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Dark Horse Met 2021

Centerfield Feb 17 2021 02:39 PM

Hey guys. It's that time of year where we pick our out-of-the-blue hero for the upcoming season. The official rules, for everyone's reference: 1. It must be someone who is not on anyone's reasonable radar for this year. So "I think this is the year Michael Conforto puts it all together" is not an acceptable answer. Neither are top prospects on the doorstep that we expect/hope will contribute. So Peter Alonso, get the fuck outta here. The more obscure the better. 2. Contributions must be made at the Major League level. It's fine if you think Simeon Woods-Richardson will catapult to the top of Keith Law's list, but unless he makes contributions in 2019 as a Met, it doesn't count. Feel free to start your own "Dark Horse Prospect" thread. 3. I'm ok with former top prospects who have fallen from grace. So, if a few years ago, you said Dominic Smith, you would have been disqualified. But with all the 1B options now, and Dom basically an afterthought, he's an ok pick. So is former top prospect Bill Pulsipher, if you're inclined to go that route. We don't really have anyone knocking at the doorstep, so unless anyone thinks otherwise, I'm good to allow any rookie. I think Szapucki is the only one reasonably expected to contribute, and expectations are modest. Remember, the more obscure the better. Past winners include: 1977: Lenny Randle 1987: Terry Leach 2006: Jose Valentin 2011: RA Dickey 2012: Scott Hairston 2013: Marlon Byrd 2014: Jacob deGrom 2016: Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo (co-DHMs) 2018: Jeff McNeil 2019: JD Davis 2020: Andres Gimenez

MFS62 Feb 17 2021 02:54 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Thomas Szapucki You heard it here first. Later

Benjamin Grimm Feb 17 2021 03:52 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'll say... Jose Martinez.

Johnny Lunchbucket Feb 17 2021 04:47 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Ready set, make a bet On who'll be this year's Dark Horse Met A player we have not met yet A future that is not yet set Could it be Franklyn Kilome? Yennsy Diaz? Sean Reid-Foley? Thomas Szapuki? Patrick Mazeika? Who are these Dark Horse Mets that you speak of? I scanned the spring roster, saw names in italics Fargas, Peraza, Barmes, Mallex Yamamoto was tempting, his curveball is brilliance But it can'r be denied -- my choice is McWilliams Sam is the man you will all come to know All seven feet of him and his afro A reliever whose track record totally sucks Will leave young fans and old thunderstruck He'll emerge from Syracuse in April or May By July fans will pay just to see him play He'll tear up the track like Secretariat Sam McWilliams, the Dark Horse Met

MFS62 Feb 17 2021 04:50 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Nice. I almost picked Mc Williams too. But Mazeika was signed away by the Cubs, so if he makes an impression this year it won't be for the Mets. Later

smg58 Feb 17 2021 05:41 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'm going to go with Franklin Kilome inheriting a bullpen spot by default and running with it.

Lefty Specialist Feb 17 2021 05:45 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Luis Guillorme. His hitting will catch up to his fielding.

Centerfield Feb 17 2021 06:01 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Ready set, make a bet On who'll be this year's Dark Horse Met A player we have not met yet A future that is not yet set Could it be Franklyn Kilome? Yennsy Diaz? Sean Reid-Foley? Thomas Szapuki? Patrick Mazeika? Who are these Dark Horse Mets that you speak of? I scanned the spring roster, saw names in italics Fargas, Peraza, Barmes, Mallex Yamamoto was tempting, his curveball is brilliance But it can'r be denied -- my choice is McWilliams Sam is the man you will all come to know All seven feet of him and his afro A reliever whose track record totally sucks Will leave young fans and old thunderstruck He'll emerge from Syracuse in April or May By July fans will pay just to see him play He'll tear up the track like Secretariat Sam McWilliams, the Dark Horse Met Wow. Terrific!

Edgy MD Feb 17 2021 06:53 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

=MFS62 post_id=56318 time=1613605812 user_id=60]But Mazeika was signed away by the Cubs, so if he makes an impression this year it won't be for the Mets.

This is the first we've heard about Mazeika, who as far as I know is still on the roster. Are you thinking about Jake Marisnick?

MFS62 Feb 18 2021 06:02 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Edgy MD wrote: =MFS62 post_id=56318 time=1613605812 user_id=60]But Mazeika was signed away by the Cubs, so if he makes an impression this year it won't be for the Mets. This is the first we've heard about Mazeika, who as far as I know is still on the roster. Are you thinking about Jake Marisnick?

Thought I saw it on MLB .com. But a check of baseball-reference says he's still a Met.

Later

Johnny Lunchbucket Feb 18 2021 06:05 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

The guy who went to the cubs was marisnick

seawolf17 Feb 18 2021 06:16 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'm going to go with Jordan Yamamoto. Ooh, lordy, he was terrible in four appearances last year, but hey, you take out the game where he gave up thirteen runs, his ERA was only 11.42. (!) He's young, strikes guys out, and I don't think anyone's expecting much of anything from him this year. But he'll be needed, and he'll get 12-15 starts over the summer and surprise all of us.

MFS62 Feb 18 2021 06:35 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: The guy who went to the cubs was marisnick Yes. The ex-Mets catcher the Cubs signed was Jose Lobaton. Sorry, Patrick. You're still with us. Later

Centerfield Feb 18 2021 07:29 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

=seawolf17 post_id=56347 time=1613654201 user_id=91] I'm going to go with Jordan Yamamoto. Ooh, lordy, he was terrible in four appearances last year, but hey, you take out the game where he gave up thirteen runs, his ERA was only 11.42. (!) He's young, strikes guys out, and I don't think anyone's expecting much of anything from him this year. But he'll be needed, and he'll get 12-15 starts over the summer and surprise all of us.

seawolf and I continue to be the same person. He was going to be my pick too. It's ok. I'm going to go even more obscure.

Centerfield Feb 18 2021 07:31 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Lefty Specialist wrote: Luis Guillorme. His hitting will catch up to his fielding. Sorry Lefty. The judges have ruled that Luis Guillorme and his .865 OPS in 2020 disqualifies him from this contest.

MFS62 Feb 18 2021 07:45 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Lefty Specialist wrote: Luis Guillorme. His hitting will catch up to his fielding. Sorry Lefty. The judges have ruled that Luis Guillorme and his .865 OPS in 2020 disqualifies him from this contest. And if that is his hitting, then he must be Rey Ordonez in the field. Later

metsmarathon Feb 18 2021 07:52 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

wanted to go with yamamoto, too... instead, i'll pick.... uh. jacob barnes. because why not. high strikeouts, had a low FIP last year. needs to keep the walks and homers down. and i think its easier to crack into the 'pen than the rotation, and i don't want to root for a dark horse to emerge in the rotation because that means we'll need a dark horse to emerge in the rotation.

ashie62 Feb 18 2021 07:59 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Jordan Yamamoto. Throws hard, good stuff, young.

Edgy MD Feb 18 2021 08:19 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'd like us to go through past years and nominate candidates for the years Centerfield hasn't yet designated a winner. Final honoree is his call, of course. For 2017, I'll nominate ... T.J. Rivera

Benjamin Grimm Feb 18 2021 08:49 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I was thinking the same thing. Not about TJ, but about backfilling previous years. Would Yoenis Cespedes qualify for 2015?

Centerfield Feb 18 2021 09:31 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Edgy MD wrote: I'd like us to go through past years and nominate candidates for the years Centerfield hasn't yet designated a winner. Final honoree is his call, of course. For 2017, I'll nominate ... T.J. Rivera Don't just nominate, make your case! Also, I don't make the final call on the honoree. Everyone knows those kinds of decisions are made in Stockholm.

Edgy MD Feb 18 2021 09:41 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Yeah, Rivera's real breakthrough was in 2016 anywutz.

Fman99 Feb 18 2021 12:32 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

So Dom Smith wasn't last year's dark horse Met hero? Interesting. I'm going with Joey "Lucky" Lucchesi, why, well, because, no one else has yet.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 18 2021 01:02 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 18 2021 01:06 PM

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batmagadanleadoff Feb 18 2021 01:05 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I was thinking the same thing. Not about TJ, but about backfilling previous years. Would Yoenis Cespedes qualify for 2015? Too prominent, even before he got to New York. A dark horse isn't only about exceeding expectations. A dark horse comes out of nowhere. A true dark horse barely registers on the radar before his/her rise to prominence. ____________ What does dark horse mean in slang? The saying dark horse usually means an unexpected winner. ... You might talk about a dark horse in politics or sports (there is usually some kind of competition involved), and the dark horse is the little-known competitor who unexpectedly wins. The idiom comes from horse racing, not surprisingly. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=whats+a+dark+horse A dark horse is a previously less known person or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals,[1] or a contestant that on paper should be unlikely to succeed but yet still might. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_horse

bmfc1 Feb 18 2021 01:45 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'll go with Kevin Pillar. I can see a scenario where he gets more playing time in CF than expected as he regains his defensive brilliance, hits 15 HRs, steals 15 bases, attends a few NY-area Bar Mitzvah's via Zoom and, as a result, is a big part of a winning team.

Edgy MD Feb 18 2021 01:48 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I don't know. I defer to Semper Fi, but what's more out-of-nowhere than picking a guy from outside the organization? Who is more likely to put up wins for the 2021 Mets right now? Jordan Yamamoto or Shane Bieber? If I nominate Bieber and win, I might contend that this pick was more out-the-fuck in February than Jo-Yams.

A Boy Named Seo Feb 18 2021 02:24 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'm going to confidently nominate Sean Reid-Foley as DHM 2021. 2nd round pick, former top prospect, still only 25. His velo ticked up a bit last year, too. He'll stay healthy and be a surprisingly reliable arm as a reliever and spot-starter. By the end of the season, he'll leapfrog Henn, Gilmartin and Green (who?) to be the best "Sean" in Mets history. Sorry I just jinxed the shit out of you, Sean Reid-Foley.

Edgy MD Feb 18 2021 02:44 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

The second he enters a game, he'll be the top Guamanian-born player in team history. As for being the top Sean, his wife Caroline Olivia Reid-Foley, as far as I've been able to suss out, has no affiliation with either Fox News or the Trump administration, so he's already passed Sean Gilmartin in my book. [fimg=600]https://www.worldtop2.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Sean-Reid-Foley-with-his-wife-1024x576.jpg[/fimg]

Benjamin Grimm Feb 18 2021 03:55 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'm going to officially nominate Yoenis Cespedes for 2015, and Centerfield can determine (in consultation with the home office in Stockholm, of course) whether or not he's eligible.

Edgy MD Feb 18 2021 04:31 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I nominate lefty Kevin Kobel for 1978. Mostly stinky across various trips in previous years for Milwaukee, coming off a unimpressive year in AAA, his career was at a crossroads when the Mets got him for cash. He got off to a strong start in Tidewater, came up, and plugged the living daylights out of a hole in the rotation. ERA was at about 0.50 through his first 35 innings, while getting jerked from the pen to the rotation and back again. Later starred in the hit indy film Once. [fimg=350]https://i1.wp.com/mets360.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1980-Kobel.jpg?fit=651%2C929[/fimg]

batmagadanleadoff Feb 18 2021 04:51 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm going to officially nominate Yoenis Cespedes for 2015, and Centerfield can determine (in consultation with the home office in Stockholm, of course) whether or not he's eligible. Excellent choice.

G-Fafif Feb 18 2021 05:15 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

For 2021, based mostly on seeing something hopeful about him today, I'll pick the mostly forgotten Drew Smith for a breakthrough, as in perhaps he'll be the new Seth Lugo in terms of a rock for the bullpen. For 1997, Rick Reed. Surprised we didn't place the sash around his swimsuit already.

Lefty Specialist Feb 18 2021 05:29 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Well, being forced to change dark horses in the middle of the stream, I'll pick Franklyn Kilome. Just because.

Edgy MD Feb 18 2021 07:15 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I feel like Ian Hunter, because all of the good ones are taken. But you know, I was talking to Mike Montgomery just a while ago, and he's got his eye on the rotation. I'm putting 25 cranes on the southpaw.

LWFS Feb 18 2021 07:31 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Good heavens, Mr. Yamamoto-- you're (darkly) BEAUTIFUL But since his dance card's cray-cray full... I'll throw my money behind the hyphenate Mr. Reid-Foley, who'll have a fun run of 5-6 starts during a particularly low ebb for this squad, injury-wise.

Marshmallowmilkshake Feb 18 2021 08:22 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Tomas Nido ends up playing more games than we expect, hits better than we expect and handles the staff well!

Centerfield Feb 19 2021 09:23 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm going to officially nominate Yoenis Cespedes for 2015, and Centerfield can determine (in consultation with the home office in Stockholm, of course) whether or not he's eligible. I'd be disinclined to include mid-year trades of stars. I think the spirit of DHM, and part of what makes it fun, is that no one was expecting anything of these guys when they arrived then performed beyond all of our expectations. Like “wow, can you believe this guy? Who would have thought ____ had this in him?” The minute Yo arrived, we expected greatness. On the other hand, if we trade for Joe Replacement and he hits 30 HRs in August and September, I think that would be ok.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 19 2021 09:26 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

=Centerfield post_id=56507 time=1613751784 user_id=65] I'd be disinclined to include mid-year trades of stars. I think the spirit of DHM, and part of what makes it fun, is that no one was expecting anything of these guys when they arrived then performed beyond all of our expectations. Like “wow, can you believe this guy? Who would have thought ____ had this in him?” The minute Yo arrived, we expected greatness.

Excellent choice.

Centerfield Feb 22 2021 06:57 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'm going with Yenssy Díaz. He's better than Matz!

kcmets Feb 22 2021 07:55 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Does Luis Rojas winning manager of the year be considered dark horse? Yes? I'll go with Luis Rojas.

Centerfield Feb 23 2021 07:11 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Benny Agbayani. 1999 DHM? .888 OPS. 14 HR.

Frayed Knot Feb 23 2021 12:52 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

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MFS62 Feb 26 2021 03:42 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Thomas Szapucki You heard it here first. Later Oopsie. I hadn't realized he hadn't recovered as much from his surgery as I had hoped until I read this today: https://sports.yahoo.com/m/15ec5281-5fa3-364c-a389-2802d44e84b4/the-same-questions-remain-for.html So I'll hope Thomas uses this year to fully recover while I change my choice to Sam McWilliams. Later

86dreamer Feb 27 2021 05:30 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I nominate Ryley Gilliam- 24yo non roster invite to major league camp. Hasn't pitched much in the minors but over two seasons has averaged 14 k/9. He will get 25 innings out of the pen this year and make us forget the Bashlor bunch.

LWFS Feb 28 2021 01:02 PM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Thomas Szapucki You heard it here first. Later Oopsie. I hadn't realized he hadn't recovered as much from his surgery as I had hoped until I read this today: https://sports.yahoo.com/m/15ec5281-5fa3-364c-a389-2802d44e84b4/the-same-questions-remain-for.html So I'll hope Thomas uses this year to fully recover while I change my choice to Sam McWilliams. Later Bartender? Scratch my previous Reid-Foley, and give me the same tall drink o' water he's having.

Centerfield Nov 11 2021 09:34 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

I'm thinking the 2021 DHM is Jonathan Villar. A case can be made for Tylor Megill. Especially since no one had really heard of Megill. SRF got off to a nice start, but then kinda crashed after that.

Edgy MD Nov 11 2021 11:38 AM Re: Dark Horse Met 2021

Strong cases for both. I'd guess Villar had a Steamer or Pecota projection going into the season of about 0.8 fWAR, and produced 2.1. I'd imagine Megill had a projection of 0.0 or 0.1, but he came out of the season with an actual fWAR of only 0.6. I might have guessed more, but Manager Rojas was giving him such short workdays whether or not he was pitching well, and he averaged just under five innings per start. I'd also lay a little dark-horse loving on Aaron Loup. He didn't come from out of short left field like Villar or from completely out of the parking lot like Megill, but going from bullpen backender to the peak performer ain't nothing. And to see a LOOGy flourish after they went and outlawed the LOOGy is a beautiful thing. It's like all these silent film stars grumbling about how sound ended their careers. But Laurel and Hardy faced the new paradigm down and somehow got even bigger. Who'da thunk it?