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Liberatore and Pallante have also had consistency issues. Not to mention the Matz fiasco.
As far as consistency below what we are getting from the rotation regulars this year, we should include Thompson, Rom, Woodford, Flaherty, Hudson and Wainwright. If you want to look back a bit further you can add Naughton, Hicks and Oviedo.
The consistency of 4 starters is the primary reason a team with the second worse offense in the league is over .500. With a big assist from the pen, but if the starters were not regularly keeping us in it, the pen would not matter.
“baseball more than any other game is one that’s subject to the law of averages and eventually that run differential will average out.”
Usually that is the case, although there are exceptions. Somehow the 1984 Mets won 90 games, yet gave up 26 more runs than they scored. They were an amazing (being the Mets it is only logical they would be “amazing” at something) 11-1 in extra innings.
Without doing a deep dive into the numbers, I did see that they were much better at pitching than hitting. They were a below average hitting club, but above average pitching. And their pitchers struck out a ton of hitters, finishing second in the league in Ks and only 5 behind the leading Dodgers. They also did not surrender a lot of homers relative to the league.
But obviously, you don’t want to rely on good fortune to carry you. Most of the time you will be disappointed and your manager might say, “Can’t anyone here play this game?”
Middle relief and team D have also helped get us to the late inning roles.
The rule5 guy has been a plus, as has Libby for multi-inning relief, but the starters keeping us in it is a huge change from 2023.
Yeah Bikemike, both eras of the Mets greatest success were fueled by outstanding pitching. In the late 60’s and early 70’s it was Seaver, Koosman, McGraw and the guy that boldly predicted, “We’ll get it done in six”…And later on those detestable Mets teams of the mid 80’s with Gooden, Darling, Fernandez and Ojeda. When I think of either the Mets or Dodgers, I think of outstanding arms.
Kudos to Mo for bringing the likes of Gray, Lynn, Gibson, JoJo and Kitty into the Cardinal fold. On the negative side, you just know he wouldn’t pull the trigger on the Cease trade because he didn’t want to part with his boy(Gorman). But all in all, a pretty fair job over the last year by Mo.
Yeah Pugs, Johnny hit the trifecta with the 3 additions to the rotation. You almost have to acknowledge that he’s still a sly and sneaky old rascal.
Ha, that he appears to be, TD. I can’t wait to see his moves before the deadline. Let’s hope we are all pleasantly surprised. And I also want to see Graceffo get another plane ticket to St. Louis this year…….hopefully longer than the cup of coffee he just experienced.
Yeah, the last time the Cardinals were relevant at the deadline it was all about pitching when the additions of Montgomery and Quintana seemed to really vault them over the top. I’d have to say this season presents the sort of dynamics that are entirely different. I can’t imagine Johnny not scoping out the landscape in search of a RH’ed bat that has the ability to generate some genuine offensive production. But pitching fortifications are always desirable, so you really can never tell what wily old Johnny has in mind. We’ll find out in about 30 days.
I can’t imagine Johnny not scoping out the landscape in search of a RH’ed bat that has the ability to generate some genuine offensive production.
What would you think he could trade to land the kind of bat you have in mind?
Cash, an open tab at ballpark village and a couple of pretty girls? Other than that I honestly don’t know, Bling. But I’d have to guess that Johnny has to have some trade capital laying around somewhere. Maybe stashed in a pocket of one of his sportcoats hanging in back of his closet…
Well let me help you out then. The kind of hitter you are talking about would be to the lineup what Jordan Montgomery was to the rotation, and a year and a half rental of him cost us our Gold Glove starting center fielder. Gold glove at a premium position, coming off an OPS+ 114 season.
We don’t have one of those handy, so what do we have that is comparable, or of comparable value?Keep in mind that we cannot come away from a trade with a newly created hole somewhere that we cannot fill. Keep in mind also there is a limit to how much contract BDW will take on.
blingboy
Well let me help you out then. The kind of hitter you are talking about would be to the lineup what Jordan Montgomery was to the rotation,
A starter is far more valuable than a RH hitter. Someone like Brent Rooker would work. Oakland picked him up off waivers a year ago and he’s having another good season. I also wouldn’t be against Tommy Pham coming over. 39 yr old Justin Turner might be available and wouldn’t cost anything of value.
Eloy Jimenez could be a good bounce-back candidate and has negative trade value with his contract.
OK, you’re talking about rolling the dice with low hanging fruit, waiver guys, end of career,etc. I thought you meant an established bat that would be an impact player.
Yeah, Mo could try that. No harm could come of it and maybe he hits the jackpot. It sucks as a strategy though.
blingboy
Participant
OK, you’re talking about rolling the dice with low hanging fruit, waiver guys, end of career,etc. I thought you meant an established bat that would be an impact player.Yeah, Mo could try that. No harm could come of it and maybe he hits the jackpot. It sucks as a strategy though.
The previous poster said genuine offensive production.
Rooker is putting up excellent numbers. He would be a great add for this team.
The other 2, Turner and Pham, would still be among our best hitters right now, other than Contreras, who is fading. Jimenez would be the jackpot scenario. Replacing at-bats from guys that are significantly below-average at the plate like Carlson, Crawford, Fermin, Pages, Siani or slightly below-average to average like Carpenter, Gorman, Goldschmidt, and Arenado would be a decent start.
2 years ago, we had just one below-average hitting spot at catcher. O’Neill, Bader, Gorman, Carlson, and Edman were all average to above-average. At least getting back to that can help offset not having 2 MVPs and Pujols in the lineup.
The consistency of 4 starters is the primary reason a team with the second worse offense in the league is over .500. With a big assist from the pen, but if the starters were not regularly keeping us in it, the pen would not matter.
Correct. The biggest difference between 2023 and 2024 is that Mo shored up the pitching staff. It makes a huge difference.
I also wouldn’t be against Tommy Pham coming over. 39 yr old Justin Turner might be available and wouldn’t cost anything of value.
I have been touting Pham for weeks. He wouldn’t cost much and might give our offense a little jolt.
Is is fair to suggest that Contreras is “fading?”
He hasn’t hit well since returning early from a broken hand. That might have something to do with it.
No doubt. Tommy is probably on Mo’s do not call list because of the way things ended last time but I do think he could help on the field for a couple of months.
Brian Walton
Is is fair to suggest that Contreras is “fading?”
He hasn’t hit well since returning early from a broken hand. That might have something to do with it.
I think they rushed him back as well. Not many rehab appearances.
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