I prefer Tauchman on the bench vs Vientos. Unfortunately, neither has any options left so it’s up to Stearns to decide which he values more and if it’s Tauchman (for all the reasons mentioned in this article), he’s either got to be comfortable with losing Vientos if he doesn’t clear waivers or find a trade partner who’s willing to buy low and hope his bat comes around. Or, Vientos accepts the demotion to AAA and hopes he can play well enough to increase his value and be an injury replacement or a better trade piece.
It would be great if Vientos were to accept a demotion and try to figure it out in Syracuse. Alvarez did. Tauchman has got to be retained imo, looks like a steal. Pecking on Andrew Steele: isn't it "duking it out" for the right field job?
I get it’s almost a once in a lifetime opportunity, but Vientos playing in the WBC was ill-advised this Spring. He needed to be in camp every day, working with Kai Correa and Mendoza and the other coaches, getting better on defense and working his swing into something resembling his 2024 stroke.
Dan, you are absolutely correct. And I wanted to write about this. Not only that, but he's playing third base at the WBC. How is that going to help him or the Mets in 2026?
Joel, you are absolutely right. I had juking it in my head for some reason, and just didn't go back and check. Thanks for raising that, I'm going to change it now
Carrying Tauchman and Taylor plus Torrens and Baty leaves Vientos? I also believe Benge will be the right fielder to start the season as the Mets would receive draft pick compensation for that and even better positioning should be win ROY which he will get competition from McClean for. Stearns did this to some success in Milwaukee. You didn’t mention Manaea and his play in his first start of the spring. His velo was down 3 mph. Ok yes it’s spring and guys don’t go full bore but 3 mph? That’s more than I’d like to see at this point in ST. I’m beginning to have serious concern with him especially with he’s still screwing around with his arm slot. He did say he feels great but if he’s lost 1-2 mph on his fastball how will he keep it at the top of the zone where he needs to be to be successful? He will be throwing meatballs from the jump as his only hit allowed was a HR. Not feeling it with him this season ( so far). He griped about the mound at Roger Dean stadium but really? Idk. Senga takes the hill today. Let’s see how he looks.
Hi James. I did a quick calculation earlier, but I’d have to go back and have a real look at who would be the odd man out. Maybe Vientos still gets moved, who knows. In terms of Manaea, I mentioned him right at the top of the newsletter. Given that it was his first outing, I felt the right field competition was a more pressing issue to discuss in the editorial. If the velocity continues to be an issue, there is no doubt we’ll talk about in depth, but given it was his first outing, I didn’t feel it warranted a full on panic piece yet.
How bad was Vientos’ season last year? He had a 97 RC+, that isn’t horrific. It was a bad year and he was injured at the start. Until Tauchman went to Korea at age 31, he regularly put up RC+ that were lower except for one year with the Yankees.
I prefer Tauchman on the bench vs Vientos. Unfortunately, neither has any options left so it’s up to Stearns to decide which he values more and if it’s Tauchman (for all the reasons mentioned in this article), he’s either got to be comfortable with losing Vientos if he doesn’t clear waivers or find a trade partner who’s willing to buy low and hope his bat comes around. Or, Vientos accepts the demotion to AAA and hopes he can play well enough to increase his value and be an injury replacement or a better trade piece.
It would be great if Vientos were to accept a demotion and try to figure it out in Syracuse. Alvarez did. Tauchman has got to be retained imo, looks like a steal. Pecking on Andrew Steele: isn't it "duking it out" for the right field job?
I get it’s almost a once in a lifetime opportunity, but Vientos playing in the WBC was ill-advised this Spring. He needed to be in camp every day, working with Kai Correa and Mendoza and the other coaches, getting better on defense and working his swing into something resembling his 2024 stroke.
Dan, you are absolutely correct. And I wanted to write about this. Not only that, but he's playing third base at the WBC. How is that going to help him or the Mets in 2026?
I was thinking the same thing. He's on a bubble. He really needed to stay in camp.
Joel, you are absolutely right. I had juking it in my head for some reason, and just didn't go back and check. Thanks for raising that, I'm going to change it now
Carrying Tauchman and Taylor plus Torrens and Baty leaves Vientos? I also believe Benge will be the right fielder to start the season as the Mets would receive draft pick compensation for that and even better positioning should be win ROY which he will get competition from McClean for. Stearns did this to some success in Milwaukee. You didn’t mention Manaea and his play in his first start of the spring. His velo was down 3 mph. Ok yes it’s spring and guys don’t go full bore but 3 mph? That’s more than I’d like to see at this point in ST. I’m beginning to have serious concern with him especially with he’s still screwing around with his arm slot. He did say he feels great but if he’s lost 1-2 mph on his fastball how will he keep it at the top of the zone where he needs to be to be successful? He will be throwing meatballs from the jump as his only hit allowed was a HR. Not feeling it with him this season ( so far). He griped about the mound at Roger Dean stadium but really? Idk. Senga takes the hill today. Let’s see how he looks.
Hi James. I did a quick calculation earlier, but I’d have to go back and have a real look at who would be the odd man out. Maybe Vientos still gets moved, who knows. In terms of Manaea, I mentioned him right at the top of the newsletter. Given that it was his first outing, I felt the right field competition was a more pressing issue to discuss in the editorial. If the velocity continues to be an issue, there is no doubt we’ll talk about in depth, but given it was his first outing, I didn’t feel it warranted a full on panic piece yet.
Sorry. Reading the article it didn’t register that you did mention him.
If you go to the top in the what’s up section, that’s were we put relevant news and what happened in the game from the day before
Yes. Been a subscriber for a minute now.
How bad was Vientos’ season last year? He had a 97 RC+, that isn’t horrific. It was a bad year and he was injured at the start. Until Tauchman went to Korea at age 31, he regularly put up RC+ that were lower except for one year with the Yankees.