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No Offense

TransMonk May 14 2015 08:31 AM

So, after all of the praise Kevin Long was given for the team having a pretty good offensive spring and for our guys taking patient, sound situational at-bats during the 13-3 start, I have to give him shit for what the bats have been up to since them. I know the offensive talent on the team is not top-notch, but what's the plan, Kev? There's not one guy (outside of Duda...maybe) that I trust to come up big in a necessary spot at the plate and if this team gets down by more than a couple runs, my hope for winning all but disappears. Is there an answer to the offensive woes? Is the lack of talent too great to overcome? I know getting Wright, D'Arnaud and Laggy back should help, but is it enough? Wright isn't the player he once was and D'Arnaud has been up and down in his short career. Something's got to give because the past several games have been tough to watch. It's such a shame to watch great starting pitching performances go down the drain so often. Also, I know it is the smallest of sample sizes, but I have been hugely impressed with Addison Russell so far this season.

Benjamin Grimm May 14 2015 08:43 AM Re: No Offense

Getting David and Travis back should help, but the biggest thing they can do is upgrade the corner outfield positions. And that's far easier said than done, at least for the next couple of years.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 14 2015 08:45 AM Re: No Offense

I'm not blaming nor crediting Kev. I'm blaming David Wright's shitty condition and that AJ Ramos fucker.

Lefty Specialist May 14 2015 08:54 AM Re: No Offense

Conforto and Nimmo can't get here soon enough.

Centerfield May 14 2015 08:58 AM Offensive

The NY Mets offense is bad. How bad is it? *The Mets have exactly 1 player in the top 100 in OPS. Lucas Duda checks in at #56 with an .820. (Next is Granderson at #109). By comparison, the Nats have 3, St. Louis has 4, and the Dodgers have 4. Each team has at least one player in the top 10. In the AL, the MFY's have 4, Houston has 3 and Kansas City has 5. *The Mets have scored 125 Runs, placing them tied for 25 with the Angels (30 teams). All other division leaders are in the top 12. Washington is currently 4th. *The Mets are 28 out of 30 teams in team OPS. So the lack of runs cited above is not a real surprise. Much of this comes from the fact the Mets hit for no power at all (28th in SLG), but even their OBP, an alleged strength is abysmal. (.302, 24th overall). Ceetar will be quick to jump in here and mention Wright and Travis. And no question they would help, but keep in mind other teams have injuries too. Washington would be even better with Anthony Rendon. And even if Travis reaches his potential and David has a bounceback year, neither of these guys will end up in the top 10. I guess it's not impossible to make the playoffs with an offense this bad, but these numbers make it hard to believe that this team is a realistic contender.

Centerfield May 14 2015 09:07 AM Re: Offensive

Looks like TM started a similar thread while i was typing. Feel free to merge mine into his.

Edgy MD May 14 2015 09:13 AM Re: No Offense

Lefty Specialist wrote: Conforto and Nimmo can't get here soon enough. Maybe, but they can get here too soon. For now, the team has to sort of solve their problems as if those two don't exist.

Centerfield May 14 2015 09:18 AM Re: No Offense

And I think it would be unfair to place that much pressure on them anyway. The Mets need a middle of the order presence, and I don't know that either will be that. Conforto has a chance. Nimmo, I don't think will be that. The Mets need a fearsome hitter that looms in the on-deck circle. No one on this team looms.

Ceetar May 14 2015 09:24 AM Re: No Offense

Centerfield wrote: And I think it would be unfair to place that much pressure on them anyway. The Mets need a middle of the order presence, and I don't know that either will be that. Conforto has a chance. Nimmo, I don't think will be that. The Mets need a fearsome hitter that looms in the on-deck circle. No one on this team looms. Duda looms. David Wright's not top 10? He was in 2012 and 2013 and is 12th in fWAR over the 2012-2014 stretch with less PA than all but 2 of those guys above him. We just need him to not get hurt.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 14 2015 09:52 AM Re: No Offense

Duda's getting hit with pitches all the time now. Teams are shitting their pants when he's up there. Hey, look, I'd like Tulowitzski and think the Mets can and should and might even make that deal. For now our two best non-Dudas are on the DL and we're paying for it.

Ceetar May 14 2015 09:59 AM Re: No Offense

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Duda's getting hit with pitches all the time now. Teams are shitting their pants when he's up there. Hey, look, I'd like Tulowitzski and think the Mets can and should and might even make that deal. For now our two best non-Dudas are on the DL and we're paying for it. Ugh, I'm so tired of Tulo hints and rumors. I don't believe they can make that deal, because I don't believe Colorado is serious. Should and might though? sure.

Edgy MD May 14 2015 10:08 AM Re: No Offense

Surely you realize that "might" is an impossible condition without "can."

Ceetar May 14 2015 10:09 AM Re: No Offense

Edgy MD wrote: Surely you realize that "might" is an impossible condition without "can." sorry, "should and might" make A deal.

Frayed Knot May 14 2015 10:57 AM Re: No Offense

I'm increasingly positive that Tulowitzki WILL be traded this year. But, as always, that needs to come with the standard warning labels 1) He's just 2 years younger than Wright (22 months, actually) so while we're sitting around resigned to the 'fact' that David will never again replicate his peak years, why would we think things will be any different for TT, especially since ... 2) He spends even more time injured than does Wright! -- 400 fewer PAs since 2011 and if you go back further than that then the gap grows. He's also had more invasive injuries/fixes like hip surgery during that time. 3) he's signed for as long as Wright and for more money: $128mil guaranteed thru 2020 vs $107 for the same period and more still if you pick up Tulo's 2021 option. So if one deal is starting to look bad, how good can acquiring the other be? 4) And if you want to make the argument that all this is OK because he's better than Wright ever was then fine, but don't forget the Coors factor; there's a nice OPS gap but that gap gets a bit smaller when you covert to OPS+ [+137 for TT since 2011 vs +129 for DW same years] Do you talk to him/Colorado in the interim? Oh hell yes!! But don't lose sight of the price Ugarte, the price.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 14 2015 12:53 PM Re: No Offense

I agree he will be dealt, maybe even to the MFYs. Obviously you want as little of that contract as possible. Looks like the Mets recognize Plawecki despite obvious skills, still belongs in AAA. Recker starting today and Monell starting Friday, Rubie says. Every little bit helps when you're in the weeds.

Rockin' Doc May 14 2015 06:21 PM Re: No Offense

Getting Wright and D'Arnaud back will certainly help, but I believe they will not nearly be enough to get the Mets offense to that of an average major league offense. This team needs a legitimate bat that can hit for average (.280 or better) and supply a little power. It wouldn't hurt if Murphy would find his stroke and put up his historical (.288/.331/.750) offensive production in the 2 spot behind Lagares. The Mets have a good, young starting rotation, but they can't be expected to shut down the opposition every game in order for the team to win.

Edgy MD May 14 2015 07:33 PM Re: No Offense

I think average is certainly within reach with two of their better hitters back in the lineup (assuming they come back healthy, in a reasonably timely manner). Gravity alone will improve things, just like it'll dampen the pitching success.

Centerfield May 18 2015 07:55 AM Re: No Offense

With the offensive explosion this weekend the Mets jump up to 22nd in runs scored and 26th in OPS. Hey, it's progress.

Edgy MD May 18 2015 08:09 AM Re: No Offense

Meaningful progress, I think. Granderson up to 13th of 24 qualifying right fielders in OPS.

Ceetar May 18 2015 08:11 AM Re: No Offense

Edgy MD wrote: Meaningful progress, I think. Granderson up to 13th of 24 qualifying right fielders in OPS. 12/25 in wRC+ and 7th in OBP. I might start reviving my leadoff complaint soon, wasting those leadoff homers with no one on. (and it's not like Flores/pitcher get on a lot 8th/9th)

Edgy MD May 18 2015 08:16 AM Re: No Offense

i think the plan is still to develop Lagares in that direction.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 18 2015 08:17 AM Re: No Offense

Cuddyer is the guy they need to get going. Has 1 good turn at bat almost every day but we need a stretch where he has 2 or 3.

TransMonk May 24 2015 03:53 PM Re: No Offense

I feel like Recker should be the starting catcher until d'Arnaud returns. Plawecki just looks lost at the plate right now (not that he's the only one).

Edgy MD May 24 2015 04:01 PM Re: No Offense

Plaweck would be lost if he ever had a home to be lost from. He's still figuring things out. I'm all for giving time to the other two. To them who were advocating for moving d'Arnaud and going with Plawecki: boooooo!