Another Fan Posted March 2 Posted March 2 @Gugny@ExWNYer@SinceThe70s A good time for another thread. The season will be here by the end of the month already. Being a Mets fan I'll never be like 100% all in on being confident but still lots to like for this season. Mendoza & Stearns both exceeded my expectations last season. Soto- I definitely think they over payed but at the same time it's a clear W against the team from the bronx Pete- didn't go that smoothly for sure but at least he's still a Met. LGM 1 1
Gugny Posted March 2 Posted March 2 (edited) 4 hours ago, Another Fan said: @Gugny@ExWNYer@SinceThe70s A good time for another thread. The season will be here by the end of the month already. Being a Mets fan I'll never be like 100% all in on being confident but still lots to like for this season. Mendoza & Stearns both exceeded my expectations last season. Soto- I definitely think they over payed but at the same time it's a clear W against the team from the bronx Pete- didn't go that smoothly for sure but at least he's still a Met. LGM I have learned to embrace the lack of salary cap in baseball now that we have an owner who a) wants to win and b) has more money than God. Love that they got Soto at whatever cost and loved it even more that the secured Pete for another year. We all know that NYC is not for everybody and we’ve now got two proven RBI/HR machines who’ve shown that they can take the NYC pressures. Like most fans, starting pitching is a concern, but I’m ready to ride the “ score more runs than the other team” train. #LFGM! Edited March 2 by Gugny 1
ExWNYer Posted Sunday at 04:36 AM Posted Sunday at 04:36 AM (edited) On 3/2/2025 at 10:17 AM, Another Fan said: @Gugny@ExWNYer@SinceThe70s A good time for another thread. The season will be here by the end of the month already. Being a Mets fan I'll never be like 100% all in on being confident but still lots to like for this season. Mendoza & Stearns both exceeded my expectations last season. Soto- I definitely think they over payed but at the same time it's a clear W against the team from the bronx Pete- didn't go that smoothly for sure but at least he's still a Met. LGM @SinceThe70s @Gugny I don't like the fact that they are already dealing with injuries to the starting pitching staff but I have my fingers crossed. Starting pitching could keep this team from reaching its potential but time will tell. Holmes has looked good this Spring and they need a healthy Senga to deliver and hope that Manaea's new delivery keeps him at ace level. I'm also hopeful for Peterson. I have always loved his potential. They are a work in progress but Stearns' specialty has always been finding reclamation pitching projects and getting the most out of them. I'm also excited about rookie starter Brandon Sproat. He won't be with the big club to start the year but I fully expect him to be a contributor to the playoff push by year's end. I don't think Soto was an overpay. It's what the market would bear. I feel that way about all contracts. If someone is willing to pay, then the player is not "overpaid". As the saying goes, "It's not my money." BTW, apparently money was not completely the deciding factor. Boston was willing to pay more but Soto really wanted the Mets and some of the incidentals they agreed to in the contract. I hate the baseball salary structure but, as long as it is the way it is, I'm glad we finally have an owner who is willing to go to the wall for anyone the front office wants. I'm glad Pete is back because the lineup is better with him in it and he will own the all-time Mets HR record by year's end (barring injury). If he has a good year, he will opt out and try for more money again next year and we'll do this all over again. The good news is, if that happens, the Mets likely had another very good year. LGM!!! Edited Sunday at 04:39 AM by ExWNYer 1
Another Fan Posted Sunday at 03:02 PM Author Posted Sunday at 03:02 PM 10 hours ago, ExWNYer said: @SinceThe70s @Gugny I don't like the fact that they are already dealing with injuries to the starting pitching staff but I have my fingers crossed. Starting pitching could keep this team from reaching its potential but time will tell. Holmes has looked good this Spring and they need a healthy Senga to deliver and hope that Manaea's new delivery keeps him at ace level. I'm also hopeful for Peterson. I have always loved his potential. They are a work in progress but Stearns' specialty has always been finding reclamation pitching projects and getting the most out of them. I'm also excited about rookie starter Brandon Sproat. He won't be with the big club to start the year but I fully expect him to be a contributor to the playoff push by year's end. I don't think Soto was an overpay. It's what the market would bear. I feel that way about all contracts. If someone is willing to pay, then the player is not "overpaid". As the saying goes, "It's not my money." BTW, apparently money was not completely the deciding factor. Boston was willing to pay more but Soto really wanted the Mets and some of the incidentals they agreed to in the contract. I hate the baseball salary structure but, as long as it is the way it is, I'm glad we finally have an owner who is willing to go to the wall for anyone the front office wants. I'm glad Pete is back because the lineup is better with him in it and he will own the all-time Mets HR record by year's end (barring injury). If he has a good year, he will opt out and try for more money again next year and we'll do this all over again. The good news is, if that happens, the Mets likely had another very good year. LGM!!! Spring Training- it's more just exciting to me to see baseball being played again and the end of winter. I've never really looked too deeply into it. After the Mets started so poor last year and brought it the rest of the year I can't get too wrapped into it. I mean at least that's how I look at it. Misterbluesky was the poster on these old threads that would get stressed out watching Spring Training games. I miss him 1
SinceThe70s Posted Sunday at 05:18 PM Posted Sunday at 05:18 PM (edited) @Another Fan - thanks for starting up the thread. It's a small group but I appreciate the perspectives. @Gugny @ExWNYer I've never really gotten into spring training. Feels like the only news of note is bad news - injuries. Last year made no sense to me when they didn't give Vientos a chance to make the opening day roster even though Martinez wasn't ready, but that turned out just fine. It's not where you start, it's where you end. The starting pitching doesn't look championship caliber to me, but if Senga comes back strong, Manaea can replicate his second half and as @ExWNYer mentioned if Stearns good track record with reclamation projects continues it'll be a fun year. I feel good about the bullpen - tbullpens are a year to year crap shoot for most teams and at a minimum at least Ottavino is gone. Behind the plate I'd love to see Alvarez have a bigger year with the bat. Seems like he's solidified himself as a clubhouse guy and handler of pitchers, but I want more. Thrilled to have Pete back, wish he had signed the long term deal before going over to the dark side with Bor-@ss. Hope he gets his joy back, I thought the contract situation weighed on him last year and with the opt-out he's basically in another walk year. Disappointed that Iglesias isn't back, but there's a logjam at 2nd and we caught lightning in a bottle with him last year. I desperately want Lindor to be competent at the plate the first month or two. It won't surprise me at all if Vientos has a sophomore slump but I'm more concerned with his glove, would like to see improvement. In the outfield, a healthy Nimmo would go a long way. Tyrod Taylor (sic) is a solid contributor but I know nothing of Siri. Soto with Pete and Lindor could be a lot of fun. And at DH, I'd love to see Marte contribute. Feels like the Mets have had the most success the past few years when he's been on the field. Winker is a fun guy to have around, love his passion but he's a guy I could easily see flame out. LGM!! EDIT: no sooner do I post this then I see news that Alvarez is out for 8 weeks with a hand fracture. MFer!!! Edited Sunday at 05:22 PM by SinceThe70s 1 1
ExWNYer Posted Monday at 03:02 PM Posted Monday at 03:02 PM (edited) 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: @Another Fan - thanks for starting up the thread. It's a small group but I appreciate the perspectives. @Gugny @ExWNYer I've never really gotten into spring training. Feels like the only news of note is bad news - injuries. Last year made no sense to me when they didn't give Vientos a chance to make the opening day roster even though Martinez wasn't ready, but that turned out just fine. It's not where you start, it's where you end. I love Spring Training. Does it last too long? Yes. Do I care about the results of the games? Not really. But it signifies (symbolically) the end of winter and gets my mind off of the Bills not playing. Also, I am a bit of a "prospect weenie". I love watching the young guys and the minor league prospects and seeing where they may fit in or who may be used in a potential deadline trade/upgrade. Keep an eye on SP Brandon Sproat. I believe he'll be a part of this starting rotation before season's end. He just needs a little more seasoning in the minors. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: The starting pitching doesn't look championship caliber to me, but if Senga comes back strong, Manaea can replicate his second half and as @ExWNYer mentioned if Stearns good track record with reclamation projects continues it'll be a fun year. Agreed. I like the depth they've built in the rotation, now they need a few of them to deliver. I am least confident in this bunch than any other part of the team. Senga needs to be an ace. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: I feel good about the bullpen - tbullpens are a year to year crap shoot for most teams and at a minimum at least Ottavino is gone. Agreed. The bullpen could be a sneaky strength, IMO. Another year removed from his injury has me hopeful that Diaz will be closer to his old (good) form. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: Behind the plate I'd love to see Alvarez have a bigger year with the bat. Seems like he's solidified himself as a clubhouse guy and handler of pitchers, but I want more. EDIT: no sooner do I post this then I see news that Alvarez is out for 8 weeks with a hand fracture. MFer!!! As you mentioned in your 'EDIT', Alvie is gone 6-8 weeks. This is really disappointing. I'm starting to worry that the injury bug is going to follow him his whole career and he will end up being another in a long line of Mets "can't miss" prospects who becomes JAG. I hope I'm wrong. He's young, so he has that going in his favor...but he plays catcher which does not work in his favor. "Availability is the best ability"...he needs to stay healthy. The way he expertly handles the pitchers is also a huge loss. I like Torrens but he is a backup for a reason. It will be interesting to see who earns the job behind him in the next couple of weeks. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: Thrilled to have Pete back, wish he had signed the long term deal before going over to the dark side with Bor-@ss. Hope he gets his joy back, I thought the contract situation weighed on him last year and with the opt-out he's basically in another walk year. I'm glad to have Pete back, as well, but I'm probably in the minority in not wanting him signed long term. The Mets played this perfectly, IMO. Let him prove it again. I hope he has a monster year and gives the Mets something to think about in the offseason. They are already locked into Lindor & Soto long term. Doing that with Pete greatly hampers the roster flexibility. I'm not convinced that he is a part of the core going forward and he plays arguably the least valuable as well as the most easily replaceable position on the field. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: Disappointed that Iglesias isn't back, but there's a logjam at 2nd and we caught lightning in a bottle with him last year. Agreed but I get why they didn't bring him back. He (OMG) and Grimace were 2024's vibe just like the canary and the Cespedes trade (and his yellow sleeve) were 2015's vibe. Hopefully, they get something cool to spark this year's squad. Maybe that is as simple as a full year of Winker. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: I desperately want Lindor to be competent at the plate the first month or two. Amen. His slow starts seem to constantly put this team in a hole early and they spend the rest of the year trying to dig out; however, he has always been a notoriously slow starter, even when he was in Cleveland, so I'm not holding my breath. Maybe Soto lessens the sting of another slow Lindor start. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: It won't surprise me at all if Vientos has a sophomore slump but I'm more concerned with his glove, would like to see improvement. I wouldn't be surprised at a Vientos sophomore slump either. If that happens, I'm hoping it's early and he is "2024 playoff Vientos" by year's end. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: In the outfield, a healthy Nimmo would go a long way. Tyrod Taylor (sic) is a solid contributor but I know nothing of Siri. Soto with Pete and Lindor could be a lot of fun. Hopefully, Nimmo gets his feet right and is the Nimmo we know and love. He is sorely (no pun intended) needed, especially if they'll be using him some (a lot?) in the cleanup spot. Taylor is a great "glue guy". Love him. Siri is a phenomenal defender and will be an upgrade in CF from Bader, even though Bader was a great defender in his own right. Siri has more pop than Bader and should supply some spot power in the lineup but his big failing is that he has never hit for average. Look for his great D in the outfield and some HRs but be prepared to be frustrated by his low batting average, if you worry about that stuff. Today's analytics seems to place way less emphasis on average, FWIW. Lindor, Soto, & Alonso should indeed provide some exciting fireworks at the top of the lineup. If Alvarez can eventually contribute, this could be the most potent Mets squad, up and down the lineup, in almost 20 years. 21 hours ago, SinceThe70s said: And at DH, I'd love to see Marte contribute. Feels like the Mets have had the most success the past few years when he's been on the field. Winker is a fun guy to have around, love his passion but he's a guy I could easily see flame out. LGM!! Personally, I hope Marte eventually gets moved for another arm. I'm done with his injuries and he's getting a little long in the tooth. He always leaves me wanting more. It's time for him to be on someone else's IL. Winker with a little Pete sprinkled in (when he's resting from a day off in the field) should be more than adequate at DH. Vientos may get a few games there, as well. I'm hoping for an exciting year with lots of offense. I think they will need to score and score some more to win, much like the Bills this past season. LGM!!! @Gugny @Another Fan Edited Monday at 03:03 PM by ExWNYer 1 1
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