his elbow, but when he returns, he'll be back to looking for a way to help that ball get out of here... Unless I'm missing it, many Mets players' walkup music has been barely audible during television and radio broadcasts of home games this year...
...that is, except for that of Yoenis Céspedes. When Céspedes began walking out to "The Circle of Life" last year, I thought it was silly fun -- for anyone who missed it, Oh My Disney contributor Cate Scott Campbell posted a fitting article about this last season (see link below). However, the more I've thought about this choice, the more I've been impressed by the multifaceted beauty of juxtaposing his appearance at the plate with this theme from Disney's The Lion King. For one, it is a memorable song that instantly transports the listener back to the experience of this film, or at least the emotional valence it conjures. Like an iconic Disney film, baseball seems to have the power to transport adults back to an earlier, ostensibly simpler time, and if that emotional charge is catalyzed by Céspedes' walkup music, then all the better for the experience of rooting for him and the Mets. Since he started using this music, people have participated, including bringing Simba dolls to CitiField and holding them up as he emerges from the on-deck circle to take his rightful place in the batter's box. I imagine this is done for different reasons: fans of The Lion King recognize a fun way to bridge two cherished universes, fans of Céspedes find in it a way to support or even to bond with their idol, fans of the Mets recognize Céspedes as the individual who has filled a void high up in the team hierarchy where prolific slugging ought to be, etc. On the other hand, there must be fans of the team or Céspedes -- or fans of the relevant rival team -- who find this all a bit foolish or undignified. For these folks, his choice of music functions as a challenge of sorts, or at least a statement: I'm comfortable with who I am, and I can be a handsome, muscular, home run-hitting superstar at the same time as I walk out to Disney music. Who will criticize him? Certainly no one on the home side should, especially not when he's hitting home runs three times per game, as he did last night. So, I take it back: walking out to "The Circle of Life" is not simply silly fun. It is that, of course, but it can also serve as a reminder to us all to break down barriers built by terms such as "cool" or "manly" or the like, and it is a fine form of juxtaposition that more of us might try in our own lives. Am I making more of this than exists or than I should? That is very possible, but if you've read all the way to the end of this post, perhaps you think that maybe I'm not. SOURCES: Campbell, Cate Scott. "Here is Proof That Every Baseball Player Should Walk Out to a Disney Song." Oh My Disney. https://ohmy.disney.com/news/2016/09/13/here-is-proof-that-every-baseball-player-should-walk-out-to-a-disney-song/ In celebration of Zack Wheeler's return to the mound yesterday (4/7/17), I'm reflecting back on the time I saw him pitching for the Mets at CitiField. The day was Sunday, June 30, 2013, and it also just happened to be Wheeler's first career start at home. This was the third outing of his career, his previous two road starts having gone beautifully and shakily respectively. On June 30, the Washington Nationals got out to an early lead with a four-run second, tacking on another in the third. Wheeler ended the day with four and two-thirds innings, having given up five runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Flash forward to April 7, 2017 when Zack Wheeler, pitching in his first start of the season, gave up five runs on six hits across four innings. Add in a walk and four strikeouts, and the final stat line doesn't look so different from his first home start in 2013. In the 2013 game, he gave up two home runs compared to (only) one yesterday. Are there lots of other differences I'm skimming over? Absolutely. For one, yesterday was Wheeler's first start in two full seasons, and his future seemed much clearer four years ago. But, especially given the long road back, I thought it interesting to point out the similarities between his first home start and his 2017 debut. In 2013, he followed up his disappointing start with five strong starts in July. Except for one, he went five or more innings (completing seven innings in two of them), and except for one, he gave up fewer than three runs. Most importantly, all five of those starts resulted in Mets wins, three attributed officially to Wheeler. Before we panic regarding Zack Wheeler, I think it's best that Mets fans -- in terms of results but certainly not health concerns -- look to his history and hope that it is in the process of repeating itself, at least in the short term, starting with yesterday. SOURCES: - www.baseballreference.com: "Zack Wheeler" Yesterday afternoon's Mets game had everything a fan could ask for and some things that no fan would ever want. Great news first: Noah Syndergaard was dominant through six shutout innings, tossing 86 pitches and ramping up when he was in trouble. He didn't return in the seventh -- due to a blood blister -- news of which I'm sure caused many Mets fans to grimace in anticipation of other injuries this season. Still, Syndergarard pitched for several innings despite the blister, able to assert his aforementioned dominance.
Aside from Asdrubel Cabrera, the Mets weren't all that effective at the plate to start... which made it all the more sweet to savor that six-run seventh in which Wilmer Flores was a catalyst and Lucas Duda cleared the bases with a double. News broke shortly after the game that Seth Lugo might miss weeks or more... but, souvenir Mets cup half full, this increases the importance of Zack Wheeler as the #4 starter to open the season and gives Rafael Montero breathing room to establish himself as a bullpen presence. Ideally, Lugo's recovery will be swift or at least complete, and he can return with a burst of energy and experience later in the season. David Wright wasn't in the lineup... but he was on hand to catch the first pitch (along with T.J. Rivera), delivered by the family of two fallen local heroes. And, in a couple classy moments that broke the silence hanging over CitiField during the Atlanta Braves' introductions, former Mets R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colón received rousing ovations. All in all, opening day provided more than enough for me to be excited about the 2017 Mets. For sure, their season is uncertain for several reasons, but that can be said about all 30 teams as well as about life in general. Thus, at the risk of exposing my naïveté: let's go Mets! During Saturday's Mets-Braves spring training game, the Fox Sports broadcast team made an interesting comment regarding the number on Mets reliever Hansel Robles' back. It likely passed over most viewers as a trivial tidbit regarding the opposition and no cause for additional thought, but as a Mets fan -- and one particularly interested in the aforementioned number -- their comments struck me as worthy of further thought.
As Robles spun his two innings of one-hit, no-run ball and maintained his 0.00 spring ERA, Chip Caray referred to him as "the man that's worn 47 in New York better than anybody else in team history," to which Joe Simpson replied, "You got that right." While I could delve into the history of Mets players who've worn the number 47, that has already been done by Jon Springer and Matthew Silverman in their excellent, interesting book Mets By The Numbers. Indeed, it would make sense to start as they do with the original Met to wear the number, Jay Hook, or to consider talented, memorable, even historic players like Jesse Orosco and Tom Glavine. (Again, check out the aforementioned book for an in-depth review of the history of this and all other Mets jersey numbers over the years.) I, on the other hand, was reminded of a more recent #47, one of my favorite players of the 2010 season: Hisanori Takahashi. My inner -- perhaps inexplicable -- diehard fan instantly wondered if Robles had proven himself moreso than one of my favorite former Mets. A deep dive into the stats, courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, suggests that Robles is indeed poised to be worthy of Caray's statement, though I'm not sure he's quite there yet. After all, though Robles has appeared in well over twice the number of Mets games than Takahashi has, he has only pitched about ten more innings. Their Mets ERAs rest at about the same level (Robles: 3.55; Takahashi: 3.61), and their strikeout-to-walk ratios are nearly identical (Robles: 2.70; Takahashi: 2.65). They have each earned ten wins for the Mets, and Robles has only one more loss (7) than Takahashi (6). Where I would argue Takahashi has exceeded Robles is in the former's preparedness to fulfill any role needed. Throughout the 2010 season, he started twelve games, worked out of the bullpen for the other forty-one, and even became their closer when the role opened up, recording eight saves. Hisanori Takahashi was ready to attempt any role which the Mets needed him to fill, and for that, I heartily enjoyed rooting for him. This being established, Caray's comment has also caused me to reconsider Robles' place in the bigger picture. Again neglecting all but Takahashi for the sake of this focused comparison, Robles has recorded 32 more strikeouts than him as well as fielded his position flawlessly, to name just a couple points on which Robles stands out. Moreover, his success in the postseason -- highlighted by his tossing two shutout innings in the 2015 World Series -- is a significant distinction. Perhaps most notable is that Hansel Robles is not only a current Met but also a reliever who will likely be called on a great deal in the 2017 season as the Mets chase another postseason berth. All indications based on what I've read and seen of his performances are that he will take full advantage of this opportunity to prove himself. For now, I'm holding on to the memory of a past personal favorite, but I welcome the day (that is hopefully coming soon) when I simply have to admit that Hansel Robles is indeed the superior wearer of number 47. SOURCES: - "Mets @ Braves." MLB.tv. Fox Sports, 25 March 2017. - www.baseball-reference.com: Hansel Robles & Hisanori Takahashi - Springer, Jon & Matthew Silverman. Mets By The Numbers: A Complete Team History of the Amazin' Mets by Uniform Number. New York: Sports Publishing, 2016. |
Mets Chats are posts about the New York Mets. They may be editorial, historical, or otherwise in nature. All are invited to read, but be warned that these posts are written by an admittedly biased fan of the Metropolitans!
WftF.com is a blog by a baseball fan -- and a Mets fan specifically -- who is learning his way into the wide world of baseball history, current events, debates, literature, and personal connections to the above.
Archives
August 2019
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
Proudly powered by Weebly