The latest from Citi Field…
- The Mets are expected to part ways with long-time pitching coach Dan Warthen, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. Warthen has been in his current role since June 2008 and had originally intended to retire after the season, though the Mets’ struggles caused Warthen to want one more year so as to go out on a higher note. Two internal candidates (bullpen coach Ricky Bones and minor league pitching coordinator Ron Romanick) are the top picks to replace Warthen, while Triple-A pitching coach Frank Viola is not under consideration and may not remain with the organization. Puma also listed former A’s pitching coach Curt Young and Red Sox director of pitching development Brian Bannister as external candidates who could receive consideration.
- There has been wide speculation that Terry Collins won’t return as the Mets’ manager in 2018, though Collins tells The Record’s Matt Ehalt that he has no plans to retire. “I said it a couple years ago, I didn’t know how long I wanted to manage, what could be my last year — I never said anything that I was going to retire. I always wanted to work until I was 70. That’s two more years,” Collins said. While best known as a manager, Collins has worked in a wide variety of roles over his long career in baseball and said he is open to continuing in one of many jobs at the MLB or minor league level, though his preference is to remain with the Mets.
- Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki have both been hitting well since the two catchers began to evenly split the playing time last month, leading MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo to speculate that the Mets could benefit by continuing this timeshare in 2018. D’Arnaud has long been plagued by injuries, so reducing his workload would help keep him healthier and theoretically more productive. The catch could be if Plawecki is able to keep up his respectable hitting numbers over the course of a full season, as the backstop has been unable to duplicate his good minor league numbers at the MLB level.
Why are media fingers being pointed at Terry Collins?
Because that’s an easy, consequence free target, unlike Fred Wilpon?
Hey Casey-the fingers are pointed at “TC” because it’s how he earns his salary. In lieu of leadership and strategy, “TC” bumbles enough to get plenty of Post and Daily News’ back pages. That’s what Jeff and Mutt want
Because d’Arnaud and Plawecki hit well for a few weeks, it basically gives them job security already for next season. This team just never looks to improve above mediocrity. They accept it because they are cheap labor and are capable of a hot streak or two.
The team needs a complete overhaul. Of course it usually takes time and spending some money, but they can’t keep bringing back the same cast and think the team is going to improve.
Couldn’t agree more. This team needs complete change if they want to compete. D’arnaud is doing well now because it means nothing but not the case when Mets need to win because game is needed. It’s just like Robles, Familia and a bunch others you can’t depend on them when they are needed.
Ruben, thanks for teilling it like it is, rather than most met indignanta
It seems that the Mets’ line of thinking is that a healthy season from most of their starters alongside the profession of Rosario and Smith could propel this team into at least Wild Card contention next season. Hard to argue with them considering the potential that their rotation has but it remains to be seen if any of them can consistently stay healthy
*progression
I’m not a Mets fan but why would going after a Wild Card be an acceptable goal? It’s not about making the playoffs, it’s about championships. I can’t possibly see a reason why anything short of that would be considered acceptable for them, or any team for that matter.
Because it is extremely difficult to win a championship without making the playoffs. It’s not a step you can skip.
Yeah, but they just won the pennant not too long ago. It’s not audacious to expect the pennant when your window appears open.
Look at the Royals. When their window of opportunity was open, they one the pennant back to back and the WS. Suddenly, their core 4 are all free agents and maybe their run is over ? You have to strike when you’re hot and shoot for it all. “Wildcard contention” is not enough, nor should it be…
Mets need to go after 2 reliable starter and put wheeler in the pen. Fixes 2 problems at once. Then bring back Reyes as backup IF/part time 2B. Flores plays 2B, 1B. Cabrera at 3rd. Rosario and smith at SS/1B. Sign a Carlos Gomez of Jose Bautista and they will probably call it an offseason.
*1 reliable starter
” . . . and put wheeler in the pen. Fixes 2 problems at once.”
Um, Zack Wheeler has a career WHIP of ~ 1.4. The only problem sending him to the bullpen fixes is removing the thirty or so starts he would have made.
Understood what the buzz what was when he came up. But we have years of performance to go on now. Wheeler hasn’t been good during any single season of his career. If he wants to reinvent himself as a relief ace he’ll have to find the plate more often than he has as a starter. As the Old Perfessor would say, ‘You can look it up.’
I wonder if the Mets would take Chris Davis and his contract in exchange for Matt Harvey.
How does that make any sense for them? Davis is one of the worst contracts in the league. If they don’t want Harvey, they can simply non-tender him
Yea that makes no sense whatsoever. Last thing the Mets will want to do Is add dead payroll especially shedding all that veteran money at the end of this year
The only team you might get to bite on Chris Davis would be the Yankees, and by might I mean less than 1% chance. They have a ton of money coming of the books and they have some bad contracts to swap.. Ellsbury for Davis and Bundy/Gausman might get them interested.. I doubt it though.. They seem pretty set with Greg Bird and Cashman has been praising him for several years now. Repeatedly calling him “by far the best hitter they have in the minors..” I think you Orioles fans are stuck with him for the duration.. Kind of like Pujols and the Angels/Cano and Seattle/Grienke and the D-Backs..
Why would the Orioles give up Davis + a pitcher for Ellsbury?
Because it’s the only way anyone would take Davis. His contract gives him huge negative trade value. You’re right, I don’t think they would, but he was saying it is the only way the Orioles could ever move Davis. A bad contract like Ellsbury plus the Orioles giving up another significant asset.
Add to coffin…
Miggy and the Tigers
Price and the Red Sox
Mets don’t need an overhaul, just health and a couple of needs that they can address with the 50M they’ll have after arbitration. 3B, 2B, CF and a #3 SP are those areas. Flores is a super UTL, signing Reyes and keeping Cabrera round out backups in the INF. They could live with Lagares and his solid D in CF if they get a couple of solid bats at 3B (Mousetakis?) and 2B. Pitching, while talented, is the question that defines and makes our brakes the team.
A new manager and coaching staff wouldn’t hurt, either. I just don’t think it’s as dire as folks make it seem.
McCuch would be a nice addition, not to mention a guy named Jay Bruce
Mets to Orioles: Harvey, Flores, Robles and PJ Conklin. Orioles to Mets: Machado
Good idea, maybe the orioles can throw in Adam Jones too while you’re dreaming