By Steven Inman
With the trade deadline just a few short hours away, join Rob DeLucia and myself on the second ever BrokeMets podcast. We discuss what the Mets could do at the trade deadline, recap the week as well as preview the series vs. the San Fransisco Giants. Plus our players of the week at the end of the show. Once again leave comments and questions in the comment section under this post to get yourself on the next show for next week.
By Steven Inman
Matt Harvey has been cleared to return to the mound for the first time since since undergoing Tommy John surgery on Oct. 22, 2013. Harvey had wanted to be on a mound in June, but did not have organization permission. The Mets did that on purpose in an effort to slow down his rehab.
Harvey is highly unlikely to pitch in the big leagues this season but it’s possible Harvey will pitch briefly in the fall instructional league, which spans late September and early October in Florida.
Harvey is expected to be on an innings limit when he returns to the Mets rotation next season.
By Steven Inman
Both Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki have done serious damage against the Mets
While the recent speculation that the New York Mets could acquire SS Troy Tulowitzki or LF Carlos Gonzalez from the Rockies makes a lot of sense, I wouldn’t expect a deal to be struck anytime soon for several reasons.
First Rockies owner Dick Monfort loves both of these players and hasn’t let the Colorado front office even consider accepting trade calls for either hitter yet. That isn’t expected to change any time soon unless one of these two players formally request a trade.
Secondly, the Mets have worked hard over a few years to build up their young pitching and are unlikely to part with multiple high-level pitching prospects in one deal. It’s probable that they trade one for a bat but not very likely they traded multiple pitchers for a bat.
Either way this is a trade that would happen in the offseason where more teams can be involved anyway.
Both Cargo and Tulo have an extensive injury history the Mets will be looking for a bat they believe can be on the field for 150 games a year when they eventually do give up some of their pitching.
Gonzalez, who turns 29 in October, had spent a good chunk of this season on the disabled list after having a benign tumor removed from his left index finger. He has started 140 games just once in four full years in the majors. Gonzalez is earning $10.5 million this season and has three years at $53 million remaining on his contract from 2015-17.
Tulowitzki, 30 in October, has started 140 games at shortstop just three times in seven full years in the majors. He is being paid $14 million this season and then has five more years left at $104 million.
It is unlikely the Mets payroll expands to over $100 million anytime soon.
David Wright commented about how great of a fit Tulo would be with the Mets. Wright said he would have no problem recruiting Tulowitzki to New York if he needed convincing to waive his no-trade clause. “So just from knowing him through the All-Star Game and playing against him for a few years now, it seems that if he does want to be moved, a place like New York would be perfect for him.”- Wright to the NY Post.
These two players on paper would be perfect for the Mets lineup but they will cost too many prospects and money for the mid-market Mets. New York’s best bet to acquire bats will likely come elsewhere.
Which player would you rather have and how much would you give up?
By Steven Inman
I’m very proud to announce a project that has been in the works for several months. BrokeMets has been playing around with the concept of a BrokeMets podcast for some time which is now happening. Below you will see our first ever BrokeMets podcast. It includes myself as long with my former radio partner Rob DeLucia from our old show “The Three Till Three” on WSJU Radio.
We get to a variety of topics including Travis d’Arnaud’s resurgence, Tejada’s beaning, Colon’s trade value, Wheeler/deGrom development and so much more. You can also tweet us a question or comment for next weeks show @brokemets or just place in the comment section below this post. Thanks and Lets Go Mets!
By Steven Inman
If the Mets were right, Michael Conforto can breeze through the minor leagues
When Sandy Alderson became general manager of the New York Mets, his plan was to build a competitive team in the short-term while creating a great minor league farm system in the long-term. While the former hasn’t happened the ladder is actually coming together. The Mets farm was ranked in the mid-20’s when Alderson and company took over. In Keith Law of ESPN’s bi-annual prospect ranking he ranked the Mets farm fourth best in all of baseball.
In Law’s top 50 midseason prospect rewrite (Insiders Only), four Mets prospects made his top 50. Noah Syndergaard (16), Michael Conforto (32) Brandon Nimmo (34) and Dom Smith (49) all made Law’s top 50.
Syndergaard has had a rough year in Triple-A. His ERA is over five, he has spent time on the disabled list, and there is a chance now that we don’t even see him in the majors this season. That being said in the extreme hitter friendly PCL him just racking up innings has to be seen as a positive. Syndergaard is actually only 21 and seems to get better every time he advances a level with exception of this season of course. He should be fine and compete for a rotation spot early next season.
LF Michael Conforto made his professional debut for the Cyclones a few days ago. Unlike other top picks in the Sandy Alderson era, Conforto is expected to reach the big leagues rather quickly. Some have even predicted he would be the first from the 2014 draft class to reach the majors. While I wouldn’t go as far to say that since the Mets are generally much slower at advancing their prospects, Conforto should provide the Mets power rather soon.
Brandon Nimmo is the surprise on this list. He was constantly compared to all-star starter Jose Fernandez after Miami selected their flamethrower one pick after the Mets selected Nimmo. Nimmo didn’t show much power until this season when he escaped Savannah. Savannah’s park has always seemed to zap left –handed hitters of their power. Nimmo is hitting .282 along with a .411 OBP, nine homers and 40 RBI in 92 games between High-A and Double-A this season. Nimmo looks like he can legitimately contribute in some way to the Mets next season.
Lastly Dom Smith has also performed well against older completion in Savannah. The first basemen is hitting .299 with a .357 OBP in a tough place to hit. Like Nimmo it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he breaks out “power wise” next season when he gets away from the Sand Gnats.
It is very surprising to me after all of these years that three of the Mets four top prospects are now position players. The Mets are going to need to continue to develop these guys to help fix what is currently a poor major league offense.
By Steven Inman
The New York Mets has won three straight games. The club won a season-high four consecutive games from July 6-9.The Mets are 8-4 this month. The eight wins in July are tied for the third-most in the majors
The Mets are in sole possession of third place in the National League East for the first time since after their game at Colorado on May 4.
David Wright is hitting .375 (27-72) with a hit in 17 of his last 19 games…He has 15 RBI in that stretch with four home runs. Over Wright’s last 17 starts, the Mets are 12-5.
The first half of the 2014 Mets season looks very similar to the 2009-2013 Mets. All of those teams seemed to hang around in the first half until the road trip after the All-Star Break where they tailed of quickly. The Mets haven’t had a winning record in the second half since 2008.
Travis d’Arnaud is hitting .295 (18-61) with three home runs and 10 RBI with a .338 on-base percentage in 16 games since returning from Las Vegas (AAA) on June 24. D’Arnaud must improve on his defense most notably balls in the dirt over the course of the second half. He has bounced back nicely.
The Mets continue to get on base as Sandy Alderson wants. (Which is what every other GM and coach wants to) The Mets lead the National League and rank fifth in the majors with 335 walks. Curtis Granderson is fourth in the NL with 54 walks.
New York is tied for sixth in the majors with 66 stolen bases which has a lot to do with Eric Young Jr. Despite his dip in playing time, Eric Young, Jr. is fourth in the NL with 25 stolen bases
The next 10 game road trip will determine if the Mets sell off pieces according to Sandy Alderson. Unless some player they love falls into their laps (unlikely) the team will not be buyers. Bartolo Colon is really the only player the Mets have that has a decent chance of being traded.
How do you feel about the Mets going into the second half?
By Steven Inman
Travis d’Arnaud has quieted critics with his bat since his recall
The Mets reached the All-Star break at 45-50 in third place in the N.L. East but seven games back of the Nats and Braves. It was an up and down first half to say the least but it looks like this team’s best baseball could be right now. The Amazin’s won eight out of ten on their ten game home stand thanks to a 2.74 ERA over that stretch. That’s not really the surprising part however as the team scored 5.5 runs per game and hit 11 homers over that stretch. It was even at Citi Field!
The offense has been fuled by the consistent Daniel Murphy and the hot streak of the captain, David Wright. Wright is hitting .382 with four homers and 15 RBI over his last 18 games. (NYM:12-6 in that stretch)
The offense has improved thanks to hot streaks by a few Mets that were depended on heavily going into the season. (perhaps relied on too heavily) Lucas Duda is batting .312 with a .396 OBP along with six homers and 18 RBI over his last 27 games. Travis d’Arnaud is batting .295 with three homers and ten RBI in the 16 games since his recall from Triple-A. It was a very wise move to send him down and let him take a breather. Lastly Curtis Granderson has eight homers and 16 RBI over his last 32 games.
If the offense can continue to swing the bat even decently then this team should certainly finish over .500. The Mets run differential is currently +19 and Baseball Reference believes based on that the Mets should be 50-45 not 45-50. If the Mets hadn’t been so bad in one run games to this point this might be a different story but for now just hope they can keep climbing up. The Mets 13-20 record in one run games is the worst record in baseball. This team was 11 games under .500 at one point.
The road trip after the All-Star Break has not been kind to the Mets over the last few years but hopefully a trip to San Diego to face the lowly Padres could get the 2nd half off to the right start.
By Steven Inman
There has been a lot of talk this week questioning whether the Mets should be sellers at the Trade Deadline in a few weeks. It seemed like a no brainer a week ago but after a season high 4-game winning streak, fans are skeptical that it is time to waive the white flag. I’m not here to tell you the season is over and that they need to unload everyone with a contract. I am here to tell you it is time to unload Bartolo Colon.
Bartolo Colon has had a solid first half for the Mets. The 283 pound right-hander is 8-8 with a 3.99 ERA in 18starts this season. He has saved the Mets bullpen on numerous occasions. Colon has gone at least seven innings in 12 of his 18 starts this season. Case in point the other day, Colon gives up a four spot in the first inning vs. the Texas Rangers and winds up going seven innings giving up five runs. It looked like an awful day ahead and although the Mets lost that game, he saved the bullpen and they were able to get the job done the next day to win the rubber game.
That being said the Mets must trade Colon this month.
Colon would have some appeal to many contenders but the Mets wouldn’t get much back for the 41-year old. It would be more of a salary dump.
The Mets have many options for next year that currently don’t have rotation spots such as Matt Harvey and Rafael Montero. More importantly believe it or not the Mets payroll isn’t going up from its current $87 million payroll. The team will get Chris Young’s $7.25 million off the books but arbitration raises to many key players will wipe that salary relief out and then some. The team must move Colon’s $11 million salary to even think about upgrading the Mets this offseason.
Can you imagine the Mets going with this same team next season??? Neither can I and that’s why they must trade Colon.
By Steven Inman
Daniel Murphy is heading to Minnesota next week for the All-Star game
The All-Star rosters were officially announced on ESPN at 7pm Eastern Time. The Mets were represented by Daniel Murphy. It was the first time since 2003 that the Mets had just one All-Star. That was also a rough year for the Mets as they were represented by just Armando Benitez.
David Wright finished second in the NL 3B vote but wasn’t elected in despite four third basemen getting in. Aramis Ramirez who has missed time on the DL was elected the starter for the first place Brewers, Todd Frazier, who has been the best 3B in the NL this season also got in. Matt Carpenter who is having a down year along with utility man Josh Harrison are also third basemen who will be going to Minnesota.
Wright didn’t have a strong year but he’s a better choice than Harrison or Carpenter. The Mets being as bad as they are record wise really hurt Wright as well as Jon Niese’s chances.
Niese wouldn’t have played anyway since he was officially put on the DL today. It was no surprise that Niese was put on the DL but the Mets wanted to wait to make the move to see if Dillon Gee would be ready to pitch Wednesday which he will.
It is disappointing that the Mets have only one All-Star? Perhaps a little but they didn’t exactly have a bunch of deserving chances.
With four guys who can play third already on the NL roster it is unlikely Wright will make the team even if he gets hot this week and injuries occur. Niese won’t make the team either as an injury replacement since he is already injured.
Congrats to Daniel Murphy on his first career All-Star selection. Murphy was shocked to hear the good news from Terry Collins. “I’m very excited, but the word I’d use is humbling,” Murphy said. “And the other word is blessed.”Murphy told reporters after the Mets 8-4 win vs. the Rangers.
Murphy was picked as an alternate by NL manager Mike Matheny not by the players. Matheny made some questionable roster choices but not having a second Met wasn’t one of them.
By Steven Inman
Met fans have a right to be frustrated in the way the 2014 Mets have performed
The Mets have lost seven of their last eight games and in that span they have scored just 24 runs. The Mets didn’t come in with many expectations this season (unless you’re Sandy Alderson) but most Mets fans would agree that the 2014 Mets have been even more disappointing than most expected. The starting pitching, which is the team’s strength has been vastly overrated. Met starting pitchers have a 3.76 ERA this season which is 13th best in baseball. You can’t be a good team when your strength is 13th best in baseball.
The Mets offense has been abysmal all year and they are one Daniel Murphy cold streak away from being the Padres, if they aren’t already there. The Mets are tied for 21st in baseball in runs (328). The team is hitting just .239 this season despite Daniel Murphy leading the NL in hits with 103.
The plan for this offense this season was never to hit for a high average but it was to hit for power and have a good on base percentage up and down the entire order. The Mets have just 63 homers this season good for 25th in baseball. The Mets as a team have a .313 OBP good for 20th best in baseball.
Curious to what went wrong with the 2014 Mets? It’s pretty simple. The offense is in the bottom third in every major offensive category, they can’t turn a double play to save their lives (as demonstrated Monday) and the starting pitching hasn’t been good enough to carry the team… Oh yeah and the bullpen has the most losses in all of baseball with 19.
Sandy Alderson believes the Mets will turn it around because the team has a decent run differential. (-6) They have allowed 334 runs and have scored 328 which would signify a slightly below average team. Baseball Reference says according to run differential this team should be 42-43. That shouldn’t be something to be proud of though. If anything it shows how poor this team plays in close and late games. The Mets have eight walk off losses this year, most in baseball but they have been this way for years so don’t expect that to change anytime soon. They really just need better players…
The Mets Report 