Mets

[swoboda]

Collectively the Mets OF changes feel like
A+B-C-D= 0
And I just read in the New York papers that looks like they're giving up on Stroman.

[Westheim]

Oh well, with that defense you don't need pitching either!

[Magus978]

Done deal. Mets sign Max Scherzer. 3 years, 130 mil, opt out after 2 years.

[Jason Moyer]

Didn't expect Max to hit the "stop caring about winning/old dude milking cash from the Mets" stage of his career already. I guess it happens to everyone.

[Westheim]

Who needs defense with that pitching???

[Déjà Bru]

One thing is for sure: You can no longer complain about Mets ownership.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

One thing is for sure: You can no longer complain about Mets ownership.

(wears new Mets uniform and hat, a 1986 emblazoned blue-and-orange foam finger, and carries a plus-sized Mr. Met doll, plus the smile of absolutely stupified excitement)

Uncle Steve is the best uncle in the world! He buys me everything I point at!

(points at the ice cream vendor with his form finger)

Uncle Steve just bought the ice cream place for me!

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Westheim

"Control pitcher" was never a term I associated with him. He can be infuriating with constant 3-1 counts.

Or maybe the Blue Jays fixed him, what do I know?

Lifetime 2.7/9 walk rate, with a lifetime 3.35:1 strikeout to walk ratio. That's pretty good, especially when you have an excellent defense behind you.

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

Didn't expect Max to hit the "stop caring about winning/old dude milking cash from the Mets" stage of his career already. I guess it happens to everyone.

This was my first thought when I heard about this deal. Max just wants some retirement cash now.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

This was my first thought when I heard about this deal. Max just wants some retirement cash now.

Scroogey Gnats barely paid him. How can a guy live off $30m/year, partially deferred?

[thehef]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

This was my first thought when I heard about this deal. Max just wants some retirement cash now.

As a Dodger fan, I'm thinking "bullet dodged." Although he was lights out in his first 9 Dodger starts, in the final stretch run when the pennant was on the line, his final two starts were not good. Then, in his three postseason starts, his struggles continued (true, in one of those he had good stats and got a win, but he noticeably struggled with command in that one). Finally, with the season on the line & facing an elimination game, he was unable to take the ball. Which was shocking from a competitor like Max.

It may turn out that he simply endured a sub-par few weeks and/or a tired arm at a most-inopportune time, and that he goes on to have a few dominant years with the Mets. But at 38 years old before the end of the next season, and those red flags, $130 million is just too much to risk, IMO.

And, yes, it does suggest that the (formerly?) ultra-competitive Scherzer is thinking more about a cash-grab than he is about winning. Not that there's anything wrong with him thinking that way, but it's a bit telling in my book. Of course there's always the possibility that he's convinced the Mets are 100% willing to spend their way into the Dodgers' realm of success.

[UltimateAverageGuy]

Originally Posted by thehef

As a Dodger fan, I'm thinking "bullet dodged." Although he was lights out in his first 9 Dodger starts, in the final stretch run when the pennant was on the line, his final two starts were not good. Then, in his three postseason starts, his struggles continued (true, in one of those he had good stats and got a win, but he noticeably struggled with command in that one). Finally, with the season on the line & facing an elimination game, he was unable to take the ball. Which was shocking from a competitor like Max.

It may turn out that he simply endured a sub-par few weeks and/or a tired arm at a most-inopportune time, and that he goes on to have a few dominant years with the Mets. But at 38 years old before the end of the next season, and those red flags, $130 million is just too much to risk, IMO.

And, yes, it does suggest that the (formerly?) ultra-competitive Scherzer is thinking more about a cash-grab than he is about winning. Not that there's anything wrong with him thinking that way, but it's a bit telling in my book. Of course there's always the possibility that he's convinced the Mets are 100% willing to spend their way into the Dodgers' realm of success.

If he signed with the Dodgers your six week sample size for a top 5 pitcher in baseball would never be thought of.

[swoboda]

Apparently the Mets believe they can win it all this year?

As the LA fan said Max was tough but "out of gas" as in spent during the playoffs.
Age 37, 38 and 39 seasons for a mountain of money.
Ugghhh. I hope I am wrong about this but I have a really bad feeling here.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by UltimateAverageGuy

If he signed with the Dodgers your six week sample size for a top 5 pitcher in baseball would never be thought of.

It would've by me. Almost a month ago, in response to someone saying that Scherzer would be at the top of their FA list, I wrote this:

Originally Posted by thehef

I'd want more info on the 37-year-old Scherzer's health after his late season fade, followed by his postseason struggles, ending with his not taking the ball in game 6 vs the Braves...

[Westheim]

Thankfully all the doubts can be silenced by looking into Max Scherzer's eyes for two minutes, which pierce you right into the innermost part of your soul and make it all feel alright again!

At least until it's April and it's really all falling apart again.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Thankfully all the doubts can be silenced by looking into Max Scherzer's eyes for two minutes, which pierce you right into the innermost part of your soul and make it all feel alright again!

Heh, I would love to have run a blood and saliva test on him at that moment.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by swoboda

Apparently the Mets believe they can win it all this year?

Apparently.

[Jason Moyer]

It's the Mets. He'll blow his arm out this year, and they'll work out some deferred payment thing where he's receiving $10 million a year for 40 years.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

It's the Mets. He'll blow his arm out this year, and they'll work out some deferred payment thing where he's receiving $10 million a year for 40 years.

Yeah but by 2041, $10m will barely buy you a tank o' gas, so it won't hurt as much anymore by then.

(looking for a straw to hold on to)

[Déjà Bru]

Local sports news columnist:

Among the publicly known candidates, Buck Showalter stands out as the obvious favorite in our view. And the reasons are clear:
1. New York experience
2. Baseball IQ
3. Culture builder

Seeing as this is the Mets, those are significant qualifications. Especially when you consider this was a team that last season had:
1. Players strangling each other in the dugout
2. Crediting fictional coaches for their early success
3. Spending the mental energy to give a coordinated thumbs-down gesture to their own fans

It's the last three items that I want to concentrate upon. Number 3, I know about. The first two, what the heck? I don't follow the Mets closely but I do live in the area. What is he talking about?

"Players strangling each other in the dugout": Is this about the rodent in the Citi Field dugout tunnel that Lindor and McNeil fought over whether it was a rat or a raccoon? (Likely a cover story for what really happened: a miscommunication on the field in which McNeil crowded Lindor at 2B, leading to a throwing error and a nasty discussion in the dugout tunnel.)

"Crediting fictional coaches for their early success": That's this story, I believe. Why Alonso and Conforto would think it was a good idea to fashion such a yarn is hard to fathom, especially since two days later, a couple of real coaches that they did like were fired. (This also could be a sign of something more serious, like players taking it upon themselves to manage team personnel.)

"Spending the mental energy to give a coordinated thumbs-down gesture to their own fans": This I recall vividly. Spoiled, prima donna behavior. It's an indication that the team needs a firm, seasoned hand to guide them.

So maybe the columnist is right: Rather than hiring another debutante as the manager, choose an experienced guy like Buck Showalter.