Let's Go Mets!

[bk400]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

And the Polar Bear lives!!!

You can always count on the Polar Bear and Lindor.

[bk400]

Need some positive mojo. And the Mets who personified positive mojo are Mookie Wilson and Wally Backman. Links to heartwarming interviews with Mookie Wilson and Wally Backman. The second Wally Backman interview involves baseball cards!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfSDRPimGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhTBLrAM49w

https://www.mlb.com/mets/video/mooki...ns-mlb-central

[BobbyStrawberry]

I still think they're going to make it. But if they don't, it will be one of the most disappointing seasons in recent MLB history. Remember when Uncle Stevie said "if we don't win a WS in 3-5 years, it will be a disappointment"?

[bk400]

In Lindor We Trust. Way to keep fighting tonight. Let's Go Mets!

[BobbyStrawberry]

Wheels coming off early for the Mets.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Wheels coming off early for the Mets.

Mets go out with a whimper, 4-0, after Reds lose to Brewers.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Mets go out with a whimper, 4-0, after Reds lose to Brewers.

Absolutely epic collapse. Gotta believe that Mendoza is gone after this.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Mets go out with a whimper, 4-0, after Reds lose to Brewers.

No heart. Left 20 on base. 0-8 with runners in scoring position. Edwin Diaz showed up at least. You can hear the hurt in Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez's voice during the postgame.

[BobbyStrawberry]

At least we get to listen to Ronnie in the playoffs (I think).

[Carter08]

Manager is definitely gone whether he deserves it or not. Tough to just buy a team, particularly when the person in charge of spending the money doesn’t do so on pitching.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Carter08

Manager is definitely gone whether he deserves it or not. Tough to just buy a team, particularly when the person in charge of spending the money doesn’t do so on pitching.

Totally agree. Mojo matters, and this team had none.

The 2025 team had 5 players with fWAR with 3.0 or higher; the 2024 had only 1.

The 2025 team's top 5 players had fWAR that was 16% higher than the top 5 in 2024.

The 2025 had a generational getting on base talent that cost $765 million, while the 2024 team had Jose Iglesias.

[BobbyStrawberry]

So Bochy and Melvin are now available and they're going to keep Mendoza? Classic Mets stupidity.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

So Bochy and Melvin are now available and they're going to keep Mendoza? Classic Mets stupidity.

Wally Backman is also available. Now that Sandy Alderson is gone, Wally can get his chance again. The Mets don't have an issue with game management. There's just no heart. We need Wally Backman.

[packs]

What a winning strategy in Queens. Sign Soto for insane money only to let your franchise cornerstone and closer walk the next season. Great investment.

[D. Bergin]

Damn, Dodgers seem to be getting everybody. Maybe everyone wants to play with Ohtani. Too bad the Angels couldn’t figure that out.

[D. Bergin]

I am curious how Devin Williams does in Shea. If he finds his form again he could be a cheaper Edwin Diaz. I kind of hoped the Yanks would have brought him back, since he seemed to get his sea legs under him the 2nd half of the season, and he would have been much cheaper to sign then he would have been at the end of the previous year.

Interesting writeup on him here:

https://www.mlb.com/news/why-devin-w...emand-for-2026

[Beercan collector]

Pete Alonso is now on the Orioles

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Beercan collector

Pete Alonso is now on the Orioles

Damn, why did I think he was going to the Dodgers. Did I just imagine that?

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Where would he play on the Dodgers?

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Where would he play on the Dodgers?

Good question. All I know is I got a bunch of news blasts on my phone with “Sources say” Alonso signing with Dodgers.

Thought maybe Feeeman decided to retire or something. Should have known better.

[BobbyStrawberry]

It's absolutely bonkers that Alonso got more $ than Schwarber (same number of years).

[bk400]

Originally Posted by packs

What a winning strategy in Queens. Sign Soto for insane money only to let your franchise cornerstone and closer walk the next season. Great investment.

I don't understand what the Mets are doing either. Neither does Edwin Diaz, ergo he joins the Dodgers. I get it. Look at the Dodgers. They are all such winners. Not a sulker among them.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

It's absolutely bonkers that Alonso got more $ than Schwarber (same number of years).

He's a few years younger and also plays a defensive position so not that surprising really.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jayshum

He's a few years younger and also plays a defensive position so not that surprising really.

Neither is being signed for their defense and Schwarber is substantially more valuable as a hitter.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Neither is being signed for their defense and Schwarber is substantially more valuable as a hitter.

talk to me at the end of 5 years about that.

but even before that reckoning I disagree. They're pretty close to identical offensively for their careers looking at OBP, SLG, OPS and OPS+

[Beercan collector]

The Os are interesting - I don’t think there’s another team That rely so much on their draft picks, despite the numbers they are getting every opportunity to prove themselves - they had one of the lowest team salaries in the league before they went after Alonso - new manager - hasn’t equaled success yet but they seem to have a plan

[packs]

I think part of signing Soto would have been to make the Mets an enticing organization for players looking for new teams. But they can't keep their own players on their team.

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by packs

I think part of signing Soto would have been to make the Mets an enticing organization for players looking for new teams. But they can't keep their own players on their team.

I think Os keep Mountcastle as the back up - Coby Mayo Would be a smart pick up for somebody - 517 chances at first base last year one error - only 304 major league bats but - now I know it was the minors, he had 906 OPS 1870 plate appearances, He’s eventually gonna hit

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by jayshum

He's a few years younger and also plays a defensive position so not that surprising really.

Schwarber has been in the league much longer then Alonso, but is only 9 months older then him.

That said, I agree it’s not surprising. Contracts are pretty similar, one plays a position and one doesn’t. Schwarber might have a higher ceiling, but he also has a lower floor. WAR hates Kyle Schwarber. Alonso has been in the league 4 years less then him, but he still has a higher career WAR. Schwarber may have had the better most recent year, but Alonso has been more consistent overall.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Schwarber has been in the league much longer then Alonso, but is only 9 months older then him.

That said, I agree it’s not surprising. Contracts are pretty similar, one plays a position and one doesn’t. Schwarber might have a higher ceiling, but he also has a lower floor. WAR hates Kyle Schwarber. Alonso has been in the league 4 years less then him, but he still has a higher career WAR. Schwarber may have had the better most recent year, but Alonso has been more consistent overall.

Look at their career walk rates, Schwarber's ability to work deep counts...both are poor defenders but Schwarber in LF right now is comparable to Pete at 1st. Both will be full time DHs very soon. Also Schwarber is regarded as a fantastic clubhouse guy, much higher reputation than Pete.

I would guess a "who'd you rather have" survey of Gms would result in far more choosing Schwarber. The Os wanted Schwarber but he turned them down.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Beercan collector

The Os are interesting - I don’t think there’s another team That rely so much on their draft picks, despite the numbers they are getting every opportunity to prove themselves - they had one of the lowest team salaries in the league before they went after Alonso - new manager - hasn’t equaled success yet but they seem to have a plan

Yeah, their plan is "we refuse to get better at SP while blocking all of our position player prospects"

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Yeah, their plan is "we refuse to get better at SP while blocking all of our position player prospects"

Gotta agree with that they Need three quality starters - they could’ve kept Mayo/Mountcastle at first and used the Alonso money for pitchers

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Schwarber has been in the league much longer then Alonso, but is only 9 months older then him.

That said, I agree it’s not surprising. Contracts are pretty similar, one plays a position and one doesn’t. Schwarber might have a higher ceiling, but he also has a lower floor. WAR hates Kyle Schwarber. Alonso has been in the league 4 years less then him, but he still has a higher career WAR. Schwarber may have had the better most recent year, but Alonso has been more consistent overall.

Schwarber is actually a year and 9 months older than Alonso. Schwarber really only has 2 more full seasons in the league, but Alonso does have the higher WAR.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Schwarber is actually a year and 9 months older than Alonso. Schwarber really only has 2 more full seasons in the league, but Alonso does have the higher WAR.

Yup, you’re right. I was off on the age. Schwarber has played 283 more games then Alonso, who has been pretty durable his time in the league.

All in all, I’m not too surprised they got pretty similar contracts.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Yup, you’re right. I was off on the age. Schwarber has played 283 more games then Alonso, who has been pretty durable his time in the league.

All in all, I’m not too surprised they got pretty similar contracts.

Neither am I, especially since the Orioles had apparently offered Schwarber the same money he got from the Phillies. I think they may have decided they didn't want to miss out on Alonso also, so they upped the offer to him.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Schwarber has been in the league much longer then Alonso, but is only 9 months older then him.

That said, I agree it’s not surprising. Contracts are pretty similar, one plays a position and one doesn’t. Schwarber might have a higher ceiling, but he also has a lower floor. WAR hates Kyle Schwarber. Alonso has been in the league 4 years less then him, but he still has a higher career WAR. Schwarber may have had the better most recent year, but Alonso has been more consistent overall.

21 months older, you're missing a year in there.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by packs

I think part of signing Soto would have been to make the Mets an enticing organization for players looking for new teams.

Hmmmmm. When Juan Soto is your team player and the glue that keeps the clubhouse together, there may be a problem.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Hmmmmm. When Juan Soto is your team player and the glue that keeps the clubhouse together, there may be a problem.

No doubt about that. The Dodgers are so much smarter. They pay up for team guys like Ohtani and Yamamoto and keep guys like Rojas and Kike Hernandez.

Meanwhile, we get the hedge fund version of a baseball team and pay up for a guy who makes no one else better and attracts no one else to the roster.

Maybe if we pay out the nose, we can sign Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger. But players talk, and I would think that if the money were in the same ballpark, those guys would rather sign with the Dodgers also.

I feel like this is like the Knicks and the Bulls in the 1990s. i hope I'm wrong, but I can see us never beating the Dodgers.

[packs]

I didn't mean Soto was glue, only that signing him was supposed to project an image of a team who wants to win, will spend big money, and when you make a big splashy signing like that, it's supposed to signal your team is a destination for other players like Soto.

Clearly it is not.

[bk400]

You could argue that Ohtani's deferral was the ultimate team move. Look at what that allowed the Dodgers to do. Would Juan Soto have deferred 95% of the value of his contract so the Mets could have signed a proper starting pitching staff? To be fair, not many superstars would. But that's the difference. The Dodgers sign superstars who are also team players.