New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Can't decide how I feel about this. Seems like he's been rushed to the majors after a successful short stint in AA last year followed by an undistinguished season in AAA that saw him walk too many guys (73 in 137 innings). He's only 22, what's the rush?

(Of course, you could've said almost the exact same thing about Matt Harvey, and then he went and had a pretty fantastic first 10 big league starts, so... what do I know?)

I'm OK with a little taste of the Bigs in September-October. Some permutation of 2 or (hope against hope) 3 from {Wheeler, Harvey, Familia, McHugh, Mejia} will stick. Wheeler is 22 and will probably be brought up next September. Familia is Dominican 23 (so, say 25)...

But I may just be impatient for something good to go into the off-season with after the Grande El Foldo of the second half.

[jmh]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Familia's first start tonight.

Can't decide how I feel about this. Seems like he's been rushed to the majors after a successful short stint in AA last year followed by an undistinguished season in AAA that saw him walk too many guys (73 in 137 innings). He's only 22, what's the rush?

(Of course, you could've said almost the exact same thing about Matt Harvey, and then he went and had a pretty fantastic first 10 big league starts, so... what do I know?)

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Familia's first start tonight.

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

And the Pirates' RF made the catch of the year.

[jmh]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Keith Hernandez shaved his mustache.

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Dickey goes for number 20 at 1:10 today.

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Valdespin needs to learn to be a little more selective at the plate

I do not know if that's ever going to happen; it's a little like saying "Pelfrey has to learn to be a little more sane."

Spin's OBP is abysmal (.278) and his BB/K is even worse (.16). If he can get those numbers up to around the team mean (.320, .40), then I really think we have something in him.

[jmh]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Valdespin needs to learn to be a little more selective at the plate (5 walks and 32 strikeouts in 160 plate appearances is not what you'd call "great") and actually be any good at one of the 17 positions he plays before I'm ready to say that he'll be a starter. I'm a little less confident in his ability to do so given that he's already 24 (I don't think people necessarily realize how old he is because this is his first year in the majors, but he's two years older than Tejada, almost as old as Thole and Davis and Duda) and hasn't shown any plate discipline in the minors either (11 walks and 44 strikeouts over two seasons in AAA, 23 walks and 91 strikeouts over two seasons in AA).

I don't see how the Mets could even consider letting Wright walk if it's within their means to keep him. (Obviously we don't know whether that's the case.)

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

I got to see the team in person Friday, albeit in a loss. They have lost much of the good feeling that surrounded them the first half. It's not the ghost ship of past years, though. They have men who will be a part of the resurgence, and I don't think that will be too far off. Harvey, Niese and Dickey are all solid. Ike, Ruben, and Spin will be starters. Duda we will see when he gets back. And then there are tantalizing rumors of Wheeler, Familia, etc in the minors.

The question is whether to extend or trade David. If somebody offered us a king's ransom I would not turn it down, but I lean towards re-signing him as the Ripken / Jeter career the Mets have never had (unless you count Kranepool). Some of the damage to the franchise over the last few years has been spiritual. We let Reyes go out of necessity, but with Wright we have a choice.

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Great start by Harvey. Only pitcher in modern baseball history to record 10+ strikeouts and 2 hits in his ML debut.

He had control throughout, was constantly ahead of hitters, consistently had the FB above 95 and has a wicked, wicked Uncle Charlie. The change up needs work.

Also very confident and, wonder of wonders, is the first Met pitcher since Pedro to throw up and in to reclaim the plate.

A nice ray of sunshine for what has turned into a dismal July. (Not that this wasn't expected long ago making it much easier to swallow.)

The good news is you can see there are valuable pieces on this team that could make for a winner in a few years.

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Great start by Harvey. Only pitcher in modern baseball history to record 10+ strikeouts and 2 hits in his ML debut.

He had control throughout, was constantly ahead of hitters, consistently had the FB above 95 and has a wicked, wicked Uncle Charlie. The change up needs work.

Also very confident and, wonder of wonders, is the first Met pitcher since Pedro to throw up and in to reclaim the plate.

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

On the heels of being 1-11 post-All Star break, Matt Harvey has been called up for his major league debut.

[Kepler]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Just another in our cycle of having one close game, one blow out win, and one blow out loss. Strange team.

Interesting point on Dickey as a possible starter: IINM, none of the NL catchers have ever caught a knucklerballer.

[Terrier520]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Okay, day before the ASB, and Niese had a bad first inning. Dempster shutting down the Mets.... 4-0. I don't like this.

[joecct]

Re: New York Mets 2012: Fight the Future

Freaking amazing. It reminded me of Game Six -- down to the last strike a dozen times, clutch hitting, a little luck, some freakiness, and in the end the worst people on earth go away crying.

A pox upon your Game 6. It still gives me nightmares - along with the 1977 ECAC semifinal.