ExWNYer

I don't agree that LB is not a major hole on the team but I do agree that it does not need to be addressed in Round 1. Campbell in the 1st is an overpay, IMO. I don't like including Oliver in a Hopkins deal either but I believe the thinking there is that it's an attempt to make the money work on the Bills end.

Just make sure that @Gugny does not keep you from your fulfilling your appointed mission.

I agree with this. Van Ness was my preference but he just wasn't getting the needed traction here. The Hopkins option has gained steam and it's now a three horse race between that and 'Trade Back' with Zay Flowers still solidly in the lead. Flowers lack of size does scare me.

No, that option is lagging far behind with 6. The other two options I referenced are at 13 & 12. It's currently a two horse race not three.

Looks like it's coming down to either Flowers or trade back. You can't fight City Hall; therefore I'm changing my vote to Flowers. 1) Because I think that's actually the move the Bills would make. 2) Given those two options, I'd rather take the weapon at a positional need rather than taking the unknown of a trade back.

I think if the board falls that way the Bills will choose Flowers but that would not be my choice. I hate the idea of going defense in the 1st Round but would like Nolan Smith or Lukas Van Ness to add as a very good Edge option to pair with Von Miller. Their talent is worth that pick, IMO. Van Ness is versatile and can play inside or out. Ultimately, I chose trade back from #27 to #34 with Arizona for Hopkins (assuming they can make the money work). This gives Beane another receiving threat for Josh with the ammo and flexibility to attack LB and DL in the 2nd Round. The 'Trade Back' option was too vague for me. What are they getting in return?

From 'On The Clock' ('Difficult' setting, Chris Trapasso Draft Board which was one of the two most current available). I don't think this is very realistic but would definitely take it. Can't see any world where Hyatt makes it to the 3rd Round. They have Vorhees listed at Cal rather than USC which is a big gaffe, IMO:

Unfortunately. I take no joy in being right in this instance. I know I said Friday night that if they won Saturday &/or Sunday that it would be "gravy" but they squandered two golden opportunities to overtake Atlanta for first place. Oh, well. Can't complain about a 7-3 road trip but what could have been... <sigh> A much needed off day awaits tomorrow and then it's a homestand against several also rans beginning with the Natalies. Time to make hay and grab the lead from the hated Bravos.

And just after I typed that this one is on the bats, it's coming down to that as SF grabbed the lead in the 8th. Again, 4 runs in back-to-back games against a scuffling team on the ropes is inexcusable. The offense is just too unpredictable when your power options are limited...a problem that went unsolved in the offseason by Eppler.

They snuck that one by me, too. lol I don't know who he is but he did do a nice job. Megill didn't do a whole lot to justify my faith in him but one of the runs he allowed was on Lindor who dropped the ball attempting to transfer it from his mitt and cost them a double play. Otherwise, he would have exited allowing three runs thru four. Far from ideal but not a back breaker like the six over two innings (and seven over five) that Peterson allowed. I know we're talking about back end guys here but someone has to sack up and give an occasional outing that goes at least six innings. This game is now on the bats. They only scored 4 in the loss yesterday and 4 thru 8 tonight. That's not good enough against a bad SF squad. The bullpen can't keep holding the fort. The hitters need to get off of their arses and win this thing for them.

I disagree with you on Megill, which is fine. I think his upside is a solid #3, if it all comes together. Certainly a viable #4, as you stated. He's shown me more in less amount of time than Peterson ever did. Peterson is what he is at this point and I'm not expecting any more than what he is now. I think I was probably holding out hope for him because he's a lefty and they don't grow on trees. If the staff is healthy at the trade deadline, maybe he can be packaged to a team looking for a lefty option. There is probably a team who believes they can unlock the 'potential' of a youngish lefthander like Peterson. I made my thoughts clear on Carrasco a few posts ago. I am done with him but the team needs him to start giving them some quality innings instead of getting shelled and then hurt. I was thrilled when they acquired him in the Lindor trade but he has been a combo of hurt and maddeningly inconsistent since they got him. Maybe the injuries have played a part in that or maybe he's just cooked. He has been a huge disappointment, IMO, and is a shell of the guy who was pitching in Cleveland. He's become 'Stale Cookie' Carrasco. As an aside, apparently, Ronny Mauricio is being tried at 2B in Syracuse which is fantastic, IMO. His path to the Mets is currently blocked at SS with Lindor there so I am all for finding an alternate path for his big stick. The kid had a huge Spring Training and showed a lot of power. I think he has legit 20-25 HR potential. I'd take that out of my second baseman any day of the week. This team is going to need more power in the future. Baty & Alvarez are still scuffling at the plate since their promotions to the bigs and Pete and Lindor will not be able to carry the team by themselves all season long. The back third of the lineup needs to start contributing some, as well. C, 3B, and DH continue to be black holes for this squad.

@SinceThe70s @Another Fan Peterson threw a clunker yesterday to temporarily derail things and, once again, provided the perfect example of what has us all worried about this staff at the moment. These backend guys are going to have to be at least serviceable until the cavalry (some or all of Scherzer, Verlander, Carrasco, & Quintana) arrives. To his (small) credit, Peterson managed to find a way to make it thru five innings after sh*tting the bed to the tune of six earned runs over just the first two innings to a struggling offense. Newly promoted reliever Edwin Uceta did a great job to help preserve the pen and went the final three innings allowing no hits and no runs. I have been in the Peterson camp since he was drafted but I'm afraid we may have seen his limited ceiling and, yesterday, we once again witnessed his extremely low floor. At this point in his career, he is just too inconsistent and will be nothing more than a back of the rotation 'hold your breath and pray' option, IMO. I don't even think he is a decent pen option at this point either. He has the stuff you hope for in a lefty but he just has no control. He reminds me of Matz...flashes potential and then breaks your heart when you let your guard down and try to believe in him. It's Megill's turn to try and right the ship today. I have much more faith in his future but he has been prone to lapses at times, as well. Gives us 'good Megill' today, Tylor. LGM!

@Gugny @Another Fan I was truly worried about losing Nimmo after last season. I know there were several teams after him and I thought the Mets might not value his worth. I know there were plenty of Met fans who undervalued him, as well. He has come a long way since I first saw him play here in Richmond when he was with Binghamton. He has become a legit and really good CFer who is the catalyst of the team. I love watching him at the plate. He has great discipline and goes up there with a plan every time. And he's become a decent base stealer, too (some credit has to go to the bigger bags and new rules, IMO). He's just a true professional with an infectious attitude. They would have regretted letting him get away. Oh, and just another day at the office Friday night against the Giants...2-4 with a sac bunt and a run scored. I agree on the bullpen. This team was supposed to be built on its starting pitching but between the injuries to the top of the rotation, Scherzer's bs suspension (don't get me started), and what's left of the cobbled together staff only going about 5 or barely 5+ innings almost every night, it is a miracle that the pen has not imploded. To their credit, they have been brilliant. It's scary to think about them with Diaz in there as the stopper. And speaking of brilliant, Joey Lucchesi just threw a much needed, 7 inning, shutout gem on Friday night to give the bullpen a sweet reprieve. What a great return for him as it was for Tommy Hunter who pitched a scoreless 9th. Kudos, gents. The Metropolitans are 7-1 so far on this 10 game road trip. Getting either of the last two this weekend would be gravy. I was hoping for 6-4 and they've already exceeded that with Washington on tap for the next homestand. Luckily, the bats have come alive at the right time, too. There are no words for Pete Alonso. He is not a polar bear...he is a BEAST! HR #10 on the year to dead center (2-run shot)...4 RBI (another 2-run single)...leading the majors in HRs...and he just set the Met record for most HRs ever before the end of April...and there are still 8 scheduled games left in the month. He's no longer just a power hitter...he's become a complete, all-around batter/player. It's great to witness it as it's unfolding. The front office should have already locked him into an extension. 'Uncle Steve' will be digging deeper than anticipated to keep him in the fold. Keep it going! LGM!!

Should've changed his name to 'Sideshow Bob'...

Jest brass (internally): "Will we suck more with him or without him?"

Still nothing official from OBD.

Two starts from Carrasco this year and I've seen all I need to see. He's a bum.

An RBI single in his first AB. Nice start.

Francisco Alvarez gets his first start behind the dish this afternoon with Carrasco on the bump. Good luck, young man. Let's get it!

New year, new number for C/DH Francisco Alvarez...trades in last year's #50 'Sid Fernandez' for the #4 'Lenny Dykstra'.

@Gugny @SinceThe70s @Another Fan And so it continues in Metsland...yet another injury. Maybe this one finally works out in our favor as Alvarez is on his way back to the bigs. Narvaez will be out 8-9 weeks. 'Wally Pipp' his arse, kid!* *Not in the starting lineup today. https://nypost.com/2023/04/06/francisco-alvarez-getting-big-mets-chance-with-omar-narvaez-injury-blow/e In the 'Good News Department', the shiny new behemoth of a scoreboard will be on display for today's home opener. Bring on the buntings, bring on the pageantry, bring on the victory. Squish the Fish! LGM!!

Have you checked with Sean Payton? If not, you're about to get beaten within an inch of your life.

As with any prospect, time will tell. @GunnerBilllaid out for you why he thinks Flowers will be a bust.