Following a 92-loss season, the Mets will reimagine the way they use their pitching staff, says Marc Carig of newsday.com. The so-called “philosophical shift” may in part be driven by the Mets’ recent hire of former Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway as their new manager. According to one of Carig’s sources, Mets starters not named Noah Syndergaard or Jacob deGrom may be shielded from facing lineups more than twice through the order, following a continuing trend throughout the league. In order to compensate for potentially fewer innnings from their starters, the Amazins plan to employ an eight man bullpen. The dramatic change in plans comes after the team posted a 5.01 combined ERA (the second-worst mark in the National League in 2017) despite watching deGrom finish as one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Carig lays out the opponent OPS for each Mets pitcher per times through the batting order as well.
More from baseball’s East division…
- In a lengthy piece for the Providence Journal, Tim Britton urges against many reactionary moves suggested by Red Sox fans. The body of the article includes 24 fan suggestions for Dave Dombrowski that Britton sought out on Twitter. Among them are cases for why Boston shouldn’t trade for Giancarlo Stanton, why signing Eric Hosmer doesn’t make sense, and why they should neither shop David Price nor move him to the bullpen permanently. While many such suggestions from fans have obvious flaws in logic, Britton’s piece is well worth a read for his detailed perspective on each subject.
- Too many strikeouts and too few walks plagued the Orioles once again in 2017, writes Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com. The team’s 23.0% strikeout rate ranked 5th-highest in the majors, while their 6.4% combined walk rate was the worst in the majors. That horrid walk rate was over two full percentage points below the major-league average. Among the strikeout culprits was first baseman Chris Davis, who led all qualifiers in baseball with a whopping 37.2% strikeout rate. Melewski noted that a quick turnaround in this category isn’t unheard of; the Astros went from having the AL’s worst strikeout rate in 2015 to the league’s best this past season en route to a World Series victory. The Orioles will hope they can follow that example to some extent and put more balls in play next season.
JD Martinez fits Boston best from a value standpoint because we’d have to give up top prospects for Giancarlo and I’d rather give JD money than Hosmer
Did you see the $$$ Boras is looking for to sign JD?
JD Martinez is a poor defender who, if not moved to 1B, would push out an outstanding defender, as Boston has 3 of those currently in their OF. Giancarlo same thing.
Boston needs a quality 1B, that’s about it. Hosmer has 9.9 career WAR and 4.1 of that came last season, he’s not it. He’s actually not very good. Trading for Jose Abreu makes the most sense for Boston. They could also trade E Rod for Ryon Healy, and sign a SP. But that’s not really necessary either.
Boston doesn’t really have to do anything other than get a 1B, and even then, Hanley has been cleared so they actually might only need a DH, which they can fill for very cheap.
Stanton isn’t bad defensively. If you’re Boston, JBJ doesn’t block you from acquiring him.
So if the Red Sox do nothing, how are they better than last year?
I’d think them getting 30 starts out Price instead of Fister nets them 5+ wins in the regular season.
Getting 30 starts out of Price’s elbow is purely wishful thinking. He only pitched last year hoping to be able to accrue results to opt out.
In 2018, ouch will be followed by DL and then quickly TJ surgery.
Well as usual your classless on a Sox post but wishing harm on someone is a new low
I didn’t wish anyone harm. Just predicted it based upon recent history.
I guess it’s ok for people to post similar about Tanaka, including the bashing of his performance. It’s almost comical as Price doesn’t hold a candle to Tanaka in post season performance. This ultimately separates number 1’s from the rest and Price has been a poor performer when it matters most.
Carlos Santana is a MUCH better fit! Great eye at the plate…Gold Glove at 1st…and maybe 2/3 the cost? of Martinez…PLUS you keep the 3 “Gold Glove” outfielders Boston has…
Jd is going to cost 150 mil plus to dh or learn a new position. Despite the bat, terrible value.
I wouls spread that money around. 3 years 51 mil to bruce. While signing him to play first, nice to have that positional flexability. We add a 30 homer bat…short term commitment.
With the savings i would offer morrow and reed matching 3 year 25 mil deals. Pen would be lights out. Price going 5…smith, thorburgh, morrow and reed leading up to kimbrel…you help save that elbow. Goes for all the starters.
I would tender holt and see if i could use him and a mid level prospect…two lower ones trying to get josh harrison. Maybe even holt/swihart plus our #12-14 prospect get it done. Pitty might want to save the cash. He plays second till dusty is back…provides insurance for devers. And can be thrown in left when ever one of the OF need a day off, with the others shifting. He is 10 mil next year…based on what i looked at projected at 32 over 3.
So far at 133 mil in total expenditures…still less then jd.
With savings could target lucroy on one year bounce back contract
I believe harrisons last two years are option years, so could easily be declined next off season for the big fa class. Signing lucroy to a one year deal at say 17. Han Ram coming off books and declining harrison would result in about $45 mil per year coming off the books.
For pitching depth i would offer both fister and old friend clay incentive laden deals with an august 1st opt out. 2 mil base…
Chris should never been given the money he got
It’s pretty hilarious
It is kind of sad. Angelos stepped in and made that deal.
For me i like Carlos Santana at 1b! Sign Nunéz or make a deal wt the As for Jed Lowrie or try Cozart for 2b then i try to trade for Ozuna ( his cheaper, younth)
Nunez is going somewhere to start, not hold Dusty’s sunglasses until his knee gives out again.
Santana would cost a draft pick on top of the salary. As much as I like Nunez, I don’t think he’d sign… same goes for Cozart.
If the Sox sign JD – they keep the draft pick Santana would cost, and would keep the prospects Stanton would cost. That’s worth something., and factoring in that with the total cost might give the advantage to JD over the other two.
Would a David Price and $$$ for Matt Kemp & Julio Teheran deal work ???
Red Sox wouldn’t do it
Maybe, but they could get a better package for Price than that.
He’s owed a lot and has had some arm injuries lately. What kind of package do you think he’d return?
Price isn’t getting traded. 1 year 30M left before the opt out. You want that pitcher pitching for his next pay day. A pitcher with elbow problems and horrible stats this year just opted into his 3 year 67M contract and Yankee fans were ecstatic. If he isnt overpaid, how is Price?
Hey Death–look at the stats that MATTER. End of season and post season most important, the latter which your boy Price always comes up empty.
I’m not sure what Tanaka has to do with this , but he’s owed way less than David Price
You don’t think that they overpaid a bit? This is going to make all contracts pale.
If Atlanta assumes the remainder of his contract, I’d think Boston would be happy to take that deal.
At the rate he was striking out this past season, had Davis played in 158 games, he would have whiffed a record 241 times. Horrible contract and the O’s are stuck with it.
Go after Otani… cheap, good bat, good arm, desirable place, they can offer more money than most teams… Sale, Price, Pomeranz, Porcello, Otani, Erod… throw in Otani to give the rotation and extra days rest, throw him at DH on a regular basis to hit, even throw him in the OF every now and then to give the starters a rest…. Otani would be a dream to have on a roster and you could be super creative in finding a spot for him in the lineup and plugging him into the rotation… let the kid do his thing
Ohtani will go where he wants to go, there is no go after with him!
Sounds easy pound- but every team in baseball will make a pitch for Ohtani. Odds of him picking Boston are slim.
Im all for signing otani, but with the stanton deal what if you do jbj-hanley (unload money but only one year for marlins)- micheal chavis- sam travis
That’s actually not a bad trade, but I think the Marlins would prefer minor league talent than JBJ.
Move Price to the pen perminently?! lol. Ok. Thats ludicris to consider at this point in time. If he has 2 or 3 seasons in a row where he can’t stay healthy enough to start but can come out of the Pen, sure, consider it. But 1 unhealthy year and throw in the towel? Yeah, no.
I think the Price problem hurts the Sox with trying to get Stanton. Plus I don’t see Jeter trading with the Sox. As for Price he will opt out , you can be book it.
Doubt Jeter is gonna hold any grudges trading with the Sox lol he’s trading to any team. If Price keeps getting injured he’s not opting out.
Price isn’t opting out. The only way that opt out was going to be utilized was if he set the world on fire in his first 3 years in Boston. I doubt very much that he hates the Boston media and being in that kind of spotlight that he’s going to throw away tens of millions by opting out and signing a way less lucrative contract just to get away. Price is locked in for good. Might as well get used to it and hope he either heals this offseason or gets surgery the next time he gets hurt.
From the DL? Who is going to give him a
Larger contract after TJ surgery?
Price will turn 33 at the end of next season Slider… even if he has a decent season like 2016, are teams going to be lining up to offer him more than 4 years /$120M?
I like the new philosophy of Callaway, this is the way pitching has morphed into. There are only a few pitchers like Sale, Verlander, Kluber, and Severino that can pitch better as the game goes deeper. These guys are called aces. If a starting pitcher ERA goes up drastically the third time through the line-up then they shouldn’t be in the game. The Mets need at least 3 top end relief pitchers to make this work. I also like a six man rotation. I think you will see this with a team like the Yanks next year. They have the relief pitching to do it. You need to have at least 2 pitchers who can throw 2 innings or more twice a week like Green did last year. They also have Warren and Kanhle who can do the same thing. This along with a six man rotation keeps everyone fresh for the long season and playoffs.
Severino doesn’t belong in the same sentence as Sale, Kluber, and Verlander. Also, deGrom gets better as the game goes and Syndergaard doesn’t get worse. They need a legitimate 3-4 starter like Lance Lynn, sign Hosmer, and trade Dom Smith for Joc Pederson.
What why would the dodgers have any interest at all in Dom Smith? It absolutely makes no sense.
Bellinger can play left field, A-Gonzo is practically done and Taylor is their center fielder
Not going to happen for cheap wilpon reasons.
I’d keep Dom over Joc. We know Joc sucks. He had one half of one good season. At least with Dom there’s still an unknown quality to him.
Boston sports writers crack me up. They’re either sycophants or they race to see who can be the bigger contrarian. And who the hell ever said move price to the bullpen full time? No one that’s who
Sox would essentially have a middle reliever making $31M/year, and the only way that’s viable is if he’s late in the contract which he isn’t. Nobody wants to see another Barry Zito scenario develop, but if they’re gonna keep Price he needs to be in that rotation
If the Mets want carry out this plan they need at least one more ace like deGrom or Syndergaard. I’m afraid They are going to overwork their bullpen again like they did this year
Yeah, seriously. Twice through the order? You’re looking at starters regularly going 4 or 5 innings, and that’s just not workable. How about just bolstering the rotation?
4-5 inning starters will work in the postseason but that’s about it. Can’t imagine a team successfully running out their bullpen for 4-5 innings 60% of the week. Orioles basically did that this year with their lack of effective pitching and you saw how that went.
how about the mets just not pitch anybody, it will save us time
“While many such suggestions from fans have obvious flaws in logic” God how I love this line. So many people on here should reflect on this.
Why exactly are we talking about David Price like he’s nothing more than a dime a dozen mopup guy?
Because he had one bad season where he was hurt so people wanna throw him out.