OT: 2024 NY Mets Season Thread

[Knight Shift]

Hard to believe that on Opening Day, Joey Wendle and Zach Short were on the Mets roster, and Mark Vientos and Jose Iglesias were not.

VIentos made his 2024 Mets debut in late April as a three day bereavement fill-in. He came off the bench as a late sub and hit an 11th inning walk off HR. Was sent back down two days later.

At least Vientos was on the radar screen. Iglesias' story is hard to believe. In 2022, he had a solid year as a semi-regular for the Rockies, hitting .292 in 467 AB's. Despite that, the best he could do in 2023 was a minor league contract with the Marlins, was released, signed another minor league contract with the Padres, and was released again. (In fairness, the releases may have been player opt-outs, those are common with veterans on minor league contracts.) Anyway, he was a free agent in June 2023 AND COULDN'T EVEN GET A MINOR LEAGUE JOB! He was unemployed for most of last year. What a comeback!

How about Mendoza.
Buck Showalter-great year 1 (101-61, but loses in NLWCS to SD), year 2 75-87.

Mendoza-no managerial experience- Gets the Mets to the NLCS. The first in Mets history to make the postseason in his first season, as a rookie manager

 

[FrankZ]

Love this guy

 

[FrankZ]

Senga or Severino in G1? Likely going Senga with Peterson in relief again. If it ain’t broke…

 

[nutfromSEC117]

Darvish vs Yamamoto Friday

If it’s San Diego that’s one less game vs Darvish for the Mets !

Good time for a historic 16 inning playoff game Friday in LA

 

[willisneverrana43]

Oh those posts in the early May days, lol

A lot of damage could be done here copying and pasting posts from the first two months of this season, even a bunch of posts later in the season. But the die-easy fans are suddenly alive.

 

[willisneverrana43]

Jeff McNeil is on his way to Arizona. He will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League on Friday and Saturday. The Mets will need to make a decision on him on Sunday. Will be interesting.

My guess is that the Mets will activate him and deactivate a pitcher, probably either Ottavino or Danny Young. When you have a fully rested staff playing seven games in nine days, you really don't need that 13th pitcher.

Iglesias’s hitting has come back down to earth and, frankly, been bad in the post-season (with him batting fifth, no less). So cue the hope that McNeil comes out of Arizona raking.

 

[nutfromSEC117]

Squirrel would be a huge help …,Dodgers rotation for games 1-3

RHPs Flaherty Buehler Yamamoto

Padres RHPs Cease King Darvish

Lindor
Vientos
Nimmo
Alonso
Winker
Marte
McNeil
Taylor
Alvarez

 

[Rutgers NJ]

A lot of damage could be done here copying and pasting posts from the first two months of this season, even a bunch of posts later in the season. But the die-easy fans are suddenly alive.

Yes plenty of Mets fans but don't forget the Varsity and their joy, in that dead thread of theirs,lol. I remember same old Mets shopping at Walmart with Tyron Taylor and Iglesias and several pitchers that well, even I would have to agree with that were bottom shelf purchases, but here we are, lol.

 

[RuSnp]

Squirrel would be a huge help …,Dodgers rotation for games 1-3

RHPs Flaherty Buehler Yamamoto

Padres RHPs Cease King Darvish

Lindor
Vientos
Nimmo
Alonso
Winker
Marte
McNeil
Taylor
Alvarez

The Musgrove injury was big. Did not want to see him again in a playoff game.

 

[RUSCFORMERLYRULOU]

Jeff McNeil is on his way to Arizona. He will play for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League on Friday and Saturday. The Mets will need to make a decision on him on Sunday. Will be interesting.

My guess is that the Mets will activate him and deactivate a pitcher, probably either Ottavino or Danny Young. When you have a fully rested staff playing seven games in nine days, you really don't need that 13th pitcher.

This. Mendoza wants maximum lineup flexibility and with the extra days he can get his rotation lined up the way he wants with the extra days off.

 

[yesrutgers01]

I have to admit, there was a time early this year that I had given up and thought I would go another summer not enjoying baseball. I thought Stearns was the wrong choice, etc.

And bam- I was wrong.

Though, I never turned on the team, just got disenchanted.

Never happier to be so wrong.

Imagine if we went after Montgomery and Snell - lol

 

[yesrutgers01]

Last night's game and the beauty of baseball - we go 1 and 2 innings with leaving bases loaded, and of course, win the game with a grandslam!

 

[tico brown]

6 seed was the path for the NLCS - not a doubt in my mind. Now tell me who to root for. Offense - edge LA, Pitching - edge SD. With Musgrove, I’d want no part of SD, but now not so sure. Open to a nudge in right direction 😎

I was worried about Machado and Tatis but I forgot how good their pitching is.

 

[wheezer]

I think if his HR has been a 9th inning walk off, his reaction would have been much different. He didn't celebrate because it was not the time to celebrate. There was more work to do.

The games not over
So he handled it perfectly

 

[fg7321]

Peterson
Butto
Winker
Bader
Taylor
Iggy
Torens

Yes we have the Superstars, Lindor and Pete, but these players among others deserve just as much credit. Add in watching Vientos grow into a beast. Sevi, Q, and Sean M turn around their seasons/careers. Of yeah then their is Sugar Diaz.

This is old school baseball. Not many superstars bunch of lunch pail guys. You can tell these players just love the game, playing with each other and of course their manager.

Mendoza too

 

[tico brown]

The games not over
So he handled it perfectly

Although I don’t mind the celebrations, the Lindor trot was a breath of fresh air:

 

[Rutgers NJ]

I was not second guessing but sitting here with my son first guessing saying Peterson needs to start the 9th. EVERY great move Mendoza made this season would have been forgotten if this went to game 5 and Wheeler hurled a CG gem. If this move was to show he had faith in Diaz then it would have made the move even worse. I'm pretty sure a few Amigos were jumping up and down when Diaz walked the first 2 batters, lol.Great game and a great run for a team that was trashed and given up for a throw away season.

 

[fg7321]

I have to tell you that i don't mind the celebrations and the bat flips and the emotion. Really liking Jesse Winker he reminds me of Ray Knight from the '86 mets lots of emotion and aggression punched out a guy who came in hot when he slid in to him.

 

[rubaseball78]

Iglesias’s hitting has come back down to earth and, frankly, been bad in the post-season (with him batting fifth, no less). So cue the hope that McNeil comes out of Arizona raking.

You don't take Iglesias out of the lineup.

 

[RuBird]

I have to tell you that i don't mind the celebrations and the bat flips and the emotion. Really liking Jesse Winker he reminds me of Ray Knight from the '86 mets lots of emotion and aggression punched out a guy who came in hot when he slid in to him.

My point was I liked it at the time. Don’t get me wrong love a good celebration but how many times has a player celebrated too early?

 

[willisneverrana43]

You don't take Iglesias out of the lineup.

I understand that sentiment, but if you’re not hitting, a song doesn’t keep you in the lineup. I don’t see him out of the lineup in the first game against the Pod-gers, but if he takes a collar, and McNeil looks good, he may be later in the series. At that point, his best hope of staying in the lineup would be his D.

 

[RU-05]

I have to admit, there was a time early this year that I had given up and thought I would go another summer not enjoying baseball. I thought Stearns was the wrong choice, etc.

And bam- I was I never turned on the team, just got disenchanted.

Never happier to be so wrong.

Imagine if we went after Montgomery and Snell - lol

Given last season and where the team was at the end of May, this was a very reasonable take. It required pie in the sky optimism to think the team could turn it around and get to where they are now.

And that's why this is now so enjoyable. The turn around, as the team has literally been the best in basevall, and now the dramatic victories piling up. Ton of fun.

 

[RU-05]

My point was I liked it at the time. Don’t get me wrong love a good celebration but how many times has a player celebrated too early?

A star player making huge plays, then displaying a workman like attitude, because you know, there is still more work to do, is a true sign of greatness, a leader at the highest level.

 

[Morrischiano]

I was lucky enough to go to the game. It was the most exciting and energetic baseball game that I’ve ever been to.

 

[yesrutgers01]

A star player making huge plays, then displaying a workman like attitude, because you know, there is still more work to do, is a true sign of greatness, a leader at the highest level.

If you notice the celebration after the strikeout to win it- the infielders made a quick run in to Diaz and then straight to Lindor standing at 2B and the real celebration started. This dude is so well respected.

 

[yesrutgers01]

I was lucky enough to go to the game. It was the most exciting and energetic baseball game that I’ve ever been to.

The moment he hit that GS- it must have felt like the stands were about to crash down

 

[e5fdny]

Kinda like what a MVP does? 😎

I mean…😉

 

[RUSCFORMERLYRULOU]

You don't take Iglesias out of the lineup.

1. See how McNeil does in the AFL and with live BP.
2. There are four. that we know we will be there every day- Nimmo, Pete, Lindor, Vientos. The rest will be about matchups IMHO. Depending on how Alvarez does Sunday I think Torres could get a start.

 

[tico brown]

I think it goes to Pat Murphy in Milwaukee. Everyone thought the Brewskis would take a step back when they lost Craig Counsell. Didn't happen. Remember, the award like all awards is based on regular season only.

As long as it doesn’t go to overrated Dave Roberts for writing Ohtani’s name in the lineup every day.

 

[tico brown]

Although I don’t mind the celebrations, the Lindor trot was a breath of fresh air:

 

[Rutgers NJ]

To the classy Philly fans,{are there any really} pretty sure it's filling up fast. 😁

 

[Morrischiano]

You don't take Iglesias out of the lineup.

Serious mean-reversion going on with Iglesias right now. He has to get dropped in the lineup.1

 

[willisneverrana43]

Given last season and where the team was at the end of May, this was a very reasonable take. It required pie in the sky optimism to think the team could turn it around and get to where they are now.

. . .

Not so. It was reactionary.

Not thinking Stearns was the right guy?? Someone who built Milwaukee into a perennial NL contender with no money and a fanbase that couldn't even sell out all the games for last week's playoff series with the Mets? In one or two months, he's not the right guy? That's absurd. Despite loads of uniform evidence that Stearns knew what he was doing, the self-cutting and blood spilling commenced. They died-easy.

The reasonable ones, on the other hand, saw a team that would be near .500, above or below. The actual results were better, which was a testament to what Stearns was able to do during the season. And the results were nowhere near the doom and gloom blood letting show put on by the die-easy reactionaries. It was amusing to watch, but not very reasonable.

Nobody is an infallible prognosticator. But what was going on here in April and May and beyond . . .

 

[Morrischiano]

I would roll out the following as the lineup going forward

Nimmo
Vientos
Lindor
Pete
Martinez/Winker
Marte
Iglesias
Alvarez
Taylor

This lets you lefty right through the first 5 in the lineup. Marte gives more contested at bats right now than Iglesias does.

 

[willisneverrana43]

1. See how McNeil does in the AFL and with live BP.
2. There are four. that we know we will be there every day- Nimmo, Pete, Lindor, Vientos. The rest will be about matchups IMHO. Depending on how Alvarez does Sunday I think Torres could get a start.

Yes, once you got passed Pete at the 4 spot in the Met lineup, the performance fell off the cliff, except for JD, who had been able to cobble together hits while he tries to get back on track. If your starter is back and swinging well, he should get plate appearances.

All that said, Iglesias will get a chance at the beginning of the series to show that he's hitting again.

 

[e5fdny]

The calm. Ir was the calm for me. Like that's why I'm here. That's why they got me. And that's why they paid to keep me. For moments like this. Like the announcer said no outward emotion.

Please watch Lindor run the bases after the Grand Slam. No bat flip, no gestures, not even a smile. Then see his interview after the game. Basically said it was about the players getting on base in front of him. I owe the man a huge apology. The way he started the season, Thought it was over. It was Lindor who called the team meeting to turn everything around. ( with a little help from Grimace). Ohtani will get the MVP but Lindor is my MVP.

I think if his HR has been a 9th inning walk off, his reaction would have been much different. He didn't celebrate because it was not the time to celebrate. There was more work to do.

Agree but not diminishing that he was a pro running the bases on his GS- a walk off at home to win a playoff series- he would deserve to do anything he wants- but I love the head down and run around even more- that, in itself, is intimidating.

BTW- Peterson- dude has been so damn good. Who had all those expanded pitching stats on him that basically said he sucks and will always suck?

LOL

The games not over
So he handled it perfectly

Although I don’t mind the celebrations, the Lindor trot was a breath of fresh air:

View embedded media

 

[FrankZ]

Serious mean-reversion going on with Iglesias right now. He has to get dropped in the lineup.1

Iglesias/Martinez back to back is bad right now. Taylor/Alvarez averages in the low 100s. If McNeil looks good, he’ll get a start by game two.

 

[Rutgers NJ]

Not so. It was reactionary.

Not thinking Stearns was the right guy?? Someone who built Milwaukee into a perennial NL contender with no money and a fanbase that couldn't even sell out all the games for last week's playoff series with the Mets? In one or two months, he's not the right guy? That's absurd. Despite loads of uniform evidence that Stearns knew what he was doing, the self-cutting and blood spilling commenced. They died-easy.

The reasonable ones, on the other hand, saw a team that would be near .500, above or below. The actual results were better, which was a testament to what Stearns was able to do during the season. And the results were nowhere near the doom and gloom blood letting show put on by the die-easy reactionaries. It was amusing to watch, but not very reasonable.

Nobody is an infallible prognosticator. But what was going on here in April and May and beyond . . .

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Not so. It was reactionary.

Not thinking Stearns was the right guy?? Someone who built Milwaukee into a perennial NL contender with no money and a fanbase that couldn't even sell out all the games for last week's playoff series with the Mets? In one or two months, he's not the right guy? That's absurd. Despite loads of uniform evidence that Stearns knew what he was doing, the self-cutting and blood spilling commenced. They died-easy.

The reasonable ones, on the other hand, saw a team that would be near .500, above or below. The actual results were better, which was a testament to what Stearns was able to do during the season. And the results were nowhere near the doom and gloom blood letting show put on by the die-easy reactionaries. It was amusing to watch, but not very reasonable.

Nobody is an infallible prognosticator. But what was going on here in April and May and beyond . . .

I do have to say that some fans and posters were overboard- I don't think a fan that felt just beaten down going into the summer, was completely unfair. As for Stearns- pretty much the same thing but also keep in mind- Cohen and being in NY next to the Yankees- had all of our heads thinking we can't do this like a small market team. Again- I am not sure that unfair either.

But the over the top reactions- you are completely right.

 

[RUforJERSEY]

6 seed was the path for the NLCS - not a doubt in my mind. Now tell me who to root for. Offense - edge LA, Pitching - edge SD. With Musgrove, I’d want no part of SD, but now not so sure. Open to a nudge in right direction 😎

I lean L.A. SD's bullpen is just filthy. But then so was Philly's right? And we shredded their pen. Both teams have SP issues. Imagine having to go with a bullpen game in the post-season. But it worked like a charm for the Dodgers last night. They both have power throughout their lineups. LA is a bit banged up with Freeman and Rojas who probably would go on the DL right now if this were the regular season.